WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2012 Tennessee touted for auto industry work (Associated Press)

A manager for an automotive supplier says Tennessee is rapidly becoming a major hub for the industry. Brad Pepper of Topre America Corp. said that choosing the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tenn., for a new company location was an obvious choice. The company, based in Tokyo, also has a production and sales subsidiary in Cullman, Ala., which is its first location in the U.S. The Tennessee facility represents a multimillion-dollar investment and the creation of 25 jobs. Gov. Bill Haslam said Tennessee hopes to become the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38366703?odyssey=mod| newswell|text|News|p

Haslam: State Committed to Charter Schools (Memphis Daily News)

The leader of a charter school company from out of state asked Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in Memphis last week if there is anything he and other charter school leaders in the room should know about Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools. Haslam laughed along with others from the area in the room at the New Consortium School of Law and Business on the north side of Court Square. Then he began explaining the ongoing consolidation of the countys two public school systems. Theres a whole lot of politics and community feeling around that, Haslam said. That being said, I think theres some really good people working on the advisory committee. Ive been incredibly impressed with their work. But Haslam also said the states Achievement School District a grouping of the states perennially lowest performing schools in a district in which the state either collaborates with local school districts or runs a state-controlled charter school within those existing schools can help with consolidation. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/18/haslam-state-committed-to-charter-schools/

Haslam outlines 2012 legislative agenda (Times-News)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam pitched his 2012 legislative agenda focused on creating jobs, lowering two taxes, and reforming government employment and education to members of the Times-News Editorial Board Tuesday. Haslams agenda includes more than 50 non-budget bills, but the Republican governor and former Knoxville mayor pointed out theres always a ton of attention paid to the state budget. He will submit a spending plan for the coming fiscal year to the legislature on Jan. 30. Never once in the seven years Ive been mayor or the year I have been governor does anyone ever say How did you do? Haslam said. ...But thats kind of what my job is, right, to provide those services at the budgeted level and maybe we figure out a way to save some money. Haslam began the meeting by saying he plans to change how the states Fast Track economic development grants will be doled out. He proposed Tennessee should have the flexibility to use those grants as cash incentives for businesses to relocate and prepare job sites. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9040951/haslam-outlines-2012-legislative-agenda

Haslam promotes proposed legislative package for 2012 (Herald-Courier)

During a Tuesday morning interview session at the Bristol Herald Courier, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam presented a wide-ranging list of legislative proposals that his administration will pursue in 2012 - and said the plan solidly supports his goal to provide state residents with more efficient services. "My primary job is to provide the best services to [Tennesseans] at the lowest cost to taxpayers," Haslam said during a nearly 40-minute session with the Herald Courier's editorial board, newspaper executives and W JHL Channel 11 news anchor Josh Smith. Haslam appeared at the Herald Courier during an ongoing statewide tour to promote his administration's legislative agenda leading up to his Jan. 30 State of the State speech in Nashville. Haslam provided no detailed information on the specific budget he will present to the Tennessee Legislature for his agenda - he said his administration is still crunching budgetary numbers and hadn't finalized the amount. But the

first-term Republican governor said his proposed agenda could make huge strides in addressing many of the state's pressing concerns, including crime, education, job growth, taxes and other issues. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/jan/17/haslam-promotes-proposed-legislative-package-2012-ar-1617705/

Capitol Hill Conversation-The Governor Lays Out His Agenda (WPLN-Radio Nash)
Governor Haslams agenda for the 2012 session includes changes to the way the state hires workers and a cut in the grocery tax. http://wpln.org/?p=32848 AUDIO http://wpln.org/wp-content/2011/12/bf-spring-for-web.mp3 :

Storm survey will tell if tornado hit Rutherford County (Gannett)

Employees of the National W eather Service near Nashville will survey an area of North Lamar Road this morning to determine whether a tornado touched down between the 3000 and 4000 block there Tuesday afternoon. W hile some damage was done to homes, trees and even a recreational vehicle in the area, no injuries were reported, according to Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Randy White. Power outages were reported due to downed power lines, but it was unclear as of press time how many residents were affected at the height of those outages. Representatives from a local power company were still working to restore power to residents in the area around 5 p.m. A spokeswoman could not be reached for comment. According to White, Rutherford County Emergency personnel were dispatched to 4230 N. Lamar Road, near the Lamar Road boat ramp, in reference to damages being reported at several houses and a recreational vehicle being blown over in the area. Authorities arrived to find several trees and power lines down and rooftops peeled back on several structures. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS01/301180101/Storm-survey-will-tell-tornado-hit-RutherfordCounty?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

NWS: Possible tornado touchdown on North Lamar Road to be investigated (DNJ)

An area between the 3000- and 4000-block of North Lamar Road suffered damage when a possibly tornadic storm ripped through the area around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Randy White told The Daily News Journal that several homes and a recreational vehicle was damaged as a result of the storm, but no injuries were reported. Power outages were reported as a result of downed power lines in the area, but it was unclear as of how many residents were affected at the height of those outages. Representatives from a local power company were still working to restore power to residents in the area around 5 p.m. A spokeswoman could not be reached for comment. According to White, Rutherford County Emergency personnel were dispatched to 4230 N. Lamar Rd., near the Lamar Road boat ramp, in reference to damages being reported at several houses and a recreational vehicle being blown over in the area. Authorities arrived to find several trees and power lines down and rooftops peeled back on several structures. There was an RV that was blown over, White said. Our guys went and checked it out and there was nobody in it. Thank goodness there were no injuries in all of this. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120117/NEWS01/120117019/NWSPossible-tornado-touchdown-North-Lamar-Road-investigated

State says 'no validity' to allegations against nuke firm (News-Sentinel/Munger)

The state said it has found "no validity" at this point to a series of allegations levied against an Oak Ridge waste processor on a national hotline for reporting nuclear and chemical incidents. Among allegations in the anonymous complaint to the National Response Center was that IMPACT had illegally disposed of radioactive materials at the Chestnut Ridge Landfill in Anderson County. The complaint said IMPACT Services was intentionally shielding radioactive materials to prevent detection at the landfill's entry station. Tisha CalabreseBenton, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, said Tuesday that the state performs regular inspections of IMPACT Services and other companies licensed to process nuclear materials. Those inspections include sampling, surveys, employee interviews and audits of records, she said. "We have found no evidence in any of those inspections of these allegations," Calabrese-Benton said. Kristof Czartoryski, IMPACT's regulatory affairs manager, called the allegations "unfounded and ridiculous." IMPACT Services has license approval to send some wastes with extremely low levels of radioactivity to the Chestnut Ridge Landfill under the Bulk Survey for Release program, Calabrese-Benton said. But there is no indication the company violated rules of the program, she said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/18/state-says-novalidity-to-allegations-against/

Whirlpool road project back on track (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Leach)

The Bradley County Commission has agreed to a funding deal proposed by the Cleveland City Council that will launch a delayed road improvement project linked to the Whirlpool relocation to Benton Pike. Tuesday morning, commissioners voted 10-3 to accept city help in paying for rights-of-way acquisitions and improvements for segments of Benton Pike, Durkee Road and Michigan Avenue. While the county still will have to pay an estimated $1 million as its share of local costs for the work, the agreement allows the county to pay the city back in four years instead of funding the debt up front. In return, Bradley County will not require Cleveland to pay up to $40,000 for existing sewer line service to areas adjoining Durkee and Minnis roads, should the city annex them. Commissioner Ed Elkins opposed waiving the sewer line reimbursement, which was part of a 2009 agreement to provide service to Park View Elementary School. Chairman Louie Alford and Commissioner Mel Griffith joined Elkins as the only votes against the agreement. This has been a one-sided compromise, said Commissioner Jeff Yarber, who said he felt torn on the matter. In their [W hirlpool officials] mind, this community guaranteed them they would do this road project, Commissioner Jeff Morelock said. I just hate to see $40,000 slow this project down. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/whirlpool-road-project-back-track/?local

ETSU's new president takes office, ready to tackle issues (Herald-Courier)

For the past 15 years Dr. Paul Stanton occupied the president's office at East Tennessee State University. Today a new president Dr. Brian Noland took over as the leader at the region's largest university. Noland is the ninth president at ETSU. His most recent post was chancellor of West Virginias Higher Education Policy Commission. ETSUs new president met with the media today and filled them in on his agenda as he takes office. Simply put Noland wants to listen to people both on and off campus to gauge what needs to be accomplished at this point in time at ETSU. The school's new president is facing some tough issues like salary equity for faculty and staff. Other issues include the Fine Arts Center and a school of dentistry also on the drawing board that funding sources have to be found for. Noland says that the bottom line in facing these challenges is making sure they take care of etsu's number one priority the students. "Weve got to put a focus on college completion 46 percent of our students graduate within six years and the national average is 55 percent, said Noland. About half of our students borrow and they borrow about $20,000 a year. So I want to do everything we can from the bottom up to put an accent on completion to make sure more of our students are realizing that dream of a college degree." http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/jan/17/etsus-new-president-takes-office-ready-tackle-issu-ar-1618217/

College presidents set the curve when it comes to technology (Tenn./Hubbard)

MTSU President Sidney McPhee used Skype on his iPhone for a more personal conversation with the Hangzhou Normal University president, working out the details of shipping 500 plants from China to Murfreesboro for research. But McPhees technophile side doesnt end with smartphones. Hes also an avid iPad user who hired Middle Tennessee State University students to design apps to check their grades, review lunch menus and see a campus map. A new lab at his school will include tablet-phone combinations at desks new technology the manufacturer is testing before putting it on the market. I was an early adopter of the iPod, McPhee said. When it comes out, I dont mind being the guinea pig. He reflects new Pew Research Center polling on university presidents technology use, which shows those in charge of educating Americas college students are more likely to embrace new technology. Nearly 87 percent use a smartphone daily, 56 percent use a laptop several times a day, and half use a tablet computer, compared with 8 percent of the general public with tablets. University presidents are highly educated, fairly affluent and see technology playing a vital role to advance student learning, said Kim Parker, associate director of the centers social and demographic trends project. She said their exposure to young people plays a part in making them more comfortable with cutting-edge technology, too. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS04/301180082/College-presidents-set-curve-when-comestechnology?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tenn. GOP leaders seek to avoid legislative lull (Associated Press)

Republican leaders are seeking to avoid the traditional lull in the first few weeks of the legislative session as they turn their attention from redistricting to the business of budgeting and lawmaking. While there was little evidence of enhanced urgency in the halls of legislative office complex on the first day back from the holiday weekend on Tuesday, House Speaker Beth Harwell and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey have expressed confidence they can conclude the session even sooner than last year, when they wrapped up their business in late May. Gov. Bill Haslam's agenda has so far found little criticism among fellow Republicans. The proposals include cuts in the 3

inheritance tax and the sales tax on groceries, changing civil service rules for state workers and changing teacher pay and average class size rules. "His proposals are so in line with goals of this Republican caucus, and frankly many Democrats," Harwell said in an interview last week. "I don't think it will delay us." The tax proposals in particular eased concerns among Republican lawmakers, who want to campaign on the issue during this summer's campaigns. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38362077?odyssey=mod|newswell|text| News|s

Senate Committee Quickly Takes Up Bath Salt and Meth Bills (W PLN-Radio)
The Tennessee legislature hits the ground running today, the second week of its 2012 session. When the gavel bangs at noon, the Senate Judiciary Committee will take up two bills that address widespread drug abuse in the state so-called designer drugs, and methamphetamine. The full Senate gave the committee the green light last week to take up the bills, even though the deadline to set the agenda had already passed. Thats unusual this early in the session and is a marker of how important these two issues are. Designer drugs are often sold across the counter as bath salts or plant food. Manufacturers take an illegal drug, make chemical changes of as little as one molecule and create a substance that isnt illegal at least, not yet. One of the bills says that if a new chemical substance mimics a drug that is already illegal, then that new substance is also an illegal drug. Socalled bath salts have become a hot issue for local governments. Several cities have banned their sale, and in Rutherford County, police raids have targeted convenience stores that carry the phony bath salts. http://wpln.org/?p=32850

Tennessee legislation targets vehicle insurance dodgers (Times Free-Press/Sher)

Some drivers' practice of ignoring Tennessee's mandatory liability-insurance law would come to a screeching halt under a proposed bill to create a state electronic compliance system. The measure would create a database and let county clerks check it to see if drivers meet financial responsibility requirements before registering or renewing their vehicle registrations. Police also would have access to the database, which would be operated by the state Revenue Department. The bill was filed by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, at the request of Hamilton County Clerk Bill Knowles. Knowles said that, while Tennessee has a financial responsibility requirement for motorists, "it's policed on the rear end" after an accident or a traffic stop. "If you get stopped by the police officer, you have to show him your insurance, prove your insurance," Knowles said Tuesday. The bill's purpose, Knowles said, "is not to handicap anyone from getting tags, it's to get a better way to enforce the insurance law." Dean, a retired Chattanooga police officer, said he believes the bill would "ensure restitution to those who are involved in crashes, especially when it's not their fault." "I think we have far too many people driving on the roads in the state without proper coverage, and this is just one step to try to improve the percentage," he said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/legislation-targets-insurance-dodgers/?local

'Don't Say Gay' bill once again before lawmakers (Associated Press)
A measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues is once again before lawmakers. The proposal, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, is sponsored by Republican Rep. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald and is scheduled to be heard Wednesday in the House Education Subcommittee. The companion bill passed the Senate last year. It limits all sexually related instruction to "natural human reproduction science" in kindergarten through eighth grade. Hensley said he plans to amend the House version to say the same, and believes it will pass. Opponents of the legislation fear it would prevent teachers and others from speaking out against the bullying of gay teens. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38366661?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TN county's omission may mean redistricting revote (Associated Press)

Thought Tennessees arduous redistricting process was over? Not so fast. Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris confirmed Tuesday that Tipton County was inadvertently omitted from the upper chambers redistricting measure passed last week. The missing county is part of Norris redrawn Senate district. The Legislature will need to pass the measure again to correct the error, Norris said. The Collierville Republican said the mistake was caught before the measure was sent to the governor for his signature, meaning lawmakers can move to reconsider their previous action. The language of the bill lists the areas of Shelby County that Norris would represent, but fails to 4

mention Tipton County. Norris said it was a technical mistake akin to a typographical error but that he wanted to go through all the legislative motions again to ensure accuracy in the final product. Better safe than sorry, he said. Democrats complained that the complete redistricting maps were not made publicly available until the week before the session began and that their requests to delay a vote to more carefully study the proposals were rejected. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS0201/301180104/TN-county-s-omission-may-meanredistricting-revote?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Redrawn political maps get General Assembly approval (Tennessean/Sisk)

