Lady Vols Head Coach Kim Caldwell meets with the press ahead of the Lady Vols basketball season and discusses the team, transfers, signees and more.
Courtesy / UT Athletics
Courtesy / UT Athletics
Courtesy / UT Athletics
Lady Vols Scheduled for Eight Fall Ball Games
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off its second trip to the national semifinals at the Women’s College World Series in the past three seasons, Tennessee softball is set to return to the diamond with its 2025 fall schedule.
The Lady Vols are slated to play eight games, including six at home and a road doubleheader. Admission is free for all fall contests at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Gates will open one hour prior to first pitch. Restrooms will be open, but concessions will not be available for fall softball games.
UT opens fall play Sept. 27 against Roane State. The Big Orange then hosts Carson-Newman on Oct. 3 and East Tennessee State on Oct. 4. Lee University visits Sherri Parker Lee Stadium on Oct. 10 to wrap up the homestand.
Tennessee makes its lone road trip of the fall on Oct. 18, traveling to Atlanta for a doubleheader against Georgia Tech.
The Lady Vols close out the schedule at home, hosting Tusculum on Oct. 22 and Tennessee Tech on Oct. 25.
Tennessee returns two-time consensus first-team All-American and two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens for her final season on Rocky Top, along with 14 members of last year’s squad. The program also welcomes nine newcomers, including three transfers and six freshmen.
UT’s full fall schedule can be viewed below. Dates and times are subject to change. All times are in Eastern.
TENNESSEE 2025 FALL SCHEDULE
September 27 – Roane State – 1 p.m.
October 3 – Carson-Newman – 6 p.m.
October 4 – ETSU – 5 p.m.
October 10 – Lee – 6:30 p.m.
October 18 – at Georgia Tech (DH) – 1 p.m.
October 22 – Tusculum – 6:30 p.m.
October 25 – Tennessee Tech – Noon
Care Cabinets Placed in Rural Counties of East Tennessee for Survivors of Domestic Violence
Morgan County, TN (WOKI) There’s now a new resource for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in East Tennessee.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere and people sometimes don’t know where to go.
Avalon Center Director of Client Services Lacie Norris wants to reach more people in rural communities and recently launched the Care Cabinets Program.
These cabinets are placed in public places in several counties including Cumberland and Morgan.
Norris says inside are free supplies and resources, including feminine products, contact information for the center and an emergency blanket.
The director of the Wartburg Public Library partnered with the Avalon Center to have a care cabinet to spread awareness in the community.
You can donate items for these care cabinets. Instructions on how to donate are provided on their Facebook page.
Knox County Commission Passes Resolution Urging ‘Continued Collaboration’ with ICE
(Story courtesy of WVLT News)
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) The Knox County Commission passed an honorary resolution on Monday recognizing the Knox County Sheriff’s Office’s partnership with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
KCSO participates in the 287(g) program, which offers federal dollars in exchange for helping ICE enforce U.S. immigration laws. Knox County has participated in the program since 2017, but its commitment has received more attention recently because of an increase in immigration detainees in the county over the past year.
KCSO booked nearly 400 immigration detainees in April alone, a huge jump from about 60 last October. The increase is one of the reasons Commissioner Andy Fox detailed in the resolution he felt should be recognized.
The resolution also says, “the Commission urges continued collaboration between the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, ICE and other federal and state agencies to uphold public safety and enforce immigration laws.”
“I hope that the Sheriff’s Department continues to be involved in this program,” Fox said at the meeting on Monday. “In fact, I hope this program gets expanded.”
The resolution also applauds the work of deputies. Commissioner Angela Russell said that was a reason she supported the measure.
“This isn’t a matter of us choosing what we want done,” Russell said. “This is a matter of, ‘Do we support the poor boys? Like in Vietnam? Who are having to go and do this job?”
Three commissioners voted against the resolution. Commissioner Courtney Durrett, who voted no, said Sheriff Tom Spangler asked on ‘several occasions’ for the resolution to be removed.
“Sheriff Spangler didn’t see it as necessary or helpful and communicated that to Commissioner Fox. The resolution has no bearing on the men and women doing their jobs. Sheriff will continue cooperation with ICE under the 287(g) MOU,” a representative with KCSO said in a statement.
Commissioner Damon Rawls brought up concerns about the strain of the contract on local resources.
