Newport, TN (WOKI) The victim in an ongoing homicide investigation out of Cocke County has been identified.
Officials with the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office say 52-year-old Lisa Goode was found stabbed to death around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 in a bedroom inside a home located in the 1400 block of Arlis Road in Newport.
They report there is a person of interest, but no arrests have been made, and the office’s Criminal Investigation Division is actively investigating the homicide.
Additional information has not been released.
A woman was found stabbed to death in her home on Saturday, Dec. 7, Sheriff CJ Ball said. (FranklyMedia)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A pair of Tennessee football offensive standouts earned All-America status from multiple outlets this week as organizations began rolling out their postseason honors for the 2024 season. Senior center Cooper Mays and junior running back Dylan Sampson were both tabbed Second Team All-America by The Athletic, while Mays earned second team recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Sampson collected second team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Mays becomes the fourth center in Tennessee history to be named an All-American and the first since Bob Johnson was a unanimous selection in 1967. Sampson is the 11th Tennessee running back to garner first or second team All-America honors and the first since Travis Stephens was recognized in 2001.
During the Josh Heupel era (2021-present), Tennessee has produced six All-Americans – its most in a four-year span since 2006-09.
Cooper Mays (C) – All-America Second Team (AFCA, The Athletic) In his fourth-straight season as the starting center, Mays anchored UT’s offensive line that helped the Vols finish with a top 10 rushing offense and total offense in the country. The Kingston, Tennessee, native, played a team-high 816 offensive snaps according to PFF and did not allow a sack or quarterback hit throughout the entire 2024 campaign. He carries a streak of 26 consecutive games without allowing a sack into next week’s CFP first-round contest against the Ohio State Buckeyes, which dates back to the 2022 season.
Mays led an offensive line unit that paved the way for the top rushing attack in the SEC for the second year in row. Tennessee’s 232.0 rushing yards per game ranked first in the conference and ninth in the FBS, while its 462.9 yards of total offense per game were second in the league and eighth nationally. For their efforts, UT’s offensive line was recognized as Joe Moore Award semifinalists for the third-straight season, joining Oregon as the only schools in the country to accomplish that feat.
Dylan Sampson (RB) – All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp) Sampson, who was also tabbed the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and the AP on Wednesday, has had a record-setting season for the Big Orange while helping lead Tennessee to its first ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Sampson finished the regular season as the SEC’s leader in carries (256), rushing yards (1,485), rushing yards per game (123.8) and rushing touchdowns (22), setting UT single-season records for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns along the way. In total, Sampson leads the SEC in 11 different categories and is tied for first among Power Four players (third nationally) in rushing scores, with his 22 touchdowns on the ground ranking tied for the fifth most in SEC single-season history.
The junior workhorse became the second player in Tennessee history with 10 100-yard rushing games in a single season, joining Jay Graham, who had 11 in 1995. He also leads the SEC and ranks eighth nationally in all-purpose yards with 1,620 entering the Vols’ CFP first round contest at No. 6 Ohio State on Dec. 21.
Sampson has been a point scoring machine in 2024, leading the conference and ranking fifth in the FBS with a program-record 132 points scored. His 11 straight games with a touchdown earlier this season was also a single-season school record.
2024 Tennessee Postseason Award Honors as of Dec. 13
QB Nico Iamaleava Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist
OL Cooper Mays Rimington Trophy Finalist All-America Second Team (AFCA, The Athletic) All-SEC First Team (Coaches) All-SEC Second Team (AP)
WR Bru McCoy Witten Award Semifinalist Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist SEC Community Service Team
DB Jermod McCoy Thorpe Award Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (AP) All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
DE James Pearce Jr. Bednarik Award Semifinalist Lombardi Award Semifinalist Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (Coaches) All-SEC Second Team (AP)
RB Dylan Sampson SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches) USA Today SEC Player of the Year All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp) Maxwell Award Semifinalist Doak Walker Award Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
Maryville, TN (WOKI) Kenneth DeHart Jr., the man accused of shooting two Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies in February, injuring one and killing the other, could face the death penalty.
He appeared in a Blount County courtroom Friday for a formal arraignment.
The state has filed two notices, one seeking the death penalty. DeHart entered a not guilty plea on all charges.
The judge set April 13, 2026, as the trial’s start date.
BCSO Deputies Shelby Eggers and Greg McCowan stopped DeHart after he was found to be driving erratically. During the stop, the situation escalated, and DeHart reportedly shot both deputies, injuring Eggers and killing McCowan.
Kenneth DeHart, accused in Blount County deputy’s death, could face death penalty. (Courtesy: WVLT / WBXX)
A Knox County School is placed on lockdown this morning (Friday).
Officials say that L&N Stem Academy was placed on lockdown due to a law-enforcement investigation near the campus.
The school was locked down just after 9:30 a.m. and Scott Erland with the Knoxville Police Department says officers are investigating a possible threat that was near the school.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee football garnered four honorees on the 2024 Freshman All-SEC Team as the league office concluded its awards rollout Thursday.
Tennessee’s four recipients are the program’s most since having four players recognized in 2011. Tight end Ethan Davis, defensive lineman Jordan Ross, linebacker Jalen Smith and defensive back Boo Carter are UT’s representatives on the team, with Carter being recognized at both defensive back and return specialist.
