Cherokee National Forest Announces Closures Due to Bear Activity

Cherokee National Forest Announces Closures Due to Bear Activity

Friday, August 23, 2013

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U.S. Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest have announced that national forest lands within the corridor between the area known as Oliver Hollow north to Wilbur Dam are temporaily closed to public entry except for through hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The closure is being implemented because of black bear activity in the area.

National forest lands within the corridor are temporarily closed to public entry by land and water access. The Watauga Lake Shelter on the Appalachian Trail is also closed to camping, but the trail is open to through hikers.

Oliver Hollow is located on Watauga Lake in Carter County on Oliver Hollow Rd off Highway 321 near Hampton, TN. Wilbur Dam (TVA) is located on the Watauga River off Wilbur Dam Rd and Bishop Hollow Rd in Carter County near Elizabethton, TN. The corridor is within the Cherokee National Forest’s Watauga Ranger District.

Oliver Hollow is a popular dispersed camping and day use area on the western end of Watauga Lake. Bears have recently been frequenting the corridor and Oliver Hollow. The U.S. Forest Service is working with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to address the concern.

Natural Resources Management Team Leader for the Watauga Ranger District, Alice Cohen said, “Bears are opportunists and become habituated to campsites and picnic areas where food has been improperly discarded or stored and is easily available. Though naturally shy of people, they learn to associate people with food. Bears then learn to frequent the same areas where they may encounter humans. This is when concerns arise.”

Forest Service officials say that in all outdoor recreation settings, you should always store your food and trash so it does not attract bears and other animals. Food should be properly stored in a vehicle, or hung from a bear pole or tree when in the back country. Trash should be placed in bear-resistant trash cans where available or packed out when you leave. Do not discard watermelons or any other food scraps in picnic areas, shooting ranges or any other recreation site. Doing so can lead to temporary closure of the site if safety becomes a concern due to bear activity. Your cooperation with this and similar temporary closures may help break the cycle of bears returning to the same sites in search of human food, protecting you and the bears.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Sen. Alexander Praises Preservation of Land Connecting Smokies to Cherokee National Forest

Sen. Alexander Praises Preservation of Land Connecting Smokies to Cherokee National Forest

Saturday, May 4, 2013

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) joined Brookfield Renewable Energy Group and The Nature Conservancy at Calderwood Dam yesterday, praising the announcement of their agreement to preserve nearly 4,000 acres of land connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cherokee National Forest.

“There is no more popular or magnificent section of the Great American Outdoors than the land adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest,” Alexander said. “Any effort to find new ways to protect that land and make more of it available for outdoor recreation certainly will be welcomed by Tennesseans. Today’s announcement means tens of thousands of Tennesseans and visitors will be able to continue to enjoy more hiking, hunting, fishing and boating.”

The nearly 4,000 acres will ultimately become public land following the transfer from Brookfield to The Nature Conservancy, and will connect the Great Smoky Mountains and Cherokee National Forest. In its agreement with Brookfield, The Nature Conservancy will convey the property over the next two years to state and federal partners, adding to the 6,000 acres that previously became part of the Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee National Forest following the agreement in 2004 to re-license Alcoa's hydropower facilities.

Once the transfer is complete, trail crews plan to reroute a section of the Benton MacKaye Trail between Deals Gap and the Smokies so that hikers can stay in the forest and not have to walk along U.S. Highway 129.

Alexander joined Brookfield and The Nature Conservancy in making the announcement at Calderwood Dam near Maryville, alongside representatives of the State of Tennessee, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Cherokee National Forest Seeks Campground Hosts

Cherokee National Forest Seeks Campground Hosts

Friday, March 1, 2013

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The Cherokee National Forest is currently seeking Campground Hosts for several locations, including Jacob's Creek and Little Oak Campgrounds on S. Holston Lake; Backbone Rock near Damascus, VA; Cardens Bluff on Watauga Lake; Indian Boundary Campgrounds and the North River Checking Station near Tellico; and the Horse Creek Campground in the Bald Mountains.

The host season starts between mid-March and mid-April, and ends mid-October, depending on the site.

“Campground hosts add so much to a visitor’s experience because they share an interest in the outdoors, have extensive knowledge of the area and love being around people,” said Acting District Ranger Michelle Burnett. “Good hosts are the backbone of our recreation volunteer program. The Watauga Ranger District is lucky to have a number of long-term hosts volunteering year after year. We’re hoping to find some other great folks willing to help us out.”

