DANY MAG

Tennessee, Alabama consider congressional redistricting in special sessions 04:41

Tennessee's Republican lawmakers on Thursday approved redrawing the state's congressional map to carve up the lone Democratic represented district, the latest state toscramble to redistrictas both parties seek control of the U.S. House in November.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill Thursday afternoon. The General Assembly first on Thursday had to pass a measure to overturn its own ban on mid-decade redistricting.

The new map splits Memphis, a Black majority city, and the county that encompasses it, Shelby, into three districts, a move that would favor Republicans. Memphis and Shelby County are currently represented by Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, who has said he will sue over the new map.

The Supreme Court has opined that redistricting, like the judicial system, should be color-blind. The decision indicated states can redistrict based off partisan politics. Today, Tennessee joins other red and blue states in redrawing their congressional maps.@ltgovmcnallypic.twitter.com/lOeBf5tGMF

— Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25)May 6, 2026

Nashville, which had been a Democratic stronghold until it was split up during the 2021 redistricting, remains divided between three districts, although the new map changes those boundaries. Before the map was redrawn this week, Democrats were targeting District 5, currently represented by GOP Rep. Andy Ogles, but that district now includes the affluent Nashville suburbs and runs into downtown Memphis.

Lee called the special session of the Tennessee legislature last week after theSupreme Court threw out Louisiana's congressional map. In the ruling, the Supreme Court narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which considered race in redrawing its House district lines.

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"These maps were drawn to maximize our partisan advantage," said Republican state Sen. John Stevens, who represents northwest Tennessee.

Democrats strenuously objected to the new map, and protesters against the measure filled the State Capitol on Thursday. Ahead of the Senate vote, protesters yelled: "Don't do this!" Democratic state Sen. London Lamar, who represents Memphis, warned Republicans, "You have awakened a sleeping giant today."

The measure first passed the Tennessee House during the rowdy session in which the audience was ejected. Democratic lawmakers then walked out when the measure passed.

Although some have warned that the newly redrawn congressional maps in other states won't necessarily result in the outcome that the party drawing the maps wants, University of Tennessee political science professor Anthony Nownes noted that Tennessee is a "deep red state," and Republicans have been targeting the Memphis district for a long time.

"I think it will have exactly the effect that they had planned." Nownes said.

The mid-decade redistricting war, which kicked off last summer whenPresident Trump pushed Texas Republicansto redraw their congressional map, gained renewed momentum last week after the Supreme Court ruling. California and Virginia have put forward Democratic-led ballot referendums that passed to net more seats, while Missouri and North Carolina Republicans have followed Texas' lead to redraw their map to get more seats.

After last week's Supreme Court decision,Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry delayedthe state's House primaries one day before early voting was set to begin in order to redraw the state's congressional map.Several othersouthern states, including Alabama and South Carolina, have also indicated they will undertake efforts to redraw their maps.

University of Tennessee political science professor Jordan Carr Peterson described the rapid-fire movement in Nashville as "kind of the sandbox we're playing in now."

"Democratic states are doing it. Republican states are doing it," Peterson said. "This is a function of when you have elected politicans draw district lines there, and where there are fewer and fewer legal guardrails on how those district lines are drawn."

The latest controversy surrounding theDetroit Pistonsdoesn't involve basketball, but whether or not local fans have been calling them "Stones." And it's tearing social media apart.

OK, not really – but it's still an interesting discussion.

Many Detroit basketball fans claim they have been hearing the "Stones" nickname for over 20 years. Other longtime fans say they have never heard it before. But if it indeed is a part of Pistons lore, how come so many fans say it's not a real nickname?

First, let's dive into the origin of this recent "controversy."

Evan Fox, a video producer for ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" and Detroit sports fan, has been claiming that Pistons fans "really call them [the Stones]" on various episodes of the show, most recently on a May 7 broadcast that featured NBA star Tyrese Haliburton and former NBA player Quentin Richardson.

Notably, neither Haliburton nor Richardson seemed to recognize the nickname.

