Category Archives: Local News

TBI Issues Endangered Child Alert for White County Boy

TBI Issues Endangered Child Alert for White County Boy

Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have issued an Endangered Child Alert for a missing 3-year-old from White County. Kadon Wendt was last seen Tuesday in Sparta. Wendt is 3′1″ tall, weighs 30 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on where Kadon might be is urged to contact the…MORE

TBI Identifies Victim; Asks for Help in Solving Claiborne County Homicide

TBI Identifies Victim; Asks for Help in Solving Claiborne County Homicide

Claiborne County, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is asking for your help in solving a 30-year-old homicide out of Claiborne County. TBI says that skeletal remains found in 1986 have now been identified as those belonging to Jerry Harrison of Little Rock, Arkansas. Investigators say Harrison was 29 years old at the time…MORE

Some East Tennessee Communities are Getting a New 729 Area Code

Some East Tennessee Communities are Getting a New 729 Area Code

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission has added the area code 729 in East Tennessee to merge with the 423 area code. Officials say the 423 area code will run out of numbers by the fall of 2025. The new area code will ensure there are enough numbers for businesses and residents to serve the area.…MORE

Knoxville Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Magnolia Avenue UPDATE

Knoxville Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Magnolia Avenue UPDATE

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxville Police have identified the victim of Tuesday’s deadly car crash in East Knoxville. Police say 56-year-old Kevin Owens’ vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a traffic pole around 7:00 p.m. at Magnolia Avenue and Beal Bourne Street. Owens was pronounced dead at the scene. An eastbound lane of Magnolia…MORE

KCSO Investigates Fatal Crash in Powell UPDATE

KCSO Investigates Fatal Crash in Powell UPDATE

Powell, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says 22-year-old Timothy Hooks is facing charges after driving drunk and leaving the scene of a fatal single-car wreck on Collier Road. Hooks and passenger, 35-year-old April Satterfield, were traveling southbound on Collier Road at a high rate of speed when Hooks made an improper pass…MORE

New Details in the Fire that Destroys Green Acres Flea Market

New Details in the Fire that Destroys Green Acres Flea Market

New details in the fire that destroyed the Green Acres Flea Market Saturday night. Blount County building code officials say several of the buildings were listed as unsafe and people were barred from entering. The county cited the buildings for not being up to international fire and building codes and causing fire safety concerns, specifically…MORE

Woman Arrested in Blount County in Connection to the Murder of a Man in 2021

Woman Arrested in Blount County in Connection to the Murder of a Man in 2021

A woman is arrested in connection to the murder of 26 year-old John Willis, who was killed in 2021. The Alcoa Police Department says Heidi Litton was arrested yesterday (Monday) with 11 indictments. Another suspect, Steven Greene, was charged with criminal homicide in 2021 and pleaded guilty this year. APD officials say he cooperated with…MORE

The Location of the Super Regional is Announced by the NCAA

The Location of the Super Regional is Announced by the NCAA

The wait is over and we now know where the Vols Baseball team will play in the Super Regionals, they will play in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The NCAA making the announcement this morning. The committee has several criteria while considering host sites, they look at quality and availability of the facility, available accommodations and revenue potential.…MORE

Budget Plan for 2023-24 KCS School Year Will Promote Student Success

Budget Plan for 2023-24 KCS School Year Will Promote Student Success

Knox County Commission on June 5, 2023, approved the General County Budget, which included the $660.7 million Fiscal Year 2024 general purpose budget for Knox County Schools, as well as the county-wide Capital Improvement Plan (including district construction projects). The spending plan will make significant investments in crucial areas, including: “We are grateful for the…MORE

USPS to Host Knoxville Job Fairs

USPS to Host Knoxville Job Fairs

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The United States Postal Service is hosting two job fairs at a Knoxville post office this month. The job fairs are part of the Postal Service’s “Delivering for America” campaign, a 10-year plan aiming to expand its workforce. The job fairs are scheduled for June 7th and June 29th from 10 a.m.…MORE

Study: Tennessee Ranks Among 2023′s Best Economies in the U.S.

Study: Tennessee Ranks Among 2023′s Best Economies in the U.S.

Nashville, TN (WOKI/WVLT) Tennessee puts another point in the economic “win” column. A new study from WalletHub finds the Volunteer State has the 15th best economy among states in the U.S. for 2023. WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength to include GDP…MORE

Greeneville Police Searching for Missing Teen

Greeneville Police Searching for Missing Teen

Greeneville, TN (WOKI) The Greeneville Police Department is asking for your help in finding a missing 15-year-old girl. GPD officials say Brianna Weems was last seen leaving her home on Cherrydale Drive in Greeneville at 8:15 Monday morning, June 5. Police report that she was riding a greenish-blue bicycle and possibly wearing black leggings. If…MORE

Police Uncover Over a Pound of Meth in Sweetwater Woods

Police Uncover Over a Pound of Meth in Sweetwater Woods

Sweetwater, TN (WOKI) Over a pound of meth hidden in the woods in Sweetwater is seized by law enforcement in Monroe County. Multiple law enforcement agencies executed a search warrant Friday, June 2 on a property on Sweetwater Vonore Road. The Monroe County Sheriff’s office says meth was found in the woods on the property…MORE

TDOT Announcing Lane Closures in Sevier County Expected to Last Until the End of July

TDOT Announcing Lane Closures in Sevier County Expected to Last Until the End of July

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has announced road work on Dolly Parton Parkway (SR 35/US 411) beginning Tuesday, June 6. Motorists should expect delays during heavy traffic periods and be alert for changing traffic patterns. TDOT has provided the following information on the project. Motorists traveling on SR-35 (Dolly Parton Parkway/US 411) in Sevier County…MORE

Knoxville Police Identify the Man Killed in Fatal Downtown Crash

Knoxville Police Identify the Man Killed in Fatal Downtown Crash

Knoxville Police have identified the man killed in a fatal downtown accident. They say 20 year-old Damien Sherwood was killed in Wednesday afternoon’s accident which involved two cars and a KAT bus. Sherwood reportedly attempted a U-Turn on the bridge hitting the bus then hit a Jeep turning onto Main Street. A woman in the…MORE

A Budget Compromise Between Knox County Mayor and Sheriff will Increase Patrol and Correction Officer Pay more than Mayor’s Proposed 8% Increase

A Budget Compromise Between Knox County Mayor and Sheriff will Increase Patrol and Correction Officer Pay more than Mayor’s Proposed 8% Increase

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Sheriff Tom Spangler reach a budget compromise which will see Patrol officers pay increase to $51,100, making them the fourth-highest in pay in East Tennessee and Corrections officers to $50,100 making them the second-highest in pay in East Tennessee. This means starting Patrol Officers will be making 30% higher…MORE

Louisville Woman Arrested for Firing Shots at Sanitation Workers

Louisville Woman Arrested for Firing Shots at Sanitation Workers

Louisville, TN (WOKI) A 42-year-old Louisville woman is arrested Wednesday after firing a shotgun in the direction of two sanitation workers attempting to pick up her trash. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year-old Theresa Reynolds reportedly fired two rounds at the workers, one of which struck the passenger door of their truck. Officers responded…MORE

Maryville Police Searching for Missing Teen

Maryville Police Searching for Missing Teen

Maryville, TN (WOKI) The Maryville Police Department is asking for help in locating a missing 16 year old girl. Kena Reed is a Black girl with red dreadlocks and brown eyes. She stands at 5-feet-seven-inches and was last seen on McCammon Avenue on Tuesday, May 23. Police say she may be in the East Knoxville…MORE

Fire Crews Called to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg UPDATE

Fire Crews Called to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg UPDATE

UPDATE (May 31): One week from a fire in the BirdVenture attraction at Anakeesta, the cause of the blaze is being released by investigators. The fire has been ruled an accident. Investigators say the fire was caused by “spontaneous combustion” from construction work on the owl house portion of the new area at the theme…MORE

