Chattanooga Local News - ABC News Radio

TN Highway Patrol Increases Checkpoints for Holiday Weekend

2013-05-23T15:36:41Z

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- For the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will increase enforcement of seat belt and drunk driving laws.

According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the department will conduct vehicle checks at 65 checkpoints over the weekend, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday and concluding at 11:59 p.m. on Monday.

In 2012, Tennessee roadways saw 16 deaths during the Memorial Day weekend, down from 19 in 2011. Alcohol was only involved in six of the traffic deaths in 2012.

So far this year, 328 people have been killed in traffic accidents in Tennessee, down from 378 in the same time period last year.

The deparment has made 2,402 DUI arrests already this year, up 7.5 percent from this time last year.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Five Escape Early Morning House Fire

2013-05-22T15:48:01Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- Five people escaped a burning home early Wednesday morning.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the fire started just after 12:30 a.m. on Tulip Tree Drive. The fire was extinguished at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

Two adults and three children were able to get out of the burning residence without injury.

The Commercial Appeal reports that authorities are still working to determine the cause of the fire.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Haslam Signs Bill Lowering Food Tax to 5 Percent

2013-05-21T17:34:04Z

(VONORE, Tenn.) -- Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill Monday that lowered the state portion of sales tax on groceries to 5 percent, the culmination of a two-year effort.

The previous sales tax rate on groceries was 5.25 percent. That rate was set in 2012 when the General Assembly passed the bill, which was regarded as the first step in reaching the 5 percent goal.

“The sales tax on food impacts all Tennesseans, and I applaud the General Assembly for passing this important piece of legislation this year,” said Haslam at the ceremonial signing at Sloan’s Grocery in Vonore, Tenn.

The reduced tax rate does not apply to prepared foods such as a meal at a restaurant, candy, alcoholic beverages or tobacco.

The legislation goes into effect July 1.

Union County Deputies Find 335 Pounds of Pot During Traffic Stop

2013-05-20T17:31:47Z

(MAYNARDVILLE, Tenn.) -- What started out as a routine traffic stop quickly turned into something else entirely when Union County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered more than 300 pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel.

Deputies pulled over a Nissan truck shortly before 6 a.m. Monday alongside state Highway 33 on suspicion that the driver was drunk. Upon walking up to the side of the Nissan, the officer noticed several packages in the back of the car.

With the help of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and a K-9 named Ceazor, deputies ended up finding 15 packages, containing 335 pounds of pot inside the car.

The driver, 26-year-old Martin Urrutia Olmedo, was charged with manufacturing, delivering, selling and possessing drugs. The original hunch that got him pulled over turned out to be right, as he was also charged with a DUI and driving without a license.

Olmedo is expected to appear in court Thursday.

Man Charged in Kidnapping of 74-Year-Old Woman

2013-05-17T15:18:30Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- A 49-year-old man was charged with attempted kidnapping and attempted robbery after he tried to abduct a 74-year old woman.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Charles Hester III approached the elderly woman as she was loading groceries into the trunk of her vehicle. He apparently asked the woman for a ride to Nashville. When the woman refused to give Hester a ride, he threatened her with a gun and demanded she get into the vehicle.

The woman and Hester both fled, according to the Commercial Appeal.

Hester admitted to being at the scene and asking for money, but denied he threatened the woman. He is currently being held on $50,000 bond.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Problem with Phone Lines Causes 911 Delay

2013-05-16T14:30:54Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- An issue with phone lines may be causing delays in answering calls to emergency services.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that the problem was causing delays in answering phone calls Wednesday night, and that callers should not hang up and re-dial, as this may result in a longer wait.

Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph told the Commercial Appeal that callers can alternatively contact the Memphis Fire Department at (901) 458-3311 for fire and medical emergencies or the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at (901) 379-7625 for law enforcement emergencies.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Ga. College Sues Tenn. Over Billboard Restriction

2013-05-15T16:06:56Z

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Berry College in Rome, Ga. is suing the Tennessee Higher Education Commission because the college was not allowed to install a billboard in Tennessee because it is an entirely out of state school.

According to Inside Higher Ed, Berry College put up a billboard in Nashville. The Higher Education Commission told them that since the billboard advertised their school, they needed to register as if they were a college operating in the state or face a $500 a day fine.

Berry College filled the suit on Monday, saying that they could not be expected to pay up to $20,000 a year in registration fees to have one billboard. The suit alleges that Tennessee is illegally discriminating out-of-state institutions and is infringing on interstate commerce.

The president of Berry, Stephen Briggs, said that the billboard distinction seemed arbitrary, as there was no restriction on advertising out-of-state colleges in Tennessee magazines and newspapers.

About 150 of Berry's 2,100 students are from Tennessee.

University of Tennessee Fires Judicial Affairs Director

2013-05-14T17:08:27Z

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- The University of Tennessee fired the Office of Student Judicial Affairs director amid allegations she had improper relationships with student athletes, the Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

On Thursday, Jenny Wright, a UT graduate who has worked at the school since 2008, attempted to resign over the allegations, of which little specific information has been released, but the school refused to accept it. Provost Susan Martin sent Wright a pre-termination letter instead the next day.

The letter said that Wright was invited to meet with them on Monday to discuss the issue, but she did not show up. She was officially fired later that day.

Both UT and Wright have hired lawyers.

Wright’s lawyer, Robert Kurtz, “categorically denied” Wright had done anything wrong, and had attempted to resign out of concern that the false allegations would harm UT students and overshadow her work.

Gov. Haslam Vetos ‘Ag Gag’ Bill

2013-05-13T17:18:22Z

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Gov. Bill Haslam announced Monday that he is vetoing a controversial “ag gag” bill, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports.

The bill, which would have required any documentation of animal abuse to be given to law enforcement within 48 hours of being made, was the subject of much debate. The sponsors of the bill, farmers, said that it was to ensure speedy investigations of cruelty to animals and livestock investigations.

However, critics like the Humane Society said that mandating that evidence be given to authorities within 48 hours made it easy for officials to thwart investigations of animal cruelty.

It was not clear what side the governor would take in this debate until his announcement. Haslam said that while he understood the concerns of the farmers, and recognized that sometimes footage obtained into investigations of animal cruelty was obtained under false pretenses, he had to veto the bill.

He quoted a legal opinion from Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper delivered last week, who said that the bill was “constitutionally suspect” given the requirements of the First Amendment. Haslam also mentioned that it seemed to implicitly repeal part of Tennessee’s “shield law,” which protects journalists’ ability to collect information.

He recommended that a new, clearer bill be created.

Police to Charge Elementary School Student with Faking Abduction

2013-05-10T16:32:13Z

(JACKSON, Tenn.) -- Jackson police are investigating a case in which a 9-year-old girl filed a false report regarding an after-school abduction.

Earlier this week, the girl told officers that she had been at a school function at Pope Elementary School and was waiting for a ride home when a man covered her mouth and forced her into the back seat, according to the Nashville Tennessean. She said that when he drove away a police car got behind them and the abductor got scared, pulled over and let her out.

According to the Tennesseean, the girl claimed she was then picked up by a teacher from the elementary school who brought her home. After faculty members were questioned and surveillance tapes were reviewed, inconsistencies emerged.

The girl eventually admitted she had made up the story. The Tennessean reports that the girl will not be arrested, but will be called to answer to the charges of making a fraudulent report.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio