SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012 Tennessee bill calls for jail for repeat abusers (Times Free-Press/South)

The first time he went to jail for beating her wasn't the first time he had stood before a judge. That first time in court wasn't the first time she had called police on him, and the first time she called police on him wasn't the first time he had hit her. Over the 14 years of their marriage, he grew gradually more violent. At first she thought he was "Mr. Wonderful," but over time the man broke her down, belittling her bit by bit. By the end of their first year of marriage, after she'd had his child, he already had hit her and choked her. In the beginning, he would woo her back in tearful apologies. Later he started using threats. If she didn't come back, he would kill her whole family. Deana called police, he would be arrested, bonded out and be back home soon. She went to court, and he got probation. "I had no idea I had any rights," she said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/bill-calls-for-jail-for-repeat-abusers/?local

High stakes in state testing (Jackson Sun)

Teachers and students affected by increased accountability Tigrett Middle School eighth-grader Julia Veltman wasnt thrilled to learn that her scores on her TCAP tests this year will count as 15 percent of her final grades. I dont think its fair, said Veltman, who maintains an A average in her courses. I was a little worried that if I bubbled in the wrong answer, that could mess up the whole test and pull my grades down. Veltman shared her concerns after taking the first in a series of four state standardized tests in reading/language arts, math, science and social studies last week. The testing period ends on Tuesday. State legislators have raised the stakes for this years Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests by requiring for the first time that the scores count toward students grades in the core subjects. State officials wanted to give students an incentive to take the tests seriously because at the same time, the pressure has increased on teachers to make sure their students perform well on the tests. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290012/Highstakes-state-testing-Teachers-students-affected-by-increased-accountability

Amazon sends out sales tax notices (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/ONeil)

Matt Malone's wife buys pretty much everything on Amazon.com. "Shoes, cologne, movies, books -- she'd rather have it delivered to her door than have to go out and get it," the Chattanooga man said. Online shopping offers more than convenience. Internet retailers such as Amazon don't collect state sales tax on purchases, in effect giving a nearly 10 percent discount instantly to Tennessee shoppers. But that's changing. Last week, Amazon started sending emails to customers, letting them know how much money they had spent at the online superstore and that they may owe the government use tax, the online equivalent to sales tax. Malone hasn't gotten the email yet -- an agreement with the state gives Amazon about two months to send out notices -- but he's sure it's coming. Whether he'll take the time to go online, fill out the necessary forms and send some extra money to the state is another matter. "I don't think it's right to go back and tax somebody who bought something eight months ago," he said. "Going forward I think they should. It's tax revenue. It should be done, but I don't think they should go back." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/to-pay-or-not-to-pay-amazon-sends-out-sales/?local

Plans

unfold

for

Taft

Youth

Development

Center

closure

(Times

Free-

Press/Benton)
After state House members battled over the future of Taft Youth Development Center on Thursday but failed to save it, state Department of Children's Services officials spelled out initial plans for the teens housed there as the facility's closure approaches. A week ago, there were 62 student inmates at Taft, according to the department. In

a prepared statement, Children's Services spokesman Brandon Gee said Thursday that the state agency started diverting admissions to Taft in February in anticipation of shuttering the nearly 100-year-old campus -- which has buildings dating from the 1940s to 2007 -- when funding runs out June 30. The closure was proposed by Department of Children's Services Commissioner Kathryn O'Day in November in response to Gov. Bill Haslam's call for across-the-board budget cuts of 5 percent. O'Day contends the closure of Taft will net savings of $8.5 million. Gee said the department now "is finalizing the plans for transition" for remaining students at Taft and that 17 of the facility's students have been discharged or placed in step-down programs because they have completed their sentences or programs. Eight other students were transferred to one of the state's other four youth centers, he said. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/plans-unfold-for-taft-youth-centerclosure/?local

Tennessee house in rare Sunday session (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Sher)

God rested on the seventh day, but state House members won't be resting this evening as they race to finish their annual legislative session on Monday. The House is meeting in a rare Sunday session to advance a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution. It adds veterans' groups to the list of nonprofits able to conduct raffles. Under the state's constitutional amendment process, Senate Joint Resolution 222 has to be read three times on the floor and then receive majority approval after the third reading. Only then can it advance to the next 108th General Assembly meeting in 2013-14 where lawmakers will have to decide by a two-thirds majority to put it on the 2014 ballot for voters to consider. The resolution, which already has passed the Senate, was only read for the first time on the floor Friday. "I think we wanted to get three days of readings in on that," said House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga. "In order to do that, we need to meet Sunday night and Monday. Then we would not have to come in Tuesday." He said the House and Senate are "hoping to get finished Monday night" and go home for the year. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/tennessee-house-in-rare-sunday-session/?local

TN GOP targets 'frivolous' lawsuits (Tennessean/Gang)

Tennessee GOP warns filers they could face high fees Tennessee Republicans have a message for those filing civil lawsuits: You better make sure your facts are in order or you could be on the hook for up to $10,000 in attorney fees for the other side. Lawmakers last week approved legislation that would penalize people who file lawsuits that are later dismissed as baseless. They would have to pay up to $10,000 to cover court costs and their opponents attorney fees. The legislation is the latest in a series of GOP efforts over the past year aimed at reducing a business exposure in civil lawsuits. Legislation approved last year capped non-economic damages at $750,000 and punitive damages at $500,000, with some exceptions. Backers say the new legislation, HB 3124, will cut down on unfounded lawsuits and would apply only to a small number of cases. It is a very limited loserpays bill, said Rep. Vance Dennis, R-Savannah, the bills House sponsor. It goes to purely frivolous lawsuits, lawsuits that dont have any merit. But Democratic opponents argue the legislation will restrict access to the courts only to the states wealthiest residents. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120429/NEWS0201/304290083/TN-GOP-targets-frivolous-lawsuits-? odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Lawmaker

links

suicide

to

values,

not

bullying

then

backtracks

(Tennessean/Sisk)
State Rep. Jeremy Faison caused a stir Tuesday during a Tennessee House of Representatives debate over a cyberbullying bill, when he argued that it is a failure to instill proper values, not bullying, that leads children to commit suicide. We cant continue to legislate everything. Weve had some horrible things happen in America and in our state, and theres children that have actually committed suicide, but I will submit to you today that they did not commit suicide because of somebody bullying them. They committed suicide because they were not instilled (with) the proper principles of where their self-esteem came from at home. Faison, R-Cosby, seemed to be alluding to the recent suicides in Cheatham and Smith counties by a pair of teens who had complained of being bullied over their sexual orientation. The two cases received extensive coverage statewide and led to calls by gay rights groups for tougher bullying laws. The Tennessee Democratic Party condemned Faisons statement within minutes. Did Rep. Faison just say that kids commit suicide because they havent been instilled with the right values? What a disgrace, the party wrote on its Twitter feed. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120429/NEWS02/304290084/Political-notebook-Lawmaker-links-suicidevalues-not-bullying-then-backtracks?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News 2

Finney bill toughens stalking penalties for sex offenders (Jackson Sun)
The state Senate on Friday passed a bill by state Sen. Lowe Finney, D-Jackson, to increase the penalty for sex offenders convicted of stalking. We must ensure that our punishments fit the crime in Tennessee, particularly when they involve sex offenders, Finney said in a news release. Senate Bill 2438 would increase the penalty for sex offenders convicting of stalking from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, the release said. The maximum penalty under the current stalking statute is 11 months, 29 days for each offense, of which the offender would serve a maximum of only nine months. Under Finneys legislation, each charge would result in a maximum six-year penalty. The legislation results from an incident in Jackson last year in which two women reported being stalked by a stranger. The stalker was on the sex offender registry due to a conviction of indecency with a child in Texas. The stalker also had three charges of indecent exposure at Austin Peay State University, an attempted aggravated kidnapping charge in West Virginia and a previous violation of sex offender registry laws, according to the release. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120429/NEWS01/304290008/Local-briefs-Prescription-takeback-Senate-passes-Finney-bill-Camp-Bluebird-registration-Lane-professors-art-displayed

Top-heavy central staff perception not unique to Knox County (N-S/McCoy)

Knox County is not unique when it comes to trying to explain the role, size and costs of its central office administration to the community. Whether from parents, teachers or elected officials, it's hard to avoid the assumption by many that a school system, any school system, is top-heavy with administrators, said Patricia Carpenter, chairwoman of the Chesterfield County, Va., Public Schools' school board. "I think no matter where you go, there is always a perception," said Carpenter. The Chesterfield County system has 58,707 students and nearly 8,000 employees, close to the numbers in Knox County Schools. With Superintendent Jim McIntyre proposing a $35 million budget increase for targeted areas, school officials have already heard pointed critiques from Knox County Commission members. Commissioners have asked the school system to break down the dollars and cents and numbers of their central office administration. The 11-member commission will have final say this spring on the system's spending plan. Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett already has said he won't endorse the $35 million boost, which likely would require a tax increase. Burchett makes public his budget this week. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/29/top-heavy-central-staff-perception-not-unique-to/

