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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

Haslam to offer budget amendment next week (Associated Press)Gov. Bill Haslam says his administration will present its budget amendment to lawmakers early next week. TRepublican governor told reporters after a meeting of the Tennessee Board of R egents on Thursday that measure will seek to restore permanent funding for several services that had faced cuts before the staterevenues began to improve. The introduction of the governor's budget amendment is traditionally the last mastep to be taken before lawmakers can begin winding up the session. Haslam has chosen not to wait for Arevenue numbers before crafting his am endment. Those figures have traditionally been viewed as crucbecause they reflect a large portion of the state's corporate tax collectiohttp://www.wdef.com/news/state/story/Haslam-to-offer-budget-amendment-next-week/hfvfNhSv2kGZetE1ltb23g.cspx

Tenn. House OKs expansion of business cash grants (Associated Press/SchelzigTennessee House R epublicans insist their vote Wednesday for a plan to expand a state economic developminventive program does not conflict with their mantra that government can't create jobs. The cham ber voted 96for the measure proposed by Gov. Bill Haslam and carried by Republican Rep. Tim W irgau of Paris, who said expanded cash grant program would help spur investment in economically distressed areas of the state. "Let make it very clear that we're not going to be standing on the Capitol steps and just doling out checks," Wirgsaid. The measure, which awaits a vote in the Senate before it can head for Haslam's signature, would allow state to provide Fast Track grants for retrofitting, relocation, office upgrades or temporary space for companinvesting in Tennessee. The current Fast Track program is l imited to jobs training and infrastructimprovements. The state has appropriated $217 million to the program over the last three budget years a

Haslam has proposed pouring another $80 million for the current and upcoming budget year.http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-03/D9TQ64V02.htm

Haslam Still Hoping to Avoid Popular Judicial Elections (WPLN-Radio Nashville)Governor Bill Haslam says it’s alright if lawmakers dump a proposal he’s touted and instead rework how the stpicks judges. Haslam says their alternative still does what he wants, which is avoid opening the office of judgeTennessee to popular election. Earlier this spring Haslam called to cement the current system, where appoints judges who then face up-or-down votes every eight years to keep their jobs. Haslam’s effort has beslow-moving, while this week the Senate Judiciary committee green-lighted a competing measure. S imilar to federal system, it would subject judicial appointees to Senate cnofirmation, instead of retention elections. Haslsays that works too: “I’m okay w ith that approach. I’m not in favor of popular elections – either the federal modor taking what we do in Tennessee and providing clarity.” Haslam says while Republicans are divided over t

matter, he expects some consensus to emerge in the next few weeks.http://wpln.org/?p=355 58

CSX to hire 150 in Tennessee this year (Nashville Post)CSX Corp. today announced plans to recruit emp loyees for nearly 150 positions to be filled in Tennesseeyear's end, with the jobs to be located primarily in Nashville. The hiring comes as the company p repares to mthe demands of a growing regional, national and global economy and to offset attrition, CSX officials said inrelease. The new employees will operate trains and maintain tracks, locomotives and rail cars. “CSXcommitted to the state of Tennessee, and is working to ensure the company is positioned to continue meetthe freight transportation needs of customers across the state,” said Jane Covington, resident vice preside“CSX is competing for qualified applicants for the available positions and will provide the professional train

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they need to succeed in high-tech railroad industry careers.”http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/3/29/csx_to_hire_150_in_tennessee_this_year

Cosmolab awarded state grant (Marshall County Tribune)One of Lew isburg's biggest employers has received a state grant to avoid layoffs and help the company improemployee skil ls. Gov. Bil l Haslam and Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce DevelopmCommissioner Karla Davis made the announcement Thursday about the award of $9,159 to Cosmolab, Inc.

Lewisburg. "This administration has been working to got these programs out there that help initial startups or startup of a new line at an existing employer," said Mike Wiles, executive director of the Joint Economic aCommunity Development Board in Marshall County. "This kind of grant really helps." Cosmolab employs ab350 people. "If Tennessee is going to become the number one location in the Southeast for high-quality jothen we must offer a well-trained workforce to employers," Gov. Haslam said. "This kind of training grant not ohelps educate workers, but also provides incentive to employers looking to relocate or expand in TennesseThe labor commissioner agreed.http://www.marshalltribune.com/story/1831459.html

State promoting outdoor tourism this spring (Associated Press)Tennessee has more than 300 species of fish, with bass, crappie and catfish awaiting hungry anglers. TSmoky M ountains and the Appalachian Trail offer scenic spots for ambitious hikers. Or you can shoot the rapon the Ocoee River, or go camping just about anywhere across the state including backcountry camping at

state parks. So it's no wonder that the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development is promoting the statplentiful outdoor opportunities this spring. Elvis, Dollywood and the Grand Ole Opry are not Tennessee's oattractions for the travel dollars.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38922975?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

SCORE To Hold Teacher Evaluation Roundtable in Jackson (WNWS-Radio)The State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) will hold the ninth regional roundtable Tennessee’s new teacher evaluation system on Tuesday, April 3 in Jackson. To identify and foster grteaching, Tennessee is in the first year of implementing a new teacher evaluation system. To support timplementation work, SCORE has been asked by Governor Bill Haslam to conduct a formal statewide listenand feedback process, independent of state government, on the evaluation. SCORE’s role is to listen, and torganization will gather input from a wide range of voices, particularly from educators, on both the successes a

challenges. One of several ways SCO RE w ill be gathering feedback is through nine regional roundtables acroTennessee. Roundtable participants will include educators, parents, and other community members selectedcollaboration with our partner organizations, listed below. Roundtable sessions are open to the public aaudience members will be able to provide feedback through a survey distributed during the course of troundtable discussion.http://wnws.com/news/16902-score-to-hold-teacher-evaluation-roundtable-in -jackson

Davidson County jobless rate decreases slightly (Nashville Post)Davidson County unemployment in February was 7 percent, down from 7.1 percent in January, accordingstatistics the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development released today. Williamson Couhad the state's lowest jobless rate for the month, at 5.6 percent. County non-seasonally adjusted unemploymrates for February show the rate decreased in 75 counties, increased in 10 counties and remained the same

10 counties. Tennessee’s unemployment rate for February fell to 8 percent, down from the January revised rof 8.2 percent. The national unemployment rate for February 2012 was 8.3 percent, unchanged from the Janurate.http://nashvillepost.com/news/2012/3/29/davidson_county_jobless_rate_decreases _slightly

Memphis unemployment rate fell in February (Memphis Business Journal)The unemployment rate in the Memphis MSA settled to 9.2 percent in February — 0.2 percentage points lowthan January and a 1.1 percentage point decrease from February 2011. Shelby County’s rate mirrored tMSA’s at 9.2 percent last month. Data from the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Developmeshows 75 counties saw decreases in unemployment from January to February while 10 remained at Janulevels. While only 10 counties saw an increase in unemployment, 48 of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported ra

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of 10 percent or higher. Statewide unemployment fell to 8 percent in February, outperforming the revisJanuary rate of 8.2 percent as well as the national rate of 8.3 percent. The state’s improving unemployment rhas resulted in the recent suspension of unemployment insurance benefits for claimants in the Extended Benprogram — a program that is automatically switched off when the state’s current unemployment rate dips bel120 percent of the average rate 3 years ago.http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/03/29/memphis-unemployment-rate-fell-in.html

