The American Job Center is hosting two job fairs this week.
The Regional Veteran Employment and Resource Fair is tomorrow (Wednesday) at Pellissippi State’s, Hardin Valley Campus from 10am to 2pm in the J.L. Goins Administration Building with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs serving as guest speaker at 11:30.
Then on Thursday, a Multi-employer Hiring Event at the Knoxville AJC on Middlebrook Pike is scheduled from1pm to 3pm with over 20 participating employers.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be conducting boat registration and safety compliance checkpoints over Memorial Day weekend on several east Tennessee waterways during the listed dates and times.
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Sunday, May 26, 2024
TBI’S ‘OPERATION PROTECTING TOMORROW’ YIELDS ARRESTS, IDENTIFIES TWO DOZEN CHILD VICTIMS OF ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND SEXTORTION
Efforts To Identify & Locate 22 Additional Child Victims Remains Ongoing
A dozen people face felony charges and two dozen victims have been identified in a large-scale, collaborative operation to target online child exploitation and sextortion in Tennessee.
Over a three-month period, from February to April, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within its Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Unit (CDEU), conducted Operation Protecting Tomorrow, with work extending to 21 counties in the state and involving almost 20 local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.
Operation Protecting Tomorrow’s purpose was to identify and locate children who were victims of sextortion and online sexual exploitation, along with identifying and arresting individuals who aim to harm children online. These investigations stemmed from cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), undercover investigations, and tips from the community.
During the operation, TBI ICAC Task Force Agents identified and located 18 known child victims of sextortion in Tennessee who were reported through NCMEC cybertips reported from several social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram. One child victim was identified and located living in Alabama. TBI agents are still attempting to identify and locate an additional 22 more children who are victims of sextortion, aged 11 to 17.
As part of the operation, TBI agents executed 10 residential search warrants throughout the state, seizing 181 electronic devices and one child sex doll. An initial preview of these devices has shown more than 264,000 images and videos of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Agents expect the number of images and videos to grow as the examination of evidence continues.
During Operation Protecting Tomorrow, five of the 24 child victims were identified and rescued as victims of brand-new sexual exploitation content being created by the offender and shared on social media platforms.
The following individuals were arrested during Operation Protecting Tomorrow and charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children and other related offenses. They were booked into their respective county jails:
More arrests may be forthcoming in this operation once complete forensic processing of the seized electronic devices has occurred.
The following 19 agencies assisted the TBI in Operation Protecting Tomorrow: Athens Police Department, 9th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office (ICAC), 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Maury County Sheriff’s Department, McMinn County Sheriff’s Department, McMinnville Police Department, Meigs County Sheriff’s Department, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, Bowie County, Texas Sheriff’s Department (ICAC), Lansing, Illinois Police Department, Texarkana, Texas Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service
“The massive volume of vile images and videos our agents uncovered – and the number of suspects identified, and victims helped during this operation – should trouble every Tennessean,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “The internet is a dangerous place, full of predators looking for their next young victim. We’re doing our part at TBI, but every parent, grandparent, and caregiver must also be vigilant. Help your children know the dangers and know what to do if they’re scared, confused, or asked to do the wrong thing online.”
The TBI has information about online dangers, sextortion, and common-sense tips for the public on its website, at www.tn.gov/tbi. Parents and caregivers looking for resources aimed at helping children develop online safety skills should visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website, at http://www.netsmartz.org.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is an ICAC affiliate of the Tennessee ICAC Task Force. Anyone with information about these cases or other cases of online child exploitation should contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Tipline at 1-800-TBI-FIND, [email protected], or report via the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at http://www.CyberTipline.org.
![#3 [3] LADY VOLS PUNCH TICKET TO 13TH SUPER REGIONAL](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2024/05/20050641/Softball-51.png#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Game Recap: Softball | May 19, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With its third shutout in the Knoxville Regional, the third-seeded Lady Vols punched their ticket to Super Regionals – defeating Virginia 6-0 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (43-10) shut out Dayton and Virginia twice as it cruised to the program’s 13th appearance in Super Regionals. It is the first time UT has reached supers in back-to-back seasons since 2018 and 2019.
