University of Tennessee Announces New Ticket Fee to Pay Student Athletes

University of Tennessee Announces New Ticket Fee to Pay Student Athletes

September 17, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The cost of UT football tickets is rising as the sport enters the era of revenue sharing with players.

Tennessee Athletics Director Danny White said future season tickets would come with a 10% talent fee, plus a four and a half percent per-seat increase for a nearly 15 percent price hike for season tickets.

The revenue from the fee is aimed at stemming the cost of increasing talent scholarships and sharing the revenue with athletes. Season ticket renewals begin Thursday, September 19; the university is offering a 10 month payment plan to help spread out the impact of the increased cost.

The University of Tennessee campus (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville Police Looking for Teen Suspect in Asheville Highway Shooting

Knoxville Police Looking for Teen Suspect in Asheville Highway Shooting

September 17, 2024

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are searching for a teen suspect in connection to Friday’s shooting at the Kwik Pantry Food Mart off Asheville Highway.

KPD officials announcing Tuesday that officers and detectives are actively working to find 15-year-old Kendall Ridgeway who they say is facing multiple juvenile charges connected to the September 13 shooting, including attempted first-degree murder.

Officers responded around 7:45 p.m. Friday to the Kwik Pantry in the 4800 block of Asheville Highway and found a man who’d been shot in the leg.

Police say there was a conflict inside the store involving the victim and two male suspects when one of the suspects, later identified as Ridgeway, fired at the victim multiple times. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crimestoppers at 865-215-7165.

15-year-old Kendall Ridgeway (Courtesy: KPD)
Medic Leading LifeSouth Blood Center of Florida in Annual Blood Competition, Still has Critical Need for O- and O+ Blood Types

Medic Leading LifeSouth Blood Center of Florida in Annual Blood Competition, Still has Critical Need for O- and O+ Blood Types

September 17, 2024

MEDIC Regional Blood Center’s annual competition against LifeSouth Blood Center out of Florida is underway and Medic is beating them 411 units to 287 in the first day.

All eligible donors are encouraged to donate through Friday.

Blood donors will receive a special edition t-shirt while supplies last and several coupons to area organizations.

Also, there is still a critical need for O- and O+ blood types and Medic hopes this event will help get those levels stabilized.

Please go to https://medicblood.org/ to schedule your appointment, walk-ins are welcome.

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Shooting at a West Knoxville Apartment Complex

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Shooting at a West Knoxville Apartment Complex

September 17, 2024

Knoxville Police Department detectives are pursuing strong leads on an investigation into a shooting that happened late Monday night at an apartment complex off Papermill Drive.

At around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, KPD officers responded to a reported shooting in the area of 1000 Canyon Oak Pl. Around that same time, officers were notified that a gunshot victim had arrived at the UT Medical Center emergency room. The victim, an 18-year-old male, had been shot multiple times and is in critical condition.

The investigation revealed that the victim was walking towards his apartment when multiple rounds were fired at him in an apparent targeted shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run Ends with an Injured Officer and Over 90 arrests

Fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run Ends with an Injured Officer and Over 90 arrests

September 16, 2024

We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.

The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents.

2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According to the Pigeon Forge Police Department, officers responded to more than 1,000 calls for service and took more than 80 people into custody. Below is a breakdown of how the fall Rod Run compared to this year’s spring event.

Spring 2024 Rod RunFall 2024 Rod Run
Calls for Service1,1511,006
Citations623862
Arrests3685
Crashes4329

On top of responding to all those calls for service, a Pigeon Forge officer was also injured during the event. According to Chief Richard Catlett, the officer was riding a motorcycle when he was hit. Catlett said the officer was banged up but should be okay in a few days. Story Courtesy of WVLT

Fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run Ends with an Injured Officer and Over 90 arrests

Fall Pigeon Forge Rod Run Ends with an Injured Officer and Over 90 arrests

September 16, 2024

We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.

The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents.

2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According to the Pigeon Forge Police Department, officers responded to more than 1,000 calls for service and took more than 80 people into custody. Below is a breakdown of how the fall Rod Run compared to this year’s spring event.

