FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012 Gov.

Bill Haslam Press/Trevizo)

Gov. Bill Haslam says he is setting off on a mission to re-examine higher education. On Thursday, in front of the University of Tennessee system's board of trustee, Haslam said he'll launch the initiative July 10 and the statewide effort will include understanding the cost structure of the higher-ed system, how much a student pays, how much the state pays and what is the real cost of educating that student. There also will be a statewide "tour" in which an appointed committee will meet with employers to determine how to better prepare students for the workforce. Haslam said he'll launch the mission during a meeting at the governor's residence with board members from the UT and Tennessee Board of Regents systems, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and legislative leaders. On Wednesday, Senate and House Democrats called on Haslam, a Republican, to call a special legislative session and use state surpluses to offset college tuition hikes. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/bill-haslam-governor-eyes-reform-for-higher-ed/?local

eyes reform

for higher ed (Chattanooga Times Free-

UT trustees approve tuition hike; Haslam wants to address costs (NS/Boehnke)

Gov. Bill Haslam told University of Tennessee trustees Thursday he wants to spend the coming months examining the cost of college and ways the state could help make it more affordable. "This is a critical time around higher education. I think we all know the status quo will not hold," Haslam said during his remarks to the board. "The old model of higher education, I think everyone is saying from academic circles to business circles across the country that it won't look the same 10 years from now." His comments at the annual board of trustees meeting were followed with a unanimous approval of an 8 percent tuition increase in Knoxville and a plan to require full-time students to pay for an additional three credit hours each semester. The new tuition model, which would go into effect in fall 2013, requires all new full-time students to pay for 15 credit hours instead of the current 12 hours. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/21/ut-trustees-approve-8-tuition-hike-haslam-wants/

Haslam says there's no need for special session on tuition (AP/Johnson)

Gov. Bill Haslam said Thursday he doesnt believe Democratic lawmakers request for a special session to discuss using surplus state revenues to halt tuition increases is wise planning for the state. The legislators told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that lawmakers would like a session to be held in August, possibly before students return to school. They also want to uses the state surplus to drop the sales tax on groceries below 5.25 percent. Haslam included funding in his budget to reduce the sales tax from 5.5 percent. But the governor told The Associated Press before a meeting of the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees on Thursday that there are many other issues to be addressed, such as dealing with uncertain costs associated with federal health care, which he said could be more than $200 million. Im not sure I see the wisdom in having a knee-jerk special session right now when there a so many things on the board for us to consider when it comes to the budget, said Haslam, who also serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees. I dont think that would be wise planning for the state. http://www.tennessean.com/viewart/20120622/NEWS21/306220071/Haslam-says-there-s-no-need-specialsession-tuition?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News (SUBSCRIPTION)

UT board OKs tuition hikes up to 8 percent (Associated Press)

Trustee says goal is no increase in 2013 The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees approved tuition hikes that range from 8 percent at the Knoxville campus to 3.5 percent at the university's College of Law. Trustee Doug

Horne said he'd like to see a year when there's no increase. "We have goals," he said. "Let's have a goal of not having a tuition increase next year." The board also approved a five-year strategic plan for the university, as well as a new tuition model that would be implemented in the fall of 2013. Goals of the plan include increasing "the number, quality and diversity of students graduating from the UT system and ... engage members of the UT system community in outreach, engagement and service to improve communities and the quality of life of residents in Tennessee, with emphasis on economic development," according to a summary of the plan. Under the tuition model, students would have "the expectation of tuition increases of 3 percent for the next three years. After four years, they pay the prevailing rate," according to UT officials. Duncan Yeaman is a senior at the University of Tennessee majoring in horticultural science. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/22/ut-board-oks-tuition-hikes-up-to-8-percent/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

UT Board Votes to Raise Tuition (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

Tuition at every University of Tennessee campus will cost more this fall. The Board of Trustees voted today to raise fees and tuition by eight percent at UT Knoxville and six percent at Martin and Chattanooga. The UT systems smaller programs and campuses will see increases as low as four percent or as high as ten. While all the trustees seemed to be resigned to the idea that this years tuition hike was inevitable, there was some discussion of setting a goal to hold it in place next fall. James Murphy was one of several who said even that isnt feasible unless UT gets more money from the state budget. Tution is not going up because its becoming more expensive to educate students. Tuition is going up because weve shifted the cost off of the taxpayer and onto the student, and thats whats happening. Democratic legislators are calling for a special session to consider giving money from surplus tax collections to state universities. Governor Bill Haslam has said that would not be wise planning for the state. http://wpln.org/?p=38485

UT to raise tuition in the fall (Daily Beacon)

A six to eight percent tuition raise was approved for all University of Tennessee campuses at the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday. Gov. Bill Haslam, chair of the board, said that while over a 30 year period the contributions from the state to the University have diminished, putting more pressure on students and parents, he is concerned that the University and state not add to the burden. "I hope you find this to be an exciting and challenging time," Haslam said. "This is a critical time around higher education. The status quo will not hold. ... It won't look the same 10 years from now. I personally think if you're somebody who really believes in improvement and the kind of growth that forced change can cause this as a great time to Haslam addressed the board, saying that the decision is part of an effort to increase graduation rates in the state. http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2012/jun/22/ut-raise-tuition-fall/

