☀️ Today’s Weather
Weather data unavailable.
😄 Joke of the Day
A Kingsport resident walked into Dutch Bros on East Stone Drive and told the barista, “I’ll take whatever keeps me sharp enough to navigate Fort Henry Drive at rush hour.” The barista handed him a triple espresso and said, “Honey, that’s not a coffee order — that’s a cry for help.”
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: Kingsport sits along the South Fork Holston River and has long been a crossroads of industry and commerce. One of the city’s most storied manufacturers has called Kingsport home since 1920 and today operates one of the largest printing and publishing operations in North America. What is the name of that company, and in what year did it first establish operations in Kingsport?
Answer: Arcata Graphics (originally Arcata National Corporation, later operating as Quebecor World and then as a predecessor to current printing operations), more precisely: Kingsport Press — founded in Kingsport in 1920. It became one of the largest book manufacturers in the United States and helped define Kingsport as a center of industrial and manufacturing excellence throughout the 20th century.
🔝 Top Stories
☕ Dutch Bros Coffee Now Open in Kingsport
Dutch Bros Coffee served its first customers in Kingsport on Monday morning. The drive-thru coffee company is located at 1501 E Stone Dr. Company representatives previously told News Channel 11 that it planned to employ about 40 people at its Model City location. Dutch Bros, whose nearest location before Monday was in Morristown, has roughly 1,100 locations in 24 states nationwide, with the majority of them in the West, where it was founded in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1992. The business serves a variety of coffees, energy drinks, smoothies and other beverages, all of which it advertises as “fully customizable.”
🏥 Tennessee House Passes Ballad Health COPA Termination Bill
The Tennessee House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that proponents believe is the first half of promoting more competition with Ballad Health. The bill would terminate the state’s Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) between the state of Tennessee and Ballad Health by 2028. It would also remove the Tennessee Department of Health’s oversight of Ballad while still retaining pricing restrictions to be supervised by the Attorney General. The House version of the bill will now move to the Senate where that chamber will decide if it moves forward. The legislation is significant for Kingsport and Sullivan County residents, as Ballad Health is the sole hospital system serving much of the Tri-Cities region, including Kingsport, and Tennessee lawmakers and healthcare experts have been weighing in on the prospects of a rival health system entering the market.
📅 Upcoming Events
🛍️ SMILE Rummage Sale: Shop for a Cause
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Waverly Road Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall — 1415 Waverly Rd, Kingsport
All proceeds support local foster families through SMILE Foster Closet. Fill a grocery bag with clothes for $5, or during the last hour (1–2 PM) fill an entire tote for $25. Toys, housewares, baby gear, holiday decor, and more available by donation. Foster families shop for free — check in with a volunteer when you arrive.
Donation drop-offs accepted Friday, April 10 from 5:30–7:30 PM. No knives, guns, or inappropriate items please.
🔥 Iron Pour Scratch Mold Workshops — Kingsport Cultural Arts
Kingsport Cultural Arts is bringing back its popular Iron Pour event on April 18 during the Kingsport ARTS Festival. To participate, you must first attend one of the remaining scratch mold workshops where you’ll scratch a unique design into a 5-inch sand mold — which will then be cast with molten iron by sculpture artist Joe Bigley and his team. Cost is $23 per person. Ages 18+ (children 6–17 welcome with an adult). All materials provided.
Remaining workshop dates: April 10 (6–8 PM), April 11 (2–4 PM), April 17 (6–8 PM)
Location: The Inventor Center, 118 Shelby Street, Kingsport
Register on Eventbrite or visit artskingsport.org for more info.
🎨 Kingsport ARTS Festival 2026
The Kingsport ARTS Festival will be presented by Engage Kingsport and Kingsport Cultural Arts Office on April 18th, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the 100 block of Shelby Street in Downtown Kingsport. The festival celebrates local artists and makers, connecting citizens to the creative community. Highlights include the Iron Pour with sculpture artist Joe Bigley and a variety of local artisans.
More info at artskingsport.org
🍴 Taste of Small Business Kingsport
Monday, April 20, 2026 | 5:00–7:30 PM
MeadowView Convention Center
Sample bites from over 20 local restaurants, meet the owners, and enter to win door prize giveaways. Tickets are $30/person in advance (non-refundable) or $40 cash at the door if not sold out. All proceeds go to the participating small business restaurants. Tickets are available at most participating restaurants.
🛍️ Downtown Kingsport May Shop & Hop
The Downtown Kingsport May Shop & Hop, sponsored by First Horizon Bank, takes place on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Shop late and shop local as participating downtown businesses offer sales and special deals during this monthly evening event.
More info at downtownkingsport.org
📚 Silent Book Club — Monthly Meetup
Silent Book Club is a recurring monthly event happening on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 6:00 PM onwards at 116 Commerce Street, Suite 101, Kingsport, TN 37660. Bring your current read and enjoy a quiet evening of reading in good company — no book assignment required. It’s a relaxed, social way to spend an evening with fellow book lovers in downtown Kingsport.