Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Two people are dead and an investigation is underway following a crash Monday morning on I-40 East in West Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the I-640 East ramp.
KPD says evidence from the scene indicates the involved vehicle was traveling east on the I-40 ramp to I-640 when it ran off the road to the right for reasons that remain unknown, striking a guardrail.
The two occupants, identified as Florida residents, were pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville. The I-40 East ramp to I-640 East has reportedly reopened following this morning’s crash.
ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville.
As of 11 a.m., the I-40 East ramp to I-640 East is closed temporarily as KPD crash reconstruction personnel remain on scene of this morning’s (Monday) crash. The right lane and shoulder are also blocked.
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) -While the leading cause of death in men is heart disease, the second is prostate cancer. With September being National Prostate Awareness Month, Eddie Check is working to raise awareness.
Eddie Check is a non-profit organization based out of Knoxville that works to educate East Tennessee men on the importance of regular testing for prostate cancer.
A PSA test is a simple blood test that checks PSA levels in the blood. If the PSA is elevated, it could indicate that something is wrong with the prostate.
Every year, Eddie Check partners with MEDIC Regional Blood Center to host events across East Tennessee for men to get free testing and donate blood for MEDIC.
“Men don’t have to donate blood to MEDIC to get the PSA test, but we hope that they do because that also saves lives,” Eddie Check founder Kevin Kirkland said. “So really the blood donation can save up to three lives and the PSA test can save theirs.”
Last year, the event allowed for more than 700 men to get tested and 600 pints of blood donated.
While HIPAA makes it difficult to get an exact number, Kirkland said the testing they do has already saved dozens of lives.
Kirkland founded Eddie Check because of his father Eddie who passed due to prostate cancer.
“[Back then,] once you found out you had prostate cancer, normally it was too late,” Kirkland said. “He died within two years of that fact that he found out he had prostate cancer. I always told myself when I had the means and the wherewithal I would do an event that would help men with understanding prostate health and prostate cancer and the fact that it’s really not a death sentence.”
Eddie Check is hosting their annual event on Sept. 12 and 13 across East Tennessee. Locations for the event can be found here.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After Tennessee’s dominant performance against NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday that a pair of Tennessee football players earned weekly recognition from the league office. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row, while senior center Cooper Mays garnered SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
Iamaleava, making his third career start, accounted for 276 yards of total offense and three touchdowns to lead Tennessee past No. 24 NC State, 51-10, in Charlotte. Iamaleava finished 16-of-23 for 211 yards and two touchdowns with two picks through the air and added 65 yards rushing on eight carries with a 31-yard touchdown run.
The signal caller from Long Beach, California, defeated a ranked opponent for the second time in three starts, and it was the second time in his career that he has rushed for at least one touchdown and passed for at least one touchdown. In Iamaleava’s three starts at quarterback, Tennessee has outscored its opponents 155-13.
Mays, a preseason All-American and first-team All-SEC recipient, paved the way for a dominant Tennessee offense that put up 460 yards in the win over NC State. Mays did not allow a sack, a penalty or a QB hit against a solid Wolfpack defense that saw the Vols rush for 249 yards on the evening.
The Kingston native extended his streak of not allowing a sack to 16 straight games, which dates to 2022. Mays and the offensive line did not allow a sack the entire game. The 249 rushing yards were the most allowed by NC State in a regular season game since North Carolina had 300 in November 2021, and the 460 yards by the UT offense was the most allowed by NC State since Louisiana Tech had 480 on Oct. 2, 2021.
During the Josh Heupel era (2021-present), Tennessee has compiled 32 SEC weekly honors — including five Freshman of the Week awards and 10 Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades.
SEC Weekly Awards – Week 2
Offensive Player of the Week Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Defensive Player of the Week Nick Emmanwori, FS, South Carolina
Special Teams Player of the Week Kai Kroeger, P, South Carolina
Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week Jake Majors, C, Texas Cooper Mays, C, Tennessee
Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week Gracen Halton, DT, Oklahoma Tim Keenan III, DL, Alabama
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football heads into its third week and a return to Neyland Stadium ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches poll released on Sunday.
The Vols climbed more than any team in the AP poll, leaping seven spots from No. 14. Tennessee (2-0) jumped three places to No. 9 in the Coaches poll. Six of the top seven teams in the country hail from the SEC.
Tennessee has been ranked for 33 consecutive weeks in the Coaches poll. That is the Vols’ longest streak since being ranked 34 straight weeks from 2003-05. The current run dates back to Sept. 11, 2022.
Led by a dominant rushing attack and a stout defensive effort, Tennessee throttled then-No. 24 NC State, 51-10, on Saturday night in Charlotte. The Wolfpack managed only 143 total offensive yards and were 3-of-12 on third down. The 143 yards were the fewest allowed by the Vols against an AP ranked opponent since No. 11 Auburn had 110 on Sept. 29, 1973.
Tennessee’s defense stretched its quarter streak without allowing a defensive touchdown to 12. The Vols have not allowed a defensive touchdown in three straight games for the first time since 1985. That year, Georgia Tech had six points on Oct. 26 (two field goals), Rutgers was shutout on Nov. 2 and Memphis managed seven points (blocked punt return for a touchdown) on Nov. 9.
Neyland Stadium is sold out for a 14th straight game next Saturday. The Vols take on Kent State for the first time on the gridiron. Kickoff is 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Associated Press Top 25 (Sept. 8) 1. Georgia (54) 2. Texas (4) 3. Ohio State (5) 4. Alabama 5. Ole Miss 6. Missouri 7. Tennessee 8. Penn State 9. Oregon 10. Miami 11. USC 12. Utah 13. Oklahoma State 14. Kansas State 15. Oklahoma 16. LSU 17. Michigan 18. Notre Dame 19. Louisville 20. Arizona 21. Iowa State 22. Clemson 23. Nebraska 24. Boston College 25. Northern Illinois
AFCA Coaches Poll (Sept. 8) 1. Georgia (50) 2. Ohio State (3) 3. Texas (1) 4. Alabama 5. Ole Miss 6. Oregon 7. Penn State 8. Missouri 9. Tennessee 10. Utah 11. USC 12. Miami 13. Oklahoma 14. Oklahoma State 15. Kansas State 16. Michigan 17. LSU 18. Arizona 19. Notre Dame 20. Clemson 21. Louisville 22. Washington 23. Iowa State 24. Nebraska 25. Memphis
A man hunt is underway after nine cars are shot into on I-75 in London, Kentucky.
The interstate was shut down Saturday night after shots were fired into the vehicles on both the north and southbound lanes.
Five victims were seriously injured and there is no word on their condition.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office says they are searching for a person of interest, 32-year-old Joseph Couch. As of yesterday (Sunday morning), the search for Couch is ongoing.
Police say do not approach Couch as he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information regarding Couch’s whereabouts is asked to contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center by calling 911 or 606-878-7000.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Junior running back Dylan Sampson delivered another sensational performance, and 12th-ranked Tennessee’s stellar defense shut down the 23rd-ranked NC State Wolfpack, 51-10, at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night.
Sampson amassed 132 yards on 20 carries, scoring twice on the ground. It marked his second consecutive game with over 100 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns. Additionally, he added three catches for 37 yards, finishing with a game-high 169 all-purpose yards. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native has now rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games, dating to the 2024 Citrus Bowl win against Iowa.
Tennessee (2-0) notched its ninth win over a ranked opponent under head coach Josh Heupel and improved to 4-1 against ACC opponents during his tenure. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was impressive, completing 16-of-23 pass attempts for 211 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 65 yards and adding another score on the ground.
Tight end Miles Kitselman pulled down three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown—his first at the FBS level. Fellow tight end Holden Staes also contributed with his first touchdown reception as a Vol, an 18-yard catch from Iamaleava in the fourth quarter.
The Vols started strong, with Sampson finishing a nine-play, 62-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. NC State briefly closed the gap with a 24-yard field goal by Kanoah Vinesett, but Tennessee responded with a 32-yard field goal from freshman kicker Max Gilbert, followed by defensive back Will Brooks’ 85-yard interception return for a touchdown—the first of his career.
As the first half wound down, Gilbert added a 45-yard field goal to give Tennessee a 20-7 lead at halftime. The second half began with Iamaleava connecting with Kitselman for a 15-yard touchdown pass, capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Gilbert added another field goal after a Wolfpack fumble, and Iamaleava scored on a 31-yard run to extend the Vols’ lead to 37-3.
NC State (1-1) managed a lone touchdown in the third quarter with an 87-yard interception return, but Sampson and Staes added fourth-quarter touchdowns to seal Tennessee’s 51-10 victory.
Tennessee’s defense was dominant, limiting NC State to just 143 total yards— the fewest allowed under Heupel—and forcing three turnovers. Linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive linemen Bryson Eason and Omari Thomas each recorded four tackles, while the defense accumulated 13 tackles for loss and three sacks.
CARTER COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division, Adult Protective Services, and the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging into reports of the abuse and sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult has resulted in an arrest.
In August, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services, TBI special agents began investigating allegations of sexual exploitation involving a physically and intellectually disabled adult male in Carter County. During the investigation, agents learned that Selena Catherine Silver (DOB: 5/12/68), who was employed as a caregiver at the time, began a sexual relationship with the victim and provided him with controlled substances and other illicit drugs.
Today, agents obtained an arrest warrant for Silver, charging her with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult, Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, Sexual Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, and Stalking. She was arrested and booked into the Carter County Jail on a $10,00 bond.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
NOTE: The TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $8,983,614.75 for federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,994,538.25 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, is funded by the State of Tennessee.
KNOXVILLE —The John Sevier Hunter Education Center in Knoxville is hosting the 3rd annual Kickoff to Hunting Season event on Saturday, October 5 from 9 am to 1 pm. The event is geared towards getting hunters ready for the fall hunting season. Everyone is welcome, whether experienced hunters or those new to the sport and wanting to learn. The event also welcomes and encourages families to attend. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from TWRA staff and experienced hunters with tips on how to prepare for hunting this fall. Those attending are also welcome to bring one firearm and one bow for sighting in and practice.
The class includes:
A session on hunting Tennessee’s public lands and how to access them utilizing new technology such as some of the newest hunting apps.
A Q&A session with local TWRA officers who will discuss any new changes to Tennessee’s hunting laws and answer any questions the public may have.
A session on how to use some of the newest hunting equipment like tree saddle hunting and expert advice on hunting techniques.
Official Boone and Crockett scorers will be onsite to discuss how to score white-tailed deer. Attendees are allowed to bring ONE deer head per person to have it officially scored.
The 100 yd benchrest rifle range will be open and hunters may bring ONE hunting rifle, either a centerfire or a muzzleloader, to sight-in.
Archery pro-staff will be onsite to provide technical assistance to bowhunters who need bow tuning or help with their archery gear. No broad heads allowed; field tips only.
Range Safety Officers will be present to assist with the sighting-in process if help is needed.
TWRA flurry machine to enjoy shooting clays thrown in multiple directions. The cost of admission is $8.00, which is the type 222 range daily permit. The admission fee will be waived for sportsmen license holders and those holding appropriate big game hunting licenses. All ranges will be staffed by certified Range Safety Officers to ensure safety. For any further assistance or questions, contact John Sevier Range Manager Chad Gann at 865-594-6279. Seating is limited to 50 participants.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 14/12 Tennessee will look to build off a successful week one performance as it takes a step up in competition this Saturday night, facing off against one of the ACC’s best in No. 24/23 NC State at 7:30 p.m. in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Saturday’s contest will mark the second time that the Vols have played inside Bank of America Stadium. UT played West Virginia in the 2018 Belk College Kickoff in its only prior visit.
BROADCAST INFO
The ABC primetime crew of Rece Davis (PxP), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) will have the call for Saturday’s game. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. with kickoff slated for 7:44 p.m.
UT fans can listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (Local: WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) over 65 stations across the state of Tennessee and the southeast, SiriusXM (Ch. 374) and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 374), as well as the Varsity App. A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics App. Fans attending the game are encouraged to listen to the radio broadcast via the Vol Network Stadiumcast on 89.5 FM.
Bob Kesling (PxP), VFL Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with VFL Jayson Swain handling sideline duties for the Vol Network radio broadcast. The Big Orange Countdown pregame show begins two hours prior to kickoff at 5:30 p.m. The pregame show is hosted by John Wilkerson, Brent Hubbs, VFL Jayson Swain and a rotating VFL special guest each week. The Vol Network celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024.
The Spanish broadcast is available locally on WNML-AM 990 with Carlos Lopez (play-by-play) and VFL Fuad Reveiz on the call. That version is also available on UTsports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app.
GAMEDAY INFO
Fan information for this year’s Duke’s Mayo Classic can be found HERE. Bank of America Stadium ticket office opens at 1 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
TICKETS AND PARKING
Tickets for Saturday’s can be purchased through Ticketmaster by clicking HERE.
All entry to Bank of America Stadium events require mobile tickets, as PDF tickets will no longer be valid for entry. All users, both multiple-game and single-game ticket buyers, will be required to access and manage their tickets through the free Charlotte Sports Foundation Mobile App. For more information, click HERE.
Parking and travel information for Saturday can be found HERE.
GAMEDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
FanFest: Fans of both teams are encouraged to take part in the Duke’s Mayo Classic FanFest event prior to the game, which will include food and drinks, live music, a kids zone and more. For more information on FanFest, click HERE.
NEED TO KNOW
The Nico Era Off and Running Tennessee is one of two SEC teams (South Carolina) starting a redshirt freshman at quarterback in 2024 as Nico Iamaleava has taken the reins. Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit from Long Beach, California, made his second career start and first in Neyland Stadium last weekend.
He was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week as he set a UT record for most passing yards in a half with 314, topping the previous record of 313 by Tyler Bray in the first half versus Troy on Nov. 3, 2012. It marked the fourth 300-yard passing total in a half in program history.
Iamaleava connected on his first 10 passes and finished 22-of-28 with three touchdowns and no picks in only one half of work. He was the first freshman quarterback (true or redshirt) to start an opener for the Vols since true freshman Brent Schaeffer did so against UNLV on Sept. 5, 2004.
Offensive Fireworks in Season Opener The Vols opened their 128th season with 718 yards of total offense in an emphatic 69-3 victory over Chattanooga last Saturday in Neyland Stadium. The 69 points were the second-most points scored in the modern era (1937-present) and were the most in the Josh Heupel era.
The 66-point margin of victory was the third-highest of the modern era. The margin of victory was the highest for Tennessee in a season opener since defeating Carson-Newman, 101-0, on Sept. 25, 1915 while the 718 yards of total offense tied for the second-most in a single game in school history and the second-most in the Heupel era. The Vols churned out 724 against Missouri in 2022.
The 718 yards were also the second-most by an FBS team in week one behind only Ole Miss’ 772. UT scored on its first seven possessions against the Mocs, including touchdowns on the first three drives. The Vols capped the first half with 45 points, seven shy of their program record for a half, and 503 total yards (314 passing, 189 rushing).
Non-Conference Win Streak Tennessee has won 11 non-conference games in a row and is 14-2 overall versus non-SEC foes under Heupel. UT has outscored non-conference opponents 772-236 in the Heupel era and has secured perfect non-conference regular season records in back-to-back years (2022-23) under Heupel.
Special Teams Continue to Flourish The Big Orange have thrived on special teams under coordinator Mike Ekeler, who is in his fourth season with the program. Tennessee did it again in its week one win over Chattanooga, as true freshman defensive end Jordan Ross, making his collegiate debut, blocked a punt and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown with 1:07 left in the fourth quarter. Ross was the first Vol to return a blocked punt for a touchdown since Daniel Bituli returned one 29 yards against South Carolina on Oct. 26, 2019.
SERIES HISTORY
Tennessee leads series, 2-1 The Vols and Wolfpack will square off for the fourth time on Saturday. In the only other meeting between the two programs this century, UT defeated NC State, 35-12, in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
Tennessee will look to make it four straight victories over ACC foes after notching wins over No. 7 Clemson and No. 17 Pitt in 2022 and opening the 2023 season with a 49-13 triumph over Virginia in Nashville.
