A man is arrested after reportedly setting a gas pump on fire and stopping fuel from getting to the store, temporarily shutting thae store down.
It happened yesterday morning at the Western Avenue Casey’s. Police say the suspect, 30 year-old Matthew Kilgore allegedly ripped the gas nozzle and hose from one of the pumps, then lit it on fire.
He is charged with arson and vandalism.
Passenger train routes connecting Tennessee’s largest cities to each other and bordering states is still decades away, if it happens at all, according to a newly completed study from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR).
The study was ordered by the state government to iron-out possible costs and obstacles to establishing a passenger train system between Tennessee cities. According to TACIR, there are significant benefits and costs connected to the possible project.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is warning that road travel in Tennessee is only going to get worse in the years to come. Trip times between major Tennessee cities could increase by an hour, according to TDOT. The reason for this, in part, TDOT says, is because Tennessee is the home of several freight crossroads, like Knoxville’s I-75 and I-40 crossing.
As such, TACIR’s study looked into how passenger rail could cut back on car traffic, while also offering other benefits, like economic boosts to Tennessee cities.
The plan was broken down into three tiers, based on priority:
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These routes could, the study said, cut down on road traffic between Tennessee cities. As part of the study, TACIR found that in a national sample, 53% of Amtrak riders said they would drive if a train was not available. Another 8% said if a train was not an option, they wouldn’t take their trip.
According to the study, this means that passenger rails can both cut down on car traffic and boost tourism, leisure and business visits to connected cities.
Observant East Tennesseans will notice, however, that Knoxville is only connected to the rest of the state through Chattanooga. That’s where the obstacles of a Tennessee passenger rail system come in.
Building the project would mean investing millions into infrastructure across the state, the study said. While some passenger trains would be able to use established freight routes, the project would need to avoid affecting Tennessee’s existing rail supply chain, causing problems for state businesses.
For example, the study pointed out a spot in Franklin County where rail lines are limited to a single-track tunnel through the Cumberland Mountains. Geographical hurdles mean a Knoxville-to-Nashville route is unlikely; it’s not even mentioned in the study.
Funding is another issue. Right now, the federal government is only on the hook for Amtrak routes longer than 750 miles. That means that, unless the state can bargain for private partner funding, the up-front costs will be Tennessee’s and Tennessee’s alone.
TACIR concluded that TDOT should establish a passenger rail office to look into the project further, an office other states like Virginia already have.
TACIR does offer another option, however: a public inter-city bus service. That option would cost less time and money.
Story courtesy of WVLT
A Scott County deputy is arrested and charged with domestic assault against a family member.
It happened last night, when Oneida Police responded to a domestic disturbance call and arrested 27-year-old deputy Rachel Thomas.
She is being held on a $1,000 bond. She was also placed on a mandatory 12-hour hold for the charge. she’s on administrative leave while the department investigates
Officials in Union County are searching for an escaped inmate.
Dean McPherson was being held at the jail for driving on a suspended license and escaped last night (Wednesday).
He is 6′11″ and 185 lbs. with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 865-992-5212 or dispatch at 865-992-4062.
McMinn County, TN (WOKI) Speed appears to be the cause in a fatal motorcycle crash on the Fourth of July in McMinn County.
Tennessee Highway Patrol officials say 37 year-old Franklin Harris was riding a Suzuki motorcycle at what appeared to be a high rate of speed on U.S. Route 411 when a Toyota SUV traveling on County Road 850 attempted to make a left-hand turn onto U.S. Route 411.
The motorcycle hit the left side of the SUV. THP says Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. Two adults and three juveniles riding in the SUV were not injured.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Four teens are arrested Tuesday night following a chaotic scene involving fireworks and a car crash in Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded around 10:00 p.m. to a crash near Texas Avenue and Pascal Drive. Witnesses told officers that teens were hitting a black Hyundai with paintballs and fireworks, which caused it to crash into an F-150.
Responding officers were also targets as people started throwing fireworks at them and their cars. Those officers, along with backup, then had to escort the responding wreckers out of the area, officials said.
The teens, all males, ages 14 to 16 were charged, two with aggravated assault and evading arrest and two with disorderly conduct and evading arrest.
Knoxville Chief of Police Paul Noel was quick to condemn the minor’s behavior Tuesday.
“This behavior is completely unacceptable, and it puts our Officers and residents at risk of legitimate physical and mental harm,” said Noel. “I am relieved that nobody was seriously injured and thankful that none of our Officers were injured. I also appreciate how our Officers handled what was an incredibly chaotic and stressful situation.”
