WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 Books from Birth giving kids head start on reading (Commercial Appeal/Kelley)

Haslams will visit city to promote program Nicole Perkins, 27, figured her 5-year-old daughter must have been making progress when she read the box some cable TV equipment arrived in and asked her mom to define "transport." Perkins was convinced of it when a permission slip arrived home with Aniaya from her preschool teacher at Grandview Heights Elementary last month. The teacher wanted to know if it was OK for Aniaya to spend some time in the kindergarten class That's one of the reasons Gov. Bill Haslam and wife Crissy will be in Memphis today for a news conference with Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Mayor A C Wharton and others to spread the word about Books from Birth. The local affiliate of the Governor's Books from Birth Program and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is an effective tool in the community's effort to upgrade educational achievement. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/29/books-from-birth-giving-kids-head-start-on/ (SUB)

Gov. Bill Haslam backtracks on civil service bill (Times Free-Press/Sher)

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam made several concessions Tuesday on his proposal to end most civil service protections for state employees, including restoring hiring preferences for veterans. But the move failed to mollify a Senate Democrat who charged the overall impact of the bill would plunge Tennessee back into the "old days" when new governors routinely fired existing workers and replaced them with campaign supporters. "Well, that's what you're setting up to happen," Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Nashville, admonished administration officials during a sometimes-tumultuous debate in the Senate State and Local Government Committee. "You're setting up political firings to take place down in the depths of state government for employees who deserve better. "That," Haynes said, "is what you're setting up under the pretense of doing good." Haslam has said the move is necessary because the current civil service system is broken and leads to inefficiencies and a lack of nimbleness in addressing needs. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/29/haslam-backtracks-on-civil-service-bill/?local

TN state parks 75th anniversary celebration set for Thursday at Radnor Lake (TN)
Randy Hedgepath, the state naturalist, will present a program on the 75th anniversary of Tennessee state parks at 7 p.m. Thursday at Radnor Lake State Park Visitor Center, 1160 Otter Creek Road. Hell show slides from many of the states 53 parks and 82 natural areas. Theres a state park with an hours drive of almost every community in Tennessee. The parks system began in cooperation with federal programs, with Depression-era recovery programs giving a boost. The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration worked on land conservation, but also took a step into the planning and construction of what would become the first of 53 Tennessee state parks. Hedgepath has served as a ranger naturalist at South Cumberland and Radnor Lake state parks. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120228/NEWS11/302280080/TN-state-parks-75thanniversary-celebration-set-Thursday-Radnor-Lake-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

White County rounding up drug dealers (Herald Citizen)

More than 40 White County residents have been charged with dealing drugs, most of the cases involving prescription medicine, officials said. And six of those charged are also accused of using TennCare benefits to obtain drugs they later sold. W ith help from the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the TBI, the FBI, and many other area law enforcement agencies, White County Sheriff Oddie Shoupe and his deputies fanned out on February 22 to serve 52 sealed indictments in "Operation Pill Head," as they called their investigation. "W e told the drug dealers we were coming and apparently they didn't believe us," the sheriff said. According to information from the Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office, the following persons are facing charges in the case: * Adam Barlow, 22, Quebeck, Tennessee, charged with sale and delivery of Oxycodone and dihydrocodeinone.

http://www.herald-citizen.com/view/full_story/17679786/article-White-County-rounding-up-drug-dealers? instance=latest_articles

Suspension of admissions lifted at local nursing home (Johnson City Press)

The Tennessee Department of Health has lifted a suspension of admissions at Appalachian Christian Village. The suspension was imposed earlier this month following an investigation of abuse of a patient that revealed deficiencies the department said placed all the nursing homes residents with dementia in immediate jeopardy. The DOH suspended admissions at the nursing home Feb. 8 based on a federal surveyors report that the nursing home was aware of alleged incidents of abuse of a resident with dementia by three nursing assistants and placed all its residents with dementia in jeopardy by failing to stop and immediately report the abuse. In a news release issued on Tuesday, the DOH said the deficiencies discovered in the investigation have been corrected and the suspension was lifted effective Feb. 22. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=98623#ixzz1nlwIcZmt

TBI: Search in Holly Bobo case didn't find evidence (Jackson Sun)
Local officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said a search in Decatur County last weekend did not lead to new evidence in the case of missing nursing student Holly Bobo. John Mehr, special agent in charge with the Jackson office of the TBI, also said rumors of a body found in Decatur County last weekend were untrue. Mehr said Sheriff Jimmy Harris in DeKalb County, Ala., sent out incorrect information in a news release, which incorrectly stated that evidence in the case was found by DeKalb Countys mounted search team. Mehr said Harris was supposed to send out a correction. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Mounted Unit completed a three-day search on horseback in some wooded areas near Natchez Trace State Park on Sunday. The Alabama units help was requested by the TBI. Mehr said the search was routine. Harris said in a news release printed by The Times-Journal newspaper in DeKalb County that the unit searched using spiral and grid technologies that were then tagged by GPS and handed over to TBI agents. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120229/NEWS01/302290013/TBI-Search-Holly-Bobo-case-didn-t-findevidence

UT solar-powered home visiting Nashville (Associated Press)

The University of Tennessee's solar-powered house is visiting Nashville. The 750-square-foot home will be on display at Nashville's Centennial Park from Wednesday to April 1. It showcases how solar technology can maximize energy efficiency and sustainability. Several educational events about the project are being held in conjunction with tours of the home. The house, called Living Light, was completed by the UT College of Architecture and Design in collaboration with nine UT academic disciplines. Collaborators include the Tennessee Valley Authority and other corporate and alumni partners. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38688829?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Primary appointment (City Paper/Lind)

