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City Press)
Improving education is one of the keys to furthering economic development in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam told an audience of state Chamber of Commerce executives in Johnson City on Thursday. We most definitely need to address the challenges of work force development and education, Haslam said. He shared some statistics about Tennessees education rankings, remarking that the state is ranked 45th in the nation for its fourth-grade reading scores and 43rd in eighth-grade math levels. Only 21 percent of Tennesseans graduate from college, and thats something Haslam wants to change through legislation. We cant accept the status quo and expect to see jobs created, he said. Though Tennessee needs improvement in its educational efforts, Haslam said his job is to sell the state and its best features: no income tax, a low cost of living, a great location, a good state financial situation and a productive work force. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=93522#ixzz1VTCoQ5V2
square feet for a light duty steel piston in a second phase. "Are there hopeful signs around Tennessee? You bet," said Haslam. http://www.volunteertv.com/state/headlines/Morristown_company_expands_Haslam_touts_new_jobs_1280513 88.html
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Long DMV lines prompt outrage, scrutiny and quick changes (Tri-State Defender)
Complaints regarding the long lines forming outside of the Shelby Countys drivers license centers in hard-tohandle hot weather have prompted national outrage, scrutiny and some quick fixes. The New Tri-State Defender was first to report last month that some Memphians at the drivers license center at 6340 Summer Ave, had to wait four to five hours to get their drivers licenses and state-sanctioned photo ids, while in some predominantly white counties customers waited on average 20 minutes or less. Since then, bloggers, newspapers and commentators across the nation have added their voices to a chorus of complaints. Starting in 2012, Tennessees new photo ID law will require voters to have photo ids to cast a ballot. Acceptable forms of identification will include passports, state military ids and state identification cards, which will be processed by the overwhelmed drivers license centers. http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/6562/1/brLong-DMV-lines-prompt-outrage-scrutiny-and-quick-changes-/Page1.html
Washington. No money will be exchanged in the agreement, but the Army may loan three drones and two control stations to MTSU in the fall, according to university officials. To the degree that the Army can promote independent research and development at the university level, develop student interest in what the Army does in unmanned aircraft systems, and then ultimately hire many of these students, its a win-win situation, said Tim Owings, deputy project manager at the Armys Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office, based in Huntsville, Ala. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110819/NEWS04/308190074/MTSU-Army-will-team-up-drones? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p
commercial and residential districts. In May, Gov. Bill Haslam announced the state would close six Local Planning Assistance Offices across the state, one of which was in Jackson. The offices were subsidized with state and counties' and cities' money, which funded the salaries and benefits of 60 employees. Planners from that office helped townships, smaller cities and county governments throughout West Tennessee with city and land use planning, zoning and meeting state building codes. Officials in the local governments feared closing the office would leave them without planners. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110819/NEWS01/108190304/Governments-share-planners
fact-finding
trip
to
Israel
as
educational,
emotional
Describing his first trip to Israel as both an emotional and an educational experience, U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher checked in by telephone Thursday night from the Sea of Galilee. Fincher and his wife, Lynn, have traveled all over the region since Monday and have met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and senior Palestinian officials but not President Mahmoud Abbas, who had a scheduling conflict W ednesday and had to be in Lebanon, Fincher said. Netanyahu told the group that he's "ready and willing to sit down with President Abbas -- any time, any place -- to try to work out something, to negotiate, but it just seems kind of locked up right now," Fincher said. "(Israeli officials) are ready to sit down. But it is going to be a process. President Abbas has got to admit that, in a two-state agreement, that Israel will be rewarded a Jewish state. He has yet to do that. He will say a state, but he's yet to agree to a Jewish state. That's a key part in this process." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/18/us-rep-stephen-fincher-describes-his-fact-finding/
