Monday, March 19 News Summary

8/2/2019 Monday, March 19 News Summary

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MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012

Harris Research Inc. names Nashville for regional headquarters (Biz Clarksville)ECD Commissioner Bill Hagerty and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean announced,n March 14, that Harris ResearInc. (HRI) is establishing a new regional headquarters in Nashville. The company, which offers franchises unthe in-home consumer services brands Chem-Dry and N-Hance, w ill create 30 new jobs and invest more thanmillion in its new 8,500 square foot space in the Braid Building in Nashvilles Gulch area. Chem-Dry, the worlleading carpet and upholstery cleaner and N-Hance, a revolutionary wood renewal system, have more th4,200 franchises in 43 countries. The companys new location will house its finance, franchise administratgroup, franchise sales, marketing and international divisions. Governor Bill Haslam and I would like to thank Hfor investing in Tennessee and its citizens. With our quality workforce and business friendly climate, our statewell on its way to achieving the governors goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high qua

jobs. We look forward to working with the Chem-Dry and N-Hance brands along w ith CEO Dan Tarantin and executive team as they establish and grow their presence in Middle Tennessee, Hagerty said.http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/harris-research-inc-names-nashville-for-new-regional-headq uarters-40931/

Volkswagen selects Roane County for distribution center site (Biz Clarksville)Volkswagen Group of America announced on March 13 that it will invest $40 million to build a warehouseRoane County for distributing domestic auto parts for the Chattanooga-made Passat. The 400,000-square-ffacility is expected to open by spring 2013 and w ill employ up to 45 people by 2016. Addressing the need increased infrastructure, the facility will begin as a redistribution center to service warehouses and will laexpand to include a parts distribution center. The redistribution Master Depot will support the US, Canada aMexico. The parts distribution operation will improve service parts delivery times to over 100 dealers in t

surrounding regions. Im grateful Volkswagen is expanding its presence here in the state and bringing new joto Roane County because projects such as this bring more direct and indirect investments to TennesseTennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said.http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/volkswagen-selects-roane-county-for-distribution-center-s ite-40924/

4 businesses in Tennessee, state agency recognized (Associated Press)A national economic development publication has recognized four businesses in Tennessee for their communimpact. Amazon, General Motors, Quaprotek USA and MANN+HUMMEL were honored by Trade & IndusDevelopment. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development also was recognized. were chosen for the magazine's 2012 Corporate Investment and Community Impact awards. The publicatiwhich focuses on company site selection and facility planning, picked 30 winners.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38836415?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TN education chief urges more classes with technical and career focus (AP)State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said the state needs to provide high school students with bettechnical and career-oriented classes. The comments, which were reported by the Chattanooga Times FrPress, came at a Friday meeting of education and business leaders in Chattanooga billed as a career-reasummit to align education and business priorities and enhance the workforce. I think we have a real needrevamp some of the course offerings and an opportunity to do that with the encouragement of the businesector, Huffman said. Robert Schwartz, academic dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, sastudents increasingly are told they must get some form of post-secondary education and even a four-ydegree, but only about 30 percent of people earn a four-year degree by age 25. Another 10 percent get a tw
http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/harris-research-inc-names-nashville-for-new-regional-headquarters-40931/http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/harris-research-inc-names-nashville-for-new-regional-headquarters-40931/http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/volkswagen-selects-roane-county-for-distribution-center-site-40924/http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38836415?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/harris-research-inc-names-nashville-for-new-regional-headquarters-40931/http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/harris-research-inc-names-nashville-for-new-regional-headquarters-40931/http://businessclarksville.com/2012/03/19/volkswagen-selects-roane-county-for-distribution-center-site-40924/http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38836415?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs


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year associate degree while about 10 percent more attain a post-secondary certificate.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS04/303190031/TN-education-chief-urges-more-classes-technical-career-focus?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|N ews|s

Publishing evaluation with names splits open governm ent debate (CP/GreenbergOn its own accord, the Tennessee Department of Education wont publish controversial teacher evaluatscores alongside the names of the instructors, but some of this information could be available via open recorequests this summer. Yet until a media outlet in Tennessee follows the formula from other states, cites t

states open records laws and asks for the updated personnel files of the states 65,000 teachers, its unclewhich areas of the complicated 1-through-5 scoring rubric would be accessible to the public. And that raisesethics question. Whether a media outlet should actually post evaluation data and teacher names is contentious as the evaluation system itself. Even open government advocates are torn on the issue. Its a debthat has created a firestorm elsewhere, most recently in New York, whereThe New York Times, after a long lebattle w ith city schools, obtained and posted teacher evaluations in an online database. In an interview with TCity Paper, Tennessee Education Comm issioner Kevin Huffman, nearing his first full year in the positidismissed as incorrect m edia reports that his department planned to publish evaluation scores attachedteachers names.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/publishing-teacher-evaluation-scores-names-splits-ope n-government-debate-0

