KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — At the start of 2023, East Tennessee communities continued facing rising housing costs and a pricier cost of living, bringing some to the brink of homelessness. The issue persisted throughout the year.
At the same time, ongoing discussions on gun violence reached a new intensity across the state — especially in Middle Tennessee. Lawmakers also mulled extensive changes to the state's public education systems, as families braced for the impact of a new third-grade retention law while leaders made proposals like universal school vouchers.
International tragedies, like the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War, were also felt in East Tennessee — simultaneously dividing and uniting the community in arenas like Market Square and in Knoxville City Council.
East Tennessee lost loved ones while celebrating achievements in sports and beyond. It welcomed some new leaders while more voters across Tennessee said they were weary of state lawmakers.
In a year that at times felt too fraught to bear, East Tennessee still stood together. Some of the biggest stories of 2023 are listed below.
Faith's role in East Tennessee has been pronounced throughout the area's history. When the East Tennessee United Methodists split with "traditionalist" churches, faith leaders did not describe it as dire or uncertain. Rather, they rejoiced in a chance to "write a new chapter," eager to go on "a renewed and revived path of faithfulness."
The Methodist Split came after years of disagreements between members over their views on same-sex marriage, sexuality and biblical authority.
The United Methodist Church outlaws gay marriage on church grounds and does not allow pastors to be "self-avowed, practicing homosexuals," however, many U.S. churches have moved to support progressive policies. In late 2022, the church saw its second openly gay bishop elected in Salt Lake City.
The Holston United Methodists, a part of the UMC, held a conference in April to finalize a split with 264 congregations, allowing them to leave the denomination. It was held at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Knoxville.
Around 570 churches remained in the conference following the split located across East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia and North Georgia. Faith leaders said around half of the congregations that split joined a newly-formed Global Methodist Church — a "traditionalist" and mostly-conservative denomination that was formed in 2022 after a national schism between liberal and conservative Methodist churches.
This year saw East Tennessee, an area that was known for its affordability and low-cost living in previous years become increasingly unaffordable for families. Nearly every month throughout 2023, the East Tennessee REALTORS group reported rising rent prices and home prices, with the Knoxville area crossing over the state and national averages for some costs.
Most recently, the real estate group found University of Tennessee student housing market was the 11th housing national market for rent growth.
"Rent growth in purpose-built student housing hit record highs across the U.S. over the last year – and Knoxville was no exception," the report said. "The especially large rent increases among purpose-built student housing units can be attributed to robust enrollment growth at the University of Tennessee, which created a sizable gap between supply and demand evidenced by the 100% occupancy rate for Fall 2023."
It also found that in October 2023, the median home sales price in the Knoxville area was around $350,000 — up by more than 11% from last year.
KnoxHMIS, a Knoxville-area system that tracks data regarding homelessness, found a lack of affordable housing and eviction led to around 58% of homelessness cases in the area. It found that the average rent in Knox County during August 2023 was around $1,490 per month. Nationally, the average rent was $1,363 and the Tennessee average was $1,171 per month.
To address rising costs, city leaders proposed policies designed to encourage more development. They especially encouraged Missing Middle Housing, a type of development that features multiple units such as duplexes, triplexes and other kinds of homes. Although additional developments would add to the supply of homes in the area, it would not guarantee those new homes would be affordable.
"The cost of living crisis in East Tennessee cannot be overlooked. Knox County, for example, is a saturated market and was reported as the number one metropolitan area for rent increase in 2022. The lack of affordable housing in East Tennessee is largely due to an increased demand without a substantial increase in supply. As we are finally seeing rent growth begin to moderate and we have a historic number of rental units under construction, this positive direction could be halted with a policy such as rent control," the report said.
It encouraged changing zoning policies and land use policies to allow for increased development, increasing the supply of homes in the Knoxville area. Traditional rent control policies are not allowed under state law.
During a Knoxville City Council meeting in November in which leaders discussed the city's housing market, councilmember Amelia Parker said although the housing supply increased over the years, rental prices were still too high for many people. She encouraged city leaders to work towards acquiring properties and work with low-income developers to address housing affordability.
