Cheers Johnson City! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Johnson City TN | Shades of Men Live and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Tri-Cities municipalities feeling impact of high diesel prices (wjhl.com) — Rising diesel prices are putting pressure on Johnson City's fuel budget, but city leaders say they can still absorb the higher costs without cutting services for now. Officials are tweaking contracts, monitoring idling, and exploring alternative fuels for school buses to keep garbage pickup, police, fire, and other essential operations running smoothly for residents.
2. 'Smiles for Veterans' returns to restore oral health (johnsoncitypress.com) — A Johnson City oral surgery center is again offering its "Smiles for Veterans" program, which will give one service member a free smile restoration worth about $50,000. Local veterans, active-duty, and reserve members can apply online by Oct. 9, sharing photos of their teeth for a chance at life-changing dental care often hard to access through VA benefits.
3. Increased fall 2026 enrollment seen statewide through public community colleges and universities (wjhl.com) — East Tennessee State University in Johnson City is helping drive a statewide rise in fall 2026 enrollment at public colleges, with freshman numbers breaking records for a second year. ETSU leaders credit more personal, story-driven recruiting and say out-of-state students can even apply for free during October, potentially attracting more newcomers to the Johnson City area.
4. Top 5 Tuesday: September 29, 2026 (wcyb.com) — A crime roundup notes that two Johnson City women have been charged with child abuse and neglect after a toddler was reportedly found wandering on Joe Hale Road. The same brief also highlights an ongoing Kingsport death investigation, protests over a Tennessee execution case, and a gubernatorial candidate responding to an attack website.
5. Surveillance Firm Pitches Facial Recognition Add-On for Flock Cameras (gadgetreview.com) — Johnson City police were pitched a surveillance platform that could combine Flock license-plate data, Axon body-camera footage, and facial recognition-style searches, though the department says it did not pursue the offer. The report raises local questions about how exported police data might someday be used, and whether third-party vendors could add invasive capabilities beyond what Johnson City residents have been told to expect.
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Ok Johnson City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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