• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

ORNL making molds to help produce COVID-19 test tubes

Posted at 12:36 pm April 21, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

An example of a 3D printer, the Cincinnati Machine, is pictured above at work in Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Hardin Valley on Dec. 29, 2014. (Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy)

Engineers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are making metal molds that companies will use to manufacture plastic tubes for COVID-19 test kits.

The work has been cited in two federal coronavirus task force press conferences at the White House this week.

On Monday, Brad Smith, a federal health official, said the ORNL work could help supply more than 40 million collection tubes per month in the next several weeks. Smith grew up in Knoxville, and he has been a business leader and entrepreneur, and served in Tennessee state government. He is now deputy administrator and director of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The ORNL work was also cited by President Donald Trump on Sunday.

The ORNL engineers are using additive manufacturing to produce the metal molds for the COVID-19 test kits. Additive manufacturing is the process of making an object by printing it with a material layer by layer. Printers known as 3D printers— some large, some small—can be used.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Health, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Slider, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: 3D printers, additive manufacturing, Brad Smith, coronavirus task force, COVID-19, COVID-19 test, COVID-19 testing, Donald Trump, Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, metal molds, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, White House

Gov. Lee says he will not extend stay-at-home order past April 30

Posted at 4:45 pm April 20, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Monday said he will not extend the state’s stay-at-home order past April 30, and most businesses in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties will be allowed to re-open on May 1.

“Our Economic Recovery Group is working with industry leaders around the clock so that some businesses can open as soon as Monday, April 27,” Lee said. “These businesses will open according to specific guidance that we will provide in accordance with state and national experts in both medicine and business.”

The governor said his administration will work with Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan counties and their health departments as they plan their own strategies for re-opening.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Lee, Economic Recovery Group, stay at home order, Tennessee

Staff member volunteering at schools’ food distribution sites tests positive for COVID-19

Posted at 2:38 pm April 20, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A staff member who has been volunteering at the Oak Ridge Schools’ food distribution sites has tested positive for COVID-19, Superintendent Bruce Borchers said Monday.

As a result, the Oak Ridge High School and Oak Ridge Schools Preschool buildings will be closed for the remainder of this week, Borchers said in a message to staff members on Monday afternoon.

If you have been receiving meals at Oak Ridge High School, the school system recommends going to Robertsville Middle School to pick up meals. If you have been receiving meals at Oak Ridge Schools Preschool, the school system recommends going to Glenwood Elementary School to pick up meals. 

Read more

Filed Under: COVID-19, Education, Front Page News, Health, K-12 Tagged With: Bruce Borchers, COVID-19, food distribution, Oak Ridge Schools

Free drive-through COVID-19 testing available Sunday

Posted at 10:37 pm April 18, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Free drive-through testing for COVID-19 will be available at Roane State Community College’s main campus in Roane County on Sunday, April 19.

The testing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Patients can remain in their vehicles throughout the process, a press release said.

The Roane County Health Department and the Tennessee Department of Health are organizing the testing event. Nurses and/or National Guard medics will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested, the press release said. Test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume, the release said.

Anyone with health concerns, or who has concerns about the health of a family member, is invited to receive testing for COVID-19 at the event on April 19, the press release said. Participants do not need to provide a doctor’s note or prescription to access testing.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, COVID-19, Education, Government, Health, State Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, drive-through testing, National Guard, Roane County Health Department, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Department of Health

For members: Layoffs announced at movie theater, car dealer

Posted at 9:59 pm April 18, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Cinemark Tinseltown Theater is temporarily closed. The theater is pictured above on Friday, March 20, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Layoffs have been announced at an Oak Ridge movie theater and car dealership as well as at a fast food restaurant that could start renovations next month. Two Oak Ridge hotels have also announced layoffs.

The layoffs were announced as Tennessee reported that more than 300,000 unemployment claims were filed in the past four weeks. Parts of the economy have been shut down, and residents are required to stay at home unless they are conducting essential activities. Tennessee, along with the rest of the country and the world, is trying to slow the spread of COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

Thirty-five workers were affected by layoffs at the movie theater, Cinemark Tinseltown USA, according to a notice posted by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development on Friday. The layoffs were effective March 26.

The theater, which is at Main Street Oak Ridge in the center of the city, has been temporarily closed.

The closure of Cinemark theaters across the United States is temporary and a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, spokesperson Caitlin Piper said Saturday.

“The health and safety of our employees, guests, and communities is a top priority, and we look forward to once again hiring employees and welcoming moviegoers to experience the magic of cinematic storytelling on our big screens when it is safe to do so,” Piper said. “Again, these Cinemark theatre closures across the U.S. are temporary.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Oak Ridge, Premium Content, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Caitlin Piper, Chick-fil-A, Cinemark Tinseltown USA, COVID-19, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, layoffs, Oak Ridge, Prestige Maintenance USA, Secret City Chrysler, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, unemployment claims, WARN notice, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act

Secret City Festival postponed

Posted at 12:23 pm April 17, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Secret City Festival has been postponed this year. A new date hasn’t been announced yet.

“Things will be a little different than usual, but we still look forward to bringing you a fantastic event!” organizers said in a Facebook post on Thursday. “More details to come soon!”

It’s one of four big Oak Ridge festivals that had been scheduled in June but have been affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, COVID-19, Festivals, Front Page News, Health Tagged With: COVID-19, Oak Ridge, Secret City Festival

Only those who meet CDC criteria can be tested Friday

Posted at 10:33 am April 17, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Free drive-through testing for COVID-19 started Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020, in the Oak Ridge High School parking lot. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Only people who meet certain criteria can be tested for COVID-19 at Oak Ridge High School today (Friday, April 17).

