THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 Haslam: Education Reform a Work in Progress (TN Report)

Gov. Bill Haslam Wednesday sought feedback on the state of education in Tennessee, and on his related initiatives, during a morning visit to a Williamson County school. After reading a story and taking questions from a 3rd grade class at Scales Elementary School in Brentwood, the governor sat down for a round table discussion with teachers and administrators. Haslam inquired about the groups reasons for getting into education and asked about challenges they face in the classroom, before shifting to several of his education policy initiatives among them, his proposal to allow local school districts to opt out of average class size requirements and the relatively new teacher evaluation system, which is now being evaluated itself. Im firmly committed to the idea that the new evaluations process is the right path, Haslam said. I also realize we might not have gotten it exactly, 100 percent right the first time out. http://www.tnreport.com/2012/02/haslam-education-reform-a-workin-progress/

Haslam hears teachers' fears (Tennessean/Giordano)

Governor says plan for larger class sizes, pay changes needs more discussion If theres one notion Gov. Bill Haslam can take away from his discussion with Scales Elementary School teachers Wednesday, its their concerns about Senate Bill 2210. The proposed legislation that would allow school districts to redesign teacher salary schedules and use maximum class sizes rather than average pupil-teacher ratios in school district funding formulas was called the gorilla in the room by the schools principal, Rick West. Haslam and his wife, Crissy Haslam, were at the Williamson County school for a two-fold visit. First, they read to a third grade class to deliver a silent auction gift won by a parent of a student in the class. Next they held a roundtable discussion with teachers as a part of Haslams continued effort to get feedback from educators across the state. He later visited a Maury County middle school in Mount Pleasant. But what Haslam called giving districts flexibility to use savings for more high-priority teachers was countered with fears of teachers becoming more competitive and less likely to seek advanced degrees if the proposed law is passed. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/W ILLIAMSON04/302090062/Haslam-hears-teachers-fears? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Teachers Question Haslam Over Class-size Proposal (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Governor Bill Haslam heard more criticism from teachers today over a controversial education proposal. Haslam wants to give city and county school boards more power to raise class sizes and tweak how much they pay teachers. Haslam faced tough questions from teachers in Williamson County over what exactly his proposal would mean. How would individual teachers negotiate for higher pay? What safeguards would keep schools from cramming more kids into fewer classes and cutting teachers to save money? Haslam deflected a few times by saying his proposal leaves such questions to officials at the local level, and could help lure teachers for hardto-staff subjects and schools. Another hard question someone posed: Could differential pay drive teachers to compete more and cooperate less? Haslam answered: If we can get this right, part of that being a teacher who shares with other teachers and helps them be better is part of the evaluation process and part of what a superintendent and a principal are looking at as well, in saying This teacher has made the whole school better, not just her 22 children. http://wpln.org/?p=33864

Official: 10 states to get education waiver (Associated Press)

President Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned. The first 10 states to receive the waivers are Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. The only state that applied for the

flexibility and did not get it, New Mexico, is working with the administration to get approval, a W hite House official told the AP. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the states had not yet been announced. A total of 28 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have signaled that they, too, plan to seek waivers a sign of just how vast the law's burdens have become as a big deadline nears. No Child Left Behind requires all students to be proficient in reading and math by 2014. Obama's action strips away that fundamental requirement for those approved for flexibility, provided they offer a viable plan instead. Under the deal, the states must show they will prepare children for college and careers, set new targets for improving achievement among all students, reward the best performing schools and focus help on the ones doing the worst. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/story/2012-02-09/obama-no-child-act/53019598/1

Schools Law Earns One Credit (Wall Street Journal)

The Obama administration is expected to announce Friday it is granting 10 states waivers from the No Child Left Behind law, according to people familiar with the decision, in what would be the strongest move yet to undermine the decade-old education initiative. Eleven states had applied for waivers from key tenets of the law, but the people familiar with the decision wouldn't say which states were selected. But while the law has become a target of criticism from both political parties, it has also sown the seeds for school changes spreading nationwide. Democrats say the law, which had broad bipartisan support when passed, labels too many schools as failures and calls for excessive steps to fix them. Republicans see it as federal overreach and also want it replaced. Congress has been unable to agree on how to revise the law, so it remains in effect as written. Despite such disdain, however, the legislationone of President George W. Bush's signature initiativesforms a basis for some key changes now being adopted in schools. By requiring schools to test students annually in math and reading, it has provided a rich data trove revealing wide variation in teacher effectiveness within individual schools, energizing a push to evaluate, to pay and to grant tenure on the basis of student test scores. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203315804577209773654799182.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Computer System Used To Fight Meth Showing Positive Results (WCYB-TV)

The state's ongoing crackdown on items used to make meth is paying off. Part of Governor Bill Haslam's plan brought a new computer system online, one that tracks who buys products used to make meth. The system is called the National Precursor Log Exchange, known as NPLEx, and it is already doing it's job. The state now requires all pharmacies to use the software to electronically track pseudoephedrine sales; that's something you might use for a cold, but others are using to make meth. Pharmacist Ahmed Atyia is getting used to the system. If you want to buy allergy medicine with pseudoephedrine, he has to check his computer first. "Once you log it in the system, it show[s] you right away if this patient [has] been in another pharmacy; how much he get[s], when did he [get] it," said Atyia That's because the new NPLEx system tracks pseudoephedrine sales in real time, something Val-U Pharmacy in Johnson City started last month Pharmacies previously used a written log to track pseudoephedrine sales. Copies were then sent to the state, but pharmacists wouldn't know a patient's buying history.http://www.wcyb.com/news/30411674/detail.html

State promoting Tennessee businesses with website (Associated Press)

The state is promoting Tennessee businesses on a new section of the secretary of state's website. Tennessee Business Spotlight will highlight selected companies, with summaries of what they do, photos, contact information and links to their Internet and social media sites. This month the website is focusing on the state's confectioners and candy producers. They are Armstrong Pie Co. of Linden, Aunt Mahalia's Candies of Gatlinburg, Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Co. of Memphis, Nashville Toffee Co. of Nashville and South's Finest Chocolate Factory of Knoxville. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38534789?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Haslam May Step Up for Romney, Says TN Critical in GOP Primary (W PLNRadio)
Governor Bill Haslam could soon step up his role campaigning for Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Last night Romney lost out to Rick Santorum in three states, and the race seems poised to stretch into Tennessee next month. When asked what Haslam makes of Santorums newfound momentum, the governor joked hes been wrong in predictions about the race several times already. But Haslam said he expects a long primary season, and that Tennessee will play a critical role with its vote next month. Haslam also says he doesnt buy the argument that Romneys struggle to fend off conservative challengers reflects a divided GOP. It 2

seems like any primary thats contested you always hear that. It was that way with President Obama and Secretary Clinton in the last primary. I think theres always a sense of W e dont like the options here. People say that on the front end and as it plays out, some most of that gets forgotten as a candidate is chosen. Haslam said as a Romney backer hed make appearances and reach out to contacts as the campaign asks. Early voting in Tennessees primary starts next week. http://wpln.org/?p=33848

Residents can call and apply for TennCare spend down program (Tenn/Wilemon)
Phone lines will open 6 p.m. Feb. 21 for state residents to call and request applications to enroll in the TennCare Standard Spend Down program. This is a program for people who do not currently receive TennCare. It is open to a limited number of qualified low-income individuals with high, unpaid medical bills who are elderly, blind, disabled or the caretaker of a Medicaid-eligible child. The number to call is 1-866-358-3230. The line will be open from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Central time, but operators will shut it down once 2,500 applicants call in. When the state last opened up the line for calls in September, that number was reached within an hour and a half. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility qualifications before Feb. 21 at www.tn.gov/TennCare. People with hearing and speech disabilities who use TTY devices are urged to dial the Tennessee Relay Service for assistance at 1-800-848-0298 when the state begins taking calls. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/NEWS07/302090057/Residents-can-call-apply-TennCare-spenddown-program?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Governor's budget jeopardizes Center for Child Welfare at MTSU (DNJ)

The governors budget would effectively kill MTSUs Center for Child Welfare by ending a contract with the Department of Childrens Services next fiscal year, an official said. The center, which is responsible for training social workers across Tennessee, employs nearly 60 people who are based at the Bank of America building in Murfreesboro. It runs social worker training with eight universities across the state through a $14 million state contract with the Department of Childrens Services. Interim Director John Sanborn predicted 80 to 90 people would lose jobs if the contract is not renewed. It is the centers main contract and makes up 99 percent of its work. We will no longer exist if this happens, Sanborn said. Under Gov. Bill Haslams budget proposal, the state would see a savings of $11.7 million, some $3.1 million of which would be from the state level, according to a state spokeswoman. DCS would bring the training service in-house and hire several positions to replace those lost through the Center for Child Welfare, Suddarth said. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120208/NEW S/302080043/Governor-s-budget-jeopardizes-Center-Child-WelfareMTSU

Family service agency faces elimination (Mountain Press)

Some local folks are decrying a cut in Gov. Bill Haslam's proposed budget that could mean the end for the Family Resource Center, which provides a myriad of important services for local residents. A letter-writing campaign is being mounted in support of the local agency, which is led by Kim Loveday, and the 103 other ones across the state in hopes Haslam or state lawmakers will be swayed to save the funding. If he doesn't, it could slash a big hole in a safety net that protects at-risk children, provides education for new parents, allocates resources to help pregnant teens and watches out for the elderly. Loveday, an eternally busy woman who speaks quickly and with deep passion about the cause she leads, says there's no certainty what will happen if the state funding is lost. While the agency also gets money from county and federal coffers, it's unlikely those sources would be able to step up to cover the shortfall, meaning she may have to close her doors. "W e just don't know because there could be a way that it survives, but who has the money right now to make that up? Everybody is trying to keep their budgets tight," she says. "Right now it looks like all the centers are likely to be closed unless something is changed." http://themountainpress.com/view/full_story/17430640/article--Family-service-agency-faces-elimination-? instance=homeleftlocal_top_stories

State threatens suit against boat hobbyists (WSMV-TV Nashville)

The Tennessee Department of Revenue is threatening court action against a Murfreesboro man who built a small wooden boat in his garage with his 7-year-old son. The state says that makes him a boat dealer and subject to paying extra taxes. The boat is 14 feet long and made of wood. The family ordered the plans over the Internet because 7-year-old Carter loves to fish with his dad. But when the Kings registered their boat and paid the boat registration fees, the nightmare started. Letters from the Tennessee Department of Revenue say that because the Kings are boat dealers and manufacturers, they have to pay $539 dollars in taxes on the 3

boat.Johnathan King thought there was a mistake, so he called the auditor assigned to his case. "I explained to them that this is just a wooden craft built in the garage, and they indicated that they knew that that was what this was," King says. Revenue didn't back down from insisting they were dealers, and warned the family the state could get injunctions or even pursue misdemeanor charges if they didn't pay the taxes. http://www.wsmv.com/story/16773393/state-threatens-suit-against-boat-hobbiests

UTC tries to keep students on road to graduation (Times Free-Press/Trevizo)

"How did studying your sociology book every day go?" "Did you meet with your chemistry professor?" That's how teacher Stacie Grisham starts the Mindset: Soaring to New Heights class at UTC, a class recommended for students whose grade point average has fallen below 2.0, which places them on academic probation. It's a serious issue because when grades fall, students drop out. And when students drop out, everyone loses. The college loses money, both tuition and government funding. At 69 percent, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has the lowest freshman retention rate among the University of Tennessee's three campuses. UTC's rapid growth over the last decade is partly to blame, officials say. Between 2002 and 2008, the school's freshman class doubled from about 1,100 to more than 2,000 students. But the retention rate -- the number of freshmen who return to UTC for their sophomore year -- fell from 72 percent in 2002 to 61 percent in 2008. "I don't know that UTC necessarily had the infrastructure" to help freshmen succeed, said Fran Bender, assistant provost for student tetention and success. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/09/utc-tries-to-keepstudents-on-road-to/

UTHSC professor lands $6 million in grants (Memphis Business Journal)

A University of Tennessee Health Science Center professor has received four grants totaling $6 million from the National Institutes of Health to fund research on vascular disease. The total amount of the grants gives Gadiparthi Rao, a professor in the Department of Physiology, the highest number of grants held by an individual at UTHSC. Raos research focuses on the role of lipid molecules and cytokines in diseases that cause noninflammatory damage to the retina of the eye. Rao has been with UTHSC since 2000. He is a fellow of the American Heart Association and serves on the editorial board of Circulation Research and Arteriosclerosis and Vascular Biology, Dr. Raos research has reached national prominence as recognized by the five RO1 grants he has received from NIH, Gabor Tigyi, Harriet Van Vleet professor and chair of the Department of Physiology at UTHSC, said in a statement. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/02/08/uthsc-professor-lands-6-million-in.html

