Since 2010, HIV-positive sex workers in Tennessee have been required to register for life on the state’s sex offender registry. However, under a lawsuit settlement released last week, Tennessee officials have agreed to reverse course and begin notifying affected individuals that they can now be removed from the registry.
In 1991, Tennessee passed an “aggravated prostitution” law, making it a felony to sell sex while being knowingly HIV-positive. In 1995, when the state introduced a sex offender registry, those convicted of aggravated prostitution were forced to register. However, things got worse in 2010, when the crime was reclassified as a “violent sexual offense,” meaning that those convicted would face lifetime registration.
Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee, arguing that the law unfairly targeted HIV-positive individuals, who are classified as having a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“Unlike Prostitution, which is a misdemeanor, Aggravated Prostitution is a felony that requires lifetime registration as a ‘violent sex offender,’” the complaint states. “This drastic difference in treatment turns solely on HIV status and is so unmoored from medical facts as to punish sexual encounters that pose no risk of HIV transmission.”
Being placed on a sex offender registry makes finding employment and housing incredibly difficult. Even though “aggravated prostitution” refers to consensual sex between adults, affected registrants are barred from working or living within 1,000 feet of a school, playground, or park, in addition to other onerous restrictions.
“There are many other chronic and manageable infectious conditions prevalent in Tennessee, but none are subject to such draconian and counterproductive punishment,” the complaint states. “That individuals living with HIV are treated so differently can only be understood as a remnant of the profoundly prejudiced early response to the AIDS epidemic.”
In February, Tennessee legislators voted to remove aggravated prostitution from the state’s definition of “sexual offense” or “violent sexual offense,” and allow affected individuals to apply for removal. That change went into effect at the start of this month. However, as part of a lawsuit settlement reached last week, Tennessee officials will take an additional step: They will send letters informing individuals placed on the registry for HIV-positive sex work that they can now request to have their names removed.
Unfortunately, neither the settlement nor the legislature’s changes to Tennesee law remove aggravated prostitution as a crime altogether.
“This settlement is one step towards remedying those harms by addressing the sex offender registration,” attorneys from the ACLU and the Transgender Law Center in a statement said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press. “However, as aggravated prostitution remains a felony, our legal team will continue to fight to overturn this statute and ensure that no one in Tennessee is criminalized based on their health status.”
A Tennessee man only learned he was the winner of a $1 million jackpot when detectives called to tell him his winning ticket had been stolen, according to authorities.The lottery winner, who did not want to be publicly identified, bought two winning tickets at a Shell gas station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday. One winning ticket had a prize of $40 and the other was the $1 million ticket.A clerk at the gas station stole the ticket and tried to collect the prize, authorities said.Store video obtained by investigators of the Tennessee Lottery shows Meet Patel scanning the tickets, according to authorities. To save time, the customer had only scratched off the front bar code, and then asked Patel to check if the tickets were winners, authorities told WTVF.“If you scratch off the front bar code, it will tell you if it’s a winner or not, regardless of whether you scratch off everything showing how much you won,” Lt. Det. Steve Craig told WTVF.Patel then placed the $1 million ticket in the trash, authorities said. Later, the video allegedly shows him taking out the trash, after which he removes the winning ticket and puts it in his pocket.“Mr. Patel is then seen later in the video celebrating in the store after scratching off the front of the ticket and learning it was a $1 million winner,” Det. Dennis Ward said in the news release.For any prize of $200,000 or more, players must claim their winnings at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville headquarters. Patel, 23, tried to claim his prize from the Tennessee Lottery, but employees there were suspicious, according to the news release.“He went to the Tennessee Lottery Commission to claim the ticket as his own and through their normal line of questioning there were enough red flags for them to say, ‘Hey, you need to get all of your affairs in order and come back to us and we’re gonna hold on to the ticket,’” Craig told WTVF.Patel is currently being held on a charge of theft over $250,000 at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, the sheriff’s office told CNN. His bond is set at $100,000 and a hearing is scheduled for July 30.“It’s pretty obvious. It’s good enough for me to put in front of 12 jurors and make sure that they all come to the same conclusion,” Craig said.The sheriff’s office reviewed the video to help identify the man who bought the ticket. Less than a day later, Ward told the man, who is a father, he was a winner and convinced him to claim his winnings.“The feel-good side of this story is the (father) never knew he was the winner until we made contact with him,” Craig said. “That is absolutely life-changing money.”
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. —
A Tennessee man only learned he was the winner of a $1 million jackpot when detectives called to tell him his winning ticket had been stolen, according to authorities.
The lottery winner, who did not want to be publicly identified, bought two winning tickets at a Shell gas station in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release on Monday. One winning ticket had a prize of $40 and the other was the $1 million ticket.
A clerk at the gas station stole the ticket and tried to collect the prize, authorities said.
Store video obtained by investigators of the Tennessee Lottery shows Meet Patel scanning the tickets, according to authorities. To save time, the customer had only scratched off the front bar code, and then asked Patel to check if the tickets were winners, authorities told WTVF.
“If you scratch off the front bar code, it will tell you if it’s a winner or not, regardless of whether you scratch off everything showing how much you won,” Lt. Det. Steve Craig told WTVF.
Patel then placed the $1 million ticket in the trash, authorities said. Later, the video allegedly shows him taking out the trash, after which he removes the winning ticket and puts it in his pocket.
“Mr. Patel is then seen later in the video celebrating in the store after scratching off the front of the ticket and learning it was a $1 million winner,” Det. Dennis Ward said in the news release.
For any prize of $200,000 or more, players must claim their winnings at the Tennessee Lottery’s Nashville headquarters. Patel, 23, tried to claim his prize from the Tennessee Lottery, but employees there were suspicious, according to the news release.
“He went to the Tennessee Lottery Commission to claim the ticket as his own and through their normal line of questioning there were enough red flags for them to say, ‘Hey, you need to get all of your affairs in order and come back to us and we’re gonna hold on to the ticket,’” Craig told WTVF.
Patel is currently being held on a charge of theft over $250,000 at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, the sheriff’s office told CNN. His bond is set at $100,000 and a hearing is scheduled for July 30.
“It’s pretty obvious. It’s good enough for me to put in front of 12 jurors and make sure that they all come to the same conclusion,” Craig said.
The sheriff’s office reviewed the video to help identify the man who bought the ticket. Less than a day later, Ward told the man, who is a father, he was a winner and convinced him to claim his winnings.
“The feel-good side of this story is the (father) never knew he was the winner until we made contact with him,” Craig said. “That is absolutely life-changing money.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal appeals court panel ruled 2-1 on Friday that Tennessee does not unconstitutionally discriminate against transgender people by not allowing them to change the sex designation on their birth certificates.
“There is no fundamental right to a birth certificate recording gender identity instead of biological sex,” 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote for the majority in the decision upholding a 2023 district court ruling. The plaintiffs could not show that Tennessee’s policy was created out of animus against transgender people as it has been in place for more than half a century and “long predates medical diagnoses of gender dysphoria,” Sutton wrote.
He noted that “States’ practices are all over the map.” Some allow changes to the birth certificate with medical evidence of surgery. Others require lesser medical evidence. Only 11 states currently allow a change to a birth certificate based solely on a person’s declaration of their gender identity, which is what the plaintiffs are seeking in Tennessee.
Tennessee birth certificates reflect the sex assigned at birth, and that information is used for statistical and epidemiological activities that inform the provision of health services throughout the country, Sutton wrote. “How, it’s worth asking, could a government keep uniform records of any sort if the disparate views of its citizens about shifting norms in society controlled the government’s choices of language and of what information to collect?”
The plaintiffs — four transgender women born in Tennessee — argued in court filings that sex is properly determined not by external genitalia but by gender identity, which they define in their brief as “a person’s core internal sense of their own gender.” The lawsuit, first filed in federal court in Nashville in 2019, claims Tennessee’s prohibition serves no legitimate government interest while it subjects transgender people to discrimination, harassment and even violence when they have to produce a birth certificate for identification that clashes with their gender identity.
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Helene White agreed with the plaintiffs, represented by Lambda Legal.
“Forcing a transgender individual to use a birth certificate indicating sex assigned at birth causes others to question whether the individual is indeed the person stated on the birth certificate,” she wrote. “This inconsistency also invites harm and discrimination.”
Lambda Legal did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment on Friday.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement that the question of changing the sex designation on a birth certificate should be left to the states.
“While other states have taken different approaches, for decades Tennessee has consistently recognized that a birth certificate records a biological fact of a child being male or female and has never addressed gender identity,” he said.
Planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains this summer? Kidding Around’s Kristina Hernandez spent a few summer days in the Smoky Mountains and visited the Townsend Wye swimming hole. This swimming hole is FREE and perfect for families. You’ll want to add this one to your vacation things to do if you’re headed up to the Smoky Mountains!
Imagine a super hot summer day in the mountains. The heat is blistering. The humidity has made your clothes stick to your body. There is nothing you’d like better than a dip in cool, mountain water – and maybe a chance to chill out in a tube down small rapids.
We’ve got just the place. If you’re headed out to the Great Smoky Mountains or just want an awesome day trip, the Townsend Wye swimming hole is the most perfect place to enjoy a hot day. And it’s free!
Stay Near Townsend Wye
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Townsend Wye
The Townsend Wye, locally known as just the Y, is a huge swimming hole with a jump-off rock, small rapids, a few large pools, and enough space to spread out a picnic blanket and make summer memories with your family.
We brought along tubes and my oldest floated down the easy rapids several times, enjoying the thrill of a natural waterpark, perfect for her level of comfort (and mine). Several people were jumping off a big rock into the refreshing water and I swam out into one of the deeper holes to cool off. It felt divine.
There is a small parking lot and when that is full, you can easily park your car in the pull-offs nearby. There is a sidewalk to get to the little paths to walk down to the swimming hole as well as a huge grassy hill that overlooks the water where you can sunbathe.
The swimming hole landscape is just stunning. The mountains hug the curves of the river and even though there were a lot of people the day we went, it was peaceful. Visitors were also respectful of nature and thankfully cleaned up after their time spent at the swimming hole, making it enjoyable for everyone.
What to Bring to Townsend Wye
Plan like you are going to the beach so bring a lot of sunscreen, snacks, water, and a blanket or two. Camp chairs are great as well. We saw some people with portable grills, which seemed like an awesome idea.
If you want to use a tube, bring a few. Life jackets are a good idea for non-swimmers or weak swimmers as there are several deep spots, currents, and some rapids.
Alcohol is not allowed in the park.
Getting To Townsend Wye Swimming Hole
The swimming hole is located right at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains in Townsend, Tennessee, and is between Cades Cove and Gatlinburg. It’s about 45 minutes from Gatlinburg and a little over three hours from Greenville.
