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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — For the better part of two decades, the possibility of a pedestrian bridge connecting the South Knoxville waterfront to the University of Tennessee campus has been a major talking point.

With the project appearing closer to fruition than ever before, City of Knoxville leaders held an informational meeting in Market Square on Thursday.

Many in attendance spoke in favor of the project. Those who live in the area of South Knoxville had the opportunity to voice their concerns about the bridge and ask questions about where the project is at in the planning process.

“A pedestrian bridge creates a unique experience for people who enjoy recreation and those who enjoy transportation.” said R.J. Justice, Chief of Urban Design and Development for the City of Knoxville. “It’s safe. It’s separated from cars so it really could be an iconic opportunity for Knoxville. Not only for the residential experience, but also for economic growth.”

Those who are in favor of the bridge, like Paul Laudeman, do have some traffic concerns.

“UT wants to put housing there. So, I don’t know, maybe 1,000 more cars on that road trying to get to UT and downtown,” he said.

Laudeman also expressed concern about a potential traffic bottleneck at the single-lane railway underpass on W. Blount Avenue near Chapman Highway.

“We will have a rush hour of sorts, of people waiting to go under the bridge and then trying to take back roads everywhere.”

A question was raised about how people would access downtown from the bridge.

“If someone is crossing from south of the river to the north and they’re at UT, how would we get them to places like Market Square so all of downtown businesses and not just UT benefits?” one attendee asked.

“If the bridge were there today, there is an existing network of complete streets and the Neyland Greenway,” R.J. Justice said. “There’s a lot of connectivity there. We certainly feel that we can continue to improve on those experiences.”

City officials said this pedestrian bridge could be pivotal for Knoxville.

“We are excited that the pedestrian bridge is a modern amenity that is unique and identifying for Knoxville,” Justice said.

On Wednesday, the city council designated the $20 million to the Knoxville Community Development Corporation for the project.

If the project is selected to receive a $25 million RAISE grant from from the U.S. Department of Transportation, construction could start within about two years. The grant awards will be announced by the end of June.

A city spokesperson said they will be host additional meetings in the coming months and there is information regarding the bridge project on the cities website for those who would like to stay informed as development continues.

Tennessee Vols forward Jonas Aidoo surprised a lot of people when he entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this week, including UT head coach Rick Barnes.

On Thursday, Barnes was asked by reporters if he was surprised with Aidoo's decision to enter the portal.

Barnes offered a short and direct reply.

“Yeah, because he had told everybody he was fine," said Barnes.

Rick Barnes said he was surprised Jonas Aidoo entered the transfer portal. His tone definitely changed compared to when he talked about Tobe Awaka and potentially welcoming him back.An unusually short response for Barnes answering a question. pic.twitter.com/0afiduWa9s

— Karthik Venkataraman (@KarthikV_) April 18, 2024

Aidoo wasn't the only Vols big man to enter the portal this month. Tobe Awaka entered the portal before Aidoo made his surprising decision.

Barnes left the door open for Awaka to return to the program on Thursday, though he noted that Tennessee can't wait around on the New York native, so he'll need to make a decision quick if he's going to return to Rocky Top.

"We respected Tobe a lot and we still do, but oftentimes we’ve had guys tell us that after they had left they’ve made mistakes," explained Barnes. "And sometimes in a rush, in the moment, people can listen to people and realize that maybe they maybe should have waited and thought it all out a bit more. But Tobe, obviously, we all respect him and love him for what he did for us. But if he feels he’s got to go through the process, he needs to do it. But with that said, we’re not waiting, because we’re going to move forward and build this roster as quickly as we can.”

With Aidoo moving on, it would open up some more playing time for Awaka. But like Barnes said, Tennessee can't wait around on him to make a decision. Otherwise, the Vols could find themselves in a situation where they miss on a talented transfer player because they were waiting around on Awaka.

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Sixteen years ago, Jill Coffey Kelley, a UT alumna from the class of 2007, and her husband had just recently moved in together when it seemed like everywhere her husband went he would bring home a new cat or kitten.

Coffey Kelley recalls telling her husband that he had to stop bringing cats home. He would reply that he couldn’t help it.

From that moment on, Coffey Kelley felt a responsibility to find all the cats her husband would bring home a forever home, and Happy Paws Kitten Rescue was born.

