Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Over half a dozen dogs die in a house fire Thursday morning in Knox County.
Rural Metro Fire officials say the fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. at a home in the 8500 block of Old Rutledge Pike near Three Points Road.
Upon arrival, fire crews reported heavy fire from the front of the house and found the occupants already outside. They were able to stop the spread of the fire, but the home sustained heavy damage.
Rural Metro says ten dogs were inside the house and that, of those, only two were able to be saved.
One person was also taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
A Knoxville man is sentenced to spend 60 years behind bars for producing child pornography.
Knoxville Police were contacted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 2017 about a video of Matthew Estes and a 16-month-old victim that was posted on the dark web .
In May of that year, officials say KPD also received a video from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office that also showed Estes and the 16-month-old victim.
That video was found on a device belonging to a suspect who was charged with possessing child pornography.
On Tuesday, Estes, now 26, entered a plea agreement to plead guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and was sentenced to 720 months in jail. Once released, he will be on lifetime supervision and will be required to register with the state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man and woman are facing charges after authorities say they left children in a hot car to shop at Target .
Officers went to the store on Clinton Highway Monday after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was flagged down by someone who said two children were left by themselves in a parked SUV while it was 84 degrees outside.
The trooper was able to get one of the children, a nine-year-old, to open the door in order to help them. Officers say the two children were sweating profusely, had red cheeks and were hot to the touch.
Officers say 30-year-old Mariana Castro came outside after shopping and reportedly said she left both of the children unattended in the car because the one-year-old was sick and asleep.
During the investigation, police found she tried to cover up for 38-year-old Jose Llovera (yo-vera) by saying he was with the children in the car, but video footage showed both of them get out of the car and go inside the store about 20 minutes before officers arrived.
They are each charged with two counts of felony child abuse/neglect/endangerment. Additionally, Castro is also charged with false reports.
NASHVILLE, TN (WVLT – WOKI) – The Tennessee General Assembly announced it has passed the state’s nearly $60 billion budget on Wednesday.
The House and Senate passed a $59.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The new spending plan shows a 2% growth rate with efforts to improve public safety, invest in infrastructure, advance education, and more, according to Republican legislators.
However, Democrats feel the budget missed the mark on important issues for middle class families. Democratic Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) commented on the budget’s passage saying:
“Voters sent lawmakers to the Tennessee Capitol to cut costs for their families, improve our quality of life, and rebuild our crumbling middle class. But the legislature failed to meet the moment and this year’s budget is defined by the challenges it ignores. It does nothing to ease the burden on working families struggling with rising grocery prices, housing costs, and the loss of health coverage. In fact, Republican lawmakers blocked Democratic efforts to crackdown on gun violence, repeal the grocery tax, raise wages, and guarantee health coverage for all working families. They even slashed the governor’s own proposal to invest in affordable housing.
After passing the largest corporate tax break in Tennessee history just last year, working families were right to expect more from their state government. Instead, the biggest new initiative in the budget is a taxpayer-funded voucher scheme that hands $7,300 to 20,000 families already enrolled in private schools.Our families deserved better.”
The House and Senate passed a $59.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
“The legislative amendment makes fiscally responsible adjustments to the administration’s initial budget proposal by shifting $19.94 million in recurring allocations to non-recurring, allowing the state to better manage long-term spending obligations,” Republicans said.
Below is a look at the budget breakdown from state Republicans:
Grant Pool for Community Services
In the budget, a $42.5 million grant pool was created, with nonrecurring funds, for important emergency and community services. The grants include:
$20 million for Volunteer Fire Departments
$5 million for Rescue Squads
$5 million for Emergency Medical Services
$5 million for Senior Centers
$5 million for Local Museums for capital improvements
$2 million for Courthouse Restoration
$500,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank
Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene victims were provided $26 million nonrecurring for disaster relief in Northeast Tennessee and $20 million nonrecurring for local match funds for FEMA disaster relief.
Rural Hospital Support and Healthcare Investments
Lawmakers used TennCare Shared Savings to provide an additional $78 million to help hospitals, particularly in rural areas, with uncompensated care and $4 million to complete capital projects at county health departments.
