WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012 Civil Service Reform Comes to Tennessee (Governing)

The Volunteer State is creating a personnel environment more akin to the private sector. On April 24, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed the Tennessee Excellence, Accountability and Management (TEAM) Act into law, ushering in a new era of civil service reform marked by the executive branchs increased control over the hiring and firing of its state workers. Like other states that have implemented civil service reform -- including Florida, Georgia and Indiana -- Tennessee will create a personnel environment more akin to the private sector. Once fully implemented, the TEAM Act will create two service divisions: "executive service," made up mainly of senior-level positions, and "preferred service," mostly comprised of middle management and front-line employees. Those in executive service will remain at-will, meaning they can be fired at any time for any reason; while those in preferred service (formerly known as career service) will maintain a streamlined appeals process for wrongful termination. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-workforce/col-civil-service-reform-tennessee.html

Gov. Bill Haslam says he won't twist arms to push agenda (Times FreePress/Sher)
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam says it's simply not his way to bully lawmakers into going along with his agenda and points to successes in this year's General Assembly as proof it isn't always needed. "It's not my style to try to twist every arm we can and get one more vote than the other side," Haslam said Tuesday as he discussed this year's legislative session with the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "I don't think long-term that's how good government works." Haslam saw some proposals shot down in the Republican-controlled legislature this year, most notably an effort to grant local school systems more flexibility on teacher salaries and average class sizes. It died amid concerns that it would embolden county commissions to cut local education budgets. But Haslam pointed to any number of legislative successes in areas including civil service reform. The governor's list also includes passing a budget that cuts taxes and government, despite the loss of up to $900 million in federal revenue, overhauling some state boards and commissions, promotes government efficiency and sets up new state education accountability standards. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/haslam-says-hewont-twist-arms/?local

Haslam expects to sign municipal referendum bill (Commercial Appeal/Locker)

Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday he expects to sign into law the bill allowing referendums this year on establishing new municipal school districts in the Memphis suburbs. The governor said in an interview with The Commercial Appeal, however, that he would have preferred more time for suburban residents to review the Transition Planning Commission's recommendations on the design of the new countywide school district before they vote. The state legislature approved House Bill 1105 last week before adjourning for the year. It authorizes the suburban cities to hold referendums and school board elections this year, before the state ban on new municipal school districts is lifted in Shelby County in August 2013. The governor has until Tuesday to sign, veto or let it become law without his signature. He said last week a veto was "doubtful." He said Tuesday: "I would anticipate signing it. It has been my strong wish to let the Transition Planning Commission's work come to fruition and (to) let that be considered and understood exactly -- and if the suburban towns are voting to set up their own district, to have them at least consider what the new district is going to look like. That felt really, really important to me. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/08/tennessee-gov-bill-haslam-expects-sign-municipal-r/ (SUB)

Castalian Springs history research project takes flight (Tennessean)

Gov. Bill Haslam announced on Wednesday a grant for the Tennessee Historical Commission to fund an airborne research project with the hopes of discovering more historic sites in Castalian Springs and gaining a deeper understanding of the areas existing ones. The project, which is being done through the Fullerton Laboratory for Spatial Technology at Middle Tennessee State University, hopes to locate prehistoric villages, archaeological mound sites, Civil War-era fortified sites and Zeiglers Station, a settlement that was destroyed by Native Americans in 1792. The labs director said that project will also study existing historic sites. Were not just doing the archaeological sites the prehistoric Native American sites, said MTSU professor Zada Law. In addition, to the Native American settlement, were looking at the historic sites of Wynnewood, Fort Bledsoe, Cragfont and Hawthorne Hill. The grant was announced one day after the State House and Senate issued a joint resolution to declare their opposition to the proposed rock quarry in Castalian Springs. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120506/GALLATIN01/305060093/Castalian-Springs-history-researchproject-takes-flight

TN gets a B- in small-business friendliness (Nashville Business Journal)

Tennessee gets a B-minus in terms of friendliness to small business in a new survey sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and professional services website Thumbtack.com. Tennessee scored As in eight of 12 categories, including hiring costs, regulations and tax code. The state scored a B for its ease of starting a business and its overall health and safety. Tennessee ranked at No. 17 and 18 for last year's growth rate and its current economic health, respectively. Tennessee ranked 30th for business owners' optimism for the future. Within the state, East Tennessee was found to be the most friendly toward small business, followed by Middle Tennessee. The Greater Nashville area received an overage B grade. Thumbtack.com's findings are based on a two-month survey of 6,000 small-business owners across the country. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/05/08/tn-gets-a-b--in-small-business.html

Construction clears governor, staff out of Capitol (Associated Press)

Gov. Bill Haslam has relocated to temporary office space while the state Capitol gets renovated. The governor and his staff of about 35 have moved to the 27th floor of the Tennessee Tower across the street while the work is completed. The about $15 million project is scheduled to completed in December. The work on the 150-year-old building includes upgrades and repairs to heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. Also affected by the Capitol renovations are the offices of the House and Senate clerks and the state's treasurer, comptroller and secretary of state. Construction fencing is going up around the Capitol grounds, and all public entrances will be locked for the duration of the project. http://www.wdef.com/news/state/story/Construction-clears-governor-staff-out-ofCapitol/WinMBo7CcU6DFpA7Klu-DA.cspx

TN revenue $190M more than budgeted (Associated Press)

