Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Food City will pay more than $8 million as part of a settlement with the federal government connected to the ongoing opioid epidemic.
It’s the latest news from the U.S. Department of Justice, which announced Monday that K-CA-T Food Stores, Food City’s parent company, had agreed to the settlement.
Court documents said that from Jan. 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2018, 24 Food City stores dispensed opioids that were medically unnecessary.
“When pharmacies fill prescriptions for opioids and other powerful controlled substances without regard to their legitimacy or medical necessity it significantly contributes to the opioid epidemic, causing great harm to our citizens and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “This settlement agreement demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are using all tools available to address the opioid crisis.”
Our news partner WVLT News reached out to K-VA-T Food Stores for a statement, below:
The allegations focused primarily on circumstances from more than a decade ago. K-VA-T has continually disputed the validity of these allegations, and the settlement agreement clearly states there is no admission of liability by K-VA-T. This case is another example of the many cases nationwide brought against manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of opioid products. – K-VA-T Food Stores
In total, $8,488,378 will go to the federal government. Another $78,621 will go to the states of Virginia and Kentucky for claims paid to Food City through state Medicaid programs.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the third week in a row, the University of Tennessee is the top-ranked men’s basketball team in the nation.
Tennessee (11-0) yet again places first overall in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, as released Monday afternoon.
This is the eighth time, across three campaigns, the Volunteers check in atop the AP Poll. They held the top spot once in 2007-08, four times in 2018-19 and now thrice in 2024-25.
Eight of Tennessee’s 10 all-time weeks in the AP top three, including seven of its eight No. 1 nods, are under the direction of 10th-year head coach Rick Barnes. One of just seven teams to claim the top spot in the AP Poll in more than one of the last seven seasons, Tennessee is 25-4 all-time while holding an AP top three spot (21-2 in the Barnes era), including 11-2 at No. 1 overall (10-1 in the Barnes era).
This is the 67th straight week the Volunteers are in the AP Poll, a streak extending across four campaigns and dating to the 2021-22 preseason release. The figure is 30 weeks greater than the program’s previous top tally and is the third-longest active mark in America, behind just Houston (93) and Kansas (72). No other team is at even 50-plus, while the next closest SEC program, Kentucky (29), is eighth nationally and 38 weeks shy of Tennessee.
The Volunteers are in the AP top 15 for the 41st time in the last 44 releases, dating to Nov. 28, 2022. This is the 63rd AP top-10 ranking for Tennessee in Barnes’ tenure, including its 31st top-five placement, with the latter mark 14 greater than the program’s entire total (17) before his arrival on Rocky Top in 2015. Additionally, Tennessee now has four times as many top-two rankings under Barnes (eight) as it had before his hiring (two).
Barnes has coached Tennessee to an AP top-five ranking in each of the last four seasons, a streak only matched by Kansas. He has also led Tennessee to an AP top-six ranking in each of the last five years, a figure only Alabama, Houston and Kansas can equal.
The Volunteers won their lone game last week, registering a dominant 84-36 victory Tuesday against Western Carolina behind a game-best 19 points from fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier and a near triple-double by senior guard Zakai Zeigler. It marked the program’s seventh-largest win in the last 50 seasons (1975-2025) and co-second-fewest points allowed in that period.
Tennessee earned 1,528 of a possible 1,550 points in the AP Poll balloting, a slight nine-point decrease from last week, as well as claimed 41 of the 62 first-place votes. In the Coaches Poll, it amassed 764 of a possible 775 points, just one fewer than its total las week, and recorded 20 of the 31 first-place nods.
Tennessee leads a group of 10 SEC teams in the top 25 of at least one poll, with nine in the top 20 of both. It is joined by second-ranked Auburn, No. 5/6 Alabama, No. 6/5 Florida, No. 10 Kentucky, No. 12/11 Oklahoma, No. 13 Texas A&M, No. 16 Ole Miss and No. 19 Mississippi State, while Arkansas places No. 23 in the AP Poll. The Razorbacks are receiving votes in the Coaches Poll, while Georgia and Missouri are featured in that category of both lists.
Among the last four undefeated teams in the nation, Tennessee also sits second in the NCAA NET rankings and third in KenPom’s rankings.
