Hot Topics: What Got Knoxville Talking in 2025

In 2025, Knoxville's opinion section saw new voices join the conversation. One of these newcomers wrote the year's most popular piece. The section also kicked off a project called "(Re)United States, " aiming to bring together different views on how to mend the political divide. The goal was to move past the usual political point-scoring and social media noise to find common ground among citizens. The initiative faced challenges, but plans are to keep going into 2026, marking America's 250th anniversary of independence. A big thanks to everyone who contributed. Here's a look back at the year's most-read opinion pieces and letters, covering everything from local growth and traffic to national politics. Topics like growth and development, Knoxville traffic, U. S. Rep. Tim Burchett, University of Tennessee sports, and President Donald Trump sparked the most interest. The most-read opinion column was "Back the blue, Tennessee − retire 'Rocky Top'" by Kirk Wolff. Wolff argued that the University of Tennessee should stop playing "Rocky Top" in light of recent attacks on federal officers. The article quickly went viral, sparking strong reactions from Tennessee fans. Another hot topic was growth in Sevier County. Ben Bartley, a local plumber, wrote "Growth is changing Sevier County forever. Call it progress; all I see is greed, " highlighting the financial struggles of those working in the tourism industry. The piece resonated with many who felt left behind by the area's rapid development. Politics also took center stage, with several articles focusing on Rep. Tim Burchett. Kirk Wolff's "Rep. Tim Burchett, stop flip-flopping and release the Epstein files" questioned Burchett's stance on releasing certain documents. Meanwhile, David A. Patterson criticized Burchett's vote for a major tax law, calling it evidence of his inconsistency.Local issues like downtown parking and the closing of the Gay Street Bridge also drew attention. M. R. Adkins shared their frustrating experience with downtown parking, while Victor Ashe reflected on the closure of the Gay Street Bridge and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Copper Cellar restaurant. The year also saw a shift in political allegiances, with James M. Crain, a staunch Republican, re-evaluating his support for President Trump. Crain expressed concerns about Trump's "peace" plan and its potential impact on Ukraine and U. S. security. Similarly, Chris Brennan criticized Trump's rhetoric on terrorism, arguing that it fostered division rather than unity. In the realm of law enforcement, Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel emphasized the importance of police embracing their role as guardians for all Americans, especially during protests. His piece, "In the face of protest, police must embrace their role as guardians for all Americans, " highlighted the need for police to maintain their legitimacy by avoiding adversarial strategies. The top letters to the editor also reflected the year's most pressing issues. Nathan Hall's letter, "Tim Burchett may have once cared about you. That time is long past, " criticized the congressman's actions, while Ginna Mashburn's letter, "Burchett's cruel remarks distort the facts on shutdown, " took issue with his statements during a government shutdown. Other letters addressed topics like women's suffrage, mass transit, and highway design. John Conricode's letter, "Women's suffrage nothing to celebrate, " offered a controversial perspective on the anniversary of women's right to vote, while Vince Cianciolo's letter, "Knoxville needs mass transit to solve its I-40 nightmare, " called for better public transportation solutions.