GATLINBURG, TN (WOKI) —The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with Friends of the Smokies, is beginning a multi-year rehabilitation of the iconic Bullhead Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Beginning May 5, the park will close Bullhead Trail from Monday through Thursday each week, excluding federal holidays, through November 6, 2025.
The Bullhead Trail is one of several routes that lead to Mount LeConte, offering a challenging 13.6-mile roundtrip hike to the summit. Through this rehabilitation, the park will enhance overall trail safety by repairing tread surfaces, improving drainage, constructing trail structures such as staircases, turnpikes, and retaining walls, and removing tripping hazards like exposed rocks and roots. These efforts will also help protect the park’s natural resources.
Hikers are welcome to hike Bullhead Trail Friday through Sunday. The park plans to reopen the trail fully on November 6 and resume the rehabilitation in May 2026.
Following the completion of the Ramsey Cascades Trail rehabilitation in 2024, the park and Friends of the Smokies are beginning this rehabilitation of Bullhead Trail as the next project in the Trails Forever program. This program funds a permanent, highly skilled trail crew dedicated to the rehabilitation of high-use trails throughout the park. To date, Friends has contributed more than $4 million to rehabilitation projects, including those on Abrams Falls, Trillium Gap, Rainbow Falls, Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Forney Ridge and Ramsey Cascades trails.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Two-time first-team All-SEC edge rusher James Pearce Jr. became the latest Tennessee Vol to add his name to the program’s legacy of first round draft choices.
Pearce Jr. was selected with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, who traded up to take him Thursday night. With the draft taking place in Green Bay, Pearce Jr. held a family draft party in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pearce is Tennessee’s 48th all-time first round pick and the second in three years under head coach Josh Heupel. Offensive tackle Darnell Wright was taken No. 10 overall by Chicago in 2023.
Pearce is the first Tennessee player to be selected by Atlanta since defensive end Demetrin Veal went in the seventh round in 2003.
Pearce’s path to Tennessee began as a five-star recruit out of Chambers High School in Charlotte. In his three seasons on Rocky Top, he was a key part of the program’s resurgence and defensive prowess as the Vols won 29 games and ranked in the top 10 in the nation in tackles for loss his last two years.
Pearce generated 113 quarterback pressures in his three seasons and finished tied for 10th in UT all-time career sacks with 19.5, representing the most by a Vol since first rounder Derek Barnett had a school record 33 from 2014-16.
Pearce became the first UT defensive lineman to earn back-to-back first-team All-SEC honors since College Football Hall of Famer John Henderson from 2000-01. Pearce finished his junior season with 55 total pressures, 38 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 10 QB hurries. He also showed up in a significant way in big games, logging tackles for loss against Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia and Ohio State.
It’s the third time in four years that Tennessee has produced at least one defensive lineman selected in the first five rounds under the tutelage of Rodney Garner and Levorn Harvin.
Additional Vols now wait to hear their names called the next two days. Rounds two and three are Friday beginning at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and NFL Network. Rounds four through seven get underway at noon Saturday.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell announced that she has received an Institutional Financial Aid Agreement (IFAA) from transfer forward Jersey Wolfenbarger, the No. 7 ranked prospect by espnW in the 2021 high school class and a contributor in every game last season for LSU.
She joins forward Janiah Barker of UCLA and guard Nya Robertson of SMU in UT’s spring portal signing group. Wolfenbarger becomes the eighth player on UT’s projected 2025-26 roster who was ranked among the top 30 high school prospects in their class by espnW and the seventh who was named a McDonald’s All-American.
The 6-foot-5 rising senior appeared in 37 games in 2024-25 and started nine, averaging 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds over 13.2 minutes per contest. She shot a career-best 63 percent from the field for the Tigers last season after making the move to Baton Rouge following two playing seasons at Arkansas.
A product of Fort Smith Northside High School, Wolfenbarger scored in double figures eight times a year ago and tallied two games with 10+ rebounds and a pair of double-doubles. She notched career highs of 18 points and 15 rebounds vs. Louisiana on Dec. 15. Her 23 steals and 35 free throws also were collegiate bests for her.
“Jersey will provide size and speed, which is the perfect combination of what we are looking for,” Caldwell said. “She is a transition player who will help make our team faster and is one of the best rim runners out there. She will be a great fit here.”
For her career, Wolfenbarger has appeared in a combined 102 games at the two SEC schools, earning 35 starts and averaging 5.2 points and 3.6 rebounds. She amassed 22 games of scoring in double figures, five contests with 10 or more boards and four double-doubles.
