VOL. 36 | NO. 11 | Friday, March 16, 2012
GREEN BUSINESS
As a journalist, Amanda Little had written about sustainability issues for years. But she had never really considered the role fossil fuels and energy played in her own life or how truly ever-present they were until she moved from New York to Nashville.
NEWSMAKERS
John C. McCauley, former Vanderbilt University assistant vice chancellor of risk and insurance management and associate general counsel, has joined Wiseman Ashworth Law Group, PLC. McCauley will work with the firm’s attorneys on complex medical malpractice cases and advise its clients on risk management issues.
BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW
The painting you hung on the wall near your desk relaxes you.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
There’s no better way to immerse potential customers in your brand than through experiential marketing – a form of guerrilla marketing seeing a resurgence.
SMART STUFF 4 WORK
Have you ever seen little kids spin around and around until they get so dizzy they become totally out of balance and fall down? They try to get up a few times and fall down again and again.
I SWEAR
The theme of the Thursday, Jan. 5 New York Times crossword, which ran in syndication Feb. 9, was:
KAY'S COOKING CORNER
Hubby and I are at a newspaper convention in San Antonio, Texas. We were looking so forward to a break in the wet, cool weather at home to the warm, sunny weather in San Antonio. However, that didn’t happen. So far, we have had one foggy, wet day after another. Hopefully, it will clear up tomorrow, which has been the forecast since we arrived.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - Former congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik has prevailed in a lawsuit that accused her of defamation for a campaign advertisement attacking rival Diane Black.
GOODLETTSVILLE (AP) - Dollar General Corp.'s fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 32 percent on a 20 percent revenue increase as more customers showed up in the discounter's stores and spent more. The latest results also benefited from an extra week in the period.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Senate has passed a proposal that would allow school personnel to participate in student-initiated religious activities on school grounds.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would drug test people as a condition of receiving welfare advanced Wednesday evening in the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal to repeal the state's estate tax is advancing in the House.
STATEWIDE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Once upon a time in Congress, compromise between Republicans and Democrats was the norm. And a witty GOP senator named Bob Dole was one of the best practitioners of the art, preferably on a West-facing balcony of the Capitol where he could get sun on his face while lawmaking. He succeeded an affable storyteller and able dealmaker named Howard Baker, who likened running the Senate to herding cats.
NEW YORK (AP) — FedEx Corp. said Thursday its profit between December and February more than doubled as its ground and freight segments shipped more packages and charged higher prices.
CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Volkswagen will add 800 new jobs at its Chattanooga, Tenn., plant to boost production of the Passat sedan.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are lower on more signs that China's economy is weakening and Europe is slowing.
NEW YORK (AP) — Since the credit crisis of 2008, everyone has been waiting for the banks to start lending money again. It's finally happening, but there's a catch: Businesses are afraid to spend it.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate in the U.S. on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose above 4 percent for the first time in more than three months. The sharp increase suggests the window to buy or refinance a home at historically low rates is closing.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid fell to a four-year low last week, bolstering the view that the job market is strengthening.
Oil prices fell to near $106 a barrel Thursday after weak manufacturing data suggested China's economy, and demand for crude, could grow less than expected this year.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Deep in Republican oil country, President Barack Obama is fending off criticism of his energy policies, pointing to plans to fast-track an oil pipeline that emerged after he delayed the larger Keystone XL project earlier this year.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Families canceling vacations. Fishermen watching their profits burn up along with their boats' gasoline. Drivers buying only a few gallons of gas at a time because they can't afford to fill the tank.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's on to the House floor for a deficit-slashing GOP budget plan.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress will help pay for your roads, but your state can't lower its drinking age below 21. There's federal money for colleges, but they can't discriminate against women in the classroom or on the athletic field.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity, Nissan North America and Eastman Chemical Co. have been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency.
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Nissan's revival of the Datsun won't include developed markets, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday, outlining a strategy to target the revamped brand at emerging nations where the biggest growth is expected for affordable stylish vehicles.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposed amendment in the Tennessee Legislature that would have published the names of doctors who perform abortions and required statistical information about women who receive abortions has been withdrawn amid controversy.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would require "family life education" curricula taught in schools to be abstinence-centered advanced in the House on Wednesday despite criticism that it's unnecessary.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A Tennessee attorney general's opinion says the state can't broadly drug test people as a condition of receiving welfare.
