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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2011

Voter ID debate hits college campuses (Tennessean/Sisk)Students can't use school IDs at polls A college student’s university identification card gets used a lot. The cais probably needed to check out a book from the library or to pass security in a dorm, but the uses go far beyothat. An ID card is also one part debit card, capable of paying for food in the cafeteria, buying time in the launroom’s washers and dryers, and even purchasing late-night snacks from campus vending machines. So usefua campus ID, it may be the only thing students are almost guaranteed to have with them all the time. But thereone place where a student ID will do them no good — at the polls. And that has many students perplexed. “Aof us have a driver’s license, but there still are a lot of people that don’t have a driver’s license, particulafreshmen,” said Christopher Martin, a junior at Tennessee State University. “You can’t always count on thaWhile debate over the state’s new voter ID law has centered on its impact on the elderly, the poor and tdisabled, many critics say the law is also unfair to students. The law requires voters to show photo identificatat the polls, but it explicitly bars students from using their campus IDs, even if they attend a state collegeuniversity.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS/310270067/Voter-ID-debate-hits-college-campuses?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Memphis-area voters get info on photo ID law (Comm ercial Appeal/Callahan)The gist: Even an expired driver's license acceptable In most areas of Tennessee, it's easier to vote than it ispay for your groceries with a check. To cast a ballot in Tennessee, voters simply need to show something wtheir signature on it. To write a check at most places, you almost always have to show your driver's license. Twill change come Jan. 1, as a new law requiring photo ID to cast a ballot goes into effect. The new law hcaused some consternation and confusion, so election officials are holding town-hall meetings around the stto explain the law and answer any questions. In Memphis on Wednesday, state Election Coordinator Mark Go

spoke to a group from the AARP during the day, then to a League of W omen Voters group at night. Two mlocal meetings about the law are planned, both at 6 p.m. Tuesday. O ne will be at the Shelby County Commisschambers; the other will be at Greater Middle Baptist Church, 4982 Knight Arnold. Goins' message wWednesday simple: In a few months, voters will need a photo ID, so they should get one now and get it out of way. "Anyone who shows up to vote ... will be required to show a state or federally issued ID," Goins told ab20 people in the cafeteria at the Board of Education on Wednesday night. "If you've got a bank card, that wowork. If you've got a card to a local discount shopper, that won't wohttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/27/voters-get-info-on-photo-id-law/ 

State Election Coordinator's Memphis Visit Highlights Photo-ID Battle (M. Flyer)Even before the 2012 elections themselves take place in Tennessee, a war has begun over the ground rules

voting — specifically over the law, passed in the 2011 General Assembly, requiring would-be voters to presan officially recognized photo ID at their polling place. Against a background of charges that the law was passas part of a Republican-backed national effort to suppress turnout among likely Democratic voters, especiaseniors and low-income voters, and of efforts to change the law, a series of informational events have bescheduled in Memphis, including two this week featuring Tennessee Election Coordinator Mark Goins. Wednesday, October 26, G oins will appear at a joint meeting of the American Association for Retired People athe Aging Commission of the Mid-South at noon at 2670 Union Avenue. Later Wednesday Goins will be on haat the Board of Education building on Avery St. for an informational session sponsored by the League of WomVoters. Another meeting, sponsored by the Shelby County Election Comm ission and featuring Tennessee SafDriver Services director Michael Hogan, will be held in the Shelby County Commission chambers in the VascoSmith Jr. Administration Building from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Novem ber 1.

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http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2011/10/26/state-election-coordinators-memphis-visit-highlights-photo-id-battle

Haslam Sprinkles Budget Hearings in Memphis, Knoxville, Capitol (TN Report)Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that portions of the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget hearings wtake place outside of Nashville so that citizens in East and West Tennessee have an opportunity to atteHearings will be held in Knoxville and Memphis, which will mark the first time in state history that budgproceedings will occur away from the State Capitol. Scheduled to begin on November 2, the budget hearings be streamed live on www.tn.gov as in years past to give Tennesseans that are unable to attend accessibilitythe budget discussions of each state agency. “This is an opportunity for Tennesseans to learn more about tstate budget and our agencies,” Haslam said. “It is important to engage our citizens in the process of settpriorities and planning for the future. We w ill continue to approach the budget in a fiscally disciplined way to more with less while focusing on quality customer service for Tennessee taxpayers.”http://www.tnreport.com/2011/10/haslam-sprinkles-budget-hearings-in-memphis-knoxvill e-capitol/ 

Haslam adds Knoxville, Memphis to budget hearings (Associated Press)Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says he w ill hold public budget hearings outside the C apitol for the first time whhe begins the annual review at the University of Memphis on Nov. 2 The governor said he w ill also hold hearinin Knoxville, as well as at the usual site at the state Capitol. Haslam announced the changes in a video post

on YouTube on Wednesday. Haslam said his goal is to assemble a budget proposal that can pass unanimouin the General Assembly, just as his first annual spending plan did in May.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37792659.story

Haslam will take budget hearings on road, Web (Commercial Appeal/Locker)Former governor Phil Bredesen opened the governor's annual budget hearings with state agencies to the pubfor the first time, and streamed them live on the Internet. Now Gov. Bill Haslam is taking the concept of opbudget hearings a step further by taking them on the road -- opening them in Mem phis next week. The goverannounced Wednesday that portions of the hearings that help determine the budgets of most state agencies be held ou tside of the state C apitol for the first time, including the opening sessions scheduled for the Universof Memphis campus. The hearings will continue to be streamed live on the state's website, tn.gov. "This is opportunity for T ennesseans to learn more about the state budget and our agencies," Haslam said. "It

important to engage our citizens in the process of setting priorities and planning for the future." The first roundbudget hearings will be held Wednesday at the U of M and will include four state departments:http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/27/haslam-will-take-budget-hearings-on-road-web/ 

