sat., march 17 news summary

8/2/2019 Sat., March 17 News Summary

1/9

SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2012

TN Democrats sue over redistricting (Associated Press/Schelzig)GOP is accused of 'needlessly' splitting counties Opponents of Republican-drawn lines for the TennessSenate are suing for the redistricting plan to be thrown out on the basis that it ignored proposals made by tLegislatures Black Caucus, their lawyer said Friday. Bob Tuke, attorney for the opponents and a former staDemocratic Party chairman, said the lawsuit to halt the plan was filed in chancery court in Nashville. The lawsnames Republican Gov. Bill Haslam and state elections officials as defendants. Among the eight Shelby Couplaintiffs is Rep. G .A. Hardaway, who was drawn together with another Memphis Democrat in the GOP plan awho is considering challenging Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate. Haslam spokeswoman AlePoe declined to comm ent on the lawsuit. It isnt appropriate for us to comm ent on pending litigation, she saidan email. Spokesmen for Senate Speaker Ron Ram sey, R-Blountville, and Secretary of State Tre Hargett did

immediately return messages seeking comment Friday evening.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS0201/303170039/TN-Democrats-sue-over-redistricting?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

State Democrats sue over redistricting (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sher)A black state legislator from Memphis and seven others are challenging the constitutionality of SenRepublicans' redistricting plan in a lawsuit filed Friday in Davidson County Chancery Court. The suit, filed former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke, seeks to have the plan thrown out on groundsviolates the Tennessee Constitution. It also seeks to block implementation of the plan, the first drafted Republicans in state history. The suit says majority Republicans ignored a com peting plan offered by the GeneAssembly's Black Caucus, which would have split fewer counties when the 33 Senate districts were redraaccording to the latest U.S. census figures. "What we're seeking is an injunction against this new redistrict

and a declaration that it's unconstitutional and accordingly should be thrown out," Tuke said. The Republicplan splits eight counties while the Black Caucus plan splits only five. The Tennessee Constitution prohibsplitting of counties but in modern times courts have allowed the practice if it's kept at a minimum.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/state-democrats-sue-over-redistricti ng/?local

President: 10 Tenn. counties are disaster areas (Associated Press)President Barack Obama has declared 10 Tennessee counties disaster areas. The designation, announcFriday night, means residents of Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, DeKalb, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, M onrOverton and Polk counties will be eligible for federal disaster aid, following storms and flooding that took plabetween Feb. 29 and March 2. The assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, locost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help homeowners and business ownerecover. Applications can be made beginning Saturday by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38823107?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Coffee County wom en charged with Tenncare drug fraud (WRCB-TV ChattanoogTwo Coffee County women are charged with TennCare fraud for selling prescription drugs paid for wTennCare benefits. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced the arrest of Monica LeeAnn Dodson, and Melissa Shannon Coker, 41, both of Tullahoma, after a joint investigation with the Tullahoma PoDepartment. Both women are each charged with one count of TennCare fraud and one count of sale ocontrolled substance. The charges say they each used TennCare benefits to obtain a prescription for the preliever Hydrocodone, concealing that they planned to unlawfully sell a portion of the prescription. "The bottline is that we are out to end this activity in TennCare, and will pursue charges in any case where TennCare
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS0201/303170039/TN-Democrats-sue-over-redistricting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS0201/303170039/TN-Democrats-sue-over-redistricting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/state-democrats-sue-over-redistricting/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38823107?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS0201/303170039/TN-Democrats-sue-over-redistricting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS0201/303170039/TN-Democrats-sue-over-redistricting?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/state-democrats-sue-over-redistricting/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38823107?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cp


2/9

used to finance drugs that are being sold to others," Inspector General Deborah Y. Faulkner said. TennCfraud is a Class E felony carrying a sentence of up to two years in prison, and obtaining a controlled substanby fraud is a Class D felony, punishable by two to four years in prison. District Attorney General C. MichaLayne is prosecuting.http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/17176313/coffee-county-women-charged-with-tenncare-drug-fraud

Attempts to ease I-24 traffic woes creep along (Tennessean/Gonzalez)

