Dogwood Arts- April Celebration!

Posted on March 28, 2025

www.dogwoodarts.com/events

Trails Opening Celebration & Ribbon-Cutting

Join us on Tuesday, April 1st from 5-7:30PM in the beautiful Holston Hills Community Park for a community celebration and ribbon-cutting to officially open the Dogwood Trails for the 2025 season!

Time & Location

Apr 01, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Knoxville, 1400 S Chilhowee Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914, USA

About the event

Join us on Tuesday, April 1st from 5-7:30PM in the beautiful Holston Hills Community Park for a ‘Community Celebration & Ribbon-Cutting’ to officially open the Dogwood Trails for the 2025 season!

What to Expect: A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 5PM with brief remarks from Dogwood Arts, City & County officials, and community volunteers. The Community Celebration will take place from 5:30-7:30PM.

Parking: [1400 S Chilhowee Dr, Knoxville, TN 37914] There will be limited street parking surrounding the park, please plan to carpool!

___

2025 Featured Dogwood Trails: Holston Hills & Morningside. The Dogwood Trails are open annually from April 1-30th, just in time to showcase the beauty of spring in East Tennessee! Knoxville’s iconic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. Take a drive, a walk, or a bike ride and enjoy the scenic natural beauty.

First Friday: 7 Decades in Bloom

The Dogwood Gallery features monthly-rotating exhibitions by local and regional artists.

Time & Location

Apr 04, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Dogwood Arts Gallery, 123 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

The Dogwood Gallery features monthly-rotating exhibitions by local and regional artists.

“Seven Decades in Bloom: Celebrating the Legacy of Dogwood Arts”

Exhibition on Display: March 7 – April 18th

What began as a neighborhood beautification project has flourished into a decades-long tradition of art, culture, and community. “Seven Decades in Bloom” reflects on the 70-year journey of Dogwood Arts, with an immersive retrospective honoring the organization’s rich history, evolution, and impact on the region. Join us as we reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future of art, culture, and natural beauty in East Tennessee.

Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange

Time & Location

Apr 04, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Maker Exchange, 710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange! Rotating performers each week.

Parking Info: Take advantage of free valet at the Marriott if you drink or dine in the tavern. Just get your valet voucher validated by your server. The State Street Garage is also just a short walk over the Henley Street pedestrian bridge and is free on nights/weekends.

Browse the Tavern Menu: https://www.makerexchangeknox.com/dinner/

About the Venue:

Shop Local | Over 150 local makers have artwork on sale in the Curio at Maker Exchange – jewelry, ceramics, painting, and more!

Chalk Walk

Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square.

Time & Location

Apr 05, 2025, 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Knoxville, 18 Market Square, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

Artists Working: 8AM-5PM
Award Ceremony: 7PM (Market Square Stage)

Thousands of art lovers head downtown each year to experience this live art competition in Market Square. Chalk Walk features over 300 artists and collaborative teams working on-site from 8am-5pm to complete their artwork. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded to select artists who have created imaginative and inspiring artworks in their age division.

Chapman Highway Dogwood Trail Opening Celebration

Stop by Commonplace Coffee & Community on Chapman Highway for a celebration in honor of the 2025 Dogwood Trail season!

Time & Location

Apr 05, 2025, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Knoxville, 6000 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville, TN 37920, USA

About the event

Join the South Knoxville community as they celebrate the opening of the 2025 Dogwood Trail season with local artists, food trucks, and live music at Commonplace Coffee & Community on Chapman Highway!

*Please note: This event is hosted by Commonplace Coffee and the Chapman Highway Garden Club in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Trails & Gardens Program.

Holston Hills Dogwood Trail Opening Party

Join the Holston Hills neighborhood as they celebrate the opening of the 2025 Dogwood Trail season at the Holston Hills Country Club.

Time & Location

Apr 06, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Knoxville, 5200 Holston Hills Rd, Knoxville, TN 37914, USA

About the event

Join the Holston Hills neighborhood as they celebrate the opening of the 2025 Dogwood Trail season at the Holston Hills Country Club. Vendor booths, jazz combo, heavy hors d’oeuvres included with ticket, cash bar available. $25 per person — email [email protected] for more information or to purchase tickets.

*Please note: This event is hosted by the Holston Hills Community Club in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Trails & Gardens Program.

