The current normals data set, which represent the average temperature, precipitation and rainfall for 1991 through 2020, highlight that most of the country has warmed compared to normals for 1981 through 2010, except for the north-central US. The West is becoming drier and the East is turning wetter.

NOAA releases the climate normals every 10 years and they reflect data from the past 30 years.

Your city just got hotter. NOAA announced new climate normals Tuesday

Climate change and the 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals

Children Now Account For 22% Of New U.S. COVID Cases.

"Experts link the trend to several factors – particularly high vaccination rates among older Americans. ... But other dynamics are also in play, from new COVID-19 variants to the loosening of restrictions on school activities."

In Michigan, a record-breaking number of children have been hospitalized with Covid.

"Experts blame a more transmissible variant, which appears to be spreading faster among children and adults."

"In Michigan, rates of child infections are now higher than they’ve been at any point in the pandemic. As of April 17, the 10-19 age group had the state's highest rate of new cases, averaging more than 1,150 cases per day during the previous week. For children younger than 10, the average was 400 new cases per day."

"Younger, unvaccinated Oregonians are now showing up in our hospitals with severe cases of COVID-19," said Oregon Gov. Brown.

"West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said last week the state is offering a $100 savings bond to residents 16 to 35 who choose to get vaccinated."

"The Anderson County School District hosted a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for eligible students on Monday. The clinics were at Anderson County High School and Clinton High School.

Anderson County is among one of the first school districts in Tennessee to host a vaccine clinic for students."

The biggest source of stress for Americans in 2021 is money problems, according to a recent WalletHub survey. The COVID-19 pandemic, which took first place last year, has slipped to second, which makes sense considering the progress the U.S. has made with vaccination and reopening.

Tennessee is 4th in fewest average hours of sleep per night and 5th in highest crime rate per capita.

'This city has hit its boiling point': Knoxville protests after Black student's death

Authorities responded to a 911 call around 4 p.m. reporting that more than 40 people had fallen from a collapsed deck at a restaurant in Soddy-Daisy, the release said.

11 people were injured in a restaurant deck collapse in Tennessee

The New York Times has an article about vaccine hesitancy in Appalachia (rural East Tennessee). "Resistance is widespread in white, Republican communities like this one in Appalachia. But it’s far more complicated than just a partisan divide."

We have measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and polio vaccines. There are even more vaccines to be taken as a child.

It is sad to read this article. However, this mind set is not unique to smaller "Appalachian" towns.

And, the majority of East TN counties are at or above the state wide vaccination rate.

From the Tennessean, "A Tennessee proposal prohibiting the government from mandating COVID-19 vaccination and allowing religious exemptions cleared the Senate 20-8 Thursday, despite concerns the bill could lead to heightened vaccine hesitancy. "

The Tennessee House and Senate have passed the bill. The House needs to do some finetuning then it will go to the religious, HVAC Governor to sign.

"The issue, however, invited criticism from Tennessee Department of Health officials as well as other health care professionals, who fear the bill would encourage anti-vaccination attitudes and lead to another surge in infections. "

The Gov is such a Trumper.

Of those vaccinated in Tennessee
43.3% are 60 years of age and older
31.1% are 41 - 60 years old
25.6% are 16 - 40 years old

26% of the people in TN are fully vaccinated.
34.9% of the people in TN have at least one dose.
53% of those vaccinated are women.
43.7% of those vaccinated are men.

Made me look up Stacy Campfield for some reason.

Fact check: Sen. Marsha Blackburn falsely claims Biden would force people to attend pre-K and two years of college

DTV's Michael Davis interviews Vice Mayor Gwen McKenzie about her first term on the Knoxville City Council and her aspirations for the future of Knoxville on DTV on Friday evening. .

This program will air on Friday evening, April 30 at 9:30 PM on the Community TV channel. Find it on these cable channels:
AT&T U-verse: Channel 99
Comcast NBC Universal: Channel 12
WOW! Channel 6
Charter: Channel 193

CTV also streams live on Friday evening at 9:30 PM at: (here!)

Or find the show on the Democratic TV Facebook page after 9:30 PM on Friday:(here!)

Some wildflower photos we took today on the Rich Mountain Road (click image for gallery)...

"We are in the very bottom tier of states in the proportion of our population vaccinated," Professor William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, told CNN. "Covid continues to be a serious public health urgency throughout the state. The virus is still spreading. It's still putting many people into the hospital."

Tennessee governor declares that Covid-19 is no longer a health emergency with only 25% of state's residents fully vaccinated

Maryville College announced Monday, April 26, that it is “requiring, with some exceptions,” that students, faculty and staff receive COVID-19 vaccines by Aug. 1.
...

