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PODCAST

Compass Points

Compass Points Podcast provides news, insights and analysis of Knoxville and Knox County government, politics and business. Content is updated every Sunday.

government politics

All Episodes

01:13:29

Ep. 175 08/17/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/08/17

Compass co-founder and former podcast co-host Jesse Mayshark returns to talk with Scott about last week’s local events. They talk about the Tennessee Comptroller’s report that led to the indictment of Knox County Property Assessor Phil Ballard and another county employee. Scott and Jesse also look at two major investments in East Knoxville that City Council will consider next week — Muse Knoxville’s proposed move into the Jacob Building and Emerald Youth Foundation’s idea to buy city property for a

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01:13:31

Ep. 174 08/10/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/08/10

*** SPECIAL INFORMATION*** ALL CITY ELECTION COVERAGE 2025 is FREE at CompassKnox.com share this podcast and this election coverage with WITH EVERYONE, share the great service that IS Compass! ***SPECIAL INFORMATION*** A Knox County grand jury charged Property Assessor Phil Ballard with official misconduct, but declined to indict Trustee Justin Biggs. This week, Scott details the

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01:03:26

Ep. 173 08/03/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/08/03

Supply-and-demand isn't the only metric out of whack in Knoxville's housing market. In this week's episode, Scott looks at other disparities that East Tennessee Realtors has identified. He also covers a City Council candidate forum in Knoxville's 1st District, funding challenges for the region's public broadcasters, Congressman Tim Burchett's encounter with a horse's hoof, nuclear education for young students and more. Plus, a look ahead to the return of Knox County Schools and the start of early

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01:04:53

Ep. 172 07/27/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/07/27

City Council election activity has been gearing up with early voting set to begin on Aug. 6. This week, Scott goes through profiles of a trio of 6th District candidates and reports on candidate forums involving the 2nd, 3rd and 4th districts. He also talks about prominent West High School boosters attempting to get Rebels coach Lamar Brown reinstated, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn's calling out UT for keeping its DEI programs going under a new name, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett on godless Muppets, and more

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01:21:21

Ep. 171 07/20/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/07/20

Some trends emerge when you take a close look at campaign finance reports. In this week’s installment, Scott identifies some in the most recent disclosures in the Knoxville City Council election, including one tongue-in-cheek contribution. He also reviews the 3rd District candidates, the impact of federal budget cuts on Knox County Schools, the inventor of the parking meter, and much more. Scott also previews a busy news week — Knox County Commission and Knoxville City Council are meeting, and the

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01:23:57

Ep. 170 07/13/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/07/13

City Council members filed their 2nd quarter financial disclosure reports last week as campaigning is picking up. Scott takes a look at the numbers, and provides profiles of the candidates in the 4th and 2nd district contests. He also goes over the school board’s new cell phone policy, the city’s loss of a $42.7 million federal grant with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, and the Planning Commission’s recommendations that the city approve subdivided duplexes and cottage courts. Scott also

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53:26

Ep. 169 07/06/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/07/06

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees held its two-day annual meeting last week. In this week’s installment, Scott recaps the meeting, including the decision to move ahead with UT-Knoxville’s taking control of the bulk of Maplehurst neighborhood, the approval of a $3.74 billion system budget and the outlook for research funding in the Trump era. He also looks at Knox County Commissioner Rhonda Lee’s appointment to the juvenile detention center’s board of directors and attorney Jeff Hagood’s

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01:09:54

Ep. 168 06/29/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/06/29

Last week, Knoxville City Council approved putting a sales tax referendum on the November election ballot. In this installment of the podcast, Scott analyzed voters' choices. He also looks at Knox County Commission's approval of a new management structure for Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center, including a partisan tussle about oversight. Other topics include the emergence of YES! Knoxville as a voice in city land-use issues, legal challenges to two Tennessee immigration-related laws and the

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01:13:57

Ep. 167 06/22/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/06/22

DONT FORGET TO SHARE Compass Points, a free service of CompassKnox.com Cottage courts could soon be allowed in the City of Knoxville. In this week’s installment, Scott looks at the middle housing concept. He also turns his attention to the school system’s response to the West High School football staff’s underage sex accusations, Juneteenth in today’s political climate, the life of the late Frank Niceley, the city’s new poet laureate, the first major City Council candidate forum and the One