NASHVILLE (AP) - State Rep. David Hawk, facing a charge of domestic violence, is relinquishing the chairmanship of the House Conservation and Environment Committee.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Republican sponsor of a proposal that would let workers store firearms in vehicles parked on their employers' lots said Tuesday that he has listened to GOP leaders and plans to amend the legislation so that it's not so broad.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill to close public access to teacher evaluation data is headed for a full Senate vote.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a congressional panel Wednesday that U.S. banks could withstand shocks from Europe, even if the debt crisis there significantly worsened.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales are gradually coming back. A mild winter and a stronger job market have helped boost sales ahead of the crucial spring buying season.
U.S. stocks closed mixed Wednesday after a quiet trading day that left the indexes little changed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's the political cure-all for high gas prices: Drill here, drill now. But more U.S. drilling has not changed how deeply the gas pump drills into your wallet, math and history show.
PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Hewlett-Packard Co. says it will combine its printing and PC divisions to save money, part of the technology company's effort to turn around its business.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney added to his lead in the race for delegates Tuesday by winning the Republican presidential primary in Illinois.
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an indication the GOP establishment may be starting to coalesce behind him, major contributors to a key Republican political organization founded by political strategist Karl Rove have boosted their financial support for front-runner Mitt Romney.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Republican budget would repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul but put future retirees in a version of Medicare that strangely resembles one of the key cogs in that same plan.
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
NASHVILLE AREA
TOKYO (AP) — Nissan is bringing back the Datsun three decades after shelving the brand that helped build its U.S. business. This time, Nissan hopes the name synonymous with affordable and reliable small cars will power its growth in emerging markets.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled a Knoxville fourth-grader's rights were not violated in a dispute over a Bible study group.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Commissioner Karla Davis of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development has warned the state's 56,000 unemployment claimants that they will soon be required to prove they are looking for work.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to allow people to cast early votes without a photo ID has failed in the House.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Students would be prohibited from having saggy pants on school grounds under a proposal advancing in the House.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill to close public access to teacher evaluation data is headed for a full Senate vote.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to freeze lawmakers' per diem reimbursement rates at last year's levels has failed this session.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Rep. David Hawk returned to the state Legislature on Monday afternoon, just hours after his first court appearance on a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence resulted in an order for the Greeneville Republican to have no contact with his wife.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Senate sponsor of a proposal that would protect teachers who allow students to criticize scientific theories like evolution says the legislation is necessary to help teachers know how to respond to questions about such subjects.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to transfer certain services from the Board of Probation and Parole to the Department of Correction is headed to the governor for his consideration.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The House has voted to allow public buildings to display such "historically significant documents" as the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would allow teachers to remove disruptive students from Tennessee classrooms has passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam has yet to take a position on a bill seeking to encourage horse slaughterhouses in Tennessee.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Two key pieces of legislation in Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's anti-crime package have passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would extend a program providing services to young adults transitioning out of foster care is headed to the governor for his consideration.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill designed to enact President Barack Obama's plan for a "Buffett rule" tax on the wealthy would rake in just $31 billion over the next 11 years, according to an estimate by Congress' official tax analysts obtained by The Associated Press.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. builders are betting that the housing market is finally on the path back to health.
Stocks closed lower Tuesday for only the second time in two weeks after two reports suggested an economic slowdown in China, where blistering growth over the past three years has helped sustain the global economic recovery.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil fell after Saudi Arabia promised to keep markets well-stocked with petroleum. Concerns about economic growth and fuel demand in China also weighed on prices.
SEATTLE (AP) — When Justin Bassett interviewed for a new job, he expected the usual questions about experience and references. So he was astonished when the interviewer asked for something else: his Facebook username and password.
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple made computers sexy. Can it do the same for the musty old dividend?
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative Republicans controlling the House unveiled a budget blueprint Tuesday that combines slashing cuts to safety net programs for the poor with sharply lower tax rates in an election-year manifesto painting clear campaign differences with President Barack Obama.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve said Monday that it plans to fine eight additional U.S. bank holding companies for improperly foreclosing on homeowners.
