Summer travel season is right around the corner and Allegiant airlines is preparing to launch several seasonal nonstop flights from McGee Tyson Airport.
Starting today, you can fly Allegiant to Destin / Fort Walton Beach Airport. Several more routes start next Friday, one of them heads to Houston, Texas and another starts next week headed to Midway Airport in Chicago.
The third new route launching next Friday heads to the Twin Cities Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport.
At the end of the month on the 30th you can fly non-stop to the Rocky Mountains flying into the Denver International Airport.
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate made its way into record territory in April, matching the all-time low rate of 3.1%, according to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).
The state first set the record in April 2023, and for three consecutive months that year, the jobless number held steady at 3.1%.
Employers were hiring in April and grew the state’s workforce by 5,100 nonfarm jobs for the month. The Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector accounted for the largest increase of new jobs. The Education and Health Services sector saw the next largest increase, followed by the Leisure and Hospitality sector.
Tennessee employers created a large number of new nonfarm jobs over the last 12 months. Of the 15,800 created jobs during the year, the Education and Health Services sector was responsible for much of that job growth. The Leisure and Hospitality sector saw the second-largest increase in employment, followed by the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sector.
The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had an uptick in April to 3.9%, which was an increase of 0.1 of a percentage point. In a year-to-year comparison, unemployment across the U.S. was up by half a percentage point.
With the school year winding down, the state encourages young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to take advantage of YEP, Tennessee’s Youth Employment Program. The state-funded initiative can open the door to meaningful work exploration and paychecks totaling $4,000. Young Tennesseans can work during the summer or into the fall as part of this year-round program. Details about YEP and how to join are available at https://yeptn.com/.
The state of Tennessee will release county-by-county unemployment data on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball opens the NCAA Tournament this weekend as the three-seed Lady Vols play host to the 19th consecutive Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. UT was selected as the No. 3 national seed – the highest in program history – and welcomes Virginia, Miami (OH) and Dayton to Rocky Top for the postseason showcase.
Limited walkup tickets are available at the Sherri Parker Lee ticket office when gates open to the public one hour prior to first pitch of the first game each day. Parking is free for all games in lots S14 and C25 adjacent to Sherri Parker Lee Stadium and Regal Soccer Stadium, and fans should note that Tennessee Athletics’ clear bag policy will be in effect.
Fans are encouraged to visit the Tennessee softball gameday information page before making their way to Sherri Parker Lee to familiarize themselves with gameday policies and procedures.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE The four-team regional will take place Friday to Sunday as a double-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the Super Regional round. After Virginia and Miami (OH) square off Friday at noon ET to begin the Knoxville Regional, the Lady Vols will open NCAA Tournament play against Atlantic 10 Champions Dyaton at 2:30 p.m.
Friday, May 17 SPL gates open at 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. – Game 1 (Miami (OH) vs. Virginia) 2:30 p.m. – Game 2 (Dayton vs. Tennessee)
Saturday, May 18 SPL gates open at 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. – Game 3 3:30 p.m. – Game 4 6:00 p.m. – Game 5
Sunday, May 19 SPL gates open TBD TBD – Game 6 TBD – Game 7 (if necessary)
PARKING Fans please be advised; it is graduation weekend at the University of Tennessee and traffic will be heavy around Neyland Drive and UT’s campus. All fans looking to attend the softball regional should be prepared for traffic congestion. Fans are reminded that parking shuttles will be free and available at the Agriculture Campus all weekend.
Shuttle Information Friday, May 17: Beginning at 1:00pm Saturday, May 18: Beginning at 11:30am Sunday, May 19: TBD (hour and a half before first pitch)
HOSTING IS A HABIT Tennessee’s 19 consecutive regional hosting bids tie Alabama for the longest streak of any team in the country. UT will make its 21st overall NCAA Tournament appearance and owns an 87-46 record in the postseason showcase.
