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Feds Sue Tennessee Over Prostitution Law

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Feds Sue Tennessee Over Prostitution Law


The US Justice Department on Thursday sued the state of Tennessee over its decades-old felony aggravated prostitution law, arguing that it illegally imposes tougher criminal penalties on people who are HIV positive. The lawsuit, filed in western Tennessee, follows an investigation completed in December by the Justice Department warning that the statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case heads to court separately from a federal lawsuit filed in October by LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates over the aggravated prostitution law, the AP reports.

Tennessee is the only state that imposes a lifetime registration as a “violent sex offender” on those convicted of engaging in sex work while living with HIV, regardless of whether the person knew they could transmit the disease. “People living with HIV should not be subjected to a different system of justice based on outdated science and misguided assumptions,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement Thursday. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are close to approving a change to the law that would not fully strike it. The Republican-carried legislation would only remove the requirement that those convicted of aggravated prostitution must register as a violent sex offender.

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Prostitution has long been a misdemeanor in Tennessee. But in 1991, lawmakers enacted a harsher statute applying only to sex workers with HIV. Nearly 20 years later, the state legislature revised the law by requiring lifetime sex offender registration for those convicted. Since then, the federal CDC has warned that laws criminalizing HIV exposure are outdated and ineffective. Black and Latino people have been particularly affected by these laws even as the same standards do not apply to other infectious diseases. The lawsuit seeks to require the state not only to stop enforcing the law, but to remove those convicted under it from the sex offender registry and expunge their convictions.

(More Tennessee stories.)





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Tennessee vs Virginia live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game

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Tennessee vs Virginia live updates: Prediction, how to watch March Madness Round 2 game


Follow all of Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second round games with USA TODAY Sports’ live updates.

Tennessee ruined the fun of Miami (Ohio) by dispatching the RedHawks rather handily in the first round, 78-56.

The Vols did so with little contribution from their star freshman Nate Ament, who went scoreless in just 18 minutes, as he was rested dealing with soreness from a high ankle sprain he suffered in late February.

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Ja’Kobi Gillespie picked up the slack with 29 points, including a 6 of 11 performance from behind the arc.

Virginia overcame a slow start for No. 14 seed Wright State to pick up the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since they won the national championship in 2019.

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Jacari White led the way for Virginia with 26 points vs. the Raiders as Ryan Odom got his first NCAA win with UVA as Cavs head coach.

Today’s winner advances to play the Kentucky/Iowa State winner in next week’s Sweet 16 in Chicago.

Here’s what you need to know about today’s second round matchup.

HIT REFRESH FOR UPDATES.

TEAMS 1H 2H F
Tennessee
Virginia

Here are the starting lineups for both Virginia and Tennessee in Sunday’s second-round game of the Men’s NCAA Tournament:

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Virginia

  • Malik Thomas (Guard)
  • Sam Lewis (Guard)
  • Dallin Hall (Guard)
  • Thijs De Ridder (Forward)
  • Johann Grunloh (Center)

Tennessee

  • Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Guard)
  • Bishop Boswell (Guard)
  • Nate Ament (Forward)
  • J.P. Estrella (Forward)
  • Felix Okpara (Center)

Thijs De Ridder is Virginia’s 23-year-old freshman from Belgium who has professional basketball playing experience overseas in Spain. 

He was named to the All-ACC first team and all-rookie teams, and entered the Men’s NCAA Tournament as the Cavaliers’ leading scorer at 15.5 points per game. Though De Ridder hails from Brasschaat, Belgium, he did know a little bit about March Madness before Virginia’s first-round win over Wright State. … Including the great tradition of filling out brackets. 

“When I was 17 and younger, I thought it was another tournament like others. I did some brackets when I was younger, but that was just for fun,” De Ridder told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “Every time (there was) an American guy on my team (overseas), they always talked about March Madness. Now that I’m here, it’s such an organization, and it just made me really excited to play here. Hopefully, we can do some great stuff.”

He finished in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds in addition to two assists in Virginia’s win vs. Wright State. 

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The Cavaliers held off a potential upset and defeated 14-seed Wright State in the first round of the Men’s NCAA Tournament on Friday, 83-72. 

Jacari White led the way for Virginia with 26 points, while Sam Lewis added 12 and Malik Thomas added 11. De Ridder also finished in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds in addition to two assists.

The Cavaliers’ win marked their first in March Madness since they won it all in 2019. It ended a 0-3 stretch in their last three trips to March Madness.

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What time is Tennessee vs Virginia?

  • Time: 6:10 p.m. ET, Sunday.

What channel is Tennessee vs Virginia? How to watch, streaming info

  • The game is airing on TNT, streaming via Fubo.

Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, odds

Odds provided by BetMGM, as of 11:30 a.m., Sunday.

