David Alexander Mills, 29 (Courtesy: Blount County Sheriff’s Office)
Maryville, TN (WOKI) A Maryville man is charged with homicide, accused of stabbing and killing his father Tuesday afternoon.
Maryville Police Department officials say 29-year-old David Alexander Mills was taken into custody after a short chase in the Alcoa area after officers found his father, 58-year-old David Anthony Mills, dead in his home on Old Niles Ferry Road around 1:45 p.m. Police found the elder Mills in his bedroom with what appeared to be multiple stab wounds.
David Alexander Mills was booked into the Blount County Correctional Facility on a homicide charge; he is being held on a $1 million bond pending a court appearance.
Knoxville Police are searching for a man wanted on numerous charges including attempted first-degree murder.
Police say 25 year-old Stephon Davidson is wanted in connection to a shooting that happened last (Tuesday) night on McConnell Street.
Officers responded to an apartment in Walter P. Taylor Homes and found a 28 year-old man who had been shot at least once who was taken to the hospital for non- life-threatening injuries.
The investigation has revealed that Davidson shot the victim through the door of the apartment following an argument.
We have his photo on our website newstalk987.com.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, KCS informed families at 25 district schools that free breakfast and lunch meals will be provided to all students at those schools, beginning on January 4.
During the fall semester, students at the district’s 38 Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools – which are designated as part of the National School Lunch Program – received free breakfast and lunch.
Due to a change in the federal CEP threshold and a change in policy by the Tennessee Department of Education, KCS can now expand the district’s CEP program on a pilot basis. With the addition of 25 new schools, the total number of CEP schools will be 63 during the spring semester. The list below shows existing and new CEP schools, with the new schools designated by an asterisk (*).
This change will be in place for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year. KCS Nutrition will evaluate program data in the late spring of 2024 to assess whether it is feasible to continue this initiative in future school years.
“Our goal is to always do what is best for the students and families of Knox County Schools,” said Brett Foster, Executive Director of Child Nutrition. “We believe this pilot program will be of immediate assistance to families at these schools, and we are pleased to be able to provide it.”
A complete list of CEP schools is below. Schools that will become eligible on January 4 are marked with an asterisk.
A man charged with more than 20 counts of child sex crimes including rape is in the hospital after officials say he tried to take his own life.
It happened two hours after Sean Williams, who escaped federal custody during a prison transport back in October and was on the run for more than a month, was transferred to the Blount County jail yesterday (Tuesday). U.S. Marshals say despite heavy supervision in an isolation cell at the jail, Williams managed to stab himself, He is being treated at a hospital.
U.S. Marshal David Jolley says that it is currently unknown what Williams used to hurt himself, and the incident is under investigation.
“Williams is a cunning and very dangerous individual who has attempted to escape, escaped from transport officers, and now attempted suicide, all to avoid facing his charges,” Jolley said.
Williams will be under significant guard presence by Blount County Sheriffs deputies and Deputy U.S. Marshals, officials say.
The Knox County Health Department and the Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains are conducting an emergency preparedness exercise to ensure the health department’s shower trailers will operate during an emergency event. If needed, emergency workers would use the trailers if no other facilities were available. This year, however, the exercise will double as an opportunity to provide showers for those with less access. The exercises run today, Friday and Saturday. “Not only are we able to conduct a valuable exercise on emergency preparedness, but it’s having the added benefit of blessing some folks in our community this holiday season with a warm shower. That’s a win-win,” said KCHD Emergency Response Coordinator Steve Hamby. The two shower trailers, featuring a total of 8 shower stalls, will be at the following locations: • December 20: Cokesbury United Methodist Church’s Fig Tree o 9919 Kingston Pike o 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. • December 22 and 23: Cooper Street Shower Park o 500 Cooper Street (under the bridge) o 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. About Knox County Health Department The first health department in Tennessee to achieve national voluntary accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board, the Knox County Health Department (KCHD) is dedicated to ensuring the conditions in which every resident can be healthy. For more information, visit https://www.knoxcounty.org/health/ .
Christopher Michael Monaghan, 47 (Courtesy: Campbell County Sheriff’s Office)
Campbell County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) A Campbell County High School teacher is arrested Tuesday on a child sex charge out of Florida.
The U.S. Marshals Service reports its Smoky Mountains Fugitive Task Force arrested 47-year-old Christopher Michael Monaghan as he was on his way to school, taking him to the Campbell County jail to await extradition to Florida.
Monaghan is facing one charge of sexual battery on a child under 12. According to his arrest warrant, the charge stems from an incident that happened in 2008 but was only reported to the police in November.
