☀️ Today’s Weather
Drizzle with a high of 91°F and a low of 69°F — 32% chance of rain. Keep an umbrella handy if you’re heading out.
😄 Only in Johnson City
Johnson City has a “last call” ordinance that moved bar closing time from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. — and somehow the most heated debate about downtown vibrancy is happening in a city where half the restaurants still close at 9.
🧠 Trivia
Question: Many longtime baseball fans still remember the ballpark by what older name?
Answer at the bottom of today’s newsletter.
🔝 Top Stories
One Year Later: Questions Linger Over Johnson City’s ‘Last Call’ Ordinance
September 5 marks one year since Johnson City’s “last call” ordinance went into effect, changing the on-premise alcohol service cutoff from 3 a.m. to 1 a.m. Bar owners have reported significant impacts on their businesses, and questions from both residents and bar owners remain unanswered. News Channel 11 reached out to the city for comment but was told no one was available to speak.
Know a Local Business That Should Be Here?
If you send us a business that becomes a sponsor, we’ll pay you $50 for it. No cap, no catch. Just hit reply with their name and we’ll take it from there. (We still make the final call on fit, same as any other pitch.)
Science Hill Transition School to Work Program Offers Pathway for Students with Special Needs
Science Hill High School’s Transition School to Work program is providing students with special needs a pathway to employment and greater independence. The program connects students with real-world work experiences in the community. Visit the link below to learn more about how the program is making a difference locally.
📅 Upcoming Events
Event details are pulled from public listings and can change. Please confirm dates and times on the official event page before making plans.
Glioblastoma Awareness BBQ Dinner & Silent Auction at Johnson City Brewing
Date/Time: Saturday, September 5, 2026, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Johnson City Brewing, 714 W Walnut St, Johnson City, TN
Description: An evening of BBQ dinner, live music with Homecookn’ at 7 PM, DJ Sam Love, and a silent auction sponsored by local businesses and local artists — all to support research and local families in the fight against glioblastoma.
More info at Visit Johnson City
Incredible Business SPEED! Networking – Johnson City
Date/Time: Friday, September 11, 2026
Location: Johnson City, TN
Description: A speed networking event for local business professionals. For full details including exact location, time, and registration, visit the event page.
More info at IncredibleTowns.com
2026 Umoja Festival
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Location: King Commons Park, 125 W. King St, Johnson City, TN
Description: The annual Umoja “Unity in the Community” festival returns to King Commons Park for a day of celebration and unity. Performers include national recording artist Aaron Cole and Nashville’s Purple Masquerade Band, along with vendors and community resources.
More info at Visit Johnson City
David Nevue – An Evening at the Piano
Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 7:00 PM
Location: Christ Community Church, Johnson City, TN
Description: An intimate piano performance evening featuring David Nevue. For tickets and additional details, visit the event page.
More info on Eventbrite
Appalachian Fair Home Show
Dates/Times: Friday, September 25 (12 PM–6 PM) | Saturday, September 26 (10 AM–5 PM) | Sunday, September 27 (11 AM–4 PM)
Location: Appalachian Fairgrounds, 100 Lakeview St, Gray, TN 37615
Description: A free admission home show featuring hands-on demonstrations, expert advice, and exclusive offers. For exhibitor info, call 423-910-4663 or visit the website.
More info at Visit Johnson City
📜 Today in Johnson City History
One hundred and twenty-five years ago today in 1901, Johnson City businessman R.L. Bruner purchased the Greenwood Hotel property downtown in a cash deal, sparking rumors that a modern four-story hotel would soon rise on the site — one of the most valuable hotel locations in the city at the time.
For more details, subscribe to the Today in Johnson City History newsletter by Rebecca Henderson.
🤝 Community Partners
🧠 Trivia Answer
Cardinal Park, the name the stadium carried during the years it served as home to the Johnson City Cardinals and their St. Louis Cardinals affiliation.