Monday, January 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1918, Nashville reached a high of 2 degrees Fahrenheit, marking the city’s lowest daily high on record.

Dolly Parton lends her iconic voice to Tennessee: The Original Frontier, a short film created in partnership with Gov. Bill Lee to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and the Volunteer State’s impact on the nation. See the short film in the story below.

Former Trump administration official Steve Bannon is laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2028. How serious is he? Listen to Ayla Brown as she breaks down Bannon's not-so-quiet moves towards a run in 2028 in today's Flyover Podcast episode. Watch it here.

As AI reshapes the global economy beyond just chips, today’s sponsor, EnergyX, is positioning itself at the center of the massive lithium demand powering the next wave of innovation.

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.

Chickamauga Lock Project Gets Full Funding

Tennessee's long-delayed Chickamauga Lock replacement is finally fully funded after the U.S. House passed a key appropriations bill Thursday.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann secured $213 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the navigation lock, originally built in 1940 and now structurally compromised.

The new lock will boost river traffic efficiency for moving goods like coal and agriculture along the inland waterway system.

Completion is expected by 2029, with officials calling it a major win for infrastructure and commerce in the region.

'Pig Whisperer' Helps Rescue Stranded Swine

Two pigs abandoned on Looney Island in the Tennessee River were safely rescued this week, thanks in part to a staffer dubbed a "pig whisperer."

Young Williams Animal Center and Knox County Rescue used boats and teamwork to track the pigs across the remote island, which is only slightly larger than a football field.

The smaller pig was coaxed into a carrier, while the larger one put up a fight before finally being contained.

Both animals are now in foster care on a stray hold.

Dolly and Gov. Lee Team Up for TN History Film

Dolly Parton has lent her voice to a new short film celebrating Tennessee's role in American history. See the video here.

Titled Tennessee: The Original Frontier, the film is part of the nationwide America 250 campaign and was produced in partnership with Gov. Bill Lee.

The three-minute feature highlights the state's historic contributions and enduring spirit, with Parton narrating themes of pride and resilience.

The project seeks to inspire reflection as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary.

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Nvidia's Not the Only Winner of the AI Boom

The AI boom's demand for chips turned Nvidia into the most valuable company on the market. But chips won't be the only winner.

Keeping these AI processors running is creating substantial new demand for lithium. Google alone needs 100+ million lithium-ion cells to power its AI data centers.

With experts forecasting 5X lithium demand growth by 2040, it's no wonder 40,000+ investors backed EnergyX. Their patented tech can recover 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That's already earned investment from giants like General Motors and POSCO.

Now, they're moving toward commercial production. With 100,000+ acres of lithium deposits in Chile, that's a potential $1.1B in annual revenue opportunity at projected market prices.

Invest in this boom as an early-stage EnergyX shareholder today.*

➤ Knoxville: Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican representing the Knoxville area, was appointed on Friday to chair the House Department of Government Efficiency subcommittee under Oversight Chairman James Comer. (More)

➤ Also Knoxville: The General Services Administration is seeking an 11,000-square-foot office in West Knoxville for federal law enforcement use, with space potentially used to process, detain, or question prisoners. (More)

➤ Cocke County: Eastern Plating and American Appliance Products each received more than $2 million through the state's first-ever Industry Recovery Grants to aid recovery from Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Springfield: A small single-engine plane made a belly landing Saturday morning at Springfield Robertson County Airport after its landing gear failed to deploy. No injuries were reported. (See Video)

➤ Memphis: St. Andrew AME Church gave away more than 400 pairs of shoes and school supplies during a wellness fair to help children return to school after winter break. (See Photos)

➤ Nashville: Community donations have saved The End, a beloved Nashville rock club where bands like The White Stripes got their start, after rising rent nearly forced it to close. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans have completed interviews with seven candidates for the team’s vacant head coaching position. (See Candidates)

➤ The Nashville Predators were held scoreless in a 3-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, marking the first time the Predators have been blanked since November. (More)

➤ Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and return man Chimere Dike were both named 2025 NFL AP first-team All-Pros. (More)

➤ Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant missed another game, sparking rumors that he may have played his last game with the team amid recent trade rumors. (More)

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➤ Knoxville-based Solar Alliance is partnering with Google and Appalachian Voices to build community resilience hubs in two Virginia towns, providing solar power, battery storage, and emergency resources. (More)

➤ Gaylord Opryland Resort will host an in-person hiring event on Friday to fill front-of-house and culinary jobs for its new Foundry Fieldhouse Sports Bar & Taproom opening this spring. (More)

➤ Westy’s, a longtime Downtown Memphis restaurant in the Pinch District, is for sale for more than $500,000 after operating for over 40 years. (More)

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Investors Can't Get Enough of This Precious Metal

The price of lithium recently hit its highest levels since late 2023.

No surprise with experts expecting demand to jump 30-40% next year and Google deploying 100+ million lithium-ion cells to help power their AI data centers.

Even less surprising? 40,000+ people joined General Motors as early-stage EnergyX investors to get a piece of this boom. Their patented tech recovers up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. It's more than the tech turning heads, though.

They're moving toward commercial production on 100,000+ acres of lithium-rich Chilean land, a potential $1.1B annual revenue opportunity at projected market prices. Next up? ~50,000 acres of deposits in Arkansas and Texas.

Become an early-stage EnergyX investor today.

Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. ("EnergyX") has engaged The Flyover to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX's ongoing Regulation A offering. The Flyover has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. The Flyover and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX.
This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX's offering materials. EnergyX's Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/.

➤ A Knoxville couple exchanged vows in a Chattanooga hospital room as the groom's battle with leukemia and kidney failure prompted an expedited wedding. (See Wedding)

➤ Vanderbilt is the nation's only school with both men's and women's basketball teams unbeaten at 16-0, marking a historic start for the university's top athletic programs. (More)

➤ A black bear broke into and ransacked a Gatlinburg candy store for the fourth time, prompting the owners to ask wildlife officials to relocate the animal. (See Photos)

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