Local headlines
Local: Three local news sources can provide the news headlines from the area: WBIR, WATE, WVLT.
Farmers’ markets on Thursdays. Pavilion Farmers Market in Hardin Valley is open every Thursday until October 30, 4-7 p.m. at 2620 Willow Point Way, 37931. See more information Pavilion Farmers Market. New Harvest Park is open every Thursday until September 25, 3- 6 p.m. in east Knox County. See more information Nourish Knoxville Harvest Park
June & July Outdoor Concert Series: The Downtown Maryville Alliance announces the launch of a free, outdoor concert series coming to the Charles West Amphitheater in Jack Greene Park each Thursday during the months of June and July 2026. This inaugural season will feature an exciting lineup of regional and national talent, bringing live music to downtown Maryville each Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Below are the dates and performers:
- June 4 – The Young Fables
- June 11 – Slap Drago
- June 18 – The Sensational Barnes Brothers
- June 25 – Milk Man & The Big Band
- July 2 – Darrell Scott
- July 9 – Chatham County Line
- July 16 – Cedric Burnside
- July 23 – J & The Causeways
- July 30 – Wyatt Ellis
Market Square has live music when Concerts on the Square (opens in new window), the City’s free live music series presented by First Century Bank. The third Thursdays in May through September feature a variety of musical styles, 7-9 p.m.
- May 21: Tim Decker and TN River
- June 18: Dancing Machine: Tribute Band to the Jacksons in collaboration with Beck Cultural Exchange Center (opens in new window)for Juneteenth
- July 16: Tidalwave Road
- 20: Pink Houses: The Ultimate Mellencamp Experience
- 17: Square Dancing on the Square
Bring your own chairs for first-come, first-served seating. No food or beer will be sold on Market Square. Food is available for takeout from restaurants, but alcohol can only be consumed inside establishments or on their patios. A full calendar is posted at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Concerts (opens in new window).
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.
KCS Community Resources. Whether you’re looking to get involved with school activities, request the use of district facilities, distribute flyers about community programs, submit a facility naming request, or request public records, this page serves as your hub for information and processes. here
KCS Calendar: Stay informed with Knox County Schools calendar 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.
Preschool Story Time, A free weekly Tuesday preschool program, 10-11 a.m. at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2649 Boyds Bridge Pike, 37914. Engaging stories, nature exploration, hands-on gardening, crafts and other activities that nurture the youngest gardeners and their grownups is offered April- October.
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.
World headlines
World: Latest World headlines at Google News World.
United Nations: Latest UN News.
National headlines
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Military Appreciation Month, Older Americans Month, and National Foster Care 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: 64 meetings this week: Weekly Review.
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.
Historic Headlines
On May 21, several notable historical events occurred. Here are a few.
· 1927 – First Solo Transatlantic Flight: Charles Lindbergh landed his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, in Paris, completing the first-ever solo, non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
- 1932 – First Woman to Fly Solo Across the Atlantic: Exactly five years after Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart landed in Northern Ireland, becoming the first woman to complete a solo, non-stop transatlantic flight.
- 1881 – Founding of the American Red Cross: Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., establishing a vital organization for disaster relief and humanitarian aid.
- 1904 – Foundation of FIFA: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris, establishing the governing body for world football (soccer).
- 1980 – The Empire Strikes Back Release: The highly acclaimed sequel in the Star Wars saga was released in theaters, marking a major milestone in popular cinema.
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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