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55:15

Ep. 166 06/15/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/06/15

Knoxville City Council gave initial approval to putting a sales tax increase referendum on this year’s election ballot. Scott looks at the proposal, detailing the spending plan for $47 million in new revenue annually if voters approve the tax hike. He also looks at Knox County’s plan for the future of the juvenile detention center’s management, the outcome of City Council candidate Jeff Talman’s residency hearing and Knoxville businessman Josh Smith’s appointment as deputy director of the U.S

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01:00:40

Ep. 165 06/08/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/06/08

Knoxville City Council is poised to vote on whether to put a sales tax increase referendum on the November ballot. Scott digs into the details of the proposal, which would raise $47 million a year for infrastructure and housing needs. He also looks at the compressed time frame the county has to approve its zoning ordinance overhaul, the school system’s strategic plan, various housing issues and Alan Sims’ departure from the Knoxville media landscape. Share this free service of Compassknox.com

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01:20:15

Ep. 164 06/01/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/06/01

The best way you can support Scott, Compass Points, and CompassKnox.com is to share this free podcast...text it to some...and tell people about how important good local news coverage is. Richard Bean, who has run the Knox County juvenile detention center that bears his name for 53 years, resigned on Friday amid accusations of retaliation against whistleblowers. Scott details the events last week leading up to Bean’s departure. He also looks at City Council’s approval of Knoxville Mayor Indya

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01:27:51

Ep. 163 05/25/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/05/25

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon has proposed raising the sales tax rate to fund infrastructure and affordable housing efforts. Scott reviews the proposal, which would require voter approval in a referendum, in this week’s installment. He also talks about the County Commission’s spirited discussion surrounding Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs’ budget (which passed) and a new rule for the Commission chair’s speech outside of meetings, an acceleration of book removals from school libraries, and more

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01:09:22

Ep. 162 05/18/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/05/18

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38:33

Ep. 161 05/11/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/05/11

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs presented his $1.1 billion budget proposal last week. Scott breaks down the spending plan. He then looks at the local impacts of the Trump administration’s efforts to slash the budgets of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the looming effects of tariffs. He also covers the Greenheck Group’s groundbreaking at Midway Business Park and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville budget. Scott then turns his

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01:01:17

Ep. 160 05/04/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/05/04

The Trump administration's decision to gut Americorps resulted in 52 Knoxville members losing their jobs. Scott takes a look at the impact to nonprofits in the area. He also reports on a rare tie-breaking vote Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon cast at City Council, the city and school system's budgets, the initial effect of the new stadium on Old City business activity and a "We the People" rally calling out Congressman Tim Burchett. Kincannon joins Scott this week to talk about her budget proposal,

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53:02

Ep. 159 04/27/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/04/27

Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon unveiled her $477.3 million budget proposal last Friday, and Scott breaks it down in this week’s episode. He also talks about philanthropists’ funding of affordable housing projects, the county swapping contractors to guide its zoning ordinance overhaul, and more. Scott also previews meetings of the County Commission, City Council and School Board.

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01:00:21

Ep. 158 04/20/25

Compass Points ·

2025/04/20

Pro baseball returned to Knoxville last week after a 25-year absence, and Scott has a review of the Knoxville Smokies' opening day at Covenant Health Park. He also looks into a state investigation of extravagant spending in the Knox County Trustee's Office, the proposed Knox County Schools budget for next year, and more. Scott also previews meetings of the city-county Office of Housing Stability and the Knox County Commission (a double header!). Share this free service of CompassKnox.com today!

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56:32

Ep. 157 04/13/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/04/13

Clayton Home founder and philanthropist Jim Clayton has abandoned plans to build a science museum in East Knoxville. In this week’s installment, Scott looks at the decision and what’s next for the 11-acre site next to the Civic Auditorium and Coliseum. He also talks about the Justice Knox Nehemiah Action Assembly, a “rails to trails” lawsuit stemming from a proposed South Knoxville greenway, Stuart Hohl’s election as Knox Dems Chair, and more. Scott also looks ahead to opening day at Covenant Health

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42:58

Ep. 156 04/06/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/04/06

Knox County school board Chair Betsy Henderson confirmed she's running for county mayor in 2026. Scott takes a look at what her entry into the Republican Party primary means in the race. Speaking of the GOP, he also talks about former state Rep. Martin Daniel's election as county Republican chair, as well as current Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs' warning to county commissioners about zoning decisions and the Tennessee Valley Fair search for a. future new home. Scott also previews meetings of the

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201 results

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