In this May 29, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump listens as Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., speaks at a rally in Nashville, Tenn. Blackburn and former Gov. Phil Bredesen face only nominal primary opposition in their race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Bob Corker. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Donald Trump eyes rally in Johnson City

President Donald Trump’s campaign has inquired with the City of Johnson City about hosting a rally at Freedom Hall Civic Center in the coming weeks, according to Assistant City Manager Charlie Stahl.

Updated Sep 21, 2018 at 3:20 PM

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Get your tickets for Dean-Lee gubernatorial debate in Kingsport

The event is sponsored by the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press, and will air across the state on the PBS network of stations.

Sep 21, 2018 at 8:45 AM

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe

U.S. Chamber of Commerce gives award to Roe

U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., again received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Enterprise Award for his 93 percent pro-business voting record in Congress in 2017.

Sep 18, 2018 at 12:19 PM

Sullivan County Commission

Your two cents worth: School resource officers on the way for all Sullivan County Schools

Nearly $1 million in startup funding will come from the county’s general fund surplus, but an estimated $757,000 in recurring yearly costs will have to be funded in years to come.

Sep 18, 2018 at 8:43 AM

From left, Tennessee state Rep. Gary Hicks, state Sen. Frank Niceley, Mike Faulk's widow Holly and state Sen. Art Swann unveil a sign dedicating a section of Highway 11W in his honor.

Judge Mike Faulk

Mike Faulk got a birthday present

On what would have been his 65th birthday, friends and state lawmakers dedicated a section of Highway 11-W in Hawkins County on Monday as the Judge Michael A. Faulk Memorial Highway. The segment honoring Faulk begins at the intersection of Netherland Inn Road and ends where the road crosses Goshen Valley Road.

Sep 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM

What is the 25th Amendment?

The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is getting lots of discussion these days by national news outlets and among political analysts. It deals with the removal or replacement of the president and a vacancy in the vice president’s office.

Sep 10, 2018 at 1:07 PM

Marsha Blackburn's U.S. Senate campaign

Blackburn: U.S. Senate 'dysfunctional'

“The reason I am running is the Senate is dysfunctional,” Blackburn said in a meeting with editorial board members of the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press. “I’m going to the Senate as a force for solid conservative positive change to have them take action on the things Tennesseans want them to take action on … I think before the August work period began, the Senate was sitting on right at 600 pieces of legislation – most of them bipartisan – that had come out of the House and had gone to the Senate, and the Senate had not taken action.”

Sep 9, 2018 at 6:00 PM

Bill Lee chats with Of One Accord Ministry's Sheldon Livesay.

Tennessee GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee talks about his "Believe In Tennessee" campaign during a stop in Rogersville.

Bill Lee poses with local 4H Club members.

Bill Lee shares a moment with former U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins.

Bill Lee's Tennessee gubernatorial campaign

Bill Lee campaigns in Rogersville

ROGERSVILLE -- Hawkins County Republicans came out to hear Tennessee GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee speak at Occasions On The Square during his "Believe In Tennessee" tour.

Sep 8, 2018 at 4:30 PM

Tennessee GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Lee, during his Rogersville stop, noted there weren't many people at his campaign stops early in the Primary Election cycle.

Bill Lee's Tennessee gubernatorial campaign

Lee responds to Dean's claim that he lacks leadership experience

Lee and Dean, the former Nashville mayor, are scheduled to debate in Kingsport on Oct. 9 at the Eastman Employee Center. The event is being organized by the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press.

Sep 8, 2018 at 8:30 AM

Marsha Blackburn's U.S. Senate campaign

Blackburn: 'I’m going to focus on what I have done, and I’m going to focus on what I can do for the people of this state. That’s what they want to hear.'

Tennessee U.S. Senate Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn focused on the merits of her candidacy Wednesday and did not talk about her Democrat opponent – former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen – while meeting with members of the Kingsport Times News and Johnson City Press editorial boards.

Sep 6, 2018 at 8:00 AM

John McCain talked tough about coal in one of his final 2008 campaign stops at Tri-Cities Airport.

Inside Politics

McCain stood up for coal in 2008 rally at Tri-Cities Airport

“I’m not going to let our coal industry go bankrupt,” McCain pledged on the eve of the presidential election before a cheering crowd of more than 5,000 Republicans from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

Aug 30, 2018 at 8:28 AM

East Tennessee State University History Professor Daryl Carter noted people have gotten lazy and are more prone to click on news or social media that agrees with their views.

Humanities Tennessee

Community Conversation highlights need for people to vote

KINGSPORT — We are by nature political beings, yet Tennessee ranks at the bottom in voting and voter registration, concerned citizens were told Tuesday at a Kingsport Chamber Community Conversation event to help jump-start democracy. Attendees talked about the lack of civil discourse in our current political climate; an obligation to vote to honor those who paid the ultimate price for freedom; being able to tell between truth and lies; starting a movement to take kids to the polls; and issues like gerrymandering.

Aug 29, 2018 at 7:30 PM

Hawkins County Commission

Hawkins approves balanced budget following lengthy debates

There were still a few unresolved issues Monday evening, such as shifting property tax revenue to make use of the Spec Building sales revenue; the best way to give 92 employees on a flawed salary scale an extra 2 percent pay bump; and rising obligations to maintenance of effort for the sheriff's office.

Aug 29, 2018 at 6:00 PM

Tennessee U.S. Senate GOP nominee Marsha Blackburn, shown here talking to a Kingsport Chamber roundtable, warned a win by Democrat rival Phil Bredesen could flip the Senate to Democrats and change its agenda.

Marsha Blackburn's U.S. Senate campaign

Marsha's warning: If Senate flips to Democrats, GOP chairs are out

KINGSPORT — Tennessee GOP U.S. Senate nominee Marsha Blackburn insisted Tuesday she is the pro-business candidate and warned that if Democratic opponent Phil Bredesen wins, key Republican committee chairs could lose their jobs.

Aug 29, 2018 at 11:25 AM