Latest news with #KnoxCounty
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ready for the first day of school? 5 tips to get the best photos of your kid's big day
Buses will fill up, classroom seats will be taken and schools will be abuzz with kids. Welcome back to school! Well, almost, but it's still an exciting time as kids around Knox County prepare to return to school on Aug. 7. And with the first day of school comes the requisite first day photos, so parents can show off their pride and joy to friends and family online. But sometimes the photos we envision might not translate into the ones we actually take, and you want to make sure you get the best photo you can to remember your child's first day of school. So with phone or camera in hand, here are some tips from Knox News photographer Brianna Paciorka and reporter Keenan Thomas on how to capture your kid's smiling face before they hop on the school bus Aug. 7. Environment matters, and you can still have fun An easy way to get fun, interesting photos for the first day of school is to utilize the environment around you. Stairs are a great prop to use, as you can capture your kids sitting on the stairs, leaning on the railing, descending the stairs or posing in the staircase. Couches, chairs and benches can provide support with a variety of poseable options for parents to capture. The options extend outside of the staircase and living room with trees, archways and doors being excellent locations with options for kids to lean, walk through or climb for photos! It can show how they're ready for the school year journey or climbing their way to academic success. Be mindful of lighting, surroundings Lighting and surroundings are two of the biggest potential issues to look out for while taking photos commemorating your kid's first day of school. Lighting plays an important role in capturing nice photos, but it can also spell trouble if you're not positioned well. Taking photos in the shadows will make the shots darker, whereas having the background too bright could cause it to be overly backlit and leave your kid in silhouette. To capture good lighting, make sure the background is the same brightness or darker compared to the foreground where your kid us. Also, be mindful of the sun's location. Positioning your kid where the main light source is shining on them from the front or to the side will properly expose them, but you don't want them to be squinting when they say, "Cheese!" As for surroundings, you don't want things in the background to "stick out," like a pole that appears to be sprouting from their head, or unpleasant props like a trash can visible off to the side. Find contrasting backgrounds to make your photos pop Another good way to take nice photos is to find a background that contrasts with what your kid is wearing. If your child is wearing darker clothing, then find a lighter or colorful background. But if they're wearing something bright and colorful, a darker background will help to draw attention to them. This way, you can highlight your kid on their first day even more while making your photos interesting, without them getting lost in similar colors within the shot. Composition matters, and here's a tip to capture it! While taking photos, keeping an eye on composition can improve the aesthetic quality of your photos, and that's true for taking first day of school pictures! Parents can utilize the rule of thirds by positioning their kids and the camera to capture more dynamic photos. The rule breaks photos down into three columns and rows that are symmetrical in the frame, with best practices including positioning the subject either within different columns or along different lines. On phones, an easy way to implement the rule of thirds is with a grid present on the screen in the camera app. It might need to be turned on in the settings, but the grid allows parents to easily take nice photos. Or if you just want a simple photo, do whatever seems best to you! Maybe you want your child to be in the center of the frame or doing something goofy. Pose, pose, pose, and have fun! Allowing your child to try a variety of poses could be a fun way to engage them in the photos while having several options to choose from when posting on social media later. It could be a nice and proper pose, one with a little board that says something to express excitement about the first day, a pose using props like a backpack to show it off or even a silly pose that showcases your kid's personality. But at the end of the day, have fun with it! If your kid has any ideas, listen to what they have to say and try it out. It could lead to a unique photo that no other parent is posting online, and even could get them excited to take on the day ahead. Either way, this should be a fun and relaxing activity. Getting a nice photo to remember the day is the cherry on top, and you can have a good time doing so. Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Try these 5 tips for taking the best first-day-of-school photos Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Fox News
Illegal immigrant convicted of shooting at small-town officer in high-speed chase