The Lady Vols have advanced past the regional round 12 times overall and boast a 51-18 record all-time during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
NOTING THE FIELD Tennessee owns a 19-4 combined record all-time against Virginia, Miami (OH) and Dayton.
vs. Virginia: 11-2 – first meeting since March 6, 2022 vs. Miami (OH): 6-2 – first meeting since February 21, 2021 vs. Dayton: 2-0 – first meeting since February 29, 2016
Virginia (32-18, 15-9 ACC) Head Coach: Joanna Hardin (Record at UVA: 171-215) Series Record: Tennessee leads 11-2 Key Player/Stat: After finishing the regular season with a 32-17 record – the Cavaliers went 15-9 in the ACC – they were eliminated from the conference tournament after falling to No. 23 Clemson 8-1. With a combined 2.45 ERA, Virginia’s pitching staff is highlighted by sophomore Eden Bigham who holds a 14-7 record and an individual ERA of 2.47.
Miami (OH) (48-7, 26-1 MAC) Head Coach: Kirin Kumar (Record at Maimi: 173-54-1) Series Record: Tennessee leads 6-2 Key Player/Stat: The Redhawks are coming off an impressive 2024, finishing the regular season 45-7 and earning the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship title. Senior offensive threat, Karli Spaid, boasts .426 average at the plate and leads Miami with 72 hits, 76 runs and 36 home runs. The infielder has started all 55 games for the Redhawks and has successfully stolen nine bases this season.
Dayton (33-19, 19-7 A10) Head Coach: Cara Clark (Record at UD: 413-423-2) Series Record: Tennessee leads 2-0 Key Player/Stat: The 2024 Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament winners finished the regular season 30-19 and 19-7 in conference play. With 28 runs and 55 hits, juniors Maddie Kapsimalis and Chloe Wong have held down the offense for Dayton. Kapsimalis has notched 43 RBIs and holds a .360 batting average with 28 runs and 55 hits. Wong leads at the plate, hitting a team-high .360 with 54 hits, 11 doubles and 28 RBIs.
UP NEXT The winner of the Knoxville Regional will take on the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional in the Super Regional round next weekend, May 23-26.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Christian Moore continued his record-breaking season with another stellar performance in No. 1/1 Tennessee’s 9-3 series-opening victory over No. 23/24 South Carolina on Thursday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The junior slugger claimed sole possession of the Volunteers’ single-season home run record after hitting a pair of mammoth blasts in his first two at-bats of the game, giving him 26 for the season, surpassing Sonny Cortez’s previous record of 24 set back in 1998.
Moore finished with a game-high three hits and three runs scored to pace the Big Orange to their 20th SEC victory of the year, marking the third time in the past four seasons that UT has reached the 20-win plateau in conference play.
Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling also homered in the win as Tennessee recorded its 18th game this season with four or more long balls. Tears’ three-run shot in the third inning gave the Vols some breathing room, extending their lead to 5-1 while Dreiling’s two-run blast in the seventh capped the scoring for the Big Orange (44-10, 20-8 SEC).
Billy Amick had a solid night at the plate, as well, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double while Blake Burke drove in a run in the fourth inning with his SEC-leading 23rd double.
AJ Causey improved to 10-3 on the year after posting another solid relief outing, striking out eight batters while allowing two runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. The junior righthander is the fourth UT pitcher to reach the 10-win mark under head coach Tony Vitello and pitching coach Frank Anderson, joining Chad Dallas (11 in 2021), Blade Tidwell (10 in 2021) and Chase Dollander (10 in 2022).
Kirby Connell held the Gamecocks off the board for the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out a pair. The veteran lefty has now recorded eight straight scoreless relief appearances.
Ty Good started and suffered the loss for South Carolina (33-19, 13-15 SEC) after giving up six earned runs on five hits and four walks in four innings of work.
Ethan Petry led the Gamecocks at the plate with two hits, including a solo home run to put them ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Catcher Cole Messina also had a pair of knocks and a solo homer while scoring two runs on the night.
STAT OF THE GAME: With Moore’s two-homer night, Tennessee has now had 15 multi-home run games from eight different players this season. Moore leads the way with four, followed closely by Amick and Dreiling, who have three apiece.
UP NEXT: The Vols and Gamecocks square off again on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. on the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park announce they have found a man who went missing last week near the Chimney Tops Overlook area of the park.
Sixty-two year old Timothy Cook was last seen near the Chimney Tops overlook area on Sunday, May 12; his vehicle was found unoccupied in the Chimney Tops parking lot on Tuesday, May 14.
Park officials say Cook was found safe Friday morning within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
ORIGINAL STORY: Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are asking for help finding a missing man.
Park officials say 62-year-old Timothy Cook was last seen near the Chimney Tops overlook on Sunday, May 12, and his vehicle was found unoccupied in the Chimney Tops overlook parking area on May 14.
Officials describe Cook as a white male with black hair, a white beard and brown eyes. He is 5’10” tall and weighs 190 pounds.
Anyone who saw Cook or has information on his whereabouts is asked to please contact the park service:
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission says the deadline for the Tennessee Promise scholarship program has been extended due to ongoing issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The new deadline is now May 31st which provides high school seniors and their families additional time to complete their FAFSA and remain eligible for the state’s tuition-free higher education program.
The decision comes after students and families have experienced ongoing issues applying for college due to the federal implementation of the new FAFSA.
Anyone who encounters issues or has issues while completing the FAFSA can do one of the following to get assistance:
Reach out to your college advisor or high school counselor
Call the THEC/TSAC FAFSA Hotline at 1-800-342-1663
Knoville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Fire Department is asking the public for information following a fire at a Dollar General in West Knoxville.
The fire happened Tuesday afternoon at the store on Executive Park Drive, and fire officials say the blaze caused serious damage to the building.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the department is hoping people in or around the store saw something that might help fire investigators determine the cause of the fire.
“We are reaching out to the community for their cooperation and support in this matter,” said Mark Wilbanks, Assistant Chief of Knoxville Fire Department. “Our priority is to ascertain the cause of the fire. Any information provided by members of the public will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and used solely for investigative purposes.”
Those with information are asked to call KFD at 865-637-1386.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2024 regular season comes to a close this weekend as No. 1/1 Tennessee and No 23/24 South Carolina square off in a top-25 matchup on Rocky Top starting Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
The Vols enter the matchup with the Gamecocks having won eight straight weekend series, which is the longest streak of any power conference team, and will look to reach the 20-win mark in SEC play for the third time in the last four seasons.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office.
Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM
As we prepare for the next phase in renovations, please pardon our progress… and our dust. Once completed, Lindsey Nelson Stadium will offer fans an unrivaled experience and be among the nation’s finest college baseball venues. We appreciate your support and patience when you enter Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season. Please be advised changes may occur from game to game.
BROADCAST INFO
All three games of the series will be streamed on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app as Andy Brock handles play-by-play duties. He’ll be joined by Caylan Arnold for Thursday’s series opener and VFL Cody Hawn for Friday and Saturday’s broadcasts.
Fans can also listen to John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara call the action all series long on the Vol Network (FM 99.1/AM 990) and its participating affiliates throughout the state. A free audio stream will also be available on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and the Varsity App.
PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS
GAME 1: LHP Chris Stamos (5 GS, 3-0, 3.33 ERA) vs. RHP Ty Good (2 GS, 5-1, 3.21 ERA) GAME 2: RHP Drew Beam (13 GS, 7-2, 3.75 ERA) vs. TBA GAME 3: LHP Zander Sechrist (13 GS, 1-1, 4.57 ERA) vs. TBA
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Gamecocks lead, 67-45 in Knoxville: Vols lead, 25-24 in Columbia: Gamecocks lead, 40-18 at Neutral Sites: Gamecocks lead, 3-2 Last 10 Meetings: Vols lead, 8-2 Last Meeting: W, 12-1 (7 Inn.) – May 20, 2023 in Columbia, S.C.
For the third time in the last four years, Tennessee closes out the regular season with a series against South Carolina. The Vols won the previous two series in that scenario, both of which occurred in Columbia (2021 and 2023). UT has won four straight series overall against USC and is 9-6 against the Gamecocks under head coach Tony Vitello.
NOTABLE
Eight Straight Series Wins, Vols Chasing SEC Title The Vols continue to take care of business on the weekends as they posted their eighth straight SEC series win last week by toppling Vanderbilt in Nashville, winning each of the first two games before dropping the series finale on Sunday, which ended a nine-game winning streak against the Commodores.
Entering play this week, the Big Orange are squarely in the mix for the SEC regular season title, sitting one game behind first-place Kentucky and tied with Arkansas for second overall in the league standings at 19-8. If Tennessee were to clinch an SEC regular-season title this weekend, it would mark their second under Vitello and fifth overall in program history.
C-Mo On Verge of Another Home Run Record Christian Moore, who has already topped UT’s career home run record with 51 and counting, is one away from breaking the program’s single-season mark, as well, after hitting his 24th long ball of the year in Tuesday’s midweek win over Belmont to pull even with Sonny Cortez, who also hit 24 back in 1998.
