Oak Ridge, TN (WOKI) The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has closed following an outbreak of the canine disease, distemper.
According to the shelter, four dogs were diagnosed with distemper, an extremely contagious disease that attacks dogs’ respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems.
During the summer of 2024, Young-Williams Animal Center in Knoxville had to close for distemper diagnoses resulting in the deaths of twenty-seven dogs last year.
The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter will be closed until further notice.
Oak Ridge Animal Shelter closes after four distemper diagnoses. (Pexels)
Jacksboro, TN (WOKI) Three people, including a teen, are in custody following a drug bust Wednesday in Campbell County.
Officials with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office say 47-year-old Rachel Carrol, 27-year-old Bryan Bolton and 19-year-old Chloe Hayes were arrested at an apartment on Yoakum Hollow Road in Jacksboro following an extensive investigation into illegal drug activity at the residence.
CCSO says during the operation, investigators recovered Schedule II, III, and VI controlled substances, along with drug paraphernalia.
The three suspects are facing the following charges:
Rachel Carrol, 47: Possession of a schedule III controlled substance with intent to resale
Bryan Bolton, 27: Possession of schedule II methamphetamine, sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, served with a capias
Chloe Hayes, 19: Possession of Schedule II methamphetamine, sale and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia
Three people, including teen, charged after Campbell County drug bust. (Courtesy: CCSO)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Over half a dozen dogs die in a house fire Thursday morning in Knox County.
Rural Metro Fire officials say the fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. at a home in the 8500 block of Old Rutledge Pike near Three Points Road.
Upon arrival, fire crews reported heavy fire from the front of the house and found the occupants already outside. They were able to stop the spread of the fire, but the home sustained heavy damage.
Rural Metro says ten dogs were inside the house and that, of those, only two were able to be saved.
One person was also taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
A Knoxville man is sentenced to spend 60 years behind bars for producing child pornography.
Knoxville Police were contacted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 2017 about a video of Matthew Estes and a 16-month-old victim that was posted on the dark web .
In May of that year, officials say KPD also received a video from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office that also showed Estes and the 16-month-old victim.
That video was found on a device belonging to a suspect who was charged with possessing child pornography.
On Tuesday, Estes, now 26, entered a plea agreement to plead guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and was sentenced to 720 months in jail. Once released, he will be on lifetime supervision and will be required to register with the state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A man and woman are facing charges after authorities say they left children in a hot car to shop at Target .
Officers went to the store on Clinton Highway Monday after a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper was flagged down by someone who said two children were left by themselves in a parked SUV while it was 84 degrees outside.
The trooper was able to get one of the children, a nine-year-old, to open the door in order to help them. Officers say the two children were sweating profusely, had red cheeks and were hot to the touch.
Officers say 30-year-old Mariana Castro came outside after shopping and reportedly said she left both of the children unattended in the car because the one-year-old was sick and asleep.
During the investigation, police found she tried to cover up for 38-year-old Jose Llovera (yo-vera) by saying he was with the children in the car, but video footage showed both of them get out of the car and go inside the store about 20 minutes before officers arrived.
They are each charged with two counts of felony child abuse/neglect/endangerment. Additionally, Castro is also charged with false reports.
NASHVILLE, TN (WVLT – WOKI) – The Tennessee General Assembly announced it has passed the state’s nearly $60 billion budget on Wednesday.
The House and Senate passed a $59.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The new spending plan shows a 2% growth rate with efforts to improve public safety, invest in infrastructure, advance education, and more, according to Republican legislators.
However, Democrats feel the budget missed the mark on important issues for middle class families. Democratic Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis) commented on the budget’s passage saying:
“Voters sent lawmakers to the Tennessee Capitol to cut costs for their families, improve our quality of life, and rebuild our crumbling middle class. But the legislature failed to meet the moment and this year’s budget is defined by the challenges it ignores. It does nothing to ease the burden on working families struggling with rising grocery prices, housing costs, and the loss of health coverage. In fact, Republican lawmakers blocked Democratic efforts to crackdown on gun violence, repeal the grocery tax, raise wages, and guarantee health coverage for all working families. They even slashed the governor’s own proposal to invest in affordable housing.
After passing the largest corporate tax break in Tennessee history just last year, working families were right to expect more from their state government. Instead, the biggest new initiative in the budget is a taxpayer-funded voucher scheme that hands $7,300 to 20,000 families already enrolled in private schools.Our families deserved better.”
