Monday, May 11, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1979, Duncan’s Chapel-native Lester Flatt, best known as the guitarist and lead singer of Flatt and Scruggs, whose music helped bring bluegrass into the national spotlight, died in Nashville.

Different corners of Tennessee celebrated Mother’s Day weekend in their own special ways, from a Memphis documentary about an orangutan’s cesarean birth to a Kingsport plant show. See details in the stories below.

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Oak Ridge Featured in UFO Files

Newly released Pentagon documents detail reported UFO sightings over Oak Ridge in the late 1940s and early 1950s, including one case military investigators called “a source of great concern.”

The files describe photos allegedly taken in 1947 by Oak Ridge resident W.R. Presley, showing mysterious objects in the sky near the Atomic Energy Commission hub during the early Cold War years.

Officials at the time reportedly believed the photos were authentic, though concerns centered less on extraterrestrials and more on fears of advanced Soviet or nuclear-powered aircraft entering U.S. airspace.

The release also includes reports of 1950 radar detections over Oak Ridge that military personnel could not immediately explain.

Tennessee Expands Biomarker Testing

Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation on Friday expanding insurance coverage for biomarker testing in Tennessee, including for people enrolled in TennCare and state employee health plans.

The tests can help detect diseases like cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s earlier and guide more targeted treatments.

Supporters, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, are heralding the law as a major win for patients. One lung cancer survivor who advocated for the bill said biomarker testing and precision medicine helped save his life and gave him more time with his family.

The law takes effect in January, providing doctors with an easier path to matching Tennessee patients with the right treatment before diseases progress too far.

Our American Story Visits Tennessee

The Our American Story project rolled into Tennessee this weekend, inviting folks to step inside an Airstream trailer to record their personal stories ahead of America’s 250th birthday.

The mobile archive stopped in Clarksville on Sunday and heads to Franklin today. Organizers are collecting video interviews from everyday Tennesseans between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The effort is part of the congressionally supported America250 initiative, a nonpartisan campaign aimed at reflecting on the nation’s past while preserving voices from the present.

Recorded stories will be stored in the Library of Congress, building what project leaders hope becomes the largest archive of contemporary American experiences. Learn more about the project here.

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➤ East Tennessee: Low rainfall has left lakes below normal summer levels, exposing more shoreline and hazards as TVA urges boaters to use caution. (More)

➤ Memphis: A state lawmaker called for Memphis to secede after lawmakers approved a congressional map that splits the city into three districts. (More)

➤ Also Memphis: The Memphis Zoo premiered a Mother’s Day special featuring the cesarean birth of baby Sumatran orangutan Ruhana, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the endangered primate’s arrival. (See Details)

➤ Nashville: Police arrested a social media influencer at a downtown steakhouse after he allegedly refused to pay a nearly $400 bill and caused a disturbance during a livestream. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Student sports journalists produced a documentary about Tennessee baseball player Grayson Pope, who returned to the team after surviving a 42-day coma caused by a falling tree. (See Details)

➤ Kingsport: The Tennessee Plant Show welcomed thousands of plant lovers on Saturday as vendors showcased rare and exotic plants from around the world. (More)

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➤ The Memphis Grizzlies secured the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after finishing 25-57, despite entering Sunday’s lottery with just a 9% chance at the top selection. (More)

➤ Three Tennessee softball players received First Team All-SEC honors, including Sage Mardjetko, who led the conference with a 0.99 ERA. (More)

➤ Tennessee baseball clinched a series win over No. 4 Texas with a 14-9 victory Saturday as the Vols blasted six home runs. (More)

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➤ Local leaders and nuclear industry officials will gather at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ Pathway to Trades summit to address the growing demand for skilled workers. (More)

➤ A new report ranked Nashville among the nation’s best metros for young workers, citing strong wages, hiring rates, and affordability. (More)

➤ International companies poured nearly $8 billion into Tennessee in 2025, accelerating the state’s manufacturing boom and creating thousands of jobs. (More)

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➤ The Nashville Sounds added 7-year-old Jose Capablanca as an honorary player after gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy made him feel like Superman. (See Details)

➤ Competitive eating champion Joey Chestnut defended his title at Knoxville’s Ultimate Bologna Showdown, setting an event record after consuming 16 pounds of bologna. (See Joey Eat)

➤ Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin were spotted in Nashville celebrating their daughter Apple’s graduation from Vanderbilt. Paltrow even took the stage to perform a surprise song at The Station Inn. (More)

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