Fox has been fanning the "Stones" flame on his X account throughout the NBA playoffs, and as the Pistons have improved to a 2-0 series lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, more people have started to argue whether "The Stones" is real or fake.

Our Pistons insider Omari Sankofa II weighed in, saying that while the nickname is "not super common," it has "been a thing for a long time."

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Many commentors on that post and others claim they had never heard the nickname, while others claim they have been hearing it for decades.

Jemele Hill, former Free Press sportswriter and current writer for "The Atlantic," believes the separation between those who have heard "The Stones" and those who haven't starts at the border of Detroit's city limits.

Hill was born and raised in Detroit and is a Michigan State graduate, while Fox, also a Michigan State graduate,is from Williamston.

The Pistons do not use "The Stones" in any official marketing, and much of the social media conversation around the nickname has been limited to the past couple of days. But one post from nearly 10 years ago from Pistons legend Rick Mahorn has resurfaced, with Mahorn casually referring to the Pistons as "Stones."

So while your exposure to "The Stones" may depend on where you live, it has certainly existed (at least in some parts of Metro Detroit) for a while now.

But what do you think? Vote in our poll below!

Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break?Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletterto get daily summaries of Detroit sports!

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press:Is 'The Stones' a real nickname for the Detroit Pistons?

Over the last few days,Golden State Warriorsforward Draymond Green and 11-year NBA veteran Austin Rivers have been going at it on social media.

Rivers originally called out Green for thecommentshe made involving Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

However, things escalated Thursday as Riverschallengedthe four-time champion to a 1-on-1 matchup, saying, "Why don’t you play me 1 on 1, Draymond? You can’t do handoffs in 1 on 1; you can’t set no pick and roll in 1 on 1."

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In 707 career games, Rivers averaged 8.5 points, 2.1 assists and two rebounds. Currently, Rivers is 33 years old but hasn't played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season, where he averaged 4.9 points for theMinnesota Timberwolves.

Now Rivers works with NBA Sports as a commentator.

While Green is unlikely to accept the challenge, given that he's still an active player, fans are still awaiting his response.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire:11-year NBA veteran challenges Draymond Green to 1-on-1

Amarillo Police Chief Thomas Hover sat down with various members of the media for a one-on-one discussion on Thursday, May 7, about the growing concerns regarding gun violence in Amarillo and the area.

Hover wasconfirmedas Chief of Police on Jan. 13 andsworn inon Feb. 6. He noted in a May 2 statement that in 2025, Amarillo had 16 homicides: "In 2026 there have been 10 homicides including the two from early this morning. ... This criminal behavior is unacceptable, and the Amarillo Police Department and our regional law enforcement partners are committed to the safety of our community."

Before he took office, New Year's Day brought the city's first homicide of the year, when a15-year-oldwas killed in a shooting early Jan. 1. Two months later, Hoverspoke at a news conferenceMarch 22 following an outbreak of deadly violence in the Amarillo area, detailing how three separate shooting incidents quickly unfolded that morning and led to the deaths of six victims and one gunman, as well as multiple injuries. In April, police said a womanwho was not the intended targetwas shot and killed in her home while she was sleeping.

Then early on Saturday morning, May 2, violence broke out around 2 a.m., when two people were asked to leave a party and then followed the gathering to another location at Westminster Apartments. The two gunmen followed the party, then tried to enter and ended upshooting 12 people, two of which diedfrom the incident.

Regarding the incident on early Saturday, May 2, Hover said, “We still have some people of interest that we’re interviewing and speaking with about the violent attack. While no formal charges have been made, we’re still working through the investigation.”

New focus on gang activity, parents knowing where kids are

Hover said that the Amarillo Police Department is focusing on parents knowing and understanding where their kids are and what they are doing online. Other topics were: What friends do they have? Where are they going at night? and Are there changes in their behavior?

As far as changes in behavior, the police chief offered these key questions for parents to ask:

• Do kids have more extra money that they didn’t have?

