Tennessee Man Arrested After Human Torso Was Discovered in Car

by Neetu Chandak   A Tennessee man was arrested after a police officer allegedly discovered a human torso in his car Sunday. Police stopped Dorrae Debrice Johnson, 29, around 3:30 a.m. Sunday for not staying in his lane on Interstate 40, WATE reported. Johnson reportedly drove away as the officer approached the car, prompting a chase. “The vehicle continued traveling in eastbound lanes onto a concrete sidewalk and struck and killed a pedestrian near the white fog line near the eastbound lane of travel,” a Tennessee Highway Patrol report given to The Daily Caller News Foundation stated. “The driver continued on until he lost control of the vehicle and hit a utility pole. The driver then fled on foot from the vehicle, the trooper was able to catch up to the subject and took him into custody.” The officer allegedly discovered the torso when he went to turn off Johnson’s car ignition. Police identified the victim as Darryl Eugene Butler, whose other half was found at the scene of impact, WATE reported. Johnson allegedly admitted to police that he was “blitzed,” according to WATE. He was booked with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday and was charged for vehicular…

Read the full story

Law Enforcement Announces More TennCare Arrests in Knox, Williamson, and Blount Counties

  Tennessee officials have arrested more people on charges of TennCare fraud. According to a press release, authorities with the Office of Inspector General and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office charged a Loudon County woman in Knox County with doctor shopping for prescription drugs and using TennCare as payment for the pills. Authorities arrested April L. Finger, 45, of Loudon (pictured, right). “An investigation led to the identification of five different instances in which Ms. Finger failed to disclose to her medical providers that she had been receiving prescriptions for the painkillers hydrocodone and Tramadol from other providers, using TennCare as payment,” according to a press release. “A review by the Knox County District Attorney’s Office led to criminal charges for three counts of TennCare fraud.” District Attorney General Charme P. Allen is prosecuting, according to the press release. OIG officials along with members of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office this week announced the arrest of Jamie M. Frisell, 51, of Greenback (not pictured). Authorities charged the Blount County woman with TennCare fraud and theft of services more than $60,000. “Authorities say she falsely reported her income and marital status for the purpose of enrolling in the taxpayer-funded insurance program,” according to…

Read the full story

Former Knox County Employees Reportedly Allege Abuse of Taxpayer Money

  Two Knox County employees said their supervisors fired them for exposing a plot to use taxpayer money for political gain, according to KnoxNews.com These two employees, David Ball and Teresa Ferguson, have filed suits saying as much, the website went on to say. “The pair — both of whom worked in Knox County’s Office of Information Technology for decades — claim in the lawsuits that then-coworker Zack Webb (pictured left) repeatedly used his county credit card to buy computer equipment and office furniture in 2017 and 2018,” KnoxNews.com reported. “The duo contend in the lawsuits they suspected Webb and Knox County Finance Director Chris Caldwell of giving away the items ‘for political gain.’ The lawsuits do not detail the alleged plot’s political beneficiary.” Ball and Ferguson worked with Webb in 2017 when Ferguson reportedly received a county credit card statement with Webb’s name with tablet and laptop purchases at a cost of around $11,000. Ball and Ferguson reportedly said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs (pictured right) “promoted Webb after he won the August 2018 election and fired Ball without cause. Webb, in turn, fired Ferguson without cause.” “Ferguson, the lawsuits say, was the only IT employee allowed to make purchases…

Read the full story

Knox County May Reportedly Prevent Taxpayers from Seeing Police Videos

According to various news outlets out of Knoxville, Knox County prosecutors are working to make sure members of the public can’t see police videos outside a courtroom. According to KnoxNews.com, these include all police cruiser and body-camera videos in criminal cases. Anyone who allows taxpayers to see these videos may face fines or jail time, the website reported. “Anyone on the list who shared a video before it’s filed in court could be held in criminal contempt, including members of a defendant’s family,” KnoxNews.com reported. “The ban would last until prosecutors drop or decide not to file charges, a grand jury chooses not to indict, a judge throws out a case, a jury votes not guilty — or longer in case of a guilty plea or verdict. Videos not introduced at trial could take years or decades to become public. The prosecution file would become open at the end of the last appeal, plus one year.” The Knoxville-based WATE said Knox County District Attorney General Charme Allen drafted the order. The station quoted Deputy District Attorney General Kyle Hixson as saying the prosecution file would become open at the end of the last appeal, plus one year. As KnoxNews.com reported, “appeals in Tennessee…

