THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2011 The race is on to lift schools (Tennessean/Hubbard)

New education laws take effect this year The first thing parents will notice about their childrens schools this year is the sense of urgency to improve. At least, thats what Gov. Bill Haslam wants them to see. And hes pointing to a long list of reforms that encourage it. If its your child and we can make an improvement that helps, do you want to wait one more year? he said Wednesday. Education laws passed months or years ago will affect students starting school this month today for Williamson County and Metro Nashville. The state is moving at warp speed in an effort to ensure more effective teachers and high school graduates who can compete with peers in other states and countries. Local school boards are joining the effort with policies shaping the learning environment and protecting students from outside influences while allowing the same technology they use at home. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/NEWS04/308110068/The-race-lift-schools?odyssey=mod| newswell|text|News|s

US education secy. says Tenn. courageous in reform (Associated Press/Johnson)

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan on W ednesday applauded Tennessee for what he called courage in making education changes and said the state can "help lead the country where we need to go." Duncan took part in a panel discussion that included Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and state Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman at a Nashville middle school before heading to a roundtable with school administrators and business owners from rural counties. He said some states talk about education reform, but Tennessee is taking initiative. "I just love what I see here," Duncan said after the roundtable. "What I see is courageous leadership at the top. You guys are taking on the tough issues in ways that frankly I wish more states were." Recent changes in state law such as a measure that would make it tougher for teachers to obtain and keep tenure allowed Tennessee to win $500 million in the national Race to the Top education grant competition. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37186221.story

Haslam says immoral Appeal/Locker)

education

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The education achievement gaps between black and white students and students of different family-income levels in Tennessee are "immoral" and will have to be closed if the state is to advance, Gov. Bill Haslam said Wednesday. Speaking at a Nashville forum with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and other education leaders, the governor said his administration is "committed to closing" the gaps. His state education commissioner, Kevin Huffman, moments earlier called the achievement gaps between poor and more affluent children and between African-American and white children "astounding and unacceptable" in Tennessee. Haslam followed, saying: "I'll go further than that: Those gaps are immoral, and if we want to change our state, that's what we have to change." The forum at Nashville's West End Middle School marked the first anniversary of Tennessee winning $500 million in U.S. Department of Education "Race to the Top" funding. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/10/tennessee-gov-haslam-says-immoral-education-gaps-m/

U.S. Education Secretary says TN schools should set bar high (City Paper/W oods)
During a morale-boosting visit to Nashville Wednesday, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan challenged Tennessees schools to become the fastest-improving in the nation. Tennessee is well below the national average in just about every indicator, so there are many states that are higher performing, Duncan said at West End Middle School. That is a reality. But this state is one of a handful that might be uniquely positioned to be one of the fastest improvers, so that has got to be the aspiration here. During a panel discussion with Duncan, Gov. Bill Haslam called the wide gap in Tennessee between the achievement scores for white and black

students immoral. In Tennessee, we are really committed to closing that achievement gap between white students and students of color, the governor told reporters later. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/us-education-secretary-says-tn-schools-should-set-bar-high

U.S. education chief challenges Tenn. to improve schools quickly (TN/Hubbard)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sat in a Nashville school auditorium W ednesday and challenged Tennessee to become the fastest-improving state in the country. The states promise to make drastic changes in schools made it a $500 million, first-round grant winner in President Obamas Race to the Top competition. Most of Tennessees changes are visible starting this school year, and Duncan encouraged school leaders and teachers to continue that momentum. Tennessee is well below the national average in just about every indicator, so there are many states that are higher performing. That is a reality, said Duncan, who visited W est End Middle School. But this state is one of a handful that might be uniquely positioned to be one of the fastest improvers, so that has got to be the aspiration here. Among the most important efforts is raising graduation rates, since about 16,000 students in Tennessee annually dont make it from ninth grade to their graduation ceremony, Duncan said. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/NEWS04/308110050/U-S-education-chief-challenges-Tennesseeimprove-schools-quickly

Duncan challenges state to back education reforms (Times Free-Press/Hardy)

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan challenged Tennessee educators and policymakers Wednesday to continue reforms and become the fastest-improving state in the union. "It might not be the highest-performing state tomorrow, but you could be the fastest-improving state in the country," Duncan told a crowd at Nashville's West End Middle School. "You give me and you give the entire country reason to be very, very hopeful." Duncan attended Wednesday events with Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman to mark the state's one-year anniversary of receiving about $500 million in federal Race to the Top money for its educational reform efforts. The nation's top education leader lauded recent reforms, including the implementation of a teacher evaluation system and the revamping of statewide assessments to be more accurate. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/11/b1-duncan-challenges-state-to-back-education/?local

US Education Secretary Participates In Round Table (WTVF-TV Nashville)

The U.S. Secretary of Education issued a challenge to school leaders in Tennessee: to become the fastest improving state in the country. Secretary Arne Duncan joined the Governor Haslam, state and local education leaders at West End Middle School for a forum Wednesday morning. The No Child Left Behind law has classified many schools in the state as failing. Local leaders said the requirements are unrealistic and do not reward the growth students are making. "The law is very, very punitive," Secretary Duncan said. "There are about fifty ways to fail. The only reward for success is not being labeled a failure. I think there's something fundamentally wrong about that." That's why Duncan said he hopes states apply for a waiver. State leaders have already expressed their intentions to become one of the applicants. It would exempt school districts from many of the federal government's strict requirements, but still comes with strings attached. http://www.newschannel5.com/story/15244801/us-education-secretary-participates-in-round-table

US education secy. says Tenn. courageous in reform (WSMV-TV Nashville)

