8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 1/13

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2012

Tornadoes in the region on Friday assessed by the National Weather Service (N-National W eather S ervice survey teams from the M orristown office have assessed several tornadoes toccurred Friday in East Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina. Here is a summary of the assessmenincluding their EF Scale rating. The EF Scale, or Enhanced Fujita Scale, is a zero to five rating based damage. The National Weather Service said: The tornado that hit Tellico Plains in Monroe County has berated an EF-2 with maximum winds at 130 mph. The path width was 400 yards with a length was 14.6 mileApproximately 30 structures damaged; a were few destroyed. The tornado that produced damage in KnCounty occurred 3 miles south of Mascot. The tornado was rated as an EF-0 with maximum winds at 80 mileshour. The path width was 100 yards and a path length of 2.1 miles. Damage included sporadic trees down wone mobile home rolled. The tornado that produced damage in McMinn county occurred 1.3 miles northwest

Delano. The tornado was rated as an EF-2 w ith maximum w inds at 130 miles an hour.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/04/tornadoes-region-friday-assessed-national-weather/ 

TEMA releases final report on Friday's tornadoes (Nooga)EF-3 tornado stormed through Harrison The whirlwind which ripped through the Harrison community Fridafternoon has been confirmed as an E F-3 tornado by the National Weather service. The designation, the foumost intense on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, means winds during the storm could have reached a maximstrength of 165 m iles-per-hour. The gusts, which according to residents lasted only seconds, were strong enouto shatter homes and snap trees in half. While a total of 24 injuries were reported in Hamilton County, thwere no fatalities. According the the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Friday's storms injured a toof 45 people across the state. The final report from TEMA lists 30 homes in Hamilton County as havundergone "major damage," with a total of 20 homes having sustained minor damages. While the "maj

designation doesn't clearly state whether or not homes were destroyed, a number of homes are confirmedhave been lost as a result of the tornado .http://www.nooga.com/154098/tema-releases-final-report-on-fridays-tornadoes / 

States Assess Twisters' Wrath (Wall Street Journal)In this small town in southeast Indiana, the tornado's devastation was so severe that residents weren't askhow to rebuild—but whether to try at all. The twister Friday destroyed nearly all of the roughly 30 homes in tcenter of Marysville, which sprouted up 140 years ago around a train station. Although no one died, the stoscattered pieces of homes across miles of surrounding farmland, peeled the roof from Marysville's communcenter, and shifted the town's only church off its foundation. "I hate to say this, but I'd honestly be surprisedMarysville comes back," said Kimberly Hoselton, 38, who lived near Marysville Christian Church, where she wbaptized and married. The tornado took her roof. Dozens of tornadoes Friday pulverized hom es and killed

least 39 people—21 in Kentucky, 13 in Indiana, three in Ohio, and one each in Georgia and Alabama. They acaused damage and injuries in Tennessee.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204276304577261731211117096.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBCRIPTION)

Volunteers offer relief efforts to those affected by tornadoes (TFP/Harrison)The sawdust flying off Jojo Macatiag's chain saw mingles with the ashen sky, backdropped by houses withoroofs and walls. Nearby, Salvation Army trucks rattle down barricaded roads, weaving between power compacherry pickers to deliver hot meals to people collecting scattered storm detritus. So begins volunteers' arduo

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 2/13

task of helping those affected by tornadoes in Harrison and Ooltewah get their lives back on track. After stepfather's house was demolished by the April 27 tornadoes last year, Macatiag banded with other voluntworkers, a hodgepodge group including loggers, engineers, a nurse and a former police officer. Though theystill assisting those affected by last April's storm, they were among the first to respond to the newly ravagcommunities. The loosely affiliated group, unofficially known as Open House, spent much of Sunday on ShTail Springs Road, removing fallen trees from homes and spreading tarps donated by the Samaritan Center oroofs to preserve what was left in homes. "Our relationships were forged through tears, sweat and blood," svolunteer Joe Cyr, who vowed to give up riding his motorcycle and instead donate hundreds of hours repairApison after it was wrecked by storms last year.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/05/volunteers-offer-blood-sweat-and-tears/?local

Tornado forecasts saved countless lives (USA Today)At the 103-year-old dream home on a hill that Roger Ledbetter had restored, Sunday was burial day. The houhad been knocked off its foundation and ruined by killer twisters. A neighbor worked a backhoe to carve opegrave for three of Ledbetter's seven horses, so badly injured they had to be put down. Shep the dog had alreabeen buried. A search was underway for the family cat, Miss Beasley. Yet for all the tears and tragedy thweather delivered along the m iles of winding country road here, Ledbetter says, it could have been far worse. in-laws, who were living in the farmhouse that he rebuilt for his future retirement, had enough warning of storms' approach to leave for safer ground. It saved their lives. "Thank God we had enough warning that I coconvince my in-laws to leave," says Ledbetter, 54, who owns a plywood company in New Albany. Officials asurvivors of the storms say warnings provided by weather forecasters and relayed through news reports, e-mand other alert systems, coupled with neighbors passing the word house to house, kept the toll from growhigher.http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/tornadoes/story/2012-03-04/tornadoes-warning-forecasts/53359326

Education commissioner outlines lofty goals for state (Jackson Sun)Improvement sought quickly U pon approaching his one-year anniversary as commissioner of educationTennessee, Kevin Huffman said that the goal is to be the fastest-improving state in the country by 2015. Huffminvited all of the state’s education reporters to his office in Nashville last week to discuss the challenges hefaced in his first year as well as what is next now that the state has been granted a waiver releasing it from soNo Child Left Behind requirements. “We expect to see performance improve quickly,” Huffman said. In additto the new teacher evaluation model used across the state, Huffman said Tennessee will begin rolling common core standards for third- through eighth-grade students. “It’s going to be incremental changes,” Huffmsaid. “We’re going to focus on a higher level of thinking.” Huffman said the changes w ill mean that state tests tstudents take annually will change to reflect the change in focus. “The test will represent a shift in what is tauin the classroom,” he said. School districts that are in the lowest 5 percent of performance statewide will be in tstate-operated Achievement School D istrict or will be monitored in the Innovation Zone, which allows them to different methods to make improvements.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120305/NEWS01/303050007/Education-commissioner-outlines-lofty-goastate

UT project seeks to link growers, diners (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Brass)Healthy dining doesn't stop with calorie counts and nutrient content.A growing number of restaurant-goers wto know where the food originated — and the closer to home, the better. In its annual chef survey, the NatioRestaurant Association found that local and sustainable food production trumped even health-oriented trenforecast for 2012. Additionally, 72 percent of adult consumers indicated they are m ore likely to visit a restaurthat sells local items, according to the organization. A Chicago-based research firm, however, says the tragroup may be overstating the case. Technomic Inc. found that just 21 percent of consumers consider "losourcing" when buying restaurant food or beverages. Still, the trend is significant, says Sara Monnette, tcompany's director of consumer research. "I think the entire industry is being impacted at least somewhat these trends," she says. "If it is not something currently in one brand's strategy, it may be in their competitor's,those not utilizing local sources have to still think about it." Even McDonald's is getting in on the act, she notwith its recent farm-to-fork advertising campaign. The University of Tennessee is delving deeper into the treUT Extension and UT's Department of R etail, Hospitality and Tourism Management are collaborating onstatewide survey of restaurants, consumers and farmers.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/ut-project-seeks-to-link-growers-diners/ 

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 3/13

Bills give teachers right to use force dealing with unruly students (CA/Locker)State lawmakers are considering giving teachers and other school personnel m ore authority -- includreasonable force -- with less fear of liability for students who are posing a safety threat to themselves or otheThe bill won unanimous approval in the state Senate and is set for review in the H ouse Education CommitteeTuesday. It requires local school boards to adopt policies authorizing teachers and others to temporarily reloca student with "reasonable or justifiable force," if required, or for the students to remain in place until l

enforcement or school resource officers arrive. Senate Bill 3116, sponsored by Sen. Dolores Gresham, Somerville, also requires principals to fully support teachers in taking action when it is done according to policy. Gresham said she filed the bill after hearing from teachers concerned about liability or a lawsuit if theyto remove a student during an altercation. "Teachers should not have to fear they will be found personally liafor standing in a doorway to stop a physical altercation between two students. They should have full authorityremove a student to another location even if it involves the use of force," Gresham said. "This bill would applyacts committed on school property, as well as those at official school functions, including sporting events aapproved field trips. In addition to teachers, it would apply to administrators, school support staff, bus drivecafeteria workers, school resource officers, and others working in the school who interact with students."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/05/bills-give-teachers-right-of-force/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Occupy Nashville leans toward fractured conclusion, but not done yet (CP/Hale)

On Fat Tuesday, some 30 members of Occupy Nashville gathered at War Memorial Plaza for a geneassembly. The plaza’s eastern steps were darker than when they were lit by floodlights from television nevans four months ago. There was enough light for the Occupiers to see each other but not quite enoughilluminate where they’re going. In October, at the height of the group’s clash with the state — which resulted55 arrests on the plaza — such assemblies played out like defiant pep rallies, incited by the clear sense ththere was constitutional and geographical ground to defend. A common cause and a common enemy were lan elixir to the waning occupation, which at the time wasn’t even a month old. But the winter, though not severe as it might have been, has been long. On this night — which ended w ith a meal and party celebrating tMardi Gras season — the meeting is more like a snapshot of a hallway bulletin board in a college dormitoryman named Eric invites the group to take part in a “die-in” on the plaza March 12, organized by local anti-nuclgroups to commemorate the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago. Another man, Ben, says hestarted a faith-based “Occupy the Spirit” group, which is looking for a new location and invites those assembto join if they wish. A woman who doesn’t give her name reports on a visit to several Occupy encampmentsCaliforn ia and proposes the group “do someth ing” for Internat ional Women’s Day on March http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/occupy-nashville-leans-toward-fractured-conclusion-no t-done- just-yet

Chatt. utilizes new scientific method to improve road conditions (TFP/Hightower)Shawn Malone knows the roads in Chattanooga. He and his wife routinely ride their sports bikes up and docity streets and main roads. He has a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle that he made into a lowrider and it feels evebump. The good news is Malone doesn’t feel many bumps in the roads around Chattanooga. “I’ve seen a lotother places where the roads are a lot worse,” he said. “But there’s some places that need attention.” The cplans to try to keep Malone’s rides and other motorists as smooth as possible by using a new scientific methodcategorize roads and stretch city dollars as far as possible to get and keep them in the best condition. TDepartment of Public Works began gathering data on all Chattanooga roads almost four years ago. Grousonar, videotaping and observation were used to compile information on the condition of every single roadChattanooga — more than 2,300 miles. “The goal here is the right treatment at the right time,” said Lee Norrdeputy administrator for Public Works. The information will come into play for the first time in the next annual cbudget, which the City Council will begin assessing after Mayor Ron Littlefield releases it in May.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/05/chattanooga-utilizes-new-scientific-method-improve/?local

