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VOL. 43 | NO. 43 | Friday, October 25, 2019

An American Classic

Goldsmith book explores Scruggs via ‘Foggy Mountain Breakdown’

Earl Scruggs stood straight. A fledgling banjo player for Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys, Scruggs had just paid dearly out of his $60 weekly paycheck to have his pants dry cleaned. He knew if he sat down he’d ruin the crease.

Goldsmith finds success in career detour

This is a story that plays out many times in Music City: So, this musician moves to Nashville … you know how it goes.

HEALTH CARE

Block grant’s effect on rural hospitals uncertain

How Tennessee’s rural hospitals would fare if the state gets the green light on block-granting some $7.9 billion in federal TennCare matching funds might depend less on the block grant and more on larger trends affecting hospitals – including growth in outpatient surgery and telemedicine.

ETSU, Ballad Health to collaborate on Center for Rural Health Research

Tennessee’s 2019-20 budget includes $1.5 million to establish the Center for Rural Health Research at East Tennessee State University. The center will receive $750,000 per year from the state on a recurring basis. Ballad Health, a health care company serving upper East Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, also will provide $15 million to the center over the next 10 years.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
41.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Southwest at 4.6 mph
Humidity: 47%

EVENTS

Chancellor’s Lecture Series. Doris Kearns Goodwin and Jon Meacham, authors and presidential historians, will be featured in Ingram Hall at Blair School of Music. This fall’s Chancellor’s Lecture Series, led by interim Chancellor Susan R. Wente, is themed “Culture of Respect; Culture of Caring.” Langford Auditorium. Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Free. Additional dates: Nov. 21: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author and MacArthur Fellow. Dec. 3: Journalists and authors Seven Pinker, Carl Zimmer and Amanda Little with Jon Meacham. Information

more events »

JIM MYERS: CULINARITY

Brewers, restaurants pair fare to benefit Nashville Food Project

The food event calendar is crammed with opportunities to eat and drink with purpose. I think I’ve counted more than a half dozen “dining in a field, on a farm” type gatherings this fall alone. I get it, because October should be the best and driest time to sit out under the stars and contemplate how farmers get food from their soil to your fork.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Already ready for next Southern Festival of Books

Nothing beats the Southern Festival of Books when it comes to Nashville’s annual events. I’m not even sure what comes in second.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Leaving it all on the field with football analogies

With football season devouring the minds and souls of the Midstate, it is interesting to try to gain knowledge from the brain trusts – aka head coaches – who impart words of wisdom throughout the season.

REAL ESTATE

Top Middle Tennessee commercial sales for September 2019

Top residential real estate sales, September 2019, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

US mortgage rates rise to 3-month high

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates rose slightly this week to their highest point in 12 weeks, though they remain far below their levels of a year ago.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Winston, Mariota never lived up to the 2015 Draft hype

Quarterbacks taken No. 1, No. 2 in first round

Nearly five years ago, the debate was whether Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota would be the better franchise quarterback to lead either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Tennessee Titans out of the NFL wilderness.

Goal for Bucs game? Don’t let it come down to Parkey’s foot

For one week at least, the switch to Ryan Tannehill sparked the Titans offense, leading them to a 23-20 win against the Chargers. Now, the Titans must see if that can carry over into this week against Tampa Bay.

Week 8 predictions

Titans 24, Bucs 23: It’s hard to have faith in the Titans after one win, but the Bucs aren’t lighting the league on fire, either. The Titans have to get after Jameis Winston and can’t let WR Mike Evans – 27 catches, 464 yards, four touchdowns – beat them down the field.

UT SPORTS

Former Tennessee football players share stories on podcast

They all gathered in the basement of Copper Cellar in Knoxville to share a good meal and reminisce about old times.

NEWSMAKERS

Former clerk, paralegal joins firm as associate

James Brandon Tomlin has joined MTR Family Law as an associate.

