☀️ Today’s Weather
Monday, March 30, 2026 — Overcast. High 74°F, Low 52°F. 3% chance of rain.
😄 Joke of the Day
A man from Kingsport, a man from Bristol, and a man from Johnson City all claim their town has the best view of the mountains. The Johnson City man just smiles and says, “Sure — but we’re the only ones with a Publix and a Tweetsie Trail to walk off the guilt.”
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: Johnson City’s new Towne Acres Elementary School broke ground in November 2025 and will be the last of eight Johnson City Schools to be renovated or rebuilt. Where is the new school being built, how many students will it accommodate, and what is its expected completion date?
Answer: The new Towne Acres Elementary School is being built at 2310 Larkspur Drive. The 110,000-square-foot facility will accommodate up to 750 students and staff, and it is scheduled to open in Summer 2027.
🔝 Top Stories
🔥 Apartment Fire Strikes Sterling Hills in Johnson City
Several fire crews responded to an apartment fire in Johnson City on Sunday afternoon at Sterling Hills Apartments on Milligan Lane, reported shortly after 1 p.m. Fire crews from West Carter County Fire Department, Watauga Volunteer Fire Department, Central Volunteer Fire Department, and Hampton Valley Forge Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene within minutes. Sterling Hills Apartments units 42 and 43 were found scorched in the blaze. A dog died and a firefighter was injured as a result of the fire. Residents were displaced and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
✊ “No Kings” Protests Draw Hundreds Across the Tri-Cities
People with all different backgrounds came together across the Tri-Cities for the “No Kings” protests, with hundreds lining the sidewalks at the Johnson City location on Saturday. A local veteran who attended the Johnson City protest said it wasn’t his first “No Kings” event and noted the growing crowd: “This is the most people I’ve seen here. Every time it’s increased, so that gives me hope that something will be done.” Organizers said five events were planned across the Tri-Cities region, billed as “protests of the cruelty, lawlessness, and damaging policies of the Trump Administration.” The Johnson City demonstration was held on State of Franklin Road, organized by Indivisible TriCities TN.
🐾 Animal Shelter’s First-Ever “Cruising for a Cause” Car Show a Success
The Washington County Johnson City Animal Shelter hosted its inaugural “Cruising for a Cause” car show on Sunday and collected donated cat and dog food. Executive Director Tammy Davis said over 100 cars were in the lineup, calling it “the 1st annual car show we have ever had here at the animal shelter.” The event raised community support and food donations for the shelter’s animals. The shelter hopes to make the car show an annual tradition going forward.
❤️ ETSU Health and Ballad Health Expand Cardiology Partnership
ETSU Health and Ballad Health announced on March 24 an enhanced partnership in cardiology services, with Ballad Health welcoming ETSU Health’s adult cardiology specialists to the CVA Heart Institute located at 2428 Knob Creek Road, Suite 201, in Johnson City. This partnership gives ETSU Health’s faculty providers the opportunity to continue overseeing their patients’ care with expertise, while allowing medical students, resident physicians, and fellows in ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine programs the opportunity to learn and practice within a robust heart institute setting. Dr. Thomas Helton, president of Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute, said the ETSU cardiology fellowship program and the 50-physician cardiovascular group create “a powerful synergy — expanding expertise, enriching education, and advancing clinical research.” The collaboration is seen as a major step forward for cardiac care and medical education in Northeast Tennessee.
🎨 Johnson City Public Art Committee Gears Up for a Colorful 2026
Jocelyn Mathewes, executive chair of the Johnson City Public Art Committee (JCPA), says the committee has opportunities every year that encourage local artists to show their creations to the community. The JCPAC will seek proposals from professional artists as part of a selection process for new artworks, with an official request for qualifications set to launch in early to mid-2026 with an emphasis on beauty, accessibility, and sustainability. A highlight of the year will be Art·Struck 2026, set for Saturday, April 25, at The Pavilion at Founders Park, 105 W. Main St., in downtown Johnson City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where dozens of local artists will have their works available for sale.