We went there the same day we explored Cades Cove, an 11-mile one-way loop in the Great Smoky Mountains that was initially a settlement in the 1800s and is known for the high concentration of wildlife, especially black bears (we saw a mama bear and her two cubs on a recent trip!). Visiting these two places on the same day made for an exceptionally perfect time in the Smokies.
Swimming Caution
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited in the country, with over 11 million visitors last year alone. The official policy of the Great Smoky Mountains National park website is that they never encourage visitors to participate in water activities as drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the park.
There are numerous waterfalls and swimming holes in the Great Smoky Mountains and people swim and go tubing regularly throughout the summer months but it’s important to take note of the caution recommended by the National Park Service. They note that flash flooding can cause serious injuries if people don’t pay attention and give specific tips on how to avoid injuries, like closely supervising children, not diving into the water, and not climbing on or near waterfalls.
While both my children can swim, I did put a life jacket on my youngest and closely watched her older sister as she had fun tubing the rapids. And I made sure I was in the water with both of them when we went swimming as well as watching the weather since spotty thunderstorms had been predicted that day. It’s awesome to visit these swimming holes but proper precautions should always be taken for safety.
Townsend Wye Laurel Creek Road & Little River Road, Townsend, TN 37882
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Townsend Wye: Spend a Day at This Gorgeous Swimming Hole in the Great Smoky Mountains
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A sitatunga at Brights Zoo choked on a snack package brought in by a patron and died, the Tennessee zoo said.
Screengrab from Brights Zoo’s Facebook post
A rare African antelope choked on the packaging of a visitor’s snack and died, a Tennessee zoo said.
Lief, a nearly 8-year-old sitatunga, “still had a lot of life to live,” Brights Zoo said June 10.
On June 8, zookeepers posted a warning on social media telling visitors not to bring in human snacks because an animal had recently choked on a patron’s food.
Two days later, they shared that Lief was the “beloved” creature that died from consuming a squeezable fruit pouch with a cap that probably looked like food to him.
Brights Zoo said it conducts bag checks to make sure snacks aren’t brought in, but visitors still manage to sneak them in sometimes.
“Not only are the keepers and all workers devastated, their herd can’t understand where their friend went,” zoo employee Connie Bright said on Facebook.
The incident sparked outrage on social media.
“It’s a sad thing when you decide that breaking the rules and having a squeezable pouch is more important than the life of an animal,” one Facebook user wrote.
Many people commented on the zoo’s post saying they hoped the culprit will see the post and be held responsible. But the zoo wasn’t so optimistic.
“We too hope they see this post, but don’t believe they will take responsibility for their actions,” zookeepers wrote on Facebook. They doubted they would ever know the person behind it.
Many called Lief’s death heartbreaking and expressed condolences to the zoo and its animals.
“Devastating to read this news. I’m so sorry,” one Facebook user wrote. “People need to realize they endanger these beautiful animals.”
Sitatungas are well-adapted to aquatic environments, living in swamps and marshes in about 25 African countries, according to the African Wildlife Foundation. They can live up to 22 years in captivity.
“People make me so mad. Rules are for a reason,” another person said. “I was just there yesterday. It breaks my heart to think one (of) those precious animals I saw yesterday is not here now.”
Brights Zoo is a family-owned zoo in northeast Tennessee.
Have you visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or maybe looking for things to do in the Smokies? The park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, and it is the most visited national park in the entire nation. And the best part? It’s less than three hours from Greenville.
Kidding Around GSMNP Family Guide
This park has been on my bucket list of places to visit for a while and the more I learned about it, the more I wanted to take a trip there with my kids. When I finally got the chance, it blew me away. The scenery is overwhelmingly beautiful. The mountains stretch for miles, green upon green upon green. The fall colors are unreal. The park has the highest concentration of black bears in this part of the country, two per square mile, along with other abundant wildlife like elk, deer, turkeys, and coyote.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited in the country, with 13.3 million people setting foot there in 2023. While the park is majestic and beautiful, it is also highly accessible to a big part of the nation and there is no entrance fee but there are parking fees.
You must have a parking pass on your car if you park for more than 15 minutes inside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. A daily pass is $5, a weekly pass is $15, and a yearly pass is $40. You can purchase them at any visitors center or online.
I’ll tell you all about places to visit in the park plus where to stay, eat, and play.
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GSMNP Visitors Centers
Sugarland Visitors Center & Nature Trail
If you are visiting the Tennessee side of the park, start your visit at the Sugarland Visitors Center, only a ten-minute drive from nearby Gatlinburg. You can pick up maps and booklets and explore a small nature center that has stuffed snakes, turtles, boar, and other wildlife native to the park. You can also attend a short presentation by a Park Ranger and learn about different aspects of the park. We listened to a fascinating presentation on elk, where the ranger showed us an elk skin, rack, hoof, and cast skull. It was really cool.
There is a one-mile round trip easy nature trail you can take along a creek that goes to the small but pretty Cataract Falls. It’s perfect for families with small kids. We saw parents even pushing strollers along the flat path.
If your kids want to become Junior Rangers, they can fill out a book ($2.50) that has several activities divided by age and then have a ranger sign off on the book and get the pin. My oldest did this with her scout pack and we had a blast. We learned about different vegetation, trees, and wildlife in the park. It’s fun and educational and I highly recommend it as a great introduction to the park.
Oconaluftee Visitors Center
On the North Carolina side of the park, the Oconaluftee Visitors Center is super cool. You can also do the Junior Ranger program there but one of the big draws is the elk that roam the grassy area outside of the building. I’ve seen elk almost every time I’ve visited there. The best time of year to see the elk there is in mating season, which is September mostly, because the bull elk make a bugle call and it’s just incredible to hear.
The Visitors Center there also has an amazing bookstore, topographical map of the park, clean bathrooms, and plenty of Park Rangers to answer your questions. There is also an old village you can tour as part of the Junior Ranger program on that side of the park. My kids and I really enjoyed doing this as part of our homeschooling field trip there.
This is the question I see on every major social media page about the Smokies. This isn’t a zoo so you can’t just go and see animals whenever you want. While there are places you are more likely to encounter wildlife, the most important part of visiting the Smokies and seeing wildlife is to be respectful of the animals and keeping your distance. In fact, you can be fined thousands of dollars if you are too close to the wildlife. And do not, under any circumstances, leave trash or food outdoors in an unsecured area because as you’ll see on signs all over the park, a fed bear is a dead bear.
Now that you know to keep your distance and take out your trash, here are a few places to possibly see wildlife in the Smokies.
Cades Cove
Cades Cove is about an hour drive from the Sugarlands Visitors Center through a winding road. It’s beautiful and goes by quickly since there is so much to view along the way. The Cove is a one-way 11-mile road that snakes through a valley amongst the mountains. It is rich in history and wildlife. Be sure to stop at the information center on your way in and grab the Cades Cove guidebook for a $1. It helps to explain what you’ll see along the way.
Cades Cove was one of the earliest settlements in the area dotted with log cabins and primitive churches. The coolest part is that you can explore them all. My kids absolutely loved checking out these buildings that dated in the 1800s. They look like something out of an old movie and are a unique part of the experience.
My favorite stop is always at the Primitive Baptist Church, which dates back to the mid-1800s and set off the main road. We love to explore the old building and twice have stumbled upon people singing or making music – once was a youth group and their leader with a guitar singing worship songs and the other was an older gentleman playing a harp. The setting, the music, all of it made it easy to picture what this place may have been like when people lived there all those years ago.
As we traveled through the Cove, we pulled over many times, as signs instruct you to do if you want to stop, and jumped out to take photos of the mountains and log cabins. We have seen bears and other wildlife every time we have visited Cades Cove.
There are multiple signs along the route that urge visitors to stay 50 yards away from wildlife because they can be dangerous and result in injury or death. Nevertheless, we saw many people getting way too close to these bears, including a mama and her cubs. Remember you are in their home and you have to be careful. Basically, use common sense.
There is no charge to enter Cades Cove but you must have a parking pass. With the weather changing quickly at times and icy winters, always check with the Visitors Center or the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Twitter account to make sure the road to Cades Cove is open.
Biking Cades Cove
Cades Cove is closed to vehicles every Wednesday during the summer months (it starts on May 1, 2024) and in my opinion, this is the absolute best way to see Cades Cove. It is so peaceful without the noise from the cars and motorcycles. I’ve done this twice with my kids and both times were amazing. We camped there one of the times, which made it easy to get an early start on the bike loop and the other time, we stayed about 45 minutes away and just got there early, around 8:30am. Both times I’ve biked the loop, it took us about four hours just because we stopped so many times at the cabins to check them out.
We brought our bikes but you can rent them from the Cades Cove campground store. They don’t take reservations so you need to get there early. They start renting bikes at 7 am and are usually sold out by 8:30 am. They rent by the hour so if you decide to go later in the day, there’s a decent chance they will have some bikes back from those who went out in the morning. Prices are $10/hour for age 15 and under and $15/adult.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail
Accessed from traffic light #8 off the main strip in Gatlinburg, the Roaring Fork Motor Trail is a 5.5 mile one-way loop that includes access to popular hiking trails like Rainbow Falls and Grotto Falls. You can also stop at the Noah Bud Ogle cabin and take the short hike to the creek and back, which is just beautiful. There are other historical spots to stop at along the way.
Since the road is very narrow, if a bear is spotted, you’ll likely be caught in a bear jam for awhile as tourists will want to stop and take photos. Keep your distance from those cuddly creatures. I’ve seen bears and turkeys during my travels through Roaring Fork. The first time I drove through the trail was with the Pink Jeep tour – it was fascinating because I learned so much about the history of the area. I highly recommend that tour!
Oconaluftee Visitors Center
As mentioned above, there is an elk herd at the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. They are usually out in the open field next to the Visitors Center or down the road a bit. If you don’t see them, they are probably just in the woods. I have been at this place at all hours during the day and have usually seen elk there. I’ve also seen elk on the way over to Cherokee, NC just outside the borders of the park.
There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and tourists always go to just a few of the trails, notably Laurel Falls, Alum Cave, and Grotto Falls. The only one I have not been to of those is Laurel Falls because I don’t want to deal with the crowds. My best piece of advice is to get to wherever you want to go early, like at sunrise or before, if you want to find parking and avoid the mass of tourists. While there is no admission fee to enter the Smokies (they cannot charge one by law) but they have instituted parking fees.
Need to know: Dogs are not allowed (except on two trails)
One important point to note about hiking in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is that dogs are not allowed on any trails except two (and they must be leashed): the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconoluftee River Trail. This is for the safety of both the dogs and wildlife. If you are caught with your dog on a trail by a Ranger, you will be asked to leave and likely fined.
Alum Cave
This trail is so cool and it’s not hard to figure out why it’s beloved by tourists and locals alike. The pinnacle of the hike is to a cave-like rock outcrop that is more like a bluff than a cave. The views are beautiful and you can walk through stunning scenery the whole way. It’s about a five-mile round trip hike to Alum Cave and back. If you want to keep going to Mt. LeConte, another popular place, then you’ll be hiking about 10 miles in total. You can stay at Mt. LeConte at the lodge there but reservations are hard to come by!
