Knox County is preparing for what could be East Tennessee’s first taste of real winter.
A wintry rain and possibly ice mix is being forecast over the next week or so, which has prompted the county to begin getting ready.
Senior Director of Engineering and Public Works Jim Snowden says this forecast is coming with some challenges.
Crews typically put down brine, a salt and water solution down but in this case, rain is preceding the icy conditions so crews probably won’t be able to do that because the brine will get washed off.
Snowden says his department is adjusting plans and their crews will stay overnight on Sunday.
There are about 1,800 miles of roads in the county with some of those in the city whose crews are ready to tackle any inclement weather.
As they have since early December, four local churches will be opening their doors as overnight warming centers to anyone who needs a warm, indoor space on nights when temperatures drop below 25 degrees. The Salvation Army is also opening homeless shelter overflow space at 409 North Broadway.
Centers will be open tonight (Saturday, Jan. 4) and and possibly Jan. 6-13.
Schedules will vary by site, and up-to-date bulletins will be sent to first responders, homeless outreach teams, hospitals, media outlets and other service providers.
Extreme cold weather is expected in Knoxville and Knox County from Jan. 6 to 13, 2025. According to the National Weather Service, the cold snap “could rival the historic and dangerous cold of December 2022,” during which Knoxville and Knox County experienced rolling blackouts and building damage due to frozen and burst pipes.
The Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability is assisting by coordinating volunteer services. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals, set up cots, provide transportation to people who need to get to warming centers, check people in, or stay overnight.
If you would like to volunteer for this community-wide effort, please see the site-specific contact information below:
Warming Center South Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Ave. To volunteer, text AJ Jackson at 865-963-2661.
Warming Center East Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Magnolia Ave. To volunteer, text Kecia Armstrong at 865-228-0990.
Warming Center West Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pk. To volunteer, go to Cokesbury.tv/Warming and click the “Volunteer Interest” button
The Salvation Army is also opening homeless shelter overflow space at 409 North Broadway. To volunteer, sign up for a shift at SignUpGenius.
Supplies are also needed: new or gently used blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and hats; new toiletries and socks are especially appreciated.
If you would like to donate supplies, please drop them off at Knox Area Rescue Ministries at 418 North Broadway. A dedicated trailer has been set up to hold warming center donations, so all donations meant for warming centers will be reserved for that effort. If you’d like more information, please contact KARM at (865) 673-6540 or email [email protected].
The Knoxville Police Department has released the preliminary 2024 priority crime report, which is highlighted by a citywide decline in murders and a significant decrease in non-fatal shootings.
“I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of our officers throughout 2024,” Chief of Police Paul Noel said. “They were relentless in their commitment to work with residents to make our community safer and remove violent individuals from the street. The teamwork and attention to detail at all layers of the department made a difference.”
“Public safety is job #1, and these numbers prove our efforts are paying off,” said Mayor Indya Kincannon. “Every crime prevented represents a life spared from pain and anguish, and restores peace of mind for the people of Knoxville.”
The total number of non-fatal shooting victims was down 45 percent in Knoxville, dropping from 77 in 2023 to 42 in 2024. That is also nearly 50 percent down from the five-year historical average.
Notably, there was also one less murder in Knoxville in 2024, dropping from 24 in 2023 to 23 in 2024. That number is eight below the five-year historical average. That decrease also includes a 27-percent reduction in murders in the KPD’s East District, where murders dropped from 24 in 2022 to 8 in 2024.
In other violent crime categories, aggravated assaults were down two percent from the 2023 total, while robberies increased three percent – an increase of five total reported robberies.
There was also a double-digit decrease in three separate priority property crime categories, including a 22-percent drop in reported car burglaries, a 15-percent drop in burglary or breaking and entering reports, and a 12-percent drop in motor vehicle theft reports.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The forecast for the next 48 hours is fluid and should be watched closely. Any variation of temperatures and moisture into each elevation change can mean a difference in what you see.
Join us on the WVLT First Alert Weather app for iPhone or Android to stay informed. We share custom videos, and you can receive our messages on the latest conditions and forecasts at home.
WHAT TO EXPECT
First off, Saturday is going to be a calm day. If you still need to do any pipe protection or make that warm spot for outside pets, now is the time to do that. It’s sunny, but cold Saturday afternoon with temperatures staying in the mid to upper 30s.
The winds are light, but there is still a relative wind chill. Once that sun sets, we’re headed right back to the 20s overnight.
Sunday starts off cloudy with temperatures near 24.
LOOKING AHEAD
Sunday morning around 7 a.m. is when we’ll need to start checking in on-air and the WVLT First Alert Weather App. The moisture starts to move into the plateau counties and into the valley. It’s the morning hours that we will see a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow. Once again, that can change drastically depending on where you are and where you are headed.
