Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A brand new food pantry is open in West Knoxville.
The KAPA Kitchen is on the Knoxville Academy of Medicine’s campus on Cross Park Drive off Cedar Bluff.
They are partnering with Second Harvest food bank to provide healthy food and essential supplies for East Tennesseans.
They’ll offer food such as meat, fresh produce and canned goods along with personal hygiene products and household essentials.
For more information, please click here.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Rural Metro Fire crews are called to a wildfire in the Gibbs area Wednesday.
Fire officials say the fire spread to around two acres before crews were able to contain it calling in assistance from the Tennessee Division of Forestry who provided bulldozers to set a perimeter, containing the fire before it could spread too far into a nearby wooded area.
Officials say the fire was caused by someone burning in a barrel. Knox County is currently under a burn ban, meaning no open burning is allowed.
The fire marks the latest in a series of fires in East Tennessee as the area sees dry, hazardous conditions.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A 15 acre fire in the Renegade Mountain area of Cumberland County has prompted an evacuation.
Officials with the Crossville and Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency are asking people to avoid the area and have set up a temporary shelter at Crab Orchard Christian Church at 217 Wheeler Lane.
Officials report that two duplexes have been destroyed in the fire, with more structures at risk of burning.
Though they believe the majority of the fire has been contained, they added that the western side of the fire is difficult to contain due to rough terrain.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office Fire Investigation Unit and Major Crimes Unit are investigating a fatal fire at Forrest Ridge Apartments.
Fire Investigators were dispatched to the 2900 block of Tyler Jacob Way this (Wednesday) morning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The victim will be taken to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center for examination.
Knox Area Rescue Ministries extending the deadline in their Coats for the Cold campaign.
They’ve collected more than 5,900 coats so far but after just two days of giving them out, more than 3500 coats have been given to people in need.
KARM still plans to distribute coats for another three weeks to make sure there are enough.
The big need is for children’s coats and adult coats size extra large and above.
If you want to help out you can donate at any KARM store until Saturday.
Two Seymour men are charged after being stopped in Knoxville with more than 100 pounds of marijuana.
WVLT reporting police stopped Dalton Lane and John Snyder on Callahan Drive Monday and the K9 smelled drugs in the car.
Police found 100 vacuum-sealed bags with a pound of marijuana in each one.
Both are facing drug charges.
Fire crews are working a brush fire in the Choto area of Knox County.
That fire is in the Duck Cove Road area and is 24 acres in size and is 100% contained according to Jeff Bagwell from Rural Metro.
He says some structures were threatened buy firefighters kept those from catching fire. He says trees and timber inside the fire line could continue to burn until we get some rain.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this fire.
Emergency crews working a brush fire in the Johnson Hollow area of Sevier County.
Crews responding last night and say the fire is about five acres in size.
It is remote and is not threatening any structures. Smoke may be noticeable in the area near Pittman Center.
Firefighters are back at work fighting a wildfire in the Rocky Top area.
Anderson County officials report that the Andes Ridge wildfire near Scott Brogan Lane was rekindled Monday evening but is still 100 percent contained.
Though there is currently no burn ban in place for Anderson County, officials are strongly encouraging citizens to not engage in any outdoor burning including grilling or throwing out still-lit cigarette butts as the area is still enduring drought conditions.
A new fire, the Tweed Fire, is burning in the Cherokee National Forest in Cocke County.
The fire is located 13 miles southwest of Greeneville and has grown to 100 acres in size. According to forest officials, Officials are investigating this wildfire as arson.
The Buck Bald fire in Polk County about three miles north of Farner has grown to 470 acres in size and is 50 percent contained as of Monday. This fire is also being investigated as arson.
The Bullet fire in Monroe County near Etowah remains at 103 acres and has not grown and is 20 percent contained as of Monday. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
Knoxville, TN Two juveniles are now in custody following an investigation into an attempted auto theft and shootout with police Monday in the Karns Community.
According to Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, the first deputy responded to the scene in the Wexford Down area around 12:22 a.m. Monday morning and made contact with the first of the two suspects. That 17-year-old suspect then fired a gun at the deputy, Spangler said. He added that the shots did not hit the deputy, but did hit his cruiser.
The first suspect fled the scene, Spangler said, and after an initial investigation, deputies found that there had been another suspect in the area, also 17. Both of those suspects were taken into custody later Monday on car theft charges, Spangler said.
In a conference with local media Tuesday, Spangler made it clear that lawlessness in Knox County will not be tolerated.
“The sheriff’s office will not allow criminals, regardless of age, to create an unsafe environment for our officers or citizens,” Spangler said. “If you shoot at our officers, they will defend their lives and their community.”
Spangler added that the car thefts stemmed from a TikTok challenge where people steal cars, drive them for a day or two, then leave the car. All in all, Spangler said, between 30 and 40 cars have been stolen as part of the challenge since August.
Neither of the suspects have been identified, because they are teenagers. One of those suspects turned 18 the day after the incident, Spangler said.
The first teen was charged with criminal attempt to commit second-degree murder, prohibited possession of a firearm, possessing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony and property theft. The second suspect was charged with accessory after the fact, prohibited possession of a firearm and property theft.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) What do you think of parking in downtown Knoxville? That’s the question city leaders are asking through a new survey.
As part of Knoxville’s strategic downtown parking plan, the city is launching a survey to gauge public opinion on the topic.
In September, the Knoxville City Council approved a contract with Walker Consultants to provide an analysis and recommendations for possible changes to parking. The survey will include topics such as affordability, convenience, location, and quality.
“This will be the plan that drives our parking operations, policies and regulations into the future,” said Chief of Staff to Mayor Indya Kincannon David Brace.
If you’d like to participate in the survey, the city has provided this link.
MEDIC is once again competing against Kentucky Blood Center in the 38th Orange and Blue Blood Drive.
Day one totals are in and Kentucky has a slight lead over Medic. The event runs through the Friday and the center collecting the most products in five days will take the trophy.
Donors will receive a special edition t-shirt, $10 e-gift card, ticket for Fantasy of Trees, and coupons to Smoothie King, Dunkin, Texas Roadhouse, Salsarita’s, Petro’s, and Papa John’s.
Please go to medic blood dot org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