Tennessee resumes play Monday at 7 p.m. when it squares off with Middle Tennessee State at Food City Center, live on SEC Network.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team increased its season-opening winning streak to a dozen for the third time in program history with an 82-64 win Monday night against Middle Tennessee State.
Facing a halftime deficit for the first time in 2024-25, top-ranked Tennessee (12-0) controlled much of the second stanza to claim the win in front of 20,706 fans at Food City Center. Fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier paced the victors with 23 points, while senior guard Zakai Zeigler posted his second straight double-double, notching 17 points and career-high 15 assists, tied for the fifth-most in program history.
The Volunteers scored eight straight points in just 94 seconds midway through the first half to take a 25-14 edge with 9:31 on the timer. However, Middle Tennessee State (9-4) soon put together a 13-2 surge, including seven unanswered points in 55 seconds by redshirt senior guard Camryn Weston, to go in front for the first time, 32-20, with 3:06 left before the break.
After Tennessee leveled the score just 18 seconds later, the Blue Raiders scored eight of the last 10 points in the frame, making it a 21-6 run over the final 6:33 of the frame, to earn a game-high six-point advantage, 40-34, at the intermission. Weston, who capped the scoring on a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, tallied 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the session.
Tennessee scored nine of the opening 12 points coming out of the locker room, evening the score at 43 with 16:01 to play. Middle Tennessee State thrice went back ahead by three before the Volunteers pulled ahead, 52-51, with 12:21 to go and never conceded the lead. It pushed the cushion to six, 57-51, with 11:09 remaining after making it a 9-0 burst over 1:44.
The Blue Raiders got the deficit down to one, 59-58, with 9:23 to go, but Tennessee then went 5:58 without allowing a field goal—that included 3:35 without a point—and posted a 14-2 run during 5:15 of that span to take a then-game-best 13-point edge, 73-60, with 3:39 left.
The Volunteers eventually won by their largest margin of the night, 18, after scoring the final seven points in the last 1:37 of action.
Lanier, who had his fifth performance of 22-plus points in the last eight games, shot 5-of-10 from 3-point range to lead the team in scoring for the ninth time, including the eighth outright. Zeigler, who logged his 11th-career double-double, scored or assisted on 19 of the team’s 27 made field goals, plus shot 8-of-9 at the line to set season highs in makes and attempts. His 15 assists marked the highest total by a Volunteer since Feb. 28, 1987, and the top figure by an SEC competitor in non-conference play since Nov. 15, 2019.
Junior forward Felix Okpara scored 12 points, including 10 in a first half during which he shot 4-of-4, all on dunks. Senior guard Jordan Gainey added 10 points, six rebounds and a game-best two blocks, while senior forward Igor Miličić Jr., paced all players with 12 rebounds.
Weston led all scorers with 24 points for the Blue Raiders, adding a game-high four steals. He shot 9-of-18 from the field, the most makes by a Tennessee opponent this season, despite missing his final six attempts and scoring just one point in the last 14 minutes. Junior guard Kamari Lands added 13 points on a 5-of-10 field-goal clip for Middle Tennessee State.
Tennessee limited Middle Tennessee State to 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) shooting in the second half, including a 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) mark from beyond the arc. The Volunteers shot 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) from the stripe in the win, while the Blue Raiders went just 7-of-14 (50.0 percent).
