Safety is top of mind for most parents when sending their children off to school, including college.
Research dot com has released its top 50 safest college towns in America and one Tennessee city is on the list.
Maryville is nestled at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. It has a population of more than 30,000 but is known for its small-town atmosphere.
Knoxville Police is asking for help to identify the woman suspected of stabbing a man near a church on Kingston Pike.
The stabbing happened yesterday (Thursday) near the Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. Police say the woman demanded the keys to the man’s truck then stabbed him and ran from the scene.
The victim was treated at the UT Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after a home is destroyed by fire in West Knox County.
Rural Metro Fire says crews were called to the 700 block of Plainview Road Wednesday night around 7:00 p.m. and saw flames shooting from the two-story home.
The fire had already spread into the attic and the main part of the home; fortunately, everyone inside made it out safely.
Crews were able to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby homes; however, the residence sustained heavy damage.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Crews were able to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby homes. (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
Pigeon Forge, TJN (WOKI) Dollywood Parks & Resorts has added another employment-related award to its list of recent honors by being named a 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces award winner.
Dollywood made the list of organizations with more than 2,500 employees on staff.
This award celebrates organizations that have built great workplace cultures and the winners of the Top Workplaces USA list were chosen based on employee feedback gathered through a 25-question survey.
Earlier this year, Dollywood was the second-highest ranked travel company on the Forbes’ list of America’s Best Midsize Employers and the only theme park company on their list as well.
Dolly Parton with the 40th Anniversary art package as part of Dollywood’s 40th Anniversary in 2025. Photo taken in Nashville, TN, at CTK Enterprises, on 9/20/24. (Courtesy: Curtis Hilbun / Dollywood)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County will pay a Muslim woman more than $71,000 in a partial settlement agreement stemming from an October 2024 lawsuit filed against the county and sheriff Tom Spangler.
Layla Soliz filed the lawsuit following her arrest in May 2024 for criminal trespass, a misdemeanor, connected to her participation in a Palestinian vigil on the University of Tennessee campus.
Soliz’ lawsuit claimed that Knox County Sheriff’s Office employees violated her religious rights by publishing a mugshot of her without her hijab, a religious headscarf.
Soliz is still demanding that the county delete the uncovered photo of her and reform their booking policy.
“This is a meaningful step toward accountability for violating Mrs. Soliz’s religious rights under state and federal law,” said Soliz’ attorney Daniel Horwitz. “Because Knox County has refused to destroy Mrs. Soliz’s uncovered booking photograph or update its booking policy to conform with what Mrs. Soliz asserts that state and federal law require, however, those claims will continue.”
Layla Soliz sued Knox County and the sheriff after a mugshot showing her without her religious headscarf was shared publicly. (Credit: Frankly Media)
An investigation is underway following a large fire at an RV Park in Roane County injures a firefighter and destroys multiple campers.
Roane County Sheriff’s Office Captain Tim Hawn says the fire broke out yesterday (Wednesday) at the Caney Creek RV Resort on Roane State Highway in Harriman.
Four campers were destroyed in the fire with two others damaged.
The cause of the fire has not been determined and one firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, their condition has not been released. No other injuries were reported.
(Maryville, TN WOKI) – Foothills Mall in Maryville has reopened after being placed on lockdown after a police chase ended at BJ’s Wholesale Club.
Maryville Police were told about a stolen car with two teens, ages 16 and 17, from a Kentucky military academy inside yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon around 3:30 p.m.
MPD says officers later found the car on US Highway 411 South and tried to pull it over, but were led on a chase that ended in the BJ’s parking lot at the Mall.
MPD had information that the teens may be armed, leading to additional officers from MPD and other agencies to respond to the mall.
The teens were quickly found in one of the store’s fitting rooms and taken into custody.
The incident prompted a lockdown at the mall, which was lifted shortly after 5 p.m.
The Harlan City Police Department in Kentucky say the teens ran away from a military school in Harlan County and stole the car from a nearby car dealership.
Foothills Mall Officials released the following statement:
This afternoon (Wednesday), Foothills Mall was placed on lockdown due to a police investigation involving two teenagers. We are incredibly grateful to the mall security team, the Maryville Police Department, the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and all other responding agencies for their swift actions to ensure the safety of our tenants, customers, and the public. We would also like to thank our tenants for quickly securing their stores to protect both their employees and customers.
During the lockdown, officers and security personnel conducted a thorough sweep of the mall, and the lockdown was later lifted. The safety of everyone at Foothills Mall is our top priority. We deeply value our partnership with local law enforcement, and our security team regularly participates in training to ensure a fast and effective response to any situation.
In emergencies, Foothills Mall will refer to the Maryville Police Department for the latest updates and limit our comments during active investigations to allow law enforcement to carry out their work.
With the threat from this afternoon behind us, we want to reassure the community that Foothills Mall is safe, and we remain committed to maintaining a secure and welcoming environment in partnership with both mall security and local police.Foothills Mall
Following an investigation led by KPD Violent Crimes Unit detectives, 32-year-old Patrick Harris, of Knoxville, has been arrested and charged for making a threat directed at a Knox County Criminal Court Judge.
Harris was charged with retaliation for past action, a class E felony, and prohibited 911 calls in non-emergency situations following an investigation into a 9-1-1 call that Harris made on the evening of Monday, March 17. During that call, it is alleged that Harris made a verbal threat of violence against Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steven Sword.
Detectives also determined that Harris called 9-1-1 and made a similar threat directed at Judge Sword on February 23, 2025.
Harris was taken into custody by Knoxville Police Department officers on Tuesday afternoon on W. Scott Avenue.
Kingston, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 3/19: The victim of a fatal house fire Saturday in Kingston has been identified.
Officials with the Kingston Police Department say multiple agencies are investigating the deadly fire at a home in the 800 block of Alma Lane. An adult, later identified as 39-year-old Mary Martinez, died in the fire.
While information is limited, the Kingston Fire Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Bomb and Arson team, are investigating the cause of the fire.
ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway in Kingston following a fatal house fire.
The Kingston Police Department says multiple agencies are investigating the deadly fire at a home in the 800 block of Alma Lane. An adult, who was not identified, died in the fire.
While information is limited, the Kingston Fire Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Bomb and Arson team, are investigating the cause of the fire.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office had a busy St. Patrick’s Day.
KCSO says officers conducted a traffic stop and executed two search warrants resulting in the seizure of two handguns, nearly 1,000 grams of fentanyl, almost 2,500 grams of marijuana and over $14,000 in drug money.
Officials add that “one suspect tried to escape—first in his vehicle, then on foot—tossing baggies of narcotics into the air as he ran.” “Unlucky for him, we still caught him, and the drugs were recovered from his abandoned vehicle,” KCSO officials said.
