SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012 Titans, Tennessee State Parks Join In NFL Play60 (WTVF-TV Nashville)

The Tennessee Titans and Tennessee State Parks are meeting with Governor Bill Haslam at LP Field Friday afternoon, in recognition of the NFL Play60 challenge. NFL Play60 is the National Football League's campaign to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity. This spring, Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Titans have partnered in a number of unique ways as part of an NFL Play60. "The NFL Play60 campaign promotes healthy living with an encouraging message," Gov. Haslam said in a statement. "We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated NFL franchise in the state, and I appreciate the Titans' ongoing commitment to our children and to our communities." Some of the events from the Play60 project includes 30 school visits planned throughout the state, pairing T-Rac, the Tennessee Titans award-winning mascot, with Ramble the Raccoon, Tennessee State Parks' own beloved mascot. http://www.newschannel5.com/story/17296806/titans-tennessee-state-parks-join-in-nfl-play60

Tennessee Titans and State Parks Partner on NFL Play60 Campaign (C. Online)
This spring Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Titans are partnering in a number of unique ways as part of the NFL Play60 effort, encouraging kids to stay active, eat healthy and become more physically fit all while enjoying one of Tennessees great 53 state parks. Tennessee is the first state park system to participate in the NFL Play60 campaign, which features outreach into local schools and communities to engage children with messages and activities that promote outdoor experiences, the natural world, healthy lifestyles and fun. The Tennessee Titans and Tennessee State Parks joined Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam for a visit to LP Field, in recognition of the NFL Play60 campaign and its success in promoting healthy lifestyles among Tennessees youth. http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/03/31/tennessee-titans-and-tennessee-state-parks-partner-on-nfl-play60campaign/

Governor Awards Job Training Grant (WDXE-Radio Lawrenceburg)

Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis have awarded $17,573 to Evers Construction Company, Inc. in Lawrenceburg. "If Tennessee is going to become the number one location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs, then we must offer a well-trained workforce to employers," said Governor Haslam. "This kind of training grant not only helps educate workers, but also provides incentive to employers looking to relocate or expand in Tennessee." "Both job creation and retention are vital in maintaining a healthy economy in Tennessee, and the Incumbent W orker Training program has played a key role in accomplishing this," said Commissioner Davis. "Since the program's inception, Incumbent Worker Training grants have assisted more than 600 businesses by providing $14 million to train approximately 50,000 employees." In their application for the grant, Evers Construction Company, Inc. stated this grant will expand the skills of their workforce so that they can compete for more contracts. It is important for the company to have crews with these skills to gain a new customer base and to better service existing customers. http://www.wdxe.com/wdxe.php?rfc=narticle.php&id=18606

Governor visits Republicans (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)

Gov. Bill Haslam told a crowd of local Republicans and other dignitaries on Thursday that state government is trying to operate more efficiently and effectively, while still creating a jobs-friendly environment for the state and improving education. Bedford County Republican Party's annual Reagan Day Dinner drew a large crowd to the Blue Ribbon Circle on the Celebration grounds, including both die-hard Republicans and others, some of whom run for local office on a Democratic ticket. The banquet also marked the first local appearance by 4th District U.S.

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, into whose district Bedford County is being moved during this election cycle. State Sen. Jim Tracy and State Rep. Pat Marsh also spoke at the event. http://www.t-g.com/story/1831666.html

Haslam disputes editorial on state's estate tax (WSMV-TV Nashville)

Gov. Bill Haslam is standing up to the Wall Street Journal after a recent editorial he calls "wrong." The editorial discussed the state's efforts to reduce and one day completely repeal the estate tax, and the paper calls Haslam the main obstacle to estate tax reform in Tennessee. Haslam actually made raising the exemption limit one of his main agenda items this year, and now the state legislature has decided to completely eliminate the estate tax in coming years. Haslam said he felt compelled to point that out to the Wall Street Journal. "They had an editorial that we think, I know, they got wrong and we wanted to correct that," Haslam said. The legislation to eventually repeal the estate tax is currently moving through the legislature, and it's expected to pass easily. http://www.wsmv.com/story/17298575/haslam-disputes-editorial-on-states-estate-tax

Bristol track seeks TN aid (Tennessean/Sisk)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and the owner of Bristol Motor Speedway discussed potential state assistance for the NASCAR venue Friday, two days after plans were announced to renovate the struggling track. Haslam and Bruton Smith, the North Carolina-based owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc., met in Nashville to hold preliminary discussions about potential aid. Speedway Motorsports plans to resurface Bristol before its next race in August in response to declining attendance and fan complaints about the quality of racing at the states only Sprint Cup track. Bristol is a huge part of our state, revenuewise, Haslam said. They didnt have any specific proposals for us, nor did we have any for them, but its important for us to be in conversation with them about how they can get their attendance back to where they want it to be and where we want it to be, too. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS0201/303310024/Bristol-track-seeks-TN-aid?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News

Tennessees efforts to boost unemployment fund target builders (N. Biz Journal)
State officials are hoping to collect millions of dollars in new business taxes under an initiative aimed at cracking down on rogue construction companies. Namely, Tennessee wants to join more than 35 other states that have proposed bills to bar firms from claiming they hire independent contractors when their workers are, in fact, fulltime employees When they classify workers as independent contractors, construction companies are exempt from providing workers compensation and paying into the statewide unemployment insurance fund. That increases the cost burden for other businesses by up to $15 million, according to one estimate. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/30/tennessees-unemployment-fund-builders.html (SUB)

Investors leery of rules for Tennessees INCITE fund (Nashville Biz Journal)
Some Tennessee investors say the Haslam administrations $30 million INCITE fund to help startup companies has steep disclosure requirements that could keep some venture firms from participating. The INCITE fund, which draws on federal money to encourage private investments, is on the verge of making its first round of investments. But some venture capital firms remain concerned about requirements to identify limited partners, revenue figures and number of employees, among other disclosures. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/30/investors-states-incite-fund.html (SUB)

Tenn. promoting outdoor tourism this spring (Associated Press)

Tennessee has more than 300 species of fish, with bass, crappie and catfish awaiting hungry anglers. The Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Trail offer scenic spots for ambitious hikers. Or, you can shoot the rapids on the Ocoee River, or go camping just about anywhere across the state, including backcountry camping at 12 state parks. So it's no wonder that the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is promoting the state's plentiful outdoor opportunities this spring. Elvis, Dollywood and the Grand Ole Opry are not Tennessee's only attractions for the travel dollars. The department has launched www.spring.tnvacation.com to highlight fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and other activities. The site also is sponsoring outdoor adventure-inspired contests, with the grand prize three ultimate fishing getaways throughout Tennessee, one of them a fishing trip with famed fisherman Bill Dance. Susan W hitaker, commissioner of the department, says Tennessee's outdoor activities, and music, make it easy to market the state, which has up to 50 million visitors a year. 2

