Kennett Square, PA (WVLT) Genesis HealthCare, the provider who runs two retirement homes in the East Tennessee region, has filed for bankruptcy. An announcement from the company said the filing shouldn’t impact seniors at Genesis facilities.
“This process is designed to ensure that the Company can continue operating in a seamless manner, while also allowing the Company to address its legacy liabilities associated with previously divested operations,” the announcement said.
Genesis runs two facilities in East Tennessee with a combined 259 beds: Willow Ridge Center in Maynardville with 77 beds for residents and Cumberland Village in LaFollette with 182 beds.
“Our ongoing work has confirmed that, to maintain our momentum, we must address our legacy debt structure,“ the company said further. ”The goal of this filing is to emerge a stronger, healthier company poised to exceed our goals for clinical and operational excellence.”
The company also said it had secured a commitment of $30 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing from lenders.
Genesis runs two facilities in East Tennessee: Willow Ridge Center in Maynardville and Cumberland Village in LaFollette. (Pexels)
Police say Robert Cooke was arrested after he threw Carmen Locket to the ground after he passed Locket’s car on a narrow road and then turned into Locket’s street on August 15th.
After arriving at a house on Mill Run Drive, Cooke approached Locket, who is elderly and has a cast on her left foot from a previous injury, screaming at her and her daughter when he went onto the property and grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground.
He is charged with felony abuse of an elderly adult.
An injured hiker is rescued from a remote area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A flight crew with the Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion responded to Snake Den Ridge Trail last night (Tues) where the man had been hiking.
He was flown to UT Medical Center in Knoxville after he was rescued and his condition has not been released.
Knoxville City Council delays vote on selling part of Chilhowee Park to Emerald Youth to build a sports and recreation facility.
After a lengthy discussion during last night’s (Tues) meeting, council members voted to delay the matter two weeks until the next meeting to offer more conversations with the public.
This comes after dozens of people gathered to voice their concerns about the deal Monday and last night many wanting transparency from the city.
Representatives of Emerald Youth were on hand last night and they initially said not to postpone the vote.
However, some city council members said they first heard of this proposal only days before the meeting. While not opposed to it, they said more clarity is needed before voting on the matter.
Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon is in support of the project.
City Council’s next meeting is scheduled for September 2.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee announced Wednesday afternoon that the men’s basketball program has sold its complete allotment of 14,500 season tickets for the 2025-26 campaign at the Food City Center.
This is the seventh consecutive full-capacity season in which over 13,000 fans have purchased season tickets to see the Volunteers compete, including the fourth in a row above 14,000 and the third consecutive year Tennessee has sold out.
Single-game tickets will go on sale later at AllVols.com. Fans seeking to bring a large group to Food City Center this season can begin that process HERE. Additionally, fans interested in learning more about season tickets for 2026-27 can do so by clicking HERE.
Tennessee has finished top-eight nationally in average attendance eight of the past seven full-capacity seasons, including placing top-five in each of the past seven. The program’s 20,026 average in 2024-25 ranked third in the country, its highest finish this century, and fourth in program history. Just eight teams in Division I, including Tennessee, had a mark of even 16,000-plus.
Eight of the top 18 regular season single-game attendances in America in 2024-25 came at Food City Center, including two of the top four. The 22,392 on hand for the Volunteers’ thrilling 79-76 victory over sixth-ranked Alabama on March 1 marked the second-largest figure at the venue since the 2007-08 capacity reduction.
Tennessee had eight home sellouts during the 2024-25 season, tying the program record set just one year prior in 2023-24. On two separate occasions last season, the Volunteers sold out three consecutive home matchups.
Furthermore, Tennessee had at least 20,000 fans in attendance 10 times in 2024-25, tied for its second-most ever in a campaign. It hit that mark seven times in a row, tying the school’s single-season record.
The Volunteers are coming off one of its finest campaigns in program history. Tennessee went 30-8 (12-6 SEC) and, for the second year in a row, reached the Elite Eight on the way to finishing fifth nationally in both major national polls.
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.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has named a starting quarterback, and the 18th-ranked Volunteers have begun preparations for their season opener with mock game week.
Heupel met with the media Tuesday and discussed how Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who enrolled in June, earned the starting job.
“Joey, through the course of training camp, each and every day, continued to grow and take steps and understand what we’re doing and comfort level,” Heupel said. “He played well in the scrimmages, had good command and that ultimately led to the decision that we made.”
Aguilar will make his 25th start at the FBS level in his 26th FBS game. He has completed 511-of-850 passes for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns, while rushing for 452 yards on 140 attempts with five rushing scores.
In addition, Heupel discussed the return of multiple wide receivers back to full speed in practice, including senior Chris Brazzell II and redshirt sophomore Braylon Staley.
Tennessee will practice Wednesday through Saturday, treating the remainder of the week like a normal game schedule. The Volunteers kick off against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at noon ET on Aug. 30 in Atlanta. Tickets are on sale at AllVols.com.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Aug. 19, 2025 Head Coach Josh Heupel
Opening statement “We’re in the normal schedule this week. We got our guys starting school, you know. So, I like what we’ve done throughout the course of training camp. We still got some time here, before we get to kickoff, some things we got to clean up, all three phases of the game, but looking forward to this week and continuing to grow and then ultimately getting ready for Syracuse and getting ready to go play ball.”
On matching a quarterback’s skillset with the specific details of the offense… “Ultimately, in the pass game, there are certain things they may be most confident in as you gameplan week to week, that’s part of it. But, you know, some things you put in to attack certain things you see on film, you know, you try to get them to understand the ‘why’ behind it. Offensively, they chang from year to year, you change from year to year, and it starts with quarterback and offensive line and where you can put your skill players to have success and Joey, through this week and really what he’s done through training camp learning what we’re doing offensively as we get ready for Syracuse here at the end of the week, making sure that things that are in play, he feels good about and that’s one of the things with young quarterbacks and with new quarterbacks is getting them to be transparent in those things.”
On what impressed him the most about Joey Aguilar during camp to go win the starting job… “First of all, that entire room competed at a really high level. They competed the right way too. They pushed each other in a positive way in the meeting room. Out on the practice field, I think our team has great confidence in all of those guys. Joey, through the course of training camp, each and every day, continued to grow and take steps and understand what we’re doing and comfort level. He played well in the scrimmages, had good command and that ultimately led to the decision that we made.”
On why he believes Joey Aguilar gives Tennessee the best chance to win… “I said it a second ago, but I have great trust in all of those guys. The strength of one position room, quarterback included, can never be just one guy. Those guys have all grown, but I think Joey coming in May, having to learn the offense throughout the late spring and summertime, getting his feet on the grass with our guys, learn how we practice, but also growing each day, continued to trend upward in his comfort and control and command of what we’re doing. His decision-making accuracy with the football, you know, our checks that he controls, you put all that together and that’s ultimately why we made the decision.”
On the state of the starting center competition… “Yeah, (William Satterwhite and Sam Pendleton) both those guys have competed really well, grown during the course of our practices. It’s still a competition. We’re going to need both of them as we get to the fall too.”
On sustaining success with different playing styles over the years… “I think it’s a combination, what defenses you’re seeing and how you can attack them, putting guys in the position to be successful. And then your personnel changes. That certainly starts with the quarterback, but the other 10 on the offensive side of the ball, as well.”
On young defensive tackles that will be called to action… “Those guys have done a really good job. You look at where they were in January, when they got here, the player that they were in spring ball and the growth of what they’re doing here in training camp. Ethan Utley, explosive playing twitch hit at the line of scrimmage, doing a good job at the point of attack. Isaiah Campbell, wide hit, but strong, explosive power. Both of those guys continue to grow in a really good way.”
On what it takes to know if a young player is ready to be in the spotlight of a game… “Well, sometimes it takes being in the spotlight and being in the game to truly understand. You’re looking for the trends of what they’re doing in the meeting room, their ability to communicate. It can be offensively, their assignment defensively, all the checks that go into it, the ability to play the next play during the course of practice, how they respond to something that didn’t go their way. Ultimately, here in training camp the way they compete on a consistent basis, with fundamentals, technique, being assignment sound and playing as hard as you can from snap to whistle.”
On the status of Chris Brazzell II, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley… “Mike has been with us for a long time. There were a couple days where we limited him. Chris has been with us here the last few days, and (Braylon Staley) was with us this last day as well.”
On the message to Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre after naming Joey Aguilar as the starting quarterback… “First of all, I met with all of them at the same time. You recognize … I’ve been in that situation, on both sides of it. You understand that there’s going to be heartache and disappointment, and if it’s not that way, then you have a real problem. It was a tough decision for us. We talked about it with those guys. I think the transparency of that breeds confidence in what they’re all hearing at the same time. Through that night, there’s the pain of disappointment, right? Coming the next day, you have to find a way to be a great teammate, be the same guy that you have and continue to compete. You name a starter, but you never know when your opportunity is coming, and this message was given to those guys as we sat in the room together. It was given to the entire team, too. You have to prepare yourself for when your opportunity is going to come to take advantage of that. (Jake) has been great in the building, energy and focus. (George) has been the same way. I just want those guys to continue to grow.”
On adjusting to changes from new starters on offense… “We’ve talked about it with our players, and I’ve talked about it with our staff too. You have to be elite in your ability to teach and help these guys grow through every phase of our offseason. Our staff has done a great job. Our young guys have been highly competitive, highly diligent in their ability to grow every single day. We’re not a finished product. Good teams continue to get better throughout the course of the year, and you have to take advantage of every day. But our young guys have prepared in a really good way, and I think they’re extremely confident right now. There’s a lot of growth that has to happen before the first kickoff, certainly, but if they continue to attack it, we’ll be ready to go play.”
On Boo Carter’s status… “Boo has continued to grow in the things we’re asking him, to be a great teammate inside of this building every single day. The charge for him and all of us, is to continue to do that. Boo has continued to grow in what he is doing on the field, so I’m excited and pleased with a lot of things that we’ve seen from him.”
On the expected role for Amari Jefferson this season… “Amari, coming off the hip surgery as he onboarded here, was limited throughout the course of the workout offseason, the winter part of it, and then got an opportunity in spring ball to grow on the back half of it on the football side. He did a great job during the course of the summer dramatically changing his body. He’s a guy that has made some plays out there on the practice field and in the stadium during our scrimmages as well. I expect him to continue to grow throughout the course of the fall here.”
On his experience as a quarterback impacting the decision of naming a starter… “I think first of all, I’ve said it before, since we started our first practice, somebody has to go and take it. They went through that, got through two scrimmages and another practice with those guys competing. I think with how (Joey Aguilar) was continuing to grow inside of it, it felt like it was the right time for him, but for our football team too. Certainly, having this week, knowing that you’re going to be the guy, gives him the chance to get his feet on the ground and get ready for kickoff here in a week and a half.”
BALTIMORE – The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced Tuesday afternoon that Tennessee senior quarterback Joey Aguilar was named to the 2025 preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is on track to graduate with their class.
The signal caller from Antioch, California, is one of 58 quarterbacks on the list, including one of 13 from the Southeastern Conference.
Aguilar will make his 25th FBS start when the Vols open the 2025 campaign in Atlanta against Syracuse on Saturday, Aug. 30. He enters the season as the FBS active career leader in total offense per game (288.5, minimum 2,500 yards) and ranks second in passing yards per game (270.4, minimum 5,000 yards).
Recently named UT’s starting quarterback by head coach Josh Heupel, Aguilar arrived on Rocky Top in the summer of 2025 after spending the previous two seasons at App State. In 25 games with the Mountaineers, he completed 511-of-850 passes (60.0 percent) for 6,760 yards and 56 touchdowns, both ranking fifth in App State program history.
Now in its 39th year, the Golden Arm Award continues to honor excellence both on and off the field. The award is presented by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation in partnership with A. O. Smith Corporation, whose mission aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to advancing the game of football while promoting character, leadership, and academic achievement among young athletes.
As the 2025 college football season unfolds, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list will be narrowed to semifinalists and finalists before one standout quarterback will take home the award in December. The winner will be celebrated at the annual Golden Arm Award ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Johnny Unitas’ hometown of Baltimore—an unforgettable night honoring leadership, legacy, and the best in college football.
Miles Kitselman, TE, R-Sr. Mackey Award Watch List Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Jermod McCoy, DB, Jr. Bednarik Award Watch List Nagurski Trophy Watch List Jim Thorpe Award Watch List Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List First Team All-American (Athlon, ESPN, PFF, Sporting News, Walter Camp) First Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media)
Jaxson Moi, DL, Sr. Polynesian College Player of the Year Award Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, R-Jr. Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Six Tennessee players were tabbed to the Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams, which were voted on by the league’s 16 head coaches and released by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.