Read more at Johnson City Press
🏫 New Towne Acres Elementary Construction Now Underway
The City of Johnson City broke ground in November on a new Towne Acres Elementary School located at 2310 Larkspur Drive; scheduled to open in Summer 2027, the 110,000-square-foot school will accommodate up to 750 students and staff. JA Street and Associates was awarded the construction bid for more than $43 million, with funding included in the approved FY 2024 budget, which incorporated a 25-cent property tax increase with 15 cents specifically allocated for Towne Acres. Superintendent Erin Slater said the development will create more academic growth in Johnson City, offering “brand new learning spaces with natural light, flexible learning spaces and teaching to 21st century skills.” Towne Acres Elementary is the last of eight schools to be renovated for Johnson City Schools.
Read more at johnsoncitytn.org
🏙️ Tennessee Bill Would Limit Technology Use in Elementary Classrooms
A new bill in Tennessee would require school districts to create policies that prioritize in-person teaching, limit the use of digital devices, and prohibit social media in elementary school classrooms; an original proposal to ban all technology in grades K–5 was deemed too extreme and was amended to give districts more flexibility. After feedback from school leaders including Johnson City Superintendent Dr. Erin Slater, the bill was amended; Slater noted that technology is used to enhance student learning and that students need to be familiar with technology for online state assessments. The amended version of the bill was unanimously passed by the Tennessee Senate and will go before the House in April 2026.
Read more at Johnson City Today / National Today
📅 Upcoming Events
💼 Northeast State 2026 Spring Career Fair — April 1, 2026
The Career & Workforce Development Center at Northeast State Community College is hosting the 2026 Spring Career Fair on Wednesday, April 1st, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM at the Blountville campus. Employers from across the region will share information about available job openings and career opportunities, offering a wonderful opportunity for job seekers to network with employers representing a wide range of career fields. The event is free and open to job seekers from the public.
Location: Northeast State Community College Ballad Health Center for the Performing Arts, 2425 Highway 75, Blountville, TN 37617
🎷 Johnson City Jazz Festival — April 17–19, 2026
On Friday, April 17, the festivities open at the ETSU Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall, featuring Moon Unit (a sophisticated guitar trio from Durham) and acclaimed New York jazz vocalist Emma Hedrick and her Quintet. The series continues Saturday, April 18, with the Knoxville-based Vance Thompson Quintet and the Steve LaSpina Quintet of Asheville. The festival concludes on Sunday, April 19 at the Jackson Theater in Jonesborough, featuring the ETSU Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Martin Walters and the Tri-Cities Jazz Orchestra led by Eddie Dalton.
Locations: ETSU Martin Center’s Powell Recital Hall (Apr. 17–18) & Jackson Theatre, 121 W. Main St., Jonesborough, TN (Apr. 19)
Read more at Johnson City Jazz Festival
🍺 Thirsty Orange Beer Festival (Main Street Days) — April 18, 2026
The Thirsty Orange Festival is set for April 18, 2026, as part of the downtown Main Street Days series. This beloved spring street festival returns to downtown Johnson City, celebrating local craft beer culture and bringing together food, vendors, and live entertainment. Downtown Johnson City TN organizes the Main Street Days series, which has become the largest festival in Washington County outside of the Appalachian Fair.
Location: Downtown Johnson City, Main Street
Read more at Downtown Johnson City
🎨 Art·Struck Festival — April 25, 2026
Art·Struck 2026 will be held Saturday, April 25, at The Pavilion at Founders Park, 105 W. Main St., in downtown Johnson City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to arts demonstrations, dozens of local artists will have their works available for sale. The annual event celebrates public art and the local creative community, hosted by Johnson City Public Art (JCPA). It’s a free, family-friendly festival showcasing the region’s vibrant artistic talent.
Location: The Pavilion at Founders Park, 105 W. Main St., Downtown Johnson City
🚂 Mother’s Day Express — May 9, 2026
Celebrate Mom with a special excursion hosted by the George L. Carter Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Depart Johnson City by motor coach to Knoxville, board the Three Rivers Rambler steam engine for a scenic journey through the city, then enjoy a Mother’s Day lunch cruise aboard the Star of Knoxville paddlewheel riverboat on the Tennessee River.
For more information contact the Johnson City Railroad Experience at 423-631-5273.