Tennessee ACT composite 19.6 for Class of 2018; math scores nationwide called 'red flag'

Nationally, the data embargoed until 3 a.m. Wednesday showed an national average ACT composite of 20.8, down from 21 for 2017, although math continues “trending downward” and reached its lowest mark in 14 years. Other components of the composite score are English, reading and science.

Today at 8:00 AM

Tuesday Trivia

Tuesday Trivia: What scares you?

Based on online searches Tennesseans are afraid of people and Virginians are afraid of being alone. Does that ring true to you?

Yesterday at 3:00 PM

Northeast State Community College

Two Northeast presidential finalists on campus this week

Bethany Flora, associate director of the Center for Community College Leadership at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, and Joel Welch, vice president of Instructional Services for Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, N.C., are the finalists announced Oct. 10 by the Tennessee Board of Regents. Flora will be in Blountville 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Welch 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Yesterday at 9:30 AM

Gas Prices

Gas prices decline amid stock market struggles

AAA expects gas prices to decline this week after slipping 1 cent over the weekend. This decline, caused by falling fuel prices on the stock market, could continue throughout the month.

Oct 15, 2018 at 7:30 PM

A voter casts an early ballot at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium in this 2016 photo. Early voting for the Nov. 6 election starts Wednesday.

Civics 101

Civics 101: Early voting begins Wednesday

You’ve probably heard of the two partisan candidates, but did you know in all there are 28 people running for governor of Tennessee on the November 6 ballot?

Updated Oct 15, 2018 at 9:18 AM

Phil Bredesen, shown here speaking at his "Friendraiser" at the Kingsport Farmer's Market, said you should expect more TV ads from so-called "dark money" groups before Election Day.

Phil Bredesen's U.S. Senate campaign

Bredesen laments ‘dark money’ attack ads

KINGSPORT – Tennessee Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Phil Bredesen – amid a drop in one poll – on Thursday lamented the effect of so-called “dark money” political advocacy groups pummeling him with negative ads.

Oct 12, 2018 at 8:42 AM

Northeast State Community College

Two finalists for Northeast president announced

Bethany Flora, Ph.D. and associate director for the Center for Community College Leadership at ETSU, and Joel Welch, Ph.D. and vice president of Instructional Services for Forsyth are the finalists, the Tennessee Board of Regents announced Wednesday afternoon.

Oct 10, 2018 at 4:32 PM

Democrat Karl Dean, left, and Republican Bill Lee had very different views about Medicaid expansion and school vouchers. Dean wants Medicaid expansion and Lee doesn't. Lee favors school vouchers, but Dean doesn't.

Northeast Tennessee Gubernatorial Debate

Tennessee governor candidates disagree on Medicaid expansion, school vouchers

The debate, held at the Toy F. Reid Employee Center at Eastman, was sponsored by the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press. Presenting sponsors were Eastman and Ballad Health. The debate was televised by East Tennessee PBS.

Updated Oct 10, 2018 at 8:53 AM

Watch: Tennessee gubernatorial debate in Kingsport

Tonight’s gubernatorial debate between Republican Bill Lee and Democrat Karl Dean will be streamed on TimesNews.net. Click here to view the event from the the Eastman Employee Center. It is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Oct 9, 2018 at 4:38 PM

Education group encourages gubernatorial hopefuls to boost early childhood learning

Dean and Lee will square off Tuesday in a debate sponsored by the presenting sponsors Eastman Chemical Co. and Ballad Health, as well as sponsorships by the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press.

Oct 8, 2018 at 5:00 PM

Kingsport's Debbie Locke, left, told a Tennessee House Criminal Justice Committee that James Hamm was given two days of sentencing credits for good behavior the day he killed husband Mike Locke. At right is Joan Berry, whose daughter was murdered in Knoxville in 2004.

Tennessee General Assembly

'Where is the justice? Where is the truth? '

During a day-long special meeting to consider criminal justice reform, state Rep. Bud Hulsey and Debbie Locke of Kingsport appeared before the House Criminal Justice Committee to make a plea for truth in sentencing.

Oct 3, 2018 at 7:30 PM

Tennessee Republican Party

What's on the line in the November General Election?

Control of Congress. President Donald Trump’s possible impeachment. The next occupant of the governor’s office in Nashville. That’s what is on the line during the November general election, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden and Chris Devaney, campaign manager for Tennessee Republican gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee, told a Greater Kingsport Republican Women’s luncheon on Monday.

Oct 2, 2018 at 8:51 AM

Gas Prices

Tennessee gas prices climb 5 cents last week

Tennessee gas prices have hovered within 5 cents of their current range since early June, according to AAA. Prices remain 10 cents less than this year's high, which was established during Memorial Day weekend.

Oct 1, 2018 at 9:00 PM

Tennessee Hospital Association

Where can health care go from here?

The Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) hasn’t gotten what it’s wanted from the GOP-controlled General Assembly in recent years – namely Medicaid expansion – but still sees opportunity in the 2018 state elections.

Oct 1, 2018 at 8:30 AM