Latest news with #KnoxCountySchoolBoard
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ethics are top of mind in scandal-riddled Knox County. Commissioners want to make changes
Ethics are the talk of the town. As state investigators make their way through Knox County government offices, county commissioners are taking a look at some of their own ethical issues. Two commissioners have sponsored a rules change that would prevent commissioners with family members who work for Knox County to sit on committees that oversee those offices. It seems like a basic conflict of interest, and many commissioners wouldn't volunteer to serve on committees that deal with departments that pay their family members' salaries. But county rules don't prevent it. What's proposed: Knox County Commissioner Terry Hill and Courtney Durrett pitched the rule change, which will go into front of the rules committee and the full commission. It says a commissioner cannot serve on a committee if they have a family member working in any Knox County government department or agency overseen, regulated or investigated by that committee. The hypothetical problem: If a department is being investigated internally, as two have been in recent months, a commissioner could theoretically leak information to their relative. Want to study up? Check out the full proposal at Click the agenda tab on the left and then select the rules committee option. It's item 7. And there's more ...... Knox County School Board chair Betsy Henderson spoke Jan. 28 to legislators in Nashville in support of dramatically expanding private school vouchers. Just days before her speech, the Republican-majority Knox County school board voted against including vouchers in its 2025 legislative priorities. Henderson's advocacy sparked criticism from some constituents, including Hill, her counterpart on the commission. Hill took the rare step of publicly rebuking Henderson, telling her it was a "gross misuse of a position of power" to push for vouchers in Nashville. Hill asked the school board on March 6 to consider instating ethics reforms on itself. She's following up with this rules change proposal, though it only applies to the commission. Hill as a commissioner cannot tell the school board what to do. What's proposed: Hill is proposing that if commission chair is speaking publicly about an issue, they have to disclose that their position differs from the commission's, even if they are advocating as a private citizen. What Hill said: "Whenever your vote is with the minority on a particular issue, support your board and share responsibility for that decision," Hill said March 6. "I know what it is when you carry a personal belief about something and the board does not support you. Regardless, it's still your responsibility to remember that you are elected to this board for the views of your constituents." Want to study up? Check out the full proposal at Click the agenda tab on the left and then select the rules committee option. It's item 8. How to attend the meeting where they'll discuss both ethics issues: The discussion is set for 1 p.m. April 28 in the small assembly room of the City-County Building at 400 Main St. If you miss it: The committee will discuss the proposals and decide whether or not to forward them to the whole commission, which will decide whether to make the changes. It seems like the whole country is taking stock of how federal dollars are spent. Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox will propose a change that adds an extra layer to the county's applications for federal grants. At the same meeting, the commission will vote whether to accept dollars to help the homeless community. Fox's proposal: The county's grants department applies for state and federal help and then seeks the commission's approval before accepting the money. Fox wants commissioners to know before the department even send in the application. Commissioners would be able to approve or deny the application, and they could also postpone it (potentially past the deadline). Money commissioners will vote on: The county anticipates $1,610,000 in anticipated funds from the government for housing affordability and stability. Important date: The commission will meet at 3 p.m. April 28 in the main assembly room of the City-County Building at 400 Main St. Want to study up? Check out the full proposal at Click the agenda tab on the left and then select the commission option. It's item 48. Payments in lieu of taxes are a tool Knoxville uses to subsize affordable housing built by private developers. The city won't get the full amount of taxes on property that it normally would in exchange for something that benefits city residents. Payments in lieu of taxes are essentially tax freezes. If developers agree to keep rental prices within a certain range for a certain period of time, they only have to pay the city and county the current property taxes for the entire length of the the agreement. The city council will discuss two different projects. Apartments at 2501 Edgewood Ave. will have 15 ADA-accessible units that will be reserved for those who make incomes at or below 30% of Knoxville's median income of $51,000 for one person. Apartments at 2226 Parkview Ave. will have 10 studio and one-bedroom units that will be reserved for those who make incomes at or below 80% of Knoxville's median income of $51,000 for one person. Important date: The city council will meet at 6 p.m. April 29 in the main assembly room of the City-County Building, 400. Main St. Want to study up? Check out the council's agenda at Click the agenda option and select April 29. They're items 11.t and 11.v. Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County commissioners hope to introduce ethics changes