Thursday, Gov. Bill Haslam announced his appointment of a replacement for Judge Barbara Haynes on the Davidson County 3rd Circuit bench. His choice? Veteran Nashville attorney Phillip Robinson, a local domesticrelations specialist who was the top choice of the Nashville Bar to succeed Haynes, especially since its widely expected the 3rd Circuit will be designated a family law court. OK, sure, but why make the appointment now? Early voting in the primary that will choose the candidates for the August election, which will in turn choose Haynes permanent replacement, began last week. Robinson is up against Jocelyn Stevenson and Stan Kweller in the Democratic primary. Kweller, Robinson and independent Scott Rosenberg were on the list of potential replacements sent to the governor by the Judicial Selection Commission. So, the governor tapped Robinson just as he is seeking the voters approval. W hy now, though? Haynes stepped down last year, and the general election is six months hence. Judge Haynes has been retired since last year, and for the efficient administration of the court, the governor felt it was important to make an appointment at this point, Haslam spokesman David Smith said. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/weekly-obsession-primary-appointment

Supreme Court Revives Child Abuse Case (Memphis Daily News)

The last in a series of civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Memphis and negligence by the Catholic Diocese of Memphis came back to life Monday, Feb. 27, with a Tennessee Supreme Court ruling. 2

The ruling in the 2008 case of Norman Redwing v. The Memphis Catholic Diocese reverses a state appeals court ruling and allows attorneys for Redwing to at least pursue discovery in the case as it returns to Circuit Court. Redwing alleged the late priest Milton Guthrie sexually abused him in the early to mid-1970s when Redwing was a teenager younger than 18. His lawsuit is against the Catholic Diocese and claims church leaders knew or should have known Guthrie was a sexual predator. The Diocese denies the claim and won a dismissal at the state appeals court on two counts. One claimed a church autonomy doctrine known as the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine makes it immune from the claims by Redwing. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/feb/29/supreme-court-revives-child-abuse-case/

Governor's civil service bill advancing (Associated Press)

Legislation to change Tennessee's civil service law would make sure that military veterans get more than just an interview. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam and Democratic leaders disagreed on his proposal that would guarantee that veterans would receive an interview but no preference in hiring. But the version of the bill that passed the Senate State and Local Committee on Tuesday would require that if everything else is equal, a veteran's service be the deciding hiring factor. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the House State and Local Government Committee. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Nashville says the proposal is the least the state can do for veterans who "put their lives on the line to protect us." http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38687079?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Veterans' hiring preference restored (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Humphrey)

If equally qualified with other applicants for a state position, a veteran would get the job under a change to Gov. Bill Haslam's civil-service legislation approved Tuesday by a Senate committee. As originally drafted, the governor's bill (SB 2246) would have only guaranteed a veteran the right to be interviewed for a state job, eliminating the preference points awarded veterans under current law. The bill also abolishes the point system and makes scores on an evaluation the most important factor in hiring and promotion. The elimination of a veterans' preference had inspired a round of protests from Democrats and some Republicans last week. The new, rewritten bill has this provision: "If the minimum qualifications and the skills, abilities, competencies and knowledge of the veteran and any another applicant being interviewed for the position are equal, preference will be given to the veteran for the position." The amendment also says a supervisor who rejects a veteran must state his reasons and provide the veteran with a copy of the explanation. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/29/political-notebook-veterans-hiring-preference/

Civil-Service Overhaul Passes Testy Senate Committee, Stalls in House (WPLN)

The governors proposed Civil Service overhaul tested the patience of some state senators today. A committee ultimately moved the measure out with a party-line vote, after some three hours of talk. The governors proposal is to streamline how the state hires and fires workers, and the committee chairman insisted the bill wouldnt wait another week for approval. That drew the ire of a couple Democrats, who, after barreling through a thick pile of amendments, complained they werent getting a chance to spell out their concerns. Joe Haynes, whos set to retire after this year, argued the measure paves the way for state officials to kick good workers out and replace them with political allies. Youre setting up political firings to take place down in the depths of state government for employees that deserve better. Thats what youre setting up under the pretense of doing good. The committee ultimately pushed the bill through, six Republicans for, three Democrats against. But the measure moved no closer to passage on the House side; a committee there put off dealing with it one week. http://wpln.org/?p=34598

Committee Restores Hiring Preference for Vets to Civil-Service Overhaul (WPLN)

Governor Bill Haslam has made a quick about-face on a proposal critics charged would hurt veterans chances of landing a state job. Lawmakers had seized on that part of Haslams Civil Service overhaul, with one Republican calling it almost an insult to veterans. Haslam wants to simplify the way Tennessee hires workers, and a draft of that plan wouldve erased a state preference for hiring vets, instead only guaranteeing them a job interview. That drew fire in a House committee last week, while the governor then argued the new system could not do more. Now the senator carrying Haslams bill has added an amendment saying if a veteran and another job applicant are equally qualified, the vet trumps. Democrats praised the revision in a senate committee, which cleared the overhaul. Meanwhile a House committee put the matter off one http://wpln.org/?p=34579 week.

