Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs Monday unveiled his proposed spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget fully funds the school system’s request, covers upgrades in the Sheriff’s Office, and improves roads and parks and does not call for a property tax increase.
Mayor Jacobs says we have not raised taxes in Knox County in almost 25 years, and he does not intend to do so now.
“All of us must live within our means and that includes government. I said a long time ago, I would never raise your property taxes and I meant it” said Mayor Jacobs after his budget address and State of the County speech.
The total proposed budget, which must be approved by the Knox County Board of Commissioners by June 30, stands at a little more than $1.1 billion and is roughly 3 percent higher than the current year, but nearly two-thirds of the spending – about $683.7 million – is dedicated to funding Knox County’s public schools.
“That is almost $23 million dollars more than their current budget, and I am recommending that we fund the request in its entirety,” Mayor Jacobs said.
That means starting teachers with a bachelor’s degree will make $47,000 dollars a year and the starting pay for those with a master’s degree will be almost $51,000 dollars. And, by 2026, all our starting teachers will meet state requirements by earning at least $50,000 dollars annually.
The county is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposal on May 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway following a North Knoxville house fire Monday morning.
Knoxville Fire Department crews responding around 11:30 to a report of a house fire in the 2000 block of Cedar Lane found smoke coming from the front of the home.
KFD officials say crews were met with a very heavy amount of stockpiled items throughout the home requiring them to cut two large openings in the front and side of the structure to better access the fire.
Crews also reportedly had to cut a hole in the home’s roof to access the attic.
KFD says one man lived in the home but was able to get out without injuries. They add that the home did not have working smoke alarms.
An investigation is underway by the Tennessee Highway Patrol after a woman dies after being hit by a car in Greene County.
THP says a car was traveling North on 11E, Andrew Johnson Highway, in Greeneville Thursday night when 68-year-old Kathy Lane was crossing the highway at the intersection of Kingsley Avenue. She reportedly “walked into the path” of the car which hit her and stopped in the roadway.
The driver was not injured and is not facing charges.
Here’s an updated list of University of Tennessee players on expanded NFL rosters as 2024 rookie minicamps are underway this weekend.
You’ll also see a list of players that were once at UT as well as other Knoxville area players that played at other schools. Plus, I’ve included coaches throughout the league that either played or coached at the University of Tennessee or are from the Knoxville area.
I’ve included depth chart listings from either the team’s “unofficial” depth chart or Ourlads’ reported depth charts that are very accurate.
That’s all below now, and will be updated often, here on my blog “Vince’s View.”
Notes *38 VFLs in the NFL *11 VFL rookies total (3 draft picks & 8 undrafted free agent) *21 of 32 teams have a VFL on their rosters *16 VFLs in the AFC *22 VFLs in the NFC *8 VFLs are listed as starters on their depth charts *Panthers/Bears/Lions/Titans are tied for the most Vols with 3 *8 ex-Vols that finished college at others schools currently with NFL teams *8 Knoxville-area players that did not attend UT currently with NFL teams *9 VFL coaches/staff/front office are in the NFL *11 Ex-UT coaches/grad assistants are in the NFL *2 others from the Knoxville Area with no UT background are in the NFL (2) *LB Aaron Beasley was announced by UT and different outlets as signing with the Seattle Seahawks after the draft, however he was not announced as an undrafted free agent signing by the team and was not on the club’s official rookie minicamp roster that includes tryouts
Tennessee Volunteers In The NFL as of 5/5/24 (38) x = rookie
AFC East (3) RB – Jaylen Wright (25) Miami Dolphins (3rd team)-x QB – Joe Milton III (19) New England Patriots (4th team)-x TE -Jacob Warren (–) New England Patriots (5th team)-x NONE – Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
AFC North (4) WR – Cedric Tillman (89) Cleveland Browns (2nd team) RB – John Kelly Jr. (41) Cleveland Browns (5th team) RB – Cordarrelle Patterson (84) Pittsburgh Steelers (3rd team/starting KR) WR – Marquez Callaway (17) Pittsburgh Steelers (4th team) NONE – Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
AFC South (4) DE – Derek Barnett (95) Houston Texans (2nd team) LS – Morgan Cox (46) Tennessee Titans (LS) RB – Jabari Small (31) Tennessee Titans (5th team)-x CB – Gabe Jeudy-Lally (32) Tennessee Titans (4th team)-x NONE – Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC West (5) OG – Trey Smith (65) Kansas City Chiefs (starting RG) CB – Kamal Hadden (17) Kansas City Chiefs (2nd team)-x DT – Matthew Butler (91) Las Vegas Raiders (3rd team) WR – Ramel Keyton (82) Las Vegas Raiders (3rd team)-x WR – Joshua Palmer (5) Los Angeles Chargers (starting WR) NONE – Denver Broncos
NFC East (3) TE – Princeton Fant (48) Dallas Cowboys (4th team) WR – Jalin Hyatt (84) New York Giants (starting WR) TE – McCallan Castles (43) Philadelphia Eagles (5th team)-x NONE – Washington Commanders
NFC North (7) OT – Darnell Wright (58) Chicago Bears (starting RT) WR – Velus Jones Jr. (12) Chicago Bears (2nd team/starting KR & PR) OG – Jerome Carvin (63) Chicago Bears (3rd team) QB – Hendon Hooker (2) Detroit Lions (2nd team) CB – Emmanuel Moseley (4) Detroit Lions (2nd team) WLB – Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42) Detroit Lions (2nd team) SS – Theo Jackson (25) Minnesota Vikings (2nd team) NONE – Green Bay Packers
NFC South (6) FS – Micah Abernathy (29) Atlanta Falcons (2nd team) DT – Shy Tuttle (99) Carolina Panthers (starting NT) OG – Cade Mays (64) Carolina Panthers (2nd team LG) OT – Jeremiah Crawford (–) Carolina Panthers (4th team)-x RB – Alvin Kamara (41) New Orleans Saints (starting RB) CB – Alontae Taylor (1) New Orleans Saints (starting NB) NONE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West (6) OLB – Byron Young (0) Los Angeles Rams (starting OLB) SS – Jaylen McCullough (–) Los Angeles Rams (4th team)-x WR – Jauan Jennings (15) San Francisco 49ers (2nd team) QB – Joshua Dobbs (5) San Francisco 49ers (2nd team) OLB – Darrell Taylor (52) Seattle Seahawks (2nd team) CB – Dee Williams (33) Seattle Seahawks (5th team/3rd team KR)-x NONE – Arizona Cardinals
Ex-Vols That Transferred To Other Schools On NFL Rosters (8) WR – Brandon Johnson (89) Denver Broncos (UCF) (3rd team) SLB – Henry To’o to’o (39) Houston Texans (Alabama) (starting SLB) P – Tommy Townsend (6) Houston Texans (Florida) (P/H) OT – Wanya Morris (64) Kansas City Chiefs (Oklahoma) (starting LT) RB – Zach Evans (21) Los Angeles Rams (Louisville) (4th team) RB – Ty Chandler (32) Minnesota Vikings (North Carolina) (2nd team/starting KR) QB – Nathan Peterman (10) New Orleans Saints (Pitt) (4th team) RB – Eric Gray (20) New York Giants (Oklahoma) (2nd team)
Knoxville Area Players That Didn’t Play at UT on NFL Rosters (8) WR – Tee Higgins (5) Cincinnati Bengals (Oak Ridge HS/Clemson) (starting) MLB – Devin Harper (56) Cincinnati Bengals (Karns HS/Oklahoma St.) (3rd team) C – Nate Gilliam (66) Cincinnati Bengals (Farragut HS/Wake Forest) (4th team) TE – Nate Adkins (45) Denver Broncos (Bearden HS/ETSU/South Carolina) (4th team) QB – Trevor Lawrence (16) Jacksonville Jaguars (Born in Knoxville/Clemson) (starting QB) SS – Harrison Smith (22) Minnesota Vikings (Catholic HS/Notre Dame) (starting SS) OG – Cole Strange (69) New England Patriots (Farragut HS/Chattanooga) (starting LG) QB – Parker McKinney (–) Minnesota Vikings (Coalfield HS/Eastern Kentucky) (5th team) tryout
VFL Coaches/Staff/Front Office in the NFL (9) Tee Martin – Baltimore (QB) Played QB 1996-1999 Chuck Smith – Baltimore (Def Pass Rush Coach) Played DE 1990-1991 Marion Hobby – Cincinnati (DL Coach) Played DE 1990-1992 and Asst S&C Coach 1998 Jim Bob Cooter – Indianapolis (OC) Played QB 2002-2005 & G.A. 2007-2008 Reggie McKenzie – Miami (Sr. Personnel Executive) Played LB 1981-1984 & G.A. 1993 Jerod Mayo – New England (HC) Played LB 2005-2007 Kacy Rodgers – Tampa Bay (Run Game Coord/DL Coach) Played LB/DE 1988-1991 Bo Hardegree – Tennessee (QB Coach) Played QB 2004-2007 Luke Stocker – Tennessee (Asst TE Coach) Played TE 2007-2010
Ex-UT Coaches/Grad Assistants in the NFL (11) Kevin Koger – Atlanta (TE Coach) Off. Quality Control 2015 Eric Ciano – Buffalo (Head S&C Coach) G.A. 1997-1999 & Assoc Head S&C Coach 2002-2004 Dom Capers – Carolina (Sr. Def Asst) Assistant (DB) 1980-1981 Derrick Ansley – Green Bay (Def Pass Game Coord.) Assistant (DB) 2012 Jerry Mack – Jacksonville (RB Coach) Assistant (RB) 2021-2023 Drew Hughes – Jacksonville (Player Personnel Coord) Recruiting Coord 2018-2019 Derius Swinton II – Las Vegas (Asst ST Coach) G.A. 2007-2008 Jason Michael – Philadelphia (TE Coach) G.A. 2003-2004 & Assistant (TE) 2008 Zach Azzanni – Pittsburgh (WR Coach) Assistant (Pass Game Coord/WR) 2013-2016 Brandon Staley – San Francisco (Asst HC) G.A. 2012 Tracy Rocker – Tennessee (DL Coach) Assistant (DL) 2017-2019
From Knoxville Area/No UT Background in the NFL (2) Mike Caldwell – Las Vegas (Def Run Game Coord/LB Coach) from Oak Ridge, TN Jimmy Haslam – Cleveland (Owner) from Knoxville, TN