The nation's top education leader paid a visit to Nashville Wednesday on the day before Metro students return to school. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan met with Governor Bill Haslam, parents and teachers to talk about Tennessee's struggles in the classroom. Tennessee is well below the national average in just about every area of education, but today Duncan discussed areas where he says the state is positioned to make some dramatic improvements. During the visit today at West End Middle School, leaders pointed out that among the biggest problems in Tennessee are achievement gaps between black and white students and graduation rates for college-ready students. Duncan says Tennessee seems willing to make serious improvements while other states defend the status quo. Last year, Tennessee was awarded $500 million in federal Race to the Top money to reform its schools. http://www.wsmv.com/story/15226510/us-education-secretary-to-visit-nashville-wednesday

NCLB W aiver Should Have Only a Few Strings Attached, Duncan Says (WPLN)
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says Tennessee is well-positioned to receive a waiver to sidestep parts of the federal No Child Left Behind education law. Duncan was speaking in Nashville alongside Governor Bill Haslam, and says such a waiver should have only a few strings attached. Under the current law, by 2014 one hundred percent of students are supposed to be at their grade level in reading and math. Any less, and the state 2

would be deemed failing. Unlikely to make that goal, Tennessee and many other states are asking for a federal waiver. Duncan says officials are still working out details; Haslam and the state education commissioner have said the waivers shouldnt have a lot of strings attached, and Duncan says he http://wpln.org/?p=29550 agrees.

Corker speaks about No Child Left Behind waiver (WBIR-TV Knoxville)

State and US Leaders gathered in Nashville to talk about education in Tennessee. Governor Bill Haslam, State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman and US Education Secretary Arne Duncan met with rural school administrators. Earlier this week, Duncan announced the Obama administration is giving states the option of a waiver on the No Child Left Behind Law. To get a waiver, states have to agree to education reforms the white house approves of such as tougher teacher evaluations. Last month, Governor Haslam asked for a waiver for Tennessee. Senator Bob Corker was in Jefferson County on W ednesday. He told 10News what he thought about the state's request for the waiver. "When we do things at the federal level, we sort of do it on a one-sizefits-all basis, and a lot of times, most times, state governments are much better at carrying out more tailored efforts toward things like eduction. So I think we should let Gov. Haslam and the general assembly do the things they are the most beneficial to the students of this state," said Corker. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/179677/2/Corker-speaks-about-No-Child-Left-Behind-waiver

Standards of student proficiency vary widely (Washington Times)

Proficient is relative.Across the country, student performance on standardized reading and math tests is worse than most states lead parents to believe, according to a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics, an arm of the federal Education Department. Under current law, states set their own benchmarks for student proficiency, but those bars are often far below the standards used by the federal government. Only Massachusetts meets the federal threshold, according to the report Mr. Duncan plans to reward states such as Tennessee with waivers from the No Child Left Behind education law, which remains the law of the land despite widespread agreement it isnt working. Under the law, schools are labeled as failing if they dont meet the stateestablished benchmarks in reading and math. States such as Tennessee that summon the political courage to raise standards are punished under NCLB by having more of their schools dumped into the failing category. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/10/standards-of-student-proficiency-vary-widely/

Haslam wants Amazon to collect sales taxes (Tennessean/Sisk)

Governor favors deal by year's end Gov. Bill Haslam said Wednesday that he would like to have questions about Amazons tax status resolved by the end of the year, preferably with the online retailer collecting sales taxes from Tennessee consumers. Wed like to work out some arrangement that works for them to stay and grow in Tennessee and yet for us to collect the sales tax that we need, Haslam said. We would hope to do something prior to the legislature coming back in January. Questions about Amazons tax status have been mounting as the company has rolled out plans this year to open distribution centers in Lebanon, Chattanooga and Cleveland. The centers represent Amazons first physical presence in Tennessee. Some lawmakers have argued that this should force Amazon to start collecting sales taxes under rules set out two decades ago to distinguish catalog companies from traditional retailers. Amazon argues that it should not have to collect taxes because it does not have any storefronts in Tennessee. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/NEWS0201/308110038/Haslam-wants-Amazon-collect-salestaxes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee Seeking EPA Waiver With Refinery Shut, Newspaper Says (Bloomberg)
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam is asking the Environmental Protection Agency for a waiver to sell winter-grade fuel in Shelby County, where Valero Energy Corp. (VLO)s Memphis refinery remains shut after a fire last week, the Commercial Appeal reported. Haslam, a Republican, and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat, asked the agency to waive summer fuel restrictions to free up more gasoline supply in the area, the newspaper said, citing a letter Cohen sent to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-10/tennessee-seeking-epa-waiver-with-refinery-shut-newspapersays.html

EPA waiver requested to prevent gasoline shortage in W. Tennessee (CA/Sullivan)

West Tennessee faces an imminent shortage of summer-grade gasoline after the explosion and fire at the Valero refinery last week, prompting officials to ask the EPA Wednesday for a waiver to sell winter-grade fuel in Shelby County despite air quality concerns. W holesale gasoline distributors and tanker truck drivers are working 3

overtime to bring in fuel from other terminals, but shortages at some retail outlets can be expected in the next few days, according to the Tennessee Fuel and Convenience Store Association. Both Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to grant a waiver to the summertime fuel restrictions in Shelby County to make more gasoline available. In his letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Cohen said: "With a metropolitan area of more than one million people and as one of the largest freight distribution hubs in America, Memphis relies upon a significant supply of gasoline. "Without a waiver from EPA, my constituents will struggle to get to their jobs, schools and doctors." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/10/epa-waiver-requested-prevent-gasoline-shortage-wes/

Valero Fire Creating Possible Gas Shortage (WREG-TV Memphis)

