Latest news with #TennesseeThisWeek
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Turn Up Knox receives outside funding after city contract terminated
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A local violence prevention nonprofit has secured outside funding after the City of Knoxville decided to end its partnership with the organization. Turn Up Knox's contract with the city was canceled in February, and the nonprofit received over $100,000 of outstanding payments from the city in April. The city partnered with the organization in 2022 to launch violence prevention and intervention initiatives following an increase in gun violence. 18-year-old charged with attempted murder after shooting in Knoxville Executive Director Denzel Grant said the city funding helped build the organization from the ground up, but Turn Up Knox will continue to operate despite losing this funding. 'We do have our 501(c)(3) status now. Currently, we've received funding from the Gene [and Florence] Monday Foundation. The Appalachian Fund has been a great resource for us as well, and we're continuing to have conversations with other philanthropists who are out here supporting the work,' said Grant. Knoxville 311 launches 'Rocky Bot' AI tool launched to help residents 6 News conversation with Denzel Grant continues Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Tennessee This Week. He and Bo Williams talk more about violence prevention in the community, and the Knoxville City Council District 6 race which Grant announced he was running. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pedestrian bridge to UT campus moving forward as Gay St. Bridge repair timeline takes shape
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Between the pedestrian bridge to the University of Tennessee and the ongoing Gay Street Bridge closure, bridges have become a hot topic in Knoxville. Mayor Indya Kincannon provided an update on both projects in an upcoming episode of Tennessee This Week. Following the announcement in February that the Gay Street Bridge won't reopen to regular motor vehicle traffic, city council approved $2 million for repairs to allow pedestrian and cyclist use by early 2026. Groundwork on a plan for a full replacement over the long-term is also beginning. South Knoxville business owners feel let down by bridge repair timeline 'We're starting the evaluations now for what that replacement bridge should look like, should it be in the same place, and what should the capacity be,' Kincannon said. 'We're going to do some traffic studies and analysis but first things first, fix the current bridge to the extent we can and that will buy us a little time as we plan for a long-term replacement.' Loadbearing assessments will also determine if emergency vehicles and Knoxville Area Transit buses could utilize the structure after the short-term repairs. Kincannon also dispelled notions that grant funding for the University of Tennessee pedestrian bridge project could be redirected to address the Gay Street Bridge. Tennessee plans to begin replacing G10 parking garage this fall 'The grants are very specific and they're for the places and things that where we've already evaluated,' she explained. 'The pedestrian bridge where we're partnering with the University of Tennessee has been a vision that the South Knoxville community has had for almost 20 years now. It's very specific to help revitalize that part of South Knoxville, the Vestal/ Scottish Pike area and be a key connector to jobs and opportunity to people who want to get over to the University of Tennessee.' The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the city a $25 million grant for the long-discussed pedestrian bridge to the campus while $20 million of state funds have been set aside for the project. Despite concerns that the Trump administration's cost-cutting efforts may impact the federal grant, Kincannon said that both bridge projects are moving forward. Recent development of housing along the south waterfront where the pedestrian bridge landing will be provide an example of the project's potential to make a lasting impact. New Rail-to-Trail project hopes to spur growth in South Knoxville 'As more people come into that area, there's more ability to sustain businesses. Coffee shops, dry cleaners, restaurants, barbershops, whatnot. That's still a work in progress, the commercial activity, but the commercial activity follows the people so having more residential development there is really exciting,' Kincannon said. A timeline for the pedestrian bridge to the University of Tennessee campus has not yet been established. The progress also comes as university officials seek to create a Neyland Stadium Entertainment District. Tune in to Tennessee This Week on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. to see Kincannon speak in depth about the city's recent growth, the newly-released parking plan for Covenant Health Park, and much more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee to seek reelection in 2026
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — US Sen. Bill Hagerty, the Republican junior senator from Tennessee, announced Tuesday that he will seek reelection in 2026. Hagerty, 65, will now seek a second six-year term in the U.S. Senate after winning the 2020 race to replace the retiring Lamar Alexander. 'I am pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election to the United States Senate,' Hagerty said in his announcement video. 'It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the men and women of Tennessee, and I am committed to the fight for our shared values, our freedoms, and the future of our great state and nation. The announcement quells speculation that Hagerty may enter the 2026 Tennessee gubernatorial race to succeed Bill Lee, who is term-limited. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said during an appearance on Tennessee This Week in December that he would support Hagerty if he chose to pursue the governorship, adding he was 'hopeful' that Hagerty would run. Hagerty began his career as a consultant before being tapped to serve as economic advisor and White House Fellow in the administration of George H.W. Bush. He later became a venture capital and private equity investor, co-founding the private investment firm Hagerty Peterson & Company. Hagerty served as a commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development from 2011 to 2014. He served as US Ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term before announcing his candidacy for Senate. Hagerty currently serves on the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs, among other committee assignments. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
