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VOL. 43 | NO. 9 | Friday, March 1, 2019

Is Nashville ready?

High-tech companies, entrepreneurs are here. More are on the way

How can Nashville enhance its reputation as a tech savvy city? What do cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Texas – even Huntsville and Chattanooga – have that Nashville doesn’t?

Nashville hopes to put on a high-tech show for NFL draft

It’s April 25, and the NFL draft is about to kick off in downtown Nashville. More than 100,000 football fans have poured onto streets near Riverfront Park to witness the historic Music City primetime event.

Nashville’s tech success by the numbers

Amanda Short, coordinator of applied research, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, says these numbers help to explain how Nashville’s technology sector is growing.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Bipartisan push in Legislature for increased voter access

Of dozens of bills before the state Legislature on voting this year, many would make it easier to cast ballots or register to vote, potentially benefiting students, the elderly and disabled, and people with felony records.

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

EVENTS

Williamson, Inc. Joint Mixer. Williamson, Inc., Spring Hill Chamber and Maury Alliance host a joint Chamber Mixer. Homestead Manor, 4683 Columbia Pike, Thompson’s Station. Thursday, 5-7 p.m.

more events »

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

The Tennessean’s move about more than a new address

In a letter of July 23, 1938, to what was then The Nashville Tennessean, a Mrs. Ann Stewart commended the paper on its new 1100 Broadway digs.

JIM MYERS: CULINARITY

Goldrush’s closing simply a sign of the times

The Goldrush is gone. It may try to reopen in another location, but really, it’s gone. The iconic bar with the swagger and stagger of a drunk biker is now just the font of memories for a generation that doesn’t go there anymore.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Comps not always a good guide for pricing a home

Located slightly into Williamson County, the house at 2492 Old Natchez Trace sold last week for $805,000, which was $55,000 more than list price. Well, $55,000 more than the latest list price. It had previously been listed for $955,000.

PREDATORS

Arvidsson’s speed keeps Preds near top

Full speed seems to be the only speed for Viktor Arvidsson. His energy, quickness and fearlessness help explain why he’s such a good scorer. “He brings so much to the table with the way he plays the game,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette says of the right wing who leads the Predators with 26 goals despite missing 24 games with a broken thumb and an upper-body injury.

UT SPORTS

Vol ball: If you can’t beat ’em, outspend ’em

There always seems to be more money in the bank account when it comes to Tennessee football.

NEWSMAKERS

Elliott Davis names Schmitz market leader

Elliott Davis, a business solutions firm with nine offices across the Southeast, has hired James (Jim) Schmitz as market leader for the firm’s Nashville office. Schmitz retired last year as Middle Tennessee president of Regions Bank.

BRIEFS

Emergency Response Fund to aid flooding victims

In the wake of record-setting rains, power outages, road closures and water rescues throughout the region, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has created the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund to support the affected communities and nonprofits helping victims address their ongoing needs.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Grow or die? No, it might be better to go it alone

A new building might be nice. Oh, not now but in the future, maybe. Right now, your business is a one-person operation, but you can dream, can’t you? You have plenty of great ideas but just be careful what you ask for, says author Paul Jarvis in his new book “Company of One.” Staying small might be better, he says.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Moving abroad for better, less-expensive health care

The notion that health care outside the U.S. could be good as well as cheap is foreign one to many Americans.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

4Runner vs. Forester: It depends on where you drive

Many Americans count on their vehicles for outdoor pursuits, which is one reason why SUVs and crossovers have become so popular. But there are some critical differences between their handling, hauling and off-road capabilities.

CAREER CORNER

Applying for 100 jobs will help you find the 1 you want

I hear from job seekers every day. You’re tired. You’re worn-out. You’re disappointed. You didn’t get the job you really wanted. You were a great candidate and you cannot figure out what went wrong.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee closed primary bill GOP backers voted in Dem races

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two Republican Tennessee lawmakers sponsoring a bill to limit primary elections to registered party voters have each voted in a Democratic primary.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Japan stunned by Ghosn's release, critics hope for change

TOKYO (AP) — Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn's release from detention nearly four months after his arrest has gripped Japan, giving the public a rare glimpse into how the criminal justice system works.