A new type of bottleneck has materialized around Interstate 24: a clot of government studies looking at trafcongestion. Each report rolls along at a different pace, with officials hoping theyll merge later this year into pla better late than never to alleviate the m ind-numbing tedium of the regions worst commute. Its only gotworse as the population has boomed in Rutherford County and Antioch, outpacing other areas and creattedious rides on I-24 and Murfreesboro Road. Its not just that there are too many drivers. Bus routes, example, must account for the sheer distance between Nashville and Murfreesboro. In Antioch, there areenough sidewalks to get people to bus stops. And the Tennessee Department of Transportation says I-24already as wide as it can go. Its just a standstill every morning, and its always that way, said Murfreesbcommuter Patricia Breeding. It can just ruin your whole perspective on the day.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170046/Attempts-ease-24-traffic-woes-creep-alongodyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Rock slide chokes The Dragon motorcycle run in Blount County, Tenn. (TFP)A popular motorcycle run called The Dragon on U.S. 129 in Blount County, Tenn., is closed after a massrock slide. Cleanup is expected to last into next week, and state engineers are working on a plan to stabilize tmountainside, according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The closureU.S. 129/State Route 115 is about nine miles north of the North Carolina line, the TDOT release said. Touriand other noncommercial drivers will be allowed to travel the road up to the overlook near the Great SmoMountains National Park, but the section from just south of the Foothills Parkway to the slide site will be closwhile debris is removed, TDOT said. The state has set up detours. Travelers from North Carolina on U .S. 74 ctake State Route 68 north to Ducktown and on through Polk and Monroe counties to I-75 in Sweetwater.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/16/rock-slide-chokes-dragon-motorcycle-run-blount-cou/?local

Johnson City RN suspended after failing drug screen (Times News)

A Johnson City registered nurse has been suspended for failing a drug screen while being monitored for admitted addiction to pain medication. According to the Tennessee Department of Healths latest disciplinaaction report, the Board of Nursing has suspended the license of Angela M. Gross, R.N., for unprofessioconduct. A board order approved Feb. 16 states that on June 21, 2011, Gross tested positive for Tramadolpain medication for which she did not possess a valid prescription. The drug screen was conducted as part oTennessee Professional Assistance Program monitoring agreement Gross had voluntarily entered into on N22, 2010, due to a self-professed addiction to pain medication. The monitoring agreement was signed afGross nursing manager at Johnson City Medical Center confronted her about medication abuse due to unusual behavior of leaving the unit for excessive breaks. The nursing manager said she did not suspect Groof working impaired or stealing medication from the hospital.http://www.timesnews.net/article/9043849/johnson-city-rn-suspended-after-failing-dru g-screen

Evolution bill back in TN legislature (Tennessean/Hall)An evolution bill that was sitting dormant when Tennessee's legislative session ended last year has reemergand is up for a floor vote Monday. Senate Bill 893, sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, protects teachewho want to debate evolution, climate change and other widely accepted science in the classroom. The passed the House last year but would have to go back to address grammatical changes. It purports to fosexpanding knowledge and critical thinking, but critics last year, including the ACLU, said that was a cover allowing teachers to call evolution into question. Josh Rosenau with the National Center for Science Educatcalled it a "zombie bill" today and said teachers in Tennessee and elsewhere oppose it.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120316/NEWS01/120316026/Evolution-bill-back-TN-legislature?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/17176313/coffee-county-women-charged-with-tenncare-drug-fraudhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170046/Attempts-ease-24-traffic-woes-creep-along?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170046/Attempts-ease-24-traffic-woes-creep-along?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/16/rock-slide-chokes-dragon-motorcycle-run-blount-cou/?localhttp://www.timesnews.net/article/9043849/johnson-city-rn-suspended-after-failing-drug-screenhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120316/NEWS01/120316026/Evolution-bill-back-TN-legislature?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120316/NEWS01/120316026/Evolution-bill-back-TN-legislature?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.wrcbtv.com/story/17176313/coffee-county-women-charged-with-tenncare-drug-fraudhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170046/Attempts-ease-24-traffic-woes-creep-along?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170046/Attempts-ease-24-traffic-woes-creep-along?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/16/rock-slide-chokes-dragon-motorcycle-run-blount-cou/?localhttp://www.timesnews.net/article/9043849/johnson-city-rn-suspended-after-failing-drug-screenhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120316/NEWS01/120316026/Evolution-bill-back-TN-legislature?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120316/NEWS01/120316026/Evolution-bill-back-TN-legislature?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs


3/9

Lawmakers open to delaying Memphis-Shelby Co schools consolidatio

(CA/Kelley)Authors of the state law that helped set the process of m erging Memphis and Shelby County schools expresssupport Friday for a proposed one-year delay in the consolidation. During two Transition Planning Commisscommittee meetings Thursday, TPC member David Pickler argued that a productive conversation could be hif the merger and implementation of new municipal school districts were delayed from the fall of 2013 to the fal

2014. State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville, primary author of the "Norris-Todd" law dealwith the school merger, said Friday he doesn't believe current law allows a one-year delay and he hasn't beasked yet to sponsor legislation for a delay. But he said there are several education bills pending that couldamended to allow a delay of both the merger and lifting the ban on new school districts. State Rep. Curry Tothe Collierville Republican who co-sponsored the "Norris-Todd" act, said he would likely support a one-yedelayhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/lawmakers-open-to-delaying-school-consolidation/(SUB)

TN Legislature: A week of small moves, continued dilemma (Nash. Biz Journal)The Tennessee General Assembly moved forward on a couple key business issues this week. Othremained stubborn. Heres a rundown: Unemployment insurance: One bill reforming Tennesseunemployment system moved out of a House subcommittee this week. Others including a major bill deali

with fraud didnt move, and are teed up for next week. We preview coming votes on legislation whinclude various bills and in some cases competing interests as business interests try to clamp down on costsfor full subscribers today. State government notifications: A piece of legislation that has largely gone unnoticis Senate Bill 3644/House Bill 3688. W hile not a major legislative debate, proponents say it's key for almost abusiness, and it advanced this week in both the House and Senate. Ever find out about a fee increase or change too late? What about requirements to renew a key license to your business? This would call on stgovernment to provide electronic notification of such changes, beyond the typical public notices some peodon't usually track.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/tennessee-general-assembly-haslam -nra.html

Businesses push efforts to reform Tennessee unemployment (Nash. Biz JournalA raft of unemployment insurance legislation would overhaul how Tennessee combats fraud and ot

complaints in the wake of recession-era job losses that placed the system squarely in the crosshairs of busineThe range of bills would do everything from requiring sharp increases in audits of job searches by unem ploymrecipients to limiting the scenarios in which employers must pay for benefits. Talks on the largest pocketboissue for businesses this year are near a pivotal point, with a handful of bil ls slated for key votes in Legislature.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/16/tennessee-reform-unemploy ment.html(SUB)

School board member to run for state Senate (TFP/Hardy, Poulisse)David Testerman, a Democrat with a longtime career in education, has announced he will run for the staDistrict 10 Senate seat. That seat now is held by Democrat Andy Berke, who announced he won't seek election but is considering running for mayor of Chattanooga in 2013. Testerman joined the Hamilton CouBoard of Education two years ago after retiring as assistant principal of East Ridge High School in 2007. "I dedicated to public service and always have been," he said. "My politics have always been local. I think there a

some issues going on in the state legislative body and I could provide some experiential knowledge." He saidcould provide a voice in issues that affect educators. "I hate to see public education get such bad reviews. I thwe've got to change that perception that there are a lot of bad teachers out there," he said. When Testerman wa student, graduates didn't have to worry about finding a job after finishing high school, he said, but now opposite is true.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/b1-school-board-member-to-run-for-state-senate/?local

Republican Green introduced in Tennessee Senate race (Leaf Chronicle)Dr. Mark Green Republican hopeful for the District 22 state Senate seat currently held by Democrat TBarnes fired an opening campaign shot at his presumed opponent Friday evening Speaking to a dinnaudience of almost 100 campaign supporters at the Hilton Garden Inn near Exit 4, Green didnt m ention S
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/lawmakers-open-to-delaying-school-consolidation/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/tennessee-general-assembly-haslam-nra.htmlhttp://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/16/tennessee-reform-unemployment.htmlhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/b1-school-board-member-to-run-for-state-senate/?localhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/lawmakers-open-to-delaying-school-consolidation/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/tennessee-general-assembly-haslam-nra.htmlhttp://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/16/tennessee-reform-unemployment.htmlhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/b1-school-board-member-to-run-for-state-senate/?local


