sat., sept. 10 news summary

8/4/2019 Sat., Sept. 10 News Summary

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011Gov. Haslam Announces Civil War Driving Trail Enhancement Grant (B

Clarksville)Tennessee Gov. Bil l Haslam joined state and local officials on September 8 to announce a $818,8transportation enhancement grant award to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development for Phase IIthe Civil War Driving Trail. The Civil War D riving Trail is a m ulti-phased program that has established a statewnetwork of directional and historical signage to be used in conjunction with the Tennessee Civil War map/guand applicable map/guides developed by individual localities. This program has created a more eaaccessible, user friendly system for travelers to follow as they explore sites and transportation corridassociated with the American Civil War in Tennessee. It also encourages partnerships between state agencand local communities. Im proud the State of Tennessee can make investments like this to enhance lo

communities for the benefit of citizens and visitors alike said Governor Haslam. The grant is m ade possthrough a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.http://businessclarksville.com/2011/09/09/governor-haslam-announces-civil-war-driving-trail-enhancem ent-gra32369/

'We're all True Blue' (Daily News Journal)Spectacular gala celebrates 100 years of MTS The Mirabella Grand Ballroom at Embassy Suites MurfreesboHotel & Conference Center was filled was filled to the gills with MTSU blue Friday night. More than 1,200 peofil led the largest venue in Murfreesboro for an event worthy of a 100-year birthday party for MTSU Centennial Blue Tie Gala.Gov. Bill Haslam, in a video commentary shown to the crowd, recognized MTSU asthe state's largest undergraduate university. Acknowledging the university's roots as one of three NormSchools in developing educators for Tennessee, Haslam said: "Over the past century, you've grown into

diverse, vibrant, comprehensive university, producing graduates in a wide array of fields and professional are"Tonight, we're all True Blue," he said. MTSU faculty and staff present and former, and alumni from madecades and ages came out in droves to enjoy seeing old friends, making new ones or remembering the dagone by. Many were praised the occasion and the university.http://www.dnj.com/article/20110910/NEWS01/109100326/-We-re-all-True-Blue-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Damage fails to qualify Lee as official disaster (Times Free-Press/Smith)Tropical Storm Lee closed schools, damaged homes and streets and cut off power for more than 87,000 arhomes and businesses, but that may not be enough to qualify the region for federal disaster assistance, loofficials say. Most of the storm's roughly $3.5 million in destruction was concentrated in Hamilton County anmore specifically, was limited to downed power lines and poles, said Bill Tittle, chief of Hamilton Couemergency management. "To be honest, it surprised us," Tittle said. "We worked most of the weekend gettready for the rain, but it was the w ind that blew so many of those trees over." Most area schools opened latenot at all on Tuesday, and some stayed closed as parents and teachers found themselves without electricity. Tlarge amount of destruction -- including 152 telephone poles, 127 transformers and 3,000 separate instancesgrid damage in the Chattanooga area -- astonished officials who were expecting only flooding.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/damage-fails-to-qualify-lee-as-official-disa ster/?local

Wacker Polysilicon growth eyed for support (Cleveland Daily Banner)Wacker Polysilicon N orth America is one step closer to receiving additional state funds to help the compaexpand its $1 billion investment by another half-billion dollars. The State Building Commission approved $million from the state in direct appropriations and $29.4 million in bonds. The final step is approval from sta
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Comptroller Justin Wilson. State Rep. Kevin Brooks said this morning he is pleased the State BuildCommission approved the most recent incentives for the growth in Wackers investment in B radley County. T$1.45 billion dollar investment from Wacker Chem ie is an incredible return on our investment from the state,said. At this critical time in our regions growth, it is assuring that the state is keeping our word of support industries that choose to bring badly needed jobs to Tennessee. State Rep. Eric Watson said he was assuredthe governors support in a m eeting two weeks ago .http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/15458928/article-Wacker-Polysilicon-growth-eyed-for- support?instance=homefirstl eft

Tennessee board approves $346.2M in funding for two industrial plan

(CA/Locker)The State Building Comm ission signed off Thursday on $346.2 m illion in state taxpayer funding to help build tlarge industrial plants in Clarksville and Cleveland, Tenn., plus $7 million for the Port of Cates Landing on tMississippi River in Lake County. The $245.9 mill ion in total state funding for the $1.2 bil lion HemloSemiconductor plant in Clarksville and $100.3 million for the $1.1 billion Wacker Chemie polysilicon productplant in Cleveland -- plus a previously approved $100 million for a new E lectrolux plant in M emphis -- represthe first time state government has spent money on the actual construction and equipping of plants. The projecpreviously approved by the legislature, include a combination of current tax revenue and state bonds, to repaid by general taxpayer revenue. The new $26.2 million Cates Landing river port under construction n

Tiptonville is funded by the $7 m illion from the state, $13 m illion from the federal government and $6.2 millionlocal funds.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/09/tennessee-board-approves-3462m-funding-two-industr/

Haslam hosts fundraiser for GOP legislators (Knoxville News-Sentinel/HumphreyRepublican state legislators plan a fundraiser at the governor's residence next month with admission pricranging from $50,000 for a package deal to $2,500 for an individual. Gov. Bill Haslam and his wife, Crissy, wserve as hosts for the Oct. 3 event, which will include an afternoon reception at Conservation Hall and evendinner in the upstairs area of the governor's actual residence. Former Gov. Winfield Dunn is designated tguest of honor. "The event is not out of the ordinary," said Haslam spokesman David Smith in an em ail responfor comment on the appropriateness of holding political fundraisers at the residence, which had abou t $10 m ilin improvements and renovations during former Gov. Phil Bredesen's tenure. M any Republican legislatprotested spending of state funds on the construction of the adjoining Conservation Hall, which was labe"Bredesen's bunker" and "the party room" by critics at the time. About $4.8 mill ion in funding came frtaxpayers; the rest from private donations.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/haslam-hosts-fundraiser-for-gop-legislators/

Tenn. revenues beat expectations by $18M in August (Associated Press)General fund revenue collections have started the new Tennessee budget year $18 million above expectatioFinance Commissioner Mark Emkes said in a release Friday that the August figures are "good news," cautioned that national economic indicators indicate a slow recovery is under w ay and that federal budget issustill need to be resolved. The August revenue collections reflect economic activity in July, the first month of budget year. It was the 13th consecutive month that collections have exceeded budgeted estimates. Sales tcollections were up 5 percent from the previous year, while corporate franchise and excise taxes came inmore than double the projected estimate.

http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37418221.story

TDOT chief: Changes aren't environmental retreat (Associated Press/Schelzig)The Tennessee Department of Transportation chief says staff changes he is making don't signal a retreat frsweeping reforms implemented by former Gov. Phil Bredesen. Commissioner John Schroer, responding to Associated Press report, said Friday that i t would be a " leap" to conclude that he's de-emphasizenvironmental concerns after promoting his chief engineer to become his deputy. Meanwhile, Republican GBill Haslam's administration has confirmed that TDOT's chief administrator, top environmental officer and direcof project management are each leaving. The deputy commissioner position had been eliminated in Bredesen administration as part of a series of moves that had been heavily criticized by the influential robuilders lobby. Bredesen instead placed the chief engineer and director of environment and planning on eq
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footing as part of an effort to improve TDOT's poor environmental record and reputation for ignoring logovernments and communities when deciding where to put roads. Schroer said the promotion of top enginePaul Degges to deputy commissioner doesn't indicate a return to pre-Bredesen priorities.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37416343.story

Kingsport man ordered to pay more than $460,000 in TennCare case (Times-New

A registered Kingsport sex offender must pay more than $460,000 in restitution about $390,000 in the ntwo weeks after pleading guilty to TennCare fraud and theft charges in exchange for 15 years on probatioDanny Anderson, 53, of 445 Roller St., pleaded guilty to theft over $10,000 and two counts of TennCare fraand was sentenced Friday morning in Sullivan County Criminal Court to 15 years on supervised probation. Hcharges stemmed from about $19,000 in TennCare benefits paid to Samuel Page, a resident of Holston Madeemed eligible for benefits after he gave Anderson $460,000-plus out of his bank accounts. The judge ordeAnderson to pay about $19,000 back to the Tenn-Care program and return $370,000 to Page within the nextbusiness days. He ordered Anderson to return the remainder of Pages money approximately $70,000 othe course of his probation. According to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson, Anderstransferred the money from Pages bank account between February and April. The TBI investigation beganMay. The T BI reported the two men had been friends and neighbors for several years.http://www.timesnews.net/article/9035683/kingsport-man-ordered-to-pay-more-than-460000-in-ten ncare-case

Illinois Durbin to Haslam: Widespread concern' over voter ID law (CP/Garrison)High-ranking U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., has expressed widespread concern to Gov. Bill Haslam ovTennessees controversial new election law that requires citizens display photo identification to vote, suggestit could disenfranchise certain demographics. Accordingly, Durbin has asked Haslam to identify the steps yadministration is taking to ensure all Tennesseans can efficiently obtain free photo identification before the nelection. Although the text of Tennessees new laws technically apply to all citizens, these new votrestrictions could have a disproportionate impact on the minority, young, senior, disabled, rural, homeless, alow income communities in Tennessee, Durbin wrote to Haslam in a letter Thursday. Durbin chairs the USenate Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Hum an Rights. In recent dathe Illinois senator has targeted other strict voter ID laws in various states Kansas, Texas and South C arolifor example also passed by Republican-dominated state legislatures.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/illinois-durbin-haslam-widespread-concern-over-tennes sees-

photo-id-voter-law

Ramsey Supports Cost-to-Business Estimates for Proposed Legislation (T

Report)Tennessee House Republicans made a point Thursday of declaring their interest in identifying burdensoregulations they can lift from businesses in the state. In the same vein, the Senates top lawmaker wants to aone on government: A requirement that bills under consideration in the General Assembly include an estimatethe costs theyd potentially have on Tennessee employers. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says he wants legislators athe public to be fully aware of the price of new mandates and regulations before theyre passed on to the privsector. Right now were just ignoring it and putting it directly onto business, the Blountville Republican saWhat does this cost a business when we pass a bill? In the long run, it will save the state money and sabusinesses money to attempt to calculate those costs up front, he said. The idea comes most recently from

Tennessee Center for Policy Research, which released a report last week detailing why the state should crunthe numbers to determine what kind of effect legislation has on commerce and industry.http://www.tnreport.com/2011/09/ramsey-supports-cost-to-business-review-of-proposed-le gislation/

Southerland Holding Out Hope for NE TN Megasite (TN Report)State Sen. Steve Southerland sounds enthusiastic about the possibility of U pper East Tennessee landing a Tmegasite like the ones taxpayers provided for Volkswagen and Hemlock Semiconductor. But the MorristoRepublicans enthusiasm m ay be m ore a m atter of a legislator cheerleading than an indication of any substantaction. Other officials, including som e comm unity leaders in the region itself, say they see no hint of a megasheaded to the area, for a variety of reasons. State Economic and Community Development Commissioner Hagerty said recently he had heard the subject come up in regard to Upper East Tennessee, but he downplay
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the potential. In terms of a new large-scale megasite like West Tennessee, I think there is a lot of optimism might be able to do that in other parts of the state, but there is nothing along that magnitude on the drawiboard right now, Hagerty said. Alan Palmieri, mayor of Jefferson County, said he has heard the subject raisfor his region but only for years and years and years. Mayor B ill Brittain of Hamblen County, which includMorristown, said this week he has not heard the m atter come up.http://www.tnreport.com/2011/09/southerland-holding-out-hope-for-ne-tn-m egasite/