ABOUT NC STATE
The Wolfpack are led by head coach Dave Doeren, who has posted an 82-58 record during his 12-year stint as head coach in Raleigh.
Transfer quarterback Grayson McCall is in his first year leading the offense after a highly-productive four-year career at Coastal Carolina. During his time with the Chanticleers, McCall threw for 10,005 yards and accounted for 106 total touchdowns (88 passing, 18 rushing) in 42 games and earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year recognition in each of the last three seasons. The North Carolina native completed 26-of-40 passes for 318 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Wolfpack’s season-opening win over Western Carolina last Thursday.
McCall has a handful of talented targets to throw to, none more dangerous than sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion, who was tabbed the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2023 after racking up 1,179 all-purpose yards and 10 receiving touchdowns as a true freshman. Concepcion picked up right where he left off in NC State’s season opener last week, leading the team with nine catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns against the Catamounts. On the ground, Duke transfer running back Jordan Waters was the team’s top rusher in week one, churning out 124 yards on 20 carries while finding pay dirt twice.
Defensively, the Wolfpack have had to replace a handful of starters, including 2023 Butkus Award winner Payton Wilson at linebacker. Three different players finished with a team-high seven tackles in the season opener. Veteran corner Aydan White was one of those players with seven stops and also had a pair of pass breakups in the win. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2023 and boasts eight career interceptions.
Posted on September 9, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Two people are dead and an investigation is underway following a crash Monday morning on I-40 East in West Knoxville. Knoxville Police Department officials say the single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the I-640 East ramp. KPD says evidence from the scene indicates the involved vehicle was traveling…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
(Story courtesy of WVLT) Knoxville, TN (WVLT) -While the leading cause of death in men is heart disease, the second is prostate cancer. With September being National Prostate Awareness Month, Eddie Check is working to raise awareness. Eddie Check is a non-profit organization based out of Knoxville that works to educate East Tennessee men on…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Sevierville, TN (WOKI) The man at the center of a missing person alert out of Sevier County has been found dead. Officials with the Sevierville Police Department taking to social media Sunday night to announce the passing of 26-year-old Shawn Odell. Authorities in Sevier County had been looking for Odell who was reportedly last seen…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After Tennessee’s dominant performance against NC State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, the Southeastern Conference announced Monday that a pair of Tennessee football players earned weekly recognition from the league office. Redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row, while senior center Cooper Mays garnered SEC…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 9, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football heads into its third week and a return to Neyland Stadium ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches poll released on Sunday. The Vols climbed more than any team in the AP poll, leaping seven spots from No. 14. Tennessee (2-0) jumped…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 8, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
A man hunt is underway after nine cars are shot into on I-75 in London, Kentucky. The interstate was shut down Saturday night after shots were fired into the vehicles on both the north and southbound lanes. Five victims were seriously injured and there is no word on their condition. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 8, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
Game Recap: Football | September 07, 2024 CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Junior running back Dylan Sampson delivered another sensational performance, and 12th-ranked Tennessee’s stellar defense shut down the 23rd-ranked NC State Wolfpack, 51-10, at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday night. Sampson amassed 132 yards on 20 carries, scoring twice on the ground. It marked his second consecutive game with…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 7, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
CARTER COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division, Adult Protective Services, and the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging into reports of the abuse and sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult has resulted in an arrest. In August, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services,…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 7, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE —The John Sevier Hunter Education Center in Knoxville is hosting the 3rd annual Kickoff to Hunting Season event on Saturday, October 5 from 9 am to 1 pm. The event is geared towards getting hunters ready for the fall hunting season.Everyone is welcome, whether experienced hunters or those new to the sport and wanting…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 7, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 14/12 Tennessee will look to build off a successful week one performance as it takes a step up in competition this Saturday night, facing off against one of the ACC’s best in No. 24/23 NC State at 7:30 p.m. in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. MORE…… Continue Reading
