Carissa Simpson
Digital Producer
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Carissa is an East Tennessee native, hailing from Morristown, TN. She attended Berea College but returned home to serve her home community through journalism.
While at Berea, Carissa served as the Editor-in-Chief of the student-led publication, The Pinnacle.
Her hobbies include reading, cross-stitching, and gardening.
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All lanes are reopen after an overturned tractor-trailer closed I-40 in both directions near Newport.
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Knoxville Police Department asked for the public’s help in identifying three suspects suspected to be involved in thefts of catalytic converters.
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One death, two injuries and 25 arrests occurred on the water over the Fourth of July weekend, according to TWRA officials.
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Zoo Knoxville announced the birth of an African lion cub who was born healthy on June 16.
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Claiborne County Schools will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students for the upcoming 2022-23 school year.
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A shooting in Clarksville left a man dead and Clarksville Police Department investigating, according to police officials.
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15-year-old Edwards Tarumianz went fishing this week and reeled in an incredibly rare fish, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officials said.
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The Knoxville Sunflower Festival will exhibit thousands of sunflowers on July 9 with many ways to tour the fields.
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On Friday, Seymour Volunteer Fire Department crews responded to calls about a barn on fire in Seymour on the 700 block of Porter Field Gap Road
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Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued two Blue Alerts on Tuesday, but many are left wondering: what is a Blue Alert?
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A 9-year-old girl was taken to the hospital after being hit by a pickup truck in Chattanooga.
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Here is a list of various events to celebrate Independence Day in East Tennessee.
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Knoxville Opera announced on Monday a branding makeover, three new productions for the 2022-23 season and a revamped mission statement.
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Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will let freedom ring with their annual concert for Independence Day.
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Dandridge Fire Department responded to a car accident that sent three passengers to the hospital on Saturday at the 424-mile marker on I-40 west.
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A large brush fire off Murph Road in Jefferson City took both the Dandridge Fire Department and the Kansas-Talbott Fire Department to extinguish on Saturday.
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Rural Metro Fire responded to a porch on fire at Eldin Way in Powell on Saturday at approximately 3:15 p.m
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Two inmates who walked away from the Chattanooga Release Center Friday night are back in custody after being found in Nashville.
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Knoxville College announced on Friday its intention to seek accreditation in a partnership with the University of Tennessee Knoxville PhD Higher Education program.
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Dollywood’s Splash Country is set to teach guests of all ages to stay safe in the water at its 12th annual Water Safety Day on June 23.
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Biologists with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency rescued a black bear cub by freeing its head from a plastic food container.
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The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation concluded its investigation of a former Sullivan County Deputy and indicted him on theft charges.
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Melissa Blair, 38, who was already facing numerous charges related to sexual encounters with minors, has now been indicted on additional charges.
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Sergeant Cody Gatlin and Corporal Larry Keeton were recognized by the Tennessee Department of Corrections for their reactions to incidents while they were off duty.
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Church Avenue and Cumberland Avenue will close overnight on June 22 and 23, according to the Knoxville Utilities Board.
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The Tennessee Arts Commission awarded 44 nonprofit arts organizations, schools and local governments in Knox County with grants worth nearly $700,000.
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Knoxville Area Urban League announced Thursday that Phyllis Y. Nichols, president and CEO of the organization, will be retiring in September.
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The Bomb Squad responded to a beeping noise from a trash can, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
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Foothills Parkway in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be again closed for construction as part of the repaving efforts, according to officials with the park.
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The bear that ripped into a tent and injured a mother and daughter at the Elkmont Campground has been “humanely euthanized,” officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced in a news release.
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Don Wells, the father of missing six-year-old Summer Wells, released a statement from prison on Wednesday at midnight about his daughter’s disappearance.
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Hundreds of customers with the Lenoir City Utilities Board were left without power when outages occurred on Tuesday night.
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The Knoxville Ice Bears announced the dates for the start of the 2022-23 hockey season.
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Officers from all over Blount County, including the Sheriff’s Office and the Maryville, Alcoa and Townsend Police Departments, volunteered at the Second Harvest Food Bank over the past several weeks.
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The Sevier County Fire Department announced on Monday that crews responded to a hay bailer on fire and quickly extinguished it before the fire could get out of control.
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The City of Knoxville announced in a news release on Monday that the Gay Street Bridge will close to traffic on June 14 and 15 for an annual safety inspection with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
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Ole Red Gatlinburg announced on Monday a new celebration for July 4th. The Midnight Parade Patio Party will offer guests cocktails, food inspired by Blake Shelton and live country music.
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The Knoxville Utilities Board announced in a news release on Friday that Kuwahee Greenway north of Neyland Drive will be closed from June 13 to July 15 for maintenance work on the manholes and wastewater collection systems in the area.
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Blount County Board of Education meeting Thursday evening to decide the fate of the planetarium at Heritage High School
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Casey Austin was arrested on Wednesday by Knoxville Police Department as part of an ongoing Organized Crime Unit investigation to find possible sources of meth and heroin in Knoxville, according to a police report.
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The Knoxville Fire Department administered Narcan to William Koontz after they found him unresponsive in a Taco Bell drive-thru, KPD said.
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A man’s body was found in the woods near Kingston Pike and Mabry Hood Road on Tuesday evening at around 5: 15 p.m, according to Knoxville Police Department officials.
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Several Knox County officials and groups are set to host two birthday celebrations for Knox County on Saturday.
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The Tennessee Valley Fair announced the eight entertainers who will perform for Knoxville in September.
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Tennessee Athletics announced on Tuesday it intends to host a free Big Orange Watch Party in lieu of the NCAA Knoxville Super Regional baseball games against Notre Dame.
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On Monday, The Rotary Club of Knoxville announced three students will receive a $20,000 scholarship, and another student will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
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The University of Tennessee Athletics took to Twitter on Friday to tease the newest renovations at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium and ask for input from the fans through donations.
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Knox Mason, a restaurant in downtown Knoxville known for its aesthetic twists on Southern food, announced it will close its doors on July 2.
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The Arc of the Great Smokies announced on Thursday that the Volunteer Action Civitan chapter is presenting both the Arc and the Blount County Parks and Recreation Department a check for a new piece of equipment at the John Sevier Inclusive Playground on June 7 at 1:30 p.m.
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The money will be used to pave walkways to and from historic buildings to ensure they are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).