Dogwood Trail Walk & Talk at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens

Mark your calendar for a springtime stroll along the Dogwood Walking Trail at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens.

Time & Location

Apr 10, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Knoxville, 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914, USA

About the event

Mark your calendar for a springtime stroll along the Dogwood Walking Trail at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens. Learn more about the property’s dogwood collection and history and stay for a one-of-a-kind discussion about dogwoods with Brian Campbell, the Garden’s former Director of Horticulture.

5-6pm: Dogwood Walking Trail will be open with docents providing information about the Garden’s dogwood collection and other featured plants along the paths.
6-7pm: Brian Campbell Lecture in the Dogwood Center
Register online at https://www.knoxgarden.org/events [This event is free to KBGA members and neighbors in the 37914/5 zip codes, and $5 for the public.]

*Please note: This event is hosted by the Knoxville Botanical Garden & Arboretum in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Trails & Gardens Program.

Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange

Time & Location

Apr 11, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Maker Exchange, 710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

Spring Featured Gardens: Saturday

Celebrate East Tennessee’s natural beauty at our Spring Featured Gardens event!

Time & Location

Apr 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

About the event

Spring Featured Gardens

Join us in celebrating East Tennessee’s natural beauty at our Spring Featured Gardens event! We are honored that these generous Knoxville residents have opened their private gardens to the public for this annual tradition. Each garden is uniquely designed, showcasing a diverse array of plant life, architectural elements, water features, and more!

Location:

Baxter Gardens (North Knoxville): 3901 Sam Cooper Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918
GATOP (East Knoxville): 2634 Delrose Drive, Knoxville, TN 37914

Spring Featured Gardens: Sunday

Celebrate East Tennessee’s natural beauty at our Spring Featured Gardens event!

Time & Location

Apr 13, 2025, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

About the event

Spring Featured Gardens

Sunday Hours: 10PM-5PM | Last entry at 4PM

Location:

Baxter Gardens (North Knoxville): 3901 Sam Cooper Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918

Open Mic Night at Maker Exchange

Calling all poets, singer-songwriters, and comics. Join us for another open mic night in the Curio at Maker Exchange!

Time & Location

Apr 17, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Maker Exchange, 710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

Calling all poets, singer-songwriters, and comics. Join us for another open mic night in the Curio at Maker Exchange!

Food + drinks will be available for purchase from the Tavern, and you can shop artwork by 150+ makers in the Curio while you enjoy live music, spoken word, comedy, and more! Free and open to the public — curated by Dogwood Arts.

Browse the Tavern Menu: https://www.makerexchangeknox.com/dinner/

About the Venue:

Shop Local | Over 150 local makers have artwork on sale in the Curio at Maker Exchange – jewelry, ceramics, painting, and more!
Perk Up | Enjoy locally-brewed coffee and delicious pastries/snacks in the Coffee Shop

Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange

Time & Location

Apr 18, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Maker Exchange, 710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange! Rotating performers each week.

Parking Info: Take advantage of free valet at the Marriott if you drink or dine in the tavern. Just get your valet voucher validated by your server. The State Street Garage is also just a short walk over the Henley Street pedestrian bridge and is free on nights/weekends.

Browse the Tavern Menu: https://www.makerexchangeknox.com/dinner/

West Hills Neighborhood Spring Celebration

Join the West Hills neighborhood as they celebrate the 2025 Dogwood Trail season!

Time & Location

Apr 19, 2025, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

West Hills Greenway, 409 Vanosdale Rd, Knoxville, TN 37909, USA

About the event

Join the West Hills neighborhood as they celebrate the opening of the 2025 Dogwood Trail season! There will be a West Hills Volunteer Dedication Ceremony, Makers/Art Vendors, Local Food Trucks, Chalk Drawing, Games, Music, Giveaways, a Student Art Contest, and Knox County Master Gardeners.

*Please note: This event is hosted by the West Hills Neighborhood Association in conjunction with the Dogwood Arts Trails & Gardens Program.

Dogwood Arts Festival

We are honored that these Knoxville residents have opened their properties to the public as a part of our annual celebration of East Tennessee’s natural beauty!

Time & Location

Apr 25, 2025, 10:00 AM – Apr 27, 2025, 5:00 PM

World’s Fair Park , 963 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916, USA

About the event

Established in 1961, the Dogwood Arts Festival is one of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville! The festival is held on the beautifully redesigned Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park and features over 100 fine art vendors, live music, entertainment, children’s activities, food & beverage vendors, and more.

