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VOL. 47 | NO. 12 | Friday, March 17, 2023

The top minor league franchise in the country

Baseball, much more packs them in to see the Sounds of Nashville

Our calendars tell us spring begins March 20. But for many Nashville sports fans, the first official day of spring arrives March 31 with the start of a new minor league baseball season for the Nashville Sounds.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

What’s the source of GOP’s animus toward Nashville?

As a committed optimist, I find comfort in the Monty Python song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.” It begins thus:

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Pending sales offer hint of stronger spring market

“February Home Sales Indicate a Robust Spring Market,” read the headline of the Greater Nashville Realtors February sales report. Closed sales were down 25%, data showed, but that wasn’t the point of the report.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
39.9°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind: South at 5.8 mph
Humidity: 47%

EVENTS

Coffee, Content & Conversation - The Talent Report. Join the Nashville Chamber discussion on the latest trends impacting Nashville employers and job seekers, the current state of the Workforce, and how companies and candidates can get ahead and stay ahead. This is a virtual event and registration is required. Noon-1 p.m. Information

more events »

REAL ESTATE

Top Davidson County residential real estate sales for February 2023

Top Davidson County residential real estate sales for February 2023, as compiled by the Nashville Ledger.

Top Davidson County commercial real estate sales for February 2023

Top Davidson County commercial real estate sales for February 2023, as compiled by the Nashville Ledger.

Average long-term US mortgage rates come back down to 6.6%

The average long-term U.S. mortgage inched back down this week after five straight weeks of increases, good news for homebuyers as the housing market's all-important spring buying season gets underway.

NEWSMAKERS

Stream Realty Partners hires VP in Nashville

Maddison Sickels has been recruited to join Stream Realty Partners’ office leasing team in Nashville.

BRIEFS

Tarwater confirmed for TN Supreme Court

Lawmakers last week confirmed Dwight Tarwater to serve on the state’s highest court starting this summer.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

No-compromise EV SUVs: BMW vs. Rivian

Buying an electric vehicle used to mean choosing from battery range, performance, utility or luxury. You might’ve found a car possessing two of those attributes, but rarely all of the above.

PERSONAL FINANCE

How to fight the ‘pink tax’ amid high inflation

Trae Bodge, a shopping expert who lives in the New York City area, sees higher prices for products and services marketed to women everywhere: Socks, razors, shampoo and apparel are a few of the product types aimed at women that tend to cost more.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Got a side gig? Maximize it by avoiding these mistakes

At the beginning of the year, many people have their eyes set on goals. Some of these goals may include increasing your income, starting a dream business, or both if you’re reaching for the stars. Before you get your hands dirty in the sometimes-chaotic combination of formal employment and entrepreneurship, here are a few pitfalls to avoid.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

It’s not as easy as quitting, setting up online business

The camel’s back has been broken. The straw that did it came when someone at a meeting brought up your idea but didn’t give you credit for it. Or the reason could have been any of a dozen other straws piled on the camel’s back, this week but you don’t care anymore.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Vrabel completes Titans coaching staff with 3 assistants

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans announced Tuesday that Mike Vrabel completed his coaching staff by hiring Tom Quinn and Anthony Levine as special teams assistants and Matt Jones as an offensive line assistant.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Evangelista scores 2 in Predators 7-3 win over Sabres

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Luke Evangelista scored two goals in such quick succession, the Nashville Predators rookie joked it felt like they came on the same shift.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Musicians fight threat of Tennessee anti-LGBTQ, drag bills

NASHVILLE (AP) — When Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation this month targeting drag performances and transgender youth, many musicians living and working in the state felt their community, their audiences and their artistic expressions were also under fire.

Tennessee official to fill Virginia chief schools officer post

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has hired a Tennessee education official to serve as Virginia's chief schools officer after the previous employee in the role resigned for reasons the administration has declined to explain.

