VOL. 42 | NO. 46 | Friday, November 16, 2018
TIM GHIANNI: STREET LEVEL
Smyrna resident ascends to top of his profession
Smyrna resident Jake Jensen gets high on the job whenever he can. When he’s not working, he gets high just for fun.
ROGERS COLUMN
Almost 56 percent of Tennessee voters took part in last week’s election, the most for a midterm since 1994, reports indicate.
RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK
Two of the city’s most successful and active real estate markets – Sylvan Park and East Nashville – were hit hardest when the tornado of 1998 ripped through the city.
REAL ESTATE
Top residential real estate sales, October 2018, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates were steady to slightly up this week, at their highest levels in nearly eight years and dampening home sales.
TENNESSEE TITANS
When the Tennessee Titans took Jayon Brown in the fifth round two years ago, there were two things that stood out about him.
1. A big stroke of Luck. The Titans have never beaten Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who entered the league as a rookie in 2012. With Luck missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury, the Titans were able to finally get the upper hand on Indy. But of late, Luck and the Colts have been putting up points at an alarming rate, scoring at least 29 in each of the past four games. Not coincidentally, Luck has not been sacked in that four-game span, which means the Titans defense will have to find a way to create pressure in order to slow down the Indy offense.
UT SPORTS
Sitting on the couch watching bowl games on television might be entertaining for the average fan. But for Kyle Phillips, “it was miserable.” The Tennessee senior defensive end wanted to be preparing to play last year rather than stewing over a historically bad season that ended with no SEC wins and a coaching staff change.
SPORTS
Kevin O’Brien didn’t have to look far to find a blueprint for building a program when he was hired as the Lipscomb University women’s soccer coach in 2012.
NEWSMAKERS
Andrew Bellm, who had worked as a wills, trusts and estates paralegal at Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC since 2015, is now a staff attorney with the firm.
BRIEFS
Compass, which touts itself as a real estate technology company, has announced its entrance into the Nashville market.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
Drivers are used to traditional passive safety features, such as airbags and seat belts, that help limit injury in case of an accident. But vehicle safety is changing dramatically. The latest vehicles have safety features that can help prevent an accident in the first place.
PERSONAL FINANCE
The holidays are a huge deal in the Weston household – and every year, the expenses threatened to gallop out of control.
CAREER CORNER
Most interviews come in a fairly straight-forward format: You do a phone screen with human resources and then a phone interview with the hiring manager. Afterward, you meet in person with the hiring manager and other folks on the team.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
What if you could redesign your website with proven data? What if – before you ever began designing your new site – you knew the type of content your target audience wanted most, as well as what headlines, navigation menus and even colors would lead them deeper into your site to convert to a specific goal? Even better, what if that type of data were easily at your fingertips?
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials are launching a new incentives program for companies producing original music scores for films, television, video games and other digital media projects in the state.
MIDSTATE
NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee businessman has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and ordered to repay millions of dollars in a health insurance fraud scheme.
STATE GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee House Republicans on Tuesday elected Majority Leader Glen Casada as the chamber's next speaker, reconfiguring another level of state government leadership as GOP Gov.-elect Bill Lee prepares to take office.
SPORTS
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Kenny Cooper turned a steal into a breakaway layup that put Lipscomb ahead only seconds after halftime at No. 18 TCU.
VANDERBILT SPORTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Kyle Shurmur has been chasing down a handful of Vanderbilt passing records held by Jay Cutler all season long.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales rose in October, breaking a six-month losing streak. But sales are still down from a year ago, hurt by rising interest rates.
AUTO INDUSTRY
TOKYO (AP) — Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn will be detained for another 10 days following his arrest on suspicion of falsifying income reports by millions of dollars and misusing company assets for personal gain, Japanese media reported Wednesday.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks in the U.S. are higher Wednesday morning after two days of steep losses, and major European indexes are also recovering. Major technology companies including Apple and Microsoft are up after they've tumbled in the last few days. Crude oil prices are up about 2 percent after they sank to a one-year low a day earlier.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods fell by the largest amount in 15 months with a key category that tracks business investment showing weakness for the third consecutive month.
PARIS (AP) — A global economic watchdog says world growth has passed its peak and faces growing risks, including from trade disputes and higher interest rates.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Holiday shoppers should enjoy more spending power thanks to the recent sharp drop in oil prices, though cheaper energy could also weigh on the U.S. economy by dampening investment in shale oil production.
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May told skeptical lawmakers on Wednesday that rejecting her divorce deal with the European Union would mean uncertainty and division, before a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to help finalize the Brexit agreement.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Before joining the Justice Department, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker earned nearly $1 million from a right-leaning nonprofit that doesn't disclose its donors, according to newly released financial disclosure forms.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has declared he will not further punish Saudi Arabia for the killing of U.S.-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi, making clear in an exclamation-filled statement that the benefits of good relations with the kingdom outweigh the possibility its crown prince ordered the killing.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump frequently credits himself with accomplishing more for the military and veterans than any other president in recent memory. But he has yet to embark on what has long been a traditional presidential pilgrimage important to the military: a visit to troops deployed in a war zone.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has provided the special counsel with written answers to questions about his knowledge of Russian interference in the 2016 election, his lawyers said Tuesday, avoiding at least for now a potentially risky sit-down with prosecutors. It's the first time he has directly cooperated with the long investigation.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
COURTS
HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee death row inmate David Earl Miller faces a Tuesday afternoon deadline to inform prison officials whether he wants to be executed by lethal injection or electrocution.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A Murfreesboro dentist and his administrator are under arrest in a health care fraud conspiracy.
PREDATORS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Pekka Rinne continued his dominance over Tampa Bay and tied a record with one of his boyhood heroes in the process.
VANDERBILT SPORTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Darius Garland followed a career low with a career high.
EDUCATION
NEW YORK (AP) — One of the nation's largest student loan servicing companies may have driven tens of thousands of borrowers struggling with their debts into higher-cost repayment plans.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home construction improved a slight 1.5 percent in October, but in a troubling sign, ground breakings for single-family houses fell.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — For years, France's Renault and Japan's Nissan struggled to make money in the global auto business.
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese prosecutors were considering Tuesday whether to file formal charges against Nissan Motor Co. chairman Carlos Ghosn amid a probe into allegations he misused company assets and under-reported millions of dollars of income.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing sharply lower, erasing the market's gains for the year, as losses for big technology companies like Apple mount.
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers are spending freely heading into the holidays, but heavy investments and incentives like free shipping by retailers are giving Wall Street pause.
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May got a reprieve in one of her Brexit battles Tuesday as party rebels said they did not yet have the strength for a leadership challenge. But she faced a new headache as parliamentary allies warned they could remove support from May's minority government if she does not alter her divorce deal with the European Union.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Target's ramped up investments online and in stores are bringing in shoppers, but they're bruising the bottom line right now.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department on Tuesday added a network of Russian and Iranian companies to its blacklist for shipping oil to Syria in violation of sanctions.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a top White House adviser, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email account last year, The Washington Post reported Monday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of criticism and charges that he is politicizing the military by faulting a war hero for not capturing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden sooner.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump faces increasing pressure to take tougher measures against Saudi Arabia over the killing of writer Jamal Khashoggi.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Andrew Turner was driving Iowa's Democratic candidate for state auditor back to Des Moines last month when a potential presidential contender called to make an introduction. It was one of many such overtures the 23-year-old has fielded.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
MIDSTATE
ASHLAND CITY – Gov. Bill Haslam, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Caymas Boats LLC officials announced today that the boat manufacturing company will establish operations in Ashland City.
HEALTH CARE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt University is getting a $1.25 million grant to research the needs of some of Tennessee's most vulnerable children.
UT SPORTS
KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is trying to manage an uncertain quarterback situation as it prepares to visit Vanderbilt this week with a bowl bid at stake.
TENNESSEE TITANS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Titans coach Mike Vrabel says Marcus Mariota suffered a "stinger" and that is what knocked the quarterback out of their loss against the Colts, not an injury to his elbow.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel grabbed the headset and adjusted to calling the defensive plays as quickly as he could Sunday.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Andrew Luck followed the perfect plan Sunday.
STATEWIDE
MEMPHIS (AP) — An Episcopal diocese in Tennessee has elected its first female bishop.
AUTO INDUSTRY
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, who became one of the auto industry's most powerful executives by engineering a turnaround at the Japanese manufacturer, was arrested Monday and will be fired for allegedly underreporting his income and misusing company funds, the automaker said.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Big technology and internet companies tumbled again Monday, leading to broad losses across the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly fell 500 points.
NEW YORK (AP) — A company doesn't need to be as big as Amazon to get a good deal on real estate.
David's Bridal is filing for bankruptcy protection but there is no danger for customers who have ordered dresses because operations continuing as normal while the wedding and prom retailer restructures.
CHICAGO (AP) — The recent turbulence in the U.S. stock markets is spooking some older workers and retirees, a group that was hit particularly hard during the most recent financial crisis.
BANGKOK (AP) — Microsoft, Google and other major technology companies have promised to help provide training in digital skills for around 20 million people in Southeast Asia by 2020 to make sure the region's burgeoning working-age population is a fit for the future job market. Up to 28 million full-time jobs are subject to being displaced, according to a new estimate.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sixteen maverick Democrats have released a letter saying they'll vote for "new leadership" when the House picks leaders in January. That poses a threat to Nancy Pelosi's effort to become speaker.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is threatening to again suspend White House press credentials for CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The German government says it has halted previously approved arms exports to Saudi Arabia amid the fallout from the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said there is no reason for him to listen to a recording of the "very violent, very vicious" killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going too far in assigning most of the blame for California's devastating wildfires on the state's forest management.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
STATE GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's newly elected governor says he wants to do a complete overhaul of the state's public records and open meeting laws as part of his commitment to making government more transparent.
