Compass Points

Knox County approved a new ambulance contract this week, although not without some friction (including between a county spokesman and a News Sentinel reporter). Jesse and Scott talk through the details in this week's podcast, and also take a look at City of Knoxville efforts to address contracting disparities. Meanwhile, the local Moms for Liberty chapter has identified some books it doesn't like...

A new conservative activist group, Knox For Liberty, is aiming to hold local officials and candidates accountable for their priorities. Those include school vouchers, social media regulation, and attempting to nullify federal laws they don't like. In this week's podcast, Jesse and Scott talk about the group and its possible impact, along with: the city of Knoxville's effort to keep existing apartm...

Knoxville city elections dominated local political news this week, and Scott and Jesse dig into the results. What do the big wins for progressive candidates signal, and what do they mean for future elections? The guys also talk about County Commission's legislative priorities for the coming year, and why they probably won't get most of what they want. Plus: an antisemitism investigation at the Uni...

Early voting in the City of Knoxville election wrapped up this week, with predictably low turnout. This week Scott and Jesse look at the numbers and look ahead to the Nov. 7 election. Also on the podcast: controversy at the Three Rivers Market food co-op, the city of Knoxville's various efforts to build more affordable housing, and questions about Knox County's proposed new ambulance contract. In...

The draft county growth developed through the Advance Knox process was officially released last week to concerns about the potential loss of quality farmland. Scott, who's flying solo this week, talks about the plan, the official opening of the city's Public Safety Complex and partisanship in the nonpartisan city election. He also runs down the turnout at the halfway point in the city election ear...

The University of Tennessee is entering into a $240 million public-private development partnership to build new dormitories. Scott and Jesse talk about that innovative deal and its repercussions on the podcast this week, along with Knox County's unsustainable ambulance contract, a City Council candidate forum, the start of early voting in the city elections and Rep. Tim Burchett's part in the ongo...

Several developments in the race for Knoxville municipal judge top this week's events, including a contentious forum, the announcement of endorsements and fundraising totals, and an ethical violation by the incumbent. Jesse and Scott also talk about the next steps in the Advance Knox planning process, the City of Knoxville's purchase of property for a planned pedestrian bridge, and Congressman Tim...

The failure of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon's Missing Middle Housing Plan at last week's Planning Commission meeting undergoes scrutiny at this week's Compass Points podcast. Jesse and Scott also talk about the death of Knox County Deputy Tucker Blakely, Congressman Tim Burchett's pivotal role in ousting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the school system's purchase of property in Farragut for a ne...

This week Scott calls in from the road while Jesse holds it down at the studio. Together they talk about the fate of the County Commission resolution against "sexualizing children," Mayor Kincannon's "Middle Housing" plan, the school board's Annual Action Plan for Superintendent Jon Rysewyk, a development in the ethics complaint against Commissioner Kyle Ward, and the state's somewhat contradictor...

What does a Knox County Commission resolution against "sexualizing children" actually mean, and where did it come from? Jesse and Scott look at those questions in this week's episode, which was taped live at a special Compass happy hour. Also in the mix: election news in state and local races, the stadium project's ongoing struggle to meet minority contracting goals, Knox County's ambulance contra...

An ethics complaint against Knox County Commissioner Kyle Ward and the end of a controversial development proposal in Choto lead this week's podcast. Jesse and Scott also talk about the emerging candidate lineup for next year's Knox County elections, a crisis in ambulance availability, and the big picture outlook for the local economy. In the Q&A section, they consider what other local officials m...

State Rep. Gloria Johnson's campaign for Senate is the talk of the state — and of the podcast! Scott and Jesse look at the uphill battle Johnson faces and the political logic of her run. They also talk about the school board's assorted actions on special education this week, including a somewhat controversial plan to contract for services; studies of downtown parking and the South Waterfront; and...

Primary elections in the City of Knoxville top this week's podcast, as Scott and Jesse talk about the results and the coming runoffs, and memorialize Cameron Brooks, who died just a few days after finishing a strong second in a City Council race. They also take a look back at the scattered "special session," a shake-up in newly reelected Mayor Indya Kincannon's administration, and the legal disput...

Was a racist email behind Brooklyn Belk's departure from the Knoxville Police Department? Jesse and Scott dig into that question, along with the state Legislature's special session; mental health resolutions from City Council and County Commission; the final early voting and campaign finance numbers in the city election; and KAT's plan to drop the downtown trolley. They also look at the city's fun...

Halfway through early voting for City of Knoxville elections, turnout remains low. Scott and Jesse talk about why that is, and they also look at a push to regulate short-term rentals in Knox County, the Knoxville Utilities Board's report on recovering from storm damage, requests from the city and county for state mental health funding, and some political wrangling on the county's Merit System Boar...

This week Scott and Jesse talk about the unseasonal tornado that hit Knox County this week, the race for Knoxville mayor, the start of early voting in the city elections, a damning report from Knox County Schools' special education task force, and an unexpected visit from Sesame Street. They also answer a reader's question about what happened to state funding after Lakeshore Mental Health Institut...

This week Jesse and Scott talk about a candidate forum in the race for Knoxville mayor, some endorsements for City Council candidates, a conflict over a historic home on Magnolia Avenue, Knox County's rising rents and a big meeting on local mental health services. They also answer a reader question about the current status of COVID-19 in the community, and look ahead next week to the start of earl...

This week Jesse and Scott take a look at two contested races in the City of Knoxville primary: the fascinating three-way contest for At-Large Seat C, and the unexpectedly competitive race for municipal judge. They also review U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett's week of advocacy for UFO disclosure, changes to Knoxville development rules and a lawsuit filed by teachers against the state's "prohibited concepts"...

This week Scott and Jesse take a look at the candidates for City Council at-large seats A and B, the county's decision to allow guns in libraries, and private development around the new downtown stadium. They also talk to City Councilwoman Seema Singh about "Missing Middle" housing, and ponder the age-old question, "Is Tennessee a Democracy?" Looking ahead to next week, they preview a candidate fo...

With Jesse on the road this week, Scott talks about campaign fundaising in the city election, religious instruction release time in Knox County Schools, some developments considered at planning commission and more news from the past week. He also looks ahead to election coverage in the coming week. CompassKnox.com

This week, Scott and Jesse follow up on the sudden departure of a KPD deputy chief, a survey about freedom of speech on the UT campus, a study showing gun deaths in Tennessee hitting an all-time high, the possibility of passenger rail service returning to Knoxville, and the latest in city election news. They also look ahead to meetings next week of the Knox County school board, Knoxville City Coun...

This week Scott and Jesse talk about the sudden departure of KPD Deputy Chief Brooklyn Belk; the University of Tennessee's efforts to increase to diversity and whether the Supreme Court's affirmative action ruling will affect them; a couple of lawsuits challenging state restrictions on transgender medical care; City Council's two resolutions on creating an "alternative response" model for people i...

Jesse's taking a well-deserved break this week, but Scott will talk about changes to KPD's internal affairs unit, a plan to reach common political ground, Knox County's new mental health court and a protest over transgender females competing as women in the USA Cycling championships. He will also answer a reader question about the McClung warehouses and preview upcoming public meetings, including...

This week Scott and Jesse talk about a state investigation of the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District, the groundbreaking for the downtown stadium, City Council's change to parking requirements for redevelopment, and the Knoxville legacy of Cormac McCarthy. They also answer a reader question about "missing middle housing," and look ahead to Juneteenth and a County Commission meeting next week.

This week Scott and Jesse talk about Tennessee's unconstitutional drag law, the county budget deal, a development report that shows a continued local housing shortage, and school board policies on public forum and outside medical providers. Plus, they answer a reader question about the proposed science museum east of downtown. Go to CompassKnox.com to subscribe for indepth coverage on these topics...