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Good morning, Knoxville! In today’s edition: Pediatric coverage standoff, candlelit Coldplay, Repticon, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Pediatric coverage standoff in Knoxville: A March 1 deadline is approaching as Cigna and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital lack an in-network deal, risking higher costs for families. The hospital says continue scheduling and contact Cigna — learn what patients should know.
Fresh leadership, familiar mission: Knoxville lawyer Jeff Hagood, confirmed last month, is preparing to join the TVA board and will prioritize affordable, safe power, the environment, and economic development before the February 11 meeting — get all the details.
An artist’s enduring evolution: Knoxville glass artist Richard Jolley has built a 50-year career without leaving home. His studio turns 50 this year, as his globally exhibited work stays rooted in East Tennessee — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Parking shake-up impacts drivers: Knoxville overhauled on-street parking, replacing meters with a mobile app and adding 600 spaces. Use is up to about 44,000 transactions a month, and enforcement has increased, boosting citations and revenue. An earlier investigation found millions in unpaid tickets, with some drivers owing more than $10,000. See what’s changed and why.
When a burrito calls: Skip the sad desk lunch and let SoKno Taco Cantina roll a proper SoCal-style burrito, with queso-tossed rice, cast-iron beans, cilantro, onions, and your pick of protein in a grilled tortilla. Easy, satisfying, and perfect after an Ijams trail day.
Rainy-day sanity saver: When cabin fever hits, Muse Knoxville delivers hands-on STEAM exhibits, weekly rotating mini-programs, and Knoxville’s only public-access planetarium for a quick star fix. It’s a play-first way to learn that keeps curiosity high and your living room free of glitter fallout.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🚗 42nd Annual Cabin Fever Car & Motorcycle Show @ Knoxville Expo Center | Friday (1/9) at 8:00 AM – Cabin Fever Car & Motorcycle Show is rolling in for its 42nd lap, curing winter stir-crazies with chrome, rumble, and pride polishing. Expect classics, customs, and bikes that make you reconsider your retirement budget. Come kick tires, swap stories, and smell a little gasoline.
❄ Hot Glass Icicle Ornament Workshop @ Printshop Beer Co. | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Visualize Art Studio will help you craft an icicle ornament that actually survives the thermostat wars. No experience needed, all supplies and steady guidance included, so you can make something sparkly, giftable, and brag-worthy; sign up here.
🍸 Cocktails? Yes! @ NOI Knoxville | Friday (1/9) at 6:30 PM – Yes to cocktails, yes to awards, yes to supporting the folks actually doing the work in Knoxville. YES! Knoxville’s first-ever fundraiser serves up clinking glasses, light bragging rights, and the kind of mingling you don’t dread, all for a cause you can feel good about.
🎧 Soundscapes @ Knoxville Museum of Art | Friday (1/9) at 7:30 PM – Soundscapes at the KMA returns with music, art, and the kind of dance cardio your knees approve of, as Atlanta’s Solful Hornz salute Earth, Wind & Fire. Galleries are open, a cash bar and bites await, and members get in free, kids under 12 too.
🐍 Repticon @ Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Nothing warms the heart like a bearded dragon blinking at you. Repticon Knoxville packs live reptiles and exotic critters, knowledgeable vendors, and hands-on learning, so you can ask real questions, compare gear, and maybe come home with a new scaly roommate, accidentally.
🌲 Winter Tree ID: Beginner Workshop @ Ijams Nature Center | Saturday (1/10) at 4:30 PM – Think you can’t tell an oak from a hickory once the leaves bail? Ijams’ beginner workshop teaches you the winter clues, from bark and buds to why trees wake up when they do, on a 1.5-mile stroll. All outside, dress cozy, ages 14+.
🍗 A Taste of Tradition: Old-School Southern Cooking @ The Cutting Edge Classroom | Saturday (1/10) at 5:00 PM – This hands-on Southern cooking class with Chef John cooks like your favorite aunt, only with sharper knives and fewer family politics. You’ll tackle meatloaf with mushroom gravy, jalapeño cornbread, and skillet apple pie. Come hungry, share a story, and call seconds research.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Knoxville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 68°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 2%
Patchy fog between 7am and 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 68. East wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. South wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 69°F – Low: 58°F – Precip: 81%
Rain showers after 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Rain showers before 1am, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
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In coveted Lakemoor Hills, this like new residence sits on over an acre with mature trees and private calm. The new patio overlooks picturesque greenery, an easy perch for morning coffee or evening relaxation. Two minutes to the water and ten minutes to downtown Knoxville keep recreation and city energy close.
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