Tennessee
Construction on state routes to be paused for 4th of July holiday: What to know
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As millions of people are expected to travel through Tennessee to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, the Tennessee Department of Transportation is suspending all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes.
The suspension will begin at noon on Thursday, July 2, through 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 6. Workers may still be on-site during the suspension, and reduced speed limits in work zones will remain in effect. TDOT added that drivers could still be impacted by some long-term lane closures for ongoing construction projects. Drivers are still urged to use caution.
“With so many people driving on and around the Fourth of July, we want to do all we can to ensure they reach their destinations safely and without delays,” said TDOT Commissioner Will Reid, P.E. “We are suspending lane closures during this busy holiday travel time. Be mindful that our HELP Trucks will be on patrol in urban and rural areas and drivers must obey the law by moving over and slowing down for all emergency vehicles on the side of the road.”
AAA predicts more than 1.6 million Tennesseans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Independence Day between Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, July 5. The company added that this will set a record for Fourth of July travel in Tennessee.
“For many families, traveling for Independence Day isn’t just a trip; it’s a tradition,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Vacations are one category where consumers are still willing to spend, even if that means cutting back on something else. With an extended holiday travel period, we expect busy roads, steady demand for flights, and continued interest in cruises across many parts of the country.”
For those looking to travel over the weekend, join 6 News anchor Bo Williams for our Upcoming Road Work stream on WATE6+ at 2:30 p.m. on Fridays. He will break down traffic conditions, construction projects and events that are expected to impact drivers in East Tennessee over the weekend.
What This Story Is About
- Some events at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair are being postponed due to the extreme heat.
Why It Matters
- WSMV4’s First Alert Weather team said dangerous heat and humidity will continue through the weekend with heat index values up to 110° or higher in parts of Middle Tennessee.
What Happens Next
- Fair officials said the Special Needs Day event, Clogging Exhibition and the Bike Ride Across Wilson County have been postponed until Saturday, Aug. 22.
LEBANON, Tenn. (WSMV) – Some events at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair are being postponed due to the extreme heat.
Fair officials said the Special Needs Day event, Clogging Exhibition and the Bike Ride Across Wilson County have been postponed until Saturday, Aug. 22.
The postponement comes after the National Weather Service issued Extreme Heat Warnings for multiple Middle Tennessee counties, including Wilson County.
WSMV4’s First Alert Weather team said dangerous heat and humidity will continue through the weekend with heat index values up to 110° or higher in parts of Middle Tennessee.
To further combat the heat for fairgoers, fair officials have added additional tents, cooling stations, misting fans and other shaded areas across the fairgrounds. There are also 10 air conditioned buildings, three large covered pavilions, a special cooling station at the former First Aid Station and other shaded areas.
Free water, popsicles and lemonade are being handed out at various locations at the fair.
“The Fair encourages all guests to prepare for the heat, stay hydrated, drink plenty of water, take frequent breaks and be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness,” fair officials said.
As for the carnival, fair officials said fair gates will open as scheduled at 10 a.m., and the Reithoffer Shows Carnival will open at 1 p.m.
“Saturday armbands will now be valid ALL DAY, rather than ending at 5 p.m. giving guests more flexibility to enjoy the rides later in the day as temperatures cool,” fair officials said.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Prosperity for our state and the next generation depends on education.
Jerri Green wins Democratic nomination for TN governor: watch
Memphis City Council member Jerri Green won the Democratic nomination for Tennessee governor. She’ll face GOP candidate Marsha Blackburn Nov. 3.
The school year has begun for Tennessee students, and Tennesseans will soon cast their votes for who they want to shape the educational opportunities those students will have. As a teacher and a principal, I saw firsthand the difference a great education can make in a student’s life, and we owe it to the next generation to elect an education-minded governor who will fight to give every Tennessee student a world-class education.
That is why I’m voting Marsha Blackburn for Governor.
Not too long ago, Tennessee was at the bottom of the pile when it came to education. In 2009, we ranked 41st in the nation in fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading. Now, Tennessee is No. 1 in the South in the same category and is on track to break into the top-ten nationally.
This story of remarkable education improvement didn’t happen by accident. A string of strong, education-minded governors worked tirelessly to rewrite the narrative of education in Tennessee. However, there is still more work to be done.
Fiscal accountability for Tennessee’s schools
We must make sure our tax dollars for education are being used wisely. As chair of the House Education Committee, I led the recent Memphis-Shelby Schools audit that discovered over $54 million in misused and wasted funds over the last three years.
As governor, Marsha Blackburn will step in to make sure schools are built to serve the needs of students. With 1 in 10 Tennessee students attending Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Marsha knows that for Tennessee to offer a world-class education, this district must be successful.
Marsha will not only allocate plenty of resources to our schools, but she will also work with the state legislature and local school boards to make sure those funds are being used for the benefit of students.
Our public schools have potential to be the best in the nation, but we aren’t there – yet. The next governor needs to not only hold our schools fiscally accountable, but also hold them to high standards in their curriculum and policies. Marsha will champion a strong education strategy that will take Tennessee’s schools to the next level.
How Marsha Blackburn will put students first
Social media is proven to hurt our students’ learning. Marsha’s Bell to Bell: No Cell policy will keep students on track during the school day.
School choice is the future of learning. One-size-fits-all does not work in any area of our society. Parents must have options when the one choice is not working for their child. Tennessee has made great strides already, and we need a governor like Marsha to continue to make Tennessee a place that expands options for Tennessee parents.
Strong charter schools have proven to be a key part of school choice. However, we must continue to remove the bureaucracy and red tape. We need to make it easier for unused facilities to be transferred to public charter schools, as well as speed up the process for charter school applications.
Blackburn is ‘prepared to champion’
As Tennessee House Education Chairman for the past 12 years, I know the importance of having an education-minded governor as a partner. Marsha Blackburn will work alongside the state legislature to make sure our educational momentum continues.
Marsha’s vast experience in both our State and U.S. Senate has prepared her to champion the type of innovative education policy that will make a difference in the lives of countless Tennessee students.
Prosperity for our state and the next generation depends on education. It is our obligation to our children and grandchildren to provide them with a world-class education that will lead to lifelong success.
I am honored to support and cast my vote for Marsha Blackburn for governor.
Mark White is the Tennessee State Rep. for District 83 and the House Education Chairman.
A Tennessee man has been federally indicted for a 2024 arson that prosecutors say was “politically motivated.”
Ian Nathaniel Grice, 28, of Dixon, Tennessee, is charged with arson and interstate travel in aid of a racketeering enterprise, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
Court records say that Grice attempted to “maliciously damage and destroy” the historic Exchange Bank building located at 201 S Monroe St. in downtown Tallahassee.
The indictment does not detail the extent of the damage caused by the fire nor what made the stunt politically motivated, but court records say the building was being used in interstate commerce at the time of the fire.
The five-story Exchange Bank was built in 1927 and was the tallest building in Tallahassee when it first opened, according to the Florida Department of State’s archives. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Tallahassee’s first skyscraper formally opened March 3, 1928, and by the 1940s, the building was the business address in Tallahassee, as previously reported. Physicians, dentists and attorneys – including future Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins and future Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice B.K. Roberts – filled its 52 offices.
Grice’s trial is scheduled for Sept. 21, and he faces five to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, according to the news release.
“This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House-directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard,” the news release says.
Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
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