Civil Rights Museum Kicks Off Capital Campaign (Memphis Daily News)As he becam e governor of Tennessee in January, Bill Haslam encountered first-hand the drawing power and dilemma of the National Civil Rights Museum. Haslam twisted his way through a packed museum on observance of the federal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in 1968 on balcony of the Lorraine Motel – which is now the museum. It was two days after Haslam took the oath of officegovernor. “You literally couldn’t move in the building there were so many people,” Haslam recalled. This weHaslam renewed the state’s commitment to an expanded and updated museum with state funding to the tunenearly $2.5 million. The first half of the $5 million in state funding came during the last year of Phil Bredese

tenure as governor. The National Civil Rights M useum has set a goal of $40 million for a capital campaignrenovate the 20-year-old museum as well as establish an endowment. The museum foundation already hcommitments for half of that.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/27/civil-rights-museum-kicks-off-capital-c ampaign/ 

‘Road to Recovery’ marks 6 month anniversary (Cleveland Daily Banner)Gov. Bill Haslam and first lady Crissy Haslam will lead dedication ceremonies Thursday for a Bradley Coufamily’s hom e rebuilt following the devastating tornadoes six months ago. The governor’s office earlier confirmthe visit will take place six months to the day that five twisters claimed nine lives, destroyed 285 homes abadly damaged hundreds of others. The dedication site is in one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the stor — the Dalton Pike and Archer Lane areas. According to Jim Polier, recovery director of the Bradley Cou

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Long-Term Recovery Organization, the governor will visit with the Parker family at noon at their new home2501 Eggleston Drive. Officials will also lead a memorial to the victims who died as a result of the stormAccording to earlier reports, the dedication of the rehabilitated home event is titled, “Six Months: RoadRecovery.” The home suffered extensive damage from the tornado which ripped through the Lead M ine and BSprings valleys before trekking through the Dalton Pike and Spring Place Road areas, then northeastwardBates Pointe, Willbrook and through the Chatata Valley out of Bradley County.http://www.clevelandbanner.com/view/full_story/16178617/article-%E2%80%98R oad-to-Recovery%E2%80%9marks-6-month-anniversary?instance=homesecondleft

Magnusson honored as Middle Tenn. Teacher of the Year (Crossville Chronicle)Jennifer Magnusson has been named the Middle Tennessee Teacher of the Year. The first-grade teacherPleasant Hill Elementary was honored Thursday at a banquet where the state Teacher of the Year and winnfrom each of Tennessee's Grand Divisions were honored. "I am really honored to receive this award and I very proud. Getting to meet with the governor at the banquet was exciting for me and my family," Magnusssaid. Magnusson met with and was congratulated for her hard work in the classroom by TennesseeGovernorBill Haslam.Praised by principals and parents, one parent said, "Mrs. Magnusson works magic in her roomMagnusson has almost 20 years of teaching experience, and is in her 10th year of teaching at Pleasant Hill. "decision to become a teacher was a natural one for me," Magnusson wrote in her entry packet. "I was fortunto have parents who encouraged my education and teachers who sparked a love for the career." Magnusscredits her fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Turner, and her honors English teacher in high school, Mrs. Parris,

influencing her decision to become a teacher.http://crossville-chronicle.com/local/x717131974/Magnusson-honored-as-Middle-Tennessee-Teacher-of-the-Y

Tennessee adds government employees through recession (Memphis Biz JournaReducing the size of government is a hot-button issue across the U.S. bu t while most of the country's businesswere downsizing through the recession, many state governments were growing. Tennessee is one of 22 stathat has increased its number of government employees since 2007, according to a new analysis by MBJ affiliOn Num bers. The Volunteer State added 9,300 government jobs over a four-year period, from Se ptember 20to September 2011, enough to rank it eighth in raw change. The state's government employed 433,300 worklast month, a 2.19 percent increase from 424,000 four years ago. Its percentage increase ranks 16th. Texadded the most government workers in terms of raw numbers, boosting its government payroll by 76,000 joover the period. Wyoming added the most in terms of percentage increase, growing 14.75 percent. Arkans

added 8,800 government jobs over the four years, or 4.16 percent growth. Mississippi added 2,500 jobs,boosting its government worker count by 1.02 percent.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/10/26/tennessee-adds-government-employees.html

Occupy Nashville protesters may be ousted from Legislative Plaza (TN/Brooks)Some say they will stand their ground Occupy Nashville protesters say they’ve been ordered out of LegislatPlaza by the state after a three-week occupation. Protesters say they’re willing to be arrested rather than compThey say they’ve been given until 8 p.m. today to evacuate. The order to evacuate came from state GeneServices Commissioner Steven Cates during a meeting called by Occupy Nashville to discuss ongoing secuproblems on the plaza. Cates, who was joined by representatives of the capitol facilities office and Tennessee Highway Patrol, told the group that their presence on the plaza was presenting a danger to pubsafety, according to protesters. Cates was unavailable for comment Wednesday night. THP representativ

deferred comment to his office. At an emergency assembly Wednesday night, dozens of protesters announcthat they w ere willing to be arrested rather than evacuate. “Whose plaza? O ur plaza!” protesters chanted.least 50 moved into a group to indicate that they were willing to go to jail.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS02/310260168/Occupy-Nashville-protesters-may-ousted-from-Legislative-Plaza?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Death prompts new probe of New Life Lodge (Tennessean/Rau, Loche)The health care provided at the state’s largest drug rehabilitation facility is part of an investigation into the deof an 18-year-old man who was under the custody of the Department of Children’s Services. Savon N. Kinndied Sunday at Regional Hospital of Jackson, Tenn., nine days after he left New Life Lodge, the troubled drrehab center in Dickson County. State officials declined to comment on the nature of Kinney’s death, citconfidentiality laws. DCS spokeswoman M olly Sudderth said there are no longer any children in state custody

