UT will replace the building with a new chemistry building Late last Thursday night Frothy Monkey announced it would soon close its location at 419 South Gay Street. The final day of service was given as May 7, this Wednesday. As announced here the restaurant opened in the former Kress Building in August of 2022 The popular regional restaurant became the first business to occupy the space in about a decade The press release cited “potential property ownership changes on the horizon and growing momentum in other neighborhoods.” It went on to say the company would “refocus on the neighborhoods where Frothy Monkey is best positioned for long-term success.” Partner and Head of Marketing and Communications said “Knoxville welcomed us with open arms We’re incredibly grateful for the relationships we’re proud of what we built and thankful to have been part of this amazing community.” asking particularly about the implication that this restaurant has not met expectations She said the group has nine cafes and they periodically evaluate them all The other locations performed better and seemed to have “more traction for the future.” She expressed her appreciation for Knoxville saying “Everyone has been great from the neighbors to Thomas (Boyd I contacted Thomas who confirmed that his intention is to sell the building but nothing has been signed and there likely will not be any movement on that front until at least September It does appear that if this sale goes through the new owners would have different plans for the space currently occupied by Frothy Monkey hence the uncertainty they referenced in their statement He said he was excited to bring Frothy Monkey to Knoxville after having enjoyed their other locations and regrets it did not work out better for them He said they were great tenants and he wished them well The upshot is that for the short to mid-term Frothy Monkey is open today through Wednesday and they are offering Happy Hour type deals  on Wednesday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm calling it their “Last Call Happy Hour Celebration.” You’ll still find their other locations in Nashville and elsewhere and you can pick their coffee at Whole Foods It was less than a year ago that I reported that El Tarasco had opened at 145 South Gay Street with real Mexican food served up at a very reasonable price I have no information as to what might have caused the sudden closure Original information indicated the location might be used for an Indian restaurant of some sort Remember that cool moment when you could get a great burger at a reasonable price on the patio behind Lonesome Dove And often you could find great local music there as well I think it ended with the advent of the pandemic This iteration is called “Side Hustle,” and it features “Texas style smoked barbeque which manager Emily Hughes tells me is “smoked on site.” She promises a “relaxing vibe,” with live music on Friday and Saturday nights near us closed suddenly without a word as well We now have speculations based upon what you have written Would be great if patio behind Lonesome Dove would post their music on Facebook I’ve suggested they give me the dates so we can post it here I guess I’ll never know how the monkey got frothy Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "ade664ebecd96d128f6fe18fc0c3310e" );document.getElementById("j765652687").setAttribute( "id" Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive Knoxville organizations that provide support to marginalized groups are anxious their federal funding could soon get cut under President Donald Trump's war on diversity, equity and inclusion programs At the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee leaders are concerned their $1 million grant for housing stability for teens and young adults may be in jeopardy The young homeless community has a higher proportion of LGBTQ+ people The Youth Homeless Demonstration Program grant money is in hand locally from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to pay for two years of services and there was a lot of language in all directions from HUD about being very inclusive having programs that could give some priority to youth who are entering programs from the LGBTQ community," Misty Goodwin They used inclusive language clues from the previous administration to win the grant. Trump's executive orders to dismantle inclusivity programs changed CAC's outlook "We had to pivot very quickly with regard to this funding and our contracts and all of that just be careful about the language that we used that is a piece to this that is concerning This was a grant that was officially targeted at the LGBTQ community," Goodwin said Rashaad Woods, the director of Renounce Denounce Gang Intervention a nonprofit that serves community members at risk of committing violence said his parent organization received federal funding to work mostly with young Black men Woods said at-risk young people are unique and they work with them as they are: Community members who don't get the same access to quality education the attacks on DEI programs makes him wonder if the nonprofit should start seeking the greatest portion of its funding from outside the government The Knoxville branch of Renounce Denounce received $43,000 from Knoxville this year and $3,000 last year "I believe that everything that's going on within the country right now is bringing these communities closer together