VOL. 37 | NO. 42 | Friday, October 18, 2013
REALTY CHECK
Santa Claus is coming to town, and soon. Ten weeks is soon for an adult and a lifetime for a child, but December 24 ’twill be the night before Christmas, and the jolly old elf will appear.
REAL ESTATE
Top September 2013 residential real estate transactions for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.
TERRY McCORMICK
We interrupt this talk about the problems with the Tennessee Titans running game to remind everyone that the NFL is still a quarterback-driven league.
BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW
You went to work today, and nothing happened.
NEWSMAKERS
Corizon, a provider of correctional health care solutions, has hired Woodrow A. Myers, Jr., M.D. as its new CEO.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
Twitter users often make a split-second decision whether to follow you, which means you have to make a positive first impression to gain new followers.
SMART STUFF 4 WORK
As I write this we’ve had another week of ongoing and intense political conflict with no end or compromise in sight. I hope I won't be able to make this statement a week from now.
I SWEAR
“You can call me Mess.” That’s what I envision the subject of this column saying in 13 years. When, as a teenager, he’ll consider part of his job description to be frustrating his parents. But I’m ahead of myself.
KAY'S COOKING CORNER
Although there is a band called Smashing Pumpkins, that’s not what this week’s article is about. I’m thinking more of decorating to have an awesome looking pumpkin door display. A smashing display of autumn!
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority is gathering public input to help officials determine the type and mix of energy sources it will need for future power production.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has been named chairman of the National Governors Association's Health and Human Services Committee.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement agencies across the state will be collecting unused prescription medications on Saturday.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford is raising its full-year profit guidance after a strong third quarter that saw improving sales worldwide, including in past trouble spots like Europe and South America.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Thursday proposed that big banks keep enough cash, government bonds and other high-quality assets on hand to survive during a severe downturn on par with the 2008 financial crisis.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised more jobs in August but hiring was essentially flat, further evidence of a job market that has weakened after a promising start to the year.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 350,000 last week, though the total was elevated for the third straight week by technical problems in California.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit widened only slightly in August, dragged lower by a modest decline in exports. U.S. farmers sold fewer agricultural products overseas, offsetting the best month of sales for American-made cars on record.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks edged higher Thursday as investors reacted to another slate of corporate earnings, this time from Ford, AT&T and the industrial conglomerate 3M, among others.
LONDON (AP) — Stronger Chinese manufacturing pushed the price of oil higher Thursday but gains were kept in check by plentiful supplies.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages dropped this week to their lowest levels in four months, a positive sign for the housing recovery.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The leading contractors on the Obama administration's troubled health insurance website told Congress Thursday that the government failed to thoroughly test the complicated system before it went live.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee State University has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
STATEWIDE
MEMPHIS (AP) — Delta Air Lines is eliminating more jobs and cutting additional Memphis flights.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — Ford says the Focus compact car is the best-selling auto in the world this year.
DETROIT (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. is recalling nearly 152,000 Nissan and Infiniti SUVs to fix faulty brake control software that could increase the risk of a crash.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — When a federal program that promised cash rebates to people who traded in their clunkers for more fuel-efficient vehicles was overrun by demand, President Barack Obama assigned Jeffrey Zients, his deputy budget director, to help eliminate the backlog.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Crowdfunding is about to go big time.
WASHINGTON (AP) — There's some good news on college tuition. Yes, the cost has gone up — but not as much as in the past.
NEW YORK (AP) — A four-day streak of record closes ended for the Standard & Poor's 500 index Wednesday after Caterpillar reported weak earnings and falling oil prices hurt energy stocks.
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil fell another 1.5 percent Wednesday on higher U.S. supplies of crude and weak demand for fuel.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Caterpillar's mining business is down in a hole.
DETROIT (AP) — The city of Detroit for months has disclosed the awful condition of its finances. Now it's up to a judge to determine if the largest public bankruptcy in U.S. history really can go forward.
Boeing Co. said Wednesday that its net income rose 12 percent in the third quarter as deliveries of commercial planes continue to accelerate. It raised its profit guidance for the full year.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - There won't be any criminal charges filed after an investigation into automated phone calls in which people were asked about their opinion of Knoxville Republican Sen. Stacey Campfield.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee transportation officials are holding a second series of public meetings for an Interstate 24 corridor study.
AUTO INDUSTRY
WASHINGTON (AP) — In some ways, computers make ideal drivers: They don't drink and then climb behind the wheel. They don't do drugs, get distracted, fall asleep, run red lights or tailgate. And their reaction times are quicker.
TROY, Mich. (AP) — Move over, silver. After more than a decade as the world's favorite car color, silver is falling in popularity to white. PPG Industries, the leading supplier of automotive paints, says 25 percent of the vehicles it supplied in the 2013 model year were white. Silver and black tied for second, with 18 percent each.
DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler began shipping the new Jeep Cherokee Tuesday, giving dealers a long-awaited entry in the fast-growing compact crossover SUV market.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Crammed into conference rooms with pizza for dinner, some programmers building the Obama administration's showcase health insurance website were growing increasingly stressed. Some worked past 10 p.m., energy drinks in hand. Others rewrote computer code over and over to meet what they considered last-minute requests for changes from the government or other contractors.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Marco Rubio says he'll introduce legislation to delay the penalty that can be assessed on individuals who don't buy insurance under the government's new health care law.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
The prospect of more economic stimulus from the Federal Reserve is pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index to a fourth consecutive record close.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil closed at the lowest level since June Tuesday as recent data indicate that there is plenty of supply to meet current demand.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple unveiled a new, thinner, lighter tablet called the "iPad Air" along with a slew of new Macs ahead of the holiday shopping season.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Spending on U.S. construction projects rose at a solid pace in August, helped by further gains in residential building. Overall construction activity climbed to the highest level in more than four years.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Though Wall Street recorded $10.1 billion in profits for the first half of 2013, New York's comptroller said Tuesday that federal budget dithering, higher interest rates and litigation may slow earnings for the last half in a securities industry that's kept trimming jobs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A dim view of the U.S. job market emerged Tuesday with a report that employers cut back on hiring in September just before a partial government shutdown began.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Harley-Davidson's third-quarter earnings rose 21 percent as motorcycle sales rose in the U.S. and abroad.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Delta Air Lines made more than a billion dollars in the third quarter as more passengers paid a little bit extra to fly. Even its new oil refinery turned a small profit.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Smithsonian Institution is facing a $65 million budget cut this year under automatic funding reductions approved by Congress. Officials say that could lead to furloughs or museum closings if the cuts persist for the year ahead.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) - Dolly Parton is home resting after being treated and released for minor injuries she suffered in a car crash she described as "a fender bender."
NASHVILLE (AP) — Taylor Swift has gathered an all-star band for her appearance on next month's Country Music Association Awards — and she's bit alone.
COURTS
NASHVILLE (AP) - Four same-sex couples who were legally married in other states filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Tennessee's laws that prohibit recognition of their marriages.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The application process for upcoming judicial vacancies on two Tennessee courts is underway again after Gov. Bill Haslam created a new panel to vet applicants.
STATEWIDE
CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Chattanooga is eyeing a proposed $40 million housing and commercial project as a way to add homes and connect the city's downtown and waterfront areas.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Monday said there was "no excuse" for the cascade of computer problems that have marred the rollout of a key element in his health care law, but declared he was confident the administration would be able to fix the issues.
WASHINGTON (AP) — "Obamacare" escaped unharmed from the government shutdown Republicans hoped would stop it, but just as quickly they have opened a new line of attack — one handed to them by the administration itself.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans bought fewer existing homes in September than the previous month, held back by higher mortgage rates and rising prices.
Despite uncertainty in Washington and rising oil prices and interest rates, companies are upbeat on the prospects for economic growth in the next year, according to a quarterly survey of business economists.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Standard & Poor's 500 index eked out the smallest of gains to set a record high Monday as investors assessed third-quarter earnings news.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil dropped below $100 a barrel Monday for the first time since early July as U.S. supplies keep rising and the risks of disruption to Middle East shipments subside.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is expected to round out its line-up of gadgets for the holiday shopping season with the Tuesday unveiling of its latest iPads.
NEW YORK (AP) — Online dating is shedding its stigma as a refuge for the desperate, but people who use sites such as Match.com and eHarmony are still in the minority.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Almost 6 million young people are neither in school nor working, according to a study released Monday.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sixteen days in October could change everything, or not much at all.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats who gloat over Republicans' bad week in Congress might pause to recall that conservatives still own major victories from past budget showdowns. And these wins may again thwart Democrats' hopes of changing tax-and-spend policies in two-party talks beginning anew in the Capitol.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are holding their annual coat drive before Sunday's game with the San Francisco 49ers.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling 803,000 vehicles in the U.S. because their air bags or power steering could stop working.
COURTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam has issued an executive order to create a panel to nominate candidates to fill judicial vacancies after fellow Republicans in the Legislature let the Judicial Nominating Commission expire in June.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Will Washington be the Grinch who stole Christmas?
NEW YORK (AP) — A new report says funding for U.S. startups rose in the third quarter from year-ago levels, as venture capitalists poured money into a growing number of fledging software companies.
NEW YORK (AP) — Investors shifted their focus from politics to profits on Friday and liked what they saw, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index further into record territory.
NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil posted a slight gain Friday, a day after nearly falling below $100 for the first time in more than three months.
NEW YORK (AP) — General Electric said Friday that net income fell 9 percent in the third quarter as the company struggles to grow revenue and profits after shedding media and banking assets. But improving industrial performance helped the company beat Wall Street expectations.
NEW YORK (AP) — Investment bank Morgan Stanley says that its third-quarter earnings almost doubled as the firm's equity sales and trading revenue rose.
NEW YORK (AP) — Strong third-quarter results have sent Google's stock past the $1,000 mark for the first time.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Applications for US unemployment benefits dropped 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 358,000 last week, though the figure was distorted for the second straight week by California's efforts to clear backlogged claims.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose slightly this week, staying near three-month lows. Rates could fall next week now that lawmakers reached a deal to avert a possible government debt default and reopen the federal government.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Regrouping after a feud with Congress stalled his agenda, President Barack Obama is laying down a three-item to-do list for Congress that seems meager when compared with the bold, progressive agenda he envisioned at the start of his second term.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown behind him, President Barack Obama focused Thursday on a new, trimmed down agenda by challenging Congress to overcome bitter partisan division and pass a budget and a farm bill and overhaul immigration.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government unlocked its doors Thursday after 16 days, with President Barack Obama saluting the resolution of Congress' bitter standoff but lambasting Republicans for the partial shutdown that he said had damaged the U.S. economy and America's credibility around the world.