Tenn. education stats as compiled in new report (Associated Press)A look at some findings for Tennessee from the 2012 Building a Grad Nation report released MondTennessee was among a dozen states reported to have made the most progress from 2002 to 2009. The repwas sponsored by America's Promise Alliance, a children's advocacy organization founded by former Secretof State Colin Powell. Graduation rate: 77.4 percent in 2009, up from 59.6 percent in 2002. BenefitsTennessee of a national 90 Percent Graduation Rate: $88 million in increased annual earnings; $16 millionincreased annual state tax revenues. Goal: By 2020. Poverty: 16th in childhood poverty at 23.7 percent. Colleeducation: 36th in college completion at 26.7 percent. AP exams: Number of students taking AP exams durhigh school increased from 11.8 percent to 19.8 percent from 2001-2011. Slightly more than half, 52.5 percescored at least a "3" or higher.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TennCare Fraud In Coffee County (Tullahoma Radio)Two 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. TennCafraud 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 Mickey Layneprosecuting.http://tullahomaradio.com/?p=1 264

Sinkhole leaves dip in road in Washington County, Tenn. (Herald-Courier)A sinkhole has left a small dip in the road on State Route 353 in Washington County, according to a prerelease issued today by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The road is a rural two lane and one lais closed with traffic being flagged around the dip. County crews are working now to patch the hole and they re-open the road later today. After county crews patch the dip left in the road, regional crews and superviswill investigate the situation on Monday to see if excavation and solid rock fill are needed.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/sinkhole-leaves-dip-road-washington-county-tenn-ar -1775982/

Nursing Board Revamp Referred Back to Com mittee (TN Report)Attempts to gut the nursing board and stitch it back together fell apart in the House Thursday after lawmakefrom both sides of the aisle asserted the proposal went too far. The Board of Nursing will dissolve June
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS04/303190031/TN-education-chief-urges-more-classes-technical-career-focus?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS04/303190031/TN-education-chief-urges-more-classes-technical-career-focus?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/publishing-teacher-evaluation-scores-names-splits-open-government-debate-0http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/publishing-teacher-evaluation-scores-names-splits-open-government-debate-0http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://tullahomaradio.com/?p=1264http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/sinkhole-leaves-dip-road-washington-county-tenn-ar-1775982/http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS04/303190031/TN-education-chief-urges-more-classes-technical-career-focus?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS04/303190031/TN-education-chief-urges-more-classes-technical-career-focus?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/publishing-teacher-evaluation-scores-names-splits-open-government-debate-0http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/publishing-teacher-evaluation-scores-names-splits-open-government-debate-0http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38832597?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://tullahomaradio.com/?p=1264http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/sinkhole-leaves-dip-road-washington-county-tenn-ar-1775982/


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without some sort of nod from the Legislature to continue setting standards for the profession. But the board hbecome notorious for butting heads with the General Assembly. In the last two years weve been round around from the abuses of our nurses by that board, period, said bill sponsor Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingspowho wants to revamp the panel and says some of those issues have been worked out in his bill. Therabsolutely no retaliatory premise in this, he continued. Shipley and Rep. Dale Ford, R-Jonesborough, were focus of a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe for pressuring the Board of N ursing last year to rescdisciplinary action against three area nurses the board had punished for allegedly over-prescribing medicatihttp://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/18/nursing-board-revamp-referred-back-to-co mmittee/

Pro-gun, pro-business GOP stance leads to difficult position with bill (CP/WoodsWith Tennessee Republicans now enjoying the second year of their ascendency, gleeful business leadexpected to spend this legislative session pushing through changes in state law to make their lives easier aless expensive. Among other pro-business goals, they hoped to stamp out living-wage laws once and for all ato make it harder for laid-off workers to collect unemployment checks. Instead, theyve been forced unexpecteinto a prolonged fight to fend off the latest attempt to expand Second Amendment rights in Tennessee legislation to let employees tote any legally possessed firearm into their company parking lots and then leave guns locked in their cars during their workday. Businesses say the bill tramples their private property rights athreatens the safety of all their employees. Now this seems to be at the top of their list, as opposed to fightlabor unions, living wage, fighting workers compensation issues, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey mused at one of press availabilities this month. A whos who of the Tennessee business world has paraded to the Capitol to trypersuade lawmakers to buck the National Rifle Association, which is demanding passage of whats becomknown as the guns-in-parking-lots bill.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-bus iness-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun- bill-0