"Under Tennessee law, young full-time college students are required to have vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella (usually administered together in two doses), as well as chickenpox (also two doses). Students may seek a waiver for medical or religious reasons, and the private college will offer those options for the COVID-19 vaccine, too.

Coker said the college is offering the “personal preference” exception for the COVID-19 vaccines because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing them during this pandemic as an “emergency use authorization.”

“Once it is no longer under emergency use authorization, once there is formal FDA approval of a vaccine, we’ve given the community notice that we may very well at that point remove the personal preference exception,”

The US Census Bureau announced Monday that the total population of the United States has topped 331 million people, marking the country's second slowest population growth rate in US history. Amid that, Texas will gain two seats in the redistricting process, the results found.

Additionally, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain one seat in Congress.

California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will all lose congressional seats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats

Big Oil and the green economy

The Knox County Board of Health, which was established under the Knox County Charter has been dissolved and reconstituted into an advisory board. Currently, under the State of Tennessee Executive Order No. 77, the Health Department has the authority to put regulations in place. Dr. Martha Buchanan, Senior Director and Public Health Officer at the Knox County Health Department will assume the responsibility while Executive Order No. 77 is in place.

Active Protective Measures:

Knox County Health Department Covid-19 Face Covering Regulation ( Regulation No. 2021-1 )

Knox County Health Department COVID-19 Business Risk Reduction Guidelines ( Resolution 2021-A )

"The 865 area code is one of several jurisdictions across 37 states that will begin to transition to 10-digit dialing from seven-digit dialing for local calls on April 24.

Seven-digit dials will still be completed until Oct. 24, when 10-digit dials become mandatory. After Oct. 24, the area code and seven-digit phone number will have to be dialed to complete a local phone call."

It appears it will not be mandatory tomorrow. It's a transition where it will be mandatory effective 10/24/2021.

DTV's Michael Davis interviews City Councilperson Seema Singh about her first term on the Knoxville City Council and her aspirations for the future of Knoxville on DTV. This program will air on Friday evening, April 23 at 9:30 PM on the Community TV channel. Find it on these cable channels:
AT&T U-verse: Channel 99
Comcast NBC Universal: Channel 12
WOW! Channel 6
Charter: Channel 193

CTV also streams live at 9:30 PM at: (here)

Or find the show on our Facebook page: (link...)

“We're actually building on a 2015 report about how much money the urban wilderness is bringing into the Knoxville economy, we're going to be doing a lot more data collecting to be able to actually project the contribution of the economy coming from people using the urban wilderness,” explained Fitzhugh. That earlier study showed the economic impact as a “local amenity” was more than $8 million dollars. As a “regional destination” it could grow to $14.6 million dollars. And as a “nation destination” it could grow to add more than $29 million dollars yearly to the Knoxville economy. The top tourist draw in the city is Zoo Knoxville, credited by city leaders with pumping almost $30 million dollars into the local economy every year.

“Help ‘em build this place even bigger!” Supporters plan to 'study' and 'grow' Knoxville's Urban Wilderness

Tennesseans filed 13,291 unemployment claims for the week ending April 17, according to officials with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Only in January 2020 were higher unemployment claims filed.

Company Distilling announced today that the company will establish new operations in Blount County.

"The distillery's primary location and main manufacturing facility set to open in 2022 in Springbrook Farm, a master planned “city center” in Alcoa. The 20,000-square-foot refurbished building will include a tasting room and retail store along with family-friendly outdoor activities and entertainment on the property’s 31 acres.

There will be a Townsend location, which is set to open this year, and will include a 4,000-square-foot tasting room and outdoor space for activities

Company Distilling is a new distilling company built from the collaborative efforts of multiple people with a history of building distilleries, crafting spirits and bringing people together. The partners include former Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett, Kris Tatum, former president of the Tennessee Distillers Guild, Heath Clark, founder of H. Clark Distillery, Clayton Homes CEO Kevin Clayton and Corey Clayton, project manager for Vee Hollow Bike Trails."

60 new jobs and an investment of $20.2 million. It doesn't say how much the city, county, or state will contribute to make this project happen. The city, county, and/or state is having to build a road and add other infrastructure since there is none at this time. The site was an old Alcoa Aluminum Company plant that has lots of hazardous waste to be remediated.

Ha, ha, it is also just about across the "new" street from Alcoa High School.

Hope this is a good addition to the "master planned “city center” in Alcoa."