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/tenn-promoting-outdoor-tourism-this-spring/

DUI arrests soar in Nashville (Tennessean/Haas)

Funding cut leads police to revise use of resources On any given night, there are 20 to 30 fewer Metro police officers than there were two years ago scouring the streets for impaired drivers. But Metros officers have been arresting drunken drivers at a surprising pace even though the state cut the grant money the department once used to put extra cops on the road for DUI patrols. The Metro Police Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol have been coping with fewer resources but have increased the number of people arrested for DUI this year when compared with last year. Metro police and the THP have reprioritized their resources. Metro doubled the size of its DUI squad from four to eight last August. The squad patrols for drunken drivers but also supports patrol officers who make DUI stops and run DUI checkpoints. As of Wednesday, Metro officers had arrested 918 people for DUI, compared with 632 for the same period last year. Going from a million (dollars) to $399,000 was extremely difficult. Weve grown used to having all those extra-duty officers out on the street, said Lt. Keith Stephens, Traffic Section commander for Metro police. Its drastically reduced that. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS03/303310051/DUI-arrests-soar-Nashville?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News

TBI survey: At least 176 human sex trafficking cases in region (J. City Press)
In the past two years there have been a minimum of 176 human sex trafficking cases in Northeast Tennessee, according to statistics from a survey completed in 2011 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. That number could be as high as 360, the survey showed. Of the minimum cases, 60 involve minors. Thats a lot, said Yvonne W illiams, executive director for the Tennessee chapter of Trafficking in America Task Force. Williams said the definition of sex trafficking, for the task forces purpose, is when a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or when the person induced to perform such acts has not attained 18 years of age, and human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Williams and other experts on the subject hope to dispel myths that surround the idea of human trafficking. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php? id=99340#ixzz1qgYfpoRv

Winning Mega Millions ticket bought in Maryland! (USA Today)

2-4-23-38-46, Mega Ball 23. If those are the numbers on your Mega Millions lottery ticket, you've won a jackpot worth a world record $640 million. At least one ticket matched those numbers following Friday night's drawing purchased in Maryland's Baltimore County, lottery officials said early Saturday. Scores of wanna-be multimillionaires held their collective breath as the lottery numbers were drawn at 11 p.m. ET. Most exhaled as realism took hold: chances of winning were just 1 in 176 million. W ith much of the nation gripped by Mega Millions fever this week, hopefuls inundated convenience stores, gas stations and other ticket outlets in 42 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, forking out nearly $1.5 billion. The $1shot at mega-wealth had been the talk of TV, social media sites, office water coolers and dreamy high-rollers for the past week, electrifying ticket sales with a frenzy that amped up leading to Friday's drawing. The pot has grown nearly $300 million since Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing failed to draw a top prize winner for the 18th consecutive time since Jan. 27. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-29/megamillions-jackpot/53872762/1

For Memphis ticket buyers, Mega Millions a chance at realizing dreams (CA/Wolff)
Memphians hope to hit $640 million jackpot So what if the chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot was 1 in 176 million. People weren't playing the odds. They were betting on a dream. They withstood the knowing chuckles of killjoys and analysts who use odds of lightning strikes, car wrecks or airplane crashes to measure the foolishness of spending a buck on the chance to win a record $640 million jackpot. It didn't matter if they won or lost, there's no regret in trying. The one absolute: You can't win a raffle if you don't buy a ticket. "We have just as much a chance of winning as anyone else," said Violet O'Hara, who was at Sisco's convenience store at Wells Station and Grey Road with her friend, Donna Stephens. The women were among thousands in the Memphis area, millions nationwide, who filled supermarkets, convenience stores and other places to buy a ticket Friday before the 10 p.m. drawing. What started as a steady trickle that lasted throughout the day Friday grew to a swell of people lined up outside the door. Amid the tallboys, chips and cigarettes they bought, most left clutching their 3

lottery tickets. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/31/mega-millions-a-chance-at-realizing-dreams/ (SUB)

Lottery ticket sales bring big business to stores (W BIR-TV Knoxville)

As the Mega Millions jackpot climbed Friday, ticket buyers flooded stores across the country. Many business owners saw a big boost in profits from the crowds. "It started about 6:30 this morning, and we have not stopped," said Nipun Patel, who owns the Farragut Market in W est Knox County. He says sales have skyrocketed. "A normal day is maybe, $1,200 in lottery sales. Today, so far, about $6,500, and about $4,000 yesterday." Friday afternoon, the line at Patel's store was several people deep. He says the ticket sales help other business, too. "They're buying cigarettes and beer, whatever they can just to come in. The parking lot has had minimum of 40 to 50 cars all day long," he said. Patel says if a store in Tennessee sells a winning ticket, where the earnings are more than $1 million, then the business gets 6.5 percent of the award. He says stores also earn a small percentage of commission on each ticket sale. http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/213835/2/Lottery-ticket-sales-bring-big-business-to-stores

Chances slim for tonight's jackpot, but that's not discouraging ticket sales (H-C)
In the history of the world, theres never been a bigger lottery jackpot. Around noon today, lottery officials announced that so many people purchased lottery tickets the MegaMillions jackpot increased dramatically to $640 million. No surprise, today at convenience stores everywhere around the TriCities we found people lining up for tickets, just for a chance at the record-breaking jackpot. But we found out the odds of actually winning arent that great. Math professors at East Tennessee State University say your likelihood of winning statistically isnt very high. "Not very likely, says Jamie Price of ETSUs Math and Statistics Department. In fact the likelihood of you being stuck by lighting going to get your lottery ticket is a higher than the likely hood of winning the lottery. But, Price says there is hope for the Tri-Cities. "If you have as many as 122 million people playing the lottery youre going to have 50% chance of having at least one winner, she says. So if we have at least 122 million people tonight we're likely to have a winner." But, odds arent keeping this math professor from buying a ticket. She says shell buy her ticket on the way home from work tonight and, if she wins, she says shell be traveling. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/30/3/chances-slim-tonights-jackpot-s-not-discouraging-t-ar-1807434/

Nearly $1.5 billion spent to win record jackpot (AP/Gillespie, Wiseman)

Chances good that there will be a winner Across the country, Americans plunked down an estimated $1.5 billion on the longest of long shots: an infinitesimally small chance to win what could end up being the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen. But forget about how the $640 million Mega Millions jackpot could change the life of the winner. Its a collective wager that could fund a presidential campaign several times over, make a dent in struggling state budgets or take away the gas worries and grocery bills for thousands of middleclass citizens. And its a cheap investment for the chance of a big reward, no matter how long the odds 1 in 176 million. Twenty to thirty dollars wont hurt, said Elvira Bakken of Las Vegas. I think it just gives us a chance of maybe winning our dream. For the states that participate, the money spent on lotto tickets is hardly a waste. It doesnt all end up as the winners personal fortune much of it is used by states to fund education and other social service programs, which is why advocates promote the lottery. Though the specifics vary among the 42 participating states and the District of Columbia, only about half of ticket sales go into the actual jackpot. About 35 percent goes to support government services and programs, while the rest funds lottery operating costs. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS08/303310068/Nearly-1-5-billion-spent-win-record-jackpot? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Solar tax debate: W hat did Tennessee legislators intend? (Nashville Biz Journal)
Here's a provocative question that could mean a hefty difference in your tax bill if you put solar panels on your company's roof: What exactly did legislators intend back in 2010? In the ongoing debate over the treatment of solar installations for property tax purposes is a major question over what sorts of companies are relevant to current law. W e dive into the issue more deeply for full subscribers in today's print edition, for the first time finding consensus on the possible tax liability and revealing what will dictate how many businesses' bills are at stake. Part of the issue, meanwhile, goes back to confusion and disagreement over what legislators intended when they passed the law. The current tax treatment for installations to be assessed at salvage value, that is, virtually nothing was one small part of a large technical corrections bill in 2010. Kelsie Jones with the State 4

Board of Equalization and Jason Mumpower, executive assistant to the Comptroller of the Treasury and a former legislator himself, both said in a recent interview that they believe the tax treatment only applies to "net" power producers that are generating and making more than they use. The solar industry disagrees, saying the law covers any business with solar installations generating power for the grid meaning getting rid of it would be a widespread increase in anticipated taxes. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/tennesseecomptroller-solar-tax-increase.html

TN lawmakers hope to make public Ten Commandments displays legal (TN/Gang)

Tennessee lawmakers revive constitutional question To state Rep. Matthew Hill, his legislation authorizing local governments to display the Ten Commandments along with other historical documents is not about religion. Its about history. Just look around his office, he said. Theres an original Tennessee state flag. A framed copy of a David Crockett letter. A painting of historic Jonesborough, his hometown. Were not talking about holding a church service. Were not talking about having a Bible study at the courthouse, said Hill, R-Jonesborough. W hat were talking about is remembering who we are, where we came from and not being ashamed of that. But not everyone agrees. The bill HB 2658 could put Tennessee once again at the center of the ongoing debate about whether it violates the U.S. Constitution to display the Ten Commandments on public property. Critics say the legislation is aimed at courting religious voters and could violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. This bill is inviting Tennessee governments to walk into a constitutional minefield and risk litigation, said Alex Luchenitser, associate legal director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which wrote a letter of opposition to Hills legislation. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS0201/303310063/TN-lawmakers-hope-make-public-TenCommandments-displays-legal?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee grocers surrender on wine sales this year (Commercial Appeal/Locker)

Tennessee grocers conceded defeat Friday in their efforts to persuade the Tennessee legislature to allow wine sales in grocery stores. It's the sixth consecutive year that grocery-wine sales bills have failed in the statehouse. This year's efforts have been on life support since early February when no state senator would sign on as a cosponsor of a new bill by Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, to allow residents to petition for a local referendum on grocery wine sales in their cities or counties. Because bills must have sponsors in both chambers, that bill died by February's bill-filing deadline. But at least three bills filed last year were technically alive and pending in committees in both the House and Senate, including one referendum bill almost identical to Lundberg's new bill. At that time, Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, pledged to continue pushing for passage of those bills. But with the 2012 legislative session heading to its final weeks, none of the bills has moved in either chamber. Springer issued a statement Friday acknowledging the bills are dead for this year. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/tennessee-grocers-surrender-wine-sales-year/ (SUB)

General Assembly Weighs Schools Legislation (Memphis Daily News)

This promises to be a busy week in Nashville a year and two months after the General Assembly last dealt with the terms of schools consolidation in Shelby County. This week, two bills that would again change the terms of the local schools reformation saga could come to floor votes in the Tennessee House and Senate and go to the desk of Gov. Bill Haslam. As the Tennessee House Education subcommittee was meeting in Nashville Wednesday, March 29, it was where most of those involved were focusing their attention. And the center of their attention was the bill lifting the statewide ban on the creation of municipal school districts effective January 2013, eight months ahead of the current lifting of the ban in Shelby County. The bill moved quickly to the House Education Committee for action this week. But the Senate Education Committee was meeting at the same time in Nashville, and thats where an amendment to put municipal school district referendums back on the ballot before the end of the year was proposed by Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville. The Senate Education Committee approved http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/2/general-assemblyit. weighs-schools-legislation/

Panel to judge judges gets overhaul (WSMV-TV Nashville)

The Tennessee Senate has voted to replace a panel that oversees judges - one that has been criticized in the past several years for being too secretive and too lenient on judges. If you have a complaint about the way a judge handled your case, you can turn to a group called the Court of the Judiciary to investigate. But for years, 5

people like Ginger Franklin have complained the process is broken. "It seems to me, to be a bunch of judges overseeing a bunch of judges. Is that the fox guarding the hen house?" Franklin says. The Court of the Judiciary meets in secret. It rarely punishes judges - it has only suspended one judge in two years - and the cases drag on and on. "A year and a half later, nothing is settled," Franklin says. Franklin filed a complaint against Judge Randy Kennedy. He appointed a conservator to control her life after she tumbled down the stairs and had a brain injury. Franklin filed a complaint that Kennedy didn't appoint an attorney for her, like he was supposed to. Before she knew it, her conservator had sold off everything she owned. Her house was auctioned for $36,000. http://www.wsmv.com/story/17300201/panel-to-judges-judges-gets-overhaul

TN lawmakers want to drug test welfare recipients (WSMV-TV Nashville)

People on welfare in Tennessee may have to take drug tests before they can receive their benefits. Lawmakers are moving forward with the plan, even though the attorney general says it's unconstitutional. Many lawmakers want to make sure those who receive public assistance are using the money as intended and not for illegal drugs. But, their plan is already facing hurdles in other states and could see the same issues in Tennessee. Tonette Fletcher receives welfare to help her pay for her children's basic needs, and she says she has no problem with a plan to drug test people before they can receive benefits. "I think it's good, but some people might think it's bad. It's free money from the government to help you with your kids, so why not do the right thing," Fletcher said. State lawmakers have proposed requiring welfare recipients to buy and take a drug test before getting their check. But some have raised concerns over the legality of the issue. The plan is already moving ahead in both chambers even though Attorney General Robert E. Cooper says any plan to drug test those on benefits violates the Fourth Amendment. http://www.wsmv.com/story/17298910/tn-lawmakers-want-to-drug-testwelfare-recipients

Lawmakers continue to push plan to drug test welfare recipients (WBIR-TV Knox)
It's an idea in Nashville that just won't die. Certain state lawmakers say they're not ready to give up on their plan to drug test welfare recipients, even though the attorney general says it's unconstitutional. Lawmakers say they want to make sure those who receive public assistance are using the money as intended, and not for illegal drugs. The plan is already moving ahead in both chambers even though the attorney general says drug testing those on benefits violates the Fourth Amendment. Friday, Governor Haslam confirmed he also has concerns about moving forward with the bill. "Obviously, when the attorney general has said he's worried about the constitutionality of it, as the folks charged with implementing that, that concerns us," Haslam said. Lawmakers have offered up amendments to possibly only make it applicable to those with a prior drug crime. Policy would also only apply to those applying for new benefits. http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/213848/2/Lawmakers-continue-to-push-plan-to-drug-test-welfare-recipients

House OKs Absentee Voting for School Boards, Ignoring Own Proxy Voting (WPLN)
School boards who want to use teleconferencing to let absent members participate in meetings could do so under a bill passed in the state House Thursday. The bill would let members of most school boards take part in meetings by way of teleconferencing, Skype, or a phone with a built-in camera. Absent members would have to provide good cause for not being present. Several opponents argued that school board members ought to have to meet face to face, and vote in the presence of audience members. But Bolivar Democrat Johnny Shaw pointed out that the House doesnt require its own members to actually be in the chamber in order to vote. I dont see anything at all wrong with it, based on what were trying to do, because Im guilty, of not being under the rule, and walking out of this chamber occasionally, saying Would you vote me? Under the rule is like an airline seatbelt sign. Every member must be in place and push his own voting button. If the sign is off, a representative who has stepped outside can have his vote cast by proxy, by another member. http://wpln.org/? p=35559

House Passes Life Defense Act Putting New Rule on Abortion Doctors (WPLN)
On Thursday, the state House passed a bill that would require all doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. State Representative Matthew Hill, a Jonesborough Republican, says his bill to put a new restriction on abortion practitioners is simply aimed at protecting women who develop complications after they leave the surgery center. Right now you have women who have complications, they go to the 6

emergency room, they present, and the doctors have to start from scratch there. The doctor that performed the abortion is not held responsible. In some cases the doctor is not even in this state any more. Opponents argued that the bill puts new hurdles in the path of a woman seeking an abortion. But they also said that the bill is preferable to the original. That version imposed demographic sweeping reporting requirements at the county level. Abortion rights activists feared under that system, individual women who sought an abortion could be identified. http://wpln.org/?p=35553

ETSU police chief opposes Tenn. bill to allow guns in cars on campus (JC Press)
As state lawmakers consider legislation that would permit guns to be stored in vehicles on private property, area police chiefs are lobbying against the idea, including East Tennessee State Universitys head of public safety. The Tennessee House and Senate each have bills designed to permit licensed individuals to store guns in their private vehicles in the parking lots of employers and the driveways of private citizens. Collectively, these bills are known as the Guns in Parking Lots legislation. If passed, students, employees and others would be allowed to have guns in their cars at ETSU, said Jack Cotrel, the schools public safety chief. We just feel that these bills would sanction things that could jeopardize and threaten the campus safety, Cotrel said. Cotrel was in Nashville Thursday along with other chiefs of police from around the state to essentially lobby against the legislation and bring their concerns to lawmakers. Cotrel said he thinks such legislation would increase the number of guns on campus and create an environment that would not be conducive to the free exchange of ideas that can sometimes be passionately debated. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Living/article.php? id=99320#ixzz1qgYMcJEe

Changes ahead for voters (Times-Gazette)

Between district changes, seven voter precincts that are being closed and three more that are getting new polling places, about 18,000 Bedford County citizens will receive new voter registration cards within the next few weeks. For the most part, only those whose information is changing will receive new cards, according to Bedford County administrator of elections Summer Leverette. In a few cases, however, it was simpler to print out cards for an entire street or highway, even if some of those living on that street aren't changing. What's coming Here is a summary of the changes: District changes: Each 10 years, legislative districts at every level must be redrawn to reflect population changes as measured by the U.S. Census. The idea is to make sure that each district has about the same population, so that each voter has an equal say in the process. There were changes in county commission districts and city council ward boundaries which will move some voters out of one district and into another. http://www.t-g.com/story/1831665.html

Shelby jail won't hold people under 48-hour holds (Associated Press)
The Shelby County jail will no longer hold people for up to 48 hours if they haven't been charged after state judges said police were violating the constitution for holding people without probable cause. Sheriff's spokesman Chip Washington said in a statement on Friday that because the General Sessions Court will no longer hold probable cause hearings for detention orders, the jail will no longer accept prisoners being held for detention. The Memphis Police Department did not respond to a request for comment from The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/H3XxhL ). Earlier this month, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals said in overturning a murder conviction that the police's practice of detaining a suspect for up to 48 hours while they gather evidence was unconstitutional. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38927833?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Sheriff will no longer hold prisoners for detention (CA/Buser, Connolly, McKenzie)
Practice violates Tenn. constitution, court finds Local authorities have suspended the practice of detaining people in jail for up to 48 hours without charging them with a crime. The move follows a scathing opinion by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals at Jackson, which said the Memphis Police Department was routinely violating the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That amendment says authorities can't make arrests or search and seize property without probable cause. The opinion also said the policy violates Tennessee's 7

constitution. The appeals court had ordered that convicted murderer Courtney Bishop must get a new trial because the detention that led to his confession of shooting a man in a robbery was illegal. It was the third time since 2001 the court had issued a harshly worded opinion criticizing the 48-hour detentions. Supervising General Sessions judges signed a W ednesday letter saying that the judges "will no longer hold probable cause hearings for detention orders for persons under arrest . . . ." There's no reason cited in the letter signed by judges William C. Turner and L. Lambert Ryan. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/sheriffs-office-no-longer-hold-prisoners-detention/ (SUB)

Voters could decide on some Knox charter amendments this summer (NS/Donila)
Residents could end up voting on some proposed changes to Knox County's charter as early as August and not have to wait until the end of the year. As the 27-member committee charged with reviewing and refining the county's governing documents continues to move ahead, members said there may be dozens of amendments that could eventually go before voters. Initially, the plan was to put the questions on the November ballot. But, now members say some could get decided this summer. "I think the voters could get overwhelmed if we try to put 20 questions on one ballot, and I don't think that's fair to the public," said Craig Leuthold, chairman of the Charter Review Committee. Under the charter, county leaders must appoint a review committee every eight years. It's comprised of nine county commissioners, nine residents appointed by the mayor and nine residents appointed by the commission. The committee picks through the charter's 10 articles and determines whether anything needs to be changed or updated. In August 2004, the committee at the time put eight questions on the ballot. Most of them were housekeeping issues as voters, for example, changed the title "county executive" to "mayor" or added language that gave the law director the authority to hire outside counsel if needed. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/31/voters-could-decide-on-some-knox-county-charter/

County begins budget talks (State Gazette)

Last year was a particularly difficult year for the Dyer County Budget Committee. It spent nearly two months ironing out the 2011-2012 budget that had a significant revenue shortfall from the previous year. It received feedback from state consultants suggesting that the county raise taxes in a year where the county government was avoiding placing any undue burden on its citizens who were struggling in the aftermath of two consecutive years of flooding However grim the financial situation looks for this coming year, the budget committee began the work on Thursday morning of discussing the 2012-2013 budget. Chairman Benny Spain who was elected earlier this month to replace Commissioner David Agee, who decided to step aside after chairing the committee for several years, presented his vision to the budget committee on Thursday. Spain explained that he wanted to get a jumpstart on the budget process, including setting a calendar, and his goal was to not ask a continuance and have the budget ready to be approved by the county commissioners prior to July 1, the official start of the new budget year. The committee already had its first request for money for the next budget year at Thursday's meeting. The Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs West Division was present at Thursday's meeting to ask the county to hire a part-time to full-time county resource officer to help serve the approximately 2,917 veterans in Dyer County. Breece estimated that a part-time individual would cost approximately $22,000 a year. http://www.stategazette.com/story/1831646.html

Blackburn says online privacy proposals court hurt Web firms (Tenn./Bewley)
Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn took aim Thursday at Obama administration initiatives to protect consumers privacy as they surf the Internet. The administrations proposals would constitute a massive expansion of government that would put some limits on our personal liberty, said Blackburn, adding that American innovators might choose to work elsewhere if the government limits companies access to information. Blackburn spoke at a hearing by the House Energy and Commerce Committees subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade, of which she is vice chairman. The hearing was called to examine recent reports by the White House and the Federal Trade Commission urging Congress to pass legislation to establish basic principles to protect online privacy. In a report this week, the FTC echoed the White Houses push for privacy legislation, calling specifically for a law that would let consumers access the personal and financial information that data brokers collect and sell. The commission also said it will work with the industry to create a do-not-track option to allow people to opt out of having their personal information tracked by third-party websites as they browse. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS02/303310055/Blackburn-says-online-privacy-proposalscourt-hurt-Web-firms?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

DesJarlais makes 1st speech locally as U.S. Representative (Times-Gazette)

Bedford County will move from the 6th Congressional District to the 4th in this year's election cycle, and U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who currently represents the 4th District, made his first local public appearance during Thursday night's Bedford County Republican Party Reagan Day Dinner. DesJarlais is a physician from South Pittsburg who was first elected to the House two years ago, beating incumbent Democrat Lincoln Davis. It was his first time to seek or hold public office. Although the filing deadline has not yet passed, State Sen. Eric Stewart of Belvidere, an insurance agent, is the only high-profile Democrat currently running to oppose DesJarlais for the seat. Budget backed DesJarlais voted yesterday for the Republican budget proposal in the House. "There can be no more doubt that our nation is set on an unsustainable spending course, which if not changed, will surely lead to our economic collapse. The math speaks for itself -- we can no longer maintain the status quo," said DesJarlais in a news release. Stewart, however, criticized the budget and DesJarlais' support of it. http://www.t-g.com/story/1831664.html

Chattanooga investment executive joins Mayfield's campaign (TFP/Carroll)

Scottie Mayfield is staffing up. On Friday, the Athens, Tenn., dairy executive announced Paul K. Brock Jr. will serve as Hamilton County finance committee chairman for Mayfield's congressional campaign. Brock is an investment executive with a long history in Chattanooga. Mayfield is one of four Republicans challenging U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Chattanooga, Oak Ridge and numerous rural East Tennessee counties. "I think Chuck has worked hard -- I just happen to think Scottie brings a skill set that will allow him to have more impact in W ashington," said Brock, a longtime Republican donor who gave $250 to Fleischmann in 2010, according to Federal Election Commission records. A campaign news release said Brock will be responsible for landing donations from business and community leaders "dedicated to getting Washington's financial house in order" -- a line often employed by Fleischmann. Asked recently if he disagreed with any of Fleischmann's congressional votes, Mayfield said, "Not really." The news follows two high-profile hires for Mayfield, a first-time office-seeker who relies on his staff to navigate the basics of fundraising, polling, advertising and other aspects of a political campaign. Mayfield recently retained former Tennessee Republican Party chairman Tommy Hopper as a strategist and nationally renowned pollster Whit Ayres. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/31/paul-brock-joins-scottie-mayfield-campaign/?local

Senate candidate Andra McGary touts good ideas (Times Free-Press/Carroll)

The youngest person ever elected to the Chattanooga City Council said hes more than a Democrat angling for higher office. There are no Republican ideas and there are no Democratic ideas, 32-year-old Andra McGary said Friday. I know there are many people who want to think of things that way, but I certainly do not. I ask one question: Are they good ideas? Joined by his wife and three of his young children at a Friday morning news conference, McGary announced hell run against Hamilton County Board of Education member David Testerman in the Democratic primary for the 10th District Tennessee Senate seat. Quenston Coleman also has picked up qualifying papers for the race but has not turned them in. McGary hopes to replace state Sen. Andy Berke, an attorney and Chattanooga Democrat who decided against re-election after redistricting. Berke has been eyeing a possible run for Chattanooga mayor. Republicans in the 10th District race are local businessmen Todd Gardenhire and Greg Vital. In emphasizing jobs, health care and bipartisanship at the news conference, McGary attempted to deflect skepticism about his chances in a district that now leans Republican. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/31/senate-candidate-andrae-mcgary-touts-good-ideas/?local

Gingrich campaign against Campfield as delegate (Associated Press)

Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign doesn't want Tennessee Sen. Stacey Campfield to be a delegate at the GOP's national convention. The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/Ht9fyG) reports the campaign's director of delegate access sent a letter to the Tennessee Republican Party's State Executive Committee earlier this week concerning the Knoxville Republican. Campfield, who served as a state co-chair for Gingrich's campaign, switched his support to candidate Rick Santorum days before the March 6 "Super Tuesday" election. John Fluharty said in his letter that Campfield's actions resulted in Tennesseans who supported Gingrich erroneously voting for a delegate candidate they believed would support Gingrich throughout the nominating process. The letter further states the campaign has asked Campfield to resign his position as a delegate, but he has refused. 9

http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38927221?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Gingrich wants Sen. Stacey Campfield to be removed as a delegate (WKRN-TV)

Newt Gingrich's presidential campaign is asking Tennessee's Republican party to remove Sen. Stacey Campfield as a delegate to the GOP convention. The Gingrich campaign sent a letter to the state GOP executive committee to confirm the slate of delegates. The letter says Sen. Campfield does not have the consent of the campaign to be a delegate and he misled Tennesseans who voted early. Campfield had been Gingrich's co-chair for his Tennessee campaign. Campfield said on the 6 News show Tennessee This Week that he stepped down from that post, throwing his support to Rick Santorum instead. "His only hope, really, is for some sort of brokered convention," Campfield said. "You'd think he'd be reaching out to people who are delegates or who are going to be delegates. I think he's sort of cutting off his nose to spite his face." Sen. Campfield says he's committed to vote for Gingrich in the first two rounds of the convention. He and Tennessee GOP Executive Director Adam Nickas believe the executive committee can't remove him as a delegate. http://www.wate.com/story/17298739/gingrich-wants-sen-stacey-campfield-to-be-removed-as-a-delegate