"We can actually work to intentionally develop the housing market that we want. Or, we can pretend that we have to rely on the market. We can pretend that we have to rely on the market," she said.
A school shooting in Middle Tennessee rattled the state and the nation in late March. A shooter opened fire inside The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, and killed three children. Three adults were also killed, as well as the shooter — a total of seven people dead. The pain and rage quickly fomented into calls for lawmakers to pass gun restrictions during protests at the state Capitol.
Family members of victims formed two nonprofits meant to promote school safety and reduce gun violence. One of the organizations, the Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows, joined voices with advocates to call action on gun reform.
The protests for action on gun violence led to the expulsions of three Democratic lawmakers, named "The Tennessee Three." The shooting also led Governor Bill Lee to call lawmakers back to the state Capitol for a special session of the General Assembly to specifically discuss gun restrictions.
He proposed the state pass a law allowing authorities to effectively seize guns if a person is proven to be a threat to themself or others.
That proposal failed, as did several others proposed during the special session. After several days of protests, anger and disappointment — lawmakers passed only three bills. Republican lawmakers attempted to ban signs from being displayed while the General Assembly was in session, a move that was blocked by a judge.
Republican lawmakers also voted to silence Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) during the special session, one of the lawmakers who was previously expelled and returned to his seat. The vote led to an eruption of anger from demonstrators, while Democratic lawmakers left the session in solidarity with Jones.
Lawmakers passed bills that provided gun locks to residents upon request, required the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to submit a report on human trafficking, and a bill that added additional funding for mental health programs and school safety programs.
After the session, images of writings from The Covenant School shooter surfaced. Family members had gone through courts to restrict them from public release, concerned about the trauma the writings could have on students in class during the shooting. The writings were leaked by a Conservative talk show host.
Authorities started an investigation into the leak, and seven officers were briefly put on "administrative assignment" as part of it.
Three Democratic lawmakers faced expulsion votes in April 2023 after approaching the "well" in the House of Representatives during a protest calling for gun restrictions. That demonstration followed a shooting at a Christian school in Nashville, named The Covenant School, where three children and three adults were killed.
Two Black lawmakers, Rep. Justin Jones (D - Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D - Memphis) were expelled from their seats. However, they returned after being voted back in as interim members. Later, voters fully reinstated their seats after formally electing them back to the House of Representatives.
Rep. Gloria Johnson (D - Knoxville) also faced an expulsion vote. However, she kept her seat by one vote. She later announced her candidacy in September 2023 for the U.S. Senate, set to face off against current Senator Marsha Blackburn (R - TN) in 2024.
The vote on her expulsion led to a discussion by the House Republican caucus, which was leaked to the public by the Tennessee Holler, a progressive news outlet. In that leaked audio, Rep. Jason Zachary (R - Knoxville) said Democratic lawmakers "destroy the republic and the foundation of who we are." Rep. Scott Cepicky (R - Culleoka) also said that they were at war against Democratic lawmakers.
The Tennessee Three, as the three lawmakers were named, were later invited to the White House to discuss gun reform. The incident also highlighted the impact of the state's Republican supermajority in the legislature. A Vanderbilt poll in December found those lawmakers to be more extreme than the state's voters.
Months later, Rep. Jones was silenced during a special legislative session using new rules on conduct and speech in the House. The incident renewed national attention on the Tennessee Three, and Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement showing support for Jones.
During the last regular General Assembly session, lawmakers passed an anti-drag bill that would have effectively banned public drag performances. It was set to go into effect on April 1 despite criticism from leaders of the LGBTQ+ community. And just before it was set to go into effect, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction and blocked it.
A lawsuit was filed by Friends of George's, a Memphis nonprofit that produced "drag-centric performances, comedy sketches and plays." The injunction was effectively extended, and later a federal judge ruled it unconstitutional in the Memphis area.
However, authorities on the other side of the state in Blount County tried to enforce it. Normally, when a law is ruled unconstitutional, authorities avoid enforcing it. But in August, the Blount County Sheriff's Office and area District Attorney warned it would be enforced as Blount Pride prepared for its annual Pride celebration.