Most expensive new car ever: Bugatti sells for $19M

GENEVA (AP) — The most expensive new car ever sold is a one-off Bugatti luxury sports car that has gone for 16.7 million euros ($18.9 million).

TECHNOLOGY

Can Zuckerberg really make a privacy-friendly Facebook?

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — After building a social network that turned into a surveillance system, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he's shifting his company's focus to messaging services designed to serve as fortresses of privacy.

China's Huawei sues to challenge US security law

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Chinese tech giant Huawei is challenging a U.S. law that would limit its American sales of telecom equipment on security grounds as the company steps up efforts to preserve its access to global markets for next-generation communications.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

After a decade of doubts, the stock market's bull chugs on

NEW YORK (AP) — The bull market for U.S. stocks turns 10 years old this weekend, which puts it way past senior citizen status for a market run. It's got the scars to prove it.

US productivity up modest 1.9 percent in fourth quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. productivity grew at a rate of 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter, a slight improvement over the third quarter. Labor costs rose 2 percent, the strongest gain since the beginning of 2018.

Las Vegas bets on Elon Musk for tunnel transit system

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Entrepreneur Elon Musk's dream of an express tunnel transit system could finally become a reality in Las Vegas after major setbacks in other cities.

UK insists Brexit talks will continue despite EU pessimism

LONDON (AP) — Brexit negotiations between Britain with the European Union will continue through the weekend, the country's chief law officer said Thursday as the U.K. scrambled to secure changes to the divorce deal before a vote in Parliament next week.

European Central Bank joins global push to help economy

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank took unexpectedly quick action on Thursday to support a slowing economy, joining the U.S Federal Reserve and Chinese leadership in their attempts to counter worries about global growth.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Out of the shadows: Loyal money man swept into Trump probes

NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Weisselberg is seemingly everything his longtime boss, Donald Trump, isn't.


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
NASHVILLE AREA

Leaving Las Vegas: NASCAR moving awards to Nashville

NASHVILLE (AP) — NASCAR is leaving Las Vegas and taking its annual Champion's Week and awards to Nashville, Tennessee.

NASHVILLE SC

Nashville names Smith as MLS team's 1st head coach

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville has named Gary Smith head coach for its inaugural Major League Soccer season, sticking with the man currently coaching the franchise's USL team to oversee the transition.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Closed primaries push dropped from Tennessee bill

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee House panel has stripped a bill of a state GOP-backed push to allow only registered party members to vote in election primaries.

Tennessee police oversight board subpoenas limited in bill

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee legislative panel has changed a bill to maintain, but limit, subpoena power for local community boards that investigate police misconduct.

Anti-abortion group opposes Tennessee fetal heartbeat bill

NASHVILLE (AP) — An anti-abortion group in Tennessee is opposing a bill that would ban most women from obtaining the procedure once a fetus' heartbeat is detected.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Aldean to receive artist of the decade award at ACMs

NASHVILLE (AP) — Reigning entertainer of the year Jason Aldean will receive the artist of the decade award at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards in April.

Elvis group, Memphis find deal in Graceland expansion

MEMPHIS (AP) — Elvis Presley Enterprises and local officials in Tennessee say they've reached an agreement outlining several projects for expansion plans at Graceland.

Kelsea Ballerini surprised with Grand Ole Opry invitation

NASHVILLE (AP) — Country singer Kelsea Ballerini got a musical surprise of a lifetime in the middle of a duet with Little Big Town when the vocal group changed up the lyrics to their hit "Girl Crush" to ask Ballerini mid-song if she would join the long-running country music show as a member.

PREDATORS

Johansen sends Predators past Wild again, 5-4 in shootout

NASHVILLE (AP) — Ryan Johansen's patience in the shootout is making Minnesota goalies very angry and grabbing extra points for Nashville.

AUTO INDUSTRY

EPA says 2017 model year vehicle mileage increased slightly

DETROIT (AP) — New vehicles in the U.S. from the 2017 model year averaged slightly better gas mileage than the previous year, rising to a record 24.9 mpg, according to an annual report from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ghosn's journey: Star auto executive to masked suspect

Carlos Ghosn, the star auto executive credited with rescuing both Renault and Nissan, left a drab Tokyo detention center Wednesday after more than three months in custody, his identity obscured by a surgical mask, hat and construction worker's outfit.

Former Nissan chairman Ghosn released after posting bail

TOKYO (AP) — Wearing a mask, cap and what looked like a construction worker's outfit, the former chairman of Nissan Motor Co., Carlos Ghosn, left a Tokyo detention center Wednesday after posting 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) bail.

The Cruze cruises: GM assembly plant closing, maybe for good

LORDSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — The last compact car rolled off the line Wednesday at General Motors' massive assembly plant in Ohio as the automaker began moving toward its future while workers wondered about theirs.

EDUCATION

Great Smoky Mountains is backdrop for MTSU biology class

GATLINBURG (AP) — Some Middle Tennessee State University students are spending their spring break earning credits in the Smokies.

TECHNOLOGY

Zuckerberg promises a privacy-friendly Facebook, sort of

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mark Zuckerberg said Facebook will start to emphasize new privacy-shielding messaging services, a shift apparently intended to blunt both criticism of the company's data handling and potential antitrust action.

Democrats unveil bill to restore 'net neutrality' rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Top Democrats in the House and Senate are announcing a new bill to restore the 2015 "net neutrality" rules that Trump-era regulators repealed .

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Health companies lead US stocks their 3rd loss in a row

Health care companies led U.S. stocks broadly lower Wednesday, giving the market its third straight loss.

Fed survey finds adverse impact from government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve says the U.S. economy was expanding in January and February, but half the country was seeing fallout from the 35-day partial government shutdown. Some manufacturers expressed worries about weakening global demand for their products and adverse effects from President Donald Trump's trade policies.

ADP report: Small business hiring drops dramatically

NEW YORK (AP) — Small business hiring slowed dramatically in February, a sign that company owners may be getting cautious about the economy.

US trade gap jumps to 10-year high; record gap with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit jumped nearly 19 percent in December, pushing the trade imbalance for all of 2018 to widen to a decade-long high of $621 billion. The gap with China on goods widened to an all-time record of $419.2 billion.

iPhone sales are falling, and Apple's app fees might be next

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Last year, every time someone paid $11 for Netflix through an iPhone app, Apple pocketed as much as $3.30. Multiply that by every charge made through iPhone apps and you can see why Netflix and other companies are fed up about what they consider Apple's unfair market power.

Dollar Tree to close up to 390 Family Dollar stores

NEW YORK (AP) — Dollar Tree is closing up to 390 Family Dollar stores this year and rebranding about 200 others under the Dollar Tree name.

Survey: US businesses added a solid 183,000 jobs last month

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. businesses added a solid 183,000 jobs in February, a private survey found, a sign that companies are continuing to hire even as economic growth is likely slowing.

France unveils plan to tax internet giants

PARIS (AP) — The French government on Wednesday unveiled plans to slap a 3 percent tax on the French revenues of internet giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook.

China says new law will bar demands for technology handover

BEIJING (AP) — China will bar government authorities from demanding overseas companies hand over technology secrets in exchange for market share, a top economic official said Wednesday, addressing a key complaint at the heart of the China-U.S. trade dispute.

EU says talks with UK 'difficult' as Brexit impasse drags on

LONDON (AP) — The European Union said Wednesday that "difficult" talks with Britain have failed to break the Brexit deadlock, as the U.K. chief law officer claimed the two sides were holding "robust" discussions on new British proposals.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Democrats flex power by taking aim at money in politics

WASHINGTON (AP) — Flexing their new majority, Democrats are moving to push through the House a comprehensive elections and ethics reform package they say will reduce the role of big money in politics, ensure fair elections and restore ethics and integrity to Washington.