February unemployment rates down in much of Middle TN (Mem phis Biz JournalUnemployment rates in much of Middle Tennessee continued to slide down in February, according to new stdata. At 5.6 percent, Williamson County continues to have the lowest unem ployment rate in the state, accordto the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Williamson County's unemployment rawas unchanged from January to February. Macon and Obion counties had the largest drops, from 9.9 percen8.1 percent and 17.2 percent to 15.4 percent, respectively. Hawkins County, meanwhile, showed the biggincrease, going from 8 percent to 8.7 percent. Other counties of local interest included Davidson, which fell fr7.1 percent to 7; Maury County, which fell from 10.6 percent to 10.2; Wilson County, which remained apercent; Rutherford County, which stood pat at 7.1 percent; Sumner County, which fell from 7.5 percent to 7Robertson County, which fell from 7.5 to 7.4; and Cheatham C ounty, which fell from 8 percent to 7.6.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/03/29/tennessee-unemployment-davidson.html

Chattanooga job market improves (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Flessner)Unemployment fell across the Chattanooga region last month, although the pace of job growth over the past yein the Chattanooga metropolitan area was only ha lf the national rate of increase. The Tennessee DepartmentLabor and Workforce Development said the jobless rate in the six-county Chattanooga metro area declinedtwo-tenths of a percent in February to 7.6 percent. That was a full percentage point below the comparabnonseasonally adjusted U.S. jobless rate for last month. "The market for professional and managem ent jobs hflipped in the past year in Chattanooga from being an employer-driven market to now more of a candidate-drivmarket," said Al Clark, the local franchise owner and general manager of Management Recruiters Chattanooga. "Many job candidates who were competing for an offer 18 months ago are now getting multioffers." Although the jobless rate has declined from double-digit levels two years ago, unemployment remaabove 10 percent in more than half of the counties in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. In tChattanooga region, unemployment last month was lowest in Catoosa County at 6.5 percent and highestMurray County, Ga., at 13.5 percent.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/chattanooga-job-market-improves/?local

Clarksville's jobless rate down slightly to 8.4 percent (Leaf Chronicle)February brought slight improvement in the M ontgomery C ounty unemployment picture, according to nmonthly figures just released from the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development. The new joblerate for Clarksville-Montgomery County is 8.4 percent, down from 8.8 in January. The state says 6,340 peoare out of work in the Clarksville area, out of an estimated countywide labor force of 75,500.http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20120330/NEWS01/303300020/Clarksville-s-jobless-rate-down-slightly4-percent

THP: Carters Valley man who nearly struck trooper admits to having taken pil(TN)A Carters Valley man who allegedly nearly struck a state trooper head on Tuesday night was charged with Dthird offense and drug possession. Tennessee Highway Patrol Sgt. Christy Osborne stated in her report she wtraveling west on Carters Valley Road Tuesday about 7:30 p.m. when she met an oncoming 1996 Ford Rangthat had crossed the center line. Osborne said she had to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collisiOsborne said she turned to follow the Ranger and observed it to still be traveling in the center of the roadwThe driver, later identified as Jerry Edward Stoker, 35, 2142 Carters Valley Road, Surgoinsville, then turned ihis driveway, followed by Osborne. Osborne said Stoker had sym ptoms of intoxication and performed poorlyfield sobriety tests. Stoker allegedly admitted he’d taken Klonopin, Xanax and oxycodone. A plastic bagallegedly found in his sock contained pills identified at K lonopin, Xanax and oxycodone as w ell.

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http://www.timesnews.net/article/9044532/thp-carters-valley-man-who-nearly-struck-trooper-admits-to- having-taken-pills

MegaMillions $540 million record jackpot has everyone buying a ticket (TN/YounTennessee lottery retailers expect a MegaMillions ticket sales frenzy today, with predictions of up to 6,000 sper minute before the 9:59 p.m. drawing for the world-record jackpot. The lines started growing Thursdafternoon as buyers daydreamed about w hat they would do with $540 million. Ernest Pillow, 61, said he could

resist spending $3 on tickets — “one for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” If he wins, he’ll share tmoney with his church, the Stoker’s Lane Church of God in Nashville. “I just happen to have had to use tbathroom, and I came in here,” he said, standing at the Exxon Tigermarket on Broadway. “It’s too much to paup.” Rebecca Hargrove, president and CEO of Tennessee Education Lottery Corp., said that jackpot estimcould be revised after a 10 a.m. teleconference with lottery officials from the 41 other states, the DistrictColumbia and the Virgin Islands. “Our sales are 500 to 600 percent higher now than they are during an averaweek,” Hargrove said Thursday. “Last week, Tennessee saw $2.2 million in ticket sales for MegaMillionsrecord week. Right now, we’re at $2 million, and most of our sales usually happen on the day of a drawing.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS21/303300059/MegaMillions-540-million-record-jackpot-haeveryone-buying-ticket?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Jackpot stirs dreams, spurs ticket sales (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Marcum)

Danny Cornett said he doesn't plan on making a whole lot of changes if he wins the Mega Millions jackpCornett and MaryAlice Seaton, both of Caryville, were in West Knox County on Thursday when they stoppedthe Farragut Market, 11104 Kingston Pike, and bought some lottery tickets. "The only thing I would do is hame a house built and buy me a bunch of four-wheelers, you know, for going deer hunting," he said. The houshould be no problem at all, and Cornett would be able to field fleets of four-wheeled vehicles if he wins tMega M illions jackpot, which on Thursday was up to about $540 million. Rebecca Hargrove, president and Cof the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp., said this is one of the largest pots in world history. Until now, largest in the U.S. was a $390 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2007. After taxes, the winner of the current pwould net about $389 million. This could be distributed in a lump sum or parceled in different ways, Hargrosaid.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/jackpot-stirs-dreams-spurs-ticket-sales/ 

Local Lottery fever: Mega Millions jackpot hits record $540M (J. City Press)What would you do with more than half a billion dollars? That was the big question on most people’s minThursday as they lined up at convenience stores across the country buying up Mega Millions lottery tickets. “Tamount of money is so high that my entire family — and I have quite an extended fam ily — would benefit frombecause my luck extends to the family,” Sam Miller said Thursday when asked what he would do with a jackthat’s estimated at $540 million. The Mega Millions jackpot went up to $540 million Thursday, making it largest lottery jackpot in world history, according to lottery officials. That record surpassed the previous amoof $390 million. With a jackpot that high, Miller just had to get in on the action. “The amount gets so high, ycan’t afford not to, really. It’s a great little fun thing to do and if you don’t pay and play, you can’t win, so it juseemed to me like it’s a good thing to do right now,” he said moments after buying his ticket at One Stop.http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?id=99319#ixzz1qb2wOaWg

Mega Millions madness contagious; Record jackpot has everyone dreaming (DNWith a record $540 million lottery payout on the line tonight, it wasn’t difficult to find area residents and locofficials caught up in the excitement of striking it rich. Lottery vendors like Discount Tobacco and Food clShela Patel were gearing up for yet another busy day of sales today. Patel said her store’s normally brisk lottbusiness had already picked up plenty of steam over the past week or so as the jackpot has continued to grafter each drawing. “Everyone is trying their luck,” Patel said. The drawing is set for 10 p.m. Tennessee sonearly 2.3 million tickets for Tuesday’s drawing, more than seven times the normal sales amount, accordingthe Chattanooga Times-Free Press. The Mega Millions payout is so large that it has even attracted those waren’t accustomed to playing the lottery at all. Cole Elliot, a Rutherford County resident, bought a couple of tickets while at the G & E Market in Christiana on Thursday. He had originally gone there to just buy a couplebottled Coca-Colas.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120330/NEWS01/303300031/Mega-Millions-madness-contagious-Record-540M-

