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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

State Democrats announce 6-day tour to focus on creating jobs (C

Paper/Woods)State House Republicans held hearings Wednesday into burdensome business regulations, and Democrannounced they w ill go on a statewide tour of Tennessee to talk to the public about how to create jobs he“Across the country and here in Tennessee, we are stuck in a jobs crisis, and it’s going to take everyone worktogether to get us out of it,” House Dem ocratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh said. “Jobs are the num ber one priority Tennesseans, and they also must be the top priority for their elected officials.” Democrats said their six-day towill include visits to Memphis, Jackson, Murfreesboro, Columbia, McMinnville, Knoxville and Cookeville, amoother cities. The House GOP Small Business and Economic Development Task Force heard from busineowners about regulations that they believe are hindering job growth. The hearing opened with testimony fro

Richard Skiles, a pharmacist in Kenton. He predicted that within 10 years, community pharmacies will ceaseexist because of too many regulations and com petition from big companies.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/state-democrats-announce-six-day-tour-focus-cre ating-jobs

Legislators focus on job creation (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Humphrey)Panel meets small business owners Tennessee legislators have divided into partisan groups for separaproclaimed quests to find ways of helping create new jobs while Gov. B ill Haslam is in California this week wthe same mission. On Wednesday, a House Republican Task Force heard testimony from small busineowners on what can be done at the state level. There were some complaints that unemployment benefits, whnow can run up to 99 weeks, make it hard to find workers to accept available jobs. House Dem ocrats announcthey would make a six-day tour of the state soliciting comment on job creation from businessmen, local officand the general public starting Sept. 19. A Sept. 23 stop is planned in Knoxville. Rep. Jimmy M atlock, R-Len

City, who chairs the House GOP Small Business and Economic Development Task Force, said he was happyhear that Democrats have the same objective and the effort warrants bipartisan cooperation.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/07/legislators-focus-on-job-creation/ 

On the Job Hunt (Missouri News Horizon)Tennessee Democrats say they’ll soon embark on a statewide policy-seeking tour to get to the bottom of hbest to create jobs. Republicans say they’ve already figured out that the real problem with the economy is at very top — and not of Tennessee, but the nation. Calling it a “tough job to create jobs,” House Minority LeadCraig Fitzhugh said he and fellow statehouse Democrats want to “look under every stone” in search of placwhere new jobs could be sprouting up — and find out what’s giving the businesses cultivating them confidence to grow in these times of doubt. “Across the country and here in Tennessee, we are stuck in a jocrisis, and it’s going to take everyone working together to get us out of it,” said Fitzhugh. High-rankRepublican lawmakers said Wednesday they agree that few are immune to the country’s economic pain. Bthey place blame for the prolonged suffering at the feet of one man in particular.http://missouri-news.org/midwest-news/tennessee/on-the-job-hun t/8818

Tennessee 'too easy' on jobless, GOP lawmaker says (Commercial Appeal/LockeMatlock favors repeal of unemployment benefits extension The chairman of a state House Republican task foon jobs and economic growth said Wednesday that he favors repealing the 20-week extension of unem ploymbenefits enacted this year "to incentivize people to get back in the workforce." The remarks from Rep. JimMatlock, R-Lenoir City, came after the panel heard from several small-business owners summoned to presetheir views to lawmakers on how the state can help create jobs. Most said they want less regulation and lowworkers' compensation premiums, but one cut-rate retailer from Winchester said he has had trouble filling

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couple of jobs because people were either not qualified or didn't want to drop their unemployment benefits. Tprompted Matlock to raise the possibility of repealing the m easure that lawmakers narrowly approved in Mextending jobless benefits from a maximum 79 weeks to 99 weeks. "We're making it too easy. We've gotincentivize people to get back in the workforce," he said. "I think we've stretched it out too far." Tennesselatest unemployment rate was 9.8 percent for the month of July.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/08/state-too-easy-on- jobless/ 

Haslam Names Lottery Board Member (TN Report)Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced his appointment of Craig Powers to the Tennessee Lottery boof directors. “Craig brings a great combination of business sense and a passion for education to the TennessLottery board of directors,” Haslam said. “The lottery provides students across the state with valuable scholarsdollars to further their education, and I appreciate Craig’s willingness to serve in this important role.” Powers, serves as the manager of the natural gas construction and maintenance division of the Mem phis Light, Gas aWater Utility Service. He has served as an adjunct professor of Southwest Tennessee Community College the past decade, and he is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Public GAssociation and Southern Gas Association. “I believe education can change a person’s course in life, and HOscholarships have helped thousands of Tennessee students tap into money for higher education to help thachieve their dreams,” Powers said.http://www.tnreport.com/2011/09/haslam-names-lottery-board-member/ 

Weeks among three appointed to Tennessee Board of Regents (State Gazette)Dyersburg's own Linda W eeks was one of three appointed to serve the Tennessee Board of Regents by Gov. Haslam, according to a press release issued on Monday by the governor's office. Dyersburg State CommunCollege Associate Professor of English Linda S. Weeks will join the board with fellow newcomer Donald LGatts III. Tom Griscom has been reappointed to his position on the board. The 18-member Tennessee BoardRegents is the governing body of the Board of Regents system, which includes Tennessee's technology centecommunity colleges and four-year public universities unaffiliated with the University of Tennessee. The booversees the educational and operational activities of the statewide system. The governor serves as an ex offvoting member of the board and, by election, as chair. "It is a privilege to have these three citizens serve tstate of Tennessee in this capacity," said Haslam.http://www.stategazette.com/story/1760002.html

