After the federal government shutdown cut staffing and services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, local governments and nonprofits in the region stepped up to foot the bill and keep the park open during the peak fall season.
Farmers are recovering after Helene – with help from UT Ag researchers
As East Tennessee recovers after Hurricane Helene, farmers find their land has changed in unexpected ways. University of Tennessee soil scientists are testing the ground to create future plans.
Low-head dams pose risks in Appalachia, but some people aren’t ready to see them go
State officials in Appalachia have labeled low-head dams as public safety hazards, with some even being responsible for deaths. But some community members are hesitant to have the fixtures removed.
For the locals, their fight against a proposed landfill is more than ‘a local matter’
Grassroots activism is on the rise in Scott County, where a new landfill could have devastating effects on the environment. Despite strong community opposition, some state legislators say they don’t want to get involved.
The most radioactive place in East Tennessee has been cleaned up, says EPA
After radioactive leaks in the 1970s, the American Nuclear Corporation abandoned its Clinton, TN site. It sat empty for decades until the EPA stepped in. Cleanup is now complete.
How one rural Tennessee town pushed back over a proposed bitcoin mine and won
The tech industry is increasingly eyeing rural communities to warehouse servers for cryptocurrency mining and data storage. In Mountain City, locals pushed back.
‘My skin is itching off of me’ — US Nitrogen downplays harm of chemical leaks, spills in Tennessee
A nitric acid plant in a rural corner of Greene County has leaked chemicals into the air and water several times in the last decade. Now US Nitrogen is under investigation by a federal watchdog.
Whitewater rafting rebounding in Hartford after being battered by Helene
Many small communities that dot the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains rely on whitewater rafting for tourism. In September, Hurricane Helene brought devastating flooding to the region, destroying many outdoor water adventure businesses. Now, some are starting to bounce back.
Tennessee can charge people for crimes they didn’t commit, advocates want reform
In Tennessee, prosecutors can charge people for crimes committed by another person, even if they weren’t directly responsible. Activist groups are working with state legislators to change that.
‘We’re at the start of Manhattan Project 2’: U.S. energy secretary visits Oak Ridge
Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Friday that his department will move to promote the development of nuclear energy there, primarily with the intent to fuel advancements in artificial intelligence technologies.
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