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TUESDAY , MARCH 13, 2012 Senate delays vote on moun taintop removal ban (Associated Press) The Senate has voted to delay for three weeks a vote on a proposal to halt mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee. The decision came despite the objections of the bill's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Eric Stewart of Winchester, who called for a vote M onday evening. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Colliervi lle said the delay is aimed at findi ng a compromise on the measure, and not an effort to kill the bil l by holding it until relevant committees finish their business for the year. The measure seeks to deny permits that would alter any ri dgeline more than 2,000 above sea level. Stewart said he opposes a Republi can amendment attached that would continue to permit current practices. http:/ /www.tennessean.com/usatoday/ articl e/38784279?odyssey=mod|newswell|tex t|News|s Henry Co unty Repub licans give Haslam pat on back (Pa ris Post-Intel ligencer) Four Tennessee governors, including the state’s current chief executive, were honored at Saturday night’s appreciat ion dinner hosted by the Henry C ounty Republican Party. “I’ m having a great time working as go vernor,” Gov. Bill Haslam told his supporters during the event at the Don Ridgeway C onference Center at Paris Landing State Park. Haslam said one of the things he enjoyed most about his job was working with the men and women of the state’s National Guard. Haslam also took the opportunity to quiz the crowd about what they think a governor is supposed to do. Balancing the budget w as the first response Haslam got to his question. He replied by saying that this year’s budget is almost $1 billion less than last year’s budget. http:/ /www.parispi. net/articles/2012/03/12/news/l ocal_news/doc4f5e2b617ab5a6004 59376.txt Haslam would rather avoid making Occupy arrests (Associated Press/Johnson) Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday that he wants to avoid arresting Occupy Nashville protesters unless there is a flagrant violation of a new law intended to evict them from their camp near the state Capitol. The law, signed by the Republican governor, prohibits camping on state property that is not specifically designated for it. State troopers had an opportunit y to arrest 24-year-old Christopher Humphrey early Monday morning. He was maintaining his vigil at the group's camp on War Memorial Plaza. Humphrey said he was asked to come out of his tent. When he did, he said he stood in front of the tent and extended his arms to be handcuffed. "The officer very careful ly grabbed my arm , walked me about four paces ... and said that I w asn't being arrest ed," Humphrey said. "That was disappointi ng to me because I knew that I was going to be arrested." http:/ /www.tennessean.com/usatoday/ articl e/38778345?odyssey=mod|newswell|tex t|News|s More than just badges drives Girl Scouts (Tennesse an/Hall) Girl Scouts surveyed by Vanderbilt Universit y students said they not only feel the group helps them devel op personal and leadership skills for life but it also fills their time with fun activities and learning new things. The Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee released the findings Monday in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the national organization. Scouts met with Gov. Bill Haslam and Speaker of the House Beth Harwell. As part of a class project, students and researchers at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College interviewed about 700 girls on topics such as what they’ve learned, who their role models are and why, and how they’ve demonstrated leadership. “The value of Vanderbilt’s research is that it supports the work the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee has been doing,” said Agenia Clark, the group’s president and CEO. “That is making a difference in girls’ lives.” http:/ /www.tennessean.com/arti cle/20120313/NEWS01/303120060/More-than-just-badges-drives- Girl-Scouts? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

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TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012

Senate delays vote on mountaintop removal ban (Associated Press)The Senate has voted to delay for three weeks a vote on a proposal to halt mountaintop removal coal miningTennessee. The decision came despite the objections of the bill's sponsor, Democratic Sen. Eric StewartWinchester, who called for a vote Monday evening. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Colliervsaid the delay is aimed at finding a compromise on the measure, and not an effort to kill the bill by holding it urelevant committees finish their business for the year. The measure seeks to deny permits that would alter aridgeline more than 2,000 above sea level. Stewart said he opposes a Republican amendment attached twould continue to permit current practices.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38784279?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Henry County Republicans give Haslam pat on back (Paris Post-Intelligencer)Four Tennessee governors, including the state’s current chief executive, were honored at Saturday nighappreciation dinner hosted by the Henry C ounty Republican Party. “I’m having a great time working as governGov. Bill Haslam told his supporters during the event at the Don Ridgeway Conference Center at Paris LandState Park. Haslam said one of the things he enjoyed most about his job was working with the men and womof the state’s National Guard. Haslam also took the opportunity to quiz the crowd about what they thinkgovernor is supposed to do. Balancing the budget w as the first response Haslam got to his question. He replby saying that this year’s budget is almost $1 billion less than last year’s budget.http://www.parispi.net/articles/2012/03/12/news/local_news/doc4f5e2b617ab5a600459376.txt

Haslam would rather avoid making Occupy arrests (Associated Press/Johnson)Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday that he wants to avoid arresting Occupy Nashville protesters unless there iflagrant violation of a new law intended to evict them from their camp near the state Capitol. The law, signedthe Republican governor, prohibits camping on state property that is not specifically designated for it. Sttroopers had an opportunity to arrest 24-year-old Christopher Humphrey early Monday morning. He wmaintaining his vigil at the group's camp on War Memorial Plaza. Humphrey said he was asked to come outhis tent. When he did, he said he stood in front of the tent and extended his arms to be handcuffed. "The offivery carefully grabbed my arm, walked me about four paces ... and said that I wasn't being arrested," Humphsaid. "That was disappointing to m e because I knew that I was going to be arrested."http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38778345?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

More than just badges drives Girl Scouts (Tennessean/Hall)

Girl Scouts surveyed by Vanderbilt University students said they not only feel the group helps them devepersonal and leadership skills for life but it also fills their time with fun activities and learning new things. The GScouts of Middle Tennessee released the findings Monday in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of tnational organization. Scouts met withGov. Bill Haslamand Speaker of the House Beth Harwell. As part of aclass project, students and researchers at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College interviewed about 700 girls on topsuch as what they’ve learned, who their role models are and why, and how they’ve demonstrated leadersh“The value of Vanderbilt’s research is that it supports the work the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee has bedoing,” said Agenia Clark, the group’s president and CEO. “That is making a difference in girls’ lives.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/NEWS01/303120060/More-than-just-badges-drives-Girl-Scouts?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

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Hamilton County readies STEM school plan (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/PareHamilton County is m aking plans to move ahead with a high school focused on science, technology, engineerand math (STEM) this fall at Chattanooga State Community College. Officials said Monday they expect announcement from Gov. Bill Haslam next week about a $1 .85 million grant for the proposed new STEM scho"We believe we've been successful in that. We'll hear how strong our proposal was," County SchoSuperintendent Rick Smith said, speaking to the board of the city's Enterprise Center, which pushes high-teeconomic development in the area. Kelli Gauthier, the Tennessee Department of Education's communicatio

director, declined to comment on whether the county would get the grant. Smith said he's hopeful of starting was early as next week to ready 17,000 square feet at Chattanooga State. About $750,000 from business aindustry will finance the build-out of vacant space that's next to the new Wacker Institute, according to plans.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/12/a1-hamilton-county-readies-stem-school-plan/?local

Pellissippi State finalizes purchase of new East Knox campus (N-S/Boehnke)More w orkforce training and college access will soon be available in East Knox County, Pellissippi StCommunity College officials said Monday after finalizing purchase of the former Philips Consumer Electronbuilding. The 223,000-square-foot building on S trawberry P lains Pike just off Interstate 40 will open this fall wgeneral education courses and eventually expand to include degree programs like nursing and specializtraining for local industries. "For folks in that part of the county, having this campus in this new location allows to do important work in terms of providing access to education in East Knoxville, and it also allows us to do so

work-force partnerships," said Pellissippi State President Anthony Wise. Pellissippi has been seeking waysserve other parts of the county for several years, Wise said, pointing to a report the school compiled with censdata that shows 43.6 percent of residents in West Knox County have a college degree, compared with 22percent in the rest of the county.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/13/pellissippi-state-finalizes-purchase-of-n ew-east/ 

Blackman students go to work: State officials visit career and tech classes (DNJ)Blackman High opened its doors Monday to members of the state Department of Education and GeneAssembly to see what students are doing in Ca reer and Technical Education classes. Visitors heard student-presentations in the concentrations of entrepreneurship, Virtual Enterprise, marketing, radio/TV, graphic apersonal finance, health science and information technology. “We’ve been talking a lot in Nashville about Cand what the kids are doing,” said Sen. Jim T racy, who represents part of Rutherford County and serves on

Senate Education Committee. “For most of us, programs like this didn’t exist when we were in school.” The fstop was Sketch-It-Up the school’s cafe/print shop/bookstore. Students who work in the store take a seriesbusiness and accounting classes. Those chosen m ust work two six-week shifts as a mem ber of the managemteam. “I stay out of the way as much as I can and let them make the mistakes that come with runningbusiness,” said teacher Ann Stewart. “I try to set up as many real-world experiences as I can. How else will thlearn?”http://www.dnj.com/article/20120313/NEWS/303130008/Blackman-students-go-work-State-officials-visit-careetech-classes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Ed Department Opposes Publishing Teacher Evaluations (WPLN-Radio NashvillePerformance evaluations of Tennessee’s 64,000 public school teachers could be made public as early as tsummer. However, the state’s Department of Education is doing what it can to keep the information fro

becoming water-cooler gossip. While the New York Times and Los Angeles Times have recently publishteacher performance numbers in online databases, Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman sanews organizations should lay off. “We wouldn’t publish it ourselves, but w e m ay have to give it over and hope is that actually newspapers would think pretty carefully about what really is in the public interest whecomes to evaluation records.” Evaluation data – which includes a controversial 1-through-5 ranking – officially become part of a teacher’s personnel file. By law, that’s public information in Tennessee. But the stplans to require an open records requests to see it. “If you’re a teacher, it’s great to get performance feedbaBut that doesn’t mean you want the people you go to church with checking out what your performance reviewere. You don’t get to do that to them.”http://wpln.org/?p=349 25

Glitches found in Tenn. foster care payment system (Associated Press)

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Problems with an expensive new computer system used by the Department of Children's Services have ledsome foster care parents getting paid too much or not enough. The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/wmPj7that more than $2.5 million in duplicate and missed payments have been identified by the department, whichhurrying to address the problems w ith the system. The software system, called the Tennessee Fam ily and ChTracking System, was rolled out in 2010 for $37 million to streamline DCS operations and better track servicprovided to children in state care. The newspaper also reported last year that foster parents started experiencproblems with the system shortly after it was rolled out. An audit by the state comptroller released last wefound missing payments for monthly room and board and extra payments to some foster parents and nonprorganizations that arrange foster care. DCS in an internal review found $2.5 m illion worth of duplicate, missedinaccurate foster case payments. DCS spokeswoman Molly Sudderth said approximately $600,000 in duplicpayments still needs to be recouped from foster care providers and parents, which will be deducted from thfuture payments.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38779731?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

DCS works to correct computer system problems (WKRN-TV Nashville)The Department of Children's Services is working to recoup duplicate payments sent to foster parents aproviders due to a glitch with its computer system. The $37 million system called "TFACTS," or the TennessChild and Family Tracking System, was rolled out in the fall of 2010. However, since its launch there have beproblems. "There's a lot of frustration about TFACTS. Expectations were very high. This is an expensive systand people want a lot out of it," said Commissioner Kathryn O'Day. The main problems were that many fosfamilies were not getting paid the way they should have been. Some foster parents received too much monwhile others didn't receive payment. Commissioner O'Day didn't come on board until 2011. Soon after, srecommended DCS bring in someone w ith IT experience to help fix the problems.http://www.wkrn.com/story/17140984/dcs-works-to-correct-computer-system-p roblems

Memphis airports gain $2.75M in TDOT grants (Memphis Business Journal)The Tennessee Department of Transportation announced $19.2 million in aeronautics grants statewide aMemphis made out well, garnering $2.75 million. Memphis International Airport received $1.5 million in stand local grants for access control and CCTV system replacement. Charles W. Baker General Aviation Airpand General DeWitt Spain General Aviation Airport each received a $500,000 state and local grant for airfilighting replacements and upgrades. General DeW itt Spain Airport also got a $250,000 state and local grant fof lood control pumping system. The grants are made available through the Tennessee DepartmentTransportation’s Aeronautics Division, which administers federal and state funding to assist in the locatidesign, construction and m aintenance of Tennessee’s public aviation system.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/03/12/memphis-airports-gain-275m-in-tdot.html

