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VOL. 44 | NO. 42 | Friday, October 16, 2020

Virtual change of plans

Charity parties, runs and even a Christmas parade are forced to re-route in the age of COVID-19

Enjoy a lovely glass of Bear Flag cabernet sauvignon with notes of black raspberries, red cherry jam and dried fruit while conversing with the winemaker. Indulge in an Italian feast of chicken diavolo, osso buco and tiramisu as you browse the work of world-renowned artists. Compete for the Golden Brain Award with your friends in a night of lively trivia.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Nashville-area sales soar past 2019’s record totals

Greater Nashville Realtors sales data shows 4,336 properties sold in September compared to 3,794 in September 2019, an increase of 17%. And while the enormous bounce was expected, the number is nonetheless impressive, especially during a pandemic.

TENNESSEE TITANS

The NFL knew this would happen

It pushed ahead as if shielded from COVID-19

Never mind the cross-field lateral from Frank Wycheck to Kevin Dyson that beat the Bills more than 20 years ago. The real Music City Miracle might be taking place in 2020 for the Tennessee Titans.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
41.0°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind: Southwest at 4.6 mph
Humidity: 45%

EVENTS

Musicians Corner Virtual Sundown Series. Enjoy Musicians Corner with a live virtual concert each Thursday night through October. Event will be live on Facebook and YouTube. 8 p.m. Each live video will include performances by Musicians Corner favorites. Bre Kennedy will perform Oct. 22. Additional date: Oct. 29: Amythyst Kiak. Information

more events »

AFC South is there for taking if Titans can get past distractions

First down: Try to get back on track. The COVID shutdown has all but derailed the Titans’ routine, and puts them on a short week in preparation for the Texans Sunday. The biggest hope – beyond just player and personnel safety from the coronavirus – has to be getting back inside the facility and some sort of normalcy. If the Titans can do that, then a short week of prep for Houston won’t seem like such an obstacle.

NEWSMAKERS

Wood Stabell adds pair of attorneys

Wood Stabell Law Group, PLLC has hired two attorneys, Lin Ye and Ashley Gold. WSLG has now added four attorneys since 2019.

BRIEFS

Dickinson Wright named top law firm by Captive

Dickinson Wright PLLC has been named “Law Firm of the Year” by both Captive Review (@Captivereview #USCaptiveAwards) and Captive International.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 hybrids vie for market top spot

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the brand’s bestselling hybrid, with 2019 sales outpacing even those of the Prius. It provides significantly higher fuel economy – an estimated 40 mpg combined – than the regular RAV4 SUV with minimal compromise.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

A quick trip down one ad man’s memory lane

Time to take care of business. You know you’ve got three minutes or more, plenty of time to leave the sofa, quickly run to another part of the house, cruise through the kitchen for a snack and you’re back before your program restarts. Unless your ads are running, you might otherwise grab the remote and zap past the break.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Suddenly retired? Here’s how to make money last

The pandemic seems to be driving a surge of early retirements as businesses close or downsize and older people weigh the health risks of continuing to work.

CAREER CORNER

Remember small talk? It’s a bigger loss than you think

If you’re working from home, you might be as productive as ever. You can focus without interruption. There are no long chats around the water cooler. There’s no wasted time commuting.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Use COVID-19 crisis to build helpful money habits

As millennials, we’ve learned about money the hard way. From the Great Recession to stratospheric student loan debt to a pandemic, there’s been no shortage of life giving us lemons.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Underwood named top artist at CMT Music Awards

NASHVILLE (AP) — Carrie Underwood already had the most CMT Music Awards of any artist, but she'll need to make more room on her shelf. The superstar picked up two more trophies for video of the year and female video of the year in a remotely shot awards show.

UT SPORTS

Tide goes for 14th straight in 'Third Saturday in October'

Here are things to watch in Week 5 in the Southeastern Conference:

TENNESSEE TITANS

Regarding Henry: Steelers D bracing for Titans star back

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sure there are options when facing Derrick Henry. None of them, however, are particularly fun.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashville airport to add hotel slated for late 2023 opening

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville International Airport is planning to add a 292-room hotel that is slated to open in late 2023.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee warns of credit card skimmers at gas pumps

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is warning drivers to look out for credit card skimmers at gas pumps. Inspectors have found five of the devices at fuel pumps around the state in the past six weeks, according to the department.