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the facility. Kinney, who was diabetic, had difficulty walking around and was bumping into things around tfamily’s home in Brownsville after checking out of New Life Lodge, according to his sister Nicole Harris. Kinncalled for help after he fell down and couldn’t get up on Saturday night, Harris said. According to the stamedical examiner’s office, no autopsy report was available on Wednesday. According to Harris, a doctor at thospital questioned the medication Kinney was prescribed at New Life Lodge. “We don’t know why he passWe’re still waiting for the report,” Harris said.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS01/310270037/Death-prompts-new-probe-of-New-Life-Lodge

State plans Halloween monitoring of offenders (Columbia Daily Herald)State probation and parole officers will be making announced and unannounced visits with sex offendersmake sure they are complying with restrictions during Halloween and fall events such as haunted houses acorn mazes. The offenders cannot answer the door for trick-or-treaters, pass out candy, decorate their homhost Halloween parties or wear costumes. Attending corn mazes, haunted houses, hayrides or other seasoactivities is not permitted. State officials said Friday that offenders sign a letter acknowledging the restrictioProbation and parole officers will be accompanied by local law enforcement officers on many visits. Mishooting suspect arrested in Columbia M aury County authorities aided Michigan investigators by apprehendinsuspect connected to a shooting death. Christopher Rishard Henderson, 23, of Inkster, Mich., was arrested the U.S. Marshals Service in Columbia last December for parole violations, according to The News-HeraldMichigan. The publication reported Henderson was a person of interest early in the investigation of a Michig

slaying.http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2011/10/26/top_stories/04halloweenoffe nders.txt

Options studied for keeping lottery scholarships solvent (AP/Johnson)Tennessee lawmakers are considering ways to prevent the state’s lottery scholarship program from going broState officials say if the lottery scholarship program isn’t changed, it could run out of money in a little ovedecade. Most of the scenarios being discussed would cut the number of students eligible or how much monthey get. Members of the Lottery Stabilization Task Force met in Nashville on Wednesday and heard frorepresentatives of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and a Tennessee Lottery official. One optthat lawmakers are strongly considering would reduce scholarship awards if students don’t meet both the hschool grade point average and ACT eligibility requirements for four-year schools. Right now, students meither earn a 3.0 GPA or score a 21 on their ACT to qualify for a scholarship worth $4,000 for each of the fo

years. Under the proposal, students attending community colleges wouldn’t be affected. State Sen. DeloGresham, who headed the task force and is also chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, slawmakers want to get m ore young people in school, but also “make the lottery scholarship program viable in long term.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS/310270027/Options-studied-keeping-lottery-scholarshipssolvent?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Proposal calls for cutting in half lottery scholarships for some studen

(CA/Locker)State policymakers are examining a plan that would cut in half the $4,000-per-year Hope Scholarship at foyear colleges for students who achieve only one of the program's two eligibility criteria. Currently, high schograduates who make either 21 on the ACT college entrance exam or have a 3.0 high school GPA qualify for

base $4,000 annual scholarship at four-year institutions in Tennessee or $2,000 at two-year schools. But a stSenate task force examining how to close an $18 m illion annual deficit in the scholarship program was presenwith a new policy option W ednesday that would require students to achieve both standards to qualify for the $4,000 scholarship at four-year schools. The amount would remain $2,000 at community colleges to encourasome students to start at the two-year schools. The Senate Lottery Stabilization Task Force will decide nmonth what recommendation it will make to the full legislature, which must approve any changes in the lottefunded scholarship program before it goes into effect. Students who achieve only one of the two standards woreceive $2,000 per year at either four- or two-year schools but could start earning the $4,000 grant in their thyear of college if they maintain at least a 2.75 GPA during their first two years.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/26/proposal-calls-cutting-half-lottery-schol arships-s/ 

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Proposal Would Halve Scholarships for Less-Qualified (WPLN-Radio Nashville)State lawmakers may cut costs to the lottery scholarship program by steering more students toward communcolleges. Right now the Hope Scholarship program pays out more money than it brings in each year. To gelottery scholarship right now a high-schooler needs a 3.0 GPA or a 21 on the ACT. The proposal would insterequire both to get the full $4000. Students that only have one or the other would instead get half that – $20an amount better suited for community college. After two years they’d be eligible for the full scholarshTennessee Board of Regents Vice-Chancellor David Gregory noted the plan would cut awards disproportiona

for black students. “Underrepresented students as well as low-income students, and seems to have a disparimpact there that I want us to consider. I don’t necessarily say I’m opposed to that option, but I think it’s importafor us to understand the impact.” In total the proposal would reduce scholarships for roughly five thousastudents a year while saving the lottery fund some $17 million annually.http://wpln.org/?p=311 14

Citizens Slow to Submit Redistricting Plans as Deadline Nears (WPLN-Rad

Nash.)For the first time, this year any Tennessean with a computer can take a crack at redrawing voting lines for sein C ongress and the General Assembly. The once-every-decade redistricting process is underway, led Republicans in the legislature. Despite the opportunity for input, citizens have remained silent. Senate SpeaRon Ramsey says in a statement he’s glad to live in a state where “the political will and the technological tooexist to allow this kind of open process.” He’s encouraging citizens to submit their plans but interest has be

limited. It could be because Ramsey is asking for a lot, not just a suggestion about a district here or there tneeds fixing. Each privately submitted plan must include all 99 seats in the state House, 33 in the Senate and state’s nine congressional districts. Among a litany of requirements, the plan has to be accompanied bybreakdown of the racial makeup in each district. The necessary census data is available at the legislature’s Wsite, but a week out from the deadline, no one has turned in a map of their own.http://wpln.org/?p=311 07

Suburban Shelby Co. Comm issioners could rise with redistricting (CA/Connolly)The suburbs are likely to gain voting power on the Shelby County Commission as the board adjusts its distlines to deal with population shifts. The current comm ission includes three representatives from outside the cof Memphis and 10 who come from urban districts or mostly urban districts. But the 2010 Census shows that suburban population has grown relative to the city districts, which means there should be four commissionfrom outside M emphis and nine from urban or m ostly urban districts, planning director Josh W hitehead sa

Whitehead said the law doesn't require the commission to ensure suburban representation, but tcommissioners have indicated they want it. Whitehead played a key role in drawing proposed new voting distriand presented them to the County Commission on Wednesday. In an effort to comply with federal law, the nmaps also aim to ensure that black candidates will be competitive in seven o f the 13 County Commission seaa proportion roughly equal to the county's African-American majority, W hitehead said.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/26/number-suburban-shelby-county-commissioners-could/ 

Bredesen: Politics Behind Report on Farr, Tax Variances (TN Report)Former Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday he believes the people who disagreed with former RevenCommissioner Reagan Farr “got their final shot in” against Farr with a recent comptroller’s report that criticizthe department on tax variances. Bredesen said he has not read the report from Comptroller Justin Wilson bhas talked briefly about it with Farr and that he has never had any questions about Farr’s integrity. Bredes

made the comments after an appearance at the University of the South in Sewanee with former Vermont GJim Douglas, in which Bredesen said his style in dealing with the Legislature sometimes was to “go right arouthem.” He noted that former Gov. Don Sundquist did not use the “bully pulpit” of the office for the powerpersuasion with the people when Sundquist proposed an income tax. And Bredesen, a former mayorNashville, got his own shot in about term limits at the Metro Council in the capital city, calling the limits of tfour-year terms a “disaster.”http://www.tnreport.com/2011/10/bredesen-politics-behind-report-on-farr-tax-va riances/ 

Bredesen to stump for Obam a, warns Dems against old ideas (Associated PressFormer Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen will campaign for President Barack Obama, he told the ChattanooTimes Free Press. The Democrat said, however, that Tennessee Democrats need to re-envision what the pais about. “If all you’re going to do is channel a 30-year-old idea of what the party is and channel what’s going

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nationally, you’re not going to be successful,” Bredesen said. Before going on to a speech at the University of tSouth in Sewanee on Tuesday, Bredesen said the political left isn’t going to abandon Obama and the electwill be won or lost in the middle of the spectrum. Bredesen, 67, said some liberal voters might “stay home” in tnext general election but don’t have a valid alternative candidate to vote for. Bredesen and former Vermont GJim Douglas, a Republican, appeared at the university forum, promoting political cooperation. Centaspirations The two-term Tennessee governor wore a blue tie and the former Vermont chief sported a red onbut both m en talked centrist positions during the program. “I think there can be partisanship in the positive senof articulating a different view, but eventually the people’s business has to be accomplished, and that’s whanot happening in Washington,” Douglas said.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS/310270030/Bredesen-stump-Obama-warns-Dems-againsold-ideas?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

Sen. Alexander crafting legislation for Amazon, online retailers (M. Biz Journal)U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander is developing legislation to reform online sales tax collections nationwide, walkincareful line in Congress while attempting to address what has been a signature economic development dilemfor Tennessee Gov. Bill H aslam in recent months. Alexander’s office confirmed Wednesday morning that Tennessee Republican is working on legislation that would enable states to make online retailers collect sataxes that consumers are supposed to be paying by law. Spokesman Jim Jeffries said Alexander is working wU.S. Sen. M ike Enzi, R-Wyoming. “I hope that we can introduce legislation quickly, and that it will be bipartisaAlexander said Wednesday in an interview with MBJ affiliate Nashville Business Journal. At issue is w het

online retailers should have to collect sales taxes in states where they’re making sales. C urrently, onlshoppers are supposed to report purchases for tax purposes but usually don’t. In Tennessee, controversy flawhen Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) undertook plans to build distribution centers in the state, with assurancfrom Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen it would not have to collect sales taxes. The company argued the facilitwere not sales operations, but brick-and-mortar retailers were outraged that Amazon would have physioperations in the state without collecting sales taxes.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/10/26/sen-alexander-crafting-legisla tion.html

Corker holds discussion on energy rates in Tenn. (Associated Press)U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, who sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will be in Chattanooto talk with energy suppliers and businesses in the Tennessee Valley about electricity rates and their effect competitiveness. Corker is holding a round table discussion at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Thursday. Participants include Tom Kilgore, president and CEO of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and HarDePriest, president and CEO of the Electric Power Board and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Public PowAssociation. Representatives from Alcoa Inc., Olin Chlor Alkali Products and the Chattanooga RegioManufacturers Association will be attending. Policy experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute 21st Century Energy and the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity will also be in the discussion.http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37795783.story

Fleischmann critic ized for win in straw poll (Chattanooga Times Fre

Press/Carroll)A few paid staffers for U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann helped the incumbent topple his two primary challengersthe Anderson County R epublican Party straw poll Tuesday night. Fleischmann spokesman Jordan Powconfirmed that field representative Arch Trimble IV and caseworker Adria Tutton attended the straw poll, prov

3rd Congressional District residence and paid the required $5 fee to vote, along with “a few others who went their own time.” “There were staffers that went after work to support C huck, but there were a lot of [other] peoat that straw poll that voted for Chuck,” Powell said. According to the Anderson County party websFleischmann won 65 percent of the vote, Jean Howard-Hill received 28 percent and Weston Wamp took hompercent. But exact figures were unavailable. Anderson County Republican Party Chairman Alex Moseestimated a crowd of 150 voted in a variety of races. He said “about 60 percent” were allowed to choose a Houcandidate after proving they lived in the 3rd Congressional District. John Geer, a political science professorVanderbilt University, said early straw polls tend to be dominated by activists.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/27/fleischmann-criticized-win-straw-p oll/?local