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One Chance in Mega M illions (Wall Street Journal)With more than a half-billion dollars on the line in Friday's Mega Millions lottery drawing, one dollar never lookso expendable. "Why wouldn't you play?" asked Dominick Flora, a Wall Street recruiter, as he left a midtoManhattan convenience store on Thursday. "Someone's going to win." Mr. Flora is a lottery regular, thoughadmits he picked up a few extra tickets for this week's drawing of the biggest multistate lottery. But

unprecedented jackpot has even the most determined of skeptics asking whether this just might be the raoccasion when the lottery might be worth a gamble. In a blog post on Wednesday, economist Stephen Bronran the numbers and concluded that, for once, a Mega M illions ticket is "a good bet" this week. Others who halooked at the numbers, though, reach a different conclusion: Don't bet on it. First, the basics: Mega Millions hwhat's called a "progressive jackpot." Every Tuesday and Friday, the lottery draws six numbers. Pick all correctly, and you win the jackpot. If no one wins, the jackpot rolls over to the next week's drawing. That's whas happened every week since Jan. 24, leading to a record $540 million jackpot.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577312060356748798.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

TN Legislature roundup: Unemployment insurance, grants, guns and more (NBJ)Among the m assive stable of legislation coming before the Tennessee G eneral Assembly this year, a fwinning horses are beginning to emerge as legislators begin to close down committees for the year. That's

contrast to a few proposals that remain bogged down in one way or another, with their fates still largely unknowHere's a look at business-centric legislative developments this week that show bills increasingly likely to paand those still subject to some major wrangling. • Unemployment insurance reform, while not including all ideas Republicans initially threw out there, is moving forward in the face of withering resistance. The centerpieof the reform passed a key hurdle this week, and more broadly the business community's push is makingthrough despite initial push back. • Gov. B ill Haslam's bill to expand the state's FastTrack grant program economic development is also advancing and appears likely to hit the Senate floor soon. This bill faced sodelay because it was originally tied to a more controversial bil l — still part of negotiations between Republican administration and legislators — involving transparency.http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2012/03/ramsey-haslam-tennessee-guns.html

TN Senate OKs bill to close teacher evaluation data (Associated Press/Johnson)

The sponsor of a proposal to close teacher evaluation records to parents and other members of the public sThursday that doing so will keep the process honest. The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim TracyShelbyville was unanimously approved 27-0 in the Senate. The companion bill is scheduled for a vote on House floor next week. Tracy said access to the data should be limited to school officials and not available to general public. “The principal would be m uch more honest if he knows it’s not going to go into the public recohe said after Thursday’s vote. “We’re all about teacher performance, and that’s what evaluations are, to improa teacher to be the best that they can be.” Under recent changes to state law, half of a teacher’s assessmemust derive from testing data, the rest from classroom observations. Educators have heavily criticized the nsystem. The state has been implementing more data-driven approaches to education as part of federal Racethe Top grants and through Gov. Bill Haslam’s own policies since he took office two years ago.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS04/303300062/TN-Senate-OKs-bill-close-teacher-evaluation-data?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

TN House passes amended abortion bill (Tennessean/Young)The state House of Representatives approved legislation Thursday that would restrict where doctors can perfoabortions. House members voted 72-24 to pass the Life Defense Act of 2012, which would require doctorshave admitting privileges in a nearby hospital when they provide abortions. Opponents say the bill would makharder for women to procure abortions, but its sponsor, Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, said doctors shohave admitting privileges in case a procedure goes bad. “It is called the Life Defense Act,” he said. “The life talking about is of the woman.” The measure, House Bill 3808, originally would have required the stDepartment of Health to post online data about abortions in Tennessee, including the doctors involvedabortion procedures and demographics of the women who receive them, broken down by county. O pponesaid those provisions would endanger doctors, including those who perform abortions only in emergencies, alead to the public disclosure of women who receive the procedures, particularly those who live in small, ru

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counties. Hill agreed to drop the reporting provisiohttp://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS0201/303290100/TN-House-passes-amended-abortion-biodyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Tennessee bill would tighten rules on abortion (Times Free-Press/Sher)The Tennessee House on Thursday passed legislation requiring that all doctors w ho perform abortions hahospital admitting privileges in the county where the procedure is performed or in an adjacent county. Oppone

charged the bill is intended to make it harder for women to find abortion services in Tennessee, especiallysmaller communities. In another major development, the Senate voted 30-0 for a compromise bill regarding entity that investigates complaints against judges. The would m easure eliminate the 10-member Court of Judiciary and replace it with a 16-member Board of Judicial Conduct. It also would make changes in who nammembers, with some appointments made by the governor and House and Senate speakers in additionalvarious conferences of judges. House members have yet to move on the measure, which grew out of complaithat the Court of the Judiciary rarely took public action. The abortion measure, sponsored by Rep. Ma tthew HR-Jonesborough, was approved on a 72-24 vote. The Republican-backed bill, which drew support from eiDemocrats, has not yet been acted on in the Senate.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/tennessee-bill-would-tighten-rules-on-abor tion/?local

TN Senate votes to increase judicial oversight (Tennessean/Sisk)

A bill that would reform how judges are disciplined won unanimous approval from the state Senate on Thursdas lawmakers accepted a compromise meant to increase the legislature’s oversight of the judicial branSenators voted 30-0 to replace the Court of the Judiciary, which reviews and rules on complaints against judgwith a new 16-member board appointed by judges, legislative leaders and the governor. The unanimous vincreases the likelihood that the House would sign off on the measure, though a final vote has not bescheduled on companion legislation making its way through that chamber. The new Board of Judicial Condwould be created after years of complaints that the Court of the Judiciary did not aggressively investigate claiof judicial misconduct and was too closely tied to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which appointed more than hof its members. The measure, Senate Bill 2671, also sets up a procedure for investigating complaints agai  judges and requires the board to report regularly to the legislature on how grievances are resolved. “Thergoing to be more transparency,” said state Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet, the bill’s sponsor. “I know sopeople aren’t going to be happy w ith it, but we’re going to have to see how it works.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS0201/303300061/TN-Senate-votes-increase-judicial-oversight?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|N ews

New municipal school legislation would allow suburban referendum s (CA/LockerLegislation has begun moving in the state legislature that will allow referendums on the creation of municischool districts this year, as well as the election of new municipal school boards if voters approve the ndistricts. The bill is separate from a bill already moving on a separate track in the General Assembly that wolift the state ban on the creation of new municipal school districts effective next Jan. 1. The new measure is amendment containing a new framework for the initial steps of establishing new municipal school districanywhere in the state, that would go into effect upon the bill becoming law. It is set for a House floor vote nMonday night and is likely to be scheduled for a Senate floor vote next w eek as w ell. But it's still unclear whetlegislative approval next week is adequate time for the Shelby County Election Commission to schedreferendums for five Shelby County suburban cities for May 10. The commission called off those referendulast week after the state attorney general opined that no movement toward creation of new municipal schdistricts -- including referendums -- can occur until the Mem phis and Shelby County schools me rger is complein August 2013.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/29/new-municipal-school-legislation-would-allow-subur/ (SUB)