Tennessee Legislature's social conservatives have full agenda (NS/Humphrey)Legislation that critics see as a means of promoting creationism in classrooms was revived last week after a yof dormancy wh ile a so-called "don't say gay" bill suffered a setback that some supporters say is only temporaHaving drawn national media attention, those two bills are perhaps the best-known and most controversmeasures in a broad agenda of social conservative causes pushed by Republican legislators. But they are necessarily the most significant among the multiple bills with religious, moral and social overtones. The bill teaching of scientific theories in Tennessee schools dubbed "the monkey bill" by the National Center Science Education passed the House last year. House Sponsor R ep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said it waspromote "critical thinking" about scientific theories by protecting teachers from discipline when they engastudents in discussion about prevailing scientific theories such as evolution or global warming. Sen. Bo W atsR-Hixson, refused to put the bill to a vote in a Senate committee last year. But he did so last week, winnSenate Education Committee approval of SB893 after attaching an amendment that Watson said "neither sparticularly likes."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-legislatures-social-conservatives-have/

Republican legislatures move to preempt local government (Stateline)Mayor Ken Moore and the elected aldermen of Franklin, Tennessee, unanimously approved a resolution lTuesday warning against overbearing central government. That may not be a surprise, since Franklin isconservative, reliably Republican city. What is surprising is that the target of Franklins concern wasnt Obama administration or the federal government. Instead, it was the central government half an hour up the roin Nashville: the Republican-led Tennessee General Assembly. The resolution included a list of 14 bills mayor and aldermen opposed. On the list was legislation to substantially reduce local zoning and plannpowers, as well as narrower bills to limit local regulation of signs, to ban localities from requiring residensprinkler systems and to end local regulation of fireworks. Taken together, local officials are worried that thebills will preempt powers they consider an essential part of their jobs. All the mayors in our region, says Mooa Republican, are quite concerned about this potential gutting of our ability to do whats in the best interestour comm unities.http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=63 9623

TN bill mandates publication of abortion data (Tennessean/Sisk)Doctors who perform abortions in Tennessee could see their names listed online, and women who undergo t
http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/18/nursing-board-revamp-referred-back-to-committee/http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-business-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun-bill-0http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-business-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun-bill-0http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-business-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun-bill-0http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-legislatures-social-conservatives-have/http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=639623http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/18/nursing-board-revamp-referred-back-to-committee/http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-business-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun-bill-0http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/pro-gun-pro-business-gop-stance-leads-difficult-position-latest-gun-bill-0http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-legislatures-social-conservatives-have/http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=639623


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procedures could be unintentionally identified under a bill pending in the state legislature. State lawmakers adebating a measure that would require the Department of Health to publish more details about abortiobringing Tennessee into a roiling, state-by-state battle over how to regulate abortion procedures. Supporters sthe bill, scheduled to come up Wednesday in a state House committee, only requires state health officials to pinformation online that they already collect. But critics say the m easure is intended to intimidate women adoctors involved in abortions, even in emergency situations. I think publicizing this information will do nothbut cause serious consequences, said state Rep. Gary Odom, D-Nashville. This is dangerous. This isdangerous piece of legislation. Known as the Life Defense Act of 2012, or House Bill 3808, the measure givTennessee lawmakers a rare opportunity to tighten regulations on abortion, which the Tennessee SupreCourt ruled in 2000 is a right protected by the state constitution.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-abortion-data?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAG E

