SUMMARY: Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying into a Category 5 storm as it approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast, particularly targeting the densely populated Tampa Bay area. The storm is exhibiting significant lightning activity in its eyewall. Although it is expected to weaken slightly before landfall, Milton poses a serious threat to an area still recovering from Hurricane Helen’s impact. Florida’s governor has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Tampa region, which hasn’t experienced a direct hit from a major hurricane in over a century. Traffic is heavy as thousands evacuate northward, creating a tense situation for those fleeing.

Several Florida counties are under mandatory evacuation orders before Milton makes landfall.

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SUMMARY: This evening, Governor Bill Lee, Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty are assessing damage to I-40 in Tennessee, which has been closed for over a week due to destruction from the Pigeon River. This vital highway typically accommodates around 30,000 vehicles daily and serves as a crucial link for both Tennessee and North Carolina. Repairs on the North Carolina side will require resources sent through Tennessee. Although the governor did not provide a timeline for repairs, the Federal Highway Administration will discuss efforts to restore this essential route during the upcoming 6 PM news segment.

TDOT and North Carolina crews are working on opening the westbound lanes of I-40 for two-lane traffic.

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SUMMARY: The man killed in West Knox County this morning has been identified as Brian Testerman Jr. The TBI reports that Knox County deputies responded to gunshots at a home on Isherwood Lane around 6:30 AM and found Testerman armed with a gun. After failing to comply with orders to drop the weapon, a deputy shot him. He was transported to the hospital but later died. The Sheriff’s Office noted that Testerman did not reside at the home where the incident occurred, prompting the involvement of a SWAT team and negotiators during the standoff.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the deputy shot and killed Bryan Testerman Jr.

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