Monday, December 30, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1962, 18-year-old Brenda Lee's house in Nashville was destroyed in a fire, tragically claiming the life of her poodle, Cee Cee. Lee would later become one of Tennessee's most beloved musicians, best known for the holiday classic Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

Tennessee police officers are often tasked with tracking down suspects, but over the weekend, Knoxville police were called to chase a loose pig running through the city streets—a moment captured in a video featured in our Et Cetera section below.

Later today, we'll share a special message about Todd Nettleton's collection of stories, When Faith Is Forbidden. As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to consider supporting persecuted Christians—your gift to The Voice of the Martyrs will bring you this powerful book from the frontlines of faith.

Pharmacist Accused of $6M in Fraud

A Tennessee pharmacist has been accused of submitting over $6 million in false claims since 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Philip Hall, 48, of Jamestown, owned and operated Hall Family Pharmacy, Inc., with locations in Jamestown and Clarkrange.

As the pharmacist-in-charge, Hall allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and Blue Cross Blue Shield for prescription drugs that were either medically unnecessary, not dispensed, or not prescribed by a doctor.

The Justice Department further alleges that Hall used others' identities without authorization to seek reimbursement from healthcare programs and misused the proceeds for personal gain.

Parental Permission Law Begins for Social Media

Starting Jan. 1, a new law will require all Tennessee children under 18 to obtain parental consent before creating a social media account.

The law is designed to protect children's mental health and limit their exposure to harmful online content.

Under this legislation, minors seeking to join platforms like Facebook or Instagram must have their age verified by social media companies and secure parental permission. Parents will also be able to supervise their children's accounts.

The Tennessee Attorney General has warned social media companies of potential legal action if they fail to comply with the new requirements.

TN Band to Perform at Trump’s Inauguration

The Stewarts Creek High School band has been chosen to perform in the 60th Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20.

Selected by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, the band will represent Smyrna, Rutherford County Schools, and the state of Tennessee during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Chosen from groups across the nation, the band is raising funds through a campaign seeking financial and in-kind contributions from community members, alumni, and businesses to cover travel and performance expenses. You can support the band here.

Dear Reader,

This time last year, The Tennessee Flyover didn’t even exist!

Now we’re at 26,000.

How did we get this far together in just a few months? Simply put, we got here because of you.

We supply the elbow grease, the late nights, and about 1,500 words per day, sure.

None of it would matter if you weren’t with us. The Tennessee Flyover would crash and burn without the direct support of our readers, and we appreciate you.

Now, we’re turning our attention to 2025.

We have big plans, and we need lots of help to accomplish them. If you enjoy reading The Tennessee Flyover in the mornings, would you consider giving us a year-end gift?

Despite all those big numbers, we’re still a small operation. I would really appreciate your support!

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I’m grateful for all your support in 2024, and I’m excited to grow together in 2025.

Thank you!
-Cole, CEO

➤ Millington: The fire department rescued six people from four vehicles trapped due to flood waters following Saturday night’s storms in Western Tennessee. (More)

➤ Collegedale: A vehicle and a train collided in Collegedale Friday evening, police say, but no one was injured. (More)

➤ Anderson County: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is probing an officer-involved shooting that happened overnight on Friday. (More)

➤ Memphis: The I-55 area near Mclemore is closed due to flash flooding following storms that swept through the South over the weekend. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: A new transportation museum is coming to the community after entrepreneur Craig Fuller acquired the artifacts of the Thomas Museum to help launch the location. (Watch Video)

➤ Hardin County: Two lost hunters—one adult and a 9-year-old—were found by Hardin County Fire Department officials by using a thermal drone to fly over Walker Branch Wildlife Management Area. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 on Sunday in Week 17 NFL action. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt University defeated Georgia Tech 35-27 in Friday’s Birmingham Bowl, giving the program its first postseason win in 11 years. (More)

➤ Vols running back Dylan Sampson announced that he will enter the 2025 NFL draft after his team concluded its season by playing its first playoff game in program history. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ UPS is temporarily suspending 150 jobs in Athens after a fire severely damaged its location and two dozen trucks earlier this month. (More)

➤ Asheville-based company Sauna House is expanding to North Knoxville. The location will feature a variety of saunas and cold plunges. (More)

➤ Discount retailer Big Lots reached a last-minute deal to avoid bankruptcy, allowing it to keep hundreds of stores open, including many of its 38 locations across Tennessee. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Dear Reader,

The Tennessee Flyover wouldn’t exist without you.

It might sound like a cliche, but it’s true. If you didn’t tell your friends and family about us, we wouldn’t grow. If you didn’t support us directly, we couldn’t keep the lights on.

The Tennessee Flyover is all about you!

We’re grateful for all your support this year, and we’re excited to make this even better in 2025. Would you help us with a year-end gift? I would truly appreciate it!

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➤ HGTV's new list of the 50 most charming small towns in America includes the Tennessee community of Paris, noting its replica Eiffel Tower and reputation for holding the world's biggest fish fry. (See List)

➤ Blount County firefighters rescued three horses stuck in deep mud on Saturday following heavy rains. The county fire department posted pictures of the heroic actions. (See Pictures)

➤ Knoxville police officers spent part of Saturday morning chasing a loose pig near a Wendy's on North Broadway. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

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