Republicans call for unity heading to November election   By Ken Lay Area Republicans celebrated a big night at Thursday night’s election return party in the Tennessee Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The election brought an end to a pair of hotly tested...

Blackburn opens Knoxville campaign office By Pete Gawda Marsha Blackburn, who currently represents Tennessee in the U. S. House of Representatives, is running for U. S. Senate. She opened her Knoxville campaign office, located at 1601 Western Avenue, on Saturday, July...

Ed and Bob’s Night Out a hoot By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Ed Brantley and Bob Thomas go back a few years together. Both were disk jockeys before they teamed up for the popular Ed and Bob Talk Show on the radio. The two are finishing their terms at At-Large...

Now Open: Gibbs and Hardin Valley Middle Schools A Triumph of Convictions By Richie Beeler Desire is one thing. Conviction is quite another. When Knox County officials cut the ribbon on the new Gibbs Middle School last Tuesday, it was much more than the dedication of...

The ‘Jane Allen Drive’ keeps going By Steve Williams Someday, when you’re driving north on Broadway past Historic Fountain City Lake and the duck pond, slow down as you near Fountain City Wrecker Service on the right. At the next turnoff, notice the street sign: Jane...

Mayor Rogero names Eve Thomas new chief of police By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Twenty-five-year police veteran Eve Thomas officially became the new Knoxville Police Chief last week. Mayor Madeline Rogero named Deputy Chief Thomas to the post in a well-attended...

Superintendent’s contract extended one year By Anne Primm In a special called meeting at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon June 13, 2018, Bob Thomas, superintendent of Knox County Schools, was awarded an additional year to his contract The Knox County School Board...

Local bus tour exposes youth to city history By Ken Lay Several local retired educators and professionals from the Friendly Readers Book Club hosted a historical bus trip for some area children recently. The Friendly Readers and the Walter P. Taylor Boys and Girls...

Checking in on the Behavioral Urgent Care Center By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com The Knoxville Focus recently asked Jerry Vagnier, president and CEO of Helen Ross McNabb Center, how things are going at the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center. The facility,...

City budget passes but with some questions By Mike Steely steelym@knoxfocus.com Mayor Madeline Rogero’s proposed city budget passed on final reading Tuesday as well as a three percent employee pay raise and funding for the various city departments. The passing of the...