KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It was an eventful week in East Tennessee. Here's what you missed.
Story 1
"KPD: 2 adults, 1 child killed in Western Avenue crash, 3 other children taken to hospital with 'serious injuries'; adults identified"
The Knoxville Police Department has identified two people who died in a car wreck on Western Avenue Thursday afternoon. 31-year-old Krista Maples, 74-year-old Clayton Chandler and Maples' 10-year-old son died in the wreck, according to KPD.
Three other children were injured in the crash. As of late Friday morning, they remain hospitalized with serious injuries, KPD said.
KPD said, based on witness statements and evidence found at the scene, investigators believe a Chevrolet Suburban was heading west on Western Avenue when it veered into eastbound lanes and hit another car head-on. It said that another car heading east then struck the Chevrolet Suburban as well.
KPD said the driver of the Suburban may have had a medical event that contributed to the crash. The driver of that car, a man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Evidence from the scene suggests that those who died were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to KPD.
Story 2
"KPD investigating suspected murder-suicide at West Hills condo, victims identified"
The Knoxville Police Department's Homicide Unit said it's investigating a potential murder-suicide that happened in West Hills early Monday morning.
Officers responded to the Meadows Condominiums in the 7900 block of Gleason Drive just after 1 a.m. for a reported domestic dispute and for smoke coming from the apartment's top floor, according to KPD.
Knoxville Fire Department crews and officers accessed the condo through a second-floor window. After extinguishing the fire, which KFD said was located in the attic, an adult man and woman were found dead in an upstairs bedroom. They were married, KPD said.
At around 3:30 p.m., KPD identified them as Betty Goldston, 53, and Richard Goebel, 56.
KFD said the woman's 17-year-old daughter was able to escape the fire without injuries.
Story 3
"Woman found alive at funeral home after being declared dead"
A Nebraska funeral home discovered that a 74-year-old hospice patient who was declared dead by her nursing home two hours earlier was actually still alive, so workers started CPR and she was rushed to a hospital, where she died hours later.
It's not clear how often this happens, but at least two similar incidents have been reported at funeral homes in New York and Iowa in the past 18 months.
The Nebraska woman was in hospice care at the Mulberry nursing home in the Lincoln suburb of Waverly before she was declared dead Monday morning, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Workers at Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home noticed she was still breathing just before noon immediately after laying her on the embalming table, Chief Deputy Ben Houchin said.
“I can’t imagine their shock,” he said Tuesday.
The woman was taken to a Lincoln hospital, where she died Monday afternoon.
Story 4
"PCOS is a significant health problem. Here's why doctors say many women remain undiagnosed"
Cat Steele's morning routine has become a ritual.
She packs meals for the workday and several vitamins to help regulate her hormones.
"I have to be really mindful of things that cause inflammation in my body, because that can lead to a lot of really negative symptoms," Steele said.
At 28 years old, managing her symptoms has been a struggle since she was first diagnosed as a teenager with Polycystic ovary syndrome—more commonly known as PCOS.
"I would be in so much pain during my cycle that there were days I missed school, I would be doubled over in bed, I could barely walk," Steele said.
Story 5
"'Under his eye': Student hands superintendent banned book at graduation"
Because of a national agenda, and far-right outrage, dozens of "questionable" books have been removed from library shelves in Idaho over the last couple of years. More than 20 in Nampa schools and 10 in West Ada Schools, to name a couple high-profile instances.
This was before Idaho lawmakers decided to put a possible fine on libraries. Where a child who checks out such material, or if it's not removed, they and their parents could sue the library for $250, plus damages.
In both public and school libraries.
So, to avoid any hassle, a lot of libraries just removed a lot of books.
One recent high school graduate said they had enough of not having a say as a student about what books would be available in her library, which is why she decided to make a statement.