Lawmakers pledge not to interfere with disposal of school buildings (CA/RobertIn a letter to the Shelby County school board Thursday, six local legislators, including Senate Majority LeadMark Norris, say they will not introduce bills or forward others this year that wo uld interfere with how the unifschool board decides to dispose of school buildings. The letter is also signed by R ep. Curry Todd, Rep. RLollar, Rep. Jim Coley, Rep. Steve McManus and Rep. Mark White. "It pretty well says exactly what we mea

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said Lollar, R-Bartlett. "We are just trying to ease some troubled minds." School board chairman Billy Orgel saNorris has "consistently" told him he had no intention of introducing any facilities legislation this session. "I very pleased that lawmakers who have consistently told us they feel like we should handle this issue locally wwilling to publicly state that and give our board the confidence now to go forth and deal with the issue to benefit of everybody in Shelby County," O rgel said. Municipal leaders pressing to run their own school systein the suburbs would have a difficult time doing it without access to school buildings in their areas.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/29/lawmakers-pledge-not-interfere-disposal-suburban-s/ (SUB)

Municipal Schools Bill Amendment Surfaces (Memphis Daily News)As the Tennessee House education subcommittee was meeting in Nashville Wednesday, March 29, it wwhere most of those involved in the local schools reformation saga were focusing their attention. And the cenof their attention was a bill lifting the statewide ban on the creation of m unicipal school districts. But the Seneducation committee was meeting at the same time in Nashville and that’s where an anticipated amendmentput municipal school district referendums back on the ballot before the end of the year was added to a bill school bullying. State Senate Republican leader Mark Norris of Collierville added the amendm ent that allows referendums to form municipal school districts this year. The bill was amended as com mittees in the House aSenate are preparing to close for the year in the legislature. Word of the amendment came the same day Shelby County Republican legislators sent a letter to countywide school board members pledging that they wonot "sponsor, present or forward any legislation" on the transfer of school buildings in the current legislatsession.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/mar/30/municipal-schools-bill-amendment-surfaces/ 

Bill Lifting Muni School Ban Advances (Memphis Daily News)A bill in the Tennessee Legislature to lift the statewide ban on creating municipal school districts is moving as legislative session nears an end. The House Education subcommittee approved the bill Wednesday, March 2on a voice vote w ith the House Education Committee to consider the bill next week. It was the last subcommitsession of the year. The bill was approved last week by the Senate Education Committee and is awaiting acton the Senate floor possibly next week. There were no amendments to the bill Wednesday in the subcommittThe bill would not only lift the statewide ban but it would move up the start date for such school districts to Jan.2013. That’s nine months before the merger date of Shelby County’s two public school systems, which is whthe formation of municipal school districts in Shelby County can begin under terms of the Norris-Todd law tlegislature passed last year. The 2011 law specifically governs the Shelby County schools consolidation procehttp://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/mar/30/bill-lifting-muni-school-ban-advances/ 

Subcommittee Passes Drug-Testing Requirement for Gov’t Aid Recipients (TNR)Tennesseans applying for welfare would have to submit to, and pay for, drug testing before receiving financassistance, under legislation slowly advancing in both chambers of the legislature. After a lengthy debTuesday night, on various aspects of the bill, that left members on both sides of the issue visibly irritated, House Health and Hum an Resources Subcomm ittee passed HB2725, sponsored by Rep. Julia Hurley, R-LenCity. The Senate version of the bill, SB2580, sponsored by Knoxville Republican Stacey Campfield, passed Senate’s health committee last week and is currently awaiting action in the Finance, Ways and MeaCommittee. In an opinion rendered March 20, state Attorney General Robert Cooper said “the Social SecuAct, the TennCare waiver and the federal Food Stamp program do not permit a state to condition eligibility substance abuse testing or consent to such testing.” He also concluded that such suspicionless drug testconstituted an unconstitutional search and seizure under the Fourth Amendm ent.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/29/house-subcommittee-passes-drug-testing-requirement-to-receiv e-govt-aid/

Lawmakers OK Legislation Allowing Ayes, Nays Via Video (TN Report)Local school board members can attend meetings digitally, so long as there is a physical quorum, under a pthat has passed both chambers of the Legislature. The House on Thursday passed HB2883, which allows loschool districts to adopt a policy, outlined in the bill, allowing members to attend meetings and vote via vidconferencing technology. The bill states that such a policy would only allow members to participate digitallthey are out of the county for work, a family emergency or military service. The Senate version of the bsponsored by Democratic Caucus Chairman Lowe Finney, passed two weeks ago by a vote of 26-6. On t

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House floor Thursday, the bill provoked a lengthy debate between legislators, with several saying it started tstate down a “slippery slope” when it comes to allowing elected officials to shirk their duties. House sponsor aDemocratic Leader Craig F itzhugh said the bill’s intent is not to give officials a way to avoid their obligations, rather to fulfill them.http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/03/29/governor-gets-legislation-allowing-ayes-nays-via-video-at-school-b oard-meetings / 

Todd Gardenhire officially running for Tennessee Senate (TFP/Poulisse)Todd Gardenhire, a financial consultant and lifelong Tennessee Valley resident, this week turned in his qualifyipetitions in Ham ilton and Bradley counties to run for the state Senate. H e is running for the D istrict 10 seat nheld by Andy Berke. Gardenhire said he's been involved in almost every Republican campaign for the pastyears, whether it was campaigning door-to-door in 1970 for former U.S. Sen. Bill Brock and U.S. Rep. LaMBaker, or the 2008 election in which he was elected as a state at-large delegate to the Republican Conventionbetween, he was involved in the Reagan administration, elected as state at large delegate in 1980, and servas the state chairman for Jack Kemp's presidential campaign. Through his experiences at a national levGardenhire has fine-tuned his talents to better serve Tennessee at a local level, he said. "This Republicprimary, Republicans will have to choose the candidate that is most loyal to the party and its principleGardenhire said. "The Republicans will see which candidates stood the test of time and operate on principand not expedience."http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/todd-gardenhire-officially-running-for-sen ate/?local

GOP, Rep. Marsha Blackburn take aim at TSA (Tennessean/Bewley)Rep. Marsha Blackburn and other Republicans have a beef with the Transportation Security Administration: inefficient, too expensive, and full of rude and power-hungry officers, they say. A few years ago, after the Se11, 2001, terrorist attacks, such criticisms would have been politically dangerous. But now a growing numberlawmakers — mostly Republicans — are taking aim at TSA as a bloated and poorly run bureaucracy. Pubcomplaints about airport security screeners have been fueled by recent reports of the 10-year-old agencmissteps — overlooking a loaded gun inside a checked bag at Los Angeles International Airport, for exampleand by publicized kerfuffles over new screening procedures such as body scanners and pat-downs. In JanuaRepublican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky attracted national media attention when he was blocked from boardinflight in Nashville after refusing a pat-down. In Congress, Republicans have pushed to hand security screenover to private contractors, study the safety of body scanners, and cut TSA’s size. Blackburn even introducebill — the edgily named STRIP Act — to “strip” airport screeners of their badges, police-like uniforms, and ttitle of “officer.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS02/303300026/GOP-Rep-Marsha-Blackburtake-aim-TSA?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Roe, Griffith given award for 'pro-jobs,' 'pro-growth' voting record (Herald-CourieTennessee U.S. R ep. Phil Roe, R -1st, and Virginia U.S. Rep M organ Griffith, R-9th, have both received “SpiriEnterprise” awards from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, their offices announced Thursday. Roe and Grifwere both honored for their “pro-jobs, pro-growth” voting record in Congress. The cham ber graded each memof Congress based on how he or she voted on numerous issues it views as high priorities, including trade ahealth care reform. Representatives who supported the organization’s position on at least 70 percent of thovotes were eligible for the award. Roe is currently in his second term in Congress, while Griffith is a first-tecongressman. Both are up for re-election this year.http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/mar/30/roe-griffith-given-award-pro-jobs-pro-growth-votin-ar -1804868/ 

Rick Santorum takes half of Tennessee GOP delegates (Tennessean/Cass)Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum won half of Tennessee’s delegates to the Republican NatioConvention from Super Tuesday presidential primary voting this month, the state GOP said after results wecertified Thursday. Santorum won 29 of the 55 committed delegates, easily outpacing former MassachuseGov. Mitt Romney’s 17 and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s nine. The state’s final three delegates — state party chairman, RNC national committeewoman and RNC national committeeman — are uncommitteU.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, the other remaining contender for the Republican nomination, did not win adelegates. Santorum won eight of the state’s nine congressional districts on M arch 6, trailing Romney only in Memphis-based 9 District. With each district offering three delegates, Santorum took home two in each of

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distr icts he won, plus one in the 9th, for a total of 17 of a possible 27. He added those to the 12 at- lardelegates he had already picked up out of 28 that were available. Romney finished second to Santorum in s ixthose eight congressional districts, including the Nashville-based 5th and the 7th, which includes WilliamsCounty.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/NEWS02/303300028/Rick-Santorum-takes-half-Tennessee-GOPdelegates?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Congress Extends Road Funds by 90 Days (New York Times)Unable to come to agreement on highway funding and eager to start a two-week recess, Congress on Thursdpassed a 90-day stopgap measure to continue paying for the nation’s highways and infrastructure programaverting a halt in road and infrastructure projects because of the inability of lawmakers to agree on a broadtransportation measure. The measure is the ninth extension since a $286 billion, multiyear plan ended in 20had Congress taken no action, the current extension would have expired over the weekend. It passed the Houby 266 to 158, with 10 Republicans voting against the measure and 37 Democrats voting for it. Roughly thours later, the Senate agreed to the m easure by voice vote, even though Senator Barbara Boxer, Dem ocraCalifornia and chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, immediately railed agaithe legislation. The impasses over a long-term measure stem both from partisan differences over how to baddress a dwindling highway trust fund, brought about in part by increases in fuel efficiency in cars, and divisioamong H ouse Republicans over legislation that has in the past cleared Congress w ith bipartisan support.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/us/politics/congress-extends-highway-funding-for-90-days.html?ref=todayspaper(SUBSCRIPTION)

States may lose federal help in fighting radon (Stateline)A dry cough, a small pain in her shoulder blade — it was probably just allergies, Liz Hoffmann thought beforedoctor’s visit in 2003. But a chest X -ray soon told a different story. A 5-centimeter mass was growing in her lung. Soon came the surgery, followed by the nauseating chemo drugs. Next Hoffmann endured daily roundschest radiation. But late in the summer of 2006 the cancer returned. This time more than 4 liters of fluid filled chest, which was drained twice a week. She endured another round of chemotherapy. By 2008, the cancer hspread to her brain, where the lesions have since multiplied. Today Hoffmann, 46, is facing a fourth roundchemotherapy, as she continues to beat her original odds of post-diagnosis survival: a 15 percent chanceliving 5 years. But what caused her cancer? After all, she had neither smoked nor lived among smokers. At sister-in-law’s suggestion, Hoffmann tested her M ilwaukee home for radon, a colorless, odorless gas that seeinto buildings through cracks in walls and foundations. For years, the test revealed, she’d been surrounded high levels of the gas — 8.6 picocuries of it, more than twice the amount that the U.S. Environmental ProtectAgency labels as dangerous .http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=64 2441

Education Colleges Cry Foul on Ratings (Wall Street Journal)A nonprofit advocacy group is pushing colleges of education to participate in an effort to rate their teachpreparation programs, but many of the schools are balking, arguing the project is flawed. The nation's 1,4colleges of education have been criticized by the Obam a administration and others for lax admission standarunfocused curriculum and failure to provide enough real-life classroom training. States must evaluate teachprep programs, but standards are so weak that only 31 of 1,400 programs were rated subpar in 2010, the latdata available, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The National Council on Teacher Qualitynonpartisan group, seeks to come up with more rigorous ratings for undergraduate education programs burunning into opposition from the schools, which say the ratings fail to measure graduates' effectiveness in tclassroom and rely too heavily on assessing course syllabi. The council sued Wisconsin public collegeseducation in January for refusing to turn over course syllabi the group says it needs to assess the programs, athis week sent a letter to Minnesota officials threatening similar action. Higher-education officials in Wisconand Minnesota argue the syllabi are the "intellectual property" of the faculty.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577311892747225600.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Supreme Court likely to vote on health care law Friday (USA Today)The fate of President Obama's landmark health care law likely will be decided Friday in an oak-paneconference room adjoining the cham bers of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. There, the nine justic

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will meet alone to discuss the case that transfixed Americans for three days of oral arguments this week. W hall have had their say, they will vote in order of seniority. That initial decision may be altered as drafts of majorand dissenting opinions are written, circulated and rewritten, often many times. It might even be reversed durthe lengthy writing process if one or m ore justices switch sides. But one thing almost never changes. For mosthe next three months, only the justices and 39 law clerks — four per justice and one each for the three liviretired justices — w ill be privy to the ruling. And even in an age of Twitter and YouTube, it won't leak. "I think Supreme Court is the one institution that doesn't leak in modern-day Washington, D.C.," says Steven Engellawyer who served a decade ago as a law clerk to Justice Anthony Kennedy, a potential swing vote on the heacare law.http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/story/2012-03-29/health-care-court-vote/5 3873778/1

$20M plutonium project at ORNL to support space program (New

Sentinel/Munger)Over the next two years, Oak Ridge National Laboratory will carry out a $20 million pilot project to demonstrthe lab's ability to produce and process plutonium-238 for use in the space program. Tim Powers, directorORNL's Non-Reactor Nuclear Facilities Division, said the technology demonstration will include developmentneptunium-237 targets that will then be introduced into the H igh Flux Isotope Reactor to produce small amouof Pu-238. Later, workers will remove the targets from the reactor core and process the radioactive materialshot cells at the lab's Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, separating the Pu-238 from the neptuni

and purifying the plutonium. Powers said the ORNL program will support the U.S. Department of Energy's planeventually produce 1½ to 2 kilograms of Pu-238 per year, using existing infrastructure within the DOE complFor years, the U.S. has relied on purchases from R ussia to supplement the inventory of the radioisotope for space power program. There have been multiple proposals to re-establish a U.S.-based production progranone of which took hold.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/20m-plutonium-project-at-ornl-to-support-space/ 

Nashville shopping mall reopens after shutdown (Associated Press)The Opry M ills shopping mall in Nashville formally reopened Thursday after being shuttered for almost two yebecause of flooding from the nearby Cumberland River. The 1.2-million-square-foot mall at the site of the Opryland USA theme park has been closed since May 2010. A dispute over insurance coverage delayrestoration work at the venue adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center and the Gra

Ole Opry House. An estimated $200 m illion in repairs have been done. A few tenants have already reopened like Bass Pro Shops, never closed or shut down briefly. There are a dozen or so new stores. "They've gothrough a lot," Mayor Karl Dean said at reopening ceremonies. "They have restored this great engine for economy." Officials said there were no estimates about how much tax revenue the shutdown cost the city. BDean said, "Seeing the mall come back to life is an important piece of Nashville's flood recovery." The mmeans nearly 3,000 jobs for Middle Tennessee. It draws some shoppers from nearby counties, and gets sobusiness from Nashville's 1 million yearly tourists.http://www.tennessean.com/usatoday/article/38913807?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s

Opry Mills Mall comeback is complete (Tennessean/Aycock)Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. When beloved theme park Opryland was reinvented as a msome in the community were less than enthusiastic. But Nashville watched the mall rise from a watery grapost-flood, with a greater appreciation for the venue. The newly reopened Opry Mills is a retail destination, wmore than 100 shops. But it’s also a social hub, entertainment option and source of pride for the crowd thgathered at the opening ceremony Thursday morning to celebrate its return. Bethany Gant, 27, of Nashville, wat the original grand opening of the mall and was determined to see it reopen. “I think it’s going to be good for obusiness here; for the community it’s going to be nice to not have to drive as far to go to our favorite storeTeresa Heinen, 81, of Nashville, feels like the mall is a sort of “rebirth” for the community. “I remember goidown and seeing the water by the water treatment plant there at Stones River and then the night they toeveryone from the hotel up to McGavock High School to spend the night. It broke my heart.” Nashville resideLawrence Ceseymour, 34, described the mall as “like a staple of the city. “It’s somewhere to go without drivinganother state.”http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/BUSINESS01/303300072/Opry-Mills-Mall-comeback-complete?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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Poll finds suburban residents support own school systems (C. Appeal/Kelley)The preliminary results of a poll in Shelby County's six suburban municipalities not surprisingly found 74 percthink having their own municipal school districts is a good idea. They were less enthusiastic about paying h igtaxes to support them. Only 46 percent said they would pay $50 or more per year in property taxes, althoughpercent would pay "whatever it takes." Thirty-five percent would pay nothing. "We're beginning to see some sigthat agreement with the statement that 'We're going to do these separate municipal school systems come hel

high water' is just superficial," longtime Memphis pollster Berje Yacoubian told members of the TransitPlanning Commission's Communications and Community Engagement Committee Thursday. The committeein the process of gathering public input on the merger of Memphis C ity and Shelby County Schools througseries of public listening sessions, town hall meetings and other meetings with educators, parents, and anyoelse interested in sounding off about the merger set to be finalized in the fall of 2013. The committee met wYacoubian Thursday to get preliminary results of his telephone poll of 376 Memphis residents, 295 residentsunincorporated areas and 547 residents of the county's six suburban municipalities.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/29/poll-finds-suburban-residents-support-own-school-s/ (SUB)

Schools Planning Group Looks at Denver Blueprint (Memphis Daily News)Going from a centralized to a decentralized school system doesn’t mean less work for a school system. It j

means a different kind of work. Those in the group drafting the blueprint for the merged countywide schosystem got an idea this month of how different and complex that can be as they looked at the Denver schsystem’s Office of School Reform and Innovation. Denver Public Schools has a “portfolio management” systesimilar to the one the local schools consolidation planning commission has picked as the structure for the comschools m erger. The organizational chart of that office within the Denver school system is m uch differehowever, than the chart for the “multiple paths to autonomy” model the planning commission has been workon. The Memphis group’s structure has one box for an office of innovation. Denver has 17 boxes from a chieinnovation and reform, an executive assistant and an administrative assistant, to a director of strategic schdesign, an executive director of innovation schools and a director of innovation strategy and operations.http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2012/mar/30/schools-planning-group-looks-at-denver-blueprint/ 

Transition panel proposal for Aitken to lead unified schools d ies (

Appeal/Kelley)A proposal to urge the unified school board to retain John Aitken as superintendent of the consolidated schosystem through the end of his contract in the summ er of 2015 enjoyed a short shelf life at the Transition PlannCommission Thursday night. In fact, it was never debated. The idea -- if the TPC had approved it and the boafollowed the TPC's advice -- w ould have effectively eliminated Memphis City Schools Supt. Kriner Cash frcontention for the superintendent's spot in favor of Aitken, the current head of Shelby County Schools. Cascurrent contract expires on June 30, 2013. The proposal was one of three in a package offered by TPC memChristine R ichards intended to give suburban proponents of municipal school districts some sense of continand stability and time to reflect on the advantages of the plan for the unified district that the TPC is in the proceof developing. Richards withdrew the measure dealing with district leadership after the first suggestion taken by the TPC -- a proposal to communicate to the General Assembly the comm ission's support for a bill lifting ban on municipal school districts, effective next January -- failed 10-6, with urban members of the commiss

largely leading the opposition.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/proposal-ushering-cash-out-fizzles/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Weather Break (Memphis Flyer)Stormy action on the merger front is followed by a (temporary?) lull. It had looked for a while last week that progress of five suburban municipalities — Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Lakeland, and A rlington — towindependent school systems might have suffered a double whammy. First had come the bombshannouncement of an opinion from state attorney general Robert Cooper that the five suburbs, all of which hscheduled May 10th referenda on forming new municipal school districts, could not proceed with any such vountil city/county school merger is completed in August 2013, the da te specified by the 2011 Norris-Todd bill aformally countenanced by U.S. district judge Hardy Mays, judicial overseer of the case. That announcement,

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Tuesday, was followed a day later by the unforeseen— if possibly only temporary — hobbling in the state Houof Representatives of a bill by state Senate m ajority leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville), the originator of NorTodd, to facilitate the suburban school systems by moving up the period of their eligibility from that August 20date to January 1, 2013.http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/weather-break/Content?oid=3147339

Proposed Hamilton Co Schools budget wouldn’t cover adding teache

(TFP/Hardy)If next year’s proposed $383 million Hamilton County Schools budget is approved in its current form, more th$4 m illion in staff budget requests w ill go unfilled. A $1.5 m illion request to restore capital maintenance fundcut this year and a $1.375 million budget request to add new teachers would be the costliest items to go unfillThe Hamilton County Board of E ducation discussed the two issues at a Thursday work session on the proposbudget. Board members were especially worried about the long-term effects of cutting building maintenanfunds. “It’s going to continue to get worse. Having come from there, I know what they go through just to kebuildings open,” said board Chairman M ike Evatt, who is retired from the department of education’s maintenandivision. The funding for teachers would have covered about 25 more teachers needed for anticipated studgrowth of about 300 or 400 students next year.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/proposed-hamilton-county-schools-budget-wouldnt-co/?loca

McIntyre makes school budget pitch to community (News-Sentinel/McCoy)Knox County Superintendent Jim McIntyre said Thursday that his proposed plan to raise the district's budget$35 million over the next five years is similar to asking your boss for a raise. "You get that raise one time, but continues in your base salary," he said during a community forum held at Fulton High School. "Knox CouSchools is asking for a raise of $35 million and that's probably the simplest way to put this." Thursday's forwas an opportunity for the superintendent to present his budget to the community and field questions. He hproposed to increase the district's budget by 18.9 percent over the next five years to $457.55 million in 2017. Tbudget increase, he says, will effectively improve student outcomes and achievement. The 2013 budproposal, outside of McIntyre's $35 million request, would be about a $12.5 million increase over the currbudget.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/mcintyre-makes-school-budget-pitch-to-community/ 

