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Daily editionThursday, May 8th, 2025

Good morning, Johnson City.

The Daily Johnson City Team

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Here’s your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 8th of May.

Community

  1. American Legion Post 24 held a dedication ceremony on Wednesday at Tannery Knobs to complete the Raise the Flag Project, which was inspired by two veterans and supported by local donations, businesses and Legion members.

    Granite slabs finished the monument and a 100-foot flagpole was built to honor community service providers — including veterans, firefighters and first responders.

    WCYBRead more

  2. Officials reported that the annual PIT count conducted in January shows the unhoused population in Northeast Tennessee has grown from nearly 400 in 2020 to over 900, and rising rent plus the after effects of Hurricane Helene are partly blamed (40% of those interviewed faced severe mental health or substance abuse challenges).

    WFHGRead more

Education

  1. Washington County Department of Education announced a summer feeding schedule for students under 18—no registration is required.

    The program will serve meals at Boones Creek Elementary, West View Elementary, and Jonesborough Elementary—curbside meal pickups will be available during June and July.

    WFHGRead more

  2. Sullivan East High School held its Life Skills Day on Wednesday, where seniors learned basic first aid, fire extinguishing, and tire changing.

    The program concluded when Ballad Health Academy hosted a signing day for nursing students.

    WCYBRead more

  3. Laurel Elementary was awarded a $200,000 grant to upgrade its energy system and a $10,000 learning environment grant from TVA’s School Uplift program, announced Tuesday by school officials and Mountain Electric Cooperative.

    Doe Elementary and Towne Acres Elementary also received grants to improve energy management + learning spaces.

    WFHGRead more

Government

  1. Residents in Johnson City filed petitions to oppose zoning changes that would allow cryptocurrency mines and data centers in the I-2 heavy industrial district; they worry about noise, property values, and environmental impacts as BrightRidge’s land purchase nearby fuels concerns about a potential mine moving closer. The group will meet at Ashley Academy on May 13 (6:30 p.m.) while commissioners prepare to vote again on May 15 and June 5 to set limits like requiring mines to be in a closed building with proper noise controls.

    WCYBRead more

  2. On Wednesday, May 7, Law Enforcement United completed the third day of its seven-day bike ride to Washington, DC—riding nearly 100 miles per day while stopping at the Southwest Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy—to honor fallen officers.

    WCYBRead more

Health

  1. Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Ralph Alvarado announced updated COPA terms for Ballad Health to address low scores in infections, emergency speed, mortality & patient satisfaction.

    The revisions were developed with the Attorney General’s office over more than a year and will require pass-or-fail scoring to boost transparency and quality.

    WFHGRead more