TDOT constructing crossover lane after collapse (Associated Press)State highway officials are hoping that the construction of a c rossover lane on Interstate 75 in Campbell Couwill help with traffic flow after the collapse of an embankment last week. Both lanes of I-75 were closed lFriday after the collapse near mile marker 144. Motorists are currently using detour routes until the crossovlane is in place. Tennessee Department of Transportation officials say that when the crossover lane is compleone southbound lane on I-75 will be shifted into a normal northbound lane. The crossover lane is expected toin place by Friday. Officials say they don't know when I-75 South will re-open to normal traffic patterns. Tdetours come as families and college students head from the Midwest to Florida and other locations for sprbreak.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38782345?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Large pothole closes part of I-65 near Rivergate (WSMV-TV Nashville)A large pothole has forced crews to close part of northbound Interstate 65 nea r the Rivergate area. Officials sthe pothole was reported just before 6 p.m. near mile marker 96, at the Two Mile Parkway/Goodlettsville exit. not clear whether any vehicles have been damaged as a result of the hole in the road. At least one lane will blocked as crews work to repair the pothole, and the Tennessee Department of Transportation estimates roadway will be fully re-opened by 3 a.m. Tuesday.http://www.wsmv.com/story/17141428/large-pothole-closes-part-of-i-65-near-r ivergate

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Department of Corrections hiring (WSMV-TV Nashville)The Tennessee Department of Correction is holding a series of career fairs to fill an assortment of jobs. Theylooking for more than 400 employees for the B ledsoe County Correctional Complex, opening in January. Carfares are being held in Sparta tomorrow, at the Sparta Career Center and at the National Guard ArmoryCrossville next Tuesday. For more information about the career fairs visit the TDOC web site.http://www.wsmv.com/story/17138006/department-of-corrections-hiring

Haslam, Hensley Still At Odds Over “Don’t Say Gay” (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Governor Bill Haslam is reiterating his opposition to a controversial bill nicknamed “Don’t Say Gay.” The propois scheduled to come up in legislative comm ittee again Tuesday. Haslam has repeatedly told reporters he thinthe bill is a distraction, and that lawm akers have more important things to work on. Haslam says he’s also talka few times with Hohenwald Representative Joey Hensley, the proposal’s sponsor. HA SLAM: “He knows aunderstands that, as I’ve said before, is not something I think is particularly helpful or needed right now. Agaithink the state already has rules in place about what can be taught.” Despite Haslam’s concerns, Hensley sahe’ll continue to push the measure. He notes the proposal now up for discussion has been substantiamended from the version that drew protests at the state capitol a year ago.http://wpln.org/?p=349 63

'Policing For Profit' Leads To Two B ills In Legislature (WTVF-TV Nashville)

Tennessee lawmakers are gearing up for what could be an intense debate about police tactics. Two separbills tackle serious questions raised by NewsChannel 5 Investigates about a practice that critics call "policing profit." Our exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation exposed how some Tennessee police agencies routintarget out-of-state drivers for traffic stops, looking for large sums of cash that their agencies can keep on suspicion that it's drug money. "The intent of the bill is to make sure that all of those funds stay within lenforcement, just not specifically w ith the specific drug task force that is out seizing those funds," said RVance Dennis, R-Savannah. W hen Dennis comes to Nashville, he travels through the 50-mile stretch of Ihighlighted in our NewsChannel 5 investigation. At least three drug interdiction units work that area, but investigation found nine out of 10 stops occurring in the westbound lanes -- that's what agents call "the monside." "If they are concentrating solely on cash going one way, then they are abandoning the search for illesubstances coming in -- and those substances do a great deal of damage to the citizens and children of state," Dennis said.http://www.newschannel5.com/story/17139727/policing-for-profit-leads-to-two-bills-in-l egislature

Capitol Hill Conversation-Guns at Work (WPLN-Radio Nashville)A bill up for debate in the Legislature would allow gun owners to keep their fire arms in their car at work , as loas they have a permit and keep the gun locked up. But in a Senate committee last week, some of the statlargest employers spoke out against the bill. They say their rights as property owners trump the SecoAmendment rights of employees.http://wpln.org/?p=349 08

Proposed b ill for benefit of Beale Street unravels (Comm ercial Appeal/Locker)It was pitched as a way for Beale Street to raise money to promote itself: a 50-cent "historic landmpreservation fee" tacked on to every $50 on a customer's tab anywhere in the Beale H istoric District. It wouldcollected by the merchants, sent to the city of Memphis and put in a special account for Beale preservati

tourism and improvements, spent only with approval of a new board. Those are the key provisions in a mystbill filed in the state legislature and set for review Wednesday in a Senate committee. Sen. Reginald Tate, Memphis, said he was asked by lobbyist Melissa Bast to sponsor the bill on behalf of Beale Street merchants. did, filing SB 3508 with Rep. John DeBerry, D-Memphis, in late January. But issues developed: The Beale S trMerchants Association didn't want it and didn't ask for it. And the city of Memphis didn't know about it until it sof blew up last week. Now, all concerned say the bill is dead, for this year at least. "We are not for it. We've signed anything for us to be supporting it. We will not support it and we will not participate," Beale StreMerchants Association president Ty Agee said Monday.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/13/bill-for-benefit-of-beale-02/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Former congressman files voting rights lawsuit (AP/Schelzig, Burke)

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Former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis filed a federal class-action lawsuit Monday against Tennessee Gov. Bill Hasland two other top state officials seeking voting rights restored to him and others he says were wrongfully purgfrom the rolls. The lawsuit, which was filed in Nashville, comes days after the Democrat was not allowed to vin the primary because of a registration mix-up. Speaking at a news conference at Legislative Plaza M onday, former four-term congressman said he thought it was a s imple mistake and no one deliberately tried to keep hfrom voting. "But if we're talking about a person's right to vote, those mistakes should not be allowed to made," he said. Davis and his wife were turned away from voting at their local precinct in the Fentress Coucommunity of Pall Mall after being told their names were not on the list of eligible voters. Davis said he couldunderstand why his name was purged because he's voted in every election at that same precinct since 19http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38779839?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Davis sues state, claims he was 'unlawfully purged' from voter ro

(CP/Greenberg)Former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis showed up at his Fentress County polling place on Super Tuesday to cast a vbut was turned away because his name was no longer on the voter roll. Today, Davis filed a class-action lawsagainst state officials, accusing them of violating federal voting laws, including the 14th Amendment. Accordto the lawsuit, Davis was “unlawfully purged” from the Fentress County voter roll without explanationnotification. He was told by several election officials, including state coordinator of elections M ark Goins, thatcould register to vote at the polling place, then cast a provisional ballot. However, Davis said he understood t

to be a violation of Tennessee voter law, which requires residents to register 30 days before voting. Davis ahis attorney, George Barrett, estimated 70,000 purged voters in the state might have been in the same situatiBarrett said, “All we're asking the court to do is certify a class, expedite discovery [for any corrections that hato be made] ... and ask the court to review the [purging] process used, allowing us discovery to determiwhether or not the process is being carried out.”http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/lincoln-davis-sues-state-claims-he-was-unlawfully-purg ed-voterrolls