COURTS

GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett despite Dems' boycott

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans powered past a Democratic boycott Thursday to advance Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court  nomination to the full Senate, keeping President Donald Trump's pick on track for confirmation before Election Day.

AP Explains: What's next for the Supreme Court nomination

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is speeding toward confirmation, with a majority of the Senate supporting her and a final vote expected Monday. She could be sworn in as a justice almost immediately, just a week before the election.

EDUCATION

Analysis: Racial inequity in who takes career, tech courses

Alphina Kamara wonders what might have happened if she'd been introduced to science and engineering careers at her high school in Wilmington, Delaware.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Tennessee releases vaccine distribution plan

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's Department of Health has revealed its plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines once they become available.

Regulators, experts take up thorny vaccine study issues

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. regulators who will decide the fate of COVID-19 vaccines are taking an unusual step: Asking outside scientists if their standards are high enough.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US jobless claims drop to 787,000, layoffs remain high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of laid-off Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 787,000, a sign that job losses may have eased slightly but are still running at historically high levels.

Fed survey finds tepid growth as US economy battles pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Federal Reserve survey of business conditions around the country found that the U.S. economy grew at a "slight to modest" pace in September and early October, but also documented many areas of economic activity hobbled by the coronavirus pandemic.

American, Southwest add to parade of airline losses in 3Q

DALLAS (AP) — Airlines are piling up billions of dollars in losses as the pandemic causes a massive drop in air travel.

Coca-Cola recovery continues as it grows leaner in pandemic

Coca-Cola measured gradual improvement in the third quarter as it focused on emerging leaner from the global pandemic.

ELECTION 2020

Viewers' Guide: After chaotic debate, Trump, Biden try again

After meeting last month in perhaps the most chaotic debate in modern history, President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, will take the stage Thursday to give it another go.

US officials link Iran to emails meant to intimidate voters

WASHINGTON (AP) — ?U.S. officials have accused Iran of being behind a flurry of threatening but fake emails sent to Democratic voters in multiple battleground states in a late-stage efforts to sway public opinion and interfere in the presidential election.

Road to 270: Trump's best path to victory hinges on FL, PA

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump still has a path to the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to win reelection. But it requires everything to break in his direction a second time.


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
NASHVILLE SC

Cádiz scores first MLS goal, Nashville blanks Dallas 3-0

NASHVILLE (AP) — Jhonder Cádiz scored his first MLS goal in the 73rd minute and Nashville beat Dallas 3-0 on Tuesday night.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

CMT Music Awards to feature trio of hosts, outdoor stages

NASHVILLE (AP) — A trio of new hosts will lead fans through a new look at this year's CMT Music Awards, which replaced the live arena audience with performances in scenic outdoor locations around Nashville, Tennessee.

COURTS

Judge slams DeVos for rejecting 94% of loan relief claims

Months after vowing to process a backlog of 160,000 requests for loan forgiveness from students who say they were defrauded by their schools, the U.S. Education Department has rejected 94% of claims it has reviewed, according to a federal judge who is demanding justification for the "blistering pace" of denials.

Suit: Feds ignore risk of huge spills to endangered species

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Environmental groups asked a federal court Wednesday to throw out the Trump administration's assessment of oil and gas activity's likely effects on endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico, saying it dismisses the chance of another disastrous blowout like the BP spill of 2010.

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Purdue Pharma, the company behind OxyContin, the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic, will plead  guilty to federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Democrats: Justices' 4-4 tie in election case ominous sign

WASHINGTON (AP) — With Amy Coney Barrett expected to join the Supreme Court as early as next week, the court's action in a Pennsylvania voting case has heightened fears among Democrats about the court being asked to decide a post-election dispute and with it, the winner of the White House.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Tesla posts net profit for fifth consecutive quarter

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla charged through a summertime auto industry sales slump in the U.S. to post stronger-than-expected net earnings for the third quarter.

Battery-powered trucks head to showrooms

DETROIT (AP) — Seven auto companies have plans to roll out new battery-powered pickup trucks over the next two years, aiming to cash in on a popular and lucrative market for expensive vehicles.

MEDIA

US hits Chinese media with new restrictions, upping tensions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is hitting Chinese media outlets in the U.S. with new restrictions, a move that will further foment tensions in already deteriorating ties between the world's two largest economies as President Donald Trump seeks to boost his anti-China credentials ahead of November's election.

Netflix reports a summer slump in subscriber growth

Netflix's subscriber growth slowed dramatically during the summer months after surging in the spring fueled by pandemic lockdowns that corralled millions of people in their homes.

HEALTH CARE

Worsening opioid crisis overshadowed in presidential race

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Like millions of Americans, Diane Urban watched the first presidential debate last month at home with her family. When it was over, she turned off the television and climbed into the bed her 25-year-old son Jordan used to sleep in.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

In Tennessee, final debate puts surging virus in spotlight

NASHVILLE (AP) — When President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden arrive in Nashville Thursday for their final debate before the Nov. 3 election, they'll be greeted by a city with rising coronavirus case counts inside a state immersed in a debate of its own about mask-wearing.

Next up in hunt for COVID-19 vaccine: Testing shots in kids

The global hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine for kids is only just beginning — a lagging start that has some U.S. pediatricians worried they may not know if any shots work for young children in time for the next school year.

Tennessee launches new website for COVID-19 info

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Health has launched a new website to keep the public up to speed on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another chunk of England faces tight virus restrictions

LONDON (AP) — The South Yorkshire region of northern England is being placed under the country's tightest restrictions to curb the coronavirus — joining a densely populated swathe of the country where the measures have been imposed despite protests from local politicians.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks slip on Wall Street as virus aid deal remains elusive

U.S. stocks capped another wobbly day of trading with modest losses Wednesday as Wall Street waited for any signs of progress as lawmakers in Washington negotiate over how to deliver more aid for the economy.

If Google's a monopoly, who is harmed by its market power?

Google has long defended itself against charges of monopoly by stressing that its products are free and that no one has to use them.

Pandemic relief faces uncertainty in postelection session

WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill are inching forward, but it's clear the window for action before the Nov. 3 election is closing and the issue will be tossed to a postelection lame-duck session of Congress.

JC Penney sees bankruptcy protection exit by Christmas

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney believes it will emerge from bankruptcy protection before Christmas under a new ownership agreement that would save tens of thousands of jobs.

After years grappling with Google, Europe has tips for US

LONDON (AP) — The U.S. antitrust crackdown on Google might seem like deja vu for European Union regulators.

U.S. antitrust case against Google mirrors Microsoft battle

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration's legal assault on Google actually feels like a blast from the past.

EU says UK 'can't have cake, eat it too' but eyes new talks

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union struck a defiant tone on Wednesday as the standoff over resuming post-Brexit trade negotiations with the United Kingdom intensified, telling London that "you cannot have your cake and eat it too."

ELECTION 2020

5 questions as Trump and Biden prepare for final debate

NASHVILLE (AP) — President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, meet on the debate stage for the second and final time Thursday night in Tennessee. The 90-minute prime-time meeting comes just 12 days before Election Day.

Trump ups pressure on Barr to probe Bidens as election nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Attorney General William Barr to immediately launch an investigation into unverified claims about Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter, effectively demanding that the Justice Department muddy his political opponent and abandon its historic resistance to getting involved in elections.

AP Explains: Trump seizes on dubious Biden-Ukraine story

WASHINGTON (AP) — Looking to undermine rival Joe Biden two weeks before the election, President Donald Trump's campaign has seized on a tabloid story offering bizarre twists to a familiar line of attack: Biden's relationship with Ukraine. But the story in the New York Post raised more questions than answers, including about the authenticity of an email at the center of the story.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's falsehoods on virus, taxes, Bidens

WASHINGTON (AP) — Back fully campaigning after COVID-19 sidelined him, President Donald Trump returned to familiar form, spreading a litany of falsehoods.

Trump tends to his electoral map, Biden eyes Obama boost

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hopping from one must-win stop on the electoral map to the next in the leadup to a final presidential debate that may be his last, best chance to alter the trajectory of the 2020 campaign.

Barack Obama to hold his first in-person event for Joe Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Barack Obama is returning to Philadelphia on Wednesday for his first in-person 2020 campaign event for Joe Biden.

Report: Tax records show Trump tried to land China projects

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump spent a decade unsuccessfully pursuing projects in China, operating an office there during his first run for president and forging a partnership with a major government-controlled company, The New York Times reported Tuesday.


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
UT SPORTS

Saban wants Alabama's focus on Vols after big win

Nick Saban's postgame dance during Alabama's celebration of a big win was short-lived, then it was back to business.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashville narrows search for new police chief to 5 finalists

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville has narrowed its search for a new police chief to five finalists, including the current interim chief.