Honoring the sacrifices of 9/11 heroes, victims (Jackson Sun)Friday service in Jackson pays respect State Sen. Lowe Finney chose his words carefully, describing the imp9/11 had on the lives of every American. Who among us didnt sit in front of the television all day that day to swhat would happen and to find out the direction of our country? Finney said Friday at a special ceremoSince then we have come together as a nation, remembering what happened and the sacrifices of those wwent into the twin towers that day. Finney, D-Jackson, was among the speakers at a ceremony to honor victimheroes and volunteers of Sept. 11, 2001, and to pay respect to local first responders. The community event wheld at George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home on North Highland Avenue. Finney said that more than 3million citizens have enlisted in the m ilitary since 9/11. We want to say thank you to all the men and women wserve, Finney said. You have paid a tremendous price.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110910/NEWS01/110909029/Honoring-sacrifices-9-11-heroes-victims

Oversight comm ittee votes to dissolve (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Munger)Rebirth a possibility with new guidelines The Local Oversight Comm ittee's board of directors voted Fridaydissolve the LOC, at least in its current form, and remake and reshape the 20-year-old organization in months ahead. The meeting at the Roane County Alliance Building was emotional at times and politcontentious. It required two hours, multiple motions and lots of rules interpretations. But, ultimately, the outcowas what m any expected. The LOC was formed in 1991 as an outgrowth of environmental problems that hcome to light at the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge plants. As a part of the Tennessee OversigAgreement, it shared in the funding that DOE provided to the state to address the burden of overseeing tlarge-scale nuclear operations. The LOC was designed to give local governments a collective voiceaddressing issues of concern, particularly for the city of Oak Ridge and the counties impacted by DOoperations and downstream, downwind pollution. Initially those counties included Anderson, Roane, Meigs aRhea. Loudon, Morgan and Knox were added later.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/oversight-committee-votes-to-dissolve/

Blackburn, congressional panel step in on Gibson case (Tennessean/Bewley)House Republicans, including Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn, are seeking an explanation from the Obaadministration for its decision to raid the facilities of Nashville-based Gibson Guitar Corp. last month. It is hardconclude anything other than the fact that your agencies and this Administration are actively pursuing regulatand legal policies that discourage job growth in the United States and encourage shipping those very same jooverseas, Blackburn and three other Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote inletter to the heads of the Interior Department, Justice Department and Fish and W ildlife Service on Thursday. Aug. 24, U .S. Fish and W ildlife Service agents raided Gibsons corporate headquarters and two of its factoriesNashville, along w ith a factory in Memphis, for allegedly importing endangered rainforest wood illegally frIndia. A law passed in 1900 prohibits imports of endangered species, which includes protections for plants a

woods. The law also bars imports of protected woods that were exported in violation of another countrys lawshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110909/NEWS02/309090106/Blackburn-congressional-panel-step-Gibsocase?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Rep. Black criticizes Obam a job speech as 'political' (Daily News Journal)President Barack Obamas speech proposing Congress pass a $447 billion Am erican Jobs Act failed to influenU.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Gallatin. I think what I heard was a political speech, frankly, Black told reportcovering Tennessees 6th Congressional District during a phone conference this morning. Black noted that tpresident provided no details on how to pay for the jobs legislation. Theres no meat on the bones, said Blaadding that the president expects Congress to figure out how to pay for the legislation. She compared tpresidents proposal to Obamas $800 billion stimulus legislation in 2009 that ran up the national debt thapartly owed to China and failed to keep unemployment low. The stimulus package did not create jobs, Bla
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said. Black said the president should be focusing on cutting regulations beyond his recent decision notimplement an Environmental Protection Agency rule on cutting smog. I think the president missed a goldopportunity last night to really do what businesses are asking us to do and relieve them of regulations, Blasaid.http://www.dnj.com/article/20110909/NEWS01/110909030/Rep-Black-criticizes-Obama-job-speech-political-

Party Line Reactions to Obamas Speech (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessees congressional delegation responded mostly along party lines to President Obama s speech on joand the economy. Nashville Democratic congressman Jim Cooper said the president made a good, high enespeech with ideas that will get America back on track. Memphis Democrat Steve Cohen said the President lout an impressive plan with bipartisan ideas. Republican Senator Lamar Alexander said while he doesnt hPresident Obama responsible for the economy he inherited, he does blame the President for making economy worse. Brentwood Republican Congressman Marsha Blackburn said the GOP house has alreapassed jobs legislation thats been stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate.http://wpln.org/?p=301 48

Employers Say Jobs Plan Wont Lead to Hiring Spur (New York Times)The dismal state of the economy is the main reason many companies are reluctant to hire workers, and fexecutives are saying that President Obamas jobs plan while welcome will change their minds any tisoon. That sentiment was echoed across numerous industries by executives in companies big and small

Friday, underscoring the challenge for the Obama administration as it tries to encourage hiring and perk up moribund economy. The plan failed to generate any optimism on W all Street as the Standard & Poors 500-stoindex and the Dow Jones industrial average each fell about 2.7 percent. As President Obama faced an upbattle in Congress to win support even for portions of the plan, many employers dismissed the notion that aparticular tax break or incentive would be persuasive. Instead, they said they tended to hire more workersexpand when the economy improved. Companies are focused on jittery consumer confidence, an unstastock market, perceived obstacles to business expansion like government regulation and, above all, swingsdemand for their products.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/business/economy/in-the-real-world-will-the-jobs-plan-make-a-difference.html?_r=1&ref=todayspa per

Critics say TVA operates in secrecy (Tennessean/Paine)TVAs board gathered privately the week before it voted last month to approve finishing a long-shelved nuclereactor despite the federal Sunshine law that calls for openness. Out of nine members, six took part in a tour alunch together at the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Bellefonte nuclear site in Alabama, 110 miles southeastNashville. Officials insist there were no deliberations, which would have made the event illegal since a majoritythe board was present. However, the tour has unleashed more doubts among opponents of Bellefonte, who sthe public agency continues to shield its inner workings from the publics view. They make decisions in secand the TVA board just rubber-stamps them, said Garry Morgan, who lives a few miles from the Bellefonte sand has opposed its completion. Its not the only time that the public is asked to trust TVA when its board gathebehind closed doors. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/NEWS11/309100046/Critics-say-TVA-operates-secrecy?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Windsor Health to add 200 jobs in Brentwood (Tennessean/Ward)Windsor Health Plans is planning to add 200 new jobs in Brentwood over the next few years throughconsolidation of its parents U.S. Medicare Advantage plan operations here. With the move, W indsor will nowthe operations hub for owner Munich Res M edicare Advantage plans across multiple U.S. states, including thothat have roughly 66,000 members overall that previously had been managed by Sterling Health. BellinghaWash.,-based Sterling and Windsor are both part of the German reinsurers Munich Health North America Isubsidiary that acquired Sterling in 2008 and W indsor earlier this year. The deals reflect Munich Res strategyacquiring niche insurance companies to expand its presence in the U.S. Medicare and other insurance markfacing rapid changes. Windsor, whose own Medicare Advantage plans serve 88,000 members nationwide, h288 employees at its headquarters in Brentwood and at another office and call center in Nashville. OveraWindsor employs 376, including workers in the field.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/BUSINESS/309100009/Windsor-Health-add-200-jobs-Brentwoododyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p
http://www.dnj.com/article/20110909/NEWS01/110909030/Rep-Black-criticizes-Obama-job-speech-political-http://wpln.org/?p=30148http://wpln.org/?p=30148http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/business/economy/in-the-real-world-will-the-jobs-plan-make-a-difference.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/business/economy/in-the-real-world-will-the-jobs-plan-make-a-difference.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/NEWS11/309100046/Critics-say-TVA-operates-secrecy?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/NEWS11/309100046/Critics-say-TVA-operates-secrecy?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/BUSINESS/309100009/Windsor-Health-add-200-jobs-Brentwood?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/BUSINESS/309100009/Windsor-Health-add-200-jobs-Brentwood?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.dnj.com/article/20110909/NEWS01/110909030/Rep-Black-criticizes-Obama-job-speech-political-http://wpln.org/?p=30148http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/business/economy/in-the-real-world-will-the-jobs-plan-make-a-difference.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/business/economy/in-the-real-world-will-the-jobs-plan-make-a-difference.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaperhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/NEWS11/309100046/Critics-say-TVA-operates-secrecy?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/NEWS11/309100046/Critics-say-TVA-operates-secrecy?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/BUSINESS/309100009/Windsor-Health-add-200-jobs-Brentwood?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cphttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20110910/BUSINESS/309100009/Windsor-Health-add-200-jobs-Brentwood?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cp