BRIEFS

Clarion Partners invests in Aertson Midtown

The Clarion Partners Real Estate Income Fund Inc. has closed on its first investment, an $18 million structured debt investment to Buckingham Companies for the recapitalization of Aertson Midtown.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Compact crossover showdown: Kia Soul vs. Jeep Renegade

Sales of subcompact crossover SUVs have surged by 60% during the past few years, Edmunds’ transaction data show.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Will you get the benefits Social Security promises?

The Social Security Administration will happily forecast your future monthly retirement check. Trouble is, it’s often off the mark. Understanding the sometimes-flawed assumptions underlying the estimate can help you make smarter decisions about when to claim your benefit.

CAREER CORNER

How can you interview someone without their resume?

If you’ve interviewed lately, you know the first step of a job interview is a phone screen. After you apply for a job, a recruiter from the company will reach out to you and set up a time to meet.

NASHVILLE AREA

$17.95M in SoBro-Gulch bridge funds diverted to other projects

Mayor John Cooper is diverting $17.95 million from the stalled SoBro-Gulch Pedestrian Bridge project, allocated by the Metro Council in the FY2014 Capital Spending Fund, to neighborhood infrastructure projects throughout Davidson County.

REGION

Storms precede season's first freeze across South

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Storms raked across the central United States from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes ahead of an arctic blast that forecasters say could bring record cold to the South.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans QB Tannehill back at work after father-in-law's death

NASHVILLE (AP) — Focusing on football hasn't been very easy the past week for Ryan Tannehill.

HEALTH CARE

Stable costs but more uninsured as 'Obamacare' sign-ups open

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans are going without health insurance, and stable premiums plus greater choice next year under the Obama health law aren't likely to reverse that.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Fiat Chrysler, Peugeot to create fourth-biggest carmaker

MILAN (AP) – Fiat Chrysler and France's PSA Peugeot said Thursday they have agreed to merge to create the world's fourth-largest automaker with enough scale to confront big shifts in the industry, including a race to develop electric cars and driverless technologies.

Ford, auto workers union reach tentative contract agreement

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union has reached a tentative contract agreement with Ford after three days of intense bargaining.

ENVIRONMENT

German farmers take Merkel govt to court on climate targets

BERLIN (AP) — Three German farming families are taking Chancellor Angela Merkel to court, arguing that her government isn't doing enough to tackle climate change.

MEDIA

Twitter pulls back on political ads, but pitfalls await

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter announced an end Wednesday to political campaign and issue ads on its service, calling it an important step in reducing the flow of election-related misinformation.

TECHNOLOGY

Security firm says Chinese hackers intercepted text messages

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese hackers with a history of state-sponsored espionage have intercepted the text messages of thousands of foreigners in a targeted campaign that planted eavesdropping software on a telecommunications provider's servers, a cybersecurity firm said.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Eurozone economy grows at modest pact in third quarter

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The 19-country eurozone economy grew at a subdued pace in the third quarter, continuing a shaky upswing amid trade disputes and uncertainty over Brexit.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Democrats push impeachment rules package toward House OK

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a package of ground rules for their impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump toward certain House passage on Thursday as the chamber neared the first formal vote on an epic clash that could well stretch into next year.

Border wall, impeachment battle imperil budget progress

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bitter fight over funding for border fencing is imperiling Capitol Hill efforts to forge progress on more than $1.4 trillion worth of overdue spending bills, one of the few areas in which divided government in Washington has been able to deliver results in the Trump era.

AP-NORC Poll: Trump approval steady as impeachment rages

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's approval rating is holding steady as the House presses forward with an impeachment probe that could imperil his presidency, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. But there are warning signs in the survey for Trump.


WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
NASHVILLE AREA

US Figure Skating awards nationals to Nashville, San Jose

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The final qualifying event for the U.S. figure skating team headed to the 2022 Beijing Olympics will take place in Nashville after the city was awarded that year's national championships.

EDUCATION

Report: Tennessee student progress largely stagnates on test

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee students largely stagnated on a 2019 national test compared to 2017, except for a rebound in fourth grade math after a 2017 decrease, state officials said.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Taylor Swift to receive artist of the decade award at AMAs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Superstar singer Taylor Swift will receive the artist of the decade award at the American Music Awards next month.

STATEWIDE

Senate candidate Hagerty heaps praise on Trump at conference

MEMPHIS (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty on Tuesday touted his staunch support of President Donald Trump, defending him from Democrats' impeachment efforts while heaping praise on the president for his handling of the economy and the killing of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

PREDATORS

Bonino's hat trick leads Predators over Blackhawks 3-0

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nick Bonino scored the goals and his Predators teammates made it an easy night for Pekka Rinne.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Volkswagen warns of slowing global auto markets

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen says its profits jumped 44% in the third quarter thanks to a more profitable mix of vehicles in its lineup but warned that global car markets are slowing more than expected and lowered its forecast for annual sales.

Fiat Chrysler eyes Peugeot merger, seeking strength in size

MILAN (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said Wednesday it is in talks with French rival PSA Peugeot in its second bid this year to reshape the global auto industry at a time of heightened uncertainty for the sector.

MEDIA

Twitter bans all political advertisements

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter is banning all political advertising from its service, saying social media companies give advertisers an unfair advantage in proliferating highly targeted, misleading messages.

Facebook agrees to pay fine in Cambridge Analytica scandal

LONDON (AP) — Facebook has agreed to pay a $643,000 fine in a privacy case stemming from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, agreeing to accept the fine without admitting any liability.

AT&T says HBO Max streaming service to launch in May for $15

AT&T said Tuesday that its HBO Max streaming service will launch in May for $15 a month, joining a crowded field.

ENVIRONMENT

Tillerson: Exxon tried to understand climate change effects

NEW YORK (AP) — As Exxon faced the prospect of new climate regulations, the energy giant's leaders sought a full understanding of how they would affect the bottom line, former CEO and ex-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told a court Wednesday in a securities fraud lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general's office.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks climb after Fed cuts rates

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose broadly after the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates for the third time this year.

Fed cuts rates for a 3rd time but signals it will now pause

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for the third time this year to try to sustain the economic expansion in the face of global threats. But it indicated that it won't cut again in the coming months unless the economic outlook worsens.

US watchdog warns of 'improper influence' in tariff process

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal watchdog is criticizing the way the Trump administration handles taxes on imported steel and aluminum, saying a lack of transparency creates the appearance of "improper influence."

Former Juul exec alleges company shipped tainted products

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Juul Labs executive who was fired earlier this year is alleging that the vaping company knowingly shipped 1 million tainted nicotine pods to customers.

US economy grows at modest 1.9% rate in third quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy slowed to a modest growth rate of 1.9% in the summer as consumer spending downshifted and businesses continued to trim their investments in response to trade war uncertainty and a weakening global economy.

Survey: US businesses added slight 125,000 jobs in October

BALTIMORE (AP) — U.S. businesses added a mere 125,000 jobs in October, a slowdown in hiring driven in part by job cuts in manufacturing and construction.

Fed is expected to cut rates but may offer little guidance

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is set to cut its benchmark interest rate Wednesday for a third time this year to help sustain the U.S. economic expansion in the face of widespread trade tensions and slower global growth.

Saudi energy minister: Saudi Aramco's public offering 'soon'

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — A planned stock offering of a small part of state-run oil giant Saudi Aramco "will come soon" and only at the direction of Saudi Arabia's crown prince, the kingdom's energy minister said Wednesday, further underlining the power of the 34-year-old royal.

GE cash flow picture, and its outlook, is improving

One year into the job at General Electric, there are signs that CEO Larry Culp's plan to transform General Electric into a sleeker company is paying off.

Trump skips ASEAN meet, sends security adviser O'Brien, Ross

BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will represent President Donald Trump at two regional summits in Thailand this weekend, the White House announced, a move that will widely be viewed in the region as a snub.

UK's Brexit deal estimated to cost almost $100 billion

LONDON (AP) — A respected British think tank has slammed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, concluding that the economy would be 3.5% smaller compared with staying in the European Union.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Vindman testimony fills gaps on Trump Ukraine call

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ellipses have long baffled lawmakers: What did President Donald Trump say on his call with Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy that the White House may have omitted on the rough transcript released to the public?

