TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2011 TN Wins Gates Foundation-Funded Grant for Higher Ed (TN Report)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced that the state has been awarded $1 million to fuel policy innovations and reforms aimed at significantly increasing college completion. The grant is provided by Complete College America as part of its national Completion Innovation Challenge grant competition. A national non-profit organization focused solely on working with states to significantly boost college completion, Complete College America established the grant competition to inspire and enhance state efforts. Funding support for the grant program was provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is exciting news that complements our continued focus on improving education in Tennessee, Haslam said. On behalf of Tennesseans, we appreciate Complete College America and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for making this investment to support our efforts. Governors from all 50 states were invited to submit proposals to win one of ten $1 million, 18-month implementation grants for innovative, high-impact college completion initiatives designed to enhance student success and close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations. http://www.tnreport.com/2011/07/tn-wins-gates-foundation-funded-grant-for-higher-ed/

Tenn. among 10 states to get education grant (Associated Press)

Tennessee has been awarded a $1 million grant to fund innovative ways to improve the state's college completion rates. Gov. Bill Haslam joined other state education officials Monday in making the announcement that Tennessee is one of 10 states to receive a grant from Complete College America, a national nonprofit organization. Thirty-three states applied for the grant. Tennessee will use the funds to focus on three areas: help students determine the courses they need to earn their degree, develop tools for students and campuses to evaluate and award credit for prior learning and provide technical assistance to help institutions achieve their specific completion targets. The Republican governor says the grant, in addition to other education reforms the state has implemented or proposed, shows "Tennessee really is trying to push forward." http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37059909.story

More Tennessee undergrads may get a robo-nudge (Tennessean/Sisk)

Gov. Bill Haslams administration is hoping to expand a program that steers college students into classes they are likely to do well in as part of a new plan to boost graduation rates across the state. Haslam announced Monday that the state will use a $1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to extend an Austin Peay State University program that uses computer programs to predict students grades and help select their classes to three other campuses. Haslam said Tennessee also hopes to award college credit for professional experience and to set up organizations that will advise state colleges on ways to improve graduation rates. Reducing college's cost to Tennessee Everybody that goes to a public college is subsidized, Haslam said. Our responsibility is to help make certain people realize there is some urgency to complete. The award from Gatesaffiliated Complete College America is enough to pay for designing the programs, Haslam said. But to keep them going, additional funding will have to be found most likely in the state budget. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/NEWS04/307260019/More-Tennessee-undergrads-may-get-robonudge-boost-graduation-rates?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee will use grant to help college students graduate quicker (CA/Locker)
Students attending Tennessee's public colleges and universities can expect some nudging and some counseling to complete their degrees on time and stop dilly-dallying around campus for years. Gov. Bill Haslam accepted a $1 million grant Monday to help the state's public higher education institutions increase graduation rates and "reduce time to degree." Tennessee was one of 10 states selected by Complete College America to equally share a $10 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help public institutions guide and aid

students to reduce the time it takes to get their degrees. Thirty-three states applied. "Everybody that goes to a public college is subsidized. At some point in time, it becomes a question of how much should the taxpayers subsidize for people to explore while they're in college," Haslam said. Haslam said that graduation rates don't rise appreciably after six years on campus. "Our responsibility is to help make certain that people realize there is some urgency to complete, number one; and number two, that they see a path how to do that. A lot of students come to school and they know they want to major in something but they really don't have the foresight and planning to know what all is required to get to that end goal, and I think this program can help that." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jul/25/tennessee-will-use-grant-help-college-students-gra/

Grant Funds Computerized Advising Program for College Students (WPLN-Radio)

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving Tennessee a $1 million grant to help college students take the most efficient steps to a degree. The grant will fund a new computerized advising program. Governor Bill Haslam says the new program has been tested at Clarksvilles Austin Peay State University. The computer software looks at students transcripts and experience and suggests areas the student may be interested in and the courses to take to follow that path. Haslam says the program will help students complete their degrees in less time by helping them make better career decisions. What this million dollars will help us to do- two or three things- to simplify, itll make it easier for students to understand the pathway they need to their degree. Itll help colleges better prepare to make certain their course loads better match students demands and desires for completion. Because public college students are being subsidized by the taxpayer, the state government has an interest in seeing that degrees are completed on time, the governor says. http://wpln.org/?p=29098

APSU's 'Netflix Effect' program helps state win $1M (Leaf Chronicle)
Grant will go to degree-completion initiatives Austin Peay State University will be the key leader in Tennessee to help other colleges and universities with a nationwide challenge to bolster degree completion in higher education with the help of a $1 million Completion Innovation Challenge grant. The grant, announced Monday afternoon by Gov. Bill Haslam, is provided by Complete College America as part of its national Completion Innovation Challenge grant competition. In July 2010, the National Governors Association adopted Complete College America's metrics as part of its Complete to Compete initiative. All 50 states competed for $1 million grants to fuel reform in college completion, according to a news release Monday from APSU. Haslam said Tennessee is one of 10 states to receive the $1 million, 18-month implementation grant funded by Complete College America with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Grants were awarded to states that produced the best plans to develop and deploy innovative, statewide strategies designed to increase college completion. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110726/NEWS01/107260350/APSU-s-Netflix-Effect-program-helpsstate-win-1M

Sales Tax Holiday for Tennesseans set for Aug. 5-7 (Memphis Business Journal)
Tennesseans can shop without paying nearly 10 percent in sales tax Aug. 5-7 during the states sixth annual Sales Tax Holiday. Designed for back-to-school shopping, consumers can also purchase clothes, art supplies, computers and other items. Neither state nor local sales tax will be charged on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less, according to the Department of Revenue. The sale runs from 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 5 to 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 7. The initiative was approved by the Tennessee Legislature. The annual Sales Tax Holiday was designed with Tennessee families in mind, providing savings for families, especially as students begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, Gov. Bill Haslam said in a statement. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/07/25/sales-tax-holiday-for-tennesseans-set.html