STATEWIDE

2 employees of town near planned Ford truck plant indicted

MEMPHIS (AP) — Two employees of a rural Tennessee town that resisted a takeover attempt by the state after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to build an electric truck plant nearby have been charged with the theft of town funds and official misconduct, officials said Wednesday.

COURTS

Appeals court sides with Justice Dept. in Trump lawyer fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday directed a lawyer for Donald Trump to turn over to prosecutors documents in the investigation into the former president's retention of classified documents at his Florida estate.

Fox, Dominion argue over legal standards to prove defamation

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Lawyers for Fox News and a voting machine company tangled Wednesday over the high bar to prove defamation in a $1.6 billion lawsuit that has embarrassed the conservative network over its airing of false claims related to the 2020 presidential election.

AP sources: Manhattan DA postpones Trump grand jury session

NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors postponed a scheduled grand jury session Wednesday in the investigation into Donald Trump over hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign, at least temporarily slowing a decision on whether to charge the ex-president.

Trump's potential indictment caps decades of legal scrutiny

NEW YORK (AP) — For 40 years, former President Donald Trump has navigated countless legal investigations without ever facing criminal charges. That record may soon come to an end.

Supreme Court chews on Jack Daniel's dog toy dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — A dispute between Jack Daniel's and the makers of a squeaking dog toy that mimics the whiskey's signature bottle gave the Supreme Court a lot to chew on Wednesday.

German group sues Facebook owner Meta over death threats

BERLIN (AP) — A prominent German environmental group said Wednesday that it's suing Facebook's parent company Meta over persistent death threats posted on the social network against its staff.

HEALTH CARE

Biden administration plans revamp of organ transplant system

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Wednesday it will attempt to break up the network that runs the nation's organ transplant system as part of a broader modernization effort.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM to stop making the Camaro but a successor may be in works

DETROIT (AP) — The Chevrolet Camaro, for decades the dream car of many teenage American males, is going out of production.

ENVIRONMENT

EU Commission proposes rules to better fight greenwashing

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive arm proposed rules Wednesday to protect consumers from businesses selling goods labeled as green which actually aren't.

Climate solution: Downsize laundry jugs to cut emissions

Laundry detergent is looking a little different these days. A growing number of companies are making bulky plastic jugs smaller and concentrating the detergent or soap.

MEDIA

Newsmax returns to DirecTV, inks multiyear distribution deal

Newsmax is returning to DirecTV after a dispute between the parties saw the conservative network removed from the satellite carrier.

TikTok CEO to tell Congress app is safe, urge against ban

WASHINGTON (AP) — TikTok's CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence.

BANKING

Americans' faith in banks low after failures: AP-NORC poll

WASHINGTON (AP) — Only 10% of U.S. adults say they have high confidence in the nation's banks and other financial institutions, a new poll finds. That's down from the 22% who said they had high confidence in 2020.

ECONOMY

Fed raises key rate by quarter-point despite bank turmoil

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point despite concerns that higher borrowing rates could worsen the turmoil that has gripped the banking system.

What the Fed rate increase means for your credit card bill

NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve raised its key rate by another quarter point Wednesday, bringing it to the highest level in 15 years as part of an ongoing effort to ease inflation by making borrowing more expensive.

Credit card debt is at record high as Fed raises rates again

NEW YORK (AP) — As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again, credit card debt is already at a record high, and more people are carrying debt month to month.

ECB's Lagarde: Future rate hikes open amid banking turmoil

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said future interest rate decisions are open after upheaval in the global banking system left the economic outlook "blurrier" than just a few weeks ago.

UK inflation jumps to 10.4%, surprising analysts

LONDON (AP) — U.K. inflation accelerated for the first time in four months in February as high food and energy prices hit consumers battered by the nation's cost-of-living crisis.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks fall, bond yields tumble after Fed's latest rate hike

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks fell after the Federal Reserve announced its latest hike to interest rates, while also saying it may not tighten the screws much more on the economy.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Republicans invoke Soros to steer narrative on Trump probe

NEW YORK (AP) — As former President Donald Trump braces for a potential indictment related to hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 campaign, Republicans blasting the case as politically motivated are blaming a frequent target: George Soros.

