MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011

DVDs teach students about dangers of meth (Jackson Sun) State officials recently kicked off a meth awareness campaign and have distributed an educational DVD to public middle and high schools across the state through an ongoing partnership between the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference and the Tennessee Department of Education, according to a news release. The initiative is an extension of the Meth Destroys campaign and follows a successful effort by the district attorneys earlier this year to pass legislation increasing penalties for producing meth in the presence of a child. The legislature also created a statewide electronic system for tracking the purchase of pseudoephedrine, meth's main ingredient, the release said…. "While meth production continues to evolve, our law enforcement community is changing with the problem,"Gov. Bill Haslam said in the release. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210309/DVDs-teach-students-about-dangers-meth

TN hopes charters' success can be converted to underperforming (CA/Roberts) Time is of such essence at Cornerstone Prep, one of two Memphis nonprofit organizations approved to turn city schools into charter schools, that first-grade teacher Ali Hill wears a stopwatch to count seconds in the most mundane times. "Let's see if you can turn these spelling tests in 20 seconds," says Hill, a 20-something drill sergeant in Oxford blouse and pencil skirt, punching down the stem on the stopwatch. Papers immediately begin flowing forward. "Wow, Prepsters, you did it in 15 seconds; 20 minus five is 15," Hill sings out, her quick thinking turning dead time into brain time in a cheery classroom at Christ United Methodist Church on Poplar near Oak Court Mall. In half a second, she's on to the next task, calling out commands and praises to a class moving at Zumba speed. With its results and the backing of a wealthy philanthropist, upstart Cornerstone Prep will go from 65 students to 150 next year, putting it in line for up to $1 million in federal funds for being a nonprofit willing to take over failing public schools in the Achievement School District. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/21/turnaround-strategy/

After trying to remove protesters, Haslam seeks middle ground (CP/Woods) In cities across the country, police are rousting Wall Street encampments. But Gov. Bill Haslam appears to have all but surrendered — at least for now — to Nashville’s version of the nationwide against corporate greed and wealth inequality. Last week, at the governor’s request, prosecutors dropped trespassing citations against 49 protesters who were arrested last month in Haslam’s failed attempt to clear Legislative Plaza. Also, the state agreed to an extension of federal Judge Aleta Trauger’s order barring new arrests. In legal parlance, the temporary restraining order became a preliminary injunction — the next step toward a trial of Occupy Nashville’s lawsuit alleging free-speech violations. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey wants to oust the protesters. (“I think they ought to be removed. I do,” he told reporters flatly.) State Republican Party chairman Chris Devaney castigates the occupiers as a gang of filthy slackers, and legislative aides and others who work at the plaza raise a seemingly never-ending litany of complaints of unsightly and unsanitary conditions. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/after-trying-remove-occupy-nashville-protesters-force-haslam- seeks-middle-ground

Lakeshore land subject of state, city negotiations (Knoxville News- Sentinel/Balloch) Over the years, the city of Knoxville has acquired, mostly by gift, trade or lease, ownership or control of about 112 acres — more than half — of the land that Lakeshore Mental Health Institute has called home since its beginning more than a century ago. The future of the remaining state-owned portion and the city's chances of being given any of it are unclear, following last week's announcement that the Tennessee Department of Mental Health plans to close Lakeshore. It is not the first time that the very land on which Lakeshore sits has been under a cloud of uncertainty or controversy. In 1874, the state chose the site over 40 others as location for a future "hospital for the insane" and paid $19,500 for it. At the time, the state's only mental-health facility was a hospital in Nashville. State officials wanted one each in East Tennessee and West Tennessee. The Nashville Banner described the site chosen for the East Tennessee facility as "one of the loveliest, most romantic (and) grandest spots to be found anywhere."http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/21/lakeshore-land-subject-of-state-city/