Jackson Square upgrade grant announcement today (News-Sentinel/Fowler)

The city's first town center is expected to get a sweeping facelift courtesy of a state grant and a city match, and the governor is scheduled to officially announce it this morning. Gov. Bill Haslam and lawmakers will be in Jackson Square for the "special announcement concerning a major enhancement project," according to a media advisory from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Oak Ridge City Council last October approved a resolution seeking such a TDOT grant to support the revitalization of Jackson Square, which was the commercial hub of this formerly secret city when it was involved in building the world's first atomic bomb. Sought from the state was $1 million, to be matched with $200,000 from the city. A spokesman for the Transportation Department on Thursday wouldn't comment about the governor's announcement or the amount of the grant. "We're excited about it," Oak Ridge City Manager Mark S. W atson said Thursday. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/jackson-square-upgrade-grant-announcement-today/

Future bright for Montgomery Co.s future veterans' nursing home (TFP/Higgins)
Good news for Montgomery County's future veterans' nursing home also is good news for Bradley County, veterans officials said Thursday. In a letter to Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland, Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder said the recent state legislative session in Nashville was good news for Bradley County's future veterans' nursing home. Gov. Bill Haslam's $31 billion state budget was approved with $23 million in state funding for the proposed home here. The funding remains allocated through 2015. State funding is in place now for the Montgomery County/Clarksville facility, according to the letter. A 2

designer has been approved by the State Buildings Commission. The plan should be finished by fall, the letter states. After the site gets final state approval from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs "we can start the bidding process and find a general contractor," Grinder said. On May 30 the state applied for conditional grant approval from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Grinder said. "One of the challenges we face with projects like these are the differing timelines of federal and state government," Grinder said in the letter. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/chattanooga-veterans-home-future-bright/?local

UTC

nearer

to

having

an

occupational

therapy

program

(Times

Free-

Press/Trevizo)
UTC is closer to becoming the fifth university nationwide and the only public school in Tennessee to offer a doctorate in occupational therapy. The University of Tennessee board of trustees approved the program Thursday during its annual June meeting. The proposal now goes to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to be reviewed in a July 26 meeting. "It's very important for us to bring the clinical doctorate and add it to the doctorate in physical therapy. It creates a very nice synergy on our campus," said Mary Tanner, dean of the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies at UTC. If approved by the state commission, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga would enroll its first group of 24 students in the doctoral program in the fall of 2013. The start-up cost of the program, which includes funds for equipment and staff, is projected to be about $525,000 for the first year, but school officials said that, by the third year, it would be self-supporting with revenues from tuition and fees. Tuition and fees for graduate students is $8,350 per year, up from $7,792 last year. The board recently approved a 6 percent tuition increase for next year. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/chattanooga-occupational-therapy-doctorate-nearer/?local

TSU professor sues Tennessee Board of Regents (Tennessean/Wilson)

State board accused of secretly meeting to ruin university A professor at Tennessee State University, his wife and three other people have sued the Tennessee Board of Regents, claiming it systematically set out to destroy the historically black university and hinting that its motivations were racial. The lawsuit was filed by five members of a group called the Save TSU Community Coalition, which has routinely opposed decisions made by current university leadership, now headed by TSU interim President Portia Shields. They accused the board of not allowing them to watch or be heard by the board about the elimination of six majors from the schools program in 2011. The suit claims the university is in disarray under university and TBR leadership and says the plaintiffs cant challenge what has happened because major decisions were made behind closed doors in meetings not publicly announced. One of the plaintiffs, Ray Richardson, is a longtime math professor at the school who was a vocal opponent of Shields predecessor. He said the universitys and Board of Regents decision to eliminate six majors from TSUs program was made under the cover of darkness with no input from faculty or the campus community. The issue was taken off the boards agenda of a June 11, 2011, meeting, Richardson said, after opponents of the policy came to hear the boards decision on it. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120622/NEWS04/306220044/TSU-professor-sues-Tennessee-BoardRegents?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Memphis MSAs unemployment rate up to 8.8% in May (Memphis Biz Journal)

The Memphis metro area saw its unemployment rise in May to 8.8 percent, according to data released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and W orkforce Development . In April, the metro areas unemployment rate was 8.4 percent. Shelby Countys rate also was 8.8 percent in May, up from 8.3 percent in in April. The vast majority of Tennessees counties 87 of 95 recorded unemployment rate increases last month. Tennessees unemployment rate for May rose to 7.9 percent, up from the April revised rate of 7.7 percent. The national unemployment rate for May 2012 was 8.2 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the April rate. The state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted while the county unemployment rates are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools, and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/21/memphis-msas-unemployment-rate-up-to.html

