COCKE COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division has resulted in the indictment and arrest of a Newport man.
In September 2023, TBI received information from the Department of Intellectual Development and Disabilities regarding fraudulent billing for TennCare services by a care provider. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that between December 2022 and September 2023, Reese Thornton, while being paid by a TennCare-managed contractor to serve as a caregiver for an adult relative, submitted claims for services never provided.
Today, the Cocke County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Reese Thornton (DOB: 5/22/51) with one count of TennCare Fraud, one count of Theft over $1,000, and one count of Violation of the Tennessee Personal and Commercial Computer Act. This afternoon, with the assistance of the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, he was arrested and booked into the Cocke County Jail on a $7,500 bond.
The TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $8,983,614.75 for federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,994,538.25 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, is funded by the State of Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee delivers his sixth State of the State address on Monday and presented budget and legislative priorities for the upcoming year to a joint session of the General Assembly and fellow Tennesseans.
Key highlights are noted below, and the full speech as prepared for delivery can be found here. A Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget overview can be found here.
“Tennessee is a remarkable place with a richness of passionate people of all kinds, an unrivaled culture and deep-rooted traditions,” said Gov. Lee. “We are also a state that is focused on opportunity, security and freedom for all of her people. In 2024, and for the remainder of my time in office, I believe our job is to fortify that which has been built over the years, and to remember the work it took to get here.”
Our state’s legacy of responsible fiscal stewardship places Tennessee in a strong budgetary position and allows for investments to secure continued success. Lee’s proposed $53 billion budget includes strategic funding to ensure economic and educational opportunity, protect Tennessee voices, preserve our natural resources, strengthen families, and more.
Notable highlights from Gov. Lee’s FY24-25 agenda include:
Economic Opportunity & Tax Relief
· $20 million investment in Tennessee’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee reserves to more than $2 billion, the largest in state history
· $410 million recurring funding and $1.2 billion non recurring funding to simplify the franchise tax in Tennessee
Education
Public Education Investments
· More than $261 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises
· $30 million for summer learning programs to support students between school years
· $3.2 million dedicated to AP Access for All, which provides AP courses to students across rural and urban Tennessee
· $2.5 million to strengthen students’ reading and phonics skills
· $577,000 to ensure we train Tennessee teachers to be the best and brightest educators of Tennessee children
· $15 million to fund charter school facility improvements
Expanding Choices for Tennessee Parents
· $141.5 million to establish Education Freedom Scholarships to empower parents with the freedom to pick the right school for their child
Strong & Healthy Families
· $208 million over five years from TennCare shared savings to strengthen rural health by investing in apprenticeships and skilled training, greater access to specialty care and telemedicine, improved career pathways, hospital and physician practice grants, and a new Center of Excellence to sustain and expand rural health support.
· $100 million over five years from TennCare shared savings to strengthen mental health care by investing in community mental health centers and behavioral health hospitals, expanding substance abuse disorder treatment, intensive in-home supports, primary care training, early childhood training, and children’s hospital infrastructure.
· $26.7 million investment in services for Tennesseans with disabilities
Safe Neighborhoods
· $17 million in funding for an additional 60 State Troopers and related support staff to improve public safety across the state
· $8 million to expand the school-based behavioral health liaison program to fund 114 liaisons, giving students across Tennessee schools important resources and mental health support
· $750,000 to fund Houses of Worship Security Grants
· Funding for a National Guard recruitment incentive package
Brighter Future
· $63 million to create four new Tennessee State Parks, with the goal of funding a total of eight new state parks by the time Gov. Lee leaves office, tying a Tennessee record for the most state parks created by one administration
· $20 million to expand blueway trail access, which will drive tourism and economic activity across our rural communities
· $20 million to improve water quality at rivers, lakes and streams across the state, making them safe for future generations to enjoy and the Bill Dance Signature Lakes Fishing Trail
· $25 million to establish the Farmland Conservation Fund, partnering with farmers to place a conservation easement on their land to preserve and protect Tennessee for future generations
· $5 million to protect and enhance scenic beauty along our major highways
· $3 million for Access 2030 to make Tennessee State Parks accessible to Tennesseans with disabilities
Authorities said the victim was struck by a bullet that allegedly discharged from a handgun in the apartment adjacent to hers. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police are investigating after a woman is struck and killed Saturday night by a firearm discharged in a neighboring apartment.
KPD officials say 40-year-old Cynthia Brown was pronounced dead at UT Medical Center early Sunday morning from a gunshot wound to the head.
KPD says the incident occurred around 9:45 p.m. Saturday at an apartment complex on Saint Francis Way and that investigations reveal Brown was struck by a bullet that was allegedly discharged from a handgun in the apartment adjacent to her’s.
Police have questioned the person suspected of firing the round and referred the case to the District Attorney’s office for a determination regarding charges and prosecution.
KPD and KCSO led an extensive search to find the shooting suspect (Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man has now been formally charged in connection to Monday morning’s fatal shooting in West Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 38-year-old Daniel Arwood has been charged with first-degree murder following the deadly shooting behind the NAPA AutoCare Center on Middlebrook Pike.