Campground hosts often develop a real love of the area and are able to learn the ins and outs of their campground from staying in one place for a while. For those new to the region, being a host is a great way to experience northeast Tennessee while working side-by-side with Forest Service employees.

The agency provides:
* Training
* A campsite with full hook-up for their camper
* Supervision and support

General duties include:
* Firsthand visitor contact in a developed campground setting
* Serve as a U.S. Forest Service presence, overseeing and monitoring camper/campground conditions
* Clean and service restrooms and assist with campground clean-up
* Provide information regarding recreation opportunities throughout the area’s national forests.
* They also find plenty of time to fish, bird watch, read books and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding lakes, streams and forests.

For more information, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Cherokee National Forest Fall Color Report

Cherokee National Forest Fall Color Report

Saturday, October 6, 2012

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Yesterday the Cherokee National Forest published their latest Fall Color Report. Here's a synopsis from the report:

Fall colors continue to appear on the hillsides and mountain tops. Approximately 25-30% of the leaves have changed color at elevations above 3,500’. Colors at lower elevations are at about 15% overall.

These percentages may vary from area to area.

Popular, dogwood, black gum and sassafras are showing color in many lower elevation areas.

Recent wind and rain have caused some leaves to fall early throughout the Forest. This is not uncommon and there are still plenty of color viewing opportunities in the days to come.

To read the full report in detail, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Cherokee National Forest Acquires Final Rocky Fork Tract

Cherokee National Forest Acquires Final Rocky Fork Tract

Friday, September 28, 2012

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US Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest say a four year effort with The Conservation Fund to protect the Rocky Fork property is complete with the recent purchase of nearly 1,200 acres of the tract. Click here for map.

For years a broad-based coalition of local, state and federal leaders worked together to save Rocky Fork. They did this because of the property’s natural resources, economic values and importance to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

In December 2008 The Conservation Fund purchased 7,476 acres of the nearly 10,000 acre tract, while the Forest Service acquired another 2,237 acres. Since that time the Forest Service has acquired a total of 7,677 acres with more than $30 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a federal land protection program that receives funds from the development of federally-owned offshore oil and gas resources. $5 million of those LWCF funds was appropriated by Congress in Fiscal Year 2012 for this final acquisition, and a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, through Walmart’s 2012 Acres for America program, also enabled the completion of this phase. The remaining 2,036 acres are protected with previous state and private funds and will be held by The Conservation Fund. The total cost of the Rocky Fork property was $40 million.

The Rocky Fork property is located along the Tennessee-North Carolina border in Unicoi and Greene counties. Rocky Fork, named after the cool waters of the creek that runs down its center, lies within Cherokee National Forest and abuts Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, creating a vast unfragmented haven for wildlife and protecting water quality for neighboring communities. Rocky Fork’s many resources provide a range of unique recreational opportunities – hiking the popular Appalachian Trail; camping in a secluded mountain area; fishing the more than 16 miles of pristine blue-ribbon trout streams; and hunting game animals such as turkey, deer and grouse. These recreational activities have been attracting visitors from across the country for generations, bringing revenue to the local economy.

Unaka District Ranger, Terry Bowerman said, “This final Forest Service acquisition is huge, not only in the number of acres, but in potential economic impacts. It will also help conserve and protect many outstanding natural and scenic resources. This is truly a dream come true for many people. Thanks to the foresight and support of a host of public - private partners and local, state and federal elected officials, such as Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, and U.S. Representative Phil Roe, public ownership of Rocky Fork is a reality.”

“Tennesseans are enthusiastic protectors of the great outdoors, and I am pleased that the efforts at Rocky Fork will preserve this remarkable place for future generations,” said Senator Lamar Alexander.

“You can tell that Rocky Fork is a special place because of the unwavering dedication and determination of so many individuals and groups to preserve its natural heritage,” said Ralph Knoll, Tennessee state representative for The Conservation Fund. “We are especially grateful for the support of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Appalachian Trail Conservancy, who have been instrumental throughout this landscape-scale conservation effort.”

Rocky Fork is home to an array of rare wildlife such as the peregrine falcon, eastern hellbender and the Yonahlossee salamander. At least 10 species of greatest conservation need have been recorded on the property. Rocky Fork is part of the Unicoi Bear Reserve and contains prime bear breeding habitat. “Conserving Rocky Fork also protects the water quality in neighboring communities,” said Ranger Bowerman. “We will continue to manage this area in an appropriate manner to maintain its natural character.”

