Melanie Faizer
Interim News DirectorMelanie is WUOT’s interim news director and is a distinguished lecturer in journalism at the University of Tennessee, where she has taught reporting, editing and media entrepreneurship since 2012. Before teaching, Melanie worked for Bloomberg News for 11 years in a variety of cities and roles, from managing the multimedia desk to producing television. In between her journalism jobs, Melanie worked as director of information services at Opera America, putting her M.A. in musicology, from Montreal’s McGill University, to good use.
In her spare moments, Melanie enjoys gardening, movies, novels, cooking, swimming, and of course hanging out with her husband, daughter and cat.
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The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees today approved a new admissions policy that will apply to the statewide system. One criteria will not yet be applied to the Knoxville campus due to concerns over housing capacity, and the potential costs associated with lowering the ACT standard.
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Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon was re-elected for a second term on Aug. 29. She talked with WUOT's Jacqui Sieber about the outlook for the next four years, including initiatives in housing affordability, housing the unhoused, and improving public safety and transport. This interview has been lightly edited.
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Tick-borne diseases, native and invasive species are on the rise in East Tennessee. Researcher Richard Gerhold is an expert in parasites.
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has called a special legislative session on firearm laws for Aug. 21 and continues to take public feedback. Public comments so far suggest overwhelming support for some kind of tighter gun controls.
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Rural Tennessee counties like Campbell, Clay and Claiborne counties are some of the biggest per capita recipients of opioid settlement funds.
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The Annie E. Casey Foundation's report on child welfare finds Tennessee unmoved in its rankings compared with the previous report. Childcare affordability, health care, and reading and math literacy are among the troubling metrics.
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The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public feedback through June 27 on proposed rules to limit emissions of ethylene oxide, a gas used by sterilizers like DeRoyal in New Tazewell, Tennessee. Some nearby residents are worried for their health, and a cancer cluster study is underway.
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Meth use continues to surge in East Tennessee, and fentanyl is also on the rise, according to the TBI. Cryptocurrencies are a complicating factor in drug investigations.
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Tennessee's law banning drag performances was blocked by a federal court in April after it was challenged by the Memphis drag theater group Friends of George's. Drag performers are awaiting a new ruling from the state that could come as soon as June 6. WUOT's Jacqui Sieber talks with civil rights attorney Melissa Stewart and Knox Pride about the ongoing legislation.
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