Knox County, TN

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For many families, August is a solemn month when they remember the people who died from a drug overdose. It marks International Overdose Awareness Month, culminating in a day of events and memorials on August 31. The Knoxville Fire Department said crews respond to an overdose...

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - A town hall meeting has been canceled by the owner of the property where the event was to be held. Rich Levenson told WVLT News that he was attacked and threatened after a flyer circulated online advertising the meeting with Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.

The family of Anthony Thompson Jr. is no longer suing Knox County or the Knox County Board of Education after amending its far-reaching federal lawsuit. The civil rights lawsuit is now entirely focused on the actions of the city and the four officers involved in the shooting of Thompson, a 17-year-old Austin-East Magnet High School student killed by police in one of the school's bathrooms.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Linkedin, ZipRecruiter and Indeed all show nearly 400 open special education positions in Tennessee. That means all of those teaching spots are empty as this school year starts. But, Tennessee isn't the only state with this issue. In fact, 48 other states report shortages as well....

MASCOT, Tenn. (WATE) — A Knox County family is uncertain about how to deal with a huge hole that opened up on their property in Mascot. The state says the large hole is the result of a mine collapse and the failure of an underground mine room. Both Savannah...

TENNESSEE, USA — As the new school year gets underway, some districts are finding it harder to recruit and keep employees. School leaders say this is a nationwide trend and East Tennessee is not immune. "We're having trouble having applicants for what we call our classified positions, which are...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In April, Tennessee lawmakers passed the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) plan. It replaced a 30-year funding formula that was used to allocate funds for school districts across the state. Part of the new plan called for raises to teacher salaries. With every increase in...

Each year for many years, the East Tennessee Historical Society, in conjunction with the Knox County Public Library has presented a history fair in Krutch Park. Disrupted by the pandemic, the groups have re-imagined the event into a smaller footprint inside the East Tennessee History Center. The one-day event happens August 20. I sat down with Warren Dockter, President and CEO of the Society, to learn more about the organization and the plans for the Hootenanny.

As COVID-19 cases spike, face masks are once again required inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park buildings.  The Tennessee counties surrounding the park (Blount, Cocke and Sevier) are considered high-risk areas by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Knox County is also a high transmission zone.  The CDC uses hospitalization data and new...

From food packing to home repairs, a faith-based non-profit needs more volunteers for a big workday on Aug. 20.

The loved ones of a 17-year-old boy who was shot to death in a school restroom have streamlined their federal lawsuit to exclusively target the Knoxville Police Department for mistakes that allegedly led to the boy’s death. Anthony Thompson Jr. died on April 12, 2021, during an armed confrontation...

As students and staff headed back to school across Knox County on Monday, law enforcement issued citations related to traffic.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville and Knox County negotiators said they have a plan to close a potential funding gap for the downtown Knoxville baseball stadium proposed for the Tennessee Smokies, now expected to open in 2025. "We're watching the economy change with inflation, and increased interest rates and we're...

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — The transportation director for Knox County Schools, Ryan Dillingham, said he has a tough job coordinating routes and making sure students can get to school and home. "Bus drivers are getting harder and harder to find," Dillingham said. "We're seeing that in Knox County as...

A Campbell County Sheriff’s Office employee attempting to provide mobile crisis services was stabbed Friday evening, allegedly by a man she was trying to help. LaFollette Police say that 54-year-old Angela Worley of Jacksboro was contacted by 40-year-old Cameron Jones, who asked her to drive him to the Tennova Hospital in LaFollette for an evaluation.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging said Knox PAWS, or Knox Placing Animals With Seniors, has an emergent need for dry dog food for their Feed-A-Pet clients. Knox PAWS (Placing Animals With Seniors) matches eligible seniors with adoptable pets. Research indicates that pets improve...

A man charged with a felony murder charge and multiple child abuse charges in an on-going case is out of jail. Michael Gray Jr., who was charged with those charges and abuse of a corpse in an ongoing case is out on his $100,000 bond according to Assistant District Attorney General Sean McDermott.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Michael Gray Jr., who was charged with felony murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated child neglect and abuse of a corpse in an ongoing case, is no longer in jail, Assistant District Attorney General Sean McDermott told WVLT News Tuesday. Gray Jr. was charged after the body...

Mike Mullins’ retirement was a short one. The personable and hard-working Mullins is back at it as Hardin Valley Academy’s new athletic director. He had been the AD at Oak Ridge High School for 15 years until announcing his retirement on Dec. 3. Mullins’ new position has been...