Knoxville Fire Department Crews Battle Northwest Knoxville House Fire with Injuries

Knoxville Fire Department Crews Battle Northwest Knoxville House Fire with Injuries

May 10, 2024

Knoxville Fire Department crews are on the scene (Friday morning) of a house fire at the corner of Cottonwood Drive and Burwood Road.

Crews are battling the fire at 3400 Burwood and say a woman was awakened by smoke and jumped out a window before they arrived. She was treated for possible injuries at the scene and taken to the hospital.

Three dogs were located safely, and one cat is missing.

There were no working smoke alarms in the home. The home has suffered heavy fire damage.

The American Red Cross is assisting.

Man Hospitalized, Suspect Arrested after Shooting, Blount Co. Sheriff Says

Man Hospitalized, Suspect Arrested after Shooting, Blount Co. Sheriff Says

May 9, 2024

Louisville, TN (WOKI) A man is taken to the hospital Wednesday morning following a shooting in Louisville.

Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office say deputies responded to a home on Samples Road around 10:00 a.m. and found the 63-year-old victim outside who had been shot at least once. He was taken to UT Medical Center in critical condition.

BCSO deputies and officers with the Alcoa Police Department arrested the suspect, 29-year-old Benjamin Absher, who is charged with attempted criminal homicide and is being held at the Blount County Correctional Facility on a $200,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

LMU Names New President

LMU Names New President

May 9, 2024

Harrogate, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Lincoln Memorial University has named their next president.

Dr. Jason McConnell, who has served as the interim president since January 1, 2024 will now fill the role on a full-time basis. He is the 22nd president at the school.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the president of Lincoln Memorial University, an institution that holds a special place in my heart,” McConnell said. “I am committed to advancing LMU’s mission of providing transformative educational experiences to our students and fostering a culture of excellence. Together, with the support of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, I am excited to lead LMU into a new era of innovation and success.”

McConnell first joined LMU as a member of the Information Technology Department in 2001.

Former Utility Manager Pleads Guilty after State’s Investigation into ‘Questionable’ Overtime

Former Utility Manager Pleads Guilty after State’s Investigation into ‘Questionable’ Overtime

May 9, 2024

Morristown, TN (WOKI) The former Witt Utilities Board general manager has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Benjamin Harris pleaded guilty to theft of property and official misconduct on May 1 in Hamblen County Circuit Court and was sentenced to supervised probation.

He was charged in May of last year after the comptroller’s office found he had misappropriated at least $12,000 and received “questionable” overtime payments of almost $68,000 during part of 2022.

The investigation also found that Harris used a district-owned car to go to a bar in Knoxville to drink during work hours.

East Tennessee Storms Shut Down 11 Roads in Sevier County

East Tennessee Storms Shut Down 11 Roads in Sevier County

May 9, 2024

Sevier County, TN (WOKI) If you are traveling in Sevier County, you will need to take several road closures into account when choosing your routes Thursday. Severe storms that moved through East Tennessee Wednesday have shut many of them down.

At this time, 11 roads are compromised due to flooding and debris resulting from Wednesday’s severe weather in the region.

In Sevier County, the following roads have been affected:

  • Ridge Road at Sevier Solid Waste: Flooded
  • Waldens Creek Road/Old Valley Road at Goose Gap Road: Flooded
  • River Divide Road: Flooded
  • 425 Wiley Oakley Road/520 Edgewood Drive
  • 5289 Henry Town Road: Impassable
  • Jones Cove Road at Highway 321: Downed trees
  • Russie Gap Road at Old Valley Road: Flooded
  • Goose Gap Road at Waldens Creek Road: Flooded
  • Boogertown Road at Upper Middle Creek Road: Passable
  • Oldham Creek Road/Shady Grove Road: Flooded
  • Headrick Lead/N Clear Fork Road: One lane passable
Loudon Police Asking for Help to Find a Missing Man

Loudon Police Asking for Help to Find a Missing Man

May 9, 2024

Officials with the Loudon Police Department are asking for help finding Kevin Cruze, who has been missing since May 1st leaving his Loudon home.

Cruze is 5-foot-3-inches tall, and 120 pounds with hazel eyes.

Jenkins said that circumstances surrounding his disappearance cannot rule out foul play.

If you have any information about Cruzes’ whereabouts, contact Jenkins at (865) 408-0412.

Knoxville Police Alerting the Public of a Phone Scam

Knoxville Police Alerting the Public of a Phone Scam

May 9, 2024

Knoxville Police say they have been made aware of more recent scam attempts where scam callers are identifying themselves as Knoxville Police Department officers.

In the particular scam, the caller is claiming to be a KPD officer and tells the person they missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued for their arrest and will need to provide a cash bond.

KPD or any legitimate law enforcement agency will never request money if there is a warrant for your arrest.

Police say hang up if you get one of these calls and report scams to them.

A Knox County Man is Sentenced, Facing Jail Time for Assault and Kidnapping
Photo courtesy of WVLT

A Knox County Man is Sentenced, Facing Jail Time for Assault and Kidnapping

May 9, 2024

A Knox County man is facing jail time accused of kidnapping and assaulting his girlfriend.

Timothy Stanton is sentenced to 12 years in prison without parole. District Attorney Charme Allen Stanton locked his girlfriend and himself inside a camper on her mother’s property and assaulted her for hours on December 31st 2022.

Stanton’s girlfriend suffered broken ribs a concussion with several cuts to her head. She was able to escape and call for help while Stanton was moving her from the camper.

Name a Parakeet after Mom for Mother’s Day at Zoo Knoxville

Name a Parakeet after Mom for Mother’s Day at Zoo Knoxville

May 9, 2024

Zoo Knoxville is hoping to help you out this year for a gift for Mom, but you do need to act fast. For a $10 donation to the Zoo, you can symbolically name a parakeet after your Mom. Each donation also includes a digital fact sheet and certificate, plus a free seed stick to feed the parakeets if you visit them between 10am-4pm on Mother’s Day.

You only have until midnight tonight (Thursday) to make your submission. They will be featured publicly on a poster inside of the Budgie Landing Aviary in Kids Cove  from Saturday through Monday.  Only first names will be displayed.

Please go to

Man Taken to Hospital after Officer-Involved Shooting at Clayton Park, Knox Co. Sheriff Says

Man Taken to Hospital after Officer-Involved Shooting at Clayton Park, Knox Co. Sheriff Says

May 8, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man is taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon following an officer-involved shooting in Knox County.

Officials with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office say deputies were trying to negotiate with a man who had a gun, around 4:30 p.m., at Clayton Park on Norris Freeway.

KCSO says the suspect was shot and was then taken to the hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown.

No officers were injured in the incident.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will be investigating the shooting and the circumstances surrounding it.

Further information has not been released.

This is a developing story.

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