A small-town traffic stop turned into a deadly confrontation when an illegal immigrant opened fire on a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer. The Knox County District Attorney General's Office announced Thursday that Eugenio Abraham Solis-Klarks, 31, was convicted of first-degree attempted murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison without the possibility of parole after a Jan. 12 officer-involved shooting. A source familiar with the matter previously confirmed to Fox News Digital Solis-Klarks was living illegally in the United States from Guatemala. Tennessee authorities initially pulled Solis-Klarks over Jan. 12 around 6:30 p.m. in Lenoir City after Tennessee Highway Patrol Tpr. Morgan Snyder observed him driving 97 mph on Interstate 75 in Loudon County. Tpr. Snyder pulled the Guatemalan national over for speeding and asked if he had any ID. Upon being pulled over, authorities said, Klarks presented a Guatemalan consular ID card. The trooper called for backup, and troopers Paul Dubroc and Justic Hasse arrived at the stop. When authorities began to issue a citation, Solis-Klarks fled, "leading officers on a high-speed pursuit into Knox County," court records state. All three troopers pursued Solis-Klarks, who was driving in excess of 100 mph, the district attorney's office said. As they approached an exit, he "abruptly changed lanes to take the exit ramp," the department said. Only Dubroc was able to safely change lanes and continue to pursue Solis-Klarks' vehicle, the department said. The Guatemalan migrant lost control of his vehicle, and Dubroc pulled up next to him and ordered him to show his hands, the department said. "Solis-Klarks retrieved an assault rifle from his vehicle and aimed it at Trp. Dubroc," authorities said. "Tpr. Dubroc and Solis-Klarks exchanged gunfire over the hoods of the vehicles before each retreated around their vehicles." As Solis-Klarks ran toward the interstate entrance ramp, where troopers Snyder and Hasse were arriving, Tpr. Dubroc fired again, striking Solis-Klarks in the legs. Troopers then took him into custody and began providing medical treatment. No troopers were injured. "This defendant has been held accountable because of the professionalism of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation," DA Charme Allen said Thursday. Tennessee is one of dozens of states that has seen increases in crime by illegal immigrants in recent years. Under a state law passed in 2024, Tennessee law enforcement agencies are required to honor ICE detainer requests. In February 2024, the Nashville Banner reports, ICE made 33 detainer requests in Nashville, resulting in 11 individuals being taken into custody. By the following month, requests increased to 75, with 42 individuals detained. It was immediately unclear if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is pursuing the deportation of Solis-Klarks. Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE for comment.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Opinion: Trump-backed town doomed by his healthcare policy
A tiny county that overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump has now been doomed by his flagship policy that threatens to wipe healthcare from millions. A staggering 85 percent of Knox County, Kentucky, backed the Republican president in the election in November, with just 14 percent wanting Kamala Harris sworn in. But just eight months later, they may be regretting it, as his Big Beautiful Bill, which passed on Independence Day, looks set to tear apart their everyday lives. The policy is set to strip $1 trillion from Medicaid, leaving an estimated 17 million Americans without insurance by 2027 and it could decimate healthcare systems in rural areas, like Knox. The county, which has a population of 30,000, has 38 percent of its total population on the system, including over 7,000 children. Locals are now feeling betrayed by the Commander-in-Chief, who promoted the bill as a 'win for workers, farmers, and America's future.' Dr. Osama Hashmi, a dermatologist in Atlanta, told the Daily Mail: 'People think of healthcare as a free-market system and it's really not. It affects everybody.' For Knox County resident Teresa McNab (pictured), whose husband fell ill and fatally started seizing on the floor of their home in 2021, Medicaid helped save their family. Now, she and her daughter's coverage is being threatened by Trump's prized bill, which requires workers to work at least 80 hours per month to qualify for it. For the line cook, who also cares for her mother, it's nearly impossible, she told The Telegraph. 'I take care of my daughter, I take care of my 78-year-old mom, I take care of our home, and half the time I don't even have time for myself,' she said. For Lisa Garrison (pictured), she would not have been able to afford her daughter's eye condition that would have cost her $180,000 without Medicaid. 'You will be left without hospitals that can serve you near the hollers, without affordable or state-provided healthcare and SNAP benefits will also be affected.' She added on her Facebook page earlier this month: 'This bill is atrocious and dangerous. This bill will cause people to die.' Hashmi agrees, adding to the Daily Mail that it will '100 percent lead to death.' Kentucky faces the highest number of rural hospital closures in the country due to the bill, which will cut $28million from the Bluegrass State's program in 10 years. Thirty-five hospitals in Kentucky are at risk, Democrat Governor Andy Beshear said, and 200,000 in the state could lose coverage. The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found that the Bluegrass State has 19 hospitals that already have 'losses on services', which will only get worse when hospitals have to eat the cost of Medicaid cuts for patients unable to pay. It also found that 16 are definitely at risk of closing, with four at the immediate risk level, a June 2025 report found. 'This bill risks 200,000 Kentuckians' lives, the jobs of 20,000 healthcare workers, 35 rural hospitals, and our economy,' the governor said in a statement. 'The passage of the 'big, ugly bill' marks a sad day for our country and commonwealth. 'Kentucky deserves better.' The Medicaid cuts don't go into effect until January 1, 2027, but Hashmi said recipients will feel the effects much sooner and possibly within the next 12 months. Hospitals and other healthcare providers in Atlanta, where he works, have already begun discussing whether or not they will continue to accept Medicaid as they 'decrease [their] reliance' on it ahead of the upcoming federal funding losses. 