Following a one-week hiatus from game action, Tennessee wraps up its non-conference slate Dec. 31 at 3 p.m. against Norfolk State, live on SEC Network+ from Food City Center.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS POSTGAME NOTES • Monday marked the 14th game in program history with Tennessee ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll, as it improved to 12-2, including 11-1 in head coach Rick Barnes‘ tenure. • The Volunteers also upped their record to 26-4 all-time while ranked top-three in the AP Poll, including 22-2 under Barnes. • Tennessee remained one of the only four undefeated teams in the country and the lone school unbeaten in both men’s and women’s basketball. • Barnes is now 34-6 (.850) against in-state opponents during his Tennessee tenure, including 17-1 (.944) the last 18 such contests. • Barnes improved to 14-0 in his career against the current Conference USA membership, his third-most wins without a defeat against any league. • Middle Tennessee State is the 204th different current Division I program Barnes has defeated during his 38-year head coaching career. • Tennessee improved to 10-2 all-time versus Middle Tennessee State with the victories by an average of 21.7 points per game, including eight decisions by double digits. • The Volunteers moved to 12-0 to begin a season for the third time in program history, alongside 1922-23 (14-0) and 1915-16 (finished 12-0). • Tennessee now has its seventh winning streak of at least 12 games program history, including its fifth in a single season and first since 2018-19 when it claimed a program-best 19 consecutive victories. • The other four single-season winning streaks of at least a dozen games for Tennessee are as follows: 19 in 2018-19 (Nov. 28 to Feb. 13), 14 in 1922-23 (Jan. 8 to Feb. 20), 12 in 1915-16 (Jan. 8 to Feb. 26) and 12 in 1976-77 (Dec. 11 to Jan. 24). • As announced before tip-off, the Volunteers played without freshman guard Bishop Boswell (right shoulder injury), leaving them with eight available scholarship players. • The Volunteers improved to 89-33 all-time when playing in front of 20,000-plus fans at Food City Center, including 30-9 under Barnes, with 24 of the latter 39 over the past four years (2021-25). • Monday marked the first time in 2024-25 the Volunteers trailed at halftime and/or conceded 36-plus points before the break. • Weston’s 17 first-half points tied for the most in a frame by a Tennessee opponent this season, matching the mark by Baylor’s Norchad Omier after the break Nov. 22 in Nassau, Bahamas. • The seven made field goals by Weston in the first half set a new high in a session by a Volunteer foe this year, eclipsing the second-half mark of six by both Omier and his teammate, V.J. Edgecombe, in the matchup with Baylor. • Weston shot 9-of-12 in the first 26 minutes of the contest, already setting a new top mark for the most made field goals in a full game by a single player against Tennessee in 2024-25. • The Volunteers have led for 412:43 of a possible 480 minutes thus far in 2024-25, while trailing for only 43:39. • Tennessee has held a lead of 18-plus points in 11 of its 12 contests this season, including by 26 in all but three, and still has not faced a deficit larger than eight. • Eleven of Tennessee’s 12 wins thus far are by 13-plus points, with seven by at least 22, four by at least 35 and two by 40-plus. • Zeigler, who now has back-to-back double-doubles for the first time as a Volunteer, upped his career double-double mark to 11. • Ten of Zeigler’s 11 double-doubles are with points and assists, giving him twice as many in that category as any other player in program history. • Monday marked the 11th double-figure assist outing of Zeigler’s career, including his third of the 2024-25 campaign. • Zeigler’s previous career-best assist mark came on Feb. 24, 2024, when he registered 14 against Texas A&M. • The most recent SEC player to post 15-plus assists in a game was Kentucky’s TyTy Washington Jr., who notched 17 on Jan. 8, 2022, against Georgia, while the last to do so in non-conference play was Auburn’s J’Von McCormick on Nov. 15, 2019, against Cal State Northridge. • Over the last three seasons (2022-25) there are just four occurrences of an SEC player amassing 13-plus assists in a game, with Zeigler owning three of those performances, as he also did so Feb. 24, 2024, versus Texas A&M (14) and Feb. 2, 2024, at Kentucky (13). • Zeigler’s 15 assists matched Fred Jenkins’ tally on Feb. 28, 1987, against Georgia for the fifth-most in Tennessee history, with that also the most recent performance of 15-plus assists by a Volunteer. • Zeigler is one of just two players in program history to record 14-plus assists multiple times, joining Rodney Woods, who did so on Feb. 1, 1975, at Georgia (16) and Feb. 3, 1973, against Auburn (14). • Miličić recorded double-digit rebounds for the 19th time in his career, including the fifth in 12 outings as a Volunteer. • Lanier connected on at least four made 3-pointers for the 22nd time as a collegian, including the seventh in just 12 games at Tennessee. • In half of those 22 contests, Lanier has now hit at least five 3-pointers, with this his third such performance as a Volunteer. • Lanier now owns 20 total 20-point showing in his career, including five thus far in his lone year as a Volunteer. • Over the last eight games, Lanier has scored 22-plus points five times and led Tennessee in scoring on seven occasions. • Gainey has now tallied multiple blocks in three of the last four games, including each of the past two, after doing so five times in his first 108 outings.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) No one is injured but a home suffers significant damage following a house fire late Monday morning.