Mt. LeConte
I’ve hiked Mt. LeConte via Alum Cave with my daughters (they were 8 and 12 at the time) and it was fantastic. The steepest part was right after Alum Cave and near the top of the mountain. The views were spectacular and hanging out at the lodge was fun. We hiked to the Cliff Tops viewpoint, which added about another .75 miles to the hike. It was worth it. We felt like we were on top of the world.
We bought the sack lunch – my kids called it a “snack lunch” because it consisted of all their favorite snacks and a bagel – for $14 and we each got a commemorative t-shirt that said we hiked Mt. LeConte. The gift shop opens at Noon so we had to wait a bit until it opened since apparently we got up there faster than I expected. Are we doing this again? Absolutely yes. Total mileage was around 11 miles.
We made it!
Grotto Falls
This is a beautiful waterfall you can walk behind and the route that the llamas take up to Mt. LeConte (we got to see them when we went, which was super neat!). Grotto Falls is only 2.6 miles roundtrip and it’s not a difficult hike. But you need to get there early as there is not a lot of parking at the trailhead off Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Roaring Fork is closed during the winter but you can still walk on the road to get to the trailhead, although it adds many miles to your hike.
Abrams Falls
Abrams Falls is a moderate 5.2 mile round trip hike that you have to access through Cades Cove. It’s about halfway through the 11-mile loop and you can park in a gravel lot. I loved this trail. It winds through a beautiful forest and comes out at an incredible waterfall. We went over the summer and lots of people were swimming. We even saw a family of otters!
Midnight Hole
On the North Carolina side of the park is a super popular trail to Midnight Hole, a crystal clear swimming hole that is freezing – but gorgeous! It’s only a three-mile hike and not hard. We even got to see some horseback riders on the trail. If you go only about a quarter mile further past Midnight Hole, you’ll get to see Mouse Creek Falls.
Deep Creek
Deep Creek is also on the North Carolina side of the national park and consists of three waterfalls and a great spot for river tubing. It’s not a hard hike but again, it’s a popular place so if you want to hike there, go early as the parking lot fills up, especially during the summer. We saw some dogs on this trail – they are not allowed – and a Ranger was about to go fine them and ask them to take their dogs out. So be aware of that rule and leave your pups at home.
Mt. Cammerer
Mt. Cammerer is an awesome trail because it ends at a spectacular lookout/fire tower. To get there is a beast though. My daughters and I tracked about 12 miles total and it was really hard. We started at the Cosby campground and it took us about seven hours total. As cool as the fire tower was, especially when we went in the fall, I’m not sure I’d do this one again!
Other Trails
There are a lot of amazing trails throughout the park and it doesn’t take much time to find some of the less traveled ones – Google is helpful, as is this popular Facebook group. We have also hiked the short trail to the Elijah Oliver homestead in Cades Cove – it’s just a mile but is off the beaten path and totally worth the walk. I have a long list of other hikes I want to do in the Smokies. Do your own research and find your next adventure on the trails there!
During the warmer months, there are plenty of places to cool off and have fun on or in the water.
Where to Go Whitewater Rafting
We took a whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Pigeon River with Smoky Mountain Outdoors and had a blast. They have several different trips but the one we did was best for smaller kids – they allow kids ages 3 and up, which is great for families. The Upper Pigeon River has more rapids and kids need to be at least 8 years old for that trip. Make sure you check their website when making a reservation since they often have great deals online.
Other places to go whitewater rafting are Smoky Mountain River Rat and Rafting in the Smokies.
The Townsend Wye swimming hole is a lot of fun in the summer. We brought our own tubes and towels and hung out there for a couple hours. You can chill in the water or take your tube down the small rapids or swim as it is deep enough. It’s right at the Townsend, TN entrance to the park and not too far from Cades Cove.
You can also swim at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area and Greenbrier swimming hole outside Gatlinburg. You may see that The Sinks is a popular swimming hole but we do not recommend this place as several drownings have happened there. Always use caution wherever you choose to swim.
I’ve tubed in Deep Creek a few times and while the water is really cold, it’s also a lot of fun! You have to walk the trail back to the starting point every time but it’s totally worth it and pretty cheap, especially if you bring your own tubes. A new rule that the national park has instituted is that every child ages 13 and under must wear a life jacket while tubing. Here are some places to go tubing in the Smoky Mountains:
They have two tubing locations in East Tennessee near the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area: 205 Wears Valley Road, Townsend (Ages 3+) 8435 State Highway 73, Townsend (Ages 6+)
Tubing passes for both outposts are $16.99 (6-12 years old) and $21.99 (13+ years) in advance online. Day of tickets online are $26.99/adult and $21.99/kids. Walk-in ticket purchases are $30+. Dog passes start at $14.99.
Every time we’ve got to the Smokies, we have seen fisherman in the creeks and rivers that run through the park. As long as you have a fishing license, you can fish the 2,900 miles of streams and creeks within the park. Take a look at the Smokies website to get all the best information and rules on trout fishing within the park.
I think the park harbors many secrets just given its history (read about it before you go!) but there are some pretty incredible things to see here that you’ll find hardly anywhere else.
Synchronous Fireflies
These fireflies are very unique because unlike other fireflies, they will light up all at the same time, which is quite the show. Because they are so cool, the Park severely limits visitors during May and June to the areas where the fireflies light up because humans have done so much damage to the environment over the years. To see the fireflies, you have to enter the lottery, which costs a dollar. If you manage to win, you’ll pay a parking fee at Elkmont -around $25 – to take a shuttle into the park to see the fireflies. The lottery opens in late April just for a few days and you will be notified by mid-May if you won.
My daughters and I have seen the synchronous fireflies at Elkmont and it’s hard to describe just how special that experience was. It felt like you were walking in space with an otherworldly light show happening everywhere you looked. You’re in complete darkness and are so mesmerized by what you’re seeing that you don’t want to go anywhere. You just want to watch the magic happen.
Walker Sisters Cabin
Pick up this trail to the Walkers Sisters Cabin at Metcalf Bottoms picnic area. The cabin was built in 1859 where John and Margaret Walker lived with their 11 children. Only one of the girls married, another died a decade later, and the last five Walker sisters ended up living at the cabin together as their homestead. They stayed after the park was acquired by the U.S. Government and sold handmade items to visitors who happened upon their cabin. The trail isn’t hard and goes past an old schoolhouse and cemetery as well.
I have never gotten tired of the views of the Smokies no matter how many times I see the majestic peaks and clouds weaving through the tree tops. Here are a few places to see some incredible views.
Newfound Gap
In the other direction from Cades Cove is Newfound Gap, which is on the way to Clingmans Dome. There is a large parking lot at the pull off for the site, with plenty of viewing points and photo opportunities.
Newfound Gap sits at just over 5,000 feet above sea level and is the lowest possible pass through the park. Since it’s so high up, it gets a hefty amount of snow a year, average is 69 inches, and is about 10 degrees cooler than Gatlinburg.
The Appalachian Trail crosses here so you can take a stroll to enjoy the view and stretch your legs.
Clingmans Dome
At 6,643 feet above sea level, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Smokies, in Tennessee, and on the Appalachian Trail as well as the third highest point east of the Mississippi River.
Clingmans Dome is about 40 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitors Center and just seven miles from Newfound Gap. The road to Clingmans Dome is closed from December 1 through March 31st, although the observation tower is open year round, but can also close at other times for weather to be sure to check to make sure its open before you go.
The drive up there is stunning. You feel like you’re one top of the world and can see into Tennessee and North Carolina on clear days. The parking lot for Clingmans Dome sits a half mile from the observation deck and it’s a steep hike up there. It’s straight up and not suitable for people with health problems, strollers, or wheelchairs. Don’t worry too much if you can’t make it to the top because the views from the parking lot are amazing.
The storied Appalachian Trail runs through the Great Smoky Mountains and up to Clingmans Dome and you can take a short part of it on the way up or down to the observation tower if you like. It connects to the Clingmans Dome Trail for a total length of almost a mile to the parking lot or back, one way. The vegetation is so vastly different from that of the parks and trails near Greenville that is feels like you’re in another world. It’s beautiful.
Once you huff and puff your way to the top of the observation tower, you’ll be rewarded with a 360 degree view of the park. I’ve seen so many stunning photos of both the sunrise and sunset from this point and while I’m not hiking up there in the dark, the views during the day are breathtaking. It is absolutely worth it to hike up there (maybe bribe the kids with a snack when you get to the top).
The history of the area surrounding Clingmans Dome goes back to the Cherokee tribe as they were pushed out of their lands and walked through what is known as the “Trail of Tears.” Even with the crowds up there, I found the area to be peaceful, especially as we took the trail from the observation tower back down to the parking lot where we only saw a handful of people. Perhaps those spirits of the Cherokee still linger.
Foothills Parkway
Don’t miss the less traveled Foothills Parkway, where you’ll be rewarded with less traffic and beautiful views of the Smokies. This was the first place I stopped on my maiden visit to the national park and it did not disappoint.
I’ve done a lot of things in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and it’s really hard to choose my favorites but I’ll try. You can see more things to do and reviews in our larger guide to the Gatlinburg area.
Anakeesta
I think this mountaintop village is amazing. You can either take an open air chondala or ride up to Anakeesta in a huge truck to the top. Once there, you can run through the treetops on swinging bridges, eat lunch or dinner while enjoying beautiful views, climb the highest tower on a mountain, go zip lining and ride the mountain coaster, play on the forest-themed play areas, and cool off in the splash pad.
Sky Bridge
You can see the Sky Bridge from downtown Gatlinburg and it’s no wonder you can: it’s the longest pedestrian bridge in North America. They have two glass floor partitions on the swinging bridge which will probably test your courage. There are short trails at the top and a new Tulip Tower to climb plus a cool gift shop and snack bar.
Dollywood
The iconic theme park is a lot of fun for families as it has areas for little and big kids plus a locomotive train and awesome shows. Dollywood at Christmas is especially fun with the unique shows and massive display of Christmas lights.
Take a boat ride in an underground lake at the Lost Sea Adventure. This is absolutely as cool as it sounds.
Smoky Mountain Llama Treks
This is on my bucket list and one of the things I really, really want to do in the Smokies. You can hike with llamas with Smoky Mountain Llama Treks and I am sure this is super cool.
Where to Stay Near Great Smoky Mountain National Park
There are lovely campgrounds in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. I’ve stayed at Elkmont, the Cosby one (quiet and spacious) and the Cades Cove one, which is beautiful and also pretty spacious, plus right next to the Cove. Greenbrier and Smokemont are other popular campgrounds.
