First step taken for mental health facility By Ken Leinart A report from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is recommending a 50-bed mental health institute for Knoxville. During a Friday, March 22, announcement made at Marble Hall...

Knox County Comprehensive Land Use Plan postponed By Mike Steely Senior Writer steelym@knoxfocus.com The long-awaited Comprehensive Land Use and Transportation Plan from the planning commission has been delayed until April’s Knox County Commission Meeting. The...

Republicans celebrate primary victories at Crowne Plaza By Ken Lay The 2024 Knox County Republican Primary had plenty of close races, many of which weren’t decided until late Tuesday night. And when the dust had settled there was plenty of celebration and even some...

Eight new voting places for Tuesday’s primary By Mike Steely Senior Writer steelym@knoxfocus.com “Lines are going to be long,” warned Election Coordinator Chris Davis last week. Davis noted that there are 10 contested races in Knox County and that all the voting...

Senator Blackburn to speak at Knox GOP Lincoln Day Dinner By Jamie Schnell schnellj@knoxfocus.com William “Buddy” Burkhardt, the chairman of the Knox County Republican Party, has announced the annual Lincoln Day Dinner is scheduled for Friday, March 8 at Rothchild’s...

Buuck makes appearance at Halls Republican Club By Ken Lay Knox County Law Director David Buuck spoke at the Halls Republican Club Tuesday night at the Halls Boys & Girls Club and, upon his arrival, he cleared up some misunderstanding about his job. “The law...

Law Director David Buuck Running For Re-Election By Steve Hunley, Publisher publisher@knoxfocus.com One of the most important races in the upcoming March 5 Republican primary is that for Knox County Law Director.  The law director is responsible for providing legal...

Jackie Raley named East Tennessee Chief Deputy Assessor of the Year for 2023 Jackie Raley, Knox County Chief Deputy Assessor of Property, was awarded the East Tennessee Chief Deputy Assessor of the Year Award for 2023 before the Tennessee Association of Assessing...

The Life and Legacy of Mike McMillan By Ray Hill The late Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” Truer words have never been spoken. Local government officials are frequently maligned, unappreciated, and sometimes subjected to downright rude...

Adam Thompson running for District 8 Commission Seat By Ken Lay Adam Thompson is running for Knox County Commission. He’s thought of throwing his hat in the ring in the past. But now, he said that the time is right to run for office. “I’ve contemplated running before,...