Spring 2024 Rod RunFall 2024 Rod Run
Calls for Service1,1511,006
Citations623862
Arrests3685
Crashes4329

On top of responding to all those calls for service, a Pigeon Forge officer was also injured during the event. According to Chief Richard Catlett, the officer was riding a motorcycle when he was hit. Catlett said the officer was banged up but should be okay in a few days. Story Courtesy of WVLT

An Investigation is Underway Following a Fatal Crash in Powell

An Investigation is Underway Following a Fatal Crash in Powell

September 16, 2024

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal crash in Powell.

KCSO and Rural Metro Fire say the crash happened when a car hit a pole in the 7900 block of Collier Road yesterday (Monday) morning around 10:30.

When crews arrived, officials say the car broke the utility pole in half when it crashed.

A passenger was thrown from the car and was listed in serious condition, according to Rural Metro, while the driver was killed.

Rural Metro says it is one of many roads in Knox County without a shoulder and asked drivers to please slow down to avoid a crash.

The roadway was shut down for several hours on Monday.

Additional information, including the victim’s identity, has not been released.

Midgley, Zazzara Earn SEC Weekly Honors
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Midgley, Zazzara Earn SEC Weekly Honors

September 16, 2024

Tennessee soccer’s Mac Midgley and Ally Zazzara were both slated to SEC Weekly awards, the conference announced Monday.

Midgley was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week as Zazzara was tabbed SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Midgley, who has been firing on all cylinders for the Lady Vols, scored the lone goal during a 1-0 win over No. 5 Memphis. It marked her second goal of the season. The junior currently has three goal contributions and six shots on goal heading into SEC play.

Zazzara, who picked up her sixth-consecutive shutout, currently holds the fourth-best goals against average in the country with a .148 mark while also boasting a .933 save percentage.

UP NEXT: Midgley, Zazzara and the rest of the No. 23 Tennessee soccer team is set to open SEC play Thursday at home against Ole Miss for a 7 p.m. ET matchup.  

Full List of Tennessee Soccer Weekly Awards: 

SEC Freshman of the Week:Reese Mattern (Aug. 26, 2024) 
Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week:Ally Zazzara (Sept. 9, 2024) 
SEC Offensive Player of the Week:Mac Midgley (Sept. 16, 2024) 
SEC Defensive Player of the Week:Ally Zazzara (Sept. 16, 2024) 

Sevier County Student Charged with Assault after Making Threats, Police Say

Sevier County Student Charged with Assault after Making Threats, Police Say

September 16, 2024

Sevier County, TN (WOKI) A Northview Junior Academy student has been charged with misdemeanor assault after threatening another student.

Officials with the Sevierville Police Department say school resource officers investigated a report of a Northview Junior Academy student threatening another student at the same school on Friday.

SPD reports the rumor was that there was going to be a school shooting that day, and if the victim told anyone, the suspect would slit the victim’s throat.

SPD confirmed it has consulted with the District Attorney’s Office regarding the misdemeanor assault charge of the student.

Additional information has not been released.

A Northview Junior Academy student has been charged with misdemeanor assault after threatening another student at the same school. (Courtesy: SPD on Facebook)
GatlinBURGER Week Returns to East Tennessee

GatlinBURGER Week Returns to East Tennessee

September 16, 2024

Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The grand celebration for the All-American classic burger known as GatlinBURGER Week is underway!

GatlinBURGER Week runs through Saturday, September 21 and features participating restaurants showing off their unique take on the classic burger, ranging from Italian-infused to Grecian-inspired and more.

Download the Visit Gatlinburg App to participate in the GatlinBURGER Week Challenge and cast your vote for your favorite burger and the chance to become an official Burger Master.

Burger Masters will win unique prizes and be entered for a chance to win the Grand Prize of a Gatlinburg getaway.

For a list of participating restaurants and to learn more about participating in GatlinBURGER Week, click here.

GatlinBURGER Week will run from Sept. 15 through Sept. 21. (Courtesy: WVLT)

Podcasts

What's happening