FRIDAY APRIL 18
JOHNSON CITY MAN RECEIVED CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIALS ON DISCORD FROM ACROSS COUNTRY
A JOHNSON CITY MAN WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY AFTER AUTHORITIES LEARNED THAT HE WAS ALLEGEDLY RECEIVING EXPLICIT CHILD MATERIALS FROM VICTIMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, DETECTIVES IN NEWPORT NEW HAMPSHIRE LEARNED IN MARCH THAT A MINOR WAS SENDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIALS TO AN ADULT MALE ONLINE VIA THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM DISCORD. THE MAN WAS IDENTIFIED AS 20 YEAR OLD JACOB HAUN OF JOHNSON CITY. THE TBI REPORTS THAT ITS AGENTS IN THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN SQUAD WERE ALERTED AND STARTING WORKING WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE HAUN. AGENTS DISCOVERED THAT HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL IMAGES AND VIDEO FROM VICTIMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WARRANTS CHARGING HAUN WITH ESPECIALLY AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR AND SOLICITATION OF A MINOR VIA ELECTRONIC MEANS WERE OBTAINED.
BRISTOL MAN SENTENCED TO 31+ YEARS FOR CARJACKING
A MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO SERVE 377 MONTHS IN PRISON AFTER A 2023 CARJACKING IN BRISTOL TENNESSEE. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, 49 YEAR OLD CHARLES NILE MIXON OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY. HE WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY IN OCTOBER 2024 OF CARJACKING, USING AND BRANDISHING A FIREARM DURING AND IN RELATION TO A CRIME OF VIOLENCE, POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON, AND POSSESSION OF A STOLEN FIREARM. ADDITIONALLY, THE JURY FOUND THAT DUE TO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS ON VIOLENT CRIMES, MIXON WAS ESTABLISHED AS AN ARMED CAREER CRIMINAL. FOLLOWING HIS PRISON SENTENCE, MIXON WILL BE ON SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR FIVE YEARS.
WASHINGTON CO VA JURY CONVICTS MAN OF CHILD SEX CRIMES
A MAN WAS CONVICTED BY A JURY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA OF SEXUALLY ABUSING A MINOR. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA, ARMONDO NAVARRO MORALES WAS CONVICTED OF OBJECT SEXUAL PENETRATION AND AGGRAVATED SEXUAL BATTERY. THE CRIMES REPORTEDLY HAPPENED ON JANUARY 28TH 2024. SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR SUMMER OF 2025.
PETWORKS ANIMAL SERVICES IN KINGSPORT CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO PARVO
PETWORKS ANIMAL SERVICES IN KINGSPORT ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT THEY’RE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO PARVO. THE CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO LAST THROUGH APRIL 30TH. ONE CASE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN A PUPPY, BUT OTHERS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.
LAWMAKERS PASS BILL THAT LIMITS HEMP FLOWER SALES IN TN
TENNESSEE’S HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD DRASTICALLY LIMIT THE SALE OF A KIND OF HEMP IN THE VOLUNTEER STATE. THIS MEANS MANY FORMS OF THE POPULAR PRODUCT WILL SOON BE PULLED FROM THE SHELVES. THE BILL ALSO MEANS A NEW STATE REGULATION AGENCY WILL HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER HEMP SALES. IT USED TO BE THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. NOW, ALCOHOL REGULATORS BY SMOKE SHOPS AND OTHER BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE, WHO SAY THE PRODUCT IS ONE OF THEIR HIGHEST SELLING ITEMS. THE PRODUCT, KNOWN AS THC-A GIVES A SIMILAR HIGH AS DELTA-9. A 2023 LAW JUST PUT LIMITS ON HOW MUCH DELTA-9 CAN BE IN LEGAL PRODUCTS, NOT ON THC-A. THE BILL PASSED THURSDAY WOULD LIMIT THC-A TO LESS THAN .3 PERCENT CONCENTRATION.
GREENE CO ROADS DAMAGED BY HELENE CLEAN UP WILL QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING
GREENE COUNTY ROADS DAMAGED BY VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE FLOODING CLEANUP WILL APPARENTLY QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. EMA DIRECTOR HEATHER SIPE SAID THURSDAY, THAT FEMA HAS DEEMED THE DAMAGED ROADWAYS AS ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, MEANING THE COUNTY WILL WORK WITH THE FEMA PROGRAM MANAGER TO ESTABLISH A PROJECT FOR THE ROAD DAMAGES TO BE REPAIRED AND REIMBURSED. MAYOR KEVIN MORRISON ANNOUNCED THE NEWS TO BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEAR THE END OF THEIR MEETING THURSDAY MORNING.
