Thursday, July 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1918, a crowded troop train collided head-on with a passenger train near Dutchman's Bend in Nashville, killing an estimated 121 people in what remains the deadliest train wreck in American history.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will soon begin demolishing the LeConte Lodge recreation building, with a new one expected to open next year. What's your favorite spot in the park? Reply to tell us!

More than half of retirees in the last five years say they regret how they planned, and it's usually not the mistakes you'd expect. Experts say the ones that quietly derail retirement stay hidden until after the paycheck stops, when a handful of overlooked missteps start compounding at the worst possible time. In today's Flyover Podcast, Amy breaks down the five most common retirement mistakes and how to sidestep them before they cost you. Tune in here to learn more!

Today's sponsor, AirCar, is giving investors a chance to get in early on its vertically integrated flying car company, with a limited-time offer of 10% bonus shares before the current funding round closes.

Report: Data Centers Driving Up Electric Bills

A new Think Tennessee report finds that residential electricity bills in communities with data centers rose 1.6% faster than the statewide average between 2023 and 2024, pushing the average monthly electric bill to about $150.

The report also found that electricity use from data centers in the Tennessee Valley region has increased sevenfold over the past five years, raising concerns about strain on the electric grid.

Nashville council member Rollin Horton, who is sponsoring data center zoning legislation, noted that one proposed Nashville facility alone would consume as much electricity as 50,000 homes.

The Think Tennessee research director said the goal isn't to pass judgment on data centers but to ensure growth is balanced with benefits for Tennesseans.

Tennessee in $165M Cash App Settlement

Tennessee is one of several states that reached a settlement with Block, the owner of Cash App, after a lawsuit alleged the company misled users into believing their money was safe while failing to protect them from fraud.

Under the settlement, Block will pay $45 million and overhaul its customer service practices, plus an additional $75 million to $120 million to compensate victims, bringing the total potential payout to $165 million.

The lawsuit also accuses the peer-to-peer payment app of listing a customer service phone number for years before actually providing phone support. The states argued that Block's lack of phone support created opportunities for scammers to set up fake customer service lines and take over users' accounts.

Consumers who were defrauded through the app may be eligible for compensation through the settlement fund.

I-40 Bridge Renamed for President Trump

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to Jefferson County today to officially rename the I-40 Douglas Lake Bridge the Donald J. Trump Bridge.

The structure spans the French Broad River near Dandridge and will become one of the most prominent federal landmarks bearing the president's name in Tennessee.

Several top elected officials are expected to join Bessent for the ceremony, including Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, and Rep. Tim Burchett, along with state Sen. Jessie Seal and state Rep. Jeremy Faison.

The bridge currently carries the I-40 designation near Douglas Lake in Dandridge, one of East Tennessee's largest and most-visited lakes, sitting in the heart of Jefferson County.

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The Real Reason This Flying Car Can Move Faster

Here's something most flying car companies won't tell you: they don't actually build their own aircraft. They assemble parts from outside suppliers, then wait on everyone else's timelines and price tags.

AirCar does it differently. They're an original equipment manufacturer, building everything in-house, from carbon fiber airframes to 400V motors. No outside suppliers or margin lost to middlemen.

That control is exactly why AirCar can price its LightSport at $99K (4X more affordable than competitor EHang's $410K+ aircraft), while hitting roughly 50% target margins. That’s also why it can move toward commercialization faster than competitors who are still years into heavy air-taxi certification.

Now you can get in on the growth as an early-stage AirCar shareholder. But don’t wait: you have 4 days left to receive 10% bonus shares.