Haslam reappoints Griscom to Board of Regents (Nooga)

Gov. Bill Haslam announced Tuesday the reappointment of Tom Griscom to the Tennessee Board of Regenalong with the appointment of Donald Lee Gatts III and Linda S. Weeks. Griscom, who represents the District on the board, is the former executive editor and publisher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He apreviously served as director of communications for the Reagan administration. A graduate of the UniversityTennessee at Chattanooga, Griscom has served on the Board of Regents since former Gov. Phil Bredesappointed him in 2010. The Board of Regents system includes all four year colleges and universities affiliated w ith the University of Tennessee, along with Technical and Com munity Colleges.http://www.nooga.com/15828_haslam-reappoints-griscom-to-board-of-regents/ 

SCORE announces finalist for reform award (Knoxville News-Sentinel/McCoy)The State Collaborative on Reforming Education, also known as SCORE, has announced finalists for the fiyear of its SCORE Prize Award — which recognizes the elementary, middle, high school and distr ict

Tennessee that has most dramatically improved student achievement in spite of challenges. Among the finalists are several area schools and districts. In the elementary school category, Fairview ElementaryAnderson County and John Sevier Elementary in Maryville. Maryville High also placed in the high schcategory. At the district level, both Maryville City Schools and Loudon County Schools were named finalisSCORE will award the winner in each of the school categories with $10,000 and the district will receive $25,0Winners are chosen in a two-step process.First they were identified through a multi-staged criteria selectiprocess that set benchmarks for attendance, test scores and college-readiness and college-enrollment ratSite visits were then made to the finalists to document the policies and practices that have enab led schools adistricts to make gains in student achievement.Winners will be announced on Sept. 20 in Nashville.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/07/score-announces-finalist-for-reform -award/ 

Law enforcement agencies crack down on synthetic drug sales (City Paper/Nix)

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Law enforcement agencies W ednesday executed multiple search warrants in an effort to crack down on the resale of synthetic drugs in mid-state convenience stores. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, along wfederal, state and local law enforcement agencies, seized products sold a t the stores, marketed under the guof incense, plant food or bath salts. Police said the synthetic products, banned early this year, mimic the effeof marijuana or methamphetamine, but are potentially very dangerous. According to TBI officials, 36 seawarrants were executed, while more than 12,000 packets of synthetic drugs were seized, as of late Wednesdafternoon. At the request of the 16th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, the TBI and the TennessAttorney General’s Office launched the investigation, dubbed “Operation Synful Smoke.” According to a Trelease, undercover agents made about 150 visits to more than 60 Rutherford County convenience storbetween June and August, and were able to purchase the synthetic drugs, banned earlier this year.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/law-enforcement-agencies-crack-down-synthetic- drug-sales

Raids target illicit synthetic drugs (Gannett)State, federal and local law enforcement agencies swarmed 36 convenience stores throughout RutherfCounty Wednesday, enforcing the state’s newest laws on illicit synthetic drugs via “Operation Synful SmokHeaded by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the effort targeted stores selling synthetic cannabinoid- amethcathinone-containing products similar to Vampire Blood and Molly’s Plant Food, but sold under a varietytrade names and marketed under the guise of incenses and bath salts. More than 23,000 units of cannabinoand bath salts were confiscated in the effort, along with $44,500 cash. TBI Director Mark Gwyn told The DaNews Journal the searches were executed at five stores in Rutherford County, 18 in Murfreesboro, five

Smyrna and eight in La Vergne. All of the searches were initiated at 10:30 a.m. Undercover agents purchasthe synthetic drugs over the past several months and the TBI’s crime lab analyzed the content of the productsensure they contained illicit synthetic materials, according to Gwyn. “All of that work culminated in todaoperation,” he said Wednesday.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS01/309080045 /Raids-target-illicit-synthetic-drugs?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Drugs in Stimulants Banned for a Year (New York Times)The Drug Enforcement Administration will temporarily ban three synthetic chem icals found in recreational druknown as bath salts. The stimulants have been linked to episodes of violence and extreme paranoia. The thchemicals, mephedrone, methylenedioxypyrovalerone and m ethylone, will be banned for at least a year while government studies whether to ban them permanently.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/us/08brfs-DRUGSINSTIMU_BRF.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper(SUB)

Davidson's drug court faces an uncertain future (Tennessean/Gee)As it marks its 15th year, the Davidson County D rug Court can look back and celebrate its evolution from experimental program in a dilapidated former state mental hospital to a pioneering treatment facility that hgarnered national attention. But as some of Nashville’s most prominent figures heaped praise on the court atAug. 24 fundraiser and roast of its presiding judge, Criminal Court Judge Seth Norman, one couldn’t help bwonder what happens next. The program — which isn’t really a “court” but a sentencing alternative for nonviolfelons with substance abuse problems — is Norman’s brainchild and passion. Lawmakers at the roast said tformer Democratic state representative is a common sight in the halls of the legislature lobbying for the monnecessary to keep his vision alive. Norman’s long-term future at the helm of the drug court is uncertain, howevHe’ll be 80 years old when he comes up for election in 2014 and hasn’t decided whether he’ll run again.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS/309080044/Davidson-s-drug-court-faces-an-uncertain-

future?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Cracker Barrel lawyer named to death row commission (Tennessean/Sisk)Cracker Barrel’s top lawyer has been named to a new commission overseeing the budget for defense of dearow convicts. Forrest Shoaf, the Lebanon-based restaurant chain’s chief legal officer and a senior vice presidewas appointed Tuesday to the Post-Conviction Defender Oversight Com mission. The commission was set earlier this year to review spending on the post-conviction defender, an office that provides counsel to indigeinmates facing the death penalty.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS0201/309070140/Cracker-Barrel-lawyer-named-death-rowcommission?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Enrollment up at UTC, down at Dalton State (Times Free-Press/Trevizo)While UTC's enrollment grew 6 percent this year, Dalton State's fell by 8 percent. University of Tennessee