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Knoxville man questions washing machine's warranty after malfunction
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Many businesses offer a warranty to assure their customers they'll stand behind their product for a specified amount of time. However, one Knoxville man is questioning the warranty of a used washing machine he bought last month. The pre-owned limited warranty on Sam Lee's used Maytag is good for 30 days, and it is still in effect. Lee said that within the first day of using the washer, there was a problem with it. He called the business where he bought it, and a gentleman checked the machine at Lee's home and said there was nothing wrong with it. However, Lee showed how the washer does not drain water when it was in the 'spin cycle.' Knox County School Board to discuss building new $43.7M elementary school After filling his new used washer with water, Lee put it into the spin cycle, but it didn't spin. 'You see it agitating, the agitator moving? That, that's a problem. According to two different people I've had come out here, it should be spinning the clothes out to make them dry, enough for them to go into the dryer,' said Lee. Lee said once in the spin cycle his machine should be draining the water, instead the spindle is just agitating. 'Right now, it is in the spin cycle. It should be spinning my clothes out but it is agitating like it would be in the wash cycle,' said Lee. To show the results, he pulled some socks out that had been in the washer during that spin cycle. 'This is just four pairs of socks. I'll take it and watch the water …. now is that normal? It doesn't look normal to me,' said Lee. Lee had two appliance repair businesses check the machine. One reported the washer has a 'faulty transmission, estimated repair cost $500 to $800. The other said the thrust bearing and gear case is no longer operating and is no longer available to purchase. Lee bought his used Maytag from Checked Appliances in Knoxville. The total cost was $428.02 for the machine, delivery and installation. Lee knew it was used when he purchased it on March 14. 'The reason I went to a company was for a warranty,' said Lee. The appliance came with a free 30-day repair warranty on parts and labor. With the guarantee, he had peace of mind. 'If I bought it at a yard sale, online from just some individual, I'd be out of luck, it would be 'as is',' said Lee. The monthlong warranty on the machine remains in effect until April 14. Troy Villagas, the owner of Checked Appliances, told 6 News he examined the machine personally and sent a video to Maytag's Tech Support. In a report to Lee, Checked Appliances said their technician and Maytag's concluded no part is going to change the drum spinning any faster that it already is. Checked Appliances said for $150, plus an extra cost for another machine, they could make a trade. 22,600 lbs of bratwurst recalled in Tennessee over possible plastic contamination Villegas did not want to speak on camera, but he wanted his side of the story told about the machine Lee purchased. 'The information he was giving you was incorrect. In theory, the washer is working how it is supposed to. We don't technically need to do anything for the washer because it is obviously working how it is supposed to work. If he would like to exchange it out, we will do that as a courtesy for another washer,' Villegas told 6 News over the phone. Lee is dissatisfied with the offer. 'It says 30-day warranty,' said Lee. 'In the warranty is says 'in worst case scenarios we will provide and exchange of equal or similar products.' Parole declined for East Tennessee man convicted of attacking family ' can pay $150 to swap it for another machine, which wasn't in the warranty and I can pay for another delivery fee and additional for another machine. I am kind of like, what good is the warranty?' For now, Lee says he's left with a soggy mess that he has to manually squeeze everything from towels to clothes. The owner-operator of Checked Appliances, Troy Villegas, told us, 'When you check the store's page on Google, it's the highest-ranked used-appliance store in Knoxville.' Villegas added that he has 'many happy customers who are pleased with the machines they purchased' from his store. ▶ See more top stories on Consumer experts say it's best to discuss the details of a warranty with your salesperson before purchasing to avoid any surprises. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Knoxville woman recognized for unrelenting dedication to the community
