Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after a house fire Tuesday in Rocky Hill.
Rural Metro Fire crews responded to the report of a house fire in the 7700 block of Queensbury Drive.
Rural Metro Fire officials say crews found a single-family home on fire with heavy smoke coming from the garage and eaves. They say no one was home when the fire broke out and believe that the home was undergoing a remodel.
Rural Metro says crews made a forced entry through the front door to extinguish the fire, but the home sustained heavy damage.
Rural Metro Fire responds to a house fire Tuesday in Rocky Hill (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Benny Smith, the longtime general manager of the University of Tennessee’s student radio station, is retiring.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Smith said he intends to retire at the end of the year.
Smith has worked at WUTK for almost 20 years, and during his time at the station, it received several awards, including “Knoxville’s Best Radio Station.”
As part of his statement, Smith thanked the students, volunteers and community members who supported him while at the station, citing future changes planned for WUTK as the impetus for his retirement.
After a great deal of consideration and discussion with my family, I made the decision to retire as general manager of WUTK. I will remain an employee through the end of the year and will work with university leadership to ensure a smooth transition.
I have served the Knoxville community for nearly 20 years at WUTK, and that service has been a blessing. It has been a dream come true to mentor a generation of eager student broadcasters and to nurture a local music scene full of kind, creative people that help make our city a vibrant and special place.
With the changes coming to WUTK, for me it was the right time personally to make this move. I want to thank the students, volunteers, and community members that showed me so much support during this process. My only request is that they continue to show the same level of support for WUTK now and in the future.
First and foremost, I am a Vol For Life. I love the University of Tennessee, and I will continue to be a joyful part of its alumni community. I am leaving knowing that I gave my all for Tennessee. I am looking forward to what comes next. Stay tuned. – Benny Smith
WUTK began broadcasting in 1982.
The University of Tennessee campus (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are investigating a shooting at Ridgebrook Apartments in the Mechanicsville area.
Officers arrested 39 year-old Jacob Brown who reportedly fired a round at three people Monday night following an argument near the front entrance.
Officers confronted Brown who went into an apartment and jumped out of a second-floor window. He was found a short time later and officers recovered the firearm he used.
Brown has an extensive criminal history and a previous felony conviction from a 2003 theft.
He was charged with aggravated assault and felon in possession of a weapon.
According to KPD, the arrest happened Monday night outside of Ridgebrook Apartments.(Frankly Media)
Knoxville Area Transit is making some big changes to its bus routes.
You’ll see those take effect next month. KAT wants you to be able to take a look and see how the changes could affect you.
You can go to https://katbus.com/ to download their app to view KAT Reimagined Bus network preview.
KAT is planning to hold various events highlighting these changes. Leaders say they want to make things as smooth as possible for passengers so the new routes, which start on August 26th, will be free to ride for the first two weeks while riders get used to the new routes.
KAT buses suspend operations due to dangerous road conditions (Courtesy: WVLT)
A third oversized load will be on the move in East Tennessee this week.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation says there will be rolling roadblocks for the oversized load tomorrow (Wednesday) as it works its way from Knoxville to Kingsport.
They will be on I-40 East at Exit 398 (Strawberry Plains) from midnight-3 a.m., I-81 North at Exit 23 (Mosheim) from 3-6 a.m. and I-81 North at Exit 59 (Kingsport) from 6-9 a.m.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is rescinding disciplinary action against Clinton High School.
The school reported that one of their players wasn’t eligible to play but it turns out he was eligible, so the school does not have to forfeit their wins for the 2023 season and they don’t have to pay the almost $12,000 they were ordered to pay for the violation.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is rescinding disciplinary action against Clinton High School.
The school reported that one of their players wasn’t eligible to play but it turns out he was eligible, so the school does not have to forfeit their wins for the 2023 season and they don’t have to pay the almost $12,000 they were ordered to pay for the violation.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An extension cord is reportedly to blame for a house fire Monday morning in East Knox County.
Rural Metro firefighters responding to the scene in the 3800 block of Strong Road around 8:20 a.m. reported seeing smoke coming from the home.
Rural Metro officials say firefighters quickly extinguished a fire found venting through a crawl space. They say the room in which the fire started suffered significant damage while the remainder of the house suffered smoke and heat damage.
Fire officials say an extension cord was noted as the possible source of the fire and that no one was home at the time of the incident.
