fri., feb. 10 news summary

8/3/2019 Fri., Feb. 10 News Summary

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012Haslam touts class size proposal at press event (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam acknowledges that his class size proposal has been met with "mixed reviews" but insistwould allow schools to fill high-priority teaching positions. The Republican governor said in a speech aluncheon hosted by The Associated Press and the Tennessee Press Association on Thursday that administration is still working to build support for the measure. Haslam said Tennessee is alone in limiting toclass size and average enrollment. Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said earlier at the same event tsupporters have done a poor job of selling the proposal to local school administrators and parents concernabout more classes being filled to capacity. House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh said fellow Democrats rejstudies that may indicate no link between class size and student performance.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38538473?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Haslam shies away from class size plan (Tennessean/Sisk)Governor backs off plan that would allow flexibility amid concerns about job cuts Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursdshied away from his proposal to lift a class size cap, acknowledging that it had received mixed reviews fradministrators, teachers and lawmakers. Haslam said his plan had been intended to give school districts moflexibility to recruit and reward teachers who take on difficult tasks or subjects with higher pay. But that goal hbeen overshadowed by concerns his proposal would swell class sizes and instead lead to job cuts. We wantget this right, and our object is not just to have larger class sizes in Tennessee, he said. We know thats not right idea. Haslams comments suggest he could abandon his proposal to drop one of the states two limits how large classes can be. They come as some state lawmakers have begun to push back against the proposMost teachers hold very sacred the ability to have small classroom sizes, House Speaker Beth Harwell saidthink he was just aiming for flexibility to be given back to the locals. There is some resistance no doubt abit and so I think the governor is sitting down.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120210/NEWS04/302100057/Haslam-shies-away-from-class-size-plan?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Haslam getting pushback on plan to increase Tenn. classroom sizes (TFP/Sher)Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday acknowledged his plan to give local schools flexibility to increase average clasizes is getting pushback from educators and lawmakers, but he remained optimistic a workable agreement cbe reached. It has met with mixed reviews, the Republican said at a luncheon hosted by the Tennessee PreAssociation and The Associated Press. I guess thats the charitable way of putting it. He argued Tennesseethe only state with a maximum class size and a maximum average class size. On Thursday, Republican SenSpeaker Ron Ramsey said officials havent done a good job selling the proposal to school administrators aparents, who fear systems will pack classrooms to the limit. I think the governor will agree with me we cohave done a better job explaining this to the local school system, Ram sey told reporters at the Tennessee Pre

Associations annual winter meeting. I just think we need to back up and explain that better, Ramsey saHaslams hope is that by giving local schools more flexibility on setting average class sizes, school systems free up money to provide more pay to better teachers and those teaching in hard-to-fill areas like math andlower-income schools.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/governor-bill-haslam-hopes-class-size-d eal/?local

TN 1 of 10 States Awarded No Child Left Behind Waiver (TN Report)Tennessee Gov. B ill Haslam today lauded the approval by U.S. Department of Education officials of Tennessewaiver request from certain portions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Tennessee was the fstate to request a waiver and was one of only 10 recipients of the first round of waivers. The Adequate Yea
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Progress (AYP) accountability model under NCLB has been an ongoing obstacle for schools and distribecause it does not fully account for schools growth. Tennessee schools have continued to m ake progress othe past decade that NCLB has been law, but the rigid and unrealistic AYP accountability model labeled somethese schools as failures despite meaningful improvement, Haslam said. Weve implemented rigorostandards in Tennessee, and Tennessee received this waiver because of our commitment to improveducation for all of our students. Under the waiver, Tennessee proposes to raise overall achievement by 3 tpercent each year and to cut achievement gaps in half over an 8-year period.http://www.tnreport.com/2012/02/tn-1-of-10-states-awarded-no-child-left-behind -waiver/VIDEO:http://www.tnreport.com/2012/02/video-haslam-discusses-no-child-left-behind-waiv er-for-tn/

Haslam: TN schools will succeed without No Child Left Behind (Associated PresGovernor Bill Haslam formally announced that Tennessee has been granted a waiver to the federal No Child LBehind Act (NCLB). Haslam said Tennessee was the first state to request a waiver and was one of only recipients of the first round of waivers. The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) accountability model under NChas been an ongoing obstacle for schools and districts because it does not fully account for schools' grow"Tennessee schools have continued to make progress over the past decade that NCLB has been law, but rigid and unrealistic AYP accountability model labeled some of these schools as failures despite meaningimprovement," Haslam said. "We've implemented rigorous standards in Tennessee, and Tennessee receivthis waiver because of our commitment to improving education for all of our students."http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/204862/2/Haslam-TN-schools-will-succeed-without-No-Child-L eft-Behind

Tennessee one of 10 states granted waiver from NCLB law (City Paper/Garrison)Tennessee is one of 10 states to be freed of the stringent education regulations of the federal No Child LBehind law, the U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday. Gov. Bill Haslams administrationNovember subm itted an NCLB waiver application to the federal government, outlining a set of reform strategthat address student achievement and increased accountability in exchange for flexibility in applying controversial Bush-era education law. With increased standards under the law, half of Tennessees schools failing NCLB standards. In Metro, 55 schools are considered high priority after failing to meet so-caladequate yearly progress under the law. States, including Tennessee, are now shielded from a heascrutinized requirement that all students be proficient in math and reading by 2014. Meeting that deadline cawith severe penalties that are also eliminated. States have replaced this requirement with their own performantargets, U.S. education department officials say.

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/tennessee-one-10-states-granted-waiver -nclb-law

Schools in TN get 'No Child' reprieve (Tennessean/Hubbard)No Child requirements lifted as state OK'd to use ow n plan Tennessee is leaving behind No Child Left Behindfederal law passed a decade ago with good intentions for bettering students but later harshly criticized lawmakers, educators and parents. They celebrated the states shift to its own measuring stick, one that takinto account progress more than testing benchmarks which, under No Child Left Behind, came w ith penaltif they werent hit. It lies heavy on your heart when teachers are really, truly trying to do the things they knhow to do and not seeing the results to make everyone happy, said Principal Alison McMahan at TusculElementary in Nashville. The good news is we have that possibility. Her school demonstrated problems with old measure. Half the students arent native English-speakers, so while they made gains on standardized testhey missed the No C hild Left Behind benchmarks for five years and were at risk of a state takeover. The Oba

administration announced Thursday that 10 states will be allowed to judge schools using their own methods, pinclude more subjects than just reading and math in that assessment. In a speech to the Tennessee PreAssociation, Gov. B ill Haslam said the federal laws goal of having all students proficient in reading and math2014 was like asking someone to run a five-minute mile and giving him or her three weeks to train.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120210/NEWS04/302100071/Schools-TN-get-No-Child-reprieve?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee receives No Child Left Behind waiver (Commercial Appeal/Roberts)Schools must cut performance gap Tennessee was one of 10 states granted a waiver Thursday by the WhHouse from the No Child Left Behind law, freeing it to enact its own template for evaluating student performanand measuring school success. Annual exams will still be given, but schools will no longer be on the hookmake Adequate Yearly Progress, the benchmark of success under NCLB. Instead schools in Tennessee w
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have to increase the number of students testing proficient in math and reading and cut the gap between higand low-performing students. "Tennessee schools have continued to make progress over the past decade tNCLB has been law, but the rigid and unrealistic AYP accountability model labeled some of these schools failures despite meaningful improvement," Gov. Bill Haslam said. "We've implemented rigorous standardsTennessee, and Tennessee received this waiver because of our commitment to improving education for all of students." Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and Oklahowere also granted waivers based on how they intend to hold their schools accountable. New Mexico was the ostate among the first 11 to apply that did not get approval; 28 other states have said they intend to apply for second round of waivers due late this month.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/10/tenn-receives-nclb-waiver/(SUBSCRIPTION)

