TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011 Haslam announces regional ECD jobs plans (Nashville Business Journal)

The Haslam administration has announced the next step in the Republican governors regional jobs strategy: strategic planning. Gov. Bill Haslam and Commissioner Bill Hagerty of the states Department of Economic and Community Development released plans for each of the nine regions the administration has broken the state into. The governor has made a range of announcements in his overhaul of ECD, and the Nashville Business Journal previously profiled Hagerty as he works to encourage more business expansions and entrepreneurship along with large-scale corporate recruitment. The main criticism of Haslam's strategy, largely among Democrats, is that it risks killing momentum on large economic development deals that became signatures of Gov. Phil Bredesen. Haslam and Hagerty have repeatedly said they can enhance in-state business growth while still pursuing corporate recruitment.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/12/19/haslam-hagertytennessee-jobs-ecd.html

Haslam's 'top-to-bottom reviews' of state operations bear fruit (TFP/Sher)

Gov. Bill Haslam said a controversial recommendation to close Taft Youth Center near Pikeville is "very persuasive." If the center is closed, its 90 or so teen inmates would be moved to four other centers scattered across the state. The proposal, suggested by Children's Services Commissioner Kathryn O'Day, would save about $4.4 million. "I still have some homework to do," Haslam said. "But I think Kate's basic argument of does it make sense to have four facilities that are 100 percent full and five that are 80 percent full is very persuasive." In a wide-ranging Times Free Press interview last week about his first year in office, Haslam said he is "particularly inclined" to go along with the proposal sooner rather than later. He cited O'Day's argument that many of Taft's 167 employees should be able to find jobs at the nearby $208 million Bledsoe Correctional Complex, a prison for adults that's slated to open in 2013. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/bill-haslams-top-to-bottom-reviews-of-state/?local

Haslam gives $45M to family charities over decade (Associated Press)

Gov. Bill Haslam over the past decade has given more than $45 million to two family-run charitable foundations that support education, religion and culture. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that governor has given the money to the Charis Foundation established by Haslam and his wife in 2001, and the Haslam Family Foundation set up by his father in 1998 (http://bit.ly/vM6yO3 ). "W e've obviously been blessed," Haslam said. "Part of what goes with that is a responsibility to be generous." The foundations have a combined $100 million in assets, which the governor said he hopes is enough to sustain them for the next 50 years. Haslam has refused to disclose how much money he has made from his unspecified stake in the family-owned Pilot Flying J truck stop chain. He told the paper that releasing details of his income would meet "a National Enquirer standard, not a good government standard." http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38176311.story

Tenn. revenues expected to grow by up to 4 percent (Associated Press/Schelzig)

The State Funding Board on Monday agreed to revise its general fund revenue projections upward by at least $177 million in the current budget year, and pegged next year's growth at up to 4 percent The panel unanimously agreed to the estimates used by lawmakers and the governor to plan state expenditures. State Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes called it a "pleasant surprise" that revenues are rebounding at a rate faster than had been expected. "Cuts will not have to be as severe as we thought a couple months ago," Emkes told reporters after the meeting. "But I want to be very clear there will still be some pain in the budget." The state spending plan for the year that began on July 1 assumed the state would collect about $8.87 billion for the general fund. Those totals have now been moved up to at least $9.05 billion. Emkes said after a previous funding board meeting that

the state should use some of that surplus to replenish the state's cash reserves, and the rest to defray cuts to existing programs. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38177671.story

Tennessee doubles estimates for tax collections (Tennessean/Sisk)

The State Funding Board nearly doubled the states growth estimates for tax collections, approving projections Monday that show Tennessee bringing in $187.8 million to $220.5 million more than it has budgeted. The board signed off on new estimates that show tax collections growing 3.9 percent to 4.21 percent from about $412 million to $445 million during the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. State budgeters previously had estimated tax collections would grow 2.12 percent this year, or $225 million. The board, which is made up of Tennessees top financial officers, also estimated that tax collections will rise by another 3.4 percent to 3.65 percent next year. But Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes said the influx of tax dollars still is not enough to cover the growing costs of programs such as TennCare, public education and government pensions. Theres still going to be some pain in the fiscal 2013 budget, but the revenues are higher than we thought two months ago, Emkes said. The state now estimates it will collect about $11 billion in the 2011-12 fiscal year and $11.4 billion in 2012-13, up from $10.56 billion in 2010-11. The main driver behind the growth has been sales taxes, which make up about three-fifths of Tennessees revenues. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111220/NEWS0201/312200039/Tennessee-doubles-estimates-taxcollections?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

TN Funding Board Raises Outlook; Emkes Warns Pain Still Ahead (WPLN-Radio)
Tennessees finances are in better shape than officials thought a few months ago. The State Funding Board now thinks the state will bring in another $180 million in taxes as Tennesseans spend more. But officials say planning the next budget still wont be easy. The Funding Board figures the state will take in more money next year too. But officials have cautioned it wont be enough to ward off cuts then, because of rising costs like education and healthcare. Still, Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes says the latest boost does help. The cuts will not have to be as severe as we thought a couple months ago, but I want to leave very clear therell still be some pain in the budget. I dont want people to walk away from here thinking everythings fine. Aside from softening cuts, Emkes has said some extra money should go toward rebuilding the states rainy-day fund. http://wpln.org/?p=32405

State, county lawmakers work to keep Lakeshore money local (N-S/Donila)

Knox County officials are pretty much resigned to the state's proposal to shutter Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, so now they want to make sure the money used to operate the aging facility stays in East Tennessee. "Is it a done deal? No, nothing is until the Legislature approves it, but I think we're kidding ourselves if we don't think that it's on its way," said state Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville. "My big concern is to make sure the money stays here. There's nothing in the code that says it has to." Haynes, the chairman of the Knox County Legislative Delegation, said he will introduce a proposal in mid-January that, if approved, would ensure that the state money allocated to Lakeshore goes to area programs, something Gov. Bill Haslam said would be the case. Haynes, though, is concerned that "when the next administration comes in I want people to remember that the money has been earmarked for East Tennessee." County commissioners on Monday agreed with the state lawmaker and also unanimously approved a resolution to ask the local delegation to see whether it could convince the state to hold off on closing the operation. Officials also said they wanted a detailed copy of whatever plan the state wants to implement. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/19/state-county-lawmakers-work-to-keep-lakeshore/

Corryton woman indicted for "doctor shopping" (WVLT-TV Knoxville)

A Corryton woman is accused of visiting several doctors within a 30-day period in order to get prescriptions for the same or similar drugs and letting TennCare pay for it. Nancy Horsley is charged with six counts of TennCare fraud for "doctor shopping," the Office of the Inspector General announced on Monday. "We are enthused with the response weve received from physicians across the state in support of cracking down on people who try to doctor shop, Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. Before the doctor shopping law, physicians hands were tied and now theyre calling us, often as soon as the patient leaves the office. Horsley could face up to two years in prison for each charge, the OIG said. http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Corryton_woman_indicted_for_doctor_shopping_135881473.html? ref=473

Davidson Co. woman charged with 'doctor shopping' (WKRN-TV Nashville)

A Nashville woman is under indictment for TennCare fraud involving "doctor shopping." Roxie Ann Haliburton is said to have used the state's public healthcare insurance program to go to multiple doctors in a short period of time to obtain prescriptions for a controlled substance. The indictment alleges that Haliburton failed to disclose to her doctor that she had seen other physicians within a 30-day period and received a prescription for a painkiller. The 40-year-old woman is charged with two counts of fraudulently using TennCare to obtain a controlled substance by "doctor shopping." "The doctor shopping' law gave us a valuable tool in cracking down on people who are abusing the program," Inspector General Deborah Faulkner said. "Medical professionals across the state have applauded this law and our efforts to stop people from doing this and are helping us develop these cases." TennCare is a Class E felony that carries a sentence of up to two years per charge in prison. http://www.wkrn.com/story/16354449/davidson-co-woman-charged-with-doctor-shopping

THEC proposal would make schools pay part of building projects (NS/Boehnke)
For the first time, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission is asking colleges and universities to foot a percentage of the bill for building projects on their campuses over the next five years as part of a funding proposal the state agency is set to consider today. In its annual capital projects recommendation, the THEC has included along with its list of 2012-13 priorities, a five-year plan that leaders at both systems are hoping will be financed through a large-scale bond issue to the tune of more than $1 billion. The recommendation, which will be voted on in an afternoon meeting of the commission, asks universities to match 25 percent of the cost of the projects; community colleges and nonformula units, such as the Institute of Agriculture, to pay 10 percent; and technology centers to pay 5 percent. "I don't think (higher education) has ever said we will contribute 'X' percent for a project through a match for all capital outlay requests. There have been targeted programs with match components here and there, but nothing this pervasive," said Russ Deaton, associate executive director of fiscal policy and administration at the commission. "I don't know if this is a permanent policy change or not, but from our perspective, we think it is appropriate over the next five years or so." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/20/thec-proposal-would-make-schools-pay-part-of/

U of M may get campus title today (Jackson Sun)

County reviews insurance claims figures for workers The state of Tennessee could secure ownership of the University of Memphis Lambuth campus today. Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris said university officials are still working through bankruptcy court proceedings, but the close of the state's property purchase could end county participation by the end of the week if not today. "Whatever happens between Lambuth and the bankruptcy court, it's up to them," he said. That purchase, transferring title ownership from Lambuth to the state of Tennessee, came together after shared contributions from the city and county, Harris said. The city of Jackson, Madison County, Jackson Energy Authority and West Tennessee Healthcare agreed to pay about $2 million each to fund the $7.9 million purchase of the property. University of Memphis officials have been working through bankruptcy proceedings while also trying to purchase the property. Class schedules at the University of Memphis' Lambuth campus will continue throughout the process. Students attended their last day of classes Dec. 7 and will begin again Jan. 12. Madison County received more than five times the number of insurance claims in the 2010-11 year than those filed in 2009, with 108 claims in 2010-11, 19 claims in 2009, 46 claims in 2007-08 and 38 claims in 2006. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111220/NEWS01/112200312/U-M-may-get-campus-title-today

Bridge replacement project requires lane closure on Gallatin Rd. (WKRN-TV Nash)
Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation will soon begin working on a project that will replace two deteriorating bridges on Gallatin Road in northern Davidson County. The bridges cross over the CSX Railroad near Anderson Lane in Madison, with one bridge carrying northbound traffic and the other carrying southbound traffic on Gallatin Road. Construction is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, January 3. During the first phase of the project, all traffic will be routed onto the northbound bridge for the demolition and reconstruction of the southbound bridge. Phase I is expected to be complete in October. W hen phase II of the project begins, all traffic will be shifted to the new southbound bridge, which will be wide enough to accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction. The project is expected to be complete by July 2013. TDOT reminds motorists to use 3

caution, reduce their speed and be alert to changing traffic conditions in the work zone http://www.wkrn.com/story/16355201/bridge-replacement-project-requires-lane-closure-on-gallatin-rd .