ECD critic's district received $9M in grants (Nashville Business Journal)

The district of a Tennessee senator critical of Gov. Bill Haslams economic development incentives bill has received roughly $9 million in state grants, potentially under the same level of secrecy hes been criticizing. Counties falling within Sen. Roy Herrons District 24 have received about 50 FastTrack grants for infrastructure and job training since 2004, often tied to projects involving limited liability corporations whose investors are not typically subject to public disclosure, according to data obtained by the Nashville Business Journal in a public records request. That fact is drawing criticism by taxpayer advocates, although Herron says he stands by his statements that ownership of companies receiving tax money should become public. The best disinfectant is sunlight, Herron, a Dresden Democrat, said. I believe the public should know exactly who gets (public money). The amount of money counties in Herrons district received is higher than the average among Senate districts, which comes out to about $7.7 million each. The number is of particular interest because Herrons stand on the transparency issue has stalled a bill Haslams Department of Economic and Community Development has been pushing in the General Assembly. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/morning_call/2012/02/haslam-hagertyherron-ecd-transparency.html?surround=etf&ana=e_article

House Democrats Conflicted on ECD Transparency Bill (TN Report)

Gov. Bill Haslam wants to strengthen the Economic and Community Development departments ability to scrutinize government grant applicants. But hes lately run into opposition from critics who said the process isnt transparent enough. On the other hand, two ranking House Democrats are uncertain any kind of departure from the status quo is needed. Im having trouble figuring out what theyre trying to accomplish, Craig Fitzhugh, the House minority leader, said of the administrations legislative push. Weve been very successful in what were doing, and I want us to continue to be even more successful, so it bears another look over, added Fitzhugh, a lawyer and banker from Ripley. This is a very, very competitive market for existing and new businesses, so I want to make sure we dont have some unintended consequences of what theyre trying to do. Former Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, of Covington, says he needs to consult with former Gov. Phil Bredesen and his Democratic administrations ECD commissioner, Matt Kisber, before making up his mind where he stands on the bill. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/02/28/house-democrats-conflicted-on-ecd-transparency-bill/

Annual Bill to End Motorcycle-Helmet Requirement Stalls (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

The push to allow motorcyclists to ride helmet-free in Tennessee has been set aside for another year. The proposal would have ended the requirement that adults must wear helmets to ride, but it was idled today in a state House committee. Cyclist argue that when states make motorcycle helmets optional, they make money from the influx of motorcycle enthusiasts who want to ride free. State Representative Judd Matheny, a Coffee County Republican, has tried to get that bill passed for years. But he took it off the table today, saying the message is just too difficult to get across in whats left of this years legislative session. W e are gonna work more on refining our message about the positive economic impact. At the same time we want to try to continue to work on ways to make sure that the taxpayer and the state are protected against uninsured individuals that are hurt in accidents. http://wpln.org/?p=34588

Synthetic drug bills advance in Tennessee House (Times-News)

Similar bills from two Northeast Tennessee GOP lawmakers to quash synthetic drugs advanced out of a House Health subcommittee Tuesday. Legislation filed by state Reps. Tony Shipley and Jon Lundberg would create felonies for manufacturing and distributing synthetic drugs and prohibit the drugs controlled substance-like effect on the central nervous system. But a key amendment to declare synthetic drug sellers a public nuisance and close their businesses for 60 days has been added to both their bills. That amendment came from the Tennessee District Attorney Generals Conference (TDAGC). The majority of our people feel like this (amendment) is going to have an impact on the problem because it hits the business owner in the pocketbook, TDAGC Executive Director Wally Kirby told the subcommittee. Kirby told subcommittee lawmakers the worst thing they could do this year is not do something about synthetic drugs like bath salts. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9043022/synthetic-drug-bills-advance-in-tennessee-house

Sponsor defends 'Don't Say Gay' bill (Associated Press/Johnson)

The Republican sponsor of a proposal to ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students said Tuesday that hes not backing off the legislation despite concerns from GOP leaders. The proposal was scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee. But Rep. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald said he 4

plans to delay the measure for up to three weeks to work out its language. The legislation, known as the Dont Say Gay bill, would limit all sexually related instruction to natural human reproduction science in kindergarten through eighth grade. Supporters of the proposal say theyve heard reports of some teachers discussing alternative lifestyles, such as homosexuality, and they want to prevent that. State education officials say such instruction is already banned from the current curriculum, but proponents of the bill feel its necessary in case the state Board of Education decides to change the curriculum. We dont want students to be exposed to alternate lifestyles, Hensley said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS0201/302290131/Sponsordefends-Don-t-Say-Gay-bill?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Mountaintop removal foes try new strategy (Tennessean/Paine)

Businesses told of chamber's stance Conservationists stymied for several years in efforts to pass a bill to ban the dynamiting of Tennessees ridgetops for coal have taken a new tack. They wrote to Nissan, Gaylord Entertainment, TVA, FedEx, the University of Tennessee and a slough of other members of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, asking if they know about the chambers ardent opposition to the bill. The conservationists appealed to the fact that many of the chamber supporters promote care for the environment. It is our belief that you will be troubled to learn that your membership dues are used to lobby against Tennessees mountains, said the letter from Mary Helen Clarke, board president of the Tennessee Conservation Voters, a nonpartisan, statewide coalition of 24 organizations. Together, we can help Tennessee make a better choice on this important economic development issue. She said that for five years the chamber has been a primary opponent of the bill, called the Tennessee Scenic Vistas Protection Act. Bill Ozier, an attorney with Bass, Berry & Sims and chairman of the chamber board, is among those who received the letter. The board has not really looked at it to take a position since 2009, he said. The chamber felt the compromise passed in 2009 addressed the issue. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS11/302290114/Mountaintop-removal-foes-try-new-strategy? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Toothaches send uninsured into emergency rooms (Tennessean/Wilemon)