Trump pick for Russia envoy faces questions about Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 official at the State Department faced off Wednesday with senators demanding to know why he didn't know more about the Trump administration's backchannel diplomacy with Ukraine and the dismissal of the former U.S. ambassador to Kyiv, issues now at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into the president.

McConnell: Impeachment measure denies Trump 'basic rights'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The impeachment resolution pushed by House Democrats would deny President Donald Trump the "most basic rights of due process," the Senate's top Republican said Wednesday, sharply criticizing the leaders behind the measure.

With DHS head departing, it's unclear who will be in charge

WASHINGTON (AP) — A day before the acting Homeland Security secretary is set to leave his job, it remained unclear who will be tapped to run the sprawling agency tasked with national security, disaster response and protection of the president and his family.

Threat to US elections in 2020 is not limited to Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia interfered in the 2016 election and may try to sway next year's vote as well. But it's not the only nation with an eye on U.S. politics.

Diplomat: Bolton cautioned him about Giuliani, Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — A State Department Foreign Service officer is telling House impeachment investigators that former national security adviser John Bolton cautioned him that Rudy Giuliani "was a key voice with the president on Ukraine" and could complicate U.S. goals in the Eastern European country.

Trump's Rust Belt revival is fading. Will it matter in 2020?

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — President Donald Trump once promised that coal and steel would be the beating heart of a revived U.S. economy — a nostalgic vision that helped carry him to victory three years ago in the industrial Midwest.


TUESDAY, OCT. 29
MILLENNIAL MONEY

Vanquish these 5 financial fears

Fear can consume you. The anxiety of the unknown can drive you to pull the blanket over your head, whether you’re worried about a rustling sound outside your bedroom window or that you won’t have enough retirement savings.

PREDATORS

Predators include no-movement clause in Josi's 8-year deal

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Nashville Predators finally have their captain Roman Josi signed to a long-term deal, and general manager David Poile is so confident in the defenseman's future he included a rare no movement clause in the eight-year, $72.4 million deal.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Injured South Carolina RB Dowdle to miss Vanderbilt game

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina starting tailback Rico Dowdle will miss his second straight game as he recovers from a sprained right knee.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashville to end ICE contract to house immigrant detainees

NASHVILLE (AP) — The sheriff's office in Tennessee's largest city will stop contracting to house detained immigrants for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Dec. 1, Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall announced Tuesday, calling the issue a distraction.

TOURISM

Great Smoky Mountains park to allow electronic bikes

GATLINBURG (AP) — The Great Smoky Mountains National Park says it is allowing electronic bicycles everywhere regular bicycles are currently allowed.

Fire restrictions lifted at Obed River park in Tennessee

ONEIDA (AP) — The National Park Service says Obed Wild and Scenic River in Tennessee has lifted restrictions on open fires in backcountry areas.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM 3Q profit falls 7% as auto workers strike cuts production

DETROIT (AP) — Only two weeks of a lengthy strike against General Motors took place in the third quarter, but that was enough to dent the company's net profit by about $1 billion.

Automakers side with Trump in legal fight with California

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota and many others in the auto industry are siding with the Trump administration in a lawsuit over whether California has the right to set its own greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards.

REAL ESTATE

Pending home sales reached a 21-month high in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in September, a sign that the housing market is still benefiting from lower mortgage rates.

US home prices rise at slow pace for 2nd straight month

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices increased modestly in August, a trend that could make home buying affordable for more Americans.

MEDIA

Sony shutting down online-cable service PlayStation Vue

Sony is shutting down its pioneering online-cable alternative, PlayStation Vue, citing the high cost of content and the difficulty of reaching deals with networks.

ENVIRONMENT

Study triples population at risk of climate-triggered floods

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people threatened by climate change-triggered flooding is about three times higher than previously thought, a new study says. But it's not because of more water.

Beverage companies aim to get bottles recycled, not trashed

Every year, an estimated 100 billion plastic bottles are produced in the U.S., the bulk of which come from three of America's biggest beverage companies: Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Keurig Dr Pepper.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Amazon spends big to remake Seattle's liberal City Council

SEATTLE (AP) — Brian Sweeney has a long list of complaints about Amazon, from the way it treats warehouse workers to the low taxes it pays and its effort to win concessions from cities to bring in jobs. So when he learned the online retail giant – which is building an "operations center of excellence" in Nashville that is expected to hire 5,000 employees – had poured $1 million into remaking the Seattle City Council with more business-friendly candidates, he pulled out his wallet.

US finalizing rule to allow farmers to legally grow hemp

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. agriculture officials said Tuesday a rule that allows farmers to legally grow hemp will be finalized this week, a move that many states have awaited for months so they can begin widespread hemp production.

US stocks cap wobbly day of trading with modest losses

Technology companies led stocks lower on Wall Street Tuesday as a wobbly day of trading ended with modest losses for the market.

US consumer confidence falls for third consecutive month

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence has fallen for a third consecutive month as optimism about job prospects and business conditions down the road grow weaker.

World Bank: Weak economy to pull down energy, farm prices

WASHINGTON (AP) — A weakening global economy is pulling down the prices of energy and farm commodities.

Here's the single phrase to watch for from the Fed this week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Economists and investors who are trying to get a fix on what the Federal Reserve may do in the months ahead have zeroed in on a single phrase in the statement it has issued after its most recent policy meetings.

Coal giant Murray Energy seeks bankruptcy protection

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A major U.S. coal mining company is seeking bankruptcy protection, despite a flurry of regulatory breaks that its CEO pushed for — and received — from the Trump administration.

China promises no forced tech transfers, access to finance

BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday promised more improvements in conditions for foreign companies including an end to officials pressing them to hand over technology — a key irritant in its tariff war with Washington.

China accuses US of 'economic bullying' over equipment ban

BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday accused the U.S. of "economic bullying behavior" after U.S. regulators cited security threats in proposing to cut off funding for Chinese equipment in U.S. telecommunications networks.

Survey: Number of kids watching online videos soars

The number of young Americans watching online videos every day has more than doubled, according to survey findings released Tuesday. They're glued to them for nearly an hour a day, twice as long as they were four years ago.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Dems unveil impeachment procedures, GOP calls process unfair

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats on Tuesday unveiled legislation authorizing the next phase of the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, as Democrats move to nullify complaints from Trump and his Republican allies that the impeachment process is illegitimate and unfair.

Colonel testifies he raised concerns about Ukraine, Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying White House orders, an Army officer serving with President Donald Trump's National Security Council testified to impeachment investigators Tuesday that he twice raised concerns over Trump's push to have Ukraine investigate Democrats and Joe Biden.

Not over yet: New US Syria mission after al-Baghdadi's death

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pivoting from the dramatic killing of the Islamic State group's leader, the Pentagon is increasing U.S. efforts to protect Syria's oil fields from the extremist group as well as from Syria itself and the country's Russian allies. It's a new high-stakes mission even as American troops are withdrawn from other parts of the country.


MONDAY, OCT. 28
NASHVILLE AREA

Former Vice President Gore to speak during climate event

NASHVILLE (AP) — Former Vice President Al Gore will speak at Vanderbilt University on climate change as part of a worldwide event called "24 Hours of Reality: Truth in Action."

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin says he's boycotting Dove Awards

NASHVILLE (AP) — Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin says he's boycotting the Gospel Music Association's Dove Awards after they edited out part of his acceptance speech earlier this month in which he called for prayers after a police shooting in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.

COURTS

Texas man guilty of stalking, threatening Taylor Swift

NASHVILLE (AP) — A 27-year-old Austin, Texas, man has pleaded guilty to stalking and sending threatening letters and emails to pop star Taylor Swift's former record label.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee unemployment rates down in 90 of 95 counties

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials say unemployment rates dropped in 90 of the state's 95 counties last month.

