Tennessee
Tennessee stylists become lifelines in fight against domestic violence
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A trip to the salon isn’t just about a new look — sometimes, it’s about washing away the weight of the day.
“It’s nice to see you,” clients often hear, but for many beauty professionals, their role extends far beyond styling hair or applying makeup.
“I’ve seen and heard everything behind the chair,” said Susanne Shepherd Post, co-founder of Shear Haven. For 30 years, she’s been a trusted listener in her salon chair.
“I’ve had clients open up to me about their own abusive relationships,” Shepherd Post said.
That’s why, in 2021, she championed a Tennessee law requiring all beauty professionals to learn how to recognize the signs of abuse — and how to respond. More than 71,000 professionals have now taken the free, 20-minute training. The clock, though, is ticking — complete it by December 31 or lose your license.
“Knowing that at least one in four women and one in seven men will experience abuse means that every day a stylist behind the chair might see many people, several people that might be the ones to meet that resource,” Shepherd Post said.
Licensees had four years between 2022 and 2025 to complete the approved training. If a licensee does not complete the training, their license will be invalid.
“I know that it’s saving lives,” Shepherd Post said.
She has lived this reality herself, having survived an abusive marriage.
“I know how important that person in my life was, who knew what I was going through wasn’t just a bad relationship, but rather an abusive one,” Shepherd Post said.
She stresses that warning signs aren’t always visible.
“Non physical signs that we’re in a unique position to see. There might be signs of isolation, maybe pulling away from some of their closest family or friends, they might seem a little withdrawn, or have more cancelations,” Shepherd Post said.
That’s why she partnered with the YWCA to create Shear Haven and teach beauty pros how to handle difficult conversations — and connect clients to safety. Together with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and the state Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, they want to remind all licensed beauty professionals to complete their training.
“They’re on the front lines. They see and hear things that most folks do not,” YWCA Vice President of strategic communications & advocacy Michelle Mowery Johnson.
She’s hoping to create awareness that reaches far beyond the chair.
“Being able to reach my kids generation with awareness would be so impactful. To be able to curb the numbers. See a real shift in Tennessee,” Shepherd Post said.
Nearly 2,000 Tennessee beauty professionals are running out of time to complete mandatory domestic violence training.
“As beauty professionals know, most domestic violence victims will not report abuse to law enforcement, but they will tell someone with whom they have a long-standing relationship, such as a cosmetologist or a barber,” said Board Executive Director Roxana Gumucio.
If you or someone you know has questions about domestic violence or needs shelter, please call YWCA’s 24-Hour Crisis & Support Helpline at 800-334-4628 or TEXT 615-983-5170.
Click here, for the training.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@Newschannel5.com
Hunters and fishers: Funding shortfall may cut wildlife and outdoor services
One of the best things about Tennessee is its beauty. Reporter, Chris Davis, certainly makes the most of it as an avid hunter and fisherman. When he turned the spotlight on the potential funding shortfall the TWRA is facing – it hit a nerve with many of our viewers. To find out more, make sure to watch this story.
– Carrie Sharp
Tennessee
Former Tennessee Football Position Coach Beats Out Vols For Commitment of Elite Recruit | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee football made the final cut for one of the top linebackers in the class of 2027, Roman Igwebuike, but couldn’t seal the deal. Instead, he’s taking his talents to Notre Dame as he announced his commitment to the Irish on Saturday evening.
It was a former Josh Heupel Era UT position coach who led the charge for Igwebuike, as well. Brian Jean-Mary, the Vols’ linebackers coach from 2021-23, now leads the linebacker room at Notre Dame and was the primary recruiter for Igwebuike.
Jean-Mary left Tennessee for a position at Michigan as defensive run game coordinator/linebackers coach. However, with the coaching change in Ann Arbor this offseason, he landed on his feet and joined the Irish’s staff as Marcus Freeman’s run game coordinator/linebackers coach.
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Igwebuike is one of the top linebackers in the class of 2027. On 247 Composite, he ranks as the No. 123 player in the country, No. 9 linebacker and No. 8 player from the state of Illinois. He is from Chicago, where he plays for Mount Carmel.
“Well-rounded linebacker that has a chance to be a linchpin in the middle for a College Football Playoff hopeful after a productive prep career outside of Chicago,” 247 director of scouting Andrew Ivins wrote. “Looks the part with a muscular 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame. Sees it well from the shelf as he reads his keys and flows to the football. Navigates busy intersections at a higher level and can slip underneath blocks. Comfortable dropping into space and is rather effective as a spy…”
Igwebuike’s primary recruiter at Tennessee was linebackers coach William Inge. He has made trips to Knoxville to see the Vols, including the Orange and White Game this past April, but never announced an official visit to UT.