Tennessee lawmakers finished the once-in-a-decade effort to redraw the state's political maps Friday, approving the Republican-authored plans after making a handful of adjustments to accommodate incumbent lawmakers. Both chambers of the General Assembly approved a reapportionment plan for the Senate's 33 districts, and state senators signed off on plans for the state House of Representatives and Congress that state representatives had passed Thursday. Some Democrats have said a lawsuit to stop the plan remains a possibility, but Republican leaders rejected their arguments that the plan violated minority voting rights. The redistricting bills we have passed today are fair, legal and logical," Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey said in a prepared statement. "The plans restore regional integrity protecting neighborhoods and other communities of interest. The new lines include a split of Dickson County into two House districts, District 69, represented by Rep. David Shepard, D-Dickson, on the west side and District 78, represented by Phillip Johnson, R-Pegram, on the east side. In the state Senate, Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, was moved into District 25, which includes Dickson County and is represented by Sen. Jim Summerville, R-Dickson. Roberts, who currently represents the 18th Senate District, was moved out of his home district, likely crippling his ability to run for a Senate office. Summerville serves until 2014. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120117/DICKSON01/301170058/Redrawn-political-maps-get-GeneralAssembly-approval?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cs

Police Called as County Commissioners Quarrel Over Redistricting (Memphis Flyer)

As the issue of redistricting the Shelby County Commission remains unresolved and bounces back and forth between a divided commission and Chancery Court, nerves of commissioners are fraying and disagreements hit the danger level. A few days after Commissioner Terry Roland was confronted by several of his Republican colleagues at a meeting of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, a reprise of sorts occurred Tuesday night at a meeting of the Collierville Republican Club at the La Hacienda Restaurant on Highway 72/Poplar Avenue in Collierville. Roland, the club's featured speaker Tuesday night and a proponent of a two-member district plan, had barely launched into his remarks when he ran into vocal challenges from fellow Republican commissioners Wyatt Bunker, Chris Thomas, and Heidi Shafer, all of whom took exception to Roland's account of how the disagreement came about and what its meaning was. The word "lie" was hurled repeatedly at Roland by the others before club officials restored a semblance of order, but a running dialogue between Roland and his fellow commissioners continued and became heated. In the clip above, Roland appears to blame his new interim colleague Brent Taylor (who was also present) for the current impasse between Roland himself and h is allies, on the one hand, and several GOP colleagues who prefer a three-member district plan, on the other. http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2012/01/17/police-called-as-county-commissionersquarrel-over-redistricting-in-collierville

Commission Restarts Redistricting Talks (Memphis Daily News)

Shelby County Commission members will start over with their once-a-decade redistricting process W ednesday, Jan. 18, with a committee session and a special meeting of the entire body to pass a plan on the first of three readings. The committee session on redistricting is at 10:45 a.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. A special meeting of the full commission will follow at 2:30 p.m. Commissioners voted last week to start over with a redistricting process that ended in a deadlock when none of the top three plans under consideration had the necessary nine-vote, two-thirds majority that was necessary to pass on third and final reading. Commissioners will begin anew, proposing plans that need only seven votes a simple majority to pass on first and second readings. The first plan would keep the commission at four districts represented by three commissioners each plus a single-member district; the second would be a conversion to 13 single-member districts; and the third would move to six districts represented by two commissioners each plus a single-member district. Meanwhile, the Chancery Court lawsuit three commissioners filed this month over the issue is still pending. 5

http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/18/commission-restarts-redistricting-talks/

New House for Bedford (Times-Gazette)

State lawmakers on Friday approved redistricting plans for congressional and state legislative districts, and Gov. Bill Haslam is expected to sign the proposal. The biggest change for Bedford County is that the county moves from the 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Diane Black (R-Gallatin), to the 4th, currently represented by Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-South Pittsburg). A press release from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Speaker of the State House Beth Harwell claims that the new congressional districts make more sense than the sprawling districts drawn up in past decades, when the General Assembly, and therefore the redistricting process, were under Democratic control. In the past, some snake-like districts stretched from West Tennessee to East Tennessee. Fewer splits Only eight Tennessee counties are split between districts under the new plan, as opposed to 10 in the current district maps. That includes Shelby County, which by law has to be split because its population is greater than the target population for a congressional district. Democrats, however, criticized the plan as having been rushed through the legislature. http://www.t-g.com/story/1805280.html

Shepard: Two reps not bad (Dickson Herald)

Dickson rep not concerned about redistricting Dickson County will have two representatives in the state House beginning in 2013. One of those could be 12-year incumbent Rep. David Shepard, should he decide to run again. Shepard told a room-filling crowd at the county Chamber of Commerce luncheon at GreyStone last week that he would decide about his political future in the coming months. I have not chosen or decided what I am going to do, said Shepard about running in the November election. I will make that decision once this has passed and once I have had the opportunity to talk with some of you about whether you would like me to continue doing this for you. Shepard said he has other options out there and he did not run for office as a career move. Its an honor, actually, Shepard said. Shepard, a Dickson resident and Democrat who owns a group of pharmacies in Dickson and Hickman counties, also said having two representatives was never bad. Sometimes having two representatives is good, Shepard said. And sometimes its confusing. I dont think its ever bad. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120117/DICKSON01/301170059/Shepard-Two-reps-not-bad? odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cs

Ramsey: Drug test welfare recipients, business owners (W MC-TV Memphis)

A Tennessee lawmaker wants to require anyone getting government assistance to be tested for drugs. That includes anyone on welfare and employees of any business getting government money. State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says he expects lawmakers will stand behind him in support of a strategic plan to require drug tests for Tennesseans who get government assistance or workers' compensation. Ramsey is pushing forward with legislation to make sure that anyone who is getting any kind of government benefits is drug tested. "I'm in favor of drug testing for people that are on any kind of benefits. Whether it's unemployment compensation, workers compensation or whatever it is, because I don't think that we need to be supporting that kind of lifestyle," said Ramsey, a Republican from Blountville. But State Representative G.A. Hardaway said many of his constituents are upset about the bill which requires those who receive government welfare assistance to take and pass a drug test. "With all the crazy legislation that we produced over the last couple years, I'm sure that some people would love for us to be drug tested," said the Memphis Democrat. http://www.wmctv.com/story/16538545/ramsey-drug-test-welfare-recipients-business-owners

Appeals panel weighs challenge to 2008 Tennessee primary (AP/Barrouquere)

To former Tennessee state Sen. Rosalind Kurita, an election certified by state officials, even a party primary, reflects the will of the people and shouldnt be nullified at the whim of political party officials. The Tennessee Democratic Party and the state, though, say party primaries are just that party functions in which the state has no role. Now, a three-judge panel from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals will determine who has the final say after the ballots are cast in Tennessee party primaries. The panel on Tuesday heard a challenge brought by Kurita, who the Tennessee Democratic Party pulled from the general election ballot in 2008, even though she won the partys primary by 19 votes. Democrats were angry with her after she cast a key vote in favor of Sen. Ron Ramsey in the Republicans election as Senate speaker in 2007. Kurita drew the support of Republicans in both her legal challenge of her ouster and for the write-in campaign to recapture the seat she has held since 1997. Her replacement in the November 2008 ballot, Clarksville attorney Tim Barnes, won the general election. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS02/301180100/Appeals-panel-weighs-challenge-2008-TN6

primary?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Flood Buyouts More Than Halfway Done (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Since the devastating floods of 2010, more than a hundred Nashville homeowners have sold their badlydamaged property to the city. Another 78 in the floodplain are still waiting to close on their buyouts. To have completed more than half of the buyouts less than two years after the flood is actually a pretty good pace. For comparison, it took officials in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 19 months after their flood to get to the point of even submitting an overall buyout proposal, much less start closing on any homes. Metro Water spokeswoman Sonia Harvat says the goal here has been to move as quickly as possible because the wait is costly for homeowners. They are responsible for the home until Metro closes on it. For the mortgage if they have a mortgage on it, you know, the yard maintenance and upkeep of the home, to make sure that its safe. Harvat says theres no way of predicting how long it will take to finish the closings. The federal and state agencies that help pay for the purchases have already approved all of the homes on the list, but she says theres still a lot to check. http://wpln.org/?p=32841

Memphis, Shelby County to get Depot sale proceeds soon (M. Business Journal)
Memphis and Shelby County should soon be seeing the proceeds of the Memphis Depot Business Park sale from last year. The Memphis Depot Redevelopment Corp. will vote tomorrow to authorize sending $24.4 million from the sale to the city and county. The city and county will split the money evenly. The Memphis Depot Redevelopment Corp. is part of the city and countys Economic Development Growth Engine, an economic development entity which was formed last year. Mayfield Properties bought 265 acres and 4.2 million square feet of industrial space in Memphis Depot Business Park for $35.8 million on Aug. 5, 2011. Reid Dulberger, president of EDGE, was quick to give credit to Memphis Depot Redevelopment Corp. president Jim Covington and others. Its just a phenomenal success story, he said. These kinds of things are not easy. It was hard, but they made a huge success out of it. In addition to this payment to the city and county, which provided initial financing for the depots redevelopment, the sale puts the property back on the tax rolls. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/01/17/memphis-shelby-county-to-get-depot.html

Riebeling asks Metro department heads to explore 2 percent cuts (CP/Garrison)

With representatives from all areas within Metro government gathered in one room, Finance Director Rich Riebeling told Metro department heads Tuesday to explore what effect a 2 percent reduction would have on their budgets. The 25-minute outing marked Metros budget kickoff, the first public line of communication with department leaders on an upcoming budget the 2012-13 fiscal year. Mayor Karl Dean is set to present a final budget to the Metro Council by May 1. Realistically, if you go much beyond that youre going to get into a massive-layoff discussion, Riebeling said afterwards on the cut scenario, which is nowhere near finalized. Historically, the level of cuts introduced during the kick-off is rarely the final number executed in the spring. I didnt see any reason to ask them to do a large number, he said. If you look at the cuts weve done in departments over the last few years, weve eliminated a lot of the excess. Now, youre really down to pretty slim operations. Metros operating budget for the current fiscal year is $1.59 billion. In the previous two budget cycles, Deans administration elected to restructure, or delay, the citys debt payments to avoid major cuts. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/riebeling-asks-metro-department-heads-explore-2-percent-cuts

Nashville mayor's call for smaller budget cuts is relief to departments (TN/Cass)
Kicking off a budget process sure to be shadowed by the question of whether Mayor Karl Dean will seek a property tax increase, Deans finance chief asked city department heads Tuesday to plan for 2 percent cuts in the next fiscal year. Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling also asked department leaders to evaluate all revenue options as they spend the next few weeks looking for ways to reduce spending slightly in the 2012-13 budget year, which starts July 1. The 2 percent target, largely greeted with relief by department heads, is smaller than the budget cuts Dean and Riebeling have asked them to prepare for over the previous four years. That period tracked with the toughest economic recession in recent memory and forced the city to reduce staffing levels, cut library hours and take other cost-saving steps. Riebeling said the goal of smaller cuts shouldnt be taken as a sign at this point that the administration expects to have unusual amounts of new revenue from a tax increase. Its a sign that weve done a lot (of cutting) over the past four years, he said in an interview. If we really started looking at a larger number, some departments were going to have to get into layoff issues. The 7

departments really dont have a lot of fluff left. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS0202/301180094/Nashville-mayor-s-call-smaller-budgetcuts-relief-departments?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Billboards aren't scenic, Littlefield says (Times Free-Press/Haman, Hightower)

Billboards are popping up alongside a new but unopened stretch of Volkswagen Drive and Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield says the city's plan for a "scenic corridor" has been "degraded." But there's nothing he can do to stop it. "The most disturbing point in the matter is that the area now being degraded would have been protected if not for resistance and delay in the city's annexation plans," Littlefield, who is out of town, said in an email. "In settling the lawsuits, annexation of the area in question does not become effective until the end of this year." East-West Media, based in Athens, Tenn., is erecting three billboards east of exit 9 along the Volkswagen Drive extension to Apison Pike near its intersection with Old Lee Highway. On Dec. 6, the county issued permits for three new signs. "We've done everything in compliance," said East-West's Bobby Mizer. The city voted almost two years ago to annex the land, but the property will not become part of Chattanooga until the end of 2012 after a settlement was reached with residents of the area. Littlefield questioned whether the billboards meet the county's setback and spacing regulations. The county says they do. "The measurements were checked by Building and Zoning, and they are correct," said Mike Dunne, county spokesman. "The billboards are zoned correctly, according to county standards." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/signs-arent-scenic-littlefield-says/?local

Proposal to build Lebanon events center fails (Tennessean/Anderson)

A proposal to bring a small events center to Lebanon failed a City Council vote Tuesday night. Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead had proposed that new tax revenues created by a retail development called the Cumberland Center be used to fund a $40 million events center near Interstate 40. The first step in the plan a resolution asking the General Assembly to change state law to allow new tax revenues to be used for the arena instead of city services was approved by a 4-3 vote, but Craighead said he needed a three-fourths vote for lawmakers in Nashville to hear the proposal. The resolution had to be approved by Jan 26, the anticipated deadline for bills to be filed by state lawmakers. Council members expressed concerns over the viability of a small arena in Lebanon and over the makeup of an authority that would have been responsible for the arena. The developer of the project, Larry Frankenbach of Vastland Realty Group, said he will press forward with retail and office space and hopes the arena plan can be approved in the future. Phase I of the Cumberland Center, which broke ground last fall, will include an RCC W estern Store and Logan's Roadhouse. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120117/NEWS01/120117027/Proposal-build-Lebanon-events-center-fails

Cooper to Legislature: Dont Dawdle on Insurance Exchange (WPLN-Radio Nash.)

Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper says state legislators shouldnt wait long before taking a role in the federal healthcare overhaul. Some lawmakers have talked about putting such a move off until after the Supreme Court decides if the law can legally make people buy health insurance. At issue is whether the state sets up its own health insurance exchange. Thats a hub where people could shop for coverage. If Tennessee doesnt set up its own, and the Supreme Court upholds the law, the state would be pulled into a federal exchange. And it would punt away controls over eligibility, fees, tax credits even some exemptions. Elected officials dont want that, but many also dont want to be seen signing off on what some call Obamacare in an election year. A few have suggested simply putting any action off until later. But Cooper a Democrat whos not part of the state process isnt convinced thats the right idea. There are two kinds of delay. One is a legitimate delay so you can study something or make sure its worked out properly. The other kind of delay is just called foot-dragging. http://wpln.org/?p=32830

NATO, U.S. Not Eager to Intervene in Syria, Cooper Says (WPLN-Radio Nashville)
Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper says the U.S. and its European allies arent looking for a fight in Syria. Cooper sits on the House Armed Services Committee, and says despite the Syrian governments deadly crackdown on protesters, theres not much appetite to get involved. Cooper says its a mistake to compare the situation in Syria to that of Libya last year. In Libya, the U.S. and NATO provided air support and supplies to rebels that toppled long-standing strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Cooper says part of what drew Europe then is Libya is in its backyard, just across the Mediterranean. And he says Libyas vast oil production was a factor as well. Neither is the case with Syria, where the neighborhood is complicated. Syria is best known as a proxy for Iran, because really Iran is their only friend in the world and of course we have a very troubled relationship with 8

Iran right now. Many people would like to strike at Syria just to get at Iran, but its very close to the country of Israel. Israel is a very sensitive U.S. ally. Cooper also says U.S. forces are already overextended, and that Europe may be preoccupied as well, given the uncertain future of its shared currency. And, he says, Were not the worlds policemen. http://wpln.org/?p=32833

Democrat Mary Headrick joins 3rd Congressional District race (TFP/Carroll)

Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary officially became a race Tuesday. Dr. Mary Headrick, an internal medicine physician from Maynardville, Tenn., told the Chattanooga Times Free Press she would oppose businessman Bill Taylor in August's Democratic primary. The winner will face U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., or one of his many challengers. In an email to local Democratic operatives, Headrick, 63, said she would campaign to "spend no more dollars and lives in Afghanistan and Iraq," push for American manufacturing jobs and reverse a Supreme Court ruling that stopped government from limiting how much corporations can spend for political purposes. "W e should have one man, one vote," she said in an interview. "Not [catering to] corporations and ignoring how the people vote." State legislators kept Union County within the 3rd Congressional District in a redistricting plan approved last week, but Headrick will face unique challenges. Her Maynardville home stands in the 3rd District's rural, northeastern quadrant, and she's not particularly well known in Chattanooga, widely considered to be the district's fundraising hub and urban center. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/democrat-headrick-joins-race/?local

Highway safety program confuses, frustrates transport industry (M. Biz Journal)
While the federal governments newest safety guidelines are meant to be a system to make our nations highways safer, many in the transportation industry feel there are a lot of bugs to be worked out. Comprehensive Safety Analysis, also known as CSA, is a program the U.S. Department of Transportation s Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration launched in December 2010. Lynn Parrish, vice president of safety and risk management with Inland Intermodal Logistics Services LLC, spoke to the Memphis W orld Trade Club today about some of the industrys issues with the relatively new program. Seizing on industry frustration with the program, Parrish joked that some people think CSA stands for Constant Speculation Abounds or Confusion Spreads Around. CSA was started to identify unsafe carriers and to improve safety on the nations highways. However, much of the data being used is drawn from the same databases, such as state accident reports and roadside inspections, which previous programs used. This may not be the complete overhaul that is being suggested, Parrish said. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/blog/memphis-in-motion/2012/01/highway-safety-program-confuses.html

As States Weigh Online Gambling, Profit May Be Small (New York Times)
It has been more than four decades since states began putting numbers runners out of business by starting their own legal lotteries, which now yield them close to $18 billion a year. Now several states are thinking about trying to plug budget gaps by profiting again from their residents optimism by legalizing, licensing and taxing Internet gambling. Nevada and the District of Columbia have already taken steps to authorize online poker, and state officials in Iowa have been studying the issue closely. Lawmakers in New Jersey and California are redoubling their efforts to legalize it, bolstered by a recent Department of Justice decision that reversed the federal governments long-held opposition to many forms of Internet gambling. Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey spoke this month of making his state an epicenter of the online gambling industry. But as desperate as states are for new revenue, after four years of often painful austerity, there are questions about just how much income they can expect to receive from online gambling. The state of Iowa released a study last month that found that legalizing online poker might net it $3 million to $13 million a year, far less than private companies had estimated. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/us/more-states-look-to-legalize-online-gambling.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

TVA completes financing to lease Sevier plant (Associated Press)

The Tennessee Valley Authority said Tuesday it has completed the financing needed to lease the John Sevier plant in Rogersville, Tenn. The federal utility said it will receive $1 billion for leasing the plant to John Sevier Combined Cycle Generation LLC. TVA will complete the 880-megawatt natural gas-fired plant, then lease it for 30 years. The plant, to be operated by TVA, is scheduled to begin commercial operation this summer. TVA will 9

assume ownership after 30 years. Financing for the lease purchase consists of a $100 million equity investment and a $900 million bond issue, both secured by TVA's rental payments. TVA said it has used leasing to fund capital investment projects in the past, along with traditional power bonds, and other third-party financing arrangements such as power prepayments. Leasing is common in the utility industry, TVA officials said. "TVA's ability to effectively use such financing reflects investor confidence in TVA, our strategy and the projects that are needed to realize our vision," said Chief Financial Officer John Thomas. He also said lease financing can help hold down costs and rates for TVA customers. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38364363?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TVA reaches deal to lease John Sevier gas-fired plant (News-Sentinel/Marcum)

TVA announced Tuesday that it has completed a lease-purchase agreement in which it will lease the use of its John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant for 30 years in a deal that will provide the agency with $1 billion in financing. Under terms of the transaction, TVA will lease the plant near Rogersville to John Sevier Combined Cycle Generation LLC, a limited liability company, and in return will receive $1 billion. TVA will complete the 880megawatt natural gas fired plant and then least it back. John Thomas, TVA chief financial officer, described the deal as similar to leasing a car. "W e will operate the plant for 30 years under this lease," he said in a statement. "And at the end of the term, the plant ownership will return to us. From an operational standpoint, it is pretty seamless. TVA will maintain the facility, purchase fuel for it and take all the power it generates." Financing for the lease purchase consists of a $100 million equity investment and a $900 million bond issue, both secured by TVA's rental payments. The bonds are issued by the limited liability company and are rated Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, AA by Fitch Ratings and AA-minus by Standard & Poor's, according to TVA. The bonds are not obligations of TVA or the United States and are not federally guaranteed. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/17/tva-reaches-deal-to-lease-john-sevier-gas-fired/

TVA secures $1 billion financing through lease-purchase (Herald-Courier)

The Tennessee Valley Authority completed a lease-purchase transaction on Tuesday that provides $1 billion in financing to support TVAs vision of national leadership in low-cost, cleaner energy by 2020. TVA will lease the John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant in Rogersville, Tenn., to John Sevier Combined Cycle Generation LLC, a limited liability company, for which it will receive $1 billion in proceeds. TVA will complete the 880-megawatt natural gas-fired plant, and then lease it back over 30 years. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial operation this summer. The use of lease-purchase financing gives us greater financial flexibility as we pursue a number of significant capital projects to realize our vision of providing cleaner energy, Chief Financial Officer John Thomas said. As a supplement to traditional bond financing, the use of lease financing can help hold down costs and rates for our customers. Thomas described the transaction as very similar to leasing a car. We will operate the plant for 30 years under this lease. And at the end of the term, the plant ownership will return to us, he said. From an operational standpoint, it is pretty seamless. TVA will maintain the facility, purchase fuel for it and take all the power it generates. The financing for the lease purchase consists of a $100 million equity investment and a $900 million bond issue, both of which are secured by TVAs rental payments. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/jan/17/tva-secures-1-billion-financing-through-lease-purc-ar-1618356/

Memphis touts 3,709 jobs created in 2011 (Memphis Business Journal)

