Behind the Headlines Podcast

MATA's interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin addressed the myriad problems facing the transit system, even while noting progress on some fronts.

Leaders of the three separate initiatives joined Eric Barnes to talk about their programs this week on the WKNO-TV's "Behind The Headlines."

On this week's "Behind The Headlines," Toby Sells, news editor for The Memphis Flyer, and reporter Abigail Warren of The Daily Memphian joined Eric Barnes to talk about the election.

Once mailboxes are clear of campaign mailers and the Nov. 5 election, 120,000 MLGW customers will be getting a notice on replacing lead water lines. MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says on "Behind The Headlines" the utility has the money to replace its lines and is working on funding to replace it on the customer's side of the connection.

Executive Director of Compass Community Schools, Kristi Baird, Chief Academic Officer of Gestalt Community Schools, Bobbie Turner, and Schools of Perea's Tia James join host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian reporter Laura Testino. Guests discuss what has led to chronic absenteeism at the national and local levels, and strategies schools are using to keep kids in school.

How Memphians will vote on the referendum, and whether it will ultimately impact Tennessee's gun laws, was a hot topic for local reporters this week.

Ashley Coffield talked on "Behind The Headlines" about the impact of the 2-year-old law and the political effort to flip seats in the Tennessee Legislature based on Republican votes on abortion access.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young says on BTH that the city's deal to buy the Sheraton convention center hotel has risks that are outweighed by the hotel's role in convention business. The 39-year-old hotel has a history of bond defaults - the first one a year after it opened.

On "Behind the Headlines," Memphis City Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. said the body would likely sue if the Tennessee Legislature attempted to withhold sales-tax revenue from the city. 

MSCS superintendent Marie Feagins talked on "Behind The Headlines" about the look at closing some schools and the changes to the school system including eliminating 600 vacant positions and reassigning those in other positions.

In its final action, the former MSCS board tasked incoming members with creating a strategic plan and evaluation for Superintendent Marie Feagins. 

The incoming and outgoing chairs of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners talked on "Behind The Headlines" about new Cordova and Frayser schools funding and rebuilding Regional One Health's campus.

Tina Sullivan talked on "Behind The Headlines" about her 12 years as Overton Park Conservancy's first executive director and what's next for the greensward as she prepares to step down.

Frederick Agee —   the Republican District Attorney for Tennessee's Crockett, Gibson and Haywood counties —   talks on "Behind The Headlines" about his defense of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, who is likely to face an ouster attempt in the Tennessee legislature led by Republicans. 

Germantown City Administrator Jason Huisman and Collierville Town Administrator Molly Mehner joined "Behind the Headlines" to discuss their communities and challenges they've overcome since taking their positions.

A roundtable of journalists on WKNO's "Behind The Headlines," talks about changes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools by the new superintendent and how the August elections could mean more changes for the school system.

Interim CBU president Brother Chris Englert and board chairwoman Emily Greer talk about the university's effort to rebuild its finances and grow enrollment.

At the center of the debate between TN State Senator Brent Taylor and Just City's Josh Spickler is how bail should be implemented, a topic of sometimes fierce disagreement between elected leaders, government officials and the general public.

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon addressed the divide between what the data shows and what the community is feeling.

More than 4,000 people had a chance to walk, crawl and climb through artist Christopher Reyes' 2020 immersive exhibit at Off the Wall Arts. Now, Baron Von Opperbean is coming back with 15 times the amount of space and a much larger budget in a new location: Mud Island.

Germantown Municipal School District Superintendent Jason Manuel and Lakeland School System Superintendent Ted Horrell joined Behind the Headlines to reflect on their history and discuss current issues.

The leaders of Bridges and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis talk on "Behind The Headlines" about how the city's violence impacts the world of the children their programs serve. 

The known and unknown about Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on "Behind The Headlines."

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming.