Knoxville Mayor Delivers State of the City Address

Knoxville Mayor Delivers State of the City Address

April 25, 2025

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon delivered at Covenant Health Park Friday her State of the City address.

Kincannon chose Covenant Health Park as the backdrop of her speech said it “exemplifies her faith in the enduring strength of collaboration,” referring to the work done between the city, county, sports authority and Boyd Sports to the bring the ballpark to life.

Kincannon’s speech is often also the presentation of the budget for the coming fiscal year.

Mayor Kincannon is proposing a $477.3 million net budget she said prioritizes city services and public safety, while investing in strategic capital projects.

City officials said this budget is balanced, and the city’s property tax rate remains unchanged at $2.1556 per $100 of assessed value.

Another highlight: nearly 21.2% of the budget addresses spending for Knoxville police and fire, a total of $101.2 million.

Firefighters and police will see 4.2% step raises along with a cost of living increase for general government employees. Included is nearly $225,000 in salary increases for firefighters to bring them up to market level, the city said.

The budget also sets out to invest $8.2 million in affordable housing, aiming to send $4.2 million to Transforming Western, $2.5 million to the Affordable Rental Development Fund and $1.5 million to support permanent supporting housing projects.

The budget will also invest $350,000 to be matched by Knox County to increase beds in shelters across the city during cold weather.

The mayor’s office also said Kincannon is committed to building a clean and sustainable future and that her budget supports that mission.

$2.5 million for repairs to city buildings’ roofs and heating and ventilation systems, the city said, will pay for its self over time in energy savings.

The city will also invest $500,000 to fund community charging stations.

The largest piece of funding, outside investments in police and fire, is a $25 million lump sum payment on debt for the convention center.

City officials said this would decrease annual debt payments from $9.8 million a year to $5.7 million, saving $30.2 million, resulting in the city paying off the Knoxville Convention Center two years ahead of schedule.

The mayor’s proposed budget will be read for the first time by City Council on April 29 with a second reading on May 27.

Mayor Kincannon delivered her State of the City address from Covenant Health Park.
A Multi-County Police Chase Ends on Hardin Valley Road with One Person Arrested

A Multi-County Police Chase Ends on Hardin Valley Road with One Person Arrested

April 25, 2025

A multi-county chase ends in Hardin Valley and a man is arrested for stealing a car, hitting three Knox County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Cars and various other offenses.

Deputies arrested Joshua Mayes yesterday following the chase. On Tuesday, Mayes burglarized two cars before stealing a red mustang parked in a driveway. KCSO spotted the car in West Knox County the next day and Mayes fled at high speed, driving recklessly.

Deputies found Mayes spray painting the mustang behind a business on Emory Road with agencies from Knox, Anderson and Loudon counties involved in the chase which resulted in Mayes hitting the KCSO patrol cruisers. No one was injured during the pursuit which ended when deputies deployed spike strips and Mayes was arrested on Hardin Valley Road.

Mayes previously had multiple warrants from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office. He now faces additional charges.

TBI investigating an Inmate Death in Claiborne County Where the Search for an Escaped Inmate Continues
WVLT

TBI investigating an Inmate Death in Claiborne County Where the Search for an Escaped Inmate Continues

April 25, 2025

Investigators with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation are looking into the death of an inmate at the Claiborne County Jail.

TBI says that the District Attorney General requested an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of 48-year-old Jeremy Eastridge.

He was unresponsive in his cell yesterday (Thursday) and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials say Eastridge’s body has been sent for an autopsy and the investigation remains active and ongoing.

The death investigation comes as the deputies continue to search for an escaped Claiborne County inmate Larry Poore, who has been missing for more than a week after escaping on a work detail.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Begins Multi-Year Rehabilitation of Iconic Bullhead Trail to Mount LeConte

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Begins Multi-Year Rehabilitation of Iconic Bullhead Trail to Mount LeConte

April 25, 2025

GATLINBURG, TN (WOKI) —The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with Friends of the Smokies, is beginning a multi-year rehabilitation of the iconic Bullhead Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Beginning May 5, the park will close Bullhead Trail from Monday through Thursday each week, excluding federal holidays, through November 6, 2025.

