MEIGS COUNTY – Two people face felony human trafficking charges following a six-month investigation by special agents assigned to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Unit.
Agents began investigating Tristin Epperson and Clarissa McKinney in early 2024, after receiving information concerning their interactions with a juvenile.
On Thursday, the Meigs County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Epperson (DOB 4/19/1999) with one count of Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor, six counts of Statutory Rape, and one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The grand jury returned indictments charging McKinney (DOB 7/30/1991) with one count of Commercial Sex Trafficking of a Minor, six counts of Facilitation of Statutory Rape, and one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
On Monday, authorities arrested and booked both into the Meigs County Jail. The court set Epperson’s bond at $100,000, while McKinney was released on her own recognizance.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (Courtesy: TBI)
Knoxville – As Knox Countians head to the polls on Thursday, the Election Commission wants to issue a few reminders.
TIMES FOR VOTINGPOLLS ARE OPEN ON THURSDAY FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM. Any voter in line by 8:00 pm will be allowed to vote.
THE BALLOT
Voters will be asked “In which Primary do you wish to vote?”
Voters will be able to choose a Republican ballot, a Democratic ballot, or a general only ballot https://knoxcounty.org/election/.
All voters are highly encouraged to review the ballot in advance and follow instructions as presented on the ballot. Sample ballots can be found on the home page at
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
A photo ID issued by the State of Tennessee (such as a driver’s license) or the Federal Government (such as a passport) is required to vote, unless an exemption applies. Election workers are trained to ask for your photo identification prior to being issued a ballot. Driver licenses from other states are not acceptable forms of ID for voting in the state of Tennessee.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The fourth year of the Josh Heupel era has arrived as Tennessee football officially reports for preseason camp on Tuesday with its first practice set for Wednesday morning at Haslam Field. The Volunteers will hold their annual media beginning at 12:45 p.m. ET Tuesday.
Heupel takes the podium first followed by defensive coordinator Tim Banks and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle. The coaches press conference will be streamed live on Tennessee Athletics’ YouTube channel as well as @Vol_Football X and Facebook.
Select players will then speak to the media, including redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, before taking their annual team photo in Neyland Stadium.
The beginning of preseason camp puts a wrap on the Vols’ two-month offseason program. The team enjoyed a week away from workouts before returning to the building. Tennessee will work out in helmets and shorts on Wednesday and practice again on Thursday and Saturday.
The Vols will have nine members from their #RockyTop24 signing class going through their first practice, though most of the class enrolled in January and went through spring ball.
Tennessee welcomes back 10 “super” seniors who will be participating in their final preseason camp, including offensive guard Javontez Spraggins and wide receiver Bru McCoy. Both were limited in the spring while recovering from injuries sustained last fall. Six offensive linemen who have started games are back on the roster led by preseason first-team All-American center Cooper Mays, Spraggins and offensive tackle John Campbell Jr.
Heupel’s fourth fall in Knoxville will also see the Vols sport one of the deepest defensive units in the country. Five of Tennessee’s top seven leaders in tackles for loss last year are back, ignited by preseason first-team All-American edge rusher James Pearce Jr. Pearce was first in the SEC in sacks (10) and third in tackles for loss (14.5) a year ago. The new-look secondary features FBS transfers Jermod McCoy (Oregon State), Jalen McMurray (Temple) and Jakobe Thomas (MTSU) and standout returnees Andre Turrentine, Jourdan Thomas and Rickey Gibson III.
Heupel has produced a 27-12 overall record in three seasons and a 20-6 mark since 2022, representing the Vols’ best two-year stretch since 2003-04. The 2024 season is his seventh as a head coach as his 55 career victories are eighth nationally since 2018.
Banks’ steady leadership at defensive coordinator over the past three seasons has seen Tennessee emerge as one of the nation’s most aggressive and productive units. UT has racked up 297 tackles for loss during Banks’ tenure, which leads the SEC during that span. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Vols are issuing just 3.24 yards per rush. That figure is the eighth-best mark in the nation and leads the SEC.
Halzle is entering his fourth year on staff and his second as offensive coordinator. The two highest passer rating seasons in UT history have occurred under his watch. Vol signal callers have thrown only 11 interceptions since 2021, which is the fewest in the country over that span.
Tennessee opens the 2024 campaign at home on Aug. 31 versus Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Limited single-season game tickets remain on sale for select home games at AllVols.com. Season tickets are sold out for the second straight season, a year after the Vols led the SEC in accumulated attendance (713,405) and average attendance (101,915). Fans interested in purchasing future new season tickets can fill out the 2025 season ticket interest form.
