Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Central High School student is arrested Monday after officers found the individual with a stolen gun.
According to a release from the Knoxville Police Department, “the gun, which was reported stolen out of Knox County, was located following an administrative stop and search of the student. A KPD School Resource Officer and Knox County School Security Officers were involved in the arrest and firearm recovery.”
KPD says Central High School was also put on a medium lockdown; that lockdown has since been lifted.
Central High School was also put on a medium lockdown, police said. That lockdown hassince been lifted. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 8/18: Knoxville police have arrested the suspect allegedly involved in a robbery at a grocery store.
KPD says 37-year-old Joseph Eldridge of Rutledge, Tennessee was taken into custody Monday morning in Sevier County and has been charged with aggravated robbery in connection to Friday’s incident at the Kroger on 2117 N. Broadway.
Eldridge reportedly robbed a man at knifepoint in the store’s parking lot Friday afternoon before fleeing the scene in a dark colored Trailblazer.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville police are searching for a suspect who is allegedly involved in a robbery at a grocery store.
It happened at the Kroger located at 2117 N. Broadway Street on Friday. KPD says the suspect reportedly robbed a man at knifepoint and drove off toward the downtown area in a dark colored Trailblazer.
No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to call the East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
HARRIMAN, TN (Story courtesy of WVLT) – The Roane County Sheriff’s Office said a student and a parent have been charged after threats were made at Harriman Middle School.
According to Chief Deputy Tim Phillips, administration at the school received reports that a student had made threatening statements directed toward other students and staff on Friday. This prompted the School Resource Officer (SRO) to begin an investigation.
During the investigation, Phillips said it was determined the student’s father, identified as Kevin Johnson, had knowledge that these threats were made but didn’t report them to the school or authorities.
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As a result, Phillips said the student was taken into custody and charged with threat of mass violence on school property, and Johnson was charged with failure to report a threat of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity.
“Thanks to the swift action of the school administration and the Roane County School Resource Officer, the situation was addressed without harm to students or staff,” Phillips said.
Phillips added that the RCSO, Roane County Schools and the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office emphasize that threats of violence in schools are taken extremely seriously and that anyone who engages in or fails to report such behavior will be held accountable.
Whataburger is expanding into Knoxville, Tennessee, with three planned locations, according to a post on Facebook: 1830 Cumberland Ave (dine-in only), 500 E. Emory Road, and 310 Wild Geese Road. The Cumberland Avenue location will be near Raising Cane’s & offer dine-in service beneath apartments. The other two locations are former Steak ‘n Shake sites and will feature drive-thru service. The Cumberland location is specifically targeted towards UT students and event attendees.
The first Whataburger location is opening on Cumberland Avenue next week.
On August 25th at 11a.m. the first 2 guests in line will get a gift basket and the next 50 will also get some goodies.
UPDATE: Knoxville, TN (WOKI/KPD) : The victim of the motorcycle crash that happened on Friday on I-40 East has been identified as Juliana Goodman, 44 of Talbott, Tennessee.
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened on I-40 East Friday night.
At around 8 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, KPD officers responded to I-40 East near mile marker 385, where a motorcycle had crashed into a rail.
The preliminary investigation determined that the motorcycle was traveling on I-40 East near I-640 when it left the road for reasons that remain under investigation. The female driver was thrown from the bike after colliding with the railing and died at the scene.
KPD crash reconstruction investigators responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the crash.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time.
Original Story: The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that happened on I-40 East Friday night.
At around 8 p.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, KPD officers responded to I-40 East near mile marker 385, where a motorcycle had crashed into a rail.
The preliminary investigation determined that the motorcycle was traveling on I-40 East near I-640 when it left the road for reasons that remain under investigation. The female driver was thrown from the bike after colliding with the railing and died at the scene.
