UT Knoxville will ask trustees to approve converting the University Commons Walmart into a student recreation center; designer selection and initial funding are already in motion. The vote is set for Feb. 26–27.

Veteran Tennessee sports reporter Wes Rucker, 43, was killed in a multi-vehicle crash on I‑40 West; family confirmed he was the lone fatality and requested privacy.

An inspection in north Knoxville flagged a Little Caesars for dirty bathrooms, food debris and hand‑hygiene lapses; a follow‑up found fixes and raised the grade to 94.

Sheriff's deputies say a search warrant at a Graham Loop home turned up drugs, firearms and cash. A Tellico Plains man was arrested and the probe remains active.

An affiliate of Safe Harbor has bought the former Smoky Mountain Opry site after Crayola and NERF plans stalled. The developer eyes a mid‑2027 opening.

Cloudy, warm Friday with gusty winds this morning; Wind Advisory for the Smokies through early afternoon. Mountain snow is possible Sunday night at higher elevations.

Anderson County warns an AT&T network problem may prevent some Clinton residents from reaching 911 and provided a backup sheriff's number.

A 28‑year‑old Knoxville man was arrested after allegedly telling Taco Bell staff he had a bomb and running into the restaurant office, police say.

The Tennessee Senate advanced SB2423 to replace a Red 40 restriction with a ban on any artificial food dye in school nutrition programs, with implementation tied to 2027 contracts.

Morning fog and spotty storms give way to a warm, gusty Thursday; a Wind Advisory targets the Smokies tonight. Expect gusts and wet roads.

A former Heritage High teacher admitted to soliciting explicit photos from students and received under two years in jail plus probation and sex‑offender registration.

An Alcoa man accused in the 2024 traffic‑stop shooting that killed a Blount County deputy pleaded not guilty Wednesday as prosecutors move to pursue capital charges. The arraignment kicks off another round of pretrial fights over counsel and evidence.

Senate committee moved SB1642 to shift most motor‑vehicle and tire sales tax revenue into Tennessee’s highway fund, sending the measure to the finance committee. The change could free hundreds of millions for road and bridge work.