Tennessee Senate delays vote on mountaintop coal mining ban (TFP/Sohn)Opponents of mountaintop coal mining havent given up after Tennessee senators, in what they called calculated act of political cowardice, last week delayed a vote on the Scenic Vistas Protection Act. Senatavoided an outright decision on a bill to ban m ountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee. Instead, they vo19-14 to delay a floor debate and vote until April 2. Moving an issue to the crowded and hurried last daysaction typically signals lawmakers do not intend to pursue it. [This] vote was a calculated act of politicowardice, said J.W. Randolph, Tennessee director for the environmental organization Appalachian VoicSenators chose to delay the bil l, hoping it wil l die in the House, rather than stepping forward to protTennessees historic mountains from the destructive practice of mountaintop removal. A coal industry executdefended the mining method in an article on the Friends of Coal website. In my mind, mountaintop removimplies the site is m ined and then left barren, lifeless and flattened. This couldnt be further from the truth, wrChris Hamilton, of the W est Virginia Coa l Association.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-senate-delays-vote-mountaintop-coal-mini/?loca

Pastors don't want TN to cut Healthy Start visits (Tennessean/DeVille)A group of local pastors is calling on state legislators to restore funding for a program that provides home visitsfirst-time parents. Healthy Start, a program aimed at reducing or preventing child abuse and neglect, is at riskbeing eliminated on June 30 if legislators cant find money to fund it. Pastors and ministry leaders frthroughout the state plan to release a report Tuesday to state legislators calling on Tennessee policymakerssupport funding for evidence-based programs. The investment we, as citizens, make in this particular progrpays off in the long run, said Ted Denny, senior pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, near Clarksville, Tenn. Tgives parents the tools that will help them becom e wiser in some of the choices they make, he said. It pays in the long run. The report, which was prepared by the Christian nonprofit Shepherding the Next Generatisays nearly 9,000 Tennessee children were abused or neglected in 2010 and 38 died as a result. In additionthe report, an open letter also set to be released Tuesday from more than 20 pastors and ministry leadethroughout Tennessee calls on legislators to restore funding for Healthy Start.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS07/303190033/Pastors-don-t-want-TN-cut-Healthy-Start-visits?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

State Rep. Niceley to run for state Senate (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Hum phrey)Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, says he will not seek re-election to his House seat and instead runthe state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Mike Faulk, R-Church H ill. Niceley joins Cynthia Bundren Jacksof Rogersville, who operates a real estate firm and is president of the Hawkins County Republican Women cland Jeffrey Brantley, a Union County commissioner, as candidates for the Republican nomination. The sedesignated as the 8th Senate District under the new Senate redistricting plan, covers Claiborne, GraingHancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. It previously was designated as the 4th Senate DistrNiceley ran for the same seat in 1992, winning the Republican nomination over former state Rep. Bruce Hurbut losing in the general election to Democrat Danny Wallace by about 700 votes out of 40,000 cast. That wthe year of "the Clinton landslide," when Bill Clinton and Tennessee Sen. Al Gore carried the state in tpresidential election, Niceley said. "I don't expect a landslide this year for the Democrats," he said. So far, Democrat has announced as a candidate for the seat.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/political-notebook-state-rep-niceley-t o-run-for/
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-abortion-data?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-abortion-data?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-senate-delays-vote-mountaintop-coal-mini/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS07/303190033/Pastors-don-t-want-TN-cut-Healthy-Start-visits?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS07/303190033/Pastors-don-t-want-TN-cut-Healthy-Start-visits?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/political-notebook-state-rep-niceley-to-run-for/http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-abortion-data?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS0201/303190022/TN-bill-mandates-publication-abortion-data?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/19/tennessee-senate-delays-vote-mountaintop-coal-mini/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS07/303190033/Pastors-don-t-want-TN-cut-Healthy-Start-visits?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS07/303190033/Pastors-don-t-want-TN-cut-Healthy-Start-visits?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/political-notebook-state-rep-niceley-to-run-for/


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Rep. Hawk arrested on dom estic violence charge (Associated Press)The Greene County Sheriff's Department has arrested state Rep. David Hawk on a misdemeanor domesviolence charge. The K noxville N ews Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/xpA2hh) that the Greeneville Republican wbooked into the Greene County jail on Sunday morning. Sheriff's Lt. Edward Yokley said Hawk was bedetained until his arraignment on the charge until Monday morning. No details of the incident were immediavailable, and Yokley said he didn't have any information on whether Hawk had a lawyer. Messages left for House Republican Caucus spokesman were not immediately returned late Sunday. The 43-year-old Hawk h

represented Unicoi and G reene counties in the House since 2003. According to the Legislature's website, Hais married and has two daughters.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Greene County state representative arrested (Knoxville News-Sentinel)State Rep. David Brian Hawk was arrested this morning on a charge of domestic violence, accordingauthorities. Hawk, 43, of Greeneville, was arrested by the Greene County Sheriff's Department, according tnews release. Details of the incident were not immediately available. Hawk, a Republican, represents the House District. He was booked into the Greene County jail at 10:10 a.m. today. His bond was not immediatknown.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/18/greene-county-state-representative-arrested/

