Registered Sex Offender Taken into Custody at an Anderson County Elementary School
WVLT

Registered Sex Offender Taken into Custody at an Anderson County Elementary School

November 6, 2024

A registered sex offender is taken into custody after entering an elementary school. 

Anderson County Schools officials say a person on the registry entered Lake City Elementary School on Friday.

Security protocols, including a mandatory background check for all visitors, the school district said, immediately flagged the person and police responded.

“Thanks to the swift, professional response from both the Rocky Top Police Department and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the individual was safely taken into custody without incident, underscoring the dedication of all involved to keeping our schools safe,” ACS said.

District officials say no students, staff or faculty members were at risk.

“We are truly blessed to live in a community where our law enforcement partners work hand-in-hand with our schools to ensure the highest level of safety and security for our children and employees,” the district said.

Tennessee Majority Leaders Once Again Pushing for School Voucher Program

Tennessee Majority Leaders Once Again Pushing for School Voucher Program

November 6, 2024

Nashville, TN (WOKI) The dust from the election still settling, two of Tennessee’s top lawmakers are pushing forward another bill aimed at establishing a private school voucher program in the state.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth Wednesday introduced the Education Freedom Act of 2025.

The numbers in this latest proposal are largely the same as the measure which failed last session: the bill promises 20,000 $7,000 scholarships to students who attend a private school in Tennessee, awarded based (mostly) on their family’s income.

Under the bill, 10,000 scholarships would go first to families who make less than 300% of the amount required by the state for a student to qualify for free or reduced lunch. The remaining half of the scholarships would go to any student who qualifies, regardless of income.

Among the changes this time around is language claiming that public school funding wouldn’t be affected by the voucher program and state testing for private school students who get a scholarship.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth attached themselves to the bill, introducing it as the Education Freedom Act of 2025.
Maryville Police Charge Man in Decades-Old Cold Case Murder

Maryville Police Charge Man in Decades-Old Cold Case Murder

November 6, 2024

Maryville, TN (WOKI) Maryville Police solve a decades-old cold case making an arrest.

The case centers on the 39-year-old cold case murder of Billy Wayne Hearon. Police have charged 62-year-old Roger Oody in his murder.

Hearon was found dead in his home in Shady Acres Trailer Park, MPD said, adding that he had died from several stab wounds and trauma to the head.

Oody was convicted previously of killing Roy Stevens in the 1980s in Monroe County. He is currently serving a life sentence for that conviction.

Oody was a person of interest during the initial investigation into Hearon’s murder, and new evidence and technology helped investigators charge him.

He will make his initial appearance in court on Friday.

Roger Dale Oody, 62 (Courtesy: BCSO)
Election Results for Tennessee Races and Presidential Race

Election Results for Tennessee Races and Presidential Race

November 6, 2024

Multiple media outlets calling the Presidential race – President Trump has reached 277 electoral votes, enough to win the presidency once again becoming the 47th president-elect.

Marsha Blackburn keeps her Senate seat beating Knoxville’s Gloria Johnson who will keep her current State House District 90 seat.

Tim Burchett retains his United States House of Representatives District 2 seat with 69% of the vote beating Jane George.

City Council amendment 2 was close but it failed with 51% voting against it. To view Knox County Election Results click here: https://elections.knoxcounty.org/results/scrolling.php or https://www.knoxcounty.org/election/ for all the information.

Links to Tennessee Election Results:

https://www.elections.tn.gov/categories/president/offices

https://www.elections.tn.gov/categories/us-senate/offices

https://www.elections.tn.gov/categories/us-house/offices

https://www.elections.tn.gov/categories/us-house/offices

NCDOT Expects I-40 to Reopen by January
WVLT

NCDOT Expects I-40 to Reopen by January

November 5, 2024

The North Carolina Department of Transportation expects I-40 across the state line to be open through the Pigeon River Gorge by New Year’s Day.

NCDOT says traffic would be moving slower than normal, estimating a 40 mph speed limit with one lane in each direction.

The news comes just over a month after Hurricane Helene brought floodwaters to the area, washing away several areas of the interstate’s eastbound lanes.

Long-term plans are still in early development and there‘s no set date for when construction on the final repairs would start or how much they’ll cost.

Free Parking in Downtown Knoxville to Stay, City Says

Free Parking in Downtown Knoxville to Stay, City Says

November 5, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Free parking on nights and weekends in downtown Knoxville is here to stay.

The announcement coming from City of Knoxville officials Monday night though additional details about the City’s “updated parking plan” have not been released.

In May, the city released a report from Walker, a group hired to evaluate Knoxville’s current parking situation. In that report, Walker suggested charging for parking seven days a week, among other changes.

That study prompted a response from downtown Knoxville business owners, who circulated a survey asking people to defend the city’s current free parking rules.