Playing in all 12 games with five starts, Carter total 35 tackles – three tackles for loss – with one sack, one interception and three quarterback hurries at the STAR position. He notched a career-high seven tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a hurry in the Vols’ victory over Florida, which earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors. He emerged as a dangerous punt returner during the season, returning 12 punts for 198 yards, averaging 16.5 yards per return.
Carter is the first UT freshman to receive SEC All-Freshman laurels as a return specialist since Shawn Summers in 1992.
A redshirt freshman, Davis played in 11 games for the Vols in 2024. The physical tight end finished the regular season with 13 receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 7.7 yards per catch.
Hailing from Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Ross appeared in 10 games for Tennessee during his first year on Rocky Top. The talented true freshman defensive lineman made an immediate impact in game one as he blocked a punt and returned it for a 49-yard touchdown. Ross closed out the regular season with three total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
2024 Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team Offense QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
QB Nico Iamaleava Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award Finalist
OL Cooper Mays Rimington Trophy Finalist All-SEC First Team (Coaches) All-SEC Second Team (AP)
WR Bru McCoy Witten Award Semifinalist Comeback Player of the Year Semifinalist SEC Community Service Team
DB Jermod McCoy Thorpe Award Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (AP) All-SEC Second Team (Coaches)
DE James Pearce Jr. Bednarik Award Semifinalist Lombardi Award Semifinalist Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (Coaches) All-SEC Second Team (AP)
RB Dylan Sampson SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches) USA Today SEC Player of the Year Maxwell Award Semifinalist Doak Walker Award Semifinalist All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
For the first time since July, American Medical Response is facing fines for not responding to Knox County emergencies on time.
The fines came in October, and AMR is citing large events, like the dynamite found at CMC Steel – a recycling facility, for the late response times. AMR says they were on the scene for 30 hours.
In October, AMR was late to 281 of the highest priority calls, resulting in more than $92,000 in adjusted fines.
Those fines stem from a new contract with Knox County which penalizes AMR if they don’t make it to calls within a set time frame.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Meals on Wheels is asking for help this holiday season brightening up seniors’ mornings with gift bags.
The organization has a program that allows people in East Tennessee to put together gift bags for seniors who will be spending the holidays at home, away from family.
Those interested are asked to put together bags with items like large pens, books, bars of soap, towels and more.
For more information and additional gift suggestions click here.
Meals on Wheels plans to deliver the bags on Christmas morning, along with a holiday meal.
Clairfield, TN (WOKI) Officials say there are multiple suspects in a double murder in Claiborne County.
More than six months after two men, Nathan Hamblin and Robert Hatfield, were found murdered at the abandoned Kopper Glo Coal Mine, investigators believe the suspects knew the men, but they’re having a hard time finding them and believe they may have left East Tennessee.
Officials with the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office say there has not been an arrest made yet, but you are asked to contact TBI or the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office at 423-626-3385 if you have any information.
Nathan Hamblin and Robert Hatfield were killed at the abandoned Kopper Glo Coal Mine back in June. (Courtesy: Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office)
Nashville, TN (WOKI) Update 12/12: Country music star Morgan Wallen appeared in a Nashville courtroom Thursday pleading guilty in his now infamous chair-throwing case.
Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor reckless endangerment charges, reduced Wednesday from felony reckless endangerment.
A Nashville judge approved a plea deal wherein the award-winning singer will serve seven days of jail time at a DUI rehab center.
The 31 year-old was arrested after he was seen throwing a chair from the top of Eric Church’s bar Chief’s during their opening weekend on April 7th.
The chair reportedly landed just a few feet away from two officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department, who were on foot patrol that night along Broadway.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV / WVLT) Update 12/10: Country singer Morgan Wallen did not appear in court on Tuesday but his lawyer went before a Nashville judge regarding his charges from April 2024, when he threw a lounge chair off the top of a Broadway bar.
Wallen, 31, was arrested for throwing a chair from the top of Chief’s, Eric Church’s bar on the night of April 7, 2024.
According to an arrest report, two Metro Nashville Police Department officers said the chair landed three feet from where they were patrolling on Broadway.
Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct as a result.Wallen’s lawyer attempts to explain what’s next for the singer’s court case in Nashville.
Wallen’s lawyer appeared briefly and filed the paperwork on Tuesday with the Davidson County judge. Now Wallen’s case will head to the Circuit Criminal Court.
A new court date has yet to be finalized.
Original: (WOKI) Knoxville native and Country music superstar attorney’s will appear in a Nashville court today on behalf of Morgan Wallen.
Wallen faces four charges stemming from an April incident where he was arrested for allegedly throwing a chair from a rooftop bar on Broadway.
The chair was thrown six stories from Chief’s, Eric Church’s bar.
Two Metro Nashville Police Department officers say the chair landed three feet from them.
Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment and one count of disorderly conduct.
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) A South Carolina man is convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend at a Gatlinburg rental cabin in May, 2022.
According to Sevier County court records, a jury found Julian Popoca, of Wellford, South Carolina, guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday; he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
The shooting took place on May 30, 2022 at a cabin on Caney Creek Road, off of the Gatlinburg Spur.
Popoca was arrested following the incident. His arrest warrant shows Popoca admitted to deputies that he had shot his girlfriend during an argument.
A South Carolina man is convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend at a Gatlinburg rental cabin in May, 2022. (Credit: Frankly Media)
