MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 Amazon sort center bringing 1,100 jobs (Daily News Journal)

After a couple of years of recession in which the county saw its unemployment count grow into double digit percentages, Rutherford is on a rebound thanks in large part to businesses like Nissan and Amazon.com. Amazon is constructing a new fulfillment center on Joe B. Jackson Parkway in south Murfreesboro, where it will create more than 1,100 new jobs. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Amazon.com Inc. made the announcement official in January after months of speculation that the big online retail distributor was coming to town. W ere thrilled to create more than 1,300 additional jobs in Tennessee and are thankful to Governor Haslam and state, county and local leaders for their continued commitment to Amazon jobs and investment, said Dave Clark, vice president, Amazon North American operations. Were proud to call Tennessee home and look forward to serving our customers from these new facilities in Murfreesboro and Lebanon. Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg said the company and its new jobs here will be a great boost to our economy. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120429/SPOTLIGHT/304290071

Governor Bill Haslam's staff declines request on advice for TRA revamp (TFP/Sher)
Gov. Bill Haslams staff solicited input from nearly a dozen regulated utilities or industry associations about the administrations controversial legislation to overhaul the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, records obtained by the Chattanooga Times Free Press show. But the governor and his legal counsel Herbert Slatery are refusing to divulge some of the advice they received or who provided it. In a letter, Slaterys deputy, Ashleigh M. Harb, said: After a review of the records, this Office is unable to provide you with some of the requested records. The basis for this denial is that some of the records are protected by attorney work product and deliberative process privilege. The bill is scheduled to come before the House for final action today as lawmakers scramble to conclude their annual session by days end. It turns the TRAs current four-member full-time board of directors into a five-member, part-time board with a full-time executive director. Much of the bill deals with qualifications for the new directors. Currently, there are no qualifications and the agency has traditionally been headed by onetime politicians, their relatives or aides. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/30/governor-bill-haslams-staff-declines-request-advic/?local

CDC praises TN's work to reduce hospital infections (Tennessean/Wilemon)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has praised Tennessee and Colorado for going the extra mile to ensure the accuracy of infection data reported by their hospitals. Tennessee is also one of 21 states that experienced a significant decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections. The Tennessee Hospital Association worked closely with the state Department of Health to lower the infections, which typically occur in intensive care units. The legislature passed a law in 2006 that directed the Department of Health to begin collecting data on bloodstream infections and publicly reporting the findings. The THA supported that legislation. Hospitals in our state recognized early that there is a direct correlation between accurate identification, reporting and reduction of infections, said THA President Craig Becker. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/NEWS07/304280019/CDC-praises-TN-s-work-reduce-hospitalinfections?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

State preps for GED test changes in 2014 (Jackson Sun)

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Developments Adult Education division is preparing for major changes to the General Educational Development test to take effect in 2014, according to a news release

from the state. We encourage eligible Tennesseans who have not earned their GED to do so now, said Commissioner Karla Davis. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, the GED test will cost more, must be taken on a computer, and will contain significant content changes. The GED test is undergoing its biggest overhaul since the credentialing test began in 1942. The revised test will measure knowledge and core skills that more closely reflect Common Core State Standards, which is the body of information young people are expected to learn in school and need for success in college and the workforce. Standards go up for the test to remain a valid option to identify skills demanded by employers and post-secondary schools. The 2014 test will be more rigorous in general and requires a higher level math proficiency. As before, the new GED test covers several subject areas writing, reading, science, social studies and math. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120430/NEWS01/304300009/State-preps-GED-test-changes-2014

3 workshops for farmers are this week in state (Associated Press)

The first of three workshops on agricultural marketing to restaurants and grocery stores is Thursday in Chattanooga. The workshops will focus on packaging, pricing, invoicing, certification or audit requirements, insurance requirements and other needs of these potential customers. They continue Friday in Nashville and Saturday in Memphis. The workshops are coordinated by the University of Tennessee Extension Center for Profitable Agriculture and funded, in part, by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/3-workshops-for-farmers-are-this-week-in-state/

Bereaved say 'understaffed' is no excuse at mental hospital (TN/W ilemon)

Nina Hodge waits to bury her son as her questions go unanswered. The autopsy report is still pending on James Mike Hodge, 53, who died after being attacked by his roommate on April 19 at Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute. She cant understand how the incident at the state-operated facility could have happened. You might think I am just angry right now, which I am, said Hodge, who lives in Hendersonville. My real anger is that I trusted my sons life. Peter Skelton of Nashville has questions, too. He wonders why no one prevented his 43year-old son, Cody Skelton, from killing himself on Nov. 29, when he was supposed to be on suicide watch. Citing privacy laws, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health wont talk with The Tennessean about the recent deaths at the state hospital. The elderly parents of the men who died there say no one from the hospital has apologized or provided them with full explanations. Its like a swing, said Skelton. It swings in and you cant get him out of your mind. You feel so bad. Then after a while its like a headache it kind of goes away. But you never stop thinking about him, every day and every night. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/NEWS07/304300029/Bereaved-say-understaffed-no-excuseMiddle-TN-mental-hospital?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Traffic safety eyed in Cleveland (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Leach)

Cleveland Utilities has launched a number of projects intended to improve traffic flow along major roads and provide safer school zones in a number of areas around the city. Last week, the utility board discussed progress on emergency signal planning and traffic-lighting initiatives on Paul Huff Parkway, Mouse Creek Road and Raider Drive. Cleveland Utilities has implemented an emergency notification system with state and local agencies in the event of an unexpected closure on Interstate 75, with the intent of mitigating traffic congestion and alerting emergency and law enforcement services, officials said. "We're not very anxious to use that plan, but it's there in the event we need it," said Bart Borden, vice president of Cleveland Utilities' electric division. "I think we'll respond a lot quicker and help traffic flow in town a lot quicker." Borden said the plan calls for Tennessee Highway Patrol dispatchers to advise Cleveland Utilities of any interstate lane closures that might affect traffic flow on city streets. Utility personnel then would notify E-911, which would notify first responders. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/30/traffic-safety-eyed-in-cleveland/?local

TN legislature ending session with wrangling (Associated Press/Schelzig)

Tennessee lawmakers edged closer Sunday to adjourning several weeks earlier than usual, but they are also engaging in end-of-session wrangling that has been as intense as ever. Budget disagreements between the two chambers led to the first conference committee on the spending plan since the acrimonious debate over the income tax more than a decade ago. The Republican majorities in both the House and Senate have reached an agreement on the budget, but several contentious matters could still crop up before the 107th General Assembly concludes its business. They include the much-debated guns-in-parking-lots bill and a measure would prevent private universities from setting guidelines for student organizations such as religious groups. Lawmakers hope 2

to conclude the legislative session today. The House met in an unusual Sunday night floor session to take a procedural vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow veterans groups to raise money through charitable lotteries. The measure passed the Senate earlier this year, but the House version had stalled until receiving its first of three readings on Friday. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/NEWS0201/304300039/TN-legislature-ending-session-wrangling? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Budget bickering, politicking mark Legislature's last days (NS/Humphrey)

Budget bickering within Republican ranks, determined Democratic effort to make political points and a bipartisan desire to let veterans gamble combined to thwart leadership plans to adjourn the 107th General Assembly last week. The fallback plan of legislative leaders calls for an unusual Sunday evening session today to deal with the veterans issue, followed by Monday meetings of the House and Senate wherein reunited Republicans will presumably vote down the determined Democrats. And then, unless plans go astray again, legislators will go home to begin campaigns for election to the 108th General Assembly probably with some of the curious voting that took place last week as part of the picture for those seeking new terms. There has been broad, bipartisan agreement on almost everything within the $31 billion budget plan submitted by Gov. Bill Haslam with the exception of his proposal to close the state's maximum security prison for juvenile offenders, Taft Youth Center. On that matter, there was a bipartisan effort in both the House and Senate to block the Taft closure, provoking long and impassioned public debate and reportedly intense private lobbying by the Haslam administration before governor's plan prevailed. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/28/republicans-resolve-house-senate-earmark-war-in/

