sat., oct. 8 news summary

8/3/2019 Sat., Oct. 8 News Summary

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2011Tenn. tourism revenue spiked 6.3 percent in 2010 (Associated Press/Sainz)Tourists spent m ore money in Tennessee in 2010 compared with the year before, a sign that the state's histoculture and attractions can consistently generate precious dollars in the face of budget difficulties, officials saGov. Bill Haslam read off a list of awa rds given to Tennessee's tourist attractions as he addressed state touriprofessionals Friday at the G overnor's Conference on Tourism. Earlier in the day, the Tennessee DepartmenTourism and Development said the s tate saw tourists spend $14.1 billion last year, up 6.3 percent from 2009.95 counties in the state saw increases in tourism dollars from 2009 to last year. The state also received $1 billin state and local tax revenue for the fifth straight year in 2010, the department said. Haslam cited DollywoodPigeon Forge, Bristol Motor Speedway, Graceland in Memphis and the state's historic driving trails as somethe state's key tourist attractions. Haslam said he made a point of keeping the state's $6.4 million tourimarketing budget at the same level despite having to cut $1 billion from the overall state budget becausetourism's role as Tennessee's second largest industry.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37636127.story

Tennessee to sell $584 million in bonds (Memphis Business Journal)The state of Tennessee is issuing a record $584 million in bonds next week to help fund a variety of stasupported projects, including Electrolux Home Products Inc. in Memphis. The $200 million E lectrolux projbroke ground Wednesday at Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park. Funding for the project is coming from a varisources, including $150 million in incentives from the state and Memphis and Shelby County. In additionElectrolux, some of the bond proceeds will pay for new capital projects and infrastructure for Volkswagen Chattanooga, Wacker Chemie in Bradley County and Hemlock Semiconductor in Clarksville, according trelease from state comptroller Justin P. Wilson. Improvements for several state-owned buildings, including a ndrivers license center in Memphis, are also being financed with the bond proceeds. The state will also refinansome outstanding debt to take advantage of lower rates, saving the state about $10 million in interest cosaccording to the release.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/10/07/tennessee-to-sell-584-million-in-b onds.html

Amazon picks Murfreesboro, Lebanon for distribution sit

(Tennessean/Gonzalez)Online retailer Amazon is deep into the process of selecting land for new distribution facilities in Murfreesboand Lebanon, where officials offered strong incentive packages while competing with other communities upwards of 1,500 jobs. Officials previously said a handful of com munities in Tennessee and some in other stashowed off industrial sites and approved tax breaks and other incentives for Amazon, which was looking to buin Tennessee under the name Project Tango. On Thursday, state officials confirmed that Amazon was t

company behind the code name, and Gov. Bill Haslam announced the company will begin collecting sales from Tennessee customers in 2014 in exchange for support for plans to open the new distribution facilities, whwill bring Amazons total investment in the state to $350 million and its workforce to 3,500. People close to project said Friday that Amazons preferred site for a million-square-foot sort facility is off Joe B. JacksParkway in Murfreesboro, to employ as many as 1,200 people. Representatives of the company also astudying a site off Interstate 840 in Lebanon for a smaller, non-sort facility to employ 300 to 500 more.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/310080033/Amazon-picks-Murfreesboro-Lebanon-distribution-sites?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTP AG E

Sources: Murfreesboro and Lebanon to get Amazon facilities (Nashville B
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37636127.storyhttp://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/10/07/tennessee-to-sell-584-million-in-bonds.htmlhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/310080033/Amazon-picks-Murfreesboro-Lebanon-distribution-sites?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/310080033/Amazon-picks-Murfreesboro-Lebanon-distribution-sites?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37636127.storyhttp://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/10/07/tennessee-to-sell-584-million-in-bonds.htmlhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/310080033/Amazon-picks-Murfreesboro-Lebanon-distribution-sites?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/310080033/Amazon-picks-Murfreesboro-Lebanon-distribution-sites?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE


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Journal)Online retail giant Amazon.com will pick Wilson and Rutherford counties as the sites for permanent facilitiesMiddle Tennessee, multiple sources have told the Nashville Business Journal. The company plans to havmillion-square-foot sort facility built in Murfreesboro off Joe B. Jackson Boulevard that could create up to 1,1jobs and bring a capital investment of $87.5 million. The facility is projected to create $47.6 million in tax revenfrom construction and operation over 20 years, according to an analysis presented to the R utherford ChambeCommerce. The other facility is to be built in Lebanon across from Am azons temporary distribution center n

