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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

01:40:15

Ep. 132 10/20/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/10/20

Early voting kicked off this week in Knox County, with a big first-day turnout. In this week's episode, Jesse and Scott look at a few major items on the ballot, including the race for state Senate District 6. Also: the Knox County Sheriff's Office is hit with a civil rights lawsuit by a Muslim woman. In an interview segment, the guys hear contrasting opinions on the controversial and possibly confusing City of Knoxville Amendment #2, from the Rev. Sam Brown and state Rep. Sam McKenzie. Looking ahead

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01:16:03

Ep. 131 10/13/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/10/13

A citizens' group has come together to push for a climate action plan in Knox County. But the county's leadership under Mayor Glenn Jacobs denies that there's any such thing as climate change. Nevertheless, both the City of Knoxville and Knoxville-Knox County Planning are working on long-term efforts to mitigate East Tennessee's climate impact. Scott and Jesse talk about them on this week's episode. Also: Aid and recovery efforts continue for communities hit by Hurricane Helene; the school board

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01:35:29

Ep. 130 10/06/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/10/06

The devastating floods from Hurricane Helene that swept through East Tennessee and Western North Carolina dominated the thoughts and efforts of people across the region last week. On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about the local response to our neighbors' suffering, from political leaders to grassroots community groups. Also: City Council approves big plans for Sevier Avenue in South Knoxville; a look at the state House District 18 race between Elaine Davis and Bryan Goldberg; an

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01:02:33

Ep. 129 09/29/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/09/29

You can still use cash on the bus. After a proposal to move Knoxville Area Transit buses to an all-cashless system drew concern from some riders and transit advocates, KAT decided last week to continue accepting dollars and coins — at least for now. Scott and Jesse look at the cashless controversy on this week's episode. Also: A look at the closely watched race for state House District 18, where Republican incumbent Elaine Davis faces well-funded Democrat Bryan Goldberg; the Knoxville Police

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01:04:28

Ep. 128 09/22/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/09/22

Should County Commission rezone property against the property owners' wishes? That was the question raised last week by new County Commissioner Andy Fox. His attempt to put a proposal to downzone multiple properties in South Knox County did not make it onto the agenda of this month's zoning meeting, but he can bring it back next month. Flying solo on this week's episode, Jesse breaks down Fox's unprecedented effort. Also: City Council denies a last-ditch effort to block a new riverfront high-rise;

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01:18:02

Ep. 127 09/15/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/09/15

Local law enforcement spent all last week arresting Knox County Schools students — many of them middle-schoolers — for making or circulating violent threats. The wave of online rumors about planned attacks at local schools followed the murders at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where a 14-year-old boy is charged with killing four people and wounding many others. On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about the increased tension around online threats by young people, and how school and law

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01:19:38

Ep. 126 09/08/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/09/08

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

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01:03:03

Ep. 125 09/01/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/09/01

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

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01:27:39

Ep. 124 08/25/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/08/25

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

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01:01:21

Ep. 123 08/18/20204

Compass Points ·

2024/08/18

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

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01:13:14

Ep. 122 08/11/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/08/11

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

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01:23:37

Ep. 121 08/04/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/08/04

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

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01:23:35

Ep. 120 07/28/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/07/28

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

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01:25:26

Ep. 119 07/21/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/07/21

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

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01:47:39

Ep. 118 07/14/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/07/14

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

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01:14:34

Ep. 117 07/07/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/07/07

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.

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01:20:36

Ep. 116 06/30/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/06/30

With early voting for the Aug. 1 election starting in just a few weeks, in this week's episode Scott and Jesse look at two interesting County Commission races (in districts 2 and 4) and dig into some controversial letters sent to naturalized citizens by state election officials. Also: Randy Boyd is granted another five-year term as president of the University of Tennessee; the City of Knoxville falls short again in trying to procure federal money for a pedestrian bridge across the Tennessee River;

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01:17:02

Ep. 114 06/23/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/06/23

Growth and development dominated local news last week, with a report from Knoxville-Knox County Planning showing a surge in new residential construction. Scott and Jesse look at that report in this week's episode, along with its impact on the District 6 County Commission race and one controversial new downtown development in particular. Also: The woeful state of Knox County's road paving budget, and some data on where Tennesseans are going to receive abortion services. The guys also look ahead to

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01:13:02

Ep. 114 06/16/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/06/16

The City of Knoxville's African American Equity Restoration Task Force was set up largely to attract outside funding and investment to areas of East Knoxville that were devastated by urban renewal programs. But this past week, the task force took a small but significant step in awarding some small grants of its own to community groups. Scott and Jesse look at that shift in this week's episode and talk about why the task force remains controversial to some conservatives. Also: an attempt to remove a

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01:16:15

Ep. 113 06/09/2024

Compass Points ·

2024/06/09

This week Scout and Jesse reconvien for a chat on Knoxville City Council's continued discussion on alternative task force, confusion surrounding Knox County School's new salary schedule, the City's plans to offload a protion of Chillhowee Park, Mom's for Liberty's continued advocacy to remove books from school libraries, and a few groups announce candidate endorcements regarding our upcoming County and State elections. The guys then look ahead to a few upcoming items including, City Council

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197 results

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