CEC's Generation of Environmental Leaders Program Now Open to North American Youth!
South Korean President Forced to Rescind Right-Wing Martial Law Declaration
ELIZABETHTON — State and local leaders came together on the grounds of the former Carter County Workforce Development Complex on a cold Thursday afternoon to break ground on a $40 million state project to be called the Carter County Higher Education Center. It will provide new classrooms and other facilities to support the Carter County campuses of Northeast State Community College and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton. It will also provide accommodations for the Middle College program of Carter County School System, the second largest middle college program in the state. The project will add about 71,000 gross square feet of new space. Buildings will include high-bay training spaces, laboratories, and classrooms It will also have space for administrative, student, and support requirements for academic programs and hands-on instruction. “This is a historic occasion,” said Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings. She praised two people for making the education center possible: Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Tydings said Woodby was “the brains behind the building.” Tydings said Woodby's passion and spirit made it happen. She said the other force that made it possible was when Gov. Lee said “I have decided to run the table on your master plan. We are going to put the whole thing in the budget.” She said that amounted to $1 billion. Tydings said that when she goes to other parts of the country and talks about the fact that her governor and the state legislature voted to spend $1 billion into the system, they look at her like she is not telling the truth. She said the next thing they ask is if the state floated a bond for the project. She said the state was not borrowing, it was paying cash because Tennessee is the best managed state in the nation, thanks to the legislators. She said two of the best partners in the state education system, the TCAT and the community college, are coming together to make the project into "a center of higher education learning, where people will come, and they will get a job, and it will change their life and change the lives of their families, and it will change the community. I can’t wait to be back in 2026 to cut the ribbon on this building.” Mayor Woodby said the education center was the first project she took on when she became mayor. She said the irony is that three years ago on this day, Dec. 5, she had Gov. Lee tour this ground to discuss the idea of building an education center on the site. She said her hope is that this facility will enable “our children to enter into the workforce, but not only have jobs but be able to purchase homes and raise their families in this community. To not have to leave to look for work. We want them to be able to stay here and love our community.” Senator Rusty Crowe represented Carter County and told the Johnson City Press “I have to say that Mayor Woodby used Sen. Jon Lundberg and I early on to make this happen. She was laser focused on this approach for our students. We met in my office in Nashville for a call with Chancellor Tydings to try to secure the $40 million appropriation for the project. Mayor Woodby was very convincing. Chancellor Tydings was excited about this approach and she and Gov. Lee made this happen.” Northeast State Community College President Jeff McCord and Tennessee College of Applied Technology President Heath McMillian both pledged to be strong supporting partners in the project. McMillian said “the new center and the partnership with Northeast State will help us better serve students and provide more opportunities to gain the skills needed for local careers.” McCord said “Northeast State is proud to be a partner in the Carter County Higher Education Center and looks forward to the positive impact it will have on the prosperity of the people of Carter County. The good things happening on this site will no doubt ripple across the region.” The facility is scheduled to open in fall 2026, with Thompson & Litton, an architectural, engineering, and land surveying firm based in Wise, Va. overseeing the project’s design. Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter TodayGolden State Valkyries select 4 players to begin building roster through WNBA expansion draft SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries have selected center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Veronica Burton of Connecticut, guard Carla Leite of Dallas and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft. Those four became the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that’s set to begin play next season. Friday's expansion draft was the first for the WNBA in 16 years since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008. Golden State is able to acquire the contract or negotiating rights to one player from each of the other 12 WNBA teams. Lionel Messi wins MLS MVP award, the latest trophy on a long list of honors for the Inter Miami star FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi is the MVP of Major League Soccer for 2024. The award comes after a season where he missed 15 of Inter Miami’s 34 regular-season matches with injuries or commitments to Argentina’s national team. He still factored into a league-high 36 goals by scoring 20 and assisting on 16 others. His 2.1 goal contributions per 90 minutes played is the best by any player in any season in MLS history. MLS revealed the voting results Friday. Messi edged out Columbus Crew forward Cucho Hernández for the award, which is determined by a poll of players, club technical staff and select media members. NFL ends investigation into sexual assault allegations against Browns QB Deshaun Watson CLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The league has been reviewing the case for months, trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email that "there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damage before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson has played in just 19 games over three seasons for the Browns. Former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber returning to Cleveland Guardians on 1-year deal, AP source says CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that right-hander Shane Bieber is returning to the Cleveland Guardians after making just two starts and undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. Bieber had been expected to leave the AL Central champions, but will be back after agreeing to a one-year, $14 million contract that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner made just starts in 2024 before having the surgery on his troublesome elbow that bothered him the previous campaign. The 29-year-old Bieber has spent all seven big-league seasons with Cleveland. NBA returning to China for pair of Suns-Nets preseason games in 2025 The NBA is returning to China next season. The league has struck a deal to play preseason games there more than five years after the league was effectively banned for Commissioner Adam Silver not punishing Daryl Morey for tweeting support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Brooklyn and Phoenix will play games in China’s gambling hub of Macao on Oct. 10, 2025, and again two days later. There are more games planned for China in 2026, a source told The Associated Press. American ski racer Lindsey Vonn is picking up speed in her comeback bid at 40 years old COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — American ski racer Lindsey Vonn darted through the shadows on the speed course at Copper Mountain on a frigid morning. She was on the hill Friday as she tries to make a comeback to skiing nearly six years after her last race. Vonn plans to enter a series of lower-tier FIS downhill and super-G races this weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. It could be the first step toward seeing her on the World Cup circuit again. Scottie Scheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2 NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler used a big run of birdies to take a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Scheffler had seven birdies on the front nine for a 29. The world No. 1 added one birdie on the back nine to lead by two over Justin Thomas and Akshay Bhatia. Scheffler found no need to apologize for only one birdie on the back nine. He says it simply was a matter of the ball being a little closer to the hole and a few more putts going in. Scheffler already has eight victories this year, including Olympic gold. A's GM David Forst says the team wanted to make a statement with Luis Severino's contract SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Athletics general manager David Forst says the team wanted to make a statement going into its new home. That was one the factors that led to its deal with Luis Severino. The 30-year-old Severino was formally introduced by his new club after finalizing a $67 million, three-year contract. The veteran right-hander was a free agent for the second straight offseason after going 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA in 182 innings during his only season with the New York Mets. It’s the largest deal ever for the low-budget A’s, topping a $66 million contract for third baseman Eric Chavez covering 2005-10. Hall of Famer Randy Moss is stepping away from ESPN for an extended time to deal with health issue Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss is stepping away from his ESPN analyst role for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge, the network said in a statement. Moss revealed last week that he’s dealing with a health issue and asked fans to pray for him and his family. The 47-year-old ESPN football analyst made his announcement on Instagram from the set of the network’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” show. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness. No Bevo? SEC tells Texas there's no room for its 1,700-pound longhorn at title game vs. Georgia ATLANTA (AP) — The Southeastern Conference championship game will not feature another mascot showdown. The league says there's not enough space on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for No. 2 Texas to bring along its 1,700-pound longhorn Bevo XV for the game against No. 5 Georgia. The teams have two of college football’s most famous mascots. There should be enough sideline space for Georgia’s pure white English bulldog, Uga XI. Before the 2019 Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans, Bevo XV toppled his barrier and began to charge at Uga X. Texas handlers were able to pull Bevo back before any harm.Viral 'Superman' TikTok challenge sends children to hospital
Rebel Wilson looks solemn as she steps out in black activewear while heading on a coffee run in LA just days after sharing family heartbreak‘All about connection’: Luminaries remember 350 local Banner hospice patients lost this past year
The Chicago Cubs are entering quite an important offseason. Last winter, they stole the Milwaukee Brewers manager, Craig Counsell, from the National League division rivals, but in Counsell's first season, the Cubs fell short of the postseason. Now, they have the winter to build the team of Counsell's dreams, though it may not be with the big name players that many imagined. USA Today's Bob Nightengale has reported the Cubs won't be landing any of the big free agents that the fans have been raving about. "Yet, instead of negotiating with any of the marquee free agents, they instead are focusing on the mid-market players. They're probably out on Soto, Burnes, Fried and Snell," Nightengale wrote. "The only thing that could change their plan is if they're able to unload first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. The worst-kept secret at the GM meetings was the Cubs offering Bellinger to anyone and everyone. So far, no team has expressed strong interest." But, it doesn't seem likely at all that Chicago is able to move Bellinger unless they're willing to eat some of his contract. "Come on," one GM told Nightengale, "who's going to touch that contract? The risk is just too great for the production." With Bellinger likely to remain in the Windy City, the Cubs will need to pivot to cheaper options. They could look to boost their bullpen quite a bit this winter while also using the trade market to acquire cheaper players. Either way, I'd imagine Bellinger will remain a Cub and the top free agents will sign elsewhere. More MLB: What Will Yankees Emergency Plan B Look Like If Mets Steal $600 Million Juan Soto?
Two people, including a teenage girl, are dead after a house fire on a northern Saskatchewan First Nation, police say. The identity of the second person killed in the fire has yet to be confirmed, RCMP said Tuesday. The fire occurred on Clearwater River Dene Nation, about 600 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. RCMP spokesperson Keely Grasser said the girl was transported to hospital, where she died, while the other person was found dead inside the house. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency is investigating the cause of the fire, Grasser said. Clearwater River Dene Nation Chief Teddy Clark posted on social media that the First Nation is putting together a crisis team to support the community and families involved.