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen joins members opposing oil pipeline (CA/Sullivan)

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Obama says he's still considering building permit The same day President Barack Obama told college studein Colorado that he hasn't made a decision on permitting a tar sands oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coalawmakers led by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen asked that he delay it. The Memphis Democrat joined 14 othmembers of Congress who wrote Obama to raise questions about the administration's handling of the $7 billKeystone XL project. They asked that he postpone making a decision until a review of the State Departmenactions can be made by the department's inspector general. More than a thousand people have been arrestedfront of the White House in recent weeks protesting the pipeline project, which would bring coal tar sand oil frAlberta south to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. Obama has seen pipeline protesters at many recent puappearances, including one Wednesday at the U niversity of Colorado-Denver, where students unfurled an aKeystone banner and were ejected. "All right. Thank you, guys. We're looking at it right now, all right? decision has been made. And I know your deep concern about it. So we will address it," the president saaccording to a W hite House transcript.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/27/cohen-joins-members-opposing-oil-pipeline/ 

Even with puffy pink blossoms, mimosas still pest on national park (NS/Wilson)In some neighborhoods, mimosa trees, with their tiny leaves and puffy pink blossoms, are part of the m aniculandscape. But on East Tennessee lands maintained by the National Park Service they are called "exotic" a"invasive." That's why a team of forestry personnel with the park service spent a brilliant autumn Wednesday a rocky hillside sawing mimosa trees off at ground level and spraying the stumps with a chemical to make su

they don't come back. The fast-growing mimosas are not native to the East Tennessee backcountry, accordto Ken Culbertson, a forestry technician with the park service, and they prevent the growth of native speci"We don't vilify the tree," he said. "This is about preserving the native species." So the team gathered near tU.S. Highway 129 end of the Foothills Parkway to make the hillside a mimosa-free zone so other plants atrees have a chance to flourish. Troy Evans, another forestry technician, and Renee Sniegocki, an intern at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, tied bright orange ropes to trees on the hill, attached the ropesharnesses they were wearing, lowered themselves down to where the mimosas were growing out of the rocand began saw ing the trees off.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/27/even-with-their-puffy-pink-blossoms-mimosas-a-on/ 

State Tax Haul Jumps 10.8% (Wall Street Journal)States beset by budget travails and high national unemployment notched a double-digit rise in tax revenue in

second quarter, thanks in part to recession-era tax increases and the slowly recovering economy. State revenue climbed 10.8% during the quarter ended in June from the year-ago period, according to a repreleased W ednesday by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New YorkPreliminary data, also not adjusted for inflation, show growth continued in July and August, though at a slowpace, the Institute said. In 41 states that have reported for those two months, tax revenue was up 6.8compared with the same two months in 2010. The growth was led by 9.8% gains in income taxes and 3.6%sales taxes. While the 10.8% overall increase was the biggest in six years, state and local governments—whhave weighed on the recovery and shed a total of 211,000 jobs this year—still face deep financial pressures tyears after the recession's end. State tax revenue, which totaled $227.6 billion for the second quarter, is s5.5% less than for the same period of 2008. That's one reason why cities and s tates continue to lay off teachepolice officers and other wo rkers, and shift more retirement and health-care costs to public employees.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203554104577000052370994234.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

State Seeks Help to Cut Cost of Chronically Ill (Wall Street Journal)The governor of Massachusetts wants to hire private insurers or other third parties to manage care for the poand chronically ill patients who use a disproportionate share of public health-care dollars. The proposal comesstate and federal officials search for a cheaper way to deliver health care to people known as "dual eligibleThese are the 9.2 million in the U.S. who receive both Medicare, the federal program for those 65 and olderdisabled, and Medicaid, the joint state-federal health plan for the poor. Nationally, dual eligibles account for 16of Medicare's enrollees, but 27% of its spending; and 15% of Medicaid's enrollees, but 39% of its spendiaccording to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Some 60% have multiple chronic conditions, a43% have at least one mental or cognitive impairment, according to CMS. The proposal from the adm inistratof Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, comes as Massachusetts and other states—and the federal governmen

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grapple with the rising cost of entitlement health-care programs.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204505304577000244207856650.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

TVA sees future in small reactors (Tennessean/Paine)TVA is eager to help lead the w ay to a new concept in nuclear plants — small reactors that w ould be factobuilt, hauled to a location and buried underground. Such mini-reactors would make it possible to build nucle

power capacity in less costly increments, said Jack Bailey, Tennessee Valley Authority’s vice presidentnuclear development. Eventually, small reactors could be placed on the sites of coal-fired power plants that Tplans to shut down, such as its Johnsonville location about 65 miles west of Nashville. But the major benefit mbe to the nuclear industry’s search for new markets. The m ini-reactors are touted as a good fit for remote arethat lack a strong, established transmission grid. With the stamp of U.S. approval, nuclear builders could moreadily sell the technology to groups that include developing nations. It could generally make nuclear power moaccessible. “We thought the small modular reactors would be a good opportunity, not just for TVA as a futuoption, but for the country,” Bailey said. “TVA has as part of its mission technological innovation — as it relatesour business.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111027/NEWS11/310220078/TVA-sees-future-small-reactors?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