A City Council workshop is slated for Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the City County Building on Main Street where more discussion of the parking plan is expected.

The latest update in the ongoing downtown Knoxville parking saga came Monday night, when the city announced a City Council workshop, slated for Thursday. (Courtesy: Visit Knoxville)
KPD says a 15 Year-Old Charged for Threat of Mass Violence

KPD says a 15 Year-Old Charged for Threat of Mass Violence

November 5, 2024

A 15-year-old male has been charged for making a threat of mass violence following a late-night Knoxville Police Department investigation.

On Monday, November 4, 2024 at around 7:30 p.m., KPD detectives were made aware that the aforementioned male, a Bearden High School student, had made a verbal threat to commit an act of violence at the school.    

After continued investigation and consultation with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office concerning the circumstances, detectives responded to the student’s home in West Knoxville. The student was subsequently taken into custody and charged with threat of mass violence.

The investigation was assisted by Tennessee Homeland Security agents and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Needs Your Help to Identify a Woman Found on I-40 in Roane County and Later Died from Her Injuries
TN Dept Homeland Security

Tennessee Highway Patrol Needs Your Help to Identify a Woman Found on I-40 in Roane County and Later Died from Her Injuries

November 5, 2024

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is asking for help to identify a woman who was found along I-40 in Roane County and died from her injuries.

THP says troopers were dispatched to a person lying in the emergency lane of I-40 East in Roane County at mile marker 341 on October 13th.

THP says the victim is African-American and is believed to be 38 years old, about 5’4″ and 175 pounds with a mole on her nose and no tattoos.

Anyone with information is asked to call the THP Knoxville District Dispatch Center at 865-544-3380, Extension 0.

The incident remains under investigation.

An Investigation is Underway after Fire Destroys Century Old Building on Knoxville College Campus
KFD

An Investigation is Underway after Fire Destroys Century Old Building on Knoxville College Campus

November 4, 2024

UPDATE from Knoxville Fire Department:

  • We continue to wet down hot spots.
  • Investigators are actively following up on leads. If anyone has any information, they can anonymously call 865-637-1386 or 1-800-762-3017.
  • The building was torn down due to safety issues. It was too dangerous to leave standing. This has not hampered the investigation.
  • The property will likely be turned back over to Knoxville College later today.
  • The L. Nathan building is over 100 years old and has not been occupied by Knoxville College in a number of years. There was no power to the building.

UPDATE: At approximately 8:30 PM this (Monday) evening Knox County 911 communications received a call about Knoxville College possibly being on fire.

The caller stated they could see very high flames and a lot of smoke.

When crews arrived, they saw heavy fire coming from the top of the administration building, also known as L Nathan Hall.  Due to the extremely large amount of fire, crews were unable to enter the building. All firefighting efforts were done from the exterior of the structure. Limited water supply made firefighting efforts difficult.

There were no known injuries to report. 

Firefighting is ongoing and will continue through most of the night and into the morning.

Parts of the structure collapsed rendering it very unstable. The building is a total loss.

Knoxville Fire Department Investigators are on scene working to determine a cause.

Original story: The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a fire on the Knoxville College campus which destroys a building.

Heavy fire and smoke was coming from the building which could be seen for miles when crews arrived on the scene last night (Monday).

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon told WVLT News the fire broke out at L. Nathan Hall, which an alumni said hadn’t been occupied in at least 40-50 years. She says the fire was contained to that building and that the cause is unknown at this time.

Kincannon says it’s not city property but they have had to go in to address fire situations many times in recent years.

Monroe County Murder Suspect is Captured in South Carolina, Awaiting Extradition Back to Tennessee

Monroe County Murder Suspect is Captured in South Carolina, Awaiting Extradition Back to Tennessee

November 4, 2024

11/11/24 UPDATE: The suspect in a Monroe County murder has been taken into custody in South Carolina.

According to the Columbia Police Department, Nicholas Hamlett was found at a hospital there and taken into custody.

He is accused of killing 34-year-old Steven Lloyd in Tellico Plains on October 18th and is facing first-degree murder charges.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says Hamlett met Lloyd, befriended him and lured him into a wooded area to take his life and identity.

Hamlett is in the temporary custody of the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Arrangements are being made to extradite Hamlett back to Monroe County.

Hamlett is also wanted out of Alabama for a parole violation in connection to several charges, including two counts of attempted murder.

Update: The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has identified the victim of a murder, the suspect is at the center of a nationwide manhunt.

Police say 34-year-old Steven Lloyd was lured him into a wooded area to take his life and identity on October 18th in Tellico Plains reportedly by Nicholas Hamlett who was last seen in South Carolina on Friday.

Hamlett is also wanted out of Alabama for a parole violation in connection to several charges, including two counts of attempted murder. There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Hamlett has ties all over the country, if you see him do not approach him, call 911.

Photo of Hamlett:

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