Roads Reopen Following Deadly Downtown Knoxville Crash

Roads Reopen Following Deadly Downtown Knoxville Crash

Roads in downtown Knoxville reopened following a deadly crash around 1:00 Wednesday afternoon. Knoxville Police Department officials report two cars and a KAT bus were involved in a crash on Henley Street. University of Tennessee officers saw an Infiniti sedan try to make a U-turn on the Henley Street Bridge but hit a KAT bus…MORE

Rural Metro is Investigating an East Knox County House Fire

Rural Metro is Investigating an East Knox County House Fire

Rural Metro is investigating a house fire in East Knox County. It happened last night (Tuesday) in the 8100 block of Clay’s Corner. Crews found flames coming from the front of the home which suffered smoke and water damage. The resident made it out and several kittens and cats were rescued from the home. The…MORE

AAA says the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers is Underway

AAA says the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers is Underway

If you have a teen driver, highway officials say now is the time to start talking with them about the dangers of being on the road. Officials say we’re officially in what’s known as the 100 deadliest days of the year. Triple A says from Memorial Day through Labor Day more teens are involved in…MORE

“A cool place to be,” Buc-ee’s Sevierville Location to Open Soon

“A cool place to be,” Buc-ee’s Sevierville Location to Open Soon

Sevierville, TN (WVLT/WOKI) Boasting 74-thousand square feet, over 100 gas pumps, and one friendly beaver with all the trappings, Buc-ee’s Sevierville location is tentatively set to open on June 26. The long-awaited travel center is part of I-40′s Exit 407: The Gateway to Adventure. Included in that project is an entertainment and shopping district, a…MORE

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Shooting at Victor Ashe Park (UPDATE)

Knoxville Police are Investigating a Shooting at Victor Ashe Park (UPDATE)

UPDATE: NewsTalk 98.7 (WOKI) is learning more now about a shooting that occurred Monday afternoon (5/29) at Victor Ashe Park on Bradshaw Road. Knoxville Police Department officials say the shooting was the result of a “transaction” turned robbery. KPD reports the gunshot victim arranged to make a transaction with two other individuals in the park…MORE

TBI Charges State Prison Inmate with Murder

TBI Charges State Prison Inmate with Murder

A months-long investigation ends in a murder charge for a state prison inmate in Northeast Tennessee. Forty-eight year old Gregory Barner has been charged with first degree murder in the death of fellow inmate 70-year-old Robert Henry Hicks Jr. back in January; Barner was served the indictment on Thursday, May 25 at the Northeast Correctional…MORE

Area East Tennessee Pools Opening for Season this Memorial Day Weekend

Area East Tennessee Pools Opening for Season this Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend has many of us looking to the water. Community swimming pools and splash pads opening across East Tennessee. The Oak Ridge pool will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. today (Friday) through Monday, after that will be regular operating hours. In Knoxville, Inskip Pool and Karns Pool both open tomorrow…MORE

June Means Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students in Blount County

June Means Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students in Blount County

Blount County, TN (WOKI) Students needing a meal next month as summer gets underway won’t go hungry in Blount County. Officials with Blount County Schools Nutrition Department have announced that they will provide free breakfast and lunch from June 1st to June 23rd, every Monday through Friday. There are no income requirements, and anyone 18…MORE

Comment Period Extended for the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan Environmental Assessment in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Comment Period Extended for the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan Environmental Assessment in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park extending the public comment period for the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan Environmental Assessment through June 4th. The additional time is being provided because the website was unexpectedly down May 19 to May 23. The trail management plan addresses visitor experience and safety, parking, and trail infrastructure rehabilitation for one…MORE

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has Died at the Age of 83

The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll has Died at the Age of 83

Tina Turner has died at 83. The Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s death was announced Wednesday on Instagram. Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich, according to her manager. She became a Swiss citizen a decade ago. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of…MORE

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigating is Looking into a Chase and Shooting Involving Law Enforcement that Leaves One Person Dead

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigating is Looking into a Chase and Shooting Involving Law Enforcement that Leaves One Person Dead

An investigation is underway following a chase and shooting in Cocke County that leaves a woman dead and an officer injured. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating Tuesday’s incident that involved a Parrottville Police Department officer and a Cocke County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The woman, Whitney Fox, reportedly led the officers on a chase…MORE

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