KPD crash reconstruction investigators responded to the scene and are leading the investigation into the crash.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld at this time.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee announced Friday afternoon that the men’s basketball team’s exhibition affair versus Duke is already a sellout, minutes after general public ticket sales opened.
Tennessee sold out eight contests—all in the regular season—each of the last two years, a program single-season record. This will be the program’s fourth straight home sellout, dating to a Feb. 15 win over Vanderbilt.
In 2024-25, Food City Center hosted eight of the top 18 regular season single-game crowds in the country, including two of the top four. The prior year, in 2023-24, it had four of the top six single-game marks.
Tennessee has finished top-eight nationally in average attendance each of the last seven full-capacity seasons, including placing top-five in each of the past six. The Volunteers finished third in Division I last year with a 20,026 mark that ranked fourth-best in program history.
Fans looking for season tickets are encouraged to complete the 2025-26 Tennessee Basketball Season Ticket Interest Form HERE. This will allow individuals to get their names on a list and stay informed about future opportunities to secure seats for each game.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
White Pine, TN (WOKI) An arrest has been made nearly one year following a deadly road rage shooting in White Pine.
Police say in September of last year they responded to a shooting incident on Roy Messer Highway. That shooting left 20-year-old Jordan Price dead.
The suspect, 59-year-old Derwin Wilds of Newport, was arrested late Thursday night after a comprehensive investigation.
A Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted Wilds on four separate counts in connection to the fatal 2024 shooting.
“This was a tragic and senseless act of violence. I am grateful for the dedication and persistence of our investigators and partner agencies in bringing this case to a point where charges could be secured,” said Chief Cotter. – White Pine Police Chief Chad Cotter
Officers arrested Wilds on charges of Voluntary Manslaughter, Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, Aggravated Assault Resulting in Death, and Aggravated Assault Involving a Deadly Weapon Discharged from a Motor Vehicle. He was transported to the Jefferson County Jail.
Investigators identified the shooting suspect as 59-year-old Derwin Wilds, from Newport. (Courtesy: White Pine Police Department)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A former employee of Appalachian Electric Cooperative turns himself Thursday following an indictment for theft.
A Jefferson County grand jury this week indicted William Robert Gass on a theft charge and a charge of official misconduct.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say an investigation revealed that “between October 2022 and September 2023, while serving as the accounting director for the Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC), Gass used AEC bank accounts to pay personal debts and expenses.”
No additional information was provided.
The news came from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Thursday. (Pexels)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A woman facing charges in a 2023 drag racing crash that killed a man and injured two others has been convicted.
District Attorney Charme Allen’s office says 24-year-old Trinity Clark was convicted of Vehicular Homicide, Aggravated Assault and Drag Racing.
According to court records, Clark and Tra’Shawn Glass were drag racing on Magnolia Avenue around 3:00 p.m. on January 17, 2023 when they collided with another vehicle. The driver of that vehicle died and his two grandchildren were seriously injured.
Data recovered from Clark’s vehicle showed she was traveling 109 mph just before the crash. Knoxville Police say she did admit that she had been racing.
Clark is due back in court for sentencing on September 26 where she could face up to five to 10 years in prison.
According to court records, Glass pleaded guilty in April 2024 to Vehicular Homicide and two counts of Reckless Aggravated Assault. On July 26, 2024, a judge sentenced him to serve 12 years in prison.
Clark is due to be sentenced on September 26. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Southwest Airlines will soon be offering flights out of McGhee Tyson Airport.
Airport officials taking to social media Thursday with the announcement say Southwest will take flyers to four locations: Nashville, Dallas, Orlando and Baltimore. Flights will head to Nashville twice a day, with one daily flight planned for the other locations.
“You’ve asked… A LOT! And the wait is over!” the airport said on social media.
McGhee Tyson says the airline is expected to commence flights in March of 2026.
Click here to learn more about available bookings and associated fees.
Southwest Airlines will serve four destinations. (McGhee Tyson Airport / Source: Google Earth)
