Nashville, TN (WOKI) A new bill could see Tennessee implementing digital identification cards and driver’s licenses.
The bill, HB 2792/SB 2661, aims to establish and implement a secure digital license system for Tennesseans. Digital driver licenses and photo identification licenses would be issued upon request.
The measure was introduced by Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson, and Sen. Dawn White, R-Murfreesboro, on Jan. 31. Since then, it’s been assigned and discussed in committees and subcommittees.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security says a program is in the works for Tennesseans to use a digital version of a state ID and/or driver’s license.
No timeline has been given for the program’s launch.
Knox County leaders are looking to honor the life of fallen U.S. Army Specialist Jeremy Daniel Evans.
Evans was killed in a rollover crash during a military training exercise in Alaska back in October.
He was a Gibbs High School graduate and now county Commission wants to rename part of East Emory Road to Specialist Jeremy Daniel Evans Memorial Highway.
Early morning widespread wireless service interruptions for many AT&T customers are ending as many are now seeing their service return.
Several East Tennessee E 911 agencies confirming the nationwide outage with Jefferson County and Knox County saying their E 911 centers are operational.
Verizon and T-Mobile customers are also reporting service issues but in connection with calling A T & T customers.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off a slow night offensively in Tuesday’s win over UNC Asheville, No. 7/9 Tennessee had the bats working at full capacity in Wednesday’s 16-0 run-rule drubbing of ETSU at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Vols (3-1) finished with 13 base hits and blasted four home runs, three of which came in an 11-run third inning that busted open a 1-0 game.
Freshman infielder Dean Curley got the starting nod at shortstop and burst onto the scene in his UT debut, going 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored and three RBIs, all of which came on a three-run homer in that aforementioned 11-run third inning. The California native also added a triple in the sixth inning.
Two other Vols finished with multiple hits on the night as Hunter Ensley led the way with a 3-for-3 day, scoring two runs and driving in a pair of runs. Christian Moore also scored two runs and had two RBIs on two hits from the leadoff spot.
Making his UT debut, redshirt junior Colby Backus provided an exclamation point on the win with a three-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning, his first-career homer at the Division I level.
While the bats were on fire, the pitching was just as dominant, holding the Buccaneers (3-1) to just one hit on the day, a bloop single with two outs by Nick Iannantone in the sixth inning to break up the no-hit bid.
Tennessee used five different pitchers to stifle the ETSU lineup, three of which were true freshmen in Matthew Dallas, Dylan Loy and Brayden Sharp. Dallas got the start and tossed three no-hit frames with just one walk and three strikeouts before handing the ball off to Loy, who struck out two in one scoreless inning to record his first-career win.
Marcus Phillips, Sharp and JJ Garcia pitched the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, respectively, to close out the victory.
UP NEXT: The Vols host UAlbany for a three-game set starting on Friday at 4:30 p.m. All three games will be streamed on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app and feature a live audio stream on UTSports.com and the UT Athletics app.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Vols exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the third inning, their most in an inning since plating 15 in the bottom of the fifth during a 23-1 victory over Alabama A&M almost exactly one year ago to the day (Feb. 22, 2023). UT recorded 10 of its 13 total hits in the inning, five of which went for extra bases, and tallied 10 of the 11 runs with two outs.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) One family pet is dead, but the residents are safe following a house fire Wednesday afternoon in South Knoxville.
Officials with the Knoxville Fire Department say firefighters arrived shortly after 3:00 p.m. to a house at 2230 Knollcrest Lane to find fire coming from the front corner of the home. Six people, two adults and four children, were home at the time but were able to evacuate without injury.
(Courtesy: KFD)
Officials say one pet dog was unable to escape and succumbed to its injuries. No other injuries were reported, and fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.
Morristown, TN (WOKI) Deemed a “total loss” following a devastating fire in January, what’s left of the historic Parks-Belk building in Morristown is coming down.
Crews have begun demolishing the structure located on Main Street which was destroyed in a massive fire which broke out shortly after the new year and kept fire crews busy for over 12 hours.
The building, valued at over $250,000, was set to be renovated as part of a plan to revitalize much of downtown Morristown.
Parts of downtown near the building have been closed since the fire. City of Morristown officials say those areas will continue to be closed while the building is demolished.
Jeffrey Scott Cicirelli was arrested in connection to the fire and charged with arson, reckless endangerment, burglary and vandalism.
According to court records, Cicirelli had planned to burn more buildings, with investigators finding fire-starting equipment stashed in buildings downtown.
Knoxville – At the halfway mark (six days of twelve) of early voting for the March 5, 2024 Presidential Preference/Knox County Primary Election, a total of 8,288 early votes have been cast, with an additional 724 votes cast by absentee ballot and in nursing homes.
REGISTERED VOTERS in KNOX COUNTY (as of Wednesday, February 21, 2024) – 299,140.
NEW VOTERS: A total of 189 first-time voters through the first six days (halfway point) of early voting.
EARLY VOTES CAST AT THE MIDWAY POINT COMPARED TO OTHER PPP/COUNTY PRIMARY ELECTIONS
March 2024 – 8,288 (total votes cast – TBD)
March 2020 – 9,989 (total votes cast – 83,148)
March 2016 – 6,857 (total votes cast – 92,219)
March 2012 – 4,921 (total votes cast – 49,747)
EARLY VOTES CAST BY AGE (Does not include absentee ballots)
EARLY VOTING – PRIMARY CHOICE BY AGE (Does not include absentee ballots)
Age 18 to 24 Republican 78, Democratic 32
Age 25 to 34 Republican 155, Democratic 53
Age 35 to 54 Republican 948, Democratic 196
Age 55 + Republican 5502, Democratic 1324
EARLY VOTES CAST BY COUNTY COMMISSION/SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT
District 1 (County Commission on ballot) 357
District 2 (County Commission & School Board on ballot) 649
District 3 (School Board on ballot) 691
District 4 (County Commission on ballot) 988
District 5 (County Commission & School Board on ballot) 1,600
District 6 (County Commission on ballot) 1,027
District 7 (No district races on ballot) 983
District 8 (County Commission & School Board on ballot) 1,410
District 9 (County Commission on ballot) 583
ABSENTEE BALLOT DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING
The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Tuesday, February 27. Anyone wishing to vote absentee can call the Election Commission at 865-215-2480 or can download an absentee request at https://knoxcounty.org/election/
RISE AND SHINE ON SATURDAY WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION
If 10 AM is too late for you, early voting at the City County Building in downtown Knoxville opens at 8 AM on Saturday, February 24– early birds can take advantage of early hours!
PRE-GENERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
All candidates on the ballot have a Pre-Primary Campaign Financial Disclosure due on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. It will cover the period from January 16 to February 24, 2024.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: A large brush fire that broke out Tuesday night in the Halls community is fully contained by firefighters.
Rural Metro Fire officials reporting the three-acre blaze on Mynatt Road near Maynardville Highway was 100% percent contained by firefighters Wednesday morning.
ORIGINAL STORY: Fire crews are working a brush fire in the Halls community of Knox County.
Rural Metro Fire and Tennessee Division of Forestry personnel are fighting a three-acre fire on Mynatt Road near Maynardville Highway. Rural Metro Fire spokesperson Jeff Bagwell says no structures were threatened as of 9 p.m. last night. (Tuesday)
It is a slow-moving fire fueled by dead undergrowth and a slight breeze and a dozer is digging a fire line.
Bagwell says the fire was started by a man in a tree stand that had to be escorted out of the danger by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
