An Endangered Child Alert has been issued on behalf of the Knoxville Police Department by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for 20-month-old Jaisy Hollins and 4-year-old Joshua Hollins Jr.
They are believed to be with their non-custodial mother, 34-year-old Tiana Shelton, who is wanted by the KPD for Custodial Interference.
Her oldest son, Raymond McAlpin, is also missing from Knoxville and could also be with her.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Give us a vote in our new poll question below on Tennessee Football Spring Practice. Photo courtesy of UT Athletics of Nico Iamaleava.
Becoming a new mom can be difficult, and for those who are already mothers, ensuring they have all the supplies they need is not easy. A community baby shower is aiming to help with some of those needs.
Knoxville native Ty Roberts is the executive director of Genissi Charitable Birth Services, a company she created to help support mothers and mothers-to-be in need.
“When I was pregnant with my daughter, there were a lot of things I didn’t have, but there were also a lot of barriers to things I wanted,” Roberts said. “I felt, what better way than to have these moms celebrated and to feel like this is about me, this is about enjoying myself, that someone really cares enough about me to pour into me.”
As executive director of Genissi Charitable Birth Services, Roberts is now planning to host her third community baby shower, aiming to help as many women and newborns as she can.
Roberts said, “I’ll have a mom say, ‘You know what? I need to be around some other women, some other moms, to remind me I’m not by myself.’ You’re talking about 100 or so pregnant women or moms who just gave birth, and that’s the perfect atmosphere for relationships to be birthed.”
Lannette Harris, a mother of two, took full advantage of the baby shower opportunity, finding community and relief in the comfort of being surrounded by others experiencing a similar journey.
“It made me happy there’s a community out there, like you have a community that cares about you, about your baby, about your pregnancy,” Harris said.
Harris received diapers, a car seat and more at the shower. Afterward, she explained the importance of community and what it means to her to have assistance when navigating something brand new, saying, “It means people care about you. The community reaches out and helps us. And you play games and it makes you feel included and loved.”
Both Harris and Roberts know tackling something new in life isn’t easy, and asking for help can sometimes be the hardest part. “Make a decision for yourself that you’re going to do something different for your life and your baby’s life, and when you do that, I promise something is going to change around you,” Roberts said.
If you or someone you know is interested in participating in one of these baby showers by Genissi Charitable Birth Services, you can go to https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclVpfixIA7DONp3oNjAIi8fwPjn6jkHSZ5hXQxjGNcTXZCXw/viewform to sign up.
Knox County Public Library is pleased to present Truth and Consequences: film and conversation on information integrity in today’s world from April 25-28, 2024. All events are free and open to the public.
With AI, deep fakes, and online influencers adding to the already complex landscape of media disruption and information integrity, the Library is partnering with experts to take a close look at how news and information have changed in the last decade. This is a follow-up to its 2016 symposium.
Screening and Discussion: A Tennessee Waltz: Ray Blanton’s Last Dance
Thursday, April 25 | 7-9 | East Tennessee History Center (601 S. Gay Street)
Murder-for-hire and paid pardons—discover a Tennessee governor’s buried history in WVLT’s first-of-its-kind investigation into former Governor Ray Blanton and his administration. This hour-long documentary shares the story of the shocking allegations and the unprecendented early inauguration of Governor Lamar Alexander.
The media played an important role in exposing the scandal. How does the current enviornment of media distruption and changes in local journalism factor into these kinds of investigations today?
Joining us to discuss the scandal and its impact are:
Panel Discussion: AI, Deep Fakes, Online Influencers & Political Communication
Friday, April 26 | 9:00 – 10:30 | East Tennessee History Center
Evolving technologies and social media practices have impacted our news and information in unprecedented ways. With technological advances, it’s more important than ever to learn how to identify and verify legitimate news sources. Join us for an insightful panel discussion presented by UTK’s Information Integrity Institute with:
Conversation: First Amendment, Social Media, and Democracy
Friday, April 26 | 10:45 – noon | East Tennessee History Center
Social media seems to be pushing the limits of the first amendment, but where is the line? Recent court decisions have weighed in on the subject. Join us for a conversation about the intersection of democracy, free speech, and social media.
Presenters:
Glenn Reynolds, author of “Social Media Upheaval” (2019), is the Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law at UTK.
Jesse Mayshark is the co-founder of “Compass“, an online news site that provides news, insights and analysis of Knoxville and Knox County government, politics and business
Screening: “Marie” (1985)
Sunday, April 28 | 3:30 – 5:00 | Central Cinema (1205 N. Central St)
Sissy Spacek stars as whistle-blower Marie Ragghianti in this dramatized story of the federal investigation of the pardon and parole corruption under Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton. PG-13. Presented by TAMIS.
