Knox County's ethics committee was back in session earlier this week. Under its current authority, the committee is empowered to only make recommendations to either the county law director or the district attorney general about possible ethical breeches by county employees. But coming up on May 22, committee members will meet to discuss increasing their power.

Joining Gene Patterson to talk about that are committee members Kim Waller and county commissioner Mike Hammond.

Then, Gene has a conversation with political columnist and radio host Frank Cagle, and political analyst Cortney Piper, who has a new job since she last appeared on Tennessee This Week.

In The Final Word, Gene is joined by the co-chairs of this year's "Go Red for Women" Day, Mary Horton and Nicole Keeton. The American Heart Association' annual event is to be held this year on May 16 at noon. It's at the downtown Knoxville Marriott. Tickets are $40. Call 212-6500 to order tickets.

News about the upcoming closure of I-40 through downtown Knoxville has been reported for months. On Thursday, the talk ends and the shutdown begins. With it comes a major change in how out-of-state motorists and local commuters will have to weave their way along one of the busiest interstate highways in the country.

Joining Gene Patterson to talk about those changes and why we'll be dealing with them for more than a year are Steve Borden and Travis Brickey with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Later in the program, 6 News political analyst George Korda has a few comments to add about the I-40 shutdown, as well as the presidential election.

6 News reporter Harlow Sumerford fills in this week for Gene Patterson, who is on vacation.

On April 23, Knox County commissioners will take a look at the purchasing card audit in a special meeting. The audit revealed some questionable spending made by Mayor Mike Ragsdale and members of his staff.

Mayor Ragsdale issued a response to the audit, saying that he believes all of the questionable charges made by him and current staff members Mike Arms and Dwight Van DeVate were justified. Former Community Services Director Cynthia Finch has also responded to the audit and says that if the mayor's charges are cleared, then hers should be too.

Joining Harlow to talk about this and budgetary issues facing Knox County are commissioners Victoria DeFreese and Larry Smith.

The process and outcome of actions by the Knox County Community Grant Panel met with some criticism recently, including comments from a panelist who quit at the end of the process.

Tamara Shepherd sent a letter to commissioners outlining her concerns, saying there was a lack of documentation for the panel to review and that panel volunteers based decisions largely on anecdotal evidence.

Ms. Shepherd declined our invitation to appear, but two of the panel members, Dona McEvers and Carroll Logan, discuss the funding process.

J.J. Jones has been in local law enforcement for more than two decades. More recently, he was appointed sheriff by Knox County Commission and is currently running for the post in the August general election. He joins Gene Patterson in the first segment of this week's program.

Then, Sheriff J.J. Jones is joined by Lt. Jeanette Harris, supervisor of the Sheriff's Office Family Crisis Unit. They talk about the upcoming events surrounding Crime Victims Rights Week in Knox County, which begins April 13.

Then political columnist and radio commentator Frank Cagle talks about, among other things, the new school superintendent and his new salary package.

Knox County Commissioner Victoria DeFreese (Dist. 9) describes her feelings about a request by Mayor Ragsdale's office to turn over her e-mails, phone logs and other materials regarding citizen complaints over his response to the p-card audit.

Then 6 News political analyst George Korda weighs in on Commissioner DeFreese's battle with the county mayor's office. He also talks about former Knox County Community Services Director Cynthia Finch's response to county auditor questions over her p- card spending.

And in the final segment, Fr. Ragan Shriver with Catholic Charities talks about how kids can help kids in a fundraiser for Columbus Home.

At the monthly meeting of the Knox County Commission this week, commissioners delayed for a month a second vote on changes to the county's charter. They also rejected a call to create a charter review committee.

The changes are proposed by the group Knox Charter Petition.

Commissioners also set a special commission meeting in April to review the audits of spending by Mayor Mike Ragsdale and his senior staff.

Joining Gene Patterson in this week's first segment are county commissioners Bob Rountree (District 6) and Mark Campen (District 2).

It's been more than a year since the Knox County School Board bought out the contract of Dr. Charles Lindsey. Now the school system has a new superintendent, James McIntyre.

Board members Robert Bratton and Dan Murphy talk about the kind of superintendent they believe they've hired.

In the Final Word, the communications director for the Tennessee Clean Water Network, Cortney Piper, and political columnist Frank Cagle weigh in on a number of issues, including Mayor Ragsdale's defense of his administration's spending.

6 News reporter Harlow Sumerford sits in this week for Gene Patterson.

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale responded on Wednesday to the draft purchasing card audit report that revealed some questionable spending by the mayor and members of his staff.

In this week's program, the mayor's chief administrative officer, Dwight van de Vate, discusses the audit and steps the administration is taking to correct problems found in it.

Then Harlow sits down with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, who talks about a number of issues, including the presidential election and EPA air quality standards.

Mercy Health Partners Metro Division CEO Jeff Ashin talks about the recent announcement about changes at Baptist Hospital and a proposal to build a new hospital downtown.

Kathy Hamilton, a member of Knox Charter Petition, answers questions about why the citizens' group is pushing for changes to the Knox County Charter.

Then, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership head Mike Edwards tells Gene Patterson about the importance of getting the right person to fill the Knox County Schools superintendent position. Edwards also talks about the upcoming Education and Employment Summit.

In the Final Word, Mike Cohen and Cortney Piper express their opinions about the secret recording made by Commissioner Paul Pinkston of County Mayor Mike Ragsdale.

If all goes as planned, Knox County Schools will have a new superintendent by the end of the month.

Roy Mullins, a longtime Knox Count administrator, has performed the duties of the superintendent for the past year. He replaced Dr. Charle Lindsey, whose contract was bought out by the school board.

Last week, the board picked five finalists and began interviewing them.

Joining Gene Patterson to talk about the search are school board chairperson Karen Carson, and board members Dan Murphy and Cindy Buttry.

The program concludes with State Sen. Tim Burchett and Community Coalition on Family Violence member Russ Jensen, who discuss new legislation intended to close loopholes in current domestic violence laws.

The much anticipated p-card audit of Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale's office was released last week. Among the findings is some $40,000 in questionable spending by the mayor and his staff.

Knox County commissioners Mike Hammond and Dr. Richard Briggs join Gene Patterson to discuss the county's spending policies and what actions might be taken in wake of the audit.

Then 6 News political analyst George Korda weighs in on how he thinks the audit's findings will affect Mayor Ragsdale's administration.