Knoxville Local News - ABC News Radio

TN Highway Patrol Increases Checkpoints for Holiday Weekend

Louis Milman — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:36:42 +0000

(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

Students Caught with Alcohol at Powell Middle School

Louis Milman — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:51:13 +0000

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- Seven middle school students accused of having alcohol on school grounds could face significant suspensions.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, school officials discovered alcohol among seven students at Powell Middle School just before the beginning of the school day. One of the students was taken to the hospital by her parents.

No police report was filed and no investigation is underway, according to the News Sentinel.

The students' punishment has still not been determined. Still, a disciplinary hearing was scheduled for at least one of the students on Thursday. She is accused of drinking from a bottle that contained oxycodone-laced alcohol, though she claims she only held the bottle and smelled it.

If suspended, the girl could face a suspension for as many as 180 school days.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Three Fallen Tennessee Service Members to Be Memorialized

Anselm Gibbs — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:53:07 +0000

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- State officials have announced that three Tennessee service members, who were killed in the line of duty, will be memorialized in a ceremony on Friday.

The three service members to be memorialized are Sergeant Jacob Schwallie, Private First Class Glenn Schoenmann and Staff Sergeant Christopher Ward.

Friday's ceremony will take place at the War Memorial Plaza in Nashville.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

State Recovers $15.3 Million in Fraudulent Unemployment Benefits

Anselm Gibbs — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:55:50 +0000

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Tennessee's Department of Labor and Workforce Development has announced that $15.3 million in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits has been recovered from people throughout the state, since the start of the 2013 tax season.

The money was recovered via the Treasury Offset Program, which enables authorities to garnish IRS refunds and other federal payments, from those who collected unemployment benefits fraudulently, a department release stated.

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Five Escape Early Morning House Fire

Louis Milman — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:48:02 +0000

(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.

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Knoxville House Fire Injures Two

Louis Milman — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:26:34 +0000

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- Two people were injured in a house fire early Wednesday morning.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, a neighbor called police to report a man yelling for help at 1720 Massachusetts Avenue. When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man spraying water from his garden hose at his burning home.

The officers called the fire department. One officer then took over use of the hose while a second officer entered the burning home to locate a woman still inside. Two dogs were also rescued from the home.

Firefighters assisted the officer in getting the woman out of the home, says the News Sentinel.

Both the woman and the man suffered minor injuries.

An electrical outlet in the front living room seems to have been the point of origin for the flames.

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Newport Man Arrested for Sexual Battery of Teen

James Grebey — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:19:47 +0000

(NEWPORT, Tenn.) -- A Newport man was arrested Monday night and charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

Richard Sullivan, 40, surrendered to police at the Cocke County Jail. He is charged with sexual battery of the teenage daughter of his live-in girlfriend. The girlfriend was also arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect.

Police learned of the abuse when the girl and her mother had gone to Newport Medical on Sunday, where she told doctors that she had been sexually abused. Doctors alerted the authorities, who soon arrived to arrest the mother.

Officers then went to Sullivan’s home at 4 a.m., but he slammed the door shut and would not let them in. After a couple hours of attempted negotiation and planning, officers prepared to break into the home. When they did so, they found Sullivan had fled.

He later contacted 911 dispatchers, who instructed him to turn himself in, which he did at 8:45 p.m.

There was a 13-year-old girl in the house as well. Investigators are looking to see if this girl, who suffers from mental disabilities, was victimized as well.

Haslam Signs Bill Lowering Food Tax to 5 Percent

James Grebey — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:34:09 +0000

(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.

City Explores Possibility of Cultural Center at World’s Fair Park

Anselm Gibbs — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:36:25 +0000

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- The City of Knoxville is looking into the possibilities of transforming World’s Fair Park into a cultural center.

Mayor Madeline Rogero announced Monday that the possibilities are being explored by the city in conjunction with the University of Tennessee.

A team has been selected to determine the feasibility and support of the concept. Bill Lyons, Deputy to the Mayor and Chief Policy Officer, has been appointed to co-chair the group, with Jan Simek, a professor at UT. The team consists mainly of World’s Fair Park stakeholders.

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Armed Man Steals Bank Deposit

James Grebey — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:19:34 +0000

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- An armed man stole a bank deposit from a man making a nighttime deposit for his employer, The Knoxville News Sentinel reports.

The victim, a 26-year-old employee at a gas station, was making a deposit for his employer around 11 p.m. Sunday at the First Tennessee Bank branch, located at 4935 Millertown Pike. That’s when an unknown man approached him with a drawn handgun. The victim reportedly dropped the deposit bag and the armed man grabbed it and ran away.

The armed man could not be identified or completely described by the victim, and police have not said if the robbery was caught by surveillance cameras at the bank.