Mental health commissioner defends plan to close Lakeshore (Times-News) On page 10 of his recent budget presentation to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Doug Varney spelled out his intentions in big black letters: “Phase 2: System Transformation.” Varney, a former mental health services insider, is after major change moving toward his second year as the state’s mental health commissioner. He is recommending closing Knoxville-based Lakeshore Mental Health Institute in mid-2012 and redistributing its budget dollars to community mental health services providers, including Woodridge Hospital in Johnson City. Varney, former president and CEO of Gray-based Frontier Health, is defending the recommendation based on more than 30 years’ experience as a mental health professional. “This is a long-held belief of mine,” Varney began during a phone interview. “Research has proven this, that people really do better, even if they have to go through an inpatient stay, if they do it in a psychiatric hospital that is part of a community program as opposed to handcuffing them, putting them in the back of a police cruiser, and hauling them to Knoxville. ... We know we can care for these people in the community. We’ve proven we can do it. It’s time to shift the resources.” http://www.timesnews.net/article/9038569/mental-health-commissioner-defends-plan-to-close-lakeshore

TennCare fears loss of federal fees (Tennessean/Wilemon) The funding mechanism that rescued TennCare is in the deficit reduction crosshairs, creating a billion-dollar worry for Tennessee hospitals that could turn into real health-care woes for the state’s poorest residents. “I just can’t imagine that the state of Tennessee or the federal government would want to see the health-care safety net eviscerated,” said Dr. Jeff Balser, the dean of the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the patients it serves are particularly vulnerable as the 12-member congressional supercommittee considers lowering the cap for matching Medicaid provider fees. Vanderbilt serves more TennCare patients than any other hospital in the state. They comprise 22 percent of Vanderbilt’s patient mix. The percentage is even higher for many rural hospitals. Tennessee hospitals came up with the idea of using provider fees to keep the state from losing federal matching money when the legislature slashed TennCare’s budget. Hospitals replaced the state money last year and this year by agreeing to pay an “enhanced coverage fee.” That fee will generate about $450 million and leverage just over $707 million in federal funding — adding up to more than $1 billion for TennCare. But now Congress may decrease or stop its matching money for the provider fees. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS07/311210031/TennCare-fears-loss-federal-fees? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

TEMA funds slow to arrive (Associated Press) The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency knows about a state audit that shows public disaster recovery money is getting paid slowly but a spokesman said there are three public assistance employees and the agency is working as fast as it can. The performance audit by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office said TEMA takes an average of three months, sometimes longer, to repay local costs for cleanup and repair of public property after a disaster. “Delaying passing through of funds to county and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations can delay cleanup and recovery work, which can elevate costs and increase problems,” the audit said. A hardship TEMA spokesman Jeremy Heidt told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the agency knows there’s a hardship on local communities. With a budget of $12.4 million this year, TEMA works under the state’s Military Department to coordinate disaster readiness and response. It distributes grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others to aid disaster response and prevention. Heidt said, “some of that is out of our control,” referring to the audit’s criticism of delay in the office of contracts review and the Department of Military. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS21/311210036/TEMA-funds-slow-arrive?odyssey=tab| topnews|text|News

TBI ‘Pretty Close’ To Wrapping Up Probe Into Shipley, Ford (TN Report) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is almost finished with its investigation into two state representatives accused of misconduct in a case involving three disciplined nurses, according to a spokeswoman for the law enforcement agency. Once the investigation is completed, it will be turned over to District Attorney Torry

2 Johnson, who earlier this year requested the TBI look into the dealings of Reps. Tony Shipley and Dale Ford and the Department of Health. “We’re pretty close to finishing up and giving the entire case file to him to review,” TBI spokeswoman Kristin Helm told TNReport this week. She said the investigation is open. Johnson asked the TBI to investigate whether the two East Tennessee lawmakers used political influence to improperly pressure the board into reinstating the licenses of three nurse practitioners. The nurse practitioners had been accused of over- prescribing medications contributing to the death of patients at the now-defunct Appalachian Medical Center in Johnson City. The investigation into the three nurses is still open, and District Attorney Tony Clark is still reviewing the case, according to the TBI. The nurses have not been charged. http://www.tnreport.com/2011/11/tbi-%E2%80%98pretty-close%E2%80%99-to-wrapping-up-probe-into-shipley- ford/

Elvis corridor could get makeover (Associated Press) Officials in Memphis want to make Elvis Presley Boulevard more attractive. The city has applied for a federal grant that would help fund $20 million worth of improvements along 1.6 miles of the street, The Commercial Appeal reported (http://bit.ly/t0MjiY). Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Transportation plans to spend $27 million on similar improvement for an adjoining 1.3 miles of the roadway. A city report says the road "has lost all visual and contextual cohesion" and "aesthetic quality." In other words, it's ugly. The report outlines planned improvements that would make the road look better as well as offer better accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists. The plan also highlights the street's importance to the city as a commercial, tourist and residential artery. Some 17 million visitors to Graceland have traveled the boulevard over the last 29 years, and it serves as a gateway to the Whitehaven community. The Elvis Presley Boulevard Revitalization Plan says the road has long stretches where it is lined with fast-food restaurants, title-loan businesses, low-end motels, shuttered businesses, vacant parking lots and utility poles resulting in a "disconcerting visual clutter" that diminishes safety and economic vitality. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37982539.story

Savannah airport expanding with 2 new hangars (Associated Press) The Savannah-Hardin County Airport is expanding with two new hangars and other improvements. According to a news release from USDA Rural Development, this now means Hardin County has the facilities and personnel to provide emergency medical transportation to regional medical and trauma centers. The improvements were funded through a USDA grant of $40,000, plus $50,000 from the airport and $450,000 from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=tennessean&sParam=37988411.story

MTSU prepares for possible cuts (Daily News Journal) Potential tuition increase could offset loss in state funding MTSU is making preliminary plans for a 5 percent budget reduction in state funding with Tennessee leaders calling for overall cutbacks, President Sidney McPhee said. Tennessee Higher Education Commission officials told the governor's office last week that $55 million in higher education cuts are under consideration. But at the same time, THEC voted to request a $28 million increase in state appropriations that could be coupled with tuition increases ranging from 3 to 6 percent — on top of nearly 85 percent in tuition increases over the last decade. "We're told not to make any final plans," McPhee said. "Frankly, there are a lot of factors." The state of the economy as well as pending action by a congressional committee charged with cutting federal spending will affect the state's budget and what happens at MTSU, McPhee said. The state of the economy as well as pending action by a congressional committee charged with cutting federal spending will affect the state's budget and what happens at MTSU, McPhee said. "It's too early to talk about impact on personnel," McPhee said. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210315/MTSU-prepares-possible-cuts?odyssey=tab|topnews| text|FRONTPAGE

College buys .xxx websites (Columbia Daily Herald) A local community college has purchased several new Internet addresses geared toward pornographic websites. But don’t expect to find adult content at columbiastate.xxx. It’s a strategic move made to defend the college’s academic reputation, said Emily Siciensky, associate vice president of information technology for Columbia State Community College. “I think you could safely say a .xxx domain would have that intention - to promote information out there that would be offensive to the public,” Siciensky said. CSCC spent about $1,000 in acquiring eight domain names to thwart others from using them, Siciensky said. Among those, the college

3 bought four .xxx domains - columbiastate.xxx, coscc.xxx, chargernet.xxx and chargers.xxx. “‘Chargers’ because that’s our mascot, and ‘chargernet’ because that’s the portal we use to communicate with students,” Siciensky said. The college has joined others, such as Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, in claiming .xxx domain names that could be associated with the institutions. Although the general public cannot purchase the risque domains until Dec. 6, colleges and other official organizations were given a sunrise period. http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2011/11/20/top_stories/01xxx.txt Massey sworn in as a state senator (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Alund) With family behind her and constituents before her, Becky Duncan Massey took the oath of office as a state senator Sunday. Massey's uncle, retired Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joe D. Duncan, swore her in before a crowd of some 100 people inside the auditorium of Central High School on Jacksboro Pike in Knoxville. Immediately after the formality, she kissed her uncle on the cheek. "I really just want to thank each of you for coming out today and the exceptional privilege. My job now is to do the best job representing you." Massey, 56, told the crowd which included her family, a slew of city and government officials and past and present lawmakers. Also in the crowd: Knoxville Mayor-elect Madeline Rogero, former Mayor Victor Ashe, Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones and Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch. "There's always more to do," Massey said. "But what matters is how we tackle these problems." The Senate swearing-in often takes place in Nashville, but the celebration took place in her hometown at Massey's request. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/20/massey-sworn-in-as-a-state-senator/

