KPD: Four Teens Arrested After Shooting Fireworks at Knoxville Police, Causing Car Crash

KPD: Four Teens Arrested After Shooting Fireworks at Knoxville Police, Causing Car Crash

Four teens arrested after shooting fireworks at Knoxville police, causing car crash (Courtesy KPD)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Four teens are arrested Tuesday night following a chaotic scene involving fireworks and a car crash in Knoxville.

Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded around 10:00 p.m. to a crash near Texas Avenue and Pascal Drive. Witnesses told officers that teens were hitting a black Hyundai with paintballs and fireworks, which caused it to crash into an F-150.

Responding officers were also targets as people started throwing fireworks at them and their cars. Those officers, along with backup, then had to escort the responding wreckers out of the area, officials said.

The teens, all males, ages 14 to 16 were charged, two with aggravated assault and evading arrest and two with disorderly conduct and evading arrest.

Knoxville Chief of Police Paul Noel was quick to condemn the minor’s behavior Tuesday.

“This behavior is completely unacceptable, and it puts our Officers and residents at risk of legitimate physical and mental harm,” said Noel. “I am relieved that nobody was seriously injured and thankful that none of our Officers were injured. I also appreciate how our Officers handled what was an incredibly chaotic and stressful situation.”

KPD officials also report that later in the night officers responded to the same area on another call of someone shooting fireworks at cars and people. They arrested 21 year old Corey Armstrong near the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue for unlawful possession of a weapon. He reportedly had fireworks and a gun on his person.

Dolly Parton says No to Becoming a Hologram

Dolly Parton says No to Becoming a Hologram

Our Queen, Dolly Parton, says she does not want to become a hologram.

During a press event for her upcoming album “Rockstar”, she was asked about the idea of a digital hologram being used in her place after she dies.

77-year-old Dolly replied that the body of work she already has here on Earth will suffice.

Holograms have recently been used for performances by the late Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.

Amazon Opens Hiring Site at Foothills Mall for New Blount County Fulfillment Center

Amazon Opens Hiring Site at Foothills Mall for New Blount County Fulfillment Center

Amazon is recruiting workers for its Amazon Robotics Fulfillment site in Alcoa and have a satellite hiring office at the Foothills Mall in Maryville.

They will be there today (Wednesday) from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and from 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Starting the week of July 9, the office will be open seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, they will be open from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m.

They are offering workers starting wages at $16 per hour and up and they are hiring for full-time, part-time and reduced-time positions.

For more information on Amazon jobs, please go to https://hiring.amazon.com/promotions/new-sites#/?cmpid=CGCYCG362H11

KPD: Deputy Chief of Professional Standards Stepping Down

KPD: Deputy Chief of Professional Standards Stepping Down

Deputy Chief of Professional Standards Brooklyn Sawyers Belk Courtesy (City of Knoxville)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The woman behind some big changes within the Knoxville Police Department is stepping down from her position in July.

KPD today announced that Brooklyn Belk will step away from her role as the Department’s Deputy Chief of Professional Standards effective July 16th.

Belk was named to the new position in February; despite her short time on the job, she is credited with helping to better the internal investigations process, initiating multiple innovative department-wide training opportunities, and chairing the internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group.

Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel praised the University of Tennessee law professor and former federal prosecutor.

“I am truly grateful to Brooklyn for her contributions, which were significant,” said Noel. “She invested a lot in our department and quickly became a valued and trusted member of our executive leadership team. Brooklyn leaves behind big shoes to fill.”

City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon also thanked Belk for her efforts over the last five months.

“I want to thank Brooklyn for all that she has accomplished in a short amount of time,” said Kincannon. “The changes that she has helped implement in the last few months have contributed to a stronger foundation for a more efficient and accountable police force.  I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.”

In today’s release from the Department, Belk offered thanks and praise of her own, noting that she would remain available in a consulting role if and when needed.