Rep. David Hawk arrested for domestic violence (Herald-Courier)According to the Greene County Sheriff's Department, Tennessee State Representative David Hawk warrested Sunday m orning. Sheriff S teve Burns says Hawk was arrested for domestic violence at his homeGreeneville. Hawk remains in the Greene County Jail as of Sunday evening. Because it is a domestic violencharge, Sheriff Burns says Hawk has to remain in the jail until he appears before a judge. Hawk is scheduledarraignment in General Sessions court Monday morning.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/rep-david-hawk-arrested-domestic-violence-ar- 1775926/

City budget hearings begin Monday (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Witt)

New funds for major projects are unlikely in Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero's first budget. "It's not a year folot of major new initiatives," Rogero said Thursday. She and City Council will begin hearing pitches from cdepartments to kick off the 2012-13 budget process today. "There's always a lot of saying no," she said. A necertain increase is the expected rise in the city employees pension shortfall. That cost could go from $13million in this year's $172.1 m illion operating budget to m ore than $14 million next year. Rogero previously sthat she didn't expect a property tax rate increase in the 2012-13 budget. Police and fire departments will oftheir presentations at 1 p.m. today in room 453 of the City County B uilding. Discussions continue 8 a.m. Tuesdin the same room. Knoxville Fire Department Capt. D.J. Corcoran said his department's requests will inclurepair and replacement for turnout gear, an updated alert system for fire stations and an increase in the unifoallowance for regular clothing. "In the scheme of things," Corcoran said, "I don't think they're all that big of increase price wise."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/city-budget-hearings-begin-monday/

Memphis, Shelby County weigh merger of prisoner re-entry programs (CA/BaileyMemphis and Shelby County officials may soon consolidate programs designed to help prisoners reconnectsociety. The city has a program called Second Chance under the direction of Eddie W alsh. The county's efforknown as the 3R Project -- Rehabilitate, Renew & Reconnect -- and is run by Stanley Lipford, administrator the county's division of corrections. The two programs apparently will soon operate together under cougovernment. "We're doing some things to put both entities together," Walsh said. "There's a m ove afoot to doOffice of Re-entry." Lipford said Wednesday he would act as administrator of the merged program, whichdescribed as an effort to transition offenders back into society. "The ultimate goal is to try and affect treduction of recidivism in our community," Lipford said. "That's the greatest thing we're trying to do is address needs of offenders." According to a report from the county on the merger, the effort would increase effectiveneand service while connecting with the Board of Probation and Parole to provide services "for offenders frincarceration through post-release." According to the City of Memphis website, the Second Chance progra
http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/18/greene-county-state-representative-arrested/http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/rep-david-hawk-arrested-domestic-violence-ar-1775926/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/city-budget-hearings-begin-monday/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/city-budget-hearings-begin-monday/http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38835219?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/18/greene-county-state-representative-arrested/http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/18/rep-david-hawk-arrested-domestic-violence-ar-1775926/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/city-budget-hearings-begin-monday/


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formed in 2001, is a partnership between the city and local businesses to connect ex-offenders willing to wowith employers who are will ing to hire them.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/(SUB)

Madison panels discuss budget (Jackson Sun)The Madison County Board of Commissioners met last week to review the agenda for their meeting schedufor this morning. The primary topic of discussion during the meeting was the county budget. All the coun

departments will turn in their proposed budgets on April 2. Commissioners discussed how much educatiocapital should be given to the schools, the countys current pension plan for retirees and how this plan wchange for employees hired after July 4. The current costs of prisoner transports also raised concerns. DoStephenson, chairman of the Budget Committee, said that in the last year there were 997 prisoner transports athat he believed these numbers could be cut down. The committee debated whether or not school bus routcould be optimized and discussed the efficiency and liability of the stock/bond ratio of the countys currepension plan. The meeting did not last long, since it was only a review of this mornings agenda, and JeBastin, chairman pro tem, said things were expected to be quite straight forward again for this morninmeeting.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190010/Madison-panels-discuss-budget

Survey is first step to revive hopes, dreams of at-risk kids (Tennessean/DeVille)