Tennesseans with toothaches end up in hospital emergency rooms because so many of the states residents do not have dental insurance and cannot afford preventive care, according to a report released Tuesday by The Pew Center on the States. State residents made more than 55,000 visits to emergency rooms because of problems with their teeth or jaw disorders in 2009. TennCare does not provide dental coverage for adults. Many employer plans do not either. Nationwide, visits to emergency rooms because of dental problems increased 16 percent from 2006 to 2009, the Pew report stated. The cost for treating the patients in 2006 was nearly $110 million. The report also noted that fewer than half of dentists in 25 states treated any Medicaid patients. The fact that so many Americans go to hospitals for dental care shows the delivery system is failing, said Shelly Gehshan with The Pew Center. The care provided in an ER is much more expensive, and it generally doesnt solve dental problems. Most hospital ERs are not staffed with dentists, and the medical personnel who work there are not trained to treat the underlying problems of patients with untreated dental issues. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS07/302290111/Toothaches-send-uninsured-into-emergencyrooms?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Travel websites, accused of shortchanging local gments, prevail in court (TN/Gee)

Hotel booking sites including Priceline, Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz have prevailed in court against 129 Tennessee counties and municipalities that accused the companies of shortchanging them on hotel tax collections. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger granted the online travel companies a summary judgment last week. Trauger ruled that Tennessees tourist accommodation tax should be levied on the rate hotels charge, not the rate consumers ultimately pay if they book through an online travel company. This is another important victory in favor of the online travel companies, said Jeffrey A. Rossman, a Chicago attorney representing Orbitz who said the case is one of several similar ones across the country. Cities file suit in '0 The cities of Goodlettsville and Brentwood originally sued the online travel companies in 2008, alleging that they were owed as much as $5 million in unpaid hotel taxes. The lawsuit was granted class certification, which allowed other local governments, including Metro Nashville, to join. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS03/302290130/Travel-websites-accused-shortchanginglocal-TN-governments-prevail-court?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Millington eyes charter tweak to city manager (Commercial Appeal/Silence)

For the first time since 1903, Millington's power structure will change. At a special called meeting, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 6-1 Tuesday to change Millington's charter to transfer control of the city's day-to-day operations from a full-time mayor to a full-time professional city manager. They also approved several other charter changes that include providing a recall provision, establishing a procedure for filling vacant positions, creating a vice mayor position, allowing future boards to opt for staggered terms and providing the option to establish a school system. The charter overhaul, which many Millington residents complained happened too fast, comes about two months after the retirement of Mayor Richard Hodges, who was indicted on bribery charges in October. To become official, the charter change needs approval by the state legislature and then a second approval by the Millington board. Board members hope to hear back from the legislature by April. Interim Mayor Linda Carter and the Board of Aldermen moved quickly to change the charter before the April 5 filing deadline for the August mayoral election. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/29/changes-at-the-top/

For freshman lawmakers, 1st year filled with frustration, successes (TN/Bewley)
For Rep. Stephen Fincher, the high point of his first year in Congress occurred when he was sworn into office on his first day with his wife and three children at his side an experience he called so cool. But that sentiment didnt last long. The next day, Fincher remembers watching from the House floor as Republicans and Democrats bickered over which portions of the Constitution should be read aloud to kick off the legislative session. I said, This is not going to be a fun year, Fincher, a Republican from Frog Jump, recalled during a recent interview at the Capitol Hill Club, an exclusive GOP hangout located steps from Finchers Washington office. Since then, Fincher and two other freshman lawmakers from Tennessee Republican Reps. Diane Black of Gallatin and Scott DesJarlais of Jasper have had to face the realities of serving in a deeply divided Congress plagued by partisan battles and legislative logjams. Its been frustrating and full of unpleasant surprises, the three lawmakers said in recent interviews. Hopes of quick, sweeping change repealing President Barack Obamas 2010 healthcare reform law and solving the countrys debt crisis, for example have given way to a resigned acceptance of more incremental adjustments. But the lawmakers say theyve had their successes, too, carving out areas of expertise and helping sway the larger debate. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS0201/302280112/For-TN-freshman-lawmakers-first-yearfilled-frustration-some-successes?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

40 pct drop in ballots as early voting period ends (Associated Press/Schelzig)

Tennesseans cast 40 percent fewer ballots going into the last day of early voting Tuesday compared with the presidential primary in 2008. Nearly 153,000 people had voted through Monday, with 79 percent of ballots cast in the Republican presidential primary. But without a challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama, voting totals are far off the state record set in 2008. Turnout is 73 percent higher than during Republican President George W. Bush's re-election in 2004. Early voting has been heaviest in Knox County, where more than 11,000 people have voted in the Republican primary, compared with only 878 Democrats. The next highest Republican turnout has occurred in Shelby, Rutherford, Hamilton and Williamson counties. Four counties Perry, Clay, Van Buren and Lake have registered fewer than 125 in the Republican primary. In Hancock County, only four Democratic votes have been cast. The secretary of state's office only began tracking the partisan breakdown for the early voting period in 2010, so there is no way to compare whether Republican turnout is stronger or weaker than in past presidential primaries, said spokesman Blake Fontenay. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38681049?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Tennessee Early Voting Ends as Candidates Make Appearances (WPLN-Radio)