The state has collected $190 million more than budgeted so far this fiscal year. Finance and administration officials reported Tuesday that April collections were 9.6 percent over those in April a year ago. The figure was $1.4 billion, or $83 million more than budgeted. Sales tax collections for April recorded their 25th straight month of growth dating back to April 2010. On an accrual basis, April is the ninth month in the fiscal year that ends on June 30. General fund collections beat projections by $83 million in April and by $400 million for the year. The revised 2011-12 budget assumed an overcollection of $210 million for the year. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/NEWS0201/305090122/TN-revenue-190M-more-than-budgeted? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee tax collections up 9.7 percent in April (Memphis Business Journal)

Tennessee continued to see improved tax collections in April, the Tennessee Department of Finance & Administration announced Tuesday. According to Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes, the state collected $1.39 billion in tax revenue last month, up 9.7 percent over a year ago and $82.8 million more than officials had budgeted. "Sales tax collections recorded the 25th consecutive month of positive growth dating back to April of 2010," Emkes said in a news release. "In addition, corporate Franchise and Excise tax collections continue to be very encouraging, but the Hall Income Tax recorded a negative growth over last April and fell considerably short of the budgeted estimate. "Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of Supreme Court review of the federal 2

healthcare reform act, resolution of the federal budget and European financial crises, along with the potential for rising inflation, the volatility of gas prices and corporate tax collections, altogether requires us to be prudent for the remainder of this year." http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/05/08/tennessee-tax-collections-up-97.html

TN to get $5M more in Abbott Labs case (Tennessean/McClain)

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and Health Care Finance and Administration Deputy Commissioner Darin Gordon said Tennessee will receive at least $5 million more as part of a settlement over how Abbott Labs marketed the drug Depakote. The money is on top of nearly $2 million designated for Tennessee as part of a consumer protection agreement announced on Monday in connection with the same case. It involved the use of the drug for off-label uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The agreement resolves allegations by Tennessee, several other states and the federal government that Abbott Laboratories illegally marketed Depakote, leading to false claims to Medicaid and other federal health-care programs. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/BUSINESS05/305090126/TN-get-5M-more-Abbott-Labs-case? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

State commissioner visits Vietnam vets (Times-Gazette)

More than 60 attended this month's Vietnam Era Veterans meeting at the American Legion Center. Many-Bears Grinder, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, was guest speaker. Military family Grinder, who spent 35 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard, comes from a long line of military servitude. Her family has heeded the call to serve for generations, including her mother, husband, herself and her children. Her daughter-in-law, Billie Jean Grinder, even gave her life in service more than two years ago in Iraq. "She was doing what she wanted to do," explained Grinder. "She didn't do it for the honor or the glory. It's our responsibility that those who have given their lives for our country did not do so in vain. W e owe a debt of gratitude to those that have served and their families that have been left behind." State help Grinder went on to delineate what exactly the state's Department of Veterans Affairs does. They aren't the same as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs -- they don't run the medical centers or make judgment on disability claims that are filed. They are veterans' advocates, so if there is a problem getting medical appointments or filing disability claims, they can assist with those things. http://www.t-g.com/story/1846336.html

BTW graduate featured in documentary (W MC-TV Memphis)

Former Booker T Washington High School student Christopher Dean will be featured in a new documentary. The WKNO/PBS documentary is entitled American Graduate: The Tennessee Story. Tennessees First Lady Crissy Haslam will host the half-hour documentary. The PBS documentary will also focus on the high school dropout rate in the U.S. and the state of Tennessee. American Graduate: The Tennessee Story will air statewide Thursday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. In 2011, Dean and the BTW class of 2011 welcomed President Barack Obama as keynote speaker for their graduation. Dean delivered the introduction speech for the President during the ceremony. http://southmemphis.wmctv.com/news/arts-culture/74435-btw-graduate-featured-documentary

I-75 slope failure in Campbell County one of worst in state (News-Sentinel/Jacobs)

The evolving slope slide under Interstate 75 in Campbell County is one of the worst in the state in more than two decades and is being exacerbated by rainfall, a state geotechnical engineer said Tuesday. Sometime after midnight Monday, a section of the embankment at the 143 mile marker already undergoing repairs slid, taking with it a lot of moisture-laden material and a portion of a stabilization wall already finished. "It's a slide within a slide," said Saieb Haddad, geotechnical engineer with the Tennessee Department of Transportation. "I think the rainfall made it happen." The new slide forced state officials to entirely close the southbound lanes of I-75 and close one of the two lanes of northbound I-75. Southbound drivers have been shifted to a detour that leads them through LaFollette. "It's an interstate, so it has to be fixed as soon as it can," Haddad said. "Our goal is to have it open by the end of the week." Mark Nagi, regional spokesman for the TDOT, said authorities hope to reopen I-75 still featuring a makeshift detour by Thursday. That reopening would include two northbound lanes and one southbound lane the configuration before the slide Tuesday. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/09/i-75-slope-failure-in-campbell-county-one-of-in/

As Nuclear Plants Age, UT Gets Funds for More Nuke Research (WPLN-Radio)
The University of Tennessee is one of more than a dozen schools that will get federal money for research into how to make new nuclear plants more efficient. While progress on new reactors is slowand the current crop is agingofficials at the Department of Energy says the US will need more nuclear scientists in the future. Itll be years before any of the nuclear reactors in the pipeline start churning out power. Meanwhile, scientists are still dealing with issues created by the plants that are currently online. The biggest is finding a permanent home for the toxic waste created in nuclear reactions. Deputy energy secretary Daniel Poneman says younger nuclear scientists will have to find ways to deal with these issues before nuclear power can grow again. Weve got to get that piece of the equation right for nuclear to flourish. Frankly, bringing young students in with fresh ideas and newly-trained expertise can be part of the solution http://wpln.org/?p=37017 set.