Promise Neighborhood grant promotes health and success Hundreds of volunteers went door-to-door in ENashville this weekend to gather resident input for a new program that would help children from cradle to careNashville is one of 10 locations nationwide to receive a $500,000 Promise Neighborhood grant from the UDepartment of Education to promote vibrant neighborhoods, healthy families and successful students. TMartha OBryan Center is the lead agency for the initiative and is partnering with government agencnonprofits and schools to create year-round programming for about 6,000 at-risk children living in the Stratfocluster, which includes the 37206 and 37216 ZIP codes. Part of the strategy for the P romise Neighborhood isuse data to inform where communitys strengths and areas of risk are, said Robin Veenstra-VanderWeele, director of the Nashville Promise Neighborhood. This is an opportunity for us to not only directly engage wneighbors around the initiative, but also to get local level data on a variety of measures that are typically ofound on the county or state level. This is a community we believe that has extraordinary capacity to reabenefit from an initiative like this.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190021/Survey-first-step-revive-hopes-dreams-riskkids?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

4 justices control health law's fate (Associated Press/Sherman)Heres a thought that cant comfort President Barack Obama: The fate of his health-care overhaul rests with fRepublican-appointed Supreme Court justices. His most sweeping domestic achievement could be struck doif they stand together with Justice Clarence Thomas, another GOP appointee, who is the likeliest vote againBut the good news for Obama is that he probably needs only one of the four to side with him to win approvathe laws crucial centerpiece, the requirement that almost everyone in this country has insurance or paypenalty. Lawyers with opposing views of the issue uniformly agree that the four Democratic-appointed justiceincluding Obam as two picks, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, will have no trouble concluding that Congredid not overstep its authority in adopting the insurance requirement that is aimed at sharply reducing the nowmillion people without insurance. On the other side, Thomas has made clear in several cases that he does ntake an expansive view of Congress powers. Both the Obama administration and the health-care lachallengers say they believe they can attract the other four R epublicans to their side. The group includes ChJustice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, the two appointees of President George W. Bush who haswung the court to the right in several areas; conservative stalwart Antonin Scalia; and the less doctrinaAnthony Kennedy.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS08/303190023/4-justices-control-health-law-s-fate?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

States look to enact cyberbullying laws (USA Today)Lawmakers in at least five states aim to stiffen or enact cyberbullying laws as national concern grows ovelectronic harassment and its deadly consequences. The states Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine and N
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190010/Madison-panels-discuss-budgethttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190021/Survey-first-step-revive-hopes-dreams-risk-kids?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190021/Survey-first-step-revive-hopes-dreams-risk-kids?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS08/303190023/4-justices-control-health-law-s-fate?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS08/303190023/4-justices-control-health-law-s-fate?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/prisoner-programs-could-unite/http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190010/Madison-panels-discuss-budgethttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190021/Survey-first-step-revive-hopes-dreams-risk-kids?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/303190021/Survey-first-step-revive-hopes-dreams-risk-kids?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS08/303190023/4-justices-control-health-law-s-fate?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/NEWS08/303190023/4-justices-control-health-law-s-fate?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs


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York want to put penalties on the books for the types of digital bullying that led students in several statescommit suicide. Among the victims was Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old Rutgers University freshman who jumpto his death in 2010 after his roommate used a webcam to spy on his gay encounter. The roommate, DhaRavi, was convicted Friday on 15 counts in a case that drew national attention. North Carolina passed a law2009 to criminalize cyberbullying, making it a misdemeanor for youths under 18. The trend in legislation"bringing our laws into the digital age and the 21st century," said New York state Sen. Jeffrey Klein, sponsor obill to criminalize cyberbullying. "When I was growing up, you had a tangible bully and a fight after school. Nyou have hordes of bullies who are terrorizing over the Internet or other forms of social media." Under Kleiproposed law, anyone found guilty of using electronics to stalk or harass someone could face a m isdemeanofelony charge that could carry a prison sentence.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-18/state-cyberbullying-laws/53 626736/1