Colleges fatigued by threat to funds (Commercial Appeal/Kelley)

Obama's admonitions do little to encourage President Obama delivered welcome news to college students last week with his warning to administrators that "If you can't stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers each year will go down." Administrators who have seen state support for higher education steadily decline for the last decade responded with less enthusiasm. Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, a former education secretary and University of Tennessee president, said he doubted that the president can enforce any plan that takes federal aid away from colleges and universities that would eventually help students. Education officials in Tennessee and elsewhere said they were not only cutting costs but selling the case for better state support and looking more to the private sector to keep tuition increases to a minimum. They've had some success in Arkansas, where state support for higher education is up 2.4 percent over the last two years. In Mississippi, it's 5.2 percent lower. An analysis of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's proposed budget for fiscal 201213 by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission provides fuel for a degree of optimism across the state. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/colleges-fatigued-by-threat-to-funds/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Tennessee Chevy Volt buyers to get $2,500 rebate (Memphis Business Journal)
The incentive to buy an electric car is even more enticing in Tennessee as Chevrolet Volt owners are now eligible for a $2,500 rebate from the state of Tennessee. The rebate requires owners of the electric Chevy to qualify for and participate in The EV Project, a national study on electric vehicle use and charging infrastructure. The state incentive is in addition to a $7,500 federal tax rebate. The EV Project provides participants with a free charge station and a credit of up to $1,200 toward its installation. Tennessee residents must sign up for the program, purchase the Volt, take delivery of it and install the charging station by June 30, 2012, to be eligible for the rebate. Dealers can provide information about retroactive rebates. Tennessee is one of six states and Memphis is one of 18 cities participating in The EV Project. The first local charging station installed as part of the project was unveiled at The Peabody Hotel in July; the Memphis area has four others including one at 4

Memphis Bioworks Foundation and one at Family Taekwondo Center in Collierville. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/02/08/tennessee-chevy-volt-buyers-to-get.html

Murfreesboro's VA center closes housing for drug treatment patients (Gannett)

Liability issues have forced the York VA Medical Center to suspend housing for veterans seeking substance abuse treatment there, a move that one opponent says is cutting the number of people enrolled in the four-week plan. Bill Mitchell, who retired as a substance abuse counselor from the York VA a year ago, said 80 percent of the veterans treated for substance abuse are homeless, so it makes no sense to cut off housing, especially because the lodging area was renovated within the past two years. Enrollment fell recently to four from 25 when housing was stopped, he said. To me, there was a real need for this program because it addressed the substance abuse issue and the homeless piece, Mitchell said. Oversight at the lodging area was usually provided by a recent graduate who would be paid a stipend, Mitchell said. Why, after 15 years of doing that, would that be an issue? Mitchell said. The medical center is not changing the substance abuse treatment program but is suspending housing because it doesnt have staff available to oversee it 24 hours a day, said Chris Conklin, spokesman for York VA. The substance abuse treatment program has always been an outpatient program, Conklin said, and housing could reopen if the staffing issue can be solved. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/NEWS07/302090059/Murfreesboro-s-VA-center-closes-housingdrug-treatment-patients?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Prison Break (Memphis Flyer)

Free time can be dangerous for ex-cons who haven't been properly introduced back into society, according to Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole (BOPP) chairman Charles Traughber. "If I leave you in here with an hour to do nothing, you could get in all kinds of trouble," Traughber said, referring to inmates who have been categorized as high-risk by BOPP. But a new Shelby County pilot program beginning in late February or early March will give newly released offenders something constructive to do with their time. The ex-cons will attend programs, such as substance abuse counseling or vocational training to guide them back into life on the outside. Unveiled last month as part of Governor Bill Haslam's state safety plan, the Office of Offender Re-entry, which provides inmates with pre- and post-transitional assistance, will be tested in Shelby County before it's possibly incorporated throughout the state. The program is being tested in Shelby County first because it's included in the Memphis and Shelby County Crime Commission's Operation Safe Community plan http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/prison-break/Content?oid=3119057

Bill to Seal Some ECD Records Ready For General Assembly Vote (WPLN-Radio)
Part of Governor Bill Haslams legislative package is a measure to seal the financial information filed by a company seeking state incentives. The measure is moving quickly through the legislature. The bill flew out of a House committee unquestioned after Representative Kevin Brooks argued the procedure would make government more efficient in evaluating grant applications. At the very same time were protecting corporate privacy, which they, in the industry, have said to us is important. The bill has been described several times as protecting the identity and fiscal privacy of companies being recruited to Tennessee. But in fact, state officials confirmed, it applies to any application for state help from any existing company. Under the bill, an approved application would reveal the amount of money granted and what it would be used for, but not the financial justification for the taxpayer funded request. The Economic and Community Development confidentiality bill goes on the Senate floor tomorrow [Thursday]. It is in the House Commerce Committee next week. http://wpln.org/? p=33878

New laws to combat drug abuse (Jackson Sun)

New laws to supervise and restrict the sale of controlled prescription drugs are being considered and passed by state lawmakers in an effort to reduce the number of deaths from controlled substance abuse. The laws are the first of several to come from Governor Bill Haslams Public Safety Action Plan Subcabinet W orking Group. The group is made up of several state departments, including the Department of Corrections, Department of Health, Department of Safety and Homeland Security and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with seven other state departments and divisions. It is the first time in Tennessee history that these departments have been brought together under one roof to address the problem of drug use, domestic violence, repeat criminal offenders, gang violence and other problems. One of the bills that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2013 requires pharmacies or pharmacists to record the name of the doctor who prescribes a controlled substance, such as Oxycodone, and the name of the patient for whom the prescription is written in a statewide database within 24 hours. The 5

information must be entered within a one-day time frame of issuing the drug, baring problems with the Internet. The bill does not require the entry of uncontrolled prescription drugs, such as blood pressure medications. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120209/NEWS01/302090007/New-laws-combat-drug-abuse

