KNOXVILLE, TN (Story courtesy of WVLT) – The Red Sand Project kicked off in Tennessee on July 28. The movement shares the message of no one slipping through the cracks, working to bring awareness to human trafficking.
The Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking works here in East Tennessee to spread education around trafficking as well as provide resources for survivors of human trafficking.
“Trafficking happens when there is a relationship involved, there’s a lot of trust and sometimes there’s a lot of love to it too,” Makinzi Greener with CCAHT said. “So, the biggest misconception is that ‘stranger danger’ and snatch-and-grab somebody off the streets, but we know that trafficking thrives on manipulation and isolation and so really when that relationship is involved, you’re going to see it more often.”
Multiple events across East Tennessee are taking place to pour red sand into sidewalk cracks to show the symbolism of the message.
Grainger County:
10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 30
Grainger County Courthouse
Blount County:
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 30
United Way of Blount County
Claiborne County:
3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 30
Walters State Community College
1325 Claiborne Street
Information regarding human trafficking resources can be found here.
Grow Free TN Hotline:(865) 292-0285
Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline:(865)-558-6484
BROOKINGS, S.D. – A new 11-display centerhung system graces Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., as Daktronics has partnered with the University of Tennessee to design, manufacture and install a total of 24 LED displays. When basketball returns to the third-largest on-campus basketball arena for the 2025-26 season, the new system will be in place and ready to inform and entertain fans at every event.
“An essential part of our partnership with Food City is the chance to reinvest in the fan experience, and the upgrades to the video boards are nothing short of impressive,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “We are proud to have the most dedicated fan base in all of sports, and we are unwavering in our commitment to continually elevate their experience.”
Centerhung Display Details Four main video displays each measure nearly 15 feet high by 24.5 feet wide. Four corner wedge displays fit between the main displays for a seamless experience. Each of those displays measures nearly 15 feet high by 5 feet wide. The main displays are each capable of variable content zoning allowing each to show one large image or multiple zones of live video, instant replays, statistics, game information, graphics, animations and sponsorship messages.
Below the main displays, a ring display measures more than 3 feet high by 103 feet in circumference. This provides supplemental graphics and information to the main displays. On the underside of the centerhung, two displays are angled toward the sidelines to appeal to those people sitting closer to the court. Each underbelly display measures nearly 6 feet high by 20 feet wide. All centerhung displays feature 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing.
“The University of Tennessee is on the cutting edge of innovative trends in collegiate athletics, so continuing the Daktronics partnership is a natural progression of maximizing the fan experience and providing a massive home court advantage,” Daktronics regional sales manager Josh Francois said.
Additional Display Details Each corner of the arena features a corner board, four in total, to bring additional views of replays, stats and messaging. Each measures nearly 11 feet high by 18 feet wide and features a 5.9-millimeter pixel spacing.
Circling the seating bowl, a 360-degree ribbon display is mounted to the seating fascia. This display measures approximately 2.5 feet high by nearly 880 feet in length and features a 10-millimter pixel spacing. Along the sidelines, 6 scorers tables can be organized in any configuration to meet the needs of the university. Four display measure roughly 2.5 feet high by 10 feet wide while 2 measure 2.5 feet high by 6.5 feet wide. All six feature 3.9-millimeter pixel spacing. These displays deliver additional sponsorship opportunities while also delivering supplemental game information and graphics.
Outside the arena, two marquee displays welcome fans and guests. Each measures 9.5 feet high by 25.5 feet wide and features 10-millimeter pixel spacing. These versatile displays can be used to promote upcoming events, show live games, entice fans with classic highlights and provide many other messaging opportunities for the university.
Daktronics has grown with the sports industry from the company’s beginnings in 1968. Today, the company has LED video display installations at hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States. For more information on what Daktronics can provide for the collegiate market, visit www.daktronics.com/college.
About University of Tennessee Founded Sept. 10, 1794, in Knoxville, Tenn., as Blount College, the University of Tennessee began playing sports in 1891. Over the last century-plus, Tennessee has developed into one of the nation’s premier athletic departments. Home to the Volunteers and Lady Volunteers, all clad in the University’s distinguished and recognizable Big Orange, UT has produced 24 team national championships, nearly 200 individual national championships and well over 200 conference titles. Tennessee student-athletes excel not only in the competition venue, but also in the classroom and the community.
About Food City Center The prolific Tennessee basketball programs, which own a combined 48 SEC titles, compete in Food City Center. The facility, which opened in 1987, was rebranded in 2023 as part of a multi-year naming-rights agreement with longtime Tennessee Athletics corporate champion Food City. Numerous renovations, including the new state-of-the-art centerhung, were an integral component of the partnership.
About Daktronics Daktronics helps its customers to impact their audiences throughout the world with large-format LED video displays, message displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, audio systems and control systems in sport, business and transportation applications. Founded in 1968 as a USA-based manufacturing company, Daktronics has grown into the world leader in audiovisual systems and implementation with offices around the globe. Discover more at http://www.daktronics.com/.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: An 18-year-old is facing several charges following a head-on collision Sunday in Halls that sent a Knox County deputy to the hospital.
KCSO officials say Deputy Kirchner and his probationary officer were responding to reports of a fight at the Halls Ingles when the cruiser collided with a separate vehicle head-on, around 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
Kirchner was taken to the hospital; his condition has not been released. The probationary officer did not require treatment.
The driver of the other vehicle, 18-year-old Cameron Lee Branson, also sustained injuries in the crash. He has been charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, seat belt violation, underage consumption and two vehicular assaults by DUI.
ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway after a Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and his Probationary Officer are involved in a serious traffic incident in the Halls area.
The officer’s vehicle was struck head-on last night (Sunday) by another vehicle during the course of their duties when the two were responding to an active fight call in the Ingles in Halls’ parking lot.
The deputy was taken to the hospital and his condition has not been released. The probationary officer did not require treatment.
Sheriff Tom Spangler stated, “Our deputies put their lives on the line daily to keep our communities safe. We are grateful for the swift response from emergency services and will provide all necessary support to our injured deputy and their family during this time.”
The other vehicle involved in the crash was driven by a man who also sustained injuries but his condition has not been released.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Crews with the Knoxville Fire Department Monday stopped what could have turned into a house fire on Sutherland Avenue.
KFD officials say crews responded around 11:30 a.m. to a boarded-up home at 2795 Sutherland Avenue after receiving a call that smoke was coming from the residence.
KFD reports “crews entered the home quickly and found that copper wires were being burned in the front room”, adding that “the wires had been placed in a fireplace, but they extended into the room because of the mass of cables.”
KFD crews were able to extinguish the fire rapidly, and the building sustained only minor damage.
No injuries were reported; however, KFD is asking anyone with information about what happened to call the Fire Investigation Unit at 865-637-1386. Callers can remain anonymous.
Knoxville firefighters stop possible house fire, KFD says. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Marshals Service and the agency’s Smoky Mountains Task Force arrest a man Sunday wanted in connection to a New York homicide.
Officials with the Marshals Service say 32-year-old Kyshonn Green was wanted after a deadly shooting Saturday at a Wegman’s warehouse in Gates, New York.
Investigators learned that Green was scheduled to arrive at a Greyhound station in Knoxville Sunday evening.
The Marshals responded to the bus station and took Green into custody as he left the bus. Officials add that Knoxville was not Green’s final destination.
United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee David G. Jolley thanked the Knoxville Police Department for their help collecting evidence after the arrest.
According to a news release from the Marshals, 32-year-old Kyshonn Green was the only suspect in the shooting death, which happened at a Wegman’s warehouse in Gates, New York. (File: Frankly Media)
A Knox County medical investigator saves the life of someone that was believed to be dead.
Investigator Kenzie Sellers was called to a Knoxville home about a dead body Friday afternoon and realized the person was not actually dead and began to perform life saving procedures.
With the help of Knoxville Police, Sellers was successful in fully reviving the person by administering several doses of Narcan to the individual who was in stable condition when other responders arrived.
A woman is facing more than a dozen charges after almost crashing into an officer head-on and nearly hitting volunteers who were distributing food in Monroe County.
Madisonville Police Department Corporal Andy Cline was patrolling Highway 411 South Saturday morning when a car being driven by 35-year-old Amanda Hayes drove off the northbound side of Highway 44 in front of him, crashed through trees and into the Good Shepherd Center parking there.
There, MPD says Hayes narrowly missed over a dozen volunteers distributing food and hit a parked vehicle with someone inside.
Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident, however Hayes was found to have numerous suspected drugs in her vehicle to include crystal methamphetamine, multiple prescription medications without prescriptions and items packaged for resale.
Hayes was taken into custody and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, DUI and other drug-related offenses including sell and delivery, she is being held without bond at the Monroe County Justice Center.
An investigation is underway following a fire at the City of Knoxville Solid Waste Facility.
Knoxville Fire Department crews were called the facility at 1033 Elm Street yesterday (Sunday) morning after an automatic alarm activation at the Facility at the same time, a passerby called 911 to report a possible fire in the area.
Within 30 minutes of arrival, with assistance from the City’s Solid Waste and Public Service team, the trash was sorted with a backhoe and the fire was extinguished.
2025 August 9th-10th | Knoxville Convention Center
Gun Owners of America Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit (GOALS)
Last year, the inaugural GOALS Convention shattered expectations; thousands of freedom-loving Americans showed up to hear powerhouse speakers, connect with top-tier firearms and outdoor brands, and get hands-on access to the latest gear and exclusive product reveals.
This year? We’re going even bigger!
GOALS 2025 is your all-access pass to the heart of the Second Amendment movement, featuring inspiring keynotes, hands-on workshops, live panels, and the chance to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with freedom-loving leaders, content creators, and everyday patriots from across the country.
· 120,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space
· The most iconic brands in the shooting sports industry
· Exclusive surprises, speakers, and panels!
Families and children are welcome to attend as this a celebration for the entire 2A community.
This isn’t just another convention. It’s a celebration of your rights, your community, and your commitment to liberty.
Make your plans now. You don’t want to miss what’s coming!
Show Schedule:
Saturday, August 9th
Doors Open 8:30 AM
Welcome Ceremony (Main Stage) 9 AM
Convention Floor Open 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday August 10th
Doors Open 8:30 AM
Opening Session (Main Stage) 9 AM
Convention Floor Open 10 AM – 4 PM
The wait is over! Welcome to GOA’s superior, community-driven convention and expo. Built on member and community feedback, G.O.A.L.S delivers a community-focused, positive event for members and industry partners. Join GOA’s expanding partnerships within the gun industry and steadfastly promote our ‘No Compromise’ stance on the Second Amendment.
G.O.A.L.S. provides a unique platform for GOA Members to connect with 2A industry professionals, media and other community members.
The more concerned Americans join Gun Owners of America, the more we can do to protect the Second Amendment and our freedom. We need you! If you are not already a member – JOIN GOA TODAY.