• Do they have an extra phone that you don’t know where it came from?

Hover wants parents to not be afraid to ask questions like, What are you doing? Who are you hanging out with?

“I think sometime that gets lost. Some of the small things can be the most advantageous force,” he said. “The other thing is our weapons and guns.”

Hover said to not leave any weapons in cars, especially unintended in a vehicle, because that leads to an opportunity for someone to access that gun.

“If guns are in your homes, there are plenty of biometric safes that are out there than can provide quick access to the weapon when you need it but also keep it safe,” he said.

Gang members intelligence unit now full-time job

“We already have documented over 400 gangs in Amarillo,” Hover said. “Coming from a town that was a similar size but had more gangs, my concern is that we haven’t been focused on gangs 100% of the time.”

“We have folks involved … doing gang intelligence, but it wasn’t full time," he added. "The creation of the gang unit is to do just that, to have officers that are involved with that along with a sergeant to spend 100% of their time focused on that.”

Hover emphasized that it wouldn’t be just investigative, but also in recognizing who is associated with the gangs.

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"The educational part on the back end would be — as we continue to get into a groove — maybe six months to a year from now on to go into schools, talking to school members and also talking to our parents at public forums, to help people understand what they’re looking at, so they can begin to recognize some of the signs of involvement,” he said.

Hover said they need to do a better job of preventing these type of events from happening, having a more proactive approach and letting people know that their kids are involved in a gang.

Hover said part of the Gang Unit's responsibility is going to be going around and knocking on doors, talking to parents and letting them know their son or daughter is involved in a gang, and that they are aware of their kids being connected to some of the folks involved and that parents should be concerned.

“It’s a more holistic approach overall, but also an educational piece to let the parents know,” he explained.

How does APD get ahead of the issue?

Hover said the disruption part involved seeing things that are going on, who members are talking to, rumors that are happening, knocking on doors before things happen and having a more proactive approach.

The police chief also wants kids to start to understand when a situation is not going to end well and to get out of there, hopefully letting authorities know the situation is spiraling quickly, as they do.

What about curfews or filing on parents for children’s actions?

As of Sept. 1, 2023, Texas law (HB 1819) prohibits cities and counties from enforcing juvenile curfew ordinances, making most local curfew laws for minors under 19 invalid. There is no statewide curfew, and municipalities cannot enforce general nighttime or daytime curfews, except during officially declared emergencies.

As far as taking legal action against parents, that is more of a court-related action or legislative act that police can’t tackle, Hover said.

Fighting technology that turns handguns or rifles into semi-automatic weapons

During several of the shooting incidents this year, people could hear the rapid fire of bullets, including the May 2 incident. Police said rifle-style weapons have been used — which Hover said can happen using certain devices readily available.

“A lot of these devices that can alter a weapon into a semi-automatic firing machine can be found online," according to Hover. “You can easily do a search online on TikTok or Instagram, and videos are out there. All they have to do is break open the AR-15 and drop in one plastic piece over the trigger housing, and it becomes a fully automatic weapon, obviously illegal at the federal and state level."

There are also Glock switches where someone can put a piece of plastic or metal on the back and it affects the trigger to make it a fully automatic piece, Hover said.

The police chief said that in Irving, they had some proactive approaches and worked with the ATF and made some big arrests. But as soon as one dealer is shut down, another appears, and many are from overseas.

In addition to the late night party scenes getting violent, they are still working on Polk Street issues in particular, and whether it’s in a bar or party, it always involves drugs or alcohol, which is also a continuing problem.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News:Amarillo Police Chief outlines steps to address gun violence

Florida is forecast to have a warmer-than-usual summer, which is saying something. Floridians and tourists are already gearing up for long days on the Sunshine State's famous beaches and some backyard tanning, which brings up a frequent question: Do women have to keep their tops on?

It depends on where you expose yourself and what your intentions are.

What are Florida laws about public nudity?