More than $1 billion in private investment was made in Memphis and Shelby County during 2011 that resulted in the creation of 3,709 jobs. The figures were released Tuesday morning during a joint event by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell Jr. and Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO John Moore. The investment of $1.18 billion and jobs came as a result of 28 projects and 83 consultations, according to a news release. In addition to the new jobs, 44,075 existing jobs were maintained, the chamber said. This is a significant accomplishment, said Luttrell in the release. It clearly shows that business owners understand and appreciate the resources available to them in Shelby County. Said Wharton: A year ago, I said that Memphis was a city on the mend and a city on the move. W eve been able to grow our economy during a nationwide recession, during a time when other cities are struggling to say the same. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/01/17/memphis-touts-3709-jobs-created-in-2011.html

Billion-Dollar Investment (Memphis Daily News)

2011 was a billion-dollar year for Memphis and Shelby County. Last year, private businesses poured almost $1.2 billion in capital investment into the city and county, a figure touted Tuesday, Jan. 17, as a major accomplishment for the area at a time of prolonged strain in the local, state and national economy. That total was 10

announced Tuesday by Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO John Moore, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell. The morning announcement came shortly after Wharton and Luttrell unveiled the results of their talks with Electrolux North America executives to bolster the companys use of locally owned and locally owned minority businesses in the construction of Electroluxs new Memphis plant. It feels good to be successful, and it feels good to win, Moore said at the chambers announcement, referencing the Electrolux talks. But we expect (all companies) to meet their written and verbal commitments. The nearly $1.2 billion in capital investment for the area reflects 28 economic development projects landed in 2011, in addition to consultations with 83 minority enterprises. Those projects are expected to generate 3,709 new jobs and maintain 44,075 jobs already here that are part of existing businesses, according to the chamber. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/18/billion-dollar-investment/

Electrolux outlines contracts, commitment to minority participation (MBJ)

In a statement released this morning, Electrolux Home Products Inc. outlined $15.3 million of contracts currently awarded to subcontractors involved in building the companys North American Cooking Products manufacturing facility at Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park in Memphis. Despite calls for concern by a handful of local legislators worried about local and minority participation in the project, the release iterates Electroluxs commitment to ensure [that] construction dollars go to Shelby County minority firms and demonstrates the companys willingness to award contracts to both local and minority-owned businesses. So far, 94 percent $14.5 million of total contract dollars awarded has gone to local companies, and despite not being legally bound to hire minority-owned companies, Electrolux has awarded 41 percent $6.3 million to minority- or women-owned businesses. Company spokesmen initially told city officials the company would award at least 15 percent of contracts to such businesses. Minority- and women-owned businesses that have been awarded contracts so far are CDA Inc., MIG Construction Services, MJ Construction/Sidle Construction (as a joint venture), SMS Contractors and South Memphis Fence. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/01/17/electrolux-outlines-contracts.html

Electrolux says it will spend project money with minority firms (CA/Connolly)
One of the companies benefiting from the Electrolux project is CDA Inc., an African-American-owned security guard company in Memphis. "For us, it's definitely a much-needed opportunity that would create jobs, of course, on our end," said vice president Darryl Dates. He said CDA received notification that it won a contract, but that details aren't final, including the contract amount. CDA was one of the minority and women-owned companies listed as recipients of contracts Tuesday, when the two local mayors joined with an Electrolux official at City Hall to highlight the company's commitment to working with these businesses. But the speakers said Electrolux still hasn't agreed in writing to give a specific amount of money to these companies. "I think what we need to do now is forget about (contract) language and look at performance," Memphis Mayor A C Wharton said. "And that's where we are now." In an interview, Electrolux project director Jacob Burroughs acknowledged that the company doesn't have a specific goal for minority participation, but said the company seeks to engage the community. "This is our home," he said. "We're here, we're going to be here for many, many years to come, and we want to participate in the community." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/17/electrolux-identifies-subcontractors-reiterates-co/ (SUB)

Electrolux Touts Local Contracts (Memphis Daily News)

Electrolux North America executives said Tuesday, Jan. 17, the company has awarded $6.3 million of the $15.3 million in contracts so far for construction of its new Memphis plant to local minority-owned firms. Overall, $14.5 million of that $15.3 million total has been awarded to local companies. The $6.3 million in minority contracts went to five companies, four of them in Shelby County and the fifth in the Memphis metropolitan statistical area. Electrolux released the updated figures as Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell defended the contract for Memphis city and Shelby County government incentives in the project that included no requirements that Electrolux use a certain percentage of local and local-minority businesses. W e share in your concerns, Luttrell said of renewed concern as the first round of contracts on the project in November included no locally owned firms. Citizens still need jobs. Families need to put food on the table. Businesses need to keep the lights on. I am very much aware of that. What we need to keep in mind is that this project is really just beginning. The $15.3 million in contracts so far is part of a total $80 million construction contract. The entire manufacturing project, which takes in more than the construction of the plant in southwest Memphis, is $266 million. Electrolux has said it will contribute more than $100 million of that in capital spending. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/18/electrolux-touts-local-contracts/ 11

Anti-piracy legislation opposed by tech firms, lawmakers (Tennessean/Wadhwani)

Anti-piracy legislation backed by Nashvilles music establishment is facing mounting opposition, with a planned Internet protest today by tech companies, the W hite House signaling opposition and lawmakers postponing a key vote that would have moved the measure forward today. The measures known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate have been key priorities for Nashvilles record labels and songwriters, who have lobbied hard since last summer to get the legislation ready for a final vote. But emerging opposition from technology companies and Internet users concerned about censorship could postpone or even permanently derail the bills, which were designed to address the problem of illegal file-sharing and downloads blamed for costing the music industry almost half of its revenues in the past decade. If this fails, it will simply mean that America is not willing to protect its cultural assets and its cultural future, said Steve Bogard, president of the National Association of Songwriters International, which has shepherded more than two dozen delegations of songwriters through congressional offices to lobby for the proposed laws since July. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/BUSINESS06/301180085/Anti-piracy-legislation-opposed-by-techfirms-lawmakers?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Early evaluations show Knox County teachers meeting expectations (NS/McCoy)

Board encourages teachers to be part of process Knox County Schools has completed 48 percent of its teacher evaluations for this school year using a new tool and early results show that nine out of every 10 teachers are at least meeting expectations. This is the first year for the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model, which requires every teacher be evaluated every year. At its mid-month meeting Tuesday, the Knox County school board received an update on the first semester of the model, which included a total of nearly 7,000 teacher observations at 59 of the district's 88 schools. In some cases a teacher may have been evaluated more than once. Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre reminded the board that they are only halfway through the year, and that the second semester will include another round of observations which will be unannounced and student outcome data. "So it will be interesting to see how these data, which are midyear data, might look the same or different at the end of the school year," he said to board members. "What is going to be interesting to me is if the observation data and the student outcome data are very well aligned and correlated." Under the new model, teachers are graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 50 percent of the score being based on classroom observations. Another 35 percent will be on value-added data, information that gauges how much a student has learned from one year to the next. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/18/early-evaluations-show-knox-county-teachers/

Separate Germantown, Collierville districts feasible, consultants report (CA/Wolff)

