wednesday, may 16 news summary

7/31/2019 Wednesday, May 16 News Summary

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

Haslam Signs States $31.5B Budget (TN Report)Gov. Bill Haslam says he signed the states $31.5 billion spending plan Tuesday, putting into action a stabudget that is $627 million less than this years. In an interview with TNR eport Tuesday afternoon, Haslam shes proud of the budget plan, which spends about $400 m illion more than he originally pitched to lawmakers athe public back in January. The ultimate budget had a lot of the things that we added back in when the revennumbers improved, Haslam said. The state spending plan runs from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. I somebody w ho believes in sma ller government. I also think though, theres critical services that we provide,said. While we want to be really tough on how we spend taxpayers dollars, we also want to make certain wetaking care of people were supposed to.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/05/15/haslam-signs-states-31-5b-b udget/

Haslam appoints assistant to oversee TEAM Act (Nashville Post)Gov. Bill Haslam has tapped Larry Martin to oversee implementation of the Tennessee Excellence aAccountability Management Act. Martin, who will assume his new role as special assistant to the governor May 23, will coordinate and collaborate throughout state government agencies the recruiting of new employethe updating of department performance evaluations and the reviewing of employee compensation, whincludes the salary study funded in the governors fiscal year 2013-14 budget. Getting the TEAM Act passed ilaw was only the beginning of our work, Haslam said in a release. Now we must make sure it is implementeffectively, which includes creating meaningful performance evaluations, truly getting a full picture of employcompensation, and changing the culture now that we can recruit the best and brightest to serve. I am gratethat Larry has agreed to take on this challenge for the taxpayers of Tennessee.http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/5/15/haslam_appoints_assistant_to_oversee_team_act

Tennessee launches new jobs website (Nashville Business Journal)State officials have unveiled a new jobs database to connect job seekers and Tennessee employers. Accordto a state news release, Jobs4TN Online will automatically notify job seekers when positions they are qualiffor are posted. Likewise, it will notify employers when candidates who fit their needs join the site. The new jodatabase is available here.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/morning_call/2012/05/tennessee-launches-new-jobs-website.html

Tennessee upgrades its job search website (Tennessean/Marsteller)Tennessee officials hope upgrades will provide help to workers and employers The state has upgraded arebranded its job search website, hoping the changes will better connect Tennessee employers and job-seekeState officials say the Jobs4TN Online site, www.jobs4tn.gov, goes beyond what other job search sites offer

including more Tennessee-specific information. Two labor experts said that should benefit employers aworkers in the Volunteer State. Jobs4TN Online replaces the states previous site, the Source, which featuopenings placed with the states career centers and those posted by Fortune 500 companies. Jobs4TN Onluses a more robust search engine to add openings posted in newspapers, company sites and private jboards, officials said. The state used more than $200,000 from a federal grant to upgrade its site, said JHentschel, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS01/305160100/Tennessee-upgrades-its-job-search-website?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

New Job Database to Connect Job Seekers with Employers (Clarksville Online)
http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/05/15/haslam-signs-states-31-5b-budget/http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/05/15/haslam-signs-states-31-5b-budget/http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/5/15/haslam_appoints_assistant_to_oversee_team_acthttp://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/morning_call/2012/05/tennessee-launches-new-jobs-website.htmlhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS01/305160100/Tennessee-upgrades-its-job-search-website?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS01/305160100/Tennessee-upgrades-its-job-search-website?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://tnreport.com/blog/2012/05/15/haslam-signs-states-31-5b-budget/http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/5/15/haslam_appoints_assistant_to_oversee_team_acthttp://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/morning_call/2012/05/tennessee-launches-new-jobs-website.htmlhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS01/305160100/Tennessee-upgrades-its-job-search-website?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS01/305160100/Tennessee-upgrades-its-job-search-website?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs


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Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Comm issioner KaDavis announced Monday a new jobs database to help connect job seekers with Tennessee employeJobs4TN Online is a virtual recruiter, automatically notifying job seekers when jobs they may qualify for aposted and notifying employers when candidates who fit their needs register. The online database contapositions from job orders placed directly by Tennessee employers, from Internet sites and from major job seaengines. Jobs4TN Online also identifies available green jobs. The unemployment rate for Tennessee is atlowest since November 2008 and has fallen below the national rate, but it is still too high, said Haslam. WJobs4TN Online, those without a job will have quicker and better access to job openings related to their skiand as we work to make Tennessee an even better place to expand and start a business, we want to heemployers find the employees they need. This system is much more than a traditional job search enginDavis said. Jobs4TN Online offers extensive information for interviews, lists of local training providers and capability to create and send resumes.http://www.clarksvillenow.com/pages/13132273.php

Haslam Says Media Misinterpreting Gateway Sex Law (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Cable news shows continue to lampoon Tennessees new law banning the promotion of gateway sexual activin sex-ed classes. Governor Bill Haslam defends the the measure, which he signed Friday. The law alloparents to sue teachers who condone gateway sexual activity, which has been theorized to include kissingeven holding hands. Gray area or not, teachers employed by the school district are specifically protected frlegal recourse, meaning only an outside instructor from an organization like Planned Parenthood would be opto a $500 fine. The bill was promoted by Republican legislators. Governor Bill Haslam says he only signedbecause it doesnt really alter the states abstinence-focused curriculum. I think if people go back and read bill, I think theyll see its something different than what its been portrayed. Again, I go back to our DepartmentEducation that has said this really doesnt change the practice what were doing in Tennessee.http://wpln.org/?p=37248

Latest Altima rolls off Smyrna Nissan production line (Associated Press/SchelzigNissan on Tuesday celebrated the newest version the Altima sedan rolling off the line at its Smyrna assemplant, m arking the first of several upgrades to the Japanese automaker's first U.S. facility. Bill Krueger, vchairman of Nissan Americas, said at the ceremony that the company's new lithium ion battery plantscheduled to open in September and that production of the latest model of the Pathfinder SUV will start the samonth. Production of the all-electric Leaf is set to begin at the plant in December, while assembly of the Rogueset to come to Sm yrna next year. It will be the first time the small SUV is made in the United States TennessGov. Bill Haslamat the event said the latest version of the sedan should be able to make a run at knocking thToyota Camry off its perch as the country's best-selling car. The Cam ry, which is was updated last fall, is main neighboring Kentucky. "If I happened to work at certain place in Georgetown, Ky., I would be rather nervoabout holding on to that No. 1 ranking," Haslam said.http://www.greenvilleonline.com/viewart/D4/20120515/BUSINESS/120515001/Latest-Altima-rolls-off-Smyrna-Nissan-production-line