The criteria, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include only people with COVID-19 symptoms, first responders, health care workers, and patients who may have been exposed to the virus, the City of Oak Ridge said Thursday night.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, or shortness of breath. COVID-19 is a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly.

Appointments for testing must be made online at KrogerHealth.com/COVIDtesting or by phone at (888) 837-8852.

If someone who meets CDC criteria is unable to register online or by phone, they can be registered on site, but they still need to meet the CDC criteria, the city said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, Health, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, City of Oak Ridge, COVID-19, drive-through testing, Kroger Health, Oak Ridge High School

Curve flattening: Growth rate of COVID-19 cases in single digits

Posted at 1:07 pm April 16, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Graph, using a logarithmic scale, by Ken Mayes (used with permission)

The growth rate of COVID-19 cases in Tennessee has been in single digits for eight days and at or below 10 percent for two weeks.

This week, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee said the single-digit growth rate is encouraging.

“Our curve is flattening,” Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said during a press conference Monday. She said people need to continue doing what they are doing, especially as the state considers re-opening the economy in phases in May.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Lee said during that press conference. He said the state doesn’t intend to lift social distancing efforts, even if other requirements change.

“Social distancing is going to be a way of life for Tennesseans going forward,” Lee said. That will be true until there is a vaccine, he said.

On Monday, the governor announced a statewide stay-at-home order would be extended through April 30. On Wednesday, he recommended that schools in Tennessee remain closed though the end of the school year.

In the most recent update, from Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 6,079 COVID-19 cases in Tennessee with 135 deaths. There have been 663 hospitalizations and 2,196 recoveries.

Read more

Filed Under: COVID-19, Front Page News, Government, Health, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County, Bill Lee, COVID-19, flatten the curve, Lisa Piercey, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Health

School board has special meeting today

Posted at 11:11 am April 16, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Board of Education has a special called board meeting today (Thursday, April 16).

The special meeting will start at 2 p.m.

Agenda items include emergency closings, telework during emergencies, and a proposed draft resolution to suspend policies (this is related to COVID-19).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Education, Health, K-12 Tagged With: COVID-19, Oak Ridge Board of Education, school board, special meeting

Updated: Kroger Health testing all, regardless of symptoms

Posted at 10:57 am April 16, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Free drive-through testing for COVID-19 started Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020 in the Oak Ridge High School parking lot. Note: Some people’s faces have been blurred in the photo above to protect patient privacy. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Friday update: Only people who meet certain criteria can be tested for COVID-19 at Oak Ridge High School today (Friday, April 17). See newer story here.

Kroger Health is now testing everyone at an Oak Ridge site, regardless of whether they show symptoms of COVID-19, a city spokesperson said Thursday morning.

The testing site opened at Oak Ridge High School on Wednesday morning, and it is open through Friday afternoon.

Initially, those who wanted to be tested had to have symptoms and meet testing criteria. Symptoms of COVID-19, a contagious respiratory illness that can be deadly, include fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

But the testing criteria changed after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Wednesday announced free testing for all Tennessee residents.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, COVID-19, Government, Health, Health, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Bill Lee, City of Oak Ridge, COVID-19, free testing, Kroger Health, Lauren Gray, Oak Ridge High School

Lavender Festival postponed to next year

Posted at 7:31 pm April 15, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

2017 Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

The Lavender Festival, one of Oak Ridge’s most popular festivals, has been postponed to 2021 as the city, state, and country try to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“After consulting with Oak Ridge city officials, and in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to announce that Lavender Festival 2020 will be postponed until June 19, 2021,” said Barbara Ferrell, a Jackson Square business owner and Lavender Festival Committee member. “We agree with city officials that Lavender Festival’s crowd and limited area make it an unsafe event as the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate in our community.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Business, Community, COVID-19, Crafts, Entertainment, Festivals, Food, Front Page News, Health, Music, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Barbara Ferrell, COVID-19, Jackson Square, Lavender Festival

Governor recommends keeping schools closed through end of school year

Posted at 4:57 pm April 15, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Bill Lee

Note: This story was last updated at 6:40 p.m.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has recommended that schools in the state remain closed through the end of the school year.

Lee announced the recommendation during a Wednesday afternoon press conference about the COVID-19 pandemic.

School districts will have the flexibility to carry out critical year-end activities and to start preparing for next year, the governor said.

Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said she appreciated the governor’s recommendation to keep schools closed through the end of the school year in order to protect the health and safety of all Tennesseans.

Schwinn said schools will open next year, and students will enter new grades.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: COVID-19, Education, Front Page News, Government, Health, K-12, State, Top Stories Tagged With: Bill Lee, COVID-19, Penny Schwinn, school year, schools, Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Education

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Search Oak Ridge Today

Recent Posts

  • ORAU and American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation formalize partnership to advance Manhattan Project 2.0
  • Author and Law Professor Derek W. Black to Speak on Public Education and Democracy
  • Anderson County Chamber Headquarters Dedication Set for October 17
  • ORISE announces winners of 2025 Future of Science Awards
  • SL Tennessee Supports New Anderson County Chamber Headquarters
  • ORAU 2025 Pollard Scholarship recipients announced
  • Democratic Womens Club Hosts State Rep. Sam McKenzie
  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Womens Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today