STATEWIDE

Poll worker fired for turning away voters with BLM shirts

MEMPHIS (AP) — A poll worker in Memphis, Tennessee, has been fired after turning away early voters who were wearing "Black Lives Matter" and "I Can't Breathe" shirts, an elections official said Monday.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Spring Hill to become GM's 3rd electric vehicle plant

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors plans to spend $2 billion to convert its Spring Hill, Tennessee, assembly plant into a third U.S. site to build future electric vehicles.

REAL ESTATE

US home construction up 1.9% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home construction rose a solid 1.9% in September after having fallen in the previous month, as home building continues as one of the bright spots of the economy.

COURTS

Court keeps Tennessee 1st-time voter change pending appeal

NASHVILLE (AP) — First-time voters in Tennessee won't have to appear in person to vote while a court appeal proceeds, as the Oct. 27 deadline to request an absentee ballot approaches.

6 Russian officers charged in 'destructive' hacking campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department announced charges against Russian intelligence officers in cyberattacks that targeted a French presidential election, the Winter Olympics in South Korea and American businesses. The case implicates the Kremlin unit that interfered in the 2016 U.S. election but is not related to the November vote.

High court allows 3-day extension for Pennsylvania ballots

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election, rejecting a Republican plea in the presidential battleground state.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Leaders in US, Europe divided on response to surging virus

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Virus cases are surging across Europe and many U.S. states, but responses by leaders are miles apart, with officials in Ireland, France and elsewhere imposing curfews and restricting gatherings even as some U.S. governors resist mask mandates or more aggressive measures.

UK to infect healthy volunteers in vaccine research trial

LONDON (AP) — U.K. researchers are preparing to infect healthy young volunteers with the virus that causes COVID-19, becoming the first to announce plans to use the controversial technique to study the disease and potentially speed up development of a vaccine that could help end the pandemic.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks close higher as companies report solid earnings

Stocks are closing higher on Wall Street following several solid earnings reports from U.S. companies.

Older workers face higher unemployment than midcareer peers

For the first time in nearly 50 years, older workers are facing higher unemployment than midcareer workers, according to a study released Tuesday from the New School.

Justice Dept. to file landmark antitrust case against Google

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday sued Google for antitrust violations, alleging that it abused its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and harm consumers.

5 takeaways from the government's lawsuit against Google

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Justice Department's lawsuit against Google alleging antitrust violations marks the government's most significant attempt to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. The lawsuit claims Google has abused its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and harm consumers.

McConnell says any Pelosi-Mnuchin deal would get Senate vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that he'll schedule a vote if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Trump administration are able to seal an agreement on a huge COVID-19 relief bill.

Fortunes of China's internet tycoons soar amid pandemic

BEIJING (AP) — Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, held onto his status as China's richest tycoon this year as surging demand for online shopping and other services during the coronavirus pandemic swelled the fortunes of internet entrepreneurs, according to a survey released Tuesday.

ELECTION 2020

Trump pressures Barr to investigate Bidens as election nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Attorney General William Barr to immediately launch an investigation of Democrat Joe Biden and his son Hunter, effectively demanding that the Justice Department muddy his political opponent and abandon its historic resistance to getting involved in elections.

Trump plans to debate Biden despite rule changes

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to attend Thursday's debate with Democratic nominee Joe Biden despite rule changes — opposed by his campaign — that are meant to foster more ordered discussions.

Trump says Fauci is 'terrific guy' but not 'team player'

WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after claiming that the American people are tired of listening to Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that he gets along with the nation's top infectious disease specialist while also complaining the doctor who has clashed with him at times over the coronavirus is not a "team player."

How Trump plowed through $1B, losing cash advantage

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's sprawling political operation has raised well over $1 billion since he took the White House in 2017 — and set a lot of it on fire.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

AP finds most arrested in protests aren't leftist radicals

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump portrays the hundreds of people arrested nationwide in protests against racial injustice as violent urban left-wing radicals. But an Associated Press review of thousands of pages of court documents tell a different story.

Senate to work through weekend to push Barrett onto court

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wasting no time, the Senate is on track to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court by next Monday, charging toward a rare weekend session as Republicans push past procedural steps to install President Donald Trump's pick before Election Day.