Presidential waiting game: GOP hopefuls hold off campaigns

NEW YORK (AP) — They are meeting with campaign donors and giving frequent interviews on cable news. They're delivering speeches in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire and hobnobbing with local Republican groups. Some are even quietly discussing campaign jobs with political operatives.

Springsteen, Kaling, Louis-Dreyfus among 22 honored by Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden welcomed a high-wattage collection of singers, authors, artists and humanitarians to the White House on Tuesday to present them with medals — and then stole the show himself with a quip about seeking reelection.

Ukraine, IMF agree on $15.6 billion loan package

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund have agreed on a $15.6 billion loan package aimed at shoring up government finances severely strained by Russia's invasion and leveraging even more support by reassuring allies that Ukraine is pursuing strong economic policies and fighting corruption.

Japan's Kishida pledges aid for Ukraine-backing Poland

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Japan's prime minister pledged Wednesday to provide Poland with development support to help the European country assist neighboring Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia's invasion.


TUESDAY, MARCH 21
TENNESSEE TITANS

QB Dobbs returning to Browns as Watson's backup

CLEVELAND (AP) — Joshua Dobbs is back with the Browns as a backup.

Titans agree to deal with CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms Monday on a contract with free agent cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting.

UT SPORTS

March Madness allows Vols to showcase SEC's rugged style

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Rick Barnes once took a team to watch a rugby match in Australia and loved what he saw.

March Madness rout as Lady Vols reach 2nd straight Sweet 16

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is starting to look a lot more like the dominating Lady Vols of old, especially after a second straight rout to open the NCAA Tournament.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee law prevents local bans on natural gas stoves

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee has signed legislation that says local governments can't ban gas stoves, even though no current city in Tennessee is currently pursuing such actions.

McNally passes confidence vote after social media uproar

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's Republican colleagues in the Senate have voted 19-7 that he should keep his leadership post in the wake of revelations that he repeatedly commented on posts of nearly nude photos of a young gay model and other LGBTQ personalities.

Tennessee House OKs narrow abortion exemption bill

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-dominant House on Monday advanced legislation that would add a narrow exemption to the state's strict abortion ban, despite concerns raised by Democrats and medical experts that the bill does not go far enough to protect doctors and pregnant patients.

Tenn. advances push to allow express toll lanes, hike EV fee

NASHVILLE (AP) — A roads funding push by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee that would allow express toll lanes to be built on some highways and would increase fees on drivers with electric or hybrid vehicles cleared a key hurdle with state lawmakers on Monday.

COURTS

Producer claims Fox coerced testimony in Dominion libel case

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A Fox News producer has filed a lawsuit claiming the network pressured her to give misleading testimony in a separate lawsuit that alleges Fox slandered a voting machine company by amplifying baseless allegations of fraud following the 2020 presidential election.

Trump waits out grand jury as New York braces for protests

NEW YORK (AP) — Facing the possibility of criminal charges, Donald Trump waited it out in Florida on Tuesday as New York braced for disruptions that could follow an indictment. Republican contenders in the 2024 race sized up the impact a prosecution could have on a campaign in which the former president is a leading contender.

What to know about Alvin Bragg, Manhattan district attorney

A New York grand jury investigating hush payments made on Donald Trump's behalf during the 2016 presidential campaign has refocused attention on the Manhattan district attorney steering the case. Alvin Bragg's decision to convene the grand jury early this year could lead to the first criminal charge against a former U.S. president.

Trump indictment would be unprecedented in US history

The decision whether to indict former President Donald Trump over hush-money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign lies with a Manhattan grand jury that has been hearing evidence in secret for weeks.

Trump loses last bid to keep key evidence out of rape trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's effort to keep key evidence out of his civil rape trial next month was rejected by a federal judge Monday.

Supreme Court rules for deaf student in education case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday for a deaf student who sued his public school system for providing an inadequate education. The case is significant for other disabled students who allege they were failed by school officials.

Supreme Court seems split in Navajo Nation water rights case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed split Monday as it weighed a dispute involving the federal government and the Navajo Nation's quest for water from the drought-stricken Colorado River.

REAL ESTATE

US home sales surged in February as mortgage rates dipped

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes surged in February to the fastest pace in six months as homebuyers seized on a modest drop in mortgage rates. The nation's median price also edged lower, its first annual drop since 2012.

BANKING

Army of lobbyists helped water down banking regulations

WASHINGTON (AP) — It seemed like a good idea at the time: Red-state Democrats facing grim reelection prospects would join forces with Republicans to slash bank regulations — demonstrating a willingness to work with President Donald Trump while bucking many in their party.

Yellen says bank situation stabilizing, different from 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen projected calm on Tuesday after recent regional bank collapses but told a gathering of bankers that additional rescue arrangements "could be warranted" if any new failures at smaller institutions jeopardize financial stability.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Last call: Dodge unveils last super-fast gasoline muscle car

DETROIT (AP) — The last gas-powered muscle car from Dodge isn't leaving the road without some squeals, thunder and crazy-fast speed.

Cruise wants to test self-driving cars all over California

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit on Monday asked California for permission to test the cars across the entire state.

TRANSPORTATION

Safety board: Alabama derailed train lacked needed couplers

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A Norfolk Southern train that derailed in Alabama earlier this month lacked required alignment control couplers for two of its locomotives and a company inspection did not identify their absence, federal investigators said Monday.

ENVIRONMENT

Biden creates national monuments, marine sanctuary in West

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he is establishing national monuments in Nevada and Texas and creating a marine sanctuary in U.S. waters near the Pacific Remote Islands southwest of Hawaii. Biden called the conservation measures part of an effort to "protect the heart and soul of our national pride."

UN chief's call for ambition on climate gets muted response

BERLIN (AP) — Senior government officials at a climate meeting in Copenhagen gave a muted response Tuesday to calls from the head of the United Nations for countries to show greater ambition when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

African nations consider swapping debt for climate funding

MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — African countries saddled with debt and ravaged by losses and damages from weather events like cyclones, drought and extreme temperatures have agreed to consider swapping debt to invest in climate action in a meeting of finance ministers in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

MEDIA

Google's artificially intelligent 'Bard' set for next stage

Google announced Tuesday it's allowing more people to interact with " Bard," the artificially intelligent chatbot the company is building to counter Microsoft's early lead in a pivotal battleground of technology.

TikTok updates content rulebook as pressure from West builds

LONDON (AP) — TikTok on Tuesday rolled out updated rules and standards for content and users as it faces increasing pressure from Western authorities over concerns that material on the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app could be used to push false information.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks rise for first 2-day rally since banking crisis began

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rallied Tuesday, led by the banks most beaten down by the industry's crisis, and some of Wall Street's fear washed out on hopes the U.S. government will offer more help if needed.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Trump legal woes force another moment of choosing for GOP

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — From the moment he rode down the Trump Tower escalator to announce his first presidential campaign, a searing question has hung over the Republican Party: Is this the moment to break from Donald Trump?

NATO to hold Ukraine meeting despite Hungary's objections

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that he would call a high-level meeting of the military organization's main forum for cooperation with Ukraine next month despite objections from Hungary.

Biden signs bill on COVID origins declassification

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill Monday that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia frees American imprisoned over critical tweets

WASHINGTON (AP) — A 72-year-old American imprisoned more than a year in Saudi Arabia over tweets critical of the Saudi crown prince was back with family members in Riyadh on Tuesday, but it wasn't clear whether the kingdom will drop a travel ban to allow him to return home to Florida.

US tells China a Taiwan president stopover is 'nothing new'

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is putting out the word that expected stopovers in the United States by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen would fall in line with recent precedent and should not be used as a pretext by China to step up aggressive activity in the Taiwan Strait.