4/9

Barnes by name, but said, I wont ride on the coattails of (state Rep.) Joe Pitts. Backed at the complimentadinner by leading Tennessee Republicans including U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Lt. Gov. Ron RamsGreen, who has lived in Clarksvil le for 10 years, officially launched his bid for the GOP nomination Tennessees Senate. Earlier in the day, Blackburn and Ramsey had led other fundraising efforts for Greecampaign. Green is CEO of Align MD, a Clarksville-based health care company serving hospitals in fSoutheastern states. He also founded Align MD Foundation, which provides physicians for humanitarian m isstrips to Ethiopia and Cambodia. Green served in the Army as a ranger and as a special operations physiciaparticipating in the capture of Saddam H ussein. He interviewed Hussein on the night of his capture.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170026/Republican-Green-introduced-Tennessee-Senate-race

Business owner angry Womick cited store as example of UN Agenda 21 (DNJ)The owner of Papas Butts and BBQ Hot Sauce Store said Friday he is livid over Rep. Rick Womick using hrestaurant as an example of government overreach to pass a resolution rejecting United Nations Agenda Dan Wilson, who is preparing to seek a parking lot variance from the citys Board of Zoning Appeals for business at 2910 Old Fort Parkway, said he is working with city officials to solve the matter and was upset thWomick mentioned his business during debate Thursday on the House floor in Nashville. Womick told H oumembers that local governments are being pushed to implement a U.N. resolution dealing with sustainagrowth, which he characterizes as a communist/socialist plot to take away the property rights of individuals abusiness owners. It passed 72-23, largely with Republican backing and despite Democrats ridicule. TRockvale Republican cited a case in Murfreesboro, saying the owner of a hot sauce and barbecue business heran afoul of the city because it didnt like the color of his building and was forcing him to pave his parking Womick also said the city brought in the Department of Health to inspect his business unless he paves tparking area.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120317/NEWS05/303170039/Business-owner-angry-Womick-cited-store-exampleUN-Agenda-21?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAG E

Experts mull TN earthquake data (Jackson Sun)On the 200th anniversary of the series of earthquakes that rocked the New Madrid Fault, a group of local expespoke at a public forum about preparing for earthquakes in West Tennessee. The forum was held Fridafternoon at the Lambuth Campus of the University of Memphis as part of a continuing series of evesponsored by the universitys Papasan Public Policy Institute. The earthquake forum was also co-sponsoredthe West Tennessee Seismic Safety Commission. The topic of earthquake preparation was chosen becausethe bicentennial anniversary, said forum coordinator Jenci Spradlin. Mark Johnstone, chair of the MadisCounty Commission, said the forum was a chance to learn what the area could expect from a future disasThis is an opportunity to join together as colleagues to learn how to be prepared for a similar event that occurrhere 200 years ago, he said. Three people led 20-minute presentations that were followed by a panel discusswhich included experts in emergency managem ent, emergency com munications, security, first response, heacare services, seismology and geology, emergency m anagement, and policy.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170011/Experts-mull-TN-earthquake-data

Tennessee public panels inconsistent on meeting notices (Associat

Press/Loller)

Tennessee has at least 200 boards and commissions that do everything from promoting soybeans to licensdentists to overseeing the states colleges and universities. Almost all of them are required to invite the publicattend their meetings, but the way they do that is inconsistent at best. On the home page of Tennessees officwebsite is a banner that reads Participate, and a link below it says browse all meetings notices. But mapanels do not post meetings there. For those that do, finding a m eeting sometimes depends on how you seafor i t. For example, Conservation Commission meetings dont show up using a keyword search conservation. But if you know the panel is part of the Department of Environment and Conservation, you cfind its meetings by that departments listings. Of the groups that dont use this calendar, some post notices their individual webpages, some send notices to newspapers and a few seem to give no public notice at according to an Associated Press analysis done for Sunshine Week, an annual initiative begun in 2002promote greater transparency in governmehttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170013/SUNSHINE-LAW-WEEK-Tennessee-publi
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170026/Republican-Green-introduced-Tennessee-Senate-racehttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170026/Republican-Green-introduced-Tennessee-Senate-racehttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120317/NEWS05/303170039/Business-owner-angry-Womick-cited-store-example-UN-Agenda-21?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120317/NEWS05/303170039/Business-owner-angry-Womick-cited-store-example-UN-Agenda-21?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170011/Experts-mull-TN-earthquake-datahttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170013/SUNSHINE-LAW-WEEK-Tennessee-public-panels-inconsistent-meeting-notices?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170026/Republican-Green-introduced-Tennessee-Senate-racehttp://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170026/Republican-Green-introduced-Tennessee-Senate-racehttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120317/NEWS05/303170039/Business-owner-angry-Womick-cited-store-example-UN-Agenda-21?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120317/NEWS05/303170039/Business-owner-angry-Womick-cited-store-example-UN-Agenda-21?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170011/Experts-mull-TN-earthquake-datahttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170013/SUNSHINE-LAW-WEEK-Tennessee-public-panels-inconsistent-meeting-notices?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE


5/9

panels-inconsistent-meeting-notices?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Health-care fraud is Justice Dept. priority, Holder tells VU law students (TN/HaasU.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said that health-care fraud has become an epidemic across the counand his office is making it a top priority. Holder visited Nashville on F riday to visit with U.S. Attorney Jerry Marwho heads the Middle Tennessee Distr ict, and to speak to students at Vanderbilt Law School about tDepartment of Justices priorities. Foremost among those is the effort to combat white-collar crime health-c

fraud in particular. That focus will lead to local federal prosecutors getting a boost in m anpower. Martin said tNashville is a prime area to focus on such fraud, with more than 250 health-care companies with thheadquarters here. Martin said his office went from $3 million in false claims recouped from fraud prosecutions2010 to more than $105 million in 2011. And were just getting started, Martin said. The U.S. government hfollowed suit, Holder said, hauling in a record $4.1 billion in health-care fraud recoveries in 2011. He said thealth care in general has become a priority for the Obama administration and that part of their efforts to lowcosts to consumers is to combat health-care fraud.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170027/Holder-Health-care-fraud-Justice-Dept-priority-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Franklin businessman launches group to pass debt-reduction plan (TN/Bewley)Kilimanjaro inspires Franklin man to urge Congress to act Franklin businessman Tim Pagliara had felt frustra

with the nations growing debt for months, but it took a climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania lNovember to figure out what to do about it. Thats when Pagliara, chief executive of the wealth-managemgroup CapWealth Advisors, decided to start a nonpartisan grass-roots group aimed at getting Congress to ena major debt-reduction proposal from the Bowles-Simpson Commission. It was one of the things that kinddistracted me from the pain of zero-degree temperatures and no oxygen, said Pagliara, who has climbed mountain five times since 2001. So when I came down, I said, This is something I want to do. Since Januahe has put more than $50,000 into his new nonprofit organization, Citizens for Enacting the Bowles-SimpsPlan, which plans to run national ad campaigns to teach people about the proposal and urge them to conttheir lawmakers. And hes prepared to spend whatever it takes to get legislation passed, he said.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/303170030/Franklin-businessman-launches-group-pasdebt-reduction-plan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

6 months later, what has Occupy done? (Associated Press/Barr)As spring approaches, the Occupy Wall Street protesters who mostly hibernated all winter are beginning to swith plans for renewed demonstrations six months after the movement was born. The global protests agaicorporate excess and econom ic inequality are generally thought to have begun Sept. 17 when tents sprang upa small granite plaza in lower Manhattan. The movement has lost steam nationally in recent months, with m eattention and donations dropping off as Occupy encampments across the country were dismantled, someforce. On March 7, the finance accounting group in New York City reported that about $119,000 remainedOccupys bank account the equivalent of about two weeks worth of expenses. The Occupy movement hinfluenced the national dialogue about economic equality, with the word occupy itself becoming part of public lexicon. In his third State of the Union address, President Barack Obam a issued a populist call for incoequality that echoed the movements message. But has anything really changed in the past six months? Somachievements that can be connected to the efforts of the Occupy movement, and some plans:http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS08/303170058/6-months-later-what-has-Occupy-done-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

