City of Knoxville refunds $112k to nonprofit after contract termination
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The City of Knoxville agreed to reimburse a local nonprofit over $100,000 following a decision to terminate their contract for violence prevention and intervention initiatives.
Knoxville will refund Turn Up Knox a total of $112,129.21 for services provided during August 2023, September 2024, and October 2024. The reimbursement request from the nonprofit said that the refund would allow the organization to continue youth outreach efforts through the summer.
How dark is too dark for car window tint in Tennessee?
The city partnered with the organization in 2022 to launch violence prevention and intervention initiatives following an increase in gun violence. Despite expressing satisfaction with the group's effort and helping it secure additional grant funding, the contract was terminated by the city in February. City officials cited management issues and inconsistent communication.
Turn Up Knox Founder and Executive Director Denzel Grant criticized the decision to terminate the contract without input from City Council and pointed to recent decline in crime rates as evidence of the group's impact.
'In 2019, Black and Brown men and women made up 75% of the city's homicide victims. By 2024, that number had dropped to 39%,' Grant said in a statement. 'That's not a coincidence—that's the result of intentional, community-driven violence interruption.'
▶ See more top stories on WATE.com
In 2024, a Knoxville Police Department report showed that crime was down in nearly every category for 2024. This included a drop in homicides and non-fatal shootings.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
34 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Affordable housing development in Batavia gets first green light from city: ‘I think this is something that we need'
A proposed subsidized multi-family housing project in Batavia recently received the first green light from members of the City Council, many of whom are touting the project as filling a gap in affordable housing in the city. On May 19, the Batavia City Council OK'd a request from the project's developer — Fox River Affordable Housing, a nonprofit arm of the Housing Authority of Elgin — to fund $1.2 million in land acquisition and engineering costs using the city's TIF, or tax increment financing, reserves, per a memo from the city's Community and Economic Development Director Scott Buening included in the meeting agenda. The total cost of the project is expected to be just over $24 million. Called The Residence at River Point, the proposed project is set to be built on the 400 block of South River Street, which officials say is a former limestone quarry site. The proposed development would include 72 units, according to a proposal included in the City Council's meeting agenda. Of those, 18 would be set aside for households earning at or below 30% of the area median income, or AMI. In addition, 38 units would be set aside for households earning at or below 60% of the area median income, and 16 for those earning at or below 80%. The area median income is a regional calculation and accounts for the Chicago metropolitan area, according to the Housing Authority of Elgin's Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Martell Armstrong. According to Chicago's Department of Housing, the median family income for the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metropolitan area was $119,900 for a family of four in 2025. Income limits related to the AMI are adjusted for family size, however. For example, a single individual could qualify under the 80% limit if they made $67,100 or less, and under the 30% limit if they made $25,200 or less, whereas a family of four would qualify under the 80% limit if they made $95,900 or less, or $35,970 for the 30% limit. The project was generally well received by City Council members, who at recent meetings cited a need for more housing of this variety in the area. 'When I got my first apartment, it looked an awful lot like this,' City Council member Dustin Pieper said at a Committee of the Whole meeting in May. 'There's definitely a need for that. Especially in our community, there's a lot of younger folks who want to be working here, want to be living here. This would be great for that, I think.' City Council member Alan Wolff said not enough of this sort of housing is being built in the area, and that restrictions on constructing multi-unit buildings may be partially to blame. 'I think this is something that we need,' he said. According to a 2023 statewide report from the Illinois Housing Development Authority on the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act, Batavia's share of affordable housing — defined as being within the means of homebuyers making 80% of the regional median household income or renters making 60% of the regional median household income, per the authority — was at 23.5%. That's well above the 10% threshold that requires communities with low levels of affordable housing to submit a plan to the state as to how they'll build out a diverse housing supply. In Kane County, for example, Campton Hills, Lily Lake and Geneva all fell below 10%, according to the report. However, the percentage of affordable housing stock in Batavia is still significantly lower than some of its surrounding cities, like Aurora and Elgin, whose affordable housing stock is each over 50%, according to the 2023 report. A shortage of multi-family housing is not unique to Batavia, said Thomas Skuzinski, an associate professor at Northern Illinois University's Department of Public Administration, whose work focuses on local government management and who has previously done research on affordable housing. 'There's not as much multi-family (housing) as there could be,' Skuzinski said. 'There is just overall an imbalance that strongly favors single-family, detached homes. And that's pretty consistent across the U.S.' And an uptick in young adults who deferred moving out of their family homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing population of seniors on fixed incomes has only intensified the demand in the past few years, he said. Local officials' concerns While there was generally support from the city about the project, council members at the recent Committee of the Whole meeting also outlined some of their stipulations related to the project in Batavia. City Council members Kevin Malone and Abby Beck, for example, said they wanted to ensure the final product prioritized biking and pedestrian safety and accessibility. Jim Fahrenbach said he would support the project if it went through, but he thought too few of the units were allocated for those earning 80% of the average median income and noted that none of the proposed units were market-rate. 'We have lost a pipeline, and the question is, 'How do we replace that?'' Fahrenbach said. 