Knoxville Fire Department crews responded to the home in the 5500 block of Jacksboro Pike around 10:30 a.m. to find flames coming from the downstairs windows of the house.
KFD reported crews encountered a heavy amount of smoke and fire but were able to get the fire under control within 20 minutes.
“Upon the arrival of the first fire apparatus, the crew saw flames coming from the downstairs windows of the home,” KFD’s Timothy Woods said. “Firefighting efforts began immediately with first crew going inside to try and extinguish the fire. There was a heavy amount of smoke and fire, but the crews were able to get the fire under control within 20 minutes.”
KFD said no one was home at the time of the fire, and the house suffered significant fire, smoke and water damage.
KFD is investigating the fire’s cause.
Knoxville Fire Department responds to Jacksboro Pike house fire. (Courtesy: KFD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police are asking for information after a car is caught on camera damaging Lakeshore Park.
KPD says a Nissan Xterra was caught on camera off-roading at Lakeshore Park and damaging the landscape just before midnight on December 19.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward.
KPD said a car was caught on camera off-roading at Lakeshore Park and damaging the landscape on Dec. 19. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Highway Patrol said it is ramping up efforts to ensure safety on the state’s roadways during the holiday season.
As a part of the Holiday Safety Enforcement Campaign, state troopers will be out in full force in an effort to prevent serious crashes and fatalities.
“The holidays are a time for joy and celebration, but they also bring increased risks on the road,” said Colonel Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We’re asking all drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and always buckle up. Our goal is to make sure everyone arrives at their destination safely.”
THP officials said the campaign will focus on reducing impaired driving, speeding, aggressive drivers and distracted driving across all 95 counties.
Colonel Perry also reminded drivers of the dangers of drowsy driving.
“If you start to feel sleepy, pull over to a safe spot, take a short nap, or roll down your window for some fresh air,” Perry said. “Don’t risk your life or the lives of others by driving drowsy.”
Officials said you can report distracted or other unsafe driving by calling *THP hands-free.
A Tennessee Highway Patrol cruiser. (Courtesy: WVLT / WSMV)
Sweetwater, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office revealed that officials with the City of Sweetwater made questionable credit card purchases totaling more than $130,000 over the course of nearly a decade.
According to the investigation, city officials made purchases totaling $132,680.03 from December 2014 through June 2023, including at least $2,615.99 the city paid in taxes and fees.
Types of Questionable Expenditures
Total ($)
Taxes or Fees ($)
Food
71,636.67
1,967.41
Unsupported
36,009.14
73.12
Equipment and Supplies
10,287.60
254.55
Planning, Development, or Tourism
9,843.38
205.63
Contingency and Gifts
4,248.65
97.54
Travel
654.53
17.74
Grand Total
132,680.03
2,615.99
City officials “frequently dined at restaurants or food trucks located in Sweetwater or nearby cities such as Athens, Cleveland, Crossville, Farragut, Knoxville, Lenoir City, Madisonville, and Spring City,” the Comptroller Office’s investigation said. However, the city did not have a policy governing the purchase of food, the purpose of the meals or who was present.
Additionally, investigators said city officials made unsupported purchases including Amazon Prime and Adobe subscriptions and equipment and supply purchases, such as diffusers and essential oils.
The Comptroller’s Office also said city officials made other questionable purchases totaling $34,165.66 that were coded to an account nicknamed “gun pay.”
“Many city employee purchases appeared to be relevant to city business, such as police employees purchasing firearms or several employees purchasing clothing and boots for additional uniforms; however, some city employee purchases appeared to be abusive by benefiting the employee as a payroll advance rather than benefiting the city,” investigators said.
According to the Comptroller’s Office, the investigation revealed the following deficiencies:
City of Sweetwater officials failed to provide adequate oversight or separate financial duties
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish an adequate prior approval system for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for city accounts
City of Sweetwater officials routinely paid sales taxes on city purchases
City of Sweetwater officials failed to establish adequate written policies governing city purchases
Investigators said city officials “indicated that they have corrected or intend to correct these deficiencies.”