Tennessee Tech policy violated First Amendment (Tennessean/Gang)

Man wanted to share his religious beliefs All John McGlone wanted to do was share his Christian beliefs with students at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. One on one. Instead, he was asked to leave campus by police simply because he didnt give the university notice two weeks ahead of time, and he didnt disclose what he wanted to talk about. Now McGlone has won a case before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled Tennessee Techs policy was unreasonable and violated the First Amendment. The decision could have implications for public colleges and universities throughout the region as officials balance public access with the need to keep students safe. In light of the decision, public colleges and universities throughout the state would be wise to review their policies, said Gene Policinski, executive director of the Nashville-based First Amendment Center. People have a right to speak on public property, and the government can intrude only in the narrowest of ways, he said. Anytime government asks us in advance to specify the kind of speech we are engaged in, that raises a warning flag for the courts, Policinski said. Government ought not to be in the business of saying, You cant say that. Karen Lykins, Tennessee Techs associate vice president for communications, said the university could not comment on the case since it was sent back to the trial court. McGlones lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. Attorneys for the Tennessee Board of Regents are reviewing the federal appeals court decision, she said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/NEWS03/305090115/Tennessee-Tech-policy-violated-FirstAmendment?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Death toll soars on Tennessee's roads (Tennessean/Haas)

Alarmed Tennessee officials seek ways to improve safety Please dont tell me hes dead. Susan Collier pleaded with grief counselors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center W ednesday after rushing there to see her son, who had been in a motorcycle crash. Im so sorry, a counselor responded. No, dont tell me that, please, Collier pleaded. Her son, Bradley Collier, 35, of Nashville died after his motorcycle smashed into the back of a truck. Her family had only learned two weeks ago that the Iraq war veteran had bought the bike. They had pleaded with him to reconsider. He had returned from the war significantly disabled after being injured first by a snipers bullet and then an exploding grenade. But he was headstrong. Today, the injured war hero is among more than 300 people who have died on Tennessee roads since Jan. 1, a startling 13 percent increase over this same time last year, after years of general declines in traffic fatalities. State officials have been unable to find any definite trends in the crashes in terms of whether speed or alcohol have played major factors. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/NEWS21/305090123/Death-toll-soars-TN-roads?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Lacey Act Rewrite Finds Sympathy from Lawmakers (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

An environmental law that has Nashville-based Gibson Guitar mired in legal trouble was up for debate Tuesday in Washington. A House subcommittee heard arguments for and against the Lacey Act. Legislation called the RELIEF Act would rewrite the century-old law, which only recently began governing the importation of wood. Musical instruments are the concern of the bills sponsors, which include Rep. Jim Cooper. The Nashville Democrat says artists fear their guitars could be confiscated when they reenter the U.S. if they cant document that all of the wood was legally harvested. Helping musicians like Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs is the primary impetus of our legislation. The Justice Department has written a memo saying it has no intention to go after antique instruments. Testifying before lawmakers, Adam Gardner frontman of the band Guster said Coopers legislation weakens protections against illegal logging. Lacey does not pose a threat to musicians. A number of 4

misleading claims have been raised by RELIEF advocates that simply are not true. http://wpln.org/?p=37034

Study: Tennesseans increasingly skip dr's visits because they lack $ (CA/Sells)
Cost kept a larger percentage of Tennesseans out of the doctor's office from 2000 to 2010 than it did citizens of any other state, according to a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute. About 857,000 Tennesseans between the ages of 19 and 64 said in surveys over the last decade that they didn't go the doctor because they couldn't afford it. The number grew 10.8 percent from 2000 to 2010, higher growth than any other state. "Tennessee was seeing increases in unmet need in particular for both the insured and uninsured that were large relative to the national averages," said study co-author Steve Zuckerman. "But the deterioration for the uninsured was particular pronounced." The study, released Tuesday, said 55.6 percent of uninsured Tennesseans skipped a doctor visit in 2010 because they couldn't afford it and 12.6 of those with insurance did the same. The study did not offer any reasons for increases in unmet medical need in any state. But Gordon Bonnyman, executive director of Nashville's Tennessee Justice Center, said they are directly linked to TennCare cuts. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/08/study-finds-tennesseans-increasingly-skip-doctors/ (SUB)

Dean Says Teacher, Police Layoffs Just the Reality Without Tax Hike (WPLN)
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has spent the last week going to bat for his property tax increase. He says the alternative is laying off policemen and teachers. The additional 53-cents what amounts to $16 a month on a $150,000 home is a few cents shy of triggering a referendum where voters would have to sign off. But the mayor still has to get the Metro Councils approval. Im not saying that there is every little bit of fat cut out of the government and theres not areas that wouldnt benefit from being cut, but you cant find the amount of money thats needed for the government to continue to operate. http://wpln.org/?p=36968

Dean's tax increase: Where your dough would go (Nashville Business Journal)
Mayor Karl Deans proposed 53-cent tax increase is rapidly becoming the top Metro Nashville topic, and it's also on the lips of many business people mulling its impact both on their pocketbooks and the city at large. The mayor's office estimates the increase on homeowners and businesses would mean about $100 million in new revenue. Dean says it will stave off cuts and allow critical investments. W hile we await more of the debate to unfold, here's a look at what the increase would go toward: Schools 23 cents of the increase would go toward school operations, and Dean has made paying teachers better and hiring more of them a top priority in his budget. Debt 11 cents of every dollar will go toward debt service. Dean and his advisers say Metro has been prudent with taking on new debt and staved off a previous tax increase by refinancing but some critics have said the mayor has been too willing to go that direction. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/05/mayor-karl-dean-tax-increase-tennessee.html

