Saturday, May 16, 2026

Coffee’s Hidden Health Benefit, Trump Weighs $1.7 Billion Deal, Prior Authorization Reform

Good Morning!

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Amy Hess has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

ICYMI: Yesterday’s Feel Good Flyover episode with Amy Hess is the perfect way to head into the weekend. Amy shared uplifting stories including a hospice patient’s final wish, a community rallying around foster parents, and the arrival of an adorable baby giraffe — check it out here.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ Two to three cups of coffee a day may quietly support one of the body’s hardest-working organs. (Hear More)

➤ President Trump may drop his $10 billion IRS suit for a $1.7 billion fund paying Jan. 6 defendants and other Biden-era claimants. (Listen Now)

➤ Prior authorization, the insurer approval that often delays medical care, may be overhauled soon. (Podcast Available)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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Burn Ban Ends, Early Voting Record, and Falcons Schedule

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1777, Button Gwinnett—one of Georgia's signers of the Declaration of Independence—was fatally wounded in a pistol duel with Lachlan McIntosh.

A seventh grader in north Georgia has gained online attention for his act of kindness at a Chick-fil-A. Learn more in Et Cetera.

These are the three incredible benefits of drinking coffee in the morning that researchers say could have surprising effects on your long-term health. Your daily cup is reportedly doing far more than boosting energy, including helping protect one of your body’s most important organs. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess breaks down the latest research on coffee’s unexpected health benefits and what you should know before your next sip. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Money.com, is helping homeowners unlock record levels of home equity by matching them with HELOC providers that could save thousands in rates and fees in under a minute.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Burn Ban Ends as South Georgia Fires Near Full Containment

Georgia's temporary statewide burn ban was lifted by Gov. Brian Kemp earlier this week as two major wildfires in South Georgia have both reached 90% containment as of Wednesday.

The Pineland Road Fire has burned more than 32,000 acres, while the Highway 82 Fire has scorched over 22,000 acres.

The burn ban was issued alongside a state of emergency for 91 counties on April 22.

Although the statewide burn ban has ended, certain counties may have their own local burn restrictions in place.

UGA Player Arrested on Felony Charges

University of Georgia (UGA) safety Ja'Marley Riddle was arrested last week on two felony charges for possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor speeding charge.

Riddle was allegedly driving around 95 mph on I-95 near St. Simons. After being stopped by police, an officer searched Riddle's vehicle and found "a large amount of multicolored packaging, some with a leafy substance stating marijuana, and some containing vapes stating THC." Riddle later posted over $16,500 in bail.

Riddle, a transfer from East Carolina, is the third UGA football player arrested this year on driving-related charges.

"We are aware of the charges and are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time," said a University of Georgia spokesperson.

Falcons Schedule Revealed

The Atlanta Falcons' 2026 NFL schedule has been released.

Atlanta opens the regular season on the road at Pittsburgh in Week 1 before returning to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a divisional matchup against the Carolina Panthers. They will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid, Spain on Nov. 8.

The Falcons play in three consecutive prime-time slots between Week 3 and Week 5.

The preseason opens at home against the Denver Broncos.

Tickets for all of the games can be purchased here.

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Homeowners Are Quietly Tapping Record Equity

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➤ Atlanta: The closure of I-285 between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Cascade Road, previously postponed due to weather concerns, is in effect through Monday morning for construction work. (More)

➤ Tybee Island: Two individuals attempting to enter the country illegally were rescued after jumping from a container ship into the Savannah River. They were later turned over to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (More)

➤ Statewide: Over 900,000 Georgians cast ballots ahead of the May 19 primary, setting an early-voting record for a Georgia primary. (More)

➤ Appling: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will reopen Ridge Road Campground on May 20, marking the final campground at J. Strom Thurmond Lake to return to service following damage from Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Augusta: Construction on the New Augusta Arena remains on schedule and within budget, according to the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority. (More)

➤ Georgia State named their new baseball field after former Panther and Cobb County police officer Chase Childers, who drowned last summer rescuing a family from a rip current off South Carolina. (More)

➤ Georgia and Georgia Tech continue NCAA softball tournament regional play today, with Georgia hosting in Athens and Georgia Tech playing in Gainesville, Fla. (See Bracket)

➤ UGA missed out on four-star quarterback Peter Bourque, who had the Bulldogs among his finalists before committing to Virginia Tech this week. (More)

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➤ A Savannah Bananas baseball player has been announced as a contestant for Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars. (More)

➤ The Wnek Garden in Tifton will serve as a tour stop for the 2026 American Hemerocallis Society National Convention on May 22. The event is expected to welcome hundreds of visitors to the area. (More)

➤ A Ringgold Middle School student won online praise after he skipped sitting with his classmates during a school trip stop to keep a grandmother company who was eating alone at a Chick-fil-A. (More)

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Are you voting in Georgia's primary on May 19?

Yesterday's Results:

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Ballpoint pen: 35%
Gel pen: 30%
Whatever's closest: 17%
Pencil: 11%
Felt-tip pen: 7%

Georgia was the ________ state admitted to the United States. What number is it?

