Compass Points

Meet the new bosses — same as the old bosses? Well, some of them. With a new slate of county officials sworn in last week, the partisan makeup of both Knox County Commission and the school board shifted a bit, and Commission chose new leadership at the helm. In this week's episode, Jesse and Scott look at what's changed on our two county legislative bodies, and what's stayed the same. Also: Developers have been buying up land around the new downtown stadium; the county Republican Party creates a new "Victory" fund to counter Democratic gains; the city has more than $17 million to spend on making Chapman Highway safer; and that Tennessee-based Russian propaganda mill. Looking ahead, the guys preview next week's Planning Commission agenda, and some informational meetings about the city charter amendments on changing City Council elections.

What's in a name? When it comes to the new downtown Knoxville stadium, that's a good question. In this week's episode, Scott and Jesse take a look at the naming rights deal between Covenant Health and Boyd Sports — including why we know so little about the financial details. Also: The huge Prosperity Crossing development at the county's western edge moves forward; new population estimates show a growing but aging Tennessee; and Gov. Bill Lee visits the L&N STEM Academy. The guys also look forward to next week, when new county officials will be sworn in, County Commission and the school board will elect chairs for the coming year, and City Council will meet. Compassknox.com 

Emails and documents from the University of Tennessee provide some context for the departure of WUTK General Manager Benny Smith — including tensions over programming and the structure of the student radio station. Jesse and Scott dig into the backstory on this week's episode, including the on-air promotional spot that sent Smith's new supervisor into a tizzy. Also: Knox County Schools is outing transgender students to their parents, in accord with a new state law; City Council approves a new kind of assistance for affordable housing; County Commission overrides community concerns in approving the Thunder Mountain development in South Knox County; and a presidential preference update from the Compass Power Poll. The guys also look ahead to this week's County Commission meeting.

Will a proposal to change the structure of City Council make it more responsive and representative — or less? That's the question facing city voters in a referendum set for the November election, which would change all nine Council seats to at-large positions. In this week's episode, Scott and Jesse sort through the arguments for and against the change. Also: an update on the structural problems with the Gay Street Bridge; a new effort to make period products available in county schools; and money from the national opioid settlements starts to make its way to East Tennessee agencies and nonprofit organizations. The guys also look ahead to meetings this week of County Commission and City Council.

Knoxville voters will decide in November whether to change all nine City Council members to at-large representatives or keep local district seats. Which one would better represent the views of Knoxvillians? Scott and Jesse talk about that in this week's episode. Also, a look back at what exactly happened with voter turnout in the Aug. 1 election; some thoughts from Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk as the new year gets underway; and efforts to block a new high-rise building on the downtown waterfront fail at Planning Commission.

Democrats flipped a seat on Knox County Commission and took two seats on the school board, but the balance of power remains in Republican hands. With Jesse out of town, Scott and Owen break down the election results this week. They also take a look at Turn Up Knox, the violence interruption nonprofit, and the low-power independent radio station WOZO FM. The guys also look ahead to meetings this week of the school board, City Council and Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission. Thank Compass for thier amazing coverage by sharing this podcast and CompassKnox.com with your friends today. 

This week, with Jesse across the pond, Scott and Owen recap early voting for the Aug. 1 election and review the candidates’ financial situations heading into the campaigns’ final days. They also take a look at the charter referendum questions on changes to the city election system that Knoxville voters are likely to consider in the November election. And they talk about a UT-Michigan State project to provide high-quality turf for the 2026 World Cup. Looking ahead, they preview Election Day, which comes up on Thursday. Don't forget to go to CompassKnox.com for FREE ELECTION COVERAGE...and SHARE Compass with your friends. 

ELECETION 2024 COVERAGE is free at Compassknox.com 

Elections to the right of us, elections to the left, elections up ahead! This week, Scott and Jesse catch up on electoral news in both national and local races. They check in on Tennesseans with speaking slots at the Republican National Convention, survey the state of early voting in the Aug. 1 county general election, and look at some proposals that could — and could not — affect future races here at home. Also, updates on the situation with Benny Smith at WUTK; those controversial voting letters sent to naturalized citizens; and the state's anti-drag show law. Looking ahead, they preview meetings of Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council.

Early voting is under way in the Aug. 1 election, and Scott and Jesse take a look at some local races on this week's episode: School board races in districts 2 and 5, a County Commission contest in District 5, and primaries for House District 15 and state Senate District 6. Also: County Mayor Glenn Jacobs attempts to smooth out controversy over the future of South Knox County's Bower ballfields; a social media firestorm over the future of WUTK college radio and its longtime general manager, Benny Smith; and County Commissioner Larsen Jay posts some eye-popping fundraising numbers two years ahead of the 2026 county mayor race. Looking ahead, the guys preview a County Commission session on Monday.

With early voting starting next week in the Aug. 1 election, Scott and Jesse look at local races for property assessor and County Commission's 9th District in South Knox County. They also check in on local Democrat Gloria Johnson's bid for U.S. Senate. Plus, the school board considers a new policy that could remove many books from school libraries. Looking ahead to the coming week, the guys preview meetings of the school board, City Council and the Knoxville/Knox County Planning Commission.