FESTIVAL HOURS:

Friday & Saturday: 10AM – 7PM
Sunday: 10AM – 5PM

Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange

Time & Location

Apr 25, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Maker Exchange, 710 Clinch Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

Join us for Tavern Notes: live music every Friday from 7-9PM outside of the Tavern at Maker Exchange! Rotating performers each week.

Parking Info: Take advantage of free valet at the Marriott if you drink or dine in the tavern. Just get your valet voucher validated by your server. The State Street Garage is also just a short walk over the Henley Street pedestrian bridge and is free on nights/weekends.

Browse the Tavern Menu: https://www.makerexchangeknox.com/dinner/

Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition

The 2025 Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition & Auction includes 20 guitars designed and painted by youth artists from across East Tennessee.

Time & Location

May 02, 2025, 10:00 AM – May 30, 2025, 5:00 PM

Dogwood Arts Gallery, 123 W Jackson Ave, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

About the event

The 2025 Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition & Auction includes 20 guitars designed and painted by youth artists from across East Tennessee. The exhibition will be on display in the Dogwood Gallery during the month of May and at Southern Skies Music Festival on May 10th. The guitars will be auctioned online to benefit youth art programs at Dogwood Arts.

Participating schools: Bearden High School, Concord Christian School, Farragut High School, Gibbs High School, Home School, Jefferson Middle School, Karns High School, L&N STEM Academy, Maryville High School, and West Valley Middle School.

Exhibition Dates: May 2-30, 2025
First Friday Opening Reception: Friday, May 2nd from 5-8PM
Gallery Hours: M-F 10AM-5PM

Loudon County Crews Extinguish Brush Fire that Threatened Structures, Sheriff’s Office Says

Posted on March 28, 2025

Loudon County, TN (WOKI) UPDATE: Described by authorities as “rapidly spreading” and a threat to structures, a brushfire in Loudon County Friday morning is now extinguished.

According to the Tennessee Forestry Division’s fire map, the fire was less than an acre in size and was 100% contained around 1:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Crews had closed off White Wing Road in the 1800 block to keep people safe and give crews room to work; officials with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office say the roadway has since been reopened.

ORIGINAL STORY: A “rapidly spreading” brushfire in Loudon County is threatening structures.

That, according to officials with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office who say their office along with Loudon County Fire and Rescue and the Tennessee Division of Forestry are on the scene of a brush fire in the woodline near White Wing Road.

LCSO reports White Wing Road is closed in the 1800 block.

“Authorities urge drivers to seek alternative routes, as fire crews are actively transporting water and equipment to the fire zone,” LCSO said. “Additionally, it is crucial for the public not to block White Wing Road, as this may hinder the efforts of the firefighters and emergency responders.”

This is a developing story.

(*Courtesy*: *Loudon County Sheriff’s Office*)

Knoxville Police Identify Victim of Deadly Crash on Boright Drive

Posted on March 28, 2025

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police have identified the victim in Thursday morning’s deadly single-car crash in northeast Knoxville.

KPD says the passenger from a Honda Accord that had crashed into a tree on Boright Drive near Whitney place just before 2:00 a.m., 21-year-old T’Naesia Thomas of Knoxville, died despite life-saving measures provided on scene by first responders.

The driver, 24-year-old Jada Warren, was found a short distance from the crash and told police she was under the influence of marijuana.

Warren has been charged with vehicular homicide.

The crash remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL STORY: Vehicular homicides charges are pending on a driver who was involved in a fatal single-car crash that happened early Thursday morning.

At around 1:50 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Knoxville Police Department officers responded to Boright Drive near Whitney Place, where a Honda Accord had crashed into a tree. The passenger, an adult woman, was found near the car with life-threatening injuries. Despite life-saving measures provided on scene by KFD and AMR personnel, the victim was pronounced dead sometime after 3 a.m.

The driver, who was identified as 24-year-old Jada Warren, initially left the scene of the crash but was located by responding officers a short distance away in the 3200 block of Fairmont Boulevard. Warren indicated that she was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash.

Warren was transported to the UT Medical Center to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash. She will be booked on vehicular homicide driver intoxication charges upon her release from the hospital.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld as efforts remain ongoing to locate and notify a next of kin.