Additional healthcare investments include:
$4 million recurring to increase pediatric dental rates
$3 million nonrecurring to the Adult Healthcare Safety Net
$500,000 nonrecurring to assist those living with epilepsy and their caregivers statewide
$1.4 million recurring to provide scholarships for the joint public-private partnership in the Medical School Early Acceptance Program between MTSU and Meharry Medical College
$1 million nonrecurring to Live Like Lou Foundation for ALS research
$1 million nonrecurring for Volunteers in Medicine
Safety and Security Improvements
The budget also provides additional allocations in safety and security:
$5.4 million nonrecurring to improve campus safety and security at the University of Memphis
$500,000 nonrecurring to establish and operate the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center
$400,000 nonrecurring to support the East Tennessee Regional Forensic Facility and Training Program
Major investments secured
In addition to the adjustments made to fund legislative priorities, the budget maintains investments proposed by Gov. Lee including:
$1 billion into the road fund to address the state’s transportation infrastructure needs
$62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding
$244 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises
$198.4 million for teacher bonuses in recognition of their hard work and dedication and for leading the nation in student achievement and growth
$35.6 million investment into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee’s reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history
$25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development
Expanding choices for parents
The special session-passed school choice bill initiative invests $145.9 million in Education Freedom Scholarships.
Sneedville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Hancock County following a fire early Tuesday morning that destroyed an historic building.
Officials with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office say the former Hancock County Jail, which was built in 1860 and located on Jail Street in Sneedville, caught fire around 3:00 a.m.
Despite a multi-agency response, fire officials declared the structure a “total loss.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire which they consider to be suspicious.
The building was also home to the Hancock County Historical and Genealogical Society and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Roane County, TN (WOKI) The Roane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for information following a fatal hit-and-run incident Tuesday on Harriman Highway.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deadly incident occurred in the 4200 block of Harriman Highway Tuesday morning where a car struck a pedestrian and left the scene.
RCSO is asking anyone who saw the incident or has information about the vehicle or driver involved to call the sheriff’s office at 865-717-4700.
Additional information was not released.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deadly hit-and-run happened in the 4200 block of Harriman Highway. (Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knox County Grand Jury has now indicted an Alcoa man for helping accused murder suspect Kenneth DeHart while he was on the run from police.
The Grand Jury returned with a true bill indictment against 46-year-old Maurice Donnell Warren for Accessory After The Fact in helping DeHart.
According to court records, Warren was helping DeHart while he was on the run for more than five days, buying him pre-paid cell phones at a store on Ray Mears Boulevard back in February of 2024.
DeHart is accused of shooting and killing Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop in Blount County.
Warren is scheduled for arraignment on May 19 in Knox County Criminal Court.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man with multiple outstanding warrants is now facing several additional charges in connection to Tuesday night’s shooting near Taylor Homes Road.
Knoxville police arrested and charged 19-year-old Gabriel Teams after fleeing a traffic stop in a stolen car.
KPD says the car, a black Honda Accord, was witnessed leaving the scene of a shots fired call in the area of Taylor Homes Road and Kenner Avenue. Nobody was struck or injured in the shooting.
In addition to multiple outstanding warrants, including for burglary, Teams is facing charges of auto theft, felony evading arrest and reckless endangerment, among others.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Wednesday the signing of Troy Henderson.
A guard from Chester, Va., Henderson is a four-time Virginia High School League (VHSL) all-state designee, including a two-time player of the year, and a three-time state champion.
“Our staff is excited for Troy and his family to join the Tennessee basketball program. He is a pass-first point guard with a great deal of toughness, both physically and mentally,” Barnes said. “Troy can really facilitate and is a three-level scorer with range on his jumper. He possesses a lot of the leadership qualities we look for in a point guard, which will help him at this level. Troy comes from a winning tradition in both high school and AAU ball, and has received excellent coaching throughout his life.”
Henderson, who totaled a 104-6 record across his four-year high school career, is rated a three-star prospect by both 247Sports and On3. The former tabs him the No. 26 point guard and the No. 12 player in Virginia in the class of 2025. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder initially signed with Fordham, but changed paths after a coaching change after the 2023-24 season. He totaled over 2,150 points in his high school career.
During a senior campaign in which he averaged 13.7 points, 6.0 assists 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, Henderson aided John Marshall High School to a 25-2 record and a VHSL Class 2 state title. The 107-81 victory over Graham High School featured a VHSL state championship team scoring record. Henderson, a VHSL Class 2 First Team All-State honoree, finished with 20 points, eight assists and three steals in the decision.
Previously, Henderson attended Lancaster High School for the first three years of his prep career. In each of his three seasons there, Henderson won both Northern Neck District Player of the Year and Region A Player of the Year. He was the VHSL Class 1 Player of the Year as both a sophomore and junior.
Henderson led Lancaster to back-to-back VHSL Class 1 state crowns during his final two years there. He scored a game-best 30 points, shooting 11-of-23 from the floor and 5-of-5 at the line, in a 65-59 win over Auburn High School in the 2024 final, adding seven rebounds and five steals to go along with the go-ahead three-point play with 1:12 left. That performance capped a junior campaign in which he ranked third in the state with 25.9 points per game, adding 5.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.1 steals per outing for a 26-2 team.
During Henderson’s sophomore year, Lancaster went 29-0 and concluded the season with a 62-40 title game triumph over George Wythe High School. He scored a game-high 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting and led all players with six rebounds. Henderson averaged 23.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game on the year, plus hit 71 3-pointers.
Before becoming the first Northern Neck District team ever to win back-to-back state titles, Lancaster fell in the state semifinals during Henderson’s freshman campaign, finishing 24-2 that season. He collected the first of three straight VHSL Class 1 First Team All-State nods that year. Across his three years at Lancaster, Henderson totaled over 1,800 points to shatter the program record of 1,452 that stood for 25 years. On the AAU circuit, Henderson competed for Team Loaded VA.
Tennessee has nine prior letter winners from the state of Virginia, with James Daniel III (2017-18) the most recent ones. Two other players from Virginia, Justin Jackson (2008-09) and Duke Crews (2006-08), have earned letters over the last three-plus decades.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT HENDERSON Paul Biancardi, ESPN Basketball Recruiting Director: “Troy Henderson is a tough, aggressive point guard. He has the ability to score at one end and defend at the other. Troy fits Rick Barnes‘ system as a player who will develop over four years and contribute to winning at Tennessee.”
Jamie Shaw, On3 Senior National Recruiting Analyst: “Troy Henderson is a tough-minded lead guard. He is a guy who elevated the floor of each team he has been on with his play at the point of attack. Henderson can touch the paint on-ball to put pressure on the defense. He defends with a purpose, sliding his feet with the ball and wanting to take on the challenge. His team this summer, Team Loaded VA, finished 19-1 on the Adidas 3SSB Circuit, making a run to the Final Four. He followed that up by going 25-2 with John Marshall for a national top-10 finish. Over the past 12 months, winning has followed Troy around.”
A student at Rockwood High School is arrested after making a threat.
Chief Deputy Tim Phillips with the Roane County Sheriff’s Office says school officials were made aware of a potential threat allegedly made by a student yesterday (Tuesday) morning.
Law enforcement responded to make sure everyone on campus was safe and Phillips said there was no immediate danger to students or staff. They identified the student and took them into custody
The investigation is on-going.
Official Press Release:
April 15, 2025
Roane County Sheriff’s Office Addresses Threat Made by Student at Rockwood High.
The Roane County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with Roane County Schools and 9th Judicial District Attorney Generals Office, is currently investigating a threat made by a student at Rockwood High. The safety of our students, school staff, and community remains our top priority.
On April 15, 2025 at 10:45, school officials were made aware of a potential threat allegedly made by a student. The incident was immediately reported to law enforcement, and officers responded promptly to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. The student involved has been identified and arrested. There is no immediate danger to students or staff at this time.
“Our agency takes all threats seriously and responds with swift and appropriate action,” said Chief Deputy Tim Phillips. “We appreciate the quick reporting by school personnel and the cooperation of students.”
We encourage parents to speak with their children about the seriousness of making threats, even if intended as jokes, and to report any suspicious behavior to school officials or law enforcement.