SOLID WASTE TO OFER TWO LOCATIONS FOR SPRING CLEANING EVENT
JOHNSON CITY’S PUBLIC WORKS/SOLID WASTE DIVISION WILL PROVIDE TWO DROP-OFF SITES FOR RESIDENTS TO DEPOSIT TRASH AND BULK MATERIAL SATURDAY MAY 3RD, BETWEEN 7 AM AND NOON. THE LOCATIONS ARE INDIAN TRAIL MIDDLE SCHOOL, IN THE PARKING LOT CLOSEST TO THE BUILDING, AND SCIENCE HILL HIGH SCHOOL, JUST OFF LIBERTY BELL BOULEVARD IN PARKING LOT I. ACCEPTABLE ITEMS INCLUDE BUILDING MATERIALS, E-WASTE, METAL FOR RECYCLING, AND BULK ITEMS. NO PAINT, TIRES, HERBICIDES, INSECTICIDES OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCLUDING PAINT THINNERS WILL BE ACCEDPTED. THIS SERVICE IS FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY.
ARMED ABD DANGEROUS BRISTOL VA SUSPECT, ALSO IMPLICATED IN BLUFF CITY SHOOTING
A MAN WANT IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA, IS ALSO A SUSPECT IN A SEPARATE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MONTH IN BLUFF CITY. BLUFF CITY POLICE CONFIRMED THAT 37 YEAR OLD HARLEY POPE OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SUSPECT IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING ON HIGHLAND DRIVE ON APRIL 8TH. POPE IS ALSO FACING CHARGES RELATED TO AN APRIL 5TH SHOOTING IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA THAT INJURED ANOTHER MAN. POPE FLED AS POLICE WERE ATTEMPTING TO SERVE HIM WITH AN ARREST WARRANT. WEDNESDAY. HE WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A BLUE SHORT SLEEVED SHIRT AND GRAY SWEAT PANTS. BOTH POLICE DEPARTMENTS SAY POPE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS BILL MAY BE DEAD FOR 2025
A CONTROVERSIAL BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE TENNESSEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE THE CITIZENSHIP OR LEGAL STATUS OF ALL STUDENTS MAY BE DEAD FOR THE YEAR. THE BILL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO CHARGE TUITION TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS OR DENY THE ENROLLMENT, IS NOT ON THE TENNESSEE HOUSE CALENDAR FOR NEXT WEEK, WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SET TO WRAP UP. THE MEASURE PASSED THE SENATE 19 TO 13 LAT WEEK. REPRESENTATIVE DAVID HAWK OF GREENEVILLE SAID THE FACT THAT A FISCAL COST IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BILL, AND THAT NO FUNDS TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE COSTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET PASSED WEDNESDAY, GREATLY DIMINISH THE CHANCES OF IT GOING BEFORE THE FULL HOUSE.
PIGEON FORGE WORKING TO INSTALL SIRENS TO WARN OF WILDFIRES
PIGEON FORGE IS WORKING TO GET WARNING SIRENS NEARLY A DECADE AFTER THE DEADLY 2016 WILDFIRES IN SEVIER COUNTY. DURING THE WILDFIRES, EVACUATIONS WERE ORDERED FOR PARTS OF PIGEON FORGE AND GATLINBURG. NOT EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT, AND 14 PEOPLE DIED, AS THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO EVACUATE. IN RESPONSE, THE CITY OF GATLINBURG INSTALLED 14 NEW SIREN TOWERS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE FIRES HAPPENED. PIGEON FORGE FIRE CHIEF TONY WATSON SAID PLANNING FOR THESE SIRENS IS STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES. THE SYSTEMS IN PIGEON FORGE WILL BE MODELED AFTER THE SYSTEM IN GATLINBURG. FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WILL COME FROM HAZARD MITIGATION GRANTS THROUGH TEMA.
STATE RT 93 TO CLOSE FOR BLASTING OPERATIONS NEXT WEEK
MOTORISTS IN SULLIVAN COUNTY SHOULD PREPARE FOR TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES NEXT WEEK, AS STATE ROUTE 93 WILL BE CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS BETWEEN MURRELL LANE AND LONE STAR ROAD FOR BLASTING STARTING MONDAY. ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE CLOSURES WILL OCCUR DAILY AT NOON, AND ARE EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT 20 MINUTES. HOWEVER, THEY COULD EXTEND LONGER OF DEBRIS NEEDS TO BE CLEARED FROM THE ROADWAY. OFFICIALS ADVISE DRIVERS TO EXPECT DELAYS, AND TO EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION IN THE WORK AREAS.
SPRING STARTS WITH A LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN TN
ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TENNESSEE’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECLINED LAST MONTH, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAY 2024. THE STATES’ SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN MARCH WAS 3.6 PERCENT, DOWN ONE-TENTH OF A PERCENTAGE POINT FROM FEBRUARY. THE RATE HAD BEEN AT 3.7 PERCENT FOR THE PREVIOUS SIX MONTHS. TENNESSEE’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ALSO SEX-TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE NATIONAL RATE OF 4.2 PERCENT. THE STATE WILL RELEASE THE MARCH 2025 UNEMPLOYMENT DATA FOR ALL 95 COUNTIES NEXT WEEK.