The crash remains under investigation by KPD fatal accident investigators.

tbi

TBI Agents Arrest, Charge Meigs County Man in Georgetown Arson Investigation

Posted on March 28, 2025

GEORGETOWN– Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agents specializing in fire investigations, working alongside the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, have arrested and charged a Georgetown man in connection with an arson investigation.

On June 15, 2023, agents began investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed a detached garage at a home in the 3000 block of Sugar Creek Road in Georgetown. During the course of the investigation, authorities determined that the property owner, James Harry Burch (DOB 10/10/1958), was the individual responsible for starting the fire.

Burch was arrested on March 19th and charged with one count of Arson, one count of Burning Personal Property, one count of Filing a False Report, one count of Tampering with Evidence, one count of Insurance Fraud $10,000-$60,000, and one count of Insurance Fraud $60,000-$250,000. He was booked into the Meigs County Jail on $25,000 bond.

If you have information about an intentionally set fire, call the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating after a Student is Hit by a Car Waiting on School Bus

Posted on March 28, 2025

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating after a student in Sevier County is hit by a car while waiting for their school bus this morning. (Friday)

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on East Union Valley Road near Seymour. The student was not hit by a school bus, but a car that was trying to go around the bus.

The juvenile was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,.

Officials say the driver of the car has been charged and the bus was not moving at the time of the crash.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is Investigating after a Student is Hit by a Car Waiting on School Bus

Posted on March 28, 2025

The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating after a student in Sevier County is hit by a car while waiting for their school bus this morning. (Friday)

The Sevier County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on East Union Valley Road near Seymour. The student was not hit by a school bus, but a car that was trying to go around the bus.

The juvenile was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,.

Officials say the driver of the car has been charged and the bus was not moving at the time of the crash.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

Secondary Building Depth Without Jermod McCoy This Spring

Posted on March 28, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s secondary was a strength during its 2024 College Football Playoff season, and defensive backs coach Willie Martinez expects that to continue this fall.

Martinez spoke with members of the media following the Volunteers’ sixth spring practice on Thursday at Haslam Field. Tennessee is without the services cornerback Jermod McCoy this spring after the All-American suffered a knee injury while training in January prior to the semester beginning.

“We all know that whatever time the injuries happen, that you’re going to have to be able to adapt and adjust,” Martinez said. “Everybody says it all the time, next man up. We know that Jermod is going to be back. We know he’s a great player and leader. He’s doing an unbelievable job.

“With the more depth we have, especially with the way this is set up right now with college football, you’re going to need everybody. It gives everybody else an opportunity to give us a chance where we can build and become a better defense.”

Rickey Gibson III is coming off a fantastic sophomore season where he teamed with McCoy to form one of the top duos in the nation. Gibson is a member of the Vols’ 2025 leadership council.

“He has really been elite this spring and this offseason,” Martinez said. “His attention to detail both on and off the field have been tremendous, and he’s a really good teammate. He’s picking the guy up that’s down, which is one of those young players. He’s praising them when they do it right. His growth as a leader has been tremendous ever since the season has finished, both on and off the field.”

Transfer Jalen McMurray enters his second year with the program and was the Vols’ third cornerback in the rotation last season. McMurray is also seeing action at STAR this spring behind returning starter Boo Carter.

Tennessee led the SEC in allowing the fewest explosive passing plays last season. The Vols issued only nine pass plays of 30-plus yards and only two plays of 40-plus yards, which also tied with Indiana, Washington and Wisconsin for the national lead.

The Vols are hosting their Coaches Clinic on Friday and Saturday with keynote speaker Jon Gruden set to take the stage. Tennessee returns to the practice field for a full pads practice on Saturday morning.

On Rickey Gibson III taking charge in spring practice with the absence of Jermod McCoy…
“He finished strong last year. He was definitely playing his best football at the end of the year. Some of the things we talked about after the season, what’s going to take the next step forward moving forward is his leadership. He’s extremely smart. He’s talented with his athleticism, and he made a bunch of plays for us in moments that really mattered. We said, ‘Look, let’s get better at pushing the guys in the meeting room and being a leader. They’re going to respect you because you’re one of the best players.’ He’s done that. He’s really been elite this spring and this offseason. His attention to detail both on and off the field have been tremendous, and he’s a really good teammate. He’s picking the guy up that’s down, which is one of those young players. He’s praising them when they do it right. His growth as a leader has been tremendous ever since the season has finished, both on and off the field.”