Biden signs measure nullifying DC criminal code revisions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law legislation nullifying the recent overhaul of the District of Columbia criminal code, but the fight between Congress and local lawmakers is continuing.


MONDAY, MARCH 20
NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Miller has 2 goals, 2 assists as Rangers rout Predators 7-0

NEW YORK (AP) — Defenseman K'Andre Miller had two goals and two assists in New York's six-goal first period, Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the Rangers beat the Nashville Predators 7-0 on Sunday night.

COURTS

4 guilty of conspiracy in latest Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people associated with the Oath Keepers were convicted on Monday of conspiracy and obstruction charges stemming from the attack on the U.S. Capitol in the latest trial involving members of the far-right antigovernment extremist group.

Prosecutors rest in sedition case against Proud Boys leaders

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Monday rested their seditious conspiracy case against former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants charged with plotting to stop the transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 election.

In Trump probe, NYC grand jury hearing from final witnesses

NEW YORK (AP) — A grand jury was hearing from final witnesses Monday in the investigation into Donald Trump as law enforcement officials accelerated security preparations in advance of a possible indictment and as fellow Republicans staked out positions in a criminal probe expected to shake up the 2024 presidential race.

Biden's appeals court nominee faces rare Democratic scrutiny

WASHINGTON (AP) — One of President Joe Biden's nominees to a federal appeals court has generated rare concern from some Democrats and outside groups over his signature on a legal brief defending a parental notification law in New Hampshire, injecting the issue of abortion into his confirmation fight from an unexpected flank.

BANKING

Will the Credit Suisse bank takeover calm financial fears?

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — In a bid to ease turmoil in the world financial system, Swiss authorities engineered a plan for the UBS bank to acquire its troubled smaller rival Credit Suisse at a marked-down price.

Silicon Valley Bank successor's auction extended by FDIC

The bidding process for the successor of Silicon Valley Bank is being extended by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to give more time to work out a potential deal.

New York Community Bank to buy failed Signature Bank

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Community Bank has agreed to buy a significant chunk of the failed Signature Bank in a $2.7 billion deal, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said late Sunday.

HEALTH CARE

How to shop for new insurance if you lose Medicaid coverage

Medicaid coverage will end for millions of Americans in the coming months, and it will push many into unfamiliar territory: the health insurance marketplace.

California, drugmaker partner to produce affordable insulin

DOWNEY, Calif. (AP) — The state of California and a generic drug manufacturer announced a 10-year partnership Saturday to produce affordable, state-branded insulin that they hope will rival longtime producers and push down prices for a medication used by millions of Americans.

ECONOMY

White House economic report: Money for child care would help growth

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is making the case for more government support for child care programs in an economic report being released Monday, drawing on extensive research to say additional spending would improve kids' lives, increase the quality of early childhood schooling and enable more women to hold jobs.

Amazon cuts 9,000 more jobs, bringing 2023 total to 27,000

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.

Fed's tough challenge: Confront inflation and bank jitters

WASHINGTON (AP) — Still grappling with persistently high inflation, the Federal Reserve faces an entirely new — and in some ways conflicting — challenge as it meets to consider interest rates this week: How to restore calm to a nervous banking system.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street strengthens after big bank deal, regulator moves

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street closed higher after regulators pushed together two huge banks over the weekend and made other moves to build confidence in the struggling industry.

Pay transparency is spreading. Here's what you need to know

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. employers are increasingly posting salary ranges for job openings, even in states where it's not required by law, according to analysts with several major job search websites.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden issues first veto, taking on new Republican Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency Monday in an early sign of shifting White House relations with the new Congress since Republicans took control in January. He's seeking to kill a Republican measure that bans the government from considering environmental impacts or potential lawsuits when making investment decisions for Americans' retirement plans.

EU's top diplomat hails deal on artillery shells for Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries have endorsed a fast-track procedure aimed at providing Ukraine with sorely needed artillery shells to repel Russia's invasion forces, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday, as Moscow maintains its focus on attacking the industrial east of the war-ravaged country.