“It started off with just my friends and family saying, ‘Hey, I hear you can help cats find home pretty good. Can you help me find this one a home?’” Coffey Kelley said. “Then, before you know it, word spreads like wildfire when you’re good at finding cats a home. I had people I didn't even know calling me asking me to help find cats a home. It’s a skill I didn't even know I had.”

Last year, Stephanie Manson, a UT alumna from the class of 1995, reached out to Coffey Kelley to ask if she would be interested in partnering with her for an event. The proceeds of the event would benefit Happy Paws Kitten Rescue to help pay for medical care for cats in the Knoxville area. The two figured, what better way to raise money than a music festival with a wide variety of music for everyone to enjoy? Thus, LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue was born.

Manson has organized shows for her son and member of the band Covalence, who will be performing at LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue, ever since he was young.

“I used to do a lot of that kind of thing. … I had a lot of experience with that and was pretty good at matching bands together, so I thought it might be a good way to put myself to use for the community," Manson said.

The second annual LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue will take place Saturday, April 20, at Open Chord Stage. The doors open at 5 p.m. and performances start at 6 p.m. The talent performing at the event this year includes I Am Revenant, Covalence, James Leigh And The Rest, Oceans Until, and The Hoones.

LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue will have a wide variety of music, so if hard rock is not your thing, then show up early, as they will be starting the evening off with an acoustic duo Indie band The Hoones, then Knoxville's Band Eat Band semi-finalist James Leigh and the Rest.

The event will then break for a raffle where attendees will have the chance to win prizes such as gifts from Buttermilk Sky Pie, a Kendra Scott bracelet, a massage from Elements of Zen, passes to Soaky Mountain Water Park and more.

After the raffle, the event will get more into the heart of rock 'n' roll with performances by the bands Oceans Until, Covalence and I Am Revenant.

LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue is open to all ages. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the venue. Coffey Kelley promises it will be an unforgettable night and a great experience for an even greater cause.

Tickets are available for purchase on Facebook for $12 and will be $15 at the door of the venue. All of the proceeds of LollaPAWlooza: Mewsic to the Rescue will benefit Happy Paws Kitten Rescue and their continued effort to help cats off the streets in our community and get the help and loving home they deserve.

LSU will play its second top-10 series and fifth top-25 series of the season. First pitch at Tennessee is set for 5 p.m. CT on Friday and will air on SEC Network.

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BATON ROUGE, La. – No. 7 LSU (34-8, 10-8 SEC) will challenge No. 4 Tennessee (32-7, 12-3 SEC) in its final three-game road series of the regular season April 19-21 at Lee Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.

Each game in the series will be televised, beginning with a 5 p.m. CT game on Friday on SEC Network. Games two and three will air on ESPN2. The first pitch for game two on Saturday will begin at 11 a.m. CT, and Sunday’s series finale is set for 1 p.m. CT. Eric Frede and Michelle Smith will be the broadcasters on the telecast, and Patrick Wright, the Voice of LSU Softball, will be on 107.3 FM in the Baton Rouge area and the LSU Sports Radio Network.

LSU is 12-4 this season against top-25 programs after defeating No. 19/25 UL Lafayette 4-2 earlier this week. The Tigers rank No. 2 in the SEC with 354 hits and No. 3 with a .318 batting average. In the circle, the team has a 2.35 ERA behind 279 strikeouts.

Outfielder Ciara Briggs has a .369 batting average behind a team-high 51 hits, which ranks No. 3 in the SEC. Briggs also paces the team with 37 runs, 11 stolen bases, and 17 multi-hit games this season. Outfielders McKenzie Redoutey and Ali Newland follow with averages of .357 and .351, respectively. Newland is second on the team with 46 hits and 34 RBIs and has a team-high eight home runs.

Infielders Raeleen Gutierrez and Karli Petty both have batting averages of .325. Petty has 26 hits and 24 RBIs in 31 games played, and Gutierrez leads the team with 19 extra-base hits, including five home runs this season as part of her 40 total base knocks. Shortstop Taylor Pleasants leads LSU with 36 RBIs and has seven dingers this season.

