Walland
GOVERNMENT
Statewide ban on feeding bears sought by TN wildlife officials
Over the last few weeks there have been several bear and human encounters near the Great Smoky Mountains. These encounters are raising the question, are there any laws that prohibit people from feeding bears in Tennessee.
Blount County teen and recent high school graduate named best welder in the U.S.
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Lilly Dunn, a recent William Blount High School graduate, and the University of Tennessee Baseball team both have something in common. They're national champions who earned the title of being the best in the nation in their respective fields last week. Dunn competed in the...
Maryville Independence Day: Fireworks & Festivities
Get ready to celebrate Independence Day in our small corner of East Tennessee!! We’ve rounded up all the best events, fireworks displays, parades, and family-friendly activities happening in Maryville on or around July 4, 2024. Whether you’re looking for the perfect spot to watch fireworks, enjoy live music, or participate in patriotic festivities, we’ve got you covered.
Swig brings its 'dirty sodas' to Tennessee for the first time. Here's where it is open
Appearing like an oasis in the desert, the refreshment franchise Swig has opened its first location in Tennessee. Swig, which opened in Alcoa on June 21, is a soda fountain drive-through chain known for its "dirty sodas." "Dirty sodas" are traditional sodas blended like nonalcoholic cocktails with fruits, creams or flavorings. Swig has menu items like its most popular drinks Hula Girl and the Texas Tab, or custom-made creations.
Fireworks safety for furry friends
Fourth of July can be a time of great fun and celebration, but it can also be a distressing time for furry friends. With fireworks shooting off and the hustle and bustle of celebration, it can be easy to miss a dog bolting out the door or fence. “July Fourth or New Year’s, any firework-laden holiday that people tend to celebrate with that, it does produce that anxiety in the...
National Park accepting offers for food, retail and lodging businesses in the Smokies
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Great Smokies National Park is looking to fill a ten-year contract for lodging, concessions and retail business on Mount LeConte, one of the park’s tallest peaks. As it stands, Mount LeConte is home to LeConte Lodge. It’s the only overnight facility in the park,...
'This is just a massive project' | TDOT talks after rocks block Alcoa Highway twice in a month due to construction
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Alcoa Highway has seen years of construction, but recently blasting activities have impacted traffic in the area. The blasting recently caused debris to fall into the roadway twice in the last month. This section of highway where the work is happening can often see more than...
Gatlinburg’s Annual Fourth of July Midnight Parade provides boost to local businesses
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The festivities for Gatlinburg’s Annual Fourth of July Midnight Parade are set to kick off Wednesday night, and the streets are already packed. This year makes the 49th year of the parade, and it continues to grow each year. “Every year, we try to make...
Blount nonprofit building homes with $800,000 grant
Close to $1 million in grant funds are flowing into affordable housing in Blount County. A Blount County nonprofit recently won over $800,000 to build four new homes, and the organization’s leadership say that those homes are the beginning of a broader project. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency earlier this year awarded Foothills Community Development Corporation $813,000 through its HOME grant to support new construction. The money stems from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. THDA Community Outreach Liaison Katie Moore presented the...
Does Dollywood serve alcohol? Where to find drinks and what to know before your visit this summer
Dollywood can be just as much fun for adults as it is for kids. But there’s one question that often comes up for first-time grown-up visitors: Does Dollywood serve alcohol? The answer is not as straightforward as it might seem, especially since Dolly Parton, the park’s namesake, recently launched her own line of...
Century of Gay Street Bridge history: A getaway, a ghost story, a shift from stone to steel
Knoxville's Gay Street Bridge, which closed for repairs June 25 after a problem was spotted, has been a landmark for well over 100 years. But its full history goes back much farther. A pontoon bridge across the Tennessee River was constructed in this area by Union troops in 1863, according to "The...
AMR owes Knox County almost $500,000 in contract compliance penalties - just from May
Knox County's ambulance provider was fined almost $500,000 for failing to respond to emergency calls fast enough in May. AMR improved its overall response times, but still missed its goal on 23% of calls and turned in worse response times on serious calls within the city in May compared to April.
Blasting on Alcoa Highway causes roadway to shutdown, TDOT says
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Debris on Alcoa Highway closed the roadway at Woodson Drive, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Mark Nagi. The road closure comes after blasting by construction crews in the area. It’s the second time in weeks the road has been shut down for blasting...
Here are the road closures in downtown Knoxville on the Fourth of July
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The City of Knoxville announced the Henley Bridge will be closed during the Festival on the 4th celebration. The Henley Bridge will be closed to car and pedestrian traffic on July 4 from 4 p.m. to midnight. The Gay Street Bridge remains closed as it awaits...
Knox County community rallies to preserve local ballpark
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A local ballpark off of Chapman Highway could be turned into a residential area and people in the community are speaking out in opposition. In 2021, Thunder Mountain Properties bought the land Bower Field is on. In November they proposed to the Knoxville- Knox County Planning Commission to rezone the area […]
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.