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Chattanooga's 14th-day numbers show total enrollment increased to 11,429 students, up from 10,781 last yeIts biggest increases were in first-time freshmen and new transfers, which grew more than 11 percent eaMeanwhile, Dalton State College in Georgia, which had seen constant growth over a decade, lost almost 5students this year, data show. This year there were more juniors and seniors than last year. But about 150 fewfirst-time freshmen enrolled and 150 more students didn't come back for their sophomore year, said JJohnson, vice president for enrollment and student services at the college. University System of Georspokesman John Millsaps said the system estimated total enrollment between 315,000 and 320,000 this year,from 311,000 last year. He said official numbers won't be in until at least November.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/enrollment-up-at-utc/?local

Kids can learn Chinese in MTSU program (Associated Press)Tennessee students in grades two through five will be able to get lessons in the Chinese language throuMiddle Tennessee State University. “A Bridge for Better Understanding: Chinese Language and Culture’’ is a lesson series beginning Tuesday and airing weekly through April 18. It’s part of the school’s Confucius Institand Center for Educational Media. The lessons w ill be cablecast in Murfreesboro and surrounding counties.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS04/309060044/Kids-can-learn-Chinese-MTSU -program?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

District lines all but finished (Daily News Journal)The Rutherford County Commission's Redistricting Committee unanimously approved proposed boundary linWednesday that will shrink some fast-growing commission districts. "I went from four schools to zero in distr ict," said Distr ict 1 Commissioner Doug Shafer, a committee member who will have to give up soneighborhoods in northern La Vergne because of growth over the past 10 years. Comm ittee mem ber JohnTaylor, who is a Democratic representative from the county Election Commission, was absent Wednesday. T11-member comm ittee will meet again at 5 p.m. next Wednesday in Room 205 of the County Courthouse in camore tweaking of any boundary lines is needed for the 21 commission districts. The County Commission huntil the end of 2011 to agree to the district boundaries before sending the p lan to the state for ratification. Eacommission district must be within 5 percent of 12,505 residents, based on dividing the county's 2010 UCensus count of 262,604 by 21 districts. The districts will also used in groups of three to determine the sevzones for both the county Board of Education and Road Board memberships.http://www.dnj.com/article/20110908/NEWS01/109080317/District-lines-all-finished-?odyssey=tab|topn ews|tex

FRONTPAGE

Red Light Camera Citations Drop Sharply With New Right Turn Rules (WPL

Radio)New rules restricting the use of red light cameras have resulted in a sharp drop in citations. Drivers caugturning right on red without coming to a complete stop can no longer get one of the automated tickets in the mKnoxville has one of the largest camera systems in the state. And citations in July – when the law took effecwere down 70 percent from the prior month. The city of Clarksville has two intersections where drivers wgetting $50 fines for not making a complete stop on right turns. One intersection experienced a drop of more th40 percent. But Clarksville Police Officer Jim Knoll says he doesn’t see a problem. “If the right on reds werecausing accidents, then that’s great. We haven’t seen any giant jumps in accidents at that intersection. It’s about the revenue for us. It’s about stopping accidents.” A spokesman for the Murfreesboro police says came

there weren’t affected by the change in state law. They only ticket drivers for right hand turn violations whensign is posted.http://wpln.org/?p=300 94

12-cent tax increase OK’d for Unicoi Co. (Johnson City Press)While a second reading must still be approved by the Unicoi County Com mission before it becomes official, commission approved setting the county’s property tax rate at a little more than $2.55 for the 2011-12 fiscal yin a special called meeting held Tuesday. Assuming the measure is passed on second reading without changthe county’s exact property tax rate would be $2.5537 per $100 of assessed value. This represents an increaof 12.37 cents over last year’s rate of $2.43. “There’s a lot of things in here that we’ve discussed and certainagain, we don’t all agree with everything that’s in here,” Com missioner Mickey Hatcher said o f the tax rate p

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to the commission’s vote. “At this point in time, I think it’s necessary to m ove forward and, certainly, we calways fine tune somewhat, but I don’t think we can do much better unless we cut services.” The measure to the property tax rate at $2.5537 passed by a vote of 8-1, with Commissioner Kenneth Garland casting the lodissenting vote.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=94099#ixzz1XMC2eXQl

E. Tenn. delegates wary of jobs talk (Knoxville New s-Sentinel/Collins)Obama to give speech to Congress today U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais says he's trying to keep an open mabout the jobs package President Barack Obam a will deliver tonight to Congress, but he suspects it's politics, the weak economy, that is motivating the White House to act. "I really don't have high hopes this will be mumore than a political stunt," the Jasper, Tenn., R epublican said. "But I'll withhold judgment until I hear him." Wunemployment stuck at 9.1 percent and his approval ratings hovering at an all-time low, Obama will spell outa joint session of Congress his prescription for putting Americans back to work and getting the economy backtrack. Few details have been made public, but the White House's plan reportedly will call for $300 billion in cuts and spending over the next year. Key provisions are likely to include a one-year extension of a payroll cut for workers, the continuation of unemployment benefits, additional tax incentives for businesses to hworkers, and more bridge and road construction. Members of the all-Republican East Tennessee congressio

delegation say that while they are willing to hear Obama out, they fear his economic proposals won't go enough to encourage the kind of long-term growth needed to boost consumer demand and persuade companto start hiring again.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/08/local-delegation-opines-about-obamas-upcoming/ 