Super Tuesday voting glitch prompts Lincoln Davis lawsuit (Tennessean/Sisk)Former U.S. representative claims he was wrongly denied chance to vote Former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davissuing the state, claiming that he and thousands of other Tennesseans were illegally taken off voter rolls inrecent purge of old registrations. Davis filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court Monday that says st

election officials broke the law by not requiring more than 70,000 voters to be notified that their registrations hbeen canceled. Davis decided to sue after he and his w ife were turned away at the polls when they attemptedvote in the Fentress County Democratic primary last Tuesday. “We’re seeing what I believe (is) an attack individuals’ opportunity to be able to vote,” Davis said. Attorneys for Davis filed the suit Monday in U.S. DistCourt in Nashville. The suit calls for the reinstatement of more than 70,000 voter registrations that were purglast year. It does not seek monetary damages, other than lawyers’ fees. The suit names Gov. Bill HaslaSecretary of State Tre Hargett and Mark Goins, the state election coordinator, as defendants. Since taking offin 2009, Hargett and Goins have led efforts to remove inactive and incorrect registrations from Tennessee’s vorolls.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/NEWS02/303130036/Super-Tuesday-voting-glitch-prompts-Lincoln-Davis-lawsuit?odyssey=tab|topnews|text| News

Davis sues State of Tennessee after being denied vote (Times Free-Press/HamanFormer U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis filed a federal class-action lawsuit Monday against three Tennessee officiaalleging his voting rights were violated when he was turned away at the polls on Super Tuesday. DavisDemocrat who represented the state's 4th Congressional District from 2003 to 2011, was told he couldn't votehis Pall Mall, Tenn., polling place after an election worker could not find his name on the list of registered voton March 6, the suit alleges. Davis never received notice from the government that his name had been purgfrom the rolls and never requested removal, the suit said. "This lawsuit is not about me," Davis said instatement. "Rather, I'm taking this action to ensure that the State of Tennessee is required to restore Tennesseans to the voting rolls whose names were improperly removed." Davis said he wants the court to ruthat the state's actions were improper and to require the state to restore any eligible voters improperly purgsince state Coordinator of Elections Mark G oins took office in February 2009. M ore than 70,000 voters wpurged from the state's rolls during six months of 2011, the suit said.

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Lincoln Davis Suing State Over Being Denied Right to Vote (WPLN-Rad

Nashville)Former Tennessee Congressman Lincoln Davis is suing state officials he says denied his right to vote last weDavis doesn’t think the state does enough to notify people who have been purged from voter rolls. Voters a

typically purged from rolls if they move away, or die. In Davis’s case there was a mix-up over where he wregistered because he also had limited voting rights in a different county w here he owns property. “I don’t ththere was malicious intent. I don’t think anyone meant to harm me. I think there was a mistake. Obviouslymistake, not thinking there was a mistake that was made. But if we’re talking about a person’s right to vote, thomistakes should not be allowed to be made.” More than 70 thousand voters have been purged from state rosince last summer, and Davis figures a few am ong them could’ve been removed improperly, as he was. The sis calling for class-action status to include any such voters. But in response, State Election Coordinator MaGoins says right now Davis is in a “class of one.”http://wpln.org/?p=349 59

Former TN congressman files voting rights lawsuit (WSMV-TV Nashville)A former congressman says he was denied the right to vote, and he thinks thousands of other Tennesseans mhave been, also. Now, Lincoln Davis is taking the battle to court. The Tennessee Election Comm ission calls

clerical mistake that only happened to Davis because he owns property in two different counties. Davis sayshas voted in Fentress County since he moved there in 1995, but on Super Tuesday, when he and his wife wto cast their ballots at their local Pall Mall precinct, they weren't listed on the voter rolls. "For the first time in life. I was denied the right to vote, last Tuesday in my home precinct where I live," Davis said. Now, he has fia lawsuit and believes some of the 70,000 voters purged by the state might be in the same boat. A clerimistake made it appear that he was registered to vote in the general election in both Fentress and Pickcounties. So he was purged in Fentress County. "The administrator in Pickett County and Fentress County, thare both sick over it," said Mark Goins, Tennessee Coordinator of Elections. "We've apologized to Lincoln, ahe's suing."http://www.wsmv.com/story/17137256/former-congressman-files-voting-lawsuit

Troopers confiscate Occupy Nashville tents, but no arrests (City Paper/Hale)

The last remnants of the Occupy Nashville encampment are now gone after state troopers removed three teand a table from War Memorial Plaza early Monday morning. Although protesters were present at the time of action by officers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, no arrests were made and no citations issued. The troopwere enforcing a new law that makes it illegal to camp on the plaza. After signing the legislation just over a weago, Gov. Bill Haslam issued a warning to the protesters, giving them one week to clear the plaza. In a statemissued Monday morning, Occupy Nashville claimed that Chris Humphrey — the lone member who had remainon the plaza in a tent for three days after the deadline — was dragged out of his tent. They also declared thintent to maintain a constant presence on the plaza, as the new law only prohibits camping on the grounds.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/troopers-confiscate-occupy-nashville-tents- no-arrests

State troopers remove last Occupy tent in War Memorial Plaza (CA/Locker)Six months after the Nashville version of Occupy Wall Street began on the State Capitol's War Memorial Pla

state troopers cleared the only remaining protester's tent be fore dawn Monday, but organizers said their protewill resume without overnight camping. Troopers did not arrest or charge the last tent's occupant, ChristopHumphrey, a homeless man who had remained on the site after others had gradually cleared out, to test a nstate law banning encampments on most state property. State officials posted signs warning of the new acamping law March 2. Humphrey stood by watching while state workers cleaned the marble-floored plaza wpressure washers. Officials initially seized and inventoried property on the site, including the information tabsigns, flags and other protest material, but returned some of the property after discussions with a lawyrepresenting Occupy Nashville. They said the tent and the other property could be c laimed by its owners later.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/12/state-troopers-remove-last-occupy-tent-nashvilles/ (SUB)

