Monday, December 23, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 2015, four long-track tornadoes caused two deaths and at least seven injuries in the largest December tornado outbreak in Middle Tennessee’s history.

If you long for a white Christmas, check out our Christmas drive video in Gatlinburg’s Smoky Mountains, set to holiday music.

Christmas and Hanukkah are near, and The Tennessee Flyover will be adjusting its coverage a bit so that our team members can spend time with their families. Beginning Christmas Day, we’ll be publishing shorter editions until the weekend and then be back on Monday with our regular publication.

Today's sponsor is the Voice of the Martyrs, which is helping provide aid to Christians in hostile territories.

Gov. Lee Pardoning 43 People

Gov. Bill Lee announced on Friday that he is granting pardons to 43 people who have completed their sentences, emphasizing that his clemency actions are distinctly different from President Joe Biden’s recent commutations.

This year’s clemency decisions mark a significant increase for Lee, nearly doubling the number of pardons he has issued in a single year since taking office.

Lee was careful to highlight that none of his actions involved shortening active sentences, commonly referred to as commutations. Instead, he focused solely on pardoning those who had already served their time and successfully reintegrated into their communities.

The governor underscored that each pardon was based on a state Board of Parole recommendation. Since becoming governor in 2019, Lee has granted seven commutations, reserving such measures for select cases while prioritizing pardons in his clemency strategy.

Star of ‘1,000-Lb Sisters’ Pleads Guilty

A star of the TLC reality show 1,000-Lb Sisters took a plea deal to resolve drug charges stemming from an arrest at a West Tennessee safari park.

Amy Slaton Halterman and her co-defendant, Brian Lovvorn, pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession of marijuana and one count of simple possession of mushrooms. They were each sentenced to 11 months and 29 days, with the sentences to run consecutively.

As part of the plea agreement, they must pay court costs and a $1,000 fine, complete an alcohol and drug assessment and follow any recommendations, and attend a state-certified parenting class. Both are banned from Tennessee Safari Park.

Halterman and Lovvorn were arrested in September after Crockett County deputies responded to a report at Tennessee Safari Park in Alamo, where Halterman claimed she had been bitten by a camel.

Last Tuskegee Airmen from Memphis Dies

Jerry T. Hodges Jr., the last Tuskegee Airman from Memphis, passed away on Thursday at the age of 99.

Hodges served as one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering group of Black Army Air Corps cadets during World War II. He became a Tuskegee pilot in 1945 and was assigned to the 607th Bomb Squadron of the 477th Bomber Group.

According to reports, Hodges was among some 500 individuals who completed the rigorous Tuskegee pilot training program but didn't see combat.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions and legacy, Hodges was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2012.

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Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

His mission? To meet the courageous men and women who have faced persecution for their unwavering faith in Christ. Todd has traveled far and wide to hear their powerful stories firsthand and to bring their voices to the world, sharing their extraordinary testimonies of faith and resilience.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Middle Tennessee: Many people thought they saw a meteor in the sky Saturday night, but it was actually a Chinese satellite. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Workers at the Amazon Fulfillment Center were greeted by about a half dozen members of the Teamsters Union on Thursday. (See Pictures)

➤ Memphis: 81 Memphis-Shelby County schools improved their grades in the latest State Report Card. (More)

➤ Knoxville: A Tennessee state lawmaker has introduced a bill to offer free access to feminine hygiene products at schools. (More)

➤ Coffee County: A missing 14-year-old girl, Ashlyn Duke, was found after being reported missing on Tuesday. (More)

➤ Nashville: Police reported that a 57-year-old woman stole nearly $2,500 in Grinch Christmas decorations from two Home Depot locations last month. (See Video)

➤ Clarksville: Members of a Middle Tennessee community are speaking out about a state plan to possibly drain Swan Lake in Dunbar Cave State Park. (See Video)

➤ The Titans lost to the Indianapolis Colts 38-30 in Week 16 NFL football action with Mason Rudolph starting in place of Levi Willis. (More)

➤ The UT Vols football team fell to Ohio State 42-17 in the first round of the college playoffs in Columbus on Saturday night. (More)

➤ ESPN announced Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes was nominated for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class. (More)

➤ Three Tennessee colleges were included in the latest ranking of the top 75 most valuable college athletic programs, including the University of Tennessee (No. 9), Vanderbilt University, and the University of Memphis. (See List)

Yesterday’s results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA

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➤ Memphis-based FedEx will spin off its FedEx Freight division, creating a new publicly traded company, the company's board of directors announced. (More)

➤ State employers added 56,000 non-farm jobs over the past year, despite an increase in the unemployment rate last month, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. (More)

➤ The Incline Railway in Chattanooga announced that it plans to reopen by summer after a recent fire damaged cable, rails, and tiles. (More)

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➤ Find the perfect stocking stuffers with The Tennessee Flyover! Peeps™ are a revolutionary new way to get spotless lenses. They clean perfectly every time and are trusted by leading Optometrists worldwide. Keep your glasses crystal clear; no cloth required! (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ HGTV's Flippin Impossible featured Knoxville couple Sarah and Tyler Morrow tackling the restoration of a Victorian-style home in an episode titled "Opportunity Knox." (Watch Report)

➤ Want to get away from it all? Tennessee State Parks is offering a list of cozy cabins for warm winter stays, perfect for those seeking solitude in a natural setting. (See List)

➤ A soothing drive through the snowy Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg offers the Christmas magic needed to put anyone in the holiday spirit. (Watch Video)

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➤ The “Fruit” That Makes You Burn More Fat After 50. Scientists have uncovered a fascinating connection between a unique fruit and your body's natural ability to burn calories. This specialized powder is showing remarkable results for people who thought their metabolism was permanently sluggish. (More)