Read the full story

New Tennessee Law Cuts Off the Cash Knox County Gets from Truckers for Scale Violation Tickets

Knox County officials apparently love to give tickets to truckers, but a new state law has cut off that county’s cash flow, according to CDLLife.com. The website caters to people in the trucking industry. County officials got this money by ticketing overweight trucks and last year gave out 1,600 citations. Last year the county made $250,000 for government officials to use, according to the Knoxville-based TV station WBIR. Knox County operates the nation’s second busiest scale house, CDLLife.com reported. “Under a law that went into effect on January 1, 2019, Knox County will no longer be allowed to take in revenue by ticketing overweight trucks at their scale houses,” CDLLife.com reported. “Truckers may still be ticketed, but under the new law, that ticket revenue will bypass Knox County and go directly to the state of Tennessee.” CDLLife.com quoted County Clerk Mike Hammond as saying his local government collects so much money because interstates 40, 75, and 81 go through there. State Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, is responsible for the law. Hulsey reportedly owns the Blountville-based trucking company Burlington Logistics. CDLLIfe.com reported. “He proposed the law after one of his drivers was ticketed in Knox County. Husley successfully argued that it…

Read the full story

Knox County Reportedly Sues Itself, Loses $1 Million in Taxpayer Money

Knox County has sued itself and spent nearly $1 million on legal fees, according to KnoxNews.com. The attorneys who did legal work on the case, as the website went on to say, are coming out of this quite well. This, of course, is all taxpayer money. According to Knox News, the suit pitted the Knox County Law Department against the county’s pension board and a few Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies approved to receive benefits under the county retirement plan. “The Law Department sought to reverse a longstanding pension board process and require the board to calculate pensions on base salary and not total compensation (such as vacation pay) in accordance with changes to the county charter,” the website reported. “That ultimately translated to reduced pension benefits.” Authorities ruled the Knox County Law director couldn’t press on with the lawsuit. But, as the website went on to say, “the bills are still racking up.” County officials have announced they’ll pay $97,500 to settle attorney fees for the deputies the county sued, according to KnoxNews.com. “Attorneys Herb Moncier and Al Holifield originally asked for $190,000, but the county litigated down the amount,” the website reported. “In all, the county has legal fees…

Read the full story

Tennessee’s 2nd District: Tim Burchett Releases New Ad Promoting His Support for President Trump

Donald Trump, Tim Burchett

Knox County Mayor and Republican candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 2d Congressional District has a new television commercial airing that promotes his support for President Trump.  This is Burchett’s second ad and it is airing on both broadcast and cable throughout the district. TIM BURCHETT “TRUMP” ad: Hey, I’m Tim Burchett, and I’m running for Congress to help President Trump shake up Washington. Everyone says they’re for Trump, but I’m the only candidate who supported Donald Trump in the 2016 primary. As mayor, I took on the tax-hikers and the big-spenders. And I fought to ban hiring illegal immigrants over Americans. I’m proud to be pro-life, pro-gun, pro-America. I’m Tim Burchett and I approve this message because I’m a true conservative and I will never pretend to be otherwise. Early voting in the primary election began Friday with Election Day on August 2. The winner of the primary in the heavily Republican district will be highly favored to replace retiring Congressman Jimmy Duncan who has held the seat for three decades. Burchett announced a big fundraising total in the second quarter of 2018 earlier this week.              