'That planning starts now,' Hashmi (pictured), who volunteers and works at a private practice, said. 'Patients will see the effects in 12 months.' Although those who lose their coverage will feel the effects the fastest, the federal cuts also hurt those using private insurance. As hospitals and doctors' offices close in rural areas, patients will be forced to go to urban areas and even metropolises to receive care, which ups wait times, decreases the quality of care as doctors have to see more patients, and threatens the infrastructure of healthcare. 'We already have an access problem in the US,' Hashmi said. More so: 'We all pay into this,' the dermatologist said. Without federal funding, the states will have to subsidize hospitals to keep them afloat or the facilities risk bankruptcy. This means the 50 states, especially those that heavily rely on Medicaid funding, will have to raise taxes for residents. 'State systems are going to be severely disrupted,' Hashmi said. The debt hospitals take on for low-income patients will also rise, not just because ill person cannot pay them, but they will now take longer to seek care. This means, when they do seek medical attention, they'll be in later stages of diseases and illnesses that will require more advanced care, especially for cancer patients, who might seek help after it's too late. Hashmi said he has many patients where he can cure their skin cancer by simply removing it if it's detected early, but for those who wait longer, it might not be so simple. He fears more Medicaid patients will wait until it's an emergency to seek help. 'I think they should be really worried,' he said of the cuts. Miller Morris, a women's health researcher, said: 'Medicaid isn't just a line item, it's a lifeline.' And the cuts affect organizations like Planned Parenthood , which provides STD testing, prenatal and postpartum services, and birth control to patients. 'Cutting these services means millions of low-income women, especially in rural areas, will lose access to basic, often life-saving care.' Leadership Consultant, Harold Reynolds (pictured), of Chicago, who works with clients in rural areas, called the bill a '$1 trillion mistake.' 'Whether the motive is fiscal conservatism or opposition to the [Affordable Care Act], the result of these cuts is not a more efficient system. It's a more fragile one,' he told Daily Mail. 'We're not just talking about trimming excess, we're pulling funding from hospitals and providers that serve everyone.' Many experts also told the Daily Mail that the miseducation surrounding Medicaid - which is also called Obamacare - very much could have played a role in the support and confusion surrounding this bill. Many people whose healthcare was threatened under the bill had no idea, as they didn't realize their services were Medicaid, which now risks the health and safety of children, adults, and the elderly. 'Supporters justify this by pointing to $56billion in 'improper payments' in 2023. But what they don't explain is that the vast majority of those payments are not fraud,' Reynolds said. 'According to federal data, only about 1-4 percent of those improper payments are suspected fraud. The rest are paperwork errors, billing mismatches, or technical violations. 'What's really being cut is the funding that pays for maternity wards, ambulance services, emergency rooms, and nursing home care. Medicaid isn't just a benefit for the poor. It's a revenue stream for hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. 'Gutting it weakens the whole system,' Reynolds concluded. And if rural communities are impacted significantly more than urban areas and cities, it could become a legal problem for the Trump Administration, Attorney Ben Michael, of Michael & Associates, told Daily Mail. 'With eligibility requirements becoming stricter, and if rural areas are more negatively impacted as others, that may be grounds for legal action in regard to discrimination,' he said. But for now, Americans brace for the inevitable and pray for a more equitable solution.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Small town became the MAGA heart of America. Now Trump's doomed them
A tiny county that overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump has now been doomed by his flagship policy that threatens to wipe healthcare from millions. A staggering 85 percent of Knox County, Kentucky, backed the Republican president in the election in November, with just 14 percent wanting sworn in.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Knox County school board approves all-day phone, watch and tablet restriction
The Knox County school board approved a restrictive policy on access to smart devices in schools, meaning students will only have access to phones, watches and tablets before and after school. The policy change follows a new Tennessee law restricting access for devices including smart phones, tablets, watches and more. Knox County Schools had a similar policy in place, but the board members agreed on an updated policy tightening use by students. The board approved the policy with six yes votes, two no votes and one pass during its July 10 meeting. Board members had options to allow students to access their devices at the lunch periods or between classes, but declined to approve those. Principals have the discretion to allow phones for work during class time, and students can carry them in backpacks or purses as long as they are kept out of reach. Students are allowed to use their phones during emergencies. The change applies in the new academic year in August. Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County school board approves all-day phone restriction
