Metro Pulse

Tennessee Republicans are trying to publicly maintain an air of cautious optimism about the November election—while behind closed doors they are jumping for joy and fist-pumping YES!!!!!!! Full story »

Suppose the state of Tennessee had experts evaluate a program on which it proposed to spend millions in taxpayer money. Suppose the experts said the program was not effective and did not achieve its goals. Then suppose the state planned to spend the money anyway. Full story »

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale is supposed to be a dead man walking, politically speaking. He has been censured by County Commission, and his office has been battered by a series of critical audits. He has lost four members of his staff due to scandals. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: Can you imagine a public figure having an affair while his wife is being treated for cancer? And having the affair with someone who works for him? All the while putting forward the face of a dedicated public servant? Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: In the modern era, the only thing more certain than death and taxes is the re-election of Tennessee incumbents. But this year there are a few races that could surprise. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: JULY 31, 2012 – Looking back, it is apparent the election of 2008 was a turning point in Knox County governance. To the surprise of many, all the charter amendments proposed that year passed and have been implemented Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: Most everyone wants to get rid of cronyism and political hiring and firing in county government, though a hearing this week on the issue drew little attention and was sparsely attended Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has been censured by the County Commission. His office has been the subject of repeated audits finding instances of financial impropriety. The TBI has raided the City County Building confiscating computers. Possible criminal violations in the recent hospitality audit have been referred to a special prosecutor. Ragsdale’s personal life is a public joke Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: Former Sheriff Tim Hutchison has been spending most of his time in South Carolina building houses since he left office—out of sight, out of mind, and out of the continuing controversies surrounding county government. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: Whenever petition drives for a referendum begin there is usually some discussion about the mysterious way in which the requirements for signatures were raised to astronomical heights. There is a charter amendment on the ballot later this year to put the number back to a more reasonable level. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: The cynics among us have long suggested, usually from a perch on a downtown bar stool, that our slogan ought to be: “Knoxville, a great place to visit on your way to Pigeon Forge.” Knoxville has long searched for an identity and the discussion often comes back to losing Music City to Nashville and the aquarium to Chattanooga and the Gateway to the Smokes to Gatlinburg. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: In perusing more than 500 comments on the News Sentinel website in regard to the soap opera that is the Amy-Josh Vandergriff marriage and the parking lot beat-down, it is clear that government action is required. We need to do what the people want. We need to let the people vote. We need to stop using representative government to stifle the will of the people. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: If four state House seats shift from Democrats to Republicans this November, then Republicans take control. Some traditionally safe seats for Democrats in conservative areas will be up for grabs with the retirement of stalwarts like Randy Rinks, John Hood, and Frank Buck. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: In years past, County Commission oversight of the budget has been about as useful as a baby-changing table in a men’s restroom—an idea more enjoyed in the abstract than having any practical application. Full story »

Frank Talk by Frank Cagle: When my father started to college after World War II, the GI Bill paid him $130 per month—it also paid his tuition and bought his books. When I got back from Vietnam and started to college, I also got $130, in 1970 dollars. And I had to pay my own tuition and buy my own books. Full story »