Nissan aims high with Altima (Tennessean/Williams)Smyrna plant debuts redesigned family sedan This could finally be the midsize sedan that knocks the ToyCamry from the spot its held for a decade as the best-selling car in America. Company officials stopped shorpredicting such a victory for its new 2013 Nissan Altima, but the implications were clear. The redesigned Altimthe first of which rolled off the assembly line Tuesday at its Smyrna assembly plant, is designed to be a above its competitors including the Camry and the other perennial Altima foe, the Honda Accord aNissan would like nothing more than to have its new sedan reach the top Cynthia Washington of Antiochfive-year Nissan employee, was one of the assembly workers on hand to lead the first Altima off the line Tuesdas TennesseeGov. Bill Haslamwatched from the crowd. I love the car, she said. There were a lot of bumpsalong the way as we were pulling it together, but we overcame those, and were all very proud of it.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS/305160020/Nissan-aims-high-Altima?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Tennessee governor signs second bill on municipal school districts (CA/Locker)Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law today the lesser of two bills lawmakers approved regarding the establishmen
http://www.clarksvillenow.com/pages/13132273.phphttp://wpln.org/?p=37248http://wpln.org/?p=37248http://wpln.org/?p=37248http://www.greenvilleonline.com/viewart/D4/20120515/BUSINESS/120515001/Latest-Altima-rolls-off-Smyrna-Nissan-production-linehttp://www.greenvilleonline.com/viewart/D4/20120515/BUSINESS/120515001/Latest-Altima-rolls-off-Smyrna-Nissan-production-linehttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS/305160020/Nissan-aims-high-Altima?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS/305160020/Nissan-aims-high-Altima?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.clarksvillenow.com/pages/13132273.phphttp://wpln.org/?p=37248http://wpln.org/?p=37248http://www.greenvilleonline.com/viewart/D4/20120515/BUSINESS/120515001/Latest-Altima-rolls-off-Smyrna-Nissan-production-linehttp://www.greenvilleonline.com/viewart/D4/20120515/BUSINESS/120515001/Latest-Altima-rolls-off-Smyrna-Nissan-production-linehttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS/305160020/Nissan-aims-high-Altima?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGEhttp://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/BUSINESS/305160020/Nissan-aims-high-Altima?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE


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new m unicipal school districts in the M emphis suburbs. Senate Bill 2908 by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, the ban on the creation of new municipal school districts in the section of Tennessee law governing municigovernments, effective with the transfer of administration of Memphis City Schools to the Shelby County boardeducation in August 2013. T hats the same time the ban will be lifted under the provisions of last years NorTodd Act, or Public Chapter 1, but that measure lifted the ban in the section of Tennessee law governeducation, not the section on m unicipal governments. Norris told the Senate last month when the bill passed tSB 2908 doesnt change any deadlines or accelerate anything, but rather cross-references and clarifies lifting of the ban in a separate section of Tennessee Code overlooked last year. The governor last week signinto law the more important of this years two bills on the issue: House Bill 1105http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/15/tennessee-governor-signs-second-bill-municipal-sch/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Governor signs tattoo legislation (Associated Press)A proposal that seeks to crack down on the tattooing of minors has been signed into law by Gov. Bill HaslaThe measure, signed by the Republican governor this week, unanimously passed the Senate 31-0 and wapproved 86-6 in the House. The law makes it i l legal for anyone who is unlicensed to possess tattooparaphernalia. The measure also encourages reporting incidents of underage tattooing to the HeaDepartment. Those making the report might be a police officer or someone in education, such as a teacherschool resource officer. Currently, a person under 18 cannot get a tattoo. A 16-year-old can be tattooed to coup an existing tattoo, but only if a parent or guardian is present.http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-tennessee-news-sports-business-and-entertai-ar-1986848/

Measure to allow students to opt out of activities (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a measure that allows parents to opt their children out of extracurricular schactivities.Under the legislation, schools would notify parents about the activities "by way of student handbookspolicy guidebooks. Sponsors have said those parents who don't want their children to participate in a certactivity can send a note to the school. The legislation unanimously passed the Senate 31-0 and was approv75-14 in the House.http://www.wbir.com/news/article/219964/2/Measure-to-allow-students-to-opt-out-of- activitie

Tennessee gets OK to hike private equity, include strategic lending (P&I)Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, Nashville, can increase its target private equity allocation to 10

from 5% under legislation signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. The law also expands the types of privaequity investments the $31.3 billion retirement system can make to include strategic lending, but only throuDec. 31, 2017. Previously, Tennessee Consolidated could invest only in domestic and international ventucapital, corporate buyouts, mezzanine and distressed debt, special situations and secondary funds. MichBrakebill, chief investment officer, said in a telephone interview that strategic lending is intended to consume extra 5% allocation. What we're doing there is basically any kind of non-investment-grade lending strategiThat's what that is intended to do, whether it's bank loans or mezzanine or high yield or some distressstrategies, Mr. Brakebill said. The retirement system's investment com mittee, along with investment consultStrategic Investment Solutions, recommended the additional allocations. Mr. Haslam signed the bill May 10.http://www.pionline.com/article/20120515/DAILYREG/120519944/tennessee-gets-ok-to-hike-private-equity-include-strategic-lending

Stretch of Tenn. 385 named for Gov. Dunn (Commercial Appeal/Locker)Tenn. 385, the eastern semi-circle roadway linking the M emphis suburbs, is about to have a third name on it: Governor Winfield Dunn Parkway. Gov. Bill Haslam signed House Bill 3373, unanimously approved by the stlegislature last month, designating the stretch of Tenn. 385 from its intersection with U.S. 70 near ArlingtonU.S. 72 at Collierville "in tribute to" the former Memphis dentist who in 1970 was elected Tennessee's fRepublican governor in 50 years. Dunn, 84, now lives in Sumner County. In 1998, the legislature named portion of Tenn. 385 that was then known as Nonconnah Parkway as the Bill Morris Parkway, stretching fromintersection with I-240 in southeast M emphis to Collierville. Morris is a former Shelby County mayor and sheThe following year, lawmakers designated the section of Tenn. 385 from U.S. 51 at Millington all the wayCollierville as the Paul W . Barret Parkway, although the highway was only com plete at that time to Interstatenear Arlington. The new designation alters the 1999 act by limiting Paul W. Barret Parkway to the stretch froU.S. 51 to U.S. 72 and re-naming the newer stretch to Collierville after Dunn.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/15/tennessee-governor-signs-second-bill-municipal-sch/http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-tennessee-news-sports-business-and-entertai-ar-1986848/http://www.wbir.com/news/article/219964/2/Measure-to-allow-students-to-opt-out-of-activitieshttp://www.wbir.com/news/article/219964/2/Measure-to-allow-students-to-opt-out-of-activitieshttp://www.pionline.com/article/20120515/DAILYREG/120519944/tennessee-gets-ok-to-hike-private-equity-include-strategic-lendinghttp://www.pionline.com/article/20120515/DAILYREG/120519944/tennessee-gets-ok-to-hike-private-equity-include-strategic-lendinghttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/15/tennessee-governor-signs-second-bill-municipal-sch/http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-tennessee-news-sports-business-and-entertai-ar-1986848/http://www.wbir.com/news/article/219964/2/Measure-to-allow-students-to-opt-out-of-activitieshttp://www.pionline.com/article/20120515/DAILYREG/120519944/tennessee-gets-ok-to-hike-private-equity-include-strategic-lendinghttp://www.pionline.com/article/20120515/DAILYREG/120519944/tennessee-gets-ok-to-hike-private-equity-include-strategic-lending


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http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/stretch-of-tenn-385-named-for-gov-dunn/(SUB)

Math Classes To Share Common Core Next School Year (WPLN-Radio NashvilleThis summer about 15 thousand m ath teachers and school principals in Tennessee will all learn to give the salessons in the classroom. Its part of a push toward Common Core standards, adopted in 45 states to gschools teaching the same material. Officials say not even one in five high-school seniors in Tennessee is reafor college. In particular, Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman says many need help w ith math. Huffman sa

a main idea with Common Core is to narrow the focus of whats being taught, so students understand it, ratthan just pass tests and move on. So less multiple-choice Can you simply m ultiply 6 times 6? much m ore you conceptually understand what 6 times 6 m eans? Do you understand how to apply it? Cou ld you figure when to apply it, when not to apply it? So its much more depth of understanding, higher critical thinking. Thethousand educators getting ready for this fall teach third- through eighth-grad e math.http://wpln.org/?p=372 49

States top banking official seeks balanced approach to regulation (J. City PressA review of regulations on major U.S. banks may be forthcoming, especially after a $2 billion trading loss wJPMorgan Chase was announced last week. W hile many argue tougher restrictions should be enforced in orto prevent other major financial losses, banks, large and sm all, are concerned over the costs associated with regulations. Local certified public accountants and bankers m et Tuesday night at the Johnson City Country Cfor an annual meeting, where Greg Gonzales, Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions commission

gave an overview of whats happening in financial institutions, discussed the consumer protection-finanprotection bureau, the env ironment and Gov. Bill Has lams TNForward Top to Bottom Review recommendations from the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and how banks would be impactIn the 2012 Financial Institutions Top to Bottom Review, some recommendations included providing for a sand sound system of financial institutions, to work with state and federal regulators to determine what burdecould be reduced for community based depository institutions and how to make department processes moefficient and effective.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=100310#ixzz1v1wkS0oa

Latest Polk County rock slide cleared quickly (Times Free-Press/Benton)State and local officials say they'll continue to monitor slide-prone areas of the Ocoee River Gorge's road cut U.S. Highway 64 in Polk County, Tenn., after a small rock slide near TVA's No. 2 powerhouse temporarily clos

one lane of the road overnight Tuesday. The slide occurred about 4.5 m iles from the area where a slide on N10, 2009, damaged the road and left tons of debris that kept U.S. 64 closed for more than five months, accordto Tennessee Department of Transportation officials. Rock slides can damage m ore than roads. Another slideApril 2010 on the other side of the Ocoee River destroyed 60 to 70 feet of the Tennessee Valley Authorithistoric wooden flume built in 1912 to channel water from the river to its electrical powerhouse, newspaparchives show. That slide happened below TVA's Ocoee Dam No. 2. Rain factor TDOT spokeswoman JenniFlynn said rain might have contributed to Tuesday's slide that was reported at 2:30 a.m. between the rafttake-out site and Ocoee Power House No. 2. The slide blocked one lane of traffic until crews moved about fosmall dump-truck loads -- about 40 tons -- of debris to reopen the road by 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, Flynn said.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-polk-slide-cleared-quick ly/?local

Cottonwood doctor loses license to practice following drug arrests (TN/WilemonThe Tennessee Board of M edical Examiners has revoked the license of Dr. Allen R. Walker Jr. of Cottontoafter he was charged w ith drug violations in Sumner County. The action by the licensing board follows Walkearrests in February on state drug charges and in March on federal offenses. Walker, who was already undemonitoring agreement because of a chemical dependency, allegedly wrote prescriptions for his use in the namof his children and other family members, according to the order. An evaluation determined that Walker was safe to practice medicine. The order also states that he inappropriately prescribed controlled substancespatients. Walker voluntarily surrendered his license to practice and agreed not to reapply for at least two yearshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS07/305160060/Cottonwood-doctor-loses-license-practice-following-his-drug-arrests?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

State inspections find 'deficiencies' at abortion-providing clinics (NS/Nelson)
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/stretch-of-tenn-385-named-for-gov-dunn/http://wpln.org/?p=37249http://wpln.org/?p=37249http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=100310#ixzz1v1wkS0oahttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-polk-slide-cleared-quickly/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS07/305160060/Cottonwood-doctor-loses-license-practice-following-his-drug-arrests?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS07/305160060/Cottonwood-doctor-loses-license-practice-following-his-drug-arrests?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/stretch-of-tenn-385-named-for-gov-dunn/http://wpln.org/?p=37249http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=100310#ixzz1v1wkS0oahttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/latest-polk-slide-cleared-quickly/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS07/305160060/Cottonwood-doctor-loses-license-practice-following-his-drug-arrests?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS07/305160060/Cottonwood-doctor-loses-license-practice-following-his-drug-arrests?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews


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Report: Problems now corrected, 'no actual harm' A Tennessee Department of Health inspection earlier this yof two local clinics that provide abortions found several violations. Both clinics have corrected the deficiencithe department said. The state contracted local surveyors to inspect Knoxville Center for Reproductive Hea1547 W. Clinch Ave., on Feb. 21 and Volunteer Women's Medical Clinic, 313 Concord St., on Feb. 22,response to a complaint made by Lisa Morris, a Knoxville woman who has acted as spokeswoman for the PLife Coalition. Morris said in a December letter to the state she was concerned that the clinics might not comwith state guidelines, including "proper employee certification" and "basic cleanliness." The state regulainspects all Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Centers and decided to combine the com plaint investigation withregular survey of the centers, said Shelley Walker, communication and marketing coordinator for TDOH. Walsaid surveyors cited both clinics for "priority 3" violations, which the state defines as deficiencies that caused "actual harm" to patients but had "potential for more than minimal harm." Both clinics submitted a "plancorrection" to fix problems.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/state-inspections-find-deficiencies-at-abortion/

State library hosts War of 1812 workshop (Associated Press)The Tennessee Library and Archives is hosting a workshop on the War of 1812. The free event on Wednesdlasts an hour and begins at 11 a.m. CDT. It will be in the library auditorium, just west of the state CapitolNashville. Archivist Tom Kanon, who has written extensively on the War of 1812, is the speaker. The political amilitary issued will be examined. The event will explore the cause of the war and why Tennesseans wantedfight in it. The session will also point out what resources about the war are available at the state museum aarchive.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/state-library-hosts-war-of-1812-workshop/

State Supreme Court to review appeal request in slayings (NS/Satterfield)The Tennessee Supreme Court on Tuesday signaled a willingness to at least consider the state AttornGeneral's Office's bid to appeal a decision ordering new trials in the January 2007 torture slayings of a KnCounty couple. Rather than dismissing at the onset the state's request to appeal Special Judge Jon KeBlackwood's ruling upending convictions in the slayings of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, the state's high court is inviting debate on the issue instead. In an order released Tuesday, the court is requirattorneys for the defendants at issue in the case to respond to the AG's Office's request for an appeal Blackwood's decision. "Upon consideration of the application, the court desires a response to the applicatiothe high court said in its order. Attorneys for alleged ringleader Lemaricus Davidson, his brother, LetalvCobbins, and Cobbins' pal, George Thom as, have a May 18 deadline to file their respective responses. The stis not seeking to challenge the retrial order in the case of a fourth defendant, Cobbins' girlfriend, VanesColeman.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/state-supreme-court-to-review-appeal-request-in/

Baumgartner faces 7 counts of failing to report felonious activity (NS/Satterfield)Once a revered Knox County Criminal Court judge, Richard Baumgartner on Tuesday shuffled into a fedecourtroom in shackles, accused of covering up the drug-trafficking crimes of the mistress he met via a DrCourt program he helped found. Baumgartner, who sent thousands of people to prison in his nearly two-decalong tenure as judge, was arrested Tuesday as he drove aw ay from his East Knox County farm and hauled iU.S. District Court with shackles on his feet and a chain wrapped around his belly and connected to handcufHe said little during his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley on a seven-count indictmalleging a series of lies he told and crimes he concealed on behalf of mistress and Drug Court graduate DeeCastleman beginning in June 2009, a time during which a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe showed was addicted to prescription painkillers. Simultaneously, he was presiding over one of the most high-procriminal cases in Knoxvil le's history the January 2007 torture slayings of Channon Christian, 21, aChristopher Newsom, 23.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/former-judge-richard-baumgartner-faces-7-federal/

Drug testing plan for welfare recipients faces constitutional hurdles (TN/Wilson)Yolanda Powers is willing to take a drug test in order to qualify for welfare. But she doesnt think peostruggling to get back on their feet should have to pay for it. Like many of the thousands of Tennesseareceiving benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, Powers says new legislatpassed by the state legislature this month doesnt bother her. The legislation, which Gov. Bill Haslam has said
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will sign, is similar in nature to a number of controversial and constitutionally suspect laws in other states. Powers said allowing the state to test for drugs provides a way to make sure state funds are used appropriateYou have to realize that its taxpayers money, she said, and its a lot of people not doing the right thing. WhPowers said state officials werent going to have a problem with the results of her test, she doesnt expectstay on welfare long enough to see the future law and its policies go into effect. Shes in too much of a hurryimprove her situation. After losing her job at a local restaurant, the mother of five and soon-to-be grandmothplans to open a small child care center at her home near Tennessee State University. A corner of her homealready lined with donated books, toys and other things to help care for the four children she expects to havethe day care.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0201/305160108/Plan-test-welfare-recipients-drugs-facesconstitutional-hurdles?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Nashville council's preliminary budget approval sets stage for debate (TN/Cass)The Metro Council gave preliminary approval Tuesday to Mayor Karl Deans budget and tax increase proposaIt really didnt have any choice. The council voted 30-3 for the budget and 30-4 for the 53-cent property tincrease on the first of three required votes for each measure. But those margins were m isleading, because Metro Charter basically forces the council to adopt the mayors budget on the first vote and then start debatingIf the council were to reject the budget before even holding hearings on it, it would take effect anyway, counattorney Jon Cooper explained. The council then would be obligated to approve the tax rate that would needed to fund the budget, he added. Despite those restrictions, several council members said they woabstain from one or both votes, so Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors ordered a roll call for each bill. Tony TenpenJason Potts and Robert Duvall voted against the mayors budget, while Darren Jernigan, Duane Dominy, KaJohnson and Bo Mitchell abstained. Mitchell then joined Tenpenny, P otts and Duvall in opposing the tax increaas the other three abstainers held their positiohttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0202/305160096/Nashville-council-s-preliminary-budget-approval-sets-stage-debate?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Nashville works to reduce domestic violence numbers (Tennessean/Haas)Proposed budget adds 2 more prosecutors for domestic cases Domestic violence prosecutors should be famiwith Jontay Johns. The 29-year-old Nashvillian has been arrested at least 17 times on domestic violence-relacharges since 2001 and has had at least two orders of protection sought against him, court records show. By time he met 23-year-old Jennifer Fitts, he had been sentenced to spend 40 days in jail, according to corecords. Metro police detectives say Johns killed Fitts, his girlfriend, in mid-January in her Lynmeade Cohome. They tracked him down in jail, where he was awaiting trial on charges of aggravated kidnappiaggravated assault and aggravated rape involving a new girlfriend. This was probably inevitable, said Fiaunt, B obbie Lynn Clift. Its just that day to day of feeling the loss just wondering why? That question jburns in my gut. Why? Last year, there were 12,686 reported domestic violence crimes in Davidson Counnine of those were homicides. Two domestic violence prosecutors handled most of those cases, each averagabout 250 cases every week. Mayor Karl Dean says they need help.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS03/305160016/Nashville-works-reduce-domestic-violencenumbers?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Chatt. City Council examines $500,000 request for gang task force (TFP/Haman)Chattanooga City Council members questioned the gang task force, police and fire pension board, and socservice agency budgets on Tuesday. The proposed $209 million city budget, released earlier this month Mayor Ron Littlefield, includes $499,878 for a gang task force created during this fiscal year, which ends Ju30. City Council members are dissecting the mayor's 2013 budget. About 44 percent of the budget goes to tpolice and fire departments while 26 percent is allocated to general government agencies and 22.4 percent is aside for Public Works and Parks and Recreation. Council members are expected to spend the next seveweeks poring over the budget, which must be approved by July 1. Littlefield's chief of staff, Dan Johnson, atask force coordinator Boyd Patterson explained the request, which allocates $50,000 for consulting fe$45,000 for meetings and $13,515 for travel. "You've got big items like consulting fees and meeting expenseJohnson said. "There's going to be an awful lot of meeting going on." Patterson said task force members wotravel to cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago to study anti-gang models that are working now.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/council-examines-500000-request-for-gang-task/?local
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0201/305160108/Plan-test-welfare-recipients-drugs-faces-constitutional-hurdles?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0201/305160108/Plan-test-welfare-recipients-drugs-faces-constitutional-hurdles?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0202/305160096/Nashville-council-s-preliminary-budget-approval-sets-stage-debate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0202/305160096/Nashville-council-s-preliminary-budget-approval-sets-stage-debate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS03/305160016/Nashville-works-reduce-domestic-violence-numbers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS03/305160016/Nashville-works-reduce-domestic-violence-numbers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/council-examines-500000-request-for-gang-task/?localhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0201/305160108/Plan-test-welfare-recipients-drugs-faces-constitutional-hurdles?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0201/305160108/Plan-test-welfare-recipients-drugs-faces-constitutional-hurdles?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0202/305160096/Nashville-council-s-preliminary-budget-approval-sets-stage-debate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS0202/305160096/Nashville-council-s-preliminary-budget-approval-sets-stage-debate?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS03/305160016/Nashville-works-reduce-domestic-violence-numbers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS03/305160016/Nashville-works-reduce-domestic-violence-numbers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/council-examines-500000-request-for-gang-task/?local