Interstate 840. It will house a portion of the company s non-sorting operations and create potentially 450 full-ti jobs. The capital investment of the Lebanon facility is estimated to be $51.5 million, with total projected trevenue of $15.5 million over 15 years, according to an independent analysis.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/07/sources-murfreesboro-and-lebanon-to.html

'Boro sort facility for Amazon?; No confirmation retailer behind proposal (DNJ)Though no one w ill say outright that it is Amazon, M urfreesboro's planning office received site plans Thursdaya proposed 1.25 m illion square-foot-distribution center to be built on Joe B. Jackson Parkway next to Interst24 in south Murfreesboro. A copy of the site plans obtained by The Daily News Journal Friday lists towner/applicant as Corporate Woods, G .P. with a Shelbyville address and commercial real estate develoJohn Harney as the contact. The plans arrived on the same day that Gov. Bill Haslam and officials with onliretailing giant Amazon announced in a Nashville press conference that the company would begin collect

Tennessee state sales taxes from buyers in 2014 in exchange for support for plans to open new distributcenters, which would bring Amazon's total investment in the state to $350 m illion and its workforce to 3,5State officials also confirmed that Amazon is behind the development previously codenamed Project Tangwhich has drawn fiercely competitive incentive offers from Rutherford, Wilson, Montgomery and Loudon countto locate at least one of two new distribution centers in their county.http://www.dnj.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080325/-Boro-sort-facility-Amazon-No-confirmation-retailer-behind-proposal?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

New Amazon Deal Praised As Improvement On Deal, Not Backtracking (TN RepoWhen all was said and done in the announcement Thursday that Amazon will collect sales taxes in Tennessbeginning in 2014, the state was in a different place from its original agreement with the online sales giant. Toriginal plan had been that Tennessee would get hundreds of jobs from two distribution centers in Chattanooga area, so in return the state would let Amazon avoid collecting sales taxes on purchases. The dwas subject to debate almost from the time it became known. Now, with a commitment that will bring the tonumber of Am azon jobs to 3,500 in the state, Amazon will have to collect sales taxes, although it is not soenough for some critics of the deal. So by negotiating a new deal with the company, taxes included, does tmean that in the big picture Tennessee went back on its word? No, absolutely not, said Speaker of the HouBeth Harwell, pointing to the efforts of Gov. Bill Haslam and Commissioner of Revenue Richard Roberts. proud the governor and the commissioner were able to sit down with Amazon and work out an arrangement tis pleasing not only to Amazon but also to the taxpayers of this state.http://www.tnreport.com/2011/10/new-amazon-deal-praised-as-improvement-on-deal-not-backtracking/

Haslam to speak at Legacy Luncheon supporting open space (NS/McCloskey)Gov. Bill Haslam is set to return to Knoxville Oct. 14 to address a crowd of at least 500 local business and cleaders at the Legacy Parks Foundation's annual Legacy Luncheon. The nonprofit works to create immedi

and future natural recreation opportunities in Knoxville and to safeguard East Tennessee's variety of naturesources. During the pas t five years, the Legacy P arks Foundation has raised $2.5 million for local parks, add200 acres of parkland and protected nearly 1,000 acres of East Tennessee open space. The lunchesupporting the nonprofit's overhead costs, aims to celebrate the group's natural expansion and preservatefforts. This year, the luncheon will be held at the River Bluff property, a future city park on the Tennessee Riwithin the Urban W ilderness. Haslam supported the property while serving as Knoxville's mayor and continuesdo so. "At the luncheon, we'll have a couple of announcements about the property," Carol Evans, executdirector of the Legacy Parks Foundation, said. "This is a sneak preview of the park and a way to thank tgovernor for his support."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/07/sources-murfreesboro-and-lebanon-to.htmlhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080325/-Boro-sort-facility-Amazon-No-confirmation-retailer-behind-proposal?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080325/-Boro-sort-facility-Amazon-No-confirmation-retailer-behind-proposal?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tnreport.com/2011/10/new-amazon-deal-praised-as-improvement-on-deal-not-backtracking/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/07/sources-murfreesboro-and-lebanon-to.htmlhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080325/-Boro-sort-facility-Amazon-No-confirmation-retailer-behind-proposal?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080325/-Boro-sort-facility-Amazon-No-confirmation-retailer-behind-proposal?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tnreport.com/2011/10/new-amazon-deal-praised-as-improvement-on-deal-not-backtracking/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/08/haslam-to-speak-at-legacy-luncheon-supporting/


