Knoxville News Sentinel
Enhancing college football experience
Neyland Stadium will feature a new sound system, widened concourse and Champions Corner plaza among other enhancements for Tennessee football games in the 2026 season. “Year after year, we will continue to give Vol Nation the best in-venue college...
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MORE BEARS, MORE PEOPLE
People love the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding communities. So do the bears. How can Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park keep the two species safely separated amid the growth of tourism and development and the shrinking...
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Hard Knox Roller Derby still delivers 20 years on
There aren’t many sports that center on women aggressively slamming each other out of the way or into the ground. There’s only one that also involves a pair of quad skates. For Hard Knox Roller Derby’s Alec Cunningham, the most unique part of her...
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Dolly told her life story by giving
Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters has passed Dolly Parton every day for nearly 30 years. The bronze statue of the star with guitar in hand stands proudly outside the courthouse in Sevierville that houses his office. h Now as Waters prepares to leave...
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On ‘heavy day,’ guests remember her spirit, kindness for others
The pink sunrise above the Great Smoky Mountains was a fitting tribute just before fans poured into Dollywood on Aug. 26 to celebrate the life of the theme park’s Dreamer-in-Chief. Many arrived even before the park gates opened to be among the first...
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LO VE
The Great Smoky Mountains girl who became a worldwide icon never lost sight of her country roots. She died peacefully at 80. For full coverage of Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life, turn inside to Page 3A and to our commemorative keepsake section...
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COMMISSIONERS DEMAND ANSWERS
Knox County commissioners are demanding to know whether the county has an active and legal contract with Flock Safety after Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Law Director David Buuck said the sheriff ’s office is operating the company’s cameras without an...
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Faith guides Halls cafeteria manager
At 5:30 a.m. most days, the roads are empty. Lights are off at businesses and the occasional early riser is getting a morning run in. h Dawn Freeman, cafeteria manager at Halls High School, is already preparing food for the hundreds of students she’s...
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Gen Z, millennials walk into a Knoxville bar and unpack their drinking habits
New breweries dominated headlines in Knoxville for years. Now, cocktail bars are having their moment amid a steady stream of announcements about new concepts built around inventive drinks and curated experiences. After years of reports suggesting Gen...
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Boom creates game of musical parking spots
Circling the block for parking − and sometimes risking a ticket − has become part of visiting Downtown North, the previously industrial Knoxville neighborhood just beyond the Old City where rapid growth and limited spaces are putting pressure on...
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CELEBRATING MAJOR MILESTONES
Long before a new school opens its doors to students, it can change the neighborhood around it. Attendance lines shift. New roads and housing follow. After new schools open, their alumni come up together and celebrate milestones together. In that...
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Vintage gear never goes out of style for Tennessee fans
Daniel Perez spotted the orangeand-white Chalk Line jacket from across the arena, forcing his attention away from the Tennessee basketball game. As he made his way toward the cheering fan, he had one thought: “I need that jacket.” Perez, who has been...
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NEW DIGS?
In the next three years, the Tennessee Valley Fair might have to find a new home after being based at historic Chilhowee Park for over 100 years. But fair organizers are keeping an eye on a solution Knox County may have in mind. Knox County is seeking...
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SIMIAN SANCTUARY
It’s time to stop monkeying around. At least that’s what the Knoxville Chief Operating Officer Grant Rosenburg thinks. Rosenberg is asking city council members to approve an ordinance that limits monkeys to the same number as cats and dogs allowed in...
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Movie lover’s ‘Odyssey’ to see film worth every mile
Knoxville News Sentinel USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE
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Newest, ‘most expensive ride we have ever added’
The wait is finally over, and now the waiting in line can begin! After being announced nearly a year ago and an unplanned delay, Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition is ready to take flight. Dollywood launched its newest ride with a dedication ceremony...
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‘Now it’s just working together’
Betsy Henderson spent over a year campaigning to be Knox County mayor. When she’s sworn into office Sept. 1, her job will look different. She’ll continue to travel throughout the county, but maybe not as often. Managing a $1.1 billion budget to...
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One-way plan worries businesses, residents
City leaders could convert a key block of Union Avenue to one-way traffic, though business owners are starkly opposed to the change because they’re worried the move will deter longtime customers. h Business owners and residents say communication from...
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Superintendent says KCS on right trajectory
Knox County School students are back, and Superintendent Jon Rysewyk is ready to jump into action. h After a jam-packed summer of a book ban controversy, improved TCAP scores, funding cuts and school board elections, the district leader is looking...
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Armas bringing both athleticism and ‘rizz’
Ariel Armas sprinted to University of San Diego baseball head coach Brock Ungricht, excited to explain how the movement, pitch shape and arm action of their team’s new transfer could immediately help the Toreros win. It was at that moment in September...
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Feeling of closeness stuck with Knoxvillian
Shireen Saah remembers every teacher she had in Knox County Schools. Now, as a teacher at West Hills Elementary, she hopes to leave the same lasting impression on her second graders. h “Teaching is obviously so much more than just academics and growth...
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Where are the kids?
Knox County’s population is exploding. At the same time, Knox County Schools projects a student enrollment drop of approximately 900 students. Several local and national factors are at play. What does that mean for the teachers, staff and student body?
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KPD’s Noel punished for improper texts
Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel was suspended one month without pay after an independent investigation revealed he was “inappropriately texting” a subordinate, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced Aug. 6. “I’m shocked, disappointed...
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5 vital races to watch and why they matter
Voters have more choices on Aug. 6 than in any other election this year, and several stand out among the dozens of races that will be decided. h There are two separate elections happening Aug. 6: the county general elections and the state and federal...
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DOE official, Lee tout region’s nuclear growth
From left, Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Tim Walsh, Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann speak about the future of East Tennessee nuclear development Aug. 4 as the annual Nuclear Opportunities Workshop kicks off at the Knoxville...
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ParTee swings for the fences
Soon, you won’t need a tee time or even good weather to play a round of golf in Knoxville. h ParTee Golf, a new indoor social entertainment venue with a full bar and food service, is scheduled to open this September at the base of the Beauford Delaney...
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‘We’re not here to flip a house and get out’
Knoxville is racing to approve luxury apartments and massive subdivisions in preparation for the city’s anticipated population growth. But where will the people who already live here buy homes? Local nonprofit Renaissance Creations has been helping...
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What Knoxville coffee shops taught me about community
Moscow, Idaho, isn’t where most people would expect to find a memorable coffee shop. But during my years living in the obscure college town of about 20,000, One World Cafe became a second home. I stopped in five days a week until I graduated from the...
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UT hires eight for ‘Next Level’ faculty
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is redefining its research and academic status by hiring top minds across multiple disciplines. It is finding success in its first group of recruits. The university has hired eight scholars − including a...
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Surveillance deal runs decade
A van drives past a Flock video camera July 29 on Millertown Pike near East Knox County Elementary School. CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL The Knox County Sheriff’s Office already bought the Flock Safety surveillance cameras it wants to use for its new...
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Hattie B’s expansion reaches ‘cool place’
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is opening in Knoxville on Aug. 12, and it truly feels like a homecoming. Opening a Knoxville restaurant was always the goal for Hattie B’s co-founder Nick Bishop Jr. and executive chef Brian Morris. The world-famous Nashville...
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Knoxville’s ‘silent heartbeat’ is ready to resonate again
Over 30 years ago, kids drummed and danced to West African rhythms in Chilhowee Park during the Kuumba Festival. Many of them will return for this year’s festival, this time dancing and drumming with their own children. The 2026 Kuumba Festival begins...
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Dad made his son’s career his occupation
After four seasons in the Cleveland organization, never advancing past High-A, Ricardo Rojas left baseball for a more traditional career. Years later, he saw an ability in his 12-year-old son, Jefferson, that convinced him to walk away from that job,...
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Repairs on track for completion in March
Repairs to the amphitheater at World’s Fair Park are underway and on track for March 2027 completion. Repairs to the outdoor stage have been highly anticipated: It’s the first renovation since the Tennessee Amphitheater was installed for the 1982...
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REWORKED
Knoxville isn’t just growing – it’s rethinking what it already has. Across downtown and beyond, older buildings are being transformed into modern workplaces, blending history with new energy. It’s called “adaptive reuse,” and it’s one way to preserve...
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Beer only to begin for eight participating businesses
The wait is over for supporters of an open-container district on Market Square after years of debate. The city July 24 kicked off its pilot program to make Market Square a temporary Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA. This summertime...
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Powell teen relives UT wish come true
Bailey Phillips got to live one of the best days of her life all over again, this time watching it on a screen surrounded by the people who love her most. Her eight-minute segment aired nationally for the first time on July 23 as part of ESPN’s “My...