States Get Medicaid Rules (Wall Street Journal)The Obama adm inistration on Friday told states how to enroll millions more low-income A mericans into Medicunder the health-care overhaul, 10 days before the Supreme Court begins considering a challenge to the laThe regulations, published by the Department of H ealth and Hum an Services, detail the scheduled expansionMedicaid to cover a larger batch of low earners in 2014, when much of the health-care law is set to take effe"Medicaid will look and feel like a very different program by 2015," said Cindy Mann, a top official at the agencharged with overseeing the changes. The Medicaid expansion is part of the broader case brought by opponeof Democrats' 2010 health-care law that the Supreme Court will begin hearing March 26. To reduce the numof uninsured Americans, the law calls for adding 17 million or mo re additional people to the Medicaid program
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170013/SUNSHINE-LAW-WEEK-Tennessee-public-panels-inconsistent-meeting-notices?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170027/Holder-Health-care-fraud-Justice-Dept-priority-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170027/Holder-Health-care-fraud-Justice-Dept-priority-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/303170030/Franklin-businessman-launches-group-pass-debt-reduction-plan?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/303170030/Franklin-businessman-launches-group-pass-debt-reduction-plan?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS08/303170058/6-months-later-what-has-Occupy-done-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS08/303170058/6-months-later-what-has-Occupy-done-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170013/SUNSHINE-LAW-WEEK-Tennessee-public-panels-inconsistent-meeting-notices?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170027/Holder-Health-care-fraud-Justice-Dept-priority-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS01/303170027/Holder-Health-care-fraud-Justice-Dept-priority-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/303170030/Franklin-businessman-launches-group-pass-debt-reduction-plan?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS02/303170030/Franklin-businessman-launches-group-pass-debt-reduction-plan?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS08/303170058/6-months-later-what-has-Occupy-done-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/NEWS08/303170058/6-months-later-what-has-Occupy-done-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews


6/9

the next decade.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577285843481689090.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Cuts Threaten Access to College Placement Tests (New York Times)Because of a federal budget cut, thousands of low-income students across the nation may not be able to affthe fees for their Advanced Placement exams this spring exams that could save them thousands of dollars

college tuition. As part of the federal budget agreement last December, Congress cut federal financing programs that offer advanced high school courses to slightly under $27 million, from $43 million the previoyear, with only about $20 million to be used to subsidize low-income students exam fees. So, in recent weestate education officials have been notifying high schools that low-income students, who have for decades beeligible for fee waivers, will have to pay $15 for each of the first three exams they take, and $53 per exam any beyond that. A.P. exams, given in May, cost $87 apiece, and many schools are now in the processcollecting registrations and fees. At Classical High School in P rovidence, R.I., where 70 percent of the studequalify for free or reduced-price meals, Louis Toro, the Advanced Placement coordinator, said that sostudents who had expected to take four or five A.P. exams were cutting back to three.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-test s.html?_r=1&ref=todayspap er(SUBSCRIPTION)

Hot respirators at Y-12 may date to 2009 (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Munger)An investigation at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant has determined a problem with contaminated respiratgoes back to at least February 2009 and possibly even earlier. Bill Reis, vice president for environment, safeand health at B&W Y-12, the government's managing contractor, said radiation technicians had surveythousands of pieces of respirator equipment that had been shipped o ff-site for cleaning and then returned to12 in sealed packages, supposedly certified as clean. About 10 percent of the equipment exceeded radioactivlevels specified in the cleaning contract. That included 503 respirator masks and 101 breathing tubes, whwere returned to Y-12 at various times over the past three years, Reis said. The contract for cleaning Y-1respirators is held by Global Solutions, a small business based in Maryland, in partnership with UniTechcompany that provides services throughout the nuclear industry. That contract has been in effect since 201Before that, UniTech held the Y-12 contract for cleaning respirators.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/17/hot-respirators-at-y-12-may-date-to-2009/

TVA to raise power bills 3 percent in April (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Marcum )Residential customers in East Tennessee w ill pay $2 to $4 more on their electric bills in April, as a TVA raisesmonthly fuel cost adjustment due to an anticipated lack of hydro power generation in April. For the billing perbeginning April 1, TVA will raise the fuel cost rate from 1.953 cents per kilowatt-hour to 2.163 cents per kilowhour, a 3 percent increase in the average wholesale price of electricity. The actual amount residential customwill pay will be determined by the utility that serves them, but TVA estimates the average bill in April will increaby $2 to $4, depending on power usage. KUB spokesman Jason Meredith said the TVA increase will cause taverage KUB customer one who uses 1,000 kilowatts of power per month to see an increase of $2."The April rate will be on May bills for most residential customers," Meredith said.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/16/tva-to-raise-power-bills-3-percent-in-april/