Tennessee Granted NCLB Waiver (Memphis Daily News)Tennessee made another cut in the changing federal education reform scene: The state is one of 10 grantewaiver from No Child Left Behind standards.President Obama said the waivers are a green light to continuemaking the reforms that are best for them.Each of these states has set higher benchmarks for achievements,he added.Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has been anticipating the news from Washington for weeks.The waiversfor Tennessee and nine other states is significant nationally because it is a departure from the Bush-era No ChLeft Behind standards that required yearly progress by students over a short period of time until all weperforming at acceptable education standards.Critics argued that the standards were always intended to changebefore reaching the outer years. But when that didnt happen, even backers of the standards, including U.S. S

Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, said NCLB held school districts and states to an unrealistic standard that didgive schools enough credit for making progress with students who were near the bottom in terms of thperformance and remained underperforming students by the standards.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/feb/10/tennessee-granted-nclb-waiver/

Tennessee Schools Awarded 'No Child Left Behind' Waiver (WTVF-TV Nashville)President Obama announced Thursday that Tennessee will no longer have to abide by the strict rules under No Child Left Behind Law. This proclamation doesn't mean that states are completely free when it comeseducation. Each state still has to demonstrate how they would close the achievement gap and prepare studeto be ready for college or the workforce. The waiver simply gives states more time to achieve more realisgoals. Under the No Child Left Behind law, even if students are making great gains in the classroom if enoudon't meet the benchmarks established by the federal government - their school could be labeled a failure. T

law requires 100 percent proficiency in reading and math by 2014. "We're making significant progressthousands of classrooms but the law had become so unrealistic in many cases that it became de motivatinsaid Governor Bill Haslam. The law caused low morale among schools leaders many of whom struggled to themselves of the stigma associated with being deemed low performing. That's part of the reason wTennessee applied for a waiver that grants exemption from some of the current mandates.http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16901752/tennessee-schools-awarded-no-child-left-behind-waiver

Tennessee among 10 States Exempt from No Child Left Behind Mandates (WPTYTennessee is out of the No Child Left Behind Act. It's one of 10 states that asked for an exemption to the fedeeducation policy. The act divides students at public schools into several groups based on various criteria like ability to speak English, ethnicity, and economic status. Every group is expected to be proficient in math areading by 2014. That includes students with learning disabilities. Tennessee was one of several states t

lobbied hard for a waiver from this law so the state can set up its own method to m easure student performanceeach of those groups. That's what this w aiver allows them to do, but students would still have to be tested evyear. "After waiting far too long for Congress to reform No Child Left Behind, my Administration is giving stathe opportunity to set higher, more honest standards in exchange for more flexibility," said President BaraObama. "Today, were giving 10 states the green light to continue making reforms that are best for theBecause if were serious about helping our children reach their potential, the best ideas arent going to comfrom Washington alone. Our job is to harness those ideas, and to hold states and schools accountable making them work." Tennessee's plan calls for raising student achievement every year so that half of all studereach the same achievement level in eight years. Tennessee's plan also calls for state intervention if schodon't meet those goals.http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/Tennessee-among-10-States-Exempt-from-NoChild/BobWQqxyskO0O7ts1Q_jhw.cspx?rss=59
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Obama grants 10 states, including Tennessee, No Child Left Behind waivers (JCPresident Barack Obama on Thursday freed Tennessee and nine other states from the strict requirements of No Child Left Behind education law in exchange for promises to improve the way schools teach and evalustudents. It was meant to close gaps, but states like Tennessee petitioned the government for waivers, sKathy Hall, Johnson City Board of Education chairwoman. In general terms, it means we wont be held tostandards of No Child Left Behind. And, it probably will not affect us financially, because were not going to anything differently. Our standards already were high, and the government granted the waivers to the states t

had really gone out of their way to reform. The first 10 states to receive the waivers are Colorado, FloriGeorgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, O klahoma and Tennessee, the WhHouse said. The only state that applied for the flexibility and did not get it, New Mexico, is working with administration to get approval.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Living/article.php?id=98165#ixzz1ly kkaz95

Ten States Get Leeway on School Law (Wall Street Journal)President Barack Obama on Thursday authorized 10 states to ignore key provisions of the No Child Left Behlaw, a move to circumvent the unpopular legislation that won cheers from the states but prompted concern frRepublicans and some civil-rights groups. The Obama administration said it would grant Colorado, IndiaKentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and Tennessee the power to design their own schaccountability systems, instead of using the one mandated by the decade-old federal law. Florida, Georgia a

Oklahoma received waivers on condition they adopt specific policies promised in their applications. New Mexhad also applied for a waiver, but was denied. State education leaders praised the announcement, saying it frethem to devise their own education policies for low-achieving schools, but ranking Republicans said Mr. Obahad overstepped his executive authority by waiving central tenets of the law, including a requirement that schoensure 100% o f students are proficient in math and reading by 2014.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203646004577212841901954360.html?mod=ITP_pageone_2(SUBSCRIPTION)

10 States Are Given Waivers From Education Law (New York Times)A decade after the No Child Left Behind law rewrote the nations education policies, President Obama freed states from some of its crucial provisions on Thursday, including a deadline for bringing all studentsproficiency in reading and math by 2014. The states New Jersey, Massachusetts, Tennessee, GeorgFlorida, Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado, Minnesota and Oklahoma are the first group to receive waivers from Bush-era law, in exchange for embracing the Obama administrations educational agenda and its focus accountability and teacher effectiveness. Federal officials said they would continue to work with New Mexiwhose application was not approved because it was incomplete. They also said the waivers granted to FloriGeorgia and Oklahoma were contingent on those states adopting policies or legislation enabling them to machanges. These officials said that 28 other states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico hasignaled that they plan to seek waivers. The next round of applications is due at the end of February.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/10-states-given-waivers-from-no-child-left-behind-law.h tml?ref=todayspaper(SUBSCRIPTION)

Knox County superintendent likes flexibility of No Child Left Behind waiv

(WATE)

Tennessee and nine other states are getting a break from the federal No Child Left Behind rules. In the last tyears, Tennessee has implemented radically higher education standards, resulting in a drop in test scores amore schools failing to make the grade. The federal government announced Thursday that Tennessee hreceived a waiver. That means every student will no longer be expected to reach 100% proficiency in asubject. Instead they'll be measured in growth from one year to the next. "I think it does give us some additioflexibility, some additional tools to help us to get there," said Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. JMcIntyre. He's happy about the No Child Left Behind waiver that allows Knox County Schools and others mflexibility in measuring students' success. New goals are now set by the state, rather than the fedegovernment.http://www.wate.com/story/16902838/knox-county-superintendent-likes-flexibility-of-no-child-left-beh ind-waiver

Governor, Area Schools respond to education waiver (WVLT-TV Knoxville)
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Gov. Bill Haslam hopes the approval of Tennessee's waiver from the No C hild Left Behind education law boothe morale of teachers and other educators frustrated by the federal measure's strict and sweeprequirements. President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Tennessee is among 10 states to receive waiver. The m ain goal of the law was to get all students up to par in reading and m ath by 2014, w hich crihave said is unrealistic. Haslam told reporters after a speech at a luncheon hosted by The Associated Press athe Tennessee Press Association on Thursday that he had heard from teachers who said their students weimproving, but their school was still labeled failing. Said the Republican governor: "That would be demotivatingme if I'm a teacher and making real progress ... and yet I'm labeled a failure." Knox Co. Schools SuperintendDr. Jim McIntyre responded Thursday morning to news from that the Obama Administration planned to provwaivers, freeing ten states, including Tennessee, from the strict and sweeping requirements of the N o Child LBehind Law.http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/Tennessee_among_10_states_to_get_No_Child_Left_Behind_waer_139000859.html

Educators praise end of NCLB (Daily News Journal)Exemption gives systems hope Local education officials are praising the federal governments decisionexempt Tennessee and nine other states from the strict requirements of the No Child Left Behind education laTennessee filed a waiver in November to be exempted from the 10-year-old law in exchange for a promiseimprove the way schools teach and evaluate students. The state proposed to raise overall achievement bpercent to 5 percent every year for the next eight years, and cut the achievement gap in half during that sam

time. Yes! Thats great news, Bradley Academy Principal Kim Fowler said. President Barack Obama agranted waivers Thursday to nine other states: Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, MassachusetMinnesota, New Jersey and O klahoma. The move is an acknowledgment that NCLBs m ain goal of gettingstudents up to par in reading and m ath by 2014 is not within reach.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120210/NEWS/302090036/Educators-praise-end-NCLB?odyssey=tab|topnews|teFRONTPAGE

Haslam hopes waiver will boost morale of teachers (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam hopes the approval of Tennessee's waiver from the No C hild Left Behind education law boothe morale of teachers and other educators frustrated by the federal measure's strict and sweeprequirements. President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Tennessee is among 10 states to receive waiver. The m ain goal of the law was to get all students up to par in reading and m ath by 2014, w hich cri

have said is unrealistic. Haslam told reporters after a speech at a luncheon hosted by The Associated Press athe Tennessee Press Association on Thursday that he had heard from teachers who said their students weimproving, but their school was still labeled failing. Said the Republican governor: "That would be demotivatingme if I'm a teacher and making real progress ... and yet I'm labeled a failure."http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38539097?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Loudon County educators prefer state's new student growth measures (WATE-TVTennessee schools no longer have to m eet federal benchmarks for student achievement. The state is one of in the nation granted federal waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act. Under the waiver, Tennessee proposto raise overall achievement by 3% to 5% each year and cut achievement gaps in half over an eight-year periLoudon High Schoo l history teacher Marvin Feezel is happy about the change in the way his students' growth be measured. He thinks No Child Left Behind is unrealistic. "All the students were treated the same with

regards to their socio-economic backgrounds, to their home lives, to the resources available to them at thschools," he explained. "There's such a wide variety of challenges schools face." "When you label a schoolfailing, it may be failing to fit into the box of what the government has deemed to be a successful school. But that community, that school may actually be doing quite well for its children," Feezel added. Tennessee's nsystem is called Common Core State Standards, and it will allow school districts the flexibility to design their owintervention programs.http://www.wate.com/story/16902734/loudon-county-educators-prefer-states-new-student-growth -measures

Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say (New York Times)Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantagchildren and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarssuggests that the achievement gap between rich and poor children is widening, a development that threatens
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dilute educations leveling effects. It is a well-known fact that children from affluent families tend to do betterschool. Yet the income divide has received far less attention from policy makers and government officials thgaps in student accomplishment by race. Now, in analyses of long-term data published in recent montresearchers are finding that while the achievement gap between white and black students has narrowsignificantly over the past few decades, the gap between rich and poor students has grown substantially durthe same period. We have moved from a society in the 1950s and 1960s, in which race was m ore consequenthan family income, to one today in which family income appears m ore determinative of educational succethan race, said Sean F. Reardon, a Stanford University sociologist. Professor Reardon is the author of a stuthat found that the gap in standardized test scores between affluent and low-income students had grown about 40 percent since the 1960s, and is now double the testing gap between blacks and whites.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.htm_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1328875436-mdylfFjiW9ZR7t3clmivhQ(SUB)

Failing or Watch List Schools Likely To Fall Under State Control (WHBQ-TV)If your childs school has been on the failing or watch list, its likely it may be taken over by the state. So wdoes this mean? The school wou ld then become part of the achievement school district, or A.S.D. It is a strun district with a newly hired superintendent. The A.S.D. schools will change in one of three ways. The stacould take over the administration of the school. The state will work with Memphis City Schools on management. Or the school will be converted to a charter school. That seems to be the m ost likely scenario. Tprivate charter companies have already been hired to run two Memphis C ity Schools for next year. The schohave not been names, but will come from this list of the bottom 68 schools. When a school becomes a char

school, it is independent from Mem phis City Schools. It has a separate leadership and curriculum. But the ideacontroversial, especially when it comes to funding. When a school leaves the Memphis City School district, tax dollars follow the student.http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209

Teachers look to author for help on classroom environment (Herald-Courier)As Tennessee teachers face their first year of new state evaluations, many are seeking the advice of a loprofessor and author about how to make the most of their classroom. 15 years of research went into the makof a book Dr. Janet Faulk co-authored on elementary education environment. She says a child's classroenvironment is important in the quality of learning they receive from making use of centers to the lighting amood a classroom sets. We want to look at ways we can make the environment a welcoming environment our children and also one that celebrates the learning that's going on, explains Faulk. And teachers say w

strict new evaluations and the possibility of increasing class sizes such help is important now more than evWe look for those real ingenious ways to be creative with what we have. How do we take a classroom that wbuilt for 20-22 students and put 30 students in there and have enough space for centers have enough m aterfor centers, explains Principal of Bluff City Elementary Cathy Nester. (Im) just (seeking) some creative ideas.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/feb/09/teachers-look-author-help-classroom-environment-ar -1677638/

Haslam plans to stiffen domestic violence penalties in Tennessee (TFP/South)Part of Gov. Bill Haslam's ma jor public safety overhaul would put w ife beaters in jail and impose higher fines the abuse. "We have a problem in our state that we need to address," said Bill Gibbons, commissioner of Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and head of Haslam's subcommittee on public safeGibbons pointed to numbers that show Tennessee ranks fifth in the nation for women murdered by men aresult of domestic violence. He noted that m ore than half of a ll violent crimes reported in the state a re domes

Haslam's public safety leaders sat down with the Chattanooga Times Free Press editorial board Thursdaydiscuss the governor's public safety proposals. The dom estic violence penalties are part of the governor's larlegislative package. Domestic assault is a misdemeanor that under current state law can result in probation upconviction. The changes would require judges to jail those convicted of second and subsequent domesassaults. The "Repeat Domestic Violence Offender" bill would mandate at least 45 days in jail and a $350$3,500 fine for a second offense, and at least 120 days' jail time and $1,100 to $5,000 fine for the third asubsequent offenses.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/governor-plans-to-stiffen-domestic-viole nce/?local

State's new public safety plan targets drug abuse, violent crime (NS/Hickman)State officials are touting a new comprehensive "public safety action plan" being implemented now as the bechance yet at making significant reductions to Tennessee's rates of violent crime and drug abuse. Address
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1328875436-mdylfFjiW9ZR7t3clmivhQhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1328875436-mdylfFjiW9ZR7t3clmivhQhttp://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/feb/09/teachers-look-author-help-classroom-environment-ar-1677638/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/governor-plans-to-stiffen-domestic-violence/?localhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1328875436-mdylfFjiW9ZR7t3clmivhQhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/education/education-gap-grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies-show.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1328875436-mdylfFjiW9ZR7t3clmivhQhttp://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/failing-or-watch-list-schools-likely-to-fall-under-state-control-fso-20120209http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/feb/09/teachers-look-author-help-classroom-environment-ar-1677638/http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/governor-plans-to-stiffen-domestic-violence/?local


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three major challenges prescription drug abuse, violent crime and repeat felony offenders the plan is product of officials from 11 state agencies named to a "subcabinet working group" by Gov. Bill Haslam a yeago. "Historically, you've had one department moving this way and one moving that way," Safety CommissioBill Gibbons, who has led the effort, said in a m eeting with the New s Sentinel editorial board Thursday. "We'reon the same page. And that's pretty unusual for state government." Among its strategies, the multiyear effort hintroduced five major pieces of legislation now before the General Assembly. The first calls for new rules reporting prescriptions to a statewide database, or Prescription Monitoring Program. Physicians and pharmacwould be required to log updates in the system within 24 hours in an effort aimed at curbing "doctoring shoppifor prescription painkillers.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/states-new-public-safety-plan-targets-dru g-abuse/

Address spells out UTs budget (Daily Beacon)In his annual State of the State Address given on Jan. 30, Gov. Bill Haslam presented his balanced budgproposal for 2012 to 2013. That proposed budget included a significant amount of money to be allocated to that will aid the university in improving its overall academic campaign. First of all the State of the StAddress the theme of it was: Believe in Better, Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said. Believe you could be bettbasically. And of course thats what the University of Tennessee believes all the time, right? Because we cana better place, and thats all we want to do. Gov. Haslams budget allocates a total of $9.3 m illion to be given

UT. After factoring in the $3.2 million budget reduction the university experienced, UT will benefit a total of $million in recurring, which is operating money from the governors proposal. The money given to the universwill be used for three main purposes. First, there will be a 2.5 percent salary increase for university faculty astaff. The new money given to the university will also add $4 million to the overall funding formula for higeducation. At UT, the funding formula is determined by a number of different factors, including how mastudents are able to successfully complete credit hours, how many students are retained at the university ahow many students are able to graduate in a six-year time period.http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2012/feb/10/address-spells-out-uts- budget/

Tourism dollars may be permanent (Mountain Press)There was a collective cheer that went up from tourism officials across the state recently when the goverintroduced a budget proposal that preserves some marketing dollars. That was likely quickly followed by

statewide inhale as those same folks prepared to hold their breath as they wait to see if the move will preserved in the financial plan passed by the General Assembly. If it is, it will mean more than $5.1 millionmade a permanent part of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development's annual allocation. The agenhad been getting the funds for nearly a decade, though they were added first as a one-time bump to help stanew advertising campaign. They've been returned in each subsequent budget and have become a crucial parthe marketing efforts of the department, so much so that Commissioner Susan Whitaker recently pleaded wthe governor to save them. "If we do our budget the way we have been asked to do it, we would be out percent of our money," Whitaker told Gov. Bill Haslam during a budget hearing in December. "Of course, wegoing to be team players and do the best we can with what we're given. We're hopeful, though, that the monwill be put back in for us." Whitaker further said she would be very happy if the money were moved from nrecurring to permanent, a change that could add s tability to the department's advertising efforts. Haslam saidthe time he thought that a reasonable request, but didn't hint as to whether it would be granted, with a seriopush on to cut the state's budget w herever possible..

http://themountainpress.com/bookmark/17468800--b-Tourism-dollars-may-be-permanent-b-

TN's first lady to speak at HeArt to HeArt Luncheon (Tennessean)First lady of Tennessee, Crissy Haslam, will be the keynote speaker at the Patricia Hart Societys annual HeAto HeART Luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Embassy Suites of Cool Springs. Haslam has introduced an initiatthat focuses on literacy. Shes partnering with the United W ay to do that. Raise Your Hand Williamson Countythe United Way of Williamson Countys arm of it. A silent auction begins at 10:30 a.m. with bidding ending11:45 a.m. The luncheon and program will start at 11:50 a.m. Tickets are $50. For ticket availability, call DebWhitten at Embassy Suites or ask for Debby Rainey of the United W ay at 615-771-2312.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/WILLIAMSON01/120209011/TN-s-first-lady-to-speak-at-HeArt-toHeArt-Luncheon
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/states-new-public-safety-plan-targets-drug-abuse/http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2012/feb/10/address-spells-out-uts-budget/http://themountainpress.com/bookmark/17468800--b-Tourism-dollars-may-be-permanent-b-http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/WILLIAMSON01/120209011/TN-s-first-lady-to-speak-at-HeArt-to-HeArt-Luncheonhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/WILLIAMSON01/120209011/TN-s-first-lady-to-speak-at-HeArt-to-HeArt-Luncheonhttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/09/states-new-public-safety-plan-targets-drug-abuse/http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2012/feb/10/address-spells-out-uts-budget/http://themountainpress.com/bookmark/17468800--b-Tourism-dollars-may-be-permanent-b-http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/WILLIAMSON01/120209011/TN-s-first-lady-to-speak-at-HeArt-to-HeArt-Luncheonhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120209/WILLIAMSON01/120209011/TN-s-first-lady-to-speak-at-HeArt-to-HeArt-Luncheon


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Tennessee revenue collections more than budgeted (Associated Press)Tennessee's January revenue collections were $37.1 million more than budgeted. Finance and AdministratCommissioner Mark Emkes said Thursday that overall January revenues were $1.05 billion, marking the sistraight month of growth this fiscal year. The figure reflected December consumer spending during the holidbuying season. Emkes said indications are that the economy continues to recover slowly from the worecession on record. Sales tax collections were $27.6 million more than the estimate for January, reflecting

growth rate of 7.4 percent. Year-to-date collections for six months were $231.3 million more than the budgetestimate.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38539799?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Tennessee joins $25B agreement with major financial institutions (Nashville PosTennessee will participate in the $25 billion agreement with the nations five largest mortgage servicers, staAttorney General Bob Cooper announced Thursday. The agreement arises from an investigation iunacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. The servicers participating are BankAmerica, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, GMAC/Ally Financial, and Wells Fargo. Once approved by the court, t

agreement will provide an estimated $146 million in relief to Tennessee homeowners and addresses futumortgage loan servicing practices. This agreement avoids protracted and costly litigation while providsignificant and tangible relief to distressed homeowners, Cooper said in a release. The benefits of tagreement today far outweigh the possible benefits that might be obtained after several years in coHomeowners need the help now and an orderly resolution of these claims is in everyones interests. Under agreement, certain Tennessee homeowners who are current on their loans with the settling servicers but hanot been able to refinance at lower interest rates may have an opportunity to do so. Other provisions worequire the servicers to reduce the loan balance of qualifying homeowners who owe more than their homes aworth.http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/2/9/tennessee_joins_25b_agreement_with_major_financial_institutions

Tennessee to receive $146 million from nationwide mortgage settleme

(CA/Bailey)A $25 billion agreement among states and the nation's five largest mortgage servicers will send $146 millionrelief for Tennessee's struggling homeowners. The deal also is designed to make it easier for homeownersdeal with the five leaders, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citi, GMAC/Ally Financial and Wells Fargo. Tpact seeks to correct "unacceptable" mortgage-loan servicing practices. Memphis and Shelby County, whaccounted for 22 percent of Tennessee's foreclosure filings last year, should receive substantial help from agreement. The pact announced Thursday emerged from an multistate investigation into mortgage servicing aforeclosure practices. They included robo-signings, in which foreclosure documents w ere signed without havbeen read. The agreement still must be approved by the court. "This agreement avoids protracted and coslitigation while providing significant and tangible relief to distressed homeowners," Tennessee Atty. Gen. BCooper said. "The benefits of this agreement today far outweigh the possible benefits that might be obtainafter several years in court. Homeowners need the help now, and an orderly resolution of these claims iseveryone's interests."http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/tennessee-will-receive-146m-part-nationwide-mortga/(SUB)

Foreclosure Deal Nets State $146M (Memphis Daily News)The state of Tennessee is participating in a $25 billion settlement announced Thursday, Feb. 9, between states all but Oklahoma over foreclosure abuses from some of the nations biggest lenders. Tennessees pof the deal is expected to provide an estimated $146 million in relief to homeowners in the state and addrefuture mortgage loan servicing practices, according to the office of Tennessee Attorney General Bob CoopThe deal involves the nations five largest mortgage servicers. Tennessee hom eowners who lost their homesforeclosure by those companies Bank of Am erica Corp., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., Ally FinanInc. and Wells Fargo & Co. m ay qualify for a cash payment. Funds from the settlement also will help borrow
http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38539799?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/2/9/tennessee_joins_25b_agreement_with_major_financial_institutionshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/tennessee-will-receive-146m-part-nationwide-mortga/http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38539799?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cshttp://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/2/9/tennessee_joins_25b_agreement_with_major_financial_institutionshttp://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/tennessee-will-receive-146m-part-nationwide-mortga/


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across the state whether or not their loans were serviced by those companies by offering free foreclosprevention counseling and other housing and legal aid programs. This agreement avoids protracted and coslitigation while providing significant and tangible relief to distressed hom eowners, Cooper said about the deaa statement released by his office. The benefits of this agreement today far outweigh the possible benefits tmight be obtained after several years in court. Homeowners need the help now and an orderly resolutionthese claims is in everyones interests.http://www.mem phisdailynews.com/news/2012/feb/10/foreclosure-deal-nets-state-146m/

Tennessee to get $146M in mortgage relief from big banks (Memphis Biz JournalTennessees piece of a landmark mortgage settlement w ill likely be about $146 m illion in what officials say willa sweeping change in practices and a dose of relief to struggling homeowners In a $26 billion deal that includstates attorneys general across the country, major mortgage providers Bank of America , Wells Fargo & C, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup and Ally Financial have agreed to provide money for lomodifications and other changes, direct relief to wronged homeowners and funding for housing programauthorities said. The announcement ties back to accusations that major mortgage providers were guilty of unfconflicting or illegal practices in dealing with both paying and delinquent customers in the wake of the housicrisis. Tennessee Attorney General Bob Coopers office said the settlement provides the best outcome wronged homeowners, as opposed to years of d rawn-out litigation.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/02/09/tennessee-to-get-146m-in-mortgage.html

Millions in mortgage relief may provide minimal boost (Nashville Biz Journal)The influx of $146 million in homeowner relief as part of a settlement with large mortgage lenders is positnews for Tennessees recovering housing market. Of the funds, $45 million will go toward loan modificatioprincipal loan amount reduction, short sales and other uses for homeowners behind on their payments, said JHill, senior counsel over consumer protection in the Tennessee Attorney General's office. Another $33 million be for refinancing for homeowners who are current on their payments but find their homes worth less than wthey owe for them. About $24 million will got to homeowners who were improperly foreclosed on between 20and 2011. "People will be able to stay in their homes," Hill said. "There will be less homes vacant, whobviously reduces property values." However, Richard Exton, of Manier and Exton Real Estate AppraisersNashville, doesnt expect for the ripple effect to have a great impact on Middle Tennessees housing market. "obviously going to help some people keep some houses off the market that would have gone into foreclosubut because the money has to be spread so far from Bristol to Memphis it's hard to say it's going to hav

significant impact on a specific market," Exton said.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/02/146-million-in-mortgage-relief-may.h tm l

Tornado? Traffic snarl? New app gives updates (Tennessean/Haas)Mobile tool ready for Android users For Tennesseans who want to prepare for the worst, theres now a tool smartphones. Tennessee is readying to kick off Severe Weather Awareness Week starting Feb. 19, preempting the event with a new mobile application called Ready TN that puts weather and other hazard aletraffic conditions, and preparedness suggestions at your fingertips. While the free application is available only Android phones for now, an iPhone version is nearly ready for release as well. What we hope is that it servesanother point of information for individuals, said Dean Flener, spokesman for the Tennessee EmergeManagement Agency, which developed the app. Its not meant to replace listening to the radio or watching Tfor weather information. Its not meant to replace having a NOAA weather radio in your home. Its not meant

replace you calling 911 if youre in an emergency. The app is designed to provide real-time weather alerts, to-date traffic information, safety checklists and even American Red Cross shelter information. It ussmartphone GPS technology to tailor that information to a users geographic location.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120210/NEWS21/302100085/Tornado-Traffic-snarl-New-app-gives-updates?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Counselors hit the road to reach vets in Tennessee (Associated Press)A new mobile vet center will allow behavioral health counselors to treat veterans living in rural and medicaunderserved communities all around Middle Tennessee. Vet centers have been around since 1979 to sercombat veterans w ith trauma-related problems in a non-hospital setting where they can obtain obtain confidencounseling from other veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs started off with 50 mobile vet centers aadded another 20 more this year, which are modified recreational vehicles. The vehicle includes a wheelchair
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a small private meeting area, a shower, room for a stretcher, a computer, fax and phones and videoconferenccapability. Dr. Robert Petzel, the VA undersecretary for health, traveled to Nashville Thursday to unveil their nmobile vet center, which can be used to visit communities as far-flung as Paris and Crossville. "It brings servicto remote areas and provides a less threatening, more receptive and less bureaucratic way for these peopleenter into VA care," he said. Petzel said the VA is serving an aging population of veterans from Vietnam, Korand World W ar II, but also recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. That younger popu lation seeking VA cis only going to increase coming years as the military plans to reduce the total number of active duty soldiers.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38538281?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Advocates push for funding after TN budget endangers aid programs (WSMV-TVA grassroots push may have worked for thousands of families in Tennessee, and a call for cuts almost meant end for the state's Family Support program. The program provides grants to the families of our state's movulnerable, but the fight isn't over. Family Support has been around for 20 years, offering help to the intellectuaand developmentally disabled. But this budget year, the state's bottom line brought a big challenge. With an IQ53, l ife for 21-year-old Laramie Waddey isn't always easy. "Laramie has intellectual and developmendisabilities," father Dave Waddey said. But she is healthy, comfortable and on the right mix of medication. Tstate's Family Support program helps pay for Laramie's glasses, medicine and other things that might otherwnot be possible. "If we pay for medication for somebody, and that keeps them out of the emergency room, thaa small amount of money spent and a whole lot of money saved," said Mary Hildebrand, with The ArcDavidson County. The program helps more than 500 families in Davidson County alone. Statewide, the

million made a difference this year. But when Gov. Bill Haslam ordered budget cuts, Family Support wound unfunded.http://www.wsmv.com/story/16902904/advocates-push-for-funding-after-tn-budget-endangers-aid-programs

Concerns About State's Newest Meth Fighting Program (WTVF-TV Nashville)A month after a program was launched to fight the war on meth state lawmakers are applauding the latresults. Lawmakers believe the database system has been working, but there are still some serious conceabout the program. It 's now been a month since the NPLEX computer system went online in nearly evepharmacy in Tennessee. It uses real-time, stop sale technology to block pseudoephedrine sales when someois buying too much. Pseudoephedrine is the key ingredient used to make meth. The meth problem has alreacost Tennessee a billion dollars, and also created problems you can't put a price tag on. That's why lawmakcall the NPLEX system, which so far has blocked the sale of almost 5,000 illegal boxes of pseudoephedrinestep in the right direction. "We are very encouraged by this that only one month into the process that we ha

already managed to block the sale of that many boxes," said State Representative Debra Maggart frHendersonville. But many in law enforcement don't like the system. Other states have used NPLEX and in past law enforcement there said it's a waste of time.http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16902226/is-a-new-meth-fighting-program-work ing

State Prepares For Annual TennCare Spend Down (Associated Press)Tennessee is gearing up to help some 2,000 people who are struggling with high, unpaid medical bills. February 21st, the D epartment of Human Services will open up enrollment for the TennCare Standard SpeDown P rogram. The only way to request an application for the program is by calling the toll-free number -- 1-8358-3230. To ensure fairness, the department only accepting the first 2,500 qualified callers from 6 p.m. u8:30 PM. Once the limit is reached, phone lines will shut down. In previous years, demand for the program hbeen so high that the 2,500 spots filled up within the first hour the calls were accepted. To learn more about

TennCare Standard Spend Down Program and to see if you qualify visit TN Spend Standard Spend Down.http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16901069/state-prepares-for-annual-tenncare-spend-down

ETSU to create 'telemedicine system' (Associated Press)East Tennessee State University is celebrating what school officials describe as a new era of learnopportunities for students and teachers. A USDA Rural Development grant of about $192,000 will be combinwith $96,000 in contributions from the university to create a "telemedicine system" that will connect ETSQuillen College of Medicine to outlying counties in Tennessee, southeast Kentucky and Virginia. The money be used to install video equipment and teleconference capabilities and provide remote telemedicine units to alphysicians to send patient information to a consulting site.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/10/etsu-to-create-telemedicine-system/

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DOT to take bids on final phase of SR-66 construction (WVLT-TV Knoxville)Friday the third and final phase of construction on State Route 66 in Sevier County goes to bid, making tproject one step closer to a finished roadway. "It was bad before the construction, now it's really bad," sGerald Stropp. For drivers like Stropp, congestion mixed with construction makes SR-66 slow going. Since makes three or four trips a day between Kodak and Sevierville, he knows its needed. "It's going to be like interstate up through here when they get done. So that will be great," he said, "Maybe it will bring some mobusiness back to town." "I'll just be glad when it's done." "Construction sometimes is painful but once we get

of the w ay, people have just been overwhelmed with how m uch they love the new section that's completedtown," said TDOT project engineer Kristin Qualls. TDOT finished the first, four-mile section near downtoSevierville in November. Now work is underway near Kodak and I-40. Finally crews will connect the two in tmiddle with a two mile stretch. TDOT w ill accept bids for that third phase of the project Friday. If everything gowell, construction could start as early as next m onth. Work is estimated to finish up in October 2014.http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/TDOT_to_take_bids_on_final_phase_of_SR-66_construction_139045324.html

Trooper in fiery, fatal crash will get job decision in 10 days (News-Sentinel/LakinTrooper Charles Van Morgan says his story hasn't changed since the night the fiery crash lit up the roadsidehad to make a quick decision," he told a Tennessee Highway Patrol hearing officer. "I did everything I could dosave the life of the driver." Morgan, a nine-year veteran of the state Department of Safety, made his ca

Thursday to keep his job after being fired for driving past the N ov. 26 wreck in North Knox County that kilGordon Kyle Anito. The trooper's lawyer says he'll fight the firing as long and as far as it takes. "If that is w harequired, Mr. Morgan plans to continue the appeals process all the way through," said Brock Parks, an attorwith the Tennessee Police Benevolent Association. "It's important to understand those events in the contexwhat was occurring at the time." Anito, 20, died when his Subaru Impreza hit a tree on Andersonville Pike heaon around 3:30 a.m. and caught fire. He was leading Morgan on a high-speed chase that topped 80 mph. Anitparents have filed a $10 million w rongful-death lawsuit in federal court against Morgan and the THP. Video frMorgan's cruiser shows he passed the wreck, which sat in full view of the road near a streetlight, and slowednearly 20 mph bu t didn't stop.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/10/trooper-in-fiery-fatal-crash-will-get-j ob-in-10/

Trooper waits to hear results from termination hearing (WBIR-TV Knoxville)A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper accused of ignoring a fatal crash made his case Thursday to keep his jCharles Van Morgan is on paid adminstrative leave, after an incident in November 2011. He was in pursui20-year-old Kyle Anito for speeding. The dashcam video shows that Morgan lost sight of Anito's car fomoment, then came around a curve and passed its wreckage. Morgan's supervisors believe he did see wreck, slowed down for a better look, then drove on, making the decision not to stop and help the driver, wwas killed. Thursday morning, Morgan appeared at a brief hearing at THP headquarters in Nashville. The enhearing lasted about 15 minutes. Colonel T.G. Trott, commander of the THP, outlined his reasons why Morgshould be terminated. After his own investigation into the fatal crash, Col. Trott wrote the letter recommendMorgan's termination. In his defense, Morgan told Captain Steven Hazard, the hearing officer, that he saw tcar, but dismissed it, thinking it was just parked there. He said he believed the suspect's car was still on the roin front of him. Morgan said he slowed down because of roadway factors.http://www.wbir.com/rss/article/204901/2/Trooper-waits-to-hear-results-from-terminatio n-hearing

Trooper involved in fatal chase attends Nashville hearing (WVLT-TV Knoxville)The Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper on administrative leave since a fatal crash told investigators he everything he could to save the driver's life. Charles Van Morgan met with THP adm inistrators during a hearon Thursday. At issue, a pursuit that ended in the death of Kyle Anito. The results of the hearing, which wdetermine if Van Morrison will be fired or may return to work, is expected within ten days. The chase began whVan Morgan says he clocked Anito's car going more than 30 miles per hour over the limit. Reports show wanted to pull Anito over, but before he could, Anito's car struck a tree killing him instantly. Then it caught fire.the hearing, investigators said Van Morgan was going around 40 mph before passing Anito's wrecked car, adropped to around 20 mph afterwards. "I believe his testimony that he slowed his car partially due to roconditions," said "Ultimately, he did not recognize the vehicle as the one in pursuit." Both THP and Anitattorney, though, contend that Van Morgan's story just doesn't add up. They feel like some of the things he sare inconsistent with prior statements.