Martin named to school board by Hamilton County Commission (TFP/Haman)In a tight vote, the Hamilton County Commission selected Greg Martin on Thursday to fill the school boarvacant District 3 seat. When voting for the seat, which represents Hixson and Middle Valley, commissioners s5-4 between Martin and Tammy Zumbrun, who was nominated by District 3 Commissioner Mitch McClure. "Wneed to realize that we've 11 good candidates," McClure said before the vote. "We've been blessed." Maoriginally expressed an intent to run in the District 3 Republican primary on March 6 to challenge M cClure for commission seat, but later dropped out of the race and instead supported McClure challenger Marty HayneAfter the 5-4 vote that gave Martin the job, comm issioners voted on a final resolution to officially appoint Marbut McClure refused to support it. Martin said he didn't take M cClure's vote against him as a slight. "I do know Mr. M cClure," he said. "I'm very much an independent person. I don't understand all that's gone on w ith commission today. I'm not familiar with the politics of that." Martin, a Hixson High School graduate, hasbachelor of arts in Bible from Bryan College and a master's of divinity and doctor of ministry from New Orlea

Baptist Theological Seminary.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/greg-martin-named-to-school-board/?local

Schools budget up $14 million (Daily News Journal)Gill: Staffing for growth, state mandates to blame Rutherford County Schools’ budget is expected to increaseabout $14 million for the 2013 fiscal year, which officials attribute to anticipated growth and complying with stmandates. The county Board of Education got its first look at the budget Thursday evening. The proposbudget is a little over $285 m illion, up 5.2 percent from the $267.1 million budget the district is operating on tyear. “The increase is driven almost exclusively by growth and medical insurance,” Director of Schools Harry Jr. explained. Staffing costs are expected to go up by almost $8 million, as the district is expecting to hire 11 nehigh school math teachers and four chemistry teachers needed to comply with the American Diploma Proje

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ADP requires Tennessee students to have four years of math and three years of science in order to graduaThe district has already started talks with some potential teachers, even signing contracts with a handful tweek, said Paula Barnes, assistant superintendent of human resources and student services.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120330/NEWS07/303300036/Schools-budget-up-14-million?odyssey=tab|topnewtext|FRONTPAGE

Interview set for schools superintendent candidate for Hardin County (J. Sun)

Wanda Johnston 1 of 3 nominated for Hardin Co. interim superintendent The Hardin County School Board winterview a candidate next w eek to replace Hardin County School Superintendent John Thomas in an intecapacity during his upcoming paid suspension. The board voted last week to suspend Thomas as soon asreplacement is chosen, and the suspension will last until a court makes a decision regarding accusations thThomas brought a gun on school property. The board created a subcommittee during last week’s meetingnominate candidates for the position, and a m eeting was held Thursday evening to discuss the candidates. Tsubcommittee nominated Billy Garrett, Wanda Johnston and S teve Smith as candidates who have worked in Tennessee school system. Garrett and Smith said they were not interested in the position at this time. Schboard member David Baker, who volunteered to be on the subcom mittee, said Johnston acknowledged that swas willing to take the interim role should the board stand behind her, and he said she has stated that hexperience qualifies her for the role.http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120330/NEWS01/303300010/Interview-set-schools-superintendent-candidate-Hardin-County?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

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OPINION

Bill Haslam: I'm Not the Problem On Death Tax Reform (Wall Street Journal)Regarding your editorial "Death Tax Defying" (March 24): In early January I proposed legislation to raise exemption level on Tennessee's estate tax from the current rate of $1 million to the federal exemption level ofmillion during my time in office. Just last week, I cemented that proposal by recomm ending doing so in the n

three years and worked with House F inance Committee Chairman Charles Sargent to completely repeal the in year four. This is a thoughtful and realistic approach to eliminate a tax that chases capital out of our stateTennessee slowly recovers from the econom ic downturn that we continue to carefully manage our way throuTennessee is a low-tax state, and I'm working w ith the General Assembly to lower taxes even further.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577308053841620074.html?mod=ITP _opinion_1(SUBSCRIPTION)

Pam Strickland: Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam needs to show leadership (N-S)The state Legislature continues to confuse religion and public education, and along the way is highlighting GBill Haslam's problem with leadership since he moved from East Tennessee to the state capital. In both caswhat we have is an embarrassment for all good Tennesseans. House Bill 368, which critics say encouragdiscussion of creationism as a valid scientific theory, has been sent to Haslam to be signed into law. During

campaign for the chief executive office, Haslam, a devout conservative Christian, said he had no problem wevolution being taught in public schools and saw no need to push for creationism to be taught. In the last weHaslam has said he doesn't know much about HB 368, which was sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn, R-KnoxviHaslam told one blogger who had written him urging him to veto the measure that the letter would have bemore appropriately addressed to the state Board of Education. Then the governor told a reporter asking abthe bill that he didn't know much about it and would probably turn to the Board of Education in deciding whetto sign it.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/pam-strickland-tennessee-gov-bill-haslam-needs/ 

Editorial: School board flexibility a major plus (Jackson Sun)The Tennessee House has passed a bill that affords local school boards more flexibility by allowing boamembers, in som e instances, to participate in m eetings remotely. The bill recognizes board member mobility,

advantages of modern technology and the importance of elected officials participating in meetings throudiscussion and voting. House Bill 2883 is sponsored locally by Dem ocratic House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhuof Ripley and Rep. Johnny Shaw, D-Bolivar. The companion Senate Bill 2723 is sponsored by Sen. LoFinney, D-Jackson. The Senate passed a slightly amended bill earlier this month. The House approved that with additional minor amendments. It now goes back to the Senate for final approval. In Jackson-MadisCounty, we have seen several instances when board members were unable to attend a meeting whespecially important issues were being decided. Under current law, they were not able to vote, even if they wable to participate by phone. This restriction shortchanges voters and other board members who would benefrom full representation, discussion and voting. The bill provides that board members who are away on worelated travel, military service or family emergency would be allowed to fully participate in the meeting electronic media..http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120330/OPINION/303300004/Our-View-School-board-flexibility-major-plu

Guest columnist: Gun bill would make colleges less safe (Tennessean)As chief of police for Tennessee’s largest undergraduate institution, I have deep concerns about legislation undconsideration now that would allow guns on college campuses. For those readers who might be new to tissue, SB 3002, commonly known as the “guns in parking lots” bill, will allow guns in vehicles in parking loincluding college campuses. Last month’s Trayvon Martin case in Florida is proof that a person with a vafirearms permit can make a tragic mistake and cause irreparable damage by making the decision to shoosuspected violator. While it has yet to be finally determined if George Zimmerman acted in good consciencenot, it seems obvious that what happened on the streets of Sanford, Fla., could very easily happen elsewhereespecially on college campuses — if certain gun-carry advocates have their way. Supporters of SB 3002 argthat campuses will be made safer as a result of passage of this bill. The truth is such advocates would be beserved to focus their attention on the most dangerous “offender” on college campuses, which isn’t someone w