Investigators are currently searching for 14-year-old Lurvin-Danelia Galeas Brizuela who was reported missing by her parents on Wednesday. She was last seen at approximately 10:00 am on that date. Family believes she may be in the company of 21-year-old Esteban Ranganal who has a distinctive tattoo on his left forearm.
Investigators and family are concerned for her safety. Lurvin-Danelia is approximately 5’7” tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
Lurvin-Danelia was last seen wearing a black crop-top, with blue pants, and florescent Crocs.
The MPD is asking anyone with information concerning Lurvin-Danelia’s location to contact police immediately through the dispatch center at 423-585-2701.
In the early morning hours (Monday), unknown suspects utilized a heavy-duty truck to break into a West Knoxville Bank ATM.
The ATM was a stand alone unit and not attached to the bank building. During the burglary of the ATM money cartridges and us currency were stolen. The suspect(s) fled the scene of the burglary on foot. At this time the investigation is still ongoing.
If anyone has any information they feel would be useful to Detectives they’re asked to call the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Unit at 865-215-2243.
Over 31,000 people cast their ballots during early voting in the August 1st, 2024 Knox General, State & Federal Primary and Town of Farragut Municipal Elections.
Just over 2,000 of those votes were absentee votes cast.
If you missed early voting but still want to cast your ballot in the race for U.S. Senate and House races as well as Representatives among others, you can vote on Election Day from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Also, the first day to request an absentee mail ballot for the November 5th Presidential Election is August 7th.
Morristown, TN (WOKI) Police in Morristown are asking for help finding a missing teen who may be with a 21-year-old man.
Investigators are searching for 14-year-old Lurvin-Danelia Galeas Brizuela who was reported missing by her parents on Wednesday. Investigators and family are concerned for her safety; they say she may be accompanied by 21-year-old Esteban Ranganal.
Lurvin-Danelia is described as 5’7″ tall, weighing 130 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black crop top, blue pants, and florescent Crocs.
Ranganal has a distinctive tattoo on his left forearm that appears to include the name and birthdate of the missing girl.
Anyone with information on the missing girl’s whereabouts is asked to call the Morristown Police Department through the dispatch center at 423-585-2701.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) This Wednesday, July 31, you can help save a life and get a ticket to Anakeesta!
MEDIC Regional Blood Center is offering the free ticket to Anakeesta during this one day only event.
Donors will also receive a special edition summer beach towel and a Texas Roadhouse coupon. All incentives are while supplies last and first come, first served. This applies to donations made at mobile drives and at donation centers.
Those wishing to make an appointment can do so here.
Gatlinburg has summer fun for everyone. (Courtesy: WVLT / Marisa Rios)
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was recognized among the nation’s best college football players entering the 2024 season as one of 80 individuals named to the preseason watch list for the 88th Maxwell Award, which is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player in the country.
Iamaleava is the only player on the watch list that is not at least a sophomore in terms of athletic eligibility. The redshirt freshman signal caller is among 15 players from the Southeastern Conference and one of 41 quarterbacks who made the preseason list for the prestigious award. The full 2024 Maxwell Award watch list can be seen HERE.
The Long Beach, California, native enters his second season with the program and is poised to be the Vols’ starter in 2024 after serving as the backup quarterback and playing in five games during his true freshman season in 2023.
Iamaleava arrived at Tennessee as the No. 1 prep player in the country according to On3 for the Class of 2023 and capped his debut season in Knoxville by leading the Volunteers to a convincing victory over No. 17 Iowa in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Thrust into his first-career start, Iamaleava led the Big Orange to a 35-0 shutout victory in which he was named MVP after accounting for 178 yards of total offense and four touchdowns against a stout Hawkeye defense. By doing so, Iamaleava became the first UT true freshman quarterback to win a bowl game since Peyton Manning beat Virginia Tech in the 1994 Gator Bowl.
Manning is the only Tennessee player to win the Maxwell Award, doing so in 1997. Hendon Hooker was a finalist in 2022 while his top target Jalin Hyatt was a semifinalist in that same year.
Iamaleava finished his freshman season completing 28-of-45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions while adding 71 rushing yards on 20 carries with three scores.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 26, 2024. The winner of the 88th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12, 2024. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates. Following is the remaining 2024 preseason watch list calendar:
Mon., July 29: Maxwell Award Tue., July 30: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy Wed., July 31: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Thu., Aug. 1: Paul Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy Fri., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award
For more information about the NCFAA and its college football awards, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter @NCFAA.
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr. First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp) Lott Trophy Watch List
