Memphis News

State Recovers $15.3 Million in Fraudulent Unemployment Benefits

2013-05-22T16:44:32Z

(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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West Memphis Gets Nearly $11M for Port Expansion

2013-05-22T16:25:19Z

(WASHINGTON) -- The City of West Memphis, Ark. is getting some financial help from the federal government, to develop the city's port.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that a TIGER 2012 grant in the amount of $10.9 million has been awarded to the city towards expanding its port.

"We are putting federal dollars to work, helping attract private development at the industrial park that will translate into new businesses and jobs in Memphis while supporting the President’s goal to double exports by the end of 2014," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

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Five Escape Early Morning House Fire

2013-05-22T15:47:26Z

(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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Two Hospitalized After Stabbing in Tipton County

2013-05-21T18:07:54Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- Two people have been hospitalized following a stabbing incident in Tipton County on Monday night.

The double stabbing occurred at a home on Kelly Circle. Authorities said in published reports that two people were found with stab wounds, following a domestic dispute that turned violent.

The two victims were airlifted to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis in unknown condition.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Haslam Appoints New Commissioners to Two State Agencies

2013-05-21T17:52:57Z

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Tennessee's Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) both have new bosses.

On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Haslam announced that Debra Payne -- who's currently the deputy commissioner of the DIDD -- has been appointed as the department's new commissioner.

While over in the DCS, current interim commissioner Jim Henry has been appointed the permanent commissioner.

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Haslam Signs Bill Lowering Food Tax to 5 Percent

2013-05-21T17:34:13Z

(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

2013-05-20T17:31:55Z

(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.

Amber Alert Cancelled as Missing Boy, 8, Found

2013-05-20T12:53:33Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- An Amber Alert issued for a missing 8-year-old boy has been cancelled after the boy was found safe on Monday morning.

The alert was issued on Sunday evening after Murfreesboro Police said the boy had been abducted by his father, Michael Swaney, 30.

On Monday morning officials issued a statement saying the Amber Alert had been cancelled as the child has been recovered safely.

Published reports stated that the boy was found in Smyrna and his father was taken into custody.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

South Memphis Shooting Leaves Two Dead, Two Injured

2013-05-20T12:34:32Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- Two people are dead and two others are injured following a shooting in south Memphis on Sunday evening.

The shooting was reported shortly before 7 p.m. on the 2300 block of Ketchum Road. Police arrived on the scene and found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Officials said in published reports that four victims were taken to area hospitals. Two of the victims were later pronounced dead with the other two listed in non-critical condition.

There were no immediate arrests.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Club 152 Shut Down Due to Drug Sales, Crime

2013-05-17T16:49:07Z

(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) -- Popular Beale Street hangout spot Club 152 has been shut down.

The club was shut down Thursday due to unlawful drug sales, as well as violence and crime at and in the vicinity of the establishment, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office said.

The club's owner has been ordered to appear at a hearing on May 20 to respond to a nuisance petition filed by District Attorney Amy Weirich.

"The law-abiding businesses and patrons of Beale Street deserve better than what Club 152 has allowed to happen," Weirich said in a statement.

Authorities say the West Tennessee Drug Task Force conducted an undercover investigation at the club and the "investigation confirmed the complaints of illicit narcotic sales and use and implicated members of the club’s management in criminal activities," a statement from Weirich's office said.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio