Compass Points

The Town of Farragut completed a 180-degree turn on the Knox County growth plan last week, voting to approve changes proposed by County Mayor Glenn Jacobs just two weeks after first rejecting them. That sets the stage for updating the county's entire planning system, and it leads off this week's episode. Scott and Jesse also talk about Knox County Schools' proposed budget increase for next year, and the state Legislature's moves on internet age verification and arming classroom teachers. In the interview segment, they talk with Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Bragg, co-president of Justice Knox, about the interdenominational group's meeting...

The Farragut Board of Aldermen's whiplash-inducing reversals on the Knox County growth plan fueled local political drama last week. It leads off this week's episode as Jesse and Scott talk through the different parties and pressures brought to bear on the usually overlooked town legislature. Also: TDOT's big I-40 announcement; Knox County Schools wrestles with objections to library materials; and GOP opposition to state Rep. Gloria Johnson's reelection campaign evaporates. In the interview segment, the guys talk with Deborah Fisher of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government about the controversies and complexities of public comment at public meetings. They...

The holiday-shortened week ended with a bang last Thursday night when the Farragut Board of Mayor and Aldermen torpedoed County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' changes to the county growth plan. This week, Jesse and Scott look at the vote, the underlying politics, and what could happen next. Also, in the interview segment, they talk to state Sen. Becky Massey about a study that shows a need for new state mental health hospital in the Knoxville area. Plus: A low-barrier homeless shelter is closing because apparently nobody wants to run it; County Commission compromises on utility pole regulations; and the state...

It's Big Ears week, but before Scott and Jesse get to talking about Knoxville's most unusual annual festival, they have other business to attend to: the city and county mayors host a summit on homelessness; County Commission considers whether to crack down on abandoned utility poles; Knox County Schools wrestles with how to use discipline data; and City Council once again declines to weigh in on Israel's military incursion into Gaza.
Looking ahead, the guys preview this week's County Commission meeting.
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The City of Knoxville received a $42.6 million grant to provide better connections between East Knoxville and Downtown. In this week's episode, Scott and Jesse look at the major award and what it could mean for those communities. Also: a closer look at some of the March 5 primary results, a new golf attraction planned just north of Downtown, and the Legislature weighs in once again against efforts to hold law enforcement agencies accountable. In an interview segment, the guys get an update on the Advance Knox planning process from Mandi Benedict, who is overseeing it for County Mayor Glenn Jacobs...

The primary topic this week is ... the primary! Jesse and Scott talk through the results of the March 5 Knox County primary races, including seats on County Commission, school board, and that razor-thin margin in the property assessor's race. They are joined by guest Mike Cohen for some analysis of what we learned — or didn't — from election day. Also: the plans to renovate the historic Sanitary Laundry building; the school board's salary study suggests a $39 million pay increase; and the county's Comprehensive Land Use Plan passes its first test at Planning Commission.
Looking ahead to this week, the guys anti...

With the March 5 primary just around the corner, Jesse and Scott take a look at final early voting numbers and zoom in on the competitive Republican primary in the South Knox 9th District. Also: The county's new Growth Policy Plan wins conditional approval form County Commission; the city proposes a task force to study an alternative response model for mental health crises; another crack at a federal grant for the pedestrian bridge project; and some sad news from Sheriff Tom Spangler.
The guys preview to a busy week ahead, with the primary election and meetings of the school...

Knoxville lost a civil rights leader and invaluable community resource last week with the death of Bob Booker. Scott and Jesse kick off this week's episode with a remembrance and appreciation of Booker, who after a career of activism and government service became the de facto voice of local Black history. Also: As the March 5 primary approaches, they look at early vote #s and zoom in on County Commission primaries in District 1 and an interesting school board race in District 8; City Council decides to leave most auxiliary dwelling unit restrictions in place; County Mayor Glenn Jacobs visits the Southern...

It’s election time in East Tennessee! Early voting has begun for the March 5 primary, and in this week’s episode Jesse and Scott talk about turnout in the first days of voting. They also take a deeper look at a few contests in particular: Republican primaries in the law director’s race and the 5th and 8th County Commission districts.
Plus: Mayor Indya Kincannon’s new comprehensive housing plan. Looking ahead, the guys preview meetings this coming week of County Commission and Knoxville City Council.
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Rep. Gloria Johnson's decision to seek re-election to her legislative seat while also running for U.S. Senate created some political stir on both sides of the aisle last week. In this episode of Compass Points, Jesse and Scott talk through the implications and possible legal battles set up by Johnson's double campaign. Also: School vouchers feature prominently in Gov. Bill Lee's proposed budget, but the Knox County school board can't come to agreement on what it thinks about them; the Advance Knox planning update gets a generally favorable hearing from county commissioners; and a look at contested primaries...