Homeland Security secretary insists border crisis is 'real'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen insisted Wednesday the crisis at the southern border is not manufactured, as she faced questions from Democrats for the first time since they took control of the House.

North Korea said to be rebuilding structures at rocket site

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is restoring facilities at a long-range rocket launch site that it dismantled last year as part of disarmament steps, according to foreign experts and a South Korean lawmaker who was briefed by Seoul's spy service.

Trump to battle investigations with condemnation and lawyers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has beefed up its legal team. Its political team is ready to distract and disparage. And President Donald Trump is venting against Democratic prying.

Cohen's 4th day of testimony could touch on Russia, finances

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for a fourth day of testimony as Democrats pursue a flurry of investigations into Trump's White House, businesses and presidential campaign.


TUESDAY, MARCH 5
HEALTH CARE

Immigrant group blasts Tennessee bill to limit prenatal care

NASHVILLE (AP) — An immigrant rights group is opposing a bill in Tennessee that aims to require mothers to prove U.S. citizenship to receive government prenatal care and women, infants and children food benefits.

Nashville group proposes new health care system for indigent

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville health care providers, community leaders and government officials are proposing a new system for caring for indigent patients that they hope will be a model for the nation.

Tennessee to spend $400K on vaccine promotion ads

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Health is hoping to boost the state's immunization rates by spending $400,000 on advertisements promoting the value of vaccines.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

‘Nashville’ TV series being adapted for Broadway

Lionsgate and producer Scott Delman, president of Blue Spruce Productions, announced today that the Lionsgate and ABC Studios television series “Nashville,” which ran for six seasons on ABC, CMT and Hulu, is being adapted as a Broadway musical.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee seeks new student testing contract vendor

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee wants the next administrator of its student assessment test to follow strict performance requirements after previous rollouts resulted in statewide delays and sparked outrage from teachers, students and lawmakers.

Education savings account plan sparks concerns in Tennessee

NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are criticizing Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to devote $25 million toward allowing parents to create savings accounts to pay for their children's education.

Tennessee gov to push $25M education savings account plan

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday unveiled his long awaited school-choice agenda, announcing a sweeping proposal that would boost the number of parents who can use education savings accounts to pay tuition at private elementary and secondary schools.

Education groups respond to Lee's education proposal

NASHVILLE (AP) — Education groups are offering mixed responses to Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to spend $25 million for a new education savings accounts program in Tennessee.

A look at Tennessee Gov. Lee's 1st budget proposal

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee is using his first budget blueprint to call for a voucher-style education plan, raises for teachers, correctional officers and other public workers, economic incentives for new Amazon and Volkswagen projects, a big deposit into state savings, and more.

MIDSTATE

Mt. Juliet tries to stop some abortions with zoning law

MT. JULIET (AP) — Officials of Mt. Juliet say they've amended the city's current zoning laws to block a new health clinic from performing surgical abortions.

101st Airborne soldiers returning from Afghanistan

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division are continuing to return home from Afghanistan after nine-month deployments.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Japan court OK's Nissan ex-Chairman Ghosn's release on bail

TOKYO (AP) — A Tokyo court approved the release of former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn on 1 billion yen ($8.9 million) bail on Tuesday, rejecting an appeal by prosecutors to keep him jailed, a lawyer for the auto executive said.

Geneva show has electrics, sports cars and a VW dune buggy

GENEVA (AP) — Carmakers at the Geneva International Motor Show are unveiling new electric vehicles they hope will transform the industry as well as the high-end sports cars that are a fixture at the show.

REAL ESTATE

US new-home sales rose 3.7 percent in December

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new U.S. homes climbed in December to their highest pace in seven months, a sign that lower mortgage rates are helping the real estate market.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Industrial, tech companies pull US stocks slightly lower

A mostly listless day on Wall Street ended Tuesday with stocks closing slightly lower as losses in industrial, technology and financial stocks outweighed gains elsewhere in the market.

