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VOL. 45 | NO. 16 | Friday, April 16, 2021

Beautiful house, but how fast is the internet?

Cars, roads built the suburbs. Quick connectivity is now expanding them

Rachel Pinkstaff left California looking for a place with more affordable home prices and less government intrusion. She found what she was looking for in fast-growing Thompson’s Station in southern Williamson County.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Passports, please: Another good idea we can’t agree on

A question for those who oppose COVID vaccine passports: Why? I’ve already applied for mine.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

$75,000 more than asking price? Williamson takes off

Many have heard the stories of woe emanating from Williamson County as hundreds of would-be buyers are trying to purchase homes in the area only to be rebuffed by sellers who are swimming in offers.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
44.1°F
Overcast
Wind: North at 8.1 mph
Humidity: 71%

EVENTS

Gallatin Community Shred Day. This is a drive-thru event. Please arrive with a reasonable number of documents ready to shred. 180 N. Belvedere Drive, Suite 2. Wednesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Information

more events »

REAL ESTATE

Davidson County real estate trends for March 2021

March 2021 real estate trends for Davidson County, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

Davidson County real estate trends for first quarter 2021

First quarter 2021 real estate trends for Davidson County, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

Top Davidson County residential sales for March 2021

Top residential real estate sales, March 2021, for Davidson County, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

US average mortgage rates fall again; 30-year loan at 3.04%

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates fell for a second straight week amid signs of economic improvement.

NEWSMAKERS

Supply chain expert joins Lipscomb program

Lipscomb University’s College of Business, recognized across Tennessee and nationally as a leader in business education, has appointed international supply chain expert and U.S. Army veteran Hannah Stolze as director of its Center for Transformative Sales & Supply Chain Leadership and associate professor of supply chain management.

BRIEFS

Senior community coming to Green Hills

Bridgewood Property Company, a Texas-based developer of high-end senior living properties, has acquired property at 3808 Cleghorn Avenue in Green Hills for the development of a mid-rise, luxury retirement community.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

The most affordable new SUVs for 2021

SUVs top nearly every automaker’s sales charts, and they’re not cheap. Any given SUV costs a few thousand more than its closest sedan counterpart. To help ease the sticker shock, Edmunds’ experts have compiled a list of five SUVs that come in a variety of sizes and have unusually low starting prices for their competitive segments.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Why are we so susceptible to world full of scammers?

Yeah, says who? The answer likely depends on who’s asking but the outcome is still the same: Once was, if it was a parent or teacher, you took a deep breath before replying. Now, as an adult, you still want to think before answering.

PERSONAL FINANCE

9 money numbers you must know for financial security

Your doctor needs to know certain numbers to judge your physical health, such as your weight, your blood pressure and your cholesterol levels.

CAREER CORNER

Resume looking a little old? Here are some tips

The unfortunate truth of today’s job market is that applying for jobs is very competitive. Employers can be picky about who they hire and how much they want to pay. For many job seekers older than 50, the search process is a longer, harder road than they remember from years past.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

How my travel credit card saved me $1,388 on vacation cancellation

In 2020, I was looking forward to leaving Los Angeles for a socially distanced vacation in San Diego. I had stocked up on food, hand sanitizer, wipes and masks.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee lawmakers pass new transgender 'bathroom bill'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill that would put public schools and districts at risk of civil lawsuits if they let transgender students or employees use multi-person bathrooms or locker rooms that do not reflect their gender at birth.

Tennessee could require fetal remains be buried or cremated

NASHVILLE (AP) — It will now be up to Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to decide whether some medical providers will be required to cremate or bury fetal remains from surgical abortions under legislation that the Republican-supermajority Senate passed along party lines Wednesday.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

ACM Awards hits record low ratings, join the ceremony slump

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Academy of County Music honors drew a record-low audience, joining other awards shows also finding dwindling viewer interest.

NASHVILLE AREA

Fisk public art display promotes social justice

NASHVILLE (AP) — A large-scale public artwork composed of giant sheets of jute sacks will be on display at Fisk University through May 31 as part of an initiative to promote social justice.

COURTS

Garland announces sweeping police probe after Floyd verdict

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is opening a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis after a former officer was convicted in the killing of George Floyd there, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday.

EDUCATION

U of Tennessee system won't require student COVID-19 shots

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee system will not require its students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

ENVIRONMENT

Behind production of a top-selling bourbon, push to go green

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The process of making fine whiskey involves aging spirits to a golden brown, but a bourbon producing giant is going green along the way.

Biden aims for momentum as US returns to climate fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is convening a coalition of the willing, the unwilling, the desperate-for-help and the avid-for-money for a global summit Thursday aimed at rallying the world's worst polluters to move faster against climate change.

Dems push $25B to electrify school buses, a Biden priority

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers are unveiling legislation that would invest $25 billion to convert the nation's fleet of gasoline- and diesel-powered school buses to electric vehicles, aiming at a component of President Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan to improve children's health.

Australia plans to spend $417M on hydrogen, carbon capture

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's prime minister has proposed spending an extra 539 million Australian dollars ($417 million) on hydrogen and carbon sequestration projects, seeking to burnish his government's green credentials ahead of a climate summit to be hosted by President Joe Biden.

TECHNOLOGY

US takes new aim at ransomware after most costly year

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is taking new aim at ransomware after a year that officials say was the most costly on record for the crippling cyberattacks.

EU proposes rules for high-risk artificial intelligence uses

LONDON (AP) — European Union officials unveiled proposals Wednesday for reining in high-risk uses of artificial intelligence such as live facial scanning that could threaten people's safety or rights.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

White House offers new tax credit to help spur vaccinations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is trying to overcome diminishing demand for COVID-19 shots by offering businesses a tax incentive to give employees paid leave to get vaccinated. The move comes as the United States is set to meet President Joe Biden's goal of administering 200 million coronavirus doses in his first 100 days in office.

FDA inspection found problems at factory making J&J vaccine

The Baltimore factory contracted to make Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine was dirty, didn't follow proper manufacturing procedures and had poorly trained staff, resulting in contamination of material that was going to be put in the shots, U.S. regulators said Wednesday.

Hitting latest vaccine milestone, Biden pushes shots for all

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is set to meet President Joe Biden's latest vaccine goal of administering 200 million coronavirus shots in his first 100 days in office as the White House steps up efforts to inoculate the rest of the public.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks end higher on Wall Street after a day of steady gains

Stocks ended broadly higher on Wall Street after steadily gaining throughout the day.

Businesses scramble for help as would-be workers stay home

NEW YORK (AP) — It looks like something to celebrate: small businesses posting "Help Wanted" signs as the economy edges toward normalcy. Yet, instead of snapping up these jobs, many out-of-work Americans are choosing to stay home.

CSX 1Q profit dips 8% but railroad sees economy growing

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — CSX Corp. said its first-quarter profit declined 8% due to higher expenses, but the railroad said it expects to benefit as the U.S. economy strengthens further over the rest of the year.

Netflix's subscriber growth, stock zapped as pandemic eases

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Netflix's pandemic-fueled subscriber growth is slowing far faster than anticipated as people who have been cooped at home are able to get out and do other things again.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Pelosi floats new proposal for bipartisan Jan. 6 commission

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is renewing her push for a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, floating a new proposal to Republicans that would evenly split the panel's membership between the two parties.

Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd "can be a giant step forward" for the nation in the fight against systemic racism. But he declared that "it's not enough."


TUESDAY, APRIL 20
PREDATORS

Kunin, Jarnkrok lead Predators to 5-2 win over Blackhawks

NASHVILLE (AP) — Two good minutes for the Nashville Predators were two very bad ones for the Chicago Blackhawks.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashville civil rights veterans see hope for future

NASHVILLE (AP) — On April 20, 1960, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood at a podium at Fisk University and said he had come to Nashville "not to bring inspiration, but to gain inspiration from the great movement that has taken place in this community."

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee House: Fetal remains must be buried or cremated

NASHVILLE (AP) — Medical providers in Tennessee would be required to cremate or bury fetal remains from surgical abortions under legislation advanced by the GOP-controlled House on Monday.

Tennessee House OKs new transgender 'bathroom bill'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee House lawmakers on Monday passed a bill that would put public schools and districts at risk of civil lawsuits if they let transgender students or employees use multi-person bathrooms or locker rooms that don't reflect their gender at birth.

STATEWIDE

Biden nominates 4 for Tennessee Valley Authority board

NASHVILLE (AP) — President Joe Biden has nominated four people for the board of a federal utility.

Ex-Jack Daniel's distiller to make new whiskey in Tennessee

NASHVILLE (AP) — The former top distiller at Jack Daniel's announced on Tuesday that he and several partners are opening a new whiskey distillery near the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Protesters seeking release of school shooting video arrested

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Seven protesters demanding the release of police body camera video of a student's fatal shooting at a Tennessee high school have been arrested.