Jimmy Wayne makes plea for Tenn. foster services (Associated Press)
Country singer Jimmy Wayne is urging Tennessee lawmakers to extend a program providing services to young adults transitioning out of foster care. The program is set to expire in June, but Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has included about $890,000 in his spending proposal to keep it going. Wayne told a state House committee on Wednesday about being a homeless teen until a couple took him when he was 16. He credited his foster parents for making his music career possible by taking him off the streets after he agreed to cut his hair and attend church. Wayne walked about 1,7000 miles from Nashville to Phoenix in 2010 to raise awareness of at-risk youth in danger of aging out of the foster care system with no support or resources. http://www.wdef.com/news/state/story/Jimmy-Wayne-makes-plea-for-Tenn-fosterservices/YwF76MXO2E2Uqe2dnPWhnQ.cspx

State Representative Seeks Lower Absentee Ballot Age (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tennessee legislators are proposing more tweaks to address a law that requires a photo ID to vote. The issue has become complicated because Tennessee allows seniors age 60 and over to have a drivers license without a photo. Now, with the new voting mandate, thousands of seniors have been lining up to get a free, government issued ID. Some have been inadvertently charged a fee. Hendersonville Republican Debra Maggart wants to avert the problem at the polls altogether. Maggart has a bill to allow absentee ballots for anyone age 60 and over. It is ready for debate in the finance committees of both the state House and http://wpln.org/? Senate. p=33799

No Netflix Bill Rewrite (TN Report)

The revision planned for last years controversial Netflix bill has been deemed unnecessary by the legislations sponsor, House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, who withdrew it from consideration W ednesday. McCormick said prosecuting lawful account sharing was not the intent of the bill. For you to be breaking the law it required criminal intent andsharing inside the family under the terms of the subscription agreement certainly cannot, and does not, meet that test, said the Chattanooga Republican. Netflix, and other subscription services, have user agreements that allow sharing and for account sharing to be considered criminal intent, the individual in question would have to be making money from the act. The original bill was carried by McCormick with, he said, the intention of protecting intellectual property rights of musicians by limiting the sharing of passwords for subscription-based services like Rhapsody. However, the lawmaker soon encountered unintended consequences. The bill was perceived by some to potentially make it illegal for family members and close friends to share their passwords for subscription video services like Netflix, and McCormick received several emails on the subject. http://www.tnreport.com/2012/02/no-netflix-bill-rewrite/

Norris says bill on annexation remains alive (Commercial Appeal/Locker)

State Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Wednesday that nothing has changed on the status of his legislation to remove the Fisherville area from Memphis annexation reserve zone, despite remarks by a Fisherville leader that he would ask that the state bill be pulled. Norris said he thinks the state attorney general is about to issue an opinion that Norris requested on the bill but that he hasnt received it yet. And he said he hasnt heard directly from John Bogan, president of the Fisherville Civic Club, about withdrawing the bill from the legislature although Bogan told the Memphis City Council after a spirited exchange Tuesday with council members that he would ask Norris to do so. The senator last week pulled the annexation bill from what would have been a routine approval on the second of three required readings in the Senate, pending an attorney generals opinion on its constitutionality. The bill would remove a large area east of Cordova to the Fayette County line from Memphis longstanding annexation reserve area. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/brief-norris-says-bill-annexation-remains-alive/ (SUB)

The Fixer (Memphis Flyer)

Mark Norris, the Collierville Republican who is majority leader of the Tennessee state Senate, is aware that in certain quarters he is developing a reputation as some sort of minence grise, a hardball-playing legislator intent 6

upon enforcing his will, or that of the Shelby County suburbs vis--vis the city of Memphis, come what may. And he is aware that Norris-Todd, the 2011 legislation that largely governs the terms of city/county school merger while explicitly giving the suburbs an out from the process is a major part of his legacy. But he protests that he is incompletely defined by that measure, or by his co-sponsorship of several newly introduced bills curtailing Memphis' annexation rights, or by his rapidly approaching deadline for pushing legislation on the transfer of school properties to Shelby County's outer municipalities. "There's so much more that I do," he says, naming issues like "my ongoing efforts to help save the Church Health Center," along with his current responsibilities for bringing Governor Bill Haslam's legislative package: "And the budget. I'm carrying that." And Norris is no ogre. He is famous, among those who deal with him, for his disarming manner and gracious ways attributes which, in tandem with his unrelenting determination to see his purposes through to conclusion, make him an uncommonly effective politician. For opponents, he has the undertaker's way of coating the inevitable with calm reasonableness. http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/the-fixer/Content?oid=3119095

Tenn.'s 'Don't Say Gay' bill delayed in committee (Associated Press)

Opponents of a measure that seeks to ban Tennessee public schools from teaching about gay issues said Wednesday they will continue to show up in large groups to protest the legislation. The proposal, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, is sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley and was scheduled to be heard in the House Education Subcommittee. The Hohenwald Republican, who chairs the subcommittee, said he wanted to be out of the committee room by a certain time so he delayed taking up his bill and others until next week. "It was just last on the calendar and there were three or four bills left," he said. "If we would have had time we certainly would have heard all the bills. We'll put it on the calendar first next week." Chris Sanders is chairman of the Nashville committee of the Tennessee Equality Project, which organized the gathering of protesters, most of whom were wearing purple. He said he doesn't view Hensley's decision as disrespectful, but that the protesters will be "keeping the pressure on." Protester Eric Patton said he didn't necessarily object to Hensley's proposal being delayed because he doesn't want to see it voted on at all. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38532275?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Teens Protesting Dont Say Gay Watch as Bill is Deferred (WPLN-Radio Nashville)
State lawmakers avoided taking up a bill yesterday the would bar schools from even mentioning homosexuality. While legislators put off the issue, more than 150 of the bills opponents stood and sat in the legislative hallways, watching and talking among themselves. They were mostly teens, many wearing purple tee shirts to show opposition to a bill that Tennessee legislators have wrestled with more over a year. The printed messages were simple Some kids are gay, and thats OK, and HFA, GSA for Hume Fogg Academys Gay Straight Alliance. Alicia Fuss waited out the House Subcommittee for an hour and a half. She says children with gay parents are particularly hard-hit by the bills message. I think that this bill implies that there are right types of families, and wrong types of families, and thats very troubling to me, personally. Her view was echoed by Steve Bianchi, an adult who works with the Childrens Theater. He says the proposed law attacks childrens view of the world and of their friends. http://wpln.org/?p=33894

