☀️ Today’s Weather
Foggy with a high of 70°F and a low of 43°F — just a 1% chance of rain. A sweater morning, a t-shirt afternoon.
😄 Only in Johnson City
Johnson City is one of the few places where you can walk out of a mountain bike trail, grab a craft beer downtown, and be back home in time to wave at a neighbor you saw twice at Walmart earlier that same morning.
🧠 Trivia Q&A
Question: The Johnson City Railroad Experience is a beloved downtown museum on North Boone Street celebrating the region’s rail history — but it started out under a completely different name on a university campus. What was the museum originally called before it became the Johnson City Railroad Experience?
Answer: It was originally known as the George L. Carter Railroad Museum, located on the campus of East Tennessee State University (ETSU).
🔝 Top Stories
⚖️ Johnson City Students Sue Elon Musk’s xAI Over AI-Generated Explicit Content
Three alleged victims of a local high school student accused of using AI to create explicit photos and videos of classmates have sued xAI — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company — in federal court. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California where xAI is headquartered, claims the company is liable for the production of child sex abuse materials. The suit seeks both monetary damages and an injunction to prevent xAI and its Grok chatbot from providing tools that allow users to create sexually explicit content from non-explicit photos.
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Frazier Plumbing
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🏊 Freedom Hall Pool Bidding Process Moves Forward
The future of the Freedom Hall Pool is becoming clearer as the City of Johnson City moves ahead with a bidding process for potential repairs. A recent work session brought city commissioners together to weigh the facility’s options. The Freedom Hall Aquatics Facility is an indoor pool adjacent to the Freedom Hall Civic Center, and has served as the home pool and practice facility for the Science Hill High School swim team, the Johnson City Middle Schools swim team, and the historic Barracuda Swim Club.
🍔 Johnson City Commission Approves Culver’s Land Sale Agreement
Johnson City is officially getting its first Culver’s restaurant. The Johnson City Commission recently approved a land sale agreement to pave the way for the new location on State of Franklin Road. The decision follows months of community anticipation for the Wisconsin-based burger chain to arrive in the area.
🏫 Washington County Rejects School Budget, Cites Large Increase
Washington County commissioners recently rejected the school system’s proposed budget, citing concerns over a significant funding increase request. The decision puts the Washington County Board of Education and county government at odds as budget negotiations continue heading into the new fiscal year.
Read more at Johnson City Press
🎓 Student Rep Confronts Washington County Board Over Ervin Incident
Tensions flared at a recent Washington County Board of Education meeting when the student representative delivered a pointed public statement directed at board members regarding the handling of the Keith Ervin censure. The student’s remarks drew significant attention and have renewed community debate over accountability within the school board. A full text of the student’s statement was also published by the Johnson City Press.
Read more at Johnson City Press
📬 Second Harvest Food Drive: Mail Carriers Picking Up Donations Saturday
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is hosting its annual nationwide food drive this weekend. Mail carriers will be picking up non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes on Saturday, making it easy for Johnson City residents to give back without leaving home. Residents are encouraged to leave donations by their mailboxes before carriers arrive.
📅 Upcoming Events
🛼 Little City Roller Derby — The Return of Little City
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Doors open at 4:30 PM)
Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, TN
Little City Roller Derby returns to Freedom Hall Civic Center on May 9, 2026, from 5:00–9:00 PM, in an opener against Twin Valleys Roller Derby — back where it all started. Tickets at the door are $20; tickets online are $15 plus transaction fee; tickets from a skater are $10. Note that Freedom Hall has a clear bag policy.
More info & tickets at TicketLeap
🎭 Washington County’s Got TEEN Talent
Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 7:00 PM
The Jackson Theatre, Johnson City area
The Jackson Theatre will host Washington County’s Got TEEN Talent on Saturday, May 9 at 7:00 PM. For full details and ticket information, visit the event page.
More info at Visit Johnson City TN
🎉 Spring Block Party — May 16, 2026
Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 4:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Atlantic Ale House, Johnson City
A community spring block party in Johnson City for an evening of warm-weather fun with your neighbors.
More info at Visit Johnson City TN
🎵 Symphony of the Mountains: “Show Me the Paths” — May 17, 2026
Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 3:00 PM
NPAC (Ned Pepper Arts & Cultural Center) at ETSU, Johnson City
The Symphony of the Mountains will present a concert titled “Show Me the Paths” on Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m., as the final performance in the 2025–2026 Free Community Performance Series. Tickets are free and available on a first come, first served basis.
More info at the Johnson City Chamber
🚗 4th Annual Car Show — May 30, 2026
Saturday, May 30, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
140 Technology Lane, Johnson City, TN (Rain Date: June 6)
Rev up your engines for the 4th Annual Car Show! Whether you’re bringing a vehicle to show off or just coming to enjoy the fun, all makes and models are welcome. The event features food trucks, live music, Best of Class & Special Awards, door prizes, and dash plaques for the first 50 vehicles. Vehicle registration begins at 9:30 AM by donation, with all proceeds benefiting the Activity Department for local residents.
More info at Visit Johnson City TN