It's having us depend on us (the community) a lot more and be less dependent on the government to solve all our problems," he said Nobody knows exactly what's going to happen it's kind of up to the people at this point." the city's director of the Office of Community Safety and Empowerment acknowledged the unknows for organizations seeking federal aid and grants Knoxville receives a large amount of federal support "I think the uncertainty of it all is very real across all spectrums of our community or just an individual who is thinking about how you live your life and your household budget," Middlebrook said Middlebrook encourages organizations to seek a range of funding opportunities to diversify a lot of our work tends to be funded with local dollars so we know where our priorities are and plan accordingly folks are uncertain about a lot of things at a lot of different levels the uncertainty creates concern for partners across a wide range of spectrums," she said Myron Thompson covers public safety for Knox News Have restaurant or retail news to share with Knox News? Email joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com to let me know and we will consider it for a future story Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday this year Americans sure do love a reason to dance and down a few drinks And because East Tennesseans are no exception we have created a list of spots across Knoxville and Maryville that are offering specials or hosting events for Cinco de Mayo weekend and on the actual holiday May 5 Get the free 'Eat65' newsletter: Your guide to East Tennessee's food and beverage scenes Babalu will be hosting Frog & Toad's Dixie Quartet at 7 p.m The restaurant will have its normal $5 margarita Monday special but is adding a margarita flight that will only be available on the holiday Info: babaluknox.com | @babaluknox | 865-951-0361 Celestina - 1411 Bexhill DriveCelestina Mexican Crafted is hosting a family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebration starting at 2 p.m This cozy Mexican restaurant is just off Ebenezer Road in West Knoxville next to Sam & Andy's Bexhill Info: celestinaknox.com | @celestina.knoxville | 865-357-8240 Though Chismoso is normally closed on Mondays the Gay Street restaurant is hosting family-owned Mexican restaurant Monterrey for a pop-up featuring menu items from the latter business Monterrey opened in Knoxville in 1996 and is located at 105 Cedar Lane The Chismoso-Monterrey pop-up is walk-in-only 4-10 p.m Info: chismosoknox.com | @chismosoknox | 865-444-2122 and 11110 Kingston PikeEl Mezcal Mexican Restaurant is having a normal day on Cinco de Mayo It just so happens Mondays already feature an all-day happy hour whether you're looking to celebrate the holiday or just grab a few cheap drinks after work El Mezcal offers 16-ounce margaritas for $3.49 and 16-ounce flavored margaritas or daquiris for $4.75 Sequoyah Hills info: elmezcalknoxville.com | 865-558-6416 | 118 N West Knoxville info: elmezcalknoxville.com | 865-966-6972 | 11110 Kingston Pike Loco Burro is hosting a party for Cinco de Mayo with rooftop views followed by a DJ playing on the rooftop at noon A donkey-riding contest will be on the first floor at 6 p.m. and a taco-eating contest starts at 7:15 p.m There also will be a raffle to win a keg and taco party for 20 people Special Cinco de Mayo merch will be part of a giveaway Info: locoburroknoxville.com | @locoburroknoxville | 865-253-7555 Monterrey will have its own celebration May 5 Here is a list of specials the family-owned restaurant will have all day long: $3 house tequila shots$7 draft beer (32 ounces)$11 house margaritas (32 ounces)$12 flavored margaritas (32 ounces)$13 Tex margaritas (32 ounces)Info: @monterreymexknoxville | 865-688-5668 Peaceful Side Brewery in Maryville is hosting "Funky Cinco de Mayo" leading up to the holiday and a $65 ticket gets you access to "unlimited beer tastings live music and all programming," according to a Peaceful Side news release Chapulines Street Tacos will be at the event as well as Chef Jeff Carter of Dancing Bear Lodge There will be beer releases from 10 local and regional breweries and Peaceful Side Brewery Info: peacefulsidebrewery.com | @peacefulsidebrewery | 865-855-0510 Southside Garage is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a few drink deals which has patio seating and yard games out back for $6 house margaritas and palomas and $3 Pacifico and Modelo tall boys Be sure to grab birria tacos or a green Chile cheeseburger at the Dia De Foods truck in front of Southside Garage Info: southsidegarageknox.com | @southsidegarageknox | 865-951-2790 Yee-Haw Brewing is hosting "Cerveza Fest" May 2-5 Yee-Haw will offer six-packs of seasonal drinks like "Rita," the brewery's newest release Info: yeehawbrewing.com | @yeehaw_knoxville | 865-210-8862 Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: joanna.hayes@knoxnews.com. | Sign up for the free Eat65 newsletter Support strong local journalism by subscribing at subscribe.knoxnews.