A municipal school district could be established in Germantown provided the city keeps all of its current students, including those who live outside Germantown but inside its school attendance zones. Thats what educational consultants told the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday night. The report, like the ones released Monday for Bartlett and Tuesday morning for Collierville, essentially carves up the Shelby County School system into separate municipal districts that likely could have contracts or agreements for shared services. The consultants reports follow last years decision to consolidate Memphis and Shelby County schools. The suburban cities are considering forming their own municipal districts, a controversial move that would likely spark legal action in opposition. Several Germantown residents liked what they heard Tuesday night. It shows we are really on the right track to go forward, said Charles Baker, 40, whose first child is due to be born in May. Carlin Stuart, 45, has a 4-year-old daughter in pre-school. Im encouraged that the cost factors are in line, he said. If we go forward, it will be a high-quality school system. Im not for it at all, said Darrell Thompson, 53, of Bartlett. W hat if the new (unified) school district is the cream of the crop? Were going to get popped twice. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/17/collierville-could-be-operating-its-own-schools-20/ (SUB)

Suburban Schools Reports Conclude No Cost To Get Buildings (M. Daily News)
The local discussion about changes to Shelby Countys two public schools systems has shifted this week to efforts by leaders of the countys six suburban towns and cities to form their own school system or systems. And the first public review of the reports Tuesday, Jan. 17, by the Germantown Mayor and Board of Aldermen indicated the leaders were encouraged by a report that concludes a suburban school district would not have to pay the countywide school system to get buildings within the boundaries of a separate school district they might form. The reports by Southern Educational Strategies LLC of Memphis do not recommend a course of action. Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy said the citys next step is a Feb. 1 townhall meeting to gauge public reaction and political will to move to a May referendum on forming such a school system. The city leaders will 12

then talk about what theyve heard at a regularly scheduled Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 retreat. A good part of the retreat would be spent toward the question of where do we go from here, Goldsworthy said. Were going to be very busy, very fast if we are going for a May referendum, she added citing a goal of opening schools in the new district in August 2013. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/jan/18/suburban-schools-reports-conclude-no-cost-to-getbuildings/

Arizona Charter Prospecting for Parents in Nashville (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

A charter school operator from Arizona wants to be one of the first in the state to open a publicly financed school thats not designed just for low-income kids. Representatives from Great Hearts Academies will meet with prospective parents Wednesday and Thursday nights. Great Hearts has a dozen public charter schools in the Phoenix area. Their results read like elite private institutions. Nearly every student goes on to a four-year college. Nashville businessman Townes Duncan helps lead a group that invited Great Hearts to Tennessee. Duncan sent his kids to private schools but says he would have considered a high achieving charter, had it been an option. If I had seen something where there was an opportunity to get a great education and not have to write big checks to get it, yeah, I would have been interested in that. Great Hearts has plans for as many as 10 schools in Nashville. Metro Councilman Jason Holleman says theyre worth considering. But he has questions about whether theyd benefit the entire system. I do think we need to be sure that were not simply taking already high achieving students out of private schools and putting them in the public school column. http://wpln.org/?p=32902

Teacher minigrant program growing (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

Teachers have embraced the Cleveland/Bradley Public Education Foundation's minigrant program, according to the foundation. Sixteen grants were awarded for the current school year to city school applicants, and another 38 were granted to Bradley County schools. The county system is about twice as large as the city's. "Each year we see more teachers getting involved. They understand we are here and what we can provide for them, so we see a lot of repeats. That's good," said Rebecca McIntyre, executive committee president. "W e have also seen a tremendous increase in the quality of the requests, and that is gratifying, as well." Teachers can apply for minigrants each year of up to $1,000 each, although many grants are smaller. They use the money to provide extra projects and programs for their classes. An updated website gives teachers and donors up-to-date information, McIntyre said. Each month, the city school board visits one of its schools to see how the programs are working, board member Dawn Robinson said. "Principals take us to their classrooms to make us aware of programs going on," she said. "It never fails that they say, 'This is a grant the teacher received from the foundation.'" At Cleveland schools' annual awards ceremony, hearing teachers describe their minigrant-funded projects is a highlight, school board member Peggy Pesterfield said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/teacher-minigrant-program-growing/?local

School system seeks feedback in accreditation bid (Columbia Daily Herald)

The Maury County Public School district is surveying students, parents and others for information to be used in a self-evaluation report on the districts school performance, as part of the application process for accreditation by AdvancED. Local education officials say district accreditation supports individual school improvement while unifying school performance and aligning it with overall district goals. The accreditation process asks school administrators to self-evaluate the districts vision, strategies, priorities, leadership, and programs and resources. An online survey has been made available that will help the district compile information to report on how the schools are meeting accreditation standards. This process of accreditation helps us with the ability to improve student learning and make ongoing school improvement happen, Eddie Hickman, Maury County Public Schools director, said in a press release. AdvancEd is a Georgia-based nonprofit that evaluates and accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States. The survey can be found online at Maury County Public Schools website, mauryk12tn.org, and on the districts Facebook page. There are separate surveys for parents, community stakeholders and students in elementary, middle and high school. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/sections/news/local/school-system-seeks-feedback-accreditation-bid.html

Alabama: Bible used to fight, defend Alabama immigration law (TN/Smietana)

The Bible tells its readers to obey the law, but it also tells them to welcome strangers and foreigners. Thats left Christians divided over the issue of immigration reform, and the fight has come to Middle Tennessee. Members of Nashville-based Clergy for Tolerance say that any new immigration laws have to mix justice with compassion. 13

They hope to prevent Tennessee from passing immigration laws like the one in Alabama, which they say is too harsh. But supporters of the Alabama measure say the Bible teaches that the governments job is to enforce the law, and those who break it should be punished. The American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal group with local attorneys, filed a brief in federal court supporting the Alabama law. That measure, being challenged by the Obama administration, prohibits undocumented immigrants from entering into business transactions with the state, requires police to check immigration status during traffic stops and makes it a crime for U.S. citizens to knowingly assist undocumented immigrants. This legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers could take up a bill that would require state officials to check citizenship before granting services such as disaster relief and immunization and a bill that would require drivers license exams be administered only in English. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS06/301180079/Bible-used-fight-defend-Alabamaimmigration-law?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Florida: Water rights shift in Florida could foreshadow debates to come (Stateline)
Is reclaimed water a basic public resource or a privately manufactured product? Thats the question before the Florida legislature this session, as it decides how to classify the states large supply of wastewater thats treated and used again, often for lawn irrigation or recharging aquifers. Environmentalists are nervous as lawmakers prepare to enact the largest overhaul to state water law in 40 years, changing the states very definition of water. Current Florida law subjects all state waters to permitting based upon beneficial use in the public interest. But the bill up for debate would exclude reclaimed water from waters of the state, granting sole ownership of the resources to the utilities that produce it. Many of these utilities are public entities, but some are privately owned. Under the bill, state water management districts could not dictate how reclaimed water is used, even during an emergency shortage. Backed by several powerful interest groups, the bill appears destined to become law. Supporters say the overhaul would protect Floridas dwindling water supply by incentivizing production and use of reclaimed water through eased restrictions.Local governments need the certainty, says state Representative Dana Young, a Tampa Republican who teamed up with city representatives to write the bill. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=625393