Florida law is pretty direct: It bans "exposing or exhibiting" "sexual organs" in public or on someone else's private property in a "vulgar or indecent manner." You are also prohibited from being vulgar or indecent exposure naked in public, which generally means an accidental flash is no big deal, but lewd or sexual activity is forbidden.

The law does exempt nudity for nursing mothers and simple nakedness in a place "provided or set apart for that purpose," which covers locker rooms, changing rooms, doctors' offices, and also designated nude beaches and private resorts. Florida law also does not mention how trans men, trans women, or trans nonbinary people would be characterized under the statute.

Violations are a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Second and later violations are third-degree felonies, punishable by up to five years in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Can I be topless or nude in my backyard in Florida?

If you are not committing lewd or "vulgar" acts and you cannot readily be seen by neighbors or the public, yes.

The same goes for skinny-dipping in your pool or walking around naked in your home in front of windows.

However, if people can easily see you, you could face public exposure charges. Worse, if you are found to be exposing yourself where children can easily see you, you could be charged withcommitting lewd and lascivious conduct, a first-degree felony if the naked person is 18 or older and a third-degree felony if they are under 18.

Is it legal to skinny-dip in Florida?

Is it legal to breastfeed in public in Florida?

Yes. The Florida anti-nudity statute specifically exempts mothers breastfeeding their babies.

What does your bathing suit have to cover in Florida?

Florida law doesn't specify, but many local ordinances do. Daytona Beach ordinances, for example, go intoprecise detailabout how much breast by surface area must be covered and exactly where buttocks start. Checkyour local rulesby searching for "public nudity" or "exposure."

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Can I go to a nude beach in Florida?

You are permitted to strip down if you are at a location established for it, and out of the view of the unsuspecting public.

There isno restriction on nudity in the National Parks Service, and nudists and naturalists have taken advantage of that by establishing well-labeled nude beaches at several parks. Florida also boasts nude beaches at two county-owned parks, and an unofficial nude island on the west coast.

• Apollo Beach, Beach No. 5 at Canaveral National Seashore Park on the New Smyrna Beach end.

• Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore Park, coming from the Titusville end (nudity only permitted in the Volusia County portion, north of Lot 13).

• Blind Creek Beach, a clothing-optional beach between Pierce and Stuart that is sanctioned and operated by St. Lucie County.

• Haulover Beach, a designated quarter-mile section of Haulover Park near Hollywood and Miami, operated by Miami-Dade County.

• Passage Key, also called "Naked Island," a sandbar just north of Anna Maria at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The island itself is a designated bird sanctuary, and stepping on the beach itself is prohibited.

However, note that if your activity causes problems with other park goers, the NPS will step in to resolve the issue, and sexual or lewd activity at the other beaches will bring the law.

Are there any nude resorts in Florida?

There are several nudist and naturalist resorts in the Sunshine State, with some established many decades ago. They include:

• Cypress Cove, family-friendly clothing-optional resort in Kissimmee since 1964

• Paradise Lakes, adult-only resort in Lutz, Pasco County, the self-proclaimed "nudist capital of the US"

• Calinete Club & Resorts, adult-only resort in Land O'Lakes

• Island House Key West, gay, bisexual and trans men resort in Key West

• Sunsport Gardens, family-friendly resort near West Palm Beach

• Suwannee Valley Resort, adults-only resort in North Florida on the Suwannee River

• Rooftop Resort, adults-only nudist hotel in Hollywood

Check each one for rules and availability. Andwear sunscreen.

Is it legal to go topless while protesting topless laws?

Apparently, although you may wish to consult local ordinances and an attorney before heading out. Public nudity remains illegal, but there have been localized rulings on specific topless protests.

In 2004, Elizabeth Book of Ormond Beach was arrested for exposing her chest on the Main Street Bridge during Bike Week under Daytona Beach's anti-nudity ordinance, according to Daytona Beach News-Journal archives. Book, a self-avowed top-free activist, was protesting what she called the unconstitutional inequality of women being forced to cover their breasts while men are not.

A judge later threw out the charges on the grounds that she was exercising her constitutionally protected free speech rights under the First Amendment.