Our news partner WVLT is reporting contact with Campbell County Schools officials who say Monaghan started in Campbell County Schools in August, passing a background check through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. They say Monaghan was named “Educator of the Month” in December.
The Anderson County and Blount County Sheriff’s Offices and Lafollette Police Department assisted in Tuesday’s arrest.
Starting UT lineman detained after traffic stop, police report says (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Charges against a starting University of Tennessee lineman are dismissed.
University of Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. was detained by Knoxville police on December 4 after a traffic stop at Western Avenue and 11th Street.
According to a police report obtained by our news partner WVLT, Pearce was pulled over for expired tags and speeding, going 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. The report states that Pearce also could not present any form of ID or insurance to the police and that he disobeyed instructions and was detained by two other officers.
WVLT reporting Tuesday, December 19 that all charges against Pearce have since been dismissed.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) today (Tuesday) released a comprehensive report addressing the critical issue of food insecurity among students at public institutions of higher education. This report sheds light on the challenges faced by students and presents key interventions to address this pressing concern. The report offers a holistic perspective on food insecurity in higher education, divided into three sections:
Overview of Food Insecurity in Higher Education: The report defines food insecurity and explores its far-reaching implications on students’ academic success and overall well-being.
Survey Results on Interventions and Services: A summary of results from a survey administered by THEC to campus administrators highlighting the current landscape of interventions and services in place to combat food insecurity.
THEC’s Recommendations for Policy, Practice, and Research: The report culminates a set of strategic recommendations for policy, practice, and research to address and alleviate food insecurity among higher education students. Some key recommendations from the THEC report include: Improving Communication on Existing Resources • Recurring Convenings of Stakeholders: THEC recommends establishing regular convenings of stakeholders to facilitate the sharing of best practices and resources, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling food insecurity. • Training on Federal and State Resources: Campus personnel should have training opportunities on available federal and state resources to enhance their ability to support students facing food insecurity. • Promoting Interagency Partnerships: THEC emphasizes the importance of building interagency partnerships to create a seamless network of support for students in need. Dedicating Resources to Support Student Basic Needs Security • Assessing Financial Needs of Interventions: Institutions should assess the financial needs of current interventions, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to effectively address food insecurity. • Utilizing Institutional Budgets and State Allocations: THEC recommends determining how current interventions can be funded through existing institutional budgets or state allocations, maximizing the impact of available resources. Exploring the Adoption of a Tennessee Hunger Free Campus Bill • Identifying Standard Practices: THEC suggests exploring the adoption of a Tennessee Hunger Free Campus bill, which would establish standard practices to promote food security and awareness on college campuses. • Allocating Financial Support to Institutions: The state could also could contemplate financial support, in the form of grants, to institutions, empowering them to implement innovative and sustainable solutions to combat food insecurity. Supporting Research and Evaluation • Statewide Survey of Students: THEC advocates for the development of a statewide survey of students on basic needs security to gather comprehensive data for informed decision-making. • Incentivizing Research Participation: Institutions are encouraged to participate in existing research opportunities, and THEC proposes incentives to motivate active involvement. • Competitive Request for Proposals: THEC recommends generating research through a competitive Request for Proposals, fostering innovative approaches to address food insecurity. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission remains committed to advancing policies and practices that promote student success and well-being. This report serves as a crucial step toward creating a more secure and supportive environment for higher education students across the state.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Commission develops, implements, evaluates postsecondary education policies and programs in Tennessee while coordinating the state’s systems of higher education, and is relentlessly focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential.
Road construction won’t delay travelers during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is once again halting all lane closure activity on interstates and state highways in anticipation of higher traffic volumes across the state. No temporary lane closures will be allowed for construction on Tennessee roadways beginning at 6:00 a.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
AAA expects an estimated 2.7 million Tennesseans to travel between December 23 and January 1 with most of them driving.
“Safety is our top priority and with so many people expected to travel Tennessee roadways during the holidays, we want to keep traffic moving and get everyone to their destinations,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “As always, please wear your seatbelt, reduce your speed, avoid distractions, and move over for emergency vehicles.”
Except for a few long-term closures that must remain for safety, all construction-related closures will be suspended during the holiday period. Workers may still be on-site in some construction zones. Drivers should obey all posted speed limits, particularly in construction areas. Slower speeds are necessary in work zones due to the temporary layout of the roadway and will be enforced. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of $250 to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.
Get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras from your desktop or mobile device at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic?position=-85.970767,35.88416963,7&features=incidents,traffic Travelers can also dial 511 for statewide travel information. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.