KPD says the shooting occurred following a dispute between the suspect and victim, who were co-workers. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Through a release Monday afternoon, KPD officials expressed gratitude to Knox County Sheriff’s Office Air Watch personnel who quickly responded to the area and located the suspect for KPD officers involved in the search on the ground.
The suspect from a deadly shooting that happened on Monday morning in West Knoxville was taken into custody after Knoxville Police Department officers quickly responded to the area.
At around 5:45 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2024, KPD officers were dispatched to a shooting with a victim behind the NAPA AutoCare Center in the 5600 block of Middlebrook Pike. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim in the fenced-in area behind the business. The victim, an adult man, had been shot at least one time and was pronounced dead on the scene.
A witness reported that the suspect, who was known to the victim, had left the scene in a blue sedan, which was quickly located by responding officers. After officers attempted to stop the car, a short pursuit was initiated. The pursuit ended in the dead end of E. Weisgarber Road, in the 1400 block, and the driver ran from the car and into the woods.
Multiple KPD officers, including K-9 units, responded to the area to assist in the search. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s Air Watch Unit was also requested and responded. After extensive search efforts, the suspect was located and apprehended just after 7 a.m.
The suspect has been transported back to the Public Safety Complex to be interview by KPD Homicide Unit detectives. Charges are pending.
Original Story: Knoxville Police has a potential shooting suspect in custody following a shooting that happened this morning (Monday) in the 5600 block of Middlebrook Pike That suspect was found in the area of the 1400 block of E. Weisgarber. No word on the victim’s condition.
Updated Story: KPD NEWS RELEASE: KPD Investigating Armed Carjacking Near UT Campus
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that happened early Monday morning and was the subject of a UT campus alert.
At around 3:20 a.m. on Monday, February 5, 2024, KPD officers were dispatched to the area of 14th Street and Laurel Avenue. The victim, a 19-year-old woman, reported that she had just parked her car, a black Hyundai Veloster, when she was confronted by two unidentified men dressed in all black. One of the suspects allegedly pointed a gun at the victim, demanded that the victim put her belongings in the car, and the suspects drove away in the victim’s car. The victim was not injured in the incident.
Based on developed investigative leads, the car was possibly in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue shortly after the carjacking. Officers responded to that location and circulated the area, but were unable to locate the vehicle.
Efforts remain ongoing to identify the involved suspects and locate the carjacked vehicle. Anyone with information that could assist that investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
The investigation is ongoing.
Original story: A lot of police activity near UT’s Campus as police are searching for suspects after a robbery near campus.
WVLT reporting he robbery happened at Clinch Ave. and James Agee and that one of the suspects reportedly has a gun and they’re on the run. Authorities say please use extreme caution in the area.
An Amber Alert remains active for now 8 year-old Summer Wells out of Hawkins County.
Then five year-old Summer Wells went missing on June 15, 2021 from her home in rural Hawkins County and her disappearance gained national attention. Yesterday was her eighth birthday, and she has now been missing for almost three years and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the search for Wells is still ongoing. There have been leads in the case and multiple searches in the area surrounding her home but still no sign of Summer.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
An investigation is underway following a serious car crash which shut down a busy North Knoxville and critically injured four people.
Rural Metro Fire says the crash happened on E. Emory Road near Bell Road yesterday (Sunday) afternoon when two cars hit “almost directly head on. All four people were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center’s Trauma Center with serious injuries with one person flown by Lifestar.
The crash shut down the southbound lane of E. Emory Road for more than two hours.
UPDATE: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says 57-year-old Paul Blythe has been found safe.
He was last seen at the Speedway gas station in Dandridge and suffers from PTSD, depression, Bipolar disorder, and Schizophrenia.
Original Story: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help to find a missing Dandridge man.
57-year-old Paul Blythe was last seen at the Speedway gas station in Dandridge wearing a camouflage hat, green hooded jacket, black shirt and blue jeans. He suffers from PTSD, depression, Bipolar disorder, and Schizophrenia.
Anyone with information is asked to contact authorities.
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | February 04, 2024 | Kimberly Hood
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Lady Vols won their sixth straight game at home on Sunday, taking an 80-69 wire-to-wire victory over Missouri in front of a season-high crowd of 9,190 in Food City Center.
Senior Jewel Spear surpassed the 20-point mark for the third consecutive game to lead Tennessee (14-7, 7-2 SEC) with 22 points and a career-high-tying six assists and three steals on the day. Fifth-year senior Rickea Jackson turned in 19 points, scoring all of them in the first half, to eclipse 2,000 career points.
Junior Sara Puckett also had a strong showing with 15 points and five rebounds, as the Lady Vols took sole possession of second place in the SEC standings after a loss by Ole Miss vs. South Carolina on Sunday.
Missouri (11-11, 2-7 SEC) was led by Mama Dembele, who tallied 18 points and eight rebounds. Grace Slaughter, Ashton Judd and Hilke Feldrappe were also in double figures with 14, 12 and 11, respectively.