Beauty products manufacturer expanding Tennessee operations

SOMERVILLE (AP) — A company that makes beauty products and hand sanitizer used to ward off COVID-19 is planning to expand its operations in West Tennessee.

ENVIRONMENT

Also roaring back from pandemic: earth-warming emissions

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Global warming emissions are expected to spike this year as the world emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and economies begin to recover.

Biden's virtual climate summit: Diplomacy sans human touch

WASHINGTON (AP) — There will be no hands to shake or backs to slap, no way to look a foreign leader in the eye. The small human moments that define statecraft will be reduced to images on a screen.

TECHNOLOGY

Apple to host virtual iPad event, may hint at new AirPods

Many of us may be suffering from virtual event fatigue after a year of video calls. But not Apple, which plans new product announcements at what seems likely to be an iPhone-less online event on Tuesday

US takes steps to protect electric system from cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking steps to protect the country's electric system from cyberattacks through a new 100-day initiative combining federal government agencies and private industry.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

US warns against travel to 80% of world due to coronavirus

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Monday urged Americans reconsider any international travel they may have planned and said it would issue specific warnings not to visit roughly 80% of the world's countries due to risks from the coronavirus pandemic.

EU agency links J&J shot to rare clots, says odds favor use

LONDON (AP) — The European Union's drug regulatory agency said Tuesday that it found a "possible link" between Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots and recommended a warning be added to the label. But experts at the agency reiterated that the vaccine's benefits outweigh the risks.

UK job figures show young hardest hit by COVID restrictions

LONDON (AP) — The number of workers on U.K. corporate payrolls dropped by 0.2% in March as young people were hardest hit by coronavirus restrictions that closed bars, restaurants and hotels, according to the latest government statistics.

'No place for you': Indian hospitals buckle amid virus surge

NEW DELHI (AP) — Seema Gandotra, sick with the coronavirus, gasped for breath in an ambulance for 10 hours, as it tried unsuccessfully at six hospitals in India's sprawling capital to find an open bed. By the time she was admitted, it was too late, and the 51-year-old died hours later.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks close lower on Wall Street, led by tech and banks

Stocks closed lower on Wall Street, led by drops in technology companies and banks.

Biden OKs more foreign seasonal workers as economy improves

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration announced an increase Tuesday in the number of temporary seasonal workers who will be allowed to work in the U.S. this year as the U.S. economy recovers from the pandemic.

Dogecoin has its day, as cryptocurrency fans push it up

NEW YORK (AP) — Dogecoin, the digital currency advertised as the one "favored by Shiba Inus worldwide," is having its day.

Restaurants, delivery apps still at odds as demand grows

Diners got used to delivery during the pandemic, and the habit may stick long after dining rooms reopen. But restaurants and delivery companies remain uneasy partners, haggling over fees and struggling to make the service profitable for themselves and each other.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Bush criticizes GOP isolationism, anti-immigration rhetoric

WASHINGTON (AP) — George W. Bush says the Republican Party he served as president has become "isolationist, protectionist and, to a certain extent, nativist" and says he's especially concerned about anti-immigration rhetoric.

Gaetz, Greene flaunt new paths to power, testing GOP leaders

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have always faced rebels in their ranks. But Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are presenting top House Republicans with a test of how to handle a new breed of Trump-era, social media-savvy firebrands.

US under Biden will no longer call migrants 'illegal aliens'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employees of the two main U.S. immigration enforcement agencies were directed Monday to stop referring to migrants as "aliens," a dated term that many people consider offensive.


MONDAY, APRIL 19
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Luke Bryan wins top ACM Award, but female acts own the night

NEW YORK (AP) — Carrie Underwood brought the Academy of Country Music Awards to church. Maren Morris won two honors, including song of the year. Miranda Lambert performed three times and held on to her record as the most decorated winner in ACM history. And Mickey Guyton, the first Black woman to host the awards show, gave a powerful, top-notch vocal performance.

List of winners at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards

A list of winners in the top categories at Sunday's Academy of Country Music Awards, held at various locations in Nashville, Tennessee:

Chasing Dreams: From UNC linebacker to country music star

Like many young football players growing up in North Carolina, Chase Rice had his sights set on the NFL. After an outstanding sophomore season with the Tar Heels, that goal seemed realistic.

STATEWIDE

5 Tennessee sites added to historic places register

NASHVILLE (AP) — Two churches are among five Tennessee properties named to the National Register of Historic Places.

NASHVILLE AREA

CoreCivic to settle shareholders lawsuit for $56 million

NASHVILLE (AP) — CoreCivic says it will pay $56 million to settle a lawsuit by shareholders who accused the private prison operator of inflating its stock prices by misrepresenting the quality and value of its services.

Fisk University gets $500K grant for art gallery

NASHVILLE (AP) — Fisk University has received a $500,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to help make the school's art more accessible to students and the community.

COURTS

Supreme Court asked to give access to secretive court's work

WASHINGTON (AP) — Civil liberties groups are asking the Supreme Court to give the public access to opinions of the secretive court that reviews bulk email collection, warrantless internet searches and other government surveillance programs.

High court seems ready to send virus funds to Alaska Natives

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed inclined Monday to say that hundreds of millions of dollars in coronavirus relief money tied up in court should benefit Alaska Natives rather than be spread more broadly among Native American tribes around the U.S.

Supreme Court rejects lingering 2020 election challenge case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday said it will not hear a case out of Pennsylvania related to the 2020 election, a dispute that had lingered while similar election challenges had already been rejected by the justices.

High court won't hear Tennessee prisoners' hepatitis C case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place an appeals court decision that upheld Tennessee's rationing of life-saving hepatitis C drugs to prisoners as constitutional.

Supreme Court rejects appeal over pickup seized at border

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a Kentucky man whose pickup truck was seized at the Mexican border and held by the federal government for more than two years.

AUTO INDUSTRY

VW, Ford unveil SUVs at China auto show under virus controls

SHANGHAI (AP) — Volkswagen, Ford and Chinese brands unveiled new SUVs for China on Monday at the Shanghai auto show, the industry's biggest marketing event in a year overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Authorities say no one in Tesla driver's seat before deadly crash

HOUSTON (AP) — Two people were killed in Texas in the fiery crash of a Tesla and authorities say there was no one in the driver's seat at the time of the crash, although it's not clear whether the car's driver-assist system was being used.

ENVIRONMENT

Winners of $20M contest make concrete to trap carbon dioxide

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Organizers of a $20 million contest to develop products from greenhouse gas that flows from power plants announced two winners Monday ahead of launching a similar but much bigger competition backed by Elon Musk.

Biden feels heat on emissions goal as climate summit nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Joe Biden convenes a virtual climate summit on Thursday with 40 world leaders, he faces a vexing task: how to put forward a nonbinding but symbolic goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that will have a tangible impact on climate change efforts not only in the U.S. but throughout the world.

MEDIA

Apple signals return of right-wing 'free speech' app Parler

Apple said it has reached an agreement with the right-wing social app Parler that could lead to its reinstatement in the company's app store. Apple kicked out Parler in January over ties to the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol.

Source: Swiss billionaire drops bid for Tribune Publishing

A Maryland hotel executive is trying to assemble new financing for a $680 million offer to buy Tribune Publishing after his partner, a Swiss billionaire, pulled out of the bidding for the newspaper chain.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

A jab on the job: Companies, unions offer COVID-19 vaccines

Marie Watson wanted to be among the first in line when she and other essential workers became eligible for the coronavirus vaccine — and with good reason.

Half of US adults have received at least one COVID-19 shot

WASHINGTON (AP) — Half of all adults in the U.S. have received at least one COVID-19 shot, the government announced Sunday, marking another milestone in the nation's largest-ever vaccination campaign but leaving more work to do to convince skeptical Americans to roll up their sleeves.

India's capital to lock down amid devastating virus surge

NEW DELHI (AP) — New Delhi imposed a weeklong lockdown Monday night to prevent the collapse of the Indian capital's health system, which authorities said had been pushed to its limit amid an explosive surge in coronavirus cases.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Miners' union backs shift from coal in exchange for jobs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest coal miners' union said Monday it would accept President Joe Biden's plan to move away from coal and other fossil fuels in exchange for a "true energy transition" that includes thousands of jobs in renewable energy and spending on technology to make coal cleaner.

Stocks close lower, pulling indexes below record highs

Technology companies helped drag U.S. stocks broadly lower Monday, pulling the indexes below the record highs they reached last week.

Union accuses Amazon of illegally interfering with vote

NEW YORK (AP) — The retail union that failed to organize Amazon workers at a Alabama warehouse wants the results of a recent vote to be thrown out, saying that the company illegally interfered with the process.

Leadership shakeup continues at GameStop, CEO to depart

The overhaul in the top ranks of GameStop continues with the announced departure of CEO George Sherman at the end of July.