The final day of early voting comes as candidates in the GOP primary are becoming more active in the state. Turnout has been picking up in most counties since polls opened nearly two weeks ago. Voting is lopsided toward the GOP in many counties. Of the nearly 4,000 early voters in Williamson County, only 122 had cast a ballot in the Democratic primary, in which President Obama is the only choice. Voting early in Montgomery County, real estate agent Leah Colclasure says shes not in love with any one candidate, but former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is her pick. I feel like he has broader views on issues, and thats important to me. I dont like somebody who has a narrow viewpoint. Still Yolanda Morrissette and her 18-yearold son made sure to make it to the polls for President Obama. I think he needs another term. Hes doing a good job, and I want him to continue. A handful of counties have seen strong turnout for the Democratic Primary, including W arren County. But even Democratic-leaning Memphis has seen more Republican voters at this point. http://wpln.org/?p=34552 6

Early voting in Madison County far below 2008 presidential primary (Jackson Sun)
Early and absentee voting in this years presidential primary and other races ended Tuesday, and the number of those voters was far below the record turnout of 2008. A total of 2,380 voters cast early or absentee ballots in Madison County, said Kim Buckley, administrator of elections for the Madison County Election Commission. There are a total of 62,956 registered voters in Madison County and 3.8 percent of them voted early. The presidential primary election is Tuesday. The number of voters who cast early or absentee ballots this year pales in comparison to the number of voters who cast early or absentee ballots during the 2008 presidential primary election, Buckley said. The number of early voters in Madison County that year was 6,248, or 32 percent of the total 19,338 voters who cast ballots in the primary. That is the largest for a preference race by far, Buckley said. It has no peer. She said the lack of an incumbent running for office on either the Democratic or Republican ticket caused voters to pack polls in 2008. The matter of who was going to run had not been settled on either ticket, she said. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120229/NEWS01/302290010/Early-voting-Madison-County-far-below-2008presidential-primary

Rick Santorum to hold rally at Belmont Wednesday night (Greenberg)

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is scheduled to hold a public rally at Belmont University on Wednesday at 8 p.m., according to his campaign. The rally at Belmont's Curb Event Center will mark the second visit to Nashville by a Republican primary candidate this week, as the March 6 Super Tuesday looms. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich held a public rally on the State Capitol's east lawn on Monday. Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, is currently the frontrunner of the four-man race for Tennessee Republican delegates, according to the latest Vanderbilt University poll. Santorum campaign regional director Matthew Wills said secret service agents would be accompanying the senator but rally attendees wouldn't be screened. Santorum will address the crowd, but there wouldn't be much interaction with the crowd, according to Wills. Also on Santorum's Wednesday schedule is a rally in Knoxville and a private fundraiser at car dealer Lee Beaman's home. The Curb Event Center hosted a presidential debate in 2008 between President Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/rick-santorum-hold-rally-belmontwednesday-night

Flood water field exercise is Thursday in Memphis (Associated Press)

It's time to worry about spring flooding in West Tennessee. There will be a flood water field exercise Thursday along the lower Mississippi River in Memphis. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting the exercise and has invited several non-Coast Guard agencies to participate. Last year, the Mississippi flooded in Memphis and elsewhere in West Tennessee, displacing dozens of people. Spring thawing in the Midwest traditionally causes flooding along the Mississippi. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/29/flood-water-field-exercise-is-thursday-in/

Appeals court to hear arguments over Bible study (Associated Press)

A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments over whether a Knoxville student should have been allowed to read and discuss Bible passages during recess. A three-judge panel from the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati will consider a case brought by Samuel and Tina Whitson, who sued Knox County Schools in 2008. The couple claims that Karns Elementary School Principal Cathy Summa infringed on the rights of their son, Luke, by telling him he could no longer hold Bible study with his friends on the playground. School officials argued that school policy banned adult-led Bible classes during school hours but allowed students to study the Bible on their own. A federal jury in Knoxville ruled in favor of the school district in 2009. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38688973?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Graduate students campaign to unionize (Stateline)

Pulling all-nighters in research labs and subsisting on little more than ramen noodles has long been a rite of passage for graduate students. But some are now looking to unions for help setting limits on the austere lifestyle and extreme working conditions that pursuing an advanced degree often requires. They argue that state universities have made a habit of plugging budget holes by asking them to shoulder more of the teaching and research work in the place of regular, full-time faculty and staff making it difficult for them to complete their degrees on time. W orking as a research or teaching assistant, they say, is a form of employment that should entitle them to collective bargaining representation with their universities over pay, benefits and working 7

conditions just like other public employees. Teaching and research assistant programs usually offer students tuition reimbursement and a stipend in exchange for work they conduct under the close supervision of a faculty advisor. Often this work is tightly woven into their degree programs, with the faculty advisor also holding tremendous power over the students academic future. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story? contentId=635334

Metro Offers HCA $11 Million Tax Break for Building Antioch Data Center (WPLN)
Metro Government is offering one of its largest private employers a 7-year tax break for expanding in Davidson County. Last week HCA announced it would build a data center in Antioch. Legislation filed with the Metro Council would discount the companys property taxes at the site by 60 percent. There are milestones HCA would have to hit. Each year the company must make progress toward investing the total $200 million in the facility as well as reach benchmarks toward ultimately creating 155 new positions. Failure to hit the numbers wont require repayment, but it would end the tax incentive, which is worth a total of $11 million. The 7-year deal is quite a bit different than a tax abatement approved for LifePoint Hospitals last month. That company has a 15-year agreement thats worth a total of $6 million. It starts out as a 100 percent tax break and goes down every few years. HCA has also been in negotiations with state officials for a cash grant to help build the data center. An amount has not been disclosed, but the state has agreed in principal to the deal. http://wpln.org/?p=34571

Tenn. public companies make little progress on board room diversity (N-S)
Regal Entertainment Group CEO Amy Miles remains the only female chief executive of a Tennessee-based public company, according to an annual report by Lipscomb University and Nashville CABLE, a diverse network of professionals. The report shows little progress toward gender diversity in corporate boardrooms across the state in recent years. Since 2007 when the university first researched the issue women have held between 7.9 and 8.3 percent percent of the board positions for Tennessee public companies, the report says. The Women in Corporate Leadership study found that while 47 percent of the Tennessee work force was female in fiscal 2010, women held only 8 percent of the 566 public company board seats. Of the 17 new independent board directors appointed in Tennessee during fiscal 2010, only three were women. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/28/tenn-public-companies-make-little-progress-board-r/

New business to arrive, town expects growth (Columbia Daily Herald)

When Mars Petcare opens its $88 million facility in Thompsons Station this year, the small town of 2,100 may see a tremendous growth spurt, similar to the one Spring Hill saw in the mid 2000s when General Motors came to town. Mayor Corey Napier expects a variety of new retail to pop up around town, including restaurants and possibly a hotel. I definitely see growth in and around the area, he said. The facility is going to be a cornerstone of corporate development for our part of the world. With the profile of the company and the types of jobs they are planning to bring to town I see the area building out in and around the campus. It will be something that supports the professionals who get out and do errands at lunch. That suits Hardwood Bar and Grill owner Tom King just fine. As long as we can keep our quality and service acceptable, Mars will indeed give me an upper thrust of business that would be greatly appreciated, he said. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/sections/news/local/new-business-arrive-town-expects-growth.html

School board OKs consolidation costs (Commercial Appeal/Kelley)

Consultants to study teacher pay; audit due Education reform comes with a price tag, and efficiency does, too, at least on the front end, which obliges the Memphis and Shelby County unified school board to spend some money as it prepares for consolidation of the city and county systems next year. The board spent some time debating but ultimately approved spending $2 million of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation money for a study by the Towers W atson consulting firm aimed at developing a "compensation reform" proposal as part of the district's Teacher Effectiveness Initiative. Plans call for a pilot program at Memphis City Schools with the full program to be rolled out after the 2013 merger, if the board likes what it sees. Unified board chairman Billy Orgel said Gates has written him suggesting a plan that would incorporate both city and county schools. The design of the plan would have to be approved not only by the board but the state Department of Education. Changing the way teachers are compensated in a way that rewards high performance is part of a larger education reform agenda that has support from corporate board rooms to the White House to the governor's office and beyond. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/29/school-board-oks-consolidation-costs/ (SUBSCRIPTION) 8

State Targets Six Schools to Operate (Memphis Daily News)

A group of six Memphis city elementary and middle schools are about to change substantially in the next year as the state has announced it will step in to run them. The changes announced this week as part of the state-run Achievement School District underscore larger changes to education across the country along the lines of charter school reforms. Lester and Gordon elementary schools will be converted to state-run charter schools under the states achievement school district. The state-run district also will operate Corning and Frayser elementary schools and W estside Middle as achievement schools. Achievement School District Superintendent Chris Barbic, who made the announcement Monday, Feb. 27, also said he and Memphis City Schools officials have worked out plans for a new KIPP Academy within Cypress Middle that will be a cohabitation model. Lesters state-run charter school will be operated by Cornerstone Prep, a local nonprofit, which plans to phase in the kindergarten through fifth grade school starting with kindergarten through the third grades in the 2012-2013 school year and adding grades four and five the next year. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/feb/29/state-targets-six-schools-to-operate/

New school calendar puts Nashville parents in limbo (Tennessean/Hubbard)

District has offered few answers on intersessions Metro Nashville parents trying to schedule their fall vacation or nail down next years spring break plans will be in limbo until summer. The school districts 2012-13 calendar, passed after weeks of debate last year, includes intersessions Oct. 8-10 and March 18-22, followed by breaks. District leaders designed the intersessions to help struggling students catch up through remediation while high achievers enjoyed camplike activities. But since the balanced calendars adoption last fall, parents have questioned whether the intersessions are mandatory and what they would offer. The district has offered few answers. My daughter is doing well, so Im still wondering what shell be doing, said Cesar Muedas, whose sixth-grader attends JT Moore Middle. Hes waiting to see if the intersessions will offer opportunities for her in art or music. I got the impression that the intersessions are more for those in trouble with TCAPs. Gini PupoWalker, the district family engagement leader handling planning for the intersessions, says theyre not mandatory for any student. She projects about 30 percent of the districts nearly 80,000 students will attend the first year. W e cant mandate any of it, but we strongly encourage it for remediation, she said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/NEWS04/302280081/New-school-calendar-puts-Nashville-parentslimbo?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Virginia: Senate Passes Ultrasound Bill as Other States Take Notice (NY Times)
Changing course after an unwelcome national uproar, the Virginia Senate adopted a revised bill on Tuesday that still requires doctors to perform an ultrasound on women before they have an abortion, but also says that women cannot be forced to have an invasive vaginal ultrasound. Gov. Bob McDonnell demanded the revisions last week, and their acceptance on Tuesday all but assured the states adoption of the ultrasound requirement. The original bill set off protests from womens groups and others. Some critics called it state rape, and the plan was mocked on television comedy shows. The furor has already had an effect in other states considering ultrasound mandates, including Alabama and Idaho, with lawmakers seeking to avoid accusations that they are subjecting women to an unwanted, invasive procedure. In Virginia, the weakened version passed the Republican-led House last week but faced a battle in the Senate, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. On Tuesday the bill narrowly passed, 21 to 19, with further amendments that will require it to go back to the House for final approval. The Senate vote came after a bitter debate in which Democrats pleaded with the body not to adopt a bill that they said remained even with the changes demeaning to women and insulting to doctors. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/us/virginia-senate-passes-revised-ultrasound-bill.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

