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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

01:03:42

Ep. 207 04/05/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/04/05

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about City Council's refusal to push forward with an Alternative Response program, one of last week's county mayor forums, proposed apartments on the Kerbela Temple site, voucher and charter school developments in the state Legislature, and Knoxville's homicide-free first quarter. They also look ahead to meetings of City Council and the Planning Commission, as well as another county mayor forum.

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54:52

Ep. 206 03/29/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/03/29

This week Scott talks about County Commission's decision to defer a vote on Commissioner Larsen Jay's proposal to eliminate the wheel tax, the first meeting of the Chilhowee Park Advisory Group, blocked anti-LGBTQ bills in the Legislature, a former property assessor candidate's felony convictions and the Big Ears Festival. He also looks ahead to a county election candidate forum and this week's City Council meeting.

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01:25:10

Ep. 205 03/22/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/03/22

This week Scott and Jesse talk about City Council's approval of homeless services on Clinton Highway, Knoxville's new master plan for public parks, the firing of University of Tennessee Professor Tamar Shirinian, a Republican feud between developer Scott Davis and political consultant Erik Wiatr, and the opening to the public of the restored Eugenia Williams House. They look ahead to this week's meetings of County Commission and City Council, as well as the annual extravaganza that is the Big Ears

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01:18:59

Ep. 204 03/15/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/03/15

This week, Scott and Jesse discuss President Donald Trump's call for TVA CEO Don Moul's pay to be cut by 90 percent; informational signs in the Great Smoky Mountains flagged for supposedly objectionable content by the Trump administration; a breakthrough in an almost 40-year-old Knoxville missing person case; the University of Tennessee's research ambitions; the arrest of a Nashville Spanish-language reporter by ICE; and the removal of two Republican candidates from the May primary ballot. They also

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01:01:10

Ep. 203 03/08/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/03/08

This week, Scott and Jesse parse the politics and finances of the school board's difficult vote on rezoning Powell Elementary; a City Council push to expand the use of winter warming centers; Mayor Kincannon's new Chilhowee Park Advisory Board; the Knoxville Police Department's return to full staffing strength after a decade; the Knoxville Bar Association's alarm at political meddling in judicial appointments; and a posthumous Medal of Honor for Knoxvillian Roddie Edmonds. Looking ahead, they find

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01:03:00

Ep. 202 03/01/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/03/01

***Share this Free Service of Compassknox.com*** On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about the failed effort by a small group of voters to kick County Commissioner Larsen Jay off the Republican primary ballot for county mayor; the retirement announcement of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, whose state Senate district includes a chunk of Knox County; East Tennessee Children's Hospital renaming itself for Dolly Parton; the pending closure of McKay's used bookstore and what may

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01:05:08

Ep. 201 02/22/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/02/22

This week, Scott and Jesse look at new housing developments — one for homeless veterans, one a new apartment complex near the Old City — as well as the hiring of the City of Knoxville's new downtown coordinator. At the state level, they catch up on bills attacking faculty tenure protections and same-sex marriage. And in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a privately-funded program to preserve historic buildings. They also preview this week's meetings of County Commission and the University of

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01:21:19

Ep. 200 02/15/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/02/15

With Scott off covering the city's Budget Retreat, Jesse talks with Steve Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy about TVA's Trump-fueled reversal on closing two coal-fired power plants, as well as the EPA's reversal on regulating greenhouse gases. Plus, Jesse and Seth talk about a report and recommendations on creating a "Community Response" model for non-emergency calls, school rezoning in Powell, and the county's Juvenile Service Center finally earning back its state license. They also

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45:22

Ep. 199 02/07/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/02/08

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about the school board's wrangling with a putative Christian charter school; Gov. Bill Lee's push for expanded school vouchers; AMR's improvement in ambulance response times; and some culture war bills put forward by Christian conservative state Rep. Gino Bulso. They also look ahead to meetings of the county's Juvenile Service Center board, and the Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission.

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01:03:10

Ep. 198 02/01/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/02/01

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about last Friday's anti-ICE protest, discussion of immigration at County Commission, and recent national attention paid to Big Ears founder Ashley Capps and County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. Looking ahead, they preview multiple meetings of the Knox County school board this week, along with Knoxville City Council and the UT Knoxville campus Advisory Board. Pleas share CompassKnox.com you can binge the website while you'r snowed in.