gunmen were blamed for killing at least seven and wounding 40 more. Fleischmann says that tragedy reflects the need for peace in the region. Israel continues to search for peace offers, and has made offers of a twostate solution. Unfortunately those negotiations have apparently ceased with the Palestinians, and it looks like unfortunately the Palestinians are going to go to the United Nations. Next month the Palestinian Authority is expected to ask for U.N. recognition as an independent state a move Fleischmann describes as wrong and an impediment to the process. http://wpln.org/?p=29680
Unit 1 reactor will not begin until fuel-loading is complete at the W atts Bar Unit 2 reactor, a step that is expected to happen at the end of next year. Uniformed officers prohibited several costumed protesters from entering the board meeting. The protesters, including one dressed as Santa Claus, instead demonstrated outside TVA's downtown office tower. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/18/police-turn-away-costumed-protesters-attending/
TVA backs off plan to relocate historic Anderson County cabin (N-S/Fowler)
Faced with stiff opposition from the owners of Anderson County oldest known building, TVA has backed off plans to try to acquire their property and relocate the structure. But officials with TVA are still eyeing other areas of the Claxton community near the old David Hall cabin for a proposed expansion of a coal ash storage area. "We're still studying our options, but TVA has taken the position that we will not force anyone to sell," John C. Kammeyer, a TVA vice president, stated in an email Thursday. Kammeyer said a number of sites are still being considered, adding that it's "too early in the process to discuss details." He said TVA is in the process of obtaining appraisals for landowners that are considering selling their homes and land, and that process will take four to eight weeks. Meanwhile, TVA officials are planning to update local officials on the status of their efforts during a Sept. 12 meeting of the Anderson County Commission's legislative committee. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/19/tva-backs-off-plan-to-relocate-historic-anderson/
Memphis, Shelby Co. schools under gun to reach agreement fast (CA/McMillin)
As the parties involved in the school-merger lawsuit meet today with U.S. District Court Judge Samuel "Hardy" Mays, there is widespread agreement on at least one thing -- the judge wants them to reach a settlement. And those involved also seem to share this sentiment -- the sooner an accord is reached, the better. The clock is ticking fast toward the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, the deadline Mays set for merging Memphis City Schools with the currently all-suburban Shelby County Schools. "If the parties come together in good faith, we can in fact reach some sort of agreement that will allow us to put our focus on the enormous task of addressing all the various issues," said David Pickler, the longtime chairman of the SCS board. Allan Wade, the attorney for the Memphis City Council, sees an agreement as possible, "especially if they mean what they say about being in it for the kids and not their own political positions." He added: "If the objective is to get a good product, it ought to be settled. If the objective is to have political divisiveness, it won't be settled. If turf is the issue, it won't be settled." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/19/no-time-for-bickering/
Monday's final vote may be tabled 90 days The proposal to build the Carter community a new elementary school is now on hold and possibly dead after the developer pulled out Thursday, saying "political agendas" and opposition have "significantly changed the dynamic" of the plan. The announcement, made by the Devon Group which officials hoped would oversee the construction of the $13.8 million project comes about nine months after the mayor started working to bring a new school to the East Knox County area and just days before county commissioners were set to vote on the overall initiative. I am greatly disappointed for the children and the community of Carter," Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett said. "I'm disappointed, but that's part of it. I can't change it." Burchett said he plans to meet with schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre and some board members this morning "and I hope to resolve this issue." Earlier this month, the school board signed off on the plan that officials spent the better part of the year trying to develop. The board on at least three occasions felt a $2.5 million facelift was enough to fix the historic school's problems. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/18/mayor-burchett-new-carter-elementary-may-be-defunc/
Fairview City Hall evacuated after seized meth ingredient causes fumes (TN/Young)