Most Tennessee counties saw unemployment increase in May (N. Biz Journal)
3

Most Tennessee counties saw their unemployment rates increase in May, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and W orkforce Development. In a month in which the state's overall unemployment rate increased to 7.9 percent, up from 7.7 percent, 87 Tennessee counties saw their individual unemployment rates go up. Lincoln and Williamson counties now have the lowest unemployment rate in the state, at 5.4 percent. In Williamson County, unemployment is up from 5.3 percent in April. Scott County features the state's highest unemployment rate, at 15.9 percent, up from 15.4 percent in April. Davidson County's rate ticked up to 6.7 percent, up from 6.5 percent. Around the region, Maury County's rate increased to 9.3 percent, up from 9 percent; W ilson County's rate ticked up to 6.4 percent, up from 6.3 percent; Rutherford County's rate ticked up to 6.9 percent, up from 6.5 percent; Sumner County's rate ticked up to 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent; Robertson County's rate ticked up to 7 percent, up from 6.8 percent; and Cheatham County's rate moved to 7.2 percent, up from 7.1 percent. http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2012/06/21/most-tennessee-counties-saw.html

Weak job market stifles economy; Memphis jobless rate climbs (C. Appeal)
Gloomy report echoes pessimism of Fed The sluggish job market is weighing on the U.S. economy three years after the Great Recession ended. And the signs suggest hiring may not strengthen any time soon. A measure of the number of people applying for unemployment benefits over the past month has reached a six-month high, the government said Thursday. The increase suggests that layoffs are rising and June will be another tepid month for hiring. Sales of previously occupied homes fell in May. And manufacturing activity in the Philadelphia region contracted for the second straight month in June. The gloomy economic data echoed a more pessimistic outlook from the Federal Reserve issued Wednesday. The reports also contributed to a sharp decline in stock prices. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 251 points to close at 12,574, its second-biggest loss so far this year. The Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite both ended the day down more than 2 percent. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/22/weak-job-market-stifles-economy/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

Sinkhole opens in Bledsoe County close to U.S. 127 (Times Free-Press/Benton)

Repairs began Thursday on a sinkhole that opened up near U.S. Highway 127 north of Pikeville, Tenn., on Wednesday, officials said. The gaping hole exposed at least one water line, an apparent underground stream and could have threatened the roadway if it had grown, officials said. The repair work consists of filling in the bottom of the hole with large rocks, then "continue filling the hole with rock that will get progressively smaller until the sinkhole is completely filled and shored up," Tennessee Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Flynn said. The repairs might be completed in a day, she said. Flynn said the hole was discovered by a TDOT maintenance worker who reported the find to the district maintenance supervisor and state geotechnical officials in Nashville. Officials monitored the hole until crews started repairs, she said. "It's a very deep hole. It's approximately 30 feet deep," Bledsoe County Mayor Bobby Collier said on Thursday. The water at the bottom of the hole appears to be an underground stream, Collier said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/sinkhole-opens-in-bledsoe-county-close-to/?local

State opens bids on new Fort Loudoun Dam bridge (News-Sentinel/Jacobs)

Construction could get under way next month to build a new, four-lane bridge at the Fort Loudoun Dam and widen a part of U.S. Highway 321 leading to the new structure. State officials on June 15 opened two bids for the project that has a May 31, 2015, completion date. A bid of $69,361,720.70 was submitted by Charles Blalock and Sons, Inc, of Sevierville. C.J. Mahan Construction Company, LLC, of Grove City, Ohio, submitted a bid of $77,432,500.54. "TDOT will be making a decision about awarding the project within the 30 days following the letting," TDOT regional spokesman Mark Nagi said. "A general assumption is that construction work will start about six weeks after the letting (June 15, 2012)." Despite requests from public officials, TDOT has not included the intersection of U.S. Highway 321 and U.S. Highway 11 in the project. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/state-opens-bids-on-new-fort-loudoun-dam-bridge/

Boating enforcement stepping up this weekend (Associated Press)

State boating officers will saturate high traffic areas through Sunday as part of a national safety initiative. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is participating in Operation Dry Water, which is designed to reduce alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities. The focus will be on boating under the influence to give enforcement high visibility during the peak boating season. A TW RA news release said officers will be out in force night and day. Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher is illegal in Tennessee, the 4

same as operating a motor vehicle. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/boating-enforcement-steppingup-this-weekend/

Appeals court rules against Chattanooga's Passage lawsuit (TFP/Hightower)

A state appeals court has ruled that River City Co. and two associates will not have to pay Chattanooga for millions of dollars in repairs at the Passage on the downtown riverfront. Judge John McClarty's ruling supported the trial court's decision throwing out the case because it the statute of limitations had expired. "Chattanooga had constructive and actual knowledge of the construction defects and damage regarding the project," McClarty wrote. "The evidence supports the determination of the trial court." Hamilton County Circuit Court Judge Jacqueline Bolton dismissed the 2009 lawsuit early last year, saying it was filed past the three-year statute of limitations. Richard Beeland, spokesman for Mayor Ron Littlefield, said that the city is keeping its options open. "We're reviewing our actions at this point and we'll see if we want to appeal to the Tennessee Supreme Court," Beeland said. Kim White, president of River City Co., said she hoped the city would not appeal. "There's been a lot of time and money spent on this," she said. "We would hope that we could just move on." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/appeals-court-rules-against-citys-passage/?local

