Local News

An air quality alert is in effect for Middle Tennessee.  The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation says a Code Orange air quality alert is in effect all day today.  Those with respiratory issues including asthma sufferers are advised not to overexert themselves outdoors, particularly between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Another week of dangerously hot temperatures is on the way.  Temps reaching into the mid-90s are expected today, with the high 90’s forecasted Tuesday through Friday.  UV index levels will be extreme, with experts warning that the risk of sunburn will begin within ten minutes outdoors.  Meteorologists are, though, predicting a break from last week’s high humidity.

A monument honoring the U.S. Colored Troops is now open at Fort Defiance Civil War Park in Clarksville.  Hundreds gathered for a dedication ceremony yesterday.  Fort Defiance served as a recruitment center for escaped slaves who agreed to fight for the Union Army.  More than 20 thousand USCT soldiers from Tennessee served in the war.

A kitten rescued by a Wilson County couple won’t stay cuddly for long.  Workers at True Rescue in Mount Juliet immediately recognized the animal as a bobcat when it was brought on Friday.  A spokesperson for the shelter says the couple found the orphaned wild cat on the back porch of their home.  The bobcat has been examined by a veterinarian and transported to Walden’s Puddle wildlife rehabilitation and education center.

The Springfield Board of Mayor and Aldermen meets tomorrow and will allow any residents to speak whether they are for or against the proposed impact development fee. The board will then vote on the resolution again. If passed it will officially be enacted.