The City of Sweetwater providing our news partner WVLT with following statement:
“As a result of a comprehensive investigation over the scope of nearly nine years, the Comptroller’s Office of the State of Tennessee is releasing a report spanning from 2014 to 2023. And while the report makes only two findings, neither of which are criminal, the City of Sweetwater takes this review very seriously. The report recommends a few internal control policy changes, several of which have already been implemented and adopted by the City of Sweetwater. We will now take time for internal review on additional procedures and policies to ensure continued public confidence. We want to continue to sharpen and improve our internal controls to benefit the citizens of Sweetwater.
We are grateful to see this matter closed, and appreciate the diligence the staff and state personnel provided throughout the course of this thorough investigation.“ – City of Sweetwater
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Knoxille police have identified the suspect in a deadly Knoxville shooting.
Officers responded to Washington Pike early Thursday morning, December 19. Investigators say 21-year-old Kevin Martinez shot and killed the victim, 38-year-old Ernest Glenn.
Nashville police arrested Martinez as he was boarding a Greyhound bus there.
He is now being charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
KPD says he will be extradited back to Knoxville in the coming days.
ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police Department officials Friday afternoon identify the victim of a deadly shooting Thursday on Washington Pike while the search for a suspect continues.
KPD says 38-year-old Ernest Glenn of Knoxville was shot at least once and pronounced dead at the scene in the 2900 block of Washington Pike after crashing his car into a fence.
Officials say a second gunshot victim, identified only as a 45-year-old man, remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
Police believe, at this time, that the shooting was targeted and not random in nature.
According to KPD, a suspect has not been identified or charged, but detectives are pursuing active leads.
The shooting remains under investigation by the KPD Homicide Unit.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 865-215-7165. Tipsters may be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Kevin Martinez, 21 (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The seventh-ranked Vols fell to No. 6 Ohio State, 42-17, at Ohio Stadium Saturday night in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
Tennessee finished the season 10-3, earning its second 10-win campaign in the past three seasons under head coach Josh Heupel. The Vols’ 30 victories since 2022 are the most for the program in a three-year span since 1998-2000.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava finished the night 14-for-31 with 104 passing yards, adding 47 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. The redshirt freshman concluded his first season as the starting quarterback with a 10-3 record, becoming the first freshman quarterback—true or redshirt—in Tennessee history to win 10 games in a single season.
Wide receiver Bru McCoy was Iamaleava’s favorite target, hauling in four receptions for 40 yards.
Freshman running back Peyton Lewis led the Vols in rushing, carrying the ball 10 times for 77 yards.
Ohio State (11-2) jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead, scoring on its first three drives of the game. Quarterback Will Howard connected with receiver Jeremiah Smith on a 37-yard touchdown pass on OSU’s opening drive.
The Buckeyes scored twice on the ground in the first half, with Quinshon Judkins punching in a one-yard run, followed by a 29-yard rushing touchdown from TreVeyon Henderson.
With Ohio State driving and threatening to take a four-score lead, redshirt senior defensive back Will Brooks intercepted Howard in the back of the end zone with 10:02 remaining in the second quarter—his fourth interception of the season.
Tennessee used the pick to build momentum, driving 62 yards in nine plays for its first score of the night—a 36-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Max Gilbert. UT’s defense forced a quick three-and-out on OSU’s next possession as the Vols fought back.
Iamaleava marched Tennessee down the field in 16 plays on the ensuing drive, capping the series with a two-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to 21-10 going into halftime.
Ohio State repeated its first-half performance, scoring touchdowns on its first three second-half drives. Howard and Smith connected on a 22-yard touchdown pass before Judkins and Henderson rushed for touchdowns of one yard and 24 yards, respectively.
The Vols added a late touchdown as Iamaleava plunged in for a two-yard score with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee registered seven tackles for loss in Saturday’s game, finishing the year with 100 TFLs—tied for the eighth-most in a season in Tennessee history. The Vols have now produced triple-digit tackles for loss in three of four seasons under defensive coordinator Tim Banks.
Sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Telander led the team with a career-high 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss.
