KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The man convicted of second-degree murder in a woman's overdose death at a Knox County motel has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, according to the Knox County District Attorney's Office. On Thursday, DA Charme Allen's office released that Wesley Allen Lacey, 52, was sentenced to serve 15 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. Knoxville Police: Man shot by officer at Fountain City gas station dies Wesley Allen Lacey (Knox County District Attorney's Office) In February, Lacey was convicted of second-degree murder in the overdose death of a woman at a mote ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — An investigation is underway into a motorcycle crash that left one person dead late Wednesday night according to the Knoxville Police Department. KPD shared that officers responded to a crash involving a motorcycle and a Kia SUV in the 6400 block of Asheville Highway near Rich Road around 10:15 p.m. on April 17. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released. Knoxville Police: Man shot by officer at Fountain City gas station dies Based on the preliminary investigation, KPD believes the motorcycle was going east on Asheville H ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Five veterans from Knox County died last year and were unclaimed according to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center. The East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard said they will be honored with a memorial service in May. The Honor Guard said the veterans will be given full military honors by the US Navy, US Army, East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard, Volunteer State Honor Guard and Pigeon Forge Honor Guard, as well as a motorcycle escort by the Knox County Sheriff's Office and numerous East Tennessee Bike Chapters. Investigators search tips for new information after TV sh ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Noah Djenini is one of 12 students at Austin-East High School granted a full ride at the University of Tennessee through its Flagship scholarship which covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters when combined with the Hope scholarship. However, it doesn't cover room and board or books. That's why your support of Project Grad makes a difference. "The goals really just came naturally," Djenini said. "I've always been the best at what I do, so like every year at high school, I always had a high GPA and I try to maintain that every year and that's what's ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — One Project Grad scholar we met at Fulton High School was wearing scrubs. Mazaya Walden spends part of her school day working toward her career in nursing. "The most interesting thing I learned is time is always ticking. Like you have about ten patients to take care of in a certain amount of time, you have to make sure they eat, get their showers in to get them ready for lunch. So time is always ticking," she said. Twin Project Grad scholars prepare to attend UT on full ride This caring young woman is ready to put on her graduation cap and gown, say goodbye to high sc ..read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee General Assembly is nearing passage of a bill preventing local governments from disbursing money for – or even just studying – reparations to descendants of slaves. It's been up several weeks in a row and has drawn a rash of protesters each time. “It’s a horrible bill, but there’s a lot of emotions involved,” Rep. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) said. “I think people really started to really hear what this bill is about.” ‘Not a good sign for it’: School voucher bill in jeopardy of failing this session The bill defines reparations as ‘money or benefits provid ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating what led to an officer-involved shooting left a man in critical condition at the Exxon in the 5300 block of North Broadway in Knoxville. A spokesperson for the TBI shared just before 6:45 p.m. that agents had been requested by District Attorney Charme Allen to investigate the circumstances leading to the shooting involving Knoxville Police officers. According to Knoxville Police, the man was shot after officers responded to a disturbance at the gas station. Lenoir City officer arrested on domestic assault charge ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The purpose of this week is to recognize and honor the work dispatchers do. Josh Guinn has worked at the Knox County 911 for nearly 20 years. "When we get the information from the caller, we could get anything from that happened from five years ago to someone screaming," Guinn said. "We have the information in the system to be able to lookout up history, tags, that nature anything that could be vital for EMS, KPD, or fire department to go out." Throughout the years he has fielded thousands of calls, only a fe ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For nearly a decade, the area of Jackson Avenue between Gay Street and Broadway stood empty after the McClung Warehouses burned. Now, the Knoxville Community Development Corporation, or KCDC, wants to build apartments there to help with Knoxville's housing woes. No one who was here will ever forget the scenes from 2007 and 2014 when two fires destroyed the much of the historic buildings. Today, the city block is used for parking and not much else. Now a plan from KCDC is looking to bring life back into the area. $114M Knoxville stadium taking shape as construction pas ..read more

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Neighbors in North Knoxville are coming together to help one of their own after a garage fire last week. The Knoxville Fire Department responded to E. Caldwell Ave. around 5 a.m. on the morning of April 10, where a detached garage was in flames. Knoxville mom starts business inspired by battle with postpartum depression The garage belongs to Virgil Hayes Jr., a neighborhood mechanic. "When I opened the door up I saw there was fire shooting out both sides of my garage, just devastated," Hayes said. "I was running around in circles, trying to find my phone to call, call ..read more