Visiting judges help wheels of justice spin in Memphis (C. Appeal/Buser)3 from Mich. to help ease backlog of cases in Memphis With federal caseloads growing, a vacant seat on tbench and no relief in sight, local court officials are calling in the cavalry from the north. Under a special VisitJudges Program, three federal judges from Michigan -- one of the four states in the Sixth Judicial Circuit tincludes Tennessee -- have agreed to help ease the local backlog. So far 30 local criminal and civil cases ha

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 4/13

been reassigned to the three judges -- Robert Cleland, Stephen Murphy and Arthur Tarnow -- who may be ato handle some of the work by teleconference, but who otherwise will be scheduling court time in M emphis. Tgoal is to get Memphis out from under the official federal designation of being "a congested court," where t judges dispose of many more cases per year than the national average, but where it also takes much longerdispose of those cases. No one's expecting a quick turnaround. "We've got to figure out a way to get our casin and out the door more quickly without sacrificing quality," said Thomas Gould, clerk of the U .S. District Cofor Western Tennessee. "We have a court that ranks near the top in terms of literally cranking out cases, buthe bottom in terms of time to dispose of them. We know why. It's our case mix."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/05/visiting-judges-help-wheels-of-justice-spin/ (SUB)

Tennessee Viewed as a Southern Bellwether (Wall Street Journal)Mitt Romney is showing signs of closing in on Rick Santorum in Tennessee, drawing new attention to the stas a battleground ahead of this week's Super Tuesday balloting. Mr. Romney has won contests in the Northeathe Midwest, the West and in the southern state of Florida. But a victory by M r. Romney in Tennessee wodamp claims that he has only a weak hold on the South, the region where his support in polls has been softeswould come just as the Republican presidential campaign turns more directly toward the South, with ballotlater this month in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Both Messrs. Romney and Santorum are giving attentto Tennessee in the run-up to the 10-state balloting on Tuesday. Mr. Santorum held a meet-and-greet aMemphis barbecue joint on Sunday, w hile Mr. Romney held a rally in Knoxville. Mr. Santorum has been leadin polls of Tennessee voters. Two polls released Sunday showed the former Pennsylvania senator ahead of Romney by four percentage points—within the polls' margins of error—with Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Ptrailing.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204276304577261783778488886.html?mod=ITP_pageone_2(SUBSCRIPTION)

Romney rips deficit, China, Obam a in Knox appearance (News-Sentinel/Vines)Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney brought his quest for the Republican nomination for presidentKnoxville on Sunday, promising to get the federal budget under control, an act he said will result in Americafeeling optimistic again for future generations. Some 1,000 people attended a rally in the gymnasium of WHills Elementary School and often chimed in with rounds of "Mitt, Mitt" when he said something they liked aparticularly when he criticized Dem ocratic President Barack Obam a. His visit came two days before Tennessepresidential primary — part of a 10-state Super Tuesday election. He is one of four candidates remaining in Republican primary in Tennessee, although others who have dropped out are still on the ballot. His supportwere buoyed by a Rasmussen poll released Sunday that showed Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. RSantorum in a close race in Tennessee. Santorum, who has had larger leads in other polls, was attracting percent of the vote in the Rasmussen poll, while Romney had 30 percent. The poll was conducted Saturday aincluded 750 Republican likely voters. It had a margin of error of 4 percent.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/04/romney-rips-deficit-china-obama-in-knox/ 

Romney visits Knoxville before Super Tuesday (WVLT-TV Knoxville)With just two days until Super Tuesday, GOP Nominee Mitt Romney m ade a campaign stop in Knoxville SundHe already has the support of Governor Bill H aslam and several state senators and representatives, but tdoesn't seem to be enough as he trails behind Rick Santorum. Romney hopes that changes after Sunday's raThe presidential hopeful and his wife received a warm welcome as Gov. Haslam introduced the couple tocrowd of nearly 1,000 people at West H ills Elementary School. Just minutes before taking on the stage, Romnsat down w ith Local 8 News to talk about his plans on moving the country forward. "I spent my life in the privsector. I want to use that skill to get America back on track," he said. Before he can try to do so, he must wover Tennesseans. "I want them (delegates) to come to me, and to get the support I need to become tnominee and replace Barack Obama," he said. "We've got to get him ou t of office."http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Romney_visits_Knoxville_before_Super_Tuesday__141388363.ht?ref=363

Mitt Romney m akes campaign stop in Knoxville ahead of Super Tuesday (WBI

TV)Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney made a campaign stop in Knoxville Sunday afternoon ahead

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 5/13

Super Tuesday. Romney spoke to a crowd of about 1,000 people at West Hills Elementary School. The formMassachusetts governor was introduced by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. He has endorsed Romnpublicly. Romney's speech, which lasted about half an hour, touched on a number of topics. He talked to crowd about investing more money in the military and looking for more ways to develop carbon-based fuels. BRomney's biggest focus was on the economy. During a one-on-one interview with 10News, Romney said he hthe experience needed to turn the economy around. "Right now in Washington we have a President who doesunderstand the economy and on almost every dimension has taken steps that make it harder for this economyrecover and put people back to work," he said.http://www.wbir.com/news/article/209128/2/Mitt-Romney-makes-campaign-stop-in-Knoxville?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge

Santorum visits Memphis to shore up support (C. Appeal/Carroll, McMillin)As polls showed his formerly huge lead in Tennessee dwindling to almost nothing, Republican presidencandidate Rick Santorum attended church services Sunday in the Memphis area and lunched on barbecueCorky's before heading to Oklahoma. Across the state, in Knoxville, national GOP front-runner Mitt Romnmade his first visit to the state in several weeks looking to score a surprise in Tennessee as recent polls showhis national lead growing and his standing in the South improving ahead of this week's Super Tuesday primari

In comments to media after his lunch at Corky's, Santorum sounded less like a candidate preparing fotriumphant Super Tuesday and m ore like one trying to keep hope alive. "Every time you get into these races,we've seen, Governor Romney goes out there and outspends you four, five, six to one. It's going to take a tThat's what's happened in pretty much all the states," Santorum said. "That's why you keep looking at this agame of survivor." Two polls released Sunday showed that a 20-point Santorum advantage over Romney hadbut evaporated, and that former House speaker Newt Gingrich was putting himself into position to compete delegates here.http://www.comm ercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/04/rick-santorum-catholic-attends-bellevuebaptist-se / (SUBSCRIPTION)

Romney getting Tennessee congressional backing (News-Sentinel/Collins)Most of East Tennessee's congressional delegation is backing Mitt Romney for president. U.S. Reps. JohnDuncan Jr. of Knoxville, Phil Roe of Johnson City and Scott DesJarlais of Jasper have all publicly thrown th

support behind the former Massachusetts governor in the GOP presidential primary on Tuesday. "Gov. Rom nis a very nice man, a family man, with a good track record as governor of Massachusetts and in businesDuncan said. "We need someone like that in the White House who understands what it takes to create jobU.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Maryvil le declined to endorse any candidate for most of the race, sayTennesseans don't need him telling them how to vote on Tuesday. But a w eek ago, he acknowledged casting ballot for Romney in early voting. The other two East Tennesseans in Congress — U.S. Sen. Bob CorkerChattanooga and U.S. Rep. Chuck F leischmann of Ooltewah — have not disclosed whom they are supportingthe race. Corker's office said last week he would not be endorsing any candidate in the primary. Fleischmanoffice said he intends to support whoever is the eventual GOP nominee because he is committed to defeatPresident Barack Obama.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/romney-getting-tennessee-congressional-backing/ 

DesJarlais endorses Mitt Romney for president (Nooga)Rep. Scott DesJarlais announced Friday he would back former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for presideRomney, who is fighting for the Republican nomination, has shown momentum in recent polls of Tennessealeading up to Super Tuesday. One week ago, presidential candidate Rick Santorum held a 2-1 lead ovRomney in a poll conducted by Vanderbilt University. DesJarlais, a freshman Republican, joined Gov. Haslam, Sen. Lamar Alexander, and four of Tennessee's nine congressional representatives as backersRomney. In a news release, DesJarlais said he believed the impending election would be one of the mimportant in the nation's history. "We face substantial economic obstacles that require the bold leadership acredible solutions that President Obama simply has not provided," DesJarlais said. "Mitt Romney has the provexperience of creating jobs and balancing budgets. His commitment to lowering taxes, reducing spending, areforming runaway entitlements is exactly the type of vision needed in the W hite House." Tennesseans go to polls on Tuesday, where 58 delegates w ill be on the table.

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 6/13

http://www.nooga.com/154095/desjarlais-endorses-mitt-romney-for-pr esident/ 

Romney, Santorum bring religion into Tenn. political discussion (N-S/Vines)Mitt Romney's Mormon faith could be a factor as Tennesseans and voters in nine other states head for the poTuesday and m ay be the reason the former Massachusetts governor is struggling for delegate votes when mapundits expected him to have the nomination within reach by now. Religion is a factor in the 2012 Republicpresidential primary in Tennessee based on the latest poll done at Middle Tennessee State University, said K

Blake, the poll's director and an associate professor of journalism. The poll showed Rick Santorum leadamong Republicans at 40 percent; Romney getting support of 19 percent; former U.S. House Speaker NeGingrich, 13 percent; and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, 11 percent. An analysis shows the more often a voattends church, the more likely he or she is to vote for Santorum, Blake said W ednesday, the day the poll resuwere announced. "There is a very steep trend for churchgoing Republicans to favor Santorum over RomnThey know R omney is a Mormon and they don't like that," he said. Those considered the "most faithful," or goto church every week, favor Santorum, a Catholic who is a former Pennsylvania senator, by 61 percent, whRomney gets 11 percent of those polled, Blake said.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/romney-santorum-bring-religion-into-tenn/ 

Newt Gingrich to campaign at Chattanooga airport tonight (Nooga)Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Chattanooga Mond

evening, when he will appear at a rally at the Chattanooga Airport. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at HanTwo at TAC Air, and is free and open to the public. Following campaign events in Kingsport and Knoxville, trally will be Gingrich's final event before voters in Tennessee and nine other states go to the polls on SuTuesday.The stop is G ingrich's second in Chattanooga in less than one week. Last Tuesday, the candidate held a $1,0per person fundraiser at the Chattanooga Choo Choo, followed by a public rally in Dalton, Ga. Gingrich, wcurrently leads polls in his home state of Georgia, has recently climbed to third in polling among Tennessvoters. A Rasmussen poll released Sunday showed the candidate favored by 18 percent of Tennesseabehind Mitt Romney with 30 percent, and Rick Santorum with 34 percent. Neither Romney, or Rep. Ron Phave announced visits to the Chattanooga area at this time.http://www.nooga.com/154096/newt-gingrich-to-campaign-at-chattanooga-airport-tonight/ 