TVA to build power station at former Midway park site (News-Sentinel/Marcum)TVA plans to build a switching station and electrical transmission lines on property that had been at the centecontroversy when proposed as a business park at the Midway exit off Interstate 40 in East Knox County. TTVA project could make the property less attractive to a buyer, said Lisa Starbuck, who helped lead homeownopposition to the failed business park plan and is now on a mayor's task force trying to market the site. "I worather see TVA and KUB site this in an industrial area where it is not going to impact residents," she said. TVAunder contract with The Development Corporation of Knox County to buy 33 acres just north of M idway Roand Thorngrove Pike north of I-40 for its East Knox Bulk Transmission Project, TVA spokesman Scott Broosaid Wednesday. Todd Napier, executive vice president of the Development Corp., said the amount of transaction is $1,047,000. The project will involve running 13.5 miles of 500 kilovolt transmission line from a Tsubstation off W ashington Pike near Roberts Road south-southeast to a new sw itching station to be built on Midway Road site. The switching station will be a point where TVA can provide power to its distributors.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/26/tva-to-build-power-station-at-former-mid way-park/ 

TVA revamps energy website (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)The Tennessee Valley Authority has unveiled a redesigned website for tips and information about hconsumers can conserve energy at home, at a business or in an industry. The utility said in a news release tthe EnergyRight Solutions website has a simpler layout and more information and is easier to navigate. Tsupplies power to about 9 m illion people in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Caroland Virginia. The website address iswww.EnergyRight.com.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/27/tva-revamps-energy-website/?local

Tennova restructuring results in 130 job losses (Knox News-Sentinel/Harrington)Less than a month after taking over Mercy Health Partners, Tennova Healthcare announced Wednesdayrestructuring that w ill result in about 130 job losses system wide. A couple hundred jobs, however, could

added as a central business office for parent company Health Management Associates is expected to established within the year on the Tennova Riverside campus, Tennova CEO Mike Garfield said. Calling layoffs "very serious and important to us," Garfield said the decision was made to move forward with the cuafter an evaluation of its operations was completed by a national consulting firm. It was expected that no jowould be lost for six months to a year. "After the evaluation, it's led to changes that's required some difficdecisions. It was obvious this needed to happen. We wanted to get this behind us. I think it's in the best interof the employee to do it now," Garfield said. Most of the affected workers were informed Wednesday, with remaining notices expected to go out today. Severance packages and job placement services are beprovided. Hospital-based employees will continue to receive their salary and full medical benefits for one yeSystem-based workers will get six m onth's salary and benefits.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/26/tennova-cut-130-jobs-restructuring/ 

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Only 1 bidder for nursing home (Times-Gazette)Bedford County received only one bid for its nursing home and former hospital facility on U nion Street -- from company which is currently leasing the nursing home, Johnson City-based Care Centers ManagemConsultants. CCMC has bid $3,040,520, less $240,520 it claims the county owes it for improvements w hich hto be made to bring the building in compliance with state law, for a net cash bid of $2.8 million. MembersBedford County Financial Management Comm ittee, discussing the bid Tuesday evening, said they're not certabout the money CCMC claims is owed by the county and want the county attorney to investigate the cla

They voted to pass CCMC's bid along to the ful l county commission pending the county attornerecom mendation. The bid is good for a 120-day period which began Oct. 3.http://www.t-g.com/story/1777784.html

Teachers poll set on conference process (Daily News Journal)Rutherford County Schools officials and teachers representing professional organizations have reached agreement on how to proceed with the state's new collaborative conferencing process. Rutherford EducatAssociation President Brenda Ball said Rutherford County is the first district in the state to organize a poll ofteachers on how to go forward with the process. "We weren't trying to be first, but we wanted to go ahead aget started," she said during a meeting of the school board's special question committee WednesdCollaborative conferencing is described as an interest-based problem solving process where B oard of Educatchairmen and other professional employees of the school board and representatives of a teachers organizat

"confer, consult, discuss and exchange information, opinions and proposals on matters relating to terms aconditions of professional service," according to the Tennessee Department of Education. Gov. Bill Haslsigned the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act into law in June. The new law eliminated 30-year-old collective bargaining process used by 92 of the state's 136 school districts.http://www.dnj.com/article/20111027/NEWS07/110270324

Hamilton County sets aside funds for schools (Times Free-Press/Haman, Hardy)Hamilton County officials announced Wednesday that they will make an additional $50 million available school construction without a tax increase. Now the county and the school system must decide how to spendSuperintendent Rick Smith said Wednesday that the money would likely go toward new elementary schoolsfast-growing areas. Much growth is associated with new jobs at companies such as Volkswagen and AmazSchool officials have a $247 million preliminary facilities plan that will be given to the school board today. Tcounty has spent months reorganizing its financial house to take advantage of record-low interest rates to hfund capital projects, County Mayor Jim C oppinger said W ednesday. "What we're trying to do is enhanopportunities for our students," Coppinger said. "Everyone has their own opinions about where the new schoshould be. That's a process that should begin now." The county's announcement came a day after it receive2.737 percent true interest cost rate for $86 million in new bond sales. The low rate saved the county more th$2 million.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/27/county-sets-aside-funds-for-scho ols/?local

Public to discuss proposed closings of 3 Mem. elementary schools (CA/Roberts)Parents will have a chance to speak their minds, but the movement is on to close three city schools. One of th-- 1950s-era Graceland Elementary -- is in such poor condition that it would cost $10 million to bring it upspeed. If the vacant building is sold or leased to a charter school, as Supt. Kriner Cash suggests, MoniqEverett would be delighted. "I like charter schools. If it changes to a charter, I'm satisfied," she said, picking

twin daughters up from Graceland on Wednesday afternoon. "The teachers tell us the building is in bad shapbut it's not visible." Two public hearings regarding the closings of Graceland, Lakeview and Georgia Avenelementary schools will be held in each area, starting in early November and running through mid-February. Tboard's decision is expected in late February or March. Enrollment in each has dropped an average of percent since 2002. Lakeview and Graceland are in the southwest quadrant of the city, where populationsteadily declining. Georgia Avenue is on the fringe of Downtown near Booker T. Washington High. With 2children, it is operating at 75 percent capacity, largely because nearby housing projects were demolished.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/27/public-to-discuss-school-closings/ 