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Giving the gift of time is what this 'Remarkable Woman' is all about. Getting her to talk about all she does is something else entirely. 'She doesn't talk about herself. She doesn't say anything. We have to dig it out of her, pull it out of her and so we feel like she does things out of the love in her heart,' said Gloria Deathridge. 'Remarkable' woman transformed old Townsend campground into luxury outdoor resort Former Knox County School Board member and Lady Vols Basketball pioneer Gloria Deathridge is remarkable in her own right. She took the time to nominate her good friend Jacqueline Bridgeman for WATE's Remarkable Women series for her years of volunteer work as an emergency responder with the American Red Cross and for managing a relief shelter during the Gatlinburg wildfires. 'It's really revealing,' Bridgeman said. 'When someone only needs you to sit down and hold their hand to get through their disaster.' Years before the wildfires, she helped victims of Hurricane Katrina who found food and a place to sleep at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. 'I would go to work, I would get off, and I would go over to the coliseum until 3 or 4 in the morning. Go home, go to bed, get up, go back to Y12,' Bridgeman recalled. Sevierville Police lieutenant dedicated to building trust one person at a time What this remarkable woman can talk about is her personal mission to give back. She volunteers with Mobile Meals. She holds office with service organization Links, Incorporated, along with Gloria Deathridge. 'When you begin to work with other women, they become part of you. You become part of them and the division line between a friend and a sister is very, very blurred,' Bridgeman said. She regularly visits schools, and that's not all. 'We just know she disappears,' Deathridge told us. 'And when she disappears, you know she's doing something for somebody. She takes people to the grocery store. She takes them to their doctors' appointments. She just does so much for other people.' How one woman's efforts helped restore Knoxville's only national landmark Bridgeman also has a heart for veterans, attending and supporting too many veterans' events in the community to count, taking time to hear their stories at Ben Atchley Veterans Nursing Home. She has also been on HonorAir flights as a volunteer and has been on the Vietnam Veterans Flight to Vietnam four times to learn about her brother's experiences, which he did not often talk about. We thank Jacqueline Bridgeman for her service in her own way to our community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could Knox County School Board Chair Betsy Henderson face a recall over school vouchers?
An effort to oust Knox County School Board Chair Betsy Henderson is underway but it might not amount to a recall on voters' ballots. Phillip Sherman, a resident of Henderson's Karns and Hardin Valley district who ran against her in 2022 as an independent, is leading the effort. Henderson in a text to Knox News called the recall effort a political stunt "being pushed by the man who ran against me." "I ran on the issue of school choice," Henderson said. " I even published an opinion editorial in the Knoxville News Sentinel on the issue. I have been 100% transparent about my position since day 1 - which is shared by President Trump, Senator Blackburn, Governor Lee and Mayor Jacobs." Sherman disagreed with Henderson's advocacy for vouchers at the General Assembly in January, but wasn't inspired to attempt to remove her until he saw her response to criticism of her appearance before the legislature, he told Knox News. "Even if this doesn't result in her vacating the seat, at some point, you ran for office, you work for us, and a lot of people aren't happy," Sherman said. "They have the right to express that. The only legal mechanism to do that is a recall." The final straw for Sherman was when County Commissioner Terry Hill, a former school board chair and fellow Republican, criticized Henderson during the March 6 board meeting. Hill, a constituent of Henderson's, then attempted to shake Henderson's hand, but the current board chair turned away from her predecessor. The problem for Sherman and those supportive of his effort is that the county charter doesn't specify whether special elections can be called for recalls. State law, which supersedes county law, only discusses recalls on regular general election ballots. Even if Sherman can collect the high number of signatures he would need to trigger a recall vote, state law might get in the way. Chris Davis, the Knox County elections administrator, told Knox News March 17 state election officials told him special elections aren't held for recalls. And state law specifies placing a recall on general election ballots, not special election ballots. The next regular Knox County election is in 2026, which is when Henderson's school board seat would be up for election anyway. Henderson has hinted that she'll run for Knox County mayor, leaving the school board seat open. Sherman said he's focused on submitting a recall petition that has the signatures it needs to at least "raise the question" of whether a special election could be called. "The only way to test (whether a recall can go on the ballot) is to put it forward and see where it goes," Sherman said. "Recalls aren't very common. This is not like a ' kind of movement.' We're going to go door to door. This is what you do in a democracy, someone just has to get behind it and push." Knox County's charter and state law lay out how the process of recalling an elected official works. Sherman would have to file the wording of the petition to the Knox County Election Commission; The commission would have 30 days to determine whether the petition aligned with state law. Then, Sherman would have 15 days to correct legal errors. Once the commission certified the petition, Sherman would have 90 days to collect signatures from 10% of voters in Henderson's Karns and Hardin Valley district