GOP grows eager for primaries to end (Los Angeles Times)After a dozen contests, 20 debates and the prospect of weeks or even months of continued skirmishing, therea growing clamor am ong Republicans to bring the presidential nomination race to a close for fear of hopelesdamaging the party’s chances against President Barack Obama. Republicans designed their plan for pickingnominee to test their candidates with a longer, more, grueling campaign. But the move threatens to backfagainst a Democratic incumbent who has gained strength as the increasingly nasty GOP contest has worn on.“There’s been plenty of preliminaries,” said Curt Steiner, a Republican strategist in Ohio, the most importantthe nearly dozen states voting this week on Super Tuesday. “It’s time to focus on the general election.” Steinbacks Mitt Romney, so it’s no surprise he’d like to end the primary season with the former Massachusegovernor ahead, if still far short of the 1,144 convention delegates needed to secure the nom ination. Sendinsignal from Washington, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia on Sunday announced his endorsemeof Romney ahead of his state’s Tuesday primary. It’s not just Romney backers, though, who worry about the of a prolonged and increasingly nasty contest.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/NEWS02/303050030/GOP-grows-eager-primaries-end?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Restored education funds fail to make up for earlier cutbacks (Stateline)A walk through Northwood Elementary School in this small city shows almost at a glance the privations that tiFlorida budget years have imposed on K-12 education. There is an up-to-date science lab at Northwood waitfor customers, but there is no science specialist competent to take advantage of it. So it remains em pty for muof the day. “If funding were available, we’d have a hands-on science teacher,” says Principal Jacqueline Cra“We have the facility, but unless the teachers bring their students over here, there’s no one to teach in tclassroom.”Science teacher isn’t the only position Craig has been unable to fill. “We had a media specialist,” she says, “th

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 7/13

we had a media assistant. Now we have nothing.” Declining property taxes contributed to a $1.3 billion statewcut to education last year, Republican Governor Rick Scott’s first year in office. Now Scott wants to put monback into education. He made headlines in December when he announced that he would reverse course amake increased education funding a priority in his second year. “My recommended budget includes $1 billionnew state funding for education,” he said during his State of the State speech in January. “On this point, I jcannot budge.”http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=63 6334

In Age of Dual Incomes, Alimony Payers Prod States to Update Laws (NY Times)In the waning days of this year’s legislative session, Florida lawmakers and advocacy groups are pushingoverhaul the state’s alimony law in a bid to better reflect today’s marriages and make the system leburdensome for the alimony payer. Florida joins a grass-roots movement in a growing number of states tseeks to rewrite alimony laws by curbing lifelong alimony and alleviating the financial distress that some pay — still mostly men — say they face. The activists say the laws in several states, including Florida, unfairly fawomen and do not take into account the fact that a majority of women work and nearly a third have colledegrees. The Florida House recently approved legislation that would make lifelong alimony more difficultaward and less onerous for the payer and, in the case of a remarriage, would place a new spouse’s income limits in awarding payments. Attention turns to the Senate, where the com panion bill is less far-reaching. Florhad already changed some provisions in alimony law two years ago.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/us/alimony-payers-prod-states-to-update-divorce-laws.html?ref=todayspaper(SUBSCRIPTION)

Canceled credit card debts come back to haunt taxpayers (USA Today)Billions of dollars in credit card debt that was charged off during the Great Recession— some of it decades  — is coming back to haunt borrowers in the form of unexpected tax bills. Debt that is canceled or forgivenconsidered taxable income, something many borrowers don't realize until they receive a 1099-C tax form frotheir lender. The IRS projects that creditors will send taxpayers 6.4 million 1099-Cs in 2012, up from 3.9 million2010. The increase likely reflects the rise in credit card defaults during the economic downturn, says GeDetweiler, personal finance expert for C redit.com. Moody's Investor Service estimates that the nation's largest credit card companies wrote off more than $75 billion in uncollectible balances in 2009 and 201Taxpayers who receive a 1099-C, which is also submitted to the IRS, are liable for the tax bill unless they cprove that the debt was discharged in bankruptcy or that they were insolvent when the debt was canceled, saJennifer MacMillan, an enrolled agent in Santa Barbara, Calif. Shelley Cartier, 48, of Austin, recently receive1099-C for a credit card debt that was m ore than 20 years old. Cartier says she filed for bankruptcy in the ea1990s but no longer has the paperwork to prove the debt was discharged. Numerous calls to the financinstitution have gotten her nowhere, she says.http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/story/2012-03-02/irs-taxes-on-forgiven-debt/5335784 4/1 TVA repairing power towers (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sohn)The Tennessee Valley Authority continues to repair tornado damage to its power transmission lines from Fridastorms, spokeswoman Myra Ireland said. The most damage is in Harrison and Davis Mill areas in HamiltCounty and into Bradley County, Ireland said. A line near Murphy, N.C., and two lines west of Huntsville, Awere damaged as well, she said. On Sunday evening, nine lines still were out of service, down from 16, Irelasaid. “A total of 20 structures are damaged — from minor damage to tangled [steel and cables] on the grounshe said. TVA officials on Saturday estimated it will be nine to 10 days for the worst damage to be repaired aall of the transmission system returned to normal operation. Seven distributors on Sunday still had about 4,9customers without power in North Alabama and Middle, East and Southeast Tennessee, TVA said. Ireland sthere is no cost estimate yet for the storm damage and repairs. Part of that cost will be lost generation frSequoyah Nuclear Plant. Because of damaged lines, one reactor was running at only 80 percent of powSunday.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/05/tva-repairing-power-towers/?local

Brentwood acreage awaits development (Tennessean/Burch)Grading work could start soon on last big chunk of land in huge office park Just days before workers begdemolishing the old Murray Ohio Corp. headquarters at the gateway of Maryland Farms, construction could on the horizon on the other end for the last big chunk of undeveloped land in the office park. A master grad

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 8/13

plan for the 55 acres of land known locally as “the Cooper property” is on the plate for the Brentwood PlanniCommission tonight. “It’s a big piece of property,” agreed Brentwood Planning Director Jeff Dobson. “There’smuch smaller tract up on Powell Place that still hasn’t been developed yet, but that’s pretty much it.” In trequest, developer PLC Properties is asking for permission to start grading work at Virginia Way and GranWhite Pike, including a future office complex and 24 acres to be handed over to the city as a passive park. If grading work is approved, that doesn’t mean that office buildings could start sprouting on the land. Any proposstructures would face their own detailed site plans and final plat approvals from the Planning Comm ission at lameetings after grading is completed, which could take about 120 days. When the property was rezoned development in 2007, the vision for the Cooper property turned contentious.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/WILLIAMSON08/303050022/Brentwood-acreage-awaits-development?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Employment workshop, job fair in Millington (Associated Press)Employment help for military members and veterans moves to the Memphis area this week. An employmeworkshop and job fair will be Tuesday through Thursday in Millington at the NSA Pat Thompson ConferenCenter. The free event is open to National Guard m embers, reservists and all vets and military spouses. It is 21st such job fair and workshop held across the state in the past 15 months. The first 2 days are workshofollowed by a job fair Thursday afternoon.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38725527?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

3 Frayser schools 1st in MCS to be operated by state (C. Appeal/Roberts)Parents, teachers await plans, possible charters Most of the parents crossing guard Lisa Collins has talked toCorning Elementary have no idea w hat it means that the state will soon be running their school. "I know becauI talked to them," she said. "The parents I've been talking to don't know anything about what is going on." Daafter the state Department of Education announced six Memphis City Schools would be run by the stateturned into charter schools, families of 1,600 students in three Frayser schools and dozens of teachers awaiting for details. "It seems like it could be a good thing," Corning first-grade teacher Teresa Shannon saidshe weighs whether to apply to work in the state-run Achievement School District or cast her luck with MC"The only thing is, when the school returns to the district, tenure is not guaranteed. Neither is seniority or abenefits we have," she said. Corning, Frayser Elementary and Westside Middle are the first city schools to formally removed from local control and run by the state. (Other schools are being co-managed by MCS or by charter schools.) The taxes that support these schools will flow to ASD offices in the state DepartmentEducation in Nashville.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/05/3-frayser-schools-1st-to-operate-by-state/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Nashville schools chief makes financial disclosures late (Tennessean/Rau)Delay blamed on legal advice Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Jesse Register violated the terms of contract, and possibly the city’s ethics code, by failing to file financial disclosure statements with the Metro Clfor 2010 and 2011. In doing so, Register joined a growing group of high-profile officials who have had problewith such disclosures. Previous reports by The Tennessean found Gov. Bill Haslam and Metro Finance D irecRich Riebeling also failed to properly disclose business dealings on their disclosure forms. Last month, staSen. Mae Beavers amended her disclosures. After filing a disclosure form for 2009, Register went two yewithout submitting a statement to the Metro Clerk. Ethics and financial disclosure statements reveal privabusiness dealings and potential conflicts of interests for Metro officials. The statements were made a pointemphasis for Metro officials after an ethics code overhaul in 2007 , and one of Mayor Karl Dean’s first executorders required that most top city officials file statements. After The Tennessean inquired about Register’s failto file the forms, a spokeswoman for MNPS initially indicated he was not covered by the city’s ethics lawDean’s executive order creating the disclosure requirements. However, Register’s employment contract contaa provision requiring him to comply with the city’s ethics law and Dean’s executive order.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/NEWS04/303050005/Nashville-schools-chief-makes-financial-disclosures-late?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTP AG E

Charter school asks for approval of location (Knoxville News-Sentinel/McCoy)McIntyre recommends request with caveats O fficials with the Knoxville Charter Academy, K noxville's first cha

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 9/13

school, have asked the Knox County school board to approve a former church for its location. Knox CouSuperintendent Jim McIntyre has backed the school's plan in a memo to the board, but with stipulations. TKnoxville Charter Academy, scheduled to open in 2012, will eventually house kindergarten through eighgrades, and have an emphasis on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known commonlySTEM. The school's board has chosen the former Bridgewater Church building, located at 205 Bridgewater Roin West Knoxville, to house its school. In its letter to the school board, Susan Mertyurek, the charter school bopresident, said the location fit their requirements of square footage, amount of rent, minimal renovation neespace for potential future growth and the ability to meet codes for occupancy. "Finding a building with all of therequirements has been proven to be exceptionally difficult," she said. "We have kept our options opennontraditional settings, however, this has also not resulted in finding a feasible building for our use."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/charter-school-asks-for-approval-of-location/ 

Cheatham County school board leaves bullying off agen

(Tennessean/Gonzalez)Cheatham residents say effort to protect gay students resisted Cheatham County students and recent graduaupset about the district’s bullying policies and the suicide death of a peer are planning to launch an effortchange policy at tonight’s school board meeting. To do so, they’ll have to wait for the board’s formal pubcomment period. Their recent attempt to get three proposals placed on the agenda through a little-used boapolicy that legally permits them to do so was unsuccessful. Director of Schools Tim W ebb told The Ashland C

Times that, although the residents took the right steps to suggest agenda items, the policy does not requboard members to include them. That response didn’t sit well with Tennessee Equality Project NashvCommittee Chairman Chris Sanders, who has been meeting w ith Cheatham County students and communmembers since the December death of 18-year-old Jacob Rogers, whose suicide was partially blamed on angay bullying. “I think they’re completely ignoring the citizens,” Sanders said. “I think they ought to at least givformal reply about the specifics of your proposal. There will be an effort … to try again. W e’ll also explore thinlike the school board elections coming up.” In the meantime, two graduates and another resident will ask schofficials to provide monthly reports on bullying cases and copies of anti-bullying curricula taught to teachers.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/NEWS01/303050023/Cheatham-County-school-board-leaves-bullying-off-agenda?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Hawkins County schools opt out of SACS accreditation (Times-News)