School Board Takes Steps Back, Forward (Memphis Daily News)The two public school systems in Shelby County used the same team to evaluate charter school applications t

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week in the first joint proposal the Memphis City and Shelby County School systems have brought to the boafor approval. But the small move toward a full consolidation that is to come in August 2013 was counterTuesday, Oct. 25, by a half-hour debate over setting the agenda for the first regular business meeting since countywide school board took office Oct. 3 and approving the minutes of m eetings of the once separate schoboards before October. And the board then spent another half hour debating what it should call itself. “It htaken us one hour to approve the minutes and decide what to call ourselves,” board member Joe Clayton safter fellow board m ember Patrice Robinson delayed action on her resolution to call the body the “Unified SheCounty School Board.” “We need to identify for the public and for ourselves what we are,” Robinson argued. “Wneed to name it something.” Attorneys for the still separate school systems governed by a single board agrethat there might be legal implications surrounding contracts that they want to discuss with the board.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/27/school-board-takes-steps-back-forward/ 

Clarksville-Montgomery schools absorbing federal budget cuts (Leaf Chronicle)Some significant cuts and new expenditures are on the way for the Clarksville-Montgomery County SchSystem next fiscal year. CMCSS Chief Financial Officer Danny Grant told the Montgomery County budgcommittee Tuesday afternoon that the district is in good position to absorb a $3 m illion cut in federal funds, bu$4.5 million increase in new buses for next summer's budget drew some concern from County Mayor CaroBowers and the four commissioners on the committee. "It's not today's problem, but it's on the horizon," Grwarned the comm ittee. Some of the extra cost will fund new buses as the district continues to grow by about 7students per year, and Grant said several buses have reached the end of their 17-year lifespan and will need

be replaced. He said he hopes the county will finance the buses with its debt service, possibly through anothbond issue. Commissioners asked Grant to calculate the average spending on buses for the last five years,well as the projected costs for the next two or three years. He said projecting any further than that would dangerous because of variables involved with student enrollment growth. Grant also offered some good nenoting that at the end of the first quarter it appears the ending general fund balance will be increased by alm$4.3 million.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20111027/NEWS01/110270308/Clarksville-Montgomery-schools-absorbing-federal-budget-c uts

Alabama: From cops to courts, confusion over Alabama immigration law (AP)Alabama's tough new law on illegal immigration was complicated even before the courts got involved. Now tfederal judges have blocked parts of the ac t while letting others take effect, officials say uncertainty reigns evwhile suspects are being arrested and jailed. Court cases can vary from one place to the other, dependinghow local police apply the law to arrest suspects. Once those suspects get to court, the handling of their cascan vary from judge to judge in the state's more than 450 trial courts at the municipal and county level. "There'swhole lot of confusion about the law and what we should do about it," said Judge Scott Vowell, a circuit judgeBirmingham's Jefferson County and president of the Alabama Circuit Judges Association. He said he has a listroubling reports: In some areas, police are setting up roadblocks near mobile home communities wheHispanic people live. One municipal judge opened court by saying that anyone without a driver's license wobe arrested under the law. Another judge told spectators that the need for a translator could be considerevidence against someone. Other cases of m ixed signals are easy to find.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/oct/27/cops-courts-confusion-over-alabama-immigration-law/?local

Maryland: Md. commission proposes 15-cent increase in gas tax (Washingto

Post)Maryland would raise its tax on gasoline 15 cents per gallon — to one of the highest rates in the nation — awould boost fees on every bus and rail passenger under a plan endorsed Tuesday by a commission createdthe General Assembly and Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). The taxes and fees would have Maryland househopaying hundreds of dollars more a year to prop up a transportation trust fund that is failing to keep pace wbillions in unfunded projects. The gas tax increase would be phased in, with five-cent increases in each of next three years, but costs for titling, registering and inspecting cars, as well as riding on bus and rail lines, couincrease all at once next summer. O’Malley has suggested he would support some hike in the gas tax, and already has asked lawmakers to begin debating the issue — a potentially defining one for the governor as star rises in the Democratic Party.http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/md-commission-proposes-15-cent-increase-in-gas-tax/2011/10/25/gIQArC29GM_story.html

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Oregon: Oregon banks on community health care (Stateline)Long before the national health law was enacted last year, a handful of states started work on their own heacare overhauls. M assachusetts became the first state to require health coverage for all; it was the model President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. This year, Vermont enacted a unique, state-based method of financhealth care. Oregon may soon become the next national model — for seeking to control costs and improve public’s health at the same time. Setting up so-called “coordinated care organizations” as the front door

patients, the state aims to abandon the impersonal and fragmented way most people receive health servictoday. In its place, the state hopes, will be community-based systems that resemble the way medicine wpracticed a century ago, when local doctors visited families in their living rooms. Governor John KitzhaberDemocrat and former emergency room physician, signed legislation in June to launch Oregon’s first-of-its-khealth plan. It was not the only time the governor had been involved in a health policy change that would be bgroundbreaking and controversial. In the 1980s, while he was state Senate president, and then during a first sas governor, Kitzhaber promoted a re-ordering of state health care spending that critics derided as “rationinBut a version of that system is still intact.http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=60 9379