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInKNOXVILLE (WVLT) - An iconic restaurant in South Knoxville announced on Sunday that it will soon be closing its doors for good and owner Jeffery “Andre” Bryant took to social media to say the business will be closing up on May 7 “I built this business starting with my back up against the wall,” Bryant said in the post “But I’m finishing like a star up in the sky.” was originally slated to close in 2023 to make room for Kern’s Food Hall Previous Coverage: Future of South Knoxville’s Burger Boys uncertain Bryant said he will post to the restaurant’s Facebook page if he decides to reopen at a new location “I owe you a huge ‘Thank you’ and all my gratitude and love for your loyalty!” We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at editorinchief@utdailybeacon.com or call us at 865-974-5206 Kevin Hunter is a rising senior and first generation college student at the University of Tennessee majoring in political science and minoring in social justice Throughout his college tenure Kevin has been a Dean’s List recipient all five semesters He is the Vice President of his university’s Africana Studies Student Association and is a member of the University of Tennessee Success Academy Kevin is also a recent inductee of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society In the future Kevin aspires to obtain a PhD in political science and provide many contributions to the field of African American policy issues Kevin is particularly interested in voter mobilization in the Black community He hopes to make a long and fulfilling career of providing meaningful scholarship to the problems faced by the Black community See all 2025 RBSI Scholars. Navigating Potential Pitfalls in Difference-in-Differences Designs: Reconciling Conflicting Findings on Mass Shootings’ Effect on Electoral Outcomes and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Knoxville Public Library Director Ashley Miller discusses the library’s May calendar I don’t normally post a second article in the afternoon but I know many of us are anxious to receive news related to the Gay Street Bridge Here’s what the city had to offer this afternoon: Work to repair the Gay Street Bridge for pedestrian traffic is now underway While contractors aren’t visible around the 127-year-old bridge just yet crews are constructing the barge that will serve as the primary platform for repairs “I am relieved to finally see this work moving forward,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon “Thank you to everyone for their patience during its closure It will be a welcome sight to see people walking and biking across the historic span once again.” TDOT engineers informed the City the bridge needed to close in June of 2024 Further assessments by Gresham Smith found cracked bolts a full scope of the repairs to reopen the bridge to pedestrians was finalized Charles Blalock & Sons will be leading repairs because of the company’s expertise in bridge repair and experience working with the U.S The contract states repairs will not exceed $1,944,929.50 and will be completed by December 31 While preparations were being made for this next step the City also sought out cost estimates for the full replacement of the bridge Engineers estimate the cost would be between $60-$200 million For more information and updates on repairs, including links to the latest contract and bridge repair plans, go to www.KnoxvilleTN.Gov/GayStBridge Not a lot in there is what we want to hear but it’s good to be hearing something Here’s hoping the timeline gets bumped up a bit So there is quite the price range for the cost of a new bridge – $60 to $200 mil – that’s a $140 mil swing “Engineers estimate the cost would be between $60-$200 million” I for one CANNOT wait for the Gay Street bridge to reopen for pedestrians and cyclists I don’t want to wish the year away I suspect the wide range in price is probably due to wide range in bridge design replacement possibilities A generic but functional bridge probably in the $60 million range to a complete rebuild of the current Gay street bridge probably approaches $200 million Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t the Gay Street Bridge Close for a few years 10 or 15 or maybe 20 (I’m old) years ago for a major overhaul "a664342022ec27b85b9d8f6ec07cfe51" );document.getElementById("j765652687").setAttribute( "id" Repairs that will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to use the Gay Street Bridge are underway and are expected to be completed by the end of the year The $1.9 million contract memo to get the bridge back to a usable state shows construction will start in the "May/June timeframe." Work will be done from barges stationed beneath the bridge Work is underway on a barge that will serve as the primary platform for repairs City officials are working to at least make the historic bridge safe enough for pedestrians and bicyclists plus emergency vehicles and Knoxville Area Transit buses Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com and follow her on X Another cornerstone coffee shop is closing in Knoxville Frothy Monkey explained May 2 on Instagram the cafe will close May 7 Its other locations in Alabama and Tennessee will stay open the owner of the Kress building has decided to sell the property and we’ve made the difficult decision to close Frothy Monkey Knoxville," the caption reads Property records show the building was purchased for $5.8 million in September 2020 by Jackson Central Properties LLC which is registered with the state to Thomas Boyd No other sales have been recorded since then Frothy Monkey opened on Gay Street in 2022 in a renovated historic building with an indoor mezzanine and a 40-seat street-side patio for customers to enjoy coffee It opened as the eighth location for the Nashville-based business It also has Tennessee locations in Nashville as well as two Alabama locations in Birmingham and Homewood Frothy Monkey will continue to sell its coffee at Fresh Market The cafe is hosting a final Last Call Happy Hour Celebration from 7 a.m.