As a freshman at Arkansas in 2021-22, Wolfenbarger started 23 of 30 games for the Razorbacks, averaging 7.5 points and 4.3 rebounds while hitting a career-high 17 three-pointers. She also posted career bests of 32 assists and 27 blocks along with 21 steals and was honored as SEC Freshman of the Week on Nov. 30.
Along the way, the SEC All-Freshman Team honoree carded 12 games of double-digit points, two with 10 or more rebounds and a pair of double-doubles. She notched season bests of 16 points vs. Central Arkansas, 11 rebounds vs. Missouri and three treys vs. Tennessee en route to 13 points, with the latter igniting a four-game run of double-digit scoring.
In 2022-23, she produced 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while appearing in 35 contests and starting three as a sophomore. She scored in double figures twice and produced 10 or more rebounds on one occasion. Her season highs included 15 points vs. Arkansas State, 12 rebounds and four blocks vs. Oral Roberts and three deep balls vs. Troy.
Wolfenbarger was a consensus five-star player in high school and one of five finalists for the Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Player of the Year Award. She was chosen as the Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020 and earned Arkansas player of the year honors from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Max Preps and the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association in 2021. She won two state titles during her high school career, hitting a buzzer-beater to win the 2019 6A State Championship.
Internationally, Wolfenbarger represented the United States at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, helping her country claim a gold medal with a 7-0 record in Debrecen, Hungary.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) More money for businesses and individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene is now available directly from the State of Tennessee.
Tennessee legislators have set $100 million aside as part of the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund to give help to current and future disaster recovery needs, including needs from Helene.
“Tropical Storm Helene was an unprecedented disaster for our state, and the Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund is part of a comprehensive plan to provide flexible financial resources for current and future emergencies,” said Gov. Lee. “I thank the General Assembly for their partnership and acting swiftly to provide necessary relief for Tennesseans.”
The application window for the assistance opened Monday and is available for local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, farmers and foresters across more than a dozen counties in East Tennessee, including: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
Tennessee legislators have set $100 million aside as part of the Response and Recovery Fund to give help to current and future disaster recovery needs, including needs from Helene. (Courtesy: Tennessee Secretary of State)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Numerous narcotics are seized and a Knoxville man is arrested Tuesday, April 22 in connection to the ongoing investigation into February’s overdose death of a 23-year-old woman.
Knoxville Police Department officials say 30-year-old Allen Roach was arrested during a search warrant conducted at his Cedarwood Street home.
KPD says the search resulted in the seizure of multiple drugs, including approximately eight grams of cocaine, along with digital scales and a loaded handgun.
Allen was subsequently taken into custody on drug charges, maintaining a dwelling for drug use, and possession of a firearm during a dangerous felony.
The investigation into the February overdose death is continuing and is being led by the Knoxville Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit and Drug Related Death Task Force detectives.
Updated story: Sevierville, TN (WOKI) – At approximately 4:30 p.m. yesterday, April 23, 2025, Sevierville Police Department officers responded to Hilltop Child Development Center, 1217 Fox Meadows Boulevard in Sevierville, Tennessee in reference to a man reportedly brandishing a firearm in the parking lot and possibly carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint. When SPD officers arrived, they located the suspect in a Jeep parked near the front doors of the child development center. After a brief standoff, he was taken into custody.
Children and staff were present inside the business at the time of this incident, however no one was harmed or injured. No shots were fired by the suspect or police officers. The suspect had two handguns in his possession.
Detectives have learned that the suspect, 27-year old Tyler Dufrene, had allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend on the evening of April 22, 2025 and subsequently released her on April 23. They took her two children to Hilltop Child Development Center during the morning on April 23. On the way to pick up the children that afternoon, he allegedly demanded that she drive him to New Orleans, however she drove to the development center instead and upon arrival ran from the vehicle into the development center. He reportedly followed, with a firearm, into the building but was unable to locate her. Security protocols in place at the development center prevented him from being able to access areas where children were located. He then left the building and carjacked the Jeep at gunpoint.
“The safety and security procedures that the development center had in place may have prevented this incident from becoming an active shooter or hostage situation within the building,” said SPD Chief Joseph Manning. “The actions of the development center staff and quick, decisive response from SPD officers were outstanding.” Chief Manning also thanks the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Hodges for offering their assistance.
Mr. Dufrene has been charged with carjacking, especially aggravated kidnapping, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated domestic assault, and burglary. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.