No tax hike in Chattanooga mayor's budget (Times Free-Press/Hightower)

For the second year in a row, Chattanoogans won't be staring at a property tax increase. The $209 million budget for next year is $8 million more than this year's and includes more than $2.8 million in pay raises for city employees, city records show. "There were no surprises," said Councilwoman Carol Berz, chairwoman of the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee. Chief Finance Officer Daisy Madison took about 45 minutes to go over the budget with the council Tuesday during a Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Her staff handed out binders of the more than 200-page budget to council members. The budget includes $2.8 million for pay raises, $1.6 million for fire and police pensions, $276,383 for gang initiative operations and $100,000 for the Office of Sustainability. Seventeen new positions are also included -- 15 firefighters and two gang task force members -but nothing for additional police, Madison said. About $1.2 million of the $2.8 million is set aside for the Chattanooga Police Department's career ladder, Madison said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/no-tax-hike-in-mayors-city-budget/?local

Andy

Berke

makes

campaign

plans

for

Chattanooga

mayor

official

(TFP/Hightower)
State Sen. Andy Berke, D-Tenn., said there was a moment Tuesday morning when he had to take a breath before taking the podium inside the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. "This is a big moment for me," Berke said 5

afterward. "This is a big moment for my family." Berke announced he will run for Chattanooga mayor in the March 2013 election. Standing in front of a cheering crowd of almost 150 people packed inside the center, he said he wanted to "build bridges." "W e have an opportunity to come together anew," Berke told the crowd. Berke is the first person to announce publicly intentions of running for mayor. Other names floated for the city's top job include City Council Chairwoman Pam Ladd; Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey; Roger Tuder, executive director of Associated General Contractors of East Tennessee; Citizens to Recall Mayor Littlefield leader Jim Folkner; longtime city employee Guy Satterfield; and former mayoral candidate Rob Healy. Todd Womack, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker's chief of staff, announced Monday he would not seek the seat. Kim White, executive director of River City Co., also has said she would not seek it, and businessman Greg Vital dropped out of consideration and is running for Berke's old seat. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/berke-campaign-plans-chattanooga-mayor-official/?local

Berke makes mayoral candidacy official (WRCB-TV Chattanooga)

State Senator Andy Berke is setting his sights on Chattanooga government. More than a hundred people gathered at the Chattanooga Theatre Center Tuesday morning, as Berke officially announced his candidacy for mayor. Berke says he sees a lot of potential for economic success in Chattanooga, and there are a lot of factors that play into make Chattanooga the best city it can be. "We have to make sure that people want to live here and that we have a quality of life and that certainly includes crime. So these issues are tied together. If we can enhance our quality of life here in Chattanooga, we're going to have great success for our citizens," Berke said. He served as a state senator for the past five years. Earlier this year he announced he would not seek reelection. Chattanooga City Council Chairwoman Pam Ladd has also been mentioned as a probable candidate for Mayor. On Tuesday evening, she told Channel 3 she is interested, but still mulling it over. She said she has no timetable or deadline for her decision on whether or not to toss her own hat into the ring, but realizes the clock is ticking. http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/18193219/berke-makes-mayoral-candidacy-official

Bradley County: Tax flap threatens future ventures (Times Free-Press/Leach)

Bradley County commissioners say the county can't afford to lose more revenues in a sales tax dispute with Cleveland and still participate in joint capital projects with the city. County commissioners voiced support late Monday -- but withheld a vote -- for a resolution that states the county will be unable to join the city in any major projects "due to a potential loss of sales tax revenues." "The facts are that without some of that sales tax revenue, we -- the County Commission -- do not have the money to participate in some projects we would otherwise participate in," Commissioner Ed Elkins said. The rift between the county and city involves a 1967 agreement between the two on the division of sales tax. At stake is nearly $900,000 a year, according to previous statements by City Manager Janice Casteel. According to the agreement, local schools get half the sales tax revenue with the county receiving a two-thirds share based on student populations. However, the county only receives one-third of the other half of sales tax revenue because most sales are made within the city. After a Chancery Court ruling upheld the 1967 agreement when it was challenged by the city, the Cleveland City Council voted 4-3 to take the case to the Tennessee Court of Appeals. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/tax-flap-threatens-future-ventures/?local

Residents voice support for Knox Schools funding plan (News-Sentinel/Donila)

A multimillion dollar proposal that local educators say will lead to better schools but increased taxes received overwhelming support Tuesday night from roughly 150 residents during a Knox County Commission meeting designed to seek more information about a budget the county mayor recently shot down. "The children in our county deserve the best we can give them," said Gerry O'Farrell. "I don't see this as money being thrown at a problem. It looks to me as being a carefully planned investment. I do not believe this will solve all our problems but I think this is a very, very important step to take." At issue is the Knox County Board of Education's request for an annually recurring $35 million to create a broad, long-term plan that targets a number of educational investments, including technology and additional instructional time in the classroom. County Mayor Tim Buchett last week unveiled his overall $673.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. It includes a $13 million increase for the school system to cover natural growth, but he declined to fund what supporters of the proposal have called a "bold" and "ambitious" plan. He said it would require a property tax increase, something he's adamantly against. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/09/residents-voice-support-for-knox-schools-funding/ 6

No-tax-hike budget recommended in OR (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Fowler)