40-Win Seasons Becoming the Norm With a 6-3 midweek win over Queens on May 7, the Vols notched their 40th victory of the season, marking the fourth straight year that they have reached the 40-win plateau. Entering this weekend, Tennessee and Arkansas are the only two programs nationally to post 40-plus wins in each of the last five full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Vols vs. Ranked SEC Foes During the Vitello era, Tennessee has played 38 SEC series against ranked teams and is 23-15 in those series with a 63-51 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 18-6 in such series with a 47-25 overall record, including five series wins and a 12-6 overall record this season.
OPPONENT SCOUT
South Carolina (33-18, 13-14 SEC)
Head Coach: Mark Kingston (7th season)
2023 Postseason: NCAA Gainesville Super Regional
Rankings: D1Baseball – 24 | USA Today – 23 | Baseball America – NR | NCBWA – 24 | Perfect Game – NR
2024 SEC Preseason Poll: 4th in Eastern Division
Preseason All-Conference Selections (2)
C Cole Messina (1st Team)
OF Ethan Petry (1st Team)
Stat Leaders:
Batting Avg: Blake Jackson (.310)
Runs: Cole Messina (51)
Hits: Cole Messina (56)
Home Runs: Ethan Petry (19)
RBI: Cole Messina (52)
Stolen Bases: Blake Jackson (15)
Wins: M. Becker / T. Good (5)
Saves: Garrett Gainey (6)
ERA (min. 20 IP): Garrett Gainey (3.05)
Innings Pitched: Eli Jones (58.2)
Strikeouts: Ty Good (63)
Opp. B/Avg (min. 20 IP): Ty Good (1.92)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS/GIVEAWAYS
FRIDAY:
Giveaway: Car Air Fresheners Courtesy of Zips Car Wash to first 2,500 fans
SATURDAY:
Giveaway: Coca-Cole Pit Viper Sunglasses to first 1,000 fans
Ceremonial First Pitch: Jim Worthington (Tennessee catch, 1947-49)
Oldest living Tennessee baseball letterwinner
ON DECK
Tennessee will head to Hoover, Alabama, for the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament where it will open postseason play on Wednesday (Time TBD).
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced Wednesday the recipients of its annual honors, with Tennessee men’s basketball standout Dalton Knecht claiming Co-Male Amateur Athlete of the Year plaudits.
Knecht is the first member of Tennessee’s men’s basketball program to receive the honor since Grant Williams in 2019. He shared the plaudit with Vanderbilt golfer Gordon Sargent.
As a fifth-year guard in 2023-24, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor, 39.7 percent beyond the arc and 77.2 percent at the charity stripe.
Named the SEC Player of the Year, the Julius Erving Small Award designee (best small forward) and the Riley Wallace Award honoree (best transfer), Knecht collected consensus First Team All-America status and won the SEC scoring title. He was also a finalist for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award.
The Thornton, Colo., native logged 35-plus points six times in 2023-24, a program single-season record and the most of any Division I player in the nation. He capped his career with 37 points against third-ranked Purdue in the Elite Eight to set a program single-game NCAA Tournament scoring record.
Knecht helped the Volunteers post a 27-9 (14-4 SEC) record, an outright SEC regular season championship and the second Elite Eight bid in program history.
The Tennessee women’s softball team earned Female Amateur Team of the Year distinction, giving UT two TSHF designees. The full list of honorees can be found HERE.
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Tennessee softball’s Karlyn Pickens has been named a top 10 finalist for USA Softball’s National Player of the Year award, the organization announced Wednesday.
The SEC Pitcher of the Year, Pickens holds a 1.26 ERA – ninth best in the nation – with a 19-6 record. The flamethrower has 186 strikeouts in 156 innings of work this season, holding opposing hitters to a .160 batting average.
With 33 appearances and 24 starts, the sophomore has tossed 13 complete games with 10 shutouts.
Pickens is the 11th player in program history to be named top 10 for the award – it is the 16th time Tennessee softball has had an athlete make the cut for the top 10.
Considered the most prestigious individual honor in Division I college softball, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award aims to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by Division I softball players over the course of the entire season.
The Top 3 Finalists will be revealed on Monday, May 20, followed by the announcement of the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year prior to the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
