Compass Points

This week, Scott and Jesse look at Knox County Schools' plan to cut nearly $8 million from its budget, including by eliminating teaching positions. They also discuss the University of Tennessee's $1.9 million settlement with fired Professor Tamar Shirinian; the creation of new three-year degree programs at UT; and Republican outrage over Democratic county mayor candidate Beau Hawk's past visit to...

Synopsis: This week, Scott and Jesse talk about Knox County's moratorium on large new data centers; what this year's reappraisal means for your property taxes; Knox County Schools' TCAP scores; City Councilman Denzel Grant's appointment to chair the African American Equity Restoration Task Force; and the closure of Club XYZ, one of just two gay clubs in Knoxville. They also look ahead to this week...

Synopsis: It's growth and development week! Scott and Jesse talk with local housing policy wonk Hancen Sale about why Knox Countians are so fired up against further growth, and what options local governments actually have to manage it. Topics include last week's 2025 development report from Knoxville-Knox County Planning, and County Commission's rejection of housing density in the Carter community...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the state GOP's decision to not interfere with the Knox County sheriff's race; why Knoxville's 2026 homicide rate is remarkably low; UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman speaking for the SEC on pending college sports legislation; City Council's denial of one more attempt to block the CareCuts services center on Clinton Highway; and a couple of new restaurants...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the school board's wrangling over book bans in the wake of the removal and return of "Roots" to library shelves. They also look at the largest donor gift in University of Tennessee history (with a familiar name attached), the state Republican Party moving to weigh in on the Knox County sheriff's race, and County Commission's discussion of the 2026-27 budget. L...

Please share this free service of CompassKnox.com and support Scott and Jessee Synopsis:   This week, Scott and Jesse track the banned/not-banned status of Alex Haley's "Roots," which was ordered returned to Knox County Schools libraries last week after having been removed just a few weeks before. Also, City Council passes the 2026-27 budget without much dissent — and bans smoking in 21-and-up bar...

This week Scott and Jesse talk a lot of politics — specifically, factional fighting within the Knox County Republican Party. It took multiple forms last week. from clashes at County Commission to a leaked text thread started by county GOP Chair Martin Daniel. Also, sheriff's candidate Mike Davis wants to throw out the May 5 primary results, and the city seeks South Waterfront developers. The guys...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the arrests of multiple sheriff's employees — and two recent sheriff candidates; County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' no-frills budget; Knox County Schools' banning of Alex Haley's book Roots; more fallout from the legislative redistricting of Memphis; and Knoxville's move to ban smoking in 21-and-up bars. They also look ahead to this week's meeting of County Commission...

This week: Scott and Jessee look back at a very interesting Knox County Primary, breakdown the County wide re-appraisals, dig in to the special called session in Nashville and look over the plans for the new 'entertainment district' on UT's campus near Neyland Stadium.  Also: The guys look ahead to ANOTHER busy week for the Knox area civic calander; County budget, meetings of the County Commoissio...

This week, Scott and Jesse tally up the early voting totals for the May 5 primary election, along with candidate spending and fights over crossover voting. Also: Tennessee Republicans target Memphis' congressional district, City Council gets a first look at Mayor Indya Kincannon's proposed budget, TVA names an interim CEO, County Commission tries to sort out a dispute over domestic violence servic...

This week, Scott and Jesse sort through turnout statistics at the midpoint of early voting, and talk through local primary races including county mayor, trustee, and clerk. They also look at Mayor Indya Kincannon's proposed City of Knoxville budget for the coming year, and the proposed Knox County Schools spending plan approved by the school board. Finally, they catch up on some of the bills that...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the Knox County primary election: a county mayoral candidate debate, the four Republican contenders for sheriff, some battles over who endorsed whom, and the turnout in the first few days of early voting. Also: Knox County Schools' proposed 2026-27 budget, Justice Knox's annual Nehemiah Action, and new statues of prominent Black Knoxvillians at Covenant Health...