Cheatham Legislator Backs Teachers at Student Prayer Groups (WPLN-Radio)

A controversy over Prayer at the Flagpole in Cheatham County has surfaced two years later in the General Assembly. A state representative is trying to overturn a school board decision that restricts teacher participation. Representative Phillip Johnson, a Pegram Republican, sees a problem with a Cheatham County policy that bars teachers from taking part in student religious gatherings. The school board came to an out-of-court agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union in 2010, and Johnson says the resulting policy is wrong. They interpreted it that those coaches and sponsors or teachers couldnt participate in what we call prayer at the pole, where they meet, these students meet, prior to the school, and they were instructed not to acknowledge it, not to participate in it, and not to even bow their head. Johnsons bill would declare the restrictions around teacher participation an infringement of the First Amendment. But Hedy Weinberg, executive director of ACLU of Tennessee, says the mutual agreement simply protects students from unwanted religious pressure. http://wpln.org/?p=33807

Both Parties Are Having Trouble Finding Possible Replacements for Tindell (MP)
7

Not much has changed in that Republicans and Democrats alike are finding it difficult to find good candidates to replace the departing state Rep. Harry Tindell, D-Knoxville. Though the redrawn district is now slightly Republican, the Democrats are not going to give it up without a fight. Gloria Johnson, the Knox County Democratic Party chair who recently lost a state Senate race in a Republican district, may be the standardbearer. But recruitment continues for other potential candidates, possibly former school-board member Anne Woodle, who was very active in the election of Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero. Also, the state party is reaching out to current school board member Indya Kincannon. Woodle says she is flattered to be considered but is not considering a run. Kincannon is also said to be resisting overtures from the state party. In case you were wondering, popular Democratic former election commission administrator Greg Mackay lives just outside the district. The Republicans have also been having a hard time finding a candidate. http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/both-parties-are-having-trouble-finding-possible-r/

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(NS/Donila,

Knox County Commissioner Sam McKenzie wants Stacey Campfield's state Senate colleagues to censure him over recent controversial remarks the Knoxville Republican made about gays and the origin of the AIDS epidemic. He is spearheading a County Commission resolution that directs the board's chairman to ask state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, R-Knoxville, to initiate proceedings against Campfield. "For a New York educated gentleman, he's really come down here and put a tarnish on the people of Knox County with these outlandish statements," McKenzie said. "A censure is a reprimand and I think it's called for in this particular case." Campfield made national news in late January after he blamed the AIDS virus on "a guy screwing a monkey" and called the disease "virtually impossible" to contract via heterosexual intercourse. He made the comments during a radio interview on Sirius XM's gay-lesbian channel, OutQ. A few days later, Martha Boggs, owner of the Bistro at the Bijou, kicked him out of her downtown restaurant in disgust. Prior to the radio interview, the senator made national headlines as sponsor of the so-called "don't say gay" bill. Campfield calls the bill, "don't teach gay." It passed the state Senate last year after being revised to permit only sexuality involving "natural human reproduction" to be discussed in public schools. It still awaits a House vote. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/some-knox-commissioners-hope-state-censures/

Chattanooga to pay fees for mayor Ron Littlefield recall flap (TFP/Haman)
The Hamilton County Election Commission plans to bill the city of Chattanooga for the legal fees resulting from Mayor Ron Littlefield's recall challenge. The commission, which is funded by the county, has racked up at least $9,000 in legal bills since Littlefield filed suit in April to stop the commission from certifying recall petitions and related court action. "I think the city whose charter has caused this problem should reimburse the citizens of Hamilton County," Chairman Mike W alden said Wednesday during an election commission meeting. "The citizens of Hamilton County shouldn't be paying for the actions of City Council." Walden said the court must decide whether a rewritten City Charter properly was adopted in 2002. Littlefield argues that it was not, and therefore the city's recall rules -- which require fewer signatures than state law -- don't apply. The issue came up previously six years ago, Walden said, but "the City Council has done nothing to solve this problem." Election commissioners relied on the charter in November when they certified the signatures on petitions and set a recall election for August. Littlefield has challenged that decision, and a hearing is set for Friday before Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/09/city-to-pay-fees-for-littlefield-recallflap/?local

Knox law director: Nothing 'compromised' in disk downloaded (NS/Donila)

Law director says nothing 'compromised' Knox County Law Director Joe Jarret on Wednesday looked over a disk of information that Knox County Human Resources Director Frances Fogerson wanted downloaded from personal files she kept on her office computer. Fogerson initially took the disk home but returned it at Jarret's request. "It contains personal files of hers and a couple of personnel files, but I have no reason to believe that any employee personal information was compromised, nor that her actions were intentional," Jarret said. "She did not download the files. IT did. She complied with my request to return the file." Fogerson, who has served as the HR director almost a decade and who will retire Friday, told the News Sentinel the disk contained "dozens of files," but they were all "frivolous." She said she was not aware of any employee files on the disk. "There are some recipes on there and a set of menus from when we had a weight loss challenge," she said. Fogerson said on Tuesday she asked Dick Moran, county information technology director, about what she should do with some of her personal files. Fogerson said she had some instructions that she put together for her successors and 8

wanted to keep the information handy in case they needed help once she left. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/knox-law-director-to-examine-disk-downloaded-for/

Birth-control rule riles TN religious leaders, GOP (Tennessean/Bewley)

They say insurance mandate is unjust, infringes on rights Angry Republican lawmakers and religious leaders in Tennessee say theyll fight a controversial federal requirement that church-affiliated employers offer benefits covering birth control. Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander this week signed onto a bill by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida that would exempt employers from providing health-insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they oppose such services on religious grounds. Requiring our nations religious institutions to defy the basic tenets of their faiths shows a disturbing disregard for the Constitutions protections of religious freedom, Alexander said Wednesday. The requirement has riled Republicans, religious leaders and social conservatives in Tennessee. It also has become a hot topic in the presidential race, with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum saying Tuesday that President Barack Obama is using the mandate to impose his secular values on this country. At issue is a provision of the 2010 health-care reform law that requires insurance plans to cover preventative care for women including birth control, emergency contraception and voluntary sterilization without co-pays. The coverage would take effect for most health plans Aug. 1. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/NEWS06/302090064/Birth-control-rule-riles-TN-religious-leadersGOP?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Officials: Federal bill could decrease HOPE funding (Daily Helmsman)