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Transportation head plans to continue making tours (Associated Press)Commissioner John Schroer of the Tennessee Department of Transportation says he plans to continue maktours of projects across the state. He wrapped up weeklong tours last week. They began in late JuneChattanooga and concluded in Roane County. The visits were designed to give local, state and transportatofficials the chance to see projects under construction and to learn about future work. The next tours are likely2012.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37637165.story

Driver Service Center moves to Red Bank (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)One of the two state Driver Service Centers in Hamilton County will be moving Wednesday from CherokBoulevard to a larger, permanent space on Dayton Boulevard. But some folks aren't too happy aboutespecially since the center is one of the places where voters can get photo IDs now needed to participate in nyear's elections. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security closed the branch at 5Cherokee Blvd. Friday and will open a new, full-service center at 4873 Dayton Blvd. The new location, just noof Browntown Road behind a Red Bank Fire Department station, is about seven miles from the old one. The ncenter will open Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. Its normal hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. "The facility on CherokBoulevard was always a temporary solution to supplement the operations at the driver service center on BonOaks Drive," state Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said in a news release. "We now have a permanent facto provide driver license services to the citizens of Chattanooga and the surrounding areas."http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/driver-service-center-moves-to-red-ba nk/?local

Eight Apply for Vacancy on Tenn. Appeals Court (Memphis Daily News)Eight West Tennessee attorneys have applied for the vacancy on the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appecreated by the death of Memphian J.C. McLin. Applications to the Judicial Nominating Commission were dFriday, Oct. 7, and were limited to West Tennessee attorneys for the seat on the bench designated for WTennessee. The applicants are Mischelle Alexander Best, Shelby County assistant public defender; RichaJoseph Averwater, a Bartlett attorney; Bobby Carter, Shelby County Criminal Court judge; J. Ross Dymanaging attorney for the Mem phis office of the Tennessee attorney general; Elizabeth Erguden, Shelby Couassistant district attorney general; Roger Page of Medina, who is a Circuit Court judge; John D. StevensHuntingdon attorney; and James Edward Thomas, a Bartlett attorney. The commission will interview candidates in a public hearing Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Supreme Court building in Jackson. The comm ission thwill recommend three finalists to Gov. B ill Haslam for his choice of appointment.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/7/eight-apply-for-vacancy-on-tenn-appeals-court/

Eight seek vacant seat on Tennessee criminal appeals court (CA/Buser)Eight West Tennessee attorneys, including six from Shelby County, have applied to fill the judicial vacancy the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals created by the death of Judge J. C. McLin. Applicants incluMischelle Alexander-Best, Richard Averwater, Criminal Court Judge J. Robert Ca rter Jr., J. Ross Dyer, GarlaErguden and James Thomas, all of Shelby County, and Circuit Court Judge Roger Page of Gibson County aJohn Stevens of Carroll County. Applications from the candidates are available for viewing at tncourts.govpublic hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 24 in the Supreme Court building in Jackson. The Judicial NominatCommission will submit the names of three candidates to Gov. Bill Haslam who will make the appointmeMcLin, 64, of Memphis, died of cancer on Sept. 3.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/eight-seek-vacant-seat-tennessee-criminal-appeals/

Finally free, Gaile Owens just wants to live life (Tennessean/Haas)Thats her! a gasp shot out of the crowd standing outside the Tennessee Prison for Women on Friday morniIt was 9:17 a.m., and the group of about 20 people watched rapt as Gaile Owens emerged from the priswearing a gray sweater and dark pants a far cry from prison blue and pushing a bright, yellow laundry cwith all of her possessions inside. She was flanked by a prison guard and Warden Debra Johnson, the womwho 26 years ago as an intake worker booked Owens into prison. For the past two years, Owens had beecause clbre, a symbol supporters saw as a battered woman who had been unfairly punished because shired someone to murder her husband in 1985 after seeing no way out of an abusive marriage. Thousupporters hope her story will spark more calls to re-examine the death penalty, on Friday, she was juswoman. A mother. A grandmother. A friend. A victim. She pushed that cart to the end of the fence and thhugged her son, Stephen. I love you, she told him. She didnt speak to the crowd or the media, inste
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37637165.storyhttp://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37637165.storyhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/driver-service-center-moves-to-red-bank/?localhttp://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/7/eight-apply-for-vacancy-on-tenn-appeals-court/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/eight-seek-vacant-seat-tennessee-criminal-appeals/http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37637165.storyhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/driver-service-center-moves-to-red-bank/?localhttp://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/7/eight-apply-for-vacancy-on-tenn-appeals-court/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/eight-seek-vacant-seat-tennessee-criminal-appeals/


