Body Found in Kentucky Could be Suspect who Shot Five People on I-75 in Laurel County
Courtesy of WVLT

Body Found in Kentucky Could be Suspect who Shot Five People on I-75 in Laurel County

Officials in Kentucky believe a body found in the area where the I-75 mass shooting happened could be the suspect, Joseph Couch.

Kentucky State Police say the body was found near Exit 49. Officials say officers are still processing the scene and are waiting for a positive identification, but items found at the scene, including a weapon, make them believe the body is Couch.

Police say on September 7th, Joseph Couch opened fire in Laurel County on I-75 near Exit 49. Five people were shot and survived. Authorities have been searching for him since.

The discovery of the body comes a day after Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky law enforcement leaders announced they were adjusting the deployment of some of the resources involved with the manhunt back into the community.

The manhunt had been stretching local agencies thin.  Hundreds of tips had been submitted to law enforcement, and more than 28,000 acres of Daniel Boone National Forest were searched.

Police are aware of a YouTube channel that was in the woods livestreaming as the body was found. (Story Courtesy of WVLT)

Greene County Sheriff’s Office Charges 16 Middle School Students for Making School Shooting TikTok

Greene County Sheriff’s Office Charges 16 Middle School Students for Making School Shooting TikTok

Greene County, TN (WOKI) Sixteen Greene County middle school students are facing charges after posting a TikTok video reenacting a school shooting.

Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say “the video shows several juveniles re-enacting what appears to be a school shooting with a title of ‘to be continued.'”

They add that “the video was posted on TikTok and was shared by several others before being removed from the platform.”

GCSO says all the students attend South Greene Middle School, and they are slated to appear in juvenile court.

Greene County Sheriff’s Office charges 16 middle school students for making school shooting TikTok.
Knoxville Police Identify Victims in North Knoxville Motorcycle, Box Truck Collison

Knoxville Police Identify Victims in North Knoxville Motorcycle, Box Truck Collison

(Knoxville, TN WOKI) UPDATE 9/18: Knoxville Police have identified the victims in last weekend’s fatal crash in North Knoxville.

The crash happened Sunday night, September 15, on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike involving a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders, a man driving and a woman as a passenger.

The woman, 43-year-old Alecia Vigander of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 44-year-old Michael Scates also of Knoxville, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The investigation so far shows that the motorcycle was driving recklessly when it collided with the truck, which was nearly stopped and preparing to make a right turn at the time of the collision.

UPDATE: Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal crash in North Knoxville.

It happened Sunday night on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike; the crash involved a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders, a man driving and a woman as a passenger.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The investigation so far shows that the motorcycle was driving recklessly when it collided with the truck, which was nearly stopped and preparing to make a right turn at the time of the collision.

ORIGINAL STORY: Knoxville Police are investigating a fatal crash in North Knoxville.

It happened Sunday night on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike; the crash involved a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders.

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another person was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.

No other details have been released as it remains an active investigation.

Investigators Asking for Help after Body Found in West Knox County

Investigators Asking for Help after Body Found in West Knox County

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man whose body was found more than year ago in West Knox County.

KCSO says deputies were called to 325 Walker Springs Road around 4:30 on Saturday, August 5, 2023 for the report of a dead person near the wood line on the property, adjacent to the Ten Mile Greenway.

At the time, investigators found that the body was too decomposed to be identified, transporting it to the Regional Forensic Center for more examination.

KCSO says there were no signs at the scene of foul play, and the victim, from what could be gathered at the scene, was not assaulted. Officials add the cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Forensic Center. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Regional Forensic Center are asking for help identifying the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeremy McCord in the Major Crimes Unit at 865-215-2243.

The body was discovered near the Ten Mile Greenway in West Knox County. (Courtesy: KCSO)

Two Injured in Knoxville Apartment Shooting after Argument, Police Say

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after two men are shot at an apartment on Sutters Mill Lane.

Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded to the Adelade apartment complex around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, finding a 26-year-old man who had been shot.

Around the same time, officers responded to the Sutters Mill Apartments where they found a 21-year-old man who had also been shot.

According to investigators, the two got into a fight at the Sutters Mill apartment and both fired. Three firearms were also confiscated during the investigation.

At this time, no charges have been filed in connection to the shooting.

According to investigators, the two got into a fight at the Sutters Mill apartment and both fired. (Courtesy: KPD)
Federal Board Votes to Restore Clingmans Dome Name Back to Kuwohi

Federal Board Votes to Restore Clingmans Dome Name Back to Kuwohi

Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee voted, unanimously, today (Wednesday) to change the name of a popular spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It’s the latest development in a years-long effort to rename Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (Coo – Woe – HE), the traditional Cherokee name for the mountain which translates to “mulberry place.”