Jail substance abuse program ending due to cut in funding (Herald-Courier)

A cut in federal funding means the end of the W ashington County, Tennessee Sheriff's Office jail Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program. According to Sheriff Ed Graybeal, the U.S. Department of Justice recently stopped funding the RSAT program.WashingtonCountywas the last county jail in the state to receive the $100,000 a year grant money for RSAT, Graybeal said. W e worked since 99 to keep it, Graybeal said. Everybody else lost it in the state bus us, we were able to keep it until year and funding just went south on us and we couldnt do it anymore. We tried to find some more funding out there for it, but theres nothing there right now. In its 13-year existence 311 inmates who were drug or alcohol-addicted have graduated from the six to nine-month program. In the past, RSAT teachers said about 60 to 65% of those inmates avoided a return trip to jail after their release. It just taught them they could do something with their life basically and kind of give them some structure to go with it, Graybeal said. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/30/jail-substance-abuse-program-ending-due-cut-fundin-ar-1807352/

Cautious optimism greets JOBS Act (Commercial Appeal/Dowd)

Buoyed by a pledge by President Barack Obama to sign into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, the legislation aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship across the nation is being greeted with cautious optimism by some business leaders in Memphis. The bipartisan JOBS Act that overwhelmingly passed in the House on Tuesday after being tweaked by the Senate paves the way for lots of small-money investors to use crowd-funding to help launch startups. That could boost the profile of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. "Looking at this from a positive standpoint, this will allow many individuals in our community who may not have considered investing in startups before to do that now," said Eric Mathews, interim executive director of business accelerator EmergeMemphis. "I envision an increase in community engagement here and around the country, and I'd like to see the day when there's a Memphis crowd-fund network." Allan Daisley, director of innovation and sustainability initiatives for Memphis Bioworks Foundation, agreed. "I think this has the potential to be great for the Memphis entrepreneurial community and an incentive for more people to invest in start-ups," Daisley said. "At its best, this will provide the lifeblood that's vital for young startups." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/31/cautious-optimism-greets-jobs-act/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

EPA Backpedals on Fracking Contamination (Wall Street Journal)

Texas Water-Pollution Suit Dropped; Third Recent Setback on Drilling for Agency The Environmental Protection Agency has dropped its claim that an energy company contaminated drinking water in Texas, the third time in recent months that the agency has backtracked on high-profile local allegations linking natural-gas drilling and water pollution. On Friday, the agency told a federal judge it withdrew an administrative order that alleged Range Resources Corp. had polluted water wells in a rural Texas county west of Fort Worth. Under an agreement filed in U.S. court in Dallas, the EPA will also drop the lawsuit it filed in January 2011 against Range, and Range will end its appeal of the administrative order. In addition to dropping the case in Texas, the EPA has agreed to substantial retesting of water in Wyoming after its methods were questioned. And in Pennsylvania, it has angered state officials by conducting its own analysis of well wateronly to confirm the state's finding that water once tainted by gas was safe. Taken together, some experts say, these misfires could hurt the agency's credibility at a time when federal and state regulators seek ways to ensure that natural-gas drilling is done safely. 10

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577313741463447670.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Health Exchanges Have Fans in Some States (Wall Street Journal)

A handful of states say they are planning to press ahead and voluntarily implement a key part of the 2010 federal health-care law even if it is wiped out by the Supreme Court. The Obama administration's law faced three days of skeptical questions from the court's conservative majority this past week, increasing the odds that part or all of the law will be struck down. The justices met Friday for their weekly conference, where they were expected to take a preliminary vote and decide how to issue their written opinions on the case, but they aren't expected to announce their decision until late June. The health-care overhaul requires that all states have a new insurance exchange where consumers can comparison-shop for policies. The law calls for them to operate like travel websites that sell airline tickets, allowing people to stack up policies next to each other and get plan details in simple terms. The exchanges, set to take effect in 2014, are one of the most popular parts of the new law. States can run their own exchanges or let the federal government do it for them. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577314030983468536.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

A Health Law at Risk Gives Insurers Pause (New York Times)

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the federal health care law, one option that had seemed unthinkable to its designers and supporters now seems at least possible: that the court could strike down the entire law. Although it would be folly to predict what the court will conclude, policy experts, insurers, doctors and legislators are now seriously contemplating the repercussions of a complete change in course two years after the nation began to put the law into place. Their concerns were heightened after three days of court arguments in which some justices expressed skepticism about whether the full law could stand without the individual mandate requiring almost everyone to have insurance. Many of us did not get the bill we wanted, but I think having to start over is worse than having to fix this, said Robert Laszewski, a health care industry consultant and former insurance executive who opposed the bill. Others say, however, the last two years have made it easier for Congress or the states to revisit the issue. The effort was not a waste of time, said Christine Pollack, vice president of government affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, a trade group that represents large retailers and opposed the law. There has been an important dialogue that has happened over the last three and a half years that has been a long time coming, she http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/health/policy/asaid. health-law-at-risk-gives-insurers-pause.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

Gaylord, Dollywood say tax break helps Nashville (Tennessean/Cass)

Even with a proposed 60 percent property tax break, a water and snow park would generate millions more in taxes for Nashville and its schools than undeveloped land, Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Dollywood Co. executives said Friday. The money we want to get back doesnt exist today, Gaylord Chairman and CEO Colin Reed told The Tennesseans editorial board. Were not taking from anybody. Gaylord and Dollywood, working together as a company called Park Holdings LLC, plan to open a $50 million water and snow park near Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in the next few years. Mayor Karl Dean has proposed a deal that would allow them to pay 40 percent of any assessed taxes on the land for up to 12 years. The Metro Council will discuss the proposal and take the second of three required votes Tuesday. Critics have questioned the need to give large companies a break on their taxes, and a Nashville Tea Party leader has called the plan corporate extortion. But Reed said Park Holdings payments on the developed property would still amount to about $3.2 million over 12 years, all of which would go to Metro schools which typically get 40 percent of the citys property tax revenues. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/NEWS01/303310050/Gaylord-Dollywood-say-tax-break-helpsNashville?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Video Gaming Technologies to move jobs to Cool Springs (Tennessean/Walters)