Shelby County redistricting plan heads to court (C. Appeal/Connolly)

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Chancery Court Judge Arnold Goldin said earlier this year that he didn't want to get involved in the SheCounty Commission's long-running debate over drawing district maps for the 2014 elections and beyond. Bafter commissioners voted 7-5 Monday in favor of a single-member district plan, the issue appears to be headback to Goldin's court. For months, the 13-member commission has operated under the assumption that nvotes are required to pass a new district plan. However, when seven voted in favor of a plan known as "2Ronald Krelstein, a lawyer who has been hired to represent the county in a redistricting lawsuit, said he argue in court that state law says seven votes are enough to set the district lines. County Atty. Kelly Raypoints to a 1993 judge's order in state Circuit Court that says nine votes are required under the county chartHowever, Rayne isn't directly involved in the redistricting lawsuit because she stepped aside when a factioncounty commissioners sued the county.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/12/single-member-district-plan-fails-shelby-county-co/ (SUB)

Cooper, Corker Hesitant On Arming Syrian Opposition (WPLN-Radio Nashville)While some prominent lawmakers in Washington are calling for the U .S. to help overthrow the Syrian regithrough arms and airstrikes, Tennessee lawmakers say that’s currently a dangerous proposition. Senator JoMcCain is calling for arming the opposition and airstrikes on the Bashar al-Assad regime. The 2008 GOpresidential nominee says he’s more concerned about stopping the slaughter of the Syrian people than wreplaces the current government. But Nashville Democrat Jim Cooper says it would be brash to arm fighters tare still being studied by U.S. military and intelligence officials. “We don’t know the opposition. It’s not organizWe don’t know the safe areas to bomb. We don’t know that we wouldn’t be doing more harm than good. Libwas difficult. This is even more difficult.” Republican Senator Bob Corker agrees. He’s planning to introdulegislation requiring the Obama Administration to report to Congress about the m akeup of the Syrian oppositiwhich he’s says could be as many as 100 different groups.http://wpln.org/?p=349 02

Chuck Fleischmann returning funds to U.S. Treasury (Times Free-Press/Carroll)U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann on M onday said he would return nearly $80,000 in unused office funds to the UTreasury, capitalizing on a campaign promise to cut federal spending. "I challenge other members of Congreto do this because it's the right thing to do," Fleischmann said during a lunchtime speech at the Ham ilton CouPachyderm Club. "It's the people's money." Fleischmann promoted the occasion as a practice-what-I-preamoment, encouraging media coverage and flashing a massive $79,693.90 mock check as he made announcement. The money represents 5 percent of Fleischmann's annual office budget, which is about $million. Still, Fleischmann didn't cut everything. Several of the rookie Republican congressman's top staffreceived pay increases last year, records show. Fourth-quarter pay for chief of staff Chip Saltsman and senpolicy adviser Helen Hardin jumped about $3,000 from wh at they earned at the beginning of 2011, accordingLegistorm, a research organization that monitors congressional spending.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/12/chuck-fleischmann-returning-funds-to-treasury/?local

The fight for a VA hospital in Roane County (WVLT-TV Knoxville)Tommy True and Steve McBay stare at the four story building standing in front of them with fixed eyes. Their fare planted on the corner of the street, their minds are somewhere else com pletely. The sounds of an am bulanracing to the emergency room finally breaks their concentration. Dozens of people walk in and out of tHarriman Hospital now but in a year it will be starkly different. In 2013 the building will be empty, managememoving to a brand new hospital. McBay and True have a plan. W hy not invite the VA into the city, and turn wwould be completely vacant building into a place where veterans can get much needed health care. Somethithat, right now, is a two and a half hour drive. Right now a trip to the hospital means 50,000 soldiers havehead to Johnson City or Murfreesboro. "We've got some veterans here in the county that just dont even anymore," True a Veteran of the US Air Force told me, "it's just too tough on them." The Mayor of Harrimanoffering the building to the Veterans for a buck a day. "We've got a lot of veterans and its an ever growinumber." Mayor Chris Mason said, "we need to take care of our veterans and one located here betweJohnson City and M urfreeseboro just makes a lot of sense."http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/The_fight_for_a_VA_hospital_in_Roane_County_142393775.html

Feds give blueprint for state health insurance markets (AP/Alonso-Zaldivar)Fifty million people in America lack health insurance and the law says most of them must soon be providcoverage. But how to deliver? The Obama adm inistration Monday finalized an ambitious blueprint for new sta

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based markets that will offer consumers one-stop shopping along the lines of am azon.com. It may sound simenough, but getting there will be like running an obstacle course. The rule comes just two weeks before tSupreme Court takes up a challenge to the constitutionality of the law in a case brought by states. Magovernors and legislators are on the sidelines awaiting the outcome, even as time is running out to act. StartJan. 1, 2014, new health insurance markets called “exchanges” must be up and running in every state, tlinchpin of a grand plan to make health insurance accessible and affordable to those who now struggle to fiand keep coverage. Individual consumers and small businesses will be able to shop online for competitivpriced coverage, and many will receive government subsidies to help pay premiums. “More competition will drdown costs and exchanges will give individuals and small businesses the same purchasing power businesses have today,” Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/NEWS08/303130039/Feds-give-blueprint-state-health-insurancemarkets?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

States Keep Axes Sharpened (Wall Street Journal)States are moving to cut jobs and other spending to close budget deficits, even though their protracted fiscrisis is easing a bit in an improving economy. State governments are confronting a combined $47 billion gbetween projected revenue and costs for the fiscal year that starts in July, according to the Center on Budand Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. While that figure is high historically, it is less than half the budshortfall that states confronted a year ago and down from $191 billion three years ago. For the coming year states have projected deficits; that is down from 42 a year ago and 46 the year before. Tax receipts in mastates have risen in recent m onths as companies post higher profits and more people find jobs. And sevestates lowered their costs with earlier rounds of budget cuts. But for many, revenue gains haven't kept up wsurging costs for health care and pensions. Meanwhile, federal stimulus funding is drying up. That meaanother round of cuts for many states—a process m any economists cite as one reason the recovery remainsweak. The Florida legislature on Friday approved a $70 billion budget eliminating 4,355 jobs and reducfunding for hospitals and colleges to close an estimated $1.7 billion shortfall in the fiscal year that begins in Julhttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303717304577277772048523702.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Property tax collections to start downward trend (USA Today)More than five years after real estate prices began to tumble, Americans are finally starting to get property breaks on their devalued homes, a USA TODAY analysis finds. Cities, counties and school districts today coll20% m ore in property taxes than they did in 2006, when home values were one-third higher than now, but the tide is slowly starting to recede. Last year, property tax collections rose just 1.2% — and actually declined 0.when adjusted for inflation, according to data from the federal Bureau of Economic A nalysis. That's the first tiproperty tax collections have fallen below the inflation rate since 1995 and only the third time in 40 years. If downward trend continues, property taxes may actually bring in fewer dollars this year than last even befoadjusting for inflation. That hasn't happened since the Great Depression. Property taxes generated $436 billlast year, about $66 billion more than in 2006 when home values peaked. Public schools get about 40% of thmoney.http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/story/2012-03-12/property-tax-revenue-decline/53 501194/1