Wynton Jackson, Knoxville News Sentinel: Virginia 71, Tennessee 66

Ament’s questionable status swings our prediction towards Virginia. The Cavaliers had one of the best defenses in the ACC, and if Tennessee’s star freshman isn’t at his best, it’s tough to see how the Vols continue their hot shooting. They shot 53% from the floor and 45% from 3-point range against the RedHawks. Tennessee’s defense always keeps games close, but it may not have enough offensive juice to make a fourth straight Sweet 16.

  • John Leuzzi: Tennessee
  • Jordan Mendoza: Virginia
  • Ehsan Kassim: Virginia
  • Blake Schuster: Tennessee
  • Moneyline: Tennessee (-115); Virginia (-105)
  • Spread: Tennessee (-1.5)
  • Over/under total: 137.5

Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols freshman star play today vs Virginia?

All-SEC freshman Nate Ament had his first scoreless game of the season in the 78-56 win against Miami (Ohio) in the first round.

Ament is still dealing with soreness from the high ankle sprain he suffered against Missouri on Feb. 24. He still expects to play against Virginia and throughout the rest of the NCAA Tournament.

“There’s no chance I’d sit out a March Madness game,” he said. “It’s about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can.”

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Nate Ament 2026 NBA Draft, mock draft prediction

No. 11 overall to Portland Trail Blazers

Kalbrosky’s Analysis:

After a relatively slow and inefficient start to the season, Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is starting to realize some of his lofty expectations. The freshman averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent on 3-pointers during a 13-game stretch before an injury against Alabama on Feb. 28. The All-SEC forward then had 27 points (4-of-6 on 3-pointers) with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against Auburn on March 12. It will only take one team to fall in love with Ament and given so much of what he brings to the table cannot be taught, that team is probably picking fairly early in the lottery.

See USA TODAY’s full mock draft here

Nate Ament stats

(all stats as of March 15)

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  • 17.5 points per game
  • 6.6 rebounds per game
  • 2.5 assists per game
  • 40.5% field goal percentage
  • 33.1% 3-point field goal percentage



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Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

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Virginia vs Tennessee prediction, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round


The men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues with Second Round action Sunday with No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 6 Tennessee on the eight-game schedule.

Here is Sunday’s full Second Round March Madness schedule and expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the men’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

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Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge

No. 3 Virginia vs No. 6 Tennessee prediction

  • John Leuzzi: Tennessee
  • Jordan Mendoza: Virginia
  • Ehsan Kassim: Virginia
  • Blake Schuster: Tennessee

No. 3 Virginia vs No. 6 Tennessee odds

  • Opening Moneyline: Tennessee (-116)
  • Opening Spread: Tennessee (-1.5)
  • Opening Total: 137

How to Watch Virginia vs Tennessee today

No. 3 Virginia takes on No. 6 Tennessee at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 22 at 6:10 p.m ET. The game is airing on TNT.

Stream March Madness on Sling

2026 Men’s March Madness full schedule

See the schedule, live scores and results for all of today’s NCAA Tournament action here.

  • March 17-18: First Four
  • March 19-20: First Round
  • March 21-22: Second Round
  • March 26-27: Sweet 16
  • March 28-29: Elite 8
  • April 4: Final Four
  • April 6: National Championship



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4-Star Safety Adryan Cole Enjoying Communication with Tennessee’s Staff

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4-Star Safety Adryan Cole Enjoying Communication with Tennessee’s Staff


Tennessee is looking to land another top 10 recruiting class in 2027. With multiple top targets all across the country, high on the Volunteers, there will be a good chance for it. 

4-star Adryan Cole is one of those players. According to Rivals Industry, he ranked as the 20th-best safety in the country, the 24th-best player from Georgia, and the 214th-best overall player in the country. The safety from Douglas County High School in Douglassville, Georgia, has Tennessee amongst the top schools on its list, along with Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, LSU, Miami, Indiana, and Ole Miss.

Cole spoke with Vols on SI to see where Tennessee stands and what he likes about the Volunteers.

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Adryan Cole on Tennessee Football

Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel walks off the field followed by his security detail after the win over UAB in an NCAA college football game on September 20, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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With all the defensive back coaching changes, there is a lot of uncertainty with some of the top defensive back prospects in the country, like Cole. However, Tennessee has done a great job of letting Cole know that he is wanted in Knoxville.

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“The communication has been great, they have been calling me and facetime me 2-3 times a week every week. They just let me know that they want to get me up there and develop me.”

He does not have a visit set yet, but he is in the process of scheduling one and cannot wait to see a few things. He was at Georgia Tech this past weekend and has a visit scheduled to Ole Miss from June 19th-21st.

“I want to see the environment, I want to see how they coach their players, and I want to see how they (players and coaches) work together on the campus.”

The Volunteers are looking at a lot of the top defensive backs in the 2027 class, and landing Cole would be a huge recruiting win for them.

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