News

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center was built as a tool to propel the Nashville Symphony forward. From an artistic standpoint–or even as a huge, stone billboard–it is a success. The last few months, as the news has gone from bad to worse about the orchestra’s finances, it’s been hard to see the building as anything but a heavy weight. But that wasn’t always the case.

The orchestra that hears itself better plays better

Ten Tennessee teacher training programs have earned high marks from a national education research and advocacy group.

The National Center for Teacher Quality evaluated 30 college and university programs in Tennessee, ranking 14 of them on a four-star scale. The NCTQ reports it based rankings on admissions selectivity - student teaching programs - and curricula including reading, math, history and science.

One of WUOT's founders, Kenneth Wright, died on May 14 in Canton, Georgia. On October 27, 1949, his was among the first voices ever heard on the then-experimental university FM station broadcasting from the basement of Ayres Hall. Wright served as the station's general manager during its earliest years, helping form WUOT's role in the community.

"You heard the culmination of a longstanding dream," Wright said during the inaugural broadcast. "To our listeners, a promise to offer the best radio our intelligence and hard work are capable of producing."

  An East Tennessee town is doing without its own police force - fire department - parks and libraries today. At one minute past midnight last night, the town of Niota lost its liability insurance.  Today, Niota let several city employees go, closed its city police, fire, parks and street departments as well as the library with no word on when they might reopen again. 

For years, people living in the valleys of East Tennessee have had to endure air quality problems, especially in the summer. Now, Oak Ridge leaders will use a $200,000 grant to help combat pollution in the area. The money will pay for LED lighting in the municipal building and the city’s civic center. Governor Bill Haslam presented the check to Oak Ridge mayor Tom Beehan and other local leaders at a ceremony Monday.