Knoxville News Archives

The Knoxville Police Department said holiday weekend DUI arrests have increased 63 percent since last year, but reported no fatalities.

Two Knoxville men were injured this morning when the lamp oil in a saucepan they hoped would provide light during a power outage instead flashed flames when ignited.

The elderly woman Knoxville Firefighters pulled out of a burning home in Bearden has died from her injuries.

Ray Girouard couldn't wait to leave home.

The trip back took most of a decade - with a stop at a military prison along the way.

Some Knoxville City Council members are fed up with Knology cable company's failure to live up to its commitments to make a progress report to the council involving several issues.

A Maryville man is in custody on a charge of aggravated kidnapping for holding his mother against her will Saturday night.

Defense argues it's too late to add officer to state's list

With his capital murder trial looming, torture-slaying suspect George Thomas is crying foul over a late addition to the state's witness list.

Multiple armed robberies early Sunday morning kept Knoxville police and several businesses wondering if they are related.

1987 victim one of thousands unidentified

Ghostly and angular, the image of the young woman's face has haunted Knox County Sheriff's Office detectives for more than 22 years.

As debt collectors adopt increasingly aggressive tactics to obtain overdue payments, many debtors in East Tennessee are fighting back

The woman was elderly, terrified and in tears. She'd taken out a small loan, and with nothing of value to her name, she had jotted down the first thing that crossed her mind when she was asked to offer something for collateral.

KNOXVILLE - We are talking now of summer evenings in Knoxville in the time that James Agee lived here so successfully disguised to himself as a child.

The University of Tennessee plans to use a $1.8 million state grant to boost the number of math and science teachers in Tennessee schools.

Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a West Knoxville grocery store Saturday afternoon.

Knoxville police are looking for two suspects who robbed and assaulted a man early Saturday morning.

The man scheduled to be executed in Nashville on Wednesday morning has asked for a stay of execution, saying to kill him by lethal injection after 29 years on death row is cruel and unusual punishment.

There are way too many neat little food things to be thankful for in this area, lush as it is with great cooks, tantalizing bargains, and ethnic cuisine.

Attorney argues probation too long for teen's killer

The case of a Knox County cuckold who blamed his wife's fling for a deadly encounter with her teenage paramour may well prove a test of the limits of judicial freedom in Tennessee courts.

Knox County Sheriff's Office detectives have arrested a second suspect involved in a deputy-related shooting Nov.

Many local families don't know if they'll be able to provide a turkey dinner for their families this Thanksgiving.

Five Knoxville bars have been found in violation of gambling laws. The police department and the Alcoholic Beverage Commission did a sweep of bars on Friday.

A strong-arm robbery at the Shoe Show on Tuesday resulted in the man getting away with only the left shoes--the right ones were out on display.

Downtown Knoxville is gearing up to celebrate the holidays, starting with the annual Regal Celebration of Lights.

Archaeologists with the University of Tennessee say it will take another four weeks to finish excavating a woodland Indian village.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an armed robbery that occurred tonight at a West Knoxville restaurant.

Knoxville police officers responded to an armed robbery at Club XYZ, 1215 N. Central St., shortly after 8:30 p.m. tonight.

A suspect wanted in the strong armed robbery of an East Knoxville shoe store tonight escaped with only left-foot shoes, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

A federal judge has shot down a new trial bid by a convicted accessory to a fatal carjacking.

Rocky Joe Houston's former lawyer says one trial for double-murder ought to be enough.

"What we want is the verdict from the jury we spent the time and effort with at the first trial," defense lawyer Randy Rogers told an appellate court today. "This is a classic double jeopardy issue."

Prosecutors say it's not their fault if the first judge bungled the case.

The attorney for a Knoxville man, convicted of reckless homicide in the death of a teen he said his wife was having an affair with, is arguing against the 12 years of probation in his sentence.

A Knoxville man has been charged with aggravated rape. According to the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Cameron Fleming, 24, is accused of raping his female roommate.

Michael Patrick, one of our staff photojournalists, is exploring the roles of faith, religion and spirituality and how they play into our lives here in East Tennessee.

" A new study on the nation's most crime-ridden cities shows six Tennessee towns including Knoxville as ranking in the in the top 210 worst.

The next time Nu'Keese Richardson and Mike Edwards show up for court, their former Vol teammate won't be with them.

For the thousands of drivers daily on southbound Pellissippi Parkway who have darted around slow-merging traffic at Lovell Road, relief is in the works.

KNOXVILLE - Knox County prosecutors today dropped attempted aggravated armed robbery charges against University of Tennessee football player Janzen Jackson and a woman accused of being the getaway driver.

It's the second time this week that changes have been proposed to major procedural cancer screenings.

A 22-year-old Oak Ridge man was charged this morning with drunken driving after he allegedly struck a utility worker along a West Knox County road.

Ex-lawyer claims double jeopardy

Rescue group's goal to remove all, prevent repeat of situation

Legal guidelines must be followed when it comes to the fate of dozens of sickly dogs found in an alleged puppy mill in Harriman, an official said.

An early morning accident sends one person to the hospital. Just before 3:00am Monday morning a couple of workers were re-routing utility poles in between Bob Gray Road and Yarnell Road.

The Republican candidate for governor stood in the back of Neely's Barbecue on Mt.

A 22-year-old Knox County man was charged Saturday morning in a West Knoxville crime spree, and authorities suspect him in a purse snatching, an attempted purse snatching and robberies of a drug store, a gas station and a person at five separate locations - all within a span of less than four hours.

He was known simply as Elk No. 21, an icon of bull elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - one of the biggest in the valley, said park spokesman Bob Miller.

Thursday evening the Twilight madness began for the midnight showing of "New Moon." Regal Cinemas Pinnacle Theater in Turkey Creek was overflowing with fans of the vampire series.

Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee portray a father and son who must hide from cannibals in a trek across the post-apocalyptic Eastern United States in the film "The Road," based on the book by Cormac McCarthy.

KNOXVILLE - You keep playing until the clock hits zero. That philosophy paid off for Tennessee on Saturday night.

Things were all set for American Eagle Airlines inaugural flight of daily service from McGhee Tyson Airport to Miami--and then Atlanta got in the way.

A man suspected of going on a crime spree Friday night has been arrested. Authorities say 22-year-old David Picciuto is facing charges in both the City of Knoxville and Knox County after Friday night's robberies.

Prosecutor wants jury in torture slayings to hear racial remark

Prosecutor Leland Price argued Friday he wants a jury to hear a racially charged comment attributed by authorities to torture-slaying suspect George Thomas in a bid to explain why he should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23.

Police are investigating the death of a 3-month-old infant at an unlicensed day care center in Murfreesboro.

The case of a man accused of criminal homicide in the death of a 69-year-old Knoxville woman who had been bound and run over by a vehicle has been sent to a Blount County grand jury.

The former Knox County Sheriff's Office deputy accused of identity theft pleaded not guilty in her first appearance in court Friday.

Judge strikes down 'vague' law; supporters vow to appeal ruling

Tennessee's new law allowing people with handgun permits to be armed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol is unconstitutionally vague, a judge ruled Friday.

A Kingsport football player who died during a game in Knoxville earlier this year had a heart valve problem, according to the medical examiner's report.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. a ' A drunk driver slammed head-on into an ambulance Friday night in North Knoxville.

Thursday evening, Knox County Parks and Recreation held a meeting with residents in Halls.

Criminal homicide charges against a Knoxville man were sent to a Blount County grand jury today in the death of a 69-year-old woman.

President Barack Obama has nominated a former press secretary to President George W. Bush and a past chairman of CNN to the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Some Knox County bar owners may soon find themselves in hot water for allegedly allowing illegal video gambling machines into their establishments, officials say.

Gambling machines were confiscated recently from the B&M Lounge, 8508 Asheville Highway.

Authorities have released the name of a man who was shot Wednesday by an off-duty Knox County Sheriff's Office deputy at a Farragut grocery store.

A physician and three other suspects were arrested today after being indicted on charges including prescription fraud, extortion, conspiracy and filing false reports.

Knoxville City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a $15 million, tax-exempt bond issue for a local developer to renovate the Holiday Inn on the World's Fair site.

Ansel Adams , "Dawn, Autumn Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee", 1948.

In August, 6 On Your Side reported about an elderly Knoxville woman who lost tens of thousands of dollars to an insurance agent she trusted.

Panel selected for trial of slayings suspect

Forget prosecutorial claims of a slam dunk case against torture slaying suspect George Thomas.

Instead, prosecutor Takisha Fitzgerald's outline of the state's case against Thomas offered Wednesday in the final round of jury selection sounded more like a Hail Mary pass she's hoping to land in the end zone.

One of two shoplifting suspects sought after an officer-involved shooting Wednesday at a Farragut-area Kroger turned up two hours later at a Jefferson County emergency room seeking treatment for gunshot wounds to his neck and shoulder, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. a ' A Knoxville man has been arrested on child pornography charges.

The panel says most women under 50 don't need mammograms. Bronwyn Shupe worries about what would have happened if she'd waited to be tested.

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's non-incident streak wasn't exactly as advertised. Tennessee freshman defensive back Nyshier Oliver broke the nearly year-long string of no public police incidents when he was charged with shoplifting just hours before the Vols played host to Memphis on Nov.

A Knox County judge's slip of the tongue forced the disqualification of a potential juror Tuesday as the jury selection process in the case of torture slaying suspect George Thomas went a second day.

'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' stars Kristen Stewart, left, and Taylor Lautner, right, pose for fans in the Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 lobby during the Variety - The Children's Charity of Eastern Tennessee benefit screening on Tuesday, Nov.

Bond for an accused killer who was captured in Pennsylvania after fleeing Knoxville has been set at $500,000. Stanley A. James, 28, appeared today in Knox County General Sessions Court, and waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a charge of killing Henry James, 21.

A Knoxville man is being held on a $1 million bond in the Knox County Jail following his arrest Monday night for allegedly possessing thousands of child pornography images.

A Blount County man was arrested Monday after authorities allegedly discovered 21 marijuana plants being grown inside his home.

Three Knoxville Police officers arrested three suspects after they say they caught them loading bags of merchandise in a house on Wood-Smith Rd.

Retail gasoline prices in Knoxville rose and oil prices pushed higher for a second straight day on Tuesday even though the dollar strengthened and fresh economic data gave mixed signals on whether demand for oil will increase.

It was only a slight bump — up one-tenth of a cent to $2.473 — but it was the first overnight increase in metropolitan Knoxville in more than a week, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

Two suspects have been charged after a home invasion Sunday.

A Knox County judge is pondering a preview of gruesome autopsy photographs for potential jurors being polled this week on whether they could fairly try torture slaying suspect George Thomas.

Text Archive > American Libraries > "Distinguished service" citizenship. Southern sociological congress, Knoxville, Tennessee; "Distinguished service" citizenship.

Police this morning identified two men involved in a shoot-out that left one dead at a Northwest Knoxville housing project.

After more than two years of taking an out-of-sight, out-of-mind defense strategy, torture slaying suspect George Thomas will take center stage in a Chattanooga courtroom.

Three suspects are in custody after a violent home invasion at 1305 Oscar Armstrong Road this evening.

While many children are already thinking about their own Christmas lists, a group of eighth graders are pouring their energy into giving soldiers in Iraq a taste of home for the holidays.

The Tennessee Art Education Association and the Knoxville Museum of Art will present the fourth annual East Tennessee Student Art Exhibition Nov.

A Nashville murder suspect is dead after he jumped from a third-floor hotel balcony to avoid being arrested by Knoxville Police and U.S. Marshals.

A Nashville man wanted in his ex-girlfriend's beating death jumped from a third-floor hotel balcony tonight as officers prepared to confront him, the Knoxville News Sentinel is reporting.

Knoxville Police were looking for suspects after a deadly shooting at the Ridgebrook Apartments on Saturday night.

