John Dabbs

1 day ago | newsbreak.com | John Dabbs

BRISTOL, Va. — Comedian Jeff Ross, the Emmy-nominated “Roastmaster General,” is bringing his new solo show, Take A Banana For The Ride, to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol on June 27 at 8 p.m., marking an early stop in a limited nine-city tour before heading to Broadway. Known for his no-holds-barred roasts and, most recently, the Netflix special GROAT (Greatest Roast of All Time): Tom Brady, Ross is taking a more personal turn with this production.

1 day ago | newsbreak.com | John Dabbs

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — To expand healthcare career opportunities and address regional workforce needs, Ballad Health has announced the launch of a no-cost phlebotomy training program. The program offers classroom instruction and hands-on clinical experience to aspiring healthcare workers. The Ballad Health Phlebotomy Program, hosted at the Ballad Health Training Center in Blountville, includes 52 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of clinical training.

3 days ago | newsbreak.com | John Dabbs

Vatican Announces Pope's PassingJohnson City, TN — Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first Latin American pontiff, died Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88, the Vatican announced. The pontiff passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time in his residence at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City, due to a stroke and irreversible heart failure, following a coma.

3 days ago | newsbreak.com | John Dabbs

BRISTOL, Va. — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol has announced two major acts for its 2025 Hard Rock Live lineup: comedian and television icon Jay Leno, and rock band Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters.​Jay Leno, best known for his two-decade tenure as host of "The Tonight Show," will perform on Friday, October 24.

6 days ago | newsbreak.com | John Dabbs

BRISTOL, Va. — April 18, 2025 — High-stakes excitement is coming to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol as the resort hosts its first-ever $25,000 Blackjack Tournament on Sunday, April 27, beginning at noon. The one-day event, set to take place inside the casino’s expansive new facility, will award top players a share of the $25,000 prize pool, capped off by a $10,000 payout for the first-place winner.