Thursday, August 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1878, the Memphis Daily Appeal reported 50 new cases of yellow fever in the region. The outbreak peaked when 17,000 of the city’s 19,000 residents were infected.

In a full-circle end to the Cracker Barrel saga, the Tennessee-based restaurant chain has announced it will revert to its classic logo following passionate backlash—including from President Trump. See details below.

Later this afternoon, keep an eye on your inbox for a special story from our founder. It’s about his dad, Grandpa Jim, and the life-changing difference a simple pair of hearing aids made. We can’t wait to share this heartfelt message with you.

Learn about these 11 weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know about, courtesy of today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Lee Says He Won't Send Guard to Memphis

Gov. Bill Lee said Tuesday he won’t deploy National Guard troops to Memphis or other Tennessee cities, despite President Trump’s new order creating a national quick reaction force.

Lee said crime in Memphis is already down 15% thanks to $150 million in state crime-prevention grants, extra Highway Patrol support, and cooperation with federal agencies.

While Tennessee Guard troops were recently sent to Washington, D.C., at Trump’s request, Lee said no circumstances currently justify using them for law enforcement at home.

Cracker Barrel Keeps Old Logo After Backlash

Tennessee-founded restaurant chain Cracker Barrel has scrapped plans for a new logo after backlash from customers and criticism from President Trump.

The redesign, unveiled August 19, dropped the chain’s iconic “Old Timer” figure, sparking accusations that the company was abandoning its Southern roots.

Shares fell about 7% before the restaurant reversed course on Tuesday, saying the old logo would stay.

Trump framed the attempted rebrand and subsequent backlash as “a billion dollars worth of free publicity.”

Peyton Manning Gives $4M To UT

Peyton Manning is donating more than $4 million to the University of Tennessee to fund two endowments in honor of his academic mentors, John Haas and Faye Julian.

The money will support student success programs, faculty research, and operations at the College of Communication and Information.

Manning, a 1997 UT graduate and NFL Hall of Famer, has long supported his alma mater through scholarships, internships, and teaching.

University leaders say the gift will help future Volunteers “thrive for generations.”

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Do you shop at Costco?

Discover insider ways to keep more money in your pocket with these smart tips from today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Stretch your dollar every visit! Look for asterisks on price tags—those deals won’t return. Shop Costco.com for online-only savings, and let the Costco Savings Booklet automatically apply discounts at checkout.

Plus, decode price endings: .79, .49, and .89 mean manufacturer savings, while .88 or .00 signal deep markdowns or clearance.

Shop smarter, spend less, and make Costco work harder for your budget.

➤ Statewide: Tennessee ranked third in math and ninth in reading recovery nationwide since the pandemic, according to a new report evaluating academic gains. (More)

➤ Knox County: Commissioners voted on Monday to support continued cooperation with ICE under the 287(g) program, which lets deputies enforce federal immigration laws in jails. (More)

➤ Morristown: A local man who shares a name with baseball legend Babe Ruth was indicted for filing fraudulent class action claims under the names of deceased and retired players. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: A successful sting conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation led to 14 human trafficking arrests. Nonprofit groups Street Grace and Willowbend Farms assisted with survivor support. (More)

➤ Nashville: House Speaker Mike Johnson stopped at the Nashville Palace while promoting President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” highlighting its elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay. (More)

➤ Unicoi County: Both lanes of the I-26 East bridge have reopened, nearly a year after Hurricane Helene destroyed it. The westbound bridge is expected to fully reopen by mid-September. (See Video)

➤ The Vols extended football coach Josh Heupel’s contract through the 2030 season on Tuesday. Heupel is 37-15 over the last three years—the second-best of any Tennessee football coach during the last five decades. (More)

➤ The Memphis Sports Hall of Fame announced the inductees for its 2025 class, headlined by Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen and University of Memphis tennis coach Tommy Buford. (See Inductees)

➤ The Tennessee women's soccer team (4-0-0) climbed to No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and No. 4 in TopDrawerSoccer.com’s rankings after opening the season with four consecutive shutouts. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open

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➤ Sevier County brought in nearly $4 billion in visitor spending in 2024—a 2% increase over the previous year—amid the state's fourth straight year of record-breaking tourism. (More)

➤ Knoxville’s Xul Beer Company will take over Nashville’s Southern Grist Brewing by the end of 2025, expanding its footprint through a partnership with a longtime industry peer. (More)

➤ Williams-Sonoma’s brand Rejuvenation opened a Nashville showroom, displaying its line of customizable lighting, hardware, furniture, and décor. (More)

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Love shopping at Costco?

You know the thrill of saving—but you could be keeping even more money in your wallet. From hidden price-tag codes to secret markdowns and online-only deals, these simple hacks show you how to cut costs on every trip—no coupons required.

➤ A Tennessee professor went viral after theatrically canceling class in reaction to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, later clarifying the stunt reflected how the announcement would dominate social media. (See Video)

➤ Frankie Purdie, a Fort Campbell soldier and 16-year Army veteran, was crowned Universe United Mrs. 2025 in Lenoir, North Carolina, also winning Mrs. Congeniality and Overall Fitness awards. (See Photo)

➤ Olympian Shawn Johnson East and country star Jessie James Decker will host Nashville’s Got Talent on Sept. 4, benefiting The Store, a nonprofit founded by Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. (See Details)

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