➤ Statewide: Gov. Bill Lee said Tennessee's execution protocols will remain unchanged after the failed Carruthers attempt, pushing back on calls for revision ahead of a Sept. 30 execution date. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Local native Kyle Hixson was sworn in to the Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday. Hixson is a former deputy district attorney who once called Tennessee baseball games as a color commentator. (More)

➤ Memphis: A state audit of the school district found $119 million in fraud, waste, and questionable costs. The comptroller called it among the worst government mismanagement he has ever seen. (See Details)

➤ Madison County: Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection spread through contaminated produce, have been confirmed locally. The multistate outbreak has sickened at least 145 people. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg: Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin demolishing LeConte Lodge's recreation building via helicopter airlift. A replacement building is expected to open next year. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The city has applied for another federal Safe Streets for All grant in its goal to eliminate traffic fatalities. Leaders plan to add traffic detection technology and improve safety infrastructure. (More)

Enjoy reading The Tennessee Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Former University of Memphis basketball player Zachary Davis is one of 12 athletes filing a lawsuit in Tennessee seeking an additional year of NCAA eligibility. The suit argues that the NCAA's new age-based eligibility model unfairly eliminated a fifth year for players who never redshirted. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt pitcher JD Thompson headlines a group of Commodores who could hear their names called in next week's MLB Draft. Second baseman Mike Mancini and outfielder Logan Johnstone are also expected to be selected. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies officially landed center Quinten Post after the Warriors declined to match Memphis' three-year, $30 million offer sheet. The big man averaged 4.1 three-point attempts per game last season. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Grizzlies also picked up point guard D'Angelo Russell and two future second-round picks from the Wizards as part of a six-team sign-and-trade centered on forward Khris Middleton. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Wimbledon

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➤ Tennessee's $30 million incentive to bring Starbucks to Nashville is splitting GOP governor candidates. Rep. John Rose calls it "corporate welfare" while Sen. Marsha Blackburn is defending the deal. (More)

➤ Tanger Outlets Sevierville has added Ulta Beauty and Portland Leather Goods following a renovation that also brought in Sephora, Buckle, and Vineyard Vines. (More)

➤ Developers released renderings for the $450 million Rivergate Mall redevelopment in Goodlettsville, which will include townhomes, a hotel, and retail space. Construction is expected through 2030. (See Renderings)

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The Flying Car Market Is Growing 550% By 2030

There's a pattern to the way new markets take off. First they're dismissed, then they're debated, then they're obvious. By then, the early opportunity is gone. The flying car market is somewhere between the first two stages, which is exactly where you want to be.

In 2024, the global eVTOL market was worth $4.4B. By 2030, it's projected to hit $28.6B. That's 550% growth in six years.

Most retail investors will watch it happen from the sidelines. A few will get in now.

AirCar is already in the market: $21M in deposit-backed pre-orders, 1,000+ manned test flights, a $99K aircraft that's 4X more affordable than the competition and first deliveries ~12 months out.

Invest by the July 13 deadline to receive 10% bonus shares.

This is a paid advertisement for AirCar Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.aircar.aero/

➤ Tennessee's tax-free weekend runs July 31 through Aug. 2, covering clothing and school supplies under $100 per item and computers under $1,500, just in time for back-to-school shopping. (More)

➤ A Dickson dentist spent a decade building a miniature railroad on his family farm, a childhood dream he started planning in dental school and finished in 2020 alongside his late father. (See Railroad)

➤ Walmart and Soccer Forward brought more than 200 Boys & Girls Club kids together for a World Cup-themed soccer event in Nashville. (See Video)

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➤ Researchers recently discovered why so many collagen supplements fail to deliver noticeable results. It isn't because collagen doesn't work...It's because much of it never gets absorbed in the first place.That's why scientists are taking a closer look at a delicious new way to consume collagen that helps the body absorb dramatically more than traditional powders or pills. Read the full story here.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ More than half of retirees regret their planning, undone by five mistakes they never saw coming. (See List)

➤ Search crews have found the Boeing 737 cargo plane that vanished in the Arabian Sea. (Hear Details)

➤ Nike is being sued for allegedly copying 7-Eleven's trademark colors days before the shoe's launch. (Listen Now)