Community Corner

🌱 New ORNL lab could accelerate cancer research and uranium cleanup in Oak Ridge

And check out A Secret City Planned from Miles Away: Housing and Home Life in Oak Ridge During the Manhattan Project on the Oak Ridge…

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday August 20th Patch AM
Thursday August 20th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Oak Ridge! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • New ORNL lab could accelerate cancer research and uranium cleanup in Oak Ridge
  • How Oak Ridge's energy innovators are helping build East Tennessee's tech future
  • How a new microreactor factory could reshape Oak Ridge's energy future

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Oak Ridge Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Oak Ridge Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Oak Ridge. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Humid with heavy t-storms, with a high of 88 and low of 70 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: A shower and t-storm; humid, temps: high: 86, low: 68.
  • Saturday: An afternoon thunderstorm, with a high of 90 and low of 67 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• New lab at ORNL supports uranium cleanup, cancer research, Department of Energy says (wbir.com) — A new analytical lab at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is now speeding up uranium-233 processing and medical isotope work, strengthening both cleanup efforts and cancer research tied directly to Oak Ridge. The facility, run by DOE's Oak Ridge Office and contractor Isotek, cuts sample analysis times from months to weeks and boosts production of thorium-229 for promising actinium-225 cancer treatments.
   

• Spark Innovation Center bringing the next generation of entrepreneurs to East Tennessee (wate.com subscription) — Oak Ridge companies and Oak Ridge National Lab are central to a growing advanced-energy ecosystem that the University of Tennessee and the Spark Innovation Center are building across East Tennessee. The program is drawing startups from around the country, mentoring student entrepreneurs, and expanding K–12 STEM workshops, all aimed at turning the region's strengths in clean energy and advanced manufacturing into new jobs and technologies.
   

• Radiant's Kaleidos Microreactor Begins Transport to Idaho (energynews.pro) — Oak Ridge is set to host Radiant's R-50 microreactor production facility, now under federal licensing review while the company tests its Kaleidos reactor in Idaho. If approved, the Oak Ridge plant would manufacture commercial microreactors for customers including the U.S. Air Force, positioning the city in a growing advanced nuclear supply chain.
   

📸 Around Oak Ridge

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Ridge

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

📣 Oak Ridge Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday August 20
  • Member hosted event: Coffee & Connections - Free Business Networking Coffee Conversations
    Farragut West Knox Chamber Riverside Coffee Shop 16239 US-70, Lenoir City, TN
    9:00 am
  • Farragut History Tour →
    Farragut, TN Calendar, Farragut Town Hall 11408 Municipal Center Drive, Farragut
    9:00 am
  • Toddler Takeover →
    Farragut, TN Calendar Farragut, TN 37934
    10:00 am
  • Golf: Oneida (home)
    Harriman High School Harriman, TN 37748
    4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Oak Ridge PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Found Dog!
    This sweet little girl showed during the storm yesterday. Please let me know if you know where she may live (Nextdoor A Roads on the East End)
  • Hi neighbors!
    I want to thank Gail for letting us know about John and I thank her and others who have been there for him in any way over the past months. John… (Nextdoor Moylan Lane)
  • Gold's Gym International, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeping in Oak Ridge. Apply here.
  • Kroger posted a job opening for Courtesy Clerk/Grocery Bagger in Farragut. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Ridge here.

🗞 Nearby News

Oliver Springs

  • Richard (Richie) Allen Seiber, 40 (3bmedianews.com)
  • Peggy Diane Grippi, Oliver Springs (bbbtv12.com)
  • Predicting every Knoxville area TSSAA football team's region order of finish for 2026 (knoxnews.com)

Farragut

Ok Oak Ridge! 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: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Oak Ridge