The no-tax-hike budget proposed by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark S. Watson faces intense scrutiny and first reading in an Oak Ridge City Council meeting Monday. But there's an intensely debated issue debt payments on the city's $66 million renovation of its high school that leaves vast uncertainties and for months has been a hot-button topic in the city. City Council and the Board of Education remain deadlocked over exactly how that IOU is to be repaid. "W e are going to pay our debt, regardless," city finance director Janice E. McGinnis said Tuesday. Watson said a $2.9 million payment on the school debt is due by June 30. The final figure will likely be less, he said, because some of the bonds have variable interest rates. "W e have funds and bond reserves available while the school and city sort stuff out," he wrote in an email Tuesday. "Funds are not a problem this year and next." Other than that impasse, Watson describes his fiscal plan as a "pretty boring budget." "If you've seen last year's budget, you've seen this year's budget," he told council members Monday. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/09/no-tax-hike-budget-recommended-in-or/

Proposed Kingsport budget includes small hikes in water, sewer fees (TimesNews)
City Manager John Campbell is proposing a balanced budget for the next fiscal year with no property tax increase and a 2 percent pay raise for city employees. However, the proposed budget does call for small hikes in the water and sewer rates and the hiring of three part-time employees in the public works department. Another item of note, Campbells proposed budget includes no decision on how much more money, if any, to give to the Kingsport City School system, which has requested an additional $2.4 million from the city to balance its budget $520,000 of which would go toward the operational costs of the new STEM platform school. Campbell presented his proposed fiscal year 2013 budget to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen during a special called worksession Tuesday afternoon. The BMA has discussed the citys capital improvement plan and KCS budget at previous meetings. Tuesdays meeting included an overview of the citys general fund (administration, police, fire and parks and recreation) water and sewer funds and small miscellaneous funds, such as solid waste, fleet and risk management. (The budget) has been a tough process; tougher this year in some ways, Campbell said. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9046354/proposed-kingsport-budget-includes-small-hikes-in-water-sewer-fees

Knoxville City Council hints at support for hybrid pension plan (N-S/Witt)
It's not making a dent in the $138 million that the city owes to the unsustainable city employees pension fund, but Knoxville City Council is slightly closer to putting a referendum before voters this fall. On Tuesday council took a straw poll that showed support for what they've called a hybrid plan, which would change the retirement age, cost of living adjustments and other costly details of the employees pension fund to save money. "In order to support the hybrid plan," said Councilman Duane Greive, "I need to know what the hybrid plan is. I think we have to do the nuts and bolts." Greive, Finbarr Saunders and Marshal Stair voted for a defined contribution plan, kind of like the 401(k) many workers get in private enterprise. Mark Campen abstained, while Daniel Brown, Nick Della Volpe, Brenda Palmer, Nick Pavlis and George Wallace voted for the hybrid plan. The point of the discussions is to deal with the underfunded retirement plan for the city employees, which must be paid to the levels promised to retirees. After the so-called Great Recession, the markets holding the money for the pension took such a tremendous hit that it's expected to cost the city $14.4 million to match the fund's needs in 2012-13, an increase of $2.2 million from the current fiscal year. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/may/08/knoxville-city-council-hints-at-support-for-plan/

States Scramble to Regulate Fracking (Stateline)

Vermont lawmakers last week made an emphatic statement on the issue of fracking: Not in our state, at least not yet. In the final vote of its legislative session, the states House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill that would make Vermont the first state to ban hydraulic fracturing, the controversial method used to extract natural gas stored in shale deposits. The practice, commonly known as fracking, involves blasting millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and toxic chemicals deep into wells, freeing the gas. Vermont doesnt have any proven natural gas reserves, but geologists say that a shale formation in the states northwest corner is similar to the gas-rich shale across the border in the Canadian province of Quebec. The possibility that the state sits atop some natural gas adds meaning to a vote on an issue thats been hotly debated across the country and has grown increasingly politicized. This year alone, 24 states have considered at least 127 bills dealing specifically with hydraulic fracturing, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least seven states have 7

enacted regulatory laws, although none is as strict as the one in Vermont. Meanwhile, rulemaking continues at the agency level in several other states. Proposed rules deal with a range of issues, including chemical disclosure, protection of water quality and fees on the industry. http://www.stateline.org/projects/stateline/headlines/states-scramble-to-regulate-fracking-85899385716

Tennessee gets D+ for workplace support of new parents (Nashville Biz Journal)
Tennessee received a D+ today from the National Partnership for Women & Families. The grade is for the state's lack of support and protection for working parents that have recently had a child, the group said. "The birth of a child should be a joyous event for new mothers and fathers, not the cause of financial hardship or devastation," National Partnership President Debra Ness said in a news release. "Sadly, as this report shows, tens of millions of working parents throughout the country have no access to paid leave when a child is born and few if any other workplace protections beyond the minimum standards set by federal law. At a time when the majority of women are both caregivers and breadwinners, America's families expect and deserve much better." According to the group, women make up 48 percent of the workforce in the state, and 67 percent of Tennessee children live in families in which all parents work. More than 96,600 Tennessee women gave birth in 2009. Tennessee received some points for giving workers a longer period of leave to care for new babies than the 12 weeks provided by federal law. The Volunteer State also got points for laws that provide nursing mothers with reasonable break times and/or a place other than a bathroom to express breast milk. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/women_of_influence/2012/05/tenneessee-employers-almost-flunkin.html

Manufacturing's long-term shift to South appears over, report finds (CA/Bailey)