US sending ammunition, tanker trucks, boats to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department announced Monday that the U.S. will send Ukraine $350 million in weapons and equipment, as fierce battles with Russian forces continue for control of the city of Bakhmut, and troops prepare for an expected spring offensive.

Some Trump supporters ambivalent on calls for protests

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's calls for protests ahead of his anticipated indictment in New York have generated mostly muted reactions from supporters, with even some of his most ardent loyalists dismissing the idea as a waste of time or a law enforcement trap.

Election conspiracy movement grinds on as 2024 approaches

FRANKLIN (AP) — One by one, the presenters inside the crowded hotel ballroom shared their computer screens and promised to show how easy it is to hack into voting systems across the U.S.


FRIDAY, MARCH 17
UT SPORTS

Tennessee holds off Louisiana-Lafayette 58-55 in NCAA opener

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — When shots stopped falling and an 18-point lead nearly slipped away, Tennessee did the one thing it does best: clamp down on defense.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Stalock's 35 saves lead Blackhawks over Predators 2-1

NASHVILLE (AP) — Alex Stalock made 35 saves to lead the Chicago Blackhawks over the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Thursday night.

MIDSTATE

Hendersonville librarian fired for 'unkind pushback' at conservative event

HENDERSONVILLE (AP) — A library director in Tennessee has been fired after the actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron accused him of "unkind pushback" to visiting celebrities during a conservative event last month, officials said.

COURTS

Officials are preparing security in case of Trump indictment

NEW YORK (AP) — Law enforcement officials in New York are making security preparations for the possibility that Donald Trump could be indicted in the coming weeks by a Manhattan grand jury and appear in a courtroom in an investigation examining hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president, four law enforcement officials said Friday.

Former Air Force officer gets prison term for Capitol attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — A retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear and carried zip-tie handcuffs into the Senate gallery was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison.

Ex-Theranos exec finds way to delay start of prison sentence

Former Theranos executive Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani found an escape hatch Thursday from the scheduled start of his nearly 13-year prison sentence for a blood-testing hoax he engineered with his former boss and lover, Elizabeth Holmes.

Supreme Court remembering Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a champion for women's rights whose death ahead of the 2020 election allowed the Supreme Court to become more conservative, will be remembered during ceremonies Friday at the high court.

BANKING

Biden calls for tougher penalties for execs of failed banks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday called on Congress to allow regulators to impose tougher penalties on the executives of failed banks, including clawing back compensation and making it easier to bar them from working in the industry.

Near 'cliff's edge,' Credit Suisse not seen as systemic risk

GENEVA (AP) — Longtime troubles at Credit Suisse came to a head this week with a record stock plunge that spread fears of a banking crisis jumping from the U.S. to Europe. But the problems have been building for years at Switzerland's second-largest bank, ranging from bad bets on hedge funds to a spying scandal involving rival lender UBS.

Parent company of Silicon Valley Bank files for bankruptcy

The parent of Silicon Valley Bank filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a week after the tech-focused bank failed and was seized by the U.S. government.

Will Americans end up footing the bill for bank failures?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government's response to the failure of two large banks has already involved hundreds of billions of dollars. So will ordinary Americans end up paying for it, one way or another? And what will the price tag be?

Fed lent $300B in emergency funds to banks in the past week

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cash-short banks have borrowed about $300 billion from the Federal Reserve in the past week, the central bank announced Thursday.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Dozens of workers reject union at Smyrna Nissan plant

NASHVILLE (AP) — Several dozen workers among thousands at a Nissan factory in Tennessee voted not to unionize Thursday, another loss in tough territory for organized labor at a foreign-owned auto assembly plant in the traditionally anti-union South.

Oregon halts electric vehicle rebates due to demand, money

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon will temporarily suspend rebates for buying or leasing an electric vehicle for a year starting in May because too many people are applying and the program is running out of money, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Thursday.