Judge

giving

DA

chance

to

argue

Christian/Newsom

recusal

motion

(NS/Satterfield)
In an abrupt about face, Senior Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood is giving prosecutors a second shot at arguing he should step down in the 2007 torture-slaying case of a young couple. Blackwood issued an order Thursday in Knox County Criminal Court in which he set an Oct. 8 hearing on the state's bid to force him to step down as judge over the trials of the defendants in the killings of Channon Christian, 21, and Christopher Newsom, 23. Blackwood last week said he would not step aside from his decision to grant new trials to the defendants in the case. However, he did not allow prosecutors to argue their recusal motion and now appears prepared to let them put their objections into the official record. Prosecutors contend Blackwood has prejudged his decision to grant new trials in the wake of allegations the judge who presided over the original trials Richard Baumgartner was himself a criminal, using defendants in his court to acquire prescription painkillers. Baumgartner resigned last year and is currently facing federal charges. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/judge-blackwood-giving-da-chance-to-argue-motion/

Shipley kicks off re-election bid (Times-News)

Tennessee state Rep. Tony Shipley kicked off his re-election bid for a third term in office Thursday night with testimonials from Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, other state lawmakers and local officials. Shipley, R-Kingsport, is again seeking the 2nd House District seat in the GOP primary and faces a challenge from former Kingsport Alderman Ben Mallicote. Neither Shipley, nor the elected officials endorsing him, publicly mentioned Mallicote at the downtown event held inside Korner-Copia. My opponent is certainly entitled to hold a rally, but the voters of the 2nd District are also entitled to hear the candidates engage in a substantive debate about the issues, Mallicote said in response to Shipleys event. Representative Shipley has ignored invitations to debate from the Chamber, Kiwanis, Rotary and WKPT, retreating instead into a small group of his supporters. Its a shame he no longer feels he needs to earn our citizens votes. Ramsey, R-Blountville, told the small crowd that he has known Shipley since both went to Sullivan Central High School. http://www.timesnews.net/article/9048261/shipley-kicks-off-re-election-bid

Major Anderson jail expansion within budget: officials (News-Sentinel/Fowler)

Bids on a project to expand the overcrowded Anderson County Jail and do a significant redesign of the existing lockup came in within the expected price range, Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski said. Rouse Construction Co. of Knoxville had the apparent low bid of $9,660,000. Six quotes were opened Thursday afternoon. County officials budgeted $10 million for the project. "This bid allows us to cover the cost of utility line relocation and parking lot improvements that were not part of the base bid," Iwanski said. The five other quotes were "in a very narrow range and very competitively priced," he said. The highest bid was $10,099,000. Four other Knoxville firms and a Brentwood, Tenn., construction company submitted bids. The project calls for the construction of a new 45,965-square-foot building that will provide space for 212 beds. The current jail has 226 beds and has been overcrowded for years. Chief Jailer Avery Johnson said there were 345 inmates in the lockup Thursday, including 88 women. There are 48 beds available in the women's area, he said. 5

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/major-anderson-jail-expansion-within-budget/

Roe introduces veterans legislation (Bristol Herald-Courier)

Rep. Phil Roe, along with Reps. Jeff Miller and Bill Johnson, is seeking to reform the Veterans Administration and protect veterans. They introduced the Veterans Fiduciary Reform Act of 2012 this week. The legislation institutes an appeal process for veterans who believe they are not being served properly by the VA. Too many veterans have been poorly treated under this program by the very people entrusted to protect them, Roe said. "It is clear that VA has lost control of the program, its employees and there is no accountability or leadership." Miller added: VA has ignored these problems for far too long and has allowed reckless behavior to pervade the system, and we have yet to see any meaningful reforms. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/jun/21/roe-introduces-veterans-legislation-ar-2004656/

Some Tennesseans to Receive Insurance Refunds (WPLN-Radio Nashville)

The federal government says Tennesseans are due more than 28 million dollars in refunds from their health insurers. Some will get checks, but most will see their refund in other ways. A provision in the federal healthcare law requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of the money they get in premiums on patient care. If they spend less than that, theyre supposed to issue refunds. If youre in an employee-based plan, that money goes to your company. They can decide to give all or part of it to you. Or the company could use it to lower your premium. But if you buy insurance on your own, you should be seeing a check from the insurance company. The states largest insurance company, BlueCross BlueShield, met the governments requirement employer-based plans. But, BlueCross will be issuing about eight million dollars in refunds to people who buy insurance directly. Theres no exact number of how many Tennesseans will get refunds, because there so many insurance companies and plans. However, the federal government says checks must be in the mail before the end of August. http://wpln.org/?p=38472

Feds Charge Texan for Bomb Threat to Murfreesboro Mosque (TN Report)
A Texas man has been indicted for threatening to bomb a planned Muslim community center in Murfreesboro. Law enforcement say Javier Alan Correa, 24, of Corpus Christi, called the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro on Sept. 5, 2011, and said there was a bomb in the building that would explode on the anniversary of Sept. 11. He has been charged with intentionally obstructing a free exercise of religion by threat of force and with using an instrument of interstate commerce to threaten to destroy a building with explosives, said Jerry Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Although Correa has not been taken into custody, the U.S. Attorneys office is in communication with his legal counsel to discuss surrender, Martin said. If convicted, Correa faces up to 20 years in prison. The mosques approval in 2010 sparked protests and a lawsuit, even as construction has moved forward at the site southeast of Murfreesboro. A judge earlier this month ruled that the public notice for a meeting to approve the construction plans was inadequate, which has put in limbo plans to have a first section of the building open in time for Ramadan at the end of July. http://tnreport.com/blog/2012/06/21/feds-charge-texan-for-bomb-threat-to-murfreesboro-mosque/

Federal grand jury indicts Texas man for threat on Murfreesboro mosque (C. Paper)
A federal grand jury in Nashville has indicted Javier Alan Correa, of Corpus Christi, Texas, on two felony counts for allegedly threatening to bomb the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro last fall in a profanity-laced cellphone call. Correa is charged with interfering with the religious freedom of members of the mosque by threatening to use force against them as well as threatening to use an explosive device to interfere. U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin announced the indictment at the mosque construction site Thursday. According to the indictment, a portion of the Sept. 5, 2011, phone message Correa left at the mosque read, go back to your [expletive] dirty [expletive] country, [expletive] Muslim fascists, get the [expletive] out of here On September 11, 2011, theres going to be a bomb in the building . Correa was not in custody Thursday afternoon. The government has issued a summons demanding he report to the U.S. courthouse in Nashville by 10 a.m. Saturday. The Islamic Center has been the target of heated debate, drawing both legal attempts to halt its construction as well as community support. http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/federal-grand-jury-indicts-texas-man-threat-murfreesboro6

mosque

Murfreesboro mosque threat leads to indictment of Texas man (Tennessean/Gang)

Call told of 9/11 bomb plot in Murfreesboro, feds say A federal grand jury Thursday indicted a 24-year-old Texas man on charges of making a bomb threat against the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro within days of the 10year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Javier Alan Correa of Corpus Christi is accused of violating the civil rights of Murfreesboro mosque members by obstructing their right to practice their religious beliefs. The indictment accuses him of leaving a profanity-laced phone message with the bomb threat last year, just six days before the Sept. 11 anniversary. Todays indictment should send a message loud and clear: The Department of Justice will not tolerate violence or threat of violence against the Muslim community here in Murfreesboro, U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin said at a news conference in front of the Islamic Center. If you engage in this type of illegal conduct, we will come after you, Martin said. The right to worship and assembly is a bedrock guarantee of this great nation. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120622/NEWS03/306220067/Murfreesboro-mosque-threat-leadsindictment-Texas-man?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

FBI, ATF: Texas man indicted in bomb threat of Islamic Center (DNJ)
Javier Alan Correa, 24, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday and charged with violating the civil rights of members of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, Department of Justice officials announced. Correa is charged in the Middle District of Tennessee with one count of intentionally obstructing by threat of force the free exercise of religious beliefs and one count of using an instrument of interstate commerce to communicate a threat to destroy a building by means of an explosive device. According the the indictment, Correa called the ICM Sept. 5, 2011, on a cell phone from Corpus Christi, Texas, and left a threatening, expletive-ridden voice message saying, among other things, On Sept. 11, 2011, theres going to be a bomb in the building. U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin issued a strong statement from the construction site of the new Islamic Center on Veals Road. The Department of Justice, the FBI and our law enforcement partners intend to protect the rights afforded under the Constitution to all individuals, including the most basic right to exercise freedom of religious beliefs. The controversy and criminal activity surrounding the construction of this particular place of worship has impeded the ability of people to exercise that most basic right, Martin said. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120621/NEW S01/120621005/FBI-ATF-Texas-man-indicted-bomb-threat-IslamicCenter-Murfreesboro-video-?nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Texas

Man

Indicted

For Threatening

Murfreesboro

Mosque

(WPLN-Radio

Nashville)
A Texas man has been indicted for calling in a bomb threat last year against a mosque in Murfreesboro. In announcing the indictment Thursday, the U.S. attorney for Middle Tennessee said he would not tolerate attacks on religious freedom. The two-count indictment charges Javier Alan Correa of Corpus Christi with phoning in the bomb threat, as well as trying to intimidate members of the mosque. U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin says thats a violation of the constitutional protection for religious freedom. And he brought up the mosques ongoing court fight, in which opponents are trying to stop its new facility from opening. He says the Justice Department is watching And will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the congregants of this mosque are afforded their first-amendment rights. W e will not sit idly by and allow the fundamental rights of these citizens to be violated. The 24-year-old Correa could face more than a decade in prison if convicted for the bomb threat. But his indictment hardly solves all the woes of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. Opponents are taking the mosque to court in hopes of forestalling permission to open its new facility this summer. http://wpln.org/?p=38495

Feds won't intervene in mosque's construction (Daily News Journal)

A local woman who supports a court ruling that declared a mosque approval void questioned federal authorities on whether theyd back the judges order. What about the mosque building without a permit? Millie Evans asked during a press conference Thursday when federal officials announced a grand jury indictment of Javier Alan Correa, a 24-year resident of Corpus Christi, Texas, who faces charges of making a bomb threat to the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro last September. Thats a question for the county attorney, U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin answered. Evans who provided testimony for the plaintiffs who sued the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission for approving the ICMs construction plans May 24, 2010, to build a 52,960-square-foot 7

center with a mosque on Veals Road off Bradyville Pike. Chancellor Robert E. Corlew III recently ruled that the county failed to provide adequate public notice prior to the meeting in question. Corlew suggested that the county place the construction plans for the future ICM back on an agenda for a future meeting, provide proper public notice and then vote on the issue without holding a public hearing or discriminating against the religious land-use rights of the congregation. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120622/NEWS01/306220026/Feds-won-t-intervenemosque-s-construction?nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Billions of Dollars Are in Play Over Health Care Law (Wall Street Journal)
In this small city about an hour from Manhattan, pregnant teenagers, laid-off professionals and day laborers without insurance receive care at a community health center that has been part of the social fabric here for nearly four decades. Because of the sweeping federal health care law passed two years ago, the center, part of the Hudson River HealthCare network, received a $4.5 million grant last month to expand. It plans to add six more medical and seven more dental exam rooms, allowing it to see as many as 5,000 additional patients, many of whom are without insurance, on Medicaid or have limited coverage. An additional 730 community centers or so like it are to be renovated or built across the country in the next two years for patients like that. Unless the Supreme Court says otherwise. By the end of June, the court is expected to decide whether some or all of the Obama administrations health care law is constitutional. While speculation has focused on how the decision would affect the future of the nations health insurance market, little attention has been paid to the tens of billions of dollars in federal money appropriated for a host of other provisions in the law. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/health/billions-of-dollars-in-play-over-health-care-law.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

Browns Ferry not ready for inspection (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sohn)

TVA's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant vice president told the Nuclear Regulatory Agency on Thursday that the plant still is not ready for a third and final special inspection to clear a reactor's "red" safety rating. "We agree that [the red finding] is where we should be right now," said Keith Polson. "We want to reduce the risk at the plant and improve our performance, but that has to be sustainable. This is an exercise to improve our process." NRC placed Browns Ferry in a red rating last year after it was determined in October 2010 that a valve intended to help cool the Unit 1 reactor in emergencies had not been functional in the previous 18 months. The red rating is issued when NRC believes an entire plant has issues of "high safety significance." NRC already has made two sets of follow-up inspections on its schedule, but under NRC policy, TVA will set the final inspection schedule. TVA spokesman Ray Golden said the utility hopes to be ready to invite NRC to inspect its progress in late 2012 or early 2013. On Thursday, Polson said TVA has reviewed five years of past plant problems and brought in an independent consultant to look at the utility's safety cultures, as well. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/tva-browns-ferry-not-ready-for-inspection/?local

TVA to increase patrols at South Holston Dam (Bristol Herald-Courier)

Tennessee Valley Authority police officers are increasing their patrols at a popular area lake. The announcement comes just after police arrested a man for indecent exposure. That arrest happened at South Holston Dam in SullivanCounty. According to TVA police, during a recent surveillance operation, they charged 39 year-old Darrell Williams of Bristol,Tennessee with indecent exposure. Officers said Williams allegedly exposed himself after following an investigator into a wooded area near the dam. TVA authorities say this arrest comes after several residents and visitors of the South Holston Dam called with complaints of illegal activity in the area. Public information officer - Scott Brooks says he believes this to be an isolated event - but if there are any more complaints- more arrests could follow. The South Holston Dam is a quiet, un-populated area on a Thursday morning. "We come up here and we fish, we like to throw rocks and just come out here and walk and just enjoy the lake," said Jennie Jay. http://www2.tricities.com/news/2012/jun/21/tva-patrols-south-holston-dam-ar-2005053/

Sports testing lab to have grand opening Friday (Associated Press)

A sports testing lab named after Olympic legend W ilma Rudolph will have its grand opening Friday in Nashville. The facility, to be operated by Nashville-based Aegis Sciences Corp., will have forensics, life sciences and research and development labs. More than 200 jobs will be created by the business. Rudolph, of Clarksville, overcame polio to win three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics in Rome while running for Tennessee A&I, now Tennessee State University. She died in 1994 in Nashville. The lab's lobby will feature a life-sized bronze statue 8

of Rudolph by Memphis artist Brian Law. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/sports-testing-lab-to-have-grand-opening-friday/

Aegis drug lab opens today in MetroCenter (Tennessean/W ard)

New facility's name honors Wilma Rudolph Aegis Sciences Corp., a national drug testing operation, plans to add roughly 400 new jobs by year-end, including some already filled at a new lab set to officially open in Nashville today. Roughly one in four of those jobs will be at the new Wilma Rudolph Sports Testing Laboratory at Nashvilles MetroCenter business park, where the company is based. Another 100 will be at Aegis other Nashville-area locations, plus 200 more at facilities the company operates elsewhere in the United States. The latest expansion reflects growth in Aegis business that began with drug testing of athletes. Currently, its clients include pain management doctors, medical examiner offices, colleges and universities, courts of law, state and local government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies. Of the 400 jobs, a little more than half have already been filled, the company said, leaving nearly 200 to go. Aegis will stage a grand opening of its new 70,000square-foot lab today with various dignitaries, including Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, scheduled to be on hand. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120622/BUSINESS05/306220063/Aegis-drug-lab-opens-todayMetroCenter?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CNews%7Cs&nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Scripps names George Cogswell Commercial Appeal publisher (M. Biz Journal)
The E.W. Scripps Co. has named George Cogswell as the new publisher of The Commercial Appeal. Cogswell comes to Memphis from the Ventura County Star in California were he has served as president and publisher since 2007. Before that, he served as publisher for the Abilene Reporter-News in Texas and was the director of circulation and marketing for the Treasure Coast newspapers in Florida, another Scripps property. Cogswell succeeds Joe Pepe who had served as publisher of the Commercial Appeal since 2005. Pepe and vice president of sales and marketing Karl Wurzbach left the paper last week. http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2012/06/21/scripps-names-george-cogswell-ca-publish.html

California: California Works Out Budget Deal (Wall Street Journal)

California Gov. Jerry Brown and the state's legislative leaders agreed Thursday on a $92 billion budget plan that would close the state's deficit for the fiscal year starting on July 1. Legislators will meet next week to vote on the budget, which is expected to pass by the time the fiscal year begins, marking the second on-time budget in a row for a state formerly plagued by perpetual budget delays. On-time passage would bolster California's reputation among the investors who buy its bonds and avert the cash-management emergencies that can result from late budgets. "This agreement strongly positions the state to withstand the economic challenges and uncertainties ahead," Mr. Brown, a Democrat, said in a statement. The agreement highlights the impact of a 2010 voterapproved ballot measure that allowed legislators to pass a budget with a majority vote rather than the two-thirds supermajority previously required. Because Democrats hold a majority of the Legislature, they can now pass a budget without Republican support. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304441404577480913074348038.html?mod=ITP_pageone_1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Louisiana: Louisiana Illegally Fired 7,500 Teachers, Judge Says (New York Times)
As much as some may wish otherwise, there is no starting from scratch when rebuilding a city, or a school system. A judge confirmed that here on Wednesday, ruling that the Orleans Parish School Board and the Louisiana Department of Education, in laying the groundwork for a school reform movement that has become nationally recognized, illegally fired 7,500 school employees. The decision by Ethel S. Julien, a federal District Court judge, backed by 45 pages of reasoning and historical narrative, reinforced a long-held counternarrative of the beginnings of that movement. The judge described the state education superintendent, just two weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, asking for billions of dollars from the federal government and saying that a significant portion would be used to pay out-of-work employees, the vast majority of whom were from Orleans Parish. But in the following months, the state-run Recovery School District won control of nearly all New Orleans schools from the local school board, as well as most of the boards operating budget. The requested federal funds were directed to the recovery district. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/education/louisianaillegally-fired-7500-teachers-judge-rules.html?ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION) 9

MORE

OPINION Editorial: Foster care transition the right thing to do (Jackson Sun)
When the state of Tennessee takes custody of a child, it assumes a huge responsibility for the childs future. While the state never can replace a parent, it can take responsible steps give a child every opportunity to succeed in life. Thats why recent legislation signed by Gov. Bill Haslam extending foster care services beyond age 18 is the right thing to do. Under Tennessee law, when children in state custody reach age 18, they become adults and are free to move on with their lives. But making the transition from foster care to independent living can be a daunting task. To whom do these young adults turn for support? The legislation signed by Haslam extends the transition period during which foster care services can continue to age 21. A bill passed last year created the transition period. But it came with a sunset provision causing it to end June 30. The new legislation removes the June 30 deadline and extends the transition service. Many parents will attest to the fact that turning 18 doesnt constitute automatic adulthood. Few young people are ready to take on adult responsibilities such as 10

finding a job, continuing their education or finding a place to live. Then there is the issue of facing lifes inevitable challenges and disappointments. Who will be there to help? http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120622/OPINION/306220003/Our-View-Foster-care-transition-right-thingdo?nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Editorial: New tuition model good for UT and its students (News-Sentinel)
Future University of Tennessee students will have a financial incentive to take enough classes to graduate within four years after the UT Board of Trustees voted in a major change to tuition calculations. Beginning in 2013, incoming freshmen at the university's flagship Knoxville campus will pay tuition based on 15 credit hours, regardless of how many hours they actually take. The move, approved unanimously at Thursday's board meeting, should increase both graduation rates and appropriations from the General Assembly under the state's new funding formula. UT administrators say the new model will make tuition increases more predictable, lower student debt and enable the university to serve more students without increasing enrollment. Current students, who will not be affected by the proposal, pay by the credit hour until they hit 12 hours, the threshold for full-time status. The proposed new model would mean future students who take 12 or more credit hours would be required to pay for 15 credit hours. Fifteen credit hours per semester is the minimum course load a student can take to reach the 120 hours necessary to graduate in four years unless he or she goes to summer school. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/editorial-new-tuition-model-good-for-ut-and-its/