Gaming tech company's consolidation to bring 180 jobs to former LP facility Video Gaming Technologies Inc. is rolling its staff of casino gaming developers and engineers under one roof in Cool Springs. VGT, which is one of the biggest U.S. makers of gaming technology, will transfer about 180 of the 217 positions at its soon-to-be 11

closed Ruckersville, Va., operation to Cool Springs by the end of the year. An exact figure about how many people VGT would eventually hire in Cool Springs was unclear because some Virginia employees still could agree to relocate, a company official said. The announcement is the latest step by VGT to consolidate its operations in the Cool Springs area. Earlier this spring, VGT closed on a $5.8 million deal to buy Louisiana Pacific Corp.s former research and development facility at 308 Mallory Station Road. The company later moved its corporate team from Brentwood to the Cool Springs building. With the increased demand for our products, we wanted to make sure we were based in an area with a strong economy and technology community to help support the continued growth of our culture of innovation, said Jon Yarbrough, VGTs chief executive officer, in a statement. Nashville has the environment and resources to help us succeed in that goal. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120331/BUSINESS01/303310034/Video-Gaming-Technologies-move-jobsCool-Springs?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Perry County job fair attracts hundreds (WKRN-TV Nashville)

Hundreds attended a job fair Friday held by NYX, Inc. in Perry County, an area plagued by unemployment in recent years. "I was here at 6 a.m.," said job seeker Rachel Maxime. "And I am just praying I will get one of the jobs," she added after coming out of the job fair. Like many people in area, she got caught up in the ripple effect of the auto supplier Fisher shutting down its Perry County plant more than three years ago. "My dog breeding business just could not make it when so many others lost their jobs," said Maxime. NYX is a Michigan-based automotive supplier that is investing $23 million in the 175,000 square-foot Fisher building in Linden, creating 400 jobs over the next five years. One hundred of those jobs are expected in the first year. More than 350 people passed through the doors of the Tennessee Career Center in the first 90 minutes Friday. Another 70 people passed through by noon. The Tennessee Career Centers in Linden and Hohenwald will continue to take applications for the positions until April 5th. http://www.wkrn.com/story/17296297/perry-county-job-fair-attractshundreds

Memphis Advantage (Memphis Daily News)

Industrial sector weathers economy thanks to citys logistics brawn As the industrial market approaches the end of the first quarter, a handful of deals have local brokers encouraged that the citys bread-and-butter sector is poised for recovery. Recent notable industrial leasing transactions all of which occurred in Class A bulk warehouses include Trane U.S. Inc.s 625,000-square-foot lease in Chickasaw Distribution Center; Kimberly Clark Corp.s 556,000-square-foot lease in Airways Distribution Center; and Impact Innovations 275,000-squarefoot space at Southridge Corporate Park. All of these leases contributed to positive absorption of more than 1.7 million square feet in 2011, even with Cleo Inc.s move-out last fall vacating 1 million square. Leasing activity also bumped vacancy rates down to 15 percent at the end of the year compared to 15.3 percent at the end of 2010. Sparing any more big plant closes or move-outs, vacancies will continue to trend downward, said Andy Cates, executive vice president of brokerage services for Colliers International Memphis. That in turn will cause rental rates to inch up, especially for users seeking 200,000 feet and more. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/2/memphis-advantage/

Film group works to boost movie making in Tennessee (Nashville Biz Journal)
Tennessee doesnt have enough tools to attract movie makers, film advocates argue. In April, Nashville hosts the 10-year-old Film-Com event, which is aimed at attracting film makers to the region and helping them find capital for their projects. The Nashville Business Journal talked with event chairman Andy van Roon about what the state can do to attract more movie-making. W hat steps does Tennessee need to take to bring more film-related activity here? A path to truly insulate ourselves from the state-versus-state dynamics is to get increasingly proficient at connecting saleable motion picture product with the means to get it to ... http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/print-edition/2012/03/30/film-group-movie-making-in-tennessee.html (SUB)

Yale Lock Company leaving Lenoir City for Connecticut (News-Sentinel/W illett)
One of the oldest industrial employers in Lenoir City will close its doors within the next year at a cost of over 200 local jobs. Yale Locks and Hardware Co., a fixture in Lenoir City since 1953, will cease local operations, according to an announcement from parent company ASSA ABLOY in New Haven, Conn. Yale will begin consolidating its operations into a factory in Berlin, Conn., during the coming year as part of a global factory footprint reduction, said Dan Krajewski, general manager. They cant fit the other factory into this factory but they can fit this factory into the other factory, he said. About 235 employees will be affected by the closure. 12

Product development and technical product support will remain in Lenoir City. According to Pat Phillips, president of the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, the closure will be a blow to the county which has been working hard to attract new industrial development. Theyve been a major employer and a great corporate citizen, he said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/yale-lock-company-leaving-lenoir-city-for/

Plant closing shocks workers, mayor hopes to keep Yale Locks (WBIR-TV Knox.)
The mayor of Lenoir City says he'll meet with council on Monday to come up with a tax incentive package to offer Yale Locks. The lock manufacturer's parent company, Assa Alboy of Sweden, announced Friday it will close the Lenoir City plant. They say the move will cost Lenoir City more than 200 jobs. According to union President Joe Williams, the plan is to phase out operations starting in 60 days. The company says they expect to shut down in Lenoir City in a year's time. But Mayor Tony Aikens hopes they can persuade the company to remain. "We're having a special called council meeting on Monday to offer a tax incentive, we're optimistic that will help," says Aikens. He says he hopes state and county officials will come up with offers as well. Nine years away from retirement, Williams says the news of the layoffs came as a shock. "It's been my life for 35 years," said an emotional Williams. "I've raised my family by working here. It's really been a tough situation." http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/213818/2/Plant-closing-shocks-workers-mayor-hopes-to-keep-Yale-Locks

Lenoir City plant could close within a year (W VLT-TV Knoxville)

Millions of people across the country just lost the lottery. Here at home, 230 people could soon lose their jobs. Yale Locks and Hardware announced it's closing it's plant in Lenoir City. The company has been a mainstay and a big employer for 60 years. But before they lock their doors for good, the Lenoir City mayor says he's gonna fight to keep the company here. "Shock, disbelief. Saddened dramatically," said Cathy Ballard, a shipping coordinator. That's how Ballard described her reaction to the news that her dream job for 24 years could soon be gone. "It feels like a death or a divorce. That's what it feels like, a death," said Ballard. "I came to work here one week out of high school. It's been my life," said Joe Williams, the union's president. When Williams first started here, workers made the locks from scratch. A lot has changed since then: less workload and less employees. One thing that hasn't? http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Lenoir_City_plant_could_close_within_a_year_145253925.html

68 jobs to be lost in Morgan Keegan deal (Commercial Appeal/Evanoff)

Layoffs to accompany sale to rival firm Raymond James Morgan Keegan & Co.'s merger layoffs will begin Monday in Memphis with 68 jobs cut away. Employees were told Thursday and Friday their jobs are ending. More layoffs are expected later this year in Memphis as the buyer identifies duties already handled by its Florida workers. Raymond James Financial Inc. of St. Petersburg, Fla., is buying its Memphis rival for $930 million. The deal was disclosed in January, and the sale is set to take place on Monday. Several dozen mid- and late-career employees gathered after work Friday for a wake-like session at Bardog Tavern, a few blocks from Morgan Keegan Tower in Downtown. Bardog paid its respects by placing platters of free slider hamburgers on the bar. Workers, some wearing Morgan Keegan shirts, stood and chatted. The tone progressed from somber to the buzz of a quiet party. No laughter, but lots of conversation. They are -- or were -- among about 1,050 Morgan Keegan workers in the city and another 2,000 nationwide. Morgan Keegan has become a Memphis business icon since it opened in 1969. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/morgan-keegan-lays-68-employees-first-wave/ (SUB)

