Norfolk Southern to Discuss Inter-Modal Plans
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Senior management of Norfolk Southern Railroad will hold a community meeting at 5 p.m. today (Thursday) at Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson City. They will make a presentation on the company’s proposed inter-modal facility in New Market, which will put tractor trailers on railroad cars for cross-country transshipment. Full story »
Obama Liked Conrad Honicker's Shoes
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Conrad Honicker, the gay high-school activist we profiled in a cover story in April of last year, went to Washington, D.C., as part of a delegation of activists appealing for more support from the Obama administration. Full story »
Insurance Companies Suck
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
We last heard from Wendell Potter when he applied for a job at the University of Tennessee last year, hoping to return to Knoxville, where he once was a spokesman for Jake Butcher’s United American Bank. Potter has spent the last two decades working in public relations for Humana and then Cigna Insurance. He testified before a Senate committee last week about the health insurance industry, as reported by ABC News. Full story »
County Employees Prohibited from Serving on Comission, Lawsuit Follows
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
One of the charter changes approved last year prohibits county employees from serving on the Knox County Commission. We hear a lawsuit is being prepared on behalf of county employees and school system employees to overturn the amendment as unconstitutional. Full story »
Old City Businesswoman Annie Delisle Makes a Visit
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Some Knoxville residents got a flashback to the 1980s last week at a party honoring a visitor from Palm Beach. Full story »
Committee Kills Bill, Hurts Ramsey Fund-raising
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam got a boost and Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey suffered a setback when a bill that would allow Ramsey to raise money for his gubernatorial campaign during next year’s legislative session was defeated in a House committee. Full story »
Tennessee Legislators Hunting for Full-Time Gigs
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
State Sen. Tim Burchett isn’t the only legislator looking for a full-time gig. Full story »
Knoxville Candidates Invited to Truman Day
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
There is a preliminary plan to bring all the Democratic gubernatorial candidates to Knoxville for a Truman Day event in August. The event would be held at the Knoxville Zoo, with an outside heavy hors d’oeuvres table instead of the traditional dinner. Full story »
Lumpy Lambert on Track to Conduct Classes
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Knox County Commissioner Greg “Lumpy” Lambert has completed the NRA safety instructor course and once his paperwork is completed he will be able to conduct classes necessary to get a “gun carry” permit. Full story »
East Knox County Preferred Site for NS Development
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The latest development in the plan for 1,300 acre Norfolk Southern inter-modal facility is the push for an alternative site in East Knox County. Near the East Bridge Industrial Park on Mine Road, engineers have identified 2,600 acres of land already zoned industrial, with water and sewer. There will be a community meeting at New Market Elementary School on Saturday at 10 a.m. hosted by Jefferson County Tomorrow. The meeting is to organize and to urge that the facility be located at an existing brownfield industrial site, rather than on farm land between the elementary school and Esslinger Road, as Norfolk Southern proposes. Full story »
Construction Blocks Cyclists, Pedestrians
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Last week, a construction crew doing work in association with KUB’s long-term infrastructure project set up across the bike trail on Neyland Drive. A police officer routed 40 mph eastbound automobile traffic through a narrow chute that didn’t allow for bicycle or pedestrian traffic. Homebound bicycle commuters found themselves in a construction zone, without warning and with no way out except to turn back. Full story »
Wright's Cafeteria is Knoxville's Election Central
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Things get a little busy out at Wright’s Cafeteria at lunch time. It’s a favorite hangout for the courthouse crowd. One day last week, state Sen. Tim Burchett, who is running for county mayor, arranged to meet Sheriff Jimmy “JJ” Jones and his right-hand man Lee Tramel for lunch. While Burchett was waiting, in walks Jones’ old boss and potential mayoral candidate, former Sheriff Tim Hutchison. Full story »
Calls to Fire Greg Mackay May Backfire
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Knox County Election Commissioners are getting phone calls and e-mails urging them to fire election administrator Greg Mackay, the outpouring being orchestrated by Knox County Republican Party Chair Ray Jenkins Jr. Full story »
Briggs, Hammond Switch Races
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
They both flirted with running for county mayor, but Mike Hammond and Rick Briggs appear to be running instead for County Commission. They both reside in the current 5th District, and the number of commissioners is being reduced. Full story »
Library Construction Unearths Firefighter Memorial
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
It’s just plain serendipity that a granite panel honoring the first two Knoxville firefighters who died in the line of duty was unearthed—literally—during construction at Chilhowee Park May 28, within a week of the Knox County Public Library Foundation revealing its intention to build a new downtown master library, likely at World’s Fair Park. The panel, which apparently had been buried on the site for more than six decades, honored firefighters William F. Maxey and John J. Dunn, who died on the night of February 2, 1904, battling flames that destroyed several buildings on the east side of Gay Street. Full story »