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No-tax-hike budget in OR clears first hurdle (Knoxville News-Sentinel)City Council in a 7-0 vote Monday approved on first reading a budget that keeps the property tax rate unchangat $2.39 per $100 assessed value. Second and final reading is scheduled May 29, when another public hearon the proposal will be conducted, City Manager Mark S. Watson said. If approved, it would be the fourth yeaa row without a tax rate increase. Watson said the budget includes 1.5 percent raises for the city's 3employees, adds President's Day as a paid holiday and earmarks $500,000 to assist in needed repairsWoodland Elementary School. The city's coffers were adversely affected by flat sales tax revenue over

Watson said, including about a 5 percent decrease in revenue from the Roane County portion of the city"devaluation" of property values at the residential development formerly called Rarity Ridge also reduced trevenue stream, Watson said. That development is now called The Preserve at Clinch River. The budincludes funding for nine new city positions to help comply with an Environmental Protection Agency mandaterepair leaky sewer lines. It also sets aside funds to match anticipated grants, including $200,000 for the fphase of an ambitious plan to renovate historic Jackson Squahttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/no-tax-hike-budget-in-or-clears-firs t-hurdle/

Knox sheriff pushing for pay increases (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Donilla)Officials with the Knox County Sheriff's Office will seek pay raises for the department today when they meet wthe Knox County Commission to talk about the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Sheriff Jim"J.J." Jones said Monday that he w ill be out of town today, but he asked his top leaders to talk with officials ab

the salary increases. He is seeking a boost in pay for everyone in his department, which includes about 1,0workers, except for himself. Although emp loyees in January received a 3 percent raise, he said his workers still underpaid compared to com parable agencies. He plans to seek another 3 percent hike and a step increafor his staff. If approved, it would cost the county an extra $2.9 million annually. "We're behind and we nethese pay raises," the sheriff said. Jones cited a 2011 Hamilton County survey conducted by an independethird party that studied 15 employers from North Carolina and Tennessee, including agencies in NashvDavidson, Shelby County, Knoxville and Chattanooga. It shows the average pay for a Knox County patrol offiis $37,260 about 19 percent less than that for those in other areas. The average pay for a corrections office$29,500 or 34 percent less.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/knox-sheriff-pushing-for-pay-increases/

Carter budget group hears from school system on funding (Johnson City Press)

On M onday night, the Budget Committee of the Carter County Com mission had its most difficult session so fathe process of setting a budget for the new fiscal year. The committee heard from the Carter County SchBoard, which is asking for an increase of $839,619 for next year, and from County Finance Director IngDeloach, who strongly recommended some of the cuts made in the debt service fund last year should restored. School administrators, principals and teachers nearly filled the Main Courtroom as the committee heafrom the school board about the difficult steps taken to cut the school systems budget request by $1.3 millionfar. Deloach told the committee there were several reasons for the school budget problems, but the biggest wthe systems loss of students. The systems average daily membership has declined by 100 this year. Tdecline has had several drastic impacts on revenue sources. At the state level, it has meant the loss of $204,0in state Basic Education Program funds. Deloach said another $469,782 is being lost at the local level becauthe county schools share of local revenue slipped by 1 percent to the Elizabethton City School System.addition, because the new ratio is determined next April, she said the county should plan for the loss of anothepercent rather than going back and trying to reconfigure nearly a years worth of anticipated revenue.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=100293#ixzz1v1x37e5m

Japan to honor Alexander of Tenn. (Associated Press)Japan is bestowing national decorations on Sen. Lamar Alexander and a Vanderbilt University professor. Tconsulate general's office announced Tuesday that Emperor Akihito is conferring the Order of the Rising SGold and Silver Star to Alexander for furthering U.S. economic relations with Japan. While Alexander wTennessee governor and economic competition between the two countries was tense in the early 1980s, he numerous trade missions to Japan. The recruitment resulted in Nissan building the first Japanese auto assemplant in the U.S. at Smyrna. Bridgestone and Komatsu followed. More than 170 Japanese companies now haTennessee operations accounting for 35,000 jobs. Professor John Haley is receiving the Order of the R ising SGold Rays with Neck R ibbon for furthering the study of Japanese law in the U.S.
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http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/japan-to-honor-alexander-of-tenn/

Freshman lawmakers who vowed change lavish in mailings (Gannett/Kin

Bewley)Republican freshmen w ho came to Congress last year promising to transform Washingtons free-spendculture are no different from most other lawmakers in at least one respect: They mailed out m illions of taxpay

funded fliers and brochures during their first year in office. Tennessees first-term lawm akers were no exceptiRepublican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Jasper spent more on m ass mailings than all but two other House membelast year. He sent 669,436 pieces of unsolicited mail at a cost of $282,385, according to a review of recocompiled by the chief administrative officer of the House. Republican Rep. D iane Black of Gallatin ranked No. spending $194,910 to mail 252,632 brochures, fliers and letters. The states two other freshman lawmakersRepublican Reps. Chuck Fleischmann of Ooltewah and Stephen Fincher of Frog Jump also spent more thmost of their colleagues. They ranked 137 and 147, respectively, each spending more than $80,000.spokesman for DesJarlais said the congressman has made constituent outreach one of his top prioritiesCongress.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS02/305160064/TN-freshman-lawmakers-who-vowed-change-lavish-mailings?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Needy States Use Housing Aid Cash to Plug Budgets (New York Times)Hundreds of millions of dollars meant to provide a little relief to the nations struggling homeowners is bediverted to plug state budget gaps. In a budget proposed this week, California joined more than a dozen stathat want to help close gaping shortfalls using money paid by the nations biggest banks and earmarked foreclosure prevention, investigations of financial fraud and blunting the ill effects of the housing crisis. Califorwas awarded more than $400 million from the banks, and Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed using the bulk of tsum to pay the states debts. The money was part of a national settlement valued at $25 billion and negotiatwith five big banks over abuses in their mortgage and foreclosure processes. The settlement, reachedFebruary after a year of talks and intervention by the Obama administration, was the second-largest in histoinvolving the states, trailing the tobacco industry settlement, and represented the first large-scale commitment banks to provide direct aid to borrowers. As part of the settlement, the banks agreed to pay the states $2billion, money intended to help homeowners and mitigate the effects of the foreclosure surge. But critcomplained that this was the only cash the banks were required to pay the rest comes in the form of cred

for reducing mortgage debt and other activities. Even that relatively small amount has proved too greatemptation for lawmakers.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/business/states-diverting-mortgage-settlement-money-to-other-uses.html?_r=1&hp(SUBSCRIPTION)