Clingmans Dome was named after U.S. Senator Thomas Clingman, and the first name change happened in 1859.

The effort to restore the name was in part pushed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which says the act of naming the mountain Clingmans Dome was disrespectful and racist.

Arnold Guyot, a geographer and professor, named the area after Clingman. Since then, Guyot has been accused of advocating for “scientific racism,” a point of view not uncommon at the time.

In a release issued Wednesday, the National Park Service said [it] “strongly supported the name restoration and applauds today’s decision, which also received support from local communities and governments.”

“The Great Smoky National Park team was proud to support this effort to officially restore the mountain and to recognize its importance to the Cherokee People,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The Cherokee People have had strong connections to Kuwohi and the surrounding area, long before the land became a national park. The National Park Service looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee People to share their story and preserve this landscape together.”

The proposal was submitted in January of this year by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks following an effort started in 2022 by Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, both enrolled EBCI members, to restore the traditional name of the summit.

 Kuwohi is one of the most popular sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year. It is the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River, officials with the national park said.

The effort was in part pushed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which says the act of naming the mountain Clingmans Dome was disrespectful. (Courtesy: National Park Service)

   

 

Kerr Named to AVCA Division I Player of the Year Award Watch List
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Kerr Named to AVCA Division I Player of the Year Award Watch List

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After enjoying an impressive campaign last year that resulted in All-America and All-SEC recognition, Tennessee setter Caroline Kerr earned a spot on the AVCA’s 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award watch list, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.

Kerr enjoyed a breakout year in the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman, earning Second Team All-America honors from the AVCA and being tabbed to VolleyballMag.com’s All-American Fourth Team. She finished the season averaging 11.75 assists, 1.98 digs, 0.66 kills, 0.38 blocks and 0.31 aces per set. Her assists per set average placed her third nationally, second in the SEC and first among all NCAA freshmen. Kerr was tabbed to the All-SEC, SEC All-Freshman and AVCA All-Region Teams and collected 11 SEC weekly honors throughout the season.

This season, Kerr earned SEC Player and Setter of the Week honors during week two and recently surpassed the 1,500 career assists mark in the match against Wofford. She posted a season-high 50 assists in the five-set win against Western Kentucky. An all-around player for the Lady Vols, she is currently averaging 9.97 assists, 1.97 digs, 1.00 kills, 0.33 blocks and 0.30 aces per set.

The list includes 36 players from 21 schools and will be narrowed down in November. The names of finalists will be announced before the AVCA Convention, and the 2024 Division I AVCA Player of the Year will be announced on Friday, December 20.

A Student is Detained Following Bomb Threat at a Knox County Middle School
Courtesy of WVLT

A Student is Detained Following Bomb Threat at a Knox County Middle School

A Hardin Valley Middle School student has been detained in connection with a bomb threat at the school which has caused an evacuation at the school earlier today.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Bomb Unit has cleared Hardin Valley Middle, and students are back in class.

The suspect will be interviewed by Juvenile Detectives and there’s no word yet if or when any charges will be filed.

Chapman Earns Second Straight SEC Freshman of the Week Honor
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Chapman Earns Second Straight SEC Freshman of the Week Honor

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second time in a row, Tennessee outside hitter Paityn Chapman earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
 
A native of Castle Rock, Colorado, Chapman posted a pair of double-digit kill performances and averaged 3.42 points per set to help the Lady Vols go 3-0 on the week with road wins at Western Kentucky and Coastal Carolina. She tallied 31 kills on .312 hitting, 10 blocks, nine digs and four aces, as UT extended its winning streak to five matches.
 
Chapman opened the week with a career day against the Hilltoppers, posting personal highs in kills (15) and digs (8) and matching her season-best in blocks (5). She followed that up with 12 kills, a season-high three aces, two blocks and one dig to lead UT to a four-set win against Coastal Carolina. She helped the Lady Vols set their program record for team aces (15) during the 25-point rally scoring era during the contest. She ended the week with four kills, three blocks and one ace to sweep the Chanticleers.
 
For the season, Chapman boasts 60 kills, 18 blocks, 16 digs and five aces through seven matches. She’s recorded double-digit kills in four matches and boasts multiple blocks in a contest on five occasions.

Almost 70 Dogs Found Malnourished and Neglected at Dandridge Non-Profit, Woman Charged with Multiple
Courtesy of WVLT

Almost 70 Dogs Found Malnourished and Neglected at Dandridge Non-Profit, Woman Charged with Multiple

A woman who ran an animal rescue out of her home in Dandridge where 68 dogs were found malnourished and neglected is charged with multiple counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

The nonprofit, “A Life 2 go 2 Rescue”, has been on the sheriff’s radar for a while.