-8 p.m Frothy Monkey roasts its own coffee and bakes its own bread It has unique drinks like the rosemary honey latte and its classic monkey mocha Some menu items include a kale Caesar salad and a quinoa-black bean burger with vegan garlic mozzarella and avocado mash loaded biscuits with chorizo gravy and pork barbacoa Shopper Blog: KUB Fiber expanding in North and East KnoxvilleKnoxville News SentinelNORTH KNOXVILLE KUB Fiber expanding in North and East KnoxvilleJack Coker about two and a half years after the first installation KUB Fiber successfully reached the halfway point in its fiber network buildout making high-speed internet available to nearly 84,000 residential and business customers across the KUB service area East Town and New Harvest Park neighborhoods had KUB Fiber by the end of April and the North Hills and Alice Bell neighborhoods should have it in August KUB will begin the third and final phase of its fiber network construction This milestone will give all KUB electric customers access to the fastest internet available and improve electric reliability through the benefits of fiber technology “The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that high-speed internet was no longer a luxury but a necessity for individuals and communities to thrive,” KUB President and CEO Gabriel J “We’re delivering on our promise to provide the fastest internet possible with a full range of internet products and services all backed by local customer support.” KUB Fiber provides businesses with improved efficiency for their operations and savings of hundreds – or even thousands – on their internet bills The ongoing buildout also continues to prioritize rural communities that were previously underserved or unserved by other internet providers KUB Fiber is now available to all KUB customers in Union and Grainger Counties with upcoming construction planned for Sevier and Jefferson Counties this is the first time they have had a wired connection,” Bolas said “Remote work and internet-reliant schoolwork is now something these households can complete without worrying about their connectivity.” KUB launched its ConnectED program to assist lower-income student households The program provides free KUB Fiber services to income-eligible K-12 student households in Knox County with funding from Knox County and the city of Knoxville The program serves 182 students and continues to expand the advantages extend far beyond having high-speed internet," said Bolas empowering businesses and strengthening connections within communities." If you are curious about when KUB Fiber will be available in your neighborhood, go tohttps://www.kub.org/fiber-availability/ and enter your address You can also sign up for emailupdates to stay in the loop The Knoxville City Council will consider a development agreement with Origin Homes tonight This development agreement is part of the city supporting Origin as they apply for workforce housing tax credits to build more homes in the Veterans District The meeting will start with oaths of office administered to firefighters Mike Afonso and Nicole Stanley and mayoral readings of an ALS Awareness Month proclamation a Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation and a Professional Municipal Clerk’s Week Proclamation In new business the council will hold a public hearing and consider the sale of ten lots in the VA District to Origin and a letter of support for the workforce housing tax credits The council will also consider a resolution in support of workforce housing tax applications for Hugerich Holdings LLC and Kading Properties The meeting will close with the council considering a lease agreement between the city and the Knoxville Senior Center and the replacement of the Knoxville Recreation Center gymnasium heater Tonight’s Knoxville City Council meeting will start at 6:15 pm at City Hall – The game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park on Friday night has been postponed due to rain The Smokies announced late Friday night that a doubleheader has been scheduled for Sunday The doubleheader will feature two seven-inning games The Trash Pandas and Smokies are still scheduled to play on Saturday night at Covenant Health Park, with the game set to begin at 6:00 PM CT. Rocket City right-hander Joel Hurtado (1-1, 2.53 ERA) will face Knoxville right-hander Grant Kipp (2-1, 3.12 ERA). Fans can watch the game on Bally Live and MiLB.tv, or listen on ESPN 97.7 HD-2 and trashpandasbaseball.com The Trash Pandas will return to Toyota Field on Tuesday for a six-game homestand against the Montgomery Biscuits This homestand includes: Ladies Night on Tuesday May 6; an Education Day matinee on Wednesday May 7; Throwback Thursday and Soccer Night with Scarf Giveaway on May 8; Friday Night Fireworks and Armed Forces Day as part of the SAIC Patriotic Series on May 9; Princess Night and Saturday Night Fireworks powered by Astrion on May 10; and a Mother’s Day Brunch with a Jersey Auction and Body Belt Bag Giveaway on Sunday Tens of thousands of people swarmed the Old City in April for the Knoxville Smokies' opening week and the first One Knoxville SC game yet businesses surrounding Covenant Health Park say their sales suffered Data provided by Visit Knoxville shows that while more people are visiting the area than previous years since the stadium has opened fewer people have visited Central Street between Jackson and Willow Avenues now that the street is closed on game days This 100 block of Central Street is packed with restaurants bars and niche small businesses that have been looking forward to the potential increased foot traffic that comes with a new stadium "One of my biggest concerns is when we hit the dog days of summer and 300 people are at the baseball game why are we closing the street?" said Jesse Nemister "Why am I missing out on all these sales?" Fewer visitors on Central Street during Smokies gamesKaizen depends on dinner reservations and Red Panda Grocery on walk-in traffic The Central Street closure challenged these business models: Kaizen experienced 14 reservation cancellations between 3-5:30 p.m Central Street between Jackson and Willow avenues is closed for all 69 Smokies home games this season It is only closed five times during the One Knox season for the team's special block parties Data provided by Visit Knoxville shows 28,900 people visited the area around the stadium bounded by East Jackson Avenue and Central Street during the first homestand April 15-20 There were only 7,200 visitors during the corresponding Tuesday-Sunday in 2024 But if you just look at the closed part of Central Street from Jackson to Willow data shows fewer people visited than a year ago when the stadium was still under construction − 4,700 visitors during the first homestand compared to 5,200 visitors during the same period in 2024 Central Street will reopen approximately one hour after Smokies games end on Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays starting next week city spokesperson Eric Vreeland told Knox News in an email The street will remain closed until 5:30 a.m the following morning for Friday and Saturday games Jackson turns into a one-way street going east and Willow becomes a one-way street going west when Central Street is closed The closure and one-way streets are designed to reduce "potential conflicts between motorists and pedestrians," Vreeland said and to help with traffic flow for ADA parking and the shuttle drop-off Newmister believes some people may have canceled reservations at Kaizen because of confusion about how to navigate parking and street closures on game days Businesses are doing what they can to adjust and inform customers Red Panda Grocery was able to sell sandwiches on Central Street during the April 26 One Knox block party because the soccer club had gone through the city for a special event permit Central Street will be closed four more times for One Knox block parties this season May 9 Newmister said he made back a lot of his sales during the block party and that "the soccer game was absolutely electric." "If you looked at a camera shot of the stadium it looked like nobody was in their seats because everybody was up Newmister said the block party experience was completely different than Smokies game days, which shut down Central Street without activating the street for pedestrians. The National Association of City Transportation Officials recommends planning activities for a successful pedestrian street experience recruited food and drink vendors and encouraged Old City businesses to set up shop in the street Newmister is excited for the fandom and entertainment that comes with baseball and soccer games in the Old City but is wary about the long-term effects of people avoiding the area on their way to the ballpark Stadium visitors who park in downtown garages and take the free shuttle to Covenant Health Park don't go near Central Street The shuttle route takes Summit Hill Drive and Willow Avenue to drop off people near the stadium's west entrance bypassing restaurants and bars in the Old City that were anticipating more foot traffic as people walk to the stadium "road closed" signs on Central Street can make people think areas are closed to both vehicles and pedestrian traffic and nearby construction on Willow Avenue may also lead people to assume the street is closed Newmister said Old City merchants want to be "solutions-based." The Old City Association held an impromptu meeting after the Smokies' first homestand to talk through how the stadium has challenged business owners and others in the neighborhood as well as to better advertise that businesses along Central Street are open on game days even if the street is not it is currently hurting the businesses," Old City Association president Robin Easter told Knox News in an email and foot traffic has been next to nothing." Businesses trying to 'figure out' Old City changesWhile Bethie Lou's Fabulous Gift Store at 101 E doesn't have to deal with its street being closed owner Beth MacDonald said she has seen a drop in business on game days despite being one of the closest businesses to the west entrance of the stadium She was excited before the first Smokies games as she watched crowds of people wearing Smokies baseball caps and jerseys making their way to the brand-new ballpark with family and friends But then they didn't come inside her boutique MacDonald believes people are visiting the Old City to watch a baseball game not to grab dinner and drinks or drop inside a boutique like hers She also believes changes to Old City parking on Smokies game days is a factor in her lackluster sales "We've tried to figure it out and really haven't figured it out," MacDonald said Parking has been a problem for employees and customers Both groups previously parked along Central Street or in the parking lots beneath James White Parkway which are reserved on game days for Smokies staff The stadium's traffic flow plan will continue to adapt and evolve as the city gets feedback and as nearby construction on the Beauford Delaney Building and Willow Avenue nears completion "City staff will continue to make minor adjustments," he said we'll have more data and feedback from residents more feedback - the plan will continue to be refined." Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Nathan Sage is holding a US Senate campaign kickoff event in Knoxville tonight Sage announced his intention to run for United States Senate on April 16th as a Democrat and will look to challenge incumbent Republican Joni Ernst in the 2026 midterm election covered news and sports for two different radio stations and has worked for the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce since 2023 Tonight’s event will be from 6:00 – 7:30 pm at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum and is a way to meet Sage as he continues to launch his campaign Light refreshments will be served. To RSVP for the event you can follow this link You get a chance to decide who will be named the Guardian Foundation Repair boys athlete of the week in the Knoxville area for April 28-May 3 This week's candidates include players from the TSSAA baseball field Anderson County: Bond pitched seven innings allowing four hits and striking out 13 in a 5-1 win over Clinton last Tuesday Austin-East: Crayton finished first in both the 200 and 400-meter races He finished first in a time of 21.90 seconds in the 200 and followed with a time of 48.64 in the 400 He also finished third in the 100 in a time of 11.05 seconds during the KIL Track and Field Championships last Tuesday Catholic: Fowler captured first place in a pair of events during the KIL Track and Field Championships He finished first in the shot put with a throw of 59-feet 6¼ inches and in the discus (182-9) last Monday Heritage: French was 2-for-3 with a triple a double and three RBIs in a 16-1 win over Apostolic Christian last Monday Karns: Harness was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in an 8-1 win over Pigeon Forge last Monday Oneida: James had two goals and two assists in a 5-0 win over Rockwood last Thursday He had a goal and an assist in an 8-0 win over Oliver Springs last Tuesday Seymour: Johnson was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and pitched five innings allowing only two hits and striking out 10 in a 13-3 win over Fulton last Tuesday a double and two RBIs in a 12-1 win over Carter last Wednesday Hardin Valley Academy: Van Lant was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in a 3-2 win over William Blount last Wednesday a double and five RBIs in a 12-2 win over Bearden last Thursday Click on the image below to make your selection Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports Supporters answered an early wake-up call to attend the Emerald Youth Foundation’s annual prayer breakfast The inner-city youth ministry hosts the annual fundraising event on the first Friday in May at the Knoxville Expo Center Emerald President and CEO Steve Diggs discussed the work that the foundation has done in the past with Knoxville’s urban youth but he also looked toward the future as the Emerald Academy has lost a large portion of its federal funding “Knox County Schools has extended our partnership for 10 years but we got a phone call saying that our federal funding cut off and it was cut off immediately,” Diggs said “But the Lord never ceases to provide for us We have four scholars applying for every opening we have Our neighborhoods are changing and our youth face many distractions The Emerald Youth Foundation honored Mary Frances Tucker who has served in the organization since its earliest days “I love Emerald Youth and I love the Wesley House,” Tucker said in a video highlighting her service Diggs made his remarks following the tribute to Tucker “It has been an honor to serve in ministry with you,” Diggs said as he directly addressed Tucker featured music from both the Emerald Youth Gospel Choir and the Emerald Youth Singers The organization revealed plans to open a facility in East Knoxville similar to its facilities at Dale Avenue and Texas Avenue The new facility is projected to be in a vacant lot adjacent to Chilhowee Park who benefitted from Emerald Youth Foundation who now serves in the ministry as a youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Strawberry Plains is also a CTE teacher at Norris Middle School in Anderson County “It’s such a blessing to be here with you today,” Harrison said “I never dreamed that I would be standing in a room this full of people Diggs asked me to lead the prayer at the first prayer breakfast and I told him no I should’ve done it because we had a lot fewer people there back then.” Harrison said that the Emerald Youth Foundation changed his life “The lives that Emerald has changed have been countless,” said Harrison who was been named Anderson County Schools Teacher of the Year three times “I don’t want to think about what Knoxville would be like if it wasn’t there.” 