'Britcoin' digital currency being considered by UK

LONDON (AP) — British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a new digital currency that Treasury chief Rishi Sunak indicated could be known as "Britcoin."

Coca-Cola sales rise as vaccinations roll out, venues open

Sales are steadily improving at Coca-Cola Co. as vaccinations allow for the opening of stadiums, restaurants and theaters in many regions globally.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

GOP targets ballot drop boxes in Georgia, Florida, elsewhere

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta-area voters looking to return their ballots using a drop box in next year's gubernatorial election will have to do some searching.

GOP Rep. Steve Stivers resigns to run Ohio commerce chamber

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio, the former campaign chair for House Republicans, announced on Monday that he's stepping down next month to oversee his home state's chamber of commerce.

GOP White House hopefuls move forward as Trump considers run

WASHINGTON (AP) — Less than three months after former President Donald Trump left the White House, the race to succeed him atop the Republican Party is already beginning.


FRIDAY, APRIL 16
PREDATORS

Hurricanes score 3 quick goals, top Predators 4-1

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Warren Foegele scored the first of three Carolina goals in under eight minutes and the Hurricanes beat the Nashville Predators 4-1 to snap a two-game skid Thursday night.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee forward Fulkerson returning for 6th season

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Forward John Fulkerson announced Friday he is returning to Tennessee for his sixth season, using the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the coronavirus pandemic.

UT basketball signing class climbs to No. 2 in nation

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield has reclassified from the class of 2022 and signed with Tennessee, helping boost the Volunteers' 2021 signing class to No. 2 in the nation.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Vanderbilt turning berm into premium end zone seating area

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt is turning the berm in one end zone into new premium seating before the upcoming season.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Lee to sign bill letting students opt out of LGBTQ material

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee plans to sign a bill requiring school districts to alert parents of any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity and let them opt their student out.

Tennessee closer to banning executions of intellectually disabled

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers are inching closer to advancing legislation designed to prevent death row inmates with an intellectual disability from being executed.

Maj. Gen. Tommy Baker appointed to oversee Veterans Services

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday that Maj. Gen. Tommy H. Baker will officially serve as commissioner for the Department of Veterans Services.

COURTS

Oath Keeper is 1st suspect to plead guilty in Capitol riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — A member of the far-right Oath Keepers militia group and heavy metal guitarist on Friday became the first defendant to plead guilty to federal charges in connection with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Garland rescinds Trump-era memo curtailing consent decrees

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday rescinded a Trump-era memo that curtailed the use of consent decrees that federal prosecutors have used in sweeping investigations of police departments.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Union, automakers headed for fight over battery plant wages

NASHVILLE (AP) — The United Auto Workers union is calling on General Motors to pay full union wages at electric vehicle battery factories, thrusting what had been a festering conflict into the spotlight.

REAL ESTATE

March US home construction jumps to fastest pace since 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. housing construction rebounded strongly in March to the fastest pace since 2006 as home builders recovered from an unusually frigid February that shut down projects.

HEALTH CARE

Vanderbilt expanding work with undiagnosed diseases

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced on Thursday it is launching a new program to increase the number of patients with undiagnosed diseases that it can help each year.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

US setting up $1.7B national network to track virus variants

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is setting up a $1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave, the Biden administration announced Friday.

Senators to Biden: Waive vaccine intellectual property rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten liberal senators are urging President Joe Biden to back India and South Africa's appeal to the World Trade Organization to temporarily relax intellectual property rules so coronavirus vaccines can be manufactured by nations that are struggling to inoculate their populations.

TECHNOLOGY

Australian judge rules Google misled Android users on data

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Google broke Australian law by misleading users about personal location data collected through Android mobile devices, a judge found Friday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

S&P 500 hits another record, marks 4th weekly gain in a row

Stocks continued to march higher on Wall Street Friday, giving the S&P 500 its latest record high and its fourth straight weekly gain.

Interior head Haaland revokes Trump-era orders on energy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday revoked a series of Trump administration orders that promoted fossil fuel development on public lands and waters, and issued a separate directive that prioritizes climate change in agency decisions.

Turkey to ban cryptocurrencies for buying goods, services

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's central bank is banning the use of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in payments for goods and services, according to a decision published in the country's Official Gazette on Friday.