Read the full story

Tennessee’s 2nd District: Tim Burchett Reports Huge Fundraising Haul for Second Quarter

Tim Burchett

Knox County Mayor and Republican congressional candidate in the 2nd Congressional District had an impressive second quarter fundraising report according to a release from his campaign on Thursday. Burchett reports raising $225,000 during the most recent reporting period that ended on June 30th. To date Burchett has reported raising over $590,000. “I am honored and humbled by the outpouring of support our campaign has experienced across the Second District,” Burchett said in announcing his fundraising totals. “From fundraisers, to local events, to volunteers who spend their weekends knocking on doors in the sweltering heat, I am lucky to have the hardest-working, most enthusiastic supporters this state has ever seen.” Burchett hired highly regarded Republican fundraiser Kim Kaegi as he headed into the quarter and the results speak for themselves, one political insider noted in reviewing the numbers. “The biggest question mark about Tim was whether he could raise the money to wage a competitive race against two significant self-funders in Jason Emert and Jimmy Matlock. Clearly he and his team have answered that question in the affirmative and added an exclamation point this quarter.” Early voting in the primary election begins today with Election Day on August 2. The winner…

Read the full story

WWE Wrestler Jacobs Wins Knox County Mayor Primary by 17 Votes

WWE wrestler Glenn Jacobs has won the Republican primary for Knox County mayor by a margin of only 17 votes, WATE reported. The Knox County Election Commission says there are, however, a few provisional ballots, so the results won’t be official until next week. Jacobs, a former WWE wrestler aka “Kane,” and insurance agent, faced off against county commissioners Brad Anders and Bob Thomas. The election was not without issues, WKYT reported. Just before 10:15 p.m. on Election Day, the Knox County Election Commission website showed Jacobs with a 17-vote lead taking the candidacy over Anders in the primary election. While Jacobs called it a “WWE finish” to sister station WVLT, Anders said he was not conceding until the provisional ballots have been counted. According to Knox County officials, the county website failed Tuesday night, and election results were delayed as a result of a computer problem, WKYT said. Cliff Rodgers with the Knox County Election Commission said they experienced a “widespread denial of services attack.” The Knox County Election Commission told WVLT that they had recorded 43 provisional ballots for all races, according to WKYT. Of those 43 ballots, 38 were classified as “green,” meaning they were submitted by people who had…

Read the full story

Second District Congressional Republican Primary Fundraising Details Show a Race That is Heating Up

The Republican primary to fill the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN-02) is heating up as Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, businessman Jason Emert and State Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City) vie for the job. First quarter 2018 fundraising reports reveal that all three will have significant resources in the race. Local political observers have said that Burchett has the advantage due to his strong support and high name recognition in Knox County, which is the largest population center in the Second District. However, there are no current public polls that have been released that might give a snapshot regarding the status of the race. The most recent Federal Election Commission fundraising reports filed by the candidates provide lots of information. The primary election date is August 2, 2018. Tim Burchett (pictured, left) Burchett reported raising $84,170.57 in total donations in the first quarter of 2018 (January-March) with $234,821.10 cash on hand. Burchett has raised a total of $377,342.18 in the race so far, with no personal loans from Burchett to his campaign. Among the major notable donors to the Burchett campaign in the first quarter are Joan and Victor Ashe (former Knoxville Mayor and…

Read the full story

JC Bowman Commentary: The Role of a School Board

Tennessee Star

Local school boards reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities as well as the interests and concerns of professional and nonprofessional employees. We believe non-partisan control is what is best for our communities. This is best ensured when educational policy is made by representatives vested in the community they live, and whose undivided attention and interests are devoted strictly to education of the children in that district. What we stress in a nutshell: Public education is a federal concern, a state responsibility, and a local operation.

Read the full story

Pro Wrestler Glenn Jacobs Will Run For Knox County Mayor

Tennessee Star

  Glenn Jacobs, also known to WWE professional wrestling fans as Kane, has announced he will run for mayor of Knox County. Jacobs, 49, has lived with his family in East Tennessee for the past 22 years. “This is a great place to work, live and to raise a family,” he said in formally announcing his intention to run in the May 2018 race. But Jacobs said there’s often one thing standing in the way of business owners and community leaders who want to make Knox County an even better place: government.   A Republican businessman who has been active in libertarian politics, Jacobs said as mayor he would keep taxes low, eliminate waste and reduce red tape. He said Tennessee is fortunate to have a strong environment for business but that as a result, Knox County faces “intense competition” from other parts of the state. He said he would work hard as mayor to recruit new businesses to Knox County and maintain an environment in which existing businesses can flourish. He also said he would strengthen efforts to prepare students for college or the workplace after graduating from high school. Jacobs said he would ensure that government remains open and…

Read the full story