Charter school future uncertain, officials unable to find location (N-S/McCoy)

Board to meet today to discuss next steps The fate of the Knox Charter Academy is in limbo, with school officials facing a Sunday deadline to find an acceptable location. "We've been looking but we've been unable to identify one by April 1," said Suzan Mertyurek, the academy's board president. The school's board will meet today to discuss its next steps, she said. Earlier this month, the Knox County school board denied the charter school's planned location at 205 Bridgewater Road, a vacant church in West Knoxville. Board members worried that the school's targeted population could have difficulty getting to the building and that the site would not serve its intended students. The target population of the Knoxville Charter Academy, which was slated to open this fall, is economically disadvantaged and at-risk students. Planners have worked for months on the project. The goal is eventually to serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As part of its agreement with Knox County, the school has to meet two provisions open in August 2012 and identify an approved location by Sunday or it would be dissolved. 13

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/31/charter-school-future-uncertain-officials-unable/

Plough Foundation Awards $1.7M to Talent Dividend (Memphis Daily News)

The Plough Foundation has awarded a $1.7 million grant to the Memphis Talent Dividend College Attainment Initiative, whose purpose is to build a stronger city by increasing the number of college graduates in the Memphis metropolitan area by 1 percent over the next five years. Organizers say a 1 percent increase in college attainment, which would generate about 8,000 additional college graduates, would yield a $1 billion increase in personal income, giving the community a significant economic boost. Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. joined representatives from Leadership Memphis, the Memphis-Shelby County Public Library system and The Plough Foundation Thursday, March 29, to announce the grant. The $1.7 million award will fund the creation, staffing and operations of a college resource center called Graduate Memphis, which will be dedicated to post-secondary education attainment among adults. The program will be funded over a three-year period, with the center housed at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library and expected to open in July. It will offer information through a website, interactive kiosk and individual counseling, both in person and through a toll-free hotline. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/2/plough-foundation-awards-17m-to-talent-dividend/

Consolidation Planning Remains in Flux (Memphis Daily News)

The way some on the schools consolidation planning commission see it, the group has some momentum going in its goal of selling a still-forming consolidated school system plan to parents urban and suburban. But that momentum is in danger if suburban leaders favoring municipal school districts are able to resume a march toward their goal this year. And they could as the Tennessee Legislature is again showing an interest in the issue. One thing that we need to do is help this community find certainty certainty that they are going to have an opportunity to see the plan that this commission comes up with, talk about that plan, evaluate that plan and understand that plan, said planning commissioner Christine Richards. Richards, an attorney, proposed a resolution that would have backed legislation moving up the lifting of the statewide ban on municipal school districts to January 2013. But she added that no actions including a referendum on municipal school districts should start until then and that the municipal school districts shouldnt open classes until August 2014, a year after the merged school district opens for classes. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/apr/2/consolidation-planning-remains-in-flux/

OPINION Editorial: Trampling on employers (Commercial Appeal)

Editorially, The Commercial Appeal has supported the right of individuals to legally carry firearms. What we have questioned, however, is the appropriateness of individuals being able to carry firearms anywhere they want to, such as bars, parks and classrooms. In that context, we have serious misgivings about legislation moving 14

through the General Assembly that would eliminate the rights of businesses, schools and universities to bar employees from storing firearms in parked vehicles. That is a policy decision that should be left in the hands of employers, school boards and university presidents, and not usurped by state government. So far, the legislation appears headed for passage, despite appeals from representatives of companies like FedEx, and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry and educators. The scope of the bill was narrowed to apply only to the state's 344,000 handgun carry permit holders. Later, it was amended to also cover anyone with a Tennessee hunting license as long as they are at least 21 years old. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/31/editorial-trampling-on-employers/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: Capturing a talent resource (Commercial Appeal)

Graduate Memphis will help Memphis raise its number of college graduates. When it comes to increasing the number of college graduates in Memphis, so much emphasis is placed on getting high schoolers college ready that another path toward reaching that goal has been overlooked. That path involves helping Memphis adults who didn't finish their post-secondary education return to school and obtain their degrees. Through the generosity of the Plough Foundation, working with Leadership Memphis and the city of Memphis, officials want to reach some of the 200,000 Greater Memphis individuals who fit that description. Plough gave a $1.743 million grant for the Graduate Memphis program. Officials hope to supplement that amount through other sources. Studies show that if Memphis could increase its college-attainment rate by just one percentage point, it would pay a $1 billion talent dividend. Cities with high college graduation rates tend to be magnets for industries that bring good jobs and talented citizens. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/31/editorial-capturing-atalent-resource/ (SUB)

Editorial: Public safety benefits from inmate tracker (Daily News Journal)
They say that knowledge is power. It can also be protection. A new tool will now allow Rutherford County residents to access custody information on county jail offenders, letting us know whos still locked up and whos been recently released. The Rutherford County Sheriffs Office is using the Tennessee Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system, which makes it possible for citizens to call or log in to learn the status of offenders. The system is offered 24 hours a day. The confidential service is available in English and Spanish, and interpreters are on hand in several other languages. Those who wish to gain this information can call 1-888868-4631. Theyll be asked to give an offenders name and/or booking number, which they can get from the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. The best part is that if they take the extra step and register with the system, theyll receive a notification when the offender is released. This will be helpful to victims of crimes, but also to the entire community. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120331/OPINION01/303310031/OUR-VIEW-Publicsafety-benefits-from-inmate-tracker

Free-Press Editorial: Huge 'revolution' very near (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

It is amazing, but a "revolution" in the lives of all of us, the American people, and our nation as a whole, is very near. We likely will have to wait until June to know the outcome, if we find out then. But it will affect us all! We do not believe the founders of our great and wonderful United States of America, the authors of our Constitution, anticipated any such a thing. But it's at hand. Neither the president of our United States nor a majority of our elected representatives and senators in Congress will make the decision. But soon, perhaps in June, five or more of the nine members of the Supreme Court of the United States will issue a decree that will affect the health and economics of all of us in a revolutionary way. W hat's this about? The nine appointed members of the Supreme Court met yesterday to begin deliberations about the future of health care in the United States, for all of the American people and our future. Surely, the Founding Fathers of our nation never anticipated such a thing. But the decision by five or more non-elected members of the Supreme Court will affect our personal health, our medical care throughout our whole nation, our taxes and countless billions of dollars, for many years to come. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/31/huge-revolution-very-near/?opinionfreepress ###

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