Democrat says lawmaker's Muslim remarks play to fears (Gannett) Republican lawmakers and local officials aren’t rebuking or criticizing GOP state Rep. Rick Womick for saying Muslims shouldn’t be allowed in the U.S. military, but Democrats have strong words for his controversial remarks. “He’s way over the top,” state Rep. Mike Turner, chairman of the Democratic Party Caucus in the Tennessee House of Representatives, said Friday. “That type of attitude is what’s wrong with America. We have too much hate and too much divisiveness. “They are playing to people’s fears,” Turner added. “It’s counterproductive to what America stands for, and Rick should be ashamed of himself.” Womick, R-Rockvale, made the remarks during a recent “Constitution or Shariah?” conference held at Cornerstone Church in the Madison community in northeast Nashville. His comments have made state, national and international news. Messages were left for Womick, but he could not be reached for comment. In a previous interview, Womick said he didn’t trust Muslims serving in the military and mentioned three cases in which violence occurred, including Maj. Nidal Hasan, who in November 2009 killed 13 soldiers and wounded 30 at Fort Hood, Texas. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/311210040/Democrat-says-lawmaker-s-Muslim-remarks- play-fears?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Sullivan County Commission plans to discuss redistricting (Times-News) The Sullivan County Commission is expected today to take up the issue of reapportionment of commission districts. The county, like others across Tennessee, is under a state mandate to complete a once-every-10-years reapportionment, based on the 2010 census, by January. Mayor Steve Godsey formed a committee several months ago to develop recommendations. That group initially indicated it would produce at least three options for consideration by the full commission. But by a narrow margin its members later voted to recommend only one plan — one that meets the equal representation requirement with a few relatively small adjustments to current district boundaries. That plan, which would leave 11 districts and 24 commissioners, is on the commission’s agenda today for a potential vote. For approval, a simple majority, or 13 commissioners, must vote yes.” Commissioner Michael Surgenor, talking to the Times-News on Friday, said he and Commissioner Ed Marsh will ask the commission to hold off on making a decision today — in order to consider another option that was developed by redistricting committee members and county planning staff. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9038571/sullivan-county-commission-plans-to-discuss-redistricting

Occupy Nashville protesters prepare for an indefinite stay on plaza (AP/Johnson) Wall Street protesters in Nashville say they’re preparing for an indefinite stay at the Legislative Plaza as the state comes up with new rules for the grounds surrounding the state Capitol. On Thursday, a federal judge signed an order for a preliminary injunction barring the state from enforcing a hastily drawn-up curfew policy that was used to briefly dislodge the encampment across the street from the Capitol. The injunction does not prohibit the state from drawing up new rules, and Gov. Bill Haslam has said his administration intends to do so. Protesters had been camping at the Legislative Plaza for about three weeks when the curfew was announced Oct. 27. There were 55 arrests on the next two days. Early last week, a Nashville judge dropped charges against the protesters

4 and ordered their records expunged. They now plan to occupy the plaza for a while. “We are in winterization planning mode right now,” said Occupy Nashville protester Eva Watler. “We’re not going anywhere.” http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/311210045/Occupy-Nashville-protesters-prepare-an- indefinite-stay-plaza?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Knoxville's takes a different approach (Knoxville News-Sentinel/Flory) On a recent Friday afternoon, a brown-haired toddler was wobbling around Market Square with her father in tow. Matt Cummings was downtown for the Nov. 11 Occupy Knoxville protest and said his participation was motivated by "the common struggle against the political and social corruption within the country, and being a voice against that through unity." But when it comes to the Knoxville movement specifically, Cummings' daughter, Jasmine, may have summed it up best. While her white Che Guevara T-shirt was an implicit challenge to the status quo, her small stature and tentative steps made for a decidedly non-threatening persona. The same could be said of Occupy Knoxville. While Nashville's Occupy encampment sparked a legal confrontation with the administration of Gov. Bill Haslam and members of were recently forced out of a Manhattan park by police, Knoxville sympathizers have declined to camp out in public places and have cooperated with law enforcement. Why the differing approaches? Rose Hawley, a South Knoxville resident who has been active in the local movement, said Knoxville isn't New York or Nashville. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/20/knoxvilles-occupation-takes-a-different-approach/