High gas prices are irrelevant if there is no fuel to pump. It's a reality that could be right around the corner for those in Shelby County. "I think that's a terrible thing," said Johnny Ware, as he filled up his truck with gas. A fire at the Valero Refinery last week brought gasoline production in Memphis to a screeching halt. The supply for "summertime" gasoline is running short. Fuel is having to be brought in to meet the demand. Wednesday, Representative Steve Cohen sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking for a waiver to sell "wintertime" gasoline, a fuel that burns a little less clean, but is readily available. "W ith a metropolitan population of more than one million people and as one of the largest freight distribution hubs in America, Memphis relies upon a significant supply of gasoline," Rep. Cohen said in the letter. "W ithout a waiver from EPA, my constituents will struggle to get to their jobs, schools, and doctors." http://www.wreg.com/news/wreg-valero-fire-creating-gas-shortage-20110810,0,6180031.story?track=rss

Tennessee revenue up in July (Memphis Business Journal)

Tennessee revenue collections were up slightly in July, Tennessee Finance and Administration Commissioner Mark Emkes said this week. The states revenue increased to $843.3 million, up 1.17 percent compared to a year ago. Revenue was $19.9 million more than the state had budgeted and marks the 12th straight month that state revenue exceeded budgeted estimates. The year-to-date growth in both sales and corporate tax collections indicates a very slow economic recovery in Tennessee, and it means we must continue to cautiously move forward in managing the states budget, Emkes said in a news release. Additional concern for us at the state level is that economic indicators are showing a very slow national recovery. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/08/10/tennessee-revenue-up-in-july.html

Top TN officials to meet with credit agencies to prevent downgrade (CA/Sullivan)

The top constitutional officers of the state of Tennessee, including the treasurer and comptroller, will be in New York today and Friday in an effort to persuade the bond-rating agencies Fitch and Moody's not to downgrade the state's triple-A status. They'll be making the case that the state is not like the federal government, which had its credit rating downgraded by the third major rating agency, Standard and Poor's, earlier this month. "Obviously we're in a different financial position than the federal government in that we have to have a constitutionally balanced budget every single year," said Blake Fontenay, spokesman for the state comptroller. "We're not in a heavy debt situation." Moody's Investors Service warned Tennessee on July 19 that its triple-A bond rating was in jeopardy if the federal government couldn't raise its debt ceiling, citing the state's dependence on federal revenue. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/10/top-tennessee-officials-meet-credit-agencies-preve/

TN transportation officials list top projects in "TDOT Projects Tour" (J. Sun)
Finding a route for a southern extension to the U.S. 45 Bypass, widening Interstate 40, reconfiguring cloverleafs, and realigning the Carriage House Drive Intersection at Casey Jones Lane are all projects being considered or slated for construction by the state's transportation department. Several projects being studied for future construction were presented at the Tennessee Department of Transportation's second "TDOT Projects Tour." The tour started at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Jackson's City Hall. It was hosted by TDOT Commissioner John Schroer and his chief engineer, Paul Degges. This is the second of four tours planned by the department in an effort to study and prioritize future projects throughout the state. "Every government's problem today is money," Schroer said. "We have a lot more projects than we have money, so we are looking at the economic impact of each project." To decide the future order of projects, the department will consider traffic counts, existing businesses along roadways, and if widening or building a road might entice new business or industry to an area, Schroer said. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110811/NEWS01/108110308/TN-transportation-officials-list-top-projects4

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THP promotes female officer to major (Associated Press)

A 17-year veteran Tennessee Highway Patrol officer has become the first woman promoted to the rank of major. Betty Blair's promotion was announced Wednesday by Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons and THP Col. Tracy Trott. Blair began as a road trooper in the Cookeville District in 1994 and rose through the ranks, most recently heading the Inspectional Services Bureau as a captain. Trott said Blair has been instrumental in the Highway Patrol's accreditation process. She will be assigned as executive officer, reporting to Trott, who is the THP commander. Capt. Vic Donoho will succeed Blair at Inspectional Services. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37190137.story

Trooper suspended over handling of Carter County sheriff's wreck (J. City Press)
Trooper Brad Proffitt of the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be suspended without pay for one day following an internal investigation of his conduct during an accident involving Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes during the early morning hours of July 5. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the suspension came for not keeping his dash-mounted video camera operating during his accident investigation. It was revealed the camera only documented 83 seconds of the scene and there was no audio. As a result of Proffitts failure to properly record the events at the scene, Colonel Tracy Trott recommended a one-day suspension without pay for violation of General Order 712-1. The general order requires members shall utilize the MVS (mobile video system) to record investigations at crash scenes...and...leave the wireless microphone on during contact with subjects. http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=93240#ixzz1UiTJ4T9s

Henley Bridge work will be out of fans' way for UT football opener (NS/Jacobs)
Despite being marred by the deaths of two workers and a two-week shutdown for a safety inspection, the renovation of the Henley Bridge remains on schedule and apparently won't impact football fans on Neyland Drive. Transportation officials anticipate reopening all lanes of Neyland Drive under the Henley Bridge by Aug. 19, according to Kristin Qualls, Tennessee Department of Transportation project manager. That should be in plenty of time for the crowds that will converge Sept. 3 on the University of Tennessee campus for the opening game of football season against the University of Montana. Neyland Drive has been reduced from four to two lanes since April to allow removal of bridge concrete above the road. "We're still on schedule," Qualls said. Qualls said with 24 percent of the slated work time lapsed, workers have completed 22 percent of the project. Those figures, she said, are based on work progress as of June 20 and using a completion date of June 30, 2013. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/aug/10/henley-bridge-work-will-be-out-of-fans-way-for/

UT gets $1.3 million for nuke energy research (Associated Press)

