VOL. 36 | NO. 15 | Friday, April 13, 2012
REALTY CHECK
Hail! Hail! The gangs all here. The gangs of roofers, that is. Last month’s hail storm wreaked havoc on the shingles covering Nashville’s residences. With a record number of homes under contract and set to close, these mini icebergs have had a titanic impact on the real estate market.
REAL ESTATE
First quarter real estate market trends, by zip code or price range, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford and Wilson counties, as compiled by Chandler reports.
NEWSMAKERS
Health care technology veteran Robert Hendrick has been named CEO of Care Technology Systems, Inc., a Nashville-based health care start-up that has developed innovative technology for the aging-in-place industry.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
When asked what contributed most to his NBA career, Michael Jordan said he missed more shots than he made, which is why he had the opportunity to make more memorable shots. No one remembers how many shots you missed. Similarly, sales is a numbers game.
SMART STUFF 4 WORK
They say those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I believe this idea applies personally and it is true in your business life. If you want to go to the next level in your career, whatever that means for you, it’s a good idea to explore the history of your behavior and look for significant behavior-shaping people and events. Behavior related to people and events that have so far helped you succeed; and behavior that might be limiting your success.
BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW
Your boss can be such a tyrant.
I SWEAR
When I entered law school in 1975, national and state bar associations pretty much prohibited attorneys from engaging in [whisper] advertising. Self-promotion by legal professionals – even in the Yellow Pages – is a product of the late 20th century. When the Supreme Court ruled in 1977 that the advertising ban for barristers was unconstitutional, it was big news!
KAY'S COOKING CORNER
When my dad’s mother turned 102 (no typo there), I made a trip to Colorado to pack her few belongings and move her to Arkansas, where she would be closer to me.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) — A lobbyist has used a House chairman's email to urge lawmakers to vote against a bill to tax roll-your-own cigarettes.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee parents would be able to opt their children out of extracurricular school activities under a proposal that has passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal that would prevent students from being discriminated against for expressing their religious beliefs has passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) — The House has passed Gov. Bill Haslam's bill to require mandatory jail time for people with repeat domestic violence convictions.
NASHVILLE (AP) — The House has passed Gov. Bill Haslam's bill to require mandatory jail time for people with repeat domestic violence convictions.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal that seeks to crack down on the tattooing of minors has passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal that would ban the teaching of gay issues to elementary and middle school students is once again advancing in the House even though opponents insist it's unnecessary.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A measure to crack down on domestic violence is headed for a vote on the Senate floor.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A proposal to amend the state constitution to require the popular election of Supreme Court justices is likely dead this session.
NASHVILLE AREA
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - ConAgra Foods Inc. says it's acquiring Odom's Tennessee Pride, the nation's second largest producer of frozen breakfast sandwiches.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — It hardly needed it, but the U.S. stock market on Wednesday got another reminder of how its fortunes are inexorably tied to the European economy.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A yearlong experiment with competitive bidding for power wheelchairs, diabetic supplies and other personal medical equipment produced $200 million in savings for Medicare, and government officials said Wednesday they are expanding the pilot program in search of even greater dividends.
NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon Wireless on Wednesday said it will auction a parcel of radio frequencies, which could be worth billions of dollars in an industry scrambling to offer consumers more cellular broadband.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that European banks are under pressure to preserve capital and could cut back sharply on lending over the next two years, slowing the region's growth.
NEW YORK (AP) — Halliburton Co. says its first-quarter profit increased 22.7 percent as the oil industry aggressively searched for new oil fields in North America.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an election season when the economy is king, the central debate between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney comes down to what is enough. Enough growth in the economy. Enough job creation. Enough help for those still struggling to get back on their feet.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says President Barack Obama can't run for re-election on his economic record so his campaign will "pull out every bogey man that they can."
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans controlling the House are targeting food stamps, federal employee pensions, tax breaks for illegal immigrants and subsidies under President Barack Obama's health care law in a multifaceted drive to swap cuts to domestic programs for big Pentagon cuts scheduled next year.
TUESDAY, APRIL 17
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) - George Jones needs more time to recover from a recent upper respiratory infection.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam on Tuesday expressed reservations about a bill seeking to cap the number of foreign workers at Tennessee charter schools.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal to strip employers of the right to ban firearms on company property is advancing again in the House, even though Gov. Bill Haslam says he doesn't think it will pass.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The head of Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant is speaking out against a bill pending in the Tennessee General Assembly to strip employers of the right to ban firearms on company property.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that increases the penalty for drunken driving when a child under 18 is a passenger in the vehicle is headed to the governor for his consideration.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that seeks to amend the state constitution to change the way appeals judges are selected passed the Senate on Monday night.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that would make cutting some students' lottery scholarships in half contingent on lottery revenues passed the Senate 20-10 Monday evening, despite criticism that the increase in revenues may not be consistent.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill seeking to limit the number of foreign workers at Tennessee charter schools is on its way for the governor's consideration.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The sponsor of a bill seeking to attract horse slaughter facilities said the bill likely will not pass this year.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The House passed a bill that would make it a felony to make or sell synthetic drugs often called bath salts that imitate controlled substances.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - A Southern Baptist leader apologized this week for any hurt caused by explosive remarks accusing President Barack Obama and other black leaders of exploiting Trayvon Martin's death for political gain.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Interior restoration work has been completed at The Hermitage in Nashville, the home of President Andrew Jackson.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
Stocks stormed higher Tuesday after promising signals about the profitability of U.S. companies and a strong debt auction by Spain. The Dow Jones industrial average rose for the fourth day in five and posted its biggest gain in a month.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund is more optimistic about the global economy after seeing faster U.S. growth and a coordinated effort in Europe to address its debt crisis.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. builders requested the most permits in March for single-family homes and apartments in 3½ years, suggesting that many expect the housing market to improve over the next year.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factory production fell in March after companies made fewer electronic products, steel and metals. But the decline followed three months of strong manufacturing gains.
