Friday, January 17, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1999, 27 tornadoes struck Tennessee and neighboring states, with an F4 hitting parts of Madison County and the town of Jackson.

Nurses at the UT Medical Center recently helped plan a wedding for a bride’s dying mother, with pictures featured in our Et Cetera section below.

We're sponsored today by Frontieras, offering an investment opportunity in an untapped energy potential.

Chattanooga 🌤️ 53°F/42°F Clarksville 🌤️ 55°F/42°F Cookeville 🌤️ 54°F/40°F Franklin 🌤️ 56°F/44°F Jackson 🌤️ 57°F/46°F Johnson City ☀️ 49°F/34°F Knoxville ☀️ 48°F/33°F Memphis 🌤️ 57°F/43°F Nashville 🌤️ 52°F/30°F

Lee Calls Special Session on School Vouchers

Gov. Bill Lee has called a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly for Jan. 27 to address school vouchers, disaster relief, and other key issues.

In a social media announcement, Lee stated that the session would focus on his Education Freedom Act, which aims to expand school voucher programs beyond select counties across the state.

Lawmakers will also consider additional disaster relief funding for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene last November.

The special session will also include discussions on public safety measures related to illegal immigration, with Lee emphasizing Tennessee’s readiness to support the administration on this issue.

Tre Hargett Reelected Secretary of State

The 2025 legislative session resumed in Nashville on Wednesday morning with a joint session where lawmakers selected officials, including Tre Hargett as Secretary of State for the 114th General Assembly.

Hargett, who has held the position since 2009, will serve his fifth consecutive four-year term as Tennessee’s 37th Secretary of State.

Jason E. Mumpower was also reelected to a third two-year term as Tennessee's Comptroller of the Treasury. His office is responsible for auditing state and local government entities, approving local government budgets, and overseeing the financial and administrative operations of state government.

David H. Lillard Jr. was reelected as State Treasurer this week, extending his tenure in the role he has held since January 2009. He will continue leading the Tennessee Department of Treasury for another two years.

Ogles Files ‘Make Greenland Great Again’ Bill

Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-05) and several Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at acquiring Greenland, titled the “Make Greenland Great Again” Act.

According to Ogles' office, the bill urges Congress to support President-elect Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate the immediate purchase of Greenland from Denmark.

They argue that the acquisition would advance American economic interests and strengthen national security. Ogles called the move “essential to our national security.”

His fellow Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), a co-sponsor of the bill, stated that Greenland’s acquisition would “not only provide a strategic military advantage and boost the American economy but also benefit the residents of Greenland.”

Flying together with our sponsor

$2.1T in Untapped Energy Potential—Invest Before They Change the Share Price

After centuries of burning coal, most people still haven't realized its true market value. Frontieras North America did, and their breakthrough patented technology has unlocked at least 8 new and profitable ways to use coal for a combined $2.1T market opportunity.

The best part? Their technology is unleashing what people are calling a “Rockefeller Moment” in the energy space—and you still have the chance to become an early investor.

It’s similar to when John D. Rockefeller commercialized oil refining technology but for coal.

Their tech is simple: rather than burning coal and wasting trillions of dollars in resources locked within it, their process extracts those resources for use in the global commodities markets:

Diesel - $935B market
Jet fuel - $391B market
Naphtha - $249B market
Hydrogen - $242B market
Fertilizer - $212B market
Metallurgical coal - $147B market
And more…

Coal is the most abundant energy resource in the world… and like Rockefeller’s oil refining technology, Frontieras’ patented technology is set to completely redefine the way the world uses coal. Their technology is patented across 85% of the world’s coal markets. If they capture just 2% of the market, they have a roadmap to achieve a $1T valuation.

They’ll soon be building their first $850m facility in West Virginia, followed by more facilities across North America.

Become an early shareholder while you still can—don’t miss your chance to invest in the "Rockefeller Moment" in the energy space before Frontieras’ share price changes on January 20th.

➤ Hamilton County: The county commission officially approved Janie Parks Varnell as the next County Attorney who will succeed current County Attorney Rheubin Taylor. (Watch Video)

➤ Nashville: The city is proposing designated rideshare zones to ease downtown traffic congestion. (More)

➤ Memphis: Raleigh-Egypt High School is paying tribute to 10th grader Cornelius Perry, 15, who collapsed during track practice and died Monday. (More)

➤ Morristown: Two East Tennessee school districts were impacted by a PowerSchool data breach that leaked access to the private information of students. (More)

➤ Johnson City: The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has lifted an advisory stating the public should avoid all contact with waterbodies affected by Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Statewide: Tennessee hunters may soon be able to use drones to find wounded deer if a new bill under consideration by state lawmakers is passed. (More)

➤ Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell is expected to have her first baby any day, marking another first during her debut year of coaching the team. (More)

➤ The University of Tennessee Athletics earned over $234 million in 2024, setting a new record for the school. (More)

➤ Former Vols defensive lineman John Henderson will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, making him the 27th University of Tennessee player to receive the honor. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The World’s Most Advanced Golf Tee—Thanks to FlightPath’s directional diamond design, we’ve eliminated almost all friction between the ball and tee—ensuring you get a smoother, more consistent flight path every time! (See It Here)

➤ First Watch, a breakfast and brunch chain, plans to open its first Memphis-area location in Germantown, pending approval to renovate a former Chili’s at 7810 Poplar Avenue. (More)

➤ Chattanooga’s Incline Railway is set to reopen on June 2 after being damaged by a fire in December. (More)

➤ A deal between Nashville and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center for a new venue on the East Bank is stalled, with other sites now being considered. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Whiten Your Teeth With Science—Not Gimmicks! Laughland is the dentist-formulated, clinically proven whitening kit that’s given 200,000+ people their dream smile—without pain or sensitivity. It’s easy to use, 100% safe, and guaranteed to work! (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Make Coal Great Again

Coal’s true potential has never been fully realized—until now. Frontieras’ breakthrough technology transforms coal into valuable byproducts like hydrogen, diesel, jet fuel, and more, tapping into a $2.1T market opportunity. If Frontieras captures just 2% of the global coal market, they could achieve a $1T valuation. Already validated by a successful operation in Texas, Frontieras is set to open a new plant in West Virginia, and you can invest while they do it. Invest in Frontieras before they change their share price on January 20.

This is a paid advertisement for Frontieras Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.frontieras.com/.

➤ A new map published by Newsweek revealed the most popular food in each state. In Tennessee, the winner is chili. (See Map)

➤ A beloved Zoo Knoxville gorilla, Kowali, passed away at the age of 47. He had lived at the zoo since 2013. (More)

➤ Knoxville nurses at UT Medical Center helped plan a wedding at the hospital for a bride’s dying mother. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Simply by holding it in your hand, The Chill Pill quickly relieves anxiety and insomnia. This revolutionary new drug-free method is safe, has zero side effects, and is proven to be effective for people of all ages. (See It Here)