Luttrell News

When I first started writing my Frog Blog, my morning Splash co-host, James Pond, asked: "What are you going to do when you run out of artists?" Good question.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH is in effect for Anderson County , Blount County , Knox County .

Gil Luttrell has announced his retirement from the Loudon County School System effective July 31.

A local official in East Tennessee has become the second from Union County to plead guilty to federal charges of buying votes in the 2006 election.

The most recent band of storms to roll across East Tennessee has resulted in a Union County child being struck by lightning.

Wayne Wolfe stands in the middle of Bob Gray Road in the 9500 block directing traffic around a fallen tree and phone lines after a storm Thursday afternoon.

Violent cloud-to-ground lightning caused a massive explosion at a Fentress County oil farm, and a 14-year-old girl was hit by lightning in the Luttrell community in Union County, authorities say.

Members of the Loudon County Board of Education voted to accept changes to the policy governing bus cameras after adding a new provision of their own.

Etowah Utilities has the best tasting water in the state, according to the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts .

It took all day, until almost 4 o'clock, for the Tennessee House of Representatives to get around to voting on an override of Governor Phil Bredesen's veto of a bill permitting holders of gun-carry permits to bring loaded guns into bars and restaurants.

At the urging of one Knoxville legislator and over the objections of another, the House has voted to change state law to allow restaurants to hold a liquor-by-the-drink license if they operate only three days per week.

The state Senate joined the House Tuesday in voting to restrict use of traffic-ticket cameras on federal highways and require warning signs where they are used.

"I do support the veto. This has not been a problem that screams for this type of solution.

The controversial bill to prohibit changes in the duties and responsibilities of the Knox County Sheriff's Office and the county fee offices apparently is dead for the current legislative session - "apparently" is the controlling word because with last-minute maneuvering in Nashville, who knows? At any rate, the bill failed in the Senate State and ...

A House committee Monday approved a bill designed to block Knox County from making changes to the offices of sheriff, register of deeds, county clerk, property assessor or trustee.

Controversies over the status of Knox County officeholders, campaign money and American Indian tribes will be on the agenda next week for a specially called meeting of a Senate committee that had been declared closed for the session.

Isabella Martinez is all smiles after being crowned with a tiara by Mrs. Tennessee 2006 Jennifer Rogers as Ace Sandlin looks on.

Knox County commissioners directed the county's law director and lobbyist Monday to oppose legislation that is being introduced by Union County's state representative to limit the ability of county charters to govern the responsibilities of independently elected officeholders, including the sheriff.

The Knox County Commission's Finance Committee today voted unanimously on a voice vote to send a message to the Legislature that the committee members oppose legislation that would by "back door dealings" subvert the will of the County Commission regarding the independently elected fee offices.

TENSE DISCUSSION: Things got a bit tense between Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton Jr., left, and Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell this week.