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JR Global building new plant in Kingston (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Willett)The decision by JR Global Manufacturing Inc. to build a new manufacturing facility on Gallaher Road in Kingsbrings the company founders literally back to where they started. The new 5,000 square-foot building that willhome to phase one of JR Global's new headquarters sits just a stones throw from the family farm whfounders James and Richard Owens grew up. "We are finally coming home to Kingston," said James OweMembers of the Owens family, including mother Imogene who still operates the family farm on Gallaher Rowere joined by local business and government leaders for a groundbreaking at the site of the new facility Frid

"We have always planned to build in Kingston, and now that the m unicipal sewer system is nearly complete, last obstacle to development has been removed," Owens said. Kingston Mayor Troy Beets said he has knothe Owens family for years. He said the new facil ity will follow right along with the town's stated goaldeveloping the Gallaher View corridor.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/

Commission To P ick School Board Members (Memphis Daily News)Shelby County Comm issioners take the final step Monday, Sept. 12, to the creation of a new countywide schboard that will take office in three weeks. The commission meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith CouAdministration Building, 160 N . Main St. On the agenda is the appointment of seven m embers to the new member board agreed to by all sides in the schools consolidation lawsuit settlement. Mondays session might be as long as last weeks marathon 10-hour interview session with nearly 100 applicants for the appointmenBut some commissioners were already talking last week of delaying any other items on the agenda that co

wait for another two weeks. The general government committee session with the applicants last week is a goindicator of what is likely to happen Monday. The seven non-binding straw polls of commissioners last w eincluded most of the 13-member body.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/commission-to-pick-school-board-members/

Schools Q&A Points to New Merger Issues (Memphis Daily News)With a schools consolidation planning commission and a new countywide school board set to convene nmonth, some of the very specific issues of the merger are creating their own political gravity. The issues affecting the lingering differences over the general idea of consolidating the two school systems. The bevidence came from a roomful of about 100 citizens interested enough in the consolidation to apply for one of seven positions on the new school board. As Shelby County comm issioners questioned them Wednesday, Se7, the future and definition of optional schools was a key issue. Memphis C ity Schools have them. Shelby CouSchools dont. Eugene Bernstein, an attorney with four children once in the Memphis City Schools optioprogram, said he would like to see the countywide school system depart from its practice of som e schools bea school within a school.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/schools-qa-points-to-new-merger-issues/

Sumner County Education Association, Schools Headed to Court Again (WPLN)The Sumner County teachers union has again sued the district. Its the second lawsuit this year. This one claithe school system is violating teachers first amendm ent rights by setting up roadblocks to the union. Since lyear, the Sumner County School Board has wrangled with the Sumner County Education Association ovwhether the union should be allowed to represent teachers in contract negotiations. The union took the argumto court and won this spring. Then, the state legislature passed a new law, replacing traditional negotiations wsomething called collaborative conferencing. According to the lawsuit filed this week by the union, the schodirector issued a memo to all teachers, saying the new law meant the union had no right to have any sor