It was standing room only Thursday night as concerned citizens voiced their opposition to a proposal to build apartments for the homeless in West Knoxville.

A state trooper has been suspended for 15 days without pay and will be required to attend diversity training after he accidentally sent an e-mail proclaiming white pride to 787 state employees.

Over the objections of Jerry D. Miles' family, his confessed killer was sentenced Friday to 23 years in prison - but just 15 for Miles' death.

Special prosecutors in the case against Raynella Dossett Leath have told Knox County Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner they need a copy of a videotape that shows Dossett Leath at Parkwest Medical Center on the morning her husband, David Leath, was shot to death.

Police officers searching the house of a Knox County sheriff's deputy for fraudulently obtained furniture also found "five marijuana pipes, rolling papers" and hemostats used to hold marijuana cigarettes, according to a search warrant.

An Anderson County grand jury has indicted a couple on dozens of charges of abusing three children.

Knoxville Police are investigating after a traffic stop ends with an officer shooting a driver who slammed into his police cruiser.

Screenshot of WVLT VolunteerTV exclusive video of the arrests early Thursday morning.

A jury convicted Demetria Nance of second degree murder Thursday for the murder of an East Knoxville man last year.

Two Knoxville brothers accused of abducting and fatally stabbing a man in the course of a robbery are headed for trial.

" The Greater Knoxville area hotel housekeeper's competing on Monday afternoon in the Knoxville Tourism Alliance Housekeeping Championship.

Leon Houston walked out of court and headed home a free man today after a Roane County jury found him not guilty on all charges in the May 2006 deaths of a Roane County deputy and his ride-along friend.

The status of three University of Tennessee football players charged in a robbery attempt is on hold while coach Lane Kiffin reviews the case.

"We're gathering all the information in, and until then we really have nothing for you," Kiffin said this afternoon.

A Knox County Criminal Court jury today convicted Demetria Nance, 27, of second-degree murder for shooting her boyfriend Aaron Benton III, 21, to death in December 2008.

A Knoxville Police Department officer is on routine administrative leave today after shooting a man who allegedly tried to run him down with a Jeep Cherokee in South Knoxville.

Smoke detectors are credited with helping to save a family in East Knoxville from their burning home.

In this Aug. 9, 2009, file photo, Tennessee freshman wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson is shown at Tennessee's football Media Day in Knoxville, Tenn.

"Any decisions or comments regarding their status will not be made until the evaluations are complete." Two of the players, Nu'Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson, already had one strike against them with UT coach Lane Kiffin.

A Knoxville Police Department officer shot a man tonight who allegedly tried to run him down with a Jeep Cherokee in South Knoxville, authorities say.

The real work starts today. Twelve Roane County men and women report to court this morning to begin deciding Leon Houston's guilt or innocence in his second trial for the deaths of a deputy and ride-along. He claims self-defense but could face life in prison if they decide otherwise.

Investigators have charged an East Tennessee juvenile with attempting to kill his mother by stabbing her and forcing her to ingest toxic substances.

A Knox County Sheriff's Office patrol officer has resigned after being charged with identity theft and forgery.

It was March 21, 2008, Good Friday, and Nola Atkins, 72, already had her Easter dress ready to wear.

"The little brown dog" is all she is known by right now. We call the small 17 pound terrier mix that because we don't know her name.

A Knoxville man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping beat his uncle to death in July 2006.

KNOXVILLE - An apartment tower for college students in Knoxville will not be renamed in honor of comedian Stephen Colbert, but he'll get a parking spot there.

The National Cancer Institute recommends that women start getting mammograms at the age of 40.

Knoxville Police are investigating the shooting of one person at the Hardee's on Western Avenue.

A platoon of Knoxville-based U.S. Marine reservists will be deployed to Afghanistan in the spring, officials said Monday.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. a ' A woman was shot Monday evening while driving through northwest Knoxville.

The Knoxville man who drunkenly crashed head-on into the car of a Strawberry Plains woman will spend the next two decades in prison.