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releasing a statement saying she plans to work, volunteer and live a private, normal life like the one she los1986 when she was convicted in the beating death of Ron Owens.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080027/Finally-free-Gaile-Owens-just-wants-live-life?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Former death row inmate Gaile Owens of Bartlett released from prison (CA/BuseFormer death row inmate Gaile Owens of Bartlett was released Friday morning from the Tennessee Prison Women in Nashville where she had spent the past 26 years for hiring someone to kill her husband. Owens, n58, was met by more than a dozen friends and supporters, and said in a statement that she is "looking forwardleading a quiet and private, but productive life." Also there to greet her was her son, Stephen, who testified her behalf at her parole hearing last month and who thanked supporters for their help over the years and being there Friday to join in "celebrating her freedom." Gaile Owens came within weeks last summer of beexecuted when then-Gov. Phil Bredesen commuted her sentence to life in prison after deciding there wasleast the possibility that she was an abused spouse. Bredesen also noted that her initial guilty plea and sentence was rejected by prosecutors because the man she hired for the killing, Sidney Porterfield, refusedtake the plea offer. Ronald Ow ens, 37, an associate director of nursing at Baptist Hospital, was beaten to dewith a tire iron on Feb. 27, 1985, in the family's Bartlett home.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/gaile-owens-released-prison/

TN Democrats pitch slate of job initiatives (Nashville Business Journal)Tennessee Democrats are calling for $15 million in funding for technology centers that train workers as was a raft of o ther legislation to spur job creation in the state after traveling Tennessee in recent days. A lineof top Democratic legislators gathered on the Rolling M ill Hill property in Nashville overlooking the cidowntown to discuss their legislation with media Thursday. Their point: State government must play an actrole in helping the private sector create jobs, to meet the Tennessees specific needs and keep it competitacross the country. In an interview, House Dem ocratic Leader C raig Fitzhugh of Ripley invoked Republican GBill Haslams desire to help the private sector. He specifically said to talk to people that are putting their ocapital at risk, Fitzhugh said. And we did that. Democrats are reinvigorating their argument for governmspurring job creation forward after talking with business owners and residents around the state. Republica

have said this will mainly come by getting out of the way an idea Democrats say can help, but that they argdoesnt do justice to the role government plays in making projects happen.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/06/democrarts-tennessee-fitzhugh- jobs.html

Knox County Election Commission certifies September primary (News-Sentinel)Primary election certified, few changes The unofficial Sept. 27 local election totals are now official. The KnCounty Election Commission met Friday morning to certify the results. Nothing changed, including the outcoof the Knoxville mayoral primary: Madeline Rogero, who barely m issed out on a winner-take-all turnout ofpercent of the votes plus 1, and second-place finisher Mark Padgett face a Nov. 8 runoff. All but four of the provisional ballots cast in the primary for mayor, Knoxville City Council and 6th District state Senate seat wedeclared valid. Of the four not counted, two ballots were cast by voters not properly registered, one came fromcounty resident not eligible to vote in the city election and another was cast by a property qualified voter w

could only vote by mail and not in person. Rogero received seven provisional votes and Padgett received fiIvan Harmon, who placed third in the race, got six ballots.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/07/knox-county-election-commission-certifies/

Residency and resources play in Memphis City Council Dist. 7 race (CA/ConnollyUniversity of Mem phis law professor Lee Harris appears to have an edge in campaign finance over rival KemFord, a former actress, as the candidates in the City Council District 7 race prepare for a Nov. 10 runoff. BetweJuly 1 and Sept. 26, Harris raised about $38,400, including a $15,000 loan that he made to his own campaigaccording to a campaign finance report. He spent about $25,400 leading up to Thursday's municipal electioFord and Harris each got 24 percent of Thursday's vote. Unofficial results reported by the Shelby CouElection Com mission showed Harris with 1,983 votes and Ford with 1,979. Donations to Harris' race came fruniversity professors and many lawyers, including Ruby Wharton, the wife of Memphis Mayor A C W harton, w
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080027/Finally-free-Gaile-Owens-just-wants-live-life?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080027/Finally-free-Gaile-Owens-just-wants-live-life?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/gaile-owens-released-prison/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/06/democrarts-tennessee-fitzhugh-jobs.htmlhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/07/knox-county-election-commission-certifies/http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080027/Finally-free-Gaile-Owens-just-wants-live-life?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080027/Finally-free-Gaile-Owens-just-wants-live-life?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/07/gaile-owens-released-prison/http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/10/06/democrarts-tennessee-fitzhugh-jobs.htmlhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/07/knox-county-election-commission-certifies/


