Knoxville News Sentinel
Knox County mayor candidates set to debate
Early voting starts April 15, and voters have four options, three Republicans and one Democrat, to succeed termlimited Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Knox News reporter Allie Feinberg will co-moderate a conversation-style debate with the...
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Smokey XII is a true ‘walk-on success story’
Bluetick coonhounds must be courageous, amenable, friendly and fearless to be considered fit for carrying the torch held by the 11 Smokey mascots before them. Two-year-old Neyland − a true “walk-on success story,” according to College of Veterinary...
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HonorAir flight gives vets love, appreciation
After receiving a less-than-enthusiastic welcome home from the Vietnam War half a century ago, the veterans on the final HonorAir Knoxville flight were greeted upon their return with handshakes, warm embraces and signs bearing messages of gratitude and...
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Smokies test their first weekday afternoon game in 2026 Sunny vibes
Alocal business leader stopped by the Michelob Ultra Backstop Bar before the first pitch April 8 and handed over his card, starting a tab for himself and the employees he brought out for the Knoxville Smokies’ first weekday afternoon game at Covenant...
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Defining moments in Caldwell’s tenure
Alot can change in two years. h On April 7, 2024, Tennessee announced the hiring of Kim Caldwell as the new Lady Vols basketball coach. Caldwell was fresh off a 26-7 season at Marshall, leading the Herd to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since...
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Likewise Coffee puts purpose in every cup
Knoxville’s favorite coffee shop has a catchy name, a bigger purpose and a literal 100-year-old home on Magnolia Avenue. Knox News readers spent the past few weeks voting for their favorite among 32 local coffee shops competing in a March...
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As Knoxville’s dogwoods bloom, it’s festival time
One of Knoxville’s most beautiful times of year has arrived as dogwood blooms show off in pink and white. h And when the gorgeous trees begin to flower, Dogwood Arts kicks off its annual events that showcase the city’s beauty, from a downtown festival...
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Windows to the soul
Just as a church’s sanctuary is more than an ordinary room, so its windows can provide something more than just a glimpse of the immediate outside world. From biblical scenes to saints to the many shades of faith,
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A GOLDEN TICKET FOR A GOLDEN ARM
Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens flashes a huge smile a she receives her golden ticket to the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. Pickens is the reigning two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year and made history last year throwing the fastest pitch in NCAA...
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PITCH PERFECT
Anew groundskeeper with Major League Baseball experience has been hired to help convert the Covenant Health Park field between a baseball diamond and soccer pitch, a process that was challenging in 2025 by an overwhelming amount of rain. h “It was more...
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WILDFIRE LAWSUIT FALTERS
East Tennessee’s wildfire season was all too real as separate blazes burned for several days in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the risk continues for a region that has been dealing with drought conditions for weeks. Wildland fires can occur...
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Stadium district rises around new ballpark
Covenant Health Park’s inaugural seasons in 2025 brought many celebrations, as well as some learning moments. With the 2026 season upon us, we sat down with Knoxville Smokies CEO Chris Allen to talk about highlights from last season, upcoming...
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Big Ears makes city a global music hub
The 2026 Big Ears Festival took over downtown Knoxville venues March 26-29, bringing curious listeners from all over the world to East Tennessee for a wide-ranging musical exhibition. h National outlets from The New York Times to Rolling Stone have...
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Not the ending Vols envisioned
CHICAGO − A seven-minute stretch dashed all hopes of a historic Final Four appearance for Tennessee basketball. h Tennessee led Michigan by two points early in the first half of the Men’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game at the United Center. The...
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Shielded
For years, Tennessee lawmakers have worked to protect domestic violence victims. The case of a Knoxville police officer, however, shows there are gaping holes in the system that can put dangerous offenders back into the community with no record that
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Fireflies light up the Smokies
As national parks continue to regroup from operational changes and staffing cuts from last year, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has something that’s consistent every year. Synchronous fireflies and a lottery to view them. The national park will,...
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Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder of Rihanna
A Florida woman pleaded not guilty on March 25 to the attempted murder of singer Rihanna after authorities said she fired gunshots at the Grammy-winning musician’s Los Angeles mansion this month. The woman, Ivana Lisette Ortiz, appeared briefly in Los...
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Big Ears Festival has mix of familiar, new
Big Ears Festival breathes fresh life into downtown Knoxville each spring, and the 2026 version happening this weekend is poised to be among its most adventurous yet. This year’s musical exhibition will feel familiar to the thousands from across the...
