Hard Knox Wire

06/09/2023

An important message to our former readers and the greater Knoxville community:

Hard Knox Wire's website was attacked by hackers in November 2022. The combination of lost revenue and escalating IT costs led to us having to make the difficult decision to close our labor of love.

It has come to our attention that someone has now taken over our old website and is posting local news stories on it. The website is currently NOT under the control of the rightful owners of Hard Knox Wire. Due to the nature of events that led to us shutting down, we would advise not trusting any content from the previous Hard Knox Wire website.

We do not know who Alex Smith is, or even if that is someone's true identity.

We intend to reach out to attorneys tomorrow and will keep you informed as we find out more. Please pass this information on.

Sincerely,
J.J. and Jenna Stambaugh

12/09/2022

A Message to Our Subscribers:

We really, really hate to make this announcement.

We are unable to continue publishing Hard Knox Wire.

The last year or so has been exceedingly difficult for us, both personally and financially. We had hoped that we could attract enough subscribers to subsidize a small, hyperlocal news publication, but we’ve been unable to consistently do so. It takes a lot of time and sweat to put together a periodical like ours as well as money, and the bleak fact is that we simply don’t have enough of any of those things to continue any longer. The recent attack on our website was the proverbial straw that broke this camel’s back, and now it’s time for us to move on to the next chapter of our story.

To those of you who subscribed to us: We can't thank you enough for the last two years. We’ve felt honored by your trust, and we hope that we provided you with something you enjoyed reading. We’re still in the process of getting everything closed down, and the first thing that went was our corporate e-mail system. You can still reach us, however, at the following email address if you have any questions, concerns, or comments: [email protected].

We don’t exactly know what’s next at this point. J.J. may try to continue online publishing in some form, and he’s already arranged to begin freelancing stories to Tennessee Lookout. Jenna is going to continue her career as a homeless outreach worker and community activist. We dearly love Knoxville, and we hope to continue doing what we can to serve our community.

Thank you,
Jenna and J.J. Stambaugh

12/02/2022

A Message to Our Readers: We owe you folks an apology.

We closed down last week because some versions of our website had been sabotaged as part of an illegal phishing operation. We brought in an IT team who specialize in that sort of thing, and they dutifully spent much of Thanksgiving week trying to exorcise our digital demons. We were finally given the “All clear!” and published a Monday edition, then a Tuesday edition, and then….

Well. Let’s just say that we’re sure you know what happens when you mix together men, best-laid plans, and mice.

We are angry, embarrassed and saddened by this development. We don’t know who’s been doing this or why they’d target us. We were already a tiny, struggling website/newsletter before the hackers came after us. We have very little money, a moderately sized readership on our best days, and way less influence than most other local news organizations.

The worst thing is that several newsworthy developments have occurred in our beloved K-town this week, and we’ve been unable to cover them for you folks. Our IT team, however, has once again charged into the breach, and they tell us we should be back up again in the next few days.

We can’t thank you all enough for sticking with us through this and ensuring that Knoxville doesn’t lose another media voice, no matter how small. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you have.

Jenna and J.J. Stambaugh

11/11/2022

The latest chapter in the controversy over Greyhound’s decision to sell its full-service Knoxville bus terminal and instead conduct its business in parking lots may turn out to be a short one.

Despite a notice from the City of Knoxville that the cross-country bus service cannot continue to legally operate out of a convenience store parking lot, Greyhound was continuing to sell tickets to the location as of Thursday night.

The latest chapter in the controversy over Greyhound’s decision to sell its full-service Knoxville bus terminal and instead conduct its business in parking lots may turn out to be a short one. Despite a notice from the City of Knoxville that the cross-country bus service cannot continue to legally...