PREDATORS
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Darcy Kuemper might not have imagined that by the end of Thursday night, he'd have played in as many games as the goalie he backs up, the injured Antti Raanta.
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Nashville Predators say forward Viktor Arvidsson will miss between up to eight weeks with a broken thumb, and they've also placed defenseman P.K. Subban on injured reserve.
SPORTS
NEW YORK (AP) — Mookie Betts is ready to become an ambassador for baseball, now that he's won a batting title, World Series and Most Valuable Player award with Boston.
COURTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is planning to execute seven people over the next two years, after executing only eight since 1960.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department inadvertently named Julian Assange in a court filing in an unrelated case that suggests prosecutors have prepared charges against the WikiLeaks founder under seal.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal judge in Nashville won't stop the upcoming execution of David Earl Miller.
MUSIC INDUSTRY
Chris Stapleton won the most awards at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards and had the show's best performance, almost capping a perfect night.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — Bridgestone Americas has announced that it is expanding a tire manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE (AP) — State officials say a fresh pet food company will invest $1.7 million in a new Tennessee production facility that's expected to create 181 new jobs.
EDUCATION
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday proposed a major overhaul to the way colleges and universities handle complaints of sexual misconduct, adding protections for students accused of assault and harassment, and narrowing the types of cases schools would be required to investigate.
AUTO INDUSTRY
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen intends to invest 44 billion euros ($50 billion) in the electric and autonomous car technologies expected to reshape the industry — and said it would make battery-powered vehicles more accessible to mass-market auto buyers by selling its new I.D. compact for about what a Golf diesel costs.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook says it's setting up an independent body for people to appeal decisions to remove — or leave up — posts that may violate its rules.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Wall Street capped a day of volatile trading with a late-afternoon buying spree that sent U.S. stock indexes to a mostly higher finish Friday.
U.S. stock indexes were mostly lower in early trading Friday, erasing some of the market's gains from a day earlier. Losses in technology companies, big retailers and banks outweighed gains in health care and energy stocks. Crude oil prices headed higher for the third day in a row.
NEW YORK (AP) — Three years after it closed its beloved toy store on Fifth Avenue, FAO Schwarz is making a return to New York.
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple has signed a multiyear film production deal with A24, the acclaimed New York-based studio behind "Moonlight" and "Lady Bird."
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve announced Thursday that it plans to conduct a wide-ranging review next year of the strategies and tools it uses to achieve its congressionally mandated goals of maximum employment and price stability.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed Michelle Bowman, a Kansas banking regulator, as a member of the Federal Reserve board.
NEW YORK (AP) — Even the most balanced investors have gotten knocked on their heels this year.
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart may be bruised by Amazon, but it's learning how to fight back.
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Theresa May defied mounting calls to quit or change course Thursday over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, warning that abandoning her Brexit plan would plunge the country into "deep and grave uncertainty."
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington city council has voted to impose tight limits on Airbnb and other short-term rental companies.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales rose at a solid pace in October, though the gains were boosted by one-time factors such as hurricane recovery spending and higher gas prices.
MILAN (AP) — Chinese consumers will remain the driving force for the luxury goods market, according to a new study by Bain consultancy released Thursday that shows they will fuel nearly half of global high-end sales by 2025.
BEIJING (AP) — Washington and Beijing have resumed talks over their spiraling trade dispute ahead of a meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, China's Commerce Ministry said Thursday.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, though a lawsuit over the credentials' revocation is continuing.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A hand recount began Friday in Florida's acrimonious U.S. Senate contest after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by fewer than 13,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast.
NASHVILLE (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper says he will once again oppose Nancy Pelosi as the next House speaker in light of the Democrats gearing up to take the chamber in January.
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May won support for her beleaguered Brexit deal Friday from key politicians and business groups, but she remained besieged by internal party opponents determined to oust her.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge is expected to announce Friday whether he will order the Trump administration to return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaking before a gathering of black leaders on Capitol Hill this week, Sen. Kamala Harris offered guidance on when Democrats should fight President Donald Trump and Republicans.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge slammed Florida on Thursday for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems and said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000.
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Democrat who trailed a Republican incumbent in a costly U.S. House race came from behind to emerge as the victor Thursday following extra rounds of tabulations under Maine's new voting system that's facing a legal challenge.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs on Thursday promised to try to speed up payments to thousands of veterans after delays caused by information technology problems.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has nominated a South Florida-based luxury fashion and handbag designer to be the new U.S. ambassador to South Africa.