'Cyberbullying'bill to get rewrite (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Humphrey)

A controversial law on "cyberbullying" that was enacted last year will be revised in an attempt to assure its constitutionality under a rewrite sent to the governor by the Senate. Senators debated the bill (HB2641) only about 10 minutes before giving it unanimous approval. The House had a prolonged and spirited debate that included defeat of disabling amendments by Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge. The rewrite bill was brought by Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, Rep. Charles Curtiss, D-Sparta, who had sponsored the 2011 law that drew heavy criticism after passage. Acknowledging their first effort raised constitutional questions, sponsors worked with the attorney general's office, the American Civil Liberties Union and others to draft a rewrite. The idea is to have electronic communications covered by the state's anti-harassment law. The problem, the sponsors said, was that the 2010 law made it a crime to send an electronic communication that would "frighten, intimidate, or cause emotional distress." That was deemed too vague. The rewrite basically changes that to simply "threaten harm." The need for such a law was illustrated by four suicides by Tennessee teenagers in the past year "all pointing to cyberbullying," Ketron said. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/legislative-notebook-cyberbullyingbill-to-get/

'Gateway

sexual

activity'

spurs

legislator

debate,

national

attention

(NS/Humphrey)
Legislators have sent the governor a bill, drafted by a conservative Christian organization, that makes classroom instructors who promote or condone "gateway sexual activity" subject to a $500 fine. The phrase in SB3310, which was given final approval Friday when the Senate signed off on a minor House amendment, was the subject of much legislative debate. On the House floor it ranged from joking to impassioned oratory and a reference to the phrase being lampooned by Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert and subject to criticism in The New York Times. "Gateway sexual activity is so vaguely defined it could be holding hands, hugging, anything that teenagers do like that," said Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville. Stewart suggested that a teacher chaperone at a high school prom who sees a girl sit in a boy's lap or a couple kissing and takes no action would be deemed to have condoned "gateway sexual activity" and subject to discipline and a fine. Rep. Jim Gotto, R-Nashville, sponsor of the bill, said the new law would not cover such innocuous activity as holding hands. The bill itself says "Gateway sexual activity means sexual contact encouraging an individual to engage in a non-abstinent behavior." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/gateway-sexual-activity-spurs-legislator-debate/

Local teachers: Lowering kindergarden age to 4 'good move' (Times-News)

Kindergarten teachers from three local school systems say the General Assemblys passage of legislation for 3

some children to start kindergarten a year later may be a good move. But they also indicated that having a mechanism that allows some 4-year-olds to start their academic career on the original deadline is good, too. The Tennessee House W ednesday and Senate Thursday approved a bill that for 2013-14 would move the eligibility age for kindergarten from turning 5 years old at the end of September to the end of August. For 2014-15 and thereafter, that would be moved to Aug. 15. According to articles in the Tennessean, estimates from legislative staffers indicate the measure could save as much as $21 million a year for the state and $11 million for districts. It would also affect the approximately 4,200 students in the state that have birthdays between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30. But local teachers said money is not on their radar when it comes to the issue. It needs to be changed, said Surgoinsville Elementary School kindergarten teacher Amy McFarland, who has taught kindergarten for 23 years. Some of them arent ready, but you have some that are. It just depends how their parents have worked with them. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9045978/local-teachers-lowering-kindergarden-age-to-4-39good-move39

Fold by Memphis Democrats Opened Door to 2012 Suburban Vote on Schools (MF)
Give it to Mark Norris: The Senate Republican Leader from Collierville has managed to pull off his deftest maneuver yet, one whose enormous consequences for the future of education in Shelby County cannot be overstated. In steering legislation through the General Assembly at what was literally the eleventh hour to enable Memphis suburban municipalities to vote this year on creating their own school districts, Norris has probably advanced the schedule for creating such districts by a full year, and that is crucial. Had not a House-Senate conference committee finally okayed on Friday Norris amendment to a bill, HB1105/SB`1923, which originally had nothing to do with Shelby County, the mid-March opinion by state Attorney General Robert Cooper on the unconstitutionality of a suburban vote this year would have stood. The suburbs would have been forced to wait until August 2013 even to launch their initiatives and, like it or not, would have had to spend the 2013-2014 school year within an all-Shelby County Unified District. Although, as Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald, unofficial spokesperson for the municipal-school movement, has vowed, he and other suburban leaders in Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland, Arlington, and Millington would have kept trying, the enforced year-long membership in a Unified District would inevitably have dissipated their momentum. http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2012/04/30/memphis-democrats-fold-open-door-to-2012suburban-vote-on-schools

Report raises danger flags on Shelby County Juvenile Court (C. Appeal/W arren)
Federal probe of Memphis' youth system cites shortcomings in discipline, suicide prevention Detainees at Memphis' juvenile jail have been subjected to harsh disciplinary tactics for years and aren't properly protected from harming or even killing themselves, a federal investigation into the Shelby County Juvenile Court found. Detention officers have used restraint chairs to strap down juveniles and pressure-point control tactics, such as bending a youth's wrist backward to induce pain, according to a three-year investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Both, as practiced in Memphis, are unconstitutional, according to the report by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division. The report also found dangers in the physical layout of the jail, such as its two-level design with a balcony. "There is no systematic suicide-proofing of the building, no education to detention staff regarding necessary precautions and no plans to correct these risks," according to the report. Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person said he and his staff are taking immediate actions, even to address findings they don't agree with. "We haven't had a suicide, but since concerns have been expressed by the Department of Justice, we will take necessary steps to make the detention center safer," Person said. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/30/report-raises-danger-flags/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Mayor Ron Littlefields time winding down (Times Free-Press/Hightower)

The curtain call for Mayor Ron Littlefield draws near. With one year left, the Chattanooga mayor who has faced controversy and criticism over the last seven years expects to wind down his term with his sleeves rolled up. We dont expect to back off or slack off, Littlefield said. Major issues still are coming down the pike including an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that could lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs to the citys sewer system. Even if everything had gone Littlefields way, he had big shoes to fill. His two immediate predecessors, former Mayors Jon Kinsey and Bob Corker now a U.S. senator left behind considerable legacies. Kinsey is known for downtown redevelopment, while Corker is known for the 21st Century Waterfront. But since Littlefield was sworn in seven years ago, he has become perhaps better known for the 4

controversies that have accompanied his initiatives, along with the never-say-die effort to recall him from office that hes still fighting in court. His tenure has included: A failed attempt to develop a nine-acre campus for the citys homeless services on East 11th Street http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/30/mayor-ron-littlefields-time-winding-down/?local

Student loans politicized (Associated Press/Espo)

Obama, GOP tie rate to other issues In the political campaigns still taking shape, President Barack Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney and lawmakers of both parties say they want to protect college students from a sharp increase in interest rates on federally subsidized loans. Agree, they might, and act they surely will. But first, they settled effortlessly into a rollicking good political brawl. In less than 72 hours, what might have looked like a relatively simple matter mushroomed into a politically charged veto showdown that touched on the economy and health care, tax cuts and policies affecting women. Accusatory campaign commercials to follow, no doubt. This is beneath us. This is beneath the dignity of this House and the dignity of the public trust that we enjoy, protested House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio as he and Democrats both maneuvered for position. Evidently not. It shouldnt be a Republican or a Democratic issue. This is an American issue, Obama said in North Carolina last week as he broached the topic of legislation in a move to gain support students in the fall election. He urged his listeners to tweet their lawmakers and urge them to block an increase in interest rates on federally subsidized loans issued beginning July 1. There was partisan pop behind Obamas message, though. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/BUSINESS01/304300036/Student-loans-politicized?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News