Appeals court upholds termination of Chatt. police officer Lawrence Goodine (TFP)
An appeals court has upheld the termination of a Chattanooga police officer. The Tennessee Court of Appeals in Knoxville affirmed a trial court's ruling stating that former Chattanooga police Officer Lawrence Goodine should not be reinstated. Goodine was fired as an officer on April 13, 2007, after an internal affairs investigation led to charges of theft, improper search, improper procedure, untruthfulness and submitting a false report, and a disciplinary court sustained the charges, the Appeals Court decision stated. He faced criminal charges but was found not guilty of all counts, according to newspaper archives. Goodine had appealed his termination to the Chattanooga City Council and lost in August 2008, though the council dropped the theft charges. He then asked the Hamilton County Chancery Court to reverse the City Council's decision, but Chancery Court affirmed the council's actions in March 2010. The Appeals Court affirmed the Chancery Court's ruling. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/court-upholds-termination-of-police-officer/?local

Wooded Rapist case shows DNA warrants on 'John Doe' stay valid (Tenn/Gee)
Tennessee law enforcement officials now have an unlimited amount of time to investigate and prosecute crimes if perpetrators leave a hair, a piece of skin or other DNA evidence behind, thanks to a recent ruling by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals. The decision came in the case of Robert Jason Burdick, the so-called Wooded Rapist who was accused of raping more than a dozen women dating to 1994. He has been convicted in five of the cases in Davidson and Williamson counties and is not eligible for parole for a century. This month, a panel of judges upheld the first of those convictions to come up on appeal in a case that asked the court, for the first time, whether the statute of limitations for a crime can be paused when prosecutors have a suspects DNA profile, but no name or other identifying information. Criminals, who could breathe a sigh of relief after a number of years without being prosecuted, now face the prospect of cases being kept open indefinitely for crimes large and small. While prosecutors are applauding the ability to use a scientifically advanced tactic to enhance law enforcement, critics say the approach threatens criminal defendants constitutional rights and undermines the purposes for putting time limits on prosecutions in the first place. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111220/NEWS03/312200020/Wooded-Rapist-case-shows-DNA-warrantsJohn-Doe-stay-valid?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Shelby Co. officials indicting DNA in hope of matching to suspects (CA/Buser)

Genetic makeup being used to help combat statute of limitations An indictment prepared recently in a Shelby County rape case identified the defendant not by name but by his unique DNA genetic profile, which included enough letters and numbers to rival a vehicle identification number. The aim of the so-called John Doe DNA profile, gleaned from bodily fluids collected from the crime scene, is to indict the unidentified suspect using DNA in the hopes of eventually getting a match and a name from a DNA database. "There are a lot of them in the works that will be submitted to the grand jury," said Jennifer Nichols, head of the District Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit, who found that naming a defendant by his DNA code requires attention to detail. "It's a lot of numbers and letters. I checked and rechecked to make sure I didn't miss anything. "If we can put a name to that profile then it's already indicted. All we'd be lacking is to serve (the indictment) on someone." By seeking a John Doe DNA indictment, prosecutors also stop the clock on the statute of limitations, the point beyond which a suspect cannot be prosecuted for a crime. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/20/timeless-evidence-heats-up-cold-case/

Senator files proposal to amend teacher evaluation process (Daily News Journal)
State Sen. Mike Faulk (R-Church Hill) announced Monday that he has filed legislation to allow teachers and principals with superior value added growth data scores to choose to use those scores to comprise 50 percent or more of their evaluations. Senate Bill 2165 would change the present system where students value added growth is 35 percent of a teachers evaluation score, with another 15 percent tied to another measure agreed upon by the teacher and his/her supervisor to evaluate student achievement, according to a press release. Under Faulks proposal, the state Board of Education would adopt standards for high achievement. The states teacher evaluation process was put into place as a result of the First to the Top legislation, proposed by former 4

Governor Phil Bredesen and approved by the Legislature in January 2010. The new teacher evaluation process was designed by teachers and other education practitioners who were integral in constructing the evaluative tools. One of the biggest challenges of the new system has been identifying growth data for subjects where it is more difficult to measure achievement. "This change in our First to the Top law will incentivize teachers to achieve high student growth the very thing we want from our school systems," said Sen. Faulk. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111219/NEW S01/111219009/Senator-files-proposal-amend-teacher-evaluationprocess

Lawmakers to consider changes for synthetic drugs laws (W SMV-TV Nashville)

It's a revolving door - a synthetic drug was banned, but now it's turning up on store shelves again. Despite all the new laws, companies are still finding loopholes. Now state lawmakers think they've found a solution, one that could get these drugs out of markets completely. Lawmakers said the solution might not only be in banning the specific ingredients, but it could include banning anything that mimics the effects of illegal drugs. It seems like no matter what law Tennessee passes to ban synthetic drugs, they still pop up in convenience stores around the state. "The challenge is that as soon as we outlaw something, the producers come along and they change one of the ingredients and we start all over," said state Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville). Communities are asking state lawmakers to get involved. Just last week, the Rutherford County Commission passed a resolution asking lawmakers to make sales of synthetic drugs a felony. Last month, a former user spoke to Rutherford County students about the danger of the drugs. "This stuff is dangerous, guys," Dylan Evans told the students last month. "It took just about everything I had from me." http://www.wsmv.com/story/16357470/lawmakers-to-consider-changes-for-synthetic-drugs-laws