Blackburn invites Gibson CEO to Obama speech (Nashville Business Journal)Two weeks after his company was raided by federal agents — for the second time in two years — G ibson GuCEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be a guest at President Obam a’s address to a joint session of Congress ThursdIn a statement released this afternoon, R epublican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn said Juszkiewicz w ill be “special guest.” “Gibson Guitar is at the heart of this jobs debate, and is an example of exactly why PresidObama has it wrong when it comes to getting our economy back on track,” Blackburn said in a stateme“Maybe if the President spent more time finding real solutions to empowering small business owners and le

time hindering businesses like Gibson, we'd see more new jobs being created. “Small businesses under tleadership of executives like Henry are the key to getting our nation’s economic engine running again. W hile President is busy delivering speeches, small business leaders like Henry are busy trying to deliver results. Tbest thing President Obama could do is seek their advice, then get out of the way. Big government doescreate jobs, small businesses like Gibson Guitar do.”http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/09/07/blackburn-invites-gibson-ceo-to-ob ama.html

Gibson CEO to attend Obama speech as Rep. Blackburn's guest (CP/Garrison)Two weeks ago, Gibson G uitar Corp. CEO Henry Juszkiewicz went on the offensive before reporters, bemoanthe “overreaching federal government” one day after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents raided his Nashvfacility. On Thursday evening, the Nashville Gibson executive will have a seat in the House gallery as PresidBarack Obama delivers a highly anticipated address on job creation in front of a joint session of Congre

Juszkiewicz, quickly becoming conservatives’ poster child for supposed federal government intrusion, is tguest of Williamson County conservative U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, who has chosen to pup the embattled CEO as the embodiment of a small businessman simply trying to get by. “Gibson Guitar isthe heart of this jobs debate, and is an example of exactly why President Obama has it wrong when it comesgetting our economy back on track,” Blackburn said in a statement. “Maybe if the president spent more tifinding real solutions to empowering small business owners and less time hindering businesses like Gibson, wsee more new jobs being created.”http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/gibson-ceo-attend-obama-speech-rep-blackbu rns-guest

CEO of Gibson Guitars will be Blackburn's guest at Obama's speech (CA/SullivaGibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn's guest at President Barack Obamspeech on job creation tonight to a joint session of Congress, her office announced Wednesday. Juszkiewicz h

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said he felt "totally abused" when U.S. Fish & Wildlife agents searched the company's Memphis and Nashvplants looking for illegal sawn ebony and rosewood used for fingerboards. After the Aug. 24 Memphis raid, said the government was attempting to intimidate. Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican whose district includparts of east Shelby County, did not say she found fault with the raids in the statement released Wednesday. Bshe did say: "Maybe if the president spent more time finding real solutions to empowering small-business ownand less time hindering businesses like Gibson, we'd see m ore new jobs being created." The production line guitar assembly was affected by the raid in which some guitar parts were seized.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/07/ceo-gibson-guitars-will-be-rep-marsha-blackburns-g/ 

Gibson Guitar CEO to Join Blackburn for Obama Address (Memphis Daily News)Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be the special guest of U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn at PresidBarack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress Thursday night, Sept. 8. The president is scheduledunveil a jobs proposal. Blackburn released a statement explaining why she’s b ringing along the CEO of Gibsa company that added hundreds of jobs over the last two years but whose Nashville and Memphis facilitrecently were raided over wood that’s allegedly illegally m anufactured. “Gibson Guitar is at the heart of this jodebate, and is an example of exactly why President Obama has it wrong when it comes to getting our econoback on track,” Blackburn said. “Maybe if the president spent more time finding real solutions to empowersmall-business owners and less time hindering businesses like Gibson, we’d see more new jobs being createGibson’s CEO told The Daily News his company’s Memphis and Nashville plants are back up and runni

following the raid by federal agents. But, he said, production is not back to normal levels because of the fedseizure of a substantial amount of inventory.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/8/gibson-guitar-ceo-to-join-blackburn-for-obama-address/ 

Blackburn Makes Jobs-Case with Gibson (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Gibson Guitar is getting some support from elected officials after federal authorities raided its plants in Nashvand Mem phis last month. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agents seized w hat is thought to be illegally imported rosewoCongressman Marsha Blackburn of Brentwood is bringing Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz as her “special guewhen the President makes his speech on jobs to a joint session of Congress Thursday night. Juszkiewicz hlashed out at the federal government for targeting Gibson. “We are one company that’s manufacturing in United States, that’s hiring people, that’s succeeding in exporting, and yet the government is spending m illionsdollars on this issue.” In a statement, Congressman Blackburn – a Republican – says if President Obama w o

spend more time empowering businesses and less time hindering them – quote – “we’d see more new jobeing created.”http://wpln.org/?p=300 96