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the University of Tennessee up to $1.3 million in grants for nuclear energy research and development. The university is getting $846,000 to develop new and advanced reactor designs. Another $538,000 is for research on innovative nuclear science and engineering projects. UT was among 31 universities in more than 20 states to receive such grants. In all, 51 awards were announced. The various projects are designed to cut carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs and strengthen the nuclear energy industry. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37194343.story

Criminal court deadbeats can lose driver's license in TN (Tennessean/Gee)

Under a new law that critics say unfairly punishes the poor and disadvantaged, the state can now take drivers licenses away from criminal defendants who fail to pay their court costs and fines within a year of their cases closing. The laws supporters argue it will allow court clerks to collect millions of dollars a year in fines and fees that are largely ignored. In Davidson County alone, $369.4 million of $423.6 million in assessed court costs and fines went uncollected from 2000 to 2010. The taxpayers are having to foot the bill for operating the court system, said Tommy Bradley, the acting Davidson County criminal court clerk and brainchild of the legislation. The purpose of fines and court costs is to pay all that. Opponents say the law is counterproductive because it will make it harder for defendants to drive to work and make the money they would need to pay the fees. This makes it even harder for them to re-enter society as productive citizens and get their life back on track, Metro 5

Public Defender Dawn Deaner said. We dont live in New York City. We have a good bus system, but it doesnt go everywhere. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/NEWS03/308110032/1969/NEW S

Undecideds Hold the Lead in 6th District State Senate Race (Metro Pulse)
A closely held poll in the field last week revealed a huge number of undecideds in the 6th District state Senate race. Candidates Marilyn Roddy, Becky Duncan Massey, and Victoria DeFreese have 27 days until early voting starts to get the word out that there is an election and to win over the uncommitted. The results of the poll have not been released as of press time. State Sen. Jamie Woodson stepped down to take a job with a nonprofit education organization leaving a vacant seat requiring a special election. People involved in the campaigns say there is some confusionthough the special election is on the day of the city elections, most of the district is outside the city limits and in those areas the state Senate race, a Republican primary, will be the only thing on the ballot. (No Democrats are running for the seat.) Some city voters are also in the Senate district and will be able to vote in both elections. Most of the district is a horseshoe: Sequoyah Hills, South Knoxville, around through East Knox County, then it goes west toward Powell. http://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/aug/10/undecideds-hold-lead-6th-district-state-senate-rac/

Ramsey defends Gov. Perry for backing Gore in '88 (Associated Press/Schelzig)
During last year's Republican gubernatorial primary, Tennessee Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey attacked rival Bill Haslam for backing Democrat Al Gore's 1988 presidential bid, though Haslam took issue with the claim. Now Ramsey is dismissing as "silly" any criticism of Texas Gov. Rick Perry for backing Gore that year. Ramsey on Thursday issued a "strong statement of support" for Perry to seek the Republican presidential nomination after what he described as a private meeting with the governor in San Antonio. The Blountville Republican said any concerns over Perry's one-time support for Gore are misguided. "That's just silly. The Al Gore of 1988 wasn't the Al Gore of today or even the Al Gore of 2000," Ramsey said. "Al Gore is a political chameleon and back in the 80s he was doing everything he could to convince conservatives that he was their representative in the Democratic Party." Gore, then representing Tennessee in the U.S. Senate, fell short in his bid for the 1988 presidential nomination but became Bill Clinton's running mate four years later. Perry switched parties to become a Republican in 1989. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37192425.story

Lt. Gov. Ramsey urges Rick Perry to run for president (City Paper/Woods)
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey urged Texas Gov. Rick Perry to run for president Wednesday after attending a meeting with Perry in San Antonio. With the stakes this high, I dont think any of us have the luxury of standing on the sidelines in the upcoming election, Ramsey said in a statement. Our country is at the edge of a precipice. We can either allow President Obama to drive us into the abyss, or we can stand our ground and take our country back. I believe Gov. Perry to be the man best suited to lead this fight. If the governor sees fit to make the decision many expect him to, I let him know today that Ill be there to support him in any way I can. Ramsey is the first major Tennessee Republican to announce a favorite in the presidential race. Gov. Bill Haslam has said he might endorse someone, but not anytime soon. Ramsey also took the opportunity to defend Perry for supporting Al Gore for president in 1988. Perry was his state's 1988 campaign chairman for then-U.S. Sen. Gore's first run at the presidency. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/lt-gov-ramsey-urges-rick-perryrun-president

County redistricting taking longer than expected (Times Free-Press/Haman)

The Hamilton County Commission's redistricting effort -- expected to be finished next week -- now likely will stretch into September. Commissioners blame the Tennessee River. Commission Chairman Larry Henry hoped to approve new district boundaries by Aug. 17 but said Wednesday he likely will hold off longer. Next week's meeting will be the last for August, forcing any vote on the redistricting proposal into September. Counties must redraw districts every 10 years based on U.S. census figures to maintain population densities and protect minority voting strength. A redistricting proposal is due to the state by Jan. 1. The holdup here is balancing the populations of the largest and the smallest districts. They sit on opposite sides of the Tennessee River, with the smallest west of the river and the largest east. There are no bridges above the Chickamauga Dam, said County Attorney Rheubin Taylor, so it might be hard for voters to get to voting precincts across the river. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/11/b3-county-redistricting-taking-longer-than/?local 6

Corker Not Included in Debt Reducing Super Committee (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Self-styled dealmaker Bob Corker will not get the chance to be part the super committee charged with reducing federal spending. Senator Corker has mentioned in several venues this week that he would relish the opportunity, as recently as W ednesday morning on WJCW AM radio in Johnson City. Certainly, anybody who likes complex, tough issues would want to serve on that committee. Corker was passed over for Republican Senators who have taken strong positions against raising taxes Jon Kyl, Pat Toomey and Rob Portman. Three Democratic Senators and three Republican House members have already been named. House Democrats have yet to be picked for the 12-person panel charged with cutting more than a trillion dollars in federal spending. http://wpln.org/?p=29544

Nashville Rep Chomping at the Bit to Return to D.C. (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Nashville Congressman Jim Cooper says the House of Representatives cant wait until next month to reconvene. He and three colleagues have sent letters to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi asking them to call Congress back in session. Cooper calls the S&P downgrade of Americas debt a serious embarrassment. He says the debt ceiling deal didnt do enough to instill confidence in the countrys ability to manage its long-term debt. Cooper concludes Congress cant afford to wait until September to get back to work. http://wpln.org/?p=29531

Debt deal may not be as rough on states as initially feared (Stateline)

For states, the federal agreement to raise the debt ceiling has inspired confusion and consternation in equal parts. State officials knew that cuts in federal aid were coming their way, but when the deal was struck August 1, they had little sense of how deep the reductions would be and which programs theyd cover. Now the details are becoming clearer, and some experts are reaching an unexpected conclusion: The damage to state budgets may not be so bad after all. Prominent among those experts is Marcia Howard, a veteran state budget-watcher and editor of Federal Funds Information for States. Her view, after studying the details of the bargain, is that given the inevitability of some sort of federal deficit reduction, theres a strong case that states will escape with less pain than they feared. Crucial exemptions The most immediate portion of the spending cuts included in the debt deal are only for discretionary programs, not mandatory entitlement programs such as Medicare, Social Security and, most relevant for states, Medicaid. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=593331

Memphis named nations No. 1 logistics hub (Memphis Business Journal)

Business Facilities magazine has named Memphis as the No. 1 logistics, distribution and shipping hub in the country for 2011. Memphis has an unsurpassed combination of air, rail, land and water shipping possibilities, Business Facilities Editor-in-Chief Jack Rogers said in a statement. When it absolutely, positively has to get there, it usually goes through Memphis. The ranking was no surprise to Richard McDuffie, COO of Dunavan, a global logistics firm headquartered in Memphis. I think Memphis has so much to offer, he said. First off, there are just so many different modes of transportation available. Very rarely do you see a city which has barge traffic, something which has been available in Memphis since the 1800s. The magazine pointed to Memphis having FedEx Corp.s (NYSE: FDX) world headquarters and one of the busiest cargo airports in the world as part of this distinction. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2011/08/10/memphis-named-nations-no-1-logistics.html

SpecialtyCare signs on at med mart (Nashville Post/Lind)

Nashville-based SpecialtyCare has signed as the anchor tenant for the fifth floor at the future Nashville Medical Trade Center in the current convention center. Market Center Management Company, the operator of the medical mart, announced SpecialtyCare's showroom will occupy 8,500 square feet. In addition, SpecialtyCare will locate its National Center for Education and Training at the center. The facility will include a fully equipped simulated operating room. We believe the center will be an environment where our current and future customers want to come to develop solutions and discover best practices that meet their needs, said Bill Elliott, executive vice president of business development for SpecialtyCare. In addition, by locating our National Center for Education and Training at the Nashville Medical Trade Center, we will be able to expand our commitment to ensure that our specialized clinicians remain ready to deliver high-quality efficient care. http://nashvillepost.com/news/2011/8/10/specialtycare_signs_on_at_medmart

Cookeville may get mental health facility (Associated Press)

A Florida-based medical group plans to establish a 32-bed mental health hospital in leased space at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. United Medical Corp., which operates multiple health care-related facilities across the country, and its affiliates, PremierCare Tennessee Inc. and Ten Broeck Tennessee, will go before state regulators this year for authority to provide both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services. According to the Cookeville Herald-Citizen (http://bit.ly/nLWsx3), United Medical will spend approximately $1 million renovating the wing. The paper said the lease will run for 20 years. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37194411.story

Pfizer ending manufacturing at Bristol plant (Associated Press)

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer Global Supply is ending manufacturing and logistics operations at its Bristol, Tenn., facility, but the plant will continue its commercial and support operations. Pfizer is looking to consolidate plants after purchasing Bristol-based King Pharmaceuticals. Pfizer said in a news release Wednesday they will move production of a thyroid therapy and a pain medication from the underutilized facility to other sites by 2014. The company also said it was consolidating Bristol's logistics center into Pfizer's existing distribution facility in Memphis. The move will affect about 130 manufacturing workers and 16 workers in logistics. The plant's commercial and support operations, which currently total about 166 employees, has also recently been downsized, but will remain in Bristol, said company spokesman Rick Chambers in an e-mail. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37189147.story

City Paper editor stepping down (Nashville Post)

Stephen George, editor of The City Paper since January 2010, has announced he is leaving the position. This city and this family of publications have been extraordinarily good to me, George said. Leaving is bittersweet, of course. The writers, editors and artists at The City Paper are top-notch, and theyve done tremendous work in the past couple of years. I know they will continue to do so, and I have learned from them more than I can express. George came to The City Paper from LEO W eekly, the Louisville-based alt-weekly. (Both publications as well as the Nashville Post are owned by Nashville-based SouthComm.) He spent six years as a reporter and editor there before relocating to Nashville, where he also served as news editor of the Nashville Scene, a sister publication. He will begin working as press secretary for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., on Sept. 1. Stephen brings a much needed outside perspective to Washington, Cooper said. His experience will be invaluable to our operation. We are delighted to welcome him to our team. http://nashvillepost.com/news/2011/8/10/icity_paperi_editor_stepping_down

