Knox County Launches Website for Operation Hero’s Hill: A Community Effort to House Homeless Veterans
Knox County

Knox County Launches Website for Operation Hero’s Hill: A Community Effort to House Homeless Veterans

September 3, 2025

UPDATE: 9/3/25 (WOKI) – Knoxville, TN (WOKI) – Mayor Glenn Jacobs, along with Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk, visited the Associated General Contractors’ (AGC) Resource Valley Apprenticeship program yesterday (Tuesday). During the visit, they spoke with more than 200 students and participated in a hands-on portion of the construction process for Operation Hero’s Hill.

Operation Hero’s Hill will provide housing for 20 unhoused Veterans through the construction of tiny homes and a community center. The project brings together students from Knox County Schools’ Career and Technical Education programs and local trade experts to deliver hands-on training and real-world impact.

Original story: KNOXVILLE, TN (WOKI)—Knox County is proud to announce the official launch of the Operation Hero’s Hill website, a dedicated platform that provides information and updates about the county’s newest initiative to address veteran homelessness through the development of a tiny home village.

Operation Hero’s Hill will create 20 tiny homes for homeless veterans and deliver critical services to support their journey toward stability and independence. The site will also have a central community center with access to a computer lab, laundry facility, and a meeting space.

“Operation Hero’s Hill involves not only Knox County government, but also Knox County Schools, the VA, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, and partners in the non-profit and private sectors,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “Together, we’re working to ensure those who served our country have a place to call home.”

The initiative underscores Knox County’s commitment to honoring and supporting veterans while addressing the broader issue of homelessness in the region.

To learn more or find out how you can help, please visit www.OperationHerosHill.com.

State of Tennessee will Appeal a Gibson County Chancery Court Ruling Declaring Two Gun Laws Unconstitutional

State of Tennessee will Appeal a Gibson County Chancery Court Ruling Declaring Two Gun Laws Unconstitutional

September 3, 2025

The State of Tennessee will appeal a Gibson County Chancery Court ruling declaring two gun laws unconstitutional.

WVLT reporting Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says the state planned to appeal the ruling, citing a lack of clarity with the consequences of the lower court panel’s decision.

Following a lawsuit, a panel of judges in West Tennessee ruled last month two state firearm laws were unconstitutional: one was a ban on guns in public parks, and the other was a law against carrying a gun with the “intent to go armed.”

The AG’s office filed a motion for a stay on the ruling, allowing the law to remain enforceable while the appeal works its way through the legal system.

The Tennessee Firearms Association denounced the AG’s decision to appeal.

Dog Dies in West Knox County House Fire

Dog Dies in West Knox County House Fire

September 3, 2025

KNOXVILLE, TN (story courtesy of WVLT) – Rural Metro Fire said a dog died in a house fire Tuesday night.

According to Jeff Bagwell with Rural Metro, crews responded to a house fire in the 100 block of Farlow Road in West Knox County at around 9:27 p.m. There, they found flames coming from the center of the home through the roof.

Crews were able to make contact with the occupant, who said there was one dog missing.

Bagwell says crews found the dog, but it had died before being pulled from the home.

No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Additional information was not released.

Knoxville City Council Delays Vote to Sell Part of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth Foundation to Build a Sports and Rec Facility
WVLT

Knoxville City Council Delays Vote to Sell Part of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth Foundation to Build a Sports and Rec Facility

September 3, 2025

Knoxville City Council delays vote to sell part of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth to build a sports and recreation facility.

During last night’s (Tuesday) meeting, council members voted to delay the matter by four weeks to offer more conversations with the public. This comes after it was delayed two weeks at the meeting on August 19th. The next vote is set for September 30th.

Steve Diggs, the President and CEO of Emerald Youth Foundation, released a statement following the vote saying in part they’ve spoke to community leaders about a proposed facility in East Knoxville to serve city children and families. He says they respect City Council’s decision to postpone for four weeks to allow additional community feedback.

He says they remain committed to this deliberate and thoughtful process and appreciate the leadership of City Council and Mayor Kincannon.

KAT to Offer Tennessee Game Day Shuttles to UT Campus

KAT to Offer Tennessee Game Day Shuttles to UT Campus

September 2, 2025

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Knoxville, TN (WVLT) Knoxville Area Transit, also known as KAT, has announced the official schedule for getting fans to and from Neyland Stadium on UT game days.

KAT plans to run two extra services on game days on top of regular fixed routes: UT Football Shuttles and a Park and Ride Service at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum.

UT Football Shuttles

UT Football Shuttles will run three hours before kick off until game time, KAT said. Return services will start during the fourth quarter and run through an hour after the game.

Every home game, KAT will run shuttles from Market Square — specifically Krutch Park — to the Walters Life Sciences Building and back. Every SEC game, KAT is also planning to run a shuttle from Willow Avenue near Covenant Health Park.

The shuttles will cost $10 for a round trip and are cashless; those interested will need to book a ride on the Transit app.

Park and Ride

Those who need a place to park on game days have another option as well. KAT will be running shuttles from the Knoxville Civic Colosseum and Auditorium, with parking included.

The service, which will start three hours before kick off, will run $25 per car and includes a round trip shuttle to the game. The shuttles will pick people up between garages A and B and drop them off at the Walters Life Sciences Building.