Fleischmann mostly faces backers in town halls (Times Free-Press/Carroll)When congressmen take to the town hall circuit, they often say they’ll talk with constituents from all walks of to get a better idea of their district’s needs. U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann w as no exception. In an Aug. 23 nerelease, the first-term Chattanooga Republican said he would meet residents from “all over the district” to “brepresent them in Washington.” But out of eight town hall meetings held in Hamilton County last week, sevwere in dead-red Republican territory, according to the latest election data. “It’s a very smooth political movHamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Paul Smith said. “He has big weaknesses, so he’s playing to strengths.” Jordan Powell, Fleischmann’s press secretary, denied political gamesmanship. “Chuck heard fropeople all across the spectrum of beliefs and viewpoints,” Powell said. While Fleischmann’s 3rd Congressio

District has chosen a Republican representative since 1994, local voting numbers paint a more complex pictuLast November, Democratic nominee John Wolfe won the most votes in 39 of 128 Hamilton County votprecincts (Wolfe earned 32 percent of votes districtwide, while Fleischmann netted 48 percent in the geneelection).http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/fleischmann-mostly-faces-backers-town-halls/?local

Fleischmann letter seeks contributions (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Carroll)In the same letter calling his political opponents “hired guns,” U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann asked supporters campaign money so he’ll be “prepared to fight back.” The letter surfaced on the heels of an outdoor protagainst the freshman Republican and shows the campaign is thinking about re-election — somethFleischmann’s staff said it wasn’t doing over the summer. Fleischmann’s main fundraising organization emaithe letter to an undisclosed list of supporters. The Times Free Press obtained a copy. In the first paragra

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Fleischmann mentions his recent series of 16 town hall meetings in Southeast Tennessee’s 3rd District, includeight in the Chattanooga area. He describes his critics as “far left” and predicts future opposition and protes“That’s why I need your help now,” the letter states. “Please make an immediate online contribution to my election campaign.” In a statement, Jordan Powell, Fleischmann’s spokesman, sidestepped the questionwhether the congressman was actually focused on his re-election over the summer despite saying he wasn’t.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/fleischmann-letter-seeks-contributio ns/?local

Howard-Hill plans to challenge Fleischmann in GOP primary (Nooga)Two-time congressional hopeful Dr. Jean Howard-Hill said this week she plans to challenge Rep. ChuFleischmann in next year's Republican primary. Hill casually ran for her party's nomination in both 2008 a2010. But this time she's serious. "I want to see civility, dignity and respect brought back to the process," Hill sain a phone interview. "We owe it to the generation of young people to show we can sit down at the table awork out common issues. There is a need to return government back to the people." Hill is perhaps most wknown in the Chattanooga area for her "Pull up your Pants and D ress For Success" campaign in 2008, when sgenerated headlines by patrolling the campus of UTC and yanking up the sagging slacks of African Americmales. When outlining her platform, Hill says more than anything she hopes to be a true representative of people by presenting constituents with issues and listening to their input.http://www.nooga.com/15852_howard-hill-plans-to-challenge-fleischmann-in-gop-primary/ 

States ask colleges to perform for m oney (Stateline)Speaking to higher education leaders from across his state last month, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon laid ounew goal for public colleges and universities: funding based on student performance. “Our current fundapproach is disconnected from statewide goals and needs,” the governor said. “It doesn’t give policy makersor the public — confidence that the money we invest in public higher education … is being used in the meffective way possible.” In moving toward incentives for meeting state-mandated goals, Missouri would joinnumber of states that have recently adopted or are considering performance, or outcomes-based, fundmodels in higher education. The move comes at a time of increased national emphasis on college graduatiPresident Obama has called for the U.S. to lead the world in the proportion of its young people with colledegrees by 2020. Missouri’s model would apply only to increases in state funding after fiscal year 20awarding each college and university a share of new state funds based on their ability to meet targets set in fcategories. While a state task force is still hammering out the details, Nixon mentioned student retention agraduation, performance on professional certification exams and low tuition as some of the targets colleg

might be asked to shoot for.http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=59 8855

Political odd couple head supercommittee (Associated Press/Kellman)He’s a lanky Texas conservative who chose law school over chicken farming. She’s a liberal from Seattle wsteel in the toes of her famous tennis shoes. They have almost nothing in common. Republican Rep. JHensarling and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray are the C apitol’s latest odd couple, two of Congress’ most partislawmakers co-chairing the new supercommittee that begins work today on a bipartisan deal to slow the natiomushrooming debt. They have plenty of reasons to get to “yes.” Blowing a Thanksgiving deadline for a planshave federal deficits by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade would trigger automatic cuts to defense asocial programs dear to their respective parties. Failure also wouldn’t do much for Congress’ standing in the eyof j ittery investors or the public going into next year’s elections. But “no” beckons, too. Hensarlin

uncompromising demands for spending cuts appeal to a Republican base that party leaders are depending ondefend their House majority.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS/309080029/Political-odd-couple-head-supercommittee?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Primary-Care Doctors Push for Raise (Wall Street Journal)Primary-care physicians are pressing the agency that oversees Medicare to change a payment system they splaces a higher value on work done by specialists. The Am erican Academy of Fam ily Physicians has sent a ledemanding changes to a committee that plays a key role in Medicare's process for setting physician paymenThe academy wants the panel to add more members representing primary-care groups, among otadjustments. The academy also has set up a task force to propose new methods for calculating Medicareimbursement for many of the services provided by primary-care doctors. It started meeting in August and

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supposed to have proposals in six to nine months. In addition, a group of six primary-care doctors practicaround Augusta, Ga., filed a lawsuit last month in a Maryland federal court, challenging the Medicare agencreliance on the committee, which is convened by the American Medical Association and is known as the RelatValue Scale Update Committee, or RUC. The suit, which targets the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Servicand its parent agency, the Department of Health and Hum an Services, says the panel's role violates the lgoverning federal advisory committees.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903648204576554903022884780.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