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http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/Trooper_involved_in_fatal_chase_attends_Nashville_hearing_1391214.htm l

State looking for environmental leaders (Associated Press)The Department of Environment and Conservation is accepting nominations for the Governor's 20Environmental Stewardship Awards. The honors recognize Tennesseans for exceptional efforts to protect tstate's diverse environment. Any individual, business, organization, educational institution or agency is eligib

The deadline for nominations is March 31. W inners will be announced in late May.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/10/state-looking-for-environmental-leaders/

Admissions to Appalachian Christian Village suspended (Bristol Herald-Courier)Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, has suspended new admissioof residents to Appalachian Christian Village effective Feb. 8 and imposed a one-time state civil monetapenalty of $3,000. The federal civil penalty has been imposed at $4,550 a day until the violations are correctedspecial monitor has been appointed to review the facilitys operations. Appalachian Christian V illage, a 103-blicensed nursing home located at 2012 Sherwood Drive in Johnson City, was ordered not to admit any nresidents based on conditions found during a complaint investigation conducted Jan. 24 Jan. 31. Tinvestigation was completed Feb. 8. During the inspection, surveyors found violations of the following standaradministration and resident rights. The Commissioner of Health may suspend admissions to a nursing ho

when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to be, detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of tresidents. The order to suspend admissions remains effective until conditions have been and continue to remcorrected. A copy of the order must be posted at the public entrance where it can be plainly seen.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/feb/10/breaking-admissions-appalachian-christian-village--ar -1677327/

Tennesseans win $298 million playing Powerball (Associated Press)Tennessee lottery officials say Powerball players in the state have won more than $298.1 m illion in prizes sinthe game became available in the state in April 2004. They commented Thursday as the Powerball jackreached $310 million for Saturday's drawing, the most since August 2007, when it was $314 million. RebecHargrove, president and CE O of the Tennessee lottery, said a recently redesigned Powerball game has boosjackpots and improved odds of winning. It costs $2 to play.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38538675?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

TN death row inmates sue to stop drug importation (Associated Press)Death row inmates are suing to stop the importation of a drug used in executions. Attorneys for the prisonersTennessee, Arizona and California argued before U.S. District Judge Richard Leon on Thursday that the Foand Drug Administration is breaking the law by allowing sodium thiopental to be imported since it is unapproved drug manufactured overseas. The Obama administration argues it has discretion to alunapproved drugs into the U.S. and wants Leon to dismiss the case. The drug's U.S. manufacturer announclast year that it would no longer produce it, forcing corrections officials to delay many executions. Many of tnation's 34 death penalty states switched to an alternative drug, pentobarbital. Both drugs are anesthetics usto put inmates to sleep before other lethal drugs are administered.http://www.wsmv.com/story/16902471/death-row-inmates-sue-to-stop-drug-importation

Norris to withdraw annex bills after opinion (Comm ercial Appeal/Locker)State Senate M ajority Leader Mark Norris said Thursday that he w ill withdraw two controversial annexation bafter the state attorney general opined that both are likely unconstitutional because they would apply onlyShelby County. "As anticipated, the attorney general has confirmed these bills are constitutionally suspect. Thwill be withdrawn during next Monday's meeting of the state Senate," Norris said. Norris, R-Collierville, last wepulled the bills from their second of three required readings while he awaited an advisory opinion by TennessAtty. Gen. Robert Cooper. One bill would remove a large swath of East Shelby County from Mempannexation reserve area; the other would require annexations initiated by any municipality in Shelby Countywin approval, in referendums, of a majority of people being annexed and voting in the referendum. The bills haprompted the Memphis City Council to initiate annexation proceedings toward the Fisherville area containmore than 17,000 people east of Cordova to the Fayette County line. That move is likely to be halted if No

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withdraws the bills. The attorney general's opinion says both bills are "constitutionally suspect" because thattempt to alter the statewide law that governs municipal annexation but only in one county, Shelby.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/09/norris-withdraw-annex-bills-after-opinion -they-are/(SUB)

Norris To Withdraw Annexation Bills (Memphis Daily News)Tennessee State Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville said Thursday, Feb. 9, he planswithdraw two bills affecting annexation in Shelby County. Norris announced the withdrawal of the legislat

following a legal opinion from the Tennessee Attorney Generals office. One bill would have taken the G rCreek area of unincorporated Shelby County from the city of Memphis annexation reserve. The other would harequired a referendum in order to annex an area in Shelby C ounty and it would have permitted a referendvote to deannex an area already taken in by a city. The highly anticipated legal opinion said the first bilconstitutionally suspect because it affects one county or municipality. The Tennessee Constitution gives tlegislature the power to create, merge, consolidate and dissolve municipalities under general law. That authoincludes methods by which municipal boundaries may be altered. The alteration clause was added to tTennessee Constitution in 1953. A 2009 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court in the case of HighwooProperties Inc. v. city of Memphis held that the intent of the clause was to eliminate problems that had arisenregard to the legislature enacting legislation affecting only one county or municipality.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/feb/10/norris-to-withdraw-annexation-bills/

State Annexation Bill to Be Withdrawn (WPTY-TV Memphis)Tennessee State Senator Mark Norris (R-Collierville) announced that he would withdraw two bills regardannexation, specifically aimed at Memphis and an annex reserve in Shelby County, due to constitutioproblems. "As anticipated, the Attorney General has confirmed these bills are constitutionally suspect," sNorris. "They will be withdrawn during next Monday's meeting of the State Senate." The bills would haprevented the City of Memphis from annexing a portion of East Shelby County, including Fisherville, fromreserve area agreed upon by municipalities in 1999. The bills, drafted by House sponsors C urry Todd Collierville) and Ron Lollar (R-Bartlett), caused an uproar among city lawmakers. Memphis Mayor A C Wharand Mem phis City Council members accused state legislators of a 'power play' trying to tell Mem phis how to its own business. "There has been a systematic approach to reduce the influence of the citizens of Memphisregulate the growth we are experiencing and control it from the outside," stated Councilman Harold ColliSenator Norris said he simply did what his constituents wanted, which was to not be annexed by the city. In tuthe city council fast-tracked their annexation efforts, which passed the first of three readings.

http://www.abc24.com/news/local/story/State-Annexation-Bill-to-Be-Withdrawn/ecOfwNMazkuzdsveJf0N6A.cspx?rss=59

Norris withdraws bills restricting Memphis' annexation (WM C-TV Memphis)Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, of Collierville, will withdraw bills that would prevent Mempfrom annexing a portion of Shelby County. Norris plans to withdraw two bills after the state attorney general thim they were likely unconstitutional because they would only apply in Shelby County. The bills are set towithdrawn during next Monday's meeting. One of the bills would have removed a large part of Shelby Coufrom Mem phis' annexation reserve area. The other would have required annexations initiated by any municipato be approved by referendum, with a majority of people being annexed voting in that referendum. The bprompted the Memphis City Council to start the process of annexing more than 17,000 people who live eastCordova all the way to the Fayette County line. "I think there are better ways to go about this," Norris said i

written statement. "Several Memphis City Council members seem interested in opening a dialogue about futuannexations. Mayors Wharton and Luttrell are will ing to do so, and the Tennessee code provides otalternatives, too -- so perhaps something good will come out of this."http://www.wmctv.com/story/16901936/norris-withdraws-bills-stopping-memphis-annexation

Ramsey, Attorney General Cooper Say No to Annexation Bills (Memphis Flyer)It wasnt a good day for Mark Norris in Nashville. As usual, the Republican state Senate Majority Leader frCollierville had the last word in Thursday mornings end-of-week Senate session, and this time, prior to calling adjournment on Monday, he had to eat a little crow. It turned out to be the first portion of a multi-course meal twas served to him throughout the day. Thursday mornings nibble came in the form of a segue to a request maby state Senator Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey), who told the Chair of the day that she wanted to withdraw sponsorship of Senate Bill 3059, which, as captioned, would seem to prohibit various county officials

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Tennessee from getting paid for assorted special services. Said Burks, smiling self-effacingly, This is a bbill that I accepted and didnt look at real well. So I would like to withdraw it. That was followed by Norris, wdonned a sheep-eating grin of his own as he referenced the jam hed gotten himself into with Senate Bills 37and 3703, measures that would disrupt the delicate equilibrium created by Public Chapter 1101 of 1998. Tpeacemaking bill had been passed to provide a modus vivendi on urban annexations statewide, and especiafor Shelby County, which had just gone through the Toy Towns scare of 1997http://www.memphisflyer.com/JacksonBaker/archives/2012/02/09/ramsey-attorney-general-cooper-say-no-to-annexation-bills-and-norris-stands-down

Stores selling synthetic drugs could lose beer, tobacco license (DNJ)Sparks sponsoring two bills to that effect State Rep. Mike Sparks is sponsoring legislation designed to cut tuse of hallucinogenic synthetic drugs by suspending beer and tobacco sales at stores caught selling the ilsubstances. Sparks, R-Smyrna, and Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, are backing two bills that would stop stofrom selling beer and tobacco products for 60 days if theyre convicted of possession of drugs sold under branames such as Mollys Plant Food, Vampire Blood, 7H, Diablo, Exotica or Spice. Synthetic cannabinoids smoked and produce the same effect as marijuana, while synthetic methcathinone is ingested, inhaled, injecor smoked and has the same effect as amphetamines, cocaine or Ecstasy and can cause severe physical apsychological reactions and even death. I think we are facing an epidemic, Sparks said. The first-term Houmember said he is getting bipartisan support for the bills from Democratic House Minority Leader Mike TurneOld Hickory, as well as Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville.

http://www.dnj.com/article/20120210/NEWS06/302100032/Stores-selling-synthetic-drugs-could-lose-beer-tobacco-license?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAG E

Knox Co. commission chair learns more about fate of mental health facil

(WATE)Knox County Comm ission Chairman Mike Ham mond says he's learning more about the fate of Lakeshore MenHealth Institute. Hammond was invited to the Tennessee House hearing on G ov. Bill Haslam's budget proposHe says he's confident lawmakers will vote to provide around $20.5 million in funding for mental health prograback into East Tennessee if Lakeshore closes. Hammond also says the budget for Peninsula Health CaFacility could be increased as much as three or four times once patients are transferred there from LakeshoHammond says Mental Health Commissioner Doug Varney said during the hearing that there are no funds for a state-funded safety center, something that was originally promised for East Tennessee. "That's one of issues we talked about is having a separate facility to deal with that and using some of the state dollars to foBut Commissioner Varney was asked that by Rep. Harry Brooks, and he said right now there are no safedollars for a safety center in the state budget," Hammond said. Hamm ond says Rep. Brooks suggested tLakeshore's property be leased and not put up for sale.http://www.wate.com/story/16902542/knox-county-commission-chair-learns-more-about-fate-of-mental-health-facility

Group plans cyber attack on TN General Assembly (Tennessean/Rau)Plotters side with O ccupiers, who deny role State lawmakers and their staffers were warned this week abpotential cyber attacks by a notorious hacker group protesting against the legislation to evict Occupy Nashvprotesters from the state Capitol. Steve K riegish, who is the director of Legislative Information Systems, sentemail warning on Tuesday alerting officials that malicious groups were interested in conducting the attack

the General Assembly. A separate em ail from Legislative Information Systems indicated the hacker groAnonymous was plotting the attack in protest of a bill to ban camping at the state Capitol, which would effectivevict Occupy Nashville protesters. Anonymous has targeted government officials and agencies with cyattacks in the past. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Kristin Helm said agents from the cybcrimes unit responded and analyzed the threat. The agents could not discern where it originated, Helm saOccupy Nashville protester Jason Sneed said the group had no part in any cyber attack on the GeneAssembly. Kriegish said it was the most authentic threat he had seen in his 14 years working at the legislatuhttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120210/NEWS0201/302100047/Group-plans-cyber-attack-TN-General-Assembly-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Littlefield heads to court to fight to stay in office (Times Free-Press/Hightower)

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Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield will go to court today in a case that could potentially cut his term short by nmonths. Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth will hear Littlefield argue for the second time that a recall electshould be stopped. Hamilton County Election Commission Attorney Chris C lem said he thinks this mornincourt battle could mean the end of legal wrangling that has gone on for 18 months, since anti-Littlefield forcgathered signatures for a recall. I see that there will either be an election in August or it will be canceled, said. Mayoral spokesman Richard Beeland said Thursday that Littlefield had no comment. Hal North, Littlefieattorney, said hes feeling confident. I think the law is still on our side, he said. Nothing has changed in regto the law. Hollingsworth must decide whether to issue a permanent injunction to stop the Aug. 2 recall electiIts Littlefields second attempt to stop the recall. In the first, Hollingsworth stopped the election commission frocertifying recall petitions. He ruled that state law trumped the city charter and the recallers needed mosignatures. The Tennessee Court of Appeals overturned that ruling, allowing the election commission to certhe petitions and set the recall election.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/chattanooga-mayor-ron-littlefield-heads-court- figh/?local

Occupy protesters camping on Courthouse's lawn begin to dwindle (TFP/GarrettOn the 99th day of Occupy Chattanooga's campout, protesters on the Hamilton County Courthouse lawn fairly quiet. The ranks are thinning. The picket signs are stacked neatly inside a tent. On Thursday, a groupyoung men stand smoking on the sidewalk, saying their goodbyes. Three are leaving for the Rainbow G atheria 1,500-person hippie gathering in Florida. Soon another protester, who came from Washington, D.C., w ill leafor Mardi Gras in New Orleans. "Living this life isn't the easiest thing," said Larry Simpson, 51, who's be

camping out for 98 days and admits he slept in a hotel Wednesday night. A few minutes later a car drives by aa man screams out the window, "Go home, commies!" "That is mild compared to what they usually holleSimpson said. Today is the 100th day that Occupy has been cam ping on the streets of Chattanooga. For the feight days, protesters camped on the sidewalks around the City Council building, bringing a pantry, a campstove, a m ini-library, chairs, a corkboard, a whiteboard, signs and tables. In those first days, protesters say thewere as m any as 50 campers rallying for more jobs, lower college tuition, campaign reform, higher taxes for rich and an "end to corporate personhood," as one sign reads.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/feb/10/ranks-of-chattanooga-protestors-begin-to-dwi ndle/?local

Memphis presents provisions to serve Gray's Creek area (C. Appeal/Moore)The annexation of the G ray's C reek area by the city of M emphis took a procedural step forward on Thursd

after the Memphis and Shelby County Land Use Control Board received a plan of services for the area. Tboard did not vote to recommend approval of the service plan, but did agree to forward it to the Memphis CCouncil. The board acted hours before state Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris announced his intentwithdraw bills that would have removed a large portion of East Shelby County fro

fri., feb. 10 news summary

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