All persons are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Original Story: The Sevierville Police Department says an armed man has been arrested outside of a day care center.
Authorities went to the Hilltop Child Development Center on Fox Meadows Boulevard at around yesterday afternoon (Wednesday) after a 911 call reported a man was in the day care’s parking lot with a gun.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found the man near the front door of the day care with a gun, and he was taken into custody without incident.
No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.
DALLAS – Tennessee’s Nate Snead was tabbed as one of the nation’s top relief pitchers Wednesday afternoon, earning a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List.
Snead was one of 56 players named to the midseason watch list for the award, which is presented annually to the top reliever in college baseball.
The Wisconsin native enters this weekend’s series at LSU leading all UT non-starting pitchers with 34.2 innings pitched to go along with a team-high three saves.
The junior righthander has posted a 3-0 record with a 3.37 ERA in 13 appearances while recording 28 strikeouts. Snead was on the preseason watch list for the award after earning first-team All-America honors from the NCBWA last year.
The SEC led all conferences with nine players on the midseason watch list. The full list can be seen HERE.
The NCBWA will announce the finalists for the award on Wednesday, June 4, with the winner being named on Friday, June 13 at the 2025 Men’s College World Series.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, in coordination with more than 4,400 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering communities across the United States a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications.
With nearly 4,500 collection sites nationwide, Take Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired, unwanted, or unused medications from their homes—medications that might otherwise be misused.
Kroger will once again be hosting drug take-back events across Tennessee.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, and Kroger is allowing people to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.
Kroger’s healthcare division, Kroger Health, has partnered with the Cardinal Health Foundation and local law enforcement since 2018 to host the events across the country.
“At Cardinal Health, we are committed to creating a healthier future for all communities,” said Jessie Cannon, president of the Cardinal Health Foundation. “Supporting Kroger Health on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day allows us to provide a safe and accessible way for people to dispose of unwanted medications, while also educating the public about medication safety and reducing the risk of accidental misuse.”
The event’s goal is to offer safe ways to dispose of medications to save lives and keep communities cleaner.
“As many people use this time of year to participate in spring cleaning, this is the perfect opportunity to check their medicine cabinets for expired medications or medications they are no longer using,” said Brenda Barnes, Kroger’s Division Health and Wellness Leader. “Each year, Drug Take Back Day provides us with an opportunity to show our commitment to creating healthier communities by providing a space for anyone to safely dispose of these unused and or expired prescription or nonprescription drugs.”
The events are this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following Kroger locations:
7615 US Highway 70, Bartlett 1203 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin 845 Nashville Pike, Gallatin 2011 Nashville Pike, Gallatin 7735 Farmington Blvd, Germantown 237 E Main St, Hendersonville 1010 Glenbrook Way, Hendersonville 35 West University Pkwy, Jackson 220 Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge 234 East Emory Rd, Powell 3444 Plaza Ave, Memphis 799 Truse Pkwy, Memphis 510 Highway 76, White House
Local law enforcement will be on site to accept unused or expired medication during this time. To learn more about the events, visit here. (Kroger take back story is courtesy of WVLT)
The Oak Ridge Police Department is partnering with the Scarboro Community to host a drug takeback event.
“Drop off items can be: tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, and liquids,” organizers said. “They will be accepted in their packaging, so no need to take them out of their packages or containers.”
Sharp needles nor syringes will be accepted.
“Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue,” officials said. “Proper disposal of unneeded drugs saves lives and protects the environment and our community.”
It takes place during the Community Share Day on April 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Scarboro Community Center.
It’s just one of many locations participating in Drug Takeback Day. (ORPD take back story is courtesy of WVLT)
For sixteen years, the DEA has worked with state and local partners to make safe medication disposal accessible to everyone, helping communities prevent prescription drug misuse and raise awareness of the dangers of keeping unneeded medications in the home.
“Disposing of unneeded, expired medications helps us protect the safety and health of our communities,” said DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz. “Families can minimize the risk of medications falling into the wrong hands by simply bringing unused medications to one of the 4,500 drop-off locations this Saturday. National Prescription Drug Take Bay Day would not be possible without our incredible local and state law enforcement partners and the community groups who work every year to make Take Back Day a success.”
“I encourage everyone to join us this weekend and participate in Take Back Day,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “The small act of cleaning out your home medicine cabinet can have a big impact on the safety of our community by keeping addictive medications away from those who might abuse them.”
DEA and its partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications.
In October 2024, DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and safely destroyed.
Find a collection site near you for Saturday’s event by visiting www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on April 26, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.