Economic development is important to counties containing National Forest System land. Ranger Bowerman explained that, “We recognize the importance of providing economic opportunities to the counties. In Unicoi County alone the Forest Service has recently done a number of things to help, including: Reconstructed, for adaptive use, the Pinnacle Fire Tower as a public observation site; Constructed a trail from Unicoi County property, near I-26, to the Pinnacle tower; Rehabilitated the Buffalo Mountain ATV Trail; Improved the parking area at Limestone Cove; Converted the trail at Limestone Cove from hiking only to hiking and horseback riding; Made improvements at Limestone Cove day use area; Rehabilitated part of the Unaka Mountain Overlook. All of these improvements, especially the Pinnacle Lookout Tower and trail have been well received and are enhancing local economies.”


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Wildfire in Ocoee Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest

Wildfire in Ocoee Ranger District of Cherokee National Forest

Thursday, June 28, 2012

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US Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest say a wildfire has burned nearly two hundred acres on the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County since Monday. The fire is located off U.S. Highway 64 near Goforth Creek in steep rugged terrain. There are currently no threats to any structures.

Approximately 50 personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, Tennessee Division of Forestry, and various volunteer fire departments are working on containment lines. The extremely steep terrain combined with very hot and dry conditions is making firefighting efforts difficult.

Ocoee Acting District Ranger Andy Gaston said, “Motorist should exercise caution when traveling along Highway 64. Firefighting crews and equipment as well as smoke will be in the area and may cause traffic delays. In addition, the Goforth Creek parking area will be used for firefighting access and equipment parking and is closed to public use.”

Gaston also noted that, “There have been hot and dry conditions over the last few days and this pattern will continue into the weekend and the 4th of July week. National Forest visitors need to be very careful with fire and ensure that campfires are out and cold before leaving.”

Forest Service officials say fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited on national forest lands year-round, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Regulations are enforced, and violation is punishable as a misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Cherokee National Forest Offering One Free Night

Cherokee National Forest Offering One Free Night

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

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The Cherokee National Forest is offering one night free stay at several campgrounds on June 9th. In honor of the grand opening of the North River Checking Station and National Get Outdoors Day, the Forest Service is offering one night free at the following campgrounds:

* Dam Creek
* Birch Branch
* Davis Branch
* Rough Ridge
* North River
* Spivey Cove
* Holder Cove
* Big Oak Cove
* Stateline


Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies

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Annual Tellico River Clean Up

Annual Tellico River Clean Up

Monday, March 5, 2012

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Officals for the Cherokee National Forest have announced that the 2012 Tellico River Clean Up will occur this Saturday, March 10, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. Registration will be at the Tellico Ranger Station on Tellico River Road. The first 100 participants will receive a fee tee shirt. Participants should wear long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves, and long sleeve shirt. Also bring your lunch and plenty of water.

The event is sponsored by USDA Forest Service-Cherokee National Forest, TVA, Trout Unlimited, Chattanooga Trout Association, Keep Monroe County Beautiful, Atlanta Whitewater Club, Chota Canoe Club, and the Tellico Motorcycle Outfitters.

For more information contact the Tellico Ranger Station at 423-253-8400.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Rock Creek Recreation Area is closed until spring

Rock Creek Recreation Area is closed until spring

Friday, January 20, 2012

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Rock Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest is closed to all recreation activities. Trees killed by the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid have created a safety hazard. These trees along with other dead and damaged trees are being removed. The recreation area near Erwin, TN will reopen in the spring.

The closing includes the campground and the Rock Creek Falls Trail.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower now open

Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower now open

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

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Back in April of 2010 officials from Cherokee National Forest announced a project to rehabilitate the historic Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower near Johnson City, TN. In late October of this year, the tower was officially reopened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The 40-foot tower is located atop 3520-foot Buffalo Mountain on the Unicoi and Washington county line in the Cherokee National Forest. It was built by the Civil Conservation Corp in the early 1930s, and served as a fire sentinel for the Cherokee National Forest until 1989.

Another component of the rehabilitation project was the development of a 5-mile trail, known as the Pinnacle Fire Tower Trail, that connects the Pinnacle Mountain Fire Tower to a trailhead on property owned by the Town of Unicoi near the base of Buffalo Mountain.

The Pinnacle Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is one of only three federally managed fire towers that remain in the northern Cherokee National Forest. Meadow Creek in Cocke County and Camp Creek Bald in Greene County are the other two.