The Bullhead Trail is one of several routes that lead to Mount LeConte, offering a challenging 13.6-mile roundtrip hike to the summit. Through this rehabilitation, the park will enhance overall trail safety by repairing tread surfaces, improving drainage, constructing trail structures such as staircases, turnpikes, and retaining walls, and removing tripping hazards like exposed rocks and roots. These efforts will also help protect the park’s natural resources.

Hikers are welcome to hike Bullhead Trail Friday through Sunday. The park plans to reopen the trail fully on November 6 and resume the rehabilitation in May 2026.

Following the completion of the Ramsey Cascades Trail rehabilitation in 2024, the park and Friends of the Smokies are beginning this rehabilitation of Bullhead Trail as the next project in the Trails Forever program. This program funds a permanent, highly skilled trail crew dedicated to the rehabilitation of high-use trails throughout the park. To date, Friends has contributed more than $4 million to rehabilitation projects, including those on Abrams Falls, Trillium Gap, Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Forney Ridge and Ramsey Cascades trails.

James Pearce Jr. Selected In First Round of 2025 NFL Draft
Courtesy / UT Athletics

James Pearce Jr. Selected In First Round of 2025 NFL Draft

April 25, 2025

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Two-time first-team All-SEC edge rusher James Pearce Jr. became the latest Tennessee Vol to add his name to the program’s legacy of first round draft choices.

Pearce Jr. was selected with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, who traded up to take him Thursday night. With the draft taking place in Green Bay, Pearce Jr. held a family draft party in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Pearce is Tennessee’s 48th all-time first round pick and the second in three years under head coach Josh Heupel. Offensive tackle Darnell Wright was taken No. 10 overall by Chicago in 2023.

Pearce is the first Tennessee player to be selected by Atlanta since defensive end Demetrin Veal went in the seventh round in 2003.

Pearce’s path to Tennessee began as a five-star recruit out of Chambers High School in Charlotte. In his three seasons on Rocky Top, he was a key part of the program’s resurgence and defensive prowess as the Vols won 29 games and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in tackles for loss his last two years.  

Pearce generated 113 quarterback pressures in his three seasons and finished tied for 10th in UT all-time career sacks with 19.5, representing the most by a Vol since first rounder Derek Barnett had a school record 33 from 2014-16.

Pearce became the first UT defensive lineman to earn back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors since College Football Hall of Famer John Henderson from 2000-01. Pearce finished his junior season with 55 total pressures, 38 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries. He also showed up in a significant way in big games, logging tackles for loss against Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia and Ohio State.

It’s the third time in four years that Tennessee has produced at least one defensive lineman selected in the first five rounds under the tutelage of Rodney Garner and Levorn Harvin.

Additional Vols now wait to hear their names called the next two days. Rounds two and three are Friday beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network. Rounds four through seven get underway at noon Saturday. 

Lady Vols Ink Former No. 7 Prospect Wolfenbarger
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Lady Vols Ink Former No. 7 Prospect Wolfenbarger

April 25, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell announced that she has received an Institutional Financial Aid Agreement (IFAA) from transfer forward Jersey Wolfenbarger, the No. 7 ranked prospect by espnW in the 2021 high school class and a contributor in every game last season for LSU.

She joins forward Janiah Barker of UCLA and guard Nya Robertson of SMU in UT’s spring portal signing group. Wolfenbarger becomes the eighth player on UT’s projected 2025-26 roster who was ranked among the top 30 high school prospects in their class by espnW and the seventh who was named a McDonald’s All-American. 

The 6-foot-5 rising senior appeared in 37 games in 2024-25 and started nine, averaging 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds over 13.2 minutes per contest. She shot a career-best 63 percent from the field for the Tigers last season after making the move to Baton Rouge following two playing seasons at Arkansas.

A product of Fort Smith Northside High School, Wolfenbarger scored in double figures eight times a year ago and tallied two games with 10+ rebounds and a pair of double-doubles. She notched career highs of 18 points and 15 rebounds vs. Louisiana on Dec. 15. Her 23 steals and 35 free throws also were collegiate bests for her.