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won his race Thursday with 65 percent of the vote. H arris also received donations from elected officials includU.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Mem phis. City Council Chairman Myron Lowery donated from his campaign fund aShelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy, also a law professor, gave an in-kind donation of receptexpenses. The political action committee West Tennesseans for Progress gave $1,000.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/08/residency-and-resources-play-in-dist-7-race/

Plaintiffs try again to halt mosque construction (Associated Press)The construction of an Islamic center in Murfreesboro is being challenged once again by plaintiffs. The DaNews Journal reports that an attorney for the group opposed to the construction filed a motion earlier this weasking Chancellor Robert Corlew to look at whether the Rutherford County Planning Comm ission gave adequpublic notice about a May 24 meeting where the mosque's site plan was ap proved (http://bit.ly/qz8PSc). Theplaintiffs have contended that the notice was not adequate. H owever, Islamic Center of Murfreesboro spokesmSaleh Sbenaty says even if the plaintiffs were successful in this case, it would only delay the project, not stopLast month, ground was broken for the future home of the center, which has also been the target of vandalisThe site is for a larger mosque than one located elsewhere in the cityhttp://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37634651.story

NRC chief: Browns Ferry nuke plant needs work (Tennessean/Bewley)The head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Gregory Jaczko, said his visit to the Tennessee ValAuthoritys Browns Ferry nuclear plant on Friday reassured him that TVA clearly had a plan to address problems that led to an NRC investigation. But he said TVA must still upgrade some of its equipment at the pl100 miles south of Nashville in Athens, Ala. One of the challenges here is that some of the equipment isntreliable as we and TVA w ould like to see it, he said. Its clear that theres room for improvement in that regarThe NRC is entering the second phase of its inspection of the plant, expected to be more rigorous than the fiThe inspection began after the regulator slapped the plants reactor Unit 1 with a red finding its poorrating in May due to a faulty valve in the cooling system. That valve has been repaired, but Jaczko said tinspection has uncovered other equipment that needs to be upgraded. TVA already has started replacing soof the motors that power the plants pumps, he said. The plants maintenance procedures need improvemetoo, Jaczko said.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS11/310080043/NRC-chief-Browns-Ferry-nuke-plant-needs

work?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

TVA, NRC to work together on safety (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sohn)Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko said NRC and TVA will join forces to get BrowFerry Nuclear Plant operating more safely. "We will work with TVA and put the plant back in the condition want -- that everybody wants -- it to be in," Jaczko said Friday in a telephone news conference. TVA spokesmRay Golden said Jaczko's message was "about what we expected. There have been a number of performanissues not completely addressed at Browns Ferry, and we'll use this opportunity to accelerate the pacechange," Golden said. Jaczko made the telephone conference after he and nuclear proponent U.S. Sen. LamAlexander, R-Tenn., toured the p lant that in May was issued a "red" rating from the NRC. The red rating signif"high safety significance" issues found by NRC inspections and reviews. Browns Ferry received the rating aftereactor-core cooling valve failed last fall when the unit 1 reactor was shut down for refueling and maintenanc

Tennessee Valley Authority cooled the reactor with an alternate cooling system that was supposed to dedicated only to f ire safety.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-toget her-on-safety/?local

Nuclear Regulator Says TVA is Fixing Problems at Browns Ferry (WPLN-Radio)The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says TVA is making progress in correcting safety probleat its Browns Ferry plant in northern Alabama, but the utility still has some work to do. Greg Jaczko toured tplant on Friday. The NRC just wrapped up the first phase of a comprehensive inspection of Browns FerEarlier this year, the commission issued a red finding against TVA, after inspectors discovered a stuck safvalve in a cooling system. TVA fixed the valve, but regulators say there were a host of other problems. Thfound examples where utility made repairs to the plant without determining what had caused an issue in the fplace. The next phase of the inspection will look at how TV A responds to safety issues at the plant. He says
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/08/residency-and-resources-play-in-dist-7-race/http://bit.ly/qz8PSchttp://bit.ly/qz8PSchttp://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37634651.storyhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS11/310080043/NRC-chief-Browns-Ferry-nuke-plant-needs-work?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS11/310080043/NRC-chief-Browns-Ferry-nuke-plant-needs-work?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-together-on-safety/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-together-on-safety/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-together-on-safety/?localhttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/08/residency-and-resources-play-in-dist-7-race/http://bit.ly/qz8PSchttp://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37634651.storyhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS11/310080043/NRC-chief-Browns-Ferry-nuke-plant-needs-work?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS11/310080043/NRC-chief-Browns-Ferry-nuke-plant-needs-work?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-together-on-safety/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/tva-nrc-to-work-together-on-safety/?local