US budget deficit up 77 percent so far this budget year

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government recorded a budget surplus in January. But so far this budget year, the total deficit is 77 percent higher than the same period a year ago.

Holiday season defines winners and losers in retail

NEW YORK (AP) — The 2018 holiday season turned out to be a mixed bag for retailers, with some of them defying a gloomy government report in December that raised concerns that shoppers were hunkering down everywhere.

CEO says Southwest is losing millions weekly in labor fight

DALLAS (AP) — The CEO of Southwest Airlines says a spike in planes ruled out of service for mechanical items is costing the carrier millions each week because of delayed and canceled flights.

US service firms grew at fastest pace since fall 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. service companies grew in February at the fastest pace in three months, rebounding after a decline in January.

Papa John's, Schnatter reach settlement agreement

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP) — Papa John's has reached a settlement agreement with founder John Schnatter that will see him step down from the company's board.

Target hits on all cylinders in the fourth quarter

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Strong online sales, traffic growth in newly remodeled stores and expanded delivery options pushed Target beyond most expectations in the crucial fourth quarter, when retailers ring up holiday sales.

US ends preferential trade deals with India, Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey and India reacted with a mix of anger and resignation Tuesday at the United States' decision to end a preferential trade program with the countries that will see some tariffs return on goods.

KFC dedicates China restaurant to memory of Communist hero

BEIJING (AP) — Fast-food chain KFC is memorializing a popular Chinese Communist hero with restaurant decor extolling his deeds, in a rare matching of an iconic American brand with Communist propaganda.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Aide: US hasn't used phone data collection program in months

WASHINGTON (AP) — A secret U.S. global surveillance program that was revealed to the public by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has been at least temporarily halted, according to a senior congressional aide.

Schiff hires staff with intelligence ties for Trump probes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House intelligence committee chairman has hired new staff with experience in the intelligence community and law enforcement as he renews an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and begins looking into President Donald Trump's financial interests.

AMA, Planned Parenthood challenge Trump family-planning rule

The American Medical Association and Planned Parenthood filed a federal court lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new Trump administration rule changing criteria for family-planning grant money in ways sought by anti-abortion activists.

As 2020 nears, pressure grows to replace voting machines

ATLANTA (AP) — Time and money are running short for states to replace aging or inadequate voting machines before the 2020 presidential primaries, according to a report released Tuesday.

Ex-Trump White House counsel: Mueller an 'American hero'

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House special counsel considers special prosecutor Robert Mueller "an American hero."

House panel opens sweeping probe of Trump, his associates

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats launched a sweeping new probe of President Donald Trump, an aggressive investigation that threatens to shadow the president through the 2020 election season with potentially damaging inquiries into his White House, campaign and family businesses.

Who's getting document requests from House Dems in new probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dozens of people with connections to President Donald Trump and his associates will receive document requests this week, as the House Judiciary Committee starts a broad new probe looking at possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power.

Hillary Clinton rules out a rematch with Trump in 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton says she won't run for president in 2020, but vows she's "not going anywhere."

Attorney general won't recuse from overseeing Mueller probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr will not recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel's Russia probe after consulting with senior ethics officials, the Justice Department said Monday.


MONDAY, MARCH 4
EDUCATION

Nashville charter overstuffs classes, violates fire code

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee school district is moving more than 60 students from a Nashville charter school because of overcrowding.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee Treasury holding nearly $1B in unclaimed funds

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Treasury is hoping to return nearly $1 billion in unclaimed property to residents.

PREDATORS

Johansen scores in shootout, Predators beat Wild 3-2

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — After a Stanley Cup Final appearance two years ago and the NHL's best regular-season record in 2017-18, the Nashville Predators haven't enjoyed the same vibe.

COURTS

Supreme Court declines to hear nominating-law challenge

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is declining to hear the Utah Republican Party's challenge to a state law overhauling how political parties nominate candidates.

OxyContin maker: Lawsuit distorts facts, scapegoats company

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is asking a court to throw out a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts' attorney general that accuses the company, its owners and top executives of deceiving patients and doctors about the risks of opioids.