On replacing Jermod McCoy’s production while he is sidelined…
“We all know that whatever time the injuries happen, that you’re going to have to be able to adapt and adjust. Everybody says it all the time, next man up. We know that Jermod is going to be back. We know he’s a great player and leader. He’s doing an unbelievable job. The same thing I said about (Rickey Gibson III) is times-two with him. He’s engaged and is actually growing as a player even though he’s not physically going through it. He’s setting the example and leading it. I’m not frustrated. I wouldn’t look at it that way. Here is an opportunity for some of these new and young guys, or even some of the older guys, to get quality reps of getting better and making us better. We’re not going to be elite unless we have enough depth where we can play the three, four corners in a game and the four-to-five safeties in a game; at the STAR position, the two-to-three guys. With the more depth we have, especially with the way this is set up right now with college football, you’re going to need everybody. It gives everybody else an opportunity to give us a chance where we can build and become a better defense.”

On his impressions of the new players in the secondary…
“All of those new guys, I think the entire group on our program, we’ve been excited as a staff. Let me talk about that first. We all talk about it all the time, from the second they all got here until now. It’s not just our group, it’s building the entire thing, which makes it even better. The new guys, a lot of those guys are very prideful. State champions, they’ve won, they’re used to it, and now you come into an elite program, and they’ve been getting quality reps just like they said. That’s the great thing about it, and they’re getting better. You can see it. The leadership in the group has really helped with that, and we challenged them again. It wasn’t perfect today, we made some mistakes, but I think we finished strong. We were talking about that just the other day as a staff and presenting it to the players, that it may not go right early. It went pretty good in the beginning of practice, and then in the middle we made some mistakes, but you know, next play. Snap and clear, come back strong, and the new guys are a part of it. It gives them the opportunity, we’re excited about them, every single one of them. We’ll put them in there, I don’t care if it’s the first group, second group, third group, we’ve been doing it since we’ve been here. It builds confidence. It also builds unity, and it develops your depth.”

On what he has seen from Boo Carter balancing defensive and offensive reps…
“We were talking about it as a group, he’s grown so much. He is watching a lot more film on his own. He comes in, he’s in the building longer. He’s in there early, he’s leaving late. You can see it, the guys see it, and it’s showing up on the field. He’s made a really couple great plays today where he wouldn’t have clicked it off. We’re giving him more on defense, more responsibility where he has to set our defense. He’s the guy on our defense like the quarterback on our offense, he has to get the alignment set. He’s out there making the checks, and he’s very confident. I think he’s putting a lot more work in off the field, and that’s really helping him.”

On Boo Carter’s role in the defense…
“We’re talking more about the back end, but he really does affect the front. Where he’s at, he has to communicate, and he wasn’t doing that on a consistent basis (last season). We get that he’s a new player, so we kind of didn’t give him so much of it. You had experienced guys like Will Brooks back there, where he can actually help him through the process, but he’s taken more leadership to it and put more time into it. He’s learning how to be that leader that he needs to be.”

On players getting work at STAR behind Boo Carter…
“Obviously besides Boo, we’ve got (Jalen McMurray) doing it, we’ve got Dylan Lewis doing it, we’ve got Tre Poteat doing it. We’re trying to be careful how much of the new guys we give it to. There are guys – as far as playing two positions right now – so a couple of them have not done that. The guys I just mentioned to you, those have been the main ones. We always have an (Andre Turrentine), we always have some of these other guys that have experience, but those right now are the guys.”

On Jakobe Thomas’ development at safety in his second year…
“Confidence. When you play in the inside positions, whether it’s the safety or the STAR position, you have to make a lot of adjustments, a lot of communication. You know they’re going to go off of you. He’s being more productive on a consistent basis in practice, which is good to see. Builds confidence for him, and also for us on the defense.”

On Tennessee’s cornerbacks…
“That’s really good for us, I mean it really is. Those guys are really talented guys. You can see the young guys catching on, and it’s only going to help us move forward.”