LONDON (AP) — Oil prices rose to near $104 a barrel Tuesday after a successful Spanish debt sale eased fears over Europe's debt crisis and investors look to U.S. earnings for signs of health in consumer spending.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Coca Cola Co. says its net income rose 8 percent in the first quarter as it sold more drinks around the world.
NEW YORK (AP) — Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s first-quarter net income climbed as global markets strengthened but its investment banking business continued to struggle a bit and revenue from institutional client services declined.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama pushed Congress Tuesday to give oil market regulators more muscle to deter price manipulation by speculators, the latest White House response to determined Republican attacks on administration energy policies amid high gas prices at the pump.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Congress investigates an $823,000 General Services Administration conference at a Las Vegas resort, a fired GSA executive who threw a party there on the taxpayers' dime has been sent a letter by his former agency demanding $1,960 reimbursement for the party in his room.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans derailed a Democratic "Buffett rule" bill Monday forcing the nation's top earners to pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes, using the day before Americans' taxes are due to defy President Barack Obama on one of his signature election-year issues.
MONDAY, APRIL 16
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Lottery set a sales record $89.9 million for the third quarter.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The state's strawberry crop looks to be the best in years, despite recent frosts.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee is about to adopt a new method for disciplining judges that supporters say contains more accountability and should help restore the public's faith in the judicial system.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE – Representatives of the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl announced today that ESPN has set the kick-off for this year’s annual post-season Bowl game for Monday, Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. CST at LP Field in Nashville.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The state is seeking comment from the public on proposed rules regarding the use of the War Memorial Plaza across from the state Capitol.
NASHVILLE (AP) - One of the book industry's largest print-on-demand operations has expanded to keep up with orders.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans bought more electronics, started home improvement projects and updated their wardrobes last month, inspired by warmer weather and a healthier job market.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. companies restocked at a steady pace in February, suggesting businesses are more hopeful about sales.
NEW YORK (AP) — For most of the year, Apple has propelled the Nasdaq composite index forward. The stock climbed from $405 at the start of the year to more than $630 last week, and the Nasdaq easily beat the gains of other indexes.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The outlook among U.S. homebuilders dimmed in April after six months of rising or steady confidence. The decline suggests the housing market remains weak despite modest gains.
NEW YORK (AP) — An important oil price benchmark dropped nearly 3 percent Monday as tensions eased over Iran's nuclear program.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats and Republicans are forcing votes in Congress this coming week on competing tax plans that affect millionaires and smaller businesses, and they know the proposals are doomed from the start.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's proposal to impose a "Buffett rule" tax on the rich is generating enormous political wattage, but the plan itself would directly affect only a tiny fraction of Americans.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama raised a combined $53 million for his campaign, the Democratic Party and other campaign funds in March, his campaign said Monday as it prepared to face Mitt Romney and a rejuvenated GOP in the general election.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says a claim by Mitt Romney about disproportionate job losses by women during the Obama administration is "misleading and ridiculous."
FRIDAY, APRIL 13
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Mattel's first-quarter profit dropped 53 percent, pulled down by costs tied to an acquisition and lower sales for Barbie and Hot Wheels.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's general fund revenues have exceeded projections by $80 million in March, largely on a big jump in corporate tax collections.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam and Transportation Commissioner John Schroer have released a 3-year transportation plan for the state.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - A measure to allow teachers and other school workers to participate in prayer groups and other religious activities on school grounds has been signed by the governor.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The House has approved a bill to make the names of applicants to lead public colleges and universities confidential.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A proposal that seeks to regulate charter schools' use of non-immigrant foreign workers has passed the Senate.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The House has voted to give the governor the power to appoint - or fire - the head of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The House voted on Thursday to begin phasing out Tennessee's inheritance tax and to lower the state's sales tax on groceries.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to overhaul state civil service rules headed to him Thursday to become law despite opposition from some lawmakers whose constituents are uncomfortable with parts of the legislation.
NASHVILLE AREA
MURFREESBORO (AP) - Middle Tennessee State University has opened its new Center for Innovation in Media.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
Stocks are down in midday trading after worries about Europe returned.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gas prices rose more slowly in March, keeping overall U.S. inflation mild.
NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase, which holds the most assets of any bank in the country, said Friday that it issued more mortgage loans in the first three months of the year and turned a bigger profit than Wall Street expected.
NEW YORK (AP) — Google plans to split its stock 2-for-1 in part to preserve its leadership's voting power.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The outlook for U.S. economic growth is looking slightly better.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage dropped near its all-time low this week, making home-buying and refinancing a bargain for those who can qualify.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay $22 million to settle regulatory charges that its analysts shared confidential research with favored clients.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a case that affects thousands of businesses and millions of workers, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that employers are under no obligation to ensure that workers take legally mandated lunch and rest breaks
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said Friday it is creating a multi-agency working group to coordinate federal oversight of hydraulic fracturing and other natural gas drilling techniques.