The WVLT First Alert Weather Day is in effect on Sunday for the potential for frozen roads, bridges and overpasses and powerlines that could come down. A tenth of quart of an inch of ice is possible.
Winter Storm Watch is in effect for SE Kentucky while a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for Tennessee.(WVLT)Sunday at noon will be the height of the event on Sunday with snow and freezing rain across the area.(WVLT)
Eventually, buy the afternoon, this is a transition to all rain, but for temperatures fall back below freezing on Monday for a transition back to snow.
Down the road, Wednesday and Thursday is clear of the precipitation, but we are below freezing for an extended period and that’s the reason for a WVLT First Alert Weather Day once again.
Two sets of WVLT First Alert Weather Days in the 8-Day Planning Forecast.(WVLT)
UPDATE: 1/04/25 Knoxville, TN (WOKI) At the request of 6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Knox County.
Just before 7:30 a.m., deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office were executing a search warrant at a residence in the 7800 block of Sevierville Pike. Preliminary information indicates that deputies with the Knox County Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team made contact with Daevon Montez Saint-Germain (DOB: 10/25/06) inside the home. As they attempted to take him into custody, the situation escalated, and for reasons still under investigation, deputies fired shots, striking him. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. No deputies were injured during the incident.
TBI agents are working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews. Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for her further review and consideration. The TBI acts solely as fact-finders in its cases and does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified in these types of matters. That decision rests with the District Attorney General requesting TBI’s involvement.
The TBI does not identify the officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to the respective department to answer as it sees fit. Story courtesy of TBI.com
Original Story: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Multiple Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies fired gunshots at a suspect on Friday, killing him, KCSO officials said Friday morning.
It happened around 7:20 a.m., KCSO said, when the officers were conducting a search warrant on Sevierville Pike in south Knox County.
“The suspect refused to follow commands while officers were attempting to bring him into custody and displayed a firearm, at which time officers discharged their weapons,” KCSO said. “The officers involved in this incident are uninjured; however, the suspect is deceased.”
Per standard procedure whenever an officer fires at a suspect, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will be looking into the shooting. Once that investigation is done, the results will go to District Attorney Charme Allen.
The officers involved have also been placed on leave, KCSO said.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Knoxville and Knox County’s Office of Housing Stability is preparing for forecasted frigid temperatures, and the office needs a little help.
The next week is expected to bring temperatures that rival the freeze of December 2022, meaning the office is opening warming shelters for those in need. However, the office is also asking for volunteers and donations.
The warming shelters are located at the following locations:
Fountain City United Methodist Church, 212 Hotel Rd.
Vestal United Methodist Church, 115 Ogle Ave.
Magnolia Avenue United Methodist Church, 2700 E. Magnolia Ave.
Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pk.
Salvation Army, 409 N Broadway (Homeless shelter overflow site)
Volunteers are needed to deliver meals, set up cots, provide transport, check people in or stay overnight. There’s several ways to get involved, depending on which site you’d like to volunteer for:
The office is also taking donations of key supplies like blankets, sleeping bags, gloves and hats; new toiletries and socks are especially appreciated. Those interested in donating can take supplies to Knox Area Rescue Ministries at 418 North Broadway.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Each of these weather systems affects the next, setting the stage for a greater impact each time. While we have cold winds and flurries to snow showers for now, this leaves us cold enough for the leading edge of rain on Sunday’s system to create a glaze of ice, with a WVLT First Alert Weather Day. After the rain to some snow, we’ll have an extended freeze and WVLT First Alert Weather Days next week.
Join us on the WVLT First Alert Weather app for iPhone or Android to stay informed. We share custom videos, and you can receive our messages on the latest conditions and forecasts at home.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This morning is mostly cloudy with some flurries flying around. We’re starting the day around 32 degrees.
Spotty flurries to snow showers continue until midday Friday, then as clouds break up this afternoon, we have stray mountain snow. We are only warming to around 42 degrees in Knoxville, and mid 30s in the higher elevations. Winds make it feel colder, with a westerly wind at 10 to 20 mph and gusts around 25 mph.
Tonight is frosty and frigid, with a clear sky and low of 21 degrees by Saturday morning.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday is calm and chilly, with temperatures 10 degrees below average all day. We’ll only warm to 38 degrees, but at least the wind is light.
Sunday to Monday are the days we’re watching closely for precipitation type changes. The First Alert Weather Day for Sunday is for the risk of ice development in the morning to midday, especially on the Plateau to Northeast Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky. A little ice is possible in the Valley, which can still be impactful.
It will be a slow warming to only 36 degrees Sunday afternoon with scattered rain to wintry mix showers. Actually we’ll keep warming into the 40s Sunday with a line of rain.
Monday is the next chance to see this change back to some ice and scattered snow showers, especially in the higher elevations outlining the Valley. It looks like the Valley will cool to the mid 30s Monday afternoon. It will be windy, with gusts around 30 mph, so it will feel like the 20s already.