Another federal judge blocked the District Attorney from enforcing it, acknowledging that the court was already considering its constitutionality and noting it was previously barred from being enforced.
"Judge Parker's 70-page opinion is well-written, scrupulously researched, and highly persuasive," the judge wrote. "The court, based on the parties' arguments at this juncture in the proceedings sees no reason to 'break new ground' on the constitutional issues."
The Memphis-area lawsuit was appealed by the District Attorney there to the Sixth Circuit. If ruled unconstitutional there, it would be unconstitutional outright across Tennessee.
Hundreds of people attended Blount Pride in September, where organizers brought people together for drag performances, a storytime session with drag performers, a market as well as a speech from Representative Zooey Zephyr (D), a transgender state lawmaker from Montana.
This year, families felt the impact of a new law that allows third-graders who don't meet expectations on a state test to be held back. Students could complete tutoring or summer school to avoid having to repeat the third grade, and families could appeal their children's test results if it was lower than expected due to extenuating circumstances.
Critics said that only using the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program to evaluate student performance ignored other indicators of student performance, such as engagement in a classroom or improvements on individual assignments. Using a single test to gauge whether a student could move onto the fourth grade also puts pressure on students, which could impact their grades, critics said.
Around 60% of students who took the exam failed to meet expectations on the test's ELA portion. The state also used TCAP data to give individual schools grades, ranking how well individual schools perform using a single metric.
The new letter grade system came after Gov. Bill Lee proposed expanding the state's controversial school voucher program to all areas.
The Education Freedom Scholarship Act would start by providing a total of 20,000 scholarships to Tennessee students during the 2024-2025 school year. The first 10,000 scholarships would be for students whose families were at or below 300% of the federal poverty line, who have a disability or who are eligible for the state's new ESA program.
The other 10,000 scholarships would be available to a universal pool of students eligible to attend public schools.
The following school year and beyond, Tennessee students would be universally eligible to get scholarships so they could attend schools other than public schools, as long as funds are available for scholarships. They could be used for faith-based schools, private schools and charter schools. Tennessee would join nine other states that have similar programs.
Democratic lawmakers condemned both the retention law and the universal school voucher proposal. They expressed concern that private schools would get public funds despite not having to follow the same standards as public schools. Akbari also said the system could expand and overtake public schools, attracting charter and private schools to Tennessee to take advantage of the program.
On New Year's Day, Tennessee Football will travel to Florida to play against Iowa in the team's second bowl game in a row. It will be the team's sixth Citrus Bowl appearance. Last year, the Vols played against Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
The last time the team had appeared in an Orange Bowl was during Peyton Manning's final game as a Vol in 1998.
Tennessee's one Citrus Bowl loss dates back to 1994 when the team fell to Penn State.
This year, the game will be played in Camping Worl Stadium at 1 p.m., with pep rallies for Iowa and Tennessee set for New Year's Eve.
For $100 a ticket, fans can enjoy a private VIP area next to Camping World Stadium that features lounge seating, all-inclusive food and beverage, live music and more. The teams’ marching bands will also make special performances.
A war more than 6,000 miles away has had an impact in East Tennessee, sharply dividing the community in several arenas. One of the most pronounced places the divisions were seen was at Knoxville City Council.
In November, Knoxville City Council member Amelia Parker proposed a symbolic resolution showing support for the people of Palestine. It came after a war erupted in the region that has led to the deaths of thousands of people.
Hamas, a militant group elected to power in Gaza during the mid-2000s, launched an attack against Israel around the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, on Oct. 7. It was an Israeli death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria — killing around 1,400, according to Israeli sources.
The United Nations said in 2019 more than half of all people in Gaza were under 18 years old, indicating they were not able to vote for Hamas.
The following day, Oct. 8, Israel declared war against Hamas and began bombarding Gaza. The defense minister promised a ground invasion as water, electricity and food access was caught off for the area and a million people were ordered to evacuate by Israel.