University of Memphis President Shirley Raines is among officials opposed to a bill in Congress that they said might cause a decrease in funding for HOPE Lottery Scholarships. A measure to legalize online poker playing in the United States has been proposed by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), something many state governors argue would create competition for state lottery revenue and reduce funding for lottery scholarships as a result. "We are looking at the legislation now, as well as trying to research states where both (online gaming and lotteries) are allowed," Raines said. "We are not in favor of online gambling because we believe lottery revenues, which fund Hope Scholarships, would decrease." Barton proposed the measure in June. If passed as is, the bipartisan bill would legalize online poker, which Barton argues is a game of skill not luck, nationwide. The bill is currently in a House subcommittee, which it was referred to in August. Rep. Steven Cohen (D-Tenn.) has cosponsored the bill along with 26 other representatives. Cohen also played an instrumental role in establishing the Tennessee Education Lottery when he was a member of the Tennessee Senate. He said interest in state lotteries won't decrease. http://www.dailyhelmsman.com/news/officials-federal-bill-could-decrease-hope-funding1.2772297#.TzO6UcWXRZc

$6.8M flood control project starts in Bristol (Associated Press)

$6.8 million project aimed at reducing floodwater damage is under way in Bristol, Tenn. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract for work designed to allow Beaver Creek to flow more easily through the downtown area, according to the Bristol Herald Courier ( http://bit.ly/wdvFCb Aspen Construction of Minnesota ). is removing a large box culvert beneath a former Sears building in the first phase of the work, which is expected to be finished in about 90 days. The second phase will be modifying the dam at Sugar Hollow Park. City councils in both Bristol, Tenn., and Bristol, Va., approved the first phase after years of discussion. http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38534809?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

States Negotiate $26 Billion Deal for Homeowners (New York Times)
After months of painstaking talks, government authorities and five of the nations biggest banks have agreed to a $26 billion settlement that could provide relief to nearly two million current and former American homeowners harmed by the bursting of the housing bubble, state and federal officials said. It is part of a broad national settlement aimed at halting the housing markets downward slide and holding the banks accountable for foreclosure abuses. Despite the billions earmarked in the accord, the aid will help a relatively small portion of the millions of borrowers who are delinquent and facing foreclosure. The success could depend in part on how effectively the program is carried out because earlier efforts by Washington aimed at troubled borrowers helped far fewer than had been expected. Still, the agreement is the broadest effort yet to help borrowers owing more than their houses are worth, with roughly one million expected to have their mortgage debt reduced by lenders or able to refinance their homes at lower rates. Another 750,000 people who lost their homes to foreclosure from 9

September 2008 to the end of 2011 will receive checks for about $2,000. The aid is to be distributed over three years. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/business/states-negotiate-25-billion-deal-for-homeowners.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

States slowly opening courts to cameras (Stateline)

When the U.S. Supreme Court hears challenges to the national health care law this spring, fewer than 2,000 people, including press, guests, and representatives of the public, will be able to see the court proceedings with their own eyes. Thats because the nations highest court imposes an unequivocal ban on cameras in the courtroom. The states, on the other hand, are gradually moving toward transparency. All 50 have declared themselves willing to open up some court business to cameras, although the levels of openness vary from state to state. Within the last year, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Illinois have all amended their court procedures to be more camera-friendly. Kathy Kirby, general counsel for the Radio, Television and Digital News Association (RTDNA) says these states are acting as part of a slow and steady trend on the part of states to at least engage in experiments with cameras in the courtroom. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and South Dakota trial courts are now permanently opened to cameras, while Illinois and Minnesota are allowing cameras in trial courts as a pilot project. Other states are experimenting with online broadcasting. According to research conducted by the National Center for State Courts, the highest courts in 37 states provide webcasts, video, or audio recordings of their oral arguments online, either using court-installed equipment or equipment provided through a cooperative agreement with a local cable television network. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=630770

Training center opens in Chattanooga as Wacker set to expand (TFP/Pare)

Wacker officials say that injecting $300 million more into its Bradley County plant will hike capacity by 20 percent, and the opening Wednesday of a training center will ensure skilled workers for its factory. "Without that, we couldn't start up," said Ingomar Kovar, chief executive of Wacker Chemical, about its high-tech training facility in Chattanooga. The German company earlier this week unveiled the new plant investment, which raises spending on the factory to $1.8 billion. Located at Chattanooga State Community College, the Wacker Institute holds a miniature version of the planned factory that will make polysilicon for the solar industry when it opens in late 2013. About $13.7 million was spent to buy the former Olan Mills photography building off Amnicola Highway and put in seven new classrooms, a lab and the pilot plant, college officials said. Chattanooga State President Jim Catanzaro called the center "the largest, most advanced" training facility of its kind in the country. "I don't think there is anything like it in the U.S.," he said. The W acker facility highlights the company's high level of capital investment. Wacker will spend nearly $2.8 million for every job at its plant near Charleston, Tenn., where it will employ about 650 people. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/09/training-center-opens-as-wacker-set-to-expand/?local

Memphis mayor launches new initiative to help small businesses (CA/Dowd)

The mayor of Memphis has a new plan to streamline city government and boost entrepreneurship. Speaking to more than 100 minority and women business owners and executives Wednesday, A C Wharton introduced his administration's Memphis Office of Resources and Enterprise (MORE) initiative, a new effort to make it easier for small businesses to bid on, and win, local government contracts. Previously, Wharton said, the city had no centralized system to assist entrepreneurs with issues such as how to obtain business licenses or how to bid on city contracts, or even how to grow their companies. But with the MORE program, under the direction of Alandas Dobbins, small-business owners will be able to contact one person, who in turn will offer assistance and referrals to the appropriate resource. Dobbins, who previously served as president of management consulting and systems integration and installation firm Nsight Communication, reports directly to the mayor, a practice Wharton said will boost efficiency. "It's not business as usual. It's changing things from the top down and taking away some of these layers of bureaucracy," Wharton said. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/08/memphis-mayor-c-wharton-launches-new-initiative-he/ (SUB)

Pristine land is in pipeline path (Tennessean/Paine)