Putting Out Fires for a Fee (Wall Street Journal )When fires or medical emergencies beset this rural county in the Appalachian foothills, the volunteer fdepartment races to the scene—seemingly free of charge. But residents can't take their fire service for granmuch longer. Declaring it needs a hefty cash infusion to continue to operate, the Bell County Volunteer FDepartment this year started asking residents and businesses to pay a voluntary, annual subscriber fee, rangfrom $60 to $150. Without the help, "we've got two years, max," said David Miracle, assistant fire chiefgrowing number of volunteer fire departments, most of them in the rural South, are asking residents to pay additional fee for firefighting service, though not for such things as responses to medical emergencies, whmake up most fire-department calls. This throwback to a centuries-old practice comes as public budgets slashed and local donations dry up. Firefighters in South Fulton, Tenn., have let two homes burn to the grouover the past two years since the city commission started enforcing a rule that the department serve osubscribers who pay the $75 annual fee.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203961204577269591267553530.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

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TVA, EPA host Kingston ash spill workshops (Knoxville News-Sentinel)TVA and the Environmental Protection Agency are hosting a series of workshops on restoring the river systaffected by the 2008 Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill. The workshops will be held at Roane State C ommunCollege, 276 Patton Lane, Harriman, and each one will start at 6:30 p.m. Information will be provided on River System Evaluation and Cost Analysis Report on the effort to clean up the Emory River and surroundcountryside. Workshop dates and topics are: March 15, an overview of the River System Sampling and Analy

Plan. April 5, nature and extent of residual ash in the river system. April 19, presentation of data on fish, birand frogs. May 3, presentation of data on turtles, mam mals, plants and other organisms. May 17, ecological rassessment process and development of general response actions.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/13/tva-epa-host-kingston-ash-spill-workshops/ 

17 layoffs at ORNL (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Munger)Jeff Smith, Oak Ridge National Laboratory's deputy lab director for operations, confirmed Monday that layonotices were issued to em ployees in the lab's neutron sciences directorate. The layoffs are the latest in a serof actions to cut costs and optimize lab operations for tights budgets in the years ahead. The possibility of layohad been on the horizon for a while as lab managem ent evaluates the impact of previous cost-cutting measurincluding a series of voluntary departures. About 250 employees applied for the voluntary program last year amost were off the lab's payroll by year's end. Smith said Monday the newly announced layoffs are not direc

tied to budget cuts or shortfalls, but are being carried out as part of an effort to get the right "skill mix"employees moving forward at the Spallation Neutron Source. He said a mix of positions are being eliminatwith most of them coming from the accelerator division and those associated with hardware operations at tSNS.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/12/17-layoffs-at-ornl/ 

Tax Foundation: TN's beer tax among lowest in country (Memphis Biz Journal)Tennessee may be in the Bible Belt, but its taxes on beer — am ong those typically referred to as sin taxes — among the lowest in the country, according to The Tax Foundation . According to a map the Washington, D.based group recently shared, Tennessee's state excise tax on beer is 14 cents per gallon, the 11th lowest ratethe country and the lowest in the South, home to many of the highest rates. Alaska features the highest excitax on beer, at $1.07 a gallon, followed by Alabama ($1.05), Georgia ($1.01), Hawaii (93 cents) and SouCarolina (77 cents). The lowest beer tax rate is in Wyoming, at 2 cents a gallon, followed by Missouri (6 cen

and Wisconsin (6 cents). You can view the Tax Foundation's complete map here.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/tax-foundation-tns-beer-tax-among.html

Opry Mills plans reopening events (Nashville Business Journal)Simon Property Group , owner of Opry Mills mall, today announced a series of events to celebrate the grareopening of the regional shopping destination, which has been c losed since the flood of May 2010. "For neatwo years, local residents and Nashville visitors looking to enjoy the true Music City experience have beeagerly awaiting the return of Opry Mills," said Gregg Goodman, president of Simon subsidiary The Mills, innews release. "Opry Mills is coming back strong with an impressive list of stores, restaurants and entertainmvenues, enhancing the local economy through new job creation and increased tourism." Events kick off on tmall’s official reopening day, March 29, with a 9:30 a.m. The celebratory events in the subsequent days aweeks include: A grand reopening "super-sale weekend" April 13 through 15

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/03/12/opry-mills-plans-reopening-ev ents.html

School board to review charges against teacher caught in tirade (CP/Garrison)The Metro school board could finalize charges Tuesday against the McGavock High School teacher whobizarre and scary classroom outburst 18 months ago generated national attention and more than 180,000 hitsYouTube. If charges were found true, Wood would face termination and dismissal from the district. “It’s one sin the process,” Metro attorney Mary Johnston said. On Oct. 8, 2010, M cGavock High A lgebra II teacher Don(Brian) Wood unleashed a profanity-laced tirade at students, threw chairs and knocked over tables, forcing exit from the school via ambulance after an apparent nervous breakdown. The episode (a portion of which cbe seen via a msnbc.com report here) went viral, creating a firestorm, after Wood’s students recorded toutburst and posted it on the Internet. According to one of several charges against W ood, it was the teac

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himself who asked his students to use their cell phones to videotape the classroom. “Your aggressive actioreceived over 180,000 YouTube hits and created national media attention that negatively affected the schdistrict,” a Metro letter sent to Wood two w eeks ago reads.http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/school-board-review-charges-against-teacher-caught-2 010-youtube-tirade

YouTube video leads to teacher's dismissal a year later (Tennessean/Hubbard)