Tennessee's back-to-school tax holiday starts Aug. 5 (Tennessean/Haas)

Tennessees sixth annual tax-free holiday will run Aug. 5-7, allowing the tax-free purchase of clothes, school and art supplies and computers. The holiday will allow shoppers to save about 10 percent on most clothes, school and art supplies costing less than $100 per item, and computers costing $1,500 or less. It begins at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 5 and ends 11:59 p.m. Aug. 7. Not all clothing and supplies are eligible for the tax break. Ineligible items include ski masks, bridal apparel, brief cases, computer software, makeup, purses, jewelry and electronic book readers. For more information, including a comprehensive list of eligible items, visit tntaxholiday.com. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/NEWS04/307260004/Tennessee-s-back-school-tax-holiday-startsAug-5?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p 2

Tax-free Tennessee shopping holiday Aug. 5-7 (Leaf Chronicle)

Includes supplies, clothes, computers A new school season will be ushered in soon by one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year. State and local governments across Tennessee will look the other way Aug. 5-7 when you buy things like computers and back-to-school supplies. There will be no sales tax charged on those select purchases, meaning, for those buying in Montgomery County, a savings of 9.5 percent. The first weekend in August will mark the sixth annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday. Rapidly, it's become a weekend that almost rivals the retail intensity of the weekend after Thanksgiving. There will be tax-free clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases. Target store manager Bonnie Stallons said her Governor's Square Mall store is at the ready: "We have all of our back-to-school items out on the sales floor," she said. In prepared comments, Gov. Bill Haslam calls the Sales Tax Holiday an event designed with Tennessee families in mind. "It provides savings for families, especially as students begin to prepare for the upcoming school year," Haslam said. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110726/NEWS01/107260356/Tax-free-Tennessee-shopping-holidayAug-5-7

Sales tax holiday set for Aug. 5-7 (Jackson Sun)

It's nearly time to keep your sales taxes. The state's sixth annual sales tax holiday is scheduled for Aug. 5-7. Shoppers in Madison County will save 9.75 percent in sales taxes normally paid on items such as jeans, backpacks, computers and other items that qualify for the exemption in August. Seven percent of that tax would go to the state, while 2.75 percent would go to local governments. Those governments do not lose the money shoppers save because the state sends them the equivalent of what they would have earned from exempt sales items that weekend. "The holiday begins Friday, Aug. 5, at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, Aug. 7, at 11:59 p.m.," according to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. "During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less." http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110726/BUSINESS/107260307/Sales-tax-holiday-set-Aug-5-7? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

Shoppers: Prepare for Sales Tax Holiday (WRCB-TV Chattanooga)

Stores and shoppers are preparing for the annual Tennessee Sales Tax Holiday. The Sales Tax Holiday is a three-day statewide waiver on the nearly 10% state sales tax for school-related products such as clothes, supplies and computers. This year's sales tax holiday is scheduled for August 5-7. "The annual Sales Tax Holiday was designed with Tennessee families in mind, providing savings for families, especially as students begin to prepare for the upcoming school year," Gov. Bill Haslam said. The holiday begins Friday, August 5 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Sunday, August 7 at 11:59 p.m. During the designated three-day weekend, consumers will not pay state or local sales tax on select clothing with a price of $100 or less per item, school and art supplies with a price of $100 or less per item, and computers with a price of $1,500 or less. "As in years past, last year's tax-free weekend was very successful, providing Tennessee taxpayers nearly $8.6 million in tax savings" said Revenue Commissioner Richard H. Roberts. "We are hopeful that all Tennessee shoppers will take advantage of the tax relief provided by the 2011 Sales Tax Holiday." http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/15142183/shoppersprepare-for-sales-tax-holiday

Governor says debt negotiations a 'game of chicken' (City Paper/Woods)

Gov. Bill Haslam called the U.S. debt negotiations an incredibly serious game of chicken Monday and urged Washington to reach an agreement for the economic health of the country. W e have a country thats literally waiting to see what will happen, Haslam told reporters. Until Washington shows that we can live within our means and come to a political agreement about how to solve that, youre not going to see banks willing to loan money, youre not going to see people willing to invest their own capital, and so we wont have any job growth until that happens. Moodys Investors Services told Tennessee and four other states last week that they face downgrades in their AAA credit ratings because of their heavy dependence on federal revenue. Should the U.S. governments rating be downgraded to Aa1 or lower, these five states ratings would likely be downgraded as well, the bond-rating agency said. Haslam said: Its an incredibly serious game of chicken that were playing in Washington, quite frankly. If you talk to any governor, they would say, we really need you to solve this for the economic health of the country, No. 1. No. 2, for us as states I mean, youve seen where some of the credit ratings agencies have said, the fact that they dont have a deal puts Tennessees credit rating in peril. That speaks volumes. 3

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/governor-says-debt-negotiations-game-chicken

Tennessee Officials Warn of Federal Default Ripples (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessees top finance official says he is encouraged that most lawmakers in Washington are now saying the country must avoid default. But Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes says a hiccup in the flow of federal funding would require immediate state budget reductions. Its far-reaching, whether its things like TennCare, for example. I mean if you reach a point where youre not receiving money, then cuts are gonna have to be made. Governor Bill Haslam calls the debt negotiations an incredibly serious game of chicken. I think if you talked to any governor they would say, we really need you to solve this for the economic health of the country, Number one. Number two, for us as states, youve seen where some of the credit rating agencies have said, the fact that they dont have a deal puts Tennessees credit rating in peril. That speaks volumes. http://wpln.org/?p=29107

State Jobs Initiative for At-Risk Youth Recognized (Associated Press)