“It talks about the rising number of detainees as this mark of success, but for those numbers, those numbers carry a cost,” Rawls said. “They carry a cost to our detention facility. They carry a cost to the sheriff’s executing that programmatic cost.”
A WVLT Investigation found ICE pays the county a fee each day they house an inmate, but the fee doesn’t cover the full cost. From October 2024 to April 2025, the county paid more than $150,000 to house ICE inmates.
At the time of that investigation, a representative with KCSO said Sheriff Tom Spangler had no plans to discontinue the contract.
Court Records: Morristown West High School Teacher Charged with Sexual Battery
Morristown, TN (WOKI) A Morristown West High School teacher is accused of making unlawful sexual contact with a teenager.
According to Hamblen County Court documents, teacher Dennis G. Cupp is accused of using a ruler to make unlawful sexual contact with a 16-year-old female back on May 21.
According to a warrant, Cupp admitted to the act during a voluntary interview Wednesday, August 27. He is charged with sexual battery by an authority figure.
Hamblen County Schools officials say, upon receipt of the allegation against Cupp, he was suspended immediately pending investigation and removed from the classroom. An internal investigation has also been launched.
Cupp’s bond was set at $100,00, and he was arraigned in Hamblen County Criminal Court on Thursday, August 28.
The Short Game (Movie)
Be sure to check out “The Short Game” in Theaters August 29th!
Jeremy Avery is vying for a college golf scholarship awarded to the State Championship winner. But caring for his autistic brother Ethan – while competing against a rival who will do anything to win – forces him to reconsider his priorities and discover his brother’s savant-like gifts. Now he must choose between realizing his dreams or standing by his brother. The Short Game – in theaters August 29th. Rated PG.
Parker McCollum- Food City Center- 9/25
Parker McCollum
With Ashley Cooke and Kassi Ashton
Thursday, September 25
Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
Tickets on sale Friday, 3.28 at 10am at Ticketmaster.com
WVLT
A Lawsuit is Filed Against Kiddie Korner Day Care in Clinton
A lawsuit has been filed against Kiddie Korner day care in Clinton by parents who say their child was injured while at the daycare.
The parents were told their child had a “minor” incident at Kiddie Korner when she rolled over during nap time and fell face first on the floor.
The parents say the child had physical injuries, including visible marks, that would have come from some sort of abuse.
A Kiddie Korner employee reported the incident to the Department of Children’s Services and “an investigation was conducted and it was determined the child had been aggressively slammed to the ground by Micayla Wald.
DCS cited Kiddie Korner for violating State of Tennessee rules and regulations that prohibit inappropriate discipline to children.
The lawsuit requests a jury trial, and the parents are seeking a monetary judgement.
WVLT
Knoxville Fisherman Catches World War II Explosive Device
One East Tennessee Fisherman has quite the fish story.
Knoxville Police say a fisherman hooked onto a World War II-era explosive device while fishing Wednesday at the Sequoyah Hills boat ramp off of Cherokee Boulevard.
KPD officers and Explosive Ordinance Disposal personnel responded and say the fisherman hooked onto an object that was roughly 20 feet from the embankment. It was later determined to be a weathered World War II-era explosive device.
The device was carefully evaluated by EOD and was safely transported to U.S. Army personnel in Cookeville.
GSMNP
Upcoming half-day closures of Kuwohi Road on Sept. 9 and 16 for educational programs
GATLINBURG, TN (WOKI) — Kuwohi Road will be temporarily closed for half-days on Sept. 9 and 16 to facilitate special educational programs for students from Swain County and Qualla Boundary schools. The park will close the road at midnight the night before each event and will reopen it by 2 p.m.
During these closures, the 7-mile roadway is closed to all pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. Visitors should consider alternative destinations. Look Rock Tower along the Foothills Parkway in Tennessee offers great scenic mountain views. Newfound Gap, currently accessible from the North Carolina side, also offers great views.
These closures support Kuwohi Connection Days, a cultural initiative in partnership with The Center for Native Health, which provide students the opportunity to visit Kuwohi and learn about its historical and spiritual significance. During these visits, Cherokee elders, language speakers, culture bearers and community members share stories and teachings about Kuwohi and the Cherokee people.
Visitors are encouraged to check the park website for current road conditions and facility status, which also includes trail and backcountry updates.
