Category Archives: News Top Stories

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

The Knox County Engineering & Public Works and Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments to Hold a Job Fair

The Knox County Engineering & Public Works and Public Works and Parks and Recreation Departments to Hold a Job Fair

Knox County will host a job fair to fill open positions in the Engineering & Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments. It will be held Thursday at John Tarleton Park on Division Street from 1-3 p.m. Full-time positions available include laborers of different levels, mechanics, maintenance technicians, convenience center operators, inspectors, groundskeepers and construction…MORE

Governor Bill Lee Signs Historic Bill to Raise Teacher Pay, Protect Taxpayer Dollars

Governor Bill Lee Signs Historic Bill to Raise Teacher Pay, Protect Taxpayer Dollars

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee marked https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axsCBMGh6Ns the signing of the Teacher Paycheck Protection Act, https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB0281 a landmark bill that will give teachers the largest pay raise in state history and protect Tennessee teachers and taxpayers by ensuring that union membership dues are no longer collected by school districts.  “Teaching is more than just a career – it’s…MORE

TBI Investigation Leads to Indictment on Two Employees of Witt Utility District

TBI Investigation Leads to Indictment on Two Employees of Witt Utility District

Witt Utility District manager Benjamin Harris and his brother, Joseph Harris, Witt’s district water treatment operator, have been charged after an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The investigation began in July 2021 and ran through March of this year. The investigation found that Benjamin Harris had misappropriated at…MORE

Knox County Parks and Recreation Summer Park and Play Program Announced

Knox County Parks and Recreation Summer Park and Play Program Announced

Knox County Parks and Recreation Department is launching a new initiative for the summer called Park & Play to expand recreation and wellness access across Knox County. “Knox County has an incredible park system,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “It only stands to reason that Parks staff would find ways to expand recreation offerings…MORE

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to Attend Most KCS High School Graduations

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs to Attend Most KCS High School Graduations

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will attend most Knox County Schools’ graduation ceremonies over the next two weeks, keeping a promise he made to each public high school senior class. Throughout the school year, Mayor Jacobs visits graduating classes to share a message of encouragement about the importance of earning a high school diploma—whether a…MORE

Medic’s Annual Parrot Head Blood Donor Event Gets Underway Next Week

Medic’s Annual Parrot Head Blood Donor Event Gets Underway Next Week

It’s time for summer, and MEDIC is ready to kick things off with the annual Parrot Head Week from May 22 – 26. MEDIC will be serving cheeseburgers to throughout the week, and donors will receive a special edition t-shirt (while supplies last), Texas Roadhouse coupon, Salsarita’s coupon, and automatic entry to win one of…MORE

Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating a Fatal Crash in Sevier County

Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating a Fatal Crash in Sevier County

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash in Sevier County. It happened yesterday afternoon on Newport Highway when THP says a car driven by 23 year-old Kobe Jack crossed the highway into an SUV driven by 29 year-old Jesse Lohr, who swerved to avoid Jack’s car which still hit him head-on. Jack, who…MORE

Blogs