Radnor Lake area, pricey communities would be affected Piedmont Natural Gas plans to build a 13.5-mile pipeline with a preliminary route charted through some of the most high-priced neighborhoods in town as well as the popular Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Letters should begin arriving today telling 300 property owners 10

about the $60 million project that could cross their land, said David Trusty, a spokesman for the company. The underground pipeline would cut through the south part of Nashville, including the upscale Forest Hills and Oak Hill communities. Their actual land might not even fall into where this is, Trusty said of those receiving letters. But Piedmont does want to do land surveys and testing that could include core drilling on the properties. The pipeline would stretch eastward from a Piedmont natural gas regulator station near Percy W arner Park at Chickering Road and connect on the other end to the Columbia Gulf pipeline near Shire Lane. Thats in the Cane Ridge area, not far from Interstate 24 and Old Hickory Boulevard. The project, lying largely parallel to Old Hickory Boulevard, would require digging three to five feet down. Blasting could be involved. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/NEWS11/302090074/Pristine-land-pipeline-path?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Piedmont Plans Pipeline Through Radnor Lake (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Property owners across southern Davidson County are receiving letters from Piedmont Natural Gas, informing them of plans for a new pipeline. The underground gas line is just 13 miles long, but it cuts through some of the most affluent neighborhoods in the region, as well as one of the most popular parks in the state Radnor Lake. The pipeline would stretch from Forest Hills through Oak Hill and east to Antioch. Piedmonts David Trusty says the 20 inch pipe is needed to replace an older one that will not meet new federal safety regulations. Its meant to be an open process. This is something we have to do, so were not going to start from a point of being secretive about it. Piedmont still has to get permission from as many as 300 private property owners as well as the Tennessee Valley Authority. Trusty says Piedmont hopes to follow TVAs current easement through the woods around Radnor Lake. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which operates the park, also has to sign off. Its been approached by Piedmont, but a spokesperson says the state is waiting for more information. Radnor Lake counts a million visits a year. Trusty says he understands the significance. http://wpln.org/?p=33866

Haslam proposal could cost Kingsport schools $141,000 (Times-News)

Kingsport schools could lose about $141,000 the state funding portion for 37 teaching positions under Gov. Bill Haslams legislative proposal, school officials said Wednesday. Kingsport Board of Education member Susan Lodal, during a meeting with parents, said she has serious reservations about Haslams proposal to loosen up class-size restrictions because of the potential financial impact on the more than 500 teachers in the city system of about 7,000 students. In a later interview, Kingsport City Schools Finance Director David Frye said he had calculated that the changes in funding the state provides for teachers under the legislation would cost the system about $141,000. In addition, interim Superintendent Dwain Arnold said a recent Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents informal survey found about 80 percent of superintendents in the state had qualms about the proposal. Touted as giving more local control to school boards, Lodal said the changes instead could hurt the city school system at least in the long run because of the complex Basic Education Program funding formula. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9042036/haslam-proposal-could-cost-kingsport-schools-141000

School leaders say wait and see (Tennessean/Giordano)

Both the W illiamson County and the Franklin Special School District school boards took no action Monday against a proposed state Senate bill that would increase the maximum class size and give districts the ability to redesign the teacher salary schedule. Nevertheless, board members and school directors Mike Looney and David Snowden vowed to keep a close watch on the bill and said they would meet again. It has been a few years since the two school boards have met jointly on an issue. Its not wise to take a position right now, Looney told board members gathered at the countys administrative complex auditorium. There are many unanswered questions. ... Were trying to understand all the potential consequences. What the legislation proposes is the elimination of average class sizes and paves the way for an additional five students, increasing classroom maximums from 25 to 30 students at the elementary level and to 35 in high school. It also would free districts from paying teachers by the current step plan, which gives annual raises based on degree level and years of service, for a schedule that pays more based on the class size or on student learning gains. The changes would alter the states Basic Education Program calculation used to fund districts. This formula is based on class size and enrollment. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/W ILLIAMSON04/302090010/School-leaders-say-wait-see

Shelby County Commission set to revisit school property issue (CA/Connolly)

The Shelby County Commission has scheduled a special meeting for 2 p.m. Friday to revisit the question of how 11

the county's unified school board could sell school buildings to any new municipal school systems that come into existence. The two public school districts in the Memphis area are merging, which has prompted some suburban town governments to consider creating their own school systems. High sales prices for buildings would be a serious obstacle to those efforts. Commission chairman Sidney Chism said he expects Commissioner James Harvey to attend Friday's meeting. A measure on the school buildings failed Monday after Harvey, a key supporter, left to catch a plane to Charlotte, N.C., where he is working on a temporary assignment at a bank. Commissioners split 6-6 Monday. If Harvey had been there, the resolution likely would have passed 7-6. The timing of the special meeting Friday is based on Harvey's schedule, Chism said. "Yeah, it had a great deal to do with it, because he had to leave last time we had a meeting." http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/08/shelby-county-commission-set-revisit-school-proper/ (SUB)

Schools plead case why state should decline charters (CA/Roberts)

City and county school leaders filed a response to the state Wednesday explaining how the districts will suffer if forced to approve 17 new charter schools. The response comes four weeks after state Treasurer David Lillard requested data from the charter applicants and both school superintendents, telling them in a Jan. 10 letter to respond "as expeditiously as possible." Most of the charters responded within two weeks. But Lillard said he could not start the review process until all parties responded. "It is a little strange that the district started this whole thing and now can effectively control the timetable," said Ross Glotzbach, analyst at Southeastern Asset Management and chairman of the yet-to-open Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School. "I hope the school district is taking its time because this is an important thing as opposed to it being a back-door way of solidifying their decision." School officials filed the paperwork W ednesday. "It was a lotta, lotta information to compile," said Shelby County Schools Supt. John Aitken. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/charters-waitfor-go-signal/ (SUB)

Florida: Scott asks Facebook users for one word, gets an earful (TB Tribune)
On Monday night, Gov. Rick Scott really his staff asked the nearly 80,000 people who follow his Facebook page to fill in the blank: "If you could use one word to describe Florida's 2012 legislative session, it would be ___________. COMMENT below!" People commented. Racist Yankeeville Advancing Criminal Too slow for progress Underachievement Successful Winning. Energized, but we still need to drill. Whatever word describes "I am still looking for a job" About 160 comments posted within an hour, and more than 400 when we stopped looking Tuesday evening. Some of the posts were mocking, some praising. Many were angry. Some were hopeful. Plenty of people couldn't confine themselves to one word. Some questioned the exercise itself. "Gov, why do you do this? You know your page is trolled by losers who don't want to work hard, or they're union slugs (or both)," wrote Joe Duhamel of Tampa. "We know this because they have time on their hands to bother with these posts. So why?" http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/gubernatorial/article1214325.ece

