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Gatlinburg Water Tower

New wastewater plant vital to future growth for Chapel Hill

After nearly 40 years, the town of Chapel Hill has a new wastewater treatment plant that protects the community’s unique ecosystem and positions it for further growth. 
Kevin Brooks and Family

Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks looks toward goals, challenges ahead as TML president

TML President and Cleveland Mayor Kevin Brooks began his career in Tennessee government in 2006 when he was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives. During his time at the General...
Eastman Molecular Recycling Kingsport Plant

Eastman official shares perspective on how municipalities can grow workforce, industry

As workforce needs continue to shift, municipal leaders learned how they can better support local employers from Adrian J. Holt, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Eastman...
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News Across Tennessee

Downtown Improvement Grants awarded to 14 cities

Downtown Improvement grants have been awarded to 14 municipalities that participate in the Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns programs.  

More than $3.9 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding is awarded as part of the program, which allows communities to improve building facades...

Knoxville receives GFOA distinguished budget award

The Knoxville Finance Department has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. This marks the 39th consecutive year the city has been recognized with this honor by GFOA. The award is “the highest form of recognition in...

Valmont Industries to expand Jasper operations

Valmont Industries will expand its operations in Jasper, creating 84 new jobs, and invest $45 million to increase production of its engineered steel transmission, distribution and substation structures for the utility industry. Demand for these structures is growing as utility companies build the...

Morristown awarded GFOA Distinguished Budget Award

The city of Morristown has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The award represents a significant achievement by the city, reflecting the commitment of the governing body and staff to meet the...

Loretto buries time capsule for nation's tricentennial

Officials and community members in Loretto buried a time capsule that will be removed in 50 years’ time. A project of Loretto Lift-Up and the Loretto History Museum, the project commemorates both the 250th anniversary of America and replaces a previous time capsule buried in 1986 that was planned to...

Officials cut ribbon on new VA clinic in Millington

Officials have cut the ribbon on a new Veterans’ Affairs Clinic in Millington, which will serve more than 196,000 veterans across 53 counties in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The 34,00-square-foot clinic expands VA healthcare access such as primary care, mental health care, women’s health...
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People

Meet the Mayor: Dyersburg Mayor John Holden

John Holden

Get to know Dyersburg Mayor John Holden

Vest donation protects Mount Carmel K9 Kilo

Mount Carmel K9 Kilo

The Mount Carmel Police Department's four-legged officer, K9 Kilo, has received an added layer of protection while serving the community, thanks to a generous donation from the nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vest bears the inscription "In memory of Dolly Parton," honoring...

Kailee Bradley

Kailee Bradley
Kailee Bradley

Kailee Bradley has been selected as the new social media coordinator for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. A native of Sevier County and graduate of Pigeon Forge High School, Bradley earned a bachelor’s degree from East Tennessee State University. She will assist with the department's social...

Cade Sexton

Cade Sexton
Cade Sexton

Cade Sexton, a longtime public servant in Caryville and LaFollette, died Oct. 17, 2026, at the age of 90. A native of Caryville, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Lincoln Memorial University and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee. He served as mayor for the...

Walter "Eddy" Ford

Walter “Eddy” Ford, who helped charter the town of Farragut and served as both an alderman and mayor of the town, died Oct. 6, 2026, at the age of 87. Ford helped charter the town in 1980 and then served as one of the city’s first aldermen, representing the South Ward from 1980 to 1993. He also...

Mark Shipley

Mark Shipley
Mark Shipley

Mark Shipley, community development director for Farragut, was named the 2026 Planner of the Year by the Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association (TAPA). The award is the most distinguished individual award presented by TAPA and recognizes 30 years of service to Farragut. Shipley began...
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State Briefs

Downtown Improvement Grants awarded to 14 cities

Downtown Improvement grants have been awarded to 14 municipalities that participate in the Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns programs.  

More than $3.9 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding is awarded as part of the program, which allows communities to improve building facades...

State officials dedicate Buffalo River State Park

Officials have dedicated Buffalo River State Park near Linden as the 69th Tennessee State Park. The 448-acre property near the Perry-Wayne county line includes the largest horseshoe bend on the Buffalo River and will feature more than two miles of river frontage. While park access is currently...

Tennessee September 2026 revenues $20.6M above estimates

Tennessee revenues exceeded budgeted estimates for the month of September with Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson reporting total September tax revenues were $2.2 billion, $20.6 million more than the budgeted estimate and $1.3 million more than September 2024.  

The...

Tennessee September 2026 unemployment rate remains steady

Tennessee’s unemployment rate held firm at 3.4% in September, the third month in a row the state has maintained this rate. Data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development found the rate was unchanged since July and down one-tenth of a point from September 2025. The state’s rate...

THEC: Tennessee higher ed enrollment up 1.3%

Enrollment at public community colleges and universities in Tennessee has increased for the fall 2026 semester with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission recording 228,352 students enrolled. This is a 1.3% gain – approximately 2,933 students – from last year’s numbers. First-time freshman...

TVA records several power demand records in September 2026

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has reported it set multiple high power records in September due to unseasonably high temperatures across the region. TVA said the powerful heat dome sent temperatures above 100 degrees, leading to homes, businesses, and industries consuming significantly more...
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TML Updates