HEALTH CARE

Lilly to sell cheaper version of top-selling insulin Humalog

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Eli Lilly is offering a half-price version of a top-selling insulin to ease the financial strain for some patients, but an advocacy group says much bigger changes are needed.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM restructuring: Production ending at Ohio plant this week

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — General Motors will end production this week at the first of five North American plants it wants to close by early next year as part of a companywide restructuring.

Autonomous car testing plan aims to boost public confidence

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Companies testing autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh will have to immediately report crashes resulting in any injuries as part of new guidelines announced Monday intended to boost public confidence in the testing after a deadly accident in Arizona last year.

Electric Jaguar wins Car of the Year in Europe

GENEVA (AP) — The electric Jaguar I-Pace won the Car of the Year award in Europe on Monday, the first time the storied British brand has been bestowed the prize just as Brexit looms over the continent's auto industry.

3rd time lucky? Nissan ex-chair Ghosn hoping for his release

TOKYO (AP) — The new lawyer of former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn says he believes the auto executive's latest request for release from a Japanese detention center on bail, his third, might succeed.

EDUCATION

Higher education: Colleges add cannabis to the curriculum

Grace DeNoya is used to getting snickers when people learn she's majoring in marijuana.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

FDA chief calls out Walgreens over tobacco sales to minors

A top U.S. regulator wants to meet with Walgreens leaders to discuss whether the drugstore chain has a problem with illegal tobacco sales to minors.

Health care, tech lead losses for stocks

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gave up an early rally and ended broadly lower on Wall Street, led by declines in health care companies.

US construction spending drops 0.6 percent in December

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. construction spending edged down 0.6 percent in December with declines in residential construction and government projects. Even with the December setback, construction spending for all of 2018 reached record levels, though it was the smallest increase seven years.

AT&T shakes up WarnerMedia to emphasize streaming

NEW YORK (AP) — Now that AT&T's $81 billion takeover of Time Warner is a done deal , the company is reorganizing its TV and movie businesses to emphasize streaming rather than cable TV networks.

UK, EU to hold more Brexit talks as May woos opposition

LONDON (AP) — Senior European Union and British officials were set to hold more Brexit talks less than a month before the United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the bloc, as U.K. officials denied Monday that attempts to seal a divorce deal are deadlocked.

China accuses US of 'double standard' over Huawei claims

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese government spokesman took issue Monday with U.S. claims that telecoms giant Huawei Technologies poses a threat to other countries' information security because of Chinese laws.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Trump says he'll cooperate, but it's 'a hoax'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he'll cooperate with the House Judiciary Committee's sweeping investigation into his White House, campaign and businesses.

Trump prepares to tighten trade embargo on Cuba

HAVANA (AP) — The Trump administration is preparing to tighten the six-decade trade embargo on Cuba on Monday by allowing some lawsuits against foreign companies using properties confiscated by the Cuban government after its 1959 revolution, U.S. officials say.

McConnell: Enough Senate votes to reject Trump's wall move

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged Monday that opponents of President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency along the U.S.-Mexico border have enough votes in the Republican-led Senate to prevail on a resolution aimed at blocking the move.

House Democrats expand Russia probe, seeking more documents

WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring it's "very clear" President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, says the panel is requesting documents Monday from more than 60 people from Trump's administration, family and business as part of a rapidly expanding Russia investigation.

House to query 60 Trump officials in obstruction probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring it's "very clear" President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the chairman of the House committee that would be in charge of impeachment says the panel is requesting documents Monday from more than 60 people from Trump's administration, family and business as part of a rapidly expanding Russia investigation.

Adviser: Trump 'gave nothing away' in North Korea talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House national security adviser on Sunday described President Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a success despite the lack of an agreement providing for verifiable dismantling of the North's nuclear sites.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's epic speech laced with fabrications

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump uttered a dizzying number of false statements in his epically long weekend speech, to an audience that didn't seem to mind at all.