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OPINION Editorial: Pass bill to protect Tennessee's mountains (Tennessean)

Im not in favor of mountaintop removal, OK? Im not. But Im also not willing to say that were not going to mine coal in Tennessee anymore. Bill Haslam Tennessees then-candidate for governor made this statement during a 2010 campaign debate. But now, as the General Assembly takes up a bill that would ban mountaintopremoval mining in Tennessee, would be the time for Gov. Haslam to throw solid support behind the Scenic Vistas Protection Act. The governor is right on both counts. The state should not legislate away coal mines, but it should stop the practice of devastating our scenic heritage. This act bans only the mountaintop removal method of surface mining. Its a reasonable proposal that the coal industry should accept for the good of its business and the health of our state. It opposed the bill in 2010 and succeeded in blocking a vote and it opposes the bill in 2012. However, this is a poorly chosen fight for the industry. Time is not on their side. Recent studies of Central Appalachia mining have shown that coal production in Tennessee has declined since 1985. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/OPINION01/302290086/Pass-bill-protect-Tennessee-s-mountains? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Jim Leonhirth: Legwork lacking on Haslam proposals (Daily News Journal)

Gov. Bill Haslam seems a little out of sync with legislative leaders and, surprise, the differences do not appear to be ideological. During the past few weeks, Haslam has had to reconsider proposals that legislators have found not in the best interest of their constituents or, at least, some of their constituents. Haslam has faced questions about proposals: to change class-size regulations to revise procedures for hiring in state government to revise policies for collection of information in regard to grants for economic development The governor has managed to step on a large number of toes with these proposals, although he indicates that they need evaluation with somewhat larger perspectives. Haslam withdrew a proposal to give school boards more flexibility in class sizes after opposition from legislators, school system administrators and parents who apparently saw the plan as just increasing class sizes to the detriment of students. Haslam has indicated that he plans to bring the proposal back next year, but apparently wants to do a little more legwork to provide a clearer explanation of the intent. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120229/OPINION02/302290024/LEONHIRTH-Legwork-lacking-Haslam-proposals

David Shepard: Haslam's T.E.A.M Act would end vet preference (Tennessean)
Part of Gov. Bill Haslams latest piece of legislation, entitled the Tennessee Excellence Accountability and Management Act, would eliminate preference given to military veterans and spouses of deceased and disabled 10

veterans. Currently, a job applicant interviews for a position and based on a variety of measures and preference points, the state decides whom to hire. Currently, a veteran and spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran would be given preference during this process. With Haslams new proposal, this system would be eliminated. According to the T.E.A.M Act veterans who appear on a referred list will continue to receive preference by receiving an invitation to interview. Haslam was quoted as saying an interview is the maximum preference that can be given anyone under the new system his legislation creates and he believes that is adequate. The unemployment rate for young men and women returning from war is upwards of 30 percent, according to some estimates. In a state with multiple military installations and more 400,000 veterans, Haslam's decision to eliminate veterans' preference is making headlines. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/DICKSON07/302290140/Shepard-Haslam-s-T-E-M-Act-would-endvet-preference?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cs

Guest columnist: Gun bill interferes with property rights (Tennessean)

The American workplace has never been more stressful. For the employee, the risk of losing a job weighs heavily. For the employer, the pressure of keeping productivity up and costs down is great. But when a classic love triangle erupts in gunfire, as it did recently at a Columbia, Tenn., convenience store, the image is stark. Two people died, one on the spot, and another was left critically wounded. Do we really want to make it easier for something like this to happen? Shouldnt business owners retain the right to set the rules on their private property? Are we willing to make it harder on our Tennessee employers at a time when we need them to create jobs? These economic times are a bad time to hamstring businesses by forcing them to allow employees to keep guns in their vehicles on company property. Its never a good time to ignore private property rights. But that is exactly what a bill currently before the General Assembly would do. It would hurt Tennessee businesses, from manufacturers to day cares to grocery stores. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/OPINION03/302290088/Gun-bill-interferes-property-rights? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Times Editorial: Sen. Berke's decision (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

State Sen. Andy Berke's decision to step down at the end of his term and not seek re-election is understandable, but regrettable nonetheless. It marks a significant loss for Tennesseans' broad public interests. Sen. Berke has been a uniquely effective and energetic advocate on a wide range of issues -- public education, crime reduction, efficiency in government, helping veterans and small businesses, broadening economic opportunity, and generally building bipartisan consensus for meaningful legislation. His leadership in the state senate when his term is up will be missed. Berke's decision is not entirely surprising, however. The senator has been widely mentioned as a likely mayoral candidate -- and probable favorite -- next year, and that opportunity arises at a politically timely point. Having seized control of both chambers of the Legislature in 2010 for the first time in more than a century, Republicans used this session to strengthen their majority by adopting a partisan decennial redistricting plan that will squeeze out even more Democrats in the November elections. That would further diminish the capacity of minority Democrats to move legislative initiatives or to find bipartisan middle ground. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/29/sen-berkes-decision/?opiniontimes