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Medical files key in mystery death
For the first time since Sarah Shanks’ suspicious death in 2023, her family is closer to understanding what happened the night her husband, an emergency room doctor, called 911. Sarah’s parents blame Ryan Shanks for her death and Ryan blames emergency...
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KNOXVILLE BISHOP’S FALL
Years of deep discord in the Diocese of Knoxville began in St. Louis, the deeply Catholic city where the polarizing former Bishop Richard Stika was born, spent his formative years, returned to after he resigned and died in at the age of 68 in...
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SWEET RELIEF
Full results from Tennessee’s nailbiter win vs. Virginia Get notifications through your phone about the latest news from Tennessee in the
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BEYOND THE WEEKEND
Known worldwide for its adventurous musical programming, Big Ears Festival also has become a powerful economic engine for downtown Knoxville, boosting restaurants, bars, hotels and a range of small businesses one important weekend each spring.
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Marking 45 years of ‘magic’ for Vols fans and celebrities
Gus’s Good Times Deli has lived and breathed Tennessee Volunteers fandom for the past 45 years. The walls are plastered with photos of regulars, athletes and celebrities who claim the restaurant as their go-to spot. A poster of Peyton Manning hangs on...
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Drop in Smokies visits in 2025 isn’t bad news
Millions of people continue to flock to the expansive Great Smoky Mountains National Park – just fewer millions than in recent years. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded over 11.5 million visits in...
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‘A WOMAN OF CONTRADICTION’
Once the grand home of a reclusive heiress, more recently a deteriorating, overgrown artifact, and now a restored cultural gem, the Eugenia Williams House has sparked Knoxville’s curiosity and imagination for decades. What’s inside has long been a...
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6-year uranium building demolition complete
A 2.5-acre hole in the ground marks the end of the biggest demolition project at Oak Ridge’s Y-12 National Security Complex and the first time crews handled the delicate task of tearing down an old building used to enrich uranium. The U.S. Department...
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The epicenter of bass fishing
Big fish and big crowds made for an epic Knoxville weekend, with Tennessee native Dylan Nutt winning the 2026 Bassmaster Classic as a rookie on waterways where he grew up fishing. h The “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” seems to get bigger and better every...
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Stadium restaurant timeline pushed back
Covenant Health Park is inching toward completion as it enters its second season just east of the Old City, but the restaurants we know are coming to the stadium might take longer to open their doors than previously planned. The $114 million downtown...
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THE NEXT ACT
The historic venue is in the home stretch and nearly ready to unveil its $24.6 million buildout at 612 S. Gay St., a major investment in a cherished state landmark. The expansion addresses growing pains driven by the theater’s own success, positioning...
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Dollywood opens to much fanfare
East Tennessee’s favorite Smoky Mountain girl came back home! Dolly Parton made her first major in-person public appearance in months to help kick off the 41st season of her popular theme park. “I love you, too!” Parton shouted back to a fan inside...
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Stars join anglers for Bassmaster Pro-Am
Before competitors lay it all on the line March 13-15 for the Bassmaster Classic, professional anglers paired up with celebrities on Douglas Lake in Dandridge to show them what the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” is all about. Football players, from Tedy...
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Microgrid system could keep lights on
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is working with an East Tennessee utility to keep the lights on as data centers and new residents increase the demand for power throughout the United States. The need for more power led the lab and the Electric Power...
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Bear rescuers aiming to help cubs again
It’s been nearly a year since Appalachian Bear Rescue housed any bears. But that might change soon. h The Townsend bear rehabilitation center could receive orphaned bear cubs from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency as soon as late March, according...
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UT takes strides on parking
Tighter parking rules, a rideshare program and improved bus access have quantifiably helped alleviate traffic congestion at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Parking used to be a major concern among UT students, who would circle for hours to...
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Flying high
Each year, Dollywood closes its gates from just after New Year’s until opening day in early March. Even without guests around, the park is a busy place during its brief off-season — no less so in a year like this one with a brand-new ride under...
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Caldwell, Lady Vols in merciless cycle of losses
GREENVILLE, SC – Kim Caldwell stormed onto the court after calling a timeout a minute into the third quarter. h “Wake up!” the second-year Lady Vols basketball coach yelled at her players as they walked toward the bench. h Caldwell’s timeout was a...
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Southwest’s first Knoxville flight marks new chapter
Southwest Airlines is officially open for East Tennessee’s business. An hour-long flight from Nashville to Knoxville on March 5 marked the beginning of a new chapter for McGhee Tyson Airport, whose leaders have been clamoring for the popular lowcost...
