In a 6-3 vote, Knox County Commissioner Evelyn Gill was in the minority of commissioners who voted to continue funding indigent health care in the 2020 Knox County budget. By Evelyn Gill, Knox County Commissioner As your Knox County Commissioner, I endeavor to represent all of our citizens and to advocate for the best interests of our…
The Knox County Democratic Party’s annual Truman Day event will be at 6:30 pm on Friday, May 31, at the Foundry World’s Fair Park. The guest speakers are two dynamic women. Memphis Rep. Karen Camper who is the first African-American to be elected as House Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representative, and Knoxville…
Voter registration training should replace SB971 that discourages group voter registration activities. The League of Women Voters of Tennessee is disappointed that the Senate has passed SB971 to regulate voter registration activities. These regulations will have a chilling effect on voter outreach in all areas of the state. “Tennessee ranks 45th in the nation for…
Dear Friends, Last week, Knoxville’s first responders raced into harm’s way in order to protect our neighbors in the Lincoln Park community. They worked tirelessly day and night to put out the large fire that threatened lives and property. Thankfully, the fire was extinguished without serious injury. They were not alone. Emerald Youth Foundation, the…
MAYOR ROGERO’S FINAL STATE OF THE CITY: CONTINUED MOMENTUM, STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, STRONG FINANCIAL HEALTH Mayor Madeline Rogero today proposed her eighth and final budget, which continues strategic investments, leverages the creation of new affordable housing and expands outdoor recreation amenities. With pension reform addressed in her first term and an estimated fund balance of $71…
At the March biennial convention, the delegation of the Knox County Democratic Party elected LaKenya Middlebrook as the new chairperson of the party in an uncontested bid. Middlebrook will be the first black person to hold the reins of the party. “We’re bursting with pride the party chose such an extraordinarily qualified woman. LaKenya will…
County Budget Presentation, Public Meetings Planned KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will present his Fiscal Year 2020 budget proposal to the Knox County Commission at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1. The presentation will take place in the Central High School Auditorium (5321 Jacksboro Pike). Those unable to attend the presentation will be able…
During the month of April, Congressman Tim Burchett will be visiting town halls and community meetings in the outlying counties of the 2nd congressional district. This is an opportunity for constituents to have a one-on-one conversation with their newly elected representative. This is also an opportunity to express your concerns and accolades and to be…
With less than eight months left in her second and final term, Mayor Rogero will present her final annual State of the City Address and proposed 2019-20 budget to City Council members and the public on Friday, April 26, 2019, at noon. The site will be at the end of James White Parkway – where…
Will Your Child’s School Get Adequate Funding? SUPPORT ADEQUATE SCHOOL FUNDING, Board of Education regular session meeting 5-6 pm Weds, April 17, City-County Building. The NAACP Knoxville chapter encourages your attendance and participation. The board meets bi-monthly on the 2nd and 4th Weds. at 5 pm in the City-County Main Assembly room.
(BLOUNT COUNTY, TN) The first regular meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee will be April 11, 2019 starting at 6:30 PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Alcoa, TN. The Blount County Democrats elected new officers and district representatives at the biennial convention on March 31, 2019. The convention was held at…
By David Hunter Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a very young woman, by the standards of today, who pulled off a remarkable feat by unseating a veteran Congress member in her New York district. Like many young people, she seems full of herself and makes statements that many — myself included — see as way too expansive….
The 2019 City Council Movement will host a joint Campaign Kickoff for 3 of the candidates vying for City Council at large seats from 5 – 7 pm, Friday, March 29, at The Concourse at 944 Blackstock Ave. near downtown Knoxville. The kick-off program will offer insights into the candidates and entertainment from some local…
State Rep. Gloria Johnson, House Dist. 13: Legislative Update (NASHVILLE, TN – March 14, 2019) The Knoxville Police Advisory and Review Committee, a community oversight board, has operated with subpoena power in our city for two decades with no interference from the state legislature. One of my constituents, the former Mayor of Knoxville Victor Ashe,…
State Rep. Gloria Johnson Was Denied Her Right to Speak on House Bill 77 – Abortion Tennessee Constitution Article II section 27: “Any member of either House of the General Assembly shall have liberty to dissent from and protest against, any act or resolve which he may think is injurious to any individual, and to have…
The City of Knoxville is accepting applications from non-profit agencies seeking funding for programs that work to reduce and end homelessness in Knoxville. These annually awarded grants may include funding from multiple sources, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Tennessee Housing and Development Agency (THDA), and the City of Knoxville. Grants…
CITIZENS SPEAK By Em Turner Chitty Well, I went to Knoxville’s Women’s March today in miserable wet weather. Saw some dear friends and activists there and heard a couple of speakers before the weather turned too awful to withstand (discovering that one hiking boot was apparently completely porous did not help). A couple of comments:…
Last week’s 6 part documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” has left a firestorm of outrage within the Black community. The Lifetime network along with more than 50 interviews consisting of accusers and colleagues of the singer — have come together to produce a special that has shed light on the sexual abuse of minors and women…
By Angela Dennis and Patricia Williams In a recent turn of events, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam granted clemency to sex-trafficked survivor Cyntoia Brown. Brown was 16-years old when sentenced as an adult and has served almost 15-years in a maximum security state prison. Gov. Haslam responded to the thousands of pleas sent to his office…
By Angela Dennis In an effort to tip the scale for Cyntoia Brown, Black Lives Matter of Nashville activist Justin Lang confronted Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam last week during an event on the importance of higher education. Haslam has until January when his term ends to consider clemency. Cyntoia Brown, a victim of sex trafficking…
Knoxville, Tenn. — Chancellor John Weaver presided over a settlement hearing this morning that brings the ongoing lawsuit concerning the Uniformed Officers Pension Plan (UOPP) to an official close. Mediated last week by Chancellor Darryl Fansler, the settlement of $97,500 between Knox County and the attorneys who represented the class, current deputies and Renee Ricker,…
By Patricia Williams This impressive tour bus arrived at Clinton Chapel Church in Mechanicsville on Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2018. The bus carried team members of Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute. The BVM Tennessee Tour had day-sessions scheduled in Memphis, Nashville Jackson, and Chattanooga and added an unscheduled stop in Knoxville. Members of Knoxville City Council…
By Theotis Robinson The August general and primary elections have now concluded with plenty of winners and losers to go around. The sad fact is that, as usual, turnout in our community was nowhere near its potential. As a result, we now have a County Mayor who seems to believe that all problems – funding schools in our community…
Women are winning in political contests nation-wide, and Blount County is no exception. Congratulations are in order for Jackie Hill, who won a historic victory in the August 2nd election. Hill is the first African-American woman to win a seat on the Blount County Commission. Jackie will take the District 1 Seat A position at…
Editor’s note: I am excited to welcome the contributions of columnist David Hunter. I am confident that our readers will be as intrigued and enlightened by his columns as I have been for many years. Join me in welcoming him to this new venue of expression. –Patricia Williams, Publisher East Tennessee Enlightener By David Hunter…