Tennessee

Search continues for 18 missing 24 hours after Hickman County explosion: Live updates

Published

5 months ago

October 11, 2025

Search continues for 18 missing 24 hours after Hickman County explosion: Live updates

Search efforts are continuing for 18 missing people more than 24 hours after an explosion rocked an explosives manufacturing plant in Hickman County Oct. 10.

The plant, near McEwen, Tennessee in the Bucksnort area, was reduced to a pile of rubble in the wake of the blast, which occurred at about 7:45 a.m., officials reported.

Plumes of smoke filled the Tennessee skies, and the explosion on the Accurate Energetic Systems campus, about an hour west of Nashville off Interstate 40, was felt miles away.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said first responders and state agencies would continue searching the scene through the night.

AES is an explosives manufacturing company founded in 1980. The Oct. 10 explosion was the second in the plant’s history. A deadly explosion was recorded there in 2014.

Authorities confirmed they have been able to find one of the missing 19 people, first believed to be at the explosion site, safe at home.

Search efforts are continuing for the remaining 18.

“Investigators are still working to confirm exactly who was at the facility this morning and family notifications are ongoing,” a spokesperson said in an email to The Tennessean.

At the height of (the Oct. 10) response, more than 300 emergency personnel were on scene.

Recovery and investigative work will continue through the weekend. The ATF’s National Response Team is expected to arrive Oct. 11 to join state and local partners in processing the scene, described by officials as “complex.”

Anyone who finds debris that might have come from the explosion is asked to call his or her local sheriff’s office so trained personnel can respond safely, officials noted.

― Craig Shoup, The Tennessean

Several hours after the explosion, the company released a statement Oct. 10.

“At approximately 7:45 a.m. this morning, there was a tragic accident at our facility,” the statement read. “Emergency response teams and investigative agencies remain on scene, and the situation is under active investigation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, coworkers, and community members affected by this incident. We extend our gratitude to all first responders who continue to work tirelessly under difficult conditions.”

―Angele Latham, The Tennessean

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Tennessee

Titans named one of the NFL’s most improved teams this offseason

Published

2 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Titans named one of the NFL’s most improved teams this offseason

The Tennessee Titans have made some significant additions to their roster this offseason as they attempt to pull themselves out of the basement of the AFC South.

The Titans have added talent on both sides of the ball and have relied heavily on system familiarity and trust as they rebuild a depleted roster. But how much difference did it make? Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated believes Tennessee will be much improved and has them slated as the third-most improved through this point in the offseason.

3. Tennessee Titans
Notable additions: TE Daniel Bellinger, DT Jordan Elliott, CB Cor’Dale Flott, DL John Franklin-Myers, edge Jermaine Johnson II, LB Jacob Martin, WR Wan’Dale Robinson, C Austin Schlottmann, CB Alontae Taylor, DT Solomon Thomas
There was nowhere to go but up after a disastrous past few seasons. Two years ago, the Titans were big spenders in free agency and still ended up with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, which they used on quarterback Cam Ward. However, it’s hard to doubt this latest spending frenzy, given that new coach Robert Saleh has a track record of building formidable defenses and has reunited with many of his reliable players from previous stops.
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On offense, Ward got an intriguing playmaker in Robinson, who’s coming off a breakout 2025 season with the Giants. The arrow is finally pointing up in Tennessee.

The Titans have taken a big swing at the free agency market in an attempt to reset the organizational floor. Now, it will be up to general manager Mike Borgonzi to follow up this impressive haul with another solid draft. If he can do that, the Titans organization will likely be pointed in the right direction.

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

Published

14 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.”

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)

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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Tennessee

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

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

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.

Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge