Knoxville News Sentinel In an unusual public rebuke Wednesday night, several members of the Knox County Board of Health chastised County Mayor Glenn Jacobs for narrating a dystopian video posted last week that targeted public health officials.What started out as a typical board meeting turned into a tongue-lashing after board member Dr. Maria Hurt played the video — which was quickly taken down last week after it was posted — and called out Jacobs for creating a threatening environment for the board.Hurt said her grown children begged her after the video was posted to make sure...…Knoxville News Sentinel In an unusual public rebuke Wednesday night, several members of the Knox County Board of Health chastised County Mayor Glenn Jacobs for narrating a dystopian video posted last week that targeted public health officials.What started out as a typical board meeting turned into a tongue-lashing after board member Dr. Maria Hurt played the video — which was quickly taken down last week after it was posted — and called out Jacobs for creating a threatening environment for the board.Hurt said her grown children begged her after the video was posted to make sure...WW…

Knoxville News Sentinel The secret is out: East Tennessee is building on its reputation as a mountain biker's heaven. With the opening last week of a new bike park in Oak Ridge, the region now boasts six— and soon to be seven — mountain biking parks and trails. "We know we currently are a regional draw and well on our way to becoming a national draw," said Legacy Parks director Carol Evans.Dirt Lab, named for its proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is the latest in a collection of parks that has made this rugged part of the state a burgeoning...…Knoxville News Sentinel The secret is out: East Tennessee is building on its reputation as a mountain biker's heaven. With the opening last week of a new bike park in Oak Ridge, the region now boasts six— and soon to be seven — mountain biking parks and trails. "We know we currently are a regional draw and well on our way to becoming a national draw," said Legacy Parks director Carol Evans.Dirt Lab, named for its proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is the latest in a collection of parks that has made this rugged part of the state a burgeoning...WW…

Knoxville News Sentinel The Knox County Commission moved closer to stripping the board of health of its power to enact pandemic regulations, though plenty of questions remain about whether the commission has the legal authority to do so.The commission crafted, but did not yet recommend, a resolution that would require Knox County to instead follow the state's Tennessee Pledge, a far less restrictive set of recommendations that do not require masks or restrict business hours, including for restaurants and bars. They will vote on the resolution next Monday.The resolution also seeks...…Knoxville News Sentinel The Knox County Commission moved closer to stripping the board of health of its power to enact pandemic regulations, though plenty of questions remain about whether the commission has the legal authority to do so.The commission crafted, but did not yet recommend, a resolution that would require Knox County to instead follow the state's Tennessee Pledge, a far less restrictive set of recommendations that do not require masks or restrict business hours, including for restaurants and bars. They will vote on the resolution next Monday.The resolution also seeks...WW…

Knoxville News SentinelView Comments Rhea County Executive George Thacker went weeks without posting a coronavirus update on Facebook, but he returned Wednesday with some alarming news: COVID-19 cases in the county were expected to jump from 13 to around 180 in just one day.The state Thursday afternoon to 188 cases. Reports of the spike come just one day after the county's cases dropped from 15 to 13. "A lot of time, I'm always telling you good things — that we've only had a few numbers," Thacker said in his video message. "I know this is Memorial Day weekend,...…Knoxville News SentinelView Comments Rhea County Executive George Thacker went weeks without posting a coronavirus update on Facebook, but he returned Wednesday with some alarming news: COVID-19 cases in the county were expected to jump from 13 to around 180 in just one day.The state Thursday afternoon to 188 cases. Reports of the spike come just one day after the county's cases dropped from 15 to 13. "A lot of time, I'm always telling you good things — that we've only had a few numbers," Thacker said in his video message. "I know this is Memorial Day weekend,...WW…

Knoxville News SentinelView CommentsThe University of has hired two Overland Park, Kansas-based attorneys to assist its, Knox News has learned.Lawyers and will work alongside the university. Glazier is well-known for his work on investigations involving college athletics."We take seriously our institutional commitment to NCAA compliance, and are reviewing regulatory issues that have been brought to our attention," university spokeswoman Tyra Haag said in a statement Monday to Knox News."As part of that process, we are currently working with attorneys Kyle Skillman and Michael Glazier with...…Knoxville News SentinelView CommentsThe University of has hired two Overland Park, Kansas-based attorneys to assist its, Knox News has learned.Lawyers and will work alongside the university. Glazier is well-known for his work on investigations involving college athletics."We take seriously our institutional commitment to NCAA compliance, and are reviewing regulatory issues that have been brought to our attention," university spokeswoman Tyra Haag said in a statement Monday to Knox News."As part of that process, we are currently working with attorneys Kyle Skillman and Michael Glazier with...WW…