This week, Scott and Jesse dig into the Republican primaries in races for Knox County mayor and County Commission's 7th District; real estate news involving downtown's Riverview Tower and the former St. Mary's Hospital property in North Knoxville; a leadership change at the public radio station WUOT; and a proposal to change Knoxville city election cycles. They also look ahead to meetings this wee...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about City Council's refusal to push forward with an Alternative Response program, one of last week's county mayor forums, proposed apartments on the Kerbela Temple site, voucher and charter school developments in the state Legislature, and Knoxville's homicide-free first quarter. They also look ahead to meetings of City Council and the Planning Commission, as well...

This week Scott talks about County Commission's decision to defer a vote on Commissioner Larsen Jay's proposal to eliminate the wheel tax, the first meeting of the Chilhowee Park Advisory Group, blocked anti-LGBTQ bills in the Legislature, a former property assessor candidate's felony convictions and the Big Ears Festival. He also looks ahead to a county election candidate forum and this week's Ci...

This week Scott and Jesse talk about City Council's approval of homeless services on Clinton Highway, Knoxville's new master plan for public parks, the firing of University of Tennessee Professor Tamar Shirinian, a Republican feud between developer Scott Davis and political consultant Erik Wiatr, and the opening to the public of the restored Eugenia Williams House. They look ahead to this week's m...

This week, Scott and Jesse discuss President Donald Trump's call for TVA CEO Don Moul's pay to be cut by 90 percent; informational signs in the Great Smoky Mountains flagged for supposedly objectionable content by the Trump administration; a breakthrough in an almost 40-year-old Knoxville missing person case; the University of Tennessee's research ambitions; the arrest of a Nashville Spanish-langu...

This week, Scott and Jesse parse the politics and finances of the school board's difficult vote on rezoning Powell Elementary; a City Council push to expand the use of winter warming centers; Mayor Kincannon's new Chilhowee Park Advisory Board; the Knoxville Police Department's return to full staffing strength after a decade; the Knoxville Bar Association's alarm at political meddling in judicial...

                       ***Share this Free Service of Compassknox.com *** On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about the failed effort by a small group of voters to kick County Commissioner Larsen Jay off the Republican primary ballot for county mayor; the retirement announcement of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, whose state Senate district includes a chunk of Knox County; East Tennessee Children'...

This week, Scott and Jesse look at new housing developments — one for homeless veterans, one a new apartment complex near the Old City — as well as the hiring of the City of Knoxville's new downtown coordinator. At the state level, they catch up on bills attacking faculty tenure protections and same-sex marriage. And in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a privately-funded program to preserv...

With Scott off covering the city's Budget Retreat, Jesse talks with Steve Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy about TVA's Trump-fueled reversal on closing two coal-fired power plants, as well as the EPA's reversal on regulating greenhouse gases. Plus, Jesse and Seth talk about a report and recommendations on creating a "Community Response" model for non-emergency calls, school rezoning...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the school board's wrangling with a putative Christian charter school; Gov. Bill Lee's push for expanded school vouchers; AMR's improvement in ambulance response times; and some culture war bills put forward by Christian conservative state Rep. Gino Bulso. They also look ahead to meetings of the county's Juvenile Service Center board, and the Knoxville-Knox Co...

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about last Friday's anti-ICE protest, discussion of immigration at County Commission, and recent national attention paid to Big Ears founder Ashley Capps and County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Looking ahead, they preview multiple meetings of the Knox County school board this week, along with Knoxville City Council and the UT Knoxville campus Advisory Board. Pleas share Comp...

With Scott out, Jesse (and producer Seth!) talk through the Knoxville Police Department's new drones and cameras; the Legislature's raft of immigration enforcement bills; the new City Council members' delay of some local grants; and the passing of Natalie Haslam. They're joined by Compass correspondent Thomas Fraser, who explains Oak Ridge National Lab's role in a new national fusion energy projec...

On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about further developments at Knox County's troubled Juvenile Services Center (Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin will apparently be taking charge); the Knoxville Police Department's deployment of the first new camera in its Real Time Information Center system; the opening of a new apartment complex, part of the Transforming Western initiative; a settlement...