Truth and Consequences was made possible through partnership with these organizations:
The Tennessee Senate passes the bill that would arm teachers with concealed guns in schools. It passed yesterday (Tuesday) on the Senate floor with 26 votes for and five votes against. The bill does not require but would allow people who work at schools to carry concealed guns on school property. Teachers who decide to carry would have to undergo 40 hours of annual gun training at their own expense, in addition to receiving approval from the school director, passing a mental health evaluation, and passing an FBI background check. Democrats suggest that would pose a liability. The bill will now go to the House, where it has been placed on the regular calendar for April 17. If it passes, it will become law once the governor either signs it or allows it to go into law without his signature.
Tennessee’s Senate has also unanimously signed off on legislation requiring minors to have parental consent to create social media accounts. The Tennessee Senate approved its version without debate, though lawmakers tacked on a last-minute addition to clarify the bill only applied to social media websites. That means the House chamber must approve those changes before it can go to Governor Bill Lee’s desk for his approval. However, Tennessee lawmakers are hoping to require social media companies to provide parents with options to view privacy settings, set daily time restrictions and implement mandatory breaks. If enacted, the attorney general would be permitted to investigate and sue a social media platform for possible violations.
The Knoxville Fire Department is on the scene of a fire in the 300 block of East Caldwell Ave in North Knoxville. (Wednesday morning)
The fire is contained to the outbuilding with only minor damage. KFD says it is under control.
Morristown, TN (WOKI) The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help finding a missing Morristown man.
HCSO officials say Anthony “Tony” Williams was last seen around 11:30 p.m. on March 30 at the Loc Bar on Buffalo Trail in Morristown.
Anyone who knows Williams’ whereabouts is asked to contact Det. Kitts with the HCSO at 423-585-2771 or the 911 non-emergency number at 423-585-2701.
The HCSO did not provide information about where Williams might be headed or what he was last seen wearing.
UPDATE: The man missing is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is found.
Jacob Riggs was found this morning in the Tremont area of the park by a visitor who saw he needed help.
The visitor brought him to the Incident Command Post near the Townsend Wye.
Riggs had minor injuries and exposure to weather. He was evaluated onsite and taken to a local hospital.
The National Park Service is thankful for all of the local agencies and volunteers who participated in the search.
Original story: Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are asking for help in their search for a missing man.
Park rangers are searching near the Townsend Wye, Tremont and Cades Cove areas of the park for 35-year-old Jacob Riggs who was last seen in Maynardville on April 7th. His vehicle was found in the park on April 8th.
Riggs is white, with black hair and a dark beard, and brown eyes. He is 6’2” tall and weighs 185 pounds.
Park officials say several organizations are helping the National Park Service in the search and more resources will arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, April 10.
If you saw Riggs or have information regarding his whereabouts, you are asked to contact the park service.
Anyone who saw Riggs or has information about his whereabouts is asked to please contact the National Park Service:
Alcoa, TN (WOKI) Police in Alcoa are searching for suspects after a second vandalism incident at an apartment complex.
Alcoa Police Department officials say officers responded to a report of vandalism Monday, April 8 involving multiple buildings at the Topside 333 Apartments construction site.
APD reports the vandalism discovered included the destruction of appliances, light fixtures, hardwood flooring, walls and plumbing fixtures.
APD says that the vandalism occurred sometime after 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, after construction workers had left the site, and before 7:00 a.m. on Monday, April 8, when they returned. APD also said that due to the extensive amount of damage to the property, monetary losses have not yet been calculated.
APD believes the suspects may be connected to another vandalism incident that occurred at Ardmore Apartments over Easter weekend.
Those with information that can help APD in its investigation can call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
New Tazewell, TN (WOKI) A New Tazewell man is being charged with killing his wife.
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office which began on April 2nd into the death of 49-year-old Lori Ann Hopson found that her husband, 37-year-old Benjamin Wayne Hopson, was responsible for her death.
Lori Ann Hopson was found dead outside of a vehicle in the 500 block of Barren Creek Road.
According to Benjamin Hopson’s arrest warrant, he attacked his wife with a knife while inside the car as they drove down the road. During the attack, the warrant reads, he stabbed her “multiple times in the chest.” The car then crashed, the warrant indicates, and Benjamin Hopson cut his wife’s throat with the knife.
“Shortly after the incident,” the warrant reads, “Benjamin Wayne Hopson was observed by witnesses who described him as being naked, wet, and having blood on his hand and body.”
Benjamin Hopson is charged with criminal homicide and is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
Officials with the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office have shared that Lori Ann Hopson was a corrections officer who was in charge of the kitchen at the Claiborne County Jail.