Karlyn Pickens was lights-out in the circle, tossing a complete game to earn her 21st win of the year. The sophomore scattered two hits and allowed just one walk while striking out seven batters on the day.
Pickens’ dominant outing included taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Virginia finally broke through with a hit. The shutout win is her 12th this season and 15th complete game.
Rylie West led the Lady Vols offensively, going 3-for-4 with a career-high tying five RBIs. The senior outfielder was a triple short of the cycle as she opened the game with a single in the first, a double in the third and a solo home run in the fifth.
Zaida Puni also picked up a pair of hits and drove in a run in the third frame.
Tennessee hung crooked numbers on the scoreboard in the first and third innings, which proved to be the difference as the Lady Vols kept the pressure on Virginia.
Kiki Milloy drew four walks and scored twice with runs in the first and third.
Eden Bigham – who tossed two shutouts for Virginia during the Knoxville Regional – got the start on Sunday. She threw 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Madison Harris took over for Bigham in the third and finished the game, pitching 4.2 frames. She scattered four hits with one run, two walks and three strikeouts.
STATS OF THE WEEKEND
For the fourth time in program history, Tennessee did not allow a run during regionals – joining the 2005, 2007 and 2013 squads in achieving the feat.
Pickens and graduate pitcher Payton Gottshall combined for 24 strikeouts and just one walk over 19 innings of work. The duo allowed seven hits in three games.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will play host to No. 14 seed Alabama in the Knoxville Super Regional this weekend. Game times and dates have yet to be announced by the NCAA.
![#3 [3] Lady Vols Run-Rule Virginia, Advance to Regional Final](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2024/05/18204845/Softball-50.png#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Game Recap: Softball | May 18, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On the strength of four home runs, the third-seeded Lady Vols run-ruled Virginia, 12-0, in game three of the Knoxville Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (42-10) advances to play in Sunday’s regional final against the winner of game five.
Kiki Milloy and Taylor Pannell jump-started the offense with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning. The duo combined for four of Tennessee’s 11 hits – each player finished with two RBIs.
Milloy scored three runs, while Pannell came home across the plate twice.
The Lady Vols scored five runs in the second courtesy of a McKenna Gibson RBI single and a Rylie West sacrifice fly. That set the stage for a Sophia Nugent three-run home run to give UT a 7-0 after two.
Steady all day long, Gibson went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
Pannell doubled off the wall in center in the third inning to score Milloy for Tennessee’s eighth run of the game before West clubbed a three-run blast – putting the game well into run-rule territory.
A Milloy single to right scored the game’s final run in the home half of the fourth.
Payton Gottshall was almost unhittable against the Cavaliers, scattering three hits with five strikeouts. The graduate pitcher earned her 20th victory of the season, her third shutout and eighth complete game.
Virginia (33-19) got hits from Bella Cabral, Abby Weaver and Sarah Coon. Mikayla Houge started in the circle for UVA, tossing 2.1 innings – allowing six runs on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout.
Courtney Layne threw 2.1 frames, surrendering six runs on three hits with four walks.
Houge suffered the loss – her fourth of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY
With four home runs on Saturday, Tennessee hit 81 home runs this season – surpassing last season’s total of 79.
Saturday’s win is UT’s 89th in the NCAA Tournament.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols will be back in action Sunday afternoon in the regional final against the winner of game five.
Game Recap: Baseball | May 18, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 1/1 Tennessee completed the series sweep of No. 23/24 South Carolina and clinched its fifth Southeastern Conference regular season title with a 4-1 victory on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Volunteers’ 22nd league victory paired with a Kentucky loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday secured the No. 1 overall seed for the Big Orange in next week’s SEC Tournament.
Zander Sechrist was dominant on the mound for UT, tossing six shutout innings to earn his second win of the year. The senior lefty scattered four hits and did not allow a walk while striking out four batters on the day.
Kavares Tears led the Vols offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Dalton Bargo also had a pair of hits and scored a run from the designated hitter spot.
Tennessee’s three-run fifth inning ended up being the difference in the game as Blake Burke, Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling posted three straight RBI singles to extend the lead to 4-0.
Nate Snead took over for Sechrist to start the seventh and was solid in 1.1 innings of action despite allowing a run on two hits. Aaron Combs came on with one out and two on in the eighth inning and went on to retire the final five batters of the game to lock down his fourth save of the year.
Talmadge LeCroy went 2-for-3 and drove in the only run of the game for the Gamecocks, who fell to 33-21 overall and 13-17 SEC play.
STAT OF THE GAME: Tennessee has now claimed at least a share of the regular-season SEC Championship in two of the last three seasons (2022, 2024) and at least a share of the SEC Eastern Division title in three of the last four years (2021, 2022, 2024).
The Vols now have nine total SEC titles, five regular season and four SEC Tournament crowns. Prior to head coach Tony Vitello‘s tenure, UT’s last SEC title came in 1995 when it won its second straight conference championship after posting a 22-8 record in the league.
UP NEXT: The Vols (45-10, 22-8 SEC) have earned a bye into the double-elimination portion of the SEC Tournament and are slated to play their first game in Hoover at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday afternoon against an opponent that is to be determined.
Tickets for this year’s SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama, can be purchased HERE.
Game Recap: Baseball | May 17, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Top-ranked Tennessee dug itself out of a three-run hole with eight combined runs in the sixth and seventh innings, clinching its ninth straight series win with an 8-3 victory over South Carolina on Friday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
A Christian Moore sixth-inning solo home run ignited the Volunteers’ offense that had struggled against Gamecocks’ starting pitcher Garrett Gainey up until that point.
Following Moore’s 27th homer of the year, Billy Amick and Dylan Dreiling roped back-to-back singles to set the stage for a Hunter Ensley three-run blast to give the Big Orange a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
UT added some insurance with four more runs in the seventh inning, courtesy of a Blake Burke grand slam to make it 8-3. The junior first baseman is the second Vol to hit a pair of grand slams this season, joining Cal Stark.
Drew Beam turned in a vintage outing on the mound for the Vols, posting four strikeouts while allowing just one earned run over six innings of work to earn his eighth victory this year.
All three of South Carolina’s runs came in the second inning when UT committed a pair of errors. The Gamecocks (33-20, 13-16 SEC) also had three hits in the inning, including two RBI singles from Talmadge LeCroy and Gavin Cases.
Cole Messina led USC at the plate with three singles and a run scored while Gainey was stuck with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits, four of which came in the sixth inning.
Moore once again led Tennessee at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, the aforementioned home run and two runs scored. Ensley was the only other UT player to finish with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 on the night.
Relievers Andrew Behnke and Aaron Combs combined for four strikeouts in three scoreless frames out of the bullpen to close out the game. Tennessee’s pitching staff held the Gamecocks hitless over the final four innings.
STATS OF THE GAME: Burke’s grand slam in the seventh inning was UT’s 11th of the season, adding to its program record. It also moved the Vols into a tie for third in NCAA history for grand slams in a single season while setting a new SEC record, surpassing LSU’s 1998 squad that hit 10.
The NCAA single-season record for grand slams is 14, held by Arizona State’s 2003 team. Tennessee’s 11 slams are the most by any team in the BBCOR-bat era (2011-pres.).
After losing their first conference series at Alabama, the Volunteers have reeled off nine consecutive series wins in league play and 11 of their last 12 dating back to last season. It’s nine SEC series wins are tied for the most in a season in program history, matching the 2022 team.