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) Firefighters in Pigeon Forge are grieving the loss of one of their own on Sunday.
Officials with the Pigeon Forge Fire Department say firefighter 20-year-old Aaron Huss died Sunday night, July 14 in a motorcycle crash on I-40 in Knox County.
The department, along with troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, escorted Huss Monday from the Knox County medical examiner’s office to a funeral home.
A Pigeon Forge firefighter died in a motorcycle crash Sunday night, according to the Pigeon Forge Fire Department. (Courtesy: Kyle Grainger, WVLT)
It’s no secret that 11-time Billboard Music Award-winner Morgan Wallen has remained loyal to his Tennessee roots throughout his career. Growing up in Sneedville, Tennessee, before moving to Knoxville as a teenager, Wallen’s affinity for the University of Tennessee Vols has inspired hits such as “Tennessee Fan” and “Had Me By Halftime,” while he continues to cheer on his favorite team between tour stops.
Now Wallen, celebrated by Philadelphia Inquirer as a “savvy showman,” is bookending his Pollstar and Billboard-awarded Country Tour of the Year, One Night At A Time, with a show he’s always wanted to headline: Neyland Stadium. Produced by Live Nation, on Sunday, Sept. 22, Wallen will be joined by special guests HARDY and fellow Tennessee-native ERNEST with tickets going on-sale at 11 AM EST this Wednesday, July 17. Available at MorganWallen.com.
“I’ve had the honor of playing in a lot of college, MLB and NFL stadiums the past two years, but getting to play to my hometown at Neyland Stadium, nothing tops this for a boy from East Tennessee,” shares Wallen, who reactivated his Instagram this morning to share the news.
Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, guided backstage tour, group photo on the stage, invitation to the Morgan Wallen VIP Lounge, VIP-exclusive gift item and more. VIP package contents vary based on the offer selected. For more information, visit vipnation.com.
Wallen recently returned stateside following his BST Hyde Park London headlining debut alongside openers Riley Green, ERNEST, Ella Langley, Alana Springsteen, Zandi Holup and more. Becoming the largest country concert ever held in the U.K. with over 50,000 attendees, Wallen’s performance left The Times noting “America’s biggest country star charms Hyde Park” as Billboard added Wallen established himself “as a key figure in heightening country music’s global reach.”
While in the U.K., Wallen also released fan-favorite “Lies Lies Lies” after originally recording it at London’s Abbey Road Studios for his digital series Abbey Road Sessions on Dec. 5, 2023. With Music Row critic Robert Oermann declaring it a “lovelorn lament,” Billboard opined “the angst-fueled ballad offers a vessel for the soulful nuances in Wallen’s Tennessee twang.”
With a portion of every ticket purchased to his live shows benefiting The Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF), the nonprofit recently donated $100,000 to the community of Jefferson City to improve and renovate two local baseball fields. With $80,000 going toward Roy Harmon Field via the City Parks Department and $20,000 toward New Market Field via Jefferson City Little League, the renovations include new infields, bases, dug outs, press boxes, backstop padding, fencing and more. Read more HERE.
With just ten dates remaining on One Night At A Time in the U.S., Wallen will kick-off his first-ever European tour on Aug. 28 in Stockholm, Sweden. The seven show run will include additional stops in Copenhagen, Denmark; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Glasgow, U.K. and more before concluding with two back-to-back nights in Dublin, Ireland.
Morgan Wallen One Night At A Time 2024 Remaining U.S. Tour Dates: Thurs, July 25 // Arlington, TX // AT&T Stadium* ~ @ = Fri, July 26 // Arlington, TX // AT&T Stadium* # @ = Thurs, Aug 1 // Kansas City, MO // GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium* ? @ < Fri, Aug 2 // Kansas City, MO // GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium* % @ < Thurs, Aug 8 // Las Vegas, NV // Allegiant Stadium* ~ @ < Fri, Aug 9 // Las Vegas, NV // Allegiant Stadium* % @ < Sun, Sept 22 // Knoxville, TN // Neyland Stadium * & $ Sat, Oct 5 // Tampa, FL // Raymond James Stadium* TBD Thurs, Oct 18 // Charlotte, NC // Bank of America Stadium* TBD Fri, Oct 19 // Charlotte, NC // Bank of America Stadium* TBD
