By Ralphine Major It was a wonderful addition to Knoxville’s skyline. In the early seventies, the Hyatt Regency (now Hotel Knoxville) was built across the street from the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum which was constructed during the time John Duncan Sr. was Mayor of Knoxville. Duncan later represented the Second Congressional District of […]
By Steve Hunley Kyle Ward Juneteenth Resolution Commissioner Kyle Ward is sponsoring a resolution to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday in Knox County. Ward is a small businessman, a combat veteran, and the first millennial to be elected to the Knox County Commission. Ward is not exactly predictable as some political observers have found […]
By Ray Hill Carroll Reece had first been elected to Congress from Tennessee’s First District in 1920 when he defeated Congressman Sam R. Sells inside the Republican primary. Sells had served for a decade before losing to Reece, who had been recognized for his bravery and heroism in the First World War. Reece had also […]
By John J. Duncan Jr. In September of 2017, I gave a speech on the floor of the U.S. House about the war in Afghanistan. I quoted from a story that had run a few days earlier in the international edition of the New York Times. That story said “When the American author James a. […]
By Dr. Harold A. Black blackh@knoxfocus.com The recent protests by Cubans against their repressive government highlighted stark contrasts that have been largely ignored in the media. First, such protests are rare in dictatorial socialist governments because the people are afraid of their government. The penalties are imprisonment, torture, beatings and even death. No such fears […]
Any institution that is not explicitly (and actively) right wing will become left wing over time. —John O’Sullivan By Dr. Jim Ferguson I’m reading through the Bible again this year, but instead of reading scripture “I’m listening,” as Frasier Crane once said. I’ve done audiobooks, and heard snippets of scripture read in church. However, listening […]
By Mike Steely Water towers around our nation can be unusual, either in shape or how they are painted. In Collinsville, Illinois, there’s a water tower in the shape of a ketchup bottle. Happy faces smile from water towers in several states and at least two states have tea pot water towers. Rochester, Minnesota, has […]
By Joe Rector I received an invitation to the event but wasn’t sure whether or not to attend. It was a retirement get together for Ron Rogers and Steve Taylor, two former band directors in Knox County and other places. My brother Jim convinced me to go, and I’m glad he was so insistent. Ron […]
By Ralphine Major Even in a year of pandemic recovery, the time seems to be flying by! We have just celebrated the all-important Fourth of July holiday, and Christmas is actually just over five months away. Signs are plentiful that the long-awaited holiday is on the horizon. There are advertisements promoting Christmas in July sales. […]
By Mark Nagi Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) finally came to collegiate athletics back on July 1st. Much to the chagrin of the NCAA, “student-athletes” will be able to capitalize on their publicity and be compensated through third-party endorsements without worrying that the NCAA would strip them of eligibility. The NCAA fought against this for […]
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