KPD officials also report that later in the night officers responded to the same area on another call of someone shooting fireworks at cars and people. They arrested 21 year old Corey Armstrong near the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue for unlawful possession of a weapon. He reportedly had fireworks and a gun on his person.
Our Queen, Dolly Parton, says she does not want to become a hologram.
During a press event for her upcoming album “Rockstar”, she was asked about the idea of a digital hologram being used in her place after she dies.
77-year-old Dolly replied that the body of work she already has here on Earth will suffice.
Holograms have recently been used for performances by the late Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.
Amazon is recruiting workers for its Amazon Robotics Fulfillment site in Alcoa and have a satellite hiring office at the Foothills Mall in Maryville.
They will be there today (Wednesday) from 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and from 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Starting the week of July 9, the office will be open seven days a week, between 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, they will be open from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m.
They are offering workers starting wages at $16 per hour and up and they are hiring for full-time, part-time and reduced-time positions.
For more information on Amazon jobs, please go to https://hiring.amazon.com/promotions/new-sites#/?cmpid=CGCYCG362H11
An investigation is underway following a deadly July 4th accident in South Knoxville.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responding to the 600 block of West Marine Road and the preliminary investigation suggests the vehicle went off the road, hitting a utility pole. That driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rising Tennessee sophomore Tobe Awaka was a top contributor—and a rebounding juggernaut—for Team USA during its fourth-place showing at the 2023 FIBA Men’s U19 World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary.
The United States (5-2) fell to Turkey in Sunday’s bronze-medal game, one day after losing to France in the semifinals. Spain defeated France in Sunday’s gold-medal game.
Awaka started six of seven games for Team USA and was the squad’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.6 points while shooting .600 from the field. His 10.6 rebounds per game led Team USA and were the second-most among all players in the tournament.
Had France’s Zacharie Perrin not totaled 20 rebounds in the gold-medal game, Awaka would have finished as the event’s top rebounder. Awaka’s 20.4 rebounds per 40 minutes far and away led all players who logged significant minutes during the tournament.
In total, 35 of Awaka’s 74 rebounds came on the offensive glass (5.0 orpg). No other player in the field grabbed more offensive boards, with the next-closest player having 31.
Awaka—who averaged just 20.7 minutes per game—was the only player in the field to record four double-doubles. His 18.1 FIBA efficiency rating for the tournament was the best on Team USA and fifth-best among all players at the elite global event.
The United States team was coached by Colorado’s Tad Boyle, with Oklahoma State’s Mike Boynton Jr. and Boise State’s Leon Rice assisting.
All games from the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup can be rewatched HERE.
Thanks in part to his valuable international experience this summer, Awaka appears poised to step into a larger role for the Vols this coming season after averaging 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game as a true freshman last year.
AWAKA’S GAME-BY-GAME HIGHLIGHTS
June 24 – USA defeats Madagascar, 136-69
In his USA Basketball debut, Awaka came off the bench and recorded 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. In close to 16 minutes of action, he blocked two shots and hauled in seven rebounds—including four offensive boards.
June 25 – USA defeats Slovenia, 77-72
Promoted into Team USA’s starting lineup, Awaka logged a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Six of his rebounds came on the offensive glass, as the immense talent for extending possessions that he flashed as a freshman at Tennessee extended into FIBA international play.
June 27 – USA defeats Lebanon, 122-70
Awaka recorded a plus/minus rating of +14 during this 52-point victory for the Americans. In less than 12 minutes of action, he totaled five points, eight rebounds and a steal.
June 28 – USA defeats China, 92-69
With China threatening to take the lead during a third-quarter run, Awaka took over the game with a 10-point outburst during a game-changing 17-0 run by Team USA. He finished with a team-high 15 points and also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds for his second double-double of the tournament.
June 30 – USA defeats Japan, 105-61
Awaka made his fourth consecutive start, but his efficient play fueled Team USA to such an overpowering performance, he was only needed for 15:15 of game time. Despite the light workload in terms of minutes, he still produced another double, totaling 14 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 6-for-9 from the field, made both of his free-throw attempts and gobbled up six offensive boards in the win.
July 1 – France defeats USA,
Despite the disappointing result for Team USA, Awaka did a bit of everything in 24 highly efficient minutes. He shot 6-for-8 from the field, and his final line featured 14 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and a block. The game marked his tournament-leading fourth double-double of the tournament.
July 2 – Turkey defeats USA, 84-70
Awaka led the United States with 13 rebounds while also chipping in seven points and a steal. His putback slam midway through the third quarter brought the trailing U.S. squad to within one point, but Turkey immediately reeled off an 11-2 run to restore its double-digit lead. His 30 minutes played were his most in any game at the U19 World Cup.
-UT Athletics
