Good morning, Johnson City.

Raising Cane’s opened its first restaurant in Johnson City on July 7 and created 140 jobs with its signature Craveable Chicken Finger Meals across from The Mall of Johnson City.

The opening featured giveaways and a charity check for Washington County Animal Shelter while offering extended hours on Friday and Saturday (10 a.m. to 1 a.m.).

ETSU Farmers Market returns to Borchuck Plaza this fall with fresh produce + locally made baked goods and crafts.

The market operates every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Sept. 10 through Oct. 29 for ETSU students, faculty and staff.

Washington County Board of Education will start its transparent superintendent search on October 9 with public interviews beginning in December — candidate applications are due Nov.

6, and Chair Annette Buchanan stresses including teacher and parent input before current superintendent Jerry Boyd retires on June 30.

ETSU's Epsilon Xi chapter received the Sanders P.

McComsey Most Improved Old Chapter Award at Phi Sigma Pi's National Convention. The group will hold recruitment events next week (including Cupcakes and Connections) as it builds on a strong year.

President Brian Noland reflected on last year at ETSU, noting record first-year enrollment, ongoing renovations at Stone Hall, and popular events that energized the campus.

He credited community service following Hurricane Helene with strengthening students’ connection to the university (a point he stressed during graduation advice).

Appalachian Futurism Project has partnered with ETSU to hold the second annual Rural Student Leadership Summit on Nov.

12 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at ETSU, offering leadership workshops, team-building activities & networking opportunities for middle school, high school, and college students.

A petition started by student Emilee Rose aims to rename ETSU’s new Academic Building after Dolly Parton following her passing last week.

Supporters on campus want the change to highlight her contributions to education + her lasting local legacy.

ETSU opened new pickleball courts at the CPA on Thursday, Aug.

27, giving students, faculty and CPA members a new spot to check out play equipment and enjoy night-lit courts. The Pickle and Paddle social drew over 300 students thanks to student advocacy and funding from the Facilities Improvement Fund.

BWXT had an unexpected wastewater spill last week when a waterline came loose at its Jonesborough facility – about 900 gallons with a chemical degreaser flowed onto a building floor and outside.

TDEC found no reportable environmental concerns.

ETSU’s Community Counseling Clinic provides free counseling for students, ETSU affiliates and community members at Warf-Pickel Hall (room 327), offering therapy for issues like anxiety, depression and stress while following ETSU’s schedule with no emergency or inpatient care available.

Researchers at ETSU are studying how to help people recover their lost sense of smell after COVID and other illnesses.

Dr. Jia and her team found that blocking a protein in stem cells may boost CNTF production (which helps grow nerve cells) to aid smell recovery.

On Saturday, Aug. 29, ETSU opened the season at home against Campbell and lost 49-37 as quarterback Mason Mims set a school record with 33 completions.

The team will face Tusculum on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m.