Deputies went to the home on Argonnia Lane in Dandridge Monday after animal control went there on Friday.

Deputies say CARE, or Companion Animal Rescue and Education, also went to the home and took possession of 68 dogs.

58-year-old Paula Whitt is charged with 55 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

Most of the dogs are expected to recover while a few will not be so fortunate.

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Body Found in Kentucky Could be Suspect who Shot Five People on I-75 in Laurel County
Courtesy of WVLT

Body Found in Kentucky Could be Suspect who Shot Five People on I-75 in Laurel County

Officials in Kentucky believe a body found in the area where the I-75 mass shooting happened could be the suspect, Joseph Couch. Kentucky State Police say the body was found near Exit 49. Officials say officers are still processing the scene and are waiting for a positive identification, but items found at the scene, including a…Continue Reading

Greene County Sheriff’s Office Charges 16 Middle School Students for Making School Shooting TikTok

Greene County Sheriff’s Office Charges 16 Middle School Students for Making School Shooting TikTok

Greene County, TN (WOKI) Sixteen Greene County middle school students are facing charges after posting a TikTok video reenacting a school shooting. Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say “the video shows several juveniles re-enacting what appears to be a school shooting with a title of ‘to be continued.’” They add that “the video…Continue Reading

Knoxville Police Identify Victims in North Knoxville Motorcycle, Box Truck Collison

Knoxville Police Identify Victims in North Knoxville Motorcycle, Box Truck Collison

(Knoxville, TN WOKI) UPDATE 9/18: Knoxville Police have identified the victims in last weekend’s fatal crash in North Knoxville. The crash happened Sunday night, September 15, on Cedar Lane at Central Avenue Pike involving a delivery box truck and a motorcycle with two riders, a man driving and a woman as a passenger. The woman,…Continue Reading

Investigators Asking for Help after Body Found in West Knox County

Investigators Asking for Help after Body Found in West Knox County

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man whose body was found more than year ago in West Knox County. KCSO says deputies were called to 325 Walker Springs Road around 4:30 on Saturday, August 5, 2023 for the report of a dead person near the wood line…Continue Reading

Two Injured in Knoxville Apartment Shooting after Argument, Police Say

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after two men are shot at an apartment on Sutters Mill Lane. Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded to the Adelade apartment complex around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, finding a 26-year-old man who had been shot. Around the same time, officers responded to the Sutters Mill Apartments where…Continue Reading

Federal Board Votes to Restore Clingmans Dome Name Back to Kuwohi

Federal Board Votes to Restore Clingmans Dome Name Back to Kuwohi

Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee voted, unanimously, today (Wednesday) to change the name of a popular spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s the latest development in a years-long effort to rename Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (Coo – Woe – HE), the traditional Cherokee name for…Continue Reading

Kerr Named to AVCA Division I Player of the Year Award Watch List
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Kerr Named to AVCA Division I Player of the Year Award Watch List

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After enjoying an impressive campaign last year that resulted in All-America and All-SEC recognition, Tennessee setter Caroline Kerr earned a spot on the AVCA’s 2024 Division I Player of the Year Award watch list, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon. Kerr enjoyed a breakout year in the 2023 season as a redshirt freshman, earning Second Team…Continue Reading

A Student is Detained Following Bomb Threat at a Knox County Middle School
Courtesy of WVLT

A Student is Detained Following Bomb Threat at a Knox County Middle School

A Hardin Valley Middle School student has been detained in connection with a bomb threat at the school which has caused an evacuation at the school earlier today. The Knox County Sheriff’s Bomb Unit has cleared Hardin Valley Middle, and students are back in class. The suspect will be interviewed by Juvenile Detectives and there’s…Continue Reading

Chapman Earns Second Straight SEC Freshman of the Week Honor
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Chapman Earns Second Straight SEC Freshman of the Week Honor

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second time in a row, Tennessee outside hitter Paityn Chapman earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors, the league office announced Monday afternoon. A native of Castle Rock, Colorado, Chapman posted a pair of double-digit kill performances and averaged 3.42 points per set to help the Lady Vols go 3-0 on the week with…Continue Reading

Almost 70 Dogs Found Malnourished and Neglected at Dandridge Non-Profit, Woman Charged with Multiple
Courtesy of WVLT

Almost 70 Dogs Found Malnourished and Neglected at Dandridge Non-Profit, Woman Charged with Multiple

A woman who ran an animal rescue out of her home in Dandridge where 68 dogs were found malnourished and neglected is charged with multiple counts of aggravated animal cruelty. The nonprofit, “A Life 2 go 2 Rescue”, has been on the sheriff’s radar for a while. Deputies went to the home on Argonnia Lane…Continue Reading