In your First Alert 8-Day Planner, we have WVLT First Alert Weather Days for an extended freeze. We’ll barely be above freezing Tuesday, then we’ll fall into the low 20s and only warm to around 30 degrees next Wednesday and Thursday.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – More often than not, the Metro Drug Coalition speaks on and reports data that shows an increase in overdoses in Knox County, but that’s not the case as 2025 begins.
In 2024, there were just under 300 suspected overdose deaths in the county, according to the forensics center. That’s a big difference from the nearly 500 that were reported.
“I’m grateful I’m not a part of the statistic. I’m so grateful there are places like this to help people,” said overdose survivor Carmalita Bruschi.
At the Metro Drug Coalition, Jessica Stanley attributes this big decrease in part to their efforts of getting out to people in Knox County and offering them help.
Stanley acknowledged there are still a lot of people struggling with addiction, but added that the amount of Narcan they’ve given out is another factor that contributes to lower overdose death numbers.
“For the last few years, our increase in distribution has increased significantly. We go through thousands a month,” said Stanley.
This marks the first time that there have been less than 300 suspected overdose deaths in Knox County since 2019.
For more information on how to access Narcan for free, you can follow this link.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A 3-year-old child was airlifted from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on New Year’s Eve, according to the park’s public affairs specialist, Dave Barak.
The child fell from a bridge and hit his head at Abrams Falls, Barak said. He was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center on a Lifestar helicopter, which had landed in Cades Cove.
Barak was not able to provide the child’s condition.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 15/13 Tennessee opened SEC play at what has been a tough place to win for the program, grabbing a hard-earned 91-78 victory over Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Thursday night.
The Lady Vols (13-0, 1-0 SEC), who had lost in five of their last six trips to College Station, were led by Texan Jewel Spear. The fifth-year guard from The Colony knocked down six of eight attempts beyond the arc to finish with a season-high 20 points. Also in double figures for UT were Talaysia Cooper with 16, Ruby Whitehorn with 15 and Zee Spearman with 14. Samara Spencer dished out eight assists with only one turnover.
The Aggies (7-6, 0-1 SEC) were paced by 20 points from Aicha Coulibaly, while Sahara Jones and Janae Kent added 17 and 10, respectively. A&M fell despite outshooting the Big Orange on the evening, hitting 56 percent from the field to Tennessee’s 47.2 percent after making nine of 13 attempts in the fourth quarter for 69.2 percent accuracy.
TAMU jumped on top, 2-0, just 16 seconds into the game on an inbound play, but Spear responded with a three-ball just eight seconds later. With a pair of Tess Darby threes, Tennessee pushed itself in front by three, 9-6, with 8:06 to go. It then reeled off six straight on a layup from Zee Spearman, a putback by Jillian Hollingshead and an Alyssa Latham layup via a dish from Spencer to move ahead 15-8 and force an Aggies timeout with 4:21 remaining. After TAMU scored twice out of the break, the Big Orange used an 8-0 burst on twos by Spencer and Latham and a three by Ruby Whitehorn to move ahead 22-11 by the 1:29 mark. A pair of Aggie scores before the end of the frame sent Tennessee into the second stanza with a 22-15 advantage.
Tennessee gave up the first three points of the next period, but an 8-2 run capped by fastbreak layups from Hollingshead and Latham gave their team its biggest lead of the night at 32-20 and elicited another Aggies timeout with 6:37 to go in the frame. The break did little to slow the Lady Vols, as they put together a six-point spree on layups from Whitehorn, Spear and Kaniya Boyd to increase the gap to 20, 40-20, with 4:18 left. UT outscored Texas A&M, 8-6, the rest of the half, getting a Spear three with two seconds left to take a 48-26 lead into the locker room and finish the period shooting 75 percent with 12-of-16 shooting over that 10-minute span.
A 7-0 run to start the second half pulled Texas A&M within 15, 48-33, forcing the Lady Vols to ask for time with 8:44 remaining in the third period. Tennessee fought back as the going got tough, riding an 8-6 edge into the 4:54 media timeout, with a Hollingshead layup on a dime from Spencer pushing the lead back to 17, 56-39. TAMU continued to tighten its defense and scrap offensively, collecting 11 points at the free throw line to outscore the Lady Vols, 27-19 in the period. The Aggies drew to within nine, 58-49 with 2:23 left, but UT countered and pushed the cushion back to 14 at the end of three, 67-53, on a late Spear three and Spencer free throw.
