http://www.metropulse.com/news/columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talk/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Frank Talk by Frank Cagleen-uscolumns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkhttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/traditional-power-centers-have-dead-batteries/?partner=RSSTrustee John Duncan III ought to send Gloria Ray flowers. Her troubles with the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. have kept him off the front page or the lead TV news items for a few days. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24228-734541columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNKnoxville's Traditional Power Centers Have Dead BatteriesMetroPulsetraditional-power-centers-have-dead-batteriesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24228-734541Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/01/appointing-state-appellate-justices-unconstitution/?partner=RSSA special panel of the state Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s appellate justices are being properly elected to office by being appointed by the governor then one day facing a retention election. This in spite of the Tennessee Constitution, which says judges are to be elected by a vote of the people. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:02:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24206-734534columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNAppointing State Appellate Justices UnconstitutionalMetroPulseappointing-state-appellate-justices-unconstitutionurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24206-734534Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/25/gloria-still-gloria/?partner=RSSSo how did Gloria Ray get to be Gloria Ray? Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24185-734527columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNIs Gloria Still Gloria?MetroPulsegloria-still-gloriaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24185-734527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/18/cutting-taxes-recession/?partner=RSSIt’s an election year so expect the Legislature to at least talk about cutting taxes. This might seem odd in the middle of a recession (remember the crisis last year to pass a balanced budget?) but the state Legislature is likely to cut something, even if it just nibbles around the margins. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:40:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24155-734520columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCutting Taxes in a RecessionMetroPulsecutting-taxes-recessionurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24155-734520Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/11/tennessee-redistricting-may-run-afoul-voting-right/?partner=RSSThe Republicans are in control now and they are redrawing House district lines following the 2010 census and they are attempting to secure a filibuster proof majority. It is likely the Republican plan this time around will face a great deal more scrutiny. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:10:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24130-734513columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNTennessee Redistricting May Run Afoul of the Voting Rights ActMetroPulsetennessee-redistricting-may-run-afoul-voting-righturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24130-734513Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/04/lets-avoid-another-knox-county-train-wreck/?partner=RSSWe had hoped to put the turmoil in county government behind us with the election of a new County Commission and a new-broom county mayor. But there is a mess looming out there and somebody needs to deal with it now before it lands county government back in court. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:16:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24107-734506columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNLet’s Avoid Another Knox County Train WreckMetroPulselets-avoid-another-knox-county-train-wreckurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24107-734506Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/28/iowa-caucases-colossal-waste-time/?partner=RSSThe only thing we get from the Iowa caucus is ethanol subsidies. Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24077-734499columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNIowa Caucasus: A Colossal Waste of TimeMetroPulseiowa-caucases-colossal-waste-timeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24077-734499Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/21/chocolate-drops-and-crackers/?partner=RSSWe forget what it’s like when you are that age. There is so much to learn, so much to discover. There is so much you don’t know. Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24055-734492columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNChocolate Drops and CrackersMetroPulsechocolate-drops-and-crackersurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24055-734492Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/14/who-can-judge-judge/?partner=RSSThe oft repeated question around town the last couple of weeks is what did the Knoxville legal community know about Judge Richard Baumgartner’s drug problem and when did they know it? It is certainly an important question and some outside entity needs to investigate and tell the community the results. The question I have is, how can we prevent it happening again? Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24035-734485columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNWho Can Judge a Judge?MetroPulsewho-can-judge-judgeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24035-734485Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/07/can-ut-afford-not-spend-money-sec-contending-coach/?partner=RSSI am not a sports expert, just an average Vol fan and an avid fan of college football. But there are a few things I don’t understand about the state of our university’s football operation. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:14:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24007-734478columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCan UT Afford Not To Spend the Money for an SEC Contending Coach?MetroPulsecan-ut-afford-not-spend-money-sec-contending-coachurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24007-734478Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/30/renter-nation/?partner=RSSGovernment payrolls are the backbone of the Knoxville economy, but those payrolls drive retail business and the other major driver of the Knoxville economy—the housing market. When I want to get depressed I call around to my list of experts for a candid assessment. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:20:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23975-734471columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNRenter NationMetroPulserenter-nationurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23975-734471Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/23/giving-thanks-hard-work/?partner=RSSI still don’t know why my father insisted on buying his grandfather’s farm. He was an educator and we lived in town. The farm was on Snake Road, if that tells you anything, and isolated. In those pre-mechanical cotton-picker days it was possible to eke out a profit from growing cotton, using hoes instead of herbicides and with an old tractor. Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:52:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23939-734464columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNGiving Thanks for Hard WorkMetroPulsegiving-thanks-hard-workurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23939-734464Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/16/rogeros-win-may-inspire-other-women/?partner=RSSMadeline Rogero has become the first woman elected mayor of Knoxville and in fact, the first woman elected mayor of any of the state’s major cities. It is an important barrier to break through when you consider that in the past decade being the mayor of a major city has been the path to statewide office. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:50:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23917-734457columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNRogero's Win May Inspire Other WomenMetroPulserogeros-win-may-inspire-other-womenurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23917-734457Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/09/coxeys-army-marches-again/?partner=RSSIt probably angers both sides to suggest any commonality between the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street protests. But that commonality is anger. Anger that results from feeling the country is in trouble and our leaders are being feckless and incompetent. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:31:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23885-734450columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCoxey’s Army Marches AgainMetroPulsecoxeys-army-marches-againurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23885-734450Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/02/mayors-race-down-wire/?partner=RSSThe pace and tone of the Knoxville mayoral race has changed, with the one-on-one choice between Madeline Rogero and Mark Padgett instead of a multi-candidate field. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:41:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23854-734443columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNMayor's Race: Down to the WireMetroPulsemayors-race-down-wireurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23854-734443Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/oct/26/brother-can-you-spare-100000/?partner=RSSKnoxville will have a new mayor soon and the city staff will have a new look, though depending on who gets elected some of the same faces will likely still occupy the sixth floor. Having someone with experience hanging around is helpful because you will soon find that few things happen in this town that doesn’t involve someone showing up at the mayor’s office asking for money. Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:56:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23819-734436columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNBrother, Can You Spare $100,000?MetroPulsebrother-can-you-spare-100000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23819-734436Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/oct/05/perils-technology/?partner=RSSLest you think I’m slipping into an Old Fogey tirade against technology, let me say that I love my laptop and my cell phone. But I do wonder about our digital age 100 years from now. Will my great-grandchildren be able to access the digital images of our family? Will they dig out my wife’s Kindle and be able to enjoy the extensive library she is accumulating? Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23720-734415columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNPerils of TechnologyMetroPulseperils-technologyurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23720-734415Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/28/lesson-journalistic-humility/?partner=RSShe thing about the media business is that what we in the profession think is important is not necessarily the things the reading and viewing public think are important. We want the scoop and the front page splash. The readers may just want the obits, the crossword, and will raise hell at the suggestion of getting rid of Snuffy Smith. Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23692-734408columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNA Lesson in Journalistic HumilityMetroPulselesson-journalistic-humilityurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23692-734408Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/21/sterile-corn-and-hormonal-cows/?partner=RSSAs much as we love farmers, fresh food, and convenience, there are some things out there in agriculture that are worrisome. We need to pay attention, because our food supply is regulated largely by big farm-state congressmen and senators and most of these people are in the pocket of large agribusiness interests that fund their campaigns. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:20:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23655-734401columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNSterile Corn and Hormonal CowsMetroPulsesterile-corn-and-hormonal-cowsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23655-734401Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/14/city-election-quality-counts/?partner=RSSI think the quality of a thoughtful vote is more important than big numbers. Voter apathy is usually a symptom of contentment with the status quo. The people who will vote in this city election will be the people who really care who runs city government. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:48:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23621-734394columns/knoxville-issues/frank-talkFrank CagleKnoxville, TNCity Election: Quality Counts MetroPulsecity-election-quality-countsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23621-734394Change0Usable