'A lot of this neglect of having these apartment complexes for folks to come in in their 20s and enjoy the community and grow into the community and then save for a home, is gone. So we need to replace it.' Fahrenbach told The Beacon-News it's well-known that Batavia needs more affordable housing, and said that this project, while it doesn't provide market-rate units, could increase development activity in the area and spur on market-rate projects. All of the units in the proposed project would have income-related stipulations, though the rent price tenants pay would be determined individually by the tenants' income and number of people in the household, Armstrong told The Beacon-News. The actual costs of the units are based on the size and number of bedrooms — about $315,000 per unit is what they're expecting. In terms of the project's classification, Armstrong also noted that 'affordable housing' is more of an umbrella term, and referred to the project as having an 'income mixing range' of 30% to 80% of the AMI. 'Workforce housing,' he explained, tends to refer to housing for households making 60% to 80% of the AMI. Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke noted that the limestone in the area might make the site challenging to build on and add possible unaccounted-for costs. But there have not been many affordable housing projects in Batavia in recent years, he told The Beacon-News, and he believes the demand is there for this sort of project. And the project could put that land to good use, Malone said at the May 19 City Council meeting and 'turn a literal rock field into someplace people can live.' Funding the project But, despite securing an early stage of city approval, the money isn't to be spent yet on the project, City Council members clarified before approving the request for the TIF funding. It's merely a promise of funding down the line, once the project is determined to be feasible. Armstrong said at a meeting with the City Council that Fox River Affordable Housing needed this promise from the city in order to submit its application for the Illinois Housing Development Authority's Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which he said would provide the project with a considerable portion of its total funding. The TIF money that the developers plan to use is also to be paid back to the city, in a way. Assuming the project continues, the city would allocate the $1.2 million, which would go toward the purchase of the land set at about $1 million along with soft costs like engineering and architectural plans, according to Buening. The city's approval is conditional on the proposal being taxable, Buening said, and its proposed location is within the city's TIF District 3, meaning it would generate TIF funding. Essentially, a TIF district freezes the amount of property tax revenue each taxing body receives from an area at the point at which the TIF is instituted. The extra or 'increment' taxes created by the development of the property go into a special fund used to pay for costs related to improving the area. The goal is to secure the land by the end of this year and begin construction immediately after, Armstrong said. But whether the project moves forward at all, he said, is contingent on the project being awarded the Low Income Housing Tax Credit developers are applying for. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit is a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit, according to IHDA's website, that helps move affordable housing projects forward. The maximum rent that can be charged on a property that receives this tax credit is 80% of the AMI — which is why there are no market-rate units in the proposed development. Rents are typically capped for a 30-year period in Illinois. What's next? Armstrong said that Fox River Affordable Housing and Housing Authority of Elgin expect to hear back about whether they've been awarded the tax credit later in June. He said the project would likely not be able to move forward without that funding source. The developers also have to enter into a redevelopment agreement with the city, Buening noted, and go through the zoning process. Should all go as planned, Armstrong said, the project's aim is to close on a deal for the land by the end of the year and immediately begin construction, as long as there are no major obstacles that push back their timeline. There are several factors that can slow down affordable housing projects, Skuzinski noted. In general, gaining public and city support for projects can require overcoming negative perceptions of affordable housing developments. 'There's a perception that property values go down whenever an affordable housing project or even a mixed-income project … go in, and that's just not true,' Skuzinski said. 'It has more to do with the design of the building, sort of what it looks like, how well it's managed.' Additionally, because affordable housing developments tend to have slimmer profit margins and less options for obtaining loans, Skuzinski noted, the loss of one source of funding can slow down or jeopardize the project. Amid discussion of the project at a meeting in May, Malone inquired about the availability of federal funding with regards to the project. Low Income Housing Tax Credit is a federal funding source that's allocated by state agencies, in this case the Illinois Housing Development Authority. But, while President Donald Trump's administration has slashed the budgets of a number of government programs, the housing tax credit appears to be safe for now. It could potentially even see an influx of cash if the Senate leaves that part of the recently passed House of Representatives' budget bill as is. Federal funding aside, Armstrong said the costs of materials and labor and interest rates have all driven up the price of construction since the pandemic, and they've made the Housing Authority of Elgin move more slowly and be more selective with what projects it takes on. And the added uncertainty of possible tariffs could also change their plans or slow progress. And, for the housing authority, unlike developers intending to sell their developments, there's also the added component of managing the property. 'We are generally in it for the … lifespan in the building,' Armstrong said. That's something the Housing Authority of Elgin wants to do more of, he said. It currently manages 164 units of Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties, he noted, but have a third-party entity that manages some of its other properties. They've also co-developed some projects, but intend to be the sole developer on the Batavia units. Armstrong said the authority worked with the city of Batavia to identify this potential project and the proposed location. 'I'm not in the business of going somewhere and telling them what's good for them,' Armstrong said. But the housing authority is willing to work with cities which identify a need for affordable housing, he said. And, with projects like these, he said one of its goals is helping individuals of different income levels live in the same community. 