Pitcher Sydney Berzon (15-4) ranks No. 6 in the SEC with 130 strikeouts and has a 1.97 ERA this season. In SEC games alone, Berzon leads the league with 70 strikeouts and seven wins and ranks No. 2 in the conference with a 1.76 ERA. Pitchers Raelin Chaffin (10-3) and Kelley Lynch (5-1) follow with 64 and 67 strikeouts, respectively. Lynch holds opposing batters to a staff-low .167 batting average (No. 5 in the SEC) and is coming off her first career seven-inning no-hitter against Auburn on April 13.

LSU trails Tennessee 29-38-1 in the all-time series. The Lady Vols swept the Tigers last season at Tiger Park. LSU’s last series win against Tennessee was a 2-1 series in 2021 in Knoxville.

at No. 4 Tennessee

Last weekend, Tennessee won a 2-1 series at Mississippi State, defeating the Bulldogs in the final two games. The Lady Vols have a .299 batting average with 304 hits. The pitching staff dominates in the circle, with a nation-leading 1.48 ERA, and their 287 strikeouts are the second-most in the SEC.

Outfielder Kiki Milloy is batting .353 with 41 hits, a team-high 49 runs (No. 2 in the SEC), 20 RBIs, and nine home runs that contribute to a .698 slugging percentage. Milloy also leads the team with 21 stolen bases. Infielder McKenna Gibson leads the team with a .367 average, 44 hits, and 36 RBIs while accounting for seven home runs.

The Lady Vols have a pair of top 10 pitchers in the country, including Karlyn Pickens and Payton Gottshall. Both hurlers have a 1.19 ERA and 15 wins this season. Pickens ranks No. 2 in the country with nine shutouts, No. 2 in the SEC with 149 strikeouts, lowest opposing batting average at .155 in 117.2 innings. Gottshall ranks No. 8 in the conference with 126 strikeouts in 99.2 innings and holds opposing batters to a .172 clip.

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The city applied for a federal RAISE grant, totaling $25 million. They will find out of they are awarded the grant in the summer.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville community came out Thursday to hear the planning process on the South Waterfront Pedestrian Bridge. Knoxville Chamber hosted the event with Knoxville leaders to share about the pedestrian bridge proposal, planning and its partnerships.

Rebekah Jane "RJ" Justice, Knoxville's Chief of Urban Design and Development, said the topics discussed during the session included how the bridge would "complement Knoxville's growth and existing infrastructure system and how it can be a catalyst for change."

"A pedestrian bridge provides a unique experience for people to enjoy recreation," Justice said. "It's safe—it's separate from cars. So, it could be an iconic opportunity for Knoxville, not just for a residential experience but also for economic growth."

Justice also emphasized why it's important for Knoxville to have a pedestrian bridge.

"Offering multiple ways of transportation can be beneficial," Justice said. "[It] helps alleviate traffic congestion [and] provide opportunity for economic growth and public health."

The chief said the city is putting together funding opportunities for the bridge. Knoxville has applied for a federal RAISE grant, totaling $25 million. The city is expected to learn if they are awarded this money this summer.

In September 2023, the project experienced significant advancement when the city accepted $20 million in Tennessee Department of Transportation funds specifically earmarked for building the bridge.

Justice emphasized the need for community members' involvement in this process.

"These are the places the people in Knoxville live, work and play and we want to ensure that we are planning and growing with the community," she said.

Paul Laudeman, an avid biker and walker, has lived in Knoxville since 1980. Laudeman came to Tennessee to attend UT and owns a few properties on Scottish Pike.

Laudmen said he's followed the bridge plan and favors the development. However, he said he wants city leaders to have a futuristic vision for the bridge, like how it will impact traffic.

"They talked about how we're going to make the connectivity better—that's kind of thin," Laudeman said. "I've been here since the 80s and we, the community members, said 'That single-lane underpass? Do something about it.' Connecting Hawthorne [Avenue], which is going up a steep hill to a four-lane highway—that's a nightmare. The planners need to look at this better and figure that that's what they're paying for."

Laudemen also believes that UT should fund most of the project since the bridge will connect to the university.

If you would like to give feedback as the pedestrian bridge development continues, Justice said the city will have several public engagement opportunities in the summer and fall. She said you can also visit the city of Knoxville's website.