Knoxville Police say collaborative efforts to reduce gun violence in the area are paying off.
Officials say “If you look at our numbers year-to-date right now, all fatal and non- fatal are down 33 percent compared to the same time in 2023.”
Taking a look at historical data, this far into the year, KPD reported a three-year average of 47 non-deadly shooting victims and a five-year average of 45 victims.
KPD patrols three districts: East, West, and Central. In those areas, KPD selected three microzones that been impacted the most by gun violence over the last five years, upping efforts.
In the East District, a 7 and a half-block microzone located between Martin Luther King Avenue and Chestnut Street has had no shootings in the last 10 months.
The project’s focus is not only on reducing gun violence, but to provide better quality of life by working with other city partners.
Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles is speaking out after the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized his cell phone.
His phone was taken August 2nd, the day after he beat Courtney Johnston in the U.S. House primary race for District 5.
In a post on X by Ogles yesterday (Tuesday), he says “It is his understanding that the FBI is investigating the same well-known facts surrounding these filings.” He says that it’s been widely reported for months that his campaign made mistakes in its initial financial filings and they have worked diligently with attorneys and reporting experts to correct the errors and ensure compliance going forward.
Ogles added that he will be cooperating with the FBI as he claims to have been doing with the Federal Election Commission.
He says he’s confident all involved will conclude that the reporting discrepancies were based on honest mistakes, and nothing more.
Ogles has represented the district since last year which includes Lewis, Maury and Marshall counties and parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties in Middle Tennessee.
As the elected primary Republican candidate, Ogles will now face the unopposed candidate in the Democratic Primary, and three independent candidates.
Cumberland County, TN (WOKI) A detective with the Crossville Police Department is indicted on an assault charge following an investigation.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say special agents were asked to investigate an allegation that Detective Tyrel Lorenz assaulted a man after a criminal interview on June 3.
TBI says the investigation found that Lorenz used physical force while arresting the man who was then taken to a local hospital, treated and released.
Lorenz turned himself in Monday, August 5 at the Cumberland County Jail following his indictment on one count of assault; he has since been released pending his next court date.
Crossville Police Department detective charged with assault, TBI says. (Frankly Media)
Electric Campsite – Interagency Senior/Access Pass
$12
$15
$18
$23
Group Campsite
$39
$48
$58
$68
The park is accepting public comment on the proposed fee increases now through September 4. Following public engagement and National Park Service approval, officials said new fees up to the amounts outlined above could be implemented as soon as October 2024.
Comments can be submitted by email or by mail to: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park / 91 Bartlett Park Road / Middlesboro, KY 40965 / Re: Fee Increase Comment.
NPS officials said fees for guided tours and shelter rentals have not changed in at least 15 years. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Loudon County, Tn (WOKI) Authorities in Loudon County are warning citizens of an ongoing telephone scam plaguing the area.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office says it is continuing to field calls from citizens regarding phone calls they are receiving from a man claiming to be employed by the Sheriff’s Office. LCSO says the man is “spoofing” his phone number to appear as if he is calling from their non-emergency dispatch number, telling respondents that they owe money and to meet him or they will be arrested.
Officials say neither the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office nor the Lenoir City Police Department will ever call and ask for money.
If you think you are being scammed, LCSO says simply hangup and call the non-emergency dispatch line at 865-458-9081 and ask to speak to a deputy.
LCSO says an unknown man is claiming to be a high ranking member of the Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy: LCSO)
DALLAS – Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson has been named to the 2024 Doak Walker Award Watch List, as announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Tuesday afternoon.
The award is presented annually to the top running back in college football and is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native makes his first appearance on the esteemed list after a productive 2023 campaign. Sampson ranked second on the team in rushing, recording 106 carries for 604 yards while scoring a team-high seven rushing touchdowns. The junior averaged 5.7 yards per carry, which ranked second on the team and eighth in the SEC. He ranked third on the team in all-purpose yards with 779, adding 17 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown grab.
