Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1866, President Andrew Johnson issued Proclamation 153, ending the Civil War in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and parts of Virginia.

Bears are emerging from hibernation and starting to roam into Eastern Tennessee towns, startling residents. Read more in our Around Tennessee section below.
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Nashville Homeless Camp to be Cleared

Nashville authorities have given residents of "Old Tent City" 60 days to vacate the troubled homeless camp, pledging to connect them with housing opportunities.

The Office of Homeless Services delivered letters on Monday to the encampment, whose inhabitants were first informed in September that the site would be cleared for Wharf Park, a 25-acre, $70 million project.

Mayor Freddie O'Connell assured residents in a statement that they will receive temporary housing and social services, adding that other encampments may also be slated for removal.

Wildlife Rabies Vaccine Airdrops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will distribute 400,000 rabies vaccine baits to wildlife across Monroe, Cocke, and Greene counties to help prevent the disease from spreading to humans.

Over the next two weeks, officials will use airplanes, helicopters, and vehicles to scatter fish-scented rabies vaccine baits that attract wild animals, which eat them and become vaccinated.

Authorities say humans and pets cannot contract rabies from the vaccine baits, but residents are urged to avoid handling them and to wash with soap and warm water if contact occurs.

'Hands Free' Crackdown Hits Tennessee Roads

Law enforcement agencies statewide launched Operation Hands Free yesterday, focusing on the enforcement of distracted driving laws as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Operation Hands Free is an online campaign promoting awareness of the state's Hands Free Law, which prohibits handheld phone use while driving to reduce distractions behind the wheel.

State traffic data from last year showed a distracted driving crash occurred every 42 minutes and 51 seconds, with one in every 25 drivers involved in a crash identified as distracted.

Authorities remind drivers that first-time offenders face a $50 fine when breaking the Hands Free Law, but penalties increase in school zones or for repeat teen drivers under the Eddie Conrad Law.

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➤ Nashville: Two area teens were arrested Monday after separate threats at middle schools, including one involving mass violence and another claiming he'd bring an AK-47 to school. (More)

➤ Memphis: Teacher Melissa Collins won the national Shell Science Teaching Award, beating 500 others for her outstanding K–12 science instruction at John P. Freeman Elementary School. (More)

➤ Franklin: Lt. Jeff Boggs received a Medal of Valor last week for rescuing firefighter-paramedic Tyler Chatham, who fell through a collapsed floor during a 2024 house fire. (More)

➤ Lebanon: City officials unveiled plans for a new children's sports complex with five soccer fields, a playground, concessions with proposed future additions for baseball, softball, and open play areas. (More)

➤ Knoxville: East Tennessee residents are urged to be more "BearWise" as bears emerge from hibernation and become more active in their search for food, raising the risk of encounters. (More)

➤ Gallatin: City leaders pulled an April Fool's prank Tuesday by staging a fake great white shark sighting in Old Hickory Lake, complete with a phony investigation to sell the gag. (More)

➤ The Chattanooga Mocs defeated Loyola Chicago 80–73 in Tuesday's NIT semifinal, advancing to face UC Irvine in the championship game on Thursday. (More)

➤ The University of Tennessee and women's basketball coach Kim Caldwell agreed to a one-year extension Monday, keeping her with the Lady Vols through the 2029–30 season after a Sweet 16 run. (More)

➤ The TSSAA is urging coaches to contact lawmakers and oppose a bill that would loosen transfer restrictions by allowing high school athletes a one-time transfer without penalty. (See Report)

➤ Yesterday's results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NIT | NCAABB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ ALDI will open a new 27,000-square-foot store in downtown Memphis next week, aiming to provide affordable groceries in a retail-scarce area. (More)

➤ The Chattanooga planning commission is set to vote on April 14 on a rezoning request for a proposed 132-home single-family development on Snow Hill Road. (More)

➤ The TVA has named Don Moul as its new CEO, succeeding retiring CEO Jeff Lyash; Moul previously served as the agency's executive vice president and chief operating officer. (More)

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➤ Habitat for Humanity of Gibson County hosted a ceremony to give the Hawks family an 80-year-old home that was newly rebuilt, capping off a 16-month project. (See Video)

➤ FedEx is expected to lay off 217 employees at its Lebanon location, according to a WARN notice filed Monday, with permanent job cuts to occur between May 9 and May 30. (More)

➤ An Oliver Springs man was charged with assault and disorderly conduct after allegedly putting a referee in a headlock over a call during a Saturday basketball game at Grace Christian Academy. (See Mugshot)

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