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01:09:10

Ep. 197 01/25/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/01/25

With Scott out, Jesse (and producer Seth!) talk through the Knoxville Police Department's new drones and cameras; the Legislature's raft of immigration enforcement bills; the new City Council members' delay of some local grants; and the passing of Natalie Haslam. They're joined by Compass correspondent Thomas Fraser, who explains Oak Ridge National Lab's role in a new national fusion energy project. And they look ahead to this week's County Commission meeting, and a breakfast with state legislators

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01:23:32

Ep. 196 01/18/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/01/18

On this week's episode, Scott and Jesse talk about further developments at Knox County's troubled Juvenile Services Center (Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin will apparently be taking charge); the Knoxville Police Department's deployment of the first new camera in its Real Time Information Center system; the opening of a new apartment complex, part of the Transforming Western initiative; a settlement in a lawsuit over the shooting death of teenager Anthony Thompson Jr.; and the Tennessee Legislature's

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01:11:41

Ep. 195 01/11/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/01/11

This week, Jesse fills in for Scott (with help from producer Lord Seth) to talk about ICE's search for a West Knox office, new immigration enforcement proposals at the local and state levels, the possibility of another site for Emerald Youth's sports complex in East Knoxville, ORNL's role in an ambitious scientific AI effort, falling homicide and car fatality rates in Knoxville, and a lawsuit against the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra by a jilted clarinetist. The guys also look ahead to this week's

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01:40:23

Ep. 194 01/04/2026

Compass Points ·

2026/01/04

It's 2026, but Scott and Jesse have a little unfinished business with 2025. They take a last look back at the just-finished year and some of the local stories that shaped it: City Council elections, the failed push for a city sales tax hike, the Chilhowee Park controversy, the new downtown stadium, investigations in the property assessor and trustee's offices, problems at the Juvenile Service Center, Betsy Henderson's pro-voucher testimony, and more! Plus, some unvarnished thoughts on downtown

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01:18:20

Ep. 193 12/21/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/12/21

This week, Scott and Jesse break out the eggnog and take a look at the latest developments in the troubled saga of the Knox County Juvenile Services Center, which was the subject of another scathing report about its operations and also faces a lawsuit from a former employee claiming racial discrimination. Also: the reopening of the Gay Street Bridge to pedestrian and bicycle traffic; some cautious notes in a UT economic report to governor; and the swearing-in of five new City Council members. As for

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01:19:28

Ep. 192 12/14/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/12/14

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about County Commission's appointment of a general sessions judge, controversy over a townhouse development in West Hills, state AG Jonathan Skrmetti's opinion on religious charter schools, and some significant developments for iconic local buildings. They also look ahead to this week's meeting of County Commission, and the swearing-in of five new City Council members. GO NOW to CompassKnox.com to subscribe TODAY....Gift it to your neighbor...Compass is a wonderful

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01:40:26

Ep. 191 12/07/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/12/07

This week Scott and Jesse talk schools — the Knox County school board's vote to support educating immigrant students, some questions raised by a charter school evaluation, and a lawsuit by a group that wants to start an explicitly Christian charter school. Plus: TVA's $400 million nuclear grant, and County Commissioner Larsen Jay brings Gen. John Kelly to town. The guys also preview the agendas for this week's meetings of Knox County Commission, Knoxville City Council, and the Planning

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01:02:33

Ep. 190 11/30/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/11/30

Scott and Jesse talk about the city's controversial changes to duplex ownership; the legacy of Randy Tyree, the former Knoxville mayor who died last week; Knox County Schools advances in state rankings; and some new developments kicking off around Covenant Health Park. They also look ahead to this week's school board meetings and assorted holiday events.

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53:42

Ep. 180 11/23/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/11/23

This week, Scott and Jesse talk about One Knoxville SC's championship season and what it means for the new downtown stadium; the political implications of County Commissioner Rhonda Lee's plans to seek a judgeship; the ongoing challenges at the county's Juvenile Services Center; and some national news about artificial intelligence efforts announced right here in East Tennessee. They also look ahead to this week's City Council meeting, as well as holiday plans for Thanksgiving week. Remember this is

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01:32:18

Ep. 188 11/16/2025

Compass Points ·

2025/11/16

Scott and Jesse go deep on Knox County's debt and revenue challenges and its ongoing struggles with its Juvenile Service Center. They also touch on City Council's approval of food aid funding and a controversial change in duplex regulations, as well as good news for Seven Islands State Birding Park. Then they look ahead to this week's meetings of Knox County Commission, the Knoxville Transportation Authority, and the KUB Board of Commissioners.

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213 results

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