Pennsylvania: Tax on Gas Industry Is Approved (New York Times)

The Pennsylvania House narrowly approved legislation on Wednesday that would authorize a tax on the natural gas industry in exchange for limiting the control that municipalities would have over where companies could drill. Lawmakers approved the legislation 101 to 90, according to State Representative Jesse J. White, a Democrat who voted against the bill, known as House Bill 1950. It now goes to Gov. Tom Corbett, who said Wednesday in a statement that he would sign it. The bills supporters say it will bring state and local governments $1 billion over five years. Its critics argue that it provides no mechanism for towns to hold companies accountable. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/us/pennsylvania-tax-on-gas-industry-is-approved.html?ref=todayspaper (SUB)

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OPINION Free-Press Editorial: Don't enshrine flawed judge selection process (TFP)
The Tennessee Constitution calls for the popular election of state Supreme Court and appellate judges. Instead, Tennessee has had since the 1970s a system in which judges are first appointed by the governor, and then serve for a period of time before there is a public, yes-no vote on whether they will be retained. That process supposedly removes politics from the process. But in reality, it merely keeps judges from having to be accountable to the voting public for their decisions. With no opponents permitted to seek election in the yes-no retention votes, there is often very little interest in or notice of those retention elections, and it is extremely rare for a judge to be voted out. As Brian T. Fitzpatrick, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, wrote in the Times Free Press in 2008: "[A]lthough there have been 146 retention referendums in Tennessee since 1971, in only one did the public vote against retention. This means that incumbents are retained 99.3 percent of the time. Is that an election or a coronation?"There is also no reason to think members of the panel that nominates judges for the governor's consideration are not influenced by politics themselves. Plainly, the wisest course of action in Tennessee would be to return to meaningful, contested elections, which is what the state had for most of its history. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/09/unwise-proposal-on-judges/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: No place for politics (Commercial Appeal)

Politics and judges shouldn't mix. Having "Democrat" or "Republican" after a judicial candidate's name should not be a measure of whether he or she is qualified to dispense unbiased rulings. Unfortunately, we've crossed that road with some local and state judgeships. But so far, Tennessee has avoided having its appellate court 13

judges selected in partisan elections. Gov. Bill Haslam wants to make sure the process doesn't change and is pushing for the current process to become part of the Tennessee Constitution. If that's what it takes to keep overt politics out of state appellate judgeship selections, we hope the governor gets his way. Under the state's judicial selection system, a commission nominates appeals court judges and the governor appoints them. In subsequent elections, voters cast ballots on whether the judges should be retained. Haslam wants the constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2014. He's supported by Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Beth Harwell, both Republicans. A group of legislators led by state Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, supports popular election of the judges. They argue the current selection process violates the state Constitution. They also believe elected judges would be more accountable to the public. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/no-place-for-politics/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: UT demonstrates its leadership in educational value (News-Sentinel)

Despite steep tuition increases in the past few years, the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of the best public higher educational values in America, according to the Princeton Review. UT made the list of 75 top-value public institutions released Tuesday. The rankings were based on academic rating, financial aid and the "real cost" of attending college, excluding student loans. The list cited UT's program diversity, research opportunities, welcoming campus and affordable price tag as reasons for inclusion. The lottery-funded Hope Scholarship, which covers nearly half of a student's tuition and fees and is awarded nearly all in-state freshmen, helps reduce the real cost of attending UT. UT's inclusion on the list could help recruit even more talented students who are looking to get the most bang from their educational buck. The outstanding student-loan debt surpassed the $1 trillion mark last year, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that was widely disseminated in the media. That's more than the total balances on credit cards in the United States, a situation that some observers warn constitutes a "student-loan bubble" that could burst in the near future. The "best value" schools are institutions that provide good educations while keeping out-of-pocket expenses including loans relatively low. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/editorial-ut-demonstrates-its-leadership-in/

Columnist: Next Month's Primary Golden Opportunity to Screw With Campfield (MP)
There is an election next month, with early voting beginning Feb. 15. Did you know Stacey Campfield is on the ballot? Campfield is on the slate of delegates committed to Newt Gingrich for president. If you vote as a Republican (which you can choose to do in Tennessees open primaries, no matter your actual party affiliation), you can select up to 14 delegates from 53 listed on the ballot. That means 52 ways to not vote Campfield! Better still, you are in essence offering invitations to the Republican convention. Regardless of which candidate emerges as the front-runner, I want to see Ron Paul supporters in force at the convention. They are the only Republican faction with the courage to stand up to the partys conformists, so they will make the convention unpredictable. Will you join me in an act of civil disobedience? Make a statement against Stacey Campfield and the Republican establishment that refuses to condemn his dangerous medical advice. Vote to send all 11 delegates committed to Ron Paul to the partys convention. Obviously Republicans will object to this scheme, and here is my advice for them: Keep party business off the public ballot. Everybodys tax dollars fund the printing of ballots and administration of this election. If you dont want public input on party matters, dont use public money. http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/next-months-primary-golden-opportunity-screw-campf/

Frank Cagle: Knoxville's Traditional Power Centers Have Dead Batteries (M. Pulse)
The times, they are a-changing. Trustee John Duncan III ought to send Gloria Ray flowers. Her troubles with the Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corp. have kept him off the front page or the lead TV news items for a few days. Were it not for Rays troubles, the story about County Mayor Tim Burchett saying that if the allegations are true then young Duncan should quit his post would have made a bigger stir. It is still a remarkable occurrence and it comes on the heels of Burchett and Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero calling on Ray and the executive committee of KTSC to resign. At first blush you wouldnt think Burchett and Rogero have much in common. Hes a Republican, shes a Democrat. But what they do have in common is that neither are part of either the ole boy network or the Knoxville political establishment. Some establishment folk around town were no more pleased to see Burchett cruise to election than they were when Rogero did it. There is very little left of the old county courthouse political machine: fee officeholders with years of political organizing and ground troops to put in the field come election time. (W e no longer have a Bean machine, a Lowe machine, or a Hutchison machine.) 14

http://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/traditional-power-centers-have-dead-batteries/

Clay Bennett Political Cartoon: Mayfield for Congress (Times Free-Press)

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