Marion County towns eye synthetic drugs (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Lewis)

City officials here have decided to take a different approach than neighboring Kimball, Tenn., in the fight against sales of synthetic drugs. Earlier this month, the Kimball Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to create a city ordinance that would outlaw the drugs' possession, sale and delivery. A final vote on the ordinance will be Jan. 5, officials said, and a violator will face a $50 fine plus court costs in municipal court, which is the maximum penalty that state law allows. Last week, Jasper Mayor Billy Simpson said he had received copies of ordinances from other cities across the state for consideration, but the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen has no plan to create a city ordinance that specifically addresses synthetic drugs. Jasper Police Chief Tim Graham said the state law banning synthetic drugs, which went into effect in July, is enough to control the problem. "Some cities have passed ordinances, and I felt it would be better to let the state Legislature handle it," Graham said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/b4-marion-towns-eye-synthetic-drugs/?local

Sullivan decides against loosening open meetings (Associated Press)

Sullivan County commissioners decided Monday against a resolution that asked the General Assembly to loosen open meeting laws for county and city governments. The commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance last month. But according to the Bristol Herald Courier, several commissioners said Monday that people in the community opposed the idea (http://bit.ly/tefSXs). They said people were worried that the commissioners would meet behind closed doors. The Tennessee County Commissioners Association has been pushing the effort. Commissioners in Williamson and Obion counties have approved similar resolutions. Rhea, Roane and Anderson commissioners voted against one. The 37-year-old law, also known as "the sunshine law," currently forbids two or more officials on a local legislative body, such as a county commission or city council, from meeting privately to deliberate on government matters. The county commissioners group hopes to amend the law and allow members of government bodies to discuss public affairs in private, as long as the discussion involves less than a quorum. The law applies only to local governments. The General Assembly has enacted a statute allowing legislators to hold private discussions when there is less than a quorum of the body present. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38178897.story

Sunshine Law to remain the same in Unicoi, Sullivan Counties (Herald-Courier)

It's called the Sunshine Law. A legal provision requiring government bodies conduct their business in complete transparency, never behind closed doors. Some in Tennessee say the law needs to be changed. The Tennessee County Commissioners Association is pushing individual counties to pass a resolution asking the General Assembly to loosen open meeting laws for county and city governments. Officials in Unicoi County voted Monday evening and opted to keep the sunshine law as is, on a 7-1 vote. Commissioner Loren Thomas says they want to keep meetings open to the people in their county. We understand there's a lot of mistrust with the public as far 5

as government is concerned so we don't want to do anything to cause more mistrust, says Thomas. There were several of us Commissioners who were newly elected this past year we signed a pledge with one of our local papers that said we'd be as open as we could with the public about issues." 11 Connects also spoke to people of Unicoi County who say they're happy the law will remain the same. They were concerned that Commissioners would begin meeting behind closed doors. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2011/dec/19/sunshine-law-remain-same-unicoi-sullivan-counties-ar-1555921/

Shelby County commissioners still can't agree on district lines (CA/Connolly)

Shelby County commissioners remained deadlocked Monday on new commission district lines for use in elections in 2014 and beyond, and they will set a special meeting in the next few days in an effort to reach consensus. Commissioners must reach a conclusion by the end of the year, or a court will decide. The redistricting debate affects political issues including party representation, the protection of incumbents, the urban-versus-suburban divide, and race. Complicating matters is the fact that nine of the 13 commissioners must consent to a plan, instead of the standard seven. For weeks, commissioners have debated variations of three distinct plans. The single-member-district plan: Commissioner Steve Mulroy continues to press for 13 districts with one representative each, arguing that this would make it easier for newcomers to get into politics through low-cost door-to-door campaigns, that it would increase representation for specific areas within the county, and that it would reduce confusion among citizens about who their representative is. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/19/shelby-county-commissioners-still-cant-agree-distr/

Commissioners ditch payroll system (Columbia Daily Herald)

Touted as a better way to keep track of how much time an employee actually works, Maury County commissioners voted Monday to scrap an automated payroll system after apparently being deluged with complaints from workers about its inefficiency. The commission voted 17-3 with two abstentions to terminate the contract with ADP Inc., an agreement the board had approved last year. Getting out of the contract will cost the county about $24,000. Maury County Budget Director Jim Bracken originally said the county could save $400,000 a year using the automated system by eliminating inefficiencies. The system would have required county employees to clock in and out electronically. Employees now log their time by hand on paper forms. Some commissioners, however, said over the last several months that they have been flooded with calls and emails from department heads and employees focusing on the system being too time consuming to operate. Before the vote, Commission Chairman Scott Cepicky said he would not support the cancellation of the system and that changing from a paper and pencil method to an electronic time stamp would eliminate errors. About 330,000 companies nationwide already use the system, he said. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/sections/news/local/commissioners-ditch-payroll-system.html

Private operation proposed at 3 city golf courses (Commercial Appeal/Maki)

