The Tennessee Department of Transportation wants motorists to be aware of upcoming road construction on I-275 that will have an impact on traffic over the next few months.
Beginning on Sunday night, there will be lane closures on I-275 between the I-40 split and the I-640 split. These lane closures will be in place to allow crews to perform concrete repairs on the Baxter Avenue and Heiskell Avenue bridge substructures over I-275.
These lane closures will be in place nightly Sundays through Thursdays, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. All work is expected to be complete by June 30.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help to find an East Tennessee man wanted for questioning in a missing person case.
Investigators are looking for 64 year-old Lee Denton in connection to the March 1 disappearance of a missing Jefferson County man.
He could be driving a black Ford F-150 with a temporary tag Q15E463 or a blue Ford F-150 with TN registration BNG4652 Denton could be in Blount or Knox County. If you know the whereabouts or if you see Lee Denton please contact the Det/Sgt. Jonathan Owens at (865) 471-6000 Ext 1105 or Jefferson County Central Dispatch at (865) 475-6855 or 911.
Knox County Election Commission to begin issuing petitionsfor City of Knoxville Elections on Monday, March 20
Individuals who wish to run for office in the 2023 City of Knoxville Elections can pick up a petition from the Knox County Election Commission beginning Monday, March 20th, 2023. The offices on the ballot will be:
Mayor
City Council At-Large, Seat A
City Council At-Large, Seat B
City Council At-Large, Seat C
City Council, District 5
Municipal Judge
All terms of office are four years.
The qualifications for each of the offices listed above are:
KNOXVILLE CITY MAYOR
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Shall have attained the age of twenty-five (25) years at the beginning of the term
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for one (1) year next preceding the deadline for qualifying for election and continue to reside therein during the term of office
KNOXVILLE CITY COUNCILPERSONS
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Shall have attained the age of twenty-one (21) years at the beginning of the term
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for one (1) year prior to taking office
• If representing a District, must reside in the district for one (1) year prior to taking office and shall continue to live therein during the period of service
• No person shall be eligible to serve in the office of councilmember who holds any other elective public office or who is a City of Knoxville employee
KNOXVILLE MUNICIPAL JUDGE
• Must meet basic qualifications of TCA 8-18-101; and
• Be at least thirty (30) years old
• Be a resident of the City of Knoxville for three (3) years immediately prior to election
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Tennessee
The requirements as set forth in TCA (Tennessee Code Annotated) 8-18-101 are:
All persons eighteen (18) years or older who are citizens of the United States and of this state, and have been inhabitants of the state, county, district, or circuit for the period required by the constitution and laws of the state, are qualified to hold office under the authority of this state except:
(1) Those who have been convicted of offering or giving a bribe, or of larceny, or any other offense declared infamous by law, unless restored to citizenship in the mode pointed out by law;
(2) Those against whom there is a judgment unpaid for any moneys received by them, in any official capacity, due to the United States, to this state, or any county thereof;
(3) Those who are defaulters to the treasury at the time of the election, and the election of any such person shall be void;
(4) Soldiers, seamen, marines, or airmen in the regular army or navy or air force of the United States; and
(5) Members of congress, and persons holding any office of profit or trust under any foreign power, other state of the union, or under the United States.
The Election schedule for the 2023 City of Knoxville Primary Election is as follows:
Monday, March 20, 2023 – First day to pick up a nominating petition from either KCEC office
Thursday, May 18, 2023 at NOON – Candidate Qualifying Deadline
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at NOON – Candidate Withdrawal Deadline
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 – First day to request an absentee ballot
Monday, July 31, 2023 – Final day to register to vote before election
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – First day of Early Voting period
Tuesday, August 22, 2023 – Final day to request an absentee ballot
Thursday, August 24, 2023 – Final day of Early Voting period
Tuesday, August 29, 2023 – Election Day
In the City Council elections, the top two vote getters in the primary move on to the General Election.
In both the Mayor and Municipal Judge elections, the top two vote getters move on to the General Election UNLESS one candidate receives 50% plus one, in which case only the top vote getter moves on to the General Election.
The 2023 City of Knoxville General Election will be on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
A teen is facing charges after an accident involving three cars that injured three people in West Knoxville.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol says 19 year-old Johnathan Williams was driving north on Pellissippi Parkway on March 2nd and reportedly hit a vehicle making a left turn onto Horseshoe Bend Lane which caused that vehicle to hit another vehicle stopped at a stop sign.
THP says Williams was driving over the posted speed limit. He is charged with driving on a suspended license.
Former South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty Thursday of killing both his wife and son. Judge Clifton Newman in the Walterboro courtroom handing down the sentence this morning.
Murdaugh’s defense attorneys argued that there wasn’t enough evidence and called for a mistrial but the judge denied their request. Murdaugh spoke at prior to sentencing and maintained his innocence.
54 year-old Murdaugh will spend the rest of his life in prison for the June 7, 2021, shooting deaths of 52-year-old Maggie Murdaugh and their youngest son, 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh.
Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Murdaugh to two life terms to be served consecutively. Chief Prosecutor Creighton Waters says he’s grateful the jurors gave a voice to the victims.
None of the family members wanted to give impact statements prior to sentencing.
Murdaugh, dressed in a prison uniform, denied the crimes, saying “I’m innocent. I would never hurt my wife Maggie and I would never hurt my son Paul Paul.”
The jury reached a verdict in less than three hours last night after being handed the case late yesterday afternoon.