She was arrested again for the same reason the next year, andthat case was dismissed as well.However, Book'sattempt to sue the cityover what she called false arrestsultimately failed.

Daytona Beach ordinancesnow acknowledge nudity in constitutionally protected communication, demonstration, or performance when it is necessary for a genuine message or public expression, provided it is not a guise or pretense utilized to exploit nudity for profit or commercial gain."

C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter,Florida TODAY.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal:Florida's nudity laws on beaches, tanning. What's legal in your yard

Since May isNational Burger Month, we wanted to join in the celebration.

South Jersey has plenty of options for a good old hamburger for your tasting pleasure.

From Burlington County down to Cumberland County, there are some spots you might want to try. Here are seven of those places:

Blue Monkey Tavern, Merchantville

Blue Monkey Tavern is an iconic neighborhood restaurant and bar, which is known for its craft beer, craft cocktails and vivacious atmosphere.

The tavern is nestled in the heart of Merchantville, a small borough of approximately 3,820 people located in Camden County.

It's located in the historic Collins House. The building has been a theater, lumberyard, ice cream parlor, Freemasons lounge and restaurant.

There are televisions for watching sports, and there's a mahogany bar as well, which adds to the ambiance.

Blue Monkey Tavern’s burgers and mussels are popular items.

Some of the burger choices sound heavenly: Blue Monkey burger (a house blend of short rib brisket and chuck, topped with portabella mushrooms, caramelized onions and blue cheese), Centre smash burger, G.O.A.T Burger, Au Poivre Burger (a house blend of short rib, brisket and chucker burger beef) and chipotle black bean burger. Or you can build your own burger.

There's also cheesesteaks, flatbread, tacos, salads, chicken sandwiches and more on the menu.

Go:2 S. Centre St.; 856-661-8008;bluemonkeytavern.com.

Burger Barr, Sewell

Beef burgers, Impossible burgers, chicken burgers, grilled cheese, truffle fries, onion strings, mac and cheese bites, and handmade milkshakes are on the menu here.

Burger Barr opened in August of 2018 and is known for some of its limited-time offerings.

Last June, for example, they had a special Southwest Black Bean Burger, which was a chuck burger and smashed black bean patty on Texas toast with habanero cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and bacon, plus their house-made chipotle ranch.

In addition to offering a variety of cheese types, it’s the same with the bun types. Offerings include: Texas toast, brioche, pretzel, golden wheat yogurt, gluten-free white, seed or seedless white.

Go: #13, 508 Hurffville - Cross Keys Road; 856-218-5830;burgerbarr.com.

B-UNOS, Willingboro, Mount Holly, Florence

Customers have an option for a Willingboro location now.

B-UNOS shut down the flagship location in Burlington City location and moved that a few miles over to Willingboro at the Willingboro Town Center.

B-UNOS burgers, birria tacos, tacos and burritos are all crowd pleasers.

Known for its Mexican street food and breakfast classics, B-UNOS is also popular because of its burgers.

There’s the Mack Daddy, which is a crowd favorite, owners say. It includes twin patties, sesame seeded bun, shrettuce (shredded lettuce), cheddar cheese, pickles and B-UNOS Mack Daddy sauce. It’ll make you jump, jump.

The Seafood Drippin’ Monsta — crab cake, blackened shrimp, Provolone, mango aioli and hand-smashed patty on brioche — is an eye-opener.

The website calls the Lowrider burger their “most wanted." That has twin hand-smashed patties, cheddar and pepperjack cheese, bacon, spicy barbecue and fried jalapenos topped with crispy onion rings on brioche.

Go: 4 Mill St., Mount Holly; 609 -261-1500; 2043 Route130 South, Florence; 609 -447-0349; 4376 US-130, Willingboro; 609-386-0060;bunosbbb.com.

Cousin’s Burger, Cinnaminson

Some would call it gas station food because it is, well, located inside the market at the Pilot Travel Center and gas station.