The Lady Vols jumped out to a 5-0 lead off buckets from Jackson and Puckett before Dembele put Mizzou on the board with a layup just over a minute into the game. The Tigers rallied within one a minute later, but a trey by Spear on the next possession gave UT a 10-6 advantage at the 7:38 mark. UM pulled within one twice more before Spear and Puckett combined for three straight threes to fuel a 9-2 run that boosted UT on top 21-13 with 3:30 left in the first. Dembele ended the skid for Mizzou, but Jackson hit UT’s sixth 3-pointer of the game 10 seconds later as UT outscored Missouri 7-2 over the final two and a half minutes to lead 28-17 after one.
A pair of free throws by Dembele to start the second quarter trimmed the deficit down to single digits, but Jackson answered with jumpers in the paint on consecutive plays to put UT ahead by 13 with 8:13 to go in the half. Slaughter and Judd rallied the Tigers with three straight treys, fueling a 9-2 run that pulled Mizzou within six at 34-28 two minutes later. Four quick points by Jackson stretched UT’s advantage back to double digits, a margin that would hold until Powell converted on a driving layup just before the buzzer to set the halftime score at 46-34.
Both teams struggled to hit shots at the outset of the second half, with neither team putting one through the net until Tamari Key hit a layup at the 7:49 mark. Key added another layup just over a minute later to extend UT’s lead to 16 before Abby Feit ended the drought for UM with a three with 6:12 left in the third. That bucket set off a 15-2 Mizzou run punctuated by a Slaughter 3-pointer that whittled UT’s lead down to four with three minutes to go. Puckett responded with a trey on the other end, and the Lady Vols closed out the quarter by outscoring the Tigers 11-0 to lead 63-49 at the end of three.
Karoline Striplin nailed a jumper to start the final stanza, and the teams swapped buckets until the 6:21 mark when Spear followed up a pair of Striplin free throws with a layup to fuel an 8-3 run that put the Lady Vols ahead by 19 with 4:39 to play. Missouri closed out the game by outscoring UT 13-6, as the Lady Vol reserves got some action, setting the final score at 80-69.
UP NEXT: Tennessee is back on the road for a midweek contest at Alabama on Thursday. The Lady Vols and Crimson Tide will meet in Coleman Coliseum at 7 p.m. ET (6 CT) in a contest streamed live on SECN+.
JACKSON ECLIPSES 2K: With her move through the lane and lay-up at the 3:33 mark of the second quarter, Rickea Jackson tallied her 19th point of the game and moved past 2,000 career points. She entered the game needing 18 to tie the mark and became the eighth Lady Vol all-time to reach that plateau. The list includes Chamique Holdsclaw (3,025, 1995-99), Jill Rankin (2,851, 1976-80), Bridgette Gordon (2,462, 1985-89), Patricia Roberts (2,447, 1973-77), Candace Parker (2,137, 2005-08), Tamika Catchings (2,113, 1997-2001), Meighan Simmons (2,064, 2010-14) and Jackson (2,001, 2022-24). Jackson joins Rankin and Roberts as the three transfer players to reach 2K with combined totals from two different schools. Jackson now has 916 points in her second season at Tennessee and registered 1,085 while at Mississippi State from 2019-22.
THREE STRAIGHT 20 SPOTS FOR SPEAR: Jewel Spear notched her third straight and sixth overall 20-point performance of the season, finishing with a game-high 22 vs. Missouri. She has combined for 77 points over her last three contests (starting with 30 vs. Ole Miss and 25 vs. Georgia), averaging 25.7 ppg. during that span. Spear is put up 13.8 ppg. overall and 17.4 in SEC play this season, ranking second on the team.
GETTING JAZZY WITH IT:Jasmine Powell continues to dish out assists at a high rate, recording her fifth-straight game and seventh in the last 11 with six dimes or more. Her six vs. the Tigers gave her 88 for the season for a 4.4 average and 36 over the past five games for a 7.2 apg. average. In SEC play, she has distributed 53 assists for a 5.9 per contest average.
FAST START: Tennessee burst out to a 28-17 first-quarter lead vs. Missouri, shooting 62.5 percent from the field over the opening 10 minutes. The point total and percentage were season highs for an opening period in 2023-24. UT also hit six of 10 three-point attempts, matching another opening-frame best that it achieved vs. EKU (6-10) on Nov. 27. The Lady Vols’ previous best for first-quarter field goal percentage was 56.3 percent at Florida State on Nov. 9, and their previous best point total was 27 at Ole Miss on Jan. 28.
BALL SECURITY: Tennessee started the afternoon with no turnovers in the first quarter. It followed that with none in the second stanza for the first flawless half of basketball all season long and at least since 2019-20. UT’s last period without a turnover prior to Sunday was the fourth quarter vs. South Carolina in the 2023 SEC Tournament championship game on March 5, 2023.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lady Vols won their seventh straight in the series vs. Missouri and hold a 15-3 all-time record vs. the Tigers. UT stands 7-1 in games played in Knoxville, 6-2 in Columbia and 2-0 at neutral sites. Kellie Harper has a 6-0 mark vs. Mizzou as Tennessee’s head coach.
