Pierce Gentry

2 months ago | wpln.org | Rachel Iacovone |Pierce Gentry

Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Friday that his department will move to promote the development of nuclear energy there, primarily with the intent to fuel advancements in artificial intelligence technologies. “We’re at a critical time again right now where another technology of simply immense import is hitting critical mass and is going to change our world in the next several years,” Wright said at Friday’s news conference.

2 months ago | wpln.org | Rachel Iacovone |Pierce Gentry

Every year, Tennessee sends nearly one million tons of recyclable materials worth $150 million to its landfills, contributing to a growing waste crisis. One state lawmaker is turning to a solution that’s been used in Europe since the 1990s: Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR. It would shift the cost of recycling programs from taxpayers to the companies that produce the waste.

Feb 7, 2025 | wpln.org | Rachel Iacovone |Pierce Gentry

Two people are dead and three others are injured after an EF2 tornado struck portions of Morgan County on Thursday night, weaving a path of destruction in the rural communities of Deer Lodge and Sunbright. Around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, residents received emergency alerts on their phones advising them of a tornado warning in the area. The storm was on top of the region minutes later, wrenching trees out of the ground by their roots and, in some cases, ripping homes from their foundations.

Jan 9, 2025 | wuot.org | Pierce Gentry

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for all counties in Tennessee as the state prepares for a round of heavy snowfall. According to Andrew Moulton, a forecaster with the NWS in Morristown, East Tennesseans can expect quite a bit of snow throughout the region tomorrow. “The Tennessee Valley is going to get a good amount of snow,” Moulton said.

Jan 8, 2025 | wuot.org | Pierce Gentry

The City of Knoxville, alongside leaders from the University of Tennessee, announced today that they have received a $27.5 million grant from the federal government which will fulfill the funding requirements for a $60 million pedestrian bridge planned for the South Knoxville waterfront. "We are so excited to have secured the next round of funding to make the South Knoxville Pedestrian Bridge a reality," Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon stated in a press release.