Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1794, Thomas Sharp “Big Foot” Spencer, the first white settler in Middle Tennessee, was killed by a Cherokee leader while returning from Virginia.

The new $2.5 million houseboat Knot 2 Scrappy was launched onto Dale Hollow Lake after gaining viral attention thanks to the boat's eventful debut. Read more in our Around Tennessee section below.

We're sponsored today by American Hartford Gold. Be sure to check them out in today's edition.

Severe Weather Recap and Forecast

A Code Red Weather Alert for severe weather is in effect for Middle Tennessee starting late Wednesday into Thursday.

Heavy rain and damaging winds are expected, and the highest risk is forecast west of I-65.

This comes days after storms tore through the middle of the state overnight Sunday into Monday, leaving behind fallen trees, large hail, and severely damaged homes. See the photos of the destruction here.

Many counties received tornado warnings, including Maury County, where a house was blown away on Rippey Lake Roadand. Multiple other structures were damaged as well.

FBI and DEA Raid at Antioch Nightclub

Federal agents raided the Miami nightclub in Antioch early Sunday, detaining over 100 people as part of a joint FBI, DEA, and Tennessee Highway Patrol operation.

Authorities said the raid was linked to drug and human trafficking investigations. Three men were charged for their involvement in drug-related crimes.

Law enforcement began investigating drug trafficking in Antioch clubs about 18 months ago after undercover agents allegedly observed drug sales and drug use inside the clubs.

USDA Cuts Hurt Eastern TN Food Banks

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee says the USDA canceled 21 truckloads of food worth $722,000 last week, cutting off over 377,000 pounds of protein and dairy meant for low-income families.

The food, funded by the paused Commodities Credit Corporation, was scheduled for delivery between April and July.

The non-profit said the impact is immediate as the loss hits "a critical element" of its hunger-relief programs across 18 counties. It's calling on the public to step up with donations and food drives.

Information about donating is available here.

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Fake News vs. Reality: The Truth Behind the Tariffs

The media is focused on market chaos instead of the golden opportunity ahead. They claim the recent policies are reckless—that they'll tank the economy.

But here's what they won't tell you…

The current administration's tariffs aren't causing instability—they're exposing it.

Wall Street's so-called "strength" has been built on cheap money and overvalued stocks.

The recent AI stock crash, which erased $589 billion in a single day, proves how fragile this market really is.

Now, bold actions are being taken to restore America's economic independence, even if it means short-term backlash.

Wall Street doesn't like it. The media won't admit it. But the real danger isn't the policies themselves—it's the shaky foundation they're exposing.

It's no question that traditional retirement accounts are at risk. Market volatility could continue for months, and the wealth Americans have worked for could be wiped out overnight.

Luckily, a little-known IRS loophole remains open, designed to safeguard your savings and wealth from market chaos.

America's wealthiest citizens have used this loophole for years. They aren't waiting for the next crash—they're preparing now.

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➤ Middle Tennessee: Blood Assurance, the main supplier for local hospitals, says the region is facing a severe blood shortage. (Donate Here)

➤ Memphis: Overton Park is moving ahead with a long-awaited plan to end overflow parking on the Greensward and expand public access to the Old Forest. (See Map)

➤ Byrdstown: Knot 2 Scrappy, a 120-foot, $2.5 million houseboat, was launched onto Dale Hollow Lake after hours of engineering work to maneuver its 2,700-square-foot frame into the water without damage. The launch drew over 20 million viewers online. (See Details)

➤ Franklin: Officials broke ground Friday on a new $11.5 million Carter House visitor center, which is slated to open in 2026. The center will house a museum of Franklin’s history. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Baxter Gardens will permanently close because the number of visitors has become unsustainably high. The final public event is set for April 12–13 as part of the Dogwood Arts Festival. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s women’s athletics got a major boost with a seven-figure gift from the Steiner family to fund a new multi-sport complex at the Engel Stadium site. (More)

➤ The No. 9 Lady Vols Softball team upset No. 2 Oklahoma 5-3, claiming its sixth straight SEC road series win and first-ever road series win over a top-2 opponent. (More)

➤ Nashville Predators fans can watch Music City Hockey in Smashville, a live animation reimagining tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. (See Video)

➤ The Knoxville Smokies introduced a mascot family: father Knox, son Jackson, and throwback Smokie Joe after fan submissions helped shape the trio ahead of the April 15 home opener. (See Mascots)

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➤ Rap icons Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are opening Still G.I.N. Lounge in Nashville’s historic catacombs beneath the Nashville Live! building, featuring craft cocktails that highlight the duo’s signature spirit. (More)

➤ Gas prices in Tennessee jumped 12.7 cents last week to $2.78 per gallon. Analysts expect them to keep rising and peak in mid- to late April. (More)

➤ The second annual Tennessee Nuclear and Innovative Energy Day will be held on April 9 in Nashville, with the goal of making Tennessee the national leader in new nuclear energy development. (More)

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Hello friends, Bill O'Reilly here.

I remember how the Great Recession of 2008 wiped out $2.4 trillion dollars from retirement funds.

And now it looks like history is repeating itself.

Experts forecast the coming recession will be even worse than the 2008 financial crisis, including:

• More than 2 million lost jobs

• Stocks plummeting over 20%

• IRAs and 401(k)s to lock in losses of 25% and keep falling

We can't stop the recession from happening, but you can prepare for it.

That's why I've put together a concise guide to help you protect your finances during this downturn.

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➤ A Ringgold 4th grader has become one of the top three finalists for the national Class Dojo’s Monster of the Year art contest. The grand prize includes scholarship money and a schoolwide pizza party. (See Photos)

➤ The Magic Dog Bus is hiring a chauffeur to take pups to daycare, grooming, and field trips, offering a “paw-sitively” fun gig while listening to Who Let The Dogs Out regularly. (See Video)

➤ Memphis’ Pizza March Madness bracket is down to the last eight restaurants. Elite 8 voting ends Thursday at noon, and the winner will be announced on April 18. (See Bracket)

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