Shelby County Schools (CA/McMillin)

ask

for peek

into

Memphis

system's

workings

Even after a federal judges 146-page ruling on Monday, a specially called meeting of the Shelby County Schools board on Wednesday made it clear that more negotiations remain before school consolidation will proceed. The standing-room-only meeting lasted less than 30 minutes and largely consisted of David Pickler, the longtime chairman of the SCS board, reading into the record a long resolution seeking exhaustive information and access to Memphis City Schools inner workings, including a forensic audit of the system. It also featured Supt. John Aitken firing a volley across the parking lot of the office complex SCS shares with MCS, responding to city schools accusations that SCS has resisted collaborative consolidation planning with his own charges of MCS dithering. But nothing was said at the meeting about the determination by U.S. Dist. Judge Samuel Hardy Mays that the currently all-suburban seven-member county school board is unconstitutional because it denies representation to Memphians. Pickler read the resolution and attended to interviews as if he and the other six commissioners would be presiding over consolidation. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/10/shelby-county-schools-wont-say-if-planning-appeal/

County School Board Requests Info From MCS (Memphis Daily News)
Shelby County Schools board members sent a long list of requests for very specific information to Memphis City Schools officials Wednesday, Aug. 10. The 20-part resolution is the county school board's first formal response to this week's ruling in the federal court lawsuit over schools consolidation. County school board chairman David Pickler also said the school system has made no decision one way or the other on a possible appeal of the ruling by Federal Judge Hardy Mays because the case is still open. Friday, Aug. 12, is the deadline for all sides in the landmark case to submit proposals to the court to remedy what Mays held were unconstitutional districts for the 8

present board that should be changed to include representation for Memphians. The school board met privately with its attorneys before the public session to discuss what plan the school board might submit. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/aug/11/county-school-board-requests-info-from-mcs/

Moving Forward with the School Merger (WHBQ-TV Memphis)

Shelby County Schools are back in session, but this year its the adults with the major homework assignment: consolidating with Memphis City Schools. The Superintendent and the Board Members say they are ready to start the take over and want total access to the Memphis system in order to start the process. Judge Samuel Hardy Mays ruled that Shelby County Schools is in charge of the take over and gave the school systems almost exactly 2 years to complete the merger. It will make Shelby County Schools the 14th largest system in the nation with about 150,000 students and more than 15,000 employees. Wednesday the Board passed a resolution asking for Memphis City Schools for many things. SCS wants financial records, wants to conduct a finical audit, wants access to personnel files and all buildings, and wants to restrict MCS from making purchases or entering in contracts that will have an impact on the 2013 school year. http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/education/moving-forward-with-the-school-merger-rpt-20110809

Schools Consolidation Case Far From Over (Memphis Daily News)

U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays met with all sides in the Memphis City Schools/Shelby County Schools consolidation case the day after he ruled in the case that will change the face of local public education. The closed conference with the attorneys that lasted an hour Tuesday, Aug. 9, was a reminder that the case isnt over. Still to come is certainly the most important political part, deciding what a countywide school board will look like and how soon that board will replace the existing county school board. Proposals from all sides are due to be filed with Mays by the end of the day Friday, Aug. 12. Meanwhile, Mays ruling is still being read, analyzed, reread and parsed by not only the attorneys and their clients but others with an indirect role in the fast-moving political event. State Rep. G.A. Hardaway had a copy flagged with yellow Post-it notes and with sections underlined as he waited outside Tuesdays conference in federal court. http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/aug/11/schools-consolidation-case-far-from-over/

Judge Mays Decides (Memphis Flyer)

Everybody claims victory in the school-merger suit, but the judge inclines toward Norris-Todd. After federal judge Hardy Mays, who was in charge of the multiple consolidated litigations regarding the pending merger of Memphis City Schools with Shelby County Schools, issued his ruling on Monday, one metaphor kept turning up in public responses, both formal and informal. People kept comparing what Mays did to the biblical decision by King Solomon concerning a baby being fought over by two women, each claiming to be its mother. In the story, Solomon proposed slicing the baby in half and handing each disputant a part but would end up recognizing as the real mother the woman who was prepared to give up her claim rather than see the infant sacrificed in that way. What Mays has done is at once more simple and more complex. To gauge from the diverse official responses by interested parties, his ruling has apparently allowed all the disputants in the merger case to claim victory. http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/judge-mays-decides/Content?oid=3036311

Rhea leaders warned on school bond issue (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Davis)

Rhea County commissioners were warned this week that the financial assumptions behind a planned $35 million bond issue to pay for a new high school are based on "perfect-world scenarios that are not going to take place." Steve Randolph, a certified public accountant with 44 years experience in county, city and school finances, encouraged commissioners to re-examine plans for the bonds. Randolph, also a Dayton City Council member, said he was not speaking as a councilman but as an accountant who has examined the documents and been contacted by concerned county residents. "I'd urge you to look at concrete information," not what has been described as conservative projections, he said. Randolph told commissioners during their workshop session Tuesday that he questions the projected 4.3 percent interest rate and said that, based on current conditions, he expects the rate to "exceed 5 percent." He questioned the projected property tax income growth, the projected sales tax revenue growth and the projected income from Tennessee Valley Authority impact funds. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/11/b2-rhea-leaders-warned-on-school-bond-issue/?local

Administrator dead at TN school; student detained (Associated Press)

Memphis police say an administrator has been found dead at a private school in an apparent homicide. Police say the body of the 48-year-old woman was discovered by a teacher shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday at Memphis Junior Academy, a private school in east Memphis. Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said a 17year-old student was taken into custody at the school. A motive and cause of death were not immediately disclosed nor was the name of the victim. Classes at the school began Monday. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37190379.story

Principal killed at East Memphis private school (CA/Bailey, Callahan, Goetz)