There are so many great spots to stay: theMargaritaville Island Hotel in Pigeon Forge, Greystone Lodge in Gatlinburg, the Go Lodge, Westgate Smokies, Smoky Hollow Outdoor Resort, Camp LeConte, Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge, The Ridge Outdoor Resort, and Wilderness at the Smokies. This Gatlinburg area guide has several options and reviews.
Where to Eat Near Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Your best bet is to bring food with you for a day at the park. We enjoyed probably the best pancakes I’ve ever had at the Little House of Pancakes in Gatlinburg one of the mornings and brought lunch and snacks the rest of the time. The nearest Walmart Supercenter is 25 minutes north in Sevierville.
Townsend is the nearest town to Cades Cove and there are a few places on the way back to Pigeon Forge if you drive through there. We ate at Paw Paw’s Catfish Kitchen, which had a great selection of catfish, crawfish, and gumbo.
With one of our national treasures being so close to Greenville – and nearly free! – it is absolutely worth the time to make a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday signed a bill into law that criminalizes “abortion trafficking of a minor,” the latest GOP-led state to reduce access to abortion following the reversal of Roe v. Wade.The new law is aimed at preventing assistance to minors seeking to obtain an abortion. It does not apply to the parents or legal guardian of the minor.Under the measure, a person who helps a minor obtain an abortion, or abortion-inducing drugs, without consent from the minor’s parent, could be sued for money damages by the minor, by the minor’s parents, or by the biological father.Tennessee joins a number of Republican-led states that have restrictions on abortion either taking effect or enacted for the first time following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 that overturned the federal right to an abortion. While abortion is already banned in Tennessee – with no exceptions for rape or incest – the new law creates a new layer of punishment for those seeking to help minors obtain an abortion.The law, which takes effect July 1, applies regardless of whether the pregnant minor “consented to the actions that led to the offense,” according to the law, which is a Class A misdemeanor offense and carries a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in prison. Before the measure was signed into law, Bryan Davidson, policy director at the ACLU of Tennessee, said it “harms young people’s ability to access the support of those they trust when they need it most and is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment right to free speech and expression.”“It is absurd and cruel to force a pregnant young person to navigate laws and systems that are designed to deprive them of their own bodily autonomy, while simultaneously removing the ability for trusted adults to provide guidance and support when they need it most,” Davidson wrote in a letter to Lee last month.CNN has reached out to Lee’s office for comment.The new law is similar to an Idaho “abortion trafficking” measure that GOP Gov. Brad Little signed last year. That law made it illegal for adults in the state to assist a minor with obtaining an abortion without parental consent, though it was later blocked by a judge over constitutionality concerns.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. —
Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday signed a bill into law that criminalizes “abortion trafficking of a minor,” the latest GOP-led state to reduce access to abortion following the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
The new law is aimed at preventing assistance to minors seeking to obtain an abortion. It does not apply to the parents or legal guardian of the minor.
Under the measure, a person who helps a minor obtain an abortion, or abortion-inducing drugs, without consent from the minor’s parent, could be sued for money damages by the minor, by the minor’s parents, or by the biological father.
Tennessee joins a number of Republican-led states that have restrictions on abortion either taking effect or enacted for the first time following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 that overturned the federal right to an abortion. While abortion is already banned in Tennessee – with no exceptions for rape or incest – the new law creates a new layer of punishment for those seeking to help minors obtain an abortion.
The law, which takes effect July 1, applies regardless of whether the pregnant minor “consented to the actions that led to the offense,” according to the law, which is a Class A misdemeanor offense and carries a sentence of 11 months and 29 days in prison. Before the measure was signed into law, Bryan Davidson, policy director at the ACLU of Tennessee, said it “harms young people’s ability to access the support of those they trust when they need it most and is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment right to free speech and expression.”
“It is absurd and cruel to force a pregnant young person to navigate laws and systems that are designed to deprive them of their own bodily autonomy, while simultaneously removing the ability for trusted adults to provide guidance and support when they need it most,” Davidson wrote in a letter to Lee last month.
CNN has reached out to Lee’s office for comment.
The new law is similar to an Idaho “abortion trafficking” measure that GOP Gov. Brad Little signed last year. That law made it illegal for adults in the state to assist a minor with obtaining an abortion without parental consent, though it was later blocked by a judge over constitutionality concerns.
The Grand Ole Opry has a complicated history with Black musicians, but has the Nashville, Tennessee, country mecca really banned Beyoncé?
That’s what a May 19 Facebook post’s caption claims, saying, “Breaking News: The Grand Ole Opry Bans Beyoncé For Life, “‘Go Play Dress-Up, You’re Not Country.’”
But the release of Beyoncé’s new country-inspired album, “Cowboy Carter,” has not prompted a ban from the Grand Ole Opry, a storied live music venue.
It has inspired many fake claims, such as this one we’ve already checked claiming that “Jay-Z paid more than $20 million to country radio stations to play Beyoncé songs so she’d top the Billboard country charts.”
That story originated on a self-described satire site, and so did this claim about an Opry ban.
The post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
The post’s caption also says “full story” with two emojis pointing toward comments containing a link under a photo of Beyoncé, the Grand Ole Opry and a repeat of the lifetime ban claim.
The link led to a May 15 post on a site titled “DM Newsfeed,” which said the Grand Ole Opry had decided her “musical style and image” were “incompatible with the Opry’s definition of country music.”
But this story was poached from another blog — “Esspots” — which identified the article as “satire.” The site describes itself as “your one-stop destination for satirical news and commentary.” The Facebook post reshared the story without the satire label.
In the real world, we found no evidence that the Opry banned Beyoncé — no credible news stories, no statements or press releases from the Opry, and no heated social media debate.
We rate claims that Beyoncé was banned from the Opry Pants on Fire!
ATLANTA – Powerful storms packing hurricane-force winds killed at least one woman Friday in Florida as a week of deadly severe weather continued in the South, where uprooted trees crashed onto homes and knocked out electricity to thousands in several states.
City officials in Tallahassee said wind gusts of 80 to 100 mph (128 to 161 kph), speeds that exceed hurricane intensity, were reported in Florida’s capital city. Images posted on social media showed mangled metal and other debris from damaged buildings littering some areas.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for 12 counties in the northern part of the state affected by the storm.
A statement on the Tallahassee government’s website said crews were scrambling to repair 100 broken power poles while half the homes and businesses were left without electricity in a city of 200,000 people. It said the National Weather Service was assessing paths of three potential tornadoes.
“Our area experienced catastrophic wind damage,” Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey said on the social platform X.
Crews have told customers in the dark that the restoration may take days. City officials expect the work to restore power will go through the weekend.
City spokesperson Alison Faris told The Tallahassee Democrat that the extent of the damage has made restoration hard-going because crews are focused on fixing the transmission infrastructure before they can start work on the distribution of power that energizes homes and businesses.
“Transmission first and then we restore circuits which impacts distribution,” Faris told the Democrat. “All hands are on the transmission. We should start seeing some circuits repaired here shortly.”
The first wave of more than 215 personnel from 20 utilities in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina has arrived to help crews as they work to repair the electric system.
The sheriff’s office for Leon County, which includes Tallahassee, said in a Facebook post Friday that a woman was killed when a tree fell onto her family’s home.
The storm that struck Tallahassee early Friday also knocked two chimneys from apartment buildings at a complex where fallen trees covered a row of cars. Fencing was left bent at the baseball stadium of Florida State University, where classes were canceled Friday.
DeSantis said on social media Friday that the state Division of Emergency Management was working with local officials to “do everything possible to return life to normalcy for our residents as quickly as possible.”
The woman killed in Florida was at least the fifth death caused by severe weather in the U.S. this week. A powerful tornado that ripped through a small Oklahoma town on Monday left one person dead, and storms on Wednesday were blamed for killing two people in Tennessee and one person in North Carolina.
An estimated 201,000 homes and businesses from Mississippi to North Carolina were blacked out Friday afternoon, according to the tracking website poweroutage.us. Most of those outages were in Florida, where lights and air conditioning were out for nearly 142,000 customers.
In Mississippi’s capital city of Jackson, authorities on Friday were asking residents to conserve and boil water as a precaution after a power outage at one of its major water treatment plants. JXN Water, the local water utility, said customers could expect reduced water pressure as workers assessed damage from overnight storms.
“It will take many hours for the system to recover and some places may take longer,” Ted Henifin, the water system’s manager, said in a statement.
Other parts of the South were cleaning up from storm damage inflicted earlier in the week. In the rural farming community of Vidalia, Georgia, and surrounding Toombs County, officials said a tornado left a path of destruction roughly 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long Thursday afternoon.
About 10 houses had trees crash onto or through their roofs and crews worked through the night to remove about 50 downed trees that were blocking roads, said Lynn Moore, emergency management director for Toombs County. A dozen car wrecks were reported as the storm passed, Moore said, but nobody in the county was reported injured.
“We’re fortunate that it wasn’t stronger than it was,” Moore said.
Also Thursday, the weather service reported a hurricane-force wind gust of 76 mph (122 kph) in Autauga County, Alabama. And one person was injured in Rankin County, Mississippi, after a tree fell crashing onto a home, according to weather service damage reports.
Since Monday, 39 states have been under threat of severe weather. On Wednesday and Thursday, about 220 million people were under some sort of severe weather risk, said Matthew Elliott, a Storm Prediction Center forecaster.
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Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is bringing the summer fun with their latest announcement, teaming up with NERDS to deliver three delicious limited-time Flavorites: Cotton Candy Crunch, The Blue Razz, and Citrus Crunch. The new flavors available through June 30th or while supplies last.
Along with the limited release comes the news that the brand is permanently adding Rainbow NERDS to their Layer-Ins menu.
“We couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with Nerds to bring these sweet treats to life,” said Erin Buono, director of research and development for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. “At Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, we’re always looking to find exciting new flavor experiences for our guests, and Nerds really hit the mark when it comes to both flavor and texture – making it a perfect choice for our Layer-Ins, which provide delicious variety in each bite.”
The three new NERDS® Flavorites are layered with crunchy, vibrant Rainbow Nerds that pack big flavor throughout each Gelati, alongside Jeremiah’s signature smooth Soft Ice Cream and fruity Italian Ice:
“Nerds is the perfect partner for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice because we stand for the same values: spreading joy and fun with every bite,” said Jeremy Litwack, founder and chairman of the board for Jeremiah’s Italian Ice. “Our Candy Shoppe Flavorites embody the essence of playfulness and bold flavor that we strive for each of our guests to experience in our stores. They’re the perfect kick-off to summer, and the perfect treats to beat the summer heat.”
This limited-time offering underscores the company’s commitment to innovation in its frozen treats, marrying a variety of textures and flavors to provide the most flavorful experience to its guests. Alongside exciting bites of flavor with Layer-Ins and flavors to satisfy every palette, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice has also developed its signature smooth Soft Ice Cream and Italian Ice to deliver the perfect texture in every treat.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is headquartered in Orlando, with locations throughout Florida, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Colorado, Nevada, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.
