Tennessee Representative Gloria Johnson is running for U.S. Senate against current Senator Marsha Blackburn next year.
Johnson’s campaign releasing a statement this morning, she is the current Democratic representative for District 90 in Knoxville.
Johnson made national headlines in March and April when she avoided expulsion from the state House for her part in a protest led by the “Tennessee Three” calling for more gun restrictions.
That protest, was after the Covenant Presbyterian School shooting in Nashville and before the recent special session called by Governor Bill Lee on Public Safety in response to that deadly mass shooting.
Blackburn has served in the U.S. Senate since 2019.
A woman is charged with elder abuse after breaking into a Knoxville home.
It happened Friday night on Babelay Road. When officers arrived, the 91 year old homeowner told them that 47 year-old Jennifer Hickey had come to the front porch and threw a soda can at her, hitting her in the head.
She also told police that Hickey had knocked her down and entered the house.
She was able to make it the road and flagged down a passerby who called police who say Hickey said the house was hers now and she belonged there.
Hickey reportedly told officers she had taken Methadone earlier in the day. She is also charged with aggravated burglary.
The investigation into a shooting on Coker Avenue remains on-going and a teen is charged with attempted second-degree murder among other charges.
Knoxville Police were called to the shooting yesterday (Monday) morning and found a man who had been shot at least once, he was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A 17 year-old girl was detained for questioning then charged. Investigators are still looking into the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The fishermen found the body around 11 a.m., according to JCSO officials, near Indian Creek Road on the shore of the lake. (Courtesy: JCSO Facebook)
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after fishermen find a body on Douglas Lake Friday morning.
JCSO officials say the fishermen found the body around 11 a.m., near Indian Creek Road on the shore of the lake.
Investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division reported to the scene along with members of the Jefferson County Rescue Squad who have recovered the body.
Officials say the body will be transported to the Knoxville Regional Forensic Center for an autopsy.
Former Knox County Election Commissioner and City Council At-Large Seat A candidate Cameron Brooks has passed away.
He passed away Friday morning after developing advanced sepsis following treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma according to multiple media outlets.
The Knox County Election Commission first expressing their condolences to his family and friends then addressing the ballot moving forward.
Brooks will be certified as one of the top two finishers in the City Council At-Large Seat A contest when the Election Commission meets September 14 but his name will not appear on the ballot for the November 7th City of Knoxville General Election. There will be no additional candidates listed on the ballot beyond that of the top finisher in that race.
Release from The Knox County Election Commission: The Knox County Election Commission learned this morning of the passing of former Knox County Election Commissioner and City Council At-Large Seat A candidate Cameron Brooks.
While our office has been inundated with questions regarding the status of the ballot moving forward, I want to first express, on behalf of the Election Commission, our sincerest condolences to his family and friends. Cameron was a good man and a good friend, always quick with a smile and a greeting, and he will be missed.
Cameron will be certified as one of the top two finishers in the City Council At-Large Seat A contest when the Election Commission meets on Thursday, September 14.
Per TCA 2-5-204, Cameron’s name will not appear on the ballot for the November 7, 2023 City of Knoxville General Election. There will be no additional candidates listed on the ballot beyond that of the top finisher in that race.
Again, the Election Commission, as well as the community, mourns the loss of Cameron Brooks, and our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
A Knoxville woman is in jail after abandoning two children while running from the police.
Police say 37 year-old Kasey Clevenger was taken into custody after leaving the children with the officers and is charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse.
It started at an apartment complex on Natchez Avenue in East Knoxville after a three-year old was reported wandering around the complex wearing only a diaper.
Police were able to track down the child’s caregiver Clevenger who appeared to be on narcotics and also found an 8-year-old in her care wandering around the neighborhood.
She left on foot after telling Police she was going to get them some clothes for the children but was later taken into custody.
There has been a steady line of COVID cases in Knox County with the Knox County Health Department reporting more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 affecting the Knoxville area.
These new cases have been spiking since the return of college students and the health department expects the numbers to follow the same trajectory as last fall.
KCHD says this new strain is a lot less severe and has not caused any deaths in the month of August. This wave mainly affects older individuals, pregnant women and immune-compromised people.
KCHD says over 90% of the entire population has had some experience with COVID, many have had an infection, or they’ve been vaccinated or both.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) If you travel Alcoa Highway (US 129/State Route 115), plan for delays starting after Labor Day.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) warns that construction is scheduled to take place on Alcoa Highway beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5 with road closures expected until 3:00 p.m., every day, through Friday, September 8.
Upcoming construction will impact traffic in both directions on the highway as shoulder closures will create delays between Woodson Drive and Cherokee Trail while crews work.
The current construction schedule is completely contingent upon favorable weather conditions.
TDOT also alerts motorists to prepare for traffic pacing operations during daytime hours to allow crews to move equipment and perform various tasks.
Rockwood, TN (WOKI) A Roane County man is arrested and charged with arson after authorities determine he set multiple fires, intentionally, at the same residence.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say 49 year-old Donald White Daniels was arrested on August 29 on charges of arson and reckless endangerment in connection to three fires set at a residence on North Chamberlain Avenue in Rockwood on July 25, July 27, and Aug21.
TBI says investigators determined that all three fires were set intentionally, developing information which identified Daniels as the person who set them. Daniels was booked into the Roane County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
