Knoxville police make 31 arrests around downtown, Old City
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville Police Department said that nearly three dozen arrests were made around the downtown area Friday morning. A total of 31 arrests were made between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the downtown and Old City areas. Charges included trespassing, drug possession, and outstanding warrants. Five...
Missing La Vergne man found safe in Murfreesboro, TBI says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Update: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reports the subject of a Silver Alert has been found safe. The TBI reports that 35-year-old Christopher Sturgell, previously missing out of La Vergne, was found safe in Murfreesboro. Earlier: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has issued a...
Food pantries in East Tennessee see surge in demand ahead of potential SNAP delays
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As families across East Tennessee brace for rising food costs and potential SNAP benefit delays, two local food pantries said they are already seeing more people seeking assistance. Ladies of Charity in North Knoxville has expanded the number of families it serves each day. Staff say they...
UT students perform first recorded chimp spinal surgery: Back to climbing and playing
UT College of Veterinary Medicine and UT Medical Center collaborated to perform a groundbreaking spinal surgery on a 34-year-old chimpanzee on Sept. 19, 2025. This marked the very first recorded spinal surgery performed on a chimpanzee. Problems with the male chimpanzee, named Mwelu “Lu,” were first noticed when he...
Entitled HOA Board in Knoxville Is Trying to Gatekeep Halloween Guests: ‘Unless It’s a...
Halloween should be a fun celebration for many households in the country, but one HOA board in Knoxville, Tennessee, is trying to gatekeep it. Recently, a Redditor shared a facepalm-inducing notice, where some HOA board members are trying to keep Halloween guests away from their community. The ironic thing here is...
Whataburger Expanding In East Tennessee, Building Presence In State
Whataburger has been in expansion mode in multiple states, including Tennessee. East Tennessee is receiving several locations in the coming months. Knoxville-based franchise company MWB Restaurants is spearheading much of the growth in the region for the burger chain, including spots in Powell and Turkey Creek. They...
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s Fantasy of Trees!
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Fantasy of Trees presented by Axle Logistics is returning in 2025, and will be the holiday event you don’t want to miss. This holiday tradition is the hospital’s largest fundraiser, attracting nearly 60,000 people during the week of Thanksgiving. Travel through a forest of more than...
Knoxville family waiting to hear from family members in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa hits...
Tiekel Finnikin and his mom held their phones close, hoping they would ring to hear from family members in Jamaica.
Oak Ridge officers involved in foot picture incident during traffic stop disciplined
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Oak Ridge Police Department said two officers were reprimanded following an internal investigation into a traffic stop where they were seen on a squad car's dash camera taking a picture of a woman's feet. ORPD said it completed an investigation into the incident that...
Retired UT mascot Smokey X diagnosed with cancer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee’s retired mascot, Smokey X, has been diagnosed with kidney cancer. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture announced the 14-year-old bluetick coonhound’s diagnosis on Wednesday. During Smokey X‘s recent biannual appointment, veterinary staff...

