Budget woes push decommission of 5 fire vehicles (Commercial Appeal/Maki)

In an effort to cut costs in what figures to be a tough budget year, the Memphis Fire Department plans to take four ladder trucks and a rescue vehicle out of service, officials said Saturday. City Council members learned of the planned decommissioning of the vehicles as they opened hearings on Mayor AC Wharton's proposed $628.3 million operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The first day of hearings focused on the fire and police department budgets, as well as council's own expenses. The vehicles recommended being decommissioned are Ladder Truck 6 in the North Memphis and Frayser area, Ladder Truck 12 in the Sherwood Forest and University of Memphis area, Ladder Truck 13 in the Medical District and Midtown areas, Ladder Truck 26 in Hickory Hill and the Rescue Company 1 vehicle located on Willow Road in East Memphis. Ladder trucks typically carry ladders, rescue tools and other tools to help firefighters reach fires inside structures. Engines, also commonly referred to as "water trucks," typically carry water, hoses and pumps used in fire fighting. The Rescue Company 1 vehicle is a heavy-rescue vehicle that can be used to combat hazardous material incidents, carry personnel and equipment and assist in rescue situations. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/29/fire-vehicles-cut-from-service/

Scottie

Mayfield

declines

debate

invitation

(Chattanooga

Times

Free-

Press/Carroll)
After spending a week on damage control amid a pair of video bombshells, GOP congressional hopeful Scottie Mayfield has a chance to set a policy-driven tone at an upcoming Chattanooga Tea Party debate. Except he's not doing it. "Candidate Scottie Mayfield was invited and declined to attend," according to a tea party news release. Chattanooga Tea Party President Mark West found Mayfield's rejection "puzzling." "It's interesting that when you get hit with something negative," West said, "you still avoid opportunities to engage with the public and define yourself beyond a blank sheet of paper on the issues." Ron Bhalla and Weston Wamp also are challenging U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the 3rd District Republican primary. All three plan to participate in 3

the June 23 debate. "The new guy on the scene is missing," West said. "That's his choice. W e'll have a good debate without him." Mayfield spokesman Joe Hendrix said his boss declined so he could focus on traveling the district and "listening to what constituents have to say about some of the things they are facing." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/scottie-mayfield-declines-debate-invitation/?local

Nashville operative given campaign coordinating role (Tennessean/Sisk)

Ward Baker, a political operative based in the Nashville area, has been named to the team coordinating activities between the Republican National Committee and the Mitt Romney campaign. Washington Post political blog The Fix reported last week that Baker will synchronize activities between the political and field teams for the RNC and Romney. The RNC and Romney are tightening ties for the November campaign as it becomes certain that Romney will be the partys nominee. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120429/NEWS02/304290084/Political-notebook-Lawmaker-links-suicidevalues-not-bullying-then-backtracks?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

Tennessee cities awarded safe-room grants (Associated Press)

The cities of Dyersburg, Newbern and Halls have been awarded grants by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to construct safe rooms in their respective communities capable of withstanding 250-mph winds of an EF5 tornado. These are the first community safe rooms to be federally funded in W est Tennessee. The community safe rooms will be built according to FEMA standards. "We pursued the FEMA grants for our two projects in order to provide Dyersburg with a higher level of protection against destructive tornadoes," said Dyersburg Mayor John Holden. The city of Dyersburg will receive over $2 million to build two safe rooms within its city limits. The first will be built adjacent to Dyersburg High School. The DHS safe room will be the larger of the two safe rooms at approximately 8,300 square feet in size with 6,800 usable square feet capable of accommodating 1,350 people. The second community safe room will be constructed across from Fire Station No. 1 in downtown Dyersburg. The building will be 7,198 square feet in size with approximately 6,100 square feet of usable space to accommodate 1,200 people. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/29/tennessee-cities-awarded-safe-room-grants/

Nearly half Shelby County children in homes getting federal aid (CA/Charlier)
Hunger risk real for many Memphis-area kids The month wasn't nearly done, but Shalita Harris' food stamps were. After feeding her four kids, she was left by early last week with just 50 cents on her electronic benefits transfer card, which she combined with some loose change to get herself something to eat: a bag of chips. "I haven't had a full meal in a couple of days," the 32-year-old Whitehaven resident said. A longtime certified nursing assistant, Harris sought food-stamp assistance when her work hours -- and income -- were cut back drastically amid the economic downturn. While she continues to look for more work, her household draws less than $400 a month in food stamps. The plight of Harris' family is increasingly common in the Memphis area. The latest census estimates show that 44 percent of all minor children in Shelby County live in households receiving assistance from at least one of three major federal safety-net programs: food stamps (now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the Supplemental Security Income program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the cash-aid program commonly known as welfare. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/29/hunger-risk-real-for-many-area-kids/ (SUBSCRIPTION)