MONDAY, MARCH 19
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Democratic state Rep. Mike McDonald of Portland has announced he will retire after nine terms in the House.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Democratic leaders are putting on a brave face about their dwindling numbers in the Tennessee Statehouse, claiming the political landscape presents an opportunity to regroup and emerge stronger.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The AARP announced Monday a series of town hall meetings and forums across the state to get Tennesseans' input on the future of Medicare and Social Security.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A national economic development publication has recognized four businesses in Tennessee for their community impact.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Homebuilders' feelings about the current housing market haven't changed from February. But many are growing more optimistic that sales could pick up in the coming months.
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple's stock has closed above $600 for the first time, the same day the company announced plans to reward its shareholders with a dividend and a share buyback program.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted higher Monday but lost the momentum from their biggest week of the year. A dividend from Apple, a deal for UPS and the promise of greater demand for U.S. Steel drove those stocks to gains.
NEW YORK (AP) — Wendy's has dethroned Burger King as the country's second biggest hamburger chain.
AMSTERDAM (AP) — United Parcel Service Inc. said Monday it will buy Netherlands-based TNT Express NV for $6.77 billion (€5.16 billion), in a deal that will create a company with annual sales of €60 billion.
SEATTLE (AP) — Starbucks Corp. is pushing beyond coffee with the opening of the first Evolution Fresh Inc. juice store, the company said Monday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Mobile technology appears to be increasing the public appetite for news but it's far from clear whether the news industry will profit from that, a study issued Monday concluded.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitt Romney may lead in delegates and Rick Santorum might have momentum, but neither of the two leading Republican presidential candidates is having an easy time exciting even his own voters.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitt Romney has sailed to a win in Puerto Rico's GOP presidential primary over chief rival Rick Santorum.
FRIDAY, MARCH 16
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) — Grammy-winning duo The Civil Wars will postpone a piece of its European tour.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - A recently donated portrait will be dedicated Saturday at The Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Organizers promise thousands of dollars in savings Saturday at Goodwill's third annual wedding gala in Nashville.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - State Rep. Frank Niceley says he will give up his House seat to run for the state Senate this year.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A Tennessee lawmaker who didn't get a lot of traction with a "pull your pants up" bill has come back with another proposal.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Republicans are calling for the rejection of a United Nations agenda on the environment and poverty, even though Democrats say their actions are silly and amount to fear-mongering.
MURFREESBORO (AP) - A state lawmaker was mistaken about the facts of a restaurant's zoning issues when he used the case of Papa's Butts and BBQ Hot Sauce Store as an example of the creeping influence of the United Nations in Tennessee, a city official said.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — It was a mundane end to an electrifying week on the stock market.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharp jump in gas prices drove a measure of U.S. consumer costs up in February. But outside higher pump prices, inflation stayed mild.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factories stepped up production in February for the third straight month, helping the economy recover and driving the best job growth since the recession ended.
The young banker whose dramatic public resignation stung Goldman Sachs this week joins officials from every corner of the government in questioning whether the august investment house deals honestly with all its clients.
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil markets were calmer Friday, a day after the government denied reports that the U.S. and the U.K. plan to release some of their strategic crude reserves.
NEW YORK (AP) — Charles Ruma is suddenly busy. His company, Virginia Homes, is getting five to 10 visits from prospective homebuyers each weekend. During the last three years, he was lucky to get five in a month.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A resurgent U.S. job market that has lifted the economy appears to be enduring.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Apple's latest iPad drew the customary lines of die-hard fans looking to be first and entrepreneurs looking to make a quick profit.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia's two largest newspapers will lose 40 newsroom employees this month, prompting union leaders to accuse management of bungling a tablet computer launch, censoring stories and deriding print newspapers as "legacy products."
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate in the U.S. on the 30-year fixed mortgage hovered near historic lows this week, making home-buying and refinancing more attractive to those who can qualify.
NATIONAL POLITICS
NEW YORK (AP) — As spring approaches, Occupy Wall Street protesters who mostly hibernated all winter are beginning to stir with plans for renewed demonstrations six months after the movement was born.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new analysis of President Barack Obama's budget for next year says the deficit scenario isn't as rosy as the White House painted it.
WASHINGTON (AP) — It might seem a recipe for success: Legislation to help small businesses raise capital passed the House last week with 95 percent of lawmakers voting for it and President Barack Obama's support. But in today's Congress, nothing comes easy.