Why are Fewer Moms Applying for Safety Net Program? (Stateline)
More Americans are collecting food stamps than ever before, but fewer needy mothers are using another federal government program that offers free baby formula and food for young children. There isnt one answer to explain the recent decline in the number of women and young children in the program, commonly known as WIC, which the government officially calls the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. It makes sense that more Americans are getting food stamps since that program, known formally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is open to people of all ages who need help recovering from the recession. WIC specifically serves pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5, a much narrower demographic. Still, its puzzling that WIC would be shrinking in these hard times, rather than getting bigger. Food stamp enrollment is currently at a record 44.7 million, and the Congressional Budget Office predicted this month that the number of people getting food stamps will continue to rise through 2014. But for WIC, enrollment peaked back in August 2009 at 9.3 million. Fewer than 9 million mothers and children under 5 are currently getting help through the WIC program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees both W IC and food stamps. http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/why-are-fewer-moms-applying-for-safety-net-program85899383310

Gaylord builds case vs. Corps over 2010 flooding (Tennessean/W illiams)
Nashville hotel, A.O. Smith say negligence led to flood losses Gaylord Entertainment plans to file a lawsuit today against the federal government, alleging U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Weather Service negligence led to major damage to its luxury hotel during the Cumberland River flood two years ago. The suit will contend that the Corps was negligent in opening the spillway at the Old Hickory Dam on May 2, 2010, and the Weather Service failed to notify the public that water levels would reach the 100-year flood levels that devastated homes and businesses. A.O. Smith, an Ashland City manufacturer, will join Gaylord as a plaintiff in the federal lawsuit. Its plant was closed for at least three weeks as a result of the flood, which destroyed equipment and ravaged nearly $20 million of inventory. Gaylord wants $250 million for damages to its Gaylord Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry House, and A.O. Smith will seek $76 million because of damage to its water heater plant in Ashland City, said Nashville lawyer Bob Patterson, who is overseeing the legal action. Theres no question that the reason Nashville flooded on Sunday, May 2, is because the Corps opened the spillway at Old Hickory Dam, Patterson said. The discharges on Sunday were so high they caused the Cumberland River to rise above the 100-year flood plain and cause all this damage. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/BUSINESS01/304300044/Gaylord-builds-case-vs-Corps? odyssey=mod|breaking|text|FRONTPAGE

Metro Nashville schools rezoning lawsuit could echo far (Tennessean/Hubbard)

The trial to decide whether Metro Nashvilles 2009 school redistricting plan catered to white families and rezoned black students out of affluent, higher-achieving schools could set a national precedent. Families have sued school districts from Tuscon, Ariz., to Louisville, Ky., in recent years over school assignment and seeking equal resources, but there hasnt been a clear remedy to solve complaints. Spurlock v. Fox is set to begin Tuesday in Nashville. The judge on Friday certified the case a class-action lawsuit, meaning it now represents as plaintiffs all black North Nashville families affected by the rezoning. Nationally, some are waiting to see if the case provides a remedy if the plaintiffs prevail, said Gary Orfield, a University of California-Los Angeles professor and co-founder of civil rights groups at UCLA and Harvard. People will certainly be interested in watching what the court does in Nashville, said Orfield, who has studied racial balance in schools for decades. Race, education and equality havent been solved. There isnt an easy answer on this. But federal Judge Kevin Sharp also could find that the school district has made efforts to ensure equity among its black and white students difficult, officials contend, given that housing patterns in Nashville are often segregated and hard to change. They point out that families have more choice in where their children attend than ever before. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/NEWS04/304300016/Metro-Nashville-schools-rezoning-lawsuitcould-echo-far?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Charter school asks for 6-month extension to find Knox location (NS/McCoy)
Officials with the Knoxville Charter Academy are asking for a six-month extension to their agreement with Knox County Schools to allow them to continue to look for a location for the school. "W e have continued our search to identify a building within the area that the Knox County Board of Education prefers, such as central Knoxville, downtown, east or north Knoxville," Suzan Mertyurek, the academy's board president, wrote to the school board on April 1. "We are more than willing to continue our search, however, this would require more time and an amendment in our agreement terms." The Knox County school board will discuss the request during its work session tonight and could vote on it as soon as Wednesday. In a memo to the board, Knox County Superintendent Jim McIntyre has recommended that they not extend the contract. "In the 16 months between December of 2010 and April of 2012, the Knoxville Charter Academy demonstrated almost no discernible progress toward developing and opening a high quality school," he wrote to the board. "A viable and appropriate school facility was not identified, no principal was hired, no teachers were selected, no students were recruited, no community meetings were held, no funds were raised, and no instructional materials were procured. In fact, for more of that time no substantive planning or organizational activity appeared to occur at all." http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/charter-school-asks-for-6-month-extension-to/