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Survival when lost hinges on 4 basics
A hiker in a remote area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park was quickly rescued by a flight crew with the Tennessee Army National Guard in February. The hiker was suffering from severe cold-weather injuries, and was flown to University of Tennessee...
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‘Say Yes to the Dress’ crew brings expertise
JoRissah Wright walked into the ballroom convinced she’d leave in hot pink. Addie Jones had a specific color in mind, too. But in the end, both Knoxville high school seniors chose something completely different for their prom dress. That’s what it’s...
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Oil prices surge as markets react to war
Oil prices rose sharply on March 2 after they opened for the first time since the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for oil prices, jumped by as much as 10% to hit $82 a barrel...
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UT triples sales at football games
University of Tennessee football alcohol sales have almost tripled at Neyland Stadium in the seven years since beer and wine were first sold there, university records obtained by Knox News show. More beer was sold in the first half of the Georgia game...
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WOMEN’S WORK
Even before the era of Rosie the Riveter or Oak Ridge’s “Calutron Girls,” women were an integral part of Knoxville’s workforce in the textile and garment industries, and helped to shape the future of workers’ rights. With manufacturing now the third...
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Finishing touches for Dollywood’s Season 41
A fresh coat of paint here. A repaired speaker there. Everywhere you look, Dollywood is completing the final updates and upgrades before kicking off its 41st season, packed with new events and, of course, the opening of NightFlight Expedition. In...
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McKay’s closing
A major Knoxville hotel developer paid the owners of McKay’s $4.25 million for the store and adjoining parking lot on Papermill Road. It means the end of the popular used bookstore’s 40-year run in Knoxville. Nick Patel, of Turkey Creek Hospitality,...
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Family’s fight for equality changed life for another
One weekday afternoon, my father, Stephen Davis, excitedly asked if I wanted to go with him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to attend the Michigan vs. Ohio State game. I didn’t ask why. I just said “yes.” Any chance to spend time with him, especially watching...
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Trees sprout up in unlikely Knoxville areas: Gravel pits
Trees are a lot like Knoxville neighborhoods. They’re always changing and distinct in their characteristics, including how they grow. At Holston River Park just south of East Knoxville, trees are sprouting in the unlikeliest of places: from manmade...
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Architectural jewel soon will shine again
After decades hidden behind brick walls, the Eugenia Williams House will begin to share its secrets with Knoxville when it opens this spring. Tucked away on Lyons View Pike, the grand home once occupied by Coca-Cola heiress Eugenia Williams sat...
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Lakeshore Park leader retires after 7 years
Lakeshore Park, Knoxville’s centerpiece park with unparalleled views of the Great Smoky Mountains, is nearing the end of a massive transformation. h Julieanne Foy, the Lakeshore Park Conservancy executive director, has been at the heart of a project...
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THE PRICE OF PAIN
Tennessee has secured more than $1.3 billion in opioid settlement money to be doled out over the next several years in payments to the state, nonprofits and local governments. But the process of getting the funds to those that need it the most has...
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Helping out ‘top of the list’ for Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville writes everything down. The lifestyle he chose as a human “cannonball” − the name of, perhaps, his most emblematic stunt − has come with its fair share of concussions, the Knoxville native admits. He has a lot to keep up with, and he...
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Iranian loves U.S. but can’t get mother here
The flashbacks to the day Rojia Afshar’s life changed forever are easily summoned. It was May 2012 in Tehran, Iran. Afshar, 24 at the time, had been granted a student visa to study in America two days earlier. Now she was huddled in the back of a taxi...
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‘I’m blessed, I’m honored’
For a fleeting second, Elston Turner traveled back to 1977. h The former Austin-East basketball star strolled into the gym where he forged his legacy. He looked up and saw a wall of his former classmates packed into the bleachers, reprising their seats...
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Why is Tennessee’s state theater in Knoxville?
Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email know [email protected]. Look up at its marquee, and the Tennessee Theatre could be hosting a major Broadway tour, a must-see concert, a...
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Designsensory, Ackermann unite
It feels like these two businesses were always meant to be one. h Designsensory and Ackermann Marketing & PR have operated in different industry streams but the same city for decades. Designsensory is an expert in advertising and branding, and has...
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‘free people of America’
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sept. 2, 1940, “to the free people of America” − but it was a freedom, he warned, that was under threat. h Roosevelt‘s Tennessee travels that September included a...