Beyond both those options, KAT said regular routes will also be running.

University of Tennessee / Credit: UT Athletics
Six Arrested, Seven Potential Victims Recovered after Human Trafficking Investigation in Clarksville

Six Arrested, Seven Potential Victims Recovered after Human Trafficking Investigation in Clarksville

September 2, 2025

Clarksville, TN (WOKI) Six men have been arrested following a human trafficking investigation in Clarksville.

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say the arrests stem from an undercover operation launched August 16 aimed at addressing human trafficking in the Montgomery County area.

TBI says officers placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be linked to prostitution and commercial sex in order to identify and arrest individuals seeking to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.

Four of the suspects arrested were from Clarksville; the others were from Memphis and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. They were booked into the Montgomery County Jail:

  • Franklin Poe (DOB 08/03/1999), Memphis – Two counts Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. $15,000 bond.
  • Andre Johnson (DOB 03/02/1990), Fort Campbell, KY – One count each Possession of Firearm during Commission of Dangerous Felony, Solicitation of a Minor, Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. $145,000 bond.
  • Dashuan Ramey (DOB 11/22/1991), Clarksville – One count Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. $20,500 bond.
  • James Francis (DOB 09/02/1981), Clarksville – One count Promoting Prostitution. $25,000 bond.
  • Patrick Kugler (DOB 02/07/1995), Clarksville – One count Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. $5,000 bond.
  • Anthony Rice (DOB 06/02/1992), Clarksville – Two counts Trafficking for Sexual Servitude. $5,000 bond.

TBI adds the undercover operation also resulted in the recovery of seven potential victims of human trafficking.

“In an effort to identify human trafficking victims, law enforcement officials reached out to ads that had been placed on websites linked to prostitution and commercial sex ads,” the TBI said. “As a result of this part of the operation, seven individuals were recovered as potential victims of human trafficking and were offered services through an HT victim service organization.”

Teen Suspect in Deadly Harriman Shooting Identified

Teen Suspect in Deadly Harriman Shooting Identified

September 2, 2025

Roane County, TN (TBI / WOKI) UPDATE 9/2: The teenager arrested in connection to a homicide in Harriman is identified.

An investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Harriman Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office has resulted in the arrest 17-year-old Riley Pawlick of Lenoir City.

Pawlick reportedly shot and killed 18 year-old Holden Howse at a business in the 700 block of Roane Street Saturday after reportedly pistol whipping another teenager.

TBI agents and officers with the Harriman Police Department took Pawlick into custody later that day, charging him with one count of 2nd Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, and one count of Destruction of Evidence. He is being held in the Knox County Juvenile Detention Facility.

ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Harriman Police Department, and the 9th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has resulted in the arrest of a teenager in connection to a homicide.

On Saturday, at the request of 9th Judicial District Attorney General Russell Johnson, TBI agents began investigating the fatal shooting of Holden Howse (DOB 8/13/2007) at a business in the 700 block of Roane Street in Harriman. During the investigation, agents learned a 17-year-old male from Lenoir City shot and killed Howse after pistol whipping another teenager.

This afternoon, TBI agents and officers with the Harriman Police Department took the juvenile into custody, charging him with one count of 2nd Degree Murder, one count of Aggravated Assault, and one count of Destruction of Evidence. He is being held in the Knox County Juvenile Detention Facility.

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

Joey Aguilar Named Manning Award Star of the Week
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Joey Aguilar Named Manning Award Star of the Week

September 2, 2025

NEW ORLEANS – The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced Tuesday that Tennessee senior quarterback Joey Aguilar was one of eight FBS quarterbacks recognized as “Stars of the Week” for their performances during Week 1 of the college football season.

The Volunteer signal caller made his Tennessee debut in the Aflac Kickoff Game and led UT to a 45-26 victory over Syracuse on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Aguilar was 16-of-28 for 247 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added 34 rushing yards to finish with 281 yards of total offense. The Antioch, California, native has now thrown for over 200 yards in all 25 FBS starts of his career and is the FBS active career leader in total offense per game (288.2).

Aguilar fired the longest pass play in the SEC last week when he connected for a 73-yard bomb to Braylon Staley in the second quarter. He was one of only two Power Four quarterbacks to hit on a 70-yard pass play, joining USC’s Jayden Maiava.

College football fans can follow the Manning Award on social media (@ManningAward) and visit allstatesugarbowl.org to vote for what they think was the best performance from this past weekend. When voting closes on Thursday at 10 a.m. ET, the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.

The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting. Since the Manning Award started recognizing Stars of the Week in 2011, 570 different quarterbacks from 135 schools have been recognized. Seventy-four players were honored during the 2024 season.

Charges Pending after a 14 Year-Old is Killed in Claiborne County Crash

Charges Pending after a 14 Year-Old is Killed in Claiborne County Crash

September 2, 2025

Charges are pending against a 35-year-old woman after a deadly crash in Claiborne County.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol says a pick-up truck being driven by Tiffany Parker was traveling north on Welch Road just outside of Tazewell City Sunday night and she ran off the right side of the road and hit a large tree before overturning and coming to rest on the driver’s side.

Parker was injured, and a 14-year-old juvenile died in the crash.

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