Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation, was 3.3% higher in March than a year ago.

A record 21.2% spike in gasoline prices, which marks the largest monthly increase since record collection began in 1967...

Food st home costs... up 1.9% over the year.

But, but, but, eggs are cheaper.

The four crew members of NASA's Artemis II moon mission returned to Earth this evening, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 8:07 p.m. ET.

BUTTIGIEG: The strait was open before they started this

KERNEN: They were close to having 11 nuclear weapons!

BUTTIGIEG: We had other ways of dealing with them

KERNEN: Like what? Obama's way?

BUTTIGIEG: That worked

KERNEN: That didn't work!

BUTTIGIEG: Did they get a nuclear weapon under Obama?

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) April 10, 2026 at 10:03 AM

The Great Smoky Mountains Edition of Monopoly is expected to be released in spring 2027. To give it a local feel, the creators of this special edition board game are asking the public to help decide which Smokies favorites should earn a square on the board.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement:

Donald Trump is completely unhinged. His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response. The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III.

It’s time for House Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping this madness.

I am afraid of where our country is headed. It would seem it is time for Congress to step up and stop the antagonistic, aggressive actions of our Administration. The irrational and irresponsible manner with regard to threats against Iran, saying that a "whole civilization will die" are against any and all civilized societal norms.

We must return to peaceful, tactful, diplomatic actions with the world. Because of our militaristic direction we are creating enemies around the world. In addition, Congress has lost the ability to speak for the people who elected them. Cost of living is hurting the majority of us. The national debt is destroying our credibility. The caustic language used by our Administration is hurting our citizenry. Please protect us. Return us to the great Democracy we have been.

It is time to return to Washington D.C. and do the job you were elected to do. Protect us from within.

Proposals to deploy reflective mirrors and up to 1m more satellites in low Earth orbit could have far-reaching consequences for human health and ecosystems, leading sleep and circadian rhythm researchers have said.

Presidents of four international scientific societies representing about 2,500 researchers from more than 30 countries are among those who have raised concerns in letters to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The regulator is considering plans by the start-up Reflect Orbital to illuminate parts of the Earth at night using reflective satellites, as well as applications from SpaceX [for up to 1 million satellites] that could dramatically expand satellite numbers in low Earth orbit.

Ten years ago today, Donald Trump said he would pay off the national debt in the span of just eight years.

That did not happen. Instead, the gross national debt has doubled since that day—from about $19 trillion to over $39 trillion. Much of that additional borrowing has taken place during Trump's five-plus years in the White House.

These days I watch a lot of YouTube. I also happen to be financially poor. In the last few days I have seen a couple of different commercials for Larsen Jay.

Now, I know he is running as a Republican but I also know that he and I have been personally acquainted in the past. (it has been a few years since I have seen him in person).

I did not see one person in either of those commercials who appeared to be even a little bit not white. Since I am not white and since my interactions with him did not seem to be awkward or difficult, I am curious about why his commercials look as they do. Does he not want Asian, Black, or Hispanic votes?? Is he trying to hide the fact that he knows people who aren't white? If so, why?

I have insufficient data to accuse him or defend him. All I have is the observation of the two commercials. To me it looks like bad optics but, I will listen to argument.

It was a beautiful day to travel the Dogwood Arts Trails. We drove through Sequoyah, Island Home, and Lakemoor Hills.

If my calculations and interpretations are correct, the Lady Vols Basketball team is down to one player.

According to the Knox News Sentinel, they lost 4 senior players to graduation, 7 have entered the portal, leaving 1 player, Freshman guard Jaida Civil .

Maybe they'll sign some players through the portal.

A state report found public school students tested higher on the state standardized test, known as TCAP, than students who attend private or charter schools.

The State of Tennessee is proposing a "bill that would exempt schools educating students on the state's voucher program from taking the TCAP (standardized testing).

"State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson is sponsoring the bill. He said comparing public schools and those receiving vouchers is not an equal comparison, and forcing them to take the same test is not fair or accurate."
...
Voucher students currently receive nearly $3,000 more in tax dollars per student than those who go to public school.

An amendment to a Tennessee Senate bill would give more power to the state government when it comes to appointing an airport’s board of commissioners.

"This would impact the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport and others in the state."

Senate Bill 2473 is advancing through the Tennessee legislature. It passed with an amendment in the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee and the House Transportation Committee.

That amendment would remove and replace existing airport authority commissioners.

"six of the nine commissioners would be chosen by state officials."

Chattanooga mayor blasts state bill that would reconstitute airport board

Will this affect the Knoxville airport?

Democratic strategist James Carville on Tuesday warned that the results of the upcoming midterm elections will feel for the president like getting “punched in the mouth by Mike Tyson.”
...
Carville suggested that after November, people will not take the president’s phone calls, adding that those unnamed people will think “‘you’re yesterday.’ They’ll say, ‘Well, he’s got two years left, he can do damage. No one gives a s— about him.'”
...
warned that The Hague will likely indict the president and that the House could vote to impeach him again, signaling the president should not be surprised if Republicans turn against him.

The president "says it's 'not possible' for the U.S. to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and day care: 'We’re fighting wars'
He urged states to fund benefits programs instead because "we have to take care of one thing: military protection."

Hah! You'd have to hope to be in a blue state to get any of these benefits paid by the states. Tennessee can't survive without Federal funds.

NASA launches Artemis II astronauts toward the moon.

The crew lifted off around 6:35 p.m. ET from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA Artemis II Launch Day Updates

A new Harvard CAPS/Harris survey found that more than half of U.S. voters think the economy is worse under Trump than it was under Biden. And 62% blame the current state of the economy on Trump rather than Biden.

What does this mean when the leader of the country decides to address the nation on April Fool's Day? Will there be double lies? Or will the lies offset (two negatives equal a positive) and result in the truth? Nah. Not gonna happen. Not possible.

Master of disaster?

At the on-camera Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Trump’s free-associative drivel, in the midst of a world crisis, ranged from the new White House ballroom: “The military wanted it more than anyone,” to the Kennedy Center: “It’s going to be beautiful when you add the name Trump,” to his favored Sharpie pens: “They do treat me well, Sharpie.” My historian friend Sir Simon Schama sent me a despairing text. “It was like a bit from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. What was the 25th Amendment for, if not for this? The stroke-struck Woodrow Wilson was a combo of Jefferson, Lincoln, and FDR, compared to this oozing hulk of cognitive rot. HELP US, Obi-Wan, HELP US.”

The Dogwood Trails open tomorrow.
2026 Featured Dogwood Trails (South Knoxville): Lakemoor Hills, Island Home, and Chapman Highway. The Dogwood Trails are open annually from April 1-30th, just in time to showcase the beauty of spring in East Tennessee! Knoxville’s iconic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. Take a drive, a walk, or a bike ride and enjoy the scenic natural beauty of our region.

The Dogwood Arts Festival arts, crafts, and performances "will take place April 24-26th at World’s Fair Park, filling the Performance Lawn, Amphitheatre, and surrounding greenways with fine art, live music, hands-on activities, and family fun!"