NATO to set up new space center amid China, Russia concerns

KESTER, Belgium (AP) — To a few of the locals, the top-secret, fenced-off installation on the hill is known as "the radar station." Some folks claim to have seen mysterious Russians in the area. Over the years, rumors have swirled that it might be a base for U.S. nuclear warheads.


MONDAY, OCTOBER 19
TENNESSEE TITANS

AP source: No talk of individual punishment for Titans

NASHVILLE (AP) — The NFL and the NFL Players Association found instances when the Tennessee Titans failed to wear masks at all times and were "insufficiently clear" to players about not meeting or working out once the facility closed in a review given to the team Monday, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press.

Undefeated Titans face biggest test yet replacing LT Lewan

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans' winning mojo is about to get its biggest test yet.

Henry, Titans rally past Texans 42-36 in OT, remain unbeaten

NASHVILLE (AP) — Expectations for Derrick Henry already are pretty high, with his history of mighty stiff arms and long touchdown runs.

MIDSTATE

Organic baby food maker plans Tennessee center with 147 jobs

NASHVILLE (AP) — An organic baby food manufacturer plans to invest $45 million in a new facility in Tennessee that is expected to create 147 jobs.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM expected to announce electric vehicle for Spring Hill plant

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is expected to reveal that it will build the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV at its factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, when it makes a major manufacturing announcement on Tuesday.

COURTS

High court to review two cases involving Trump border policy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear two cases involving Trump administration policies at the U.S.-Mexico border: one about a policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings and a second about the administration's use of money to fund the border wall.

Supreme Court to review Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' Policy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is agreeing to review a Trump administration policy that makes asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for U.S. court hearings.

Trial in killing of Tennessee prison official moved to 2021

RIPLEY (AP) — The trial of a Tennessee convict charged with killing a corrections official before escaping prison on a tractor has been delayed until next year.

TECHNOLOGY

Nokia to build moon's first 4G cell network for NASA program

LONDON (AP) — Nokia says it has been tapped by NASA to build the first cellular communications network on the moon.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Top military leaders cleared to return to work at Pentagon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's top military leaders have been cleared to return to work at the Pentagon after having self-quarantined as a precaution following the positive COVID-19 test of a senior Coast Guard official in early October.

World struggles as confirmed COVID-19 cases pass 40 million

LONDON (AP) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the planet has surpassed 40 million, but experts say that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true impact of the pandemic that has upended life and work around the world.

Millions more virus rapid tests, but are results reported?

WASHINGTON (AP) — After struggling to ramp up coronavirus testing, the U.S. can now screen several million people daily, thanks to a growing supply of rapid tests. But the boom comes with a new challenge: keeping track of the results.

Belgium fears virus "tsunami" as virus cases keep soaring

BRUSSELS (AP) — Bars and restaurants across Belgium shut down for a month and a night-time curfew took effect Monday as health authorities warned of a possible "tsunami" of new virus cases in the hard-hit nation that host the European Union's headquarters.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks fall on Wall Street as hopes for new virus aid fade

Stocks gave up some of their recent gains Monday as Wall Street's hopes that Washington will come through with badly needed aid for the economy before Election Day faded.

COVID delay: New coronavirus relief may slip past election

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is quickly moving past the point at which it can deliver more coronavirus relief before the election, with differences between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, her Senate Republican rivals and President Donald Trump proving durable despite the glaring needs of the country.

China's economy accelerates as virus recovery gains strength

BEIJING (AP) — China's shaky economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic is gaining strength as consumers return to shopping malls and auto dealerships while the United States and Europe endure painful contractions.

Europe's central banker: Recovery 'risks losing momentum'

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The head of the European Central Bank says the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic "risks losing momentum" due to a second wave of infections and that more stimulus could be added if necessary.

Top UK bishops slam 'disastrous' bill as Brexit talks teeter

LONDON (AP) — The U.K.'s most senior Anglican bishops warned Monday that legislation breaching part of the Brexit divorce agreement the government signed with the European Union will set a "disastrous precedent" and could undermine peace in Northern Ireland.

IMF: Nearly all Mideast economies hit by pandemic recession

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic has pushed nearly all Mideast nations into the throes of an economic recession this year, yet some rebound is expected as all but two — Lebanon and Oman — are expected to see some level of economic growth next year, according to a report published Monday by the International Monetary Fund.

Japan, Vietnam agree to boost defense ties, resume flights

HANOI, Vietnam. (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in his first overseas summit since taking office last month, agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart to step up defense and security cooperation in the face of China's expanding influence in the region.

