Republican legislators like to complain about federal bureaucrats making laws instead of Congress. Who’s been making your spending decisions, gentlemen and ladies? And who among you approve of a $200 …
Look for tight state budget
What happens when our tax-cutting, fiscally conservative legislature is faced with a recession and a revenue nosedive?
Some experts are predicting that we are headed for a recession because, well, we’re …
Possible impeachment creates dilemma for Lamar
Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker vaulted to national prominence while serving on the Senate Watergate Committee when he provided the thesis sentence that brought the wide-ranging investigation into focus. “What did …
Why not just buy it, already?
You might have wondered why Knox County doesn’t just buy the empty TVA tower and then lease the space to the school board, the University of Tennessee and others. It …
The untold racism of Woodrow Wilson
There may soon be another effort to remove the bust of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest from his perch next to the House and Senate chambers in the state Capitol. …
Say what, Sevier County? Mannis can make history tonight
It is embarrassing but hardly surprising that a redneck county commissioner used a homophobic slur against Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. I daresay you could find county commissioners all around …
Halloween pranks from a simpler time
With Halloween coming up on Thursday, it reminds me of a story about some creative high school students. Some years ago, my wife was a teacher at a small-town high …
Cagle’s short takes: Pork and spies and guns and football
Pork barrel: A total of $4 million has been discovered secreted in the state budget available for state grants for legislative districts. Back during the controversial vote for a school-voucher …