Michael Hampton grew up around the game of golf. His father, Joe Hampton, was the first African-American in Tennessee to be selected as a golf pro for a municipal golf course. Joe Hampton eventually served 47 years as the pro at what is now the Ted Rhodes Golf Course in Nashville. The younger Hampton currently is proposing a contract to run three municipal courses in the city of Memphis: The Links at Davy Crockett on Range Line Road in Frayser, Pine Hill in South Memphis and Riverside on South Parkway West. Hampton's Golf Course Management Corp. wants to lease the three sites for $1,000 each per year for an initial contract period of five years. The contract -- up for a vote at the Memphis City Council's Tuesday meeting -- includes two five-year renewals, and a third five-year renewal period if the company makes at least $250,000 in capital improvements to the courses. Under the deal, the city would not be responsible for operations or maintenance at the courses. "They will still be city-owned and open to the public, but they will be managed by a private company," said Parks Division Director Cindy Buchanan. "We will have no operating costs any longer for these three courses." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/dec/20/plan-could-keep-golf-on-course/

As park recreation area land grows, revenue streams dry up (TFP/Benton)

Grundy County likes to be known for a natural beauty that attracts outdoor enthusiasts to hike, watch wildlife and take in views of the uncluttered South Cumberland Plateau, according to preservationists and local officials. But some local officials spearheading economic efforts in the county say continued designation of Grundy properties as preserved park land to maintain that beauty is digging into county coffers. When the land is turned into state park, the county loses the property tax, and that's counterproductive to growth and jobs in a county where the 6

population has declined 4.4 percent since 2000. Records show park land in the South Cumberland Recreation Area, which is mostly in Grundy but also flows into Sequatchie, Marion and Franklin, has swollen from around 16,000 acres less than 10 years ago to more than 24,500 acres today, mostly through gifts to and purchases by conservation organizations. Meanwhile, the county's population declined over the last 10 years from 14,332 in 2000 to 13,703 last year with projections that the number will fall another 7 percent in the next decade. In 2009, Grundy was deemed Tennessee's fourth-poorest county, officials said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/park-land-digs-into-revenues/?local

Representative urges incandescent bulbs as gifts (Associated Press)

Tennessee U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn says her family's holiday will be bright. She's filling Christmas stockings with light bulbs. Incandescent, of course. The Brentwood Republican has backed a provision to cut funding for an energy efficiency law scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, effectively ending the manufacture of incandescent light bulbs. The statute requires new bulbs of 100 watts be 27 times more energy efficient. A statement provided to The Tennessean by a Blackburn staffer said the old pear-shaped incandescent bulbs are "scheduled to go away at the end of the year" ( http://tnne.ws/tz7Ec8 Conservation advocates say the energy savings can't be argued ). with. Opponents say it's government intrusion. Blackburn suggests other folks give bulbs as gifts, too. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38180701.story

Corps of Engineers miscalculated water storage at Percy Priest (WSMV-TV Nash)

Several communities already stretched thin financially may be forced to pass on a hefty bill to taxpayers. Water rates could go up all over Rutherford County after a miscalculation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When you think of Percy Priest Lake, boating and fishing usually come to mind. But what a lot of people are unaware of is it's also a major supply of drinking water. LaVergne, Murfreesboro, Smyrna and the Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County all purchased a portion inside the lake to store water for later usage. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the original estimate of the amount of water each municipality can withdraw from their storage area was wrong. There may now be less water they can use from their area, taking into account the drought of 2006 to 2009. This is according to a second water supply study currently being conducted by the Corps. "Why did all of a sudden they decide that their calculations were inadequate? Therefore, throwing LaVergne into possibly having to pay about $2 million in a lump sum for additional storage," said LaVergne Mayor Senna Mosley. In 2001, LaVergne paid more than $1.8 million in one lump sum to the Corps. Earlier this year, LaVergne raised its water and sewer fees. If the Corps of Engineers model goes into effect, the city will have to come up with another lump sum payment. http://www.wsmv.com/story/16357078/corps-of-engineeersmiscalcuated-water-storage-at-percy-priest-municipaties-could-have-to-pay-millions

New rules threaten their way of life, farmers say (News-Sentinel/Johnson)

Proposed changes to child labor laws have some area farmers concerned that a big part of their way of life could be fading away. The U.S. Department of Labor's W age and Hour Division is considering updating regulations concerning child labor in agriculture, and the changes would restrict the work that youths can do on farms. "We believe these proposals overreach," said Rhedona Rose, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. "W e're all for anything we can do for farm safety, but we are also about the opportunities for children and young folks to learn by doing, and a big part of learning by doing is being actively involved." Department of Labor officials said the changes are necessary to ensure the safety of these young workers. "Children employed in agriculture are some of the most vulnerable workers in America," Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said in a news release. "Ensuring their welfare is a priority of the department, and this proposal is another element of our comprehensive approach." The public's opportunity to comment on the proposed changes closed on Dec. 1 with more than 18,000 people submitting their opinions. Department of Labor officials said the comments will be reviewed before the final regulations are drafted and published. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/20/new-rules-threaten-their-way-of-life-farmers-say/

States may lose crucial flood-predicting tools (Stateline)

More than three months after the heavy rains of Tropical Storm Lee pummeled much of the East Coast, the city of Binghamton, New York, is still rebuilding. During the height of the storm, the waters of the Susquehanna River surged over floodwalls and into the streets, forcing 20,000 people in the area to flee their homes. Cleanup efforts will continue into the spring. The city will get a slice of the $50 million disaster aid package Governor Andrew Cuomo signed earlier in December, but that money wont prevent floodwaters from staging another assault on Binghamton and other cities lying in the Susquehanna River Basin one of the nations most flood-prone 7

areas. Flooding is always a worry along the wide, shallow Susquehanna, which spills its banks yearly and has been doing so with growing intensity in recent years. To people living in the basin, timely weather warnings are essential. But those who have the job of issuing those warnings are worried about what might happen next flood season, when they will likely have fewer tools to do the work. Gauges in the U.S. Geological Surveys National Streamflow Information Program measure the levels of rivers, lakes and streams, recording critical information used to forecast floods. The system is very much a federal, state and local partnership. In 2009, states and localities combined to spend $69 million on the gauges almost half of the $146 million it took to operate the network. Now, all three levels of government are cutting back on their efforts. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=620251

Three years later, Kingston ash spill cleanup continues (News-Sentinel/Fowler)

The end is in sight, and the trust is back. So says a TVA executive of the ongoing cleanup of the catastrophic ash spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant and the public's perception of TVA's efforts. While backhoes and bulldozers rumbled on top of 30-foot-deep heaps of toxic coal ash, scooping it up for storage, reporters Monday received an update on the cleanup as the third anniversary of the disaster approaches. "It's been a long three years," TVA Senior Vice President Bob Deacy said of the calamity and the high-profile cleanup effort. The spill sparked sweeping changes in TVA's corporate culture, the way TVA handles the waste left by all its coal-burning power plants and the public's perception of the public behemoth, officials said. It was early Dec. 22, 2008, when one side of a huge holding cell full of wet coal ash collapsed in the 12 degree weather, sending 5.4 million cubic yards of the sludge cascading into the Emory River and onto hundreds of acres of Swan Pond community countryside. No one died, but homes were destroyed, boat docks and outbuildings damaged, and lives upended with worries ranging from air and water pollution to forced relocations. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/19/three-years-later-kingston-ash-spill-cleanup/

TVA about halfway through recovery at ash spill site (WATE-TV Knoxville)
In three years, officials with the Tennessee Valley Authority say they've cleaned up about 80 percent of the ash that spilled out of a collapsed dredge cell at the Kingston Fossil Plant. A series of dikes at the plant collapsed on December 22, 2008, spewing an estimated 5.4 million cubic yards of ash and sludge into nearby homes, farmland and the Emory River. "Everybody just had a strong interest in trying to remove this material from the river and the embayment as quickly as we could," said Steve McCracken, general manager of the Kingston Ash Recovery Project. The affected parts of the Emory River were dredged and the north embayment was cleaned using heavy machinery. "We re-routed water to not have to work on the water like we did on the river to clean it up. It took us 12 months to clean up the 800,000 to 1 million cubic yards of material that had spilled into this area," McCracken said. The work that remains is in the middle embayment, which still has more than 20 feet of ash to be removed from the surface. TVA says the remaining dry ash from the spill will be placed back into the repaired and strengthened dredge cell, which will then be capped and covered. http://www.wate.com/story/16355969/tva-about-halfway-through-recovery-at-ash-spill-site

Research could advance understanding of mercury, Y-12 impacts (NS/Munger)

Think globally, act locally is an environmental catchphrase that has special significance when talking about mercury and Oak Ridge. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is engaged in a multiyear, multimillion-dollar research effort to better understand how mercury behaves and sometimes devilishly transforms itself in the environment. As such, it's becoming a recognized center for mercury research. The ORNL team reportedly made a big splash at an international conference earlier this year in Canada with some of their findings. Oak Ridge, ironically, could also be one of the real beneficiaries of the mercury studies. Mercury discharges during Cold W ar operations at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant seriously contaminated the site and East Fork Poplar Creek, which now serve as a test bed for some of the research investigations. Lab results could potentially be applied to cleanup operations here, as well as mercury-tainted waterways around the world. "There's obviously legacy issues with mercury in Oak Ridge, but globally mercury contamination is an important issue because in certain chemical states it can be very hazardous to both human health and the environment generally," ORNL Director Thom Mason said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/20/ornl-research-could-advance-understanding-of-y/

Knoxville rises in national economic ranking (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Flory)

Knoxville is showing some positive momentum when it comes to job growth, according to a new study from a national think tank. The Milken Institute last week issued a list of America's "Best-Performing Cities", which ranked U.S. metropolitan areas on factors including job growth, wage growth and growth in the high-tech 8

economy. Knoxville recorded a sharp jump in the rankings among the 200 largest metro areas, from 92nd a year ago to 58th on the most recent report, and that rise was largely attributable to recent job growth. The city ranked 22nd among large metro areas in job growth between 2009 and 2010, and its 1.15 percent rate of job growth from June 2010 to June 2011 was good for 59th on the list. The city was much closer to the middle of the pack in other areas, ranking 87th or worse on six of the nine categories included in the study. Armen Bedroussian, a senior economist at the Santa Monica, Calif.-based Institute, said the growth was largely driven by a surge in educational services which could be related to K-12 or higher education and health services, as well as an increase in private-sector professional and business services. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/dec/20/knoxville-rises-in-national-economic-ranking/

Erlanger Health System loses $3.1 million in November (Times Free-Press/Haman)