Their food is made-to-order. They have a classic smashburger (single), double and even a triple, which features three beef patties, melted cheese and caramelized onions on a soft bun.

Cousin’s Burger features wings and milkshakes and cheesesteaks as well as fried chicken sandwiches. There are also classic chicken-loaded fries and beef-loaded cheese fries.

The Cousin’s Burger website calls it the fastest-growing burger restaurant in Philadelphia.

In addition to the Cinnaminson location, there are currently four locations in Pennsylvania (two of those in Philadelphia) and one in Newark, Delaware.

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Go: 2601 US-130; 856-543-4234;cousinsburger.com.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger, Burlington Township, Cinnaminson

This retro-themed, fast-casual restaurant has more than 550 locations across the country, including two in South Jersey.

The Burlington Township location opened in March 2024, while the Cinnaminson location opened in December 2024.

Steakburgers are made-to-order with premium beef. They come in varieties such as the original double with cheese, mustard, onion and pickles, and the prime rib with two steakburger patties, prime rib, melted Swiss cheese, grilled onions, sauteed portobello mushrooms and garlic aioli.

They're all embellished with a house seasoning and hand-smashed.

The restaurant also offers chicken sandwiches and hot dogs, and the custard menu offers sundaes, shakes, cones and more. The shakes are another go-to for many customers.

Go: 2325 Mount Holly Road, Burlington Township; 1107 Route 130, Cinnaminson;freddys.com.

Gouldsburger’s, Haddonfield, Medford, Bordentown, Sicklerville, Marlton

Founded by Walter Gouldsbury, a trained chef and attorney, and chef David Murray, the brand has grown quite a bit over the last few years and offers franchising now, which has sped up its growth.

Gouldsburger’s opened its flagship location in Haddonfield in 2023 and has developed quite a reputation for its burgers and cheesesteaks.

There are also South Jersey locations in Sicklerville, Marlton, Medford and Bordentown, and one is soon to open in Glassboro.

Their smokehouse burger includes house made onion rings, cheddar, barbecue sauce and applewood smoked bacon. The Pocketful of Sunshine comes with roasted tomatoes, avocado and a sunny-side up egg.

They also offer vegan options and have crispy chicken sandwiches and strips, hot dogs, truffle fries, waffle fries, cheesesteak fries, loaded fries, fried pickles and onion rings. Some locations have slaw and mac and cheese on the menu as well.

Go:109 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield; 609-301-5293; 2 S. Main St., Medford; 609-257-4342; 1 1/2 Crosswicks St., Bordentown; 973-864-3210; 685 Berlin-Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville; 27 N. Maple Ave., Marlton; 856-405-7719;gouldsburgers.com.

Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery, Vineland

A top location for gourmet smashburgers in the state, the family-owned Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery also offers cheesesteaks, fried chicken sandwiches and homemade ice cream as well.

Some of the burger options include: Shroomin, The Works, Smoke house, farm fresh, bacon jam smash, avocado ranch, sweet onion smash, bacon butter and more.

Chicken wings and milkshakes are popular go-to items for customers.

A kids’ menu and outdoor seating are also options at this Cumberland County mainstay.

The restaurant was born in 2016. Owner Ryan Briggs said he wanted to create a place for families to gather “over fresh, local food and leave feeling part of the Outlaw’s family.”

It started as a small mom-and-pop shop, the website says, but grew into a hometown favorite, which sponsors local programs and is an important part of the Vineland community.

The menu offers fresh, local ingredients and the spot is also known for its gourmet ice cream cakes.

Go: 1370 S. Main Road; 856-691-5438;outlawsburgerbarn.com.

The Raging Bull, Pennsauken

This smashburger and cheesesteak spot, which also offers hand-spun milkshakes, opened in 2025 in Pennsauken where Royal Indian Cuisine once was.

Owner Eric Adili grew up in the restaurant business, working with his late father at Palombo’s in Cinnaminson and later at The Fat Tomato in Berlin, a press release from the company has stated.