Knoxville News SentinelView Comments Who doesn't love ? The hitmaker and humanitarian has achieved a lot in her 76 years of life, and she's not slowing down. To celebrate her 76th birthday, we've come up with 76 reasons why we'll always love Parton. From decades of philanthropy to the small things she's done to make the world a better place for everyone, here's a reason for each year of Parton's life. 1. She helped fund a cure for COVID-19 Leave it to Parton to end the coronavirus pandemic – or, at least, try. to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after her...…Knoxville News SentinelView Comments Who doesn't love ? The hitmaker and humanitarian has achieved a lot in her 76 years of life, and she's not slowing down. To celebrate her 76th birthday, we've come up with 76 reasons why we'll always love Parton. From decades of philanthropy to the small things she's done to make the world a better place for everyone, here's a reason for each year of Parton's life. 1. She helped fund a cure for COVID-19 Leave it to Parton to end the coronavirus pandemic – or, at least, try. to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after her...WW…

Knoxville News SentinelView Comments It's finally springtime in the Smokies, and as nice as it is to bask in nature, Michelle Eberhart and her friends learned the hard way that the great outdoors belongs outside.The friends were visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time this weekend when an unexpected guest pushed open the door of their cabin. Eberhart — of Shelbyville, Indiana — discovered a black bear walking around the bottom floor of the cabin while three other bears watched from the back porch of the building. "It was almost surreal. It...…Knoxville News SentinelView Comments It's finally springtime in the Smokies, and as nice as it is to bask in nature, Michelle Eberhart and her friends learned the hard way that the great outdoors belongs outside.The friends were visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time this weekend when an unexpected guest pushed open the door of their cabin. Eberhart — of Shelbyville, Indiana — discovered a black bear walking around the bottom floor of the cabin while three other bears watched from the back porch of the building. "It was almost surreal. It...WW…

Knoxville News SentinelView Comments A Knox News reporter who covers the science of the coronavirus crisis was barred by a Knox County official from participating in Friday's health department media briefing. has pressed the health department during the briefings - conducted every weekday online in the Zoom video conferencing tool - for specific information about the data it is using to inform its decisions.In a piece published online Thursday and in print Friday, Gabrielle explained during each phase of its three-phase reopening plan.When Gabrielle, who holds a master's degree in...…Knoxville News SentinelView Comments A Knox News reporter who covers the science of the coronavirus crisis was barred by a Knox County official from participating in Friday's health department media briefing. has pressed the health department during the briefings - conducted every weekday online in the Zoom video conferencing tool - for specific information about the data it is using to inform its decisions.In a piece published online Thursday and in print Friday, Gabrielle explained during each phase of its three-phase reopening plan.When Gabrielle, who holds a master's degree in...WW…

Tennessee center Cooper Mays missed the first four games of the season after undergoing hernia surgery in August. He returned against South Carolina.Watch Next  MTSU football: Safety Tra Fluellen discusses loss to HilltoppersVIDEO: MTSU QB Nick Vattiato discusses return trip to WKU…Tennessee center Cooper Mays missed the first four games of the season after undergoing hernia surgery in August. He returned against South Carolina.Watch Next  MTSU football: Safety Tra Fluellen discusses loss to HilltoppersVIDEO: MTSU QB Nick Vattiato discusses return trip to WKUWW…

FOOTBALL Adam SparksKnoxville News SentinelTennessee football starting center Cooper Mays said it hurt so good to finally make his season debut against South Carolina following hernia surgery in August.“If felt good for me to get out there,” Mays said Wednesday in his first public comments this season. “Sometimes it hurts to play the game. That’s just how it is. I’ve been a little bit sore, but (I am) getting back this week and getting ready for next week too.”Mays, a preseason All-SEC selection, played in 70 of 74 offensive snaps in UT’s 41-20 win over South Carolina on Saturday. That’s on...…FOOTBALL Adam SparksKnoxville News SentinelTennessee football starting center Cooper Mays said it hurt so good to finally make his season debut against South Carolina following hernia surgery in August.“If felt good for me to get out there,” Mays said Wednesday in his first public comments this season. “Sometimes it hurts to play the game. That’s just how it is. I’ve been a little bit sore, but (I am) getting back this week and getting ready for next week too.”Mays, a preseason All-SEC selection, played in 70 of 74 offensive snaps in UT’s 41-20 win over South Carolina on Saturday. That’s on...WW…