MCS, SCS collaborate ahead of consolidation (Commercial Appeal/Kelley)

The second-floor passageway between the side-by-side central offices of Memphis and Shelby County Schools has gotten a workout since Memphis voters decided to merge the two systems last March. Unified school board member Betty Mallott recently asked for a list of projects on which the two administrative staffs have collaborated and got what she expected -- a long list. "I knew that they were already beginning to collaborate on information technology," Mallott said after the 51/2 -page report was distributed at last Tuesday's board meeting. MCS officials and their counterparts at SCS have become constant companions at Transition Planning Commission meetings, but it has become obvious that a lot has been going on behind the scenes as well. "I felt like it was important for us to ... acknowledge it and celebrate it," Mallott said. From all reports, administrators have had no trouble working together. "We don't always agree. I think we've had some good healthy conversations," said Tim Setterlund, assistant superintendent for research, planning and transition at SCS. "But it has been amazingly great. We really thought it would be fight over this, fight over that, but it hasn't. It's been, 'Okay, here's an opportunity to share.' " http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/30/school-leaders-merge-ideas/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Group challenges Lenoir City Schools over basketball show (NS/Willett)

The Lenoir City school system is again under fire from a secular organization that alleges it recently promoted an inappropriate religious assembly. In a letter dated April 11, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation claimed the school's hosting of the "Spin-Tacular Basketball Show" in the gymnasium March 12 violates Supreme Court rulings that prohibit promotion of religion. "After reviewing the Spin-Tacular Basketball Show's website it is clear that they are a pervasively sectarian religious organization. Given the overtly religious nature of this program, Lenoir City Schools must refrain from hosting these types of assemblies in the future," the letter said. Chuck Cagle, attorney for Lenoir City Schools, said he had received the letter and was preparing a 6

response. With regard to other accusations by the FFRF, including prayer at school board meetings, he said he has advised Lenoir City to follow all existing law. "It's the same advice I've given all my clients. They have to follow the law," he said. Cagle advises 77 school districts across the state, including the Tennessee School Board Association. He said he is not sure how many school boards in the state still offer prayers during school board meetings. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/29/group-challenges-lenoir-city-schools-over-show/

MORE

OPINION Free-Press Editorial: Common sense in Nashville (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

Suppose you opened a restaurant and hired two chefs: Mathilda and Ingrid. Over a period of months, you notice that Mathilda is inattentive, often burning entrees, and that she regularly shows up late for work. You warn her about these habits, yet they continue. Ingrid, by contrast, takes great pride in her work, producing meals that win compliments from patrons. She also is punctual. Eventually, you give Ingrid a raise in recognition of the financial benefit that her good efforts bring to your business. But you reduce Mathilda's wages and tell her you will have to replace her with another chef if she does not improve her work habits. That's not a pleasant task, but you realize that if Mathilda's poor performance gives your restaurant a bad reputation, it will cost the business money and harm good and bad employees alike. Moreover, you know that if you keep them at the same pay level, Ingrid may lose her motivation because she sees that there is no incentive for working harder. We doubt many people would second guess a restaurant owner who took those commonsense steps to keep his business running. And yet, starkly different principles often guide government. At the federal level in particular, workers in many departments have almost absolute job security. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/30/common-sense-in-nashville/?opinionfreepress

Free-Press Editorial: Spotlight on state budget (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

