Nashville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 1/10/24: The subject of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Silver Alert out of Nashville has been found safe.
TBI officials reporting 20 year-old Christopher Frankenberry was found safe in Nashville earlier Wednesday.
TBI had issued the overnight alert for Frankenberry who was last seen Tuesday and has a medical condition that may have impaired his ability to return safely without assistance.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a Silver Alert for a missing 20 year-old out of Nashville.
Christopher Frankenberry, has a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance. He is 5’6″, 115 lbs., with blonde hair and blue eyes and last seen yesterday (Tuesday) wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants.
Authorities said the bomb threat involved five schools.(Frankly Media)
Jefferson County, TN (WOKI) A 13-year-old has been charged after a bomb threat was sent to principals of schools in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says officials with Jefferson County Schools notified them Tuesday, January 9 that a bomb threat that had been sent to several principals overnight by email; the bomb threat involved five schools.
Officials said School Resource Officers swept their schools for anything suspicious and determined the threats were a hoax.
JCSO says investigators tracked the email to a 13-year-old student at Rush Strong School. The student was interviewed and charged with threats of mass destruction.
Other agencies that assisted included the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Officials said the center opened as a result of flooding throughout the county and is currently operating at a “Level 2.” (Courtesy: WVLT)
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) Officials in Sevier County have opened the Emergency Operations Center as several roads are shut down throughout the county.
Officials say the center opened as a result of flooding throughout the county and is currently operating at a “Level 2.”
Additionally, almost two dozen roads are now closed due to flooding, see the complete list below:
Butler Branch Road / E. Parkway
River Divide Road
Maples Branch Road between Laura’s Lane and Richardson Cove
Webb Creek / E. Parkway
Red Bank Road
Greystone Heights Road Bridge, which is located at the intersection with Parkway
Hemlock Street
The 500 block of Baskins Creek Road in the direction of Pebble Creek Road
River Road from its intersection of Parkway to its intersection with Maples Lane
Snapp Road
Chapman Hwy / Ogle Road
Red Bank Rd / Red Bank Cir.
Bruce St / E Parkway
E Kings Ridge Road
1645 Cardinal Rd., Gatlinburg
Topside Road / Loop Road
Hidden Hills Road / E Parkway
Chamberlain Lane / Knights Lane
Dunkin’s Road / E Union Valley
1220 Upper Alpine Way
Lower Alpine, Gatlinburg
W Cummings Chapel / Jones Cove Road
Also, severe flooding has prompted officials in Gatlinburg to open an emergency shelter at the Gatlinburg Community Center located at 157 Mills Park Road.
A Tennessee lawmaker is proposing legislation that would make convicted child rapists eligible for the death penalty.
House Bill 1663, introduced by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, proposes changing the existing sentencing guidelines for convicted child rapists from 25 to 40 years in prison to 40 to 60 years and would also authorize the use of the death penalty for such crimes.
The second session of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly is scheduled to convene today at one.
There will be new House rules to follow after three Tennessee lawmakers protested on the House floor ahead of the start of today’s General Assembly.
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis and Knox Co. Rep. Gloria Johnson were involved in the protest advocating for more gun laws after the Covenant School shooting in Nashville last year.
Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cocke County, works on the Tennessee Rules and Selection Committee and says one of the new rules includes if a person has been ruled ‘out-of-order’ three times in a day, they will not be allowed to speak on the House floor the rest of the day and the day after that.
Knox County Rep. Sam McKenzie says this will cause more harm than good.
Governor Bill Lee’s private school voucher program will be one of the main discussions this session.
Lee wants to give 20,000 students a $7,000 scholarship to private schools. Republicans say the plan offers parents more options for school. Democrats say that money should be used for public schools, and most families who take advantage of this program already attend private schools.
The City of Knoxville has asked the Downtown Knoxville Alliance to survey downtown businesses, local residents and visitors to obtain feedback about the pilot project to open up a portion of S. Gay Street.
It would open up the 400 block of S. Gay Street to pedestrians, creating a temporary community space that is similar to Market Square. The city has noted the increased popularity of the area and aims for the pilot project to create a safe space, reduce traffic noise and add enjoyment to downtown.
Former WOKI news and traffic reporter and host Dave Foulk has died just days after announcing he was ending his dialysis and entering hospice care.
Dave took to Facebook to announce his decision on January 4th. He died last night at the age of 72 surround by his family including his wife Dena and their three children. Dave described himself as Saved by Grace, a Husband, father, grandfather, Three-time cancer survivor and Noticer of stuff.
He retired from Cumulus in 2015 from a career which spanned decades and included his time as senior news editor at WSB Radio in Atlanta before coming to Knoxville where he held jobs as a reporter, anchor, helicopter reporter and assistant news director. He worked for WNOX, WOKI, WIVK and WBIR.
He was a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Farragut High School. He received many awards during his career including Multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards and Multiple honors by the Associated Press Tennessee and Georgia with citations for excellence in Investigative, In-Depth, and Spot News reporting and American Cancer Society National Award for radio medical reporting.
Funeral arrangements are pending. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He will be missed. Rest in Peace dear friend.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Remote Area Medical is bringing its free, three-day pop-up clinic to Knoxville this weekend.
RAM is a major nonprofit provider of pop-up clinics delivering free, quality dental, vision and medical care to those in need.
The Knoxville Clinic will be held Friday, January 12, 2024 through Sunday, January 14 2024 at the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park; clinic doors open at 6:00 a.m.
All services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental, vision and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
A 2-year-old died in a mobile home fire on White’s Mill Road Sunday morning, according to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.
Blount County, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after a 2-year-old dies in a mobile home fire in Blount County.
Crews were called to White’s Mill Road around 8:30 Sunday morning.
The Blount County Sheriff’s Office says there was a woman and other children in the home when the fire broke out, and three people were taken to the hospital.
Two were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Additionally, one BCSO deputy was injured while trying to break glass to get into the house and was treated at the hospital.
Update: The victim from a fatal hit-and-run crash on Chapman Highway has been identified.
Knoxville Police say 61 year-old Arthur Harvey was killed January 2nd. KPD has spoken to the driver who left the scene of the crash and remains in contact with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office, who will make the decision regarding prosecution.
Original Press Releases from KPD: KPD Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash on Chapman Highway (January 2, 2024) Following comprehensive investigation, and with the assistance of Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, the suspect from Tuesday night’s fatal hit-and-run collision on Chapman Highway was identified and located earlier this evening. The involved vehicle was also recovered. KPD detectives and fatal accident investigators are in discussions with the Knox County District Attorney’s Office concerning charges.
A hit-and-run crash investigation is underway after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a vehicle on Chapman Highway on Tuesday evening.
At around 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to a crash involving a pedestrian on Chapman Highway near E. Moody Avenue. Officers arrived on scene, where an unidentified man had been struck by an unknown vehicle. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, it is believed that a pickup truck driving south on Chapman Highway struck the victim as he was attempting to cross from in front of the Walgreens. The truck, possibly a dark red Ford F-150, then continued south on Chapman Highway following the collision.
Efforts remain ongoing to identify the involved vehicle and driver. The victim from the crash was transported to the Regional Forensic Center for further examination and attempts to identify.
The crash remains under active investigation by KPD crash reconstruction investigators. Anyone with information that could assist with that investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
The Knoxville Fire Department is investigating a fire at Atria Weston Place on Lakebrook Blvd.
The fire was reported earlier today but is now out. The fire was limited to one room and its contents.
Residents were evacuated and taken to the Red Cross building on Middlebrook Pike for temporary shelter. One staff member was taken to the hospital for evaluation.