Browns Ferry isn't ready to inspect (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sohn)TVA's nuclear operations chief told officials with the Nuclear Regulatory Agency on Tuesday that Browns Ferrnot ready yet for a third and final special NRC inspection to clear its "red" safety rating. "TVA is beginning to sresults [with improvement efforts], but we're not there yet," said Preston Swafford, TVA executive vice presidand chief nuclear officer. "We will not invite an inspection team in until have confidence we are ready. ... I caeven give you a ballpark estimate now when that will be." NRC's regional administrator, Victor McCree, said afthe meeting that the federal regulatory agency will take that answer in str ide. "I wouldn't say that wedisappointed. It is what it is, and our m ajor focus is with the safety of the plant," McCree said. "TVA recogniztheir performance has not been as good as it could be. ... It takes time." NRC placed Browns Ferry in a "rrating last year after NRC and TVA determined in October 2010 that a valve intended to help cool the reactorsan emergency had not been functional in the previous 18 m onths. The NRC's red rating is issued when Nofficials believe a plant has issues of "high safety significance."http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/browns-ferry-isnt-ready-to-inspe ct/?local

World of Bluegrass festival to leave Nashville for Raleigh (City Paper/Greenberg)The International Bluegrass Music Associations World of Bluegrass festival and conference is moving from Nashville Convention Center to Raleigh, N.C., in 2013, according to multiple media reports. An IBspokeswoman declined to confirm the report Tuesday but did say there was a press conference scheduled
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noon W ednesday in Raleigh. NBC-17 reported Tuesday afternoon that Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane wexpected to make the announcement tomorrow. The World of Bluegrass includes a business conference, IBMA Awards show and Fan Fest, which included more than 60 acts last year. In 2011, the Fan Fest had 3,9unique visitors each day for three days and the business conference attracted 1,610 over four days. The laestimated economic impact of the event was more than $4 million in 2008, according to the IBMA. A newsletto IBMA members in November 2011 said that the organization would assemble a task force to look at othprospective sites for the festival. According to BluegrassToday.com, which also reported on the move Tuesdand first reported rumors of the move, festival organizers were concerned about the rising cost factorsdowntown Nashville. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/world-bluegrass-festival-leave-n ashvilleraleigh

Clarksville Jostens adds work (Leaf Chronicle)Jostens announced plans to bring more business into its Clarksville facilities, with local workers expectedabsorb memory book production from Topeka, Kan. That transition will likely add jobs to the Clarksville complwhich already employs about 600 people, according to Jostens spokesman Rich Stoebe. Jostens said 3production jobs in Topeka will be phased out during the shift, which will begin in July. The Topeka plant maiproduces Jostens line of memory books, which most notably includes high school yearbooks. Production shift to Clarksville this fall, Stoebe said, although it is unclear how many new jobs that will bring. We know will be adding certain positions in Clarksville. Thats all part of the transition, Stoebe said. We have to gthrough the transition before we can project (the number of new jobs). The company plans to keep employees in Topeka, mainly in customer service, art, marketing and technical support, according to a nerelease. Jostens Clarksville location has been steadily absorbing jobs and production duties from other locatioacross the country.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120515/MAJOREV ENT/305160006/Clarksville-Jostens-adds-work

Nashville schools' rezoning trial turns focus to charters (Tennessean/Hubbard)Charter schools became a point of contention Tuesday in Metro Nashvilles school rezoning trial, with attornearguing theyre another sign that the district is headed toward resegregating its black and white students. JudKevin Sharp, from the bench, asked Director of Schools Jesse Register if anything prevents charter groups frsetting up w hat amounts to free private schools in Nashville. They are not barred by the rules or law, Regissaid. Arizona-based Great Hearts Academ y which held its first meetings about a proposed charter with mosaffluent w hite families must submit a diversity plan with its request to open a school in Nashville in 20Register said. However, he said the local school board lacks full control over charter schools, since a new stlaw allows all students to attend them. In the past, charters were open only to low-income students and thofrom failing schools. The Metro school board can reject a charter application, Register said, if it doesnt fill education gap or m eet principles such as promoting diversity.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS04/305160074/Nashville-schools-rezoning-trial-turns-focucharters?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Schools Superintendent Rick Smith asks for cash for STEM school (TFP/Hardy)Demolition is nearly complete on a fast-paced project to open a science, technology, engineering and maschool in Hamilton County by August. But now a lack of cash stands to slow construction. While waiting donations to renovate space, the school system may borrow up to $500,000 from its own capital projects fundensure work continues. Donations of goods and services have come in, though Superintendent Rick Smith sthe school system still needs to purchase m aterials and services to m ove forward. Smith placed the transrequest on Thursday's Board of Education agenda. "Any further delay in our ability to purchamaterials/supplies/services w ill jeopardize having the project ready for occupancy this fall," he wrote in materprovided to school board members. Hamilton County received a $1.8 million state grant to fund the STEprogram -- $1 million for a school and $850,000 for an associated "hub" to house partnering organizations.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/smith-asks-for-cash-for-stem-school/?local

Memphis City Schools teachers get test results (Com mercial Appeal/Roberts)About 80 percent of Memphis City Schools' 6,400 teachers scored well enough on their new evaluations tofairly confident about their jobs. The remaining 1,350 are performing below expectations. Those not terminatwill have to make measurable gains in the coming year to keep their jobs. The district released the final sco
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late Monday after spending the day informing an unknown number they were being terminated. Principals mathe recommendation to Supt. Kriner Cash. District staff, including Cash, would not respond to questions abthe evaluations until today. The majority of teachers (39 percent) scored 3 or "meet expectations" on the 1scorecard. Forty percent scored either a 4 or "above expectations" or a 5 or "significantly above expectationand are considered at the top of their profession. Teachers of that caliber help their students make two or thyears of academic progress per school year. But 2 percent of city schools teachers (128 teachers) rank at tbottom of the scale, scoring 1 or "significantly below expectations." Nineteen percent (1,216 teachers) scoredor "below expectations."http://www.comm ercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/14/mcs-teachers-get-test-results/(SUB)

Up to 150 Memphis City Schools teachers face firing (Commercial Appeal/RobertBetween 130 and 150 Memphis City Schools teachers are being recommended for termination for pperformance -- three times the number who lost their jobs for any reason last year. By contract, MCS must nothe teachers by June 15. Many began getting the word early this week. "Remember, this is the work we habeen working on since we started working with the Gates foundation," said Supt. Kriner Cash. Principidentified the poor performers based on the teacher evaluation process instituted this year, plus three yearsstudent test data. They made their recommendations to the administration. Last year, principals recommendroughly 60 terminations; 41 we re cut. W hile the evaluation, Cash said, gives "decision-makers" the first relialook at the talent in the teaching corps, he says there will be "false negatives and positives. "This is the first yeThere are gong to be tweaks that have to be made." At the Memphis Education Association offices on Flickseveral dozen teachers registered complaints Tuesday.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/up-to-150-city-teachers-face-firing/(SUBSCRIPTION)