Adili took over The Fat Tomato in 2018 when his father retired because of an illness. His father died a few years later.

Some of the “notable menu items” on The Raging Bull menu include: Buffalo cheesesteak with brined and shaved chicken, The Raging Bull cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp Whiz, Chipotle mayo and roasted long hots, and The Oklahoma smash burger, with smashed thin sliced Vidalia onions, Bully burger sauce and yellow Cooper sharp American.

Other burger choices include The Classic, which has yellow Cooper sharp American, mustard, diced onion and dill pickles, and The Deluxe, which has Bibb lettuce, tomato, bacon, Bully burger sauce, dill pickles, yellow Cooper sharp American.

“Our goal is simple: Use the highest quality ingredients, prepare everything fresh, and never cut corners,” Adili said in the release.

Go:6007 Mansion Blvd.; 856-324-0725;theragingbullnj.com.

Celeste E. Whittaker joined the Courier-Post in 1998. The South Jersey native has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college and high school sports in her tenure and now covers food, dining, events, arts and culture and more for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and Daily Journal. She has won numerous writing awards for her work.Please consider a digital subscription to help support our journalism.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post:Some of the best burgers in South Jersey may be found at these spots

Tennessee softballgot yet another wake-up call to start the postseason, and fortunately for the Lady Vols, there's still another opportunity to do so.

There won't be many more if they don't.

The No. 5 seedLady Vols were upset by No. 13 Ole Miss 4-1in the second round of the SEC Tournament on May 6 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Tennessee (42-10) took an early 1-0 lead, but couldn't sustain it as its offense flatlined again and couldn't make up for an off day from both Sage Mardjetko and Karlyn Pickens, who combined for six strikeouts and seven hits allowed. Pickens allowed three walks and had two wild pitches and a hit-by-pitch.

"When you lose a softball game like we did today, I mean, pretty much everything that adds up to a loss was there," Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said. "We missed opportunities when we had runners in scoring position. We didn't make plays when we needed to to keep them from scoring, and then we allowed too many free passes."

Weekly said postseason softball is all about good pitching, clean defense and timely hitting — and Tennessee didn't accomplish any of those things at John Cropp Stadium.

The Lady Vols had only four hits and three walks. Junior shortstop Bella Faw drove in the sole run, and they went just 1-for-15 with runners on base.

Tennessee now has to wait for its NCAA Tournament draw in the selection show on May 10 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2) as one of the teams on the bubble for a top-eight seed, which would allow it to host super regionals.

A win or two at the SEC Tournament would have sealed it, but with a third loss toOle Miss(34-23) after dropping the regular-season series, there may be an opening for another team to take Tennessee's spot among the top eight seeds.

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"You have to do things on the field to put yourself in the best position possible," Weekly said. "But at this point, whatever happens, happens."

Faw said there are conversations that have to happen in the next nine days before NCAA regionals begin, and there needs to be more trust in the coaches, themselves and their preparation.

"That's really all it is right now, is trusting each other and trusting everything we do each day and at practice, and trusting that in the games as well," Faw said.

The upset was the third wake-up call Tennessee has received in the past two weeks. It got run-ruled in a 12-0 series-opening loss against Alabama, but made a remarkable recovery to win the series. Then it clinched the Missouri series in two games before blowing a lead in Game 3 to fall 4-3 and lose the No. 4 seed, and a double-bye, in the SEC Tournament.

A one-and-done SEC Tournament doesn't mean the postseason is doomed. Tennessee lost its first game in the tournament last year 6-1 to Arkansas and still made a run to the Women's College World Series semifinals.

But time is running out for the Lady Vols to respond. The next time they play a game like that, it could be their last of the season.

"It's win or go home now, plain and simple," Weekly said. "So if you can't get fired up and you can't get locked in, and you can't really be disciplined now and accountable, you're never going to be."

Cora Hallis the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X:@corahalll;Bluesky:@corahall.bsky.social‬.Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel:Tennessee softball doesn't have much time to respond to another wake-up call