UT SPORTS

Vols' Pruitt optimistic Maurer will be available against UAB

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is cautiously optimistic about quarterback Brian Maurer's potential availability for Saturday after concussions caused the freshman to sit out a game last week last week.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans force 4 turnovers by Winston, hold off Tampa Bay

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are very happy their stingy defense came up with four turnovers and another late-game stop.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Costs of GM deal could make talks with Ford, FCA difficult

DETROIT (AP) — Just after workers ratified a new contract with General Motors last week, the president of the United Auto Workers union put out a statement that Ford would be next for "pattern bargaining."

HEALTH CARE

Walgreens to shutter in-store clinics, add Jenny Craig sites

Walgreens will shutter nearly 40% of the clinics in its stores as the drugstore chain cuts costs and shifts to other businesses it believes will draw more people through its doors.

REAL ESTATE

Rising home prices, falling sales hurting small businesses

NEW YORK (AP) — Many small companies tied to the housing market are seeing a slowdown in business, one that's forecast to continue well into 2020.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks set another record. The champagne's still corked.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are back at a record. Don't feel excited? Neither does Wall Street.

US proposes cutting off funds for Chinese telecom equipment

U.S. regulators have proposed cutting off funding for Chinese equipment in U.S. telecommunications networks, citing security threats.

AT&T makes changes in response to activist investor push

NEW YORK (AP) — AT&T will review its portfolio for assets it can sell off, pay down debt related to its Time Warner acquisition and add two board members as part of a plan to boost results.

Survey: US business hiring hits 7-year low as sales slow

WASHINGTON (AP) — A measure of hiring by U.S. companies has fallen to a seven-year low and fewer employers are raising pay, a business survey found.

EU delays Brexit to Jan. 31; Johnson election bid fails

LONDON (AP) — Britain got Brexit breathing space but no clarity on Monday when the European Union granted a three-month delay to the U.K.'s departure from the bloc, postponing it until Jan. 31.

Thailand to seek talks with US on trade privileges loss

NONTHABURI, Thailand (AP) — Thailand plans to seek talks with the United States on a decision to end preferential trade privileges on a range of Thai exports including seafood, officials said Monday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

House Democrats plan 1st formal vote on impeachment inquiry

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House will take a vote this week to formalize Democrats' impeachment inquiry amid President Donald Trump's criticism that the probe is "illegitimate." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the step is being taken "to eliminate any doubt" about the process as the administration tries to block witnesses and withhold documents.

Trump suggests impeachment was reason he kept IS raid secret

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is suggesting House Democrats' impeachment probe contributed to his decision to withhold notice to congressional leaders before Saturday's raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Justice Dept. appeals order on Mueller grand jury testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday appealed a judge's order directing the department to provide the House with secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Islamic State still poses a threat after al-Baghdadi's death

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eliminating the Islamic State group's elusive leader gives President Donald Trump a new argument for leaving Syria, but the U.S. military campaign against the extremists is far from finished.

What's Next: Depositions turn to the White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — For only the fourth time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives has started a presidential impeachment inquiry . House committees are trying to determine if President Donald Trump violated his oath of office by asking Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his family, and to investigate the country's involvement in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

WH official won't testify in impeachment probe without order

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House national security official defied a House subpoena Monday, prompting the Democrat leading the impeachment probe to declare that President Donald Trump's administration is "building a powerful case" for his impeachment.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump claims on extremists, impeachment

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump fabricated a tale about foreshadowing Osama bin Laden's 9/11 attack and warning against a war in Iraq before it happened in a weekend of exaggerated boasts and faulty assertions about the U.S. fight against extremists.


FRIDAY, OCT. 25
NASHVILLE AREA

CoreCivic, other private prison firms try to lock down negative image

NASHVILLE (AP) — Top private prison companies have formed an advocacy group to rebut growing backlash from Democratic presidential candidates and other industry critics.

STATEWIDE

Gov. Lee hasn't decided on Trump refugee choice

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he hasn't decided yet if he'll accept President Donald Trump's offer to let states refuse to accept refugees.

PREDATORS

Predators' Rinne flawless in blanking Wild 4-0

NASHVILLE (AP) — The way Pekka Rinne was playing, the Predators' slow start was irrelevant.

HEALTH CARE

Tennessee announces state's 2nd vaping-related death

NASHVILLE (AP) — Health officials in Tennessee say a second person in the state has died from a vaping-related respiratory illness.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM workers ratify contract, ending contentious 40-day strike

ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) — A contentious 40-day strike that crippled General Motors' U.S. production came to an end Friday as workers approved a new contract with the company.

Schumer proposes $462 billion car swap - gas for electric

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is moving Democrats' climate talk to where the rubber meets the road, proposing a $462 billion trade-in program to get millions of Americans out of climate-damaging gas vehicles and into electric or hybrid cars over the next decade.

ENVIRONMENT

Pledges for global climate fund reach $9.8 billion

PARIS (AP) — Governments across the world have pledged $9.8 billion to help poor nations tackle climate change at a conference the United States did not take part in, the fund coordinating support said Friday.

TECHNOLOGY

Google digs into deeper meanings of searches

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — Google is paying more attention to the small words in your searches. Want to figure out how to park on a hill with no curb? Google now takes that "no" into account, and shows top results that include parking instructions without curbs.

MEDIA

Facebook launches a news section - and will pay publishers

Over the course of its 15 year history, Facebook has variously ignored news organizations while eating their advertising revenue, courted them for video projects it subsequently abandoned, and then largely cut their stories out of its newsfeeds .

Facebook clarifies Zuckerberg remarks on false political ads

Facebook reiterated its policy of not removing misleading or bogus political ads Thursday, clarifying its own policies after CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered Congress confusing and sometimes incomplete testimony on the subject.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US budget deficit hits $984 billion, highest in 7 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal deficit for the 2019 budget year surged to $984.4 billion, its highest point in seven years, and is widely expected to top the $1 trillion mark in coming years.

Stocks post gains on solid earnings, US-China trade optimism

The S&P 500 closed just short of an all-time high Friday as investors welcomed solid company earnings reports and an encouraging update on trade talks between the U.S. and China.

Average Wall Street salary dropped to $399K last year

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state's comptroller says salaries on Wall Street dropped by 5.6% last year.

Trump's company exploring sale of marquee Washington hotel

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's company is exploring the sale of its Washington hotel, which has been at the center of three years' of ethics complaints and lawsuits accusing him of trying to profit off the presidency.

Massive American Dream mall to open but will shoppers come?

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — More than two decades ago when a mega entertainment and shopping complex was being conceived on a vast swath of swamp land in New Jersey, the iPhone didn't exist, Amazon was only selling books online and malls were where you went for all your shopping needs.

Amazon's profit falls as costs for faster shipping soar

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon's push for faster delivery is hurting its profits.

EU envoys agree that Brexit extension is needed

BRUSSELS (AP) — EU ambassadors have agreed on the principle of granting Britain's request for another extension to the Brexit deadline but have yet to decide on the length of the new delay.

World's largest beer maker sees sales dip

BRUSSELS (AP) — The world's largest brewer, the maker of Budweiser and Corona, says the amount of beer it sold fell in the third quarter largely due to weaker demand as well as temporary shipping disruptions in China.

After withdrawal, Trump shifts focus to Syria's oil fields

WASHINGTON (AP) — As Russian and Turkish leaders divvy up security roles in northeast Syria following an abrupt U.S. troop withdrawal, President Donald Trump is focused on oil fields elsewhere in the war-torn country.

House investigators subpoena 3 more administration officials

WASHINGTON (AP) — Impeachment investigators issued subpoenas Friday to three more Trump administration officials, demanding their testimony in the probe of President Donald Trump's efforts to force Ukraine to feed him damaging information about his Democratic political opponents.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Esper: US troops, armored vehicles going to Syria oil fields

BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States will send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to keep oil fields from potentially falling into the hands of Islamic State militants, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday.

Judge: Justice must give House Mueller grand jury evidence

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered the Justice Department to give the House secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, handing a victory to Democrats who want it for the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.

DeVos held in contempt of court in loan forgiveness dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was held in contempt of court after a federal judge said she violated an earlier order to stop collecting loans from former students of a defunct for-profit college chain.