It may be frustrating that a previously reached deal on Tennessee's $31.4 billion budget was at least temporarily derailed a few days ago over disagreements about some of the spending it included. But the spotlight that the debate threw onto the kinds of things on which tax dollars are spent is both wholesome and necessary. It's not that the projects in themselves are necessarily bad. Some may well be highly desirable, in fact. But Democrats and some Republicans in the Republican-controlled General Assembly raised fair questions about parts of the spending -- which is an appropriate step not only in the currently tough economic circumstances but at any time. For example, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, sought $500,000 for a museum in nearby Bristol, Va., to mark the origins of country music. The state of Virginia has provided $3 million, and money was provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, too. A building has been donated. The museum probably would be a popular attraction. But there seems to be little doubt that the project would be of benefit primarily to that area of Virginia and northeastern Tennessee, not to Tennessee as a whole. So we cannot fault lawmakers who expressed misgivings about the significant expenditure and labeled it "pork." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/30/spotlight-on-state-budget/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: New bridges will be welcome upgrades near dam (News-Sentinel)

7

The new bridge project at the Fort Loudoun Dam is among those improvements in the state's infrastructure that are needed as the bridges and highways of the last 40-50 years show their age. The project near the Fort Loudoun Dam, however, is a much bigger undertaking than merely upgrading, repairing or replacing existing structures. This one involves three bridges in the same vicinity and a partnership between two agencies the Tennessee Valley Authority and the state Department of Transportation. The primary project will be a new fourlane, 1,400-foot-long bridge over the Tennessee River system about 2,000 feet downstream from the dam. The current bridge, a two-lane structure, crosses the river at the site of the dam. A second project involves a new bridge over railroad tracks near the dam, and the third is a two-lane bridge over the Tellico Canal near an existing bridge. The current canal bridge will remain, with the new bridge parallel to it and traffic flowing in one direction on each bridge. In addition, the portion of U.S. Highway 321 between U.S. Highway 11 and the dam will be expanded to four lanes, but the road will take a different route near the dam. Crews also will bring more than half a million cubic yards of material to raise the ground between the Tellico Canal and the river to allow for the bridge building. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/30/editorial-new-bridges-will-be-welcome-upgrades/

Guest columnist: Our senators are bent on risky nuclear buildup (Tennessean)
Physicians for Social Responsibility, among many other environmental and health groups in the U.S., are standing up to the nuclear power industry and their special-interest groups. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker are intent on offering billions in taxpayer subsidies and loan guarantees to the nuclear industries. At issue is keeping Americans safe. These same government officials have failed to take action to address major safety concerns at existing nuclear power plants. They have ignored calls to remedy the deficiencies in our nations nuclear emergency evacuation and treatment response system. The newest plan for the Oak Ridge Nuclear Plant is to begin making more nuclear warheads, which will put more citizens in danger and sabotage the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. There is a group of extremists in Congress pushing to spend more than $200 billion to modernize nuclear weapons systems risking the start of a new arms race and pushing us closer to nuclear catastrophe. Our U.S. Senators are putting profits ahead of the deadly risk to American lives. The entire nuclear system is fraught with serious dangers from the mining of uranium, to our outdated, leaking power plants, to the inadequate disposal of spent radioactive fuel. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120430/OPINION03/304300015/Our-senators-bent-risky-nuclear-buildup? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Editorial: Shift focus for schools merger (Commercial Appeal)

The most frequently asked question these last few months about the merger of city and county schools has boiled down to this: What will it take to keep the mostly white suburban communities of Shelby County engaged in the massive Memphis-Shelby County schools reorganization plan? That question has stood out because the suburban communities of Germantown, Bartlett and Collierville first strenuously opposed the merger, and lately have actively pursued the idea of forming their own separate suburban school districts. W ith the aid of the Tennessee legislature last week, it appears certain the suburban communities now will be able to hold referendums on whether to form their own schools and, pending a legal ruling, will press ahead with their separate plans. So perhaps it is time to begin asking a new question about the consolidated schools that will be serving more than 100,000 students even if the suburbs bolt: With or without the suburban students, how can a merged school system exceed student and parent expectations? On this more lofty, less groveling question, planners of the merged school system already are showing remarkable insight and progress. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/30/editorials-shift-focus-for-schools-merger/ (SUB) ###