Behind the Headlines Podcast

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Each week host Eric Barnes discusses major stories in the Memphis area with business executives, community leaders and politicians, as well as local journalists. WKNO’s Behind the Headlines Podcast is powered by the Daily Memphian.

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    • Jun 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 285 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Behind the Headlines Podcast

    1549: Hospitality Hub builds in north, looks to southeast city

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 32:10


    The executive director of Hospitality Hub and one of the Memphis City Council members who sought to find a second site for the shelter and program for those in homelessness talked on “Behind The Headlines” about future goals and the road to the North Memphis campus that broke ground last week.

    1548: Memphis Zoo CEO Matt Thompson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 30:51


    Thompson joins Eric Barnes to discuss the fundraising goals for the Memphis Zoo funding and future exhibits.

    1547: Justice Department review of MPD withdrawn but not forgotten

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 26:38


    A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” discusses this week's decision by the Trump Justice Department to withdraw its December 2024 report critical of the Memphis Police Department.

    1546: Federal funding cuts accelerate uncertainty for local nonprofits

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 31:49


    Leaders of MIFA and the Aging Commission of the Mid-South talk on Behind The Headlines about uncertainty about possible cuts to federal funding.

    1545: Journalist round table

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 26:33


    Kailynn Johnson of the Memphis Flyer and Katherine Burgess of MLK50 joined Laura Testino and Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian to discuss updates about Memphis-Shelby County Schools' buildings, the 2026 Shelby County ballot, xAI and more.  

    1544: DA Steve Mulroy on crime reduction and bail reform

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 31:27


    Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming. Mulroy discusses several important topics, including local crime reduction, the fast-tracking of violent crime cases, bail reform, and the political criticism he faces, among other issues.

    1543: Just City on the state comptroller's report

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 31:10


    Just City's Executive Director Josh Spickler and Program and People Experience Manager Yonée Gibson join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming to discuss issues affecting the local criminal justice system, including inconsistent data, chronic court case delays, overcrowded jails and more.

    1542: The path of court cases through the criminal justice system

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 31:15


    The head of the Crime Commission and the principal investigator behind a new report on the path of court cases through the criminal justice system talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a clearing house for the data to change the system.

    1541: Church Health emphasizes local ties through Washington transition

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 31:10


    Church Health CEO Jennie Robbins talked about concerns that show up with the nonprofit's patients amid national policy changes in Washington, D.C.

    1540: Busy week for public education includes new school construction, new leader's contract

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 26:20


    The Memphis education landscape is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”

    1529: Dining pros discuss the state of the Memphis restaurant scene

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 31:10


    Three Memphis restaurant professionals joined The Daily Memphian's Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield to discuss the struggles, successes and realities of the local industry.

    1528: School takeover terms still taking shape in legislature

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 26:38


    The legislation and local reaction to it were among the topics discussed by a reporters' roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

    1537: City's group violence intervention program still a work in progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 31:28


    Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis talks on “Behind The Headlines” about getting group violence intervention right by looking at Detroit's approach, the pressure that comes with last year's drop in crime and pretextual traffic stops.

    1535: Regional One Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 31:39


    The CEO of Regional One Health talks on “Behind The Headlines” about alternatives for the rebuild of the county-owned hospital should state funding not come through and why the decision was made to shift the project to a new site.

    1534: New local party chairs share concern at low voter turnout, clash on Trump impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 31:26


    Worth Morgan and Willie Simon talked about the path forward politically on “Behind The Headlines.” It's a path where there is some common ground as well as some profound differences - especially around a recent immigration raid on Summer Avenue.

    1533: Trump's 'largest deportation in American history' comes to Memphis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 26:38


    The TacoNGanas incident and what it means for the immigration effort President Donald Trump promised during his 2024 campaign is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”

    1532: Did no-confidence vote set stage for state takeover of MSCS?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 30:16


    Shelby County Commissioners Mickell Lowery and Britney Thornton talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the political boundary between the commission and the MSCS board.

    1531: Reporters weigh in on next steps in MSCS shake-up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 26:38


    The “Behind The Headlines” reporters roundtable also reviewed the end of the Tennessee Legislature's special session and the change Regional One Health's new plans.

    1530: Harris, Sugarmon say they have plan to take over juvenile detention center from Sheriff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 31:25


    Mayor Lee Harris and Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the compromise they have taken to Sheriff Floyd Bonner to run the juvenile detention center.

    1529: Commissioner says MSCS board members need to 'pump their brakes'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 31:25


    Three Shelby County commissioners who supported a no-confidence vote aimed at Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the ongoing standoff between the school board and its superintendent. 

    1528: Building a Memphis gun control ordinance could leave out some measures approved by voters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 31:29


    The incoming chairman of the Memphis City Council says on “Behind The Headlines” the discussion is just beginning on what to include in a Memphis gun control ordinance now that voters have approved a wide range of options in a set of Nov. 5 referendums. Ford Canale and outgoing chairman JB Smiley also talk about the city's response to a scathing DOJ report on the Memphis Police Department.

    1527: Journalist Roundtable

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 26:41


    Violent crime and efforts to battle it were among the top stories of the year as discussed in a reporters' roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.” The show also included discussion of the effort by some MSCS board members to fire school superintendent Marie Feagins and the ouster attempt by state leaders against District Attorney General Steve Mulroy.

    1526: Taylor touts nine-point case for Mulroy ouster

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 31:50


    State Sen. Brent Taylor says on “Behind The Headlines” he is ready to make the case for the ouster of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy when the Tennessee Legislature returns to session in January.

    1525: Mulroy weighs possible criminal prosecutions due to DOJ report

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 31:45


    Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy discussed the DOJ's investigation into MPD, attempts to remove him from office and conditions at the Shelby County Jail on WKNO's “Behind the Headlines.”

    1524: Memphis mayor plans task force to address police reform

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 32:04


    Paul Young offered more detail in a Behind The Headlines interview on what's next for MPD after a scathing federal report into the department's policies and practices. 

    1523: Steps beyond Justice Department report on MPD unclear

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 26:38


    The Justice Department report on the Memphis Police Department is the major topic on a reporters roundtable edition of “Behind The Headlines.”

    1522: Access to legal services

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 30:55


    Memphis attorneys talk about the need for legal representation and the barriers to it on Behind The Headlines.

    1521: Main Street Trolley unlikely to restart till next summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 31:33


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 26:41


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 26:38


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 31:15


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 31:29


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 26:41


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 31:30


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 31:33


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 31:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 31:32


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 30:49


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

    1590: Aquifer concerns prompted by xAI's arrival

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 31:24


    1508: County Commission leaders talk new schools, Regional One

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 31:21


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 30:58


    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.

    Tennessee Republican DA defends Steve Mulroy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2024 31:30


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 31:47


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 31:35


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 31:56


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 31:23


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 31:14


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 31:40


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 31:20


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 31:26


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 26:40


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

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