TVA D ownsizes Clean Energy Program (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Government incentives that helped fuel a sort of solar power boom in Tennessee are being pulled back. Tsays the cost has become unsustainable. The program gives home owners or businesses cash and low-cloans to pay for wind m ills or more often rooftop solar panels. TVA heavily advertised the program last ye“Generation Partners was created so TVA and local power companies could work with customers to creclean, green energy.” More than 600 projects are operating with another 200 approved. And too many of thare big offices and manufacturers. So TVA is now limiting the program to systems smaller than 50 kilowaroughly the amount needed to power a single home. Vice president of comm ercial operations John Trawick saTVA has an “obligation” to make sure Generation Partners is available to “the residential and small businessewas originally designed for.” TVA says the cost of solar panels has dropped enough to reduce the need government incentives.http://wpln.org/?p=300 88

TVA exec to head Ladies Hermitage Association board (Associated Press)A Tennessee Valley Authority executive has been chosen chairwoman of the board of the Ladies HermitaAssociation, which operates President Andrew Jackson’s estate in Nashville. Emily J. Reynolds, senior vpresident for government relations at TVA, w as selected by her fellow board members. She also is former chof staff for ex-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. The Hermitage is a 1,120-acre National HistoLandmark with m ore than 30 historic buildings. It has 180,000 visitors annually.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS01/309060043/TVA-exec-head-Ladies-Hermitage-Association-board?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Perry County gamble to attract jobs works (Tennessean/Marsteller)Ailing area attracts company with development package Perry County’s high unemployment rate — just underpercent — has stubbornly persisted despite numerous efforts to combat it, from worker training to governmesubsidized jobs. So, local officials have gotten more aggressive. They arranged to buy at auction a vacaindustrial site valued at around $3 million for just $40,000 — less than the property’s most recent tax bill — thmarketed it to companies for potential occupancy and jobs. The gambit unearthed a taker. NYX Inc., a Michigbased auto supplier, has agreed to turn the site into a $23 million injection molding plant that could hire as maas 400 workers. In return the company’s lease payments would be reduced by up to 60 percent if job targets met. It was the county’s first major economic-development incentive package since the industrial building wconstructed 40 years ago. And more could be com ing, as officials in Perry and other rural counties in Tennessgrow more concerned about long-term job losses.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/BUSINESS/309080068/Perry-County-gamble-attract-jobs-worksodyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Bradley County defers support for industrial park (Times Free-Press/Leach)The Bradley County Commission again this week stopped short of offering support to a proposed joint industdevelopment venture with the city of Cleveland and Cleveland Utilities. By an 8-6 vote, commissioners Tuesday agreed to defer a resolution supporting the Spring Branch Industrial Park to the next work sessiSeveral residents of McDonald and the area surrounding the proposed industrial park site voiced fears over project's impact on the environment and traffic. They said they feared Brymer Creek would suffer from excestorm water and that their roads could be turned into major thoroughfares. McDonald simply could cease to exas they know it now, resident Matt Bentley said. "I feel that both sides have merit in this discussion on whethwe should or shouldn't do this industrial park," Commissioner Adam Lowe said after the vote. Lowe scorporate investment opportunities help keep employment healthy and taxes low, but the community neededfully understand the cost and benefits of such development.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/bradley-defers-support-for-industrial-p ark/?local

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U.S. leaders lack clear vision for job creation (Associated Press)America’s sickly economy can be healed with jobs, jobs and more jobs. On that, everyone agrees. Figuring ohow to produce them is what is stumping everyone. Other than letting time take its course, Washington lacksclear answer on how to create permanent new jobs on a national scale. Forecasters suggest it will take 20 m ilnew jobs over the next 10 years just to repair recession damage and to keep pace w ith adult population growRecent streams of bleak em ployment and economic data drive home the difficulty of the challenge. As Presid

Barack Obama prepares to tackle jobs issues in a speech to Congress on Thursday, deep divisions persamong econom ic policymakers on just how to spur job growth. The speech comes as national polls show a clemajority of those surveyed say they disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy. Lots of schemhave been tried or floated — first under Republican President George W. Bush and now under DemocObama.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/BUSINESS/309080069/U-S-leaders-lack-clear-vision-job-creatioodyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Sumner schools budget cuts could mean loss of 91 jobs (Gannett)There’s not enough money to operate the Sumner C ounty school system the way administrators want to do it,they have to cut millions of dollars and that means cutting jobs. The school board voted 6-5 to cut $5.3 millifrom its 2011-12 budget. The county commission’s education committee will meet today at 4:30 p.m. in a spec