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St. Mary’s housing project gets boost
Knoxville will contribute $2 million to new housing at the former St. Mary’s Hospital site, helping reserve 87 units for “extremely low-income” households that make 30% or less of the area’s median income. The public funding, approved July 21 by the...
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EARLY VOTING IS UNDERWAY
This election has dual purposes: Voters will select who serves in county leadership positions and the candidates they’d like to see represent their party in state and federal elections. Early voting continues through Aug. 1, and there’s a lot on the...
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A Dopo, Potchke owners partner on French bistro
The owners of two Knoxville restaurants named among the best in the country by USA TODAY are nearly ready to reveal one of the best-kept secrets in the local dining scene. The talents behind Potchke and A Dopo are bringing a French bistro named Au Bon...
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Market Square ready for open container
Knoxville’s open-container era is nearly here, with at least eight Market Square businesses signing on for the city’s summer pilot program expected to launch by the end of July. h Patrons will soon be able to openly consume alcohol in two parts of...
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The origins of ‘Black in Business’ and its future
“Black in Business” began in Burlington with a plate of chitlins and a side of rejection before growing over the past four editions into an award-winning Knox News series and one of the projects our reporters most look forward to each year. The 2026...
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Trio of candidates turn to developers for cash
Three Knox County candidates who railed against overdevelopment in their successful Republican primary campaigns have accepted donations for the Aug. 6 general election from developers, campaign finance records show. The candidates’ vilification of...
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‘A GREAT ADDITION’
Knoxville’s budding stadium district has attracted a developer from Pennsylvania who has major plans for the area. A seven-story luxury apartment complex just east of the Old City is scheduled to break ground by the end of the year after the project...
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School board, commission fight over scarce funding
When Knox County commissioners approved a surprise cut to the Knox County Schools budget, they ignited a long-smoldering conflict over how to pay for county operations and schools. The money for both comes from the same place – taxpayers – and starts...
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FACT & FICTION
Scott West had plenty of time to write. h The years he spent in federal prison became the foundation for a novel he revised and reshaped over two decades, culminating in its July 16 release – the 20th anniversary of the Market Square bust that made the...
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FBI help possible in teen’s death
The offices of U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett and U.S. Sens. Bill Hagerty and Marsha Blackburn agreed to forward material from the Knox County Sheriff ’s Office’s botched investigations of a teenager’s death to the FBI, Knox News has learned. Getting the FBI...
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‘It feels like freedom’
Last year, Abby Ham and Heather Waliga began cultivating an idea for a new type of personality-driven marketing firm using their cultural cachet, their credibility and their connections across East Tennessee. It’s called We Know People Media, and...
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Let’s do this again
On Aug. 6, voters will select the winners of county races that will shape our local government for years to come. For today’s Voter’s Guide, we interviewed Knox County candidates on the major issues so you can understand their stances before...
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I-40 bridge renamed for President Trump
East Tennessee is now home to the President Donald J. Trump Bridge. Tennessee and federal leaders joined Trump family members July 9 to unveil the renamed Interstate 40 bridge over the French Broad River in Dandridge, and leaders took the opportunity...
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Resident developer runs into skeptical neighbors
An affordable housing development proposal for Strawberry Plains Pike is facing backlash from neighbors who are worried that their already rapidly changing neighborhood can’t sustain increased school enrollment or additional traffic. Joe Davis, a...
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Underdog Ayers is one of pro baseball’s hottest hitters
Knoxville Smokies catcher Owen Ayers, one of the fastest-rising prospects in the Chicago Cubs organization, is reminded every day of one simple phrase: “Little keys open big doors.” Tim Hill II would quiz his players on quotes included on practice...
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‘It’s just a real step backwards’
Tennessee’s new hemp regulations went into effect July 1, forcing Knoxville businesses to remove products from their shelves and some to close altogether. Tennessee House Bill 1376 — now Public Chapter 526 — changed a lot within the hemp industry,...
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PATRIOTS RISING
JOHN SEVIER AND THE OVERMOUNTAIN MEN The British surrender at Yorktown was set in motion in East Tennessee when John Sevier and the Overmountain Men marched to South Carolina and crushed the Loyalists at the Battle of Kings Mountain. The...