VW eyeing largest solar park in state (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Pare)Construction is to start soon on a solar park estimated to cost about $30 million that will supply a big chunkpower to Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant. The solar park, believed to be the state's biggest at 9.5 megawawill go on a tract adjacent to the factory, said Patrik Mayer, executive vice president of finance and informattechnology for VW in Chattanooga. "It will be one of the largest in the Southeast that's privately run," said MayWhen up and running late this year, the park will provide up to 12.5 percent of the 2 million-square-foot planpower, he said. Two companies will build and run the plant -- Phoenix Solar, a German business with Uheadquarters in California, and Silicon Ranch Corp., which is based in N ashville, Mayer said. Silicon Ranch iventure started by ex-Tennessee Economic and Com munity Development Commissioner Matt Kisber and formstate Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr. Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen also is an investor achairman of the business, according to its website.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-a1-vw-eyeing-largest-solar-park-in-st ate/?local
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577285843481689090.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-tests.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-tests.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/17/hot-respirators-at-y-12-may-date-to-2009/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/16/tva-to-raise-power-bills-3-percent-in-april/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-a1-vw-eyeing-largest-solar-park-in-state/?localhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303863404577285843481689090.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-tests.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/education/budget-cuts-threaten-access-to-college-placement-tests.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/17/hot-respirators-at-y-12-may-date-to-2009/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/16/tva-to-raise-power-bills-3-percent-in-april/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-a1-vw-eyeing-largest-solar-park-in-state/?local


7/9

Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Smith gets passing grade (TFP/Hardy)More than halfway into his first year on the job, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith seemsbe pleasing his boss, the board of education. Superintendent evaluations from all nine board members, releasthis week, show Smith is meeting or beating their expectations. The board gave the superintendent high mafor understanding the needs of the school system, devoting time effectively to the job, serving as an effectspokesman for the board and dressing professionally. Smith's lowest overall scores were in issues

communication and planning. The evaluations showed room for improvement in keeping the board acommunity informed of progress and plans, developing an overall plan that includes strategies, goals aprojected outcomes and seeking staff and public opinions on proposed policies and reporting those findingsthe board. Smith was evaluated in February after starting the job in June. Board members bought out tcontract of five-year Superintendent Jim Scales in M ay, then elected to fast-track Smith, a former scienteacher, principal and central office administrator with nearly three decades of education experience, to the poBoard attorney Scott Bennett said the superintendent is supposed to be evaluated around the same time eayear to help in planning for the upcoming y ear.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?local

Schools summit eyes tech skills (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Pare)With about half the population hitting their mid-20s without proper job skills, Tennessee high school stude

could be provided with better technical and career course work, officials said Friday. "I think we have a real neto revamp some of the course offerings and an opportunity to do that with the encouragement of the businesector," said Kevin Huffman, state commissioner of education. More than 50 Tennessee government, busineand education leaders met in Chattanooga in what was billed as a "career-ready summit" to align education abusiness priorities and enhance the workforce. Robert Schwartz, academic dean of the Harvard GraduaSchool of Education, said students increasingly have received the message that the only way to secure a futis to get some form of post-secondary education and even a four-year degree. But only about 30 percentpeople earn their four-year degrees by age 25, another 10 pe rcent get a two-year associate degree while abo10 percent attain a post-secondary certificate, he said. "We still have roughly half of our kids who are at riskthis increasingly challenging, demanding economy," Schwartz said.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/schools-summit-eyes-tech-skills/?local

Alabama: Alabama governor slashes spending (Associated Press)Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley ordered state agencies to cut spending 10.6 percent Friday, making it the thconsecutive year state programs have suffered double-digit cuts. State Personnel Director Jackie Graham sstate department officials had already called her about getting training for instituting layoffs. She said agenchave few options for reducing spending because they've already gone through two years of budget cuts and new order comes with half of this fiscal year already gone. "When you cut and cut and cut, the only thing lefsalaries," she said. Officials said Friday it's too early to predict how many workers might be laid off. AlabamConstitution prohibits deficit spending and requires the governor to order across-the-board cuts whappropriations exceed revenues. Bentley said several factors have put a dent in the $1.56 billion general fubudget, including the cost of recovery from killer tornadoes that hit the state and reduced earnings from stainvestments. That left about a $170 million shortfall. "Just as families must reduce their spending when m oneylimited, government m ust also reduce its spending," Bentley said.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/alabama-governor-slashes-spending/?local