Millington citizens to weigh in on school report (Commercial Appeal/Bailey)Millington leaders have heard the recommendations of consultants for a municipal school system, and now time for citizens to weigh in. The North Shelby County suburb will hold a series of public hearings on tfeasibility report regarding Millington schools beginning at 6:30 tonight at the Millington Civic Center. Othmeetings are slated for Tuesday and March 27 and 29. "My goals are to allow everyone the opportunity to mastatements and ask questions," interim M ayor Linda Carter said in an e-mail, adding that those comments willaddressed by Southern Educational Strategies when the consultants attend the March 27 public hearing. "I ththe citizens of Millington are very energetic about the idea of having their own school district," Alderman KeBarger said last week after the board saw a presentation by Southern Educational Strategies on what it wotake for Millington to start a system. "Where there's a will, there's a way. We'll see if the people are really behit when we have a referendum. But I think there's a lot of support for it." Millington, like the rest of ShelCounty's suburbs, is seeking to start its own municipal district to avoid inclusion in the merged Memphis aShelby County school system. A ll have used Southern Educational Strategies as consultants on the feasibilitythe idea.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/citizens-to-weigh-in-on-school-report/(SUBSCRIPTION)

City, county school leaders to discuss budgets (Commercial Appeal)School leaders from the Memphis and Shelby County school systems will discuss proposed budgets for nyear in a hearing starting at 5:30 p.m. today at the Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union. A secosession at the same time and place is planned March 26. Staff from each district will present budget highligbefore taking questions from the audience. The $1.1 billion MCS budget is posted at m csk12.net. The proposbudget is about .05 percent less than last year and covers costs of educating a projected 104,829 studenEnrollment in the district has dropped about 1,840 students a year since 2007-08. The nearly 700-page Mbudget includes a local economic outlook of the region in its executive summary that includes details unemployment and home prices. To save money, MCS plans to cut about 100 positions and close threlementary schools. The budget identifies spending down by category, allowing visitors to see costs to ostring instrument instruction, for instance.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/school-leaders-discuss-budgets/(SUBSCRIPTION)

MORE
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-18/state-cyberbullying-laws/53626736/1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/citizens-to-weigh-in-on-school-report/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/school-leaders-discuss-budgets/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-18/state-cyberbullying-laws/53626736/1http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/citizens-to-weigh-in-on-school-report/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/school-leaders-discuss-budgets/


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OPINION

Guest columnist: FastTrack expansion would be vital boost for business (Tenn)Tennessee is in a global competition for jobs. If we want to continue to be successful, we must have outstanding education system and an attractive quality of life. But we also need to be prepared to use economdevelopment incentives when it can m ake the difference for a Tennessee company expanding or an out-of-stfirm choosing to relocate. The states FastTrack program is a valuable tool used by the Department of Economand Community Development to provide funding for infrastructure and job training when a private-sec

business commits to locate or expand in the state and create or retain jobs. Currently, the General Assemblyconsidering legislation (SB 2206/HB 2344) that would expand the use of this tool to include relocation expenstemporary office space and capital improvements. The funds would be distributed in grants to local industrdevelopment boards. These one-time, direct assistance programs allow greater transparency, are often mattractive to companies and can cost governments less than traditional tax credits, which are drawn out ovelonger period of time. The proposed FastTrack changes resulted from a yearlong review of state incentprograms with input from companies, site consultants and local economic development officials. The resultlegislation that would allow greater flexibil ity and a higher economic impact, with the same disclosutransparency and oversight as the current fund.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/OPINION03/303190008/FastTrack-expansion-would-vital-boost-business?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p
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Editorial: VW warehouse w ill be a boon for ET (Knoxville News-Sentinel)If there is cautious optimism about the increase in jobs in East Tennessee, there m ust be unabashed buoyanin Roane County, where ground was broken last week for a large Volkswagen Regional Distribution Center. Tpopular automobile manufacturer, which recently established a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga to build the VPassat, is investing $40 million to build a 400,000 square-foot warehouse just off Interstate 40 and near I-75. Tplant is expected to generate a $3 million annual payroll, with 45 jobs in the Roane Regional Business aTechnology Park. Volkswagen can expand the w arehouse to 600,000 square feet. The great news for Roa

County also is good news for the rest of East Tennessee. Successful economic development in one county chave a ripple effect for the others. The VW facility will be close to the point where R oane, Anderson, Loudon aKnox counties meet, so its economic impact should spill over into other communities as well. The 45 jobs new center will bring are only for openers. The reward in the longer term likely will be the attraction of otindustries and businesses to the county and possibly to other area counties as well.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/19/editorial-vw-warehouse-will-be-a-boon-for-et/

