Starting in the 2025-26 school year, a new Tennessee law will restrict student use of cell phones and electronic devices during class. Exceptions will be made for emergencies and health needs. Schools will set their own procedures for managing devices.

The community is invited to Celebrate Juneteenth on Saturday, June 21, with two events in Athens. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the McMinn County NAACP will host an event at Cook Park (414 Cook Drive), featuring educational displays, poetry, book giveaways, and a special presentation on the park’s history.

Immediately following, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Valor Guild will continue the celebration at Market Park Pavilion (106 S. Jackson St.) with live music, poetry, games, dancing contests, food, and vendor booths. Both free events honor Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom—and aim to celebrate African American history, culture, and community