☀️ Today’s Weather
Heavy showers today with a high of 78°F and a low of 72°F — 76% chance of rain. Grab an umbrella before you head out.
😄 Only in Johnson City
ETSU students spend months agonizing over picking the perfect dorm room online, and then arrive to discover their window faces the parking deck. Progress.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: The Blue Plum Festival began in what year?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
ETSU Implements New Housing Application System; Student Cites Issues
East Tennessee State University has rolled out a new housing application system designed to give students more control over their room selections through a self-guided, live online platform — a shift away from the previous staff-assigned process. At least one student has raised concerns about how the new system is working in practice. For the full details on what’s changed and what issues have been reported, visit the link below.
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Johnson City Releases Data Center Public Survey Results
The City of Johnson City has released the results of a public survey on data center regulation, following months of community discussions on the topic. City officials have been weighing resident input as they consider policies around data center development in the area. Visit the link below for the full survey findings.
Johnson City Woman Charged After Allegedly Forcing Child Underwater
A Johnson City woman is facing charges after allegedly forcing a child underwater. The incident drew attention from local law enforcement and has raised community concern. See the link below for the latest details on the case.
Johnson City Commission Appoints 29 to Public Boards and Committees
The Johnson City Board of Commissioners recently appointed 29 residents to serve on various public boards and committees. Appointments to volunteer boards and committees are made by the Johnson City Board of Commissioners in January and July. The appointments fill seats on bodies ranging from the Public Library Board and Regional Planning Commission to Parks and Recreation and the Public Art Committee.
Read more at Johnson City Press
Mayors of Johnson City, Jonesborough, and Washington County Speak on Progress
The mayors of Johnson City, Jonesborough, and Washington County recently gathered to speak on progress across the region. The conversation covered developments and priorities for the communities they lead. Follow the link below for the full video report.
📅 Upcoming Events
10 Years – Live at Capone’s
Friday, July 31, 2026 — Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM. Ages 18+ with valid, state-issued or US military photo ID. Located on Main St, Johnson City, TN. The gold-certified alternative hard rock band performs live. No refunds; support acts subject to change.
More info at Visit Johnson City
Meet the Mountains Festival 2026
August 14–16, 2026 at Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, Tennessee. This multi-day outdoor festival is one of the area’s signature late-summer events. Visit the link below for lineup and ticketing details.
More info at Visit Johnson City
The Farmer & The Chef
Sunday, August 30, 2026, 4:00 PM–7:00 PM at Blackthorn Club at the Ridges. Join regional chefs using locally grown fresh food to support the mission to end food insecurity in Northeast Tennessee. For more information, contact lwalker@netfoodbank.org or visit the event page.
Jericho Shrine Circus Spectacular at Freedom Hall
Showtimes run September 25–27, 2026, with the opening night on Friday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 PM at Freedom Hall Civic Center Arena in Johnson City. Kids 12 & under are free (courtesy of Jericho Shriners and Carden Circus); teens (13–18) $18; adult general admission $27; box seats $38.
More info at Visit Johnson City
📜 Today in Johnson City History
One hundred and twenty-five years ago today in 1901, the Evening Tribune described the full plans for the Soldiers’ Home campus: a triumphal arch entrance, French Renaissance architecture, a mess hall seating 1,250, twelve barracks in a semi-ellipse, a hospital, chapel, conservatories, groves, gardens, and a cemetery. A Southern Railroad spur would bring supplies directly to the storehouses, and a trolley road was planned from downtown Johnson City to the main gate. That campus is now the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center.
For more details, subscribe to the Today in Johnson City History newsletter by Rebecca Henderson.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
1999, when Friends of Olde Downtowne launched the festival as a way to draw people back to downtown Johnson City.