ELECTION 2020

Trump, Biden go on offense in states they're trying to flip

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden went on offense over the weekend as both campaigned in states they are trying to flip during the Nov. 3 election, just over two weeks away.

'Our house is on fire': Suburban women lead a Trump revolt

TROY, Mich. (AP) — She walks with the determination of a person who believes the very fate of democracy might depend on the next door she knocks on, head down, shoulders forward. She wears nothing fussy, the battle fatigues of her troupe: yoga pants and sneakers. She left her Lincoln Aviator idling in the driveway, the driver door open -- if this house wasn't the one to save the nation, she can move quickly to the next.

2016 sequel? Trump's old attacks failing to land on Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump stood before a crowd in a state that had once been firmly in his grasp. There were fewer than three weeks left in the campaign, one reshaped by a virus that has killed more than 215,000 Americans, and he was running out of time to change the trajectory of the race.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's falsehoods on virus, taxes, Bidens

WASHINGTON (AP) — Back fully campaigning after COVID-19 sidelined him, President Donald Trump returned to familiar form, spreading a litany of falsehoods.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
STATE GOVERNMENT

State Sen. Gardenhire under fire after interview comments

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — A Republican lawmaker from Chattanooga is under fire for comments made during a local TV interview in which he blamed "inner city" obesity partly on people eating fried chicken and criticized the local police department's hiring practices.

Gov. Lee: Hold teachers, schools harmless on tests

MEMPHIS (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee is calling for the temporary suspension of negative consequences for Tennessee schools and teachers related to student tests for the current school year due to adjustments and disruptions to learning caused by the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

ENVIRONMENT

EPA letting some hazardous coal ash ponds stay open longer

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Trump administration will let some leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash storage ponds stay in operation for years more and some unlined ponds stay open indefinitely under a rule change announced Friday.

COURTS

3 key Trump policies teed up for Supreme Court action

WASHINGTON (AP) — Controversial Trump administration policies on the census, asylum seekers and the border wall, held illegal by lower courts, are on the Supreme Court's agenda Friday.

Appeals court keeps Tennessee mail voting signature match

NASHVILLE (AP) — A U.S. appellate panel won't change Tennessee's signature matching requirement for absentee voting before the November election, affirming a lower court's decision.

Sumner Co. man charged with impersonating defense attorneys

HENDERSONVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee man was arrested and charged with impersonating defense attorneys and a nurse, authorities said.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM to run robot cars in San Francisco without human backups

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit says it will pull the human backup drivers from its vehicles in San Francisco by the end of the year.

German utility restores water supply to Tesla after stoppage

BERLIN (AP) — A German utility said Friday it is restoring water supply to the construction site of a Tesla factory near Berlin, a day after it was cut off because of an unpaid bill.

TRANSPORTATION

Report: Europe closing in on decision to let 737 Max fly

BERLIN (AP) — Europe's aviation regulator is closing in on a decision to allow the Boeing 737 Max to return to the air after it was grounded worldwide following two deadly crashes, according to a report Friday.

HEALTH CARE

Trump's election-eve drug discounts for seniors get snagged

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's plan to mail millions of seniors a $200 prescription savings card has hit legal and budget roadblocks, making it unlikely the government can carry it out before Election Day.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Feds unveil plan to get coronavirus shots to nursing homes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Friday unveiled a plan to get approved coronavirus vaccines to nursing home residents free of cost, with the aid of two national pharmacy chains.

Pfizer: Mid-November earliest it can seek virus vaccine OK

NEW YORK (AP) — Pfizer Inc. cannot request emergency authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine before the third week of November — and that's if everything goes well, the company's CEO announced Friday.

Christie says he was wrong not to wear mask in White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that he was wrong not to wear a mask at the White House, after he and President Donald Trump both came down with the coronavirus.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Late slide erases gains for US indexes, leaving them mixed

Stocks took a late stumble on Wall Street, erasing an early gain and leaving major indexes mixed on Friday.

Awash in red ink: US posts record $3.1T 2020 budget deficit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal budget deficit hit an all-time high of $3.1 trillion in the 2020 budget year, more than double the previous record, as the coronavirus pandemic shrank revenues and sent spending soaring.

US industrial production fell a sharp 0.6% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. industrial production fell 0.6% in September, the weakest showing since spring and a sign that the economy's recovery from the pandemic recession may be faltering just as confirmed viral infections are resurging in much of the country.

