Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1938, Anita Wood Brewer, a Miss Tennessee runner-up, actress, and television personality, who was widely known for her relationship with Elvis Presley, was born in Bells.

From fly-fishing destinations to quirky small towns, a new Southern Living roundup is shining a spotlight on Tennessee’s best mountain spots for road-trippers and locals alike. See details in the story below.

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our sponsor, RAD Intel, about a current investment opportunity at $0.95/share and the AI platform it’s building to help major brands improve ad performance.

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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.

Cedar Hill Mayor Targets Data Centers

Cedar Hill Mayor John Edwards is proposing a two-year moratorium on new data centers in Robertson County, fueling debate about how Tennessee should regulate the AI-driven building boom.

Edwards says a data center proposed just across the state line in Kentucky made him realize the issue was “at our back door.” He plans to introduce a moratorium resolution at the June city meeting, citing concerns over electricity demand, water use, and air quality.

Tennessee already hosts more than 60 data centers, including Meta’s 900-acre Gallatin campus, which draws 300 megawatts of power.

Kirk Offel, founder and CEO of Overwatch Mission Critical, called community concerns outdated, pointing to modern closed-loop cooling that uses little water.

Lee Names Memphis Schools Oversight Board

Gov. Bill Lee has named his five appointees to the new oversight board that will take control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools as early as July 1.

All five appointees are Memphians, ranging from a former MSCS superintendent to the former head of both the National Civil Rights Museum and the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

The nine-member board will control the district's $1.7 billion budget and shape the education of 100,000 children for at least four years, with a possible two-year extension.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally will each appoint two more members, with at least one coming from outside Shelby County. Once seated, the board can hire a new superintendent or keep the current district leader in place.

List: Can't-Miss Mountain Towns

Southern Living rounded up 10 Tennessee mountain towns that mix scenic views, hiking, history, and small-town charm, from the Smokies to the Cumberland Plateau.

Townsend, which is praised as the Peaceful Side of the Smokies, was recognized for its rural vibe and easy access to Smoky Mountain hiking.

Chattanooga made the list for balancing outdoor adventure with city comforts, while tiny Rugby stood out for its unusual British roots and access to Big South Fork wilderness.

The list also highlights Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town and home to the National Storytelling Festival, plus Johnson City for mountain biking and breweries.

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➤ Statewide: Defense attorneys are urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt all executions after a botched lethal injection last week. A court filing alleges the assigned doctor hadn't placed a central line in 13 years. (More)

➤ Claiborne County: Duncan Lumber, a local institution since 1909, is working to reopen after an EF-0 tornado destroyed one building and tore open the main warehouse Friday evening. (More)

➤ Thompson's Station: A woman is asking for the return of family heirlooms taken from her garage during a community yard sale. The missing pieces are valued at more than $10,000. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: A new study ranked the city among the nation's safest midsize cities in the United States. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The cost of TDOT's Moccasin Bend Widening Project expanding I-24 has ballooned to $546 million, a roughly $300 million increase over original estimates. (More)

➤ Ripley: Multiple fights broke out at Ripley High School's graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 14, leading to 11 arrests and disrupting the celebration for graduates and their families. (More)

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➤ Two Tennessee schools made the 64-team NCAA baseball tournament field: Tennessee and Lipscomb. Vanderbilt missed the tournament for the first time since 2005, ending a 19-year streak. (See Schedule)

➤ No. 7 Tennessee softball will open the Women's College World Series tomorrow against No. 2 Texas in Oklahoma City. (See Schedule)

➤ Memphis baseball’s Freddy Rodriguez was named to the American Conference All-Tournament Team after hitting .529 with a homer, two doubles, and two stolen bases across four games. The Tigers did not make the NCAA tournament, however. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Tornadoes, a Knoxville wheelchair basketball team, are looking for new players ahead of the upcoming season. Head coach Josh Loop started the program after driving his son 200 miles each way to practice in Atlanta. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ Multiple Tennessee cities landed on a list of the 50 most overpriced U.S. housing markets, with Kingsport ranking highest at No. 16. (More)

➤ AutoZone reported its fiscal Q3 earnings yesterday, with the Memphis-based auto parts chain posting $38.07 per share. (More)

➤ Chattanooga's average hourly wage grew 4% to $28.21, still trailing the national average of $33.54. UTC economists cite lower education levels and job mix as the key drivers. (More)

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➤ The Tennessee Titans are hosting seven coed youth football camps across the state this summer for kids ages 7-14, with stops in areas like Gallatin, Clarksville, and Murfreesboro. (More)

➤ Pizza Hut is bringing back red cups, checkered tablecloths, vinyl booths, and classic arcade games at two East Tennessee locations as part of a nostalgic dining revival. (More)

➤ Nashville Public Library is spending record amounts on digital books as e-books now make up the majority of circulation. Each e-title costs the library far more per checkout than a printed copy. (More)

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