The Hawkins County Board of Education voted Thursday to forego the time and expense of SACS accreditatthis year and rely on new state and federal accountability programs for system oversight. With the state afederal government playing an increased role in public school accountability, many schools across the regand state are opting out the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation program. HawkCounty is a recipient of federal “Race to the Top” grant funds, and with that program comes the same teachevaluations and curriculum evaluations that SACS would provide. Director of Schools Charlotte Britton told tBOE Thursday she feels bringing in SACS for its annual evaluations at each school is duplicating accountabprograms already in place, and too much of a burden on school faculty and administrators. “The evaluatisystem is definitely there for the schools,” Britton said. “SACS probably did a little bit more on facilities than state is doing, but the state is definitely covering the curriculum. There’s already a focus on curriculum ateacher evaluation with ‘First to the Top’ (federal grant program), and the increased emphasis on teachevaluations at the state level is part of our ‘First to the Top’ accountability requirement.http://www.timesnews.net/article/9043285/hawkins-county-schools-opt-out-of-sacs-acc reditation

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Takes Aim at Red Tape (Wall Street Journal)Under Massachusetts regulations, a hair salon owner who wants to sell her shop to an employee must ftemporarily close down. A funeral director can't hire a part-time apprentice—only full-time is a llowed. The statlegal size for a sea clam differs from what federal requirements specify. These and other "nuisance" regulatioas many businesses describe them, are coming under scrutiny by Gov. Deval Patrick, who on Mondayexpected to announce that he's tossing or tweaking 150 requirements—pertaining to everything from sea basssewer lines—that get in the way of doing business. The governor, a second-term Democrat in a left-leaning stthat has a reputation, fair or not, for being heavy handed with the red tape, also is reviewing some 8regulations across 60 state agencies. The governor will require that no new regulation be approved witho

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 10/13

completion of a "small business impact" statement answering 20 questions, such as, "Is this likely to encouraor deter the formation of business? Who did you consult from the small business community to come to tconclusion?" Mr. Patrick's administration has been working on the initiative for months, launching a systemareview of regulations in Octobhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204276304577261200963166884.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

MORE

OPINION

Tom Humphrey: Haslam pushes back on more business tax breaks (New

Sentinel)While Gov. Bill Haslam often declares his intention to make Tennessee the most business-friendly state in tSoutheast, his "flag" list shows that some legislators' ideas for advancing that goal are just a little too friendly.Tgovernor this year began issuing "flags," which are written notices of his administration's objections to pendbills, after refraining last year. Gubernatorial flags have traditionally served as major roadblocks to a bill's chanof success. Early indications are that this will apply to Haslam's administration as well, as his party holds a stromajority in the Legislature. Several flagged bills have already flopped. Most Haslam letters are "fiscal flagwherein the objections are based on costs to the state not covered in the governor's proposed budget for coming year, though there are some "philosophical flags" issued for policy reasons. Here's a sample of sobusiness-friendly bills that Haslam has flagged on a bipartisan basis: H B2310, which would create a 48-h"small business tax holiday" next year. During the period, businesses with 10 employees or less and groreceipts of $2 million or less could buy items for their operations and receive a rebate of up to $5,000 from tstate for sales taxes paid.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/haslam-keeps-tabs-on-balance-sheet-

1

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 11/13

when-eyeing / 

Free-Press Editorial: Highly visible sales taxes keep spending in check (TFP)Tennessee benefits from having no general income tax, even though that necessitates higher state and losales taxes to raise revenue. The Tax Foundation recently determined that Tennessee has the highest combinstate and local sales tax rates in the United States. The state levies a 7 percent sales tax, and the avera

additional local sales tax rate is 2.45 percent. That means an average sales tax of $9.45 on $100 in purchasNo one doubts that is significant to consumers in Tennessee. But it is still preferable to imposing a general stincome tax. One of the chief benefits of a sales tax is that it is highly visible. Every time you make a purchaseone of the m any goods to which sales taxes apply, you see the taxes very clearly -- both on your receipt andthe difference between the shelf price of the product and the higher total that you actually pay at the register. Athat awareness serves an important function. It is a constant reminder to taxpayers of just how much of thmoney is going toward the true cost of producing a good versus how much is going to government. That actsa check on lawmakers who might be more willing to raise other, less visible forms of taxes because they wohave less fear of a political and electoral backlash for doing so.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/05/0305b-fp1-highly-visible-taxes-best/?opinio nfreepress

Guest columnist: TDEC moves leave environmental direction uncertain (Tenn.)

The recent shakeup at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is not entirely surprisiWhat is different are changes in career managers and the manner in which they were treated. Based on detaprovided publicly, the case of Paul Estill Davis is particularly troubling. Davis was our nation’s longest-servwater regulator. During his 38 years managing water issues, our water became much cleaner while our econogrew faster than the national average. TDEC Com missioner Bob Martineau has said that efforts by Georgia aother states to take Tennessee’s water are one of many reasons why staff changes were made. What is understood is that Davis administered the very law that has kept Georgia at bay for 12 years. I helped design tand other laws passed in 2000 and 2002. Further, I was present when Davis suggested permit solutions souby then-Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker to protect our water rights as we implemented the new laws. Tmanner in which Davis and others were treated may be normal for private business. However, in stgovernment such actions will attract public scrutiny. In fact, the removal of the same park managem ent team wled our state parks to be named “best in the nation” is another example of how the case for these changesconfusing at best. But some of this confusion may be clarified from the pages of Tennessee’s history.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/OPINION03/303050006/TDEC-moves-leave-environmental-direction-uncertain?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Ne ws|p