Tennessee's Jobs for Tennessee Graduates initiative has been recognized for exceeding five goals of its parent organization. The initiative is a partnership between the state Department of Education and Labor and Workforce Development. Its parent group is Jobs for America's Graduates. The state program earned the Five of Five Award for graduation rate, full time placement rate, positive outcome rate, full time job placement rate and employment rate. The initiative is designed to assist at-risk youth in graduating from high school and finding and keeping quality jobs. Students receive classroom instruction and community orientation to make them more employable. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/jul/26/state-jobs-initiative-for-at-risk-youth-recognized/

State Approves New Williamson County Campus for Columbia State (W PLNRadio)
State officials have approved a $6 million deal to purchase a new campus for Columbia State Community College near Cool Springs. The State Building Commission signed off Monday. Columbia State has about 1,500 students in Williamson County, a number that has been growing over the past several years. School president Janet Smith says the building approval caps 30 years of growth. So today allows us to put an option on a piece of property, so that we can put a sign in the ground that says, Future Home of And that is a great day for the citizens of Williamson County and for Columbia State Community College. The schools Williamson County branch already has an emphasis on film and entertainment. Smith says she hopes to add other specialties that could benefit companies with headquarters nearby. We are working hard with the city and the county as well to offer more in the health care area. We have nursing and EMT there, but were looking to health information services and many other health care programs. http://wpln.org/?p=29090

Upper Cumberland Waterfall Becomes State Natural Area (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Cummins Falls in Jackson County will become a state natural area. The State Building Commission approved the purchase Monday. The natural waterfall north of Cookeville had been held by private owners until last year. Then conservation groups scrambled to find funding. The states half a million dollars is the final piece of a $1.4 million transaction. State Comptroller Justin Wilson is a members of the State Building Commission. Hes also a former commissioner of environment and a fan of the waterfalls. Im very familiar with the area. Its a beautiful place, its a beautiful falls. As a natural area, Cummins Falls will be maintained in a primitive state, without the usual development to be opened as a park. Kathleen W illiams of the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation says there are plans for two rangers to be assigned to the area. http://wpln.org/?p=29092

State Looking to Ease Pain of DMV Visit (TN Report)

Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons said hes re-examining how often Tennesseans should be required to subject themselves to the anguish and aggravation of visiting a state motor vehicle office. In fact, Gibbons, whose office oversees drivers license facilities, said hes even trying to figure out ways to ease the misery of what often seems a nearly intolerable, inescapable encounter with the bureaucratic machinations of state government. Gibbons and his staff are currently engaged in a top-to-bottom review of drivers license examination processes and renewal centers with an eye toward transforming them into customer-friendly hubs that get people in and out before they noticeably age or descend irreversibly into madness. The average wait time across the state is 55 minutes, says Gibbons, but that doesnt even count the hours it takes to stand in lines 4

that sometimes wrap outside the building and leave people in the sweltering heat for hours before reaching the first kiosk to take a number. http://www.tnreport.com/2011/07/state-looking-to-ease-pain-of-dmv-visit/

Nashvilles inventive approaches to prison education reducing recidivism (CP/Nix)

Growing up, Anthony Davis was always told he wouldnt amount to anything. So when he only made it as far as the ninth grade before turning to drugs and crime, the justification in his own mind was already there. Davis, who is 26, has been incarcerated for a little more than three years now. He was convicted of burglary, theft, vandalism and statutory rape. In prison, he doubted himself, his childhood memories gushing back. Davis didnt think he was smart enough to earn his GED. On the streets and at other prisons, his drug habits kept his brain in a fog. But entering a sex offender program in January 2010 at Lois DeBerry Special Needs Facility helped Davis get clean, clear his thinking and provide a spark to want to do better by going back to school. He volunteered for Tennessee Department of Correction adult educational classes about a year and a half ago. Now at the Charles Bass Correctional Complex, Davis is one week away from getting his GED, the same day hell graduate from the sex offender program. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/nashville-s-inventive-approaches-prison-education-reducingrecidivism-changing-ste

Demolition begins this week at UT's Sutherland Ave. apartments (N-S/Boehnke)

Bulldozers this week begin tearing down more than 60 vacant apartment buildings along Sutherland Avenue to make way for new University of Tennessee intramural fields. The demolition comes more than month after parents at the Early Learning Center located at the site complained that the work was beginning before the preschool moved to its new location. University administrators, who insisted the demolition would not have started before the day care moved, ironed out the kinks in the schedule. The learning center moved out early last week, and buildings will likely begin coming down Wednesday, officials said. In the meantime, crews have been stripping the buildings of any salvageable materials, said Ken Stoner, associate vice chancellor for student affairs. "They've been going through and pulling recyclables out, stripping copper wiring and metal and other things out of there that they can reclaim cable wire, telephone wire, piping metals," Stoner said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/25/demolition-begins-this-week-at-uts-sutherland/

Arkansas, Tennessee have Lethal Injection Drug Taken by the DEA (W PLN-Radio)
With an execution coming up in about two months, Tennessee may need to change its cocktail of lethal drugs. Tennessees supply of the sedative sodium thiopental was taken by the DEA in March. Arkansas joined the list of states to have the drug seized last week. After the drugs only US manufacturer stopped production, Tennessee bought its supply through a vendor who obtained it from overseas. The DEA seized the foreign-made drug because of improper import procedure. Several states including Georgia that have had the drug taken have used a different sedative called pentobarbital for executions. Dorinda Carter from the Tennessee Department of Corrections says they havent made a decision about using an alternate drug yet. We understand that the supplier of that drug has stopped manufacturing it, so at this moment the commissioner has been following developments and is reviewing what our next step will be. But, no decision has been made. http://wpln.org/? p=29072

Burkhart appeal denied in suit vs. City of Clarksville (Leaf Chronicle)