Last season, he also totaled two 100-yard rushing games against UTSA and No. 17 Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.
Off the field, Sampson is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a member of the VOLeaders Academy.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November, as well. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
The recipient of the 2024 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 12, 2024.
A complete list of Tennessee’s preseason honors can be found below.
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr. First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) Walter Camp Award Watch List Lott Trophy Watch List Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List Walter Camp Award Watch List
The latest data on homelessness in Knoxville suggests that high rent prices and a low number of housing options are contributing to the problem.
The Knoxville Homeless Management Information System is a partnership between the city, the University of Tennessee and the Knoxville Knox County Homeless Coalition. The group tracks homeless data and recently released 2024′s second-quarter numbers.
According to KnoxHMIS, homelessness in the area is on the rise with a reported increase in homeless people from the beginning of this year into the second quarter up over 100 people.
KnoxHMIS tracks those numbers by counting how many people use their homeless services. 42% of the people in Knoxville who cannot find a place to live say there aren’t enough affordable options available. Rising rent prices are making the problem worse, in 2022, the National Association of Realtors listed the Knoxville market as number one for rent price increases. On average, over the last five years, 13% of Knoxville’s homeless population who worked with homeless services returned to homelessness after getting permanent housing.
Overall, the group claimed the problem would not be fixed until more and cheaper options became available in and around Knoxville.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says a Campbell County man is charged with murder after a body was found inside a vehicle alongside a road.
62-year-old Audie Green was found dead in a vehicle along Highway 25 West on July 17th. The TBI investigation determined 33-year-old Joshua Cox had been a passenger in the vehicle and “was the person responsible for Green’s death.”
TBI agents obtained a warrant for Cox, charging him with one count of second-degree murder. He was already being held at Campbell County Jail on unrelated charges.
Knox County Schools on Monday highlighted new security measures that are being implemented to enhance school safety in the 2024-25 academic year, as part of the district’s ongoing “Safe Schools, Safe Students” initiative.
At a news conference, Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk and Security Department Chief Jason Periard outlined three strategies to keep schools safe:
Staffing highly trained, armed officers in every school. This year, KCS has 120 School Security Officers (SSO’s) in district schools, as well as School Resource Officers (SRO’s) from partner agencies.
Individualizing safety plans to meet the specific needs of every school; and
Launching a new Text-A-Tip app to allow anonymous reporting of safety information and a timely response.
In connection with these strategies, KCS is taking several steps.
The Board of Education approved $600,000 in salary increases for SSO’s, which means starting pay will increase from $17.24 per hour to $19.16 per hour. The number of salary steps for SSO’s also increased from 14 to 20, which will allow for increased earnings over their career.
An additional $7 million in grant funding is being allocated to increase security. This includes funding to provide intrusion-resistant window reinforcements to every school by the end of the school year.
The district has identified a goal of adding 50,000 feet of perimeter fencing at schools, and last year installed more than 17,000 feet of fencing. That work will continue this year.
More than 25% of our schools will also begin the year with new, steel-reinforced concrete security bollards designed to protect students and staff during pick-up and drop-off.
More than 450 KCS staff members completed training for the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) certification for threat assessment, training that equips more individuals to focus on school safety and provide proactive supports for students.
The district is launching a new Text-A-Tip app, and a link has been pre-loaded on every student’s Chromebook. Reports will be monitored on a 24/7 basis by the KCS Operations Center to ensure the district is responding rapidly and intentionally to every notification. In addition, parents, students, and community members can download the app through Google Play and soon through the Apple Store.
On August 5, the KCS Security Department and school teams at Carter High and Fulton High are participating in active shooter drills with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Knoxville Police Department.
“We never lose sight of the fact that school safety is essential – for our students and our employees,” said Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk. “As Superintendent, my most important responsibility is maintaining safe and secure environments for every student and every school. I’m grateful for the work of Chief Jason Periard, of the KCS Security Division, along with the strong support of our partners at KCSO and KPD. Working together, they are committed to seeking continuous improvement in every aspect of our security operations.”
