A multi county police chase which started with a robbery suspect in Knox County and ends in Loudon County.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office says the suspect was taken into custody early Sunday morning after firing shots following the chase on Highway 70.
A suspect wanted on robbery charges led deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on a chase into Loudon County and when the suspect turned onto Highway 321 they hit a Lenoir City Police Department cruiser.
The suspect was boxed in and safely taken into custody. Fortunately, there were no injuries.
At 3:49pm Wednesday, the neighbors of 5201 Camelia Dr called 911 to report that the house was on fire. When Knox County Communications dispatched the KFD units, they reported that fire was coming out of the front window.
Crews arrived within minutes and saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the front of the home. Squad 14 was able to make quick entry and knock the fire down within minutes. Crews are still on scene overhauling and cleaning up. Fortunately, the fire was able to be extinguished quickly, the hot days can present additional challenges. Thankfully there was no one home at the time of the fire.
There are no injuries reported.
Investigators are on scene trying to determine a cause.
Wednesday, the City of Knoxville announced that Augusta Quarry would reopen to the public. It comes after a lengthy renovation and not long after a missing swimmer, who still has not been found, prompted a search effort from the Knoxville Fire Department.
The city closed the quarry in March of 2024 to carry out an extensive renovation project, which added new floating platforms, bathrooms, changing rooms and a walkway around the quarry.
On June 16, the Knoxville Fire Department announced it was on the lookout for a man who disappeared while swimming at Augusta Quarry while it was still closed. The search has since been scaled back; the person has not been found.
Wednesday, Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks told WVLT News that crews wouldn’t be at the quarry consistently, but people may see them doing the occasional shore search for the missing man or doing training exercises.
The additions to Augusta Quarry are aimed at making it easier to access and safer.
“Augusta Quarry didn’t even open to the public until 2017,” Urban Wilderness Coordinator Wes Soward said. “Even then, it was a raw experience. You’d have to make your way down a rutted old gravel quarry road, and parking was severely limited, so it was challenging just to get to the water. Now, it’s a safer environment, and a lot more family-friendly.”
Soward added that the city’s agreement with River Sports Outfitters, who will be an on-site vendor, means that life jackets will be available to borrow for free. Other watersports equipment, like paddleboards and inflatable tubes, will be offered to rent.
Other additions include:
Three bathrooms
A changing room
A water bottle refilling station
An outdoor shower
A path connecting a 38-vehicle parking lot with the overlook, trailheads, the new buildings and the water’s edge
A floating “beach” platform at the end of the walkway, lining the quarry lake’s southwestern edge, with ladders
A circular floating swim platform, also with ladders
An expanded overlook
The quarry will be open from 7:45 a.m. each day and close at 8 p.m. There will be staff there from 10 a.m. to close, but no lifeguards.
Las Vegas, NV (WOKI / WVLT) Dolly Parton is headed back to Las Vegas for the first time in more than 30 years!
The queen of country music will be performing six times at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace for Dolly: Live in Las Vegas. The shows are slated for December 4 through December 13, but tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement,” Dolly said. “I haven’t worked Vegas in years and I’ve always loved singing there. I’m looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there!”
Interested in catching Dolly in Vegas? Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Dolly Parton to perform in Las Vegas for first time in more than 30 years. (Courtesy: WVLT)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee was the only program in the nation to have three players named first-team All-Americans by Baseball America as starting pitcher Liam Doyle, first baseman Andrew Fischer and second baseman Gavin Kilen all earned recognition from the publication on Friday.
With Friday’s announcement, Doyle and Fischer have now both been named first team All-Americans by four different outlets (ABCA, Baseball America, NCBWA, Perfect Game).
Doyle finished his junior campaign with a 10-4 record and 3.20 ERA in 19 appearances (17 starts) and ranks second in the nation with a Tennessee program record 164 strikeouts. His 15.64 strikeouts per nine innings lead the NCAA.
One of the top prospects for the upcoming MLB Draft, Doyle was just the third Vol to ever garner SEC Pitcher of the Year honors and is also the third player in program history to be named a finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, joining UT legends Todd Helton (1995) and Chris Burke (2001). His impressive list of accolades also includes being named the Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year and the NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year.
Fischer put together one of the most complete offensive seasons in program history, leading the Vols in OPS (1.257), runs (70), home runs (25), RBIs (65), total bases (165), slugging percentage (.760), on-base percentage (.497) and walks (63). His 63 walks tied Chase Headley’s program record from 2005 while his 25 long balls led the SEC and are the second most in a single season in UT history.
The Manasquan, New Jersey, native, was the only player in the country to reach base in every game this season, getting on in all 65 contests for the Big Orange. Fischer’s marks in homers, walks, slugging percentage and total bases all rank in the top 20 nationally.
Kilen, another top 2025 draft prospect, made the most of his lone season on Rocky Top, leading the team with a .357 batting average and four triples. Kilen also ranked second on the team in OPS (1.112), homers (15), total bases (141) and slugging percentage (.671) despite missing 12 games in the middle of the season with a hamstring injury.