Motorists face an 'avalanche' of higher tolls (Stateline) Tolls along the Eastern seaboard are going up so much, says Darrin Roth, that in four years, a semitrailer making the four-hour trip from Baltimore to New York City could pay as much as $209.25. The price of tolls, in other words, will be more expensive than paying for the driver and fuel. “The Northeast has become a very unfriendly place for business,” says Roth, the director of highway operations with the American Trucking Associations, “and these higher toll rates make things worse.” Toll rates are climbing on highways, bridges and tunnels across the country. But the Northeast, with its dense concentration of high-priced toll roads, is especially affected. Tolls went up this year in Maryland, Pennsylvania and on the bridges and tunnels connecting New York and New Jersey. And officials are looking at hikes in Maine and upstate New York soon. “Times are tough right now,” says Chris Plaushin, director of federal relations for AAA, the club for automobile drivers. “States are looking at any ways they can find revenue, particularly for transportation.” http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=614691

Medical cost-cutting also can improve care (USA Today) Efforts to rein in health care costs are putting pressure on doctors to abandon outmoded or unnecessary practices and choose less expensive treatments, actions cost-control advocates say also can improve care. Health care systems, insurers and government agencies are using sophisticated data to identify doctors and hospitals operating outside medical norms. The goal: to wean doctors off procedures that don't necessarily benefit patients. The result is a narrowing of doctors' treatment choices, but advocates say that's a necessary step. "The old thinking that each clinician gets to determine his or her own standards is really one we have to rethink," says Carmela Coyle, president of the Maryland Hospital Association. The aim "is to avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful care when and where we can," she says. In one case, gynecologists in Sacramento are being trained to perform less-invasive hysterectomies or risk losing their patients to doctors who know how. http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/healthcare/story/2011-11-20/Medical-cost-cutting-also-can-improve- care/51325926/1

Cutting Hours Instead of Jobs (Wall Street Journal) Facing potential layoffs, Pilgrim Screw Corp. in September directed 11 of its 65 employees to cut their workweeks by one day. The move meant nobody at the small manufacturer lost jobs, while those with fewer hours now get a check from Rhode Island representing one-fifth of what they would make under full-fledged unemployment insurance. It's a pay cut for those workers, to be sure, but they prefer that to the alternative: joblessness. "You take some hits, but it's not as bad as if you were laid off," said Pilgrim Screw Chief Executive Geoffrey Grove. Rhode Island is among the 22 states and the District of Columbia that offer some form of "work sharing," programs in which employees work fewer hours and receive partial unemployment insurance to lessen the blow to their incomes. Many states have had such programs for decades, usually implemented in the wake of recessions. But they seldom had been used until the current tough job market. Five states have enacted 5 programs since 2009, and President Barack Obama has included a national work-sharing plan as part of his jobs package, now before Congress, as a way to address the nation's 9% unemployment rate. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204517204577046371607150502.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Plaques proclaim schools' test success (Daily News Journal) Schools with highest student growth scores recognized Rutherford County Schools began a new tradition last week of honoring schools that have the highest schoolwide student growth scores during spring testing. The state Department of Education adopted a more rigorous annual Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program, which tests students in grades 3-8 each spring, for the 2009-10 school year. Though the initial scores were lower than originally anticipated, individual schools are still making impressive gains in student learning. As test results began coming, Director of Schools Harry Gill Jr. said he and Don Odom, assistant superintendent of instruction, and Kevin Whittington, the district's assessment and data research coach, wanted a way to honor schools that made strides in making sure students were learning what was expected of them each year. They opted for formally recognizing principals of the top value-added schools with a plaque acknowledging them as such, based on the composite scores of teachers who participate in the TCAP or end-of-course testing for high schools. The composite score is a combined average of improvement in each area measured. For grades 3-8, that includes math, science, social studies and reading/language arts. "These aren't numbers we came up with, this is what the state sent us," Odom said.http://www.dnj.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210313/Plaques- proclaim-schools-test-success