FRIDAY, MARCH 1
NASHVILLE AREA

New Nashville clinic seeks to 'de-stigmatize' abortion

NASHVILLE (AP) — A health care company known for its outspoken support of a woman's legal right to an abortion is setting up shop in Nashville.

EDUCATION

Williamson schools apologizes for having students pretend to own slaves

BRENTWOOD (AP) — A Tennessee school district has issued an apology for a social studies assignment that asked students to pretend to be slave-owners and brainstorm expectations for their slaves.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

When music producers are accused of being predators

NEW YORK (AP) — Jessie Woo just wanted to sing. So when the budding vocalist met a successful music producer who told her he wanted to help her with her music, she believed him.

COURTS

Station settles with 3 ex-Tennessee TV news personalities

NASHVILLE (AP) — A television station has settled with three former Tennessee on-air news personalities who sued the station over age discrimination and harassment.

Federal judge denies new trial in coal ash injury lawsuit

KNOXVILLE (AP) — A federal judge won't order a new trial in a case that blames a contractor for the medical problems of workers who cleaned up a massive coal ash spill in East Tennessee.

STATE GOVERNMENT

2 arrested after protesting Forrest statue at Capitol

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee law enforcement officials have arrested two protesters at the state Capitol amid a protest calling for the removal of a bust of Confederate cavalry general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Vanderbilt women win at Tennessee for 1st time ever 76-69

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Mariella Fasoula had 19 points and nine rebounds and Vanderbilt won in Knoxville for the first time in program history, beating Tennessee 76-69 on Thursday night.

TRANSPORTATION

Lyft reveals financial details ahead of its IPO

NEW YORK (AP) — Ride-hailing giant Lyft is releasing financial details about the company in a federal filing before it begins selling its stock to the public.

Southwest sues mechanics union alleging deliberate slowdowns

Southwest is suing its mechanics' union over what it claims is an illegal work slowdown that is grounding planes and disrupting flights.

REAL ESTATE

Homebuilders face affordability hurdles this spring

A pullback in mortgage rates has helped boost homebuilder stocks this year after a dismal 2018, when the U.S. housing market slowed under the weight of higher borrowing costs, rising prices and a thin supply of homes for sale.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Tesla's online-only sales approach comes with big risks

DETROIT (AP) — When Gary Bornstein spent $52,000 for a Tesla Model 3 last summer, he did it without taking a test drive or even seeing the car that he now owns.

Tokyo court says lawyers again seeking Ghosn release on bail

TOKYO (AP) — Lawyers for Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan Motor Co. chairman detained for more than three months in Japan, requested his release on bail Thursday, the Tokyo District Court said.

EDUCATION

DeVos proposes federal tax credits to advance school choice

The Trump administration renewed its push for school choice on Thursday with a proposal to provide $5 billion a year in federal tax credits for donations made to groups offering scholarships for private schools, apprenticeships and other educational programs.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

S&P 500 snaps 3-day losing streak as US stocks close higher

Health care and technology companies helped lift U.S. stocks higher Friday, breaking a three-day losing streak for the S&P 500 and giving the benchmark index its fifth consecutive weekly gain.

Lyft reveals big growth but no profits as it readies for IPO

NEW YORK (AP) — Lyft revealed that it is growing quickly ahead of its initial public offering but continues to bleed money and may struggle to turn a profit, according to a federal filing.

Survey: US manufacturing grew at a slower pace in February

BALTIMORE (AP) — American manufacturers expanded at a slower rate in February, as the pace of new orders, production and employment each slipped.

US consumer spending fell sharp 0.5 percent in December

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer spending tumbled 0.5 percent in December, the biggest decline in nine years, as the holiday shopping season ended in disappointment. Meanwhile, incomes rose sharply in December but edged down in January.

eBay rethinking future of StubHub and classified business

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — eBay is initiating review concerning the future of its StubHub and its classified ads business.

Fed's Powell says US economy in a 'good place'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says that the economy is in a "good place" with low inflation and maximum employment. But he says not every American has enjoyed the benefits of the long expansion.