Student suspect charged with 1st-degree murder Saying he didnt like Suzette York and she made him angry, Eduardo Marmolejo told police Wednesday that he had planned to kill his principal since May. The 17-year-old student at Memphis Junior Academy chose Wednesday because he knew hed be alone in a classroom with York, 49, according to a police affidavit. So, at about 11 a.m., Marmolejo stabbed her multiple times, leaving her in a pool of blood at the East Memphis private school at 50 N. Mendenhall, police said. Those chilling details were included in the affidavit obtained late Wednesday by The Commercial Appeal. Marmolejo, incarcerated at Juvenile Detention Center, is being charged with first-degree murder. Eduardo Marmolejo admitted that he had stabbed his teacher Suzette York multiple times because he did not like her and she made him angry, the affidavit read. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/10/female-teacher-found-dead-memphis-junior-academy/

Meth lab seizures fall with cutbacks (Associated Press/Salter)

Loss of federal cleanup funds hits Tenn. hard Police and sheriffs departments in states that produce much of the nations methamphetamine have made a sudden retreat in the war on meth, at times virtually abandoning pursuit of the drug because they can no longer afford to clean up the toxic waste generated by labs. Despite abundant evidence that the meth trade is flourishing, many law enforcement agencies have called off tactics that have been used for years to confront drug makers: sending agents undercover, conducting door-to-door investigations and setting up stakeouts at pharmacies to catch people buying large amounts of cold medicine. The steep cutbacks began after the federal government in February canceled a program that provided millions of dollars to help local agencies dispose of seized labs. Since then, an Associated Press analysis shows, the number of labs seized has plummeted by a third in some key meth-producing states such as Tennessee and two-thirds in at least one, Alabama. The trend is almost certain to continue unless more states find a way to replace the federal money or to conduct cheaper cleanups. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/NEWS03/308110035/Loss-federal-meth-cleanup-funds-hits-Tennother-states-hard?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Missouri: No Child Left Behind hurts reputation of Missouri schools (KC Star)
Missouri has always been a poster child for a glaring deficiency in the federal education law known as the No Child Left Behind Act. To its credit, Missouri uses rigorous tests to measure how well and how much students are learning. But that means fewer students hit the federally required performance targets than their peers in states with less demanding standards. The problem came sharply into focus when the results of last years Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP tests, were recently unveiled. Most schools statewide showed progress in math, communication arts, or both. But three out of four schools fell short of the benchmarks required to meet the federal definition of adequate yearly progress. In the Kansas City area, about 84 percent of approximately 300 schools fell short of the goal. Even highly regarded districts such as Lees Summit and Liberty didnt meet the federal designation of adequate yearly progress. Missouri has its share of troubled schools and districts, but the federal definitions do the state a disservice. Indeed, the No Child Left Behind measurements are becoming irrelevant to families and the public. http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/no-child-left-behind-hurts-reputation-missouri-schools/#ixzz1UidAvFO7

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OPINION Guest columnist: The waiver for NCLB should be granted (Leaf Chronicle)
Tennessee might be the first state to seek a waiver from the performance standards of the No Child Left Behind Act, but it (is not) the only state to do so. Gov. Bill Haslam said that the NCLB law, enacted with bipartisan support during the first term of President George W. Bush, has outlived its usefulness as written. The Obama administration is seeking a new law or revisions to the current one, which has been up for revision since 2007. However, given the contentious climate in Washington these days, a new law doesn't appear in the offing. President Barack Obama's goal had been to have a revised law in place by the beginning of this school year. Thus, Haslam, with support from state Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, the state's congressional delegation and Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre, has asked the U.S. Department of Education to waive NCLB's stringent requirements in Tennessee. Haslam's announcement coincided with the release of the annual progress reports for Tennessee's schools. The reports show that about half of Tennessee's schools do not meet the current NCLB standards. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20110811/OPINION01/108110305/GUEST-EDITORIAL-waiver-NCLBshould-granted

Times Editorial: A commendable effort (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

One of the rights of passage for American teens is a trip to a testing center to take the exam that if passed allows them to obtain a driver's license. It is a visit that involves equal amounts of anticipation and trepidation. It many instances, unfortunately, it also requires a substantial investment of time. The wait, many Tennesseans can tell you, is often epic. Gov. Bill Haslam and the Department of Safety want to reduce it. A lot of folk would be mighty pleased if they can. The governor gets points for even tackling the problem. Wait times have been a problem for years and earlier efforts to shorten them have floundered. Haslam, however, is resolute. He mentioned the lengthy waits in his State of the State talk in March. Now, his administration has a plan to reduce the average time in driver service centers from about 50 minutes to less than 30 minutes. Good luck with that. There are physical problems and semantic problems to be overcome. Even the current wait times are problematic. Officials admit the current average of 51 minutes does not always include the time individuals wait before reaching a center's front counter to be issued a number. That's when the state starts counting wait time. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/11/0811-b6-t2-a-commendable-effort/?opiniontimes 11

Free-Press Editorial: Tennessee-made cars (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