What's next for health insurance: Here's what to expect (Associated Press)
If the Supreme Court strikes down President Barack Obama's health care law, employers and insurance companies -- not the government -- will be the main drivers of change over the next decade and maybe even longer. They'll borrow some ideas from Obamacare, and push harder to cut costs. Business can't and won't take care of America's 50 million uninsured, but for the majority with coverage, here's what experts say to expect: Workers will bear more of their own medical costs as job coverage shifts to plans with higher deductibles, the amount you pay out of pocket each year before insurance kicks in. Traditional workplace insurance will lose ground to high-deductible plans with tax-free accounts for routine medical expenses, to which employers can contribute. Increasingly, smokers will face financial penalties if they don't at least seriously try to quit. Employees with a weight problem and high cholesterol are next. They may get tagged as health risks and get nudged into diet programs. Some companies will keep the health care law's most popular benefit so far, coverage for adult children until they turn 26. Others will cut it to save money. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/29/whats-next-for-health-insurance/ (SUBSCRIPTION) 4

In Hopeful Sign, Health Spending Is Flattening Out (New York Times)

The growth of health spending has slowed substantially in the last few years, surprising experts and offering some fuel for optimism about the federal governments long-term fiscal performance. Much of the slowdown is because of the recession, and thus not unexpected, health experts say. But some of it seems to be attributable to changing behavior by consumers and providers of health care meaning that the lower rates of growth might persist even as the economy picks up. Because Medicare and Medicaid are two of the largest contributors to the countrys long-term debts, slower growth in health costs could reduce the pressure for enormous spending cuts or tax increases. In 2009 and 2010, total nationwide health care spending grew less than 4 percent per year, the slowest annual pace in more than five decades, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. After years of taking up a growing share of economic activity, health spending held steady in 2010, at 17.9 percent of the gross domestic product. The growth rate mostly slowed as millions of Americans lost insurance coverage along with their jobs. Worried about job security, others may have feared taking time off work for doctors visits or surgical procedures, or skipped nonurgent care when money was tight. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/health/policy/in-hopeful-sign-health-spending-is-flattening-out.html? _r=1&ref=todayspaper (SUBSCRIPTION)

Teacher cleared in testing probe (Chattanooga Times Free-Press/Hardy)

A Hamilton County teacher investigated in a possible state exam cheating case has been cleared by state and local officials. Tosha Shotwell-Bonds was under investigation after she called a teacher acquaintance in Memphis to get advice while preparing her daughter for a state writing test. Shotwell-Bonds said she wasn't looking for answers but was just trying to ensure that her daughter did well on the exam. Investigators with the Tennessee Department of Education could not prove any wrongdoing and have cleared Shotwell-Bonds and the Memphis teacher, officials said. The state could have pursued revoking the licenses of the teachers if evidence of cheating had been uncovered. Since widespread cheating cases were reported in school systems like Atlanta Public Schools, many states have tightened testing security and enacted cheating safeguards. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, state exams were given heightened importance, as test results were used to hold schools accountable. Several states, including Tennessee, have made recent moves to incorporate test data into teacher evaluations. The Tennessee Department of Education investigated 22 testing breaches between 2008 and 2011, records show. Several teachers resigned or were suspended in the wake of those investigations. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/teacher-cleared-in-testing-probe/?local

OPINION Editorial: Listen to park's stakeholders (Commercial Appeal)

State road officials should heed concerns of Shelby Farms officials that a proposed road could hurt access. Even if it means more delay, the Tennessee Department of Transportation should work cooperatively with the operators of Shelby Farms Park to make sure a proposed parkway is done right. Nothing should be done that would negatively impact plans for major park improvements or that would limit pedestrian and bicycle access to one of the nation's premier urban parks. Officials of the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy recently sent a letter to TDOT saying it "cannot at this time agree" that the design of the proposed Shelby Farms Parkway will cause only 5

minimal harm to the 4,500-acre park. The conservancy believes the project could disrupt access to the park and the "connectivity" within it. The proposed parkway has been a heated issue for more than 30 years. Traffic engineers say it is needed to prevent backed-up, rush-hour traffic along Walnut Grove as commuters from Cordova and points east travel to work and back. After much debate and discussion, a plan was developed that would have a four-lane, highly landscaped, low-speed roadway skirt the park's northern edge, connecting with Walnut Grove Road just east of the Wolf River. Possible water pollution and increased flooding from the roadway have been addressed. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/29/editorial-listen-to-parksstakeholders/ (SUB)