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 pill Paxlovid moves closer to full FDA approval

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pfizer's COVID-19 pill Paxlovid won another vote of confidence from U.S. health advisers Thursday, clearing the way for its full regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration.

MEDIA

China appeals for fair treatment after latest TikTok bans

BEIJING (AP) — China appealed Friday to other governments to treat its companies fairly after Britain and New Zealand joined the United States in restricting use of TikTok due to fears the Chinese-owned short video service might be a security risk.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks fall to cap chaotic week driven by fears about banks

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street's week of turmoil closed with drops for stocks. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday, led by drops in First Republic and other banks.

The bitcoin bounce: what comes next?

Markets this year are roiling, uncertainty abounds and the U.S. government has had to step in to rescue two large American banks in recent days. So why is bitcoin, considered among the riskiest bets of them all, rising so fast?

Japan PM praises SKorea leader; biz groups vow to boost ties

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said hats off to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for "making a difficult decision and action" by overcoming the troubled history between the two countries, pledging to work with him toward better future relations.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

How a warrant for Putin puts new spin on Xi visit to Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping's plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week highlighted China's aspirations for a greater role on the world stage. But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after Friday's announcement of the trip, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, taking at least some wind out of the sails of China's big reveal.

Dems say many foreign gifts to Trump remain unaccounted for

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's White House has failed to report more than 100 gifts from foreign nations worth more than a quarter-million dollars, and federal officials have been unable to find a life-size painting of Trump given by the president of El Salvador as well as golf clubs from the prime minister of Japan, according to a report Friday from House Democrats.

Biden hosting Irish prime minister on St. Patrick's Day

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to host Ireland's prime minister on Friday, after the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled the longstanding St. Patrick's Day meetup two years in a row.

Santos refuses to quit, brazenly says 'truth still matters'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Besieged Republican Rep. George Santos arrives on the House floor most days to deliver short speeches — celebrating women-owned small businesses, a special high school in his district or raising concern about various countries in crises.

Military moves to cut suicides, but defers action on guns

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a number of improvements in access to mental health care on Thursday to reduce suicides in the military, but held off on endorsing more controversial recommendations to restrict gun and ammunition purchases by young troops, sending them to another panel for study.


THURSDAY, MARCH 16
TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans release OLB Bud Dupree after 7 sacks in 2 years

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans released outside linebacker Bud Dupree two years into a five-year contract, parting ways with the big free agent they acquired in 2021 to boost their pass rush, the team announced Thursday.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee eyes 18+ gun-carry age with court or Capitol deal

NASHVILLE (AP) — Two years after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee led the charge to allow residents 21 and older to carry handguns in public without a permit, younger adults could soon have the same privilege, with or without the governor's signoff.

Tennessee GOP advances new narrow abortion exemption bill

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Republican lawmakers on Wednesday took another swing at adding a narrow exemption to one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States.

COURTS

Georgia grand jury heard another Trump call recording

ATLANTA (AP) — A special grand jury that investigated whether Donald Trump and his allies illegally meddled in the 2020 election in Georgia heard a recording of the former president pushing a top state lawmaker to call a special session to overturn his loss in the state, according to a newspaper report.

Here is what's at stake in abortion medication case

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit that poses a threat to the nationwide availability of a leading abortion medication. The hearing comes as a conservative Christian group seeks to reverse federal approval of the drug mifepristone.

Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump

NEW YORK (AP) — Porn actor Stormy Daniels met Wednesday with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump's behalf, her lawyer said Wednesday.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Dozens at big Nissan's Smyrna plant will vote on own union

NASHVILLE (AP) — Several dozen workers among thousands at a Nissan factory in Tennessee will hold a long-delayed vote on whether to unionize Thursday. Those leading the drive hope for an elusive win at a foreign-owned auto assembly plant in the traditionally anti-union South.

BANKING

Big banks create $30B rescue package for First Republic

NEW YORK (AP) — Eleven of the biggest banks in the country announced a $30 billion rescue package for First Republic Bank on Thursday, in an effort to prevent the California-based bank from becoming the third bank to fail in less than a week.

