WUOT 91.9 FM, Knoxville

10/15/2024

The closures along parts of I-40 and I-26 has led to motorists travel between Tennessee and North Carolina take intersates in Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina to reach their destinations.

The raging flood waters brought on by Tropical Storm Helene left several roads, including parts of I-40 and I-26, destroyed. Motorists driving from east Tennessee to western North Carolina, or vice-versa, are being subjected to various detours to reach their destination.

10/15/2024

The award is shared by Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson of MIT and James Robinson of the University of Chicago for their research on the institutional roots of national wealth and poverty. They will split the prize money of 11 million Swedish krona or about $1.058 million.

10/14/2024

Over 4,500 square miles of ocean will be protected off the California coast. It will also be managed in partnership with the indigenous groups that fought to create it.

10/12/2024

KPD just announced that it is safe for residents who were evacuated from the area surrounding CMC Recycling to return home. Per KPD: "Bomb squad technicians have completely cleared the contents of the box and the explosives have been rendered safe." Portions of Western Avenue between Tennessee and Texas avenues will remain closed, however.

Send a message to learn more

10/11/2024

Update on dynamite in Lonsdale neighborhood: The 5'x5' steel box at CMC Recycling contains both dynamite AND blast caps, in a "jumbled up mess" according to KPD Information Officer Scott Erland. This means crews must now work to carefully remove the explosives by hand, as opposed to using a robotic drone. Evacuation orders will likely remain in place until late tonight, if not tomorrow morning. Learn more:

City emergency crews responded to a call from CMC Recycling in West Knoxville after employees there discovered a smoking box they believe to be filled with dynamite.

10/11/2024

UPDATE: Authorities are now saying that the 5'x 5' smoking box discovered at CMC Recycling may contain as many as 200 sticks of dynamite. They are having to robotically remove the sticks one by one, and residents may not be able to return to their homes until this evening or possibly even tomorrow morning. We will continue to follow this situation.

City emergency crews responded to a call from CMC Recycling in West Knoxville after employees there discovered a smoking box they believe to be filled with dynamite.

10/11/2024

Matthew's interview is ready for your perusal.

The University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra

Matthew Motley speaks with James Fellenbaum, Director of the UT Symphony Orchestra and guest artist Sean Chen, about their upcoming All-Gershwin Concert.

10/11/2024

Emergency crews are now saying they suspect dynamite to be the cause of a bomb squad response near Western Avenue. The response led to an evacuation of roughly 2,000 residents in the Lonsdale neighborhood, which is still ongoing. Learn more:

City emergency crews responded to a call from CMC Recycling in West Knoxville after employees there discovered a smoking box they believe to be filled with dynamite.

10/11/2024

In communications newly revealed, TikTok executives discuss being aware of the harms caused by their app. TikTok officials were warned of the app’s dangers to minors.

10/11/2024

EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS UPDATE: As of around 8 p.m. Thursday, KPD says that residents in a 3,000 foot (just over half a mile) radius of CMC Recycling in the Lonsdale neighborhood near Western Avenue have been evacuated following the discovery of some “suspected explosive material” there.

They also say that the evacuation could last into Friday night as crews continue to assess the situation and the safety of the area. The Jacob Building in Chilhowee Park has been established as an emergency shelter for evacuated residents.

We will continue to keep you up-to-date here at WUOT News as this situation develops.

10/10/2024

We are currently monitoring a KPD response to a "suspected explosive device" at the intersection of Western and Mynderse Avenues. An alert was issued to everyone in Knox County, but you only need to evacuate/avoid this area, according to KPD:

10/10/2024

Marble City Opera presents the TN premiere of the one-act opera, "Driving While Black", with music by Susan Kander and libretto by Roberta Gumble. The performance is on October 12th at 7pm at the Old City Performing Arts Center in downtown Knoxville.

Scored for soprano, cello, and percussion, this powerful piece takes a look at something ordinary...riding in and/or driving a car, and shows how the experience of that daily activity changes with age, just because of race. Librettist, Roberta Gumble, used personal experiences as her basis when crafting the work, which she premiered herself (Gumble is also a soprano) in 2018.

Marble City Opera's production will feature soprano, Allison Sanders, cellist, Cremaine Booker, and percussionist, David Verin. It is stage directed by Ivan Griffin. Learn more in our interview with Executive and Artistic Director of Marble City Opera, Kathryn Frady.

Melony Dodson talks with Kathryn Frady, Executive and Artistic Director of Marble City Opera, about Driving While Black.

10/10/2024

A severe solar storm is headed to Earth that could stress power grids even more as the U.S. deals with major back-to-back hurricanes, space weather forecasters said Wednesday.

10/10/2024

East Tennesseans are finding hope and a space for community in local churches in the aftermath of disastrous flooding wrought by Tropical Storm Helene.

After Tropical Storm Helene caused widespread flooding in rural East Tennessee, churches and other religion centers have emerged as vital sources of hope and community for victims.

10/09/2024

Climate change hasn't increased the total number of hurricanes hitting the U.S., but it is making dangerous storms more common.

10/08/2024

Communities in Florida are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton, which quickly intensified from a tropical storm to a powerful, life-threatening hurricane much faster than predicted.

10/07/2024

WUOT has a text only website to help folks in low cell service areas to access our local news.

https://text.wuot.org/

10/07/2024

There are barriers preventing many Latino farm workers in northeastern Tennessee from trying to get help, but the extended Latino community is bringing the help to them.

10/04/2024

Helene weakened to a post-tropical cyclone on Friday evening but continued to unleash “catastrophic” flooding in the southeastern U.S. and southern Appalachians, forecasters said.

Helene, now a post-tropical cyclone, continues to flood parts of North Carolina and the Tennessee Valley. Dozens of storm-related deaths were reported in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

10/04/2024

Rebuilding goes beyond structures; it’s about restoring lives and creating a stronger, more resilient community together. Join us today for Hope After Helene, in partnership with East Tennessee Foundation, and make your impact at www.etf.org/wuotn2n.

10/04/2024

Flood waters overtake Groundhog Road near Hartford in Cocke County on Friday, Sep. 27, 2024. Heavy rainfall brought on by the remnants of Hurricane Helene overwhelmed East Tennessee waterways over the last several days, leading to record and life-threatening flooding in the region.

East Tennessee continues to experience unprecedented levels of dangerous flooding throughout the region

10/04/2024

East Tennessee Foundation reactivated its Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund to assist Tennessee communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Join us today as we support our neighbors across the state. etf.org/wuotn2n

10/04/2024

Trudy Hall’s house flooded after Hurricane Helene. She sits on the porch watching as all her belongings are loaded up by volunteers, to be taken to the dump.

Across Eastern Tennessee, people are connecting on social media to help clear out ruined furniture, scrub off mud, and deliver jugs of water so people can flush toilets.

10/04/2024

As a proud service to the state’s land-grant institution, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, WUOT is dedicated to serving our communities. By providing news coverage and essential information, we are fulfilling our commitment to serving our communities and empowering East Tennessee to rebuild and recover. Join us in this effort at www.etf.org/wuotn2n

10/04/2024

10,000 households in Greene County still don't have access to tap water after their water pumping station on the Nolichucky River was destroyed by Tropical Storm Helene.