The Tennessee Supreme Court has denied an appeal from City Councilman Jeff Burkhart, a former Clarksville firefighter who tried to sue the city for wrongful termination. The decision, filed July 15 according to court documents, ends a four-year legal battle between the city and Burkhart, who twice tried unsuccessfully to appeal Chancery Court Judge Larry McMillan's dismissal of the case in November 2009. Burkhart filed the lawsuit in November 2007 after he was fired by then-Mayor Johnny Piper for insubordination earlier that year. He had refused an employee transfer to the Building and Codes Department, where he was to become the building and maintenance supervisor. Burkhart, a supporter of Piper's campaign rival Don Trotter, said the transfer and subsequent firing were politically motivated. In dismissing the case, Judge McMillan wrote that a "reasonable mind" might accept that Burkhart's refusal to be transferred constituted insubordination under the city code. When Burkhart appealed the dismissal to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Appellate Judge Richard H. Dinkins affirmed that same reasoning, noting that Piper's decision to fire Burkhart was not "arbitrary and capricious" 5

under state law. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110726/NEWS01/107260351/Burkhart-appeal-denied-suit-vs-CityClarksville

Memphis a model for punishing sex traffickers (Associated Press)

Law enforcement officials say Memphis is becoming a national model for maximizing prison time for convicted sex traffickers. Edward Stanton, the U.S. Attorney for West Tennessee, created a Civil Rights Unit that includes human trafficking in February. Three prosecutors are assigned to the unit, which aggressively targets traffickers, The Commercial Appeal reported. Traffickers often target poor girls and women, or those who were sexually abused, runaways, or minors in the foster-care system. They advertise on the Internet and take the women to truck stops and major sporting events. "Human trafficking is nothing more than modern-day slavery. The victims often are some of our most vulnerable," Stanton said. "There's no question it's a priority for this district and this office." Prosecutor Steve Parker heads Memphis' Civil Rights Unit. He has been selected to train agents on how to spot and investigate human trafficking at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. He and local FBI Special Agent Tracey Harris also have trained prosecutors and police in Guam and Saipan. The FBI, Memphis police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided six Memphis brothels in a single day in October 2006. The raid netted Juan Mendez and several others who have been sent to federal prison for trafficking. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37057895.story

New Tennessee Insurance Law a Jobs Bill? (TN Report)

Around 200 jobs may already be in the pipeline under a new state law that puts corporations in control of their insurance, and even the architect behind the law is surprised by the level of interest from major companies in the state. Tennessee Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Julie McPeak is the key figure in the captive insurance law that was part of a limited legislative agenda of Gov. Bill Haslam, who is quick to give credit to McPeak on the initiative. Captive insurance is an approach that allows an existing company to form its own insurance subsidiary, designed especially for that companys needs, instead of attempting to shop for insurance from the conventional commercial market. Variations on the basic concept, frequently called simply a captive, have evolved. Once a company or association forms a captive, it does not have the authority to compete with others in the marketplace. It serves only its own insurance purpose. http://www.tnreport.com/2011/07/newinsurance-law-a-jobs-bill/

Change in travel pay for Tennessee House members (Associated Press)

Tennessee's House speaker has tightened the purse strings on out-of-state travel by state representatives. Before Beth Harwell's policy change, House members were allowed to take one out-of-state trip per year with taxpayers covering transportation plus hotel costs and an expense allowance of $176 per day. They were also allowed to make more trips and bill the state only for daily, or "per diem," expenses. The policy started in May makes the one-trip-per-year rule also apply to per diem payments. Harwell said members can still charge their travel expenses to their campaign accounts instead of charging taxpayers. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that records for 2010 indicate at least 16 representatives collected per diem payments for more than one out-ofstate trip. Two House members from Memphis, Democratic Reps. Lois DeBerry and Karen Camper, had already made two out-of-state trips and received per diem payments this year before Harwell changed the policy. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37056849.story

Ramsey: Legislators won't back down from oversight role (Times-News)

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says lawmakers wont back down from their oversight of state regulatory boards despite a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe into whether two area lawmakers were too heavyhanded with one of those boards. I think were looking at them as a whole. Even the governor (Bill Haslam) has taken this on as a charge to look at these regulatory boards, Ramsey, R-Blountville, said Monday. The Tennessee Board of Nursing stripped three Northeast Tennessee nurses of their licenses in March 2010 but reinstated those licenses last May after GOP state Reps. Tony Shipley of Kingsport and Dale Ford of Jonesborough lobbied for them through the Department of Health. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9034233/ramsey-legislators-won39t-back-down-from-oversight-role

Ex-senator's wife Sue Atchley to become interim state senator (N-S/Donilia)

Following in her husband's footsteps, Sue Atchley is the new 6th District state senator. Knox County Commission 6

in a close vote this afternoon selected Atchley, a Republican and the wife of a longtime member of the Tennessee General Assembly, to serve as interim successor to state Sen. Jamie W oodson. "It's an honor and truly a privilege," said Atchley, 77. "It's a caretaker's job and to me that means helping the constituency. You wouldn't believe the hours you spend on the phone. I didn't realize there are that many people who needed help, and it's very rewarding to be able to help them." Atchley will replace Woodson, who effectively resigned from her 6th Senate District spot to become president and CEO of State Collaborative on Reforming Education, or SCORE. State law required the commission to choose a temporary successor to serve until a special election is scheduled by the governor. It's anticipated to coincide with Knoxville city elections Sept. 27 and Nov. 8. Five candidates applied for the position and commissioners held public interviews last week. Commissioners in a 6-4 vote picked Atchley. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/25/ex-senators-wife-sue-atchley-to-becomeinterim/

Group threatens suit over Amazon.com Press/Sher)

taxes (Chattanooga Times Free-

An attorney for an association representing some of America's biggest retailers says the group may file suit if state officials don't require Amazon to collect sales taxes when the company begins using two Tennessee-based distribution centers now under construction. "Do my clients have standing to bring an action in court? In my opinion we do," said Bill Hubbard, a Nashville-based attorney for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which includes Wal-Mart, AutoZone and other major retailers battling Amazon on Internet tax-collection issues nationwide. "And yes," said Hubbard, "I think the court is a potential remedy for my client." A 1992 U.S. Supreme Court opinion says states cannot compel out-of-state retailers to collect sales taxes unless the retailers has sufficient physical presence in the state. In a legal advisory opinion issued June 28, Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper said an out-of-state retailer's use of in-state distribution centers would support a finding of physical presence -- or "nexus" in legal terms -- if its activities are "significantly associated" with the retailer's ability to establish a market for the sales. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/group-threatens-suit-overamazon-taxes/?local

Cleveland rejects Bradley County offer to settle sales tax dispute (TFP/Higgins)
The city turned down an offer from Bradley County on Monday of an $850,000 settlement in the sales tax dispute between the two. Instead, the City Council adopted a resolution saying the city interprets a Chancery Court ruling to mean the city is due $2.27 million from the county. The council's resolution traces the history of the dispute to a city-county workshop on Oct. 21, 2008, that included discussions of the need for money for capital projects and of asking voters to approve a local half-percent sales tax increase. The council voted to seek the referendum, which city voters approved March 10, 2009. The County Commission initially voted against a referendum but changed course after the city vote and held its own referendum on May 14, 2009. The county referendum did not restrict the revenue to capital projects, which was spelled out on the city ballot. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/cleveland-rejects-bradley-tax-offer/?local

Cookeville: As Walkable As Tennessee Gets (W PLN-Radio Nashville)

Its probably no surprise that Tennessees cities didnt fare well on a national walkability index released last week. W hat might be less expected is which community got the states highest score. The website walkscore.com looked at how close residential areas are to amenities like stores or libraries and assigned a point value. Cookeville scored a 40 on a 100-point scale. While thats far less than highly walkable cities like New York or San Fransisco, its right at the national average. Its also higher than the scores for Memphis, Nashville and every other place in Tennessee but Knoxville. The site deemed that 10 percent of the Cookevillie-the area around downtown and the Tennessee Tech campus-is somewhat walkable, meaning a person who lives there can perform some errands on foot. Brentwood, Spring Hill, and LaVergne drew the fewest points. All of their scores were in the teens. http://wpln.org/?p=29076

Downgrade Threat Looms (Wall Street Journal)

Financial markets on Monday began taking seriously the prospect of a downgrade of the U.S.'s triple-A credit rating, which it has held for nearly a century. The new worries came as Republicans and Democrats moved even further apart, pushing separate plans for reducing the nation's deficit and raising its borrowing limit. President Barack Obama warned in a televised prime-time speech that with no clear resolution in sight in Congress, the 7

U.S. government is on the brink of a default that could deeply damage the economy. "For the first time in history, our country's triple-A credit rating would be downgraded, leaving investors around the world to wonder whether the United States is still a good bet," he said. House Republican Speaker John Boehner responded to the speech by reasserting his plan to avoid default, saying the president's approach was essentially a "we spend more, you pay more" philosophy. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903999904576468553582790160.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0 (SUBSCRIPTION)

More than 4,300 applicants for 60 solar plant jobs (Associated Press)
A new solar plant in southeastern Tennessee received more than 4,300 applications for its first 60 jobs. Wacker (VAHK'-er) Chemical Corp. spokesman Bill Toth said Monday that applicants who were not picked for the first jobs will be considered as hiring continues. The $1.5 billion plant to be finished in 2013 in Bradley County will make polysilicon for the solar-panel industry. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that a Wacker executive said at the first day of orientation for the new hires that up to 700 jobs may be created. The trainees for lead chemical operator jobs will spend six months training at Chattanooga State Community College and another six in Germany. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37058963.story

Wacker CEO says plant may open ahead of schedule (Times Free-Press/Pare)
Wacker Chemical's chief executive said Monday the company's solar plant near Charleston, Tenn., could turn out bigger and come on line faster than originally planned. Wacker CEO Ingomar Kovar told the first 60 or so employees hired by the company that the factory may bring on a total of 700 employees, up from 650 announced earlier. "In the next 12 to 18 months, we could be up to 700," he said at Chattanooga State Community College, where the group began its initial day of training. Kovar also said the German firm's investment could exceed $1.5 billion. "At the end, it might be more," he said. In addition, the factory may be finished in the third quarter of 2013, a few months earlier than first planned, Kovar told the new employees. Additionally, Kovar said there is an opportunity of a future expansion at the Bradley plant, through Wacker's board hasn't approved one. "It's depending on the market," the CEO said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/c1-school-in-session-wacker-ceo-says-plantmay/?business

Drop in Surgeries Throws Off HCA Earnings (W PLN-Radio Nashville)

Nashville-based HCA expects smaller profits this year than initially predicted after a disappointing second quarter. CEO Richard Bracken talked to investors and analysts about the performance Monday. We believe that this was primarily due to a shift in service mix that is from more complex cases, significantly surgical cases, to less acute medical cases. HCAs roughly 165 hospitals and more than 100 surgery centers are seeing more patients than last year, but fewer of them are having complicated surgeries, which are often more profitable. Profits for the second quarter were roughly $50 million less than the same period last year. HCA has now revised down its forecast and expects earnings to increase only three to five percent this year. Now HCA is looking for opportunities to do more procedures, and not just those that make the most http://wpln.org/?p=29087 money.

