Free Republic

John Ward, who was the "Voice of the Vols" as Tennessee's radio play-by-play broadcaster for more than 30 years, has died, the Vol Network announced in a statement Wednesday night. He was 88. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce a great voice has gone silent," the Vol Network said in the statement. "Mr. John Ward, legendary advertising executive, and one of the most beloved broadcasters and ambassadors for the University of Tennessee, passed away this evening in Knoxville. Ward assumed play-by-play duties for football in 1968 and continued in that role through the 1998 season, which the...

Two University of Tennessee athletic department employees and a former employee of the women's athletic department have filed a lawsuit against the university in U.S. District Court, alleging discrimination and retaliation. Jenny Moshak, the associate director of sports medicine for women's basketball, and Heather Mason, the associate strength and conditioning coach for women's basketball and soccer, are the two UT employees behind the complaint. The third plaintiff is the lone male in the suit — Collin Schlosser, a former Lady Vols associate director for strength and conditioning who was laid off in April. The suit, which was filed Thursday by...

WASHINGTON — Tennessee is better prepared to handle a bioterrorism attack and other health emergencies than most states, according to report released today. Tennessee tied with California, Maryland and Florida for the top score in the report by Trust for America's Health, a Washington-based nonprofit. Tennessee and the other states that topped the list met seven out of 10 public health goals measured by the Trust. Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Tennessee's health commissioner, said the state was successful because it listened to numerous health officials before establishing bioterrorism preparedness plans. "The strength of our preparedness has been predicated on excellent cooperation...