Knoxville City Council adopted Mayor Indya Kincannon's $461.6 million budget last week, but things got chippy between Council members Lauren Rider and Amelia Parker. Jesse was unavailable for this week's episode, but Compass intern Owen McCarthy joined Scott to talk about the spending plan and and the fireworks.. Also: The city is funding renovations at Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, philanthropists are kicking in serious money to supplement the city's affordable housing construction efforts and the Knoxville Police Department makes retired federal Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton the permanent deputy chief over the Office of Professional Standards. The guys also look ahead to school board meetings this week that will deal with images of sexual activity in library books.

A last-minute plea for more funding by Sheriff Tom Spangler ran into the cold hard facts of limited revenues last week as County Commission approved County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' budget with no changes. On this week's episode, Jesse and Scott take a look at why the county budget is so tight, and why it might not change any time soon. Also: Graduate student workers at the University of Tennessee are organizing for higher wages; the Three Rivers Market food co-op in North Knoxville faces a state shutdown over health code violations; and our monthly Power Poll find strong support among local leaders for the way UT has handled pro-Palestinian protests on campus. The guys also look ahead to the holiday-shortened week, which includes City Council making its own budget decisions.

As pro-Palestinian protests continued this week on the University of Tennessee campus, a well-known and respected community leader was among those arrested: Yassin Terou, owner of the popular Yassin's Falafel House restaurants. On this week's episode, Jesse and Scott talk about the protests and the ongoing tension between freedom of speech and institutional order. Also: the City of Knoxville receives a Downtown parking study with a host of recommendations, including possible rate hikes; why Knox County's annual debt burden is about to jump; an unusual challenge to a County Commission candidate's nominating petition; and the 50th anniversary of preservationist group Knox Heritage. In the interview segment, the guys introduce Compass' new summer intern, Owen McCarthy, and talk about why anyone would want to go into journalism in 2024. Looking ahead, they preview next week's meeting of Knox County Commission, which will vote on County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' proposed budget.

To arm or not to arm? Teachers, we're talking about. That was a major point of discussion last week at the Knox County school board, and it led to a resolution that more-or-less says that the board would prefer not to have non-security personnel bringing concealed weapons to school. But the discussion again highlighted the partisan divide on the nine-member board, as Scott and Jesse discuss in this week's episode. Also: It's budget time. The guys look at proposed 2024-25 budgets for the University of Tennessee's flagship Knoxville campus and for Knox County government, along with the city's updated capital improvements plan. Plus, an update on that convoluted reading retention law and how it will affect this year's 3rd- and 4th-graders. Then it's a look ahead to next week's meetings of County Commission and City Council. Compassknox.com to subscribe

Protests against Israel's military operations in Gaza escalated across the country last week, including in Knoxville. In this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about protesters speaking out at City Council and on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Also: an update on the new downtown stadium; Knox County's estimated population clears 500,000; and a look ahead at the Aug. 1 ballot. The guys also look ahead this week to meetings of the Knox County school board — which will discuss resolutions about armed staff members — and the Planning Commission.

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As the state Legislature came to a close last week, the state House and Senate signed off on a bill that would allow some school employees to carry concealed weapons in the classroom. On this week's episode, Jesse and Scott talk about the reaction to the new law both statewide and local, including pending action by the Knox County school board.

Also: County Commission approves Mayor Jacobs' new comprehensive plan, but with some amendments; the University of Tennessee launches an Appalachian Justice Research Center; and Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon unveils her proposed budget for 2024-25. For the coming week, the guys look forward to a City Council meeting where the budget will be front and center.

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Last week, County Commission considered several possible changes to Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' proposed new comprehensive land use plan — and Jacobs fired back by urging them not to touch a thing about it. On this week's episode, Jesse and Scott talk about the complexities of the plan and the underlying politics between development interests and local residents and conservationists. Also: City Council takes a step toward redeveloping the long-languishing McClung Warehouses property; a large proposed apartment complex on a hill overlooking the river downtown stirs opposition; and Gov. Bill Lee's voucher plan struggles toward the legislative finish line, with the outcome still unclear. In the interview segment, the guys talk to Kevin Murphy of the Knox County Planning Alliance about the county planning update. And they look ahead to County Commission's vote this week, as well as a budget vote by the school board and Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon's State of the City address.

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 this week on homelessness and other social justice issues. The guys also look ahead to meetings this week of County Commission and Knoxville City Council. CompassKnox

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 also look ahead to a host of meetings next week, including yet another moment in the spotlight for the Farragut BOMA. And they hear from special guest/show producer Lord Seth Barber about the plans for the upcoming Holleroo celebration in Happy Holler. CompassKnox.com

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 Legislature is about to make you verify your age to use social media. The guys also look ahead to meetings this week of the Knox County school board and Knoxville City Council.