Gail Kerr: Guns-at-work proposal is a disaster in waiting (Tennessean)You’ve heard of “Bring Your Daughter to Work Day.” Well, in Tennessee, get ready for “Bring Your PistolWork.” Because nothing celebrates a round of layoffs like having employees armed and angry. The state SenJudiciary Committee is set to debate legislation this week that would allow gun owners to keep their firearmstheir cars at work parking lots. The H ouse version, thankfully, is bottled up in a subcomm ittee where it may s jammed. The law does not say people who have gun permits could bring their guns to workplace parking lotssays any gun owner. It’s being pushed by the Tenneessee Firearms Association. It is opposed by police officepolice chiefs, and businesses. A group of 18 organizations banded together to send a letter to all 132 lawmaklast week, saying the law would infringe on private property rights, “forcing them to allow firearms to be carr

onto their premises — even if the property owner objects.” And that’s a good point. A private business should able to create whatever rules it wants to govern use of its employee parking lot. But there’s a better reasonstop this legislation from passing: workplace violence. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, one-fourth ofworkplace shootings in the United States happen because the shooter was laid off or fired. There are some scstatistics out there:http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120305/COLUMNIST0101/303050021/Gail-Kerr-Gunswork-proposal-disaster-waiting?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|N ews|p

Editorial: Don't revive discretionary funds (Knoxville News-Sentinel)Some Knox County commissioners want to revisit the issue of restoring their discretionary funds that at one tienabled each commissioner to spend up to $6,000 in taxpayer money in their districts. The discretionary funwere reduced to $3,000 in 2010, before being eliminated altogether in the current Knox County budget, wh

1

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 12/13

took effect on July 1, 2011. The commission members likely will discuss the issue at workshops and meetinthis month and when they review the mayor's budget proposal later in the spring. There might be valid points restoring the funds, but there are equally valid points for leaving the matter where it stands and avoid reviving tfunds. The latter course is the proper approach. Comm issioner Mike Brown said during a commission lunchelast week that there are needs in his district. "There's a lot of small things going on, and I think $200 to $3would help tremendously" he said. Commissioner Amy B royles said some of the less affluent districts and soorganizations in those districts are having a difficult time. "It's put them at a disadvantage," she said in supportia discussion of restoring the funding.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/editorial-dont-revive-discretionar y-funds/ 

Editorial: It starts before 1st grade (Comm ercial Appeal)It's good to see that Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and the schools merger Transition Planning Commission of the same mind about the importance of pre-kindergarten programs. After the merger occurs, the mayor wato use some of the annual $60 million to $70 million city government will no longer have to provide schools expand early-childhood and after-school programs for children. The TPC has set a goal to make sure every chis ready for school, which means an expansion of the community's pre-kindergarten programs. Memphis CSchools Supt. Kriner Cash and state education officials have stressed that academically proficient elementschool students become academically proficient junior high students, who become proficient high schgraduates. So it makes sense that the way to end failing schools is to make sure that youngsters are schoready when they enter f irst grade.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/05/it-starts-before-1st-grade/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Michael Collins: Alexander lauds new reactors, working on waste (News-SentineSen. Lamar Alexander characterizes the federal government's decision to grant a license for two new atomenergy reactors "not a renaissance, but a reawakening."It's still welcome news to Alexander and others wextol the benefits of nuclear energy. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4-1 in February to approvelicense for the Atlanta-based Southern Company to build and operate two reactors at Plant Vogtle nWaynesboro, Ga. The $14 billion project marks the first time in three decades a new reactor has receivgovernment approval. Alexander, who advocates for the construction of 100 nuclear power plants over the n20 years, sees the new reactors as a sign that Americans are waking up to the importance of nuclear energya clean, reliable source of electricity. "I learned as governor that having cheap, clean, reliable electricity is at theart of being able to provide good jobs and grow family incomes, and nuclear power is an essential part of thhe says. "The demand for electricity is going to increase, and the dem and for pollution-free electricity is goingincrease." The new reactors, scheduled to begin operating in 2016 and 2017, will be the first the nation has sein years, but they are unlikely to be the last.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/alexander-lauds-nuclear-approvals-working- on / 

Frank Munger: Oak Ridge projects get high-level attention (News-Sentinel)High-level visits don't always translate into high-level funding, but sometimes they can help. Energy SecretaSteven Chu was in Oak Ridge Feb. 15 to promote the administration's support for nuclear energy. He visited ORidge National Laboratory's Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors, where scientists aengineers are using the lab's super-powerful computers to create a virtual reactor that may help fix real-tiproblems in real-life reactors. Perhaps more importantly, from an Oak Ridge perspective, was a separaunconnected visit on the same day by DOE Undersecretary Tom D'Agostino, who took a close look at somethe neediest cleanup projects. D'Agostino, who also holds the position of administrator of the National NuclSecurity Administration, last year acquired oversight of DOE's Environmental Management Program. EM is area where Oak Ridge has historically been underfunded compared to some other DOE cleanup sites. His uclose and dedicated review of Oak Ridge projects is considered a good sign. During the Feb. 15 trip, D'Agostvisited all three of the major sites on the government reservation in Oak Ridge — Oak Ridge NatioLaboratory, the Y-12 National Security Complex and East Tennessee Technology Park.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/05/oak-ridge-projects-get-high-level-a ttention/ 

1

8/2/2019 Mon., March 5 News Summary

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/mon-march-5-news-summary 13/13

###