The UN said more than 11,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli attacks by late November and around 68% of them were women and children. Around 27,400 were wounded, according to the UN. The UN also said moving people wounded in the bombardment would require critical support, making evacuation "very difficult."
By then, the UN said 135 attacks on health facilities were recorded in Gaza — "the highest number recorded in such a short amount of time." In that time, the UN reported around 1,200 Israeli fatalities — mostly from the Oct. 7 attack. The UN also noted that the estimate of fatalities in the war had been changed by Israeli sources. They also said the Gazan humanitarian crisis displaced around 1.6 million people or around 70% of Gaza.
At Knoxville City Council, pain and rage from the war were put on display. Speakers opposing and supporting the resolution took the podium. People who spoke in support of the resolution included people who said their family members were killed in Palestine, as well as advocates from groups like the Jewish Voice for Peace, a progressive, anti-Zionist advocacy group. It has chapters across the U.S. — including in Knoxville.
While one Jewish woman spoke in support of the resolution, a person wearing a shirt with the Israeli Defense Force logo approached her from behind and Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon stopped the meeting to ask them to sit down. Following her, speakers approached the podium to speak against the proposal.
Speakers against the proposal mostly came from the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, a community group that operates community centers and early education programs, as well as an extensive offering of programs. It also oversees a local affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America, a group that lobbies for federal funds to Jewish communities and is a partner of the Israeli government.
"As a son, and a grandson of a proud Zionist, and myself a proud Zionist, I say to you, 'Enough is enough.' Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism, full stop," said Brayn Goldberg, then-president of the KJA. "I have received absolutely nothing but unabashed outrage and deep sadness over the mere prospect of this resolution from my community. My community is hurt by this resolution."
In March 2023, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon traveled to Jerusalem as part of a program that brought a delegation of U.S. leaders to Israel named "Project Interchange." The American Jewish Committee previously said in a press release that the program is meant to give U.S. mayors a first-hand understanding of Israel's government and technologies.
As part of the program, the delegation of mayors was also brought to Ramallah, a Palestinian city in The West Bank. They also visited Tel Aviv and the border with Lebanon and Gaza.
During the meeting, Parker said the resolution was an important part of demonstrating that Knoxville stood against genocide. It failed without a vote after no other city council seconded it.
Hanukkah celebrations in Knoxville also took on a new tone, colored by the war and the thousands of deaths.
"The candles of celebration are intertwined with some flames of memorial, you know, for those who have been killed," said Rabbi Yossi Wilhelm. "Because of its message, it's extremely powerful in particular during these tough times and we have to take that message and do the best we can."
In February, East Tennessee law enforcement agencies formally announced a new effort targeting people from Detroit in an effort to cut off a pipeline of drugs between the city and the Knoxville area, before drugs flowed to other cities across the country. It was named the "313 Initiative," and since it was announced hundreds of people have been arrested. The effort was named after Detroit's "313" area code.
As part of the initiative, law enforcement and prosecutors developed a centralized database allowing information to be easily shared, enabling law enforcement to better identify and prosecute local dealers and larger-scale drug traffickers, according to 8thb District Attorney General Jared Effler.
In December, leaders announced more than 20 agencies across three states joined the initiative, including federal partners. They said the initiative led to 246 arrests, and law enforcement seized around 75 lbs. of methamphetamine along with 43 lbs. of fentanyl. Police also said they seized around 130 guns.
At least four tornadoes touched down in East Tennessee during a round of severe storms in August, bringing destruction to areas including Knox County. Leading up to the day when tornadoes touched down, all of East Tennessee was put under a Tornado Watch.
Eventually, tornado sirens sounded in Knox County when an EF-2 tornado swept through the area. It had winds of up to 130 mph and was on a path 200 yards wide, according to a preliminary assessment from the National Weather Service.
It swept through the Lovell Crossing apartment complex and damaged nearby neighborhoods. Office buildings were also caught up in the storm, shattering windows and ripping up trees. At the apartment complex, severe roof damage and structural damage forced some residents to leave. Their leases were canceled, and several people were displaced.