Fire department to reduce medical runs in Cleveland, Tenn. (TFP/Higgins)

Beginning Sept. 1, the Cleveland Fire Department will scale back on the emergency medical calls it answers. The department will not "stop providing medical runs," said City Manager Janice Casteel, but it will cut back on some, allowing other responders such as paramedics to handle them. The move will take some wear and tear off the city fire vehicles, Casteel said. "Many times the scene is crowded because we have ambulances there, firetrucks there and police cars there," she said. Most city firefighters are trained as medical first responders, and, several years ago, the fire department began responding to trauma medical emergencies along with the Bradley County Emergency Medical Service. County ambulances and emergency medical crews are stationed at some city fire halls. None of that service will change, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Haun said. Over time, Haun said, the department's protocol expanded to more types of medical situations. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/b3-fire-department-to-reduce-medical-runs-in/?local

5 TEAM Centers workers facing layoffs get new jobs (Times Free-Press/Carroll)
A local special-needs pediatric therapy hub has hired five senior employees from TEAM Centers Inc., the statesubsidized mental health facility that's closing its key clinical program next month. "We wanted to decrease the 8

hysteria and anxiety," said Melody Gaston, an occupational therapist and owner of the Center for Pediatric Therapy. "We hope this calms some people down." Gaston said the new hires reached out to the Center for Pediatric Therapy last week after TEAM did not receive a $774,000 state grant it had gotten for years, prompting TEAM's interim executive director, Peter Charman, to announce 22 layoffs. The grant was eliminated as a result of state lawmakers' budget cuts. But records show that state officials offered a $193,000 grant to allow TEAM to extend paychecks, diagnoses and clinical care through the end of September, giving the agency extra time to seek alternative revenue sources. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/5-team-centers-workers-facing-layoffs-get-new-jobs/?local

Tennessee 42nd in 5-year job growth (Memphis Business Journal)

A new analysis of federal data shows not many states lost more jobs in the last five years than Tennessee. According to On Numbers, a Memphis Business Journal affiliate, Tennessee has lost 170,600 jobs since 2006, the 42nd worst state performance. Texas was the big winner in On Numbers midyear analysis of employment trends, adding 537,500 non-farm jobs between June 2006 and June 2011, based on the latest seasonally adjusted figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Louisiana saw the second-biggest increase by any state during the five years, gaining 55,900 non-farm jobs. North Dakota was third with a raw increase of 41,700. On Numbers used BLS data to calculate raw and percentage changes in employment between the midpoints of 2006 and 2011. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/07/25/tennessee-42nd-in-5-year-job-growth.html

Nashville school calendar dates in flux (Tennessean/Haas)

Plans to extend Metro Schools 2012-13 school year starting it on July 25 were met with skepticism Monday night at a meeting to get parents opinions. About 60 people joined a public discussion at Martin Professional Development Center. Director of Schools Jesse Registers position is to cut two weeks from the summer break and adopt a balanced calendar, where the time spent in class before winter break matches the time spent after the break. Register acknowledged that the calendar would work only if there is widespread agreement. I also say at the same time, it will not work unless theres a good consensus, Register said. This has to be an agreement among teachers and principals and parents and the community that this is something thats going to work. The school system has already added five days as well as 30 minutes per day to the upcoming school year, which will begin Aug. 11 and end May 24. The change being discussed would push the 2012-13 school year up to 180 full days, with breaks spread evenly throughout, instead of a long stretch of uninterrupted school toward the end of the school year. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/NEWS04/307260038/Nashville-school-calendar-dates-flux? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Public Meeting Will Discuss Possible School Calendar Changes (WPLN-Radio)

Options for next years Metro schools calendar are up for discussion at a public meeting Monday evening. Two of the four schedules being considered would push the districts 2012 start date up, one as early as July. The socalled balanced calendars allow for longer breaks in the fall and spring while shrinking the length of summer vacation. The idea is to make it less likely that students will forget what theyve learned over the summer. It also allows the district to offer extra help to struggling students during the mid-year vacations. A past attempt to adopt that kind of schedule in Metro drew complaints that it would create difficulties with lining up childcare during spring and fall breaks. It was also opposed by the unions representing school workers. Just this spring, the state legislature attempted to pass a measure that would have banned such an early start to the academic year. It would have set the fourth Monday in August as the first date when classes can begin. The House and Senate both passed versions the bill, but they never reached agreement on exactly what to send to the governors desk. http://wpln.org/?p=29078

Charter School Official: Open Enrollment Shifts Focus (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessee has received its first application for a charter school thats not in the big cities. Previously charter schools have only been in the urban areas of Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga. The application marks a shift in more than one way. Matt Throckmorton is the executive director of the Tennessee Charter School Association. He says a new law passed by the state legislature this year changes the states original intent to serve only inner city kids. But now that we have open enrollment its really a policy acknowledgement that they want to have suburbanwell, charter schools outside the inner city. A group in Blount County in East Tennessee has applied to set up a charter school with a STEM focus, stressing science, technology, engineering and math. With Blount County, its clearly a suburban school, but a lot of the students that they draw from 9

would probably be classified as rural students. So itll be pretty neat. Its an elementary school that will grow eventually into a K through eight. http://wpln.org/?p=29068

Audit reveals (CA/Roberts)

grading

problems,

schedule

snafus

at

Ridgeway

Middle

An audit of Ridgeway Middle School released Monday shows widespread instances of teachers giving every student the same grade last fall after months of class-scheduling problems. The 30-page document focuses on massive scheduling issues, which created problems with the way attendance was reported. Without accurate class rosters and class schedules that changed several times before the first report cards were issued, teachers found it impossible to keep up with who was supposed to be in their classes. Some students did not have normal schedules until Christmas. When eight teachers were let go in late September after students were sent to other schools to alleviate crowding, their classes were given to other teachers who sometimes didn't have access to the grade books. Two teachers told auditors they were directed by an assistant principal "to give students they had taught only a few days an 85 in regular classes and a 93 in honor classes," the audit says. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jul/25/audit-reveals-grading-problems-scheduling-snafus-r/

Grading Controversy at Ridgeway Middle School (WREG-TV Memphis)