MORE
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/schools-summit-eyes-tech-skills/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/alabama-governor-slashes-spending/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/317-b1-a-passing-grade/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/schools-summit-eyes-tech-skills/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/alabama-governor-slashes-spending/?local


8/9

OPINION

John Dreyzehner: Rx abuse calls for an overhaul of the system (Tennessean)The epidemic of prescription drug abuse is a serious public health crisis in Tennessee. In 2010, 1,0Tennesseans died from drug overdoses, a number higher than deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicidesuicide. The vast m ajority of these overdose deaths are unintentional, and the victims are children, parenspouses, siblings and friends. These losses must not continue. This crisis is impacting a wide varietyTennesseans, and it isnt only a problem impacting our largest cities. The 10 counties with the highest derates from prescription drug overdoses are all in rural areas. Tennessee is paying a huge social and economprice. Prescription drug abuse is a market, and to shrink it, we m ust impact both supply and demand. We have

restrain sellers, treat buyers and prevent new buyers anyone not m isusing or abusing already from enterthe market. Law enforcement officials often say, We cant arrest our way out of this problem, and theyre rigEven if we could stop all current sellers, the powerful addiction-driven demands of buyers would inevitably temnew sellers into the market.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/OPINION03/303170011/Rx-abuse-calls-an-overhaul-system?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Free-Press Editorial: Georgia's, other lotteries form of wealth redistribution (TFPFor the worthy purpose of funding education and other government services, Tennessee, Georgia and 41 otstates have created lotteries. This type of state-approved gambling is often defended on the grounds thaamounts to a "voluntary tax." After all, residents of a state are not forced to play the lottery. So supporters of lottery view its proceeds as less objectionable than traditional taxes. But while it is true that a person can choo
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/OPINION03/303170011/Rx-abuse-calls-an-overhaul-system?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/OPINION03/303170011/Rx-abuse-calls-an-overhaul-system?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/OPINION03/303170011/Rx-abuse-calls-an-overhaul-system?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120317/OPINION03/303170011/Rx-abuse-calls-an-overhaul-system?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp


9/9

not to play the lottery, it is also true that many families suffer financially and in other ways from the decisionone or both parents to play. In other words, a father or mother who plays the games may not be doing harm oto himself or herself but to his or her children and spouse as well. And a recent study in the Journal of BehavioDecision Making confirmed what we sadly already know: that lower-income people who can least afford to pthe lottery are often the ones who do. The study found that lottery revenue "comes disproportionately from lowincome residents, who shelled out a larger percentage of their pay on the games than wealthier peoplBloomberg News reported.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/0317b-fp3-lotteries-and-wealth-redistribution/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: TVA reconsiders (Commercial Appeal)The Tennessee Valley Authority's decision to consider other alternatives beyond spending $600 m illion to updthe Allen Fossil electric-generating plant is good for two reasons. It could save ratepayers money and it coulda better remedy for the area's air quality. The TVA is seeking an option on land that could be used for a nelectric-generating plant in the Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in Southwest Memphis. The plant would croughly $300 million and likely would be fired by natural gas. Last August, the TVA board voted to retrofit coal-fired, 52-year-old Allen plant with scrubbers designed to remove thousands of tons of pollution frMemphis skies. Utility customers would help pay for the cleaner air w ith a rate increase. Looking at the situatin the context of dollars and cents, it makes more sense to build a modern, cleaner generating plant for half amount it would take to retrofit Allen, which, given today's tougher clean-air standards, is past its prime. It's longer feasible to build coal-burning plants. Natural gas burns cleaner and the price is dropping.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/editorial-tva-reconsiders/(SUBSCRIPTION)

###
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/0317b-fp3-lotteries-and-wealth-redistribution/?opinionfreepresshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/0317b-fp3-lotteries-and-wealth-redistribution/?opinionfreepresshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/editorial-tva-reconsiders/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/0317b-fp3-lotteries-and-wealth-redistribution/?opinionfreepresshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/17/0317b-fp3-lotteries-and-wealth-redistribution/?opinionfreepresshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/17/editorial-tva-reconsiders/

sat., march 17 news summary

Documents