Michigan: Humbled Flint Forced to Take State's Orders (W all Street Journal)
The state's enhanced power to take over financially troubled cities has drawn the ire of Democrats and labor unions in Michigan, and such interventions have sparked fights across the U.S. in places like Harrisburg, Pa. But here in Flintonce an icon for industrial might and organized laboremergency manager Michael Brown has received a warmer-than-expected reception even as he took early steps such as stopping the pay of the mayor and city council and shutting several city departments. Mr. Brown released his first financial plan for the city Tuesday, but major hurdles remain. Troubled by a decades-long decline in the tax base, population loss and expensive contracts for municipal workers, Flint's finances grew especially dire last year. Its deficit swelled to as much as $14.6 million and revenue continued to fall. Modest financial gains made when the state intervened in 2002despite protests by the cityhad been lost under new union contracts and a return to unsustainable spending. The state moved in again last year under a new, more powerful emergency-manager law after Flint's deficit ballooned and city leaders failed to make promised layoffs. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder appointed Mr. Brown to take over Dec. 1, giving him control over every aspect of the city's budget and operations, as well as the ability to unilaterally impose new labor contracts. This time, city officials didn't resist. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203735304577163752725118984.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Wisconsin: Recall Drive Hits Republican Hurdle (Wall Street Journal)

Wisconsin Democrats handed in one million signatures on Tuesday calling for the recall of GOP Gov. Scott Walker, but Republicans have succeeded in delaying any election, likely improving the governor's chances of surviving the bruising and widely publicized battle. Republicans recently won a court order requiring the Government Accountability Board, which is responsible for counting signatures, to check for duplicate and fake signatures. Board officials said they will accomplish that by entering each name into a database. That painstaking process will put off the election at least until late spring. The election could be further delayed by legal challenges fueled by a separate examination of signatures the Walker camp has pledged to conduct. "The entire [recall] process has been marked by fraud," said Ben Sparks, spokesman for the Wisconsin Republican Party. "Our primary concern is to be sure no one is disenfranchised during the recall effort so we have instituted a statewide signature verification effort." Democrats denied any fraud and said the delays would help Mr. Walker by reducing the impact of college-age voters and volunteers, many of whom will have left for the summer after classes end. The process will also allow Mr. Walker more time to collect unregulated campaign contributions. 14

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203735304577167172472972352.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

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OPINION Columnist: A very flat tax (City Paper)

On the first day of 2012 session of the Tennessee General Ass embly, Gov. Bill Haslam rolled out his legislative package. Despite his insistence in the run-up to the gavel that tax cuts were not in the offing, the governor indeed proposed cutting the estate tax and the sales tax on food. Haslam said hed like to cut the food tax from 5.5 percent to 5.3 percent this year with an ultimate goal of a flat 5 percent rate. Yes, 0.2 percent. Two-tenths of one cent. On a $100 grocery bill, thats a 20 cent savings. The governors office estimated the state will lose $18 million in revenue in the first year of the cut. Divide that number by the 6 million or so Tennesseans and each and every one of us will see an extra $3 per year thanks to this bold plan. And that 20 cents on the $100 grocery store trip? It doesnt go as far as it once did. At a typical grocery store, 20 cents will get you one envelope of cherry Kool-Aid, two slices of deli cheese or a lonely peel-and-eat shrimp. That would make an interesting if tiny casserole. If, as Haslam promises, he can roll the food tax back to 5 percent in the next three years, thats a 50-cent savings per trip. Thats a whole extra can of black-eyed peas (Fergie not included). http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/weekly-obsession-very-flat-tax

Editorial: Tax cut proposals lack boldness but merit passage (News-Sentinel)
Gov. Bill Haslam is proposing Tennessee take some baby steps toward tax reform this year by beginning to lower the sales tax on groceries and raise the amount exempt from the state inheritance tax. Haslam announced both measures last week when he unveiled his agenda for this year's legislative session. The package is designed to appeal to legislators of both parties. House Speaker Beth Harwell, a fellow Republican, has called 15

for lowering the inheritance tax, while Democrats have long sought further reductions in the sales tax on food. Harwell and House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh endorsed the governor's approach. As is often the case with proposals aimed to garner bipartisan support, neither of Haslam's is particularly bold. They do, however, signal a willingness to at least begin addressing Tennessee's antiquated tax system and merit passage. Tennessee's inheritance tax applies to estates of $1 million or more. Haslam wants to increase the exemption to $5 million which is the same as the federal inheritance tax exemption over the next five years. This year's proposal would raise the exemption to $1.25 million. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/18/editorial-taxcut-proposals-lack-boldness-but/

Gail Kerr: Speaker Beth Harwell says sunshine law is safe (Tennessean)
The attack on Tennessees open meetings law is over for now, thanks to three key Republicans who quickly squashed this effort like a pesky bug. Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell joined Gov. Bill Haslam and state Sen. Ken Yager to stand behind a law that for nearly 38 years has assured taxpayers that their business would be done in public, not in secret. The change would have allowed elected bodies to meet behind closed doors and without any notification of the public so long as they were just short of a quorum. It was widely opposed by the Tennessee Press Association and the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. The bill would have allowed as many as 26 of the 40 Metro Council members to meet in secret. It was a dangerous proposal, put forth with no logical argument. Speaker Harwell is supportive of our current open meetings laws, Kara Owen, deputy chief of staff for communications and policy for the speaker, said in an email. The Speaker does not support this legislation. She has spoken to Chairman Casada and he will not be moving the bill this session. Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, agreed to sponsor the legislation at the request of Williamson County Commissioner Bob Barnwell, who launched the effort to water down the states Sunshine Law when he was president of the county commissioners association. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/COLUMNIST0101/301180093/Gail-Kerr-Speaker-Beth-Harwellsays-sunshine-law-safe?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Free-Press Editorial: Funding for health program should be based on results (TFP)
Even in the best economic times, when businesses are hiring workers and government revenue is growing from an expanded tax base, there still will never be enough tax dollars to fund every good idea. That is doubly true in a difficult economic period, such as the one that Tennessee and most of the rest of the nation are enduring. So lawmakers should be careful to spend money only on programs that yield clear benefits in an efficient manner. Tennessee lawmakers are eyeing, for example, a program called Coordinated School Health. It was in all Tennessee school districts by 2007, and it aims "to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practices, academic achievement and lifetime wellness." The program focuses on issues such as childhood obesity. Among its other activities, it promotes not only team sports but lifetime exercise options such as jogging. It has also paid for workout equipment for teachers at some schools. In Hamilton County, Coordinated School Health has one full-time and two part-time employees, and it contracts with a dietitian. But with revenue limited, it is not certain that the program will be funded in the budget for the coming year. Certainly no one would say we shouldn't want students to be healthy, nor that their health has no effect on their academic performance. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/18/program-needs-toshow-benefits/?opinionfreepress

Frank Munger: Pay freeze doesn't halt raises at Y-12 (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
Based on comments I've received, some employees at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant clearly felt like they'd been victimized by the pay freeze at U.S. Department of Energy plants. Those feelings seemed to grow and amplify after it was reported that B&W Y-12 received an award fee of about $56 million for its management of Y12 in fiscal year 2011. Some salaried employees said top executives were getting theirs and the union folks were getting theirs, and it was the folks in the middle who weren't getting anything. B&W spokesman David Keim said Y-12 is still operating under a two-year pay freeze that was instituted by DOE in response to "budget deficits and national economic conditions." However, that doesn't mean there haven't been any pay raises, he said. "While no merit increase funds are available during this time, contractors are allowed to spend up to 2 percent of base payroll annually for salaried employees for promotions and adjustments based on market factors and individual performance," Keim said by email. He added: "Our goal is to use limited taxpayer resources wisely, doing what we can to sustain competitive wages, retain critical skilled employees and execute essential missions within the current, necessary budget constraints." As part of the pay freeze guidance, no pay adjustments were allowed for senior executives at Y-12 during FY 2011, Keim said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jan/18/frank-munger-pay-freeze-doesnt-halt-raises-at-y/ 16

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