An audit of Ridgeway Middle School released on Monday reveals problems in the grading, attendance records, and school equipment management during the fall of 2010. Most notably, during the first grading period of the school year, many students received the exact same grade. For example, entire science classes received scores of 100, or entire language arts classes received 85s. In these cases, participation made up most or all of the grading criteria, even though Memphis City Schools grading policy allows for participation to make up only 20 percent of a grade. The audit states this was a result of eight teachers being laid off just two weeks before grades were due. Students were therefore moved to new classes where they had no existing grades. Those teachers apparently did not have access to grade books containing the students existing scores. But the reason for the uniformity of grades is unclear. One section of the audit reads, Two teachers stated that one of the schools assistant principals told them to give students they had taught only a few days an 85 in regular classes and a 93 in honors classes. http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-grading-controversy-at-ridgeway-middle-school-20110725,0,328839.story? track=rss

Grading and Attendance Problems at Ridgeway Middle School (W PTY-TV Memphis)

After months of delay, Memphis City Schools released an internal audit that uncovered widespread grading and attendance problems at Ridgeway Middle School. The audit released on Monday, July 25, 2011, raises serious questions about who was in control at the school last fall. According to the audit, the problems started when several teachers were surplused in September, reassigned to other schools. The audit found when those teachers left, they took their gradebooks with them. When the Ridgeway students were assigned to new teachers, with no gradebooks to use as a reference, those teachers had little to go on in evaluating the students besides class participation. "Teacher statements indicate the administration instructed them not to give students incompletes or fail the students." the audit states. The audit also says teachers asked during a faculty meeting if they could give incompletes, and a note be sent home to parents addressing the situation. http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Grading-and-Attendance-Problems-at-Ridgeway/0WTthietyEOjVqkpX0eTA.cspx?rss=59

MCS Board Sets Tuesday Meeting On City Funding Standoff (Memphis Daily News)
Memphis City Schools board members meet in special session Tuesday, July 26, at 7:15 p.m. to take up the offer by the city of Memphis to pay $64.8 million in installments to the school system. The payment plan would defuse a threat by the board to delay the Aug. 8 start of the school year until MCS was paid one of several dollars amounts the school system says it is due. If the board accepts the payment plan it would rescind its resolution demanding the full amount of city funding before the school year could begin. The meeting of the school board was to be held Friday. But it was postponed as MCS attorneys reviewed the citys proposal worked out over two days after the board passed and sent its ultimatum to City Hall. The threat suddenly catapulted the 10

three year long funding dispute between MCS and the city to the top of the local political agenda. The dispute began in April 2008 when the Memphis City Council cut city funding to the MCS. The installment plan to be considered by the school board Tuesday evening begins with a $15 million payment from the city by Aug. 15. There is a formula for the other payments that are based on when the city has passed on tax revenue to the school system in past fiscal years. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/jul/26/mcs-board-sets-tuesday-meeting-on-city-funding-standoff/

School Board Schedules Special Meeting for Tuesday Night (WHBQ-TV Memphis)
The Memphis School Board has scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday night at 7:15. At issue is a funding plan from City Hall and whether schools will open on time on August 8. Last week, the School Board voted to delay the start of school indefinitely, until the City paid $55 million that MCS says theyre owed. They said there wasn't enough money to operate city schools past this coming October. Last week, Memphis Mayor AC Wharton and Board President Martavius Jones came up with a compromise. The deal would send $15 million to MCS by next month, and the rest would come in monthly installments. http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/school-board-schedules-special-meeting-for-tuesday-night-mfo20110725

Heat tough on livestock; farmers inventive (Associated Press)

Hot weather is affecting not only people but livestock as well. In Loudon County, farmer Gage Goddard says his farm lost a lamb recently because a fan broke down. Several others became dehydrated, but survived. Some farmers are feeding their stock an electrolyte formula, much like a sports drink, to keep them hydrated, according to WBIR-TV in Knoxville. Producers are also shearing sheep early to help keep them cooler. Dairy farmer Steve Harrison is sprinkling his cattle with water every 12 minutes to cool them. Harrison says it pays off because heatstressed cows produce less milk. Farmers also are trying not to move their animals until evening or early in the day to keep them from getting too hot. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37057093.story

OPINION Times Editorial: Holiday on sales taxes in Tennessee (Times Free-Press)

There's help at hand for consumers looking for a way to stretch already tight household budgets to cover the cost of many items youngsters need at the beginning of the school year. Tennessee's sixth annual sales tax holiday is scheduled Aug. 5-7. There are rules governing the holiday, but they are straight forward. The holiday begins Aug. 5 at midnight and ends Aug. 7 at 11:59 p.m. During the reprieve, consumers are not assessed state or local sales tax on tax-free clothing, school and art supplies and computer purchases. The savings can be considerable, especially for families who must outfit several children for school or those who want to purchase a computer Tennessee, however, is willing to forego what is, after all, a relatively modest amount of money -consumers saved close to $9 million last year -- in the state budget. It's a move that serves both the public and politicians. The former save money. The latter can claim, in truth, that they've done something positive. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/26/holiday-on-taxes-in-tennessee/?opiniontimes

Editorial: Virtual Academy is a welcome innovation for state's students (N-S)

Tennessee has been in the online education world for some time, but the new Tennessee Virtual Academy based in Union County promises to kick the process up a couple of notches. Indeed, it might well figure into serious education reform. The academy will open next month and serve students from across the state in kindergarten through the eighth grade. The academy will use the curriculum of K12 Inc., a provider of online school programs claiming to have enrolled about 70,000 students in 21 states. The law creating the virtual academy in Tennessee was approved in the recent session of the General Assembly. State Rep. Harry Brooks, a Knoxville Republican, sponsored the measure. Brooks, former chairman of the House Education Committee whose district borders Union County, said his interest in virtual education dates to when he was a member of the Knox County Board of Education. At that time, he studied plans to provide a program of virtual education for the county's juvenile detention facility. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jul/25/virtual-academy-is-a-welcome-innovation-for/

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Editorial: The quest for clean energy (Commercial Appeal)