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Redistricting Lawsuits, FEMA Approves $109M, and Memphis in May

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1868, the U.S. Senate acquitted President Andrew Johnson—Tennessee's own—by a single swing vote, making him the first U.S. president to survive an impeachment trial.

Memphis in May is back, and one group has gone all out to honor a beloved late team member in the World Championship BBQ contest. Find their story in Et Cetera below.

Today's sponsor, Money.com, is helping homeowners unlock record levels of home equity by matching them with HELOC providers that could save thousands in rates and fees in under a minute.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog, your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Federal Lawsuit Targets Tennessee Redistricting

The NAACP and League of Women Voters filed a federal lawsuit on May 14 alleging Tennessee's redrawn congressional map intentionally discriminates against black voters in Memphis and Shelby County.

The suit argues that a three-day special legislative session unlawfully eliminated Congressional District 9—the state's only black-majority district, anchored in Memphis for more than 50 years. The redrawn map splits Memphis across three congressional districts, the groups allege, with the intent of eliminating black political representation.

The same day, U.S. Chief District Judge William L. Campbell Jr. denied a temporary restraining order sought by Tennessee Democrats and Democratic U.S. House candidates to block the new lines. The judge also canceled a hearing scheduled for May 20.

Multiple federal suits challenging the map are now pending in court, with candidate filing deadlines approaching and more legal battles expected ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Only Democrat in Congress Retires After Redistricting

Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday that he is dropping his reelection bid and retiring from Congress after nearly two decades representing Memphis—forced out by the Republican-controlled legislature's redrawing of his district into three GOP-leaning seats.

"I don't want to quit. I'm not a quitter," Cohen told reporters. "But these districts were drawn to beat me."

Cohen, 76, has held Tennessee's only majority-black congressional district since 2007 and is the first Jewish person ever elected to represent the state in Congress.

His retirement comes in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court's Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which curtailed Voting Rights Act protections and opened the door for Southern states to eliminate majority-minority districts.

Titans Open 2026 vs. Jets, Eagles

The Titans unveiled their 2026 schedule earlier this week, opening the season at home on September 13 against the New York Jets.

Week 2 brings another home date—September 20 against the Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off their Super Bowl LIX run. Back-to-back home openers give Nashville's team a rare chance to build early momentum before the road schedule kicks in.

New Titans head coach Robert Saleh spent four seasons running the New York sideline before the Jets parted ways with him five games into 2024. Tennessee is coming off a 3-14 campaign and enters 2026 deep in rebuild mode.

Flying together with our sponsor

Homeowners Are Quietly Tapping Record Equity

Here's a number most homeowners haven't checked lately: their equity.

The average homeowner now has about $315,000 in equity, and many are using a HELOC to consolidate debt, renovate, or cover major expenses.

But rates and fees vary widely by lender.

That's why the experts at Money.com built a tool that matches you with the right HELOC provider in under a minute.

[Try the HELOC Matching Tool →]

➤ Statewide: FEMA approved $109 million for Tennessee as part of a $5.4 billion federal distribution reimbursing states for COVID-19 emergency response costs. The funds will repay expenses Tennessee incurred during the pandemic. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Multiple Knox County Sheriff's Office leaders—current and former—were charged this week in what local outlets are calling a significant corruption investigation. (More)

➤ Memphis: The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit alleging Memphis Safe Task Force agents engaged in a "startling pattern" of intimidation against bystanders who filmed them. A former prosecutor raised concerns about the task force's fatal Burger King shooting. (More)

➤ Nashville: A father sued Metro Nashville Public Schools after a teacher allegedly taped his 7-year-old son to a desk. The boy was only freed when another teacher noticed him, according to the lawsuit. (More)

➤ Statewide: Tennessee launched the Veterans Connect Portal, a new website helping service members, veterans, and their families find state and federal support services in one place. (More)

➤ The Lady Vols softball team opened NCAA regional play on Friday in Knoxville, hosting Virginia, Indiana, and Northern Kentucky at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Belmont also entered regional play yesterday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (More)

➤ Tennessee men's basketball added VCU transfer center Christian Fermin as the final addition to its offseason portal class. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 blocks per game as a junior. (More)

➤ Grizzlies fans gathered outside FedExForum in Memphis earlier this week, leaving flowers in tribute to forward Brandon Clarke, who died at 29 on May 11. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Flying together with our sponsor

If you’re sitting on untapped home equity, Money.com says you may be able to turn it into cash for renovations, debt consolidation, or major expenses without touching your savings.

Their latest guide compares top home equity loan and HELOC lenders, breaks down current rates, and explains how homeowners can access funds with predictable monthly payments.

With rates and lending standards varying widely, finding the right option could save you thousands over the life of the loan.

LEARN MORE

➤ Memphis: The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is taking place at Liberty Park, with the Three Taxi Guys team rolling out a new open-fire cooker honoring late teammate Rick Hewitt. (More)

➤ Dickson: Grammy-winning country star Lainey Wilson married former NFL quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges in a waterfall ceremony inside historic Ruskin Cave last weekend, with Vogue dropping the photos on Instagram this week. (More)

➤ Warren County: Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park has been designated Tennessee's 64th state park, protecting more than 5,000 years of history atop one of the nation's largest cave systems. (More)

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