Editorial: Charter school group right to reapply (Jackson Sun)

We are disappointed that the Tennessee Board of Education voted to deny a charter school application to Connections Preparatory Academy in Jackson. It would have been Jackson-Madison Countys first charter school. At the same time, we are pleased that Connections officials immediately responded to the state that they would address concerns and resubmit their application. The school now looks forward to opening for the 2013-14 school year, and we wish the group the best of luck on its next attempt. Tennessee Board of Education Executive Director Gary Nixon reviewed the application and sided with the Jackson-Madison County Board of Educations concerns about the proposed school. Nixons concern was that the application lacked consistency in tying its mission to the day-to-day operations of the school. We take that concern at face value, and assume that the charter school group, which includes professional educators, can make the appropriate adjustments. We fully expect the group to meet all professional education standards, and the school must measure up in that regard. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120429/OPINION/304290004/Our-View-Charter-school-group-right-reapply

Editorial: No good reasons for 'Tennessee Trash' (Tennessean)

Apathy, cynicism guide residents, officials who discourage recycling For every reason that Tennesseans should recycle instead of throwing everything they no longer want into the trash, there seem to be two excuses not to recycle. The difference is that the reasons not to are pretty weak. Sadly, Tennesseans in large numbers continue to avoid taking personal responsibility for the mountains of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and metal that they accumulate in their daily lives. Does it really have to be said that being voracious consumers who then want their discards to be thrown in a giant hole in the ground is a really bad idea? Apparently, yes. Our state on average recycles only 11.6 percent of its trash a percentage that can only be described as puny. Yet, residents in some counties recycle far less than that. Tennessee hasnt totally regressed to the mindset it held before the 1970s, when the highly popular Tennessee Trash public-service campaign taught the state about the importance of a clean environment. In every community, there are citizens who recycle and compost yard waste. But they are in the minority; the stream of material ending up in landfills is growing each year. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120429/OPINION01/304290080/No-good-reasons-Tennessee-Trash-? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|p

Guest columnist: Immigrants vital to workforce at all levels (Tennessean)

As an immigrant CEO of a 12-year-old membership organization dedicated to fostering integration, economic development opportunities and Hispanic business sustainability, I know firsthand the benefit what immigration brings to our local and national economies. I came here to make a better life for myself and my family, and continue working countless hours to achieve that goal. My story is not unique. It is repeated every day all over America. Immigrants to this country have had a powerful impact on our economy. More than 40 percent of Americas Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or a child of an immigrant, and Hispanics in particular are three times as fast to start a business as the native-born. But this is not the immigration story I read about in the papers or hear about in presidential debates. To follow the media and political narratives about immigration, one would think that all immigrants are low-skilled, are here illegally, and plan to vote for whichever candidate wants to open the border, if they plan to vote at all. These stories are as inaccurate as they are offensive. They are used politically to demagogue and win elections, and they stand in the way of honest attempts to legislatively fix the problems presented by our current immigration laws. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120429/OPINION03/304290019/Immigrants-vital-workforce-all-levels? odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Opinion|p

Free-Press Editorial: Erlanger's 'free' health care (Chattanooga Times Free-Press)

6

First, the good news: Erlanger Health System has adequate reserves on hand to pay its debts, and there is no reason to think it will stop providing the sound care for which it is known throughout our region. Now, the bad news: Erlanger has had more than $17 million in losses in just the first nine months of the current fiscal year -including a dramatic $4.1 million loss in March alone. Why? Count the reasons: Doctors have moved revenuegenerating surgeries to different hospitals. Layoffs that will improve Erlanger's finances to the tune of millions of dollars nonetheless came with a $900,000 bill for one-time severance pay. Admissions were down in March. And Erlanger has seen a sharp increase in uncompensated care. That care amounted to a hefty $83 million in the previous fiscal year, but it is expected to surpass the $91 million mark this fiscal year. Not surprisingly, these alarming numbers and circumstances have Erlanger earnestly seeking ways to stem its losses. We hope those efforts succeed, and soon. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/29/erlangers-free-health-care/?opinionfreepress ###