The evacuation order is lifted for Parrottsville in Cocke County following a propane leak caused by an overturned propane truck which closed State Route 340 for hours at Allen Chapel Road.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says a one mile evacuation was ordered yesterday for homes on South Highway 340 and lasted for several hours. Many residents weren’t able to return home until after 7 last night.
Local volunteers needed to help track seasonal changes of trees
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting local volunteers to ‘Adopt-A-Plot’ and track the seasonal change of trees, also called phenology.
Members of the public who visit the Smokies often are encouraged to sign up to adopt a plot of trees near the roadside at Kanati Fork, Newfound Gap, Kuwohi (Dome Rd.), and other locations in the park.
Interested volunteers can attend a virtual orientation session on March 11, 2023, f 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST, and later field site orientations will follow. Volunteers can sign up to visit their “adopted” study plot weekly, and less during summer months, to monitor trees from the first bud in spring to the last leaf drop in fall. Volunteers will monitor when trees develop buds, leaf out, produce flowers and fruit, and when leaves change color.
Data collected by volunteers will be used in collective park-wide research to interpret how changing climate and length of day affect when seasonal changes occur. Researchers are noticing seasonal and annual shifts of the timing of phenophases, the stages of the life cycles of trees in the park. Early or late phenophases can affect entire forest ecosystems because all organisms are interconnected in the food web and depend on trees to survive.
If you are interested in this exciting volunteer opportunity, please email Angel Chaffin at [email protected] to register for the virtual phenology orientation.
For more information about phenology research efforts across the country, visit the National Phenology Network at https://www.usanpn.org/.
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 3 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…Southwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE…Northern Plateau and Central Tennessee valley. * WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 3 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The saturated ground will make conditions more susceptible to down trees.
Bedford, TN
Cannon, TN
Cheatham, TN
Clay, TN
Coffee, TN
Cumberland, TN
Davidson, TN
De Kalb, TN
Dickson, TN
Fentress, TN
Giles, TN
Grundy, TN
Hickman, TN
Houston, TN
Humphreys, TN
Jackson, TN
Lawrence, TN
Lewis, TN
Macon, TN
Marshall, TN
Maury, TN
Montgomery, TN
Overton, TN
Perry, TN
Pickett, TN
Putnam, TN
Robertson, TN
Rutherford, TN
Smith, TN
Stewart, TN
Sumner, TN
Trousdale, TN
Van Buren, TN
Warren, TN
Wayne, TN
White, TN
Williamson, TN
Wilson, TN
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS EVENING… * WHAT…South winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE…All of Middle Tennessee. * WHEN…From 6 AM to 6 PM CST Friday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds will ramp up starting around 3 am CST. With grounds already wet, some trees will come down much easier leading to power outages. Be sure to fully charge cell phones tonight so you will be able reliably receive any additional Severe Thunderstorm or Tornado Warnings that may be issued on Friday. Winds will begin to relax from west to east starting around sunset Friday evening.
Bell, KY
Clay, KY
Harlan, KY
Knott, KY
Leslie, KY
Letcher, KY
Perry, KY
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 1 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…South to southwest winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph at lower elevations. Across ridgetops and at elevations above 2,000 feet, winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts of 55 to 65 mph expected. The strongest wind gusts are expected between 2 PM and 10 PM. * WHERE…Bell, Harlan, Knott, Perry, Clay, Leslie and Letcher Counties. * WHEN…From 10 AM Friday to 1 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Scattered to widespread power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Bledsoe, TN
Bradley, TN
Hamilton, TN
Marion, TN
McMinn, TN
Meigs, TN
Northwest Monroe, TN
Rhea, TN
Sequatchie, TN
West Polk, TN
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS EVENING… * WHAT…South winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE…Southern Plateau and southeast Tennessee. * WHEN…From 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ this morning to 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ this evening. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The saturated ground will make conditions more susceptible to down trees.
Blount Smoky Mountains, TN
Cocke Smoky Mountains, TN
Sevier Smoky Mountains, TN
Southeast Monroe, TN
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…South winds 30 to 50 mph with gusts up to 80 mph expected. * WHERE…Mountains of Southeast Tennessee including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. * WHEN…Until 1 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The saturated ground will make conditions more susceptible to down trees.
Hancock, TN
Hawkins, TN
Johnson, TN
Northwest Carter, TN
Northwest Greene, TN
Southeast Carter, TN
Southeast Greene, TN
Sullivan, TN
Unicoi, TN
Washington, TN
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…Southwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE…Northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. * WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The saturated ground will make conditions more susceptible to down trees.
Knox, KY
Laurel, KY
McCreary, KY
Whitley, KY
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 1 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…South to southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected. The strongest wind gusts are expected between 1 PM and 8 PM. * WHERE…Laurel, McCreary, Whitley and Knox Counties. * WHEN…From 10 AM Friday to 1 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Scattered to widespread power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
Lee, VA
Russell, VA
Scott, VA
Washington, VA
Wise, VA
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…Southwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. * WHERE…Northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia. * WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 6 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The saturated ground will make conditions more susceptible to down trees.
Pulaski, KY
Wayne, KY
…HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM FRIDAY TO 1 AM EST SATURDAY… * WHAT…South to southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph expected. The strongest wind gusts are expected between 11 AM and 8 PM. * WHERE…Pulaski and Wayne Counties. * WHEN…From 7 AM Friday to 1 AM EST Saturday. * IMPACTS…Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Scattered to widespread power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.