Free Agent VFLs FB Jakob Johnson DL Kyle Phillips DL Kendal Vickers DB Cameron Sutton LB AJ Johnson DB Justin Coleman DL Jonathan Kongbo P/K Michael Palardy
Free Agent Ex-Vols & Knoxville Area Players WR Amari Rodgers LB Deandre Johnson
Find more of my broadcasting work at VinceSports.net
KNOXVILLE, TN – November 18, 2023 – Running back Jaylen Wright #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics
A woman is facing charges after police say she crashed into a Mexican restaurant on North Broadway and injured an employee.
Knoxville Police responded to a reported hit-and-run involving a car at 2526 North Broadway on Saturday night and say that 25-year-old Baleigh Bates drove into the restaurant and injured an employee before driving away.
Officers saw her car broken down on the side of Broadway and say there was a strong odor of marijuana and they found about 4.5 grams of marijuana in the car.
Bates was taken to the hospital for minor injuries. An employee behind the counter was hit in the leg with debris.
Bates has been charged with failure of a driver to stop at the scene of an accident involving an injury, DUI among other charges.
The Kingston Police Department is asking for information related to a string of car burglaries.
The break-ins happening in the areas of First Street, Roane Street and Spencer Street. The car pictured above is the vehicle suspected in these burglaries.
Anyone with information or who sees any suspicious activity is asked to call 911 immediately. Additionally, KPD is asking residents to watch door bell cameras or any strange activity and to keep car doors locked and porch lights on.
Anyone with information is asked to contact KPD at 865-354-8045.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 5/3: The Knoxville Police Department has identified the officers involved in a fatal shooting on April 27 in West Knoxville.
KPD says officers Hunter Powers and Cayden Riddle responded to reports of a domestic situation at a home in the 4700 block of Santala Drive involving 25-year-old Jamauri Griffin who had a gun. When Powers and Riddle arrived, Griffin fired at least one shot, causing the officers to return fire.
Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene while a woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to the face.
Powers and Riddle remain on routine administrative leave while the investigation continues.
Updated story: An investigation is underway after a fatal officer-involved shooting in West Knoxville and TBI has identified the man who shot at police.
It happened Saturday in the 4700 block of Santala Drive as Knoxville Police officers responded to reports of a domestic situation involving 25-year-old Jamauri Griffin who had a gun. When officers arrived, he fired at least one shot, causing officers to return fire.
Griffin was wounded and pronounced dead at the scene, and a woman was taken to the hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound to her face, her injuries are not life-threatening. No officers were injured during the incident.
The officers involved have been placed on routine administrative leave.
Original story: An investigation is underway after an officer-involved shooting in West Knoxville.
It happened Saturday in the 4700 block of Santala Drive as Knoxville Police officers responded to reports of a domestic situation involving a man armed with a gun. When officers arrived, the man fired at least one shot, causing officers to return fire.
The man was wounded and pronounced dead at the scene, and a woman was taken to the hospital and was treated for a gunshot wound to her face, her injuries are not life-threatening. No officers were injured during the incident.
The officers involved have been placed on routine administrative leave.
Sevier County, TN (WOKI) A Sevier County teacher is arrested and charged with multiple child sex crimes.
Sevier County Schools says 32-year-old Nathan McKinley Maples was placed on indefinite suspension in February pending the results of this investigation.
Administrators say they learned from a parent that Maples may have been engaged in inappropriate activity with a child.
He is charged with four counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child among other charges in the eight count indictment.
Maples is being held as a pretrial felon on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 6 at 9:00 a.m.
A nurse facing possible jail time is set to be arraigned in court this morning.
Police say she stole medication from her patient in Jefferson County. The patient says her nurse, Sally Hensley took more than a dozen hydrocodone pills from her.
Hensley faces several charges including neglect of an elderly or vulnerable adult.
The sheriff is asking anyone who’s had similar experiences with her to call their office.
