World headlines
World: Latest World headlines at Google News World.
United Nations: Latest UN News.
National headlines
National Poetry Month; D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Month: National Month recognitions go through the official government process of passing a law by Congress or issuing a proclamation by the President.
National: Latest U.S. headlines at Google News US .
Congress: 63 meetings this week: Weekly View.
Entertainment: Latest in Movies, Music, TV, Books, Arts, Design, Celebrities at Google Entertainment.
Science: Latest in Environment, Space, Physics, Genetics, and Wildlife, at Google Science.
Sports: Latest in NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, Soccer, NASCAR, & more sports at Google Sports.
Stocks: Follow the stock market: Market Watch.
U.S. Supreme Court: Follow the decisions of the top court here
State headlines
Great Smoky Mountains Travel: Keep up to date on the TN/NC park Basic Information, Visitor Centers, Park Closures and Alerts, Parking Tags, Camping, Hiking, and general Visit Planning, all here.
TN Government meetings: Follow the latest here.
Tennessee Entertainment for All: The TN Vacation website links visitors to any region of Tennessee, featuring up-to-date venues and performances for all ages and preferences.
Tennessee Travel Information: As you make travel plans, get information on all travel issues across Tennessee, here.
Local headlines
Election Dates for Knox County Primary
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026 – First day of the Early Voting period
- Saturday, April 25, 2026 – Final day to request an absentee ballot (10 days prior to election)
- Thursday, April 30, 2026 – Final day of the Early Voting period
- Tuesday, May 5, 2026 – Election Day
Knox County Master Gardener events.
- On Saturday, April 18, master gardener Shelia McNeely will present on starting “Starting Spunky Sprouts” will be held at 11 a.m. at Cedar Bluff Library, 9045 Cross Park Drive.
- A basic garden class will be held at Payne Ave. Missionary Baptist Church, 2714 Martin Luther King Blvd, from 10 a.m. to The free event requires preregistration by going to here.
- Racheff Gardens and Arboretum, a Knox County Master Gardener project, will have open gardens from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The garden is located at 1943 Tennessee Ave
Knox County Schools News: Stay informed on things happening in KCS here.
Dogwood Arts Festival: The annual festival is in full swing. See more at Dogwood Arts and find the viewable trails and gardens at Trails and Gardens.
Local: Three local news sources can provide the news headlines from the area: WBIR, WATE, WVLT.
Ijams Nature Center: Ijams offers programs, activities, and events for all ages on a weekly basis, and almost every day. Check their Calendar of Events here.
Knoxville/Knox County Planning Commission: The Planning Commission meets the second Thursday of each month. Find agenda, minutes, and information here.
KUB Construction: Traffic advisories and construction-related impacts are communicated primarily through the online construction map .
Outdoor Knoxville: A calendar produced by Legacy Parks Foundation has a comprehensive list of upcoming local outdoor events. Find it here.
Mayor’s Kickin’ It with Kincannon: City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon shares a monthly podcast with the community. See the podcast here: Kickin’ It with Kincannon.
Mayor Glenn Jacobs weekly podcast: Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs provides a weekly update for the community. See his updates here: Mayor Glenn Jacobs.
Public Safety Personnel: Keep up with the latest news from Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department- City of Knoxville, and Rural Metro Fire.
Visit Knoxville published 2026 Guide: The free 2026 Official Knoxville Visitors Guide is now available: Visitors Guide.
Weather: The latest weather forecasts from WBIR Weather.
Historic Headlines
On April 17, several notable historical events occurred. Here are a few.
1524 – New York Harbor was discovered by Giovanni Verrazano.
1629 – Horses were first imported into the colonies by the American Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1704 – John Campbell published what would eventually become the first successful American newspaper. It was known as the Boston “News-Letter.”
1758 – Frances Williams published a collection of Latin poems. He was the first African-American to graduate from a college in the western hemisphere.
1947 – Jackie Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers) performed a bunt for his first major league hit.
1964 – Jerrie Mock became first woman to fly an airplane solo around the world.
1964 – The Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Mustang model.
Remember to fact-check information:
- Snopes – One of the oldest and most well-known fact-checking sites
- FactCheck.org– A non-profit organization that monitors the factual accuracy of statements made by public officials.
- PolitiFact– Focuses on political claims and provides a “Truth-O-Meter” rating to assess their accuracy.
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