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Celebrating America’s birthday after July 4th
EStatesven after the last note of “Stars and Stripes Forever” has been played, and the final Fourth of July fireworks have faded from the sky, celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United of America continue. h Beyond the traditional – albeit...
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AMERICA: WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU
A “merica’s 250th anniversary is a natural time of reflection to honor the past, and it’s the perfect cue to look forward as we determine our shared future. The powerful words and revolutionary spirit behind the Declaration of Independence give us hope...
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Judge: It’s ‘unrealistic’ to link all KCSO cases
One after another, the men in court for one of the largest law enforcement indictments in Tennessee history appeared before Senior Judge Don R. Ash to plead not guilty. The July 1 arraignment brought together the men charged in the Knox County Sheriff...
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3-year fast degrees wanted to meet workforce demand
The University of Tennessee System will begin exploring and implementing three-year, 90-credit-hour degree programs across the system’s five campuses, presenting an alternative route for students to earn a diploma in Tennessee. The central idea is to...
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Designs tailored to every occasion
It began with a Google search: “Fourth of July.” h That’s often where a Knoxville Smokies specialty jersey starts. Creative services manager Lindsay Miller started with a blank search bar months before the Smokies would take the field in their...
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Budget nears $4B amid wave of growth
The University of Tennessee System’s budget request for fiscal year 2026-27 is just $3 million shy of $4 billion amid an unprecedented wave of growth for its flagship Knoxville campus. It would be the largest operating budget in UT System history if...
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Legacy.
The death of legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt on June 28, 2016, hit Lady Vols players, fans and the world of women’s basketball hard. Ten years after that wrenching loss, Summitt’s legacy lives on for those who worked with her - and for all...
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Hawk says he was ‘young and dumb’
Beau Hawk, the Democratic nominee for Knox County mayor, marched in Caracas in support of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2020, Knox News has learned. Hawk posed for photographs with other demonstrators and is quoted in an article by the...
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HAPPY HOLLER IS CHANGING
Happy Holler hasn’t lived up to its cheerful name this week, with Club XYZ announcing it will close after 22 years amid a trend of cycling businesses and new growth in the north Knoxville neighborhood. The abrupt news of Club XYZ’s eviction and “LAST...
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Dolly Parton opens themed Travel Stop
Out on the street, the traffic was jumpin’ as travelers made their way to Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop on opening day. h Even Dolly Parton made a surprise appearance June 24 to cut the ribbon on the new Cornersville destination for trucks and...
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Knoxville gay venue Club XYZ to close
Unpaid rent, stemming from years of disputes between landlord and tenant, has culminated with Club XYZ announcing it will close on the final week of Pride Month after 22 years in Happy Holler. Club XYZ’s “LAST DANCE” − scheduled for Saturday, June 27...
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SMOKIES WIN FIRST-HALF TITLE, SECURE PLAYOFF SPOT
The Smokies’ first-half title win calls for a shower of champagne – and light beer, too – inside the Covenant Health Park clubhouse on June 20. With a playoff spot secured, the Smokies plan to focus more on development in the season’s second half.
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Why are Grainger County tomatoes so special?
Know Your Knox answers your burning questions about life in Knoxville. Want your question answered? Email [email protected]. Steve Longmire knows his tomatoes are good. Great, even. The Grainger County farmer has no shame in bragging that...
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Groan-worthy, dad approved
My boss assigned me the ‘Best Dad Jokes’ design. So in a love letter to all the dads – young and old – for Father’s Day, this super corny front page is for you.
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Juneteenth events honor past, celebrate freedom
Knoxvillians celebrated Juneteenth with joyous hearts under clear skies at the annual MLK Jr. Parade/March and Juneteenth Celebration. The events were organized by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission. The parade began at Chilhowee...
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‘We believe in each other’
If there’s ever a time to root for what happens on the diamond at Covenant Health Park, it’s now. The Smokies enter the weekend with an opportunity to capture the Southern League North first-half title, an accomplishment that would guarantee a...
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NFL players want turf grown for World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup turf, developed by a University of Tennessee at Knoxville research team, has revived a debate in the National Football League among players who have been advocating for a natural grass mandate at NFL stadiums. FIFA tasked UT...
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Anakeesta adds magic of fireflies year-round
It gets darker with every step that leads down into Anakeesta’s Treetop Skywalk. Sounds of creatures in the forest mixed with enchanting music can be heard. Tiny flashes are seen within the trees. h Then, the magic begins. h Bursts of light flicker...
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