KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was an eventful week in East Tennessee. Here's what you missed.
Story 1
"TN House passes bill requiring lessons on gun safety in schools, amendments allowing parents to opt out fails"
A bill that requires schools across the state to teach students about how to safely store guns, avoid injuries if they find a gun and other lessons about gun safety passed the Tennessee House of Representatives on Thursday.
"The instruction must begin with the earliest appropriate grade, as determined by the departments under subsection (a), and must continue in each subsequent grade through grade twelve," the bill said.
On the House floor, Rep. Jason Powell (D - Nashville) said he wanted to include an amendment allowing parents to opt children out of lessons involving guns.
"My concern is to allow for parents who don't want to have their kids subjected to this training, to opt out. And that's all my amendment simply does, is allow for when a parent or guardian feels like this is not going to be in the best interest of the child, for them to opt-out," he said.
Story 2
"THP: Bus driver killed, 2 kids OK after truck hits school bus on SR 70 in Hawkins County"
Emergency crews responded to a deadly school bus crash in Hawkins County on Monday.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a pick-up hit the bus on State Route 70 at Willow Road around 7:30 a.m. TDOT said access to the highway was closed as crews responded.
According to THP's preliminary crash report, a 55-year-old bus driver, Aleita Gladson, died in the crash. Two children were on the bus and were not seriously hurt, according to THP. Matt Hixson, Hawkins County's director of schools, said the children were treated for minor injuries.
Gladson was a longtime driver for Hawkins County Schools.
"I am heartbroken to report Aleita Gladson has passed away," Hixson said. "Aleita was a longtime and valued Hawkins County Schools team member, as a bus driver, as a secretary, and as assistant director within our Transportation Department. Our prayers go out to her family, and we would ask that all those within our Hawkins County community keep Aleita’s family in your prayers as well."
Story 3
"Kingston woman, 34, charged with abuse of a corpse after police find dead newborn in house"
A Kingston woman faces an abuse of a corpse charge in the death of her newborn, according to the Kingston Police Department.
Police said they were called about 11:20 a.m. Saturday to a home on Rosedale Avenue. They were told a woman had given birth to a baby that was dead.
Cooper told them she'd given birth to the child earlier and that it was still inside. Officers found the newborn's body in a sheet on a bed behind the couch where Cooper was sitting.
Dr. Thomas Boduch, the medical examiner, was looking into the child's cause of death. The newborn's gender was not made public.
Story 4
"KPD: 14-year-old teen attacked by dog, suffers severe facial injuries"
A 14-year-old is in the hospital with severe facial injuries after being attacked by a dog Wednesday, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
The teen boy was walking to a school bus stop on the 1300 block of Callaway Street around 7:30 a.m. when the off-leashed dog attacked him. Officers and animal control responded to the attack and the teen was treated at East Tennessee Children's Hospital, KPD said.
According to the department, the dog's owner was charged with one count of dangerous dog level 2 and one count of improper restraint.
Story 5
"Michigan couple charged in Fentress Co. with child abuse after 2 young girls found severely malnourished"
A mother and father from Michigan are facing child abuse charges after Fentress County authorities responded to reports that a young girl had collapsed at their home. When deputies arrived, they thought the girl was around 6 years old. She was actually around 12 years old.
According to a warrant, they told authorities the girl was walking back from being outside when she collapsed, and Jason Klimp said he put her in a shower to try warming her up because she felt cold.
She was taken to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital for treatment, and an investigator got a call on Feb. 21 to meet with medical staff there. They told him that she was severely undernourished and underdeveloped.
Aside from the 12-year-old girl, the warrant said seven other children were in the care of the Klimps and a referral was made to the Department of Children's Services. Four of the children were biological children and four were adopted, according to the warrant.
Bail was set at $100,000 for the Klimps, according to the records. They were both arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse, neglect or endangerment, which is a felony.