called session to discuss the situation. Director of Schools Del Phillips proposed a list of 37 areas to eliminated or reduced, including 91 jobs. Lost jobs would include 36 bookkeepers, 14 custodians, 11 high schand m iddle school classified employees, 10 adult education employees, four athletic trainers, and three drug aalcohol prevention coordinators from the school system’s Safe Schools, Healthy Students program. Curreneach of Sumner County’s 46 schools has its own bookkeeper. Phillips’ plan calls for eliminating 36 positions akeeping 10 bookkeepers to work in a centralized office. M ore tough cuts call for closing E.B. WilsonHendersonville high school offering afternoon and night-school classes for nontraditional students seekregular diplomas. Nine employees would lose their jobs when the school closes for winter break in Decembsaving $345,000. Forty-one students would be displaced, but Phillips said school officials would work out a pto see those students complete their degrees.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/NEWS/309080042/Sumner-schools-budget-cuts-could-mean-los91-jobs?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Charter school applicant ready to try again before Blount board (NS/Wilson)Supporters of a proposed charter school in Blount County will see their plan go before the county school boatonight for approval. The application was denied at a meeting last month. The chairwoman of the schoofounding board said she is "on the fence" whether the resubmitted application will be approved this go-rou"I'm encouraged some days," said Mary Bogert, "and some days not so encouraged." The school board meetis scheduled for 7 p.m. at the board's Central Office. In an 18-page document, Innovative Education Partnershthe organization seeking the charter school, has addressed every concern the Blount County School Boaraised in denying the first application, Bogert said. School board members said adding a new school to tsystem on short notice would place a financial burden on the system, possibly draining resources from county's 21 other schools. IEP, recognizing a "short-term strain" on the system, counters that the impact wobe "low-cost" in comparison with building and opening a new school.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/sep/08/charter-school-applicant-ready-to-t ry-again/ 

Elected Bodies Sign Off, Next Up Consolidation (Memphis Daily News)The next step in the schools consolidation process is the appointment of seven mem bers to the new countywschool board that takes office Oct. 1. With no debate, Memphis City Council members Tuesday, Sept. 6, gathe final approval necessary for the schools consolidation settlement to become a consent decree. The counvoted 12-0 to approve the settlement worked out by all sides in the federal lawsuit over schools consolidatiThe settlement emerged from mediation sessions in court last m onth. City Council m ember Edmund Ford recused himself from the vote, citing his job as a Memphis City Schools teacher. Ford stressed that his recudid not in any way indicate his opinion of the settlement. Ford has consistently recused himself from votes on schools consolidation controversy because of his job. Council chairman Myron Lowery termed the vote adecision “h is toric .”  http://www.mem phisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/8/elected-bodies-sign-off-next-upconsolidation / 

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Commission picks 25 finalists for seven new school board seats (CA/McMillin)Phrases like "clean slate" and "most important issue" and "bring people together" recurred time and agaWednesday during the Shelby County Commission's marathon session of interviews of applicants for oneseven newly created county school board seats. But even as Memphians and non-Memphians stepped forwto volunteer for what will be a unified 23-member school board including Memphis City Schools board mem band Shelby Coun ty Schools board members, city-suburban tensions continued to be stirred as the com missio

education committee vetted candidates. In all, 81 interviews were conducted, beginning just after noon and gononstop until 9:45 p.m. It was a large mix of candidates, ranging from CEOs of some of the county's msuccessful companies, pastors from every corner of the county, former educators, businessmen abusinesswomen with expertise in mergers, academics who research best teaching practices, PTO presidenschool volunteers and schoolroom mothers and fathers. The commission narrowed the field down to recommendations for the full Commission to consider on M onday for the seven spots.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/07/shelby-county-commission-interviews-prospective-me/ 

County Commission Interviews School Board Applicants (Memphis Daily News)It took Shelby County Commissioners nearly 10 hours Wednesday, Sept. 7, to interview nearly 100 contendfor seven appointments to the countywide school board that takes office Oct. 1. The general governm

committee session with the applicants is a good indicator of what is likely to happen Monday when the fcommission makes the appointments. The seven non-binding straw polls of the commission included selectioby most of the 13-member body. But they selected either three or four finalists each which means there wprobably a lot of shifts in votes M onday when commissioners are limited to one vote each. The appointmecould go several rounds, however, if no candidate gets the required seven vote majority on a first round.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/sep/8/county-commission-interviews-school-board-applicants/ 

Mike Carpenter Resigns County Commission to Head Education Group (M. Flyer)After a tenure characterized by years of both controversy and achievement, Shelby County Commissioner MCarpenter has resigned his position on the commission and will be moving to Naashville to become state direcof the StudentsFirst, a non-profit ad hoc organization devoted to educational reform. Carpenter, a Republicwith notable independence from the party line, disclosed his intentions in a letter Tuesday to commisschairman Sidney Chism, the m an whom he had expected to succeed this year. Carpenter had spent the pyear as vice chair, and the tradition had been that the vice chair of one party succeeded the chairman of anotat the beginning of each new fiscal year. Democrat Chism, however, decided that he wanted to serve as chaira second consecutive year and was able to do so by means of votes from both Democratic colleagues aRepublicans who felt estranged from Carpenter because of his independent tendencies.http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2011/09/06/mike-carpener-resigns-county-commission-thead-education-group

Taking the Leap? (Memphis Flyer)With school merger now a certainty, Memphis' suburbs eye their own systems.With U.S. District Judge HarMays having approved a plan for the merger of Memphis City Schools with Shelby County Schools, and w ithrelevant local parties having signed on to a court-approved memorandum of understanding, much attentionnow focused on the long-range prospect of new municipal school districts in the suburbs as of September 20

when the MCS-SCS merger is completed. Though Mays has so far withheld ruling on that aspect of the NorTodd legislation enacted in February, the prospect of new special school districts is explicitly enabled by the which provides the basic scaffolding for the merger plan approved by Mays. In any case, concrete plans creating independent municipal school systems are being advanced in at least three suburban communitiGermantown, Collierville, and Bartlett. The F lyer last week asked Bartlett mayor Keith McDonald three questioconcerning the likelihood of Bartlett's creating its own school system:http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/taking-the-leap/Content?oid=3048439