Federal funds were eventually made available to help homeowners and business owners recover, with disaster loans made available in November.
Two EF-0 tornadoes were also reported in Jefferson County as part of the storms, as well as one in Meigs County. "Bow echoes" in Loudon County also damaged some buildings, including a school.
In November, Sean Williams escaped from a prison van in Greeneville and led authorities on a monthlong manhunt. He escaped while waiting to face sex crime charges, and had previously attempted to escape federal custody from a different prison.
In December, he was found in Florida after the U.S. Marshals Service and several state and federal agencies worked to locate him. A worker at a convenience store recognized his face and called authorities after spotting him in Pinellas County, Florida.
"He is definitely a very dangerous kind of human being," said David Jolley, a U.S. Marshal. "We couldn't do what we do unless there are good citizens out there who are willing to do the right thing, like the store clerk who had seen it on the news and made the right call."
Williams tried to kill himself less than two hours after arriving back in East Tennessee in December and being taken to the Blount County Jail. He appeared before a judge on Dec. 21, after his previous attorney asked to be removed from the case.
Bishop Richard F. Stika, whose 14-year leadership of the East Tennessee diocese had increasingly come under scrutiny and critique, resigned in June. Pope Francis accepted Stika's resignation following allegations he mishandled sex abuse allegations. Stika received the title of Bishop Emeritus of Knoxville after his resignation, or "retired bishop."
The Vatican appointed Shelton Fabre, Archbishop of Louisville, to serve as the Apostolic Administrator of the Knoxville diocese until it could appoint a new bishop. He quickly arrived in Knoxville.
Stika, who has battled ill health in recent years, turned 66 years old on July 4. He also said to diocesan leaders that he intended to remain in active ministry.
A native of St. Louis, he took over in 2009 as bishop of the Knoxville-based diocese, which stretches from Chattanooga up to the Tri-Cities. One of his lasting contributions to the diocese was the construction of the cathedral on Northshore Drive, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was dedicated in 2018.
Turmoil within the diocese had been reported by several Catholic-focused media including The National Catholic Reporter and the Pillar online investigative site. The bishop had also come under increasing scrutiny and pressure in the past two years, in part because of his steadfast defense of a Polish seminarian he welcomed into the diocese.
The seminarian is accused of rape in 2019 by a now former church musician in an ongoing Knox County Circuit Court lawsuit. The seminarian has not been charged with a crime.
Records obtained by 10News and interviews with several priests in the diocese show Stika took the seminarian into his home, relied on him as a driver at times and took trips with him, including one to the Vatican.
He shortened a 2021 internal investigation into the seminarian's conduct launched once it became widely known within the diocese. Stika always said plainly he thought the seminarian was innocent and the musician was the aggressor and instigator.
In September, a federal appeals court formally allowed a Tennessee law effectively banning types of gender-affirming care for transgender youth to go into effect. It also upheld a similar Kentucky law.
The ACLU, Lambda Legal and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP sued the state in April to block the law. It makes it illegal for providers to provide care so a minor could "identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent" with their gender assigned at birth.
It prevents transgender youth from getting care in the state to affirm their gender and treat gender dysphoria. The Tennessee law says transgender youth who started treatment before July 1 in the state will need to stop by March 31, 2024. Kentucky passed a similar law in March 2023.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals previously allowed the Tennessee law to remain in effect while the lawsuit was considered in court. The court's opinion starts by highlighting that major medical associations working with the transgender community approve of treatments involving types of care such as puberty blockers to help transgender minors, but says their approach has changed over the decades.
It also says that "Kentucky and Tennessee share an interest in regulating the medical treatments offered to children suffering from gender dysphoria. Tennessee was the first of the two States to regulate the treatments."
In the lawsuit, families argued that their due process rights under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution were violated. Judges said courts should look to "norms that are 'deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition'" to determine if something violates the 14th Amendment. It determined that the families who brought the lawsuit did not have their 14th Amendment rights violated.
The court's ruling cites Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Org. several times, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the previous Roe v. Wade decision.
