Two Tennessee Senators Demanding Answers from U.S. Attorney General to Keep Voting Legal

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) joined Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and their colleagues in demanding answers from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) efforts to prevent aliens from registering to vote in American elections.State officials across the country have recently taken steps to prevent, deter, and investigate cases of illegal voter registration by non-citizens, including in Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio.

As you are likely aware, the United States has experienced a record number of border encounters since President Biden took office—nearly 10 million—many of whom have been released into, or evaded apprehension while entering, the U.S.,” the Members of Congress wrote. “We’re writing to inquire regarding the efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce the law that prohibits non-citizens from voting in our elections.”

Plainly, there are opportunities for and instances of non-citizen voter registration, and so the critical question is whether the laws against doing so are being enforced by your Department,” the Members of Congress continued. “There appear to have been few prosecutions by your Department under these laws, and there is no indication that you have been pursuing cases in places like Georgia and Ohio where aliens have been caught registering or voting.”

CO-SIGNERS
  • Co-signers of the letter include Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and JD Vance (R-Ohio), along with Representatives Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Bob Good (R-Va.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Cory Mills (R-Fla.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Bill Posey (R-Fla.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Keith Self (R-Texas), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.).
Rural Metro Fire Investigating House Fire in Rocky Hill

Rural Metro Fire Investigating House Fire in Rocky Hill

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An investigation is underway after a house fire Tuesday in Rocky Hill.

Rural Metro Fire crews responded to the report of a house fire in the 7700 block of Queensbury Drive.

Rural Metro Fire officials say crews found a single-family home on fire with heavy smoke coming from the garage and eaves. They say no one was home when the fire broke out and believe that the home was undergoing a remodel.

Rural Metro says crews made a forced entry through the front door to extinguish the fire, but the home sustained heavy damage.

Rural Metro Fire responds to a house fire Tuesday in Rocky Hill (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Longtime WUTK General Manager to Retire

Longtime WUTK General Manager to Retire

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Benny Smith, the longtime general manager of the University of Tennessee’s student radio station, is retiring.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Smith said he intends to retire at the end of the year.

Smith has worked at WUTK for almost 20 years, and during his time at the station, it received several awards, including “Knoxville’s Best Radio Station.”

As part of his statement, Smith thanked the students, volunteers and community members who supported him while at the station, citing future changes planned for WUTK as the impetus for his retirement.

After a great deal of consideration and discussion with my family, I made the decision to retire as general manager of WUTK. I will remain an employee through the end of the year and will work with university leadership to ensure a smooth transition.

I have served the Knoxville community for nearly 20 years at WUTK, and that service has been a blessing. It has been a dream come true to mentor a generation of eager student broadcasters and to nurture a local music scene full of kind, creative people that help make our city a vibrant and special place.

With the changes coming to WUTK, for me it was the right time personally to make this move. I want to thank the students, volunteers, and community members that showed me so much support during this process. My only request is that they continue to show the same level of support for WUTK now and in the future.

First and foremost, I am a Vol For Life. I love the University of Tennessee, and I will continue to be a joyful part of its alumni community. I am leaving knowing that I gave my all for Tennessee. I am looking forward to what comes next. Stay tuned. – Benny Smith

WUTK began broadcasting in 1982.

The University of Tennessee campus (Courtesy: WVLT)
KPD: Police Arrest Man after He Shoots at Group, Jumps Out Apartment Window

KPD: Police Arrest Man after He Shoots at Group, Jumps Out Apartment Window

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are investigating a shooting at Ridgebrook Apartments in the Mechanicsville area.

Officers arrested 39 year-old Jacob Brown who reportedly fired a round at three people Monday night following an argument near the front entrance.

Officers confronted Brown who went into an apartment and jumped out of a second-floor window. He was found a short time later and officers recovered the firearm he used.

Brown has an extensive criminal history and a previous felony conviction from a 2003 theft.

He was charged with aggravated assault and felon in possession of a weapon.

According to KPD, the arrest happened Monday night outside of Ridgebrook Apartments.(Frankly Media)
KAT Making Changes to Bus Routes Wants You to Take a Look

KAT Making Changes to Bus Routes Wants You to Take a Look

Knoxville Area Transit is making some big changes to its bus routes.

You’ll see those take effect next month. KAT wants you to be able to take a look and see how the changes could affect you.

You can go to https://katbus.com/ to download their app to view KAT Reimagined Bus network preview.

KAT is planning to hold various events highlighting these changes. Leaders say they want to make things as smooth as possible for passengers so the new routes, which start on August 26th, will be free to ride for the first two weeks while riders get used to the new routes.

KAT buses suspend operations due to dangerous road conditions (Courtesy: WVLT)

A Third Oversized Load Moving Across East Tennessee

A third oversized load will be on the move in East Tennessee this week.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation says there will be rolling roadblocks for the oversized load tomorrow (Wednesday) as it works its way from Knoxville to Kingsport.

They will be on I-40 East at Exit 398 (Strawberry Plains) from midnight-3 a.m., I-81 North at Exit 23 (Mosheim) from 3-6 a.m. and I-81 North at Exit 59 (Kingsport) from 6-9 a.m.

Clinton High School has TSSAA Action Rescinded
Photo courtesy of WVLT

Clinton High School has TSSAA Action Rescinded

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is rescinding disciplinary action against Clinton High School.

The school reported that one of their players wasn’t eligible to play but it turns out he was eligible, so the school does not have to forfeit their wins for the 2023 season and they don’t have to pay the almost $12,000 they were ordered to pay for the violation.

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Photo courtesy of WVLT

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The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) is rescinding disciplinary action against Clinton High School.

The school reported that one of their players wasn’t eligible to play but it turns out he was eligible, so the school does not have to forfeit their wins for the 2023 season and they don’t have to pay the almost $12,000 they were ordered to pay for the violation.

Rural Metro Fire Responds to House Fire in East Knox County

Rural Metro Fire Responds to House Fire in East Knox County

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) An extension cord is reportedly to blame for a house fire Monday morning in East Knox County.

Rural Metro firefighters responding to the scene in the 3800 block of Strong Road around 8:20 a.m. reported seeing smoke coming from the home.

Rural Metro officials say firefighters quickly extinguished a fire found venting through a crawl space. They say the room in which the fire started suffered significant damage while the remainder of the house suffered smoke and heat damage.

Fire officials say an extension cord was noted as the possible source of the fire and that no one was home at the time of the incident.

Pigeon Forge Firefighter Dies in Motorcycle Crash, Department Holds Procession

Pigeon Forge Firefighter Dies in Motorcycle Crash, Department Holds Procession

Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) Firefighters in Pigeon Forge are grieving the loss of one of their own on Sunday.

Officials with the Pigeon Forge Fire Department say firefighter 20-year-old Aaron Huss died Sunday night, July 14 in a motorcycle crash on I-40 in Knox County.

The department, along with troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, escorted Huss Monday from the Knox County medical examiner’s office to a funeral home.

A Pigeon Forge firefighter died in a motorcycle crash Sunday night, according to the Pigeon Forge Fire Department. (Courtesy: Kyle Grainger, WVLT)