This marks the third All-America nod for the junior from Milton, Wisconsin, who was also a first-team All-SEC selection this season after racking up 32 extra-base hits and a career-high 46 RBIs.
The full Baseball America All-America teams can be found HERE while Tennessee’s complete list of postseason honors can be seen below.
Tennessee Baseball 2025 Postseason Honors
Levi Clark – Fr. – DH Perfect Game Freshman All-American – 1st Team
Dean Curley – So. – INF Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (2B)
Liam Doyle – Jr. – LHP Perfect Game Pitcher of the Year NCBWA District 3 Pitcher of the Year Golden Spikes Award Finalist Dick Howser Trophy Finalist ABCA All-American – 1st Team (SP) Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (SP) NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (SP) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (SP) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (SP) SEC Pitcher of the Year All-SEC – 1st Team (SP) Knoxville Regional Most Outstanding Player Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (SP)
Hunter Ensley – R-Sr. – OF ABCA All-American – 2nd Team (OF) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (OF) All-SEC – 2nd Team (OF) SEC All-Defensive Team (OF) SEC All-Tournament Team (OF)
Andrew Fischer – Jr. – 1B ABCA All-American – 1st Team (1B) Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (1B) NCBWA All-American – 1st Team (1B) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (1B) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 1st Team (1B) All-SEC – 1st Team (1B) Knoxville Regional All-Tournament Team (1B)
Gavin Kilen – Jr. – 2B/SS Baseball America All-American – 1st Team (2B) Perfect Game All-American – 1st Team (2B) NCBWA All-American – 3rd Team (2B) ABCA Southeast All-Region – 2nd Team (SS) All-SEC – 1st Team (2B)
Story courtesy of WVLT: KNOXVILLE, TN (WVLT) – Private schools have prepared for Gov. Bill Lee’s new school voucher program with nearly 40,000 families looking to cash in on the scholarships.
This coming school year, only 20,000 students will be granted scholarships from the program. State numbers show 244 private schools have opted-in to allow families to use the scholarships at their private school.
This includes all 10 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Knoville.
“It’s been very rewarding for the schools as well as the families of course,” interim superintendent for the Diocese of Knoxville, George Valadie, said. “There was a lot of leadup to it; a lot of education to our families, a lot of education of families in our parishes.”
The schools in this part of East Tennessee include Knoxville Catholic and Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Valadie added some families are not having to switch schools to get this scholarship.
“Some of the families who have applied and received vouchers were already enrolled,” Valadie said.
Some schools are having to put students on a waitlist with so many families trying to attend certain schools. Valadie said some schools are already full.
“We had some families reach out to a school and a specific grad that they were trying to get into, we were just full. But, another family reached out, a similar family, and the grade they wanted to get into was open,” Valadie said.
Valadie said how the process works of accepting students through the voucher program is that a family will reach out to the state and notify them of the school they’re looking to send their child to. Then, it falls on school leaders to accept them.
Valadie added some students have notified school leaders of their plans to attend, but others they hear about for the first time, so they will ask the family questions about the student before giving their decision.
Regardless of any factors, Valadie believes families should have this choice.
“They might not consider us. They may consider a different private school, but at least they can find the one that works best for their student, so I think that’s what matters,” Valadie said.
The deadline to apply for the program is June 13, and the enrollment deadline is July 15.
Ahead of a first vote by the Knoxville City Council on Mayor Indya Kincannon’s proposed sales tax increase, Kincannon released a breakdown of what that added money will support.
The proposal is for a half-percent increase to the Local Option Sales Tax. This tax allows local municipalities, like cities, to charge their own sales tax on top of the 7% that Tennessee already charges statewide. Currently, this tax in Knoxville is 2.25%, and the increase would put the city’s rate at 2.75%.
Kincannon said that this would put Knoxville on par with several surrounding counties, including Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson and Sevier counties.
If the increase is passed, the added money will go towards the Five-Year Neighborhood Investment Plan, which a spokesperson with the City of Knoxville said will ensure projects within that plan will happen in five years.
According to Kincannon, the plan prioritizes several infrastructure needs, including the following:
Sidewalks within one-mile of schools (Parental Responsibility Zones, or PRZ), impacting neighborhoods surrounding nearly half the schools in the city
Repairs to existing greenways, facilities and parks
Increasing road paving
1,000 affordable housing units
The following are some of the infrastructure upgrades included in the plan across Knoxville’s six districts:
District 1
Sidewalks
Young High Pike near Hedgeapple Lane – PRZ South-Doyle Middle School
Woodlawn Pike near Moody Avenue – PRZ Dogwood Elementary School
W. Martin Mill Pike near Chapman Highway
W. Martin Mill Pike near W. Moody Avenue
Chapman Highway near E. Young High Pike
Chapman Highway near Childress Street
Parks
Charter Doyle Park – playground equipment and dog park renovations
Ijams Nature Center Park – infrastructure improvements
Gary Underwood Park – renovations including basketball goal and playground equipment
Mary Vestal Park – renovations including playground equipment
Scottish Pike Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Sam Duff Greenway – resurface walking track
Facilities
South Knoxville Community Center – renovations
River Bluff Wildlife Area – improvements to parking, trails and overlook
District 2
Sidewalks
Buckingham Drive near Vanosdale Road – PRZ West Hills Elementary School
Cortland Drive near Sheffield Drive – PRZ West Hills Elementary School
Westwood Road near Herron Drive – PRZ Bearden Elementary School
Middlebrook Pike near W. Hills Road – PRZ Bearden Middle School
Parks
West Hills Tennis Center – pickle ball improvements including new bathrooms and new courts
Safety City – renovations including parking and playground equipment
Greenways
Third Creek Greenway – improvements and repairs
Jean Teague Greenway – improvements and repairs
Papermill Bluff / Weisgarber Greenways – improvements and repairs
Middlebrook Greenway to Jean Teague Greenway – new section – Third Creek connection
Facilities
Deane Hill Community Center – renovations
District 3
Sidewalks
Francis Road near Bearden View Lane – PRZ Bearden Middle School
Glenn Avenue near Fillmore Avenue– PRZ West View Elementary School
Parks
Victor Ashe Park – multi-purpose field improvements
Westview Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Northwest Greenway – new section connector toward Middlebrook Pike
Pleasant Ridge Greenway – new section from I-640 to Wilson Road
Pleasant Ridge Greenway – new section from Wilson Road to Western Avenue
Facilities
Cumberland Estates Community Center – renovations
District 4
Sidewalks
Buffat Mill Road near Teeple Street – PRZ Belle Morris Elementary School
Barton Street near Washington Pike – PRZ Belle Morris Elementary School
Cecil Avenue near Eighth Avenue – PRZ Fulton High School
Garden Drive near Jacksboro Pike – PRZ Central High School
Garden Drive near Rosebay Road – PRZ Fountain City Elementary, Gresham Middle, and Central High Schools
Jacksboro Pike from school entrance to Essary Drive – PRZ Central High School
Valley View Drive near Whittle Springs Road – PRZ Whittle Springs Middle School
Tazewell Pike and Beverly Road intersection improvements – PRZ Shannondale Elementary School
Millertown Pike near Loves Creek Road
Sanders Drive near Tazewell Pike
Parks
Whittle Springs Golf Course – renovations including parking lot and facility upgrades
Edgewood Park – renovations including fencing and playground equipment
First Creek Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
First Creek Greenway – new section from Mineral Springs to Edgewood Park
Facilities
Fire Hall #15 (Jacksboro Pike) renovations
District 5
Sidewalks
Bruhin Road near Dutch Valley Drive – PRZ Inskip Elementary School
Central Avenue Pike near E. Inskip Drive – PRZ Inskip Elementary School
E. Columbia Avenue near Harvey Street – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Harvey Street near Churchwell Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Huron Street near Oglewood Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Henegar Street near Shamrock Avenue – PRZ Christenberry Elementary School
Parks
Sam E. Hill School – renovate into a community center including a basketball court
Lonsdale Park – renovations including a pavilion
Inskip Park – renovations including playground equipment
Adair Park – renovations including playground equipment
Greenways
Adair / Sue Clancy Greenway – new section toward downtown
Facilities
Inskip Pool – renovations to the facility, pool and grounds
District 6
Sidewalks
Boyds Bridge Pike near Brooks Avenue – PRZ Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
Boyds Bridge Pike near Border Street – PRZ Sarah Moore Greene Magnet Academy
College Street near Jourolman Avenue – PRZ Beaumont Magnet Academy
S. Castle Street near Wilson Avenue – PRZ Austin-East Magnet High School
Wilson Avenue near S. Hermbree Street – PRZ Austin-East Magnet High School
Parks
Holston River Park – renovations including playground equipment
Chilhowee Park – infrastructure
Greenways
East Knox Greenway – new section toward Knoxville Botanical Gardens
Lower First Creek Greenway – new section connecting Caswell Park
Facilities
Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center – renovations
Knoxville City Council is set to meet for a first vote on Tuesday. A second vote will then follow on June 24, and if both of those votes are in favor of raising the sales tax, the item will go on the Nov. 4 election ballot, allowing residents to decide whether or not their sales tax will increase.
Philadelphia, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: The National Weather Service confirming that a tornado touched down Friday morning in Loudon County.
NWS officials say the storm, which blew through the Philadelphia area near Holt Road at Stockton Valley Road, involved an EF-0 tornado, two miles long and 200 yards wide.
Officials report five people were injured during the storm; there is no word on the extent of their injuries.
Monroe County Emergency Management says five structures have been damaged and no fatalities have been reported.
A tornado warning was issued this morning for Loudon and Blount Counties.
ORIGINAL STORY: A tornado warning for Loudon and Blount County issued around 9 a.m. Friday morning has expired.
The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring reports of a possible tornado touchdown in the Philadelphia area near Holt Road at Stockton Valley Road.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, four people were taken to the hospital for evaluation. There’s no word on the extent of their injuries.
The sheriff’s office asking people to avoid the area, as multiple trees and power lines are down.
Monroe County Emergency Management says five structures have been damaged and no fatalities have been reported.
Storm injures people, damages buildings in Loudon County, sheriff’s office says. (Courtesy: LCSO)