Texas A&M trimmed the lead to 10 at the 6:45 mark, 74-64 on a Taliyah Parker jumper, but five straight points by Cooper pushed UT back up by 15, 79-64, with 6:23 remaining. A Spear trey, her sixth of the game, made it a 15-point game again with 5:05 to go, 84-69, before the Aggies sent things into the 4:21 media break at 84-71 on a Coulibaly layup. The teams each scored seven points the rest of the way, with Whitehorn hitting five free throws down the stretch to fend off the hosts.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will welcome No. 9/10 Oklahoma to Food City Center on Sunday for a 3 p.m. ET contest. The Sooners make their first trip to Knoxville since 2010 and initial visit as an SEC opponent. The contest will be televised by ESPN, and fans also can listen to the Lady Vol Network radio broadcast by Brian Rice. His voice can be heard on Lady Vol Network stations statewide and via audio stream on UTSports.com.
SUCCESS IN SEC OPENERS: Tennessee improved to 37-6 all-time in its first SEC game of a season, including 19-3 at home and 18-3 on the road after winning at Texas A&M, 91-78. The Lady Vols have won their past 11 SEC openers, last losing to LSU, 80-77, on Jan. 2, 2014. The Lady Vols are 34-9 in their initial SEC away game of a season, winning their last five and 15 of the past 16.
13-0 WITH 12 DIFFERENT LINEUPS: The Lady Vols have begun the year 13-0 with 12 different starting lineups and 10 different players appearing in the first five. Tennessee repeated a previous quintet vs. Memphis but had new ones in the past four contests. Jewel Spear, Samara Spencer, Sara Puckett, Zee Spearman and Kaniya Boyd opened Thursday’s contest. Spencer leads the team with 12 starts and Spearman recorded her ninth. Spear and Puckett tallied their seventh, while Boyd added her second versus the Aggies.
BIG WIN IN TEXAS: Tennessee improved its all-time record against the Aggies to 12-8, 3-5 in College Station. The Big Orange have now won four of the past five matchups in the series and just their second time in their last seven trips to Reed Arena.
SPEAR’S HOMECOMING SHOW: Jewel Spear dazzled in her home state, racking up a team-leading and season-high 20 points versus Texas A&M. The Colony, Texas, native made a season-best seven of nine field goal attempts and hit a season-high six treys. The fifth-year guard finished with five rebounds, two steals and two assists. It’s the seventh game Spear has landed in double figures this season.
Knox County is preparing for what could be East Tennessee’s first taste of real winter. A wintry rain and possibly ice mix is being forecast over the next week or so, which has prompted the county to begin getting ready. Senior Director of Engineering and Public Works Jim Snowden says this forecast is coming with…… Continue Reading
As they have since early December, four local churches will be opening their doors as overnight warming centers to anyone who needs a warm, indoor space on nights when temperatures drop below 25 degrees. The Salvation Army is also opening homeless shelter overflow space at 409 North Broadway. Centers will be open tonight (Saturday, Jan. 4)…… Continue Reading
The Knoxville Police Department has released the preliminary 2024 priority crime report, which is highlighted by a citywide decline in murders and a significant decrease in non-fatal shootings. “I am extremely proud of the tireless efforts of our officers throughout 2024,” Chief of Police Paul Noel said. “They were relentless in their commitment to work…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 4, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The forecast for the next 48 hours is fluid and should be watched closely. Any variation of temperatures and moisture into each elevation change can mean a difference in what you see. Join us on the WVLT First Alert Weather app for iPhone or Android to stay informed. We share custom videos, and you can…… Continue Reading
UPDATE: 1/04/25 Knoxville, TN (WOKI) At the request of 6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen, TBI agents are investigating the circumstances leading to an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Knox County. Just before 7:30 a.m., deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office were executing a search warrant at a residence in the…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Knoxville and Knox County’s Office of Housing Stability is preparing for forecasted frigid temperatures, and the office needs a little help. The next week is expected to bring temperatures that rival the freeze of December 2022, meaning the office is opening warming shelters for those in need. However, the office is…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Each of these weather systems affects the next, setting the stage for a greater impact each time. While we have cold winds and flurries to snow showers for now, this leaves us cold enough for the leading edge of rain on Sunday’s system to create a glaze of ice, with a…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – More often than not, the Metro Drug Coalition speaks on and reports data that shows an increase in overdoses in Knox County, but that’s not the case as 2025 begins. In 2024, there were just under 300 suspected overdose deaths in the county, according to the forensics center. That’s a big difference from…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A 3-year-old child was airlifted from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on New Year’s Eve, according to the park’s public affairs specialist, Dave Barak. The child fell from a bridge and hit his head at Abrams Falls, Barak said. He was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center on…… Continue Reading
Posted on January 3, 2025 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Women’s Basketball | January 02, 2025 COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 15/13 Tennessee opened SEC play at what has been a tough place to win for the program, grabbing a hard-earned 91-78 victory over Texas A&M at Reed Arena on Thursday night. The Lady Vols (13-0, 1-0 SEC), who had lost in five of their…… Continue Reading
