Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1942, The "Queen of Soul" Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Memphis. Throughout her career she won 18 Grammys and was the first female artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

A restaurant manager in Livingston interrupted a marriage proposal on Saturday after surveillance video revealed the couple was running a scam. See the story below to find out what happened.

Today's sponsor is Mode Mobile, offering an investment opportunity in their pre-IPO offering.

Autonomous Taxi Service Test in Nashville

Waymo, the California-based self-driving car service, will begin testing its autonomous driving technology in Nashville this week.

The testing will begin with a small fleet of manually driven cars, operated by human operators, through the city’s streets and highways. Once the technology proves capable, the vehicles will operate autonomously.

Officials compared the testing phase to road trips, allowing the technology to learn the Music City’s driving culture, weather and road conditions. Customers are not allowed during testing.

Waymo currently operates its autonomous ride-hailing service in Los Angeles, Austin, Phoenix, and San Francisco.

List: Where Tennessee Ranks for Middle-Class

A report on the nation’s middle class ranked Tennessee among the top states with the lowest middle-income threshold, revealing residents need a median income of $67,631 to be considered middle-class.

Rankings were based on 2023 U.S. Census Bureau data, which covered median household incomes in 100 of the largest U.S. cities and all 50 states.

Tennessee was ninth on the list, with Mississippi, West Virginia, and Louisiana claiming the top three spots. Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland had the highest middle-class income thresholds. See the rankings here.

Teen Earns Golden Ticket on American Idol

Eagleville native Mattie Pruitt earned a golden ticket on American Idol, receiving “yes” votes from all three judges.

Pruitt performed "How Could You" by Jessie Murph, drawing praise from Judge Carrie Underwood, who said it showed “maturity” beyond her years.

Fellow judge Lionel Richie responded with a series of "wows" before calling the performance "outstanding."

The golden ticket allows Pruitt to advance to show’s Hollywood Week, where she’ll compete for a spot in the next round.

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Crisis in DRC

A decades-long conflict in eastern Congo has gone from a simmer to a boil in recent months.

Last week, Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 ignored calls for a ceasefire, seizing a strategic town in Congo—one of the most poverty-stricken countries in the world. M23 is one of nearly 100 armed groups that have been vying for control of the mineral-rich area, and the resulting conflict has caught civilians (including many Christians) in the middle, creating one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises.

Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Council launched an investigation into allegations of atrocities, such as mass killings of civilians, by multiple groups.

An estimated 7 million people have been displaced, and more than 25 million people—approximately one in four Congolese—face acute food insecurity.

➤ Sequatchie County: A homeowner violated a county burn ban this weekend, sparking a 450-acre wildfire that crews have reported as 65% contained. (More)

➤ Columbia: Columbia City Council approved a $4 million paving initiative, the largest in city history, to improve 19.6 miles of streets, creating smoother, safer, and more efficient roadways. (More)

➤ Livingston: An area restaurant manager interrupted a marriage proposal Saturday after surveillance footage showed the couple placing hair on their plates to scam a free $20 meal. (More)

➤ Nashville: The Nashville Public Library has launched a new bookmobile with 8,800 books and audiobooks, expanding educational access for Davidson County students. (More)

➤ Knoxville: A driver of a stolen Porsche with Florida plates led Knox County deputies on a high-speed chase Friday, weaving through traffic on the interstate before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing the scene. (More)

➤ Johnson City: The 26th annual Blue Plum Festival will be held this June in downtown Johnson City, offering live music, arts and crafts, food vendors, and free admission. (More)

➤ Tennessee State University has named former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Reggie Barlow as its new football coach, replacing Eddie George, who left to lead Bowling Green State University. (More)

➤ USA TODAY released its final Tennessee boys high school basketball rankings Monday, factoring in postseason strength of schedule, state tournament results, and overall season performance. (See Rankings)

➤ The Nashville Predators extended their partnership with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals through the 2028–29 season, keeping them as their top affiliate for four more years. (More)

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➤ Knoxville’s commercial vacancy rate dropped 1.3% between 2019 and 2023, marking a full recovery from the pandemic, when it peaked at 5.5% in 2020. (More)

➤ PPR Capital Management has acquired a newly built 110-home build-to-rent community in Knoxville for $87 million, which includes 151 to-be-developed townhomes and detached homes. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg and Nashville were ranked among the top places to buy a vacation home, based on factors such as inventory, affordability, interest rates, and the annual rate of return on investment. (More)

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Join us in partnering with World Concern to help the most vulnerable in the Congo and in countries around the world where World Concern serves by providing life-sustaining nutrition, clean water, medication, and more with the love of Jesus. Every $27 dollars provides someone with these emergency essentials.

➤ Knox County Mayor and WWE Hall of Famer Glenn Jacobs challenged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to a wrestling match after Walz, a failed Democratic VP candidate, claimed he could “kick the a‑‑” of Trump supporters. (More)

➤ A Nashville animal shelter volunteer has gone viral for using creative breed names like "Himalayan fur goblin" and "teacup werewolf" to spotlight adoptable dogs—boosting both adoptions and donations. (See Video)

➤ The Tennessee National Guard rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains on Saturday, airlifting them by Blackhawk helicopter to a nearby hospital. (More)

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