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Governor Ralph Northam this week said he has directed the Virginia Department of Health to begin conducting surprise inspections of bars and restaurants to ensure state COVID guidelines are being followed. The governor said business licenses will be at risk if distance and masking guidelines are being ignored. "We're seeing some troubling numbers," Northam said. "We all hoped this virus would go away, but t ...

Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday to commemorate its centennial anniversary. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Board Chair and CEO Mark Costa virtually rang the bell to officially kick off the trading day. Commenting on the milestone, Costa stated, “It’s an honor to ring the NYSE Opening Bell to commemorate our 100th anniversary. In this highly c ...

Above: Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable and Bristol, Tenn., Mayor Margaret Feierabend. Photos by Earl Neikirk, Courtesy Bristol Chamber of Commerce GM Jerry Caldwell says track is ready to be under world’s microscope by Scott Robertson On July 15, Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) will host what will likely be the most important event in its history. The irony is that from an attendance standpoint, it will ...

by Scott Robertson The First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) Board of Directors voted June 30 to allow a task force to recommend charter and by-law changes to allow the FTDD Foundation to be used as a tool for regional economic development. The board, made up of mayors of cities, towns and counties in northeast Tennessee, approved the motion on a voice vote at its semi-annual meeting in Bristol. The v ...

Graphic: The MOVA Technologies process allows individual pollutants to be isolated separately so they can be resold to other companies. Region looks to pivot from “coal country” to “energy innovation capitol of the east coast” by Scott Robertson The image of Southwest Virginia as a region reeling from the decline of the coal industry was earned fairly. But a newly formed organization, the Southwest Virginia ...

May’s home sales made a slight bounce from April but continue to be gripped by the coronavirus economic fallout. There were 569 closings in May, up 4.7 percent from April, but down 21.7 percent from May last year, according to the Northeast Tennessee Association of REALTORS (NETAR). May’s average sales price was $184,593, up 3.9 percent from May last year. “Market activity is picking up,” NETAR President Kr ...

With the retirement of Dr. Phil Roe from Congress, a field of almost 20 candidates has qualified to run for the seat of 1st District United States Representative from the state of Tennessee. After weeks of campaigning, it has become apparent through polling and campaign finance reports that Dr. Roe’s successor will be one of six candidates: former Kingsport Mayor John Clark, Tennessee State Senator Rusty Cr ...

Above: Alan Levine listens as Dr. Brian Noland addresses the media. Photo courtesy ETSU Community partners support effort to research and combat adverse childhood experiences Ballad Health and East Tennessee State University announced June 26 a new partnership that will establish a first-of-its-kind institute to promote the awareness and empirical study of adverse childhood experiences, otherwise known as A ...

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