On Kaleb Beasley’s adjustments from cornerback to safety…
“We think we’ve got guys who are talented. We want them to have an opportunity to start. That’s how it’s always been here. Beasley is a versatile player like a lot of these guys. He’s smart. He’s talented. He’s athletic. Let’s move Beasley around to give him the opportunity to win a job. And that’s how we are when we feel like that with all of the other guys. That’s how we did it. Because we’re not locked in that he’s just going to be playing at the safety position. He’s capable of playing STAR, and we’re going to move him there too, but we’re going to give him an opportunity to learn this at the safety position, and then we will move him there at the STAR position too. We want as many guys that can actually handle it, like him. He can actually go and play corner if we wanted to right now. He knows exactly what the position is like. We think that he will really be very productive inside too.”

On Jermod McCoy’s rehab…
“He has been outstanding. The first day I met Jermod, I was kind of like ‘Man, is this guy is for real?’ I’m talking about the personality. We already knew about him as a player. He’s the same dude every day. He’s just growing as a leader. He’s out there every day. He’s actually coaching guys in the room. I told him, that’s how you are going to stay involved and become an elite corner, is that you don’t really have to physically do it – you can do it mentally. Not that he’s not taking care of business, because he is in his rehab. He’s been outstanding. I know it sounds the same, but it’s just the culture of the group. They are competing every single day in that meeting room and making good decisions off the field.”

WVLT

Former Tennessee Football Coach has Filed a Lawsuit Against the NCAA

Posted on March 28, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (courtesy of WVLT) – Former Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt filed a lawsuit against the NCAA.

The lawsuit claimed Pruitt was treated unfairly and the NCAA investigation lead to career-ending penalties.

It also claimed the NCAA worked with the university to make him the scapegoat.

“The NCAA conspired with the University of Tennessee (”UT”) and others to make Jeremy the sacrificial lamb for conduct that long preceded his tenure at UT,” the lawsuit stated.

Pruitt claimed players were already being paid when he started and that he reported the payments to then athletic director Phillip Fulmer.

“Less than one week after being hired, Pruitt discovered that payments were being made to some players. At the time, NCAA rules precluded those payments, even though court cases had already called into serious question whether such payments could be prohibited. The Athletic Director told Pruitt that ‘he would handle it’ and deal with the University’s Compliance Department, which was charged with ensuring the the University of Tennessee was complying with NCAA rules.”

Pruitt believed the university hid the player’s payments from him because they knew he would turn them in, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed the NCAA panel intentionally made it harder for Pruitt to prove his innocence all because they were more concerned about the money instead of following proper procedure.

Pruitt was fired back in 2021 and given a coaching probation of six years after numerous coaching violations.

Pruitt claimed the NCAA protected the university by making its decision. UT had to pay the NCAA money that would have gone to his severance obligation.

He is suing for multiple counts including negligence, conspiracy and bad faith.

The suit asked for $100 million in lost wages.

The university responded to the lawsuit saying, “The university is confident in the actions taken in the Pruitt case. We will continue to prioritize our student-athletes and winning with integrity.”

tbi

Posted on March 28, 2025

If you have information about an intentionally set fire, call the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017.

Bill that Would Limit SNAP Benefits for Junk Food has Failed in TN

Posted on March 27, 2025

Nashville, TN (WOKI) A bill that would limit SNAP benefits for junk food has failed in Tennessee.

Earlier in March, the Tennessee House passed a bill that would place limits on buying junk food using SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Tennessee Healthy SNAP Act would have required the Tennessee Department of Human Services to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowing the state to end benefits for candy and soft drinks, like soda.

“The purpose of SNAP is to provide food security and nutrition to low-income Americans,” Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) said. “There is no nutritional value to candy or soft drinks, and these goods should not be purchased with public funds in Tennessee. The Tennessee Health SNAP Act will help further the nationwide campaign to make America healthy again while ensuring this important benefit is used wisely in our state by residents who rely on it.”

The bill failed in the legislature Wednesday but has been moved to the 2026 legislative calendar.

Trails Opening Celebration & Ribbon-Cutting

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First Friday: 7 Decades in Bloom

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Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

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Chalk Walk

Time & Location

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Chapman Highway Dogwood Trail Opening Celebration

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Holston Hills Dogwood Trail Opening Party

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Dogwood Trail Walk & Talk at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens

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Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

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Spring Featured Gardens: Saturday

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Spring Featured Gardens: Sunday

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Sunday Hours: 10PM-5PM | Last entry at 4PM

Open Mic Night at Maker Exchange

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Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

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West Hills Neighborhood Spring Celebration

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Dogwood Arts Festival

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Tavern Notes: Live Music at Maker Exchange

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Epiphone Student Guitar Design Exhibition

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