050525_KNOX FOCUS staff@knoxfocus.com Make sure to vote now for the Guardian Foundation Repair girls athlete of the week in the Knoxville area for April 28-May 3 This week's lists includes athletes from high school track and field as well as TSSAA softball players Anderson County: Baldwin was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs in a 7-4 win over Coalfield last Thursday Powell: Boone was 4-for-5 with two doubles and five RBIs in a 12-1 win over Carter last Monday Gibbs: Keck was 2-for-5 with a double and the game-winning RBI in a 3-2 win over Halls last Monday was 2-for-4 with an RBI in a win over Farragut last Tuesday and was 2-for-4 with an RBI in a 9-2 win over Powell last Wednesday Maryville: Kote was 2-for-3 with two RBIs in a 12-0 win over Bearden last Wednesday Webb: Langham picked up a pair of first-place finishes taking first in the girls' long jump (18-feet 1½ inches) during the KIL Track and Field Championships last Monday Grace Christian Academy: Malone was 4-for-4 with a home run a double and five RBIs in a 13-3 win over Lakeway Christian last Tuesday Sevier County: Morgan was 4-for-4 with a home run two doubles and four RBIs in a 12-3 win over Gatlinburg-Pittman last Monday Catholic: Sipos took first in the 100-meter hurdles (15.01) and the 300 hurdles (44.61) She also finished second in the 200 in a time of 24.90 during the KIL Track and Field Championships last Tuesday WATE 6 On Your Side Arab Fest was held in Market Square in Knoxville As part of the largest reconfiguration in UPS history the package delivery service announced it will be slashing 20,000 jobs and closing over 70 facilities A man convicted of fatally shooting his Rocky Top neighbor following an argument in 2019 has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented his budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 on Monday was seriously injured in a crash last October resulting in the amputation of both his legs he and his wife have reunited with the first responders who helped to save his life that day The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be resurfacing parts of I-40 in Sevierville and Sevier County Sunday through Thursday 7 p.m Jewish organizations in Knoxville and Oak Ridge gathered at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center for the eighth annual Knoshville festival Historic Fourth & Gill hosted a home and garden tour on Sunday The Burger Boys restaurant in Knoxville is scheduled to close on Wednesday Shred Day returned to WATE on Saturday May 3 people could dispose of unwanted documents The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will recommend a zero tuition increase for undergraduate students as part of its $2.37 billion budget. The Campus Advisory Board approved the budget for fiscal year 2026 during its meeting May 2. The budget will go before the UT System Board of Trustees for final approval in June “We are building a world-class university that supports our students and meets the needs of our state and beyond,” said Plowman “These projects and partnerships directly support the university’s goals to create an unparalleled student experience conduct and grow high-impact research in service to our state and leverage the success of Tennessee Athletics — the best athletics department in the nation.” Plowman said two new residence halls remain on track to open in fall 2025 The residential complex on Caledonia Avenue will include 1,166 beds and the hall on Andy Holt Avenue will have 788 beds A third residence hall on Lake Loudoun Boulevard will add 1,028 beds and is expected to open in fall 2026 The new halls are a key component of the university’s strategic growth and an investment that will enhance the student experience The chancellor noted that a new chemistry building is in the design phase The state allocated a historic $165.2 million for the project its largest investment ever awarded for a single higher education project Senior Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Paul Byrnes told the board there will be zero tuition increases for both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students “We are committed to ensuring that the University of Tennessee remains an accessible and affordable option for all students,” said Byrnes “Keeping tuition steady for the upcoming academic year reaffirms our commitment to deliver high-quality education without increasing the financial burden on students and their families Most of our financial resources are spent directly on academic purposes and infrastructure to support our students and faculty.” The board approved minimal increases to three of the university’s six mandatory fees to fund rising costs Housing fees will increase between $300-$590 per academic year depending on the residence hall and room selection Dining fees will increase $22-$179 per academic year depending on the meal plan selected The Total Access material course fee is increasing $50 Total Access provides students a flat fee per term for all required undergraduate course materials Students are able to opt out of the program Senior Vice President and Senior Vice Chancellor for the UT Institute of Agriculture Keith Carver provided an update on the institute’s growth and its mission to provide solutions to the people of Tennessee and beyond The new facility will support the state’s poultry industry which has an economic impact of more than $10 billion “We have 41,000 active research acres across Tennessee,” said