Are you looking for things to do in Knoxville, TN with your family? We’ve got your list! Local mom, Jordan, shares her family’s favorite things to do in Knoxville, TN. So whether you’re a local looking for a fun new adventure, or you’re traveling to Knoxville with the kids, this list will give you some fabulous ideas for things to do in Knoxville, TN with kids!
Alexa, play Rocky Top! Sorry, we know you will be singing that song all day but we couldn’t help ourselves.
If you’re traveling to Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the Tennessee Volunteers, the iconic Sunsphere, and a fun place to have fun with your family, we’ve got a list of 20 things for you to do in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Before you go on an adventure, here are a few tips:
The sunshine has returned so make sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and lots of water to stay hydrated.
Don’t forget your snacks, strollers, and comfortable walking shoes.
Check the social media pages of each attraction to be aware of any unexpected closings.
Have fun!
Zoo Knoxville
Zoo Knoxville is WILDly fun, as they say, and a perfect spot for family adventures. Our family loves to spend a whole day at the zoo during the Summer months because you can walk around and see the animals and then cool off at the splash pad at the end of your walk around the zoo. You can easily spend an entire day here as The zoo offers:
Muse Knoxville is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) children’s museum. My kids love the art exhibit where they can create any craft they can imagine and it works out for me because I don’t have to worry about cleaning up the mess! They offer:
A Planetarium
14+ exhibits to explore
Outdoor play areas
Gift shop
Special events
Birthday parties
They are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm
Address: 516 N. Beaman St, Knoxville, TN 37914
Cost:
General admission (ages 1-64): $12
Reduced cost admission: $6
Senior citizens (65+), Tennessee educators with valid ID, military & guests of military personnel with valid ID, members, and children under age 1: free
The Knoxville Children’s Theatre is a great place to enjoy a show with your family. They perform a new show every month. You can purchase tickets on their website and select your preferred showtime. They sell refreshments at the front desk for their shows.
We had so much fun watching the Three Little Pigs at the Knoxville Children’s Theatre. If you want a seat close to the stage, make sure you get there early so you can grab your snacks, use the bathroom, and then enjoy the show!
Here are the plays showing by month for the remainder of 2024:
May 3rd-19th: Little Women
June 7th-23rd: Fantastic Mr. Fox
July 12th-28th: Cinderella
August 7th-25th: Tom Sawyer
September 13th-29th: Magic Treehouse: Dinos Before Dark
October 25th-November 10th: Beowulf: The First Avenger
Address: 109 E. Churchwell Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917 Cost: Tickets are $12-$15 each and can be purchased online
When visiting Knoxville, you must visit the iconic Sunsphere that is located in World’s Fair Park. The Sunsphere was built back in 1982 for the World’s Fair. When you go inside the Sunsphere you can enjoy an amazing view of Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains.
They are open Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm
Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm
Sundays 12 pm to 4 pm
Your ticket is for a 30-minute visit
NOTE: The Sunsphere observation deck is closed daily from 1:30 to 2:30 pm excluding Sundays.
World’s Fair Park does not have parking on-site. You must park in a parking garage.
They are handicap accessible as the elevators can take you to the observation deck.
There is a gift shop.
Address: 810 Clinch Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee
Cost:
Adults & Children 12+: $5
Children 12 and under: $1
You can purchase tickets online or at the base of the Sunsphere
Knoxville Museum of Art is located in World’s Fair Park and features contemporary and historical art pieces from the East Tennesee region. They host events often for the community to participate in.
They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Closed Mondays
Address: 1050 World’s Fair Park, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916 Cost: Admission is free
Market Square is nestled in downtown Knoxville and a perfect spot to enjoy a meal, shop, enjoy dessert, splash in the splash pad, and enjoy the sounds of the city. There are several restaurants on Market Square including, Emilia, Not Watson’s Kitchen & Bar, Soccer Taco, Ruby Sunshine, and Tupelo Honey. There are also shops including Urban Outfitters, Tree of Life Salon & Spa, and Rocket Fizz.
My favorite restaurant for date night is Emilia but if you want a great spot for your family to enjoy a meal, Myrtle’s Chicken & Beer is great!
After you eat dinner, you have to walk over to Gay Street and enjoy ice cream at Cruze Farm Dairy! They have so many fun ice cream cone options for kids and a really fun seating area.
Take a stroll after dinner through Krutch Park which is located in Market Square.
Market Square is open Monday through Sunday 24 hours but shops are open according to their own individual hours.
Local parking garages close to Market Square: Market Square Garage, Langley Garage, & Locust Street Garage. Parking is free on nights and weekends.
The Market Square Farmer’s Market is a seasonal open-air market that lines the street every Wednesday morning from 10 am to 1 pm starting on May 1st to November 20th, 2024 and they are open on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 1 pm starting on May 4th to November 23rd.
Address: Market Square, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Cost: Free Visit Downtown Knoxville’s Website for more information.
Cruze Farm Dairy
Cruze Farm Dairy has several locations in East Tennessee. The downtown Knoxville location is located on Gay Street near the Tennessee Theatre. Their ice cream experience is unforgettable and its locally made at Cruze Dairy Farm. My kids love enjoying the chocolate ice cream cone dipped in rainbow sprinkles and sitting in the seating area to beat the summer heat.
They are open:
Monday through Wednesday from 12 pm to 9:30 pm
Thursday through Sunday from 12 pm to 10 pm
They have inside dining at the downtown location.
There is a parking garage directly in front of Cruze Farm’s downtown location.
They sell merchandise and fresh milk for you to purchase.
Address: 445 S Gay St #3, Knoxville, TN 37902 Visit Cruze Farm’s Website for more details.
Tennesse Theatre
After your ice cream break, catch a show in the iconic Tennessee Theatre located on Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. The theatre offers many shows throughout the year.
Box office is open Monday through Friday 10 am to 3 pm and closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
You can tour the theatre by selecting a tour ticket on their website or request a private tour if you have 10+ participants.
Shows and show times vary according to the schedule.
When driving around Downtown Knoxville, you might notice a big basketball on the roof of a large building. That’s the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and it is the largest basketball in the world. You can take a tour of the facility, learn about famous women’s basketball players & coaches, and try your hand at basketball on one of the courts.
They are open every Spring/Summer starting May 1st to August 31st from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday.
They are open in the Fall/Winter starting September 1st to April 30th from 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday.
Address: 700 Hall of Fame Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37915 Cost:
You can tour the iconic Neyland Stadium while visiting Knoxville. Home of the Tennessee Vols, Neyland is the 6th largest college football venue in the United States. They offer 60-minute tours of the facility.
They are open Monday through Thursday ONLY.
Tours are only offered at 10 am and you must pre-book online.
No walk-ups are allowed as booking is limited.
Tour check-in is at Gate-21 Plaza at Neyland.
Parking is available at Volunteer Hall Garage located at 1525 White Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916 and the cost is $1 per 30 minutes.
Address: 1235 Phillip Fulmer Way SW, Knoxville, TN, 37996 Cost:
Adults are $20
Children (13 and under) are $10
For large groups please call the office at 865-974-1205
If you’re visiting Knoxville in the fall, you can enjoy a Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game. Their season runs from fall to early spring each year. They offer an electric experience that is sure to keep your family entertained. The Ice Bears have a kids zone, concessions, merchandise to buy, and plenty of photo opportunities with their mascot Chilly Bear.
My kids are particularly sensitive to loud noises but we didn’t have an issue at this hockey game. It is loud when the fun music plays but not overbearing. However, if you have little ones who are sensitive to noise, take headphones with you. Don’t forget to buy popcorn and enjoy the kids’ fun zone before the game ends!
They are open seasonally starting in the fall of 2024
Address: Knoxville Civic Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr Drive, Knoxville, TN 37915 Cost: Tickets start at $15+ Visit the Knoxville Ice Bears website to learn more.
Tennessee Smokies Baseball-MOVING To Knoxville Soon
If you love baseball, the Tennessee Smokies baseball team (a minor league team) is a quick drive outside of Knoxville, Tennessee. The stadium is currently located in Kodak, Tennessee but they are building a brand new stadium in Knoxville that is set to open in 2025. A Smokies game is fun for the family as they have activities for kids, food vendors, fun events, and more.
We love getting to the game right as the gate opens so we can take advantage of the kid’s activities and grab dinner at the Batter’s Box Bar & Grill. The cheeseburger and fries are amazing!
A game day schedule is available on their website.
Get to the game early to get a good parking spot.
Some of the stadium is shaded but take a hat and sunscreen just in case.
Batter’s Box Bar & Grill is a family favorite! Their burgers & fries are amazing!
Address: 3540 Line Drive, Kodak, TN 37764 Cost: General admission starts at $11 a ticket Visit The Tennessee Smokies’ Website to purchase tickets and learn about their promotions
Ijams Nature Center
Ijams Nature Center is an urban nature park right outside of downtown Knoxville that features over 10 miles of trails perfect for hiking, walking, biking, and bird-watching. They also offer swimming, climbing, natural playgrounds, canoe rentals, and more. My kids especially love the natural playgrounds and looking at the indoor animal exhibit.
Grounds are open daily from 8 am to dusk.
The visitor center is open Sunday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
Bathrooms are located in the visitor center.
Admission is free but donations are appreciated.
Parking is $5 per car per day.
Ijams is dog-friendly but dogs must be on a leash and you must clean up after them. No dogs are allowed in the visitor center.
They have a gift shop, hallway art gallery, and an exhibit hall with some animals on display that you will find in the park.
Ijams offers many educational opportunities including field trips, homeschool opportunities, camps, nature preschool, and more.
You can rent their facility for birthday parties, weddings, meetings, retreats, and more.
Don’t forget bug spray, a towel if you plan to swim, comfortable tennis shoes or sandals as you will walk a lot, and water.
Address: 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920 Cost: Admission is free but donations are always welcome. Parking is $5 per car per day. Follow Ijams Nature Center on their Facebook page for more details.
Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center
Located in Farragut, Tennessee, about 35 minutes from downtown Knoxville, is Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center. They have paintball, a splash zone, a mini-golf course, and golf carts. Sir Goony’s also offers birthday party packages.
They are open year-round (weather permitting):
Monday through Thursday 12 pm to 8 pm
Fridays from 12 pm to 9 pm
Saturdays 10 am to 9 pm
Sundays 12 pm to 8 pm
If you reserve the park for a party, they can open at any time for your event.
Address: 10925 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37934 Cost: Each attraction in the park is priced separately depending on how long you stay. Follow Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center on their website for pricing details.
Main Event
At Main Event Knoxville, you and your family can enjoy bowling, gravity ropes, laser tag, arcade games, billiards, and good food.
They are open:
Mondays 11 am to 1 am
Tuesdays through Thursdays 11 am to 12 am
Friday 11 am to 2 am
Saturdays 9 am to 2 am
Sundays 11 am to 12 am
You can book and purchase your activities online.