MCS Teachers Receive Report Cards (Memphis Daily News)With the school year almost over, Memphis City Schools teachers have their grades from the first school yeaTEM the Teacher Effectiveness Measure system approved by the state to evaluate teacher performanMemphis City Schools is the only school system in the state to use TEM , which is one of four teacher evaluatmodels approved by the state to evaluate teachers and determine what kind of professional development hthey might need to become better teachers. The system-wide numbers released Monday, May 14, show percent of the teachers are Level 3 teachers. Level 5 is the highest score in the evaluation and Levels 1 andare assigned to teachers who need improvement or who could possibly be fired as early as June when tschool system and principals announce re-election decisions for the 2012-2013 school year. The 39 percentteachers in Level 3 was the largest group of teachers.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/may/16/mcs-teachers-receive-report-cards/

Schools face budget crunch (Times-Gazette)There's a gap of nearly $800,000 between where next year's school budget is and where it needs to be. Thawhat Bedford County Board of Education learned at a budget study session Monday night. For the past two fisyears, 2010-11 and 2011-12, the school system has been spending more than it has taken in. The differencame out of the school system's fund balance. But now, that money is nearly gone, and the budget documwhich school board members started with Monday night used up all of the available fund balance (not countithe 3 percent which the state requires school systems to keep in reserve) and would put the school syst$347,093 in the hole. No extras "This is a bare-bones budget, as far as I 'm concerned," said SchSuperintendent Ray Butrum. The good news is that, after several years of stagnant sales and property trevenues, both are beginning to increase again. But it may take several years for them to return to pre-recesslevels. And in the meantime, operating expenses are going up as well. "The costs are going up as fast as trevenues," said Bedford County Finance D irector Robert Daniel.http://www.t-g.com/story/1849060.htm l

Anti-censorship groups want Sum ner schools to lift book ban (Tenn/Hubbard)Two anti-censorship groups want Sumner County schools to lift a ban on the teen novel Looking for Alaska. TNational Coalition against Censorship and American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression sent SumnDirector of Schools Del Phillips a letter Monday. It urges the district to honor its constitutional obligation aallow the White House High School English class to finish reading the student-selected novel. It is particuladisturbing that the complaint of one parent triggered a county-wide ban within the span of a single week, withfollowing established procedure and without so much as a review of the literary and educational merits of tbook, the letter states. The district has imposed one viewpoint on the entire student body, w ithout regard to

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educational consequences for students. The groups claim Sumner County violated its own district policy, whsays if a parent complains, that student can be given an alternative book to read.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/NEWS04/305160059/Anti-censorship-groups-want-Sumner-lift-book-ban?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

School-Test Backlash Grows (Wall Street Journal)The increasing role of standardized testing in U.S. classrooms is triggering pockets of rebellion across t

country from school officials, teachers and parents who say the system is stifling teaching and learning. In Texsome 400 local school boardsmore than one-third of the state's totalhave adopted a resolution this yasking lawmakers to scale back testing. In Everett, Wash., more than 500 children skipped state examsprotest earlier this month. A national coalition of parents and civil-rights groups, including the NAACP LeDefense and Educational Fund, signed a petition in April asking Congress to reduce federal testing mandatesrecent weeks, the protest spread to Florida, where two school boards, including Palm Beach County, signedto a petition similar to the one in Texas. A parent in a third, Broward County, on Tuesday formally requested tschool officials support the movement. The efforts are a response to the spread of m andatory testing in the pdecade. Proponents say the exams are needed to ensure students are learning and teachers' effectivenessmeasured. Critics say schools are spending disproportionate time and resources on the tests at the expensemore-creative learning. They also contend the results weigh too heavily in decisions on student advancemeteacher pay and the fate of schools judged to have failed.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303505504577406603829668714.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Dry spell lands Chattanooga on drought monitor (Times Free-Press/Pouilesse)Chattanooga is "abnormally dry" right now, according to weather officials. Yearly, monthly and seasonaChattanooga is behind in rainfall, said K ate Guillet, a meteorological intern with the National Weather ServiceMorristown, Tenn. Chattanooga was the only area covered by the Morristown office -- East TennessSouthwest North C arolina and Southwest Virginia -- deemed dry enough by the Climate Prediction Centermake it on the U.S. Drought Monitor, Guillet said. "It just happened to be that area received less rain than aother area," she said. "When w e did get rainfall it happened to m ove to Knoxville and the other climate sites have data for." So far this month, Chattanooga has received 1.62 inches of rain, meteorologist Shawn O'Nsaid. That's low, Guillet said, but the month is only half over. Since January, Chattanooga has seen barely ov17 inches of rain, O'Neill said, which is 3.63 inches below average. WRCB-TV Channel 3 chief m eteorologPaul Barys said the Tennessee Valley saw about 1 to 3 inches of rain on Monday. But "just because it raidoesn't mean you're out of the drought," Guillet said. "The longer you're in a drought the more water it will takecome out of it."http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/16/dry-spell-lands-city-on-drought-monitor/?loca

OPINION

Editorial: Learning to read critical to education success (Jackson Sun)Tennessees First Lady Crissy Haslam was in town on Monday to help promote the Imagination Library and Governors Books from Birth Foundation at a Jackson A rea Chamber of Com merce reception. We appreciate presence to help highlight the value and importance of early childhood reading. At a time when public educat

is struggling to keep up and often to catch up with our rapidly changing times, nothing could be moimportant than teaching children to read and to experience reading as something that is fun and rewarding. Jackson-Madison County Schools D eputy Superintendent Doris Battle aptly noted during the reception, readis the foundation for all forms of learning. That just about sums up the importance of teaching children from earliest age to read. The Imagination Library is a nonprofit organization founded by country music legend DoParton. Working with the Governors Books from Birth Foundation, the library sends out a book a month frobirth to age 5 to children who sign up. The books are paid for by funds raised locally and by the state. What like about the Imagination Library program is that once a child is signed up, it is automatic. This means eamonth a child receives a new book. It doesnt take much time for it to become a habit, and for children to loforward to each new installment.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120516/OPINION/305160001/Or-View-Learning-read-critical-education-succ ess