For more information on the project, please click here. For more information on the tower, including photos, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Road work on the Cherohala Skyway

Road work on the Cherohala Skyway

Friday, July 15, 2011

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Cherokee National Forest officials announced yesterday that the Tennessee Department of Transportation will be working on the Cherohala Skyway beginning in July, and continuing through August. The work will be ocurring on Mondays through Thursdays.

TN DOT will be resurfacing and installing new guardrails along the entire length of the Skyway, and be working on a large landslide near mile marker 7. Sections of the Skyway will be down to one lane, therefore visitors should be prepared to experience slower traffic and long waits.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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TN Senators Introduce Bill to Protect 20,000 Acres of Cherokee National Forest

TN Senators Introduce Bill to Protect 20,000 Acres of Cherokee National Forest

Sunday, June 5, 2011

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On Thursday of last week, U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) announced the introduction of the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2011. If passed by Congress, the act would designate as wilderness, nearly 20,000 acres in six areas of the Cherokee National Forest.

These areas were recommended for wilderness status by the U.S. Forest Service in the development of its comprehensive 2004 forest plan and have been managed as Wilderness Study Areas since that time.

Congress began protecting wilderness areas in the Cherokee National Forest in 1975, with additional wilderness areas established by the Tennessee Wilderness Acts of 1984 and 1986.

This bill will have no effect on privately owned lands and will cause no change in access for the public, as each of these areas is owned entirely by the U.S. Forest Service and managed as a Wilderness Study Area.

The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2011 creates one new wilderness area and expands the boundaries of five different existing wilderness areas within the Cherokee National Forest:

• Creates the 9,038 acre Upper Bald River Wilderness (Monroe County)

• Adds 348 acres to the Big Frog Wilderness (Polk County)

• Adds 966 acres to the Little Frog Wilderness (Polk County)

• Adds 2,922 acres to the Sampson Mountain Wilderness (Washington and Unicoi County)

• Adds 4,446 acres to the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness (Carter and Johnson County)

• Adds 1,836 acres to the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness (Monroe County)


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Over 4,500 trees down in Smokies

Over 4,500 trees down in Smokies

Friday, May 6, 2011

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Great Smoky Mountains officials published a press release late yesterday reporting that a survey by trail workers shows that, as a result of last weeks' tornado, a total of over 4,500 trees are down in the closed sections of the park, with some areas resembling jackstraws for over a mile at a time.

Trail workers also counted over a thousand areas where trees were blown down and their roots tore gaps in the trail.

At this time, the full and partial closures of seven trails on the west end of the Smokies total roughly 27 miles.

The popular Abrams Falls Trail remains impassable due to numerous blow downs and over 40 areas where root balls were ripped out of the trail surface, leaving hot-tub sized craters. Park managers hope to have Abrams Falls Trail reopened by Memorial Day.

Below is a map of the affected trails. Please click for a larger view:

Park managers stress that no park roads are affected by the storm damage, and that the remainder of the park’s 800 miles of trails remain open. In the Cades Cove area visitors are encouraged to seek alternative trails. Access to Gregory Bald via Parson Branch Road is unaffected. Visitors can stop at any park visitor center for advice.

You may also want to note that the camping area and lower picnic area at the Horse Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest are closed until further notice. The area received extensive tornado damage as well. Visitors are welcome to camp at Paint Creek or Rock Creek Recreation Areas.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Falls Branch Road in Cherokee N.F. closed 2-3 months

Falls Branch Road in Cherokee N.F. closed 2-3 months

Saturday, February 19, 2011

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USDA Forest Service officials at the Cherokee National Forest say that while logging operations are in progress, the Falls Branch Road (FDR 374) will be closed to public motor vehicle traffic. The road will remain closed for approximately 2 to 3 months.

The Falls Branch Road begins at Pace Gap off the Sheeds Creek Road (FDR221) east of Syclo Campground in the Ocoee Ranger District, Polk County,TN. Falls Branch Road extends approximately 7 miles north toward the Ocoee River where it ends.

Logging in the area is part of the Hogback Mountain Restoration Stewardship Project. This project is a cooperative endeavor between the USDA Forest Service and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The project will provide wildlife habitat diversity through prescribed burning; mechanical and chemical vegetation control; and various silvicultural methods.

The project will enhance habitat elements such as mast production (nuts and berries), seasonal seclusion (reduction of human presence during certain periods), and brood rearing habitat for the wild turkey. The project area is also located within a state-designated black bear reserve, and habitat improvements will benefit bears and many other species of wildlife.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Multi-club camp and hike outing in Cherokee N.F.