'We're trying to deconcentrate poverty and do this in areas of opportunity,' Armstrong said, 'where people can have pride and lives in areas that provide jobs and education and so on.' These kinds of projects are one way of supporting social mobility for both low-income and working class individuals and families, Skuzinski noted. 'There can be a benefit to allowing for social networking and ties across income classifications,' Skuzinski said. 'One of the best ways to do that is either through affordable housing projects that are in higher-income neighborhoods, or through projects that are themselves mixed-income. And it seems like the one in Batavia's trying to kind of do both.' And, despite the challenges affordable housing projects bring, he said he thinks this project is well-positioned to move forward. 'When you have professionalized local governments working with a developer that's well-known, that's when these can be a recipe for success,' Skuzinski said. 'Why wouldn't you want to go ahead with something like this?'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Buying a new car? Why picking yellow, orange and green will help your car retain its value
Vehicles that experience high rates of depreciation after a few years aren't great for new car buyers, but they can be great for used car buyers. In fact, researching vehicles with high depreciation rates can be a good way to find a deal on a used car. On the other hand, some drivers may avoid vehicles that rapidly depreciate to retain some trade-in value or sell their cars later on. Some car colors have worse depreciation rates than others, according to a study conducted by an automotive search engine and research website. Gold: 34.4% three-year depreciation White: 32.1% three-year depreciation Black: 31.9% three-year depreciation Most vehicles tend to depreciate the second they roll off of dealer lots, but the rates of depreciation listed above are beyond average rates. So, if you're in the market for a new vehicle, you may not want to buy it in gold. Paying extra money for a gold color model could prove to be even more costly. Thankfully, there are plenty of car colors with below-average rates of depreciation. Yellow: 24.0% three-year depreciation Orange: 24.4% three-year depreciation Green: 26.3% three-year depreciation "Yellow cars hold their value the best" according to the study results. So if you're looking for a new vehicle, this may be a color to consider for value retention. If you're hunting for a used vehicle deal, avoiding this color could save you some money because of the lower depreciation rate. The overall average three-year depreciation rate of the colors included in the study was 31%. Finding a good deal on a used car can be difficult, but refining your search by including vehicles with high depreciation rates can save drivers thousands of dollars. Vehicles with high rates of depreciation after just a few years can have low mileage and much lower prices than their original MSRP. One example of a vehicle with a high depreciation rate is the 2023 Dodge Hornet. The 2023 model year is the first of its production history. Just a few years after its initial release, the Hornet has depreciated by over 31%. The 2023 Hornet has an original MSRP of $31,590. It now has a fair purchase price of $20,154 according to Kelley Blue Book. That's a value decrease of a whopping $11,436, making it a steal for interested parties as a used model. Another great example of vehicle depreciation is the 2022 Nissan Leaf. The 2022 Leaf has an original MSRP of $27,400 and a Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price of just $14,258. That's a depreciation rate of around 47%. Car buyers can save big bucks on a Nissan Leaf by purchasing a used model that has depreciated severely over the last few years. There's no surefire way to avoid car depreciation entirely, but proper maintenance and upkeep can help drivers retain as much of their vehicle's value as possible. Regular maintenance Interior cleaning Exterior protection According to State Farm, there are several ways car owners can minimize depreciation. Ultimately, proper car care can equate to less depreciation in the long run and a higher resale value, so take those oil changes seriously. The more presentable your car is, the easier it is to get a fair purchase price or trade-in value later on. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What car colors are best to buy? These will retain your car's value
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Meharry Medical College to expand into Memphis, partners with Mississippi Boulevard church
Meharry Medical College is set to expand into Memphis with a new medical training facility. The historically Black, Nashville-based medical school announced the formation of its 'Office of Memphis Programs' at a ribbon-cutting on June 9. The new program will be housed on the planned 23-acre mixed-use campus of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in the Medical District and will support students during clinical training. 'I see this as a wonderful opportunity to turn the tide on and bring about better health care outcomes in the city of Memphis,' said Rev. Jason Turner of Mississippi Boulevard church. The expansion is part of Meharry's long-term goal of building a second campus in Memphis, said CEO and president James Hildreth. The college often has to send students to hospitals out of state because major hospitals in Nashville have commitments to training students from other schools. 'One of the things that the branch campus in Memphis will do for us is to allow us to have two major training sites and not have to send our students to so many places,' he said. The new facility will feature classrooms, faculty offices and a student lounge. The quality of education will be the same as at the main campus in Nashville, Hildreth said, but it will lay the foundation for a branch campus and keep medical students in Tennessee. Memphis has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the country and struggles with obesity and diabetes, Hildreth said. He said Meharry plans to focus on the burden of chronic diseases in the city. 'Memphis is a place where we can have a huge impact,' Hildreth said. In April, Meharry acquired four medical clinics in Memphis. A Meharry alumnus, Dr. Joseph Walker, founded Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in 1921. He was its first pastor. 'It's serendipitous that their Office of Memphis Programs would be housed in the church that he founded 104 years ago,' Turner said. Jack Armstrong covers breaking news and the environment for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at and followed on X @jca2902. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Meharry Medical College part of Mississippi Boulevard Memphis expansion