Address: 9081 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923 Cost: You can book your activities on their website. Follow Main Event Knoxville on their website to book your activities.
Bijou Theatre & The Bistro at the Bijou
Catch a performance and a meal at the famous Bijou Theatre in Downtown Knoxville. They have a wide variety of music and performance art showings each year.
They are a cashless venue
No large backpacks, purses, or duffel bags are allowed. Clear bags are not required but all bags are subject to be searched by security upon entry
They have a concession stand and on-site bistro
Tickets and showtime are subject to the performance schedule
Address: 803 South Gay Street, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Cost: Tickets start at $25 Visit The Bijou Theatre’s Website for more details
Navitat Knoxville
At Navitat Knoxville you can enjoy one of their 6 adventure trails with your family. They offer zip-lining, swings, nets, climbing, bridges, and more. They are located in Ijams Nature Center near downtown Knoxville.
They are open:
Mondays, Wednesdays Thursdays, and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm
Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm
They have two ticket options (a daytime ticket and a nighttime ticket) that include all of the adventures in the park.
You must be 7+ years old and weigh between 30-265 pounds to participate.
An adult is required to attend with all children under the age of 17.
Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes.
Book in advance to be sure you get the date(s) you are visiting.
Address: 2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920 Cost:
Tickets for the Treetop Adventure Park are $52 + tax per person
Tickets for the Navitat At Night are $65.95 + tax per person
This admission price is the same for adults and children
Take a ride along the Tennessee River in Downtown Knoxville on The Star of Knoxville Riverboat. You can enjoy a lunch, dinner, or sightseeing cruise depending on what you’re looking for. They have several cruise options that include a meal and some options that do not include a meal depending on the date you select.
They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm
Make a reservation in advance.
No dress code is required.
Parking is at Calhoun’s on The River on Neyland Drive.
Cruises are non-refundable.
Address: 300 Neyland Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 Cost: Tickets start at $25 for adults and $15 for children. Pricing depends on the date and type of cruise you select. Visit The Tennessee Riverboat’s Website to learn more and book your cruise.
Maple Hall
Maple Hall is a boutique bowling alley that offers 11 lanes of bowling, a cocktail lounge, life-sized board games, a full food and drink menu, and more. They are located in Downtown Knoxville.
They are open:
Monday through Thursday from 4 pm to 11 pm
Friday from 4 pm to 1:30 am
Saturday from 11 am to 1:30 pm
Sunday from 11 am to 11 pm
You must be 21+ after 9 pm on Friday and Saturday nights to attend.
They do not take reservations.
Address: 414 South Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902 Cost: Bowling rates are per lane per hour:
Monday through Thursday: $25 per lane per hour
Fridays: $39 per lane per hour
Saturdays: 11 am to 4 pm: $25 per lane per hour, 4 pm to 1:30 am: $39 per lane per hour
Try your hand at axe throwing in Downtown Knoxville at Craft Axe Throwing. You can book your experience (or walk-ups welcome if availability allows), learn a few safety tips from the team, and then have fun throwing axes with friends. There are two locations in Knoxville.
Downtown Knoxville Location Hours:
Mondays through Thursdays from 5 pm to 10 pm
Fridays from 2 pm to 11 pm
Saturdays from 1 pm to 11 pm
Sundays from 2 pm to 7 pm
West Knoxville Location Hours:
Closed on Mondays
Tuesdays through Thursdays from 5 pm to 9 pm
Fridays through Saturdays from 12 pm to 11 pm
Sundays from 2 pm to 8 pm
Both locations only allow those who are 16+ after 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays
Address:
Downtown Location: 119 W. 5th Avenue – Suite 150, Knoxville, TN 37917
West Knoxville Location: 320 N. Peters Road, Knoxville, TN 37922
Where can you stay near Downtown Knoxville? Use the map below to find great hotels, boutique hotels, and vacation rentals near attractions you want to visit.
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What is your family’s favorite thing to do in Knoxville?
Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S. late Tuesday and Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee and another in North Carolina.
The storm that rumbled across northeastern Tennessee brought high winds that knocked down powerlines and trees. Claiborne County Sheriff Bob Brooks said a 22-year-old man was in a car struck by one of the trees. Claiborne County Mayor Joe Brooks also confirmed the death in a social media post.
Wednesday afternoon, a tornado emergency — the National Weather Service’s highest alert level — was issued for an area south of Nashville including the towns of Spring Hill, Chapel Hill and Eagleville.
The National Weather Service had previously reported a likely tornado on the ground in nearby Columbia, about 45 miles south of Nashville.
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder confirmed in a statement at least one person died because of the storm, but no details on the cause of death were immediately provided.
Molder said there was a “number of sightings of confirmed tornado touch-downs” in the area that resulted in “bodily injuries and property damage.”
Rita Thompson, Marketing & Communications director with Maury Regional Health, said the hospital had received five patients. One died, another was in serious condition and three had injuries that were not life-threatening.
The Maury County Office of Emergency Management in a statement urged “everyone to stay out of the areas hit” by the storm, adding that all schools in the county, which includes the city of Columbia, would be closed Thursday.
Northeast of Nashville, a flash flood emergency was issued for Sumner and Robertson counties including the cities of Hendersonville and Gallatin. The National Weather Service said water rescues were ongoing in those areas and described the flooding from heavy thunderstorms as life-threatening.
“Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order,” the weather agency alert said.
The National Weather Service in Nashville on Wednesday evening issued a tornado watch for parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee until 3 a.m. CDT. The weather service continued issuing tornado warnings into the night, mostly in Tennessee, but also in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia and Texas.
In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared for Gaston County Wednesday evening following a large storm. First responders were working to clear roads of downed power lines and broken trees and were helping residents, officials said. The New Hope Fire Department responded to a tree down on a car. One person in the car was killed and another was taken to a hospital, officials said.
More than 152,000 customers were without power in North Carolina and Tennessee Wednesday night, according to utility tracker PowerOutage.us.
The Crowder family surveys their home destroyed by a tornado on May 7, 2024, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma. The EF3 twister that struck claimed one life and destroyed dozens of homes in the community of just over 1,000 people.
Brandon Bell / Getty Images
The National Weather Service confirmed tornadoes touched down Tuesday in western Ohio: five in Warren County and one each in Darke, Mercer and Auglaize counties. The weather service said crews are still surveying areas of Franklin and Butler counties to determine if tornadoes struck there, as well. Radar indicated a tornado struck Jefferson County, but teams will have to evaluate the damage to determine its rating, said Jeff Craven, a weather service meteorologist in Pittsburgh.
Crews on Wednesday were able to survey the damage caused by the strong storms that contained hail and heavy rains and knocked out power to thousands of utility customers.
In Michigan, weather service meteorologist Nathan Jeruzal said the tornadoes there touched down one each in Kalamazoo, Cass and Branch counties — all in the southwestern part of the state. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for four counties.
Kalamazoo County’s Portage area was hard hit as a FedEx facility was ripped apart and more than a dozen mobile homes were destroyed. About 50 people temporarily were trapped inside the damaged facility because of downed power lines.
More than a dozen homes were destroyed in a mobile home park in adjacent Pavilion Township and 16 people were injured, said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller.
Samantha Smith clutched a box Wednesday afternoon as she stepped from her mother’s partially wrecked home in Pavilion Township, about 137 miles west of Detroit. Inside the box were her grandmother’s ashes. Being able to recover the most cherished of items offered Smith a rare moment of relief amid the storm’s devastation.
Her parents and brother were injured during the storm but survived.
“I have thanked God probably a billion times since this happened yesterday,” she said. “My kids are healthy and good. We just gotta make back up what we lost.”
Travis Wycoff ventured out Tuesday night after seeing on radar that a tornado had touched down in the Portage area, and he said he helped an elderly couple out of their partially collapsed home and freed a service dog from a home.
“There were a lot of people running through the streets trying to find people and their pets,” Wycoff said. “It was just a lot of chaos.”
In southern Indiana, the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down early Wednesday, damaging homes in a subdivision north of the city of Sellersburg, located about 12 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.
The Clark County Emergency Management Agency said the storm damaged 24 structures.
Candice Holmes, a resident of the Lewis & Clark subdivision north of Sellersburg, said she, her husband and son sought shelter in their bathroom when they heard the approaching storm and “the wind just picked up all at once.”
“It was definitely a scary moment. … And I’m glad we’re alive,” Holmes told WDRB-TV.
Tornadoes were also confirmed in Pennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh, in central Arkansas and in northern West Virginia. The West Virginia twister, which started early Wednesday in far eastern Ohio, was at least the 11th tornado this year in the state that sees two tornadoes in an average year.
Baseball-sized hail was reported Wednesday in areas just southwest of St. Louis, Missouri. Heavy downpours caused flash flooding and at least one water rescue near Sullivan, a town that was struck by a small tornado just two days earlier. Damaging hail also was reported in the Kansas City area.
Tuesday’s storms came a day after parts of the central U.S. were battered by heavy rain, strong winds, hail and twisters. Both the Plains and Midwest have been hammered by tornadoes this spring.
Across the U.S., the entire week is looking stormy. The Midwest and the South are expected to get the brunt of the bad weather through the rest of the week, including in Indianapolis, Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis and Cincinnati — cities where more than 21 million people live. It should be clear over the weekend.
If you’re looking for a day of fun in Knoxville, Tennessee, Zoo Knoxville is WILDly fun! You can spend a whole day here and not run out of things to do. In this guide to Knoxville, TN’s zoo, one local mom shares her favorite exhibits, plus tips and things to remember so you’ll have the best visit with your family. Use our guide to plan your trip to the zoo!
About Zoo Knoxville
The 53-acre zoo is in East Knoxville, about 13 minutes from Downtown Knoxville. There are around 1,200 animals to see and learn about throughout the zoo. When we moved to Knoxville, I took my kids to the zoo and was immediately sold on a membership simply because of how much there was to do. We visit several times a month and never tire of spending time here.
Stay Near Zoo Knoxville
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Zoo Knoxville Tips & Things to Know
Before you visit, here are a few tips from a frequent Zoo Knoxville visitor:
Hours, Rules & Ticket Information:
Zoo Knoxville Hours: Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Parking is $5 and free for members. Memberships pay off!
You can bring your own food & drinks to the zoo but glass containers and straws are not allowed. Or you can enjoy one of their 5 eateries if you don’t want to pack a lunch.
Ticket Pricing:
Members: Free
Adults: $26.95
Children (3-12): $21.95
Seniors ages 65+: $21.95
College Student with ID: $21.95
Children 2 and under: Free
Active Military & Veterans: Free
Firearms are not permitted on Zoo Knoxville grounds.
Zoo Knoxville is a vape and smoke-free campus.
