The University of Tennessee is planning on pumping $85 million into upgrades for Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
The upgrades were originally announced when UT signed a naming deal with Food City, officially changing the name of their arena. At the time, UT announced new club amenities, changes to the Ray Mears Room and a new center-hung video board.
Food City is paying $20 million dollars for their 10 year parntership.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee visits with troops ahead of their deployment to the southern border.
Lee committed to deploying more troops during a trip to the southern border with 14 other Republican governors just over a month ago.
Lee says it was an honor to stand before them Saturday and called the ongoing issues at the southern border “a true crisis for our country” with concerns about human and drug trafficking.
He commends Tennessee’s National Guard troops for answering this important call to service and providing critical support.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a teen after she threatened to “shoot up” a school in Farragut.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says 18 year-old Amina Fatima Albaraqi posted a picture of a gun to social media and said “shoot up Farragut” and “shoot up the school.” KCSO says deputies took her into custody with the help of special agents from the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security and KCS school security.
Officials say she specifically targeted Farragut High School and threatened two specific students.
An Amber Alert remains active for a missing autistic teen boy out of middle Tennessee.
There has not been a confirmed sighting of 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers since his disappearance on February 26th. He’s 5′5″, 120 pounds, with brown hair, and brown eyes, last seen in Hendersonville, Tennessee, wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants and glasses.
Search-and-rescue dogs haven’t been able to pick up hid scent. He was last seen in Hendersonville, just outside of Nashville.
Authorities want the public to search their property and any surrounding waterways, as those with autism are known to favor water.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI FIND
Kingston, TN (WOKI) New details emerging in the case of a Roane County woman charged with abuse of a corpse in connection to the death of her newborn.
Thirty-four year old Amanda Cooper appeared in court Thursday, admitting that she used drugs before giving birth to the baby in a toilet Saturday, February 24.
Police responded Saturday morning to a 911 call in the 900 block of Rosedale Avenue in Kingston, finding the baby wrapped in two towels lying in a bed behind a couch on which Cooper was sitting.
Police testified Thursday they also found found drug paraphernalia, including straws and burnt tin foil.
Cooper’s bond was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 12.
Greenback, TN (WOKI) Loudon County deputies are searching for a suspect after Greenback School was placed on a soft lockdown Thursday afternoon.
School officials say there was a person on school grounds who did not follow procedures for being on campus.
“There was an individual on school grounds who did not follow procedures for being on our campus,” school officials said. “Local law enforcement agencies were notified, as a precaution, and have provided clearance for us to resume a normal schedule.”
There was no danger to anyone on campus, according to officials with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’ office asked for help in finding the man.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch number at 865-458-9081.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 14-year-old boy was hospitalized with severe face injuries Wednesday after a dog attack.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the attack happened around 7:30 a.m. when an off-leash pit bull mix on Callaway Street attacked the teen while he was walking to a nearby school bus stop.
Officials say the teen was taken to the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for treatment of “severe injuries to the face.”
The owner, who has not been identified, was charged with one count of dangerous dog level 2 and one count of improper restraint.
The dog was taken to Young Williams Animal Center.
Cleveland, TN (WOKI) We’re learning more now about the status of the Bald River Falls Bridge in Tellico Plains.
It was announced last July that the bridge, which opened in 1933, would be closing for construction due to safety and the age of the bridge.
Officials say progress is being made on installing a new bridge, but they are still asking people to avoid the area.
“We have folks out here with heavy equipment, frames and dump trucks. We don’t want to risk anybody getting injured along the bridge, and the more we can keep it sanitized for the construction crews, the quicker it will get done,” said Andrew Carrier, Staff Officer with the U.S. Forest Service.
Officials said the goal is to have the new bridge open by the end of the year.
The new bridge project is expected to cost about $9.5 million to complete.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway following what police believe was a “targeted” shooting Wednesday in the Mechanicsville area.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the shooting happened around 11:00 a.m. near Moses Avenue and Wallace Street. Officers reportedly arrived on the scene and found a man who had been shot multiple times. He was taken to UT Medical Center for serious injuries.
Based on KPD’s early investigation, officers believe the man was driving a Chrysler sedan when others fired on him from another car.
Those with information are being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Funeral services are announced for fallen Knoxville Police Department Officer Wisbens Antoine.
KPD officials say Officer Wisbens Antoine collapsed during a routine physical training session at the end of a mile-and-a-half run last week. He later died early Sunday morning at UT Medical Center.
Prior to Antoine’s death, Knoxville Municipal Court Judge Tyler Caviness swore him in as a KPD officer in his hospital room.
KPD announced Wednesday the receiving of friends will take place Friday, March 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Mynatt Funeral Home located at 2000 Powell Drive. The public is invited to attend and pay their respects.
A Celebration of Life Service for Antoine will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2 at First Apostolic Church of Knoxville on Pleasant Ridge Road followed by a burial at Lynnhurst Cemetery.
Officer Antoine will be buried with full police honors provided by the Knoxville Police Department.
KPD officers will lead a procession following the service from the church to Lynnhurst Cemetery. The public is invited to line the road and pay their respects as the procession passes.
