Venomous Asian needle ants have been confirmed in Tennessee, including parts of Great Smoky Mountains National Park; their painful stings can trigger severe allergic reactions.

Sunny and unseasonably warm today with gusty southwest winds; showers and thunderstorms likely Saturday.

The Tennessee House voted April 21 to add "honorifics" to the state’s ban on forced use of preferred names or pronouns, barring schools and state agencies from requiring titles such as Mr., Mrs., Dr. or Mx.

A West Tennessee task force recovered roughly 16 pounds of fentanyl and a bottle of xylazine from a tractor‑trailer on I‑40; officials say the shipment was bound for Knoxville.

Cocke County deputies served a warrant at a Newport home and seized hundreds of pressed pills believed to be fentanyl and Xanax; two people were arrested.

Police say a home off Sutherland Avenue was targeted with a Molotov cocktail on April 20; detectives opened case 26-014531 and Crime Stoppers is taking anonymous tips.

The Smokies will open an online lottery on April 24 for Elkmont’s synchronous firefly nights May 20–27. Officials will award 960 vehicle passes; entry costs $1 and winners pay $29.

Storm damage tore the netting at Dollywood's Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, leaving some rescued eagles temporarily off-site. Local reports differ on whether three birds are unaccounted for.

Knox County detectives arrested a man after a chase and seized about 13 pounds of marijuana, suspected morphine pills, two handguns and roughly $20,000 in cash.

A newly signed Tennessee law hands campus leaders more power to discipline and remove professors, narrowing tenure safeguards at UT Knoxville.

Clear and cool Tuesday morning gives way to a warm, sunny afternoon with highs near 77°F. Showers and thunderstorms are most likely Saturday.

Three bear encounters at Ramsey Cascades prompted temporary closures as rangers monitor activity and warn visitors to secure food and keep distance from bears.

Jury selection began Monday as a Knox County trial opened for Tyzeek Wallace, who is charged in the Feb. 19, 2025 killing of 21-year-old Christopher Taylor in North Knoxville.