A Metro Nashville teacher who was recorded yelling, flipping over tables and then chasing students dowhallway a year and a half ago will face steps to fire him at tonight’s school board meeting. Director of SchoJesse Register is asking the school board to certify incompetency charges against Donald Brian Wood so tdistrict can move forward to fire him. Wood became a YouTube sensation in October 2010 after McGavock HSchool Algebra II students m ocked him and then recorded his outburst. A relative said he had a nervobreakdown during the incident. A dismissal letter from the district to Wood, dated last month, said Wood askhis students to video his outburst on their phones, which eventually drew 180,000 YouTube hits. His outbuincluded telling students to shut up and that he had started a fire in the boys bathroom a few days earlier. then turned over tables, jumped on a file cabinet, threw a chair and chased some students down the hall, rippup posters along the way, according to the dismissal letter. Metro Schools spokeswoman Meredith Libbey sMonday health privacy laws prevent the district from divulging why the termination process took so long.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/NEWS04/303120061/YouTube-video-leads-teacher-s-dismissal-year-later?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ew s

Chattanooga realtors slam proposed school rezoning (Times Free-Press/Hardy)The Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors is against the recently proposed school rezoning in easteHamilton County. In an open letter to school board officials, Ham ilton County commissioners and the coumayor, the Realtors board called the plan "arbitrary" and "hastily prepared without public input." "Plans doneed to be made knee-jerk," said association President Mark Hite, who added that association board membehave been attending school board meetings to understand the issue better. The letter urged government officito "step back, study the problem, work with the community and craft a long-term solution." It maintained trezoning would cause property values to drop, disrupt family life and dissuade businesses from moving to tarea. Hite said the school system needs to plan the rezoning further in advance so fam ilies can know where thchildren will attend school when they invest in a house. Under the proposed rezoning, children could be enrolin new schools as early as next fall.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/12/chattanooga-realtors-slam-proposed-school-rezoning/?loca

School board backs McIntyre's budget plan (Knoxville News-Sentinel/McCoy)Knox County school board members are fully on board with Superintendent Jim McIntyre's proposal to increathe school system's budget by 18.9 percent over the next five years. Now, they said at Monday's boaworkshop, the task will be getting the community on board to support it, too. "The 10 of us are going to the bambassadors to explain this to the community," said Indya Kincannon, who represents the 2nd District. "If tcommunity understands it, I think, they will be 100 percent behind it." McIntyre's proposal, which he publintroduced for the first time Monday, would take the current budget of $384.67 million to an end budget in 2017$457.55 million. He is proposing to add $35 million over fixed costs the next five years, which, he says, weffectively improve student outcomes and achievement. Monday's News Sentinel story incorrectly reported percentage of the superintendent's proposed budget increase. The 2013 budget proposal, outside of McIntyr$35 million request, would be about a $12.5 m illion increase over the current budget, which makes up about twthirds of the county's overall spending budget.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/12/school-board-backs-mcintyres-budget-pl an/ 

3 meth cases net 7 people in Williamson County (WSMV-TV Nashville)Three separate cases have seven people facing methamphetamine-related charges in Williamson Counaccording to the sheriff's office. A 21-year-old Franklin woman was arrested Feb. 24 after deputies servedsearch w arrant at her home on Trinity Road. The SWAT team and deputies raided her home during the eamorning hours and found evidence of recent meth cooks and safely removed the dangerous substances from property. Chelsea Ladd was arrested and charged with promotion to manufacture methamphetamine. Shecurrently out on bond. M arch 2 arrests Deputies arrested four people March 2 after they answered a burglary

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progress call on Bending Chestnut Road. Deputies found evidence of recent meth cooks in an abandoned houon the property. Stevie Baker, 22, and M atthew King, 19, both from Franklin, William Ray, 37, of Arrington, aTabitha Raines, 33, of Columbia were charged with the promotion of methamphetamine m anufacture.http://www.wsmv.com/story/17138317/3-meth-cases-nets-7-people-in-williamson-county

Illinois: Governor W ill Appeal Denial of Disaster Relief (Associated Press)Gov. Pat Quinn said Monday he would appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denialassistance to homeowners affected by the southern Illinois tornado. Mr. Quinn says Illinois is doing everythin

can to help communities hit by storms on Feb. 29, including Harrisburg, where seven people died and 98 homwere destroyed. FEMA says there is enough private insurance and other resources for Illinois to recovMissouri was also denied FEMA aid, and Gov. Jay Nixon said he was disappointed. Homeowners hit by storm in parts of Indiana and Kentucky were approved for FEMA help.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/us/illinois-governor-will-appeal-denial-of-disaster-relief.html? _r=1&ref=todayspap er(SUBSCRIPTION)

Texas: Texas Law Requiring Voter IDs Is Blocked (Wall Street Journal)The U.S. Justice Department on Monday blocked Texas from enforcing a law that requires voters to show staissued photo identification at the polls, saying it would disproportionately affect H ispanics. The agency's movelikely to fan the flames around the issue nationally, as state legislatures consider toughening voter-ID laws in

election year. Republicans argue that requiring voters to show IDs will help combat fraud; Democrats claim tmeasures are designed to make it harder to vote for minorities, the elderly and other groups who tend to baDemocrats. Texas is one many jurisdictions, mostly in the South, required to get permission from the JustDepartment or judges in the District of Columbia federal court before making changes to voting laws. Trequirement applies to s tates that were found by the U .S. to have restricted the opportunity to vote. The JustDepartment said that Hispanics registered to vote in Texas are considerably less likely to have drivers licensor state-issued IDs than other voters, citing data supplied by Texas in its bid to w in clearance for the law passlast May.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577277533241906816.html?mod=ITP_pageone_2(SUBSCRIPTION)

West Virginia: West Virginia tackles retiree health costs (Stateline)

West Virginia has become the first state to pledge tax revenue to help finance its retiree health care burdenmajor development in states’ efforts to pay down their soaring health benefit liabilities. In the session that endSaturday (March 10), lawmakers approved legislation proposed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin pledging $million a year in personal income tax collections to help reduce the gap between what the state promised to pits retired employees for health care and what it set aside to meet those obligations. West Virginia’s retiree heacare debt, which had reached $10 billion, was one of the highest per capita burdens in the country. Tombsays the health care obligation was the last big debt confronting West Virginia, jeopardizing the strength of tstate’s finances. “We’ve struggled for the last three or four years to find a solution,” he told Stateline. “Now, as as I know, we’re the first in the country to address it.” It is rare for a state to tackle its unfunded long term retihealth care problem, let alone earmark a dependable stream of tax revenue to reduce the liability. In 2009, states contributed nothing to their health care benefit fund, according to a review by the Pew Center on States, Stateline’s parent organization..http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=63 8346