US retail sales grow for 5th month in a row

NEW YORK (AP) — Retail sales rose strongly in September, the fifth consecutive month of growth, as Americans spent more on clothing, cars and sporting goods.

UK says EU trade talks 'over' after EU says they'll continue

UK says EU trade talks 'over' but bloc sees room for a deal

ELECTION 2020

Biden, Harris test negative for virus Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden's campaign says the former vice president and his running mate, Kamala Harris, each tested negative Friday for COVID-19.

FBI probing if Russia involved in Hunter Biden email story

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is investigating whether emails that were published by the New York Post related to Joe Biden's son, Hunter, are connected to a possible Russian influence operation to spread disinformation, according to a person familiar with the matter.

GOP, Dems hope SCOTUS fight bolsters Senate prospects

WASHINGTON (AP) — For Republicans, the nomination fight over Amy Coney Barrett is a chance to seal conservative control of the Supreme Court for decades. For some GOP senators, it's also a lifeline they hope will preserve their political careers and their party's control of the chamber in November's elections.

QAnon supporters behind canceled fundraiser give Trump $1M

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump recently accepted $1 million in campaign contributions from a couple whose vocal support for the QAnon conspiracy theory led to the cancellation of a fundraiser they were supposed to host for Vice President Mike Pence last month.

Avalanche of early votes transforming 2020 election

More than 17 million Americans have already cast ballots in the 2020 election, a record-shattering avalanche of early votes driven both by Democratic enthusiasm and a pandemic that has transformed the way the nation votes.

AP-NORC poll: Voters see the nation as fundamentally divided

NEW YORK (AP) — The overwhelming majority of voters believe the nation is deeply divided over its most important values, and many have doubts about the health of the democracy itself. And supporters of President Donald Trump and Joe Biden alike think the opposing candidate will make things even worse if elected, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Trump on defense, courting voters in two must-win states

WASHINGTON (AP) — Backed into a corner and facing financial strains, President Donald Trump fought to defend his sagging reelection bid Friday in a state Republicans haven't lost in nearly three decades. With Election Day looming, Democrat Joe Biden pushed to keep voters focused on health care in the Midwest.

AP FACT CHECK: Rhetoric from Trump, Biden in the non-debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic rival Joe Biden faced inquisitive voters on separate stages in different cities in a substitute for the debate that was meant to be.

Biden out-raises Trump $383M to $248M in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was out-raised by Democrat Joe Biden in September and is being outgunned financially by his rival with just weeks to go until Election Day.

GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, wife finance anti-Biden group

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson and his wife have given $75 million to a new super PAC that is attacking Democratic nominee Joe Biden, an investment made amid GOP concern that President Donald Trump's campaign is flailing and might not be able to correct course.

GOP's Sasse rips Trump over COVID-19, foreign policy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse told Nebraska constituents in a telephone town hall meeting that President Donald Trump has "flirted with white supremacists," mocks Christian evangelicals in private, and "kisses dictators' butts."

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

White House rejects Putin response to US arms control offer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Friday rejected as "a non-starter" Russia's stance that a key nuclear arms control treaty be extended without imposing a broader, short-term freeze on U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons.


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee's revenues come above projections once again

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials announced Wednesday that September revenues once again came in higher than state projections, but warned that possible declines could be on the horizon.

STATEWIDE

Report: More than 1 in 5 Black Tennesseans disenfranchised

NASHVILLE (AP) — More than 20% of Tennessee's Black adults cannot vote due to a felony conviction, while 8% of the state's overall adult population is disenfranchised, according to a newly released report.

HEALTH CARE

Belmont University to open new medical school

NASHVILLE (AP) — Officials with Belmont University announced Thursday that they intend to start a new medical school in Nashville.

REAL ESTATE

US long-term mortgage rates fall to low; 30-year at 2.81%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell this week as the key 30-year loan reached a new all-time low for the tenth time this year.

AUTO INDUSTRY

German water utility pulls plug on Tesla over unpaid bills

BERLIN (AP) — A German utility company says it has shut down the pipes supplying Tesla with water for the construction of a factory near Berlin because the automaker hasn't paid its bills.

MEDIA

YouTube follows Twitter and Facebook with QAnon crackdown

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — YouTube is following the lead of Twitter and Facebook, saying that it is taking more steps to limit QAnon and other baseless conspiracy theories that can lead to real-world violence.

