Thursday, April 17, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1905, the Tennessee General Assembly adopted the design for the state flag, which was created by Captain LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment, Tennessee Infantry.

Big Announcement: The Flyover Podcast is launching on April 28, and we need your help! Before we make episodes available to the public, we're inviting our readers to join our focus group. You'll get an exclusive first look (and listen) at episodes on YouTube starting this Monday, April 21, and you'll have the chance to help shape the podcast by giving feedback to our hosts Ayla and Amy on content, format, delivery, and new ideas. Your voice will be essential in helping shape the future of The Flyover Podcast."

To help, just click HERE and click the subscribe button on The Flyover YouTube page (bottom left hand corner.) We'll shoot you an email with a private episode link starting Monday, the 21. Thanks for your help!

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Kidnapped Pastor Rescued After Shootout

East Tennessee Pastor Josh Sullivan has been rescued after a nearly week-long kidnapping ordeal in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.

A group comprised of South African law enforcement and the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service successfully rescued Sullivan after a shootout that left three kidnappers dead.

The pastor was dragged from the pulpit last Thursday after four masked kidnappers broke into his church. Police have confirmed Sullivan was being held for ransom.

Autism Numbers Doubled in Last Decade

A new report from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the number of Tennessee children with autism doubled over the last decade.

Vanderbilt's research shows that over 3% of children in Tennessee, or 1 in 29, have autism; in 2014, this statistic was 1.5%, or 1 in 68.

The research team says the updated numbers may reflect improvements in diagnostic practices and increased awareness of autism spectrum disorder. Vanderbilt, in conjunction with an autism research network, plans to publish updated prevalence data again in two years.

List: Oldest Restaurants in Nashville

A list of Nashville's oldest restaurants honors some of the city's most beloved eateries and showcases how their signature dishes have created enduring legacies.

Prince's Hot Chicken, the original hot chicken spot, traces its fiery origins to a century-old recipe famously created by a scorned woman. The first restaurant opened in 1935 and created a true Nashville original.

A hunting accident ended Frank Varallo Sr.'s music career, so he turned to chili and opened Varallo's Chile Parlor in 1907. At the time, chili parlors were popular, but 117 years later, Varallo's is the last one standing, making it one of Nashville's enduring traditions.

Other notable historic spots include Sperry's, the steakhouse that introduced Nashville's first salad bar, and Monell's, a must-visit meat-and-three housed in a Victorian-style home. See the full list here.

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➤ Statewide: Car booting will remain mostly illegal in the state after judges ruled in favor of banning the practice on commercial property. (More)

➤ Polk County: Officials called in the Tennessee Army National Guard to help battle the Sassafras Ridge fire, which spans 65 acres and is currently 80% contained. (More)

➤ Hamilton County: Mayor Weston Wamp announced a new Council on Career and Technical Education Tuesday to assess educational needs and promote trade skills training and career readiness for high school students. (More)

➤ Clarksville: The County Commission awarded certificates of recognition to the firefighters who rescued 20 people from the top of a 95-foot carnival ride after a malfunction. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: Middle Tennessee State University's Center for Historic Preservation was named one of six national recipients of a $25,000 Library of Congress grant. (More)

➤ Sevierville: The CEO of Camping World is facing off against local authorities after being told to remove a 130-foot tall flagpole that violates zoning codes. (See photo)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies will get another chance at reaching the NBA playoffs Friday night in a win-or-go home play-in game. (More)

➤ Miami quarterback Cam Ward heavily hinted at his wishes to be selected by the Tennessee Titans No. 1 overall in a recent live stream. (More)

➤ Astronaut Butch Wilmore threw the first pitch at Tuesday's Volunteers game and recounted watching the team's title run from space last year. (See interview)

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➤ Driverless-car rideshare company Waymo brought a fleet of vehicles to Nashville in order to map the city for a potential expansion. (More)

➤ Nuclear Fuel Services' parent company, BWXT Technologies, Inc., has received a grant that will enable it to establish a new facility on a nearly 100-acre property in Oak Ridge. (More)

➤ Overstock merchandise chain Big Lots is set to open four new locations across Tennessee in May, following its acquisition by new ownership last year. (More)

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➤ The Metro Nashville Council approved the $2.1 million purchase of a half-acre to construct a new public library, for which $5 million in construction funds has already been approved. (More)

➤ Volunteers with the Nashville Foster Love Closet will hide at least 14,000 Easter eggs Sunday for the "Egg My Yard" fundraiser, trading eggs for donations to support foster families with essential supplies. (More)

➤ Tennessee Tech renamed its campus food pantry in honor of Michelle Huddleston, a former staff member who founded it in 2012 and passed away in 2023 after battling cancer. (More)

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