presence on school property.http://wpln.org/?p=301 54

Committee to make recommendation for school board redistricting (NS/McCoy)The committee in charge of redistricting Knox County's nine school board districts has set a meeting to votewhich plan they will recommend to their respective boards. On Thursday, the board saw revised versions of four plans developed by Tim Kuhn, m anager of the geographic information services for the Knoxville-KnCounty Metropolitan Planning Commission, and began discussing the next steps in the process. Two of tplans were developed in line with current Knox County Comm ission districts, one from the school board distriand one that is a combination of both bodies. The board decided it will vote and make its recommendation to respective boards at its meeting on Sept. 27. That meeting will take place after a public forum at 5:30 p.m. Se22 in the first floor of the Andrew Johnson Building.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/commission-to-pick-school-board-members/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/schools-qa-points-to-new-merger-issues/http://wpln.org/?p=30154http://wpln.org/?p=30154http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/10/jr-global-building-new-plant-in-kingston/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/commission-to-pick-school-board-members/http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/12/schools-qa-points-to-new-merger-issues/http://wpln.org/?p=30154


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http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/09/committee-to-make-recommendation-for-knox-school/

Science future (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Higgins)Bradley County and Cleveland high school students thinking ahead to colleges and careers will have plentyhelp this school year. Next week, 11th- and 12th-grade students from Bradley Central, Walker Valley aCleveland high schools can take part in a countywide college fair at Lee University. About 70 colleguniversities, employers and members of the armed forces will be represented, said Cheryl Janzen, guidan

counselor at Walker Valley. On Friday, about 1,000 Wa lker Valley students now enrolled in science classes hanother opportunity. Fifteen professionals, representing fields varying from forensics to utility line work, talkwith students throughout the day about what it takes to get those jobs. The science and math day developfrom a federal Small Learning Communities grant for Bradley County, said Jenny B orden, Walker Valley scienand mathematics department chairwoman. "We create small learning communities in the high school whestudents can focus on a career interest," Borden sahttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/science-future/?local

Woodson encourages school officials, advocates to continue efforts (NS/McCoy)Knox County was cool with education reform before it was cool, former state senator Jamie Woodson toldgroup of school officials and advocates Friday. "You were big parts of the movement early on. This is the eigtime you all have a conversation about the importance of improving public education," said Woodson, presid

and CEO for the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, known as SCORE. "You've been in the trenchfor such a long time. It's so common to talk about the new reform in education and then get to the next nreform. The tougher thing is the implementation and the sustainability." On Friday, Woodson was the keynospeaker at the eighth annual Education Network Forum sponsored by the Knox County Council PTA. Educatacross the state have shown a lot of courage in being willing to try new initiatives, she said, but there's mowork to be done. "That educators are willing to step up and do this work is important and that's been a critipart of our success thus far, and I think it will be a critical part of our success moving forward," she said.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/09/woodson-encourages-local-school-officials-to/

Rhea officials OK $30.9 million price for school (Times Free-Press/Davis)Construction of a new Rhea County High School could begin shortly as the county purchase and financommission and school board have accepted a $30.9 million guaranteed maximum price for the project. Tschool board approved its necessary resolution during its regular meeting Thursday, and the commissioresolution is expected to be considered during the commission's Sept. 20 meeting. In a letter to the financommittee and distributed to school board members, Steve H ewlett, principal of Hewlett Spencer LLC, said, wthe necessary approvals, "work shall begin upon receipt of the local building permit. The project shall substantially complete on or before the start of the 2013 school year." Hewlett told board members that tfinance committee recommended the county comm ission sell $33 million in bonds to finance construction andpurchase some $1.7 million in furniture, fixtures and equipment for the new high school and the renovatexisting high school and vocational buildings. Initially, Hewlett Spencer had estimated the project would comeat about $35 million. Jerry Levengood, director of schools, said earlier this week that costs for "furniture, fixtuand equipment" would be around $1.7 million. He said the bid process for that could take 18 m onths.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/rhea-officials-ok-309-million-price-for-sch ool/?local

California: Amazon tax compromise approved (Associated Press)