Novel idea unleashes surge in Limitless Libraries usage (Tennessean/DeVille) Before the school day begins, Brandon Munoz is already in the library. The Goodlettsville Middle School sixth- grader is averaging about 20 books a week. His favorites are graphic novels such as the Bone series, or popular fiction titles such as Diary of the Wimpy Kid or Darth Paper Strikes Back. Just last school year, he mostly visited the library out of obligation, but an agreement between the school district and Nashville Public Library — called Limitless Libraries — is making things a little more interesting. Metro middle and high schoolers can use their home or school computers to check out books, DVDs and CDs from the Nashville Public Library and have them delivered to their schools. Library officials in New York City, Boston and St. Paul, Minn., have called Metro in recent months, interested in implementing similar initiatives. The program also includes updating school libraries. In the past few months, 31,730 titles have been removed from middle and high schools — some with copyrights dating back to the 1970s, including science books with Pluto included as a planet. New books include Advanced Placement prep volumes and popular fiction titles such as The Hunger Games and the Twilight saga. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless- Libraries-usage?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Knox County Schools looking at community's use of facilities (N-S/McCoy) Within an hour after services at Overflow Church, chairs had been folded, the sound system disconnected and the curtains pulled down — the space slowly turning back into the gymnasium at Dogwood Elementary. Since August, the congregation has been renting the gymnasium space at the school to hold its services on Sunday mornings. "We are so fortunate and blessed when we need a place to gather, that's how Dogwood Elementary has fit in so great," said Josh Duncan, the church's lead pastor. "It's been a great opportunity for us to come together as believers on Sunday and not have to worry about a lot of the expenses of having a building, so we really go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus." Duncan is among many watching the outcome of the Knox County Schools' review of its procedures, policies and fee schedule for how the community uses its facilities after hours and on the weekends. The system initially began the review after cutting 8 percent of its central administration staff and also is now using it to help address a more than $7 million deficit in next year's budget. In October, Knox County Superintendent Jim McIntyre asked the school board to begin an early look at next year's budget. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/21/knox-county-schools-looking-at-communitys-use-of/

Lawsuit could be key as possible battle over buildings looms (CA/Garlington) Local school officials announced that a neighborhood school would move further south. Fearing the loss, outraged parents and community leaders decided to take control of their beloved school system. The dispute grew as school officials insisted the school building belonged to them and sued the town for control. Two years

6 later, the Tennessee Supreme Court justices sided with the parents: They could take control of their school. That was Sept. 3, 1898. The 113-year-old lawsuit could come into play again if suburban cities form their own special school districts and seek to take over the schools within their borders. In the 1898 case, the players were what was loosely the Shelby County school district and what became the town of Lennox. (The extra "n" was later dropped to just Lenox.) Residents incorporated their one-square-mile town to stop the school directors of the Eighteenth Civil District from moving a wood-frame school house to the Buntyn area and away from the general area where the existing Lenox School Condos are now located just off Union Avenue in Midtown. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/21/old-court-case-may-play-school-role/