He says it was accident

The man who allegedly dragged his 17-pound terrier mix dog behind his pickup truck earlier this month, says the whole incident was an accident.

He wore Halloween mask, which led to dispute with police

Two young men working on cable barrier along Interstate 75 north of Knoxville have been killed in a crash.

Cost to begin with $500,000 for land

The Knox County Commission's Finance Committee today sent without recommendation to full commission a proposal to develop an apartment complex to house the chronically homeless in West Knox County.

Survey findings reveal physical and emotional dangers

As risky behavior increases, grades fall. Dr. Kathy Brown, director of Community Assessment and Health Promotion for Knox County, pointed out that correlation to the Knox County School Health Advisory Council at its quarterly meeting last week.

A 50-year-old Knoxville man died after being ejected from a sport utility vehicle that flipped several times along Interstate 40.

Knoxville police are searching for information about a drive-by shooting in East Knoxville.

Two people were killed Saturday in a crash in Roane County involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. a ' A Missouri man wanted for shooting a teenager has been arrested in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee starting free safety Janzen Jackson was almost a forgotten man Saturday night.

Veterans Day is just days away, and some East Tennesseans are already starting to honor our area's fallen heroes.

Knoxville fire investigators are looking into a suspicious fire that consumed a home at 924 West Woodland Avenue in North Knoxville on Saturday night.

After holding steady for most of the week, Knoxville retail gasoline prices edged lower Friday while oil prices tumbled after the government said the U.S. unemployment rate topped 10 percent for the first time since 1983.

Anne Watts watched the bullets fly but swears she didn't put the bloody picture together until hours later.

A woman under investigation for operating a puppy mill has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty after authorities - for the third time - discovered dogs jammed together in poorly ventilated sheds, jerry-built pens and portable carriers.

The Oak Ridge Police Department announced tonight that officers are rounding up 49 people on 80 charges of illegal drug sales.

A retired Rural/Metro Fire Department officer and former member of the board that governs Knox County's emergency 911 operations was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to nearly six years in prison on a federal child pornography conviction.

ET police chiefs say idea would be financial burden

If the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation begins charging law enforcement agencies to test everything from blood in drunken driving cases to DNA-stained clothing in slayings, police agencies will be scrambling to find the funds to pay the fees.

If you're headed to downtown Knoxville's Lawson McGhee library, you may want to bring a jacket.

A Knoxville man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to nearly six years in prison for federal child pornography charges.

A well-known bookstore is being downsized and replaced by a newer chain. The Waldenbooks in Knoxville Center Mall and Kingsport are two of 200 Borders Group's mall stores closing in January , eliminating about 1,500 positions nationwide.

Local women say there are more concerns for their safety after a woman was robbed at knife point near Market Square.

A Knoxville man has been arrested on charges of dragging a small Terrier-mix dog behind a truck in the Middlebrook Pike area Tuesday afternoon.

The soles of Jim Hutchens' shoes might be dirty, but going door to door throughout Historic Parkridge is all about cleaning it up.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. a ' A Knoxville developer has signed an agreement to purchase the Holiday Inn Select Downtown.

Three people were arrested late Thursday in connection with a robbery and shooting in South Knoxville, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

Roane County Sheriff's Office Deputy Bill Jones showed up for work the day he died with a gun on his hip, a ride-along in his patrol car and the Houston brothers on his mind, a former deputy testified Thursday.

By Mark Boxley of The Daily Times Staff Originally published: November 04. 2009 3:01AM Last modified: November 03.

A Knoxville man has been arrested for dragging a small Terrier-mix dog behind a truck in the Middlebrook Pike area.

"He told me not to go down there," Melissa Heidinger, a former deputy, testified today.

A polite man armed with a knife forced a woman from the downtown area late last night to drive to an ATM to withdraw money for him.

Police charged a 45-year-old man with felony animal cruelty after he allegedly dragged a dog behind a pickup truck.

The family of a slain ETSU graduate has settled a lawsuit against the Knoxville apartment complex where she was fatally stabbed in December 2004.

A Knoxville soldier is being honored by the commanding officer of U.S. forces in Iraq for his work there.