"Detroit" used to be a virtual synonym for "cars," because so many American automobiles were made in and around Detroit. But in recent decades, we have seen car manufacturing grow all around the nation -- with Chattanooga now being a big center for making Volkswagens, and other Volunteer State sites making cars or car parts. Nissan plants are in not-far-away Decherd and Smyrna. There are plans for $1.6 billion in investments to make electric-powered Nissans in Tennessee by 2012. General Motors also has a manufacturing presence in Spring Hill, and Toyota has a facility in Jackson. All told, the auto-manufacturing industry employs 106,500 Tennesseans -- so far. That's news we welcome. We also welcome Business Facilities magazine's decision to name Tennessee the top automotive state in America. In descending order, the next nine states are South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi, Texas and Indiana. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/11/0811-b9-fp3-tennessee-made-cars/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: Auto ranking a good sign for Midstate job seekers (Daily News Journal)
We're not surprised that Tennessee was again picked as the top state for automotive manufacturing strength, and we hope that ranking results in even more good paying manufacturing jobs coming to the Middle Tennessee area. Business Facilities magazine recently announced Tennessee's repeat as the top automotive state, citing the recent ribbon cutting of the $1 billion Volkswagen auto assembly plant in Chattanooga as well as Nissan's ongoing construction of the $1.6- billion manufacturing plant in Smyrna to eventually build the Leaf all-electric car and the batteries to power it. "The Volunteer State is well-positioned to defend its automotive crown for years to come," Business Facilities Editor-in-Chief Jack Rogers said. "A skilled workforce, low-cost utilities and a burgeoning supplier network have laid the foundation for exponential growth in this key manufacturing sector." Many Americans lament about the ongoing loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to overseas locations where companies take advantage of cheaper labor and less stringent regulations. That makes the auto-related investments in Tennessee that much more important as the U.S. economy struggles to shake the doldrums of the most recent recession. http://www.dnj.com/article/20110811/OPINION01/108110306/Editorial-Auto-ranking-good-sign-Midstate-jobseekers

Guest columnist: Zone offers chance for excellence (Tennessean)

Innovation drives successful school systems One of my earliest teaching assignments took me to a troubled urban school where far too many of the adults in the building had long since given up on the students. Discipline was poor, and the principal spent virtually all her time making rules and punishing students. Yet, when I walked into the hallway where I was assigned, the feeling was completely different. The teachers on that hallway had taken control of their students and almost completely separated from the rest of the school. They planned together, taught themed units and established powerful relationships with each other and their students, creating an oasis of excellence in a desert of urban despair. From one hall to the other, student backgrounds, preparation, family circumstances, and income levels were the same, but in one hall, the behaviors and attitudes of the teachers made all the difference. The teachers in that hallway believed at a fundamental level their students could achieve anything, and they accepted no excuses from their students or themselves. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110811/OPINION03/308110028/Zone-offers-chance-excellence? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Wendi C. Thomas: How will we spend education interim before merger? (C. Appeal)
There is time. It will be nearly two years, just before the start of the 2013-14 school year, before the Memphis City Schools officially is no more. So ruled U.S. District Court Judge Samuel "Hardy" Mays on Monday in a 146page ruling that provided some much-needed clarity around the consolidation of the city and the Shelby County Schools. Twenty-three months is a good bit of time, and how MCS, SCS, the Shelby County Commission and the Memphis City Council spend that time will influence how smoothly this arduous task will go. The legal wrangling isn't over -- there's still a transition board to be appointed and a new school board that represents the entire county to be elected. There is time. The crucible in which a new public education system will be forged lies in the community's response -- yours and mine. What will our houses of faith, parents, the childless and of course, all taxpayers, choose to do or not to? Don't be fooled: Inertia and silence are choices. But if ever there were a time to stir ourselves, it's now. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/11/how-will-we-spend-education-interim/ 12

Editorial: New link to Jackson (Commercial Appeal)

There's no joy in the demise of a venerable institution such as Lambuth University, the private school in Jackson, Tenn., that closed on June 30 after 168 years. A situation created by financial problems, declining enrollment and the loss of accreditation becomes a new opportunity for students in W est Tennessee on Aug. 27 when classes begin at the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus. Jackson's first public four-year college also represents an opportunity for the U of M to increase its enrollment, strengthen its bond with the largest community in West Tennessee outside Memphis, gain the prestige that comes with an additional campus and increase its level of state support. And it will be a useful step in raising W est Tennessee's relatively poor college attendance rate. U of M will pay $1 to occupy eight buildings on the 57-acre campus next year, with an eye on eventual purchase. The university already has ties to the Jackson area through course offerings at Jackson State Community College, which will move to the Lambuth campus. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/11/new-link-to-jackson/

Editorial: Where Will Growth Come From? (New York Times)

Never has the world economy depended so much on the success of developing nations. A misguided focus on budget cutting has plunged the European Union and the United States down paths that will prolong their economic stagnation and perhaps tip them into another recession. The International Monetary Fund was forecasting 2 percent growth in the euro zone before the financial crisis spread to Italy. The Japanese economy is shrinking. Some top economists put the odds of a double-dip recession in the United States at 1 in 2. These dire prospects, along with the realization that economic policy is blocked by political gridlock in the United States and complacency in Europe, have sent spasms through financial markets, which could further sap growth. Fortunately, developing countries, which account for almost half the globes economic output, are growing faster than the industrialized world: in June the I.M.F. forecast that they would grow some 6.5 percent this year and next. Their growth spares the world utter economic stagnation. Yet developing countries are not robust enough to keep the global economy from sinking in a morass for long. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/opinion/where-will-economic-growth-come-from.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: Red, blue states growing apart (Lincoln Journal-Star)

Polarization in Washington, D.C., was on garish display in the recent struggle over the debt ceiling. Polarization also is escalating at the state level. In some states -- W isconsin and Minnesota are prime examples -- political adversaries are facing off within the state. Dysfunction has been the result in those two states, just as it has been in Washington. Attracting less attention has been the polarization between states. The Washington-based National Journal put it this way, "Across an array of issues, red and blue states are pulling apart." Compromise? Consensus? Deal-making? Just words from a bygone era. Today's politicians give no quarter and take no prisoners. Their goal is to overpower and eliminate the opposition. Democrats enjoy total control in 11 states. Their agenda included tax increases in Connecticut, Illinois and Maryland. Vermont passed a single-payer health care law that Stateline.org described as possibly "far more expansive in scope" than the one passed by Congress. New York approved gay marriage. Illinois approved a civil union law that gave rights to gay couples. http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_95b0be52-d00b-50e2-a7d17f00140ac48c.html#ixzz1UicoGfW O

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