Are the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina a sign of what’s to come in East Tennessee post-Helene? Plus, the local news for August 29, 2025.
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.
Volunteers repair damaged parts of Appalachian Trail by hand almost a year after Helene
Volunteers are still rebuilding parts of the iconic Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Two damaged spots along the trail require hikers to take detours.
The owner of the Tennessee factory where workers drowned after Hurricane Helene won’t face charges
The owner of a factory where six workers died last year in flooding from Hurricane Helene won’t face charges after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation found no criminal wrongdoing. The conclusion mirrors that of a similar investigation by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Flooding and rock slides close heavily damaged I-40 section in Smoky Mountains
Heavy rain, flooding and a rock slide have again closed a section of the major cross country highway Interstate 40 along its narrow corridor through the Great Smoky Mountains.
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.
Stretch of North Carolina interstate that collapsed during Helene to reopen by March 1
The primary road connection between North Carolina and eastern Tennessee was severed in late September as flooding in the Pigeon River gorge washed away eastbound lanes. One lane in each direction will reopen to traffic at a reduced speed.
A hidden gem of whitewater rafting faces an uncertain future after Hurricane Helene
Whitewater outfitters on the Nolichucky River are facing an uncertain future after Hurricane Helene. The storm washed a CSX rail line into the river. Now heavy equipment is crawling all over the wild, remote gorge, and outfitters haven’t heard whether the U.S. Forest Service plans to issue permits for them to operate.
TN Gov calls special session on school vouchers, immigration, disaster relief
The announcement Wednesday morning comes less than 24 hours after lawmakers began this year’s regular session.
Vouchers, disaster aid and hate speech: Tennessee’s top legislative priorities
Tennessee lawmakers will reconvene in Nashville Tuesday for the 114th General Assembly. Their priorities are already clear.
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