By Sharon Frankenberg, Attorney at Law On March 10, 2015 the Utah legislature passed a bill allowing firing squads to carry out the death penalty in the event of a shortage of execution drugs. It is expected that Utah’s governor will sign the bill into law before the April 1st deadline. The bill requires the […]
By Joe Rector Folks can get their hackles up over a variety of things. Sometimes it’s the result of an argument with friends. Nothing causes tempers to flare quicker than negative comments about a individuals’ families. Even attacks on traditions can ignites fires in some people. That’s the case right now in the Karns community. […]
By Dr. Jim Ferguson Spring seems tantalizingly close, even though it’s cold and rainy today. By this time of the year most of us are sick of winter, and any “backsliding” of spring is unacceptable. We even give the cold-snaps of spring colorful names like redbud or dogwood winter. Last year my fruit trees suffered […]
By Alex Norman At the present time, Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart is one of the most unpopular people in town. Sure, his hiring of Butch Jones is starting to pay off, and when football “drives the engine,” that’s good for the bottom line in an entire athletic department. But his […]
By Ralphine Major Gene Allen Cantley, the only sophomore on Bob Dagley’s 1965 Gibbs Eagles’ team, served in the United States Army, E-5, and was stationed in Germany. It was in Frankfurt, Germany, that his first child was born. Jason Allen Cantley was born with a dual citizenship in Germany and the United States. Little […]
By Steve Williams The opening day of this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament is why they call it March Madness. Thirteen hours of close games, upsets, emotion and controversy. I was among those who picked Iowa State to go a long way in the tourney – to the Elite Eight in my case – only […]
Volunteers needed for Ijams River Rescue Over the past several months, The Focus has been documenting the pollution problem of our Tennessee waterways on 24×7.knoxfocus.com. We will continue to document the water conditions on an ongoing basis. With recent snow and heavy rain, the pollution problem has only become worse. Currently the good people at […]
By Steve Hunley Most folks are aware that the Knox County Board of Education has been dithering about whether or not to sue the State of Tennessee, along with the three other big urban counties – – – Shelby, Davidson, and Hamilton. Shelby and Hamilton have apparently already voted to sue the state over the […]
By Focus Staff The City of Knoxville recognized “Transit Driver Appreciation Day” on last Wednesday at Knoxville Station’s bus platform. Mayor Madeline Rogero proclaimed March 18th as “Knoxville Area Transit Driver Appreciation Day” in Knoxville. She honored two of KAT’s bus operators, Belinda Wimes and Donnie Collins, as representatives of the 150-plus operators that maneuver […]
By Ray Hill Huey Long’s rise to power began with his election to the Louisiana Public Service Commission. He ran a surprisingly strong race for the gubernatorial nomination in 1924 when only thirty years old, but lost to Henry Fuqua. Governor Fuqua died two years into his four-year term, leaving O. H. Simpson as Louisiana’s […]