Behind the Headlines Podcast

1521: Main Street Trolley unlikely to restart till next summer

MATA’s interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin addressed the myriad problems facing the transit system, even while noting progress on some fronts.

1520: Workforce initiatives at U of M expand their reach

Leaders of the three separate initiatives joined Eric Barnes to talk about their programs this week on the WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”

1519: Analyzing the results of the 2024 elections

On this week’s “Behind The Headlines,” Toby Sells, news editor for The Memphis Flyer, and reporter Abigail Warren of The Daily Memphian joined Eric Barnes to talk about the election.

1518: MLGW launching lead water pipe notice campaign

Once mailboxes are clear of campaign mailers and the Nov. 5 election, 120,000 MLGW customers will be getting a notice on replacing lead water lines. MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says on “Behind The Headlines” the utility has the money to replace its lines and is working on funding to replace it on the customer’s side of the connection.

1517: Chronic absenteeism

Executive Director of Compass Community Schools, Kristi Baird, Chief Academic Officer of Gestalt Community Schools, Bobbie Turner, and Schools of Perea’s Tia James join host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian reporter Laura Testino. Guests discuss what has led to chronic absenteeism at the national and local levels, and strategies schools are using to keep kids in school.

1516: The future of Memphis' gun-control question

How Memphians will vote on the referendum, and whether it will ultimately impact Tennessee’s gun laws, was a hot topic for local reporters this week.

1514: Planned Parenthood leader says 'stakes could not be higher' on state's abortion politics

Ashley Coffield talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the impact of the 2-year-old law and the political effort to flip seats in the Tennessee Legislature based on Republican votes on abortion access.

1513: Young says Sheraton hotel’s impact worth risk despite hotel’s volatile past

Memphis Mayor Paul Young says on BTH that the city’s deal to buy the Sheraton convention center hotel has risks that are outweighed by the hotel’s role in convention business. The 39-year-old hotel has a history of bond defaults - the first one a year after it opened.

1512: Gun-control referendum will be on November ballot

On “Behind the Headlines,” Memphis City Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. said the body would likely sue if the Tennessee Legislature attempted to withhold sales-tax revenue from the city.

1511: MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins

MSCS superintendent Marie Feagins talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the look at closing some schools and the changes to the school system including eliminating 600 vacant positions and reassigning those in other positions.

1510: How should MSCS grade its superintendent? New board members weigh in

In its final action, the former MSCS board tasked incoming members with creating a strategic plan and evaluation for Superintendent Marie Feagins.

1509: Aquifer concerns prompted by xAI's arrival

1508: County Commission leaders talk new schools, Regional One

The incoming and outgoing chairs of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners talked on “Behind The Headlines” about new Cordova and Frayser schools funding and rebuilding Regional One Health’s campus.

1507: Overton Park Conservancy director discusses greensward changes

Tina Sullivan talked on “Behind The Headlines” about her 12 years as Overton Park Conservancy’s first executive director and what’s next for the greensward as she prepares to step down.

1506: Tennessee Republican DA defends Steve Mulroy

Frederick Agee — the Republican District Attorney for Tennessee's Crockett, Gibson and Haywood counties — talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his defense of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, who is likely to face an ouster attempt in the Tennessee legislature led by Republicans.

1505: Germantown and Collierville administrators discuss growth, overcoming challenges

Germantown City Administrator Jason Huisman and Collierville Town Administrator Molly Mehner joined “Behind the Headlines” to discuss their communities and challenges they’ve overcome since taking their positions.

1504: Reporters Roundtable

A roundtable of journalists on WKNO’s “Behind The Headlines,” talks about changes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools by the new superintendent and how the August elections could mean more changes for the school system.

1503: CBU continues recovery as new academic year nears

Interim CBU president Brother Chris Englert and board chairwoman Emily Greer talk about the university’s effort to rebuild its finances and grow enrollment.

1502: Two very different views of bail from Spickler and Taylor

At the center of the debate between TN State Senator Brent Taylor and Just City's Josh Spickler is how bail should be implemented, a topic of sometimes fierce disagreement between elected leaders, government officials and the general public.

1501: Juvenile Court Judge Sugarmon talks perceptions versus reality

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon addressed the divide between what the data shows and what the community is feeling.

1452: ‘River of Time’ will be an immersive tech playground

More than 4,000 people had a chance to walk, crawl and climb through artist Christopher Reyes’ 2020 immersive exhibit at Off the Wall Arts. Now, Baron Von Opperbean is coming back with 15 times the amount of space and a much larger budget in a new location: Mud Island.

1451: Suburban schools mark 10 years

Germantown Municipal School District Superintendent Jason Manuel and Lakeland School System Superintendent Ted Horrell joined Behind the Headlines to reflect on their history and discuss current issues.

1450: Leaders of nonprofit youth organization address impact of violence

The leaders of Bridges and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis talk on “Behind The Headlines” about how the city’s violence impacts the world of the children their programs serve.

1449: What we don't know about xAI, what we know about Elon Musk and the space between the two

The known and unknown about Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

1448: Mulroy talks bail, gun reform and city subpoena

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming.

1447: Church Health founder discusses complexity of organization's goal

Church Health founder Dr. Scott Morris talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the 37-year-old institution he founded and how complex it has become in an era of big medicine and big health-care institutions.

1446: County to add three new mental health diversion facilities

Three new mental health facilities, which provide diversion opportunities for those struggling with mental health issues, are under development in Shelby County.

1445: Journalist Roundtable

Memphis City Council members weigh a 75-cent tax hike as Shelby County commissioners have to make some decisions about change to the funding for a Regional One Health rebuild. The two paths to city and county budgets are explored in a journalist roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

1444: Regional One CEO talks about new terms of rebuild of ROH campus

Dr. Reginald Coopwood says on “Behind The Headlines” that refunds of the state’s franchise excise tax means state funding for a rebuild of the ROH campus is still moving but on a different course.

1443: Memphis Public Works director Robert Knecht

Robert Knecht discusses Public Works' budget and their involvement in Memphis City Beautiful, residential and commercial code enforcement, illegal dumping, and blighted properties. In addition, Knecht discusses funding, wastewater treatment and how the city handles any findings of forever chemicals in the water supply.