Fairview City Hall had to be evacuated and 13 people were taken to local hospitals after an acid obtained during a meth lab bust was released into the air. Fairview Police Sgt. Pat Stockdale said officers made a traffic stop at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday near City Hall, where the police offices are housed. During the stop a shake and bake or one pot meth lab was found inside the car. Four suspects were taken into custody, Stockdale said, and charges are pending. After the stop, one of the components from the vehicle was brought to City Hall for field testing, Stockdale said. The officer did not know it was hazardous. The ingredient, muriatic acid, is commonly sold in hardware stores. The mist and the solution have a corrosive effect on human tissue, causing potential damage to respiratory organs, eyes, skin and intestines. Once the container was opened up, people began complaining of respiratory problems, Stockdale said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110819/NEWS03/308190076/Fairview-City-Hall-evacuated-after-mobilemeth-lab-bust-nearby?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
Connecticut: Workers Approve Contract They Had Rejected (New York Times)
Two months after Connecticut workers rejected an agreement meant to save $1.6 billion over two years, union leaders said on Thursday that they had accepted the same deal, bowing to the threat of layoffs in a year full of battles between unions and state governments. After the June vote, unions representing 45,000 state workers changed the voting rules to make approval more likely. But with 3,000 layoff notices already sent out and 2,000 or more still possible, all 14 unions that have completed a new vote have approved the deal, officials said, meaning it would have passed even under the old rules. The agreement includes a two-year wage freeze and concessions on health care and pension benefits. In exchange, the unions secured a four-year no-layoff clause and a promise that the state would not demand unpaid furloughs. The changes are expected to save about $1.6 billion over two years and $21.5 billion over 20. Pension and compensation packages for workers hired after July 1 will be reduced even further, and will not include the longevity pay that had rewarded workers for staying on the job. The votes played out against a now-familiar backdrop: a state government under fiscal stress, pushback against public-employee unions, and an economy struggling to create jobs. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/nyregion/connecticut-workers-approve-contract-they-had-rejected.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)
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OPINION Editorial: Gov. Haslam must be firm in renegotiating Amazon sales tax deal (N-S)
Gov. Bill Haslam is trying to work out a deal with Amazon that would result in the online business moving forward with plans to build three distribution centers in Tennessee and collect state sales taxes like any other retailer. Under an arrangement with Haslam's predecessor, Phil Bredesen, Amazon would remain exempt from collecting sales taxes from Tennessee customers even though its proposed warehouses would give the company a physical presence in the state. The warehouses planned for Chattanooga, Cleveland and Lebanon would bring more than 1,200 new jobs to Tennessee. Amazon officials have threatened to build the facilities elsewhere if forced to collect Tennessee sales taxes. Haslam has said he would honor Bredesen's commitment to Amazon, which amounted to selling out the state's brick-and-mortar retailers through a deal of dubious legality. Now the governor is trying to negotiate a more reasonable deal with Amazon by the end of the year. There's nothing wrong in offering incentives to businesses in an effort to get them to move to Tennessee, but Bredesen erred in exchanging sales tax collections for jobs. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/19/gov-haslam-must-be-firm-in-renegotiating-amazon/
Editorial: Tea Party protest of Black sign of troubles (Daily News Journal)
They march to their own beat politically, so much so that you never know what's next when it comes to the Tea Party. Just ask Diane Black. The 6th District congressman found her Murfreesboro office the site of about 50 Tea Party protesters this week. Their complaint? Black's eventual vote earlier this month to raise the federal debt limit. It was part of a compromise between Republican and Democratic leaders that kept the nation from defaulting on its debts for the first time in history. Diane Black not conservative enough? That's a risky claim considering the Gallatin Republican's already raised profile among GOP House freshmen who have flexed their political muscles since being swept into office last year. Black has relished attacking President Obama 11
and the Democrats during the ongoing budget debate. The local protesters obviously wanted Black to vote no against raising the debt ceiling, but we're not sure what that would have accomplished on the heels of the grueling impasse that gripped the Capitol and the nation. The fact of the matter is, raising the debt ceiling was an act that simply meant America was going to pay the bills it had already made. Taking the country to the brink of default was irresponsible and the subsequent dips in the stock market and a lowered national credit rating were the unfortunate results. http://www.dnj.com/article/20110819/OPINION01/108190312/Editorial-Tea-Party-protest-Black-sign-troubles
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