Governor Bill Lee says flags in Tennessee will fly at half-staff for the rest of the week to honor the people who died in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The most recent bout of violence began after a Hamas surprise attack against Israel on Saturday, which the Governor condemned as an act of terrorism. The date marked 50 years since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
Following the attack, Israel declared war and started bombarding the Gaza Strip.
Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC), in partnership with the City of Knoxville and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has purchased 2323 W. Blount Ave. This piece of land is the primary part needed for the city to construct a new pedestrian bridge.
“This strategic acquisition is a critical step in realizing our community’s vision, which has been more than 15 years in the making,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said.
The planned bridge is a part of the City’s community-inspired South Waterfront Vision plan that was initially adopted by the Knoxville City Council in 2006. The belief behind the plan is that the South Waterfront should be an active, attractive and distinctive part of downtown Knoxville with revitalized businesses and neighborhoods.
“Aesthetically, the pedestrian bridge will immediately become an iconic landmark. Functionally, it will provide safe connectivity between South Knoxville and the rest of the city, including downtown, our greenway system, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. And in terms of enrichment and economic investment, it will help the South Waterfront reach its full potential,” Kincannon said.
The purchase of the land also allows for the creation of additional housing opportunities at a variety of price points and public open space.
“As someone who grew up in the community of South Knoxville, the pedestrian bridge is more than just a physical structure; it’s a critical investment and symbolic link between communities and opportunities,” said UT System President Randy Boyd.
Resources being pumped into the bridge project have faced backlash, however, from people who would rather see the money go towards improving homeless infrastructure and mental health resources.
The project team is currently working to finalize the bridge design and cost estimate to include in the 2024 federal RAISE grant application. The RAISE program is a competitive program that invests in infrastructure projects that are typically harder to support through traditional means of U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) programs.
The development of a master plan for the bridge landing points is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Story courtesy of WVLT
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man found guilty in April for the 2020 murders of three women has been sentenced to life without parole plus 37 years.
In April 2023, 27 year-old Desmon Rhea was convicted of First and Second Degree Murder, as well as other charges, in the March 2020 deaths of Juliana White, 29; White’s mother, Mildred Blackwell, 55; and Blackwell’s roommate, Barbara Rogers, 57. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In a sentencing hearing Friday, October 6, Judge Scott Green ordered Rhea to serve an additional 37 years. A life sentence in Tennessee equals 51 years which means Rhea will be required to serve 88 years in prison.
According to law enforcement officials, the three women were slain on March 7, 2020.
Officials say KPD officers initially responded to the call that there was a body in the middle of the road on Division Street. The body, later identified as White, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations led KPD officers to a home in the 6600 block of Trousdale Road where they found the bodies of Blackwell and Rogers.
Rhea was then taken into custody on March 7.
Townsend, TN (WOKI) The second bear in three days has died at Appalachian Bear Rescue.
ABR officials Tuesday announcing that Burrito Bear passed away Monday night, October 9.
Curators have determined that there is some sort of illness traveling between the bears, and have called in University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine doctors to look into it further.
Officials say other bears at ABR had tested positive earlier in the week for severe pneumonia which had spread from Flapjack, who died Friday.
They say Tamale, Burrito’s brother, is also very sick.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department is investigating a shooting Monday night on Chapman Highway near Shoney’s.
KPD officials say officers responded to 2401 Chapman Highway around 10:30 p.m. to find a 52-year-old man in the parking lot who had been shot. He was taken to UT Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
While there is no known motive, officials say a person was possibly seen running from the scene on E. Martin Mill Pike.
The shooting is under investigation.
This is a developing story.
As the conflict in Israel continues, people here in East Tennessee are coming together to help those in the line of danger.
The Knoxville Jewish Alliance held a prayer rally Monday night where nearly 100 people came together to pray.
If you couldn’t make it to the prayer rally, there are other ways you can help, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance is collecting items like sleeping bags, flashlights, clothes, and also accepting letters that would go to soldiers.
If you’d like to help you can still drop off items to them at 6800 Deane Hill Drive in Knoxville or visit their website https://www.jewishknoxville.org/ for ways you can help.
Voter Registration Deadline – the deadline to register to vote, as well as to register as a property qualified voter, in the November 7th, 2023 City of Knoxville Regular Election is Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. Individuals wishing to register to vote can visit or https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/visit either of the two Knox County Election Commission offices.
3rd Quarter Campaign Financial Disclosures for City of Knoxville Candidates – the 3rd Quarter Campaign Financial Disclosures (CFDs) are due from all candidates that appeared on the August 29th, 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election ballot by Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. These CFDs will be posted to https://knoxcounty.org/election/ upon receipt.
Petitions for local offices on the 2024 Knox County Primary Election Ballot – Monday, October 16th, 2023 is the first day that interested candidates can pick up petitions to run for the following local offices that will appear on the March 5, 2024 Presidential Preference Primary/Knox County Primary ballot:
The deadline to return a petition is Thursday, December 14th, 2023 at Noon.
For more information on any of the above topics, visit https://knoxcounty.org/election/ or call the Knox County Election Commission at 865-215-2480.
An investigation is underway following an early morning structure fire in North Knoxville.
Knoxville fire department crews responding to the 2800 block of Linden Avenue and found flames at the back of the structure which is a small residential apartment complex.
Residents were evacuated and there were working smoke alarms.
No injuries were reported. The building suffered moderate smoke, water, and fire damage.
The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents.
Nashville, TN (WOKI) The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, south of Nashville, is out with advice for all Tennesseans on what to do if you spot a cow that’s gone rogue.
RCSO officials say the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Crime Unit (ACU) is responsible for locking up cows on the loose. Residents concerned about wandering cows should submit complaints online.
RCSO warns complainants that the ACU is not an emergency response unit and typically responds to complaints within about three business days.
They say only dial 911 for an emergency response if you think a cow or other livestock could be an “immediate threat to life.”
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway following a fatal shooting Monday in East Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the shooting happened on the corner of Ben Hur Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
They say officers were flagged down around 10:45 a.m. and found a woman who had been shot. The woman was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Witnesses reportedly told officers that a person had shot the woman before getting into a car and leaving the scene.
The investigation is ongoing, and police do not have a motive.
Those with information are being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
This is a developing story.