Experts, banks look for ideas to stop next bank failure

WASHINGTON (AP) — The warning signs were all there. Silicon Valley Bank was expanding at a breakneck pace and pursuing wildly risky investments in the bond market. The vast majority of its deposits were uninsured by the federal government, leaving its customers exposed to a crisis.

Yellen tells Congress US banking system 'remains sound'

WASHINGTON (AP) — A week after the second-largest bank collapse in U.S. history, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday that the nation's banking system "remains sound" and Americans "can feel confident" about their deposits.

NY bank's demise: Contagion or a problem with the business?

Signature Bank's collapse came stunningly fast, leaving behind the question of whether there was a fundamental flaw in the way it did business — or if it was just a victim of the panic that spread after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.

FACT FOCUS: Claims link 'woke' policies to bank's demise

As Wall Street reels from the swift demise of Silicon Valley Bank — the biggest American bank failure since the 2008 financial meltdown — some social media users are honing in on a single culprit: its socially aware, or "woke," agenda.

Ex-Wells Fargo exec to plead guilty for role in bank scandal

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Wells Fargo Bank executive accused of overseeing a ruse that created millions of bogus customer accounts has agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges likely to send her prison for her role in the scandal.

ENVIRONMENT

Biden climate legacy at stake after backlash over Willow

WASHINGTON (AP) — When Elise Joshi was at the White House last year, her eyes welled with happy tears as President Joe Biden hosted thousands of supporters to celebrate groundbreaking legislation targeting climate change.

EU moves on clean technology: Subsidies up, free market down

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union presented plans Thursday to fundamentally revamp its policies on promoting green technologies and dealing with critical raw materials, imposing limits on imports from countries like China while unleashing subsidies and other financial incentives to ramp up home production.

ECONOMY

Applications for jobless aid in U.S. fall last week

Fewer Americans applied for jobless claims last week as the labor market continues to thrive despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to cool the economy and tamp down inflation.

Bank turmoil casts shadow over Europe interest rate decision

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said last week that a big interest rate increase was "very likely" at Thursday's meeting. That was before Silicon Valley Bank collapsed in the U.S. and European bank shares plunged as fears spread of more widespread troubles at a time when banks are adjusting to rapidly rising interest rates.

MEDIA

UK bans TikTok on government phones on security grounds

LONDON (AP) — British authorities said Thursday that they are banning the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from government mobile phones on security grounds, following similar moves by the U.S. and European Union.

TikTok dismisses calls for Chinese owners to sell stakes

WASHINGTON (AP) — TikTok was dismissive Wednesday of reports that the Biden administration was calling for its Chinese owners to sell their stakes in the popular video-sharing app, saying such a move wouldn't help protect national security.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks rally after battered First Republic gets a lifeline

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rallied Thursday after a group of big banks offered a lifeline to the bank that investors had zeroed in on in their hunt for the industry's next victim.

Virgin Orbit pausing all work, reportedly furloughs staff

LONDON (AP) — Virgin Orbit said Thursday it is pausing all operations amid reports that the company is furloughing almost all its staff as part of a bid to seek a funding lifeline.

Mobile sports bets booming in some states as others shy away

The stakes are higher in Ohio this year for March Madness — and not just because it's a regional host for the first round of the men's NCAA basketball tournament.

California regulators could decide oil profits penalty

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he wants state regulators to decide whether to impose the nation's first penalty on oil companies for price gouging, pivoting after months of negotiations with legislative leaders failed to reach an agreement on a bill aimed at reining in the state's notoriously high gas prices.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Senators take first step in repealing Iraq War authorization

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate took a first step Thursday toward repealing two measures that give open-ended approval for military action in Iraq, pushing to end that authority as the United States marks the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War.

With Saudi deals, US, China battle for influence in Mideast

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a matter of days, Saudi Arabia carried out blockbuster agreements with the world's two leading powers — China and the United States.

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