Electrolux's move from Canada to Memphis notwithstanding, the long-term shift of manufacturing to the South ended in 2000-2010, according to a new report that studied the geography of manufacturing in the U.S. The Brookings Institute Metropolitan Policy Program report -- "Locating American Manufacturing: Trends in the Geography of Production" -- also found that manufacturing for most metro areas, not including Memphis, falls into one of six broad categories: computers and electronics; transportation equipment; chemicals; machinery; food production; and low-wage manufacturing. Of the 366 metro areas studied, Memphis is one of 120 where manufacturing is diversified instead of specialized into one of the six clusters. In fact, of the top 100 metro areas, Memphis is one of just six cities where "miscellaneous" is the No. 1 type industry, comprising 13.9 percent of the city's industrial jobs. The paper industry is second at 12.8 percent and machinery is third at 10.5 percent. "Miscellaneous" industries include medical equipment and supplies, jewelry and silverware, sporting and athletic goods, toy and game manufacturing, office supplies except paper and sign manufacturing. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/09/end-of-a-trend/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Erlanger, assessor seek budget increases (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Haman)

Erlanger hospital's interim chief executive officer asked Hamilton County commissioners to restore the full $3 million they used to give the hospital for treating the poor and uninsured. The full $3 million for indigent care previously came through a sales tax agreement between the city and county, with each entity contributing $1.5 million. When that agreement ended last year, the county no longer picked up the city's share and the city declined to contribute $1.5 million. President and CEO Charlesetta W oodard-Thompson appeared before commissioners Tuesday as part of this year's budget hearings for the county's 2013 fiscal year, which will begin July 1. Last year the hospital's indigent care totaled about $82 million, and this year's projections show the possibility of the hospital reaching $92 million by June 30. "We don't have two levels of care," WoodardThompson said. "That means we have to offset what we're doing in uncompensated care." Erlanger lost $4 million in April, bringing its fiscal year losses to $17 million. Hamilton County commissioners didn't indicate whether they would support the request, though many of them signaled their support for recent leadership changes. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/erlanger-assessor-seek-budget-increases/?local

Pinnacle Airlines closes PinnPro division, cutting 900 employees (CA/Risher)

Pinnacle handling full time, workers Airlines Corp. said Tuesday it is ditching a 900-employee division that provides professional groundservices to 16 airlines at 11 American airports. Nearly 400 workers in Memphis, 330 part time and 68 including 10 managers, will be affected. The company notified PinnPro Professional Ground Services on Monday that it would wind down the operation by September as part of bankruptcy-related 8

restructuring. W hile the company previously said its overall downsizing would result in furloughs of about 450 pilots, this is the bankruptcy's biggest impact so far on the airline's home city. The decision comes less than a year after Pinnacle rebranded and expanded contract ground services under PinnPro for its own airlines, Pinnacle and Colgan, as well as Delta, American, United and US Airways or their regional partners. PinnPro services include customer handling and check-in, baggage handling, aircraft cleaning, facility cleaning, skycap and wheelchair services. The move isn't expected to affect Pinnacle's feeder flights for Delta Air Lines at Memphis International Airport, said Airport Authority president and CEO and Greater Memphis Chamber chairman Larry Cox. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/08/pinnacle-airlines-closes-pinnpro-division-cutting/ (SUB)

Pinnacle Will Close PinnPro Ground Div. (Memphis Daily News)

Pinnacle Airlines Corp. announced Tuesday, May 8, that it will wind down its PinnPro Professional Ground Services subsidiary over the next several months, leaving the companys ground operations restructured and much smaller. Leaders of the Memphis-based regional air carrier began telling those in the rebranded business unit Monday about the decision, which is the latest chapter in the companys restructuring and reorganization as part of federal bankruptcy court proceedings. W e said when we started the restructuring process that we would have to make tough decisions for our business to emerge from Chapter 11 (bankruptcy reorganization) stronger and profitable, a Pinnacle statement said. We are discontinuing unprofitable units as part of the reorganization plan and refocusing on our core business of flying. PinnPro was rolled out by Pinnacle executives during the Memorial Day holiday weekend in 2011 at the Regional Airlines Association annual meeting and didnt make it to the one-year mark. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/may/9/pinnacle-will-close-pinnpro-ground-div/

School superintendents from throughout state gather at MTSU (Daily News Journal)
Conference to share ideas on improving student performance Leaders from about 30 school districts from across Tennessee gathered Monday on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University for a two-day conference to share ideas on ways to improve student performance. The Tennessee Superintendents Colloquium featured discussions on Professional Learning Communities, a concept advanced by MTSUs College of Education that has helped several districts improve test scores and student comprehension. The PLC concept has been described as a process through which administrators and teachers work collaboratively to raise student performance. It encourages teachers and schools to develop best practices, then share the ideas with classrooms and colleagues throughout the district. We wanted to provide superintendents with some different ways of thinking, said presenter Robert Eaker, former MTSU education dean and a nationally known expert on the concept. The idea is to make sure students learn, rather than being simply taught. Its easy sometimes for teachers to stay in their silos in the classrooms, said Lana Seivers, current dean of MTSUs College of Education. Were exploring ways to bring teachers closer together, as a faculty, so we can be more collaborative. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120508/NEW S/305080025/School-superintendents-from-throughout-state-gatherMTSU?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p

Houston makes state's Top 10 (Commercial Appeal/Roberts)

Chattering and carrying-on was fine Tuesday at Houston High, after the school was ranked seventh in the state on U.S. News & World Report's best public high school list. Principal Leisa Justus got word first from a teacher who saw it on Twitter and shot her the tweet. "A few minutes later, I looked at a daily briefing I get on curriculum and instruction," she said. "My goodness, this must be true," she said to herself. Minutes after she tapped out an e-mail to staff, word had spread across the corridor and cafeteria in the Germantown school. Collierville High, 15 miles away, ranks ninth. The two Shelby County schools are the only two in West Tennessee in the top 10. "I just texted over there," former CHS principal Tim Setterlund said late in the day. "They didn't know about it. There's no big celebration there yet." This is the fourth year the magazine has compiled the online list, analyzing how well more than 22,000 schools in 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, do educating all their students, not just those headed to college. Nationwide, the School for the Gifted and Talented in Dallas is No. 1, followed by Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. The Top 10 in Arkansas includes No. 2 ranked KIPP Delta Collegiate High in Helena. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/09/houston-makes-states-top-10/ (SUBSCRIPTION) 9

