Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Area Transit, better known as KAT, will be offering free rides for Election Day.
KAT offers the service each election cycle. This year, all transit rides, from buses to KAT’s Lift service (for those with disabilities), will be fare-free.
Officials with KAT say the move is aimed at making sure anyone and everyone can get to the polls.
“Election Day is a critical moment for our community to come together and make their voices heard,” Director of Transit Isaac Thorne said. “By offering free rides across our system, we’re helping to make that process as accessible as possible for everyone. I encourage all Knoxville residents to take advantage of this opportunity to get to the polls and participate in our shared future.”
KAT will be running its regular routes and schedules; you can access those here.
It‘s a service that KAT offers each election. This year, all transit rides, from buses to KAT’s Lift service, will be fare-free. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Oakdale, TN (WOKI) A second man is sentenced in the death of a Roane County man.
District Attorney Russell Johnson says 44 year-old Shane Douglas Parks was convicted and sentenced in the death of Robert Quenton McCullough in 2020.
He is facing two concurrent 45-year sentences in the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
Parks joins 39-year-old Joshua Aikens, who was convicted in March. According to court records, Parks, Aikens and a third man — Nicholas Holloway — tied McCullough up using rope and zip ties while McCullough was at Holloway’s home then took him to a trailer and left him.
Johnson said Shane Douglas Parks, 44, was convicted and sentenced in the death of Robert Quenton McCullough in 2020. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Quincy Jones, a music mogul whose career in the industry spanned over seven decades, died Sunday night at 91 years old, his publicist Arnold Robinson confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Jones was surrounded by his children, siblings and close family at his home in Bel Air, California. No further details about his death will be released at this moment, as the family requests privacy “in this time of great mourning,” Robinson said.
The following statement was provided from the Jones family:
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”
Jones, who was the first popular conductor-arranger to record with a Fender bass in the mid 1950s, worked with many iconic artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Ray Charles to Michael Jackson.
He produced and conducted the best-selling single of all time in “We Are The World,” and three of Jackson’s albums, including the all-time best-selling album, Thriller. He also worked with Sinatra for three years as a conductor and arranger, and created the famous arrangement of “Fly Me To The Moon.”
Jones began as vice president of Mercury Records in 1961, making him the first Black executive of a major record company, and held that position for a few years before entering the film industry, where he also became very successful. He co-produced “The Color Purple” in 1985 with Steven Spielberg, earning 11 Oscar nominations, and he helped launch the hit series “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” in 1991 as an executive producer.
Jones also formed Quincy Jones Entertainment, a co-venture with Time Warner, Inc., and the Quincy Jones Media Group during his decades in the entertainment industry.
Jones’ work earned him hundreds of awards, including an Emmy, seven Oscar nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 28 Grammy Awards and 80 nominations, and N.A.R.A.S.’ prestigious Trustees’ Award and The Grammy Living Legend Award. He has also been awarded a variety of international awards and honorary doctorates.
He was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2001, recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master in 2008 and was bestowed the National Medal of Arts – America’s highest artistic honor – in 2010.
Old photo of Quincy Jones Jones was not only a titan in the music and film industries, but a best-selling author and known for his decades of humanitarian work. (A&M Records/Getty Images)
In 2016, Jones won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for the Broadway production of “The Color Purple” and joined a very exclusive club of artists who have received an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
Jones was also a best-selling author and longtime humanitarian, with notable charity work beginning in the 1960s.
He is survived by seven children and three siblings. (Story courtesy of Fox News)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for East Tennesseans affected by flooding from Helene.
The assistance was approved for homeowners and renters who had major or significant structural damage as a result of floodwaters, according to FEMA.
It will provide temporary housing for 18 months, ending on April 2, 2026. Additionally, it covers direct lease, multifamily lease and repair, and transportable temporary housing units.
For direct lease, FEMA said it leases existing, ready-to-occupy residential properties for use as temporary housing.
Under multifamily lease and repair, FEMA funds the repair or improvement of existing, vacant multi-family rental properties that eligible applicants can use for temporary housing.
Additionally, FEMA will also contact homeowners to determine if they would like a transportable temporary housing unit, which are furnished one-, two- or three-bedroom units provided at no cost to eligible survivors.
If needed, these units can also be modified or improved to be compliant with the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act, providing accessibility for individuals with disabilities or access and functional needs.
Preliminary data from TEMA estimates that between 346 and 414 applicants may be eligible for FEMA direct housing.
Those looking to apply must live in one of the following counties:
Carter
Cocke
Greene
Johnson
Unicoi
Washington
Additionally, assessments are still ongoing for Hamblen and Hawkins counties.
Applicants must first apply for FEMA Individual Assistance before Monday, Dec. 2 to be eligible for Direct Temporary Housing Assistance.
Following intense flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, FEMA inspectors are checking in with those affected to determine if they qualify for federal assistance. (Courtesy: DHS.gov)
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating after a device is found underneath a car in Tellico Plains.
Investigators with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in the 400 block of Shadden Road yesterday (Sunday) afternoon and found a device underneath a car on the property, the Knox County Bomb Squad in addition to fire and EMS crews were called to the scene.
An evacuation of a 100 yard area around the device, impacting two homes, was in place while crews took four hours to dismantled the device.
This, after authorities received a call of a suspicious fire in the garage of this home last week. MCSO says it is possible the suspicious fire could be connected to the device found, but that has not been determined at this time.
November 5, 2024 Election:Absentee Ballot Information andImportant Reminders Before Voters Head to the Polls
Knoxville – As Knox Countians head to the polls on Tuesday, the Election Commission wants to issue a few reminders.
ABSENTEE BY MAIL BALLOTS
For voters that have requested but have not received their absentee ballot by Election Day, they can go vote at their Election Day precinct and request a provisional ballot to cast. Polls are open from 8 am to 8 pm.
For voters that have received their ballot, but fear that they won’t be able to mail the ballot in before the close of polls on Tuesday, the voter can take their ballot to either:
Downtown Post Office’s front counter
501 West Main Street
Knoxville, 37902
or
Weisgarber Road Post Office’s front counter
1237 Weisgarber Road
Knoxville, 37950
By 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 and have the ballot hand-stamped with postage at the front counter.
The Election Commission will proceed to pick up any ballots that are received by the USPS at both of these locations in the late afternoon.
TIMES FOR VOTING
POLLS ARE OPEN ON TUESDAY FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM. Any voter in line by 8:00 pm will be allowed to vote.
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
A photo ID issued by the State of Tennessee (such as a driver’s license) or the Federal Government (such as a passport) is required to vote, unless an exemption applies. Election workers are trained to ask for your photo identification prior to issuing a ballot. Driver licenses from other states are not acceptable forms of ID for voting in the state of Tennessee.
WHERE DO I VOTE?
On Election Day, voters must vote at their assigned precinct. For voters that are unsure where they vote, they can visit www.knoxvotes.org and click on the “Where Do I Vote?” box on the front page and enter their residential address. The website will match the voter’s address with the correct polling place.
NEW POLLING PLACES
For voters in eight precincts across Knox County, their polling place changed (prior to the March 2024 Election).
PRECINCT 12 – YWCA, 124 S. Cruze Street, Knoxville, 37914
(This replaces the Boys and Girls Club, 381 McConnell Street – Boys & Girls Club is no longer a polling place).
(UPDATE 11/3/24 9 p.m.) The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash that happened on I-75, which killed a Tellico Plains High School star cross country runner.
TDOT says the crash, which happened on I-75 South at mile marker 80, shut down the southbound side of the interstate for several hours after Saturday afternoon’s crash.
Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones confirmed to WVLT that Darrah Wiseman, a senior, that made the entire county proud was killed in the crash.
She qualified for the state championship last week and is a six-time state champion in events dating back to 2022.
Grief counselors are expected be available to students at Tellico Plains High School.
Original story: The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a deadly crash that happened on I-75.
TDOT says the crash, which happened on I-75 South at mile marker 80, shut down the southbound side of the interstate and caused a miles-long traffic delay for several hours after the crash Saturday afternoon.
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating after a man either jumped or fell from the 11th Street Parking Garage on Saturday night.
At around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, 2024, KPD officers responded to the area of the 11th Street Parking Garage, where a 21-year-old man was critically injured after falling from an upper floor of the parking garage. The victim was transported to the UT Medical Center and remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
It is unknown at this time if the victim intentionally jumped or accidentally fell. Based on witness statements and the findings of the preliminary investigation, it is believed that the victim was intoxicated. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Cocke County, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway following an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning in Cocke County.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say preliminary information indicates deputies with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office saw a vehicle, just before 1:00 a.m., being driven by a person known to have an outstanding warrant.
TBI says when deputies tried to pull the car over, the driver refused to stop, leading police on a chase to the 1700 block of Neddy Mountain Road in Del Rio where, for reasons still under investigation, deputies fired shots that struck the driver while attempting to take the person into custody.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment. Neither the suspect nor the officer has been identified.
Following the shooting, the suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment. (Courtesy: TBI)
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Sevier County following several reports of ’potentially contaminated’ candy being handed out on Halloween.
Officials with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office say several social media posts have circulated, alleging candy laced with THC and Fentanyl was handed out to children. The contaminated candy was reportedly handed out in the Majestic Meadows Subdivision.
SCSO says it has reached out to multiple medical facilities to find potential victims. As of now, no patients have been found or hospitalized due to contaminated candy.
SCSO says it‘s unable to verify the accuracy of social media rumors. Police are urging anyone with additional information regarding the reports to contact the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sevier County Sheriff‘s Office said they’ve received several reports of contaminated candy distributed on Halloween. (Courtesy: WVLT)