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FAR MORE THAN FINE
Owned by Knoxville’s only James Beard Award winner, J.C. Holdway, pictured above, has earned a new national honor, ranking among USA TODAY’s top restaurants in the country. The downtown spot serves memorable meals inspired by Appalachia and made with...
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Florists won’t let tariffs wilt your Valentine’s love
International tariffs levied by the U.S. have pushed up the price of flowers ahead of Valentine’s Day, but florists and farmers in East Tennessee have taken steps to ensure their stock is ready for you and your special someone. Maryville flower farm...
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Trump lambastes TVA, salary of CEO
President Donald Trump slammed the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power provider, as having “gone in a very stupid, very bad direction” during a Feb. 11 event at the White House to promote coal. “Trump is on the scene now,”...
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Facelift turns UT’s home into ‘big league ballpark’
Tennessee baseball coach Josh Elander said the eye-catching renovations to an expanded Lindsey Nelson Stadium remind his players every day about the program’s lofty expectations. h UT fans will see the results of the $105 million facelift when the 2026...
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Clayton Foundation touches many lives
The Clayton Foundation’s legacy of giving back touches lives in ways big and small. h Grand donations from Jim Clayton, the Knoxville founder of Clayton Homes, have created gathering spaces that enhance the community, such as the Clayton Arts Center at...
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A WOMAN OF MANY HATS
Diane Jordan, the first Black woman to serve on the Knox County Commission, has died. She was 78 years old. Jordan, who suffered a stroke, is survived by her husband of 41 years, the Rev. John Jordan, eight children and more than 20...
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Governor hopeful cites wealth of experience
U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Republican candidate for governor, has spent the last year or so getting to know voters, listening to their concerns and attempting to prove to them he’s the best person to work on their behalf. Rose, an eighth-generation...
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PATRIOTS vs. SEAHAWKS
The latest coverage at usatoday.com. Also find more coverage in Sports Extra, a subscriber-only feature in your eNewspaper. Register and vote for your favorite Super Bowl ad at
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One Knox SC goes ‘extra’ with 2026 jersey, sponsor
One Knoxville SC − gearing up for its second Old City season beginning in March − announced players will be sporting new gear with a new sponsor upon taking the field at Covenant Health Park in 2026. Branding for Regions Bank, one of the nation’s...
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Seeking love?
Singles tend to follow two trains of thought when it comes to dating: the old-school way or the online way. h But in Knoxville, a new kind of dating that’s somewhere in the middle has emerged. All you need is a pal, personality and some PowerPoint...
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UT students offered chance of a lifetime
While America watches the year’s biggest sporting event on TV, 10 University of Tennessee at Knoxville students will be working behind the scenes of Super Bowl 60 to learn up close what makes everything tick. It’s a massive opportunity for the students...
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Aguilar turns to home court in NCAA lawsuit
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Knox County Chancery Court, seeking to extend his eligibility and play for the Vols in the 2026 season. On Feb. 2, Knox News obtained the complaint filed in Knox County...
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Do the Smokies affect snowfall in Knoxville?
Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email [email protected]. Out west, the Rocky Mountains play a major role in winter weather across North America. They block Pacific moisture,...
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The lost Black newspapers
Many of the local Black newspapers that covered life in East Tennessee in the 19th and 20th centuries have been lost, and with them, records of the people and events they documented. Though some are beyond preservation, archivists locally and...
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‘TRAIN WRECK’
Oportalne of the state government officials who sued the NCAA and won unlimited annual transfers for college athletes now calls the unrestricted transfer a “train wreck” and says it is “sucking the life out of college sports.” • “I think the portal...
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Former Lady Vol wore another iconic uniform
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville wasn’t always so secretive about Smokey. UT made a big deal out of revealing the student behind the mascot in 2025, but the identity of the costumed bluetick coonhound used to be more of an open secret. After...
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Lee learns history of Bush’s Beans
Country music. Davy Crockett. And beans, of course. Gov. Bill Lee believes all three are iconic symbols of the Volunteer State as Tennessee celebrates its contributions to U.S. culture for the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Lee stopped by the...
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Big Ears mastermind a driving force in music
Entertainment legend Ashley Capps, co-founder of Bonnaroo and the mind behind Big Ears, has been honored by SPIN magazine as one of the 26 most influential people in music of the year. h Capps said he was surprised by the publication’s recognition. h...
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Cold weather is here to stay for a while
Cold temperatures have settled into East Tennessee. A cold weather advisory from the National Weather Service is in place through noon Jan. 27, and the thermometer won’t rise much above freezing in the coming days, according to the National Weather...
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