Carver “These are active farms where we’re developing patents and technological advancements for timber and agriculture We want to make farming profitable for Tennessee farmers.” UTIA is committed to educating and training the next generation. It is experiencing record enrollment in both the Herbert College of Agriculture and the College of Veterinary Medicine. It has the highest 4-H club participation nationwide, with about 151,000 active members in the Tennessee 4-H program The state approved more than $45 million in funding to support enhancements at 4-H camps statewide improving facilities and expanding opportunities for Tennessee’s youth to engage in agricultural education and leadership development The Campus Advisory Board was created in 2018 when the Tennessee General Assembly passed the UT FOCUS Act restructuring the UT Board of Trustees and creating an advisory board for each campus in the UT System The board is charged with making campus-level recommendations to the UT Board of Trustees on strategic planning Public members of the advisory board are Allen Carter of Niota Tom Smith of Nashville and John Tickle of Bristol The Faculty Senate-appointed member is Elisabeth Shussler professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in the College of Arts and Sciences The chancellor thanked outgoing student appointee Dante Grayson, a fourth-year undergraduate student and student body president, for his service to the board. A graduate student will be selected to fill the position next academic year as outlined in the student selection process Lisa Leko (876-974-8698, lleko@utk.edu) Report an accessibility barrier See campus status. Source: Youtube More severe weather and cold mornings are coming to East Tennessee There will be numerous thunderstorms in the area the afternoon of April 10, and on April 11, according to the National Weather Service. The storms bring a threat of damaging winds and large hail a cold front will sweep into East Tennessee Could this be the expected "Dogwood Winter" Thunderstorms are expected to begin in Knoxville on Thursday afternoon The main timeframe for the storms is between 2 p.m are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph They're a threat because of the damage they can cause These winds can knock down trees and blow around loose objects which could turn into dangerous projectiles High winds can even cause power outages or building damage Following the threat of severe thunderstorms Temperature lows are expected to drop into the 30s in some areas April 12 will bring an overnight low of just 38 degrees in Knoxville, about six degrees lower than the seasonal 30-year norm of 44 degrees Light snow accumulation might even be possible at higher elevations (above 3,000 feet) and in the mountains the night of April 11 according to the National Weather Service forecast discussion Longtime Tennesseans will argue that there are six "little winters" that actually happen after the spring equinox One of these is lovingly named "Dogwood Winter" because it happens after the iconic dogwood trees are in full bloom Dogwood Winter typically happens in mid-to-late April, when a frost inevitably occurs. Here are the other "little winters" phenomenons, according to the Tennessee Historical Society. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented the county’s 2025-26 budget to the county commission which highlighted improvements for roads and upgrades to public school buildings which is about a 3% increase in comparison to our current fiscal year Jacobs managed expectations first thing during Monday’s announcement “This year’s budget isn’t going to have a lot of shiny objects Cost of doing business is up,” Jacobs said and that can really hamper our efforts to do things just because of increased costs.” Nearly two-thirds of the budget is going to Knox County Schools mostly for improving staff salaries and upgrading school buildings Another focus for the county is roads and bridges “We are trying to be proactive to show that as that growth occurs we’ll have infrastructure either in place or planned rather than being reactive we’ve done for several years,” said Jim Snowden with Knox County Engineering and Public Works Snowden said addressing infrastructure will be a key piece as the county grows His department is getting $200,000 more for road repaving which is an initiative he said will save taxpayer dollars in the long run “So that pavement management system allows us to very objectively choose the roads that are in the worst condition the ones that are going to cost us more to pave later if we don’t pave now,” Snowden said The budget also calls for a 1% salary raise for general government employees Jacobs said he wishes they could’ve done more “All those things that just we do on a day-to-day basis we do our best to try to keep up with those things But all those do put a crunch on our budget,” Jacobs said Other notable pieces of the budget are $5 million in increased funding for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office to cover staff raises tasers and new vehicles and no property tax increase I said that I would not raise property taxes and I intend to keep that pledge,” Jacobs said “My foremost duty as mayor is to determine the best use of your tax dollars I am humbled that you have entrusted that task to me and my team.” The budget must be approved by the Knox County Board of Commissioners by June 30