for the question to be on voters' ballots. That number is around 6,000, according to Sherman. If Sherman could get enough signatures, and if the state allowed a special election to be held and and if voters chose to remove Henderson from office, the Knox County Commission would appoint someone to serve out the rest of her term. Then in 2026, the school board seat would appear on voters' ballots as usual. Sherman told Knox News around 300 Sixth District residents have indicated on a survey they would sign a recall petition. After the Knox County Schools spring break, he hopes to start hosting events at which people can sign a petition. He said he hopes to have 3,464 signatures, to equal the amount of votes Henderson received, by the next school board meeting on April 10. "I would love to see (the petition submitted to the election commission) by the end of the spring semester," Sherman said. "Then it would be a topic for discussion at the next school year." Henderson spoke Jan. 28 to legislators in Nashville in support of dramatically expanding private school vouchers. Just days before her speech, the Republican-majority Knox County School Board voted against including vouchers in its 2025 legislative priorities. Henderson's advocacy sparked criticism from her constituents, including Hill. Hill took the rare step of publicly rebuking another public official, telling Henderson it was a "gross misuse of a position of power" to push for vouchers in Nashville. "The real issue with the appearance was that she spoke for the board, and the board did not pass the resolution," Hill told Knox News. "When your own colleagues elect you as a chair of an elected sitting body, that's one of the highest esteemed positions you can have. It needs to be treated with care." Hill then took her criticism a step further, calling for ethics reforms at the school board's March 6 meeting. "Whenever your vote is with the minority on a particular issue, support your board and share responsibility for that decision," Hill said at the school board meeting. "I know what it is when you carry a personal belief about something and the board does not support you. Regardless, it's still your responsibility to remember that you are elected to this board for the views of your constituents." Following the meeting, Hill shook other school board members' hands, but Henderson turned away. Henderson in a statement to Knox News called Hill's comments "a sad attempt at political theater by a politician desperate for headlines." "Perhaps Commissioner Hill should spend more time focusing on cutting wasteful government spending and dealing with the county debt instead of attacking someone who dares to speak up for education freedom for Knox County families," Henderson wrote. Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County School Board Chair Betsy Henderson target of recall effort
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Knox County School Board chair defends support for school vouchers after backlash
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Knox County School Board chair Betsy Henderson is responding to backlash after she went to Nashville to voice her support for school vouchers before lawmakers passed the legislation. She says she spoke as a private citizen, however, some have criticized the move, saying it is hard for an elected official to blur the line between being a public figure and a private citizen. Jury hands Megan Boswell life sentence after guilty verdict During an interview for Tennessee This Week, Henderson defended her actions. 'I did go in my personal capacity, I made that abundantly clear. And before I went, I do have an email here, I did email the law director to make sure I was doing everything properly. And he did email back, saying 'Yes, you did everything properly.' They followed up and watched my testimony, said everything was great, and so, I was just happy to be there. I will always fight for principles. I will always stand up for issues I believe in. This is something that I ran on twice and won twice,' said Henderson. Lawmakers propose constitutional amendments for gun rights, property tax ban, right to refuse medical treatment She went on to say that she is not the only school board member to share support for school vouchers. 'We did have three other board members either go to Nashville or speak publicly at a rally in their capacity as a board member, and I fully support that. I fully respect their right to do that as a board member,' said Henderson. She continued, 'So, I don't believe in this double standard that I'm seeing on social media, that I'm doing something wrong when three other board members did the same thing. And I don't see the outrage against them. It's just that people are opposed to the issue and those are the people that are coming after me.' South Knoxville business owners feel let down by bridge repair timeline On January 31, the Senate and House of Representatives passed Gov. Bill Lee's statewide expansion of school vouchers, otherwise known as the 'Tennessee Education Freedom Act of 2025.' Lee signed the bill into law on Feb. 12. It provides around $7,000 in 'scholarships' in public taxpayer money for parents in Tennessee to use at private schools if they so choose. Watch Tennessee This Week on WATE Channel 6 on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and find past episodes on YouTube and Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