Editorial: Give college students relief from yearly tuition jump (Daily News Journal)
Tuition at MTSU jumped 9.3 percent in 2011, and over the last 10 years it went up 84 percent. When are students here going to get a break? Not in the coming year, if the Tennessee Board of Regents passes a 6.8 percent tuition increase that would bump it up another $475 to $7,492 for the 2012-13 school year. The board, which oversees 27 technology centers, 13 community colleges such as Motlow and six universities such as MTSU, Memphis and Tennessee Tech, is set to consider those higher rates later this month Tennessee Democrats are countering by asking Gov. Bill Haslam to call a special session this summer to freeze college tuition and speed up breaks on food sales taxes. The state is expected to collect $225 million more than projected this year, and Democrats want to cover tuition increases with $78 million while putting $85 million toward a food tax cut and the remaining $62 million in the reserve. Republicans want to put all of the extra money in reserves to prepare for possible impact from the national health care act. In fact, Republicans, who control the Legislature, have hinted that a special session might be needed to focus on health care. http://www.dnj.com/article/20120622/OPINION01/306220009/EDITORIAL-Give-college-students-relief-fromyearly-tuition-jump?nclick_check=1 (SUBSCRIPTION)

Free-Press Editorial: Pay hike muddle in Hamilton County (Times Free-Press)

It's hard to imagine that there aren't quite a few hard-working employees of Hamilton County government for whom a pay raise would be amply justified, and it's difficult to begrudge them one even in these tough economic times. But we got a bit of an illustration of the sometimes-puzzling way that government works in the recently proposed pay hikes for county workers. "We're going to ask for the commission to do a 3 percent across-theboard raise for all employees," County Mayor Jim Coppinger said. Let us stipulate that local county government is far from the only government body that considers or adopts across-the-board pay increases for employees. Let us further stipulate that the proposed increases here would be provided without resorting to a destructive tax increase. And therefore let these remarks not be construed as unfairly singling out the county for criticism. But is there not something odd in the very nature of across-the-board raises? Doesn't a moment's reflection show it is unrealistic to believe that all employees in so large an endeavor as Hamilton County government have performed equally well and thus are deserving of equal percentage increases in their pay? http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/free-press-pay-hike-muddle/?opinionfreepress

Free-Press Editorial: No place for politics (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

It would be ludicrous to expect government employees to have no personal views on issues such as tax increases for schools. But officials at some schools in Bradley County are expressing those views in 11

inappropriate ways -- through the use of presumably taxpayer-maintained marquee signs on school property. For example, under the words "North Lee Elementary/A School of Excellence," that facility's sign reads, "Support Our Kids/Vote Yes For Wheel Tax." North Lee may well be an excellent school, and there may be plenty of room for debate among people of good will about the proposed $32 wheel tax, which is on a referendum on the Aug. 2 ballot. Moreover, no individual need apologize for having or expressing an opinion on the matter. But the use of the signs outside multiple Cleveland and Bradley County schools to argue in favor of the wheel tax is needlessly divisive and ill-advised. Suggesting that voters -- including undoubtedly many parents of public school students -who oppose the tax do not "support our kids" is insulting. They may simply believe there are other, more effective ways to promote and fund education, and they shouldn't be made to feel as if they were "anti-kid" for thinking so. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jun/22/free-press-no-place-for-politics/?opinionfreepress

Pam Strickland: Health care reform law would help the uninsured (News-Sentinel)
Earlier this month more than 600 of my fellow uninsured Tennesseans waited overnight to get medical care at Sewanee: The University of the South from Remote Area Medical's 667th free health care clinic. When it first came into being, Knoxville-based RAM conducted clinics only in developing countries, but in recent years it has been giving free clinics for medical, dental and vision care throughout America. All the while politicians and businessmen have argued over how best to help cash-strapped, working-class people for whom President Barack Obama's demonized health care reform would be a godsend. Even as RAM offered care to the poorest uninsured at the stately 150-year-old college in southern Middle Tennessee, the U.S. Supreme Court was in the midst of internal debates over the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. An opinion is expected to be handed down at any moment, although more likely closer to the court's June 30 recess. The court heard three days of oral arguments regarding the law in March. In a story on the Kaiser Health News website, reporter Alec MacGillis wrote that many of those at the one-day clinic said that they didn't vote and were unaware of the law. However, at least one of them liked what she heard. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/jun/22/pam-strickland-health-care-reform-law-would-help/

###

12