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Jim Leonhirth: Know Nothing State on horizon (Daily News Journal)Tennessee resident Carrie Underwoods No. 1 debut on the Billboard album chart last week bodes well for tOklahoma transplants career and the country music industry, but it also provides an example of the paradox tis Tennessee. Underwoods Blown Away was one of 10 albums in Billboards top 40 last week that haTennessee or country music connections, and Nashville likes to tout itself as the third coast in competition wthe entertainment centers in Los Angeles on the West Coast and New York on the East Coast. That Nashvihas become synonymous with music around the world undoubtedly pleases those promoting econo

development in the state. That Nissan and Volkswagen are thriving with their international investments in state also pleases them. What may please them a lot less is that for every step the image of Tennessee takforward, it finds a way to take a couple of steps backward. While one can hope that the recent departure of tGeneral Assembly from Nashville will limit those steps backward, some members of Tennessees congressiodelegation are ready to take over from state legislators and continue the m oves backward.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/OPINION02/305160001/LEON HIRTH-Know-Nothing-State-horizon?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Richard Cowart: TennCare Plus program may be next big thing (Tennessean)Program seeks to m ove tens of thousands in state away from fee-for-service care TennCare Plus is shapingto be the next big thing for TennCare. This month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will recestate applications for an ambitious new program to move 2 million dual-eligible beneficiaries, those eligible

Medicare and M edicaid, away from fee-for-service care. This initiative could affect up to 136,000 TennesseaLets review the new program and where i t may be headed in Tennessee. According to CMS repoapproximately 9 million beneficiaries are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid services (dual-eligiblestheyre called). These beneficiaries constitute roughly 15 percent of the Medicaid population, but are responsifor 39 percent of Medicaid total spending. Additionally, the cost of care for dual-eligibles is growing exponentiaNationally, dual- eligibles accounted for approximately $50 billion of M edicaid spending in 2000 and $125 billin 2007. In Tennessee, the dual-eligibles service expenditure was $1.6 billion in 2010. To address the proble25 states are expected to submit plans to CMS for three-year pilot programs to manage the services for dueligibles. Tennessee is am ong those states.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST03/305160099/Richard-Cowart-TennCare-Plus-program-may-next-big-thing?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Editorial: 'Buckle up' message not being heard (Tennessean)So far this year, 352 people have died on Tennessee roads, each death a tragedy for someone. TennessDepartment of Safety officials are reeling from an abrupt reversal in safety trends. In January, the departmannounced that in 2011 our highways were the safest in nearly 50 years; traffic fatalities had declined to 9only the third time since 1963 that highway deaths had been less than 1,000, and annual traffic deaths wedown 26 percent during the past five years. This year, traffic fatalities are up more than 12 percent through same period in 2011, putting Tennessee on pace for 1,065 deaths, the most since 2007. The circumstancesfatalities are depressing; people not wearing seat belts increased 15 percent, and motorcyclists deaincreased 19 percent. Both cities and rural areas have suffered in the increases. We seem to be very complacabout basic safety protocols. On April 6, the Nashville district Highway Patrol conducted a one-day seat bsweep and pulled 1,101 drivers. The statistics mask some positive news: teenagers and seniors have beinvolved in fewer fatal accidents in 2012 than last year. Teenage fatalities declined from 43 to 40, and senfatalities have dropped from 73 to 48. Also fatal accidents involving heavy trucks are down over last year.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/OPINION01/305160067/-Buckle-up-message-not-being-heard?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Gail Kerr: Highway fatality signs are a sobering reminder to drive safely (Tenn)And now there are 352. Thats the updated number on those gruesome interstate traffic signs that report number of TN ROADWAY FATALITIES THIS YEAR. If the signs bother you, good. They should. They dohighlight a mere morbid annoyance. The signs are a reminder that each number that adds up to that torepresents a dead family member that somebody once loved. Tennessee Department of Transportatspokeswoman Deanna Lambert reported on Twitter yesterday thats 39 more than last year. Tennesseans dying in droves this year on roadways, a 13 percent increase over the same time last year. Why? S tate officsay speed, not wearing seat belts, texting and m otorcycle crashes are all factors. TDOT started posting the sig

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to try and wake drivers up and think about what they are doing. Some people dislike them: Its a distraction frdriving, wrote Diana Blair Revell in a Facebook discussion. But others say the signs make them pause: I sthem and automatically check m y speed, said Keri Adam s. Its a sobering reminder of the inherent dangersdriving. The signs are a good thing, said Sharon Billingsley Green. Awareness is the key to preventionmakes you think about it while youre actually in control of your vehicle.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST0101/305160072/Gail-Kerr-Highway-fatality-signs-sobering-reminder-drive-safely?odyssey=tab|topnews|text |News

Editorial: Sharper focus on teachers (Com mercial Appeal)While not perfect, the new teacher evaluations have helped identify teachers who aren't doing a good job helpkids learn. The good news is that new teacher evaluations showed that almost 80 percent of Memphis CSchools' 6,400 teachers scored well enough to be considered competent or very competent teachers. Tremaining 1,342 are performing below expectations. So the question remains now of how to dea l with those wscored badly on a new evaluation system that still needs fine-tuning. That's an important question for a procethat has left some teaching jobs in jeopardy. Thirty-nine percent of the teachers scored a 3 (meet expectatioon the 1-5 score card. Forty percent scored either a 4 (above expectations) or a 5 (significantly aboexpectations) and are considered at the top of their profession. Those teachers help their students make twothree years of academic progress per school year. Before the final scores were released Monday, MCS SuKriner Cash had talked about the possibility that a higher percentage of teachers would not make the grade.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/editorial-sharper-focus-on-teachers/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Frank Munger: The strange case of Trench 13 (Knoxville News-Sentinel)One of the strangest episodes in the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge cleanup program and thehave been quite a few strange episodes occurred on Aug. 8, 2005. That's when workers attempted to tap ian old waste burial site known as Trench 13, with plans to retrieve containers of nuclear waste that had be"stored" there for decades. Trench 13 was one of 22 trenches in Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Solid WaStorage Area No. 5. The DOE-funded project was designed to excavate the containers of transuranic waste particularly nasty class of long-lived radioactive m aterial and repackage the waste for final disposal arepository in New Mexico. However, soon after workers gained access to the site, flames shot up into the airscaring the heck out of everybody. Unlike some of the other trenches where transuranic waste was securhoused in concrete casks, Trench 13 was loaded with steel drums and boxes, and the attempt at excavatexposed some pyrophoric material to air.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/frank-munger-the-strange-case-of-trench-13/

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http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST0101/305160072/Gail-Kerr-Highway-fatality-signs-sobering-reminder-drive-safely?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST0101/305160072/Gail-Kerr-Highway-fatality-signs-sobering-reminder-drive-safely?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/editorial-sharper-focus-on-teachers/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/frank-munger-the-strange-case-of-trench-13/http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST0101/305160072/Gail-Kerr-Highway-fatality-signs-sobering-reminder-drive-safely?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120516/COLUMNIST0101/305160072/Gail-Kerr-Highway-fatality-signs-sobering-reminder-drive-safely?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNewshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/16/editorial-sharper-focus-on-teachers/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/16/frank-munger-the-strange-case-of-trench-13/

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