Multi-club camp and hike outing in Cherokee N.F.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

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The Carolina Mountain Club mentioned a multi-club camp and hike outing in the Cherokee National Forest in their latest newsletter.

Several hiking clubs affiliated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy are organizing a camp and hike during the weekend of September 17 to 19.

The location for the campout will be at the Rock Creek Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest near Erwin, Tennessee.

There are several hikes planned with varying lengths and destinations during the weekend.

For more information, click to see the flyer, or direct any questions to atchair@tehcc.org.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Wilderness status for Cherokee National Forest lands

Wilderness status for Cherokee National Forest lands

Thursday, June 10, 2010

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Nearly 19,556 acres in the Cherokee National Forest in East Tennessee would be designated as wilderness under legislation introduced yesterday by Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker.

The areas were recommended for wilderness status by the U.S. Forest Service in its 2004 comprehensive plan for the forest and have been managed as Wilderness Study Areas since then.

The wilderness designation provides a higher level of protection for public lands and prevents most human intrusion.

The Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010 creates one new wilderness area and expands the boundaries of five existing areas.

The areas in the legislation include:

• 9,038 acres in the newly created Upper Bald River Wilderness in Monroe County.

• 348 acres added to Big Frog Wilderness in Polk County.

• 966 acres added to Little Frog Wilderness in Polk County.

• 2,922 acres added to Sampson Mountain Wilderness in Washington and Unicoi counties.

• 4,446 acres added to the Big Laurel Branch Wilderness in Carter and Johnson counties.

• 1,836 acres added to the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness in Monroe County.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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John Muir Trail in Cherokee National Forest Maintenance Day

John Muir Trail in Cherokee National Forest Maintenance Day

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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This Saturday, March 6th, the Chattanooga Hiking Club will host a trail maintenance day on the John Muir Trail in the Cherokee National Forest. Volunteers will be brushing out a section of trail that runs beside the Hiwassee River. Bring boots, gloves, lunch, and water. Contact activity leader John Rowland to learn details and to volunteer.

The John Muir Trail is a 20.7 mile National Recreation Trail in eastern Tennessee that runs along the north side of the Hiwassee River in the Cherokee National Forest. It's named for naturalist John Muir and is said to follow the path he took during his travels from Kentucky to Florida.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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Animal Planet: Story of bear attack in Cherokee N.F. to air tonight

Animal Planet: Story of bear attack in Cherokee N.F. to air tonight

Friday, December 4, 2009

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Many of you will probably recall the story of the Ohio woman and her two small children that were attacked by a bear in the Cherokee National Forest back in 2006.

On April 13, 2006, Susan Cenkus and her children were hiking near the Chilhowee Campground near Benton Falls when a 200-pound black bear grabbed her 2-year-old son. The mother screamed for help and then launched herself at the animal - nearly losing her life in the process.

The bear tore at her neck, tossed her aside and then grabbed her 6-year-old daughter, Elora. The little girl didn't survive the attack.

Elora's death was only the second fatal attack by a black bear in Tennessee. The other was in 2000 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Now the world will have a chance to hear the full story of how Mrs. Cenkus risked her life to save her children during the attack on the Animal Planet show "I'm Alive", which will air tonight at 9 and 11 p.m., EST.

You can read more about the attack by clicking here.




Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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Cherokee National Forest on Top 10 Endangered List

Cherokee National Forest on Top 10 Endangered List

Sunday, January 18, 2009

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Last week the Southern Environmental Law Center released their list of the top 10 most endangered areas in the south as a result of immediate and potentially irreparable threats in 2009. On that list, and coming in at number 10, was the Cherokee National Forest in Northeast Tennessee.

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) placed Cherokee National Forest on the list due to "The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with its plans to log several areas of this remarkable landscape, endangering trout, unbroken wildlife habitat and rare species."

The SELC states that logging thousands of acres would significantly impact the forest, wildlife, waters, and recreation. Additionally, logging operations would be visible from the Appalachian Trail.

The SELC is the largest environmental advocacy organization dedicated solely to protecting the Southeast. They perform law and policy work throughout the six states of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

The Cherokee National Forest is located in Eastern Tennessee and stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border. It also borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the southwest and northeatern areas of the park as well. The 640,000-acre forest is the largest tract of public land in Tennessee. Millions of people every year visit the national forest to hike, camp, fish, canoe, kayak or view wildlife.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

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