WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | News

Dollar General may go public next week

The Goodlettsville-based company will sell stock in the range of $21 to $23 a share and expects to raise $750 million in the public stock offering, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Smokies' "ugly ring" keeps tourists, businesses busy

A recent article published by The National Geographic Society calls the Great Smoky Mountains National Park "a national treasure surrounded by a bath-tub ring of ugly, unplanned development."

Higher ed center showcases 'smart classroom'

Students and other users of the Kingsport Center for Higher Education will be able to take advantage of distance learning opportunities, thanks in part to a $50,000 grant from AT&T.

Waldenbooks closing in Knoxville Center Mall, Kingsport

The Waldenbooks in Knoxville Center Mall and Kingsport are two of 200 Borders Group's mall stores closing in January, eliminating about 1,500 positions nationwide.

Senate approves unemployment benefit extension; bill now goes to House

Just in time for the holidays, the Senate voted to extend unemployment benefits for more than a million jobless Americans expected to lose benefits by the end of the year.

Several trading firms get the vaccine before local hospitals

There's fresh anger over the shortage of H1N1 vaccines after reports several Wall Street firms have already received doses, ahead of many hospitals.

IRS has $1.77M in refunds for Tennesseans; are you one?

The Internal Revenue Service has $1.77 million in tax refunds due to Tennessee residents the IRS couldn't find to pay. Find out if you're one of them here.

Johnson City: On a rockslide detour? Come see us!

Seeing an opportunity for tourist dollars in drivers' detour, Johnson City is out to promote the I-26 route as the best one around the I-40 rockslide.

Scripps television to pick up Travel Channel

Scripps Networks Interactive has announced a plan to acquire a controlling interest in the Travel Channel, rounding out its suite of lifestyle programming, which already includes Food Network and HGTV.

Switchgrass harvested at K-25, farmers diversify income

East Tennessee scientists and farmers are pairing up for a major project, and Wednesday, they harvested some of the fruits--or grass, more directly--of their labor.

Congress considers speeding up tougher credit card laws

President Obama signed into law a measure last spring that would prevent credit card companies from raising interest rates on existing balances.

TVA's billion-dollar projects, and your bills

Three major projects face the Tennessee Valley Authority: the construction of a new nuclear reactor, a gas fired plant, and the continued coal ash clean up.

Stimulus hides TN budget woes; departments face up to 9 percent cuts

Gov. Phil Bredesen is asking state departments to cut their budgets by as much as 9 percent next year, a move that probably will trigger another round of layoffs and curb some services.

Tennessee gets $12 million for career retraining

The state of Tennessee has received an additional $12 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance the state's Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program.

Auto sales show sign of life

Sales for U.S. automakers in October revealed positive signs Americans are buying again, following a Cash-For-Clunkers hangover that stalled September profits.

Money News