The West Tennessee Solar Farm puts this area on the battle front in developing a sustainable source of clean energy. Traveling along Interstate 40 between the Stanton and Stanton-Dancyville exits, motorists can see Tennessee's latest foray in the effort to develop a sustainable alternate energy infrastructure. Visible on the north side of the interstate is a matrix of racks to support the solar panels that will become the West Tennessee Solar Farm. The farm is another incremental step in the state, nation and world's quest to develop an abundant, reliable and, hopefully one day, affordable source of renewable green energy. The $31 million project is funded by a U.S. Department of Energy grant. It will be the largest utility-scale solar installation in the state and one of the biggest in the Southeast. When fully operational, it will produce enough clean, renewable power for more than 1,000 homes. We call the solar farm another incremental step because, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration, it costs twice as much to build and operate a solar generating facility as it does to build and operate a conventional coal plant. In the same vein, electric cars are being produced for a mass market. At a starting price ranging from $27,700 to $32,700 and with a lack of infrastructure to support recharging the cars' batteries, the electric cars are either too expensive or impractical for many consumers. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jul/26/editorial-the-quest-for-clean-energy/

Sam Stockard: TN Dems, GOP trade places on sales tax cut vs. reserves (DNJ)
Political roles are reversing in state government as Democrats scramble to regain clout with a proposal to cut food taxes and boost education with excess revenue. The so-called tax-and-spend party of Democrats is reshaping itself as the party of tax cuts, while Republicans, formerly with the party of small government, like the feel of that money in their hands now that they control the Legislature and governor's office. House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh and the House Democratic Caucus last week released a plan that calls for returning "surplus revenue" to the people by reducing the 5.5 percent sales tax on food and putting more money toward need-based college scholarships. Instead of stacking up excess money in the rainy day fund, Democrats say they would give that money back at the grocery store and in the college classroom as tuition continues to rise. Fitzhugh, who hails from Ripley in the northwest corner of the state, contended that this money would "put food on the table for working families and stimulate the economy." http://www.dnj.com/article/20110726/OPINION02/107260309/Stockard-TN-Dems-GOP-trade-places-sales-taxcut-vs-reserves

Guest columnist: Fully evaluate economic benefits (Tennessean)

Government sponsored economic development efforts started at the birth of this nation when the Virginia Company was organized to exploit opportunities for King James I in the New World. Since, government sponsored initiatives have expended billions of dollars on canals, railroads and other infrastructure along with tax breaks and employment incentives. Notwithstanding this history, the recent IQT debacle (IQTs demise brings review, The Tennessean July 24, 2011) provides a good opportunity to examine the use of economic development programs and whether they have a meaningful role for local government and benefit taxpayers. Municipal governments have few tools in their economic development toolbox. W hat we have is akin to retailers offering discounts and rebates to attract customers. Think about it. Many of us walk into a store looking for the best discounts to guide us in our purchasing. That isnt much different than what companies look for when trying to find a new location or seeking to stay in an existing one. Recent examples of those price reductions include $2.2 million to Carlex, (the successor operator of the Ford Glass plant), $53 million to Omni Hotels of Dallas, and $3.7 million for HealthSpring Inc.. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/OPINION03/307260055/Fullyevaluate-economic-benefits?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnist: Incentives vital in this economic climate (Tennessean)

One of the primary functions of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is to work with economic development prospects either relocating firms or expanding firms to create jobs in Middle Tennessee. Working with these corporations as they consider multi-million-dollar investment decisions is a complex and often long-term process. Through this process, both the corporate executives and economic development officials consider a variety of factors, which ultimately leads to a decision of whether the company is a good fit for Nashville. The primary drivers for these decisions are tied to key information, such as demographics, logistics and analysis of the labor market and business climate. In todays competitive environment, building the business case is the first hurdle that must be crossed in order to successfully land these projects and create jobs for Nashvillians. Middle Tennessee is fortunate to have a variety of positive qualities that put us on the short list for major investment decisions by these corporations, including our low cost of doing business, affordable cost of living, high quality of life and talent availability. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/OPINION03/307260056/Incentives-vital12

economic-climate?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Editorial: MTSU survey shows focus on students amid crunch (Daily News Journal)
We aren't surprised that more Middle Tennessee State University graduates are giving their alma mater some pretty high marks. A recently released survey of 3,153 graduating MTSU seniors revealed that 83 percent said if they had it to do all over again, they would re-enroll in Middle. The results are up 3 percent over last year and are the best showing since the student satisfaction survey began in 1997. MTSU staff and professors as a whole must be doing their jobs well as that increase in satisfaction was reported from all major components of the university, noted Provost Brad Bartel. Ninety percent of MTSU students surveyed indicated increased satisfaction in their choice of major, 85 percent were pleased with the quality of instruction and 72 percent were happy with the availability of courses in their major. These scores come despite increases in tuition coupled with spending reductions. Perhaps the lessening of displeasure can be credited to the smart way in which MTSU officials approached the loss of $30 million in state support as stimulus money dried up. http://www.dnj.com/article/20110726/OPINION01/107260308/Editorial-MTSU-survey-shows-focus-studentsamid-crunch

Guest columnist: Jim Cooper: Modern day Davy Crockett (Tennessean)

My husband and I both have an interest in history, so we read with interest the Op-Ed piece by James Boylston and Allen W iener on Davy Crockett last week in The Tennessean. In their article, the authors extolled Crocketts fight against partisanship in Congress and suggested that, unfortunately, he "would feel very much at home on Capitol Hill today." Both of us had a similar thought after finishing the article that we do have someone in the Davy Crockett mold, and that person is our own Congressman Jim Cooper. Boyleston and Wiener wrote of Crocketts focus on the needs of the people who elected him, is refusal to compromise to please party bosses or even a highly popular president, and his independence from any party that conflicted with the interests of his constituents or put the nation in jeopardy. They quoted Crockett as saying, I am a party man... but God forbid that I should become so much of a party man as obsequiously to stoop to answer party purposes. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110726/OPINION/307260057/Jim-Cooper-modern-day-Davy-Crockett? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|s ###

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