Erlanger Health System lost $3.16 million in operations in November, leaving the public hospital $9.77 million behind budget for this fiscal year. The losses came the same month the hospital announced the departure of president and CEO Jim Brexler. Operations losses for the fiscal year, which began in July, now total $6.38 million, according to numbers released Monday. The hospital had budgeted to be $3.96 million in the black by November's end. Interim CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson declined to comment about the figures. The hospital's board of trustees placed W oodard-Thompson, who previously served as the chief operating officer, at the helm last month. In November 2010, the hospital's operations were $710,682 in the black for the month and $260,558 for the year. Admissions for this November were 3.7 percent over budget, and 9.1 percent higher than November last year. Still, surgical outpatients were 6.4 percent under budget, and outpatient revenue fell short by $6.3 million. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/hospital-erlanger-loses-31-million-in-november/?local

CarMax now hiring about 90 for its new store in Chattanooga (Times Free-Press)
CarMax Inc., the Richmond, Va.- used car retailer, has announced it is now hiring about 90 people to man its new store in Chattanooga. The new store, to be located on Overnite Drive in East Brainerd, across Interstate 75 from Hamilton Place mall, is set to hold its grand opening Feb. 29, 2012. The store will have 36,000 square feet of space and will be the retailers first location in Chattanooga. CarMax said it seeking to fill positions in sales, purchasing, inventory and in its business office as well as those who will serve as service advisers and technicians. Those applying for a job should do so online at www.carmax.com/careers, the company said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/19/carmax-now-hiring-about-90-its-new-store-opening-e/?local

Nashville board votes to keep charter school open (Associated Press)

The Metro Nashville School Board decided Monday evening to keep a charter school open on a probationary status The board, at a special meeting, decided against revoking the charter for Drexel Preparatory Academy which has more than 230 students. The Tennessean reported earlier Monday the revocation was recommended by the school district's administration, which cited "flagrant disregard for the charter agreement" (http://tnne.ws/vHWFtf Complaints against the school include hiring six unlicensed teachers and failing to ). provide the necessary amounts of instruction for students with disabilities and those learning English as a second language. May Ridley, the school's executive director, said it doesn't deserve to be closed because its students "are on target, they're reading, they're getting up to grade level." Had the charter been revoked, the 237 students would have been sent to other schools after the holiday break. The board, which granted Drexel its charter last year, initially rejected its application, but gave it a second look at the request of state education officials. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=38177423.story

School board gives Drexel charter 5 months to fulfill promises (TN/Hubbard)

A Nashville charter school will get five months to prove it can provide services to students learning to speak English and keep organized financial and other records. On Monday, Drexel Preparatory Academy faced becoming the second Nashville charter school closed over failure to fulfill its contract. Drexels leaders invited about 100 parents and other supporters to a special meeting with the Metro Nashville school board. The children have a victory, Drexel Principal May Alice Ridley said, wiping back tears. Everything the board told us to do, were going to get it done. Im going to see to that. Five of eight school board members at the meeting said the charter school, which opened in August, should be given time to live up to its promises: a rounded curriculum; smaller class sizes; and access to music, physical education and Spanish education. Saying they didnt want to send students to other schools just as theyre getting settled, they voted to place Drexel on 9

extended probation and then meet again in May or June to see if the school improved. I believe these children need a fighting chance, said board member Cheryl Mayes. This is your time to do or die. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111220/NEWS04/312150100/School-board-gives-Drexel-charter-5months-fulfill-promises?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Chamber report urges changes for Nashville schools (Tennessean/Hubbard)

Business leaders suggest more access for parents to children's progress and greater ACT focus Nashvilles business leaders want to see schools held accountable for how their students score on the ACT college entrance exam. They want report cards sent to parents at intervals that work for them, not based on nine-week school cycles. And in between, they want parents to be able to access their childrens freshest homework and quiz grades on their cellphones. A 24-member Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce committee outlined those recommendations and others for Metro schools most revolving around making the district more user-friendly for parents in a annual report being released today. On Monday, the district reserved comment on the report until todays official release, but a spokeswoman said leaders are already working on some of the suggestions. One of the freshest was an increased focus on how many students score a 21 on the ACT, the threshold to qualify for a state-funded HOPE scholarship. From 2010 to 2011, Metro students meeting that level rose from 27 percent to 28 percent not fast enough for the chamber committee. We had a lot of kids who didnt move up the ramp as quickly as they need to, committee Co-Chairman Ron Corbin said Monday. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111220/NEWS04/312200032/Chamber-report-urges-changes-Nashvilleschools?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Birchwood man faces charges after meth lab found (WBIR-TV Knoxville)
A Birchwood man faces charges after officials in Union County found a meth lab. According to Union County Sheriff's Department, Maynardville Police officials arrested 29-year-old Jeffrey David Lawson after they found a meth lab in the Bull Run Creek Apartments on Main Street in Maynardville. Lawson faces charges for manufacturing of meth and possession of meth and marijuana. He also faces charges for criminal impersonation after alledigly giving false names to law enforcement as well as vandalism to a government vehicle under $500. Lawson is also wanted in Meigs County for felony evading, and felony marijuana. http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/196460/2/Birchwood-man-faces-charges-after-meth-lab-found

