Monday, February 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1842, Putnam County, named for Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, was created by the twenty-fourth Tennessee General Assembly from parts of Jackson, Overton, Fentress, and White counties.

Limited-edition enamel pins are becoming a must-have on Vanderbilt’s campus. See today’s Et Cetera for all the reasons why.

From today’s sponsor, Incogni—learn why scam calls aren’t random and how removing your personal data from brokers can help stop spam, phishing, and identity theft before it starts.

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.

NES Draws Criticism

In the wake of criticism following the recent winter storm, Nashville Electric Service released a restoration timeline and online tool, saying 90% of customers will regain power by Tuesday and 99% by Sunday.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell called the pace of power restoration unacceptable, pressuring NES to accelerate repairs after more than 230,000 customers lost power, displacing residents into hotels, rentals, and homes of loved ones.

Gov. Bill Lee requested an expedited major disaster declaration for 23 counties as power restoration remains the top priority. The Tennessee Department of Health reports that there were 21 weather-related deaths.

The Lighter Side of the Winter Storm

Tennesseans shared photos with local news outlets showing pets and families coping with the recent winter storm.

Lakeshore Park in Knoxville was a popular spot for sledding and snowboarding, while others sent in snapshots of their snow-covered yards, cars, and patio furniture. One bald eagle statue appeared to have "a new hairdo."

The notorious W. College Street railroad underpass in Murfreesboro also had a picture-perfect moment, teaming up with the cold weather to humble another truck, halting traffic until police and a wrecker freed it by deflating the tires.

List: Top Housing Markets in TN

A ranking of Tennessee's 30 fastest-selling housing markets placed Germantown first, with homes remaining on the market an average of 26 days.

The ranking evaluated markets by how quickly listings went under contract, the share of homes off the market within two weeks, and the average sale-to-list ratio. Germantown ranked first despite posting the state's fourth-highest median home sale price at $481,750. See Germantown listings here.

Milan, Newbern, Dyersburg, and Arlington rounded out the top five, posting average days on market of 31.5, a median sale price of $257,850, and a sale-to-list ratio of 93.4%.

Sixteenth-ranked Forest Hills had the highest median sale price at $2,500,000, while the 30th-ranked market was Memphis. See the full list here.

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Unknown Number Calling? It's Not Random

The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras as they laughed at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don't pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.

Once your data is out there, it's not just calls. It's phishing, impersonation, and identity theft. That's why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear.

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➤ Statewide: Tennessee is among 12 states invited by the Democrat Party to submit bids for early 2028 presidential nominating contests as the party begins shaping its primary calendar. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: The Tennessee National Guard continues its Winter Storm Fern response, with more than 270 Soldiers and Airmen supporting debris removal, welfare checks, and power restoration across Middle and West Tennessee. (More)

➤ Nashville: Susan G. Komen and Trisha Yearwood announced the "Band As One Nashville Concert for the Cure" at the Opry House on March 22, featuring War & Treaty, Ashley McBryde, and other artists. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: The Community Development Department is expanding its Affordable Housing Assistance program, offering first-time homebuyers up to $50,000 for down payments and closing costs while supporting broader housing and social service needs. (More)

➤ Memphis: Two City Council members drew backlash after posting social media videos questioning whether last week’s snowfall was real, prompting meteorologists to refute the claims and explain the storm’s icy conditions. (More)

➤ Clarksville: Clarksville-Montgomery County schools will remain closed Monday, with classes added Wednesday, Feb. 4, as the district implements its inclement-weather makeup plan after exhausting stockpile days. (More)

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➤ The Nashville Predators rallied from a 2-0 first-period deficit to defeat the New York Islanders 4-3 after Predators defenseman Roman Josi snapped off this long-range go-ahead goal in the final minutes. (See goal)

➤ The Tennessee Titans have hired former New York Giants offensive assistant Cade Knox as the team continues to round out its final coaching staff under new head coach Robert Saleh. (More)

➤ Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ty Jerome made his season debut Saturday night after missing time with a calf strain, scoring 20 points in 20 minutes during the Grizzlies 131-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. (More)

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➤ Tackle your credit card debt by paying 0% interest until nearly 2028. High-interest credit cards can make it ridiculously hard to get ahead. But there’s a solution: transfer your balance to a credit card that offers a 0% intro APR until 2027 on balance transfers and no annual fee, which means more of your money actually goes toward paying down your balance. It could be worth considering if you want to break that high-interest cycle.

➤ Porter Airlines will launch daily nonstop service between Nashville International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on May 11, marking BNA’s first flight to Toronto’s downtown airport. (More)

➤ Winter storms continue to disrupt Middle Tennessee businesses, forcing limited menus, reduced hours, and causing revenue losses as supply chain delays and prolonged power outages strain small retailers and restaurants. (More)

➤ First Farmers and Merchants Bank was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a Tennessee top lender for 2025, reflecting its support of small businesses and local economic growth. (More)

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Delete your personal data

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➤ Limited-edition enamel pins have become a campus craze at Vanderbilt University, driving engagement and pride through collectible designs highlighting campus programs, history, and community. (More)

➤ A book traces the life of George Masa, a mountain-obsessed photographer shaped by early mountaineering in Japan, whose work in the Smoky Mountains helped establish the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (See Masa)

➤ A truck spilled about 300 gallons of motor oil in Clarksville on Friday, blocking an intersection and backing up eastbound traffic near Whitfield Road. (More)

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➤ Buried Hiroshima secret finally EXPOSED: If you thought history books taught you everything you needed to know about Hiroshima… you need to see this shocking video. The full story is finally coming out… and it's incredible. Watch Now.