Law enforcement’s roles as both protector and servant are vital to a thriving and safe community. I appreciate Chief Noel and Mayor Kincannon for the opportunity to use my expertise to make real contributions to this work at the Knoxville Police Department. As I move forward to the next steps in my career as an advocate, litigator, and educator, I will continue to be a resource for the KPD leadership team and my predecessor, if ever called upon, and look forward to seeing the Police Department grow and prosper with this community under the Mayor and Chief Noel’s leadership. I will miss those with whom I worked most closely. I wish the entire team, civilian and uniformed staff, particularly the Office of Professional Standards’ Captain Brian Evans and his team, great success and safety.

The process of identifying and selecting Belk’s successor is underway. Qualified applicants from across the country will be considered for the position, which is appointed by the Chief of Police.

Zoo Knoxville Announces Death of Binti

Zoo Knoxville Announces Death of Binti

Chimpanzee Binti (Zoo Knoxville)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Beloved by her chimpanzee family and human caretakers, a 38-year-old Chimpanzee at Zoo Knoxville has died.

“We had to make the unfortunate decision [Thursday] to euthanize Binti,” said Phil Colclough, Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education for Zoo Knoxville in a video release today.

The decision came after caregivers at the zoo noticed Binti ailing earlier in the week; they observed she was very pale and lethargic, and an examination by the veterinary team revealed internal bleeding and a large mass on her liver.

Zoo officials said Binti was surrounded by her human care team until the end on Thursday, and she was returned to Zoo Knoxville to allow the chimpanzee troop time to grieve before her body was taken to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine  for necropsy.

Director Colclough says Binti leaves behind a wonderful legacy at the zoo.

“She contributed to the population of chimps under our care with Stevie. That’s a really important thing. They’re as a species aren’t doing well in the wild; they’re critically endangered because of poaching and habitat encroachment. So, it’s really important that we maintain these populations under human care, and she contributed to that.”

Binti has spent 15 years at Zoo Knoxville after coming from the Cleveland Zoo in 2008. She gave birth to Stevie, a female chimpanzee, in April 2022.

Zoo Knoxville said that Stevie is being raised by her two surrogate mothers, Daisy and Jambo, as Binti was unable to care for her immediately following her birth.

Stevie continues to grow and thrive under the watchful eyes of Daisy and Jambo.

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Biden’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who led over 40 of her Senate Republican colleagues in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court, released the following statement on the court’s decision.

“Tennesseans should not be forced to pay for coastal elites to get their PhD in gender studies,” said Senator Blackburn. “Today’s Supreme Court ruling confirms what we’ve known for quite some time: President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan is an unconstitutional power grab. His socialist plan to redistribute wealth is wildly unfair to millions of families who choose to make personal sacrifices to avoid debt. Biden wants the rich to get richer off the backs of hardworking Tennesseans. That’s not the American dream – that’s the socialist dream, and I am glad the Supreme Court sided with the amicus brief I led.”

In February, Senator Blackburn led https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2023/2/blackburn-pushes-back-on-biden-s-student-loan-forgiveness-plan-in-amicus-brief-to-supreme-court  over 40 of her Senate Republican colleagues in an amicus brief to the Supreme Court arguing that Biden’s decision to forgive federal student loan debt constitutes unprecedented executive overreach and defies the separation of powers that our Constitution requires.

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YWCA Re-Opens Following Shooting that Leaves 10 Year-Old Hospitalized and a 14 Year-Old in Custody

YWCA Re-Opens Following Shooting that Leaves 10 Year-Old Hospitalized and a 14 Year-Old in Custody

A 10-year-old remains in critical but stable condition following an accidental shooting at a YWCA during a summer day camp which has reopened today.

A 14-year-old boy is in custody charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment in yesterday’s shooting in the gym of the Phyllis Wheatley Center. Officials say they will have counselors available today.

Knoxville police say the 14-year-old had two handguns in a backpack that were brought into the gym, one accidentally discharged, hitting the 10-year-old at least once.

Additional charges are possibly pending as the investigation continues.