Oak Ridge Land Bank Requesting Qualifications for Downtown Development Project

Oak Ridge Land Bank Requesting Qualifications for Downtown Development Project

March 6, 2024

Oak Ridge, TN (WOKI) The Oak Ridge Land Bank has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to develop Downtown Oak Ridge.

The Land Bank is interested in selling developable parcels to foster construction of the most desirable project and for continued development.

Oak Ridge was born during the Manhattan Project without a centralized, mixed-use downtown. Over the decades, multiple plans have called for creating such a place where Oak Ridgers can live, work and play.

Submittals must comply with requirements of the D-1 zoning district and are due no later than 3:00 p.m. on May 3, 2024.

For more information and to view the RFQ, visit OakRidgeTN.gov/downtown. To contact the Planning & Development Department, call (865) 425-3531 or email [email protected].

The Trial for a Fountain City Woman Accused of Shooting and Killing Her Five-Year-Old Daughter Continues

The Trial for a Fountain City Woman Accused of Shooting and Killing Her Five-Year-Old Daughter Continues

March 6, 2024

Today is day three of the murder trial for Robin Howington who is accused of shooting and killing her five year old daughter at their Fountain City home in 2019.

One of the key witnesses called to the stand yesterday (Tuesday) was a KPD detective who told the court that Howington stories did not add up and he testified he even got frustrated.

During cross examination, the defense questioned one of the responding officers and pointed out the fact that Howington asked the officer the condition of her child and that she was praying for her well-being.

The trial does continue today.(Wednesday)

Knoxville Police Department highlights crime statistics, departmental changes in annual report

Knoxville Police Department highlights crime statistics, departmental changes in annual report

March 6, 2024

The Knoxville Police Department releases its yearly report, outlining crime statistics from 2022 to 2023 and departmental updates.

Chief of Police Paul Noel says Knoxville’s murder count dropped and car burglaries also dropped. This, all compared to 2022 data.

He also says they closed more than 70% of the murder cases that happened in 2023, which is much more than the national average for law enforcement agencies.

KPD-2023-Annual-Report-Final-1Download

Super Tuesday Results for Knox County

Super Tuesday Results for Knox County

March 6, 2024

Several commission seats were up for grabs in Knox County, the Election Commission says almost 27,000 early voting and absentee ballots were cast ahead of Super Tuesday. Most were for the Republican Party Primary Election.

The District 8 seat on the Knox County Board of Education. The winner of that election, Travis Wright, took the seat immediately because the man who previously had it, Mike McMillan, died at 74 years old.

Wright will likely start his term on Thursday, at the Knox County Schools’ regular meeting.

For complete results, please go to https://www.knoxcounty.org/election/ or https://elections.knoxcounty.org/results/scrolling.php for link to scrolling results.

DOJ: Former Loudon County Corrections Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force

DOJ: Former Loudon County Corrections Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force

March 5, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A former Loudon County corrections officer was sentenced to prison on Monday for using excessive force.

A release from the Department of Justice says 32-year-old Brian Phillips, of Georgia, was sentenced to five months in prison as part of a plea agreement.

Phillips pleaded guilty to one count of use of excessive force under color of law in connection to an incident at the Loudon County Jail in January of 2021.

Court records indicate Phillips “hipslammed” a detainee headfirst into the concrete floor for getting a second dinner tray, which is not permitted.

Following his incarceration, Phillips will be on supervised release for two years.

ACSO: Two charged After Leading Police on High-Speed Chase in Oak Ridge

ACSO: Two charged After Leading Police on High-Speed Chase in Oak Ridge

March 5, 2024

Oak Ridge, TN (WOKI) Two people are arrested after a high speed chase through Oak Ridge.

Anderson County Deputies were called to the Marathon Gas Station on Oak Ridge Highway after a man was spotted at the gas pumps putting on a ski mask Monday morning.

When deputies arrived, the man fled the scene, and the chase went from Laurel Road through Oak Ridge ending on Southwood Lane.

ACSO: Two charged after leading police on high-speed chase in Oak Ridge (Courtesy: ACSO)

Twenty-three year-old Devon Pride and 24-year-old Destiny Simonds are charged with more than a dozen offenses including evading arrest, reckless driving and driving under the influence.

The investigation is on-going.

UT Medical Center Introduces Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment

UT Medical Center Introduces Cutting Edge Cancer Treatment

March 5, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) There are only 30 hospitals in the country that offer a newly FDA-approved T-cell treatment for cancer, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center is one of them.

Through this new treatment process, UTMC staff are able to take the cells that your body naturally produces to fight cancer, reproduce more of the effective cells, then inject them back into a patient with the hopes of reducing or eliminating the tumor altogether.

This new treatment became FDA approved on February 16, and it has already brought multiple patients to UT hospital to seek this treatment out.

It is the only hospital in the state to offer the treatment, the next closest option being Louisville or Atlanta.

The Murder Trial of a Fountain City Woman Accused of Killing Her 5-Year-Old Daughter is Underway

The Murder Trial of a Fountain City Woman Accused of Killing Her 5-Year-Old Daughter is Underway

March 5, 2024

It’s day two (Tuesday) in the murder trial of a Fountain City woman accused of killing her young daughter.

Robin Howington is accused of shooting her 5 year-old daughter at a home on Balsam Drive in 2019. She’s charged with felony murder, child neglect, false reporting and tampering with evidence.

In court yesterday (Monday), Prosecutors say Howington changed her story multiple times saying she told police different things about what happened that night.

The Prosecution showed the jury security footage from a neighbor claiming she hid the gun while on the phone with 911.

The Defense made several arguments in its opening statement as well saying there were issues with the interviewing process.

The trial is expected to last all week long.

A Lawsuit is Filed in Meigs County on Behalf of Woman Who Died in the Back Seat of a Deputy’s Vehicle that Ran Into the River

A Lawsuit is Filed in Meigs County on Behalf of Woman Who Died in the Back Seat of a Deputy’s Vehicle that Ran Into the River

March 5, 2024

A lawsuit is filed on behalf of a Meigs County woman who died in the back of a deputy’s vehicle last month.

On February 14th, the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office says Deputy Robert “RJ” Leonard accidentally took a wrong turn and drove into the River after arresting Tabitha Smith.

As the cruiser hit the water, Smith was handcuffed in the back seat and unable to free herself. Leonard’s body was found the next day in the river but not inside the patrol car.

The lawsuit was filed by Nathan Smith on behalf of his mother, Tabitha against the Meigs County Government and Deputy Leonard and alleges Leonard “was not properly trained by the County and his mother suffered a horrific death.”

The lawsuit requests a jury trial and $10 million in damages.

A Deadly Plane Crash in Nashville

A Deadly Plane Crash in Nashville

March 5, 2024

A deadly plane crash in Middle Tennessee on I-40 E in West Nashville just past the Charlotte Pike exit., all five people on board the single engine plane died in the crash.

Officials say the pilot of the plane requested an emergency landing at John C Tune Airport saying they were experiencing engine problems. The FAA is on scene.

According to FlightAware, the plane was traveling from Mount Sterling, Kentucky.

The NTSB is expected on scene later today.

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