OPINION

Editorial: Haslam spends quality time in Jackson school (Jackson Sun)We would like to thank Gov. Bill Haslam for making Jackson a stop on his tour of West Tennessee this week. Wespecially thank him for visiting South Side High School. W e're glad the governor made time on his visit to hasome frank conversation with school employees. Often, politicians make a sweep through town, perhaps makshort speech, pose for a photo and a re off to the next city. Haslam got some quality time at South Side in whhe could dig below the pleasantries. He is to be commended for that. Teachers, administrators and formadministrators weren't bashful about asking pointed questions of Haslam, particularly about the state's nteacher evaluation system. You may remem ber that the state legislature met in special session early this yeaadopt the evaluation system and make changes to tenure policies, among other things. Under the nevaluation system, tenured teachers are observed four times in their classrooms during the school yeTeachers who are in their first few years on the job are evaluated six times during the year. This representsmajor change. Prior to this, for instance, teachers in Jackson-Madison County were evaluated once a yeFormer South Side Principal J immy Arnold told Haslam that too much t ime is spent by teachers aadministrators on paperwork. More time should be spent on education, he said. Anita Tucker, the current SoSide principal, asked Haslam about improving the new evaluation system.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111027/OPINION01/110270323/Haslam-spends-quality-time-Jackson-school

Editorial: Public money, public schools (Commercial Appeal)Across Tennessee, the effort to shift public funds to private schools is being rightfully opposed. It seem s an otime to push legislation authorizing private school vouchers. Accountability and transparency are am ong the concerns these days regarding public education. Nevertheless, momentum is building for the bill, its sponsstate Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, has said. And public school districts across the state are gearing up a fight. This week the Memphis and Shelby County unified school board enlisted in the effort, passingresolution opposing Kelsey's bill. The legislation, which now calls for the tracking of voucher students' scoresstandardized tests, is an improvement on last year's bill, which passed in the Senate and was sent from tHouse for summ er study without a vote. Still, any voucher system, the Metro Nashville school board pointed

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in its resolution dealing with the issue, "eliminate(s) public accountability by channeling tax dollars into privaschools that do not face state-approved academic standards ... do not publicly report on student achievemeand do not face the public accountability requirements contained in major federal laws."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/27/editorials-public-money-public-schools/ 

Editorial: Prescription drug abuse needs more attention (Daily News Journal)Tennessee has a serious prescription drug problem that must be aggressively addressed by law enforceme

the health-care community, lawmakers and social services organizations. A raid last week by local, state afederal authorities on a South Church Street clinic highlights the growing scourge of prescription drugsparticularly painkillers — flowing in and out of this state illegally on a yearly basis. The raid here followed a twyear investigation in which authorities noticed a high number of out-of-state patients who frequented Total PSolutions of Murfreesboro, a local pain management clinic. But rather than being a legitimate clinic, polsuspect the operation is actually a "pill mill," a place where patients are prescribed large amounts of addictpainkillers illegally. No arrests were made, but authorities suspect the owner's name is Zachary Rose, whocurrently wanted on a federal indictment out of Jacksonville, Fla. Rose is the owner of several other pain clinin Florida, which has become well known as a haven for such "pill mills" and a pipeline for prescription drugsTennessee. Police are also looking into whether some local and out-of-state pharmacies conspired with ToPain Solutions in distributing pills associated with illegal prescriptions.http://www.dnj.com/article/20111027/OPINION01/110270319/Editorial-Prescription-drug-abuse-needs-more-attention

Editorial: Electronic voting system would make commission more efficient (NS)Knox County C ommission is considering the purchase of an electronic voting system to cut dow n on instanceswhat could be termed "herd voting." When the panel goes by a roll call vote, commissioners at the bottom of list can watch, count and then cast their votes based on how their colleagues are voting. It's a way of testing wind before voting. Comm issioner Tony Norman conceded such "shenanigans" go on, saying, "Some peocare if they're on the losing side and don't want to be seen supporting something that isn't going to pasCommissioners should vote based on their convictions, not on whether they will be perceived as winnerslosers. Investing in an electronic voting system that prevents herd voting would be a wise way of spendingsmall amount of taxpayer money. Last week a representative of Roll Call-Pro, a company that sells a portabwireless, computer-based voting system, gave a demonstration to commissioners at a work session. The systrequires officials to cast their votes without seeing the final tally, which appears on an overhead screen once votes are confirmed. The voting record is kept instantly, accurately and would be available to the puimmediately afterward.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/oct/27/editorial-electronic-voting-system-would-make/ 

Free-Press Editorial: Local Air National Guard troops return (Times Free-Press)We certainly appreciate the vital, patriotic service of all our m en and women in uniform -- especially of those wserve overseas, far from the comforts of hearth, home and family. And so it is with a happy "Welcome homthat we salute airmen of our Tennessee Air National Guard's 241st Engineering Installation Squadron as thhave come back from their deployment in areas of the Middle East and Southwest Asia. All of us shourecognize that our returning airmen have served at great personal sacrifice. Accordingly, we wish for them a jfilled homecom ing -- and a comfortable adjustment back into their welcome civilian lives.

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Editorial: The Wrong Fix for No Child Left Behind (New York Times)The revised No Child Left Behind Act that passed out of the Senate education committee last week goes too in relaxing state accountability and federal oversight of student achievement. The business community, crights groups and advocates of disabled children are rightly worried that the rewrite of the law would particulahurt underprivileged children. The bill’s main sponsors — Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat of Iowa, and SenaMike Enzi, a Republican of Wyom ing — should take the criticism to heart and go back to the drawing board. Toriginal No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 is far from perfect. The Obama administration recognized thatSeptember when it said that it would waive some of the law’s requirements for states that agree to severeforms, like creating new programs to overhaul the worst schools and comprehensive teacher evaluatsystems. The waiver plan would allow states to be rated on student growth on m ath and reading tests instead

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simply counting up the percentages of students who reach proficiency on those tests. It would also require stato set goals for all schools and plan for closing achievement gaps and end the pass-fail system under whhigh-performing schools are rated as needing improvement if one racial or economic subgroup fails to reach tachievement target.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/opinion/the-wrong-fix-for-no-child-left-behind.html?ref=to dayspaper

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