Tennessee currently holds 16 commitments in the 2027 class, which ranks 43rd in the country on 247. This features two linebackers, both legacies, in four-star Kenneth Simon II and three-star JP Peace.
Tennessee freshman forward Chris Washington Jr met with the local media earlier this week in his first press conference after committing and signing with the Vols back in the spring.
Washington discussed why he chose Tennessee, what position he has mostly been working at this summer and much more. Here’s everything Washington said.
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On what led to him de-committing from Alabama, eventually committing to Tennessee
“Honestly, I just felt like that for me and my family, that was just the best decision for me. And I found my right school, I feel like.”
On his first impressions of the team
“Like I said, me and the guys, we came a long way just from this first month, you know, getting help from DeWayne, and the team, it’s just been a blessing.”
On what the first month has been like for him personally
“Honestly, just getting better day by day. Coach Barnes, he’s coaching me hard. So honestly, just stacking days, just getting better day by day.”
On what Rick Barnes is harping on with him right now
“My defense. The whole country know I can score the ball, so just me, just working on my rotations, being right in the gaps. Defense.”
On what position he is working at.
“Right now, they got me playing four.”
On if they sold development based on his film or Tennessee’s track record
“I mean, honestly, just the track record of like guys he did put in the league, you know what I’m saying? I want to be pro, so like I said, I came to Tennessee, I felt like they’re gonna get me there, he’s gonna get me there.”
On who have been the verbal leaders on the team
“My boy DeWayne and my boy Kenbell (Duncan Campball), them two. They’ve been kind of really helping me.”
On how Tennessee sophomore forward DeWayne Brown has helped the newcomers understand what it’s like to play for the Vols
“I be in practice sometimes, I’ll get lost and he’ll kind of just help me a little bit. I mean, honestly, him just guiding us when we mess up.”
On his relationship with the rest of his freshman class: Manny Green, Ralph Scott and Marquis Clark; if he knew about them on the AAU circuit
“It’s been a great relationship. I didn’t play those guys on the circuit, so for us to be all on the same team, it’s a good thing.”
On playing AAU basketball in Knoxville; if that helped his decision
“It’s great, you know? It’s just amazing, honestly. I’m just glad to be here.”
On how he is liking the new Adidas uniforms
“I’m loving it. We’re in Adidas gear. I’m liking it, I’m loving it.”
On his strengths on offense
“I’d say getting to the rim, getting to my spots, and my (ability) to catch and shoot.”
On where his spots are
“Really just getting to the mid-range, getting down hill.”
On watching last year’s Vols get drafted
“Coach Barnes, him getting those guys there, I know my time’s gonna come.”
On his freshman class
“Oh, we got the best class, I feel like, honestly. We got a good class.”
Why he feels Tennessee has the best freshman class
“Shoot, we all can score, honestly. (Barnes) recruited a lot of scores this year. Even our freshman class, we can all get a bucket.”
Tennessee
Where Tennessee Baseball Players, Commits Land In Final MLB Mock Drafts, Rankings | Rocky Top Insider
The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday afternoon to jump start MLB All-Star game festivities in Philadelphia. The two-day, 20-round draft is a highly important once for Tennessee baseball. While there are fewer current Vols projected to be selected, there will be no shortage of Tennessee prep signees and transfer commits who are draft risks.
We’ve compiled a number of both mock drafts and overall draft prospect rankings from a multitude of outlets that give us a look at where Tennessee players, transfers and commits could go. There’s a handful of Tennessee transfer commits who are not listed but are also draft risks including Wright State outfielder Andrew Duncan, Baylor shortstop Travis Sanders, FIU infielder Mario Trivella and Clemson right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson.
Taking a look at the mock drafts and draft rankings here.
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Current Tennessee player. Tennessee transfer commit. Tennessee high school signee
Mock Drafts
ESPN Two-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Kansas City
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 14 to Miami
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 34 to Pittsburgh
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51 to Pittsburgh
The Athletic One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Baltimore
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 24 to Seattle
CBS One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 18 to Cincinnati
Prospect Rankings
MLB Pipeline Top 250
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 13
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 25
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 61
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 99
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 106
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 124
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 132
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 139
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 141
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 148
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 152
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 190
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 212
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 219
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 243
ESPN Top 250
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 32
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 49
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 52
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 98
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 107
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 109
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 112
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 125
- 1B Cody Boshell — No. 142
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 156
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 162
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 183
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 201
Perfect Game Top 400
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 29
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 50
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 62
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 68
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 134
- 1B/OF AJ Curry — No. 153
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 176
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 190
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 201
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 227
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 231
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 241
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 251
- RHP Bo Rhudy 255
- SS Jaxson Wood — No. 262
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 269
- LHP Brandon Arvidson — No. 274
- SS Manny Marin — No. 375
- OF Reese Chapman — No. 386
- LHP Drew Christine — No. 387
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