“Jersey will provide size and speed, which is the perfect combination of what we are looking for,” Caldwell said. “She is a transition player who will help make our team faster and is one of the best rim runners out there. She will be a great fit here.”

For her career, Wolfenbarger has appeared in a combined 102 games at the two SEC schools, earning 35 starts and averaging 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds. She amassed 22 games of scoring in double figures, five contests with 10 or more boards and four double-doubles.

As a freshman at Arkansas in 2021-22, Wolfenbarger started 23 of 30 games for the Razorbacks, averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds while hitting a career-high 17 three-pointers. She also posted career bests of 32 assists and 27 blocks along with 21 steals and was honored as SEC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 30.

Along the way, the SEC All-Freshman Team honoree carded 12 games of double-digit points, two with 10 or more rebounds and a pair of double-doubles. She notched season bests of 16 points vs. Central Arkansas, 11 rebounds vs. Missouri and three treys vs. Tennessee en route to 13 points, with the latter igniting a four-game run of double-digit scoring.

In 2022-23, she produced 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while appearing in 35 contests and starting three as a sophomore. She scored in double figures twice and produced 10 or more rebounds on one occasion. Her season highs included 15 points vs. Arkansas State, 12 rebounds and four blocks vs. Oral Roberts and three deep balls vs. Troy. 

Wolfenbarger was a consensus five-star player in high school and one of five finalists for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Player of the Year Award. She was chosen as the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020 and earned Arkansas player of the year honors from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Max Preps and the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association in 2021. She won two state titles during her high school career, hitting a buzzer-beater to win the 2019 6A State Championship.

Internationally, Wolfenbarger represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, helping her country claim a gold medal with a 7-0 record in Debrecen, Hungary.

Applications Open for Tennessee’s Helene Recovery Funding

Applications Open for Tennessee’s Helene Recovery Funding

April 24, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) More money for businesses and individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene is now available directly from the State of Tennessee.

Tennessee legislators have set $100 million aside as part of the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund to give help to current and future disaster recovery needs, including needs from Helene.

“Tropical Storm Helene was an unprecedented disaster for our state, and the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund is part of a comprehensive plan to provide flexible financial resources for current and future emergencies,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for their partnership and acting swiftly to provide necessary relief for Tennesseans.”

The application window for the assistance opened Monday and is available for local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, farmers and foresters across more than a dozen counties in East Tennessee, including: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.

Those interested can apply for help here. The deadline is May 31.

Tennessee legislators have set $100 million aside as part of the Response and Recovery Fund to give help to current and future disaster recovery needs, including needs from Helene. (Courtesy: Tennessee Secretary of State)

Knoxville Police Arrest Man in February Overdose Death Investigation

April 24, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Numerous narcotics are seized and a Knoxville man is arrested Tuesday, April 22 in connection to the ongoing investigation into February’s overdose death of a 23-year-old woman.

Knoxville Police Department officials say 30-year-old Allen Roach was arrested during a search warrant conducted at his Cedarwood Street home.

KPD says the search resulted in the seizure of multiple drugs, including approximately eight grams of cocaine, along with digital scales and a loaded handgun.

Allen was subsequently taken into custody on drug charges, maintaining a dwelling for drug use, and possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony.

The investigation into the February overdose death is continuing and is being led by the Knoxville Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit and Drug Related Death Task Force detectives.

30-year-old Allen Roach. (Courtesy: JIMS)
Reported Longest Zipline in America is Open in Pigeon Forge.
WVLT

Reported Longest Zipline in America is Open in Pigeon Forge.

April 24, 2025

An exciting attraction being billed as “the longest zipline in America” is now open in Pigeon Forge.

MegaZip, located at Anakeesta’s sister property WildSide, spans an impressive 5,771 feet and features a vertical drop of over 1,000 feet.

Officials say thrill-seekers can expect exhilarating speeds and maximum excitement on the new attraction.

WildSide also added eight new mountain bike trails to go along with MegaZip and its existing e-biking and UTV expeditions.

Podcasts

What's happening