Montgomery County School Board approves budget (Leaf Chronicle)

The School Board capped a meeting dominated by awards for students by approving the districts massive budget without discussion. Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Schools Director Mike Harris had already presented the full budget, which was made up of local, state and federal dollars, during two earlier study sessions. The County Commission will have to sign off on the budget in June for it to take effect. A roundtable meeting on May 5 will allow commissioners to quiz district staff on the particulars of the budget. That meeting will be held at 5 p.m. in the County Courthouse. Half of the 40-minute meeting was dedicated to presenting awards to a dozens of students and a few faculty members, which Board Chair George Giles said was evidence the district is doing its job. It is tremendous to see the product we're turning out, Giles said. You can't put a price on that. The board also reviewed a report on assessment training. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120508/NEWS01/305080083/Montgomery-County-School-Boardapproves-budget

Parents argue over Great Hearts charter proposal before board (CP/Garrison)
Though scores of parents are celebrating a Metro charter proposal as much-needed option for a school system that historically loses students to private academie, a competing faction that it would threaten racial diversity within the system. Great Hearts Academies, an Arizona-based charter organization that has proposed a network of five publicly-financed, privately-led schools in Nashville, took center stage at Tuesdays school board meeting, with more than 60 parents having a say in the debate before the board casts a final vote on 11 charter applicants by May 29. Martha Galyon, a parent of a rising kindergartener in the Hillsboro cluster, told the board she was quickly overwhelmed by the rising cost of private education in Nashville during a recent school hunt for her child. Her zoned public school has a great reputation, but the building is overcrowded. Her story is like so many others, Galyon said, adding that Great Hearts would have been a great option for us to have this year. Wearing stickers revealing their support for Great Hearts, a decidedly young crowd of parents Tuesday plead for approval of a charter that would represent new terrain for Nashville. In the past, charters in Nashville were restricted to serving only economically disadvantaged students. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/parents-argue-over-great-hearts-charter-proposal-school-board

Great Hearts charter school faces resistance in Nashville (Tennessean/Hubbard)

Officials with Arizona-based Great Hearts Academies charter school chain say they never have had resistance trying to start schools around Phoenix like theyre having in Nashville. After laws changed in Tennessee to lift a cap on the number of charter schools that can open, and also allow any student to enroll, Great Hearts targeted the Volunteer State and Texas to expand. But about 50 Metro school parents stood before a microphone at Tuesdays school board meeting, half asking members not to approve the charter schools opening in 2013. W eve never had coverage like this we just want to run schools, said Peter Bezanson, chief academic officer for the chain. Several parents against the charter, which is a public school but privately managed and offers a private school-like curriculum, said they feared Great Hearts is targeting affluent, white families in W est Nashville. That could cherry pick high-scoring students out of Metros traditional public school classrooms and be another reason families abandon standard public schools, they said. How do you expect zoned schools to succeed if you keep giving families like mine reasons to leave? said Carol Ballenger, a parent at JT Moore in Green Hills. I ask that you insist on amending Great Hearts application and require a certain number of seats be reserved for free or reduced lunch students. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/NEWS04/305090116/Great-Hearts-charter-school-facesresistance-Nashville?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tim W ebb resigns as Cheatham schools chief (Tennessean/Adkins)

Fighting back tears, Cheatham County director of schools Tim Webb told the school board Monday that he is stepping down. I have taken all I can take, said the former Tennessee commissioner of education, who apologized for being emotional. Some board members said they would not accept his resignation, and an emergency board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Board Annex on Elizabeth Street in Ashland City. Webb has made a number of changes in the Cheatham County district since taking office in November 2010, and some have been unpopular with the community. All principals and administrators had to reapply for their jobs this school year, and eight schools got new principals. Webb dismissed some longtime employees and brought in people he had worked with elsewhere. In addition, changes were made in the school calendar, including the 10

elimination of fall break and an abbreviated winter break. Support expressed Several board members expressed their support for Webb during Mondays meeting before his announcement. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/NEWS04/305080047/Tim-Webb-resigns-Cheatham-schools-chief? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Bradley

County

school

board

debates

new

science

wing

(Times

Free-

Press/Higgins)
Now is the time for the Bradley County school board to begin a savings account for a future science wing at Bradley Central High School, according to board member Troy Weathers. It's a good idea but now is not the time to begin setting aside $200,000 a year, according to board member David Kelley. A two-week debate on the issue came down to a 3-3 tie vote Tuesday. The board did approve a $65.5 million general fund budget for 201213 that includes a 3 percent raise for school system employees and contractor bus drivers. The board also approved a $3.2 million capital projects budget, half of which is scheduled for roofing and heating and air needs at various schools. It is the biggest capital projects budget in years, partly due sales tax revenue from construction spending after the April 27, 2011, tornadoes and from conservative budget measures by the board during the recession years, according to Director Johnny McDaniel. Weathers reminded the board it saved money annually for Bradley Central's Fine Arts Center. He proposed doing the same for a science wing. Walker Valley is on track for an expansion. Cleveland High School opened a science wing last fall. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/board-debates-new-science-wing/?local

North Carolina: N.C. voters OK ban on gay marriage (USA Today)