Guest columnist: Sustainability strengthens our comm unities (Tennessean)As I finish my 24th year as mayor of my hometown, North Little Rock, Ark., I often reflect on my guidiprinciples. I believe in the U.S. Constitution, which I have sworn to uphold, and I have deep respect for thowho have sacrificed to give us the best form of government on earth. As an elected official, I am tasked w

maintaining my communitys way of l ife and increasing our prosperity. Thats why it is difficult for mecomprehend the message sent last Thursday by the Tennessee House of Representatives to local electofficials: Do not attract new business investment by making your com munity a great place to live. Do not purseconomic opportunity that also benefits the environment. And by no means should you plan ahead for what kof community you want to leave your children and g randchildren. How did they manage to do all this? By passa resolution condemning sustainability and a 20-year-old United Nations blueprint called Agenda 21, deem inall part of a vast conspiracy at work in Americas local governments. Thousands of mayors and county leadenationwide understand the plain truth about sustainability. To be sustainable is to balance economenvironmental and social concerns, and to think about how our actions today will affect future generations.practice, it is about helping our communities save energy and money, create more transportation choicpreserve clean air and bring economic prosperity in the procehttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120319/COLUMNIST0150/303190007/Patrick-Henry-Hays-Sustainabilitystrengthens-our-communities?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Editorial: No harm in talking (Com mercial Appeal)Extra time could be useful: A year's delay would give all parties time to consider the schools merger issue inless contentious manner. A proposal to delay the merger of Memphis and Shelby County schools, along withcorresponding freeze in the push to create suburban municipal school districts, is an idea worth discussiDelaying the effective date of the merger for one year could give all parties breathing room to view the mergwith a sharper focus on how a single county district could lead to a quality education for all children. CurrenMemphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools are working toward merging into a unified county schdistrict by the start of the 2013-2014 school year. The county's suburban municipalities, where resistance tocountywide district has been strong, are moving to create their own individual school districts. TransitPlanning Commission member David Pickler, who is also a member of the unified school board now governcity and county schools, proposed the one-year delay in the effective date of the merger. He says the additio

time would give the community a chance for a more thorough and meaningful debate over the future of pubeducation. That is a high-minded thought, and one that makes practical sense, given what it will take for tmunicipalities to have their school districts ready to go by the beginning of the 2013 school year. The same hotrue for the TPC and unified school board's task to merge the two systems.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/19/editorial-no-harm-in-talking/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Times Editorial: Dealing with severe weather (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)There are many reminders of the waves of deadly tornadoes that struck here last spring and the similadangerous string of storms that pummeled the region earlier this month. There are the physical reminders in form of damaged property, ravaged landscape and still-rebuilding infrastructure. There are emotional scars, well, present in people who suffered the storms' fury first-hand and in those who witnessed the devastat
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following them. Another legacy is the increased desire by area residents to do something to help thcommunities prepare for future outbreaks of severe weather. The SkyWarn program provides that opportunSkyWarn is the National W eather Service's volunteer network that trains individuals to identify and descrsevere storms in their hometowns. It's a valuable program. Currently there are almost 290,000 trained spotteacross the county. The group is an important adjunct of the W eather Service, providing meteorologists there winformation that helps the service to issue timely warnings to those in the path of possibly death-dealing weathThere's no doubt the services of the spotters are valuable. W eather Service officials say that the work of volunteers enables the agency to issue more accurate warnings for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flafloods. Area residents need no reminder that statement is true. Information gathered by storm spotters last sprand earlier this month provided details that allowed the W eather Service to issue detailed warnings that in macases provided additional minutes needed for those in harm's way to seek life-saving shelter. What better wayassist friends and neighbors?http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/19/dealing-with-severe-weather/?opiniontimes

Free-Press Editorial: Public again says it dislikes ObamaCare (TFP)The sheer staying power of the dislike that so m any Americans feel toward ObamaCare is a testament to broad public understanding that the complicated, expensive law was a bad idea from the outset -- to say nothof the fact that it violates the Constitution's limits on federal power. That unpopularity has been evident in literascores of Rasmussen Reports opinion polls of likely voters since ObamaCare was signed into law about tyears ago. In all but one of those surveys, a majority said the law ought to be repealed. Now, an AssociaPress-GfK survey also shows how much the law is disliked. It found that only 35 percent of Americans suppthe law, while 47 percent oppose it. And about six in 10 say they oppose the most objectionable provisionObamaCare -- its mandate that virtually all Americans buy federal government-approved insurance or be fineThat requirement is unconstitutional, and it justifies the Supreme Court striking down ObamaCare when it ruon the law later this year.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/19/obamacare-unpopular-still/?opinionfreepress

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