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utility needs to do a better job of fixing problems when they occur, so minor issues dont become major safeconcerns. Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander accompanied Jaczko on his tour. Alexander is chairman of tCongressional TVA Caucus. He says he supports the utilitys aggressive expansion of nuclear power. Despthe safety issues at Browns Ferry, Alexander says TVA has acted aggressively to fix the problems pointed oby the NRC.http://wpln.org/?p=307 48

TVA spill consultant says not hired to place blame (Associated Press/Poovey)Plaintiff attorneys who contend the Tennessee Valley Authority should pay damages for the Kingston Plant cash spill Friday cross-examined a TVA consultant who testified he w as hired to find the "mechanics' of the caunot to place blame. Geotechnical engineer William H. Walton was on the witness stand for a second day at tfederal bench trial on damage lawsuits by property owners who contend TVA negligence in training, operatioand construction caused the December 2008 disaster. Walton testified Friday that TVA hired him as AECOUSA Inc.'s chief investigator to determine "why the structure failed." He said he was not hired to determine aTVA management or operational problems. "I conducted a probable failure modes analysis," Walton said of work investigating the spill and preparing the report in 2009. The nation's largest public utility is trying to avolawsuit payouts from the spill of about 5.4 million cubic yards of ash in a breach of an ash pond dam into Emory River and on a Roane County river community about 35 m iles west of Knoxville. Along with a $1.2 billcleanup that is costing ratepayers an average of 69 cents a month each until 2024, TVA has purchased 8nearby acres for $46.6 million.

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37633449.story

Clock's ticking on Memphis solar farm project at Agricenter (C. Appeal/Bailey)Proposal hits snag with financier as deadline looms Agricenter International wants to build a four-acre solar fabut must settle issues with a prospective lender by a drop-dead deadline Tuesday. The 4,000 solar panels for 1 megawatt array would sit on a hillside just west of Ducks Unlimited and generate enough power for 200 homor 20 businesses. But the $3.5 million-$4 million project hangs in the balance over the next four days Agricenter tries to iron out issues that have surfaced with the financing company. "We've hit a bum p in the roand are trying to get it resolved," Agricenter president John Charles Wilson said Friday. The deadline is not lender's but the Tennessee Valley Authority's. The project's feasibility counts on a TVA program that payspremium of 12 cents per kilowatt hour for solar power. Because TVA has been losing $5 m illion annually on program, the agency cut the size of eligible projects first to 200 kilowatts and then to 50 kilowatts. The reduct

effectively limits participants to residential and small-business customers. But the 1 megawatt Agricenter projein the works for about a year and a half, got an extension from TVA. The extension period ends Tuesday, W ilsconfirmed.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/08/clocks-ticking-on-solar-farm -project/

Seeing Success (Memphis Daily News)On the surface, they dont have much in common other than their home turf. They include everything fromvenerable law firm, prominent regional investment companies, tech firms and even a business that manufactufood products like hot dogs and sandwich meats. But the 16 M emphis-area businesses on the 2011 Inc. 5000 a high-profile annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. have done something tseems to be eluding many companies right now, in addition to the overall economy. Theyre getting bigger, aenjoying success at a time when m any sma ll-business owners are increasingly less confident about their ab

to do so. According to the National Federation of Independent Businesses latest Small Business Optimism Indsurvey, small-business owners in Tennessee and across the country continued to lose confidence about economy in August. That index has been in decline for six straight months. The survey doesn't drill down to state level, but based on what our members are telling us, whats happening here reflects whats happening over the country namely, that small-business owners are still really worried about where the economyheading, said Jim Brown, state director of NF IB/Tennessee.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/10/seeing-success/

Bradley seeks to prepare students (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Leach)Internationally recognized academic programs for high school students were spotlighted this week inpresentation by Bradley County education officials to the Cleveland/Bradley Economic Development CounThe International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International programs will form key parts of the county scho
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mission to ensure its students are fully prepared for college or work upon graduation, said Patti Hunt, projdirector for Smaller Learning Communities grants. "When we talk about community and education, these are things that we perceived that the community needs," said Hunt in regard to making students college- and woready. The Bradley County school system now is engaged in a three-year application process for International B accalaureate curriculum, which w ill be implemented at Walker Valley High School, SchoDirector Johnny McDaniel said. Hunt said the Cambridge International Programme will roll out next springBradley Centra l High School.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?loca l