McCoy enters the year widely regarded as one of the nation’s top corners after a breakout sophomore season for the Volunteers that earned him first team All-SEC recognition as well as second team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated.
The Whitehouse, Texas, native, and Thorpe Award semifinalist finished third on the team with 44 total tackles and led the team with 13 passes defended, which ranked fourth in the conference. He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions in 2024, two of which occurred in the end zone and prevented touchdowns.
Brazzell II made a significant impact during his first season on Rocky Top in 2024, playing in all 13 games with nine starts, and enters 2025 as the team’s leading returning wide receiver. The Midland, Texas, native, finished third on the team in receptions (29) and fourth in receiving yards (333) to go along with a pair of touchdown catches last season, none bigger than his game-winning touchdown grab late in the fourth quarter against No. 7 Alabama.
Heard is UT’s lone returning starter on the offensive line from last season’s College Football Playoff team. The junior started all 11 games he played in at left tackle in 2024 after transferring in from LSU. A former five-star recruit, Heard is poised for a strong junior campaign after having a great offseason. The Bonita, Louisiana, native, allowed just two sacks and three quarterback hits in 753 offensive snaps last year according to PFF.
One of the team’s undisputed leaders, Kitselman enters his final collegiate season looking to build off a solid 2024 campaign that saw him start all 13 games at tight end for the Big Orange. The Lyndon, Kansas, native, led the Vols’ tight end unit with 22 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns last year after transferring in from Alabama.
Arion Carter returns for his junior season after starting all 13 games at linebacker in 2024 and leading Tennessee with 68 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss. The in-state product also had six pass breakups and an interception to go along with three quarterback hurries as a sophomore to help lead the Volunteers to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.
An SEC All-Freshman team selection last year, Boo Carter showcased his impressive instincts and athleticism throughout the 2024 season while emerging as the Vols’ starter at STAR in the second half of the year. The Tennessee native played in all 13 games and made five starts while also demonstrating his impressive playmaking ability as a punt returner, leading the league in punt return average (16.5). Carter finished sixth on the team with 38 total tackles and added three tackles for loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries and recorded one interception during his debut season on Rocky Top.
The complete Preseason All-SEC teams can be seen HERE.
Miles Kitselman, TE, R-Sr. Mackey Award Watch List Third Team All-SEC (Coaches) Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Jermod McCoy, DB, Jr. Bednarik Award Watch List Nagurski Trophy Watch List Jim Thorpe Award Watch List Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List First Team All-American (AP, Athlon, ESPN, PFF, Sporting News, Walter Camp) First Team All-SEC (Athlon, Coaches, Media)
Jaxson Moi, DL, Sr. Polynesian College Player of the Year Award Watch List
Jackson Ross, P, R-Jr. Fourth Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville police arrest a convicted felon in possession of a handgun following a traffic stop.
KPD says officers stopped a car early Sunday morning in the area of East Hill Avenue and Historic Preservation Drive for an equipment violation.
Officers report witnessing the driver attempting to hide something on the passenger side of the vehicle. Further investigation by officers, including a positive K-9 alert to the presence of narcotics, lead to the discovery of a Taurus handgun and a small amount of marijuana.
The driver, a 21-year-old man who was convicted previously of aggravated robbery from an incident in 2023, was taken into custody for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Knoxville police seize handgun and marijuana from convicted felon during a traffic stop. (Courtesy: KPD)
A fixture in many homes for several years delivering the news as presumably the most trusted journalist in Knoxville, WBIR anchor emeritus Bill Williams has died.
He died at his home in Knoxville yesterday (Monday) afternoon at the age of 91. He settled into to his new home here in East Tennessee in 1977. He was the consummate professional, storyteller and a man of great faith. He suffered many personal losses in life, losing two sons and his wife. He battled serious illnesses but he never lost faith in God and was always a faithful Christian.
He used that faith in all aspects of his life including his professional career which spanned decades. He created Monday’s Child* which featured special needs children who needed a forever home. Bill met with each child for 30 years, even after his retirement. During that time, close to 1,500 kids were profiled, with more than a thousand of them finding a family. (*courtesy of WBIR)
While reporting on the poverty in the mountains of Appalachia, he inspired the Mission of Hope.
He loved fishing and the outdoors but most of all he loved his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