Seven arrested in pair of Stewart County anti-meth operations (Leaf Chronicle) Seven people were arrested in two methamphetamine busts in Stewart County. Three men and two women were arrested at 9:40 p.m. Friday at 329 Bazzie Dock Rd. outside Dover. "It was an extremely dangerous lab," said Agent Jamie Crow of the 23rd Judicial District Task Force. "We didn't' know the pressure in the bottle, so we had to ice it down and then take it out in a heavy metal bucket." Crow described the lab as of the portable "shake and bake" variety, and said it was inside a trailer. Each of those arrested was charged with four counts of reckless endangerment, the promotion and initiation of the manufacturing of meth, and manufacturing/delivery/selling of a controlled substance. Zachary Miller, 21, who gave a Bumpus Mills address, also was charged with violation of probation. Bond was set at $110,000. Matthew Maus, 28, who gave an Indian Mound address, was held on a $130,000 bond. Craig Floyd, 31, and Christina Floyd, 26, who gave the same Big Rock address, were held on a $100,000 bond. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/111210306/Seven-arrested-pair-Stewart-County- anti-meth-operations?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Georgia: High schools seek ads to fill budget holes (Associated Press) High schools have displayed advertisements on football fields for years, but one metro Atlanta school district hopes to slap the logos of major national companies on cafeteria trays, auditorium seat backs and salad bar sneeze guards to bring in money. The proposal before the Douglas County school board would mean the district’s 37 schools could sell ad space pretty much anywhere in the building that’s not a classroom. That could include napkins in the cafeteria, hallway floors, on instruments in the marching band and on the school’s website. “We’ve got to look for alternative funding,” said school board member Mike Miller. “If done right, this could be a win-win for the system, for our children and for business.” It isn’t the first time a Georgia district tried selling ad space to make money, but it’s part of a growing trend of schools across the country turning to corporate partnerships to make up for dwindling tax dollars. In Georgia, Cobb County sells space on the signs outside high schools and on school websites. The Atlanta school board just voted to allow advertising space on athletic fields. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/nov/21/high-schools-seek-ads-fill-budget-holes/?local

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7 OPINION

Free-Press Editorial: Tennessee's voter ID measures sensible (Times Free-Press) With Tennessee lawmakers sensibly having approved a bill to head off voter fraud by requiring photo ID at polling places, the state is also taking steps to reduce the possibility that a legitimate voter will be unable to cast a ballot. Recently, for example, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security began opening nearly 20 driver service centers across the state one Saturday a month to smooth the path further for voters who need a state-issued photo ID. The centers will be open the first Saturday of each month through March 2012. People who need photo ID to vote will be able to obtain it for free at the facilities. In addition, the department plans to convert driver's licenses that do not have photos into photo driver's licenses that can be used for voting. Participating in this effort are two centers in Hamilton County: one on Dayton Boulevard in Red Bank and the other on Bonny Oaks Drive. A center in Bradley County will be open as well. There are also other safeguards built into the law to protect legitimate voters. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/nov/21/tennessee-voter-id-measures-sensible/?opinionfreepress

Editorial: Term limits bring welcome change to local government (News-Sentinel) The city elections have been over for a couple of weeks. We are safe from out-of-area and local phone calls advocating for one candidate or another; the mail is less bulky without the political ads; television commercials have returned to the usual products. And a new mayor and council members are preparing to take office, with the defeated perhaps waiting to fight another day. In addition to the four new members of the Knoxville City Council and the city's first female mayor, Madeline Rogero, the less visible winners were the economy and term limits. Notwithstanding another low voter turnout, the election helped the economy because of the spirited contest for mayor and council. Rogero and her opponent, Mark Padgett, spent more than a combined $1.1 million in the campaign, according to disclosures filed with he Knox County Election Commission. Not all of the spending was local. Both employed out-of-state consultants in their quest for office. Nevertheless, the spending reflected the stakes for such a high-profile position. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/nov/21/editorial-term-limits-bring-welcome-change-to/