COURTS

Hearing set on national eviction moratorium in Memphis

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee landlords hoping to overturn a national eviction moratorium will make their case in front of federal judge later this month.

Appeals court again sets new hearing in McGahn subpoena case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The full federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Thursday said it will once again take up the House of Representatives' bid to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to appear before Congress.

Cybercrime money-launders busted by European police, FBI

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — European and American officials said Thursday that they have arrested 20 people in several countries for allegedly belonging to an international ring that laundered millions of euros stolen by cybercriminals through malware schemes.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Tennessee sees COVID-19 rise, from rural areas to Nashville

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases in rural and urban areas, including a 93% increase among Nashville children up to 17 years old since September began, city officials said Thursday.

Europe, US reel as virus infections surge at record pace

Coronavirus cases around the world have climbed to all-time highs of more than 330,000 per day as the scourge comes storming back across Europe and spreads with renewed speed in the U.S., forcing many places to reimpose tough restrictions eased just months ago.

AP-NORC poll: Americans critical of Trump handling of virus

WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than three weeks from Election Day, majorities of Americans are highly critical of President Donald Trump's handling of both the coronavirus pandemic and his own illness, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks fall on Wall Street as coronavirus spreads in Europe

U.S. stock indexes erased much of their early losses and closed modestly lower Thursday, extending the S&P 500's losing streak to a third day.

IMF warns global economy could be permanently scarred

WASHINGTON (AP) — The global economy's recovery from the pandemic recession is tentative and uneven and "marked by significant uncertainty" as confirmed coronavirus cases spread in many countries, international finance ministers warned Thursday.

Pandemic hammers small businesses vital to economic recovery

WINCHESTER, Va. (AP) — In a normal year, hundreds of book lovers would have descended on Winchester this summer for Shenandoah University's annual children's literature conference.

As election uncertainty sweeps markets, the pros hold steady

NEW YORK (AP) — This presidential election is clearly unlike any other, but investors might be wise to treat it just like most of the previous ones.

EU chief self-isolates as virus makes its mark at a summit

BRUSSELS (AP) — As a fresh wave of the coronavirus sweeps across much of Europe, the reality of the disease struck a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday when one of the 27-nation bloc's top officials abandoned the meeting to go into self-imposed quarantine.

US jobless claims rise to 898,000 with layoffs still high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week by the most in two months, to 898,000, a historically high number and evidence that layoffs remain a hindrance to the economy's recovery from the pandemic recession.

Drugstore chain Walgreens rebounds with $373M profit in 4Q

COVID-19 took another bite out of Walgreens Boots Alliance quarterly numbers but this time left behind better-than-expected earnings.

Waiting for Brexit: Another deadline, likely another delay

BRUSSELS (AP) — It is yet another deadline day in the tortuous, four-year trek called Brexit but - Spoiler Alert! - most likely nothing will happen.

ELECTION 2020

Biden thanks GOP donors after record fundraising

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is thanking some Republican donors as he celebrates a record-breaking campaign fundraising haul from last month.

Harris suspends travel after staffer tests COVID-19 positive

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, will suspend in-person events until Monday after two people associated with the campaign tested positive for coronavirus.

Dueling town halls for Trump, Biden after debate plan nixed

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden will compete for TV audiences in dueling town halls on Thursday night instead of meeting face-to-face for their second debate as originally planned.

AP Explains: Trump seizes on dubious Biden-Ukraine story

WASHINGTON (AP) — Looking to undermine rival Joe Biden 20 days before the election, President Donald Trump's campaign has seized on a tabloid story offering bizarre twists to a familiar line of attack: Biden's relationship with Ukraine. But the story in the New York Post raises more questions than answers, including about the authenticity of an email at the center of the story.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

GOP pushes Barrett's nomination ahead, Dems decry 'sham'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court nomination cleared a key hurdle Thursday as Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans powered past Democrats' objections in the drive to confirm President Donald Trump's pick before the Nov. 3 election.

Senate Judiciary sets Oct. 22 vote on Barrett's nomination

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee set Oct. 22 for its vote to advance Judge Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court on Thursday as Democrats threw pointed objections but were unable to stop the Republicans' drive to confirm President Donald Trump's pick before the Nov. 3 election.

Biden says he won't rule out studying court packing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden won't rule out studying the addition of members to the U.S. Supreme Court as part of a commission he plans to name to look at court reforms if he's elected.

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