Metro ID cards w ill let parents track students' behavior (Tennessean/Hubbard)Good for cafeteria, bus, library, they promote safety, too Metro Nashville freshman Zachary Jenkins has a htime keeping track of his $500 district-issued city bus pass, school library card, student ID and the lunch numthat he punches into a m achine at school to eat. It would make it easier to have one card instead of a bunchdifferent cards that students m ight lose, said Jenkins, a student at Martin Luther King Jr. Academic MagHigh. Metro Nashville schools are doing just that: moving to student ID cards with bar codes for the lunch liand library and a magnetized strip on the back to sw ipe for city bus fare. Officials say the new ID cards will mahallways safer by creating an easy way to identify students who dont belong. The system also will let parents online to learn what foods their children buy at lunch and allow city officials to see how students use city busThe fundamental step is having a readable ID card attached to a student ... then there are a lot of potentthings we can do, but its starting out with library and cafeterias, said Fred Carr, chief operations officer for

school district. The district just entered a five-year contract with Lamination Service Inc. for $60,000 worthmachines, software and licensing for the new ID cards, and an additional $6,000 for the badges themselves, Csaid. For those who fear Big Brother, Carr said the data are already tracked through school databases or runnpaper reports.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080044/Metro-ID-cards-will-let-parents-track-studentsbehavior?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Six nabbed in meth raid (Jackson Sun)Agents with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force have arrested six people and seized tmethamphetamine labs after executing a search warrant on the home of a University of Tennessee Marinstructor, according to a news release. Brent Cox, of Cades Atwood Road in Milan, holds a doctorate degrand is a history professor at UT Martin, according to the release. He is charged w ith conspiracy to m anufact

meth, possession of meth with intent to sell or deliver, possession of marijuana with intent to sell or delivinitiation of a process intended to manufacture meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and promotion of mmanufacturing. Drug agents executed the search warrant on a home at 444 Cades Atwood Road outside Mion Tuesday. The release said agents arrested all six people at the property, where they also discovered tactive labs. Due to this discovery, a Tennessee Methamphetamine Response Truck was sent to the sceneassist with the removal of the two "One-Pot" labs and their components along with remnants of mmanufacturing at this location. An outbuilding on the property was quarantined due to evidence of mmanufacturing having occurred in the building, the release said.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080305/Six-nabbed-meth-raid

Iowa: Iowa GOP Tentatively Sets Caucuses for Jan. 3 (Wall Street Journal)Republicans look set to begin choosing their presidential nominee in the first days of 2012, after GOP officials

Iowa tentatively set the state's caucuses for Jan. 3. Iowa's caucuses, which start the nominating process, woccur more than a month earlier than expected, but on the same date as in the 2008 election. If it holds, decision leaves the date of New Hampshire's nation-leading primary as the only big unknown in the eanominating calendar. Republican officials had hoped the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary wouoccur in February, giving candidates more time to raise money and campaignand stretching out the nominatcontest. But that plan was dashed last month when the Florida GOP jumped ahead in line and set its primaryJan. 31. South Carolina m oved its primary to Jan. 21, and N evada set its caucuses for Jan. 14. The crowdJanuary schedule would seem to favor the big-money campaigns of former Massachusetts G ov. Mitt Rom nand Texas G ov. Rick Perry, who can saturate the airwaves. Less-monied contenders will have little time betwecontests for retail politics.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576617070068130258.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080044/Metro-ID-cards-will-let-parents-track-students-behavior?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080044/Metro-ID-cards-will-let-parents-track-students-behavior?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080305/Six-nabbed-meth-raidhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576617070068130258.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?localhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/bradley-seeks-to-prepare-students/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080044/Metro-ID-cards-will-let-parents-track-students-behavior?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/NEWS/310080044/Metro-ID-cards-will-let-parents-track-students-behavior?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111008/NEWS01/110080305/Six-nabbed-meth-raidhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203388804576617070068130258.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1


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Michigan: "Right to teach" bill debuts in Michigan Senate (Associated Press)Republicans who control the Michigan Senate followed through Thursday on their plan to introduce so-cal"right to teach" legislation, escalating a clash with the state's largest teachers union. Public schools would not allowed to require employees to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment under the Senate billappears the bill would affect only the state's largest teachers union, the Michigan Education Associatibecause it would apply only to unions that represent at least 50,000 workers. A spokeswoman for Republic