Florida: Rebuffing Gov., Florida A&M Declines to Suspend President (NY Times)
Rebuffing the governor, Florida A&Ms board of trustees on Monday decided not to suspend the universitys president and asserted that it would stand firm against outside influences, no matter how well intended. Solomon Badger, the chairman of the board, said the trustees would wait to decide whether to suspend the president, James H. Ammons, until the end of criminal investigations into the Nov. 19 death of a marching band member, possibly from a hazing ritual, and potential fraud by university employees. Last week, Gov. Rick Scott called for Mr. Ammons to be suspended pending the investigations. The governors action prompted an outcry from university students and alumni who called it premature and unnecessary. Students held small protests over the weekend at the governors mansion in Tallahassee. But Mr. Scott, a Republican, said he had sought only to neutralize any conflict of interest that might arise from the investigation. For the sake of appearances, and to assure the public that these investigations are clearly independent, I believe it would have been in the best interest of Florida A&M University for President Ammons to step aside until all of these investigations are completed, Mr. Scott said in a statement. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/us/spurning-governor-scottflorida-am-declines-to-suspend-ammons.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1324382606o3qFf378iaUam2Q7TB6X2Q

Illinois: Move by Lawyers for Blagojevich Harebrained (Associated Press)

A federal judge has denied what he called a harebrained motion by Rod Blagojevichs lawyers over what they claimed was potential misconduct by the jury forewoman at his retrial. Judge James Zagel threatened Monday to sanction the lawyer who drafted the motion for the impeached governor, who was convicted of charges including that he tried to sell President Obamas old Senate seat. The defense asked Judge Zagel to investigate whether the forewoman violated the judges orders by possessing a questionnaire from the retrial and using it in a talk she gave to high school students. The motion had sought a new trial if court rules were violated. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/us/illinois-move-by-lawyers-for-blagojevich-called-harebrained.html? ref=todayspaper 10

OPINION Free-Press Editorial: Protecting ballot integrity and voting rights (Times FreePress)
Everyone would agree that it is unjust if the government denies a legitimate voter the right to cast a ballot. But it is equally unjust if fraudulent voters are permitted to cast ballots, negating the votes of lawful voters. It is for that reason that a number of states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws putting in place a commonsense requirement that voters present valid photo identification when they go to their polling places. Such laws have not caused the widespread voting difficulties predicted by opponents. For instance, the Georgia Supreme Court upheld that state's voter ID law after finding that the law had not disenfranchised anybody even after it had been in effect for years. Court cases around the country have yielded similar findings. Hans A. von Spakovsky, a former civil rights staff member at the U.S. Justice Department, notes the common thread running through those cases: that the plaintiffs arguing against voter ID laws couldn't produce voters who had actually been unable to vote on account of the laws. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/dec/20/voting-rights-cut-both-ways/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: Ramsey's comments on open meetings don't reflect reality of law (J. Sun)
We're concerned by recent statements by state Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey about open government and the state's open meetings law. Ramsey said in an interview with The Associated Press last week that he thinks elected officials should have more leeway to have some discussions outside of official public meetings. Ramsey said he is in favor of open government, then added, "But there's got to be some kind of little something to allow people to talk without the fear that they're going to be prosecuted." This last statement defies logic and sounds a lot like some kind of scare tactic to generate momentum to weaken Tennessee's open meetings law. Ramsey's comments come in the context of discussion about a proposal being pushed by the Tennessee County Commissioners Association that would allow elected officials to meet privately to discuss the public's business as long as a quorum is not present. State Rep. Glen Casada, a Republican from Franklin, is expected to submit the proposal in the form of a bill for consideration by the state legislature next year. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111220/OPINION01/112200302/Ramsey-s-comments-open-meetings-dont-reflect-reality-law

Editorial: Please dont take my sunshine away (Nooga)

It's rarely surprising when people used to doing things a certain way resist change, even if that change is reformative. It is, however, surprising to see new efforts aimed at undoing past reforms. In 1974 then-Gov. Winfield Dunn signed the Tennessee Open Meetings Act, also known as the Sunshine Law. At its core, the law states that the formation of public policy and decisions is public business and shall not be conducted in secret. Fast-forward nearly four decades. The Tennessee County Commissioners Association, in an effort spearheaded by its recent past president, Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell, is on a statewide mission to roll 11

back parts of the Sunshine Law. Commissioner Barnwell, this does not bode well. Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Braggson of former state Rep. John Bragg, who sponsored the 1972 bill that created the Sunshine Lawhas voiced his opposition to the proposed changes. He adroitly observed that the current law has fostered trust between citizens and elected officials. Yes, one would imagine so. Barnwell is acting counter to his forebears, too. http://www.nooga.com/26950_please-don%E2%80%99t-take-my-sunshine-away/

Editorial: Careful study required on reduction of regulations (Daily News Journal)

Often rules are there for a reason. And we hope state Rep. Pat Marsh, R-Shelbyville, remembers that as he suggests changes to state regulations that could impact the environment. Marsh, who represents southwest Rutherford County, recently told a Chamber of Commerce group meeting in Smyrna of his work on the Small Business Task Force set up by House Republicans. "We're looking at unnecessary or burdensome regulations that some of the state departments might have placed on businesses," Marsh said. The owner of Big G Express trucking, Marsh pointed out that 10 percent of trucks at his business are idled for lack of drivers. He wants the length of time for unemployment benefits to be lessened, although the federal government is responsible for adding extensions to what the state allots. And he's also concerned that regulators are considering dropping the amount of time truck drivers are allowed to be on the road from 11 to 10 hours, with a mandatory eight hours off for sleep. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111220/OPINION01/112200303/EDITORIAL-Careful-study-required-reductionregulations ###

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