Booker T . Washington High School principal suspended for tamperin

(CA/Roberts)Two years before President Barack Obama made Booker T. Washington High famous for grades a

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graduation, the school's principal was home on unpaid suspension for fudging transcripts and faking attendanAlisha Kiner was suspended for one week in July 2009 after administrators confronted her on five allegationincluding that she tampered with attendance data, directed a change in enrollment status that meant sevestudents' test scores would not count against BTW and tweaked schedules so that an athlete's transcript woconform to National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility requirements. In another case, a senior's schedwas changed to reflect courses still needed for graduation. Supt. Kriner Cash said Wednesday that the incidein no way diminish the achievement of the class of 2011, which Obama honored by speaking at thcommencement in May. "There is no evidence Kiner has done anything to diminish the record of achievemethat school has achieved over three years," Cash said.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/sep/08/principal-suspended-in-2009-for-tampering/ 

OPINION

Free-Press Editorial: Flood damage m ight have been worse (Times Free-Press)As alarming as the massive rainfall of the past few days was, what is perhaps more incredible is that it did ncause more harm than it did. The Chattanooga area got about 10 inches of rain in a short period of timcompared with nearly 13 inches in Charleston, Tenn., and about 8 inches in Athens, Tenn. After record drynein August, many in our area had been praying for rain -- and we certainly got it. To be sure, the fast rainfall, pof a tropical storm system, caused its share of damage and at least one tragedy. A local death was attributedthe weather, when a falling tree struck a Chattanooga woman Monday. Meanwhile, thousands temporarily lpower, trees lay across roads in various areas, and homes and cars were damaged. But ironically, the extreheat and dryness that preceded the rain kept the water from doing far more dam age.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/it-might-have-been-far-worse/?opinion freepress

Guest columnist: Charters would have new overseer (Tennessean)School board offers expertise, accountability In Tennessee, elected school boards are charged with governthe public schools and are held accountable not only by the voters but by a myriad of standards set by state afederal law. School boards exemplify local democracy at its most fundamental level — a forum for the publicdebate, discuss, complain and decide — and all in full view. One issue facing school boards with increasfrequency is whether to approve additional schools to the school district and, if so, which schools to add.times, the question is raised not by the public or the board’s own initiative, but by a charter-school applicaRecent legislation has expanded the areas of the state where such applications will be deliberated. In MeNashville Public Schools, it took several years of focused and continual effort to develop a reliable process charter-school applications that leads to a fair determination and approval of excellent schools. The MNauthorizing process has been recognized nationally and will continue to improve.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/OPINION03/309080025/Charters-would-new-overseer?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Guest columnist: Most school boards lack evaluation skill (Tennessean)A charter school is a public school funded by taxpayer dollars. It is a part of the local school system, just as aother school. This means it hires certified teachers, administers the TCAP end-of-year test, and provides specieducation services, to name a few examples. The difference between a public charter school and a traditioschool is simple: Public charter schools are granted more flexibility to operate with fewer regulatory constrainin exchange for greater accountability for student progress. Public charter schools have statutory authorityseek waivers from rules and regulations that make it difficult for traditional schools to focus on the needs of eachild and each child’s potential. Accountability is m easured by AYP (adequate yearly progress) as w ith all puschools, but failure to make AYP at a public charter school will ultimately lead to closure. This is the picture o

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charter school in Tennessee, not a charter school operating in other parts of the country.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110908/OPINION03/309080027/Most-school-boards-lack-evaluation-skiodyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Joe Sullivan: All Online Sales Should Be Taxed (Metro Pu lse)The dispute over whether Amazon.com should collect sales tax on its online sales to Tennesseans needs toresolved. But the solution needs to come from Washington, not Nashville, and it should apply to all onlretailers, not just Amazon. The Main Street Fairness Act, as it’s been dubbed, would accomplish this by allowstates that have adopted uniform sales tax ground rules to collect them on all so-called remote sales to thresidents. Tennessee was in the forefront of the 24 states that, over the past decade, have entered into whaknown as the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement to achieve such uniformity. But the legislation authorizing thto proceed has languished in Congress up to now. Congressional action is needed to override a U.S. SupreCourt decision in 1992 (when Internet sales were still in their infancy) that states could tax the sales only of firthat have a physical presence within their borders. But the court m ade it clear that Congress could set standafor states to extend their reach. And Am azon itself is now on record as supporting “a simple, nationwide systof state and local tax collection, evenhandedly applied to all sellers, no matter their business models, locationlevel of remote sales.”http://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/07/all-online-sales-should-be-taxed/ 

Times Editorial: Obam a, jobs and the GOP (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)There's widespread speculation that President Barack Obama will propose a variety of measures including extension and perhaps expansion of payroll tax relief, possible extension of unemployment benefits, a fedeprogram to underwrite major national infrastructure repair and construction and some business tax cutspromote job creation in his speech to a joint session of Congress tonight. Common courtesy suggests thlegislators listen to the speech before passing judgment on its content. That's not the case. Many Republicaalready are taking shots at what they think the president will say. Sen. Jim DeM int, R.-S.C., a darling of the party, said Sunday on a TV news show that "I don't think the president is going to come out w ith things that really going to create jobs. I'm afraid [Obama's ideas are] just pandering to his base. None of them are like wI've been hearing from businesses all over the country." DeMint concluded by saying, "Frankly, I am so tiredhis speeches, it's going to be hard for me to watch."http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/sep/08/obama-jobs-and-the-gop/?opiniontimes

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