11/09/2022

Home The Wire Bread and Circuses
The WireBread and Circuses
NEW: Republicans dominate as voters flock to the polls
By From Staff Reports -November 9, 20220135

Election officer Melinda Waddell of the Knox County Election Commission spent Tuesday overseeing the Gresham Middle School polling place in North Knoxville. She is pictured here helping voters who recently changed their addresses. (Photo by J.J. Stambaugh)
The biggest surprise in Knox County on Election Day wasn’t the outcome of any specific race.

It was, instead, the unexpected crowds that swarmed polling places, forcing some precincts to stay open long after the official 8 p.m. closing time.

Although it took longer than expected to get Knox County’s preliminary results Tuesday night, it was clear early in the evening that Republican incumbents continued to largely dominate their Democratic challengers

The biggest surprise in Knox County on Election Day wasn’t the outcome of any specific race. It was, instead, the unexpected crowds that swarmed polling places, forcing some precincts to stay open long after the official 8 p.m. closing time. Although it took longer than expected to get Knox County...

11/08/2022

Can a machine ever really learn to think as a human being can? If so, should restrictions be placed on such a potentially far-reaching technology?

Some people may think questions like those belong to the realm of science fiction, but artificial intelligence (AI) technology is currently at the forefront of the computer sciences and has already made its way into the home of everyone who has a smart phone.

Can a machine ever really learn to think as a human being can? If so, should restrictions be placed on such a potentially far-reaching technology?  Some people may think questions like those belong to the realm of science fiction, but artificial intelligence (AI) technology is currently at the fore...

11/04/2022

An alarming surge in overdoses this week in Knox County has authorities scrambling to find ways to save lives as street drugs continue to grow ever more potent.

An alarming surge in overdoses this week in Knox County has authorities scrambling to find ways to save lives as street drugs continue to grow ever more potent. A Tuesday bulletin from the Knox County Health Department that was issued to various agencies on the front line of the op**te epidemic said...

11/02/2022

Mark Reno’s one-man war against the U.S government and abortion providers may have ended with his death as he awaited trial, but the full scope of his violent deeds weren’t made clear until federal authorities opted on Monday to finally make all of the allegations against him public

Mark Reno’s one-man war against the U.S government and abortion providers may have ended with his death as he awaited trial, but the full scope of his violent deeds weren’t made clear until federal authorities opted on Monday to finally make all of the allegations against him public. Reno, 63, w...

10/17/2022

It really seemed like things might be getting better.

Despite a record-breaking number of homicides in Knoxville last year, there had been noticeably less bloodshed on city streets so far in 2022.

Then October hit, and for some reason the bullets started flying. They haven’t stopped yet.

In fact — for the second time in only four days — a triple shooting in a public place cut short a human life early Sunday morning.

It really seemed like things might be getting better.  Despite a record-breaking number of homicides in Knoxville last year, there had been noticeably less bloodshed on city streets so far in 2022. Then October hit, and for some reason the bullets started flying. They haven’t stopped yet.  In fa...

10/17/2022

Fans of the University of Tennessee Volunteers swarmed the field at Neyland Stadium after Saturday’s historic 52–49 upset over Alabama.

A veritable sea of orange surged from the stands. Tens of thousands of deliriously happy Big Orange fanatics cheered, danced, and partied long into the night. The goalposts were manhandled from the stadium and reportedly ended up in the Tennessee River.

But every party has to end sometime, and as Sunday morning dawned local authorities at all levels were in the process of tallying up the costs of the Big Orange bacchanal.…

This party was fated to happen.  When the University of Tennessee Volunteers upset Alabama 52-49 on Saturday, a veritable sea of UT fans swarmed the field at Neyland Stadium.  Tens of thousands of deliriously happy Big Orange fanatics cheered, danced, and partied long into the night. Fifteen years...

10/14/2022

A West Knoxville apartment fire that sent seven people to area hospitals and left nearly a dozen others homeless was intentionally set, authorities said today.

“Right now we do not have any suspects or motive, but we have enough to say this wasn’t an accidental fire,” said Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks of the Knoxville Fire Department.