Walmart to make 'every effort' to keep disabled greeters

After more than a week of backlash, Walmart is pledging to make "every effort" to find other roles for disabled workers who'd accused the retailer of targeting them as it phases out the "people greeter" job at 1,000 stores.

US growth is likely to slow from 2.6 pct. pace last quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy turned in a solid performance in 2018, boosted in part by tax cuts and higher government spending. But growth slowed by year's end, and most economists envision a weaker outlook for the coming months and probably years.

Farm loan delinquencies highest in 9 years as prices slump

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation's farmers are struggling to pay back loans after years of low crop prices and a backlash from foreign buyers over President Donald Trump's tariffs, with a key government program showing the highest default rate in at least nine years.

WTO panel rules in favor of US in Chinese farm subsidy case

GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization panel has ruled in favor of the United States in a dispute with China over agricultural subsidies, saying Beijing went beyond WTO limits in its support for wheat and rice producers.

Cyprus: ExxonMobil finds 3rd biggest gas deposit in 2 years

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — ExxonMobil has made the world's third-biggest gas find in the last two years off the cost of Cyprus, the country's government said Thursday.

Martha Stewart partners with Canadian cannabis firm

No, you're not smoking something. Martha Stewart has entered the fast-growing — but still legally murky — cannabis market.

J.C. Penney closes more stores after a weak holiday season

NEW YORK (AP) — J.C. Penney is closing more stores following weak holiday sales season for the retailer.

Amazon ups its anti-counterfeit game

Amazon, which has wrestled with counterfeit products on its site for years, has developed a fleet of tools that allow sellers to remove items from Amazon.com themselves and to prevent fake goods from making it to the site at all.

NATIONAL POLITICS

US Treasury takes first steps to avoid exceeding debt limit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department is taking the first steps to keep the government from exceeding the $22 trillion debt limit which goes back into effect on Saturday, setting off what will likely be months of battle in Congress on finding ways to avoid an unprecedented default on the national debt.

Nielsen estimates about 16 million watched Michael Cohen

NEW YORK (AP) — The Nielsen company says that 15.8 million people watched President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testify against him on television before a congressional committee.

Opponents of Trump border emergency close to votes needed

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate opponents of President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the Mexican border have moved very close to having enough votes to prevail, and one Republican suggested the president risks a rebuff by the GOP-led chamber if he doesn't change course.

Report: Trump demanded top-secret clearance for Kushner

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump last year ordered officials to grant top-secret security clearance to his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times.

Democrats eye new inquiries, witnesses after Cohen testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — After three days of grilling Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Democrats are quickly using his words as a roadmap to open new lines of investigation into the president's ties to Russia and summon additional witnesses.

Casino mogul, GOP donor Adelson getting treatment for cancer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casino magnate and GOP donor Sheldon Adelson has cancer and has not been at his company's offices in Las Vegas since around Christmas Day.

North Korea disputes Trump's account of talks breakdown

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — North Korea is disputing President Donald Trump's account of why the summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un collapsed, insisting the North demanded only partial sanctions relief in exchange for shutting down its main nuclear complex.

Senate confirms acting EPA chief for permanent role

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed former coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, despite concerns by Democrats and one Republican about regulatory rollbacks he's made in eight months as the agency's acting chief.

Cohen returns to Capitol Hill after slamming Trump as liar

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's former lawyer returned to Capitol Hill on Thursday for hours of closed-door questioning after publicly branding his former boss a racist and a con man who lied about business dealings in Russia and directed him to conceal extramarital relationships.

Cohen says Trump behaved 'much like a mobster would do'

WASHINGTON (AP) — He carried out the boss' wishes. He understood "the code." He was blindly loyal — but now he's considered a rat.

Analysis: Cohen hearing stokes touchy topic of impeachment

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Cohen's testimony is just the beginning.

Analysis: Even without a deal, Kim makes gains at summit

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — As Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump took their seats across from each other at the negotiating table, the North Korean leader confidently told reporters he had a gut feeling the two would conclude their second summit with some sort of an agreement.

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