"We have these pretty good voting machines and people get to dial and select and even review before they cast their votes.

On a brisk November morning, city workers hit the streets of the Parkridge neighborhood to look for code violations.

So, nobody really wants to remember the UT-Auburn game Oct. 3, that we.. never mind, no one wants to remember it.

A former BB&T branch on Kingston Pike, across from Long's Drug Store in Bearden, has been sold to Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, according to Jim Holleman of Wood Properties.

Prosecution and defense get one more day to decide what to do differently and what to do the same before they start Leon Houston's second double-murder trial.

As police converged about midnight Monday on a 44-year-old man wanted by Texas authorities, the suspect reached into his pocket, pulled out a handgun and shot himself in the head.

The parents of a young West Knox County woman brutally murdered in her apartment in 2004 have settled a lawsuit against the complex owners.

A criminal court judge increased bond for a man accused of child rape to $200,000 during an arraignment in Claiborne County.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has approved a $10,000 reward in the slaying of a Rutledge Pike storekeeper, bringing the total reward money to $20,000. The Knox County District Attorney Genera's office confirmed the governor's reward this morning.

Despite previously being told not to audit the Knox County mayor's office, County Auditor Richard Walls presented a status report Tuesday that included 13 of 14 proposed audits involving the mayor's office.

The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville announces a call for entries for "New to Knoxville", a juried exhibition developed to give artists who are new to Knoxville and surrounding counties the opportunity to showcase their work in the Emporium Center.

Knoxville voters have had their say, and five new faces are set to join the ranks of the Knoxville City Council.

You probably didn't have to wait long, if you voted in the City of Knoxville Regular Election Tuesday.

One woman was injured in an apartment fire on Holston Drive. Knoxville firefighters responded to Point East Apartments at 4440 Holston Drive around 5:20 p.m. Monday.

Police say a Texas fugitive pulled out a handgun and fatally shot himself as officers approached him in a motel parking lot in Knoxville.

Looking one of the restaurants serving Thanksgiving Dinner in Knoxville, Tennessee? If so, you'll be happy to know that there are a lot of restaurants to choose from.

A woman involved in a large group fight that left two people injured . A 27-year-old woman was stabbed and a 21-year-old man was left with lacerations to his head.

Blount County deputies said they arrested a Maryville man at his job in Knoxville for sex crimes against a child.

Convicted killer Letalvis Cobbins was transferred to maximum-security housing at a West Tennessee prison on Monday, but state Correction Commissioner George Little said giving other convicted murderers the same treatment would cost "millions of dollars." State Sen.

Leon Houston's fired attorney back in court

A second panel of prospective Roane County jurors will report today for possible duty in the retrial of accused killer Leon Houston, according to the Roane County clerk's office.

A man was arrested Sunday morning as the suspect in the robbery of a West Knoxville bank on October 30.

Convicted killer Letalvis Cobbins has been moved to a maximum-security prison. The 26-year-old Cobbins was convicted in August of first-degree murder in the Knoxville torture slaying of Channon Christian and facilitating the murder of her boyfriend Christopher Newsom in 2007.

The largest "Radio City Christmas Spectacular Tour" ever is coming to Knoxville.

Randy MacDonald, left, and Ann Thatcher are authors of "Life After Ramen: A Cooking and Entertaining Guide for Twentysomethings." 'Life After Ramen: A Cooking and Entertaining Guide for Twentysomethings' * Cost: $19.99 * Book signings: 10:30 a.m. today, La Maison, 110 East Tennessee Ave., Oak Ridge, and 11 a.m. Nov.

Knoxville police are looking for a woman involved in a large group fight that left two people injured this morning at a Knoxville convenience store.

A pedestrian killed Friday night near the West Knox County weigh station on Interstate 40 had been drinking and crossed a ramp in front of the tractor-trailer that struck him, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Knoxville police are looking for a female suspect who stabbed a woman during a large fight at a gas station early Sunday morning.

Five Knoxville area restaurants flunked their health inspections this week by double digits.