Guest columnist: Womick's remarks demand he resign (Daily News Journal) I have lived almost all of my 57 years in Murfreesboro. My mother's family goes back five generations in Rutherford County. I attended Campus School, Central High School, MTSU and am a Vanderbilt University Law School-educated attorney engaged in private practice in Murfreesboro. I am the father of a current MTSU student. I write all of that so you will have some idea of the degree to which I, and my family, are invested in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. Republican State House member Rick Womick's anti-Muslim comments at the anti-Shariah conference in Nashville on Nov. 13 are appallingly anti-American. His remarks cast denigrating aspersions on the thousands of Muslims, since the Revolution, who have died in the service of this great country, as well as those who serve this very day. Arlington National Cemetery has many graves of those noble and honorable ... and MUSLIM ... men and women who have died fighting for the freedoms we all, including Mr. Womick, enjoy in this land. Mr. Womick's vicious and theologically unsupportable remarks calling for the elimination of Muslims from our armed forces are disrespectful and an affront to us all. He should be ashamed of himself. http://www.dnj.com/article/20111121/OPINION02/111210305/GUEST-COLUMN-Womick-s-remarks-demand-he- resign 8 Editorial: The airport situation (Commercial Appeal) Memphis International Airport and Greater Memphis benefit from having Delta Air Lines as the airport's major passenger carrier. That's a fact, despite the higher airfares and the steady reduction of flights and destinations from here. But it's still good to see Airport Authority leaders begin to deliver a more practical message about how the high fares and reductions are affecting Memphis and its residents. The high cost of fuel and the relatively small number of passengers that originate from Greater Memphis are cited among the reasons for the higher fares. Delta can't do anything about the price of fuel, but the high ticket prices are driving potential local customers to airports in Little Rock and Nashville. So it is good to know that airport officials are aggressively pursuing Southwest/AirTran to add more fights here. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/nov/21/the-airport-situation/

Guest columnist: Companies must protect children online (Tennessean) The Internet provides access to vast amounts of knowledge and information. New technology terms are part of everyday vernacular: apps, blogs and “cookies.” However, too few of us realize how much of our personal information is collected and sold through these platforms. To ensure that this robust global economy continues to thrive, it is time for online entities to adopt time-tested practices regarding personal information, including truthful privacy policies, improved transparency and real consumer choice regarding how our information is utilized. Most importantly, this ecosystem must recognize that children’s online data should be afforded greater protections. Consider some of our very personal information that is being collected and sold: content or advertisements viewed, websites visited, medical searches and now even our specific location through mobile devices. Certainly, GPS (geo-location technology) can help law enforcement locate abducted children. However, businesses are also utilizing GPS to generate an advertisement, all through our cell phone. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/OPINION03/311210006/Companies-must-protect-children-online? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Editorial: Fixing Medicare (New York Times) There is no way to wrestle down the deficit without reining in Medicare costs. Ensuring that the program provides quality health care coverage to millions of older and disabled Americans is essential. These goals are not incompatible, but they require a judicious approach to policy making that is depressingly absent in Washington. Medicare is nothing less than a lifeline for 49 million older and disabled Americans. It helps pay for care in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, doctors’ offices, hospices and at home, as well as for prescription drugs. It is also hugely costly. The federal government spent about $477 billion in net Medicare outlays in fiscal year 2011 — 13 percent of its total spending. By 2021, it is projected to spend $864 billion — or 16 percent of the total — according to figures derived by the Kaiser Family Foundation. That rate of growth is not sustainable indefinitely. Unfortunately, many politicians seem less interested in coming up with ways to fix Medicare than in how they might impose their ideology on the program or leverage the issue for their next political campaign. Members of both parties need to define more clearly for the public what Medicare’s true problems are and how they propose to address them. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/opinion/fixing-medicare.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Guest columnist: Are Tent Cities Free Speech? (Wall Street Journal) The First Amendment does not protect behavior that threatens health and safety. Last week, the New York City Police Department's First Precinct issued the latest crime statistics. Typical offenses in the financial district and Tribeca usually are limited to minor matters such as hawking fake Rolexes and operating unlicensed food carts. This time there was a big increase in violent crimes. "Almost all of these crimes were in and around ," commanding officer Edward Winski reported, adding wryly: "Many of these were assaults against police officers." From Oakland, Calif., to Portland, Ore., to New York, the Occupy Wall Street movement has worn out the patience of even the most liberal cities. The protesters were shocked when politicians stopped excusing their unlawful behavior by referring to their First Amendment rights and instead forcibly removed their tent cities as threats to health and safety. The protesters never-ending endgame is a reminder that under the First Amendment, speech may be subject to time, place and manner restrictions that do not include the concept of "occupation." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203699404577046591489468470.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0

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