Gov. Rick Snyder has said he is unlikely to back the proposal if it gets to his desk. The legislation would opermuch like more general "right to work" proposals, except it would apply only to public schools. "This is incredibly divisive issue that will do nothing to create jobs or help students," MEA President Steven Cook saida statement. Michigan's Republican leaders and the MEA have clashed over many issues this year. The unhas opposed R epublican-backed laws to change the state's teacher tenure rules, cut education funding, and gemergency managers appointed to run troubled schools and cities the power to toss out union contracts.http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/10/right_to_teach_bill_debuts _in.html

OPINION

Editorial: Deal improves with Amazon (Commercial Appeal)

The handwriting on the wall told Amazon that its privileges are withering. So the online retail giant has agreedbegin collecting taxes on its Tennessee sales in 2014. Technically, the agreement between the company aGov. Bill Haslam doesn't create a new tax for Tennesseans. It shifts the burden from purchasers, who asupposed to report and pay the tax levy voluntarily, to the retailer itself. For all practical purposes, however, change means that purchasers will probably have to pay more for what they buy online. But benefits to the stcould be significant. The agreement is part of a deal under which the state agrees to help with the companexpansion plans, which now call for the opening of five distribution and warehousing facilities in M iddle and ETennessee that will employ about 4,000 w orkers. But it also gives the company three more Christmas seasonsenjoy its advantage over brick-and-mortar stores, which are required to collect state and local sales taxes frcustomers.That's not likely to be the end of the story, however, nor should it http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/08/editorials-deal-improves-with-amazon/

Editorial: First crack opens in tax standoff (Paris Post-Intelligencer)Amazon has blinked. Months of discussion, back-room dealing and media campaigns have led the onlmerchandising giant to agree to begin collecting Tennessee sales taxes. The decision, announced Thursdtakes some pressure off Gov. Bill Haslam, who had defended the states soft-pedaling of the tax issue in retfor Amazon locating distribution centers in Tennessee. The agreement calls for Amazon to begin collecting sataxes on Jan. 1, 2014. Some who had campaigned for the company to collect the tax called that delacceptable. Better than never, said one merchant: They get two free years. We can live another two. others who had protested that the freedom from sales tax collections gives Amazon an unjust advantage continue to press for more immediate change. Why should we have to wait one day longer? one asked. Tagreement appears to shift the focus of the battle from the state legislature to Congress. Thats where Amazspokesmen said the issue should be settled, and it makes sense to establish a nationwide policy on whether ahow on-line retailers should collect state taxes on their sales.

http://www.parispi.net/articles/2011/10/07/opinion/editorials/doc4e8f2555eccea4806 37883.txt

Guest columnist: Community pharmacies fill growing needs (Tennessean)Americans have nearly 4 billion prescriptions filled each year but may be too busy to consider whats happenbehind the pharmacy counter. So, with thousands of community pharmacists gathering in Nashville this mofor an annual national meeting, here is a pop quiz. Which of the following is true of your pharmacist? A) Aboone in two patients does not take their m edication properly, and pharmacists are a source of expert counseliB) Prescription drugs are more important and complex than ever, and pharmacists train longer and harder thever before to stay abreast of advances in the profession. C) Pharmacists help fill some primary care needs aoften make physician referrals to patients who might not have gone to see a doctor otherwise. D) There are o23,000 family-owned community pharmacies in the U.S. (566 in Tennessee) providing more than 300,000 jo
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and generating $92.8 billion to local economies. E) A ll of the above.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111008/OPINION03/310080009/Community-pharmacies-fill-growing-needs?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Free-Press Editorial: Raise taxes 5 percent? Now? (Chattanooga Times Fre

Press)What do you think about raising income taxes 5 percent now, in the middle of an economic crisis? Timmediate reaction from most of us might be an emphatic "No!" But what about raising taxes 5 percent millionaires -- as President Barack Obama and some Democrats in Congress would like to do? Most of us mirelax because we don't know too many millionaires. We might assume that such a tax increase wouldn't affus. But what about the principle of the matter? Would it be fair to slap a higher tax on people who already pavastly disproportionate share of income taxes? O f course, millionaires ought to pay their fair share. But they pa 35 percent income tax rate as it is -- while nearly half of U.S. households pay no income taxes at all. No mathow rich anyone is, is it just for the federal government to tax away well over a third of that person's income --top of state and local taxes the person already pays?http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/08/raise-taxes-5-percent-now/?opinionf reepress

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sat., oct. 8 news summary

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