Metro Pulse

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall: One Unitarian parent trying to explain the inexplicable to her child described the shooter’s desperation in the face of unemployment and termination of his food stamps. “He should have just come to our church, we would have helped,” said the child. The children of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church congregation uniting in song at the vigil after the attack was a moment of glory. That is what Unitarians do: face down the thunder of violence and intolerance with sweet songs of hope Full story »

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall: Another election is upon us, and in Knox County, the first true County Commission since 2002 will be assembled, kicking off the term-limits era voters thought they started in 1996. In Blount County, a circuit-court contest has been an object lesson in why political parties should be purged from judicial elections Full story »

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall: Since the people behind the orange-and-white petition drive can’t decide what to call themselves, I am going to defer to Knox County Law Director John Owings, who malapropriately called them “Knox One Petition” at the June commission meeting. One is the only number they’ve never known. Full story »

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall: A meeting at the Burlington Library on June 12 should have been dull enough to drive spiders from the room. An advisory committee was deciding how to decide to change something, but the room was packed and the discussion threatened to draw flies. Full story »

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall: Confusion has ruled since a citizen group unleashed nine proposed charter amendments, but last week a little clarity blew in. The charter-reform movement that arose from the Knox County-One Question survey submitted formal petitions to the county Election Commission. They are aiming for November with five amendments lumped onto two petitions. Full story »

Sideways Glance by Rikki Hall At a recent meeting in Fountain City, Mayor Bill Haslam (as noted by the Shopper News’ Jake Mabe) told the crowd one of the lessons of being mayor has been “forget all that Republican and Democrat stuff.” City elections are non-partisan, so it is easy for Haslam to forget about party, but maybe we should heed his advice at other levels. Forgetting the ingrained reasons to not get along could be productive; it has been for Knoxville. Full story »

Sideways Glance: Rep. Jimmy Duncan thinks environmentalists are driving up gas prices. Most major environmental laws were passed 30 and 40 years ago. Since then, erosions have outpaced advances in water law and extinction prevention. Adequate funding for compliance has never existed, largely because fines are laughable and sometimes laughed off. Environmental laws face endless lawsuits, and the federal mining agency is rewriting laws in favor of industry.
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Sideways Glance: Sen. Lamar Alexander has a chance to be a hero remembered for generations. In the U.S. Senate, there are a number of bills that would regulate emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, but they keep falling one vote shy of moving out of committee. Alexander is on that committee, but he is voting the pro-polluter party line. Full story »

Sideways Glance: Pinkston’s recordings were not what he had hoped. Mayor Ragsdale sounds contrite and admits mistakes in the use of purchasing cards, just as he has in public. His position on tape is consistent with his public response. Thousands of dollars in charges have been refunded, several people have lost jobs, cards have been revoked, and tighter controls have been put in place. Full story »

Sideways Glance: In a charming display of camaraderie, local Republican legislators hold an informal competition each year over who can introduce the silliest bill. Stacey Campfield always wins, but that does not stop his peers from trying. Tim Burchett, a three-time silly champion from the pre-Campfield era who earned his stripes by legalizing road-kill harvests, is always game for joke legislation. This year he joined with Frank Niceley in a declaration of farmer anarchy. And Blount County Rep. Joe McCord and Morristown Sen. Steve Southerland introduced a silly water bill. Full story »

Unfortunately, none of the proposed amendments is as vital or high-minded as those famous amendments. It’s rinky-dink stuff like how many commissioners the county should have and whether teachers can run for office. Really, only one of the amendments is worthwhile: the one lowering the signature requirement for petitions. Full story »

Political scandals often provoke an urge for reform, and Knox County is clearly afflicted. Last year’s Black Wednesday appointments and Sunshine Law trial left a foul taste in voters’ mouths, and anyone involved who was on the February ballot got spit out. With term limits finally in force, voters found the will to kick incumbents out of office. Full story »