It later said that no tradition exists in the U.S. to determine what "level of generality" a parent can have to make decisions for their children.
Notable Deaths of 2023
Cormac McCarthy spent much of his career penning gripping novels that brought readers to some of the most obscure corners of East Tennessee. He died in June at 89 years old. He died of natural causes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, publisher Alfred A. Knopf said.
As the author of Suttree, The Road, Child of God and several other novels — McCarthy's novels often centered on the place he called home for years.
McCarthy was born in Rhode Island and grew up in Knoxville. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he began writing short fiction. He was compared to William Faulkner for his Old Testament style and rural settings.
McCarthy's themes, like Faulkner’s, often were bleak and violent and dramatized how the past overwhelmed the present. Across stark landscapes and rundown communities, he placed drifters, thieves, prostitutes and broken men — all unable to escape fates determined for them well before they were born.
In October, a Knox County Sheriff's Office deputy was fatally shot while responding to a domestic call. He left behind a wife and a child. His death brought much of Knox County to a halt, as a massive procession trailed from a funeral home to a Knox County church for funeral services and a celebration of life.
Leaders of all kinds, such as Sheriff Tom Spangler and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, offered condolences and grieved alongside Blakely's family. Gov. Lee also shared his gratitude for Blakely's service, and flags flew over the state capitol at half-staff following his death.
The Powell High School graduate was remembered as a man who brought smiles to everyone he met, and whose deep ties to the Knox County community connected people from across the area.
Footage showing a man fatally beaten by Memphis police led to statewide calls for accountability and change in January. That month, Tyre Nichols was killed by Memphis-area law enforcement.
The gruesome footage led to the firings of several Memphis police officers, as well as indictments against some. Some advocates likened the beating to gang violence, fueling calls for police reform and the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
That bill was not signed into law this year and would add a new national framework for police accountability.
In February, Knoxville Police Department officers arrested a 60-year-old woman who then became unresponsive in the back of a cruiser and died the following day. No charges were filed against the officers who arrested Lisa Edwards, but three were disciplined.
She had previously suffered a stroke that left her in a wheelchair, and was arrested after hospital security said she was outside the emergency room and refused to leave the property after she was discharged.
A disturbing video later revealed shocking comments from officers while Edwards struggled to breathe as she was loaded into a cruiser. Her death led to an internal review and calls by advocates for police reform in Knoxville.
For decades, Carl Williams was a voice that echoed through the hills and mountains of East Tennessee. Families across the region recognized him as the voice that told them news of the area. He died on April 17, 2023.
He was the first anchor and newsman to sign up with WBIR during its very first days in 1956. He worked with the news station for 37 years. The station's earliest-known surviving news broadcast also featured him, airing on June 21, 1960.
He got his start at 17 years old working in radio. In WBIR's earliest surviving broadcast, he reported on stories about boxing, an anti-litter project in Knoxville, and the Tennessee Smokies.
"That's the news for tonight," he says in the 1960 broadcast. "Until tomorrow night, then, Carl Williams reporting. Thanks, and good night."
In August, an impaired driver fatally crashed into a pedestrian while he walked on a sidewalk along Kingston Pike. Ben Kredich was 24 years old and he was on his way to have dinner with his father when he was fatally struck. He was previously diagnosed with autism, and his family said he was excited to grow into an independent adult.
Ben was known in the community as an advocate for people with special needs, helping pave the way for the UT FUTURE Program, which helps young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities transition into adult life after high school.
He also advocated for educational rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In July, a boater was drinking and driving on Norris Lake when he crashed into another boat, killing a young boy. Months later in October, Norman Joe Sturgill from Kentucky turned himself in for charges related to the death of then-12-year-old Conner Catlett.
He was charged with vehicular homicide due to being intoxicated as well as 12 counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. The 12 counts were for each of the crash survivors. The homicide count carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, and the reckless endangerment counts each carry up to six years in prison.
Nine of the 13 people aboard the Chapparal were children between the ages of 9 to 17 years old, according to the crash report.