“This really could have been a bad fire,” he continued. “This could have killed some people. There was the potential for killing some children…That’s horrible, horrible, horrible.”

A West Knoxville apartment fire that sent seven people to area hospitals and left nearly a dozen homeless was intentionally set, authorities said today. “Right now we do not have any suspects or motive, but we have enough to say this wasn’t an accidental fire,” said Assistant Chief Mark Wilban...

10/14/2022

Knoxville firefighters and police officers rushed into a burning apartment building Thursday night and successfully rescued several residents who were trapped by the smoke and flames.

Seven people — including three children and two police officers — were hospitalized and nearly a dozen others were left homeless by the blaze.

Knoxville firefighters and police officers rushed into a burning apartment building Thursday night and successfully rescued several residents who were trapped by the smoke and flames.  Seven people — including three children and two police officers — were hospitalized and nearly a dozen others ...

10/07/2022

An investigation into the overdose deaths of three people led to the arrest of a man from Detroit, Mich., who was found in a North Knoxville apartment along with a cache of items commonly used by drug traffickers and what appeared to be either he**in or fentanyl, authorities said Thursday.

An investigation into the overdose deaths of three people led to the arrest of a man from Detroit, Mich., who was found in a North Knoxville apartment along with a cache of items commonly used by drug traffickers and what appeared to be either he**in or fentanyl, authorities said Thursday.  The sus...

10/05/2022

After months of controversy, Greyhound buses will no longer pick up and drop off their riders in a gas station parking lot off Interstate 40 in East Knoxville.

Instead, buses will now converge in a convenience store parking lot that’s several blocks from I-40 in North Knoxville

After months of controversy, Greyhound buses will no longer pick up and drop off their riders in a gas station parking lot off Interstate 40 in East Knoxville.  Instead, buses will now converge in a convenience store parking lot that’s several blocks from I-40 in North Knoxville.  If it doesn’...

10/05/2022

A Greene County judge has rejected an effort to appeal the sentences of three men and women convicted in the infamous 1997 Lillelid murders.

A Greene County judge has rejected an effort to appeal the sentences of three men and women convicted in the infamous 1997 Lillelid murders. Circuit Court Judge Alex E. Pearson denied a request made by the defendants for fingerprint testing to be performed on the two handguns used in the crime, sayi...

10/03/2022

Dozens of University of Tennessee faculty members plan on challenging the state Legislature’s power to restrict free speech this week by deliberately teaching topics that a recent law seeks to suppress.

Dozens of University of Tennessee faculty members plan on challenging the state Legislature’s power to restrict free speech this week by deliberately teaching topics that a recent law seeks to suppress.   It’s not entirely clear what the consequences of deliberately violating the Divisive Conce...

09/29/2022

Home The Wire Crime
The WireCrime
NEW: Detroit drug dealer nabbed in Knoxville
By JJ Stambaugh -September 29, 2022055

David L. Jordan
An alleged drug dealer who hails from Detroit, Mich., was busted in Knoxville this week with large amounts of methamphetamine, he**in and ma*****na, authorities said Wednesday.

David L. Jordan, 49, who has been living at a house on Keith Avenue, was taken into custody Tuesday by Knoxville police officers working alongside a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency task force. He faces a slew of drug- and gun-related charges and was being held in the Knox County jail system in lieu of $33,000 bond, records show.

An alleged drug dealer who hails from Detroit, Mich., was busted in Knoxville this week with large amounts of methamphetamine, he**in and ma*****na, authorities said Wednesday. David L. Jordan, 49, who has been living at a house on Keith Avenue, was taken into custody Tuesday by Knoxville police off...

09/27/2022

A much-publicized Klu Klux Klan rally in Tazewell this weekend turned out to be something of a bust thanks to the vocal efforts of activists — many of them from Knoxville — who took to the streets and social media to protest the gathering.  At least, that’s how Tyler Givens and his associates...