Accesibility Feautures in the zoo:
Wheelchair, strollers, and scooter rentals start at $12+
Sensory bags are located at the front desk
Quiet Zones (Located at the Barn Loft & Painted Dog areas)
Headphone Zones (Located at the Kid’s Cove, Wee Play Adventure & Safari Splash)
There are bathrooms throughout the park with changing stations.
Things to See at the Knoxville Zoo
Now that we’ve covered hours, rules, accessibility, and parking, let’s jump into all the exhibits & fun things to do at Zoo Knoxville.
What Animals are at Zoo Knoxville?
Zoo Knoxville has 12 habitats you can enjoy across the zoo. Grab a map of the zoo when you purchase tickets and plan a route that works for you.
Habitats include:
The ARC (Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Campus): This newer building is so neat to explore as it features Joe the sloth, lots of turtles, gigantic snakes (even a Reticulated Python), crocodiles, and more! This exhibit is mostly indoors but you can view the turtles outside as well.
Black Bear Falls: At Black Bear Falls, you can watch the North American Black Bears sleep, play, and interact. There is a large tunnel (resembling a bear cave) that will take you right up to their enclosure so you can get the best view of what they’re up to. This is an indoor/outdoor exhibit.
Boyd Family Asian Trek: Here you can laugh as beloved Georgie the Gibbons monkey swings in his enclosure, watch the Malayan Tigers take their afternoon nap, and admire the many Langurs swinging across their enclosure.
Chimp Ridge: This habitat is solely for the beautiful & majestic Chimpanzees. This enclosure is large and contains several viewing areas depending on where the chimps are hanging out for the day.
Clayton Family Kid’s Cove: This habitat contains many farm animals that you would find on a farm. The Kids Cove contains turkeys, raccoons, goats, beavers, guinea hogs, and more. This habitat also includes a small wading stream (best for toddlers), the Clayton Cabin playground, a large sandbox, and animal interactions.
Clayton Otter Creek: This habitat might be my favorite. You can watch the North American River Otters splash and play in their large water habitat. They are very active and are a popular exhibit at Zoo Knoxville.
Gorilla Valley: Gorilla Valley is another large habitat that houses beautiful Western Lowland Gorillas. They like to hang out in their indoor enclosure but often run through their large open-air enclosure.
Grasslands Africa: A safari in Knoxville? Yes! You can see elephants, giraffes, white rhinos, and zebras! This area is all open-air and the animals are usually easily visible.
Pilot Flying J Wee Play Adventure: Here your preschool & elementary-aged kiddos can play on the indoor playground surrounded by a Komodo dragon, lizards, snakes, and more. This area features a sandbox, slide, and baby playspace.
The Boyd Family Red Panda Village: This habitat features fuzzy and sleepy red pandas. They like to sleep high up in their nets in the trees so be sure to look up when you visit.
Tiger Forest: This habitat is solely for the Malayan Tigers. Zoo Knoxville has a breeding facility for the endangered Malayan tigers.
Valley of The Kings: Here you can see the African Lions and Baboons. They are in two separate enclosures located near the Clayton Safari Splash Pad.
Clayton Safari Splash Pad
During the spring & summer months, you can cool off after a long walk around the zoo at Clayton Safari Splash Pad. This is included in your admission ticket so no need to pay extra! They are opening on May 17th, 2024 this year and typically stay open until Labor Day each year. This area offers a gift shop, changing areas, and picnic tables to sit and watch your kids splash.
More Things to Do At Zoo Knoxville
Additional Fun Activities:
Take a ride on the carousel located near the Clayton Family Kid’s Cove. Rides are $4 for visitors and $2 for annual pass holders.
Zip through the trees on the Soaring Eagle Zipline. This is a tandem zip ride. Single rides start at $13 per rider.
Take a spin on the Zoo Choo Train. Rides are $4 per ride.
Planet Predator: This new exhibit will be available starting on May 1st, 2024, and will run until October 31st, 2024. You can see several prehistoric predators including an animatronic snake, dinosaur, and more. This is included with your admission.
Protesters chanted “Blood on your hands” at Tennessee House Republicans on Tuesday after they passed a bill that would allow some teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.
The 68-28 vote in favor of the bill sent it to Republican Gov. Bill Lee for consideration. If he signs it into law, it would be the biggest expansion of gun access in the state since last year’s deadly shooting at a private elementary school in Nashville.
Members of the public who oppose the bill harangued Republican lawmakers after the vote, leading House Speaker Cameron Sexton to order the galleries cleared.
Emmie Wolf-Dubin, center, yells during a protest outside the Tennessee House chamber after legislation passed that would allow some teachers to be armed in schools during a legislative session on April 23, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee.
George Walker IV / AP
Four House Republicans and all Democrats opposed the bill, which the state Senate previously passed. The measure would bar disclosing which employees are carrying guns beyond school administrators and police, including to students’ parents and even other teachers. A principal, school district and law enforcement agency would have to agree to let staff carry guns.
Under the bill passed Tuesday, a worker who wants to carry a handgun would need to have a handgun carry permit and written authorization from the school’s principal and local law enforcement. They would also need to clear a background check and undergo 40 hours of handgun training. They couldn’t carry guns at school events at stadiums, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
The proposal presents a starkly different response to The Covenant School shooting than Lee proposed last year. Republican legislators quickly cast aside his push to keep guns away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
A veto by Lee appears unlikely since it would be a first for him and lawmakers would only need a simple majority of each chamber’s members to override it.
“What you’re doing is you’re creating a deterrent,” the bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Ryan Williams, said before the vote. “Across our state, we have had challenges as it relates to shootings.”
Republicans rejected a series of Democratic amendments, including parental consent requirements, notification when someone is armed, and the school district assuming civil liability for any injury, damage or death due to staff carrying guns.
“My Republican colleagues continue to hold our state hostage, hold our state at gunpoint to appeal to their donors in the gun industry,” Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones said. “It is morally insane.”
In the chaos after the vote, Democratic and Republican lawmakers accused each other of violating House rules but only voted to reprimand Jones for recording on his phone. He was barred from speaking on the floor through Wednesday.
It’s unclear if any school districts would take advantage if the bill becomes law. For example, a Metro Nashville Public Schools spokesperson, Sean Braisted, said the district believes “it is best and safest for only approved active-duty law enforcement to carry weapons on campus.”
About half of the U.S. states in some form allow teachers or other employees with concealed carry permits to carry guns on school property, according to the Giffords Law Center, a gun control advocacy group. Iowa’s governor signed a bill that the Legislature passed last week creating a professional permit for trained school employees to carry at schools that protects them from criminal or civil liability for the use of reasonable force.
In Tennessee, a shooter indiscriminately opened fire in March 2023 at The Covenant School — a Christian school in Nashville — and killed three children and three adults before being killed by police.
Despite subsequent coordinated campaigns urging significant gun control measures, lawmakers have largely refused. They dismissed gun control proposals by Democrats and even by Lee during regular annual sessions and a special session, even as parents of Covenant students shared accounts of the shooting and its lasting effects.
Tennessee passed a 2016 law allowing armed school workers in two rural counties, but it wasn’t implemented, according to WPLN-FM.
Tennessee Republicans have regularly loosened gun laws, including a 2021 permit-less carry law for handguns backed by Lee.
The original law allowed residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit. Two years later, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti struck a deal amid an ongoing lawsuit to extend eligibility to 18- to 20-year-olds.
Meanwhile, shortly after the shooting last year, Tennessee Republicans passed a law bolstering protections against lawsuits involving gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers. Lawmakers and the governor this year have signed off on allowing private schools with pre-kindergarten classes to have guns on campus. Private schools without pre-K already were allowed to decide whether to let people bring guns on their grounds.
They have advanced some narrow gun limitations. One awaiting the governor’s signature would involuntarily commit certain criminal defendants for inpatient treatment and temporarily remove their gun rights if they are ruled incompetent for trial due to intellectual disability or mental illness.
Another bill that still needs Senate approval would remove the gun rights of juveniles deemed delinquent due to certain offenses, ranging from aggravated assault to threats of mass violence, until the age of 25.
At least 2 people were killed and more than a dozen others injured when gunfire erupted Saturday night during a block party in Memphis, Tennessee, authorities said.
In a late-night briefing, interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said the shooting was reported at 7:19 p.m. local time at Orange Mound Park in southeast Memphis.
Officers arrived to find five people with gunshot wounds, Davis said. Two males died at the scene and three others were rushed to local hospitals.
Police later learned that another 11 gunshot victims were taken to area hospitals by private vehicles, Davis said.
The shooting occurred during a block party with an estimated 200 to 300 people in attendance, the police chief reported.
At least 2 suspects are being sought.
“We believe there are at least two individuals that fired weapons during this incident,” Davis told reporters.
The circumstances that precipitated the shooting were unclear.
Police did not immediately name the two deceased victims, and the conditions of the injured patients were not provided.
Faris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.
One year after Tennessee school shooting, thousands join hands to honor victims of gun violence
Updated: 8:37 PM EDT Mar 27, 2024
In Nashville, one year after a shooting at a private school took six lives, thousands came together to honor victims of gun violence and provide a visible demonstration in support of reform.As of early Wednesday, about 13,000 people were expected to form a four-mile human chain beginning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt where some of the victims of the shooting were taken a year ago. It will lead to the state Capitol.The nonprofit Voices for a Safer Tennessee was organizing the event to honor the victims of The Covenant School shooting, including three 9-year-old children, and the hundreds of other lives lost to gun violence in the last year, a national crisis showing few signs of slowing down.A 17-year-old gunman killed a sixth-grade student and wounded five others this January at an Iowa high school. Shootings at birthday parties, graduations, parades and more have contributed to gun violence being the top killer of children in the U.S.There have been 83 mass shootings across the nation this year alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The archive, like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter.Formed in the days following the school shooting, the nonprofit organized its inaugural human chain – more than 10,000 people and three miles long – a year ago to advocate for common sense gun laws. The group has since advocated for legislation aimed at strengthening background checks, requiring secure storage for firearms and allowing the temporary transfer of firearms away from people who pose an imminent risk of danger.The Covenant School shootingLast March, a former student broke into the private Christian school and began shooting with an assault-style rifle.The victims included three 9-year-old students, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. Head of the school, Katherine Koonce, 60; custodian and father of seven Mike Hill, 61; and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, were also killed.The shooter, Audrey Hale, 28, was gunned down by police. Authorities believe the six victims were shot randomly.Related video below: Should you talk about school shootings with your kids? An expert weighed in after the shooting at The Covenant SchoolHale left behind writings about the planned attack, which have been the center of a heated legal battle between those who want the writings released as evidence and victims’ parents, who said releasing the writings would contribute to further trauma.Images of the shooter’s writings were released online by a conservative political commentator in November. Police said they have exhausted all avenues in their effort to track down those responsible for the leak.
As of early Wednesday, about 13,000 people were expected to form a four-mile human chain beginning at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt where some of the victims of the shooting were taken a year ago. It will lead to the state Capitol.
The nonprofit Voices for a Safer Tennessee was organizing the event to honor the victims of The Covenant School shooting, including three 9-year-old children, and the hundreds of other lives lost to gun violence in the last year, a national crisis showing few signs of slowing down.
A 17-year-old gunman killed a sixth-grade student and wounded five others this January at an Iowa high school. Shootings at birthday parties, graduations, parades and more have contributed to gun violence being the top killer of children in the U.S.
There have been 83 mass shootings across the nation this year alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The archive, like CNN, defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter.
Formed in the days following the school shooting, the nonprofit organized its inaugural human chain – more than 10,000 people and three miles long – a year ago to advocate for common sense gun laws.
The group has since advocated for legislation aimed at strengthening background checks, requiring secure storage for firearms and allowing the temporary transfer of firearms away from people who pose an imminent risk of danger.
The victims included three 9-year-old students, Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney. Head of the school, Katherine Koonce, 60; custodian and father of seven Mike Hill, 61; and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, 61, were also killed.
The shooter, Audrey Hale, 28, was gunned down by police. Authorities believe the six victims were shot randomly.
Related video below: Should you talk about school shootings with your kids? An expert weighed in after the shooting at The Covenant School
Hale left behind writings about the planned attack, which have been the center of a heated legal battle between those who want the writings released as evidence and victims’ parents, who said releasing the writings would contribute to further trauma.
Images of the shooter’s writings were released online by a conservative political commentator in November. Police said they have exhausted all avenues in their effort to track down those responsible for the leak.
BOULDER — The NCAA still can’t read a room. But man, can they ever kill one.
Kindyll Wetta and her teammates on the CU women’s basketball team were belles of the ball inside the Dal Ward Center. You shoulda seen it. Balloons. Cheerleaders. Catering. One of the sweetest pep rallies to grace the Touchdown Club since Coach Prime got injected into the Buffs’ bloodstream here some 16 months ago.
As the NCAA Tournament brackets came on the screen, the party hushed. Then when Kansas State came up as a 4 seed and as a host for the first weekend of the women’s Big Dance, it sank.
“It’s definitely a bummer for me because I wanted to play at home and I wanted to be in front of my family,” Wetta, the firebrand of a Buffs guard and former Valor Christian star, told me after CU found out its first stop in Bracketville would be as a 5 seed opposite K-State in the Little Apple of Manhattan, Kan. “I thought this year we really had a great shot of doing that. It’s disappointing in that sense.”
There was a lot of that going around here Sunday night. The mood was even less jovial a few hours earlier up in Fort Collins, where the men’s selection committee decided to take its annual dose of stupid out on the Mountain West as a whole — and on the Rams in particular.
Want a laugh? Committee member Bubba Cunningham contended on CBS that teams selected from the Mountain West, save for San Diego State, got strapped to double-digit seedings because their best wins were over one another.
“(That) made it more challenging for us,” Cunningham explained.
Not half as challenging, apparently, as trying to stay up past 10 p.m. Eastern to do homework on teams west of Lincoln. Poor guy.
At least five teams — lookin’ at you, Oregon, NC State and New Mexico — “stole” bids from more worthy at-larges by winning their respective conference tourneys. But any ‘S’ curve that’s got CSU as the “last team in” gets an automatic F.
Do you watch the games, Bubba? Or do you watch “X” and Instagram and hope for the best? CSU beat Creighton by 21 on a neutral court. The Jays were slotted as a No. 3 seed Sunday. The Rammies (24-10) were unveiled as a 10.
Boise State, who’ll take on Tad Boyle’s CU men on Wednesday night, beat Saint Mary’s on a semi-neutral floor by three. The Gaels are dancing as a 5 seed. The Broncos, like CSUand CU, are a 10 seed having to scrap their way over to the Big Kids’ Bracket by winning in Dayton first.
“To be honest, I was really surprised how most of the Mountain West was seeded,” stunned CSU coach Niko Medved, who’ll face Virginia on Tuesday in Ohio, told reporters.
“But you know what? That’s fine. They always disrespect our league. And now it’s time to go out and do something about it.”
Amen. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Cavaliers (23-10), on paper, are certainly in the Rammies’ weight class. For one thing, unlike Michigan in 2022, UVa doesn’t have a Hunter Dickinson down low, taking up a duplex’s worth of space in the paint. On the surface, it’s the irresistible force (CSU’s shooters) against the immovable object (Tony Bennett’s trademark tire-iron defense), a classic Clark Kellogg “contrast-in-styles” scrum between a Rams offense ranked 42nd nationally by KenPom.com in adjusted offensive efficiency and a Cavs D that’s seventh in adjusted defense. If you’re hopping over to Dayton, take the under and take your pizza square-cut.
If the Oppenheimers on the men’s committee dinged CSU for its 4-7 mark away from Moby Madness, their counterparts on the women’s side docked the Buffs (22-9) for losing six of their last eight, including a maddening, come-from-ahead loss to Oregon State in the Pac-12 tourney.
In March, you make your own luck. The Buffs women — despite being one of the best draws in all of college basketball, male or female — didn’t.
“I mean, (it’s) definitely frustrating,” Wetta said. “But like (Coach JR Payne) said, you can’t dwell on that, because (now) it’s completely different conferences, completely different teams, styles of play.”
CU women’s basketball players react to being selected as the fifth seed for the NCAA tournament during a watch party in the Touchdown Club at Dal Ward at the University of Colorado at Boulder in Boulder, Colorado on March 17, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
At least Wetta and her teammates know the drill. Payne’s Buffs got shipped to third seed and host Duke at this time last year and earned their Sweet 16 berth the hard way, stomping 11th-seeded Middle Tennessee and then shocking the Blue Devils in overtime to advance out of Durham.
“I feel like the same situation’s happened to us the past two years, where we thought we should’ve been a higher seed and we weren’t,” Wetta reflected. “So, again, it’s nothing new. Disappointing, but we’re used to it.
“I think we definitely do better with underdog mentality. So I think that’s a good thing going into the NCAA Tournament. It just adds a little bit of fuel to the fire.”
Why bust brackets when you can burn ’em? Pack your bags, kids. And your grudges. This dance just got personal.
A former college football star is under arrest and charged with murdering his girlfriend and their unborn child with poison.
Blaise Taylor had a stellar career as a defensive back playing major college football at Arkansas State University before graduating in 2017. Then the 27-year-old rose through the coaching ranks, as he was hired for pro scouting and defensive analyst positions with the NFL‘s Tennessee Titans and Utah State University. And a few weeks ago, he was hired by college football powerhouse Texas A&M University, per ESPN.
But that’s all over now. According to multiple media reports, the former standout defensive back was arrested in Utah by US Marshals on Thursday night. He’s charged with poisoning girlfriend Jade Benning and her unborn fetus in an incident that occurred in late February of last year at her Nashville apartment. Taylor had been working as a scout for the Titans at the time; after Jade’s death, he took the Utah State job and spent this past season with that school’s team.
While Taylor was in Utah for the past year, cops in Nashville were hard at work investigating Jade’s untimely death. The tragedy unfolded on the night of February 25, 2023. Per arrest records, Taylor was visiting Benning, who was five months pregnant, in her Nashville-area apartment that evening. Just after 9:30 p.m. local time, he called 911 and informed dispatchers that Benning was having what appeared to be an allergic reaction to something.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and immediately transported Benning to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition. However, she fell into unconsciousness before she could speak with EMTs or responding police officers. Two days later, her baby — who is believed to have been fathered by Taylor, per WSMV News — died in utero. Then a little more than a week after that, on March 6 — which also happened to be Benning’s 25th birthday — she succumbed to the effects of the poisoning, too.
At the time, though, authorities weren’t sure it was a poisoning yet. Taylor was not arrested, and Benning’s death was initially thought to be an allergic reaction or some other medical issue. That detectives were never able to interview her before she died made things even more complicated. Soon thereafter, Taylor left the Titans, moved out of Nashville, and took a job with Utah State’s football program as a senior defensive analyst for this past season.
But Benning’s story didn’t end there. Per WSMV News, the Metro Nashville Police Department assigned Homicide Unit Detective Adam Reese to look deeper into the case. While working alongside medical examiners and doctors from the coroner’s office, Reese was able to uncover evidence that suggested Benning was poisoned. The indictment against Taylor alleges he poisoned Benning and her unborn baby without her knowledge on the night of February 25 prior to calling paramedics.
Now, instead of going to work alongside his dad Trooper Taylor, the associate head coach at Texas A&M, Blaise is facing justice. He has officially been charged with two counts of first-degree murder — one for Benning and another for her unborn baby. Per the US Sun, Nashville cops are working with the US Marshals and authorities in Utah to have Taylor extradited back to Tennessee.
Tennessee’s sports betting landscape witnessed a substantial 13.4% year-over-year surge in the handle, reaching $378.2 million in February. While this marks the third consecutive month of decline in the state, the gross handle for February was still 15.6% higher than the same month last year. However, it fell short by 18.8% compared to the $465.8 million bet in January 2024.
Results Broadly Aligned with Expectations
The monthly handle figure, which includes $2.2 million in adjustments, paints a comprehensive picture of the sports betting activity in the state. Without these adjustments, the gross handle for February in Tennessee stood at $380.4 million. The gross handle witnessed a robust 16.2% year-on-year increase, indicating a healthy market. Nevertheless, on a month-on-month basis, it experienced an 18.6% decline.
The Privilege Tax for the month amounted to $7.0 million. While this figure reflects a 9.4% increase compared to February 2023, it is an 18.6% decrease from January’s $8.6 million. The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council (SWC), responsible for overseeing the licensing and regulation of online sports wagering, did not publish revenue data or provide a breakdown of each licensed operator.
While the month-on-month drop could be due to seasonal fluctuations, February’s Super Bowl should have boosted revenues compared to January. Next month’s results should reveal whether the result was a fluke or the start of a worrying trend. Tennessee’s sportsbook sector has shown no signs of significant issues, but industry insiders will closely monitor future updates.
Tennessee Remains a Leading Sportsbook Market
Tennessee entered the legal sports betting arena in November 2020, witnessing an influx of high-profile operators such as FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM. Over the subsequent years, the market has expanded, with recent additions like Fanatics, ESPN Bet, and Hard Rock, contributing to the state’s sports betting ecosystem and giving bettors diverse options.
Sportsbook taxes have significantly contributed to education and community-focused initiatives, aiming to offset some of the societal harm incurred by gambling. January’s contributions were sufficient to propel the state’s all-time figure above $200 million. Tennessee is the fifth state to achieve this milestone, following New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Illinois.
Despite the recent monthly decline, the Tennessee sports betting market continues to exhibit resilience and sustained growth, positioning itself as a leading player in the evolving landscape of legal sports wagering in the United States. Analysts expect the market to recalibrate in the coming months, driven by new operator launches, regulatory developments, and the ever-changing dynamics of sports betting enthusiasts in the state.