Editorial: MCS avoids state bulldozer (Commercial Appeal)

The state chose collaboration over a hammer to work with Kriner Cash to improve the worst schools. The state of Tennessee's plan to intervene in helping Memphis' worst failing schools improve was announced Monday. Guess what? It's not a takeover. Residents viewing it as such are missing the bigger picture. The state, Memphis City Schools and proven charter school companies are entering into an innovative collaboration to fix the city's worst schools for student proficiency. If it works, the effort could become a national model for how to improve schools. It certainly would have a huge impact on education in Memphis and Shelby County, including paying long-term economic development dividends as more students graduate from college or from quality two-year post-secondary associate degree programs. In a novel approach to school reform, the state will run three MCS elementary and middle schools in Frayser next fall. Those schools will open in the state's Achievement School District, an independent school district comprised of the lowest 5 percent of schools. Of the 85 low performers statewide, 69 are in Memphis. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/29/editorials-mcs-avoids-state-bulldozer/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Guest columnist: Federal minimum wage all we need (Tennessean)

Most Nashville business owners would agree that we are fortunate to live in one of the best business 11

environments in America, which, combined with the leadership from our city and state officials, creates opportunities for job growth and added investment in Middle Tennessee. Tennessee Bun Co. is a beneficiary of this environment and leadership, and we are proud to be growing and investing in our company and the community. Just last year, we announced an expansion at Nashville Bun Co. that will more than double our current capacity. The expansion represents more than $7 million in investment and an additional 100 employees. This growth would not have been possible without the dedication of our current employees, as well as experienced talent in the Nashville area to fill our future workforce needs. As we continue to build our brand in the city we call home, we cannot overlook the impact that public policy has on our ability to operate effectively. For a manufacturing company like ours, having consistent and predictable business laws and regulations is key to our success. This consistency includes policies that regulate wages and benefits for private businesses. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/OPINION03/302290089/Federal-minimum-wage-all-we-need? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Frank Munger: Supercomputing is as simple as 3, 2, 1 (Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Energy Secretary Steven Chu has a Nobel Prize in Physics on his resume. Enough said. The guy is brilliant. So, it's difficult enough to ask him a question that's worthy of his attention, let alone press him for an answer. But that's what reporters do. Anyway, during Chu's recent visit to Oak Ridge National Lab to tout nuclear energy and get an up-close look at the computer simulations done via the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, the secretary took a few minutes to field questions from news folks. I tried to get Chu to address the administration's budget request for FY 2013 that apparently includes about $12 million less than ORNL's desired amount for the Leadership Computing Facility. The potential budget shortfall could mean the difference between the lab's top computer now Jaguar, soon to be called Titan becoming a 10 petaflops performer or a 20 petaflops machine. That's quite a difference in capability. A petaflop is a million billion calculations per second. So multiply that by 10 or 20. I'm not sure Chu understood what I was asking. (Sometimes I babble and blubber and speak incoherently for minutes at a time.) He did, however, talk about the importance of highperformance computing in doing such things as designing low-emission diesel engines. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/29/frank-munger-supercomputing-is-as-simple-as-3-2/

Gail Kerr: Women are influential in elections but indifferent to this primary (Tenn)
Women could change the outcome of Tennessees GOP primary Tuesday if they want to. But it doesnt look like that will happen. Yes, Mitt Romney has more women than men who support him in Tennessee. But its far from enough to pull out an upset on Super Tuesday. Rick Santorum has more support from women, a surprise to some who disagree with his strong stand against access to contraception. A Vanderbilt poll, done with The Tennessean as the media partner, shows Santorum with a 2-to-1 lead over Romney. There is no gender gap to speak of. Romney has the support of 19 percent of the women polled vs. 15 percent of men. Santorum has support of 34 percent of the men who have voted or plan to in the GOP primary vs. 31 percent of women. I come to my opinions of the candidates based on the broader scope of issues, not issues involving my gender, said former GOP delegate Melissa Gay. I think the negligible difference between men and women for both candidates speaks volumes about the character of both these men. She says Tennesseans support Santorum because he has been consistently the voice of social conservatives. Romney, she said, will not win Tennessee because he has appeared to have many opinions on many issues. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120229/COLUMNIST0101/302290090/Gail-Kerr-Women-influentialelections-indifferent-primary?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Editorial: Undermining State Campaign Laws (New York Times)

On Friday, a federal district judge granted a preliminary injunction against a Montana law, the Corrupt Practices Act of 1912, that bans corporations from making independent expenditures in political campaigns. Earlier this month, the United States Supreme Court, in a separate case from the state courts, issued a temporary order preventing Montana from enforcing that law. These cases and others in the country show how the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision has upended important state campaign spending laws. As the Montana Supreme Court has said on this question, Clearly the impact of unlimited corporate donations creates a dominating impact on the political process and inevitably minimizes the impact of individual citizens. In states where a corporate spending ban is in place, contributions from individuals represent about half of funds raised by candidates. In states that permit unlimited corporate spending, contributions from individuals are about a quarter of the funds raised. Now even Montanas law requiring disclosure of campaign spending is being challenged in court. As Steve Bullock, Montanas attorney general, said recently, Its a concerted effort by out-of-state 12

corporations to dismantle our election laws and undermine the democratic process in Montana. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/opinion/undermining-state-campaign-laws.html?ref=todayspaper (SUB)

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