UP NEXT: The Vols will look to earn their SEC series sweep this year when they take on South Carolina in Saturday’s series finale, which is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
![PICKENS TOSSES GEM, #3 [3] LADY VOLS SHUTOUT DAYTON](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2024/05/18062436/Softball-49.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Game Recap: Softball | May 17, 2024
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore Karlyn Pickens pitched a gem against Dayton in Tennessee’s opening game of the 2024 Knoxville Regional, shutting out the Flyers 3-0 at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
Tennessee (41-10) won its 52nd regional game in program history as Pickens earned her 20th victory of the season.
The right-hander tossed her 14th complete game and picked up an 11th shutout as she held Dayton to two hits. Pickens was efficient as she tallied 12 strikeouts on 76 pitches over seven innings of work.
When the Flyers did manage to put the ball in play, UT’s defense – highlighted by Laura Mealer with multiple spectacular plays in the field – picked up its pitcher to keep Dayton off the scoreboard.
Destiny Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs in the second inning to spark the offense to a 2-0 lead.
Sophia Nugent added a little insurance in the fifth as she knocked a single through the left side of the infield to tack on Tennessee’s third run of the game.
With its three-run win, Tennessee improves to 37-0 this season when it scores three-plus in a game.
Dayton (33-20) started Haven Dwyer in the circle on Friday afternoon. Dwyer tossed 3.2 frames before giving way to Izzy Kemp in the fourth. Dwyer finished the outing surrendering two runs – one earned – on two hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
Kemp went two innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and a strikeout. Sarah Bailitz relieved her with two outs in the sixth and struck out the only batter she faced.
Tennessee had four hits off Dayton’s pitching staff from Taylor Pannell, McKenna Gibson, Nugent and Rodriguez.
Nico Papavasiliou and Kaelene Walter collected the Flyers’ two hits on the day.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is back in action on Saturday as it faces Virginia in the winner’s bracket game at 1 p.m. ET. The winner of game three will advance to Sunday’s game six, while the loser will have to play in game five on Saturday night at approximately 6 p.m.
Anderson County, TN (WOKI) We’re learning more now about April’s deadly plane crash that happened near Knoxville in Anderson County.
A report released from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that the pilot, 45-year-old James Evan Scarlett, was flying from St. Petersburg, FL to Grand Rapids, MI with a stop at McGhee Tyson Airport.
After takeoff, NTSB says Scarlett reported that the plane was “accumulating moisture” before declaring a “MAYDAY.”
From there, NTSB’s report said the plane spiraled towards the ground about 15 miles from McGhee Tyson. The report also contained witness reports of the crash.
A witness reported that he was outside his residence when he heard what initially sounded like a propeller-driven airplane, but then resembled a “car over-revving.” He looked up and observed an airplane “falling out of the sky, twirling” and descending below the clouds until he lost sight of it. Subsequently, he heard “parts hitting the ground” nearby. He then located what was later identified as the airplane’s vertical stabilizer and rudder. – NTSB
Scarlett was the only person onboard the plane.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Michael Gray Jr., the son involved in a multi-county child abuse and murder case that involved his parents, will not see jail time despite pleading guilty Friday in a Knox County courtroom.
Gray Jr. plead guilty to two felonies and two misdemeanors, including criminally negligent homicide, and was sentenced to just under eight years of supervised probation.
His case was closely tied with his parents Michael and Shirley Gray who are headed to prison for the rest of their lives after killing two of their adopted children and abusing others.
Gray Jr. was charged after the body of a six-year-old boy was found buried at his Knox County home in 2020. He was also found to have, along with his parents, abused an 11-year-old who was found dead on his parent’s property in Roane County.
Investigators also said Michael Gray Jr. and his parents would place the four children in “punishment rooms” at his home, which were described as filthy animal cages and closets. While in these “punishment rooms,” the children would not receive medical care and were often only fed bread and water, investigators said.
While this was happening, Michael Gray Jr. also claimed two of the children as dependents. That continued during a time when at least one of those children was dead, according to investigators.
During the hearing, Michael Gray Jr.’s attorney argued that he was not the main abuser in the case.
Michael Gray Jr. was sentenced to 7 years, 11 months and 28 days of supervised probation.