The House and Senate passed a $59.8 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
“The legislative amendment makes fiscally responsible adjustments to the administration’s initial budget proposal by shifting $19.94 million in recurring allocations to non-recurring, allowing the state to better manage long-term spending obligations,” Republicans said.
Below is a look at the budget breakdown from state Republicans:
Grant Pool for Community Services
In the budget, a $42.5 million grant pool was created, with nonrecurring funds, for important emergency and community services. The grants include:
$20 million for Volunteer Fire Departments
$5 million for Rescue Squads
$5 million for Emergency Medical Services
$5 million for Senior Centers
$5 million for Local Museums for capital improvements
$2 million for Courthouse Restoration
$500,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank
Disaster Relief for Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene victims were provided $26 million nonrecurring for disaster relief in Northeast Tennessee and $20 million nonrecurring for local match funds for FEMA disaster relief.
Rural Hospital Support and Healthcare Investments
Lawmakers used TennCare Shared Savings to provide an additional $78 million to help hospitals, particularly in rural areas, with uncompensated care and $4 million to complete capital projects at county health departments.
Additional healthcare investments include:
$4 million recurring to increase pediatric dental rates
$3 million nonrecurring to the Adult Healthcare Safety Net
$500,000 nonrecurring to assist those living with epilepsy and their caregivers statewide
$1.4 million recurring to provide scholarships for the joint public-private partnership in the Medical School Early Acceptance Program between MTSU and Meharry Medical College
$1 million nonrecurring to Live Like Lou Foundation for ALS research
$1 million nonrecurring for Volunteers in Medicine
Safety and Security Improvements
The budget also provides additional allocations in safety and security:
$5.4 million nonrecurring to improve campus safety and security at the University of Memphis
$500,000 nonrecurring to establish and operate the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center
$400,000 nonrecurring to support the East Tennessee Regional Forensic Facility and Training Program
Major investments secured
In addition to the adjustments made to fund legislative priorities, the budget maintains investments proposed by Gov. Lee including:
$1 billion into the road fund to address the state’s transportation infrastructure needs
$62.7 million for K-12 infrastructure and facilities funding
$244 million to strengthen education through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) formula growth, including teacher pay raises
$198.4 million for teacher bonuses in recognition of their hard work and dedication and for leading the nation in student achievement and growth
$35.6 million investment into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing Tennessee’s reserves to nearly $2.2 billion, the largest in state history
$25 million for FastTrack grants to recruit new business to Tennessee and support workforce development
Expanding choices for parents
The special session-passed school choice bill initiative invests $145.9 million in Education Freedom Scholarships.
Sneedville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway in Hancock County following a fire early Tuesday morning that destroyed an historic building.
Officials with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office say the former Hancock County Jail, which was built in 1860 and located on Jail Street in Sneedville, caught fire around 3:00 a.m.
Despite a multi-agency response, fire officials declared the structure a “total loss.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire which they consider to be suspicious.
The building was also home to the Hancock County Historical and Genealogical Society and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Roane County, TN (WOKI) The Roane County Sheriff’s Office is asking for information following a fatal hit-and-run incident Tuesday on Harriman Highway.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deadly incident occurred in the 4200 block of Harriman Highway Tuesday morning where a car struck a pedestrian and left the scene.
RCSO is asking anyone who saw the incident or has information about the vehicle or driver involved to call the sheriff’s office at 865-717-4700.
Additional information was not released.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deadly hit-and-run happened in the 4200 block of Harriman Highway. (Frankly Media)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knox County Grand Jury has now indicted an Alcoa man for helping accused murder suspect Kenneth DeHart while he was on the run from police.
The Grand Jury returned with a true bill indictment against 46-year-old Maurice Donnell Warren for Accessory After The Fact in helping DeHart.
According to court records, Warren was helping DeHart while he was on the run for more than five days, buying him pre-paid cell phones at a store on Ray Mears Boulevard back in February of 2024.
DeHart is accused of shooting and killing Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers during a traffic stop in Blount County.
Warren is scheduled for arraignment on May 19 in Knox County Criminal Court.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A Knoxville man with multiple outstanding warrants is now facing several additional charges in connection to Tuesday night’s shooting near Taylor Homes Road.
Knoxville police arrested and charged 19-year-old Gabriel Teams after fleeing a traffic stop in a stolen car.
KPD says the car, a black Honda Accord, was witnessed leaving the scene of a shots fired call in the area of Taylor Homes Road and Kenner Avenue. Nobody was struck or injured in the shooting.
In addition to multiple outstanding warrants, including for burglary, Teams is facing charges of auto theft, felony evading arrest and reckless endangerment, among others.