Lawmakers on Friday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a compromise bill that delays California's effort to force onlretailers such as Amazon.com to collect the state's sales taxes while retailers lobby Congress for national rugoverning online sales taxes. The state Assembly approved AB155 on a bipartisan, 59-8 vote in the final hoursthis year's legislative session. The bill had passed the Senate, 36-1, hours earlier. Democratic AssemblywomNancy Skinner of Berkeley, one of the bill's authors, called it a ground-breaking agreement that could help lethe playing field between traditional and online retailers. "We finally will give certainty to our Califorbusinesses that the unfair tax advantage that has been enjoyed by out-of-state online retailers will finally enSkinner said before the vote. "While it will not end this instant, it will end." The compromise between lawmakeAmazon.com and traditional retailers would delay the expanded online tax collections until at least Septemb2012. That would give Amazon and other retailers time to lobby Congress for national rules governing onlsales taxes.http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-09-10/amazon-online-tax/50348852/1
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OPINION

Times Editorial: Jobs plan challenges GOP (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)Government isn't capable of wholly eliminating the wholesale joblessness that has stranded 14 m illion Americawithout work in the wake of the worst global financial cataclysm and recession since the Great Depression. BCongress can boost recovery by adopting carefully crafted programs and targeted tax cuts. With Americansfear of a double-dip recession fueled by slow growth at home and more severe crises in the euro-zone aJapan's troubled economy, it's time for Congress to step up to that responsibility. The program laid out President Barack Obama Thursday would be a huge step in the r ight direction. But it must be allowed Republicans whose confessed and contrary priority is to sabotage and defeat Obama. The president chartedcompelling case for his proposed American Jobs Act and its cost-effectiveness. The program calls for sevesteps. One would cut federal payroll taxes in half for Am erican workers and small business owners. That wosignificantly boost consumer spending which is so vital to economic recovery, and spur job growth. Smbusiness owners would qualify for additional tax credits if they hired veterans or people out of work for at least months.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/jobs-plan-challenges-gop/?opiniontimes

Free-Press Editorial: Obam a's latest 'stimulus' bill unlikely to help (TFP)With the U.S. economy sluggish at best and unemployment at 9.1 percent, President Barack Obama hproposed a nearly $450 billion package of borrowing, spending and tax breaks that he says will create jobs.other words, he wan ts something that looks a good bit like 2009s $862 billion federal stimulus that has so added massively to the national debt but not created the jobs that the administration projected. That may or mnot give you confidence in the presidents latest proposal. At any rate, here are a few of the specifics: Tpayroll tax on workers income of up to $106,800 would drop from 4.2 percent this year to 3.1 percent next yeThat would cost the Treasury about $175 billion, and since payroll taxes raise money for Social Security, this could hasten the day when Social Security runs out of money. Payroll taxes would be cut in half for business

whose payrolls are $5 million or less. Businesses would get a full payroll tax holiday for wages paid to nhires or for increased payrolls. This would cost the government $65 billion.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/obamas-latest-stimulus-bill-unlikely-help/?opinio nfreepress

Editorial: Jobless: the reality (Comm ercial Appeal)A small-business owner told a Republican legislative task force on jobs this week that he has had trouble fillincouple of them because people were not qualified or didn't want to drop their unemployment benefits. That wenough to prompt Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City, to wonder aloud whether state lawmakers should repeameasure adopted in May that extends unemployment compensation from a maximum 79 weeks to 99. Settpolicy by anecdote is always shortsighted, but legislators inclined to follow Matlock's suggestion anyway shofirst consider the situation confronting the typical unemployed Tennessean. It doesn't seem likely that mapeople would turn down a job offer in order to collect $275 a week or less while trying to pay rent and utilit
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/jobs-plan-challenges-gop/?opiniontimeshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/obamas-latest-stimulus-bill-unlikely-help/?opinionfreepresshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/jobs-plan-challenges-gop/?opiniontimeshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/10/obamas-latest-stimulus-bill-unlikely-help/?opinionfreepress


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and, in many cases, feed a family. With an average of five people applying for every job opening, the unfortun9.8 percent of Tennesseans who are officially unemployed need more help, not less. They need help with fopurchases. They need access to the Internet at well-equipped library branches. They need training programThey need health care.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/10/jobless-the-reality/

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sat., sept. 10 news summary

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