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assaults people with a weapon.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/OPINION03/303300045/Gun-bill-would-make-colleges-less-safe?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Greg Johnson: Abortion information already a public record (News-Sentinel)State Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, last week pulled a controversial amendment to the Life Defense Ac2012 after receiving threats. Ironically, those threats came after critics called Hill's measure "a dangerous pie

of legislation" and an "attempt to intimidate and terrorize" women and physicians. Hill's amendment w ould harequired the state to publish the names of doctors who provide abortions as well as demographic data about women who receive them. Interestingly, Tennessee's Department of Health already publishes data on multihealth issues, including births and deaths. A click of the mouse shows 3,472 people died accidental deaths2010. Cardiovascular disease claimed 3,178 Tennesseans that same year. Diabetes was listed as the cause1,678 deaths. Motor vehicle accidents led to 1,069 deaths. Homicides killed 409. C ancer claimed 13,514. Hedisease took 14,489. Nowhere, though, is data for abortion available on the Department of Health's websthough the state already collects information in some dem ographic detail.http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/greg-johnson-abortion-information-already-a/ 

Editorial: Legislature wants Scopes trial rerun (Daily News Journal)At a time when Tennessee is becoming a national center for technological and alternative fuel research a

development, it is odd — to say the least — that our state Legislature would push scientific debate back mothan 85 years. Our state was ground zero for the argument over teaching of evolution in the 1925 “ScopMonkey Trial” after a young teacher in Dayton was charged w ith violating state law that allowed only the biblitheory of creationism to be taught in classrooms. John Scopes was convicted in a circus-atmosphere trial tcaptivated the nation, but Tennessee and numerous other states eventually changed their laws to allow tteaching of biological evolution as an accepted theory of science. With Republicans controlling the GeneAssembly, a spate of socially conservative legislation is rolling through the state Capitol, instead of a focus good government, and this measure appears to be at the head of the class. Legislation headed for tgovernor’s desk would encourage teachers to present scientific strengths and weaknesses of topics suchbiological evolution, chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning, even though those matters largely settled in the scientific community.http://www.dnj.com/article/20120330/OPINION/303300022/EDITORIAL-Legislature-wants-Scopes-trial-rerun?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Times Editorial: The lottery: Risk and reward (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)You can't blame people for dreaming big, especially when the subject of that dream is more than $500 milliThat's the estimated jackpot for the current multistate Mega Millions lottery. The drawing is scheduled for ll ptonight. Until then, lottery fever across the nation will continue to rise. No wonder. The huge jackpot, the resulrollovers for several drawings for which there was no winner, is the highest amount for any North Americlottery in history. Indeed, it shatters the old Mega Millions record -- a $390 m illion prize awarded five years aThe lure of an unprecedented payout is undeniable, and understandable. The chance to win m illions propsales to new highs. In Tennessee, for example, more than 2.3 million tickets were sold for Tuesday's drawingwhich there was no winner. That's more than seven times the normal daily sales amount. New records are sto be set here and wherever Mega Millions is played as Friday's drawing nears. Those sales are a boon to tbeneficiary of state lotteries. In Tennessee, for instance, lottery profits go toward education. Lottery officials sthat more than $4 million has been raised for education since the last Mega Millions jackpot was w on in JanuaThat total is sure to increase considerably before a Mega Millions winner is identified.http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/mar/30/the-lottery-risk-and-reward/?opin iontimes

Editorial: Caught in the middle? (Comm ercial Appeal)The leaders of Shelby County's suburban municipalities are creating a real barrier in reaching agreement wthe unified school board about who w ill educate the children who live in unincorporated areas but attend couschools inside the suburbs' boundaries. It's one of the sticky questions that have to be resolved before MempCity Schools and Shelby County Schools merge for the 2013-2014 school year. The cities are pushing to sttheir own municipal school distr icts when the merger takes place. About 18,000 chi ldren who l iveunincorporated areas of Shelby County attend public schools. About 8,000 of them attend schools within

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suburbs' municipal boundaries. Retaining those students, along with the state per-pupil funding that they wobring, is considered vital to the startup of some of the planned municipal distr icts. But during a meetWednesday, the suburban leaders told school board members they would make no promises about continuingeducate those children in the future, if their schools become too crowded.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/caught-in-the-middle/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Guest columnist: Affordable Care Act sparks innovators (Tennessean)

No matter what the outcome is of the Supreme Court’s review of the Affordable Care Act, one assured outcoof this legislation is an upsurge in entrepreneurialism. In Nashville, innovative new ventures created in the waof the Affordable Care Act not only fuel the local economy, they also improve the quality and efficiency of heacare in America. For example, the law contains a provision aimed at reducing the rate at which patients arehospitalized after an initial discharge. According to the National Association of Home Care and Hospicereduction of hospital readmission rates by just 2 percent am ong home-care patients would help 928,000 peoavoid the pain of re-hospitalization and save the health-care system upward of $500 m illion. The Affordable CaAct directly addresses this issue: Beginning in October, if hospitals have higher-than-expected 30-dreadmission rates for patients with a heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia, they could see their Medicare pcut by up to 1 percent. The cut could be as much as 3 percent starting in October 2014.http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120330/OPINION03/303300044/Affordable-Care-Act-sparks-innovators?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Guest columnists: Health reform's benefits already on display (C. Appeal)Last Friday marked the second anniversary of President Barack Obama's signing of the Patient Protection aAffordable Care Act. Like many 2-year-olds, the health care reform law -- more than 2,000 pages of text frauwith complexity and compromise -- has been a difficult child to love at times. D espite venomous attacks fromopponents, however, the law is already showing how it could improve the health and well-being of all of usShelby County. The reform law's benefits have already changed many lives. Young adults can now be coveunder their parents' health care policies until they are 26 years old. And the removal of the cap on lifetimbenefits has made a critical difference to our most vulnerable people with catastrophic chronic diseasesaccidents that require lifelong care. If the law survives the constitutional challenges argued before the SupreCourt this week, however, the real game changer for Shelby County will come in 2014. That's when abo74,000 of us under the age of 65 will finally become insured, reducing the annual cost of uncompensated cprovided by hospitals, community-based providers and physicians from $1.3 billion to $655 million. This will fpatients and medical care providers alike to focus on improving health, not just covering the gaping hole in bacare.http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/mar/30/guest-column-health-reforms-benefits-already-on/ (SUB)

Editorial: Officials must be ready to act on health care ruling (News-Sentinel)The U.S. Supreme Court heard six hours of oral arguments this week on the Patient Protection and AffordabCare Act, President Barack Obam a's signature legislative success to date. The justices have several optionsthey ponder the fate of the controversial health care law. A decision likely will be issued in June. Like virtuallyAmericans, Tennesseans have a keen interest in the outcome. If the law is upheld, Tennesseans without heainsurance now will have to obtain policies or pay a penalty beginning in 2014. The state will have to set exchanges where people can shop for policies. Medicaid will expand, at an estimated cost of $1.5 trillion. If law is struck down in its entirety, it will affect Tennesseans who have received coverage under provisions of law that already are in force. According to the Tennessean, the 2-year-old law has given 1.8 million staresidents the right to free health screenings, more than 80,000 Medicare recipients have been helped wprescription drug costs and more than 51,000 young adults have been able to stay on their parents' health plahttp://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/mar/30/editorial-officials-must-be-ready-to-act -on-care/ 

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