Going after investigators: Criminal review of Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Investigating the investigators, the Justice Department has shifted its scrutiny of the government's Trump-Russia review to a criminal probe, a person familiar with the matter says. It's raising Democrats' concerns that President Donald Trump may be using federal muscle to go after his opponents.

Trump confronts limits of his impeachment defense strategy

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is confronting the limits of his main impeachment defense.

President's defenders focusing mostly on process

WASHINGTON (AP) — For only the fourth time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives has started a presidential impeachment inquiry. House committees are trying to determine if President Donald Trump violated his oath of office by asking a foreign country to investigate a political opponent.

Ump apologizes for tweet referencing gun and Trump critics

WASHINGTON (AP) — Big league umpire Rob Drake has apologized for sending a politicized tweet this week that referenced an assault weapon and criticism of President Donald Trump.


THURSDAY, OCT. 24
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Post Malone tops AMA noms, Swift could break MJ's record

NEW YORK (AP) — Post Malone is the top contender at the 2019 American Music Awards, where Taylor Swift has a chance to moonwalk past Michael Jackson's record for most wins at the show.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Stackhouse enters 1st season at Vandy with revamped roster

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt has a new men's basketball coach in Jerry Stackhouse along with a revamped roster featuring six new Commodores.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee says it has staying power as SEC contender

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee wants to show it has built the type of program that can withstand the loss of three NBA draft picks and remain a Southeastern Conference contender.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Nissan ex-chairman Ghosn's lawyers want charges dismissed

TOKYO (AP) — The lawyers of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who is awaiting trial in Japan, said Thursday they have requested that financial misconduct charges against him be dismissed.

GM suppliers face lingering revenue fallout from strike

NEW YORK (AP) — Cars will soon start rolling off General Motors' factory floors after a monthlong shutdown, but the pain will linger for some of the carmaker's key suppliers.

TECHNOLOGY

Weak profit, revenue, overshadow Twitter user growth

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bugs in Twitter's advertising technology dragged on revenue, overshadowing a surprisingly strong quarter of user growth.

REAL ESTATE

US new homes sales fell 0.7% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. new home sales fell slightly in September with all regions of the country except the Midwest showing declines.

MEDIA

CNN's Zucker calls Facebook's political ad policy ludicrous

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN chief Jeff Zucker says Facebook's policy not to monitor political ads for truth-telling is ludicrous and advised the social media giant to sit out the 2020 election until it can figure out something better.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Tech gains fail to lift rest of market

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks turned in a mixed finish on Wall Street as big gains by technology companies were offset by losses in health care, communications services and other sectors.

US durable goods orders fall 1.1% in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods tumbled in September by the largest amount in four months while a closely watched category that tracks business investment fell for a second month.

Iconic AmEx 'Green Card' turns 50, gets a needed revamp

NEW YORK (AP) — For 50 years, the American Express "Green Card" has been everywhere its card members wanted to be.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Congress bids tearful farewell to 'sweet Elijah' Cummings

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of Congress bid a tearful farewell Thursday to Rep. Elijah Cummings , hailing the son of sharecroppers as a "master of the House" as the Maryland Democrat became the first African American lawmaker to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol.

UK's Johnson seeks Dec 12 election to break Brexit impasse

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally abandoned his promise of an October Brexit and pinned his hopes on a December election.

Pence takes swipe at NBA, Nike in critical speech on China

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence took a swipe at Nike and the NBA on Thursday in a speech criticizing communist China's record on trade and human rights, saying American corporations have been too willing to ignore censorship and repression in pursuit of profits.

Conservative leaders rally behind embattled Mulvaney

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative leaders are rallying around White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who is facing increasing scrutiny for his response to Democrats' impeachment probe into President Donald Trump.

GOP stands by Trump, gingerly, after diplomat's testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — They pleaded ignorance, saying they'd not read the diplomat's damning statement. They condemned the Democrats' tactics as unfair. They complained that the allegations against President Donald Trump rested on second- or third-hand evidence.

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