North Carolina voters approved a state constitutional amendment Tuesday declaring marriage is solely between a man and a woman, dealing a setback to gay-rights advocates. Approval means North Carolina becomes the 30th state with such a constitutional provision. The constitutional change solidifies a state law in place banning same-sex marriage. Supporters of the amendment, including the Rev. Billy Graham, 93, and the conservative Family Research Council, contended the amendment was needed to block legal challenges to the state law. The measure was put on the ballot after Republicans took control of the Legislature in the 2010 elections for the first time in 140 years Some voters in the Tar Heel state, which figures to be one of the critical swing states in the 2012 presidential election, got automated recorded phone calls from former president Bill Clinton urging defeat of the measure. Six states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriages. Members of President Obama's Cabinet weighed in this week on the issue. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday he supports same-sex marriage, one day after Vice President Biden said he is "absolutely comfortable" with same-sex couples having the rights of heterosexual couples. Obama supports most gay rights but has stopped short of backing gay marriage. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-08/north-carolina-primary-gay-marriage/54845514/

OPINION Charlie Daniels Political Cartoon: Open For Business (Knoxville News-Sentinel)
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Times Editorial: Picking on the poor (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

The Legislature's passage of a bill requiring eligible welfare applicants in Tennessee to submit to drug testing in order to qualify for benefits isn't expected, by the state comptroller's own analysis, to save Tennessee any money in the operations of the Department of Human Services. In fact, it's expected to impose new costs of approximately $100,000 to defend against a predictable lawsuit on constitutional grounds. So if the bill has a purpose, it must be lawmakers' spite for, and mean-spirited intimidation of, welfare applicants generally -- or legislators' willingness to pander on the worst stereotype of welfare applicants, never mind the economic hardships that usually drive people to seek welfare aid. With the apparent purpose of this bill so flawed and malicious, its passage also calls into question Gov. Bill Haslam's weak agreement to sign the bill into law, as his press secretary announced Monday. W hy, precisely, would Haslam give his approval to legislation that 11

effectively strips impoverished applicants for welfare of their constitutional 4th Amendment right to freedom from unreasonable searches? And why would Haslam bend to crass pandering against the state's neediest citizens -poor women with dependent children? Is it his and lawmakers' desire to further demean people already deep in dire circumstances? http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/09/picking-on-the-poor/?opiniontimes

Clay Bennett Political Cartoon: The Drug Test (Times Free-Press)

http://media.timesfreepress.com/img/news/tease/2012/05/08/120509_The_Drug_Test_t618.jpg? ba5b5b122dd3d37cc13d83e92a6a0ec0d5bfa32a

Editorial: Must schools ban 'gateway' books, too? (Tennessean)

Last week, the Sumner County school district removed John Greens award-winning young-adult novel, looking for alaska, from its assigned classroom reading list because a parent complained about a scene describing oral sex between a teenage boy and girl. Sumner is the second county in Tennessee to remove the book from class this year. In a country that categorizes children as chattel, with schools operating in loco parentis, teachers and school boards must respond to parental complaint. However, there are better, more responsible ways to respond to parental concerns than removing the assigned book. Offer that child an alternative title, for example, that fits his or her parents sense of appropriateness. While any book removal is disheartening, it is encouraging that book challenges and book bans have declined in the past several years, with 2010 having the fewest number of books protested since 1990, according to the American Library Association. There have been few challenges in Tennessee school districts recently. Apparently, our schools have been doing yeomans work in pre-screening their assigned reading, weeding out any book that might challenge the narrow definitions of good taste, and avoiding the expensive and unseemly task of removing a title from class. But the Sumner County action does raise an interesting question in light of Tennessees new mandate on sex conversation in schools. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120509/OPINION01/305090079/Must-schools-ban-gateway-books-too-? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnist: Schools: Effective Planning Begins With Data (M. Daily News)
Before we can achieve our vision of establishing a world-class education system, we must first understand the conditions of the two school districts and develop the capacity to remove any inconsistencies that exist between the current conditions and our overall goal. As chair of the assessment committee, the group responsible for providing support and information to the other seven subcommittees to enable them to make data-driven decisions as they draft plans for the merged district, I understand many individuals in the community have a wide variety of perceptions of each district, what is working and what is not. However, moving beyond perceptions into reality, using real data is a critical aspect of our work. As a result of the work of this committee, we know what currently exists, what needs to be changed and what needs to be added. It is clear that excellent programs exist in both districts. For example, Advanced Placement classes, honor classes, special education classes and vocational classes are programs and services with a special designation that function successfully in both school systems. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/may/9/schools-effective-planning-begins-with-data/

Editorial: Nation must face up to its obesity epidemic (Jackson Sun)

America faces an obesity epidemic costing hundreds of billions of dollars in health care expenses, higher health insurance premiums, lost productivity and absenteeism. Obesity is taking years off peoples lives and reducing their quality of life. Obesity in children is sentencing them to lives of medical dependency. Yet, except for a relative handful of people with serious medical conditions that lead to obesity, the problem can be controlled, but it will take more than individual willpower. That is the conclusion of a 478-page report from the Institute of Medicine part of the Washington-based National Academies released on Tuesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a three-day Weight of the Nation conference to highlight the nations obesity epidemic and focus on ways to beat the battle of the bulge. The traditional attitude toward obesity is that it is a matter of personal responsibility and lack of willpower. But that is an oversimplification of the problem and its solutions. In fact, as the new study illustrates, fighting obesity will take a many-pronged approach. No silver bullet or magical pill will melt away the nations fat problem. 12

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120509/OPINION/305090001/Our-View-Nation-must-face-up-its-obesityepidemic ###

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