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OPINION

Bill Haslam: Com prehensive safety plan attacks crime in Tennessee (TennesseanOne of state government’s primary responsibilities is to keep citizens safe, and while we continue to ma

progress on the public safety front, we certainly are not where we should be. Tennessee ranks fourth in tnation for v iolent crimes. Domestic v iolence makes up more than half of all reported crimes agaTennesseans, and prescription drug abuse and trafficking are rampant statewide. Last year, I created a PubSafety Subcabinet Working Group consisting of 11 state departments and agencies that all play a role in pubsafety issues, including our Health and Mental Health agencies. It is significant that these diverse stdepartments and agencies have worked together, efficiently coordinating efforts and moving in the sadirection, to propose and implement a large-scale plan. With input from more than 300 public safprofessionals and stakeholders across the state, the working group introduced a specific and targeted planserve as a “road map” to reduce crime in Tennessee. The working group identified three specific priorities twould have the m ost immediate impact. They include: significantly reducing drug abuse and drug traffickicurbing violent crime; and cutting the rate of repeat offenders.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120313/OPINION03/303130018/Comprehensive-safety-plan-attacks-crimTennessee?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Editorial: State can stay on top with better schools (Jackson Sun)You’ve heard the old saying that perception is reality. If only it were so, at least on the up side. Neverthelerecently released poll results show that public perception of Tennessee is highly favorable, with the state comin third, right behind Hawaii and Colorado. This should be welcome news for the state’s tourism industry. Bualso suggests a great opportunity for Tennessee in other areas such as economic development. Public PoPolling conducted a random, automated poll to m easure public perception of the nation’s states. The com merccompany conducts polls on various issues such as politics and public policy. The poll was conducted duringfour month period ending in February and surveyed 700 registered voters. Tennessee earned the third highrating with 48 percent of responders saying they had a positive perception, 38 percent were neutral and only percent had a negative perception. The state did not request the polling or have any input or involvement. Thisgood news for the state’s multi-billion dollar tourist industry and confirms much of what we already know ab

our state. The larger issue is that public perception of Tennessee could have broader implications. Tennesshas much to offer, and state and local governments have plenty of good news to share that can help attraresidents, employers and investment dollahttp://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120313/OPINION/303130002/Our-View-State-can-stay-top-better-school

Editorial: Lawm akers can find compromise on firearms bills (News-Sentinel)The standoff between gun-rights advocates and business interests over the so-called "guns in parking lots" bithe Tennessee Legislature could end if lawmakers come to their senses and take advantage of a comprommeasure. A second firearms bil l that prevents employers from requir ing gun ownership disclosure fremployees should be an easier matter to settle. The National Rifle Association drafted both bills and along wthe Tennessee Firearms Association is resisting any compromise effort. Law enforcement agencies, educatoand some of the state's largest employers want to halt the bills. The bills face key committee votes this we

The "guns in parking lots" bill would allow employees to bring guns to work, even if a business bans them froits property, as long as the weapons are left in a locked private vehicle in the employer's parking lot during wohours. The law would apply to both public and private employers. Supporters of the law claim the m easure woallow workers to defend themselves if necessary while commuting. Opponents counter that the law w ould violbusiness's property rights and increase the likelihood of workplace violence. The E.W . Scripps Co., which owthe News Sentinel, bans firearms on its property.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/13/editorial-lawmakers-can-find-compromise-on-bills/ 

Times Editorial: An end to vote suppression (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)The privilege of voting is so fundamental an American right that any attempt to strip an individual of thprerogative undermines the nation's core values. Highly partisan legislative initiatives to make it difficult

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impossible for certain voters -- especially the poor and minorities -- are currently underway. Fortunately, thare determined individuals and agencies working diligently to halt those heinous actions. The latest vosuppression initiatives include state laws requiring voters to show government-issued photo identification at thpolling station. Legislative sponsors and supporters of voter ID laws say that such a requirement would insuthe integrity of elections and reduce the possibility of fraud. Nonsense. There's no need for such laws. Vofraud is so rare that election officials are hard-pressed to recount a successful incidence of it Voter ID biinvariably sponsored by Republicans, are designed solely to enhance the GOP vote. They do so because thdisproportionately affect minority and poor voters -- those most likely to vote for Democrats and those most likto have difficulty obtaining the required IDs in rural counties without drivers' license centers.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/12/0313b-t1-an-end-to-vote-suppression/?opiniontimes

Editorial: In unity plan, kids come first (Comm ercial Appeal)The proposed structure of the unified school district contains what suburbanites want. The Transition PlanniCommission has set the framework and structure for a unified school district that addresses many of tconcerns of those who say bigger is not better. If the state Department of Education and the Shelby CouUnified School Board approve the M ultiple Achievement Paths model, parents will see their children educateda distr ict that won't be micromanaged. It wil l be a distr ict that will give some schools varying degreesautonomy in matters such as hir ing teachers and instructional programs. We realize that the suburbmunicipalities are set on a course to create their own school systems, but a detailed look at the structure tTPC is proposing leads to the ques tion: Why continue that break-away course? Nothing is going to change at suburban schools. The same teachers and principals will be in place. Students will attend the same schools.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/13/editorial-in-unity-plan-kids-co me-first/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: Fowlkes' nomination (Commercial Appeal)When the Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony Wednesday afternoon on Criminal Court Judge JoFowlkes Jr.'s nomination to fil l a judge's seat on the U.S. District Court in Memphis, we hope they expeditiously to move the nomination to a vote by the full Senate. President Barack Obama nominated Fow lkin December to replace U.S. Dist. Judge Bernice B. Donald, who became a judge on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Coof Appeals on Oct. 29. The confirmation process for judges can be slow -- and sometimes is made even slowbecause of partisan politics. Fowlkes has a range of experience in the judicial and government sectors, includserving as a Criminal Court judge since 2007, which makes him a worthy candidate for the federal judgeshWith caseloads growing in the U.S. District Court's Western Tennessee District, the vacant seat left by Donaneeds to be filled as quickly as possible. To help with the heavy caseload, three federal judges from Michigare hearing district cases under a Special Visiting Judges program.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/13/editorial-fowlkes-nomination/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

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