KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball standouts Karlyn Pickens and Taylor Pannell have been named to the Softball America First Team All-America list, the organization announced Tuesday. Pickens was also selected as Softball America’s 2025 National Pitcher of the Year.
Pickens, a two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, leads the nation with a 0.90 ERA and holds a 22-8 record in the circle. The right-hander has recorded a career-best 252 strikeouts over 186.1 innings while limiting opposing batters to a .168 average. In 37 appearances—including 27 starts—she has tossed 20 complete games and six shutouts.
The Weaverville, North Carolina, native is now a five-time All-American, including a consensus first-team selection in 2024 and D1Softball Freshman All-American honors in 2023. This marks her first national pitcher of the year award.
Pannell, a native of Milan, Illinois, enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, setting career highs in nearly every offensive category. She hit .399 with 65 hits, 51 runs scored, 11 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, and 62 RBIs. She also posted a .502 on-base percentage, .767 slugging percentage, 33 walks, and nine stolen bases.
A two-time All-SEC First Team honoree, Pannell was named to the NFCA Mid-Atlantic Region First Team for the first time last week. This is her first career All-America honor.
The Lady Vols continue postseason play this weekend, hosting Nebraska in the Knoxville Super Regional, May 23-25.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR) are actively working together to determine the best path forward for black bear rehabilitation in Tennessee.
In 2023, six bears housed at ABR developed pneumonia, resulting in the death of one bear, euthanasia of two, and medical treatment of the remaining three. Again in 2024, pneumonia was identified in bears in the same enclosure, resulting in the difficult decision to euthanize 13 bears who had all been exposed to the affected bears.
In mid-April, TWRA received necropsy results from the 13 euthanized bears, which confirmed 10 of the 13 bears had pneumonia.
While testing was underway, TWRA staff sought input from bear managers in other states on best management practices and pen sanitation measures such as discing, burns, and leaving pens empty on an annual rotational schedule. Because of the risk of pathogen exposure to the larger bear population, TWRA will not place bears at the facility while work to implement sanitation protocols continues.
“Appalachian Bear Rescue has already completed extensive modifications and upgrades to our rescue facilities and operational protocols to mitigate future disease risks as per the recommendations of our wildlife veterinarians and disease pathologists,” said members of the ABR Board of Directors. “We will be ready and willing to accept bear cubs in need, and we are currently working with TWRA for approval. Our legacy of success is only possible due to the unwavering support of the public whose compassion for our wildlife resources continues to fuel our mission to give bears a second chance.”
TWRA leadership is also actively working with ABR to draft an official operating agreement to strengthen the relationship between the two entities, set clear expectations for best management practices for bear rehabilitation, and provide transparency to members of the public invested in wildlife conservation. At this time, board members of ABR are reviewing and providing their feedback on a proposed agreement. The agency is optimistic that an agreement can be reached that ultimately benefits the black bear population of Tennessee.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is the state agency tasked with preserving, conserving, managing, protecting, and enhancing the fish and wildlife of the state and their habitats for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the citizens of Tennessee and its visitors. TWRA is also the permitting agency that regulates animal rehabilitation facilities.
Appalachian Bear Rescue is a wildlife rehabilitation facility that has cared for more than 400 black bear cubs and yearlings from nine states and multiple National Park sites over the course of its 29-year history. Countless other wild bears have benefited from educational outreach and research initiatives.
In East Tennessee, black bears are abundant and actively expanding across their historic native range in Tennessee. Bears have large home ranges which can overlap into multiple states and cross paths with numerous other bears. TWRA biologists manage at the population level to ensure conservation goals are met.
Morgan County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) A Morgan County deputy has been charged in connection to a deadly officer-involved shooting.
Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation say deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office went to a burglary call at a home on Ray Cross Road in Harriman on May 2 wherein Deputy Charles Faircloth shot John A. Cox, who later died at the hospital.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Cox was shot multiple times after picking up a large rock and coming at the deputy.
“The first deputy on scene was already on his way to the sheriff’s office in his sheriff’s department marked vehicle when the call was dispatched. He arrived at the scene and was confronted by the subject who was the reason for the 911 call,” District Attorney General Russell Johnson said. “The adult male subject picked up a large rock and came after the deputy who shot multiple times.”
A Morgan County Grand Jury Monday returned indictments charging Faircloth with one count of criminally negligent homicide and one count of official misconduct.
Faircloth surrendered to authorities at the Loudon County Jail Tuesday and was booked on a $5,000 bond.
District Attorney General Johnson sent WOKI’s news partner, WVLT News, the following statement after Faircloth was indicted:
“When a law enforcement officer responds to a scene of unknown threat, we expect them to do so with the courage of Daniel and the strength of Samson. Once there, we expect them to assess the situation with the wisdom of Solomon and to exercise the patience of Job to remedy the threat without the loss of a life, especially their own, but also that of the person causing the disturbance.
In essence, we expect the impossible from them. Sometimes death of the threatening individual occurs.
We, as the district attorney’s office, turn to the grand jury whose membership consists of constitutionally appointed citizens of the community to weigh the actions of law enforcement and the outcome of these deadly encounters against the standards that they as citizen grand jurors expect in their community as they balance those expectations against the applicable law as set forth by the Legislature .
In this case, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation presented the results of their investigation to the Morgan County Grand Jury, including interviews, 911 and dispatch transmissions, as well as a 3-D rendition of the scene and the toxicology and autopsy results.
After the presentation, the grand jury members deliberated and returned an indictment for criminally negligent homicide and official misconduct against the responding officer, Morgan County Sheriff’s Deputy Ray Faircloth.
Deputy Faircloth was the first officer to arrive at Ray Cross Road and confronted John Anthony Cox, the subject of the 911 call. Faircloth ultimately shot four times killing Cox who was brandishing a rock at Deputy Fairfield’s approach.
Faircloth’s bond was set by Morgan County Criminal Court Judge Jeff Wicks at $5,000. His arraignment is set for next Tuesday at the Morgan County Courthouse, as are all other cases indicted during this term of the grand jury.” – 9th District Attorney General Russell Johnson
Additional information was not released.
DA Russell Johnson said Deputy Faircloth shot a man who was charging at him with a rock four times. He later died at the hospital. (Courtesy: Morgan County Sheriff’s Office)
Road Construction will not delay motorists traveling Tennessee’s highways this Memorial Day weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes from noon on Friday, May 23, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for the record-breaking number of motorists expected to take a road trip in the state this Memorial Day weekend.
AAA predicts 948,388 Tennesseans will travel for Memorial Day, with the majority, 800,250, driving to their destination. That’s compared to 783,595 last year.
“We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We also want to remind drivers that it is the law to move over and slow down for first responders and emergency vehicles, including TDOT HELP trucks that will be on patrol during the holiday weekend. So far this year, we’ve had 47 incidents where a driver hit a TDOT vehicle or equipment.”
Motorists may still encounter lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects. In addition, drivers should know that reduced speed limits will be in effect in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.
A man is facing multiple charges after taking a minor from Claiborne County to Pennsylvania without permission.
On Saturday, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office contacted Authorities in Pennsylvania about a missing child.
WVLT reporting that an investigation by CCSO revealed that 18 year-old Talen Bruce, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, drove to Tennessee, picked up the minor and took her back to Pennsylvania without parental permission.
Bruce and the child were found at a motel in Upper Allen, Pennsylvania.
Bruce was arrested and charged with multiple charges:
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is putting out a Silver Alert for a man who hasn’t been seen in a year.
70 year-old Audi Harness from Scott County was last seen on May 4th of last year. Officials say he has a medical condition that may make it difficult for him to return safely without help.
If you know anything about where he may please call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
SULLIVAN COUNTY, TN (WOKI/TWRA)— On the morning of May 18, 2025, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to a report of a sow black bear that had been struck and killed by a vehicle along U.S. Highway 19E in Sullivan County. The response led to the successful rescue and release of three orphaned bear cubs into a remote area of the Cumberland Mountains.
TWRA received the initial call around 7:00 a.m. and had personnel enroute within 30 minutes. By 8:30 a.m., officers were on the scene, but no cubs were immediately visible. Additional staff arrived with trapping equipment, and the deceased female bear was removed from the accident site. Three traps were then set in the area.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., a local resident provided a video showing three bear cubs on the same side of the road as the traps and the sow. This visual confirmation verified that the animals were indeed cubs and not older yearlings.
The first cub was safely captured shortly after the video was shared, and by 4:00 p.m., all three cubs had been secured. They were then transported to a Wildlife Management Area for evaluation and temporary care.
The cubs—two females and one male—appear to be in good health and are considered large for their age, each weighing around 12 pounds. They are able to climb trees, are wary of humans, and have been eating well. “While this is not an ideal situation, our goal is to give these cubs the best possible chance at survival,” said TWRA Bear Program Manager Dan Gibbs. “We have released them in a low-density bear area with minimal human presence to maximize their chances of adapting and thriving in the wild.”
TWRA is continuing to coordinate with Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR); however, ABR is currently unable to accept cubs at this time.
The agency urges drivers to stay alert in areas with frequent wildlife crossings, especially in spring and summer when bear activity increases, and to follow BearWise practices to prevent bears from crossing roads in search of human food.