China's growth surges to 18.3% but rebound leveling off

BEIJING (AP) — China's economy grew by double digits in the latest quarter but an explosive rebound from the coronavirus pandemic is slowing abruptly as manufacturing and consumer spending return to normal.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden speeds refugee admissions but doesn't lift Trump cap

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday signed an emergency determination to speed refugee admissions to the U.S., but kept his predecessor's historically low cap of 15,000 refugees for this year, triggering an outcry from advocates for refugees and even Biden allies.

Japan's leader urges strong alliance in visit to White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling democracy the foundation for global prosperity, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday in a bid to underscore the two countries' alliance as a counter to an autocratic and increasingly assertive China.

AP Interview: Beijing says US 'too negative' toward China

BEIJING (AP) — A top Chinese diplomat said Friday that U.S. policy toward China is "too negative" and that cooperation could be critically important as the Biden administration focuses on combatting COVID-19 and promoting economic recovery.

GOP leaders diverge on Trump, putting party in limbo

WASHINGTON (AP) — One by one, the Republican leaders of Congress have made the trip to Mar-a-Lago to see Donald Trump.

US says Russia was given Trump campaign polling data in 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was one of the more tantalizing, yet unresolved, questions of the investigation into possible connections between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign: Why was a business associate of campaign chairman Paul Manafort given internal polling data — and what did he do with it?

White House: Intel on Russian 'bounties' on US troops shaky

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the intelligence community does not have conclusive evidence that Russian intelligence operatives encouraged the Taliban to attack American troops in Afghanistan.


THURSDAY, APRIL 15
VANDERBILT SPORTS

Ralph says leaving UConn not easy, but Vandy a 'no brainer'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Shea Ralph said the possibilities coaching Vanderbilt offered were too good to pass up, though leaving UConn was very tough after investing in the Huskies as both a player and assistant coach for 13 seasons.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee signs 7-footer Jonas Aidoo to 2021 signing class

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has signed 7-foot forward Jonas Aidoo, the Vols' fourth signee for the 2021 recruiting class.

Tennessee Vols sign wing Quentin Diboundje from France

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has signed Quentin Diboundje from France, the seventh international player during coach Rick Barnes' tenure.

NASHVILLE AREA

Cooper: Oracle to bring 8,500 jobs, $1.2B investment

NASHVILLE (AP) — Oracle Corporation plans to bring 8,500 jobs and a $1.2 billion investment to fast-growing Nashville over the coming decade, a deal Mayor John Cooper's office announced Wednesday as unprecedented in the history of Tennessee economic development projects.

MIDSTATE

GM expected to announce $2.3B Spring Hill battery plant

NASHVILLE (AP) — General Motors is expected to announce Friday that one of its joint ventures will build a second U.S. electric vehicle battery factory in Spring Hill.

LG to add shift with 334 more jobs at Clarksville factory

CLARKSVILLE (AP) — LG Electronics is planning to add a new shift to its washing machine factory in Tennessee, spurring an anticipated 334 new jobs.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Mercedes rolls out luxury electric car in duel with Tesla

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Daimler AG on Thursday unveiled a battery-powered counterpart to its top Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan as German carmakers ramp up their challenge to electric upstart Tesla.

Safety groups, unions urge US to fix recalled gov't vehicles

DETROIT (AP) — More than a dozen consumer groups and three federal employee unions are asking the U.S. government to stop using vehicles in its fleet with unrepaired safety recalls.

HEALTH CARE

UnitedHealth ups forecast after strong start to year

UnitedHealth's first-quarter profit jumped about 44%, and the nation's largest health insurer also hiked its 2021 outlook despite expecting more hits from the COVID-19 pandemic.

AP sources: Tool behind crackdown on opioids could expire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has been slow-walking its work on the extension of a legislative order that would keep in place a sweeping tool that's helped federal agents crack down on drugs chemically similar to fentanyl, three people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

TRANSPORTATION

Delta posts $1.2 billion loss, says it's flying into recovery

Delta Air Lines lost $1.2 billion in the first quarter but executives said Thursday that the airline could be profitable by late summer if the budding recovery in air travel continues.

Study finds that blocking seats on planes reduces virus risk

A new study says leaving middle seats open could give airline passengers more protection from the virus that causes COVID-19.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

WHO: Europe has surpassed 1 million COVID-19 deaths

GENEVA (AP) — A top official from the World Health Organization says Europe has surpassed 1 million deaths from COVID-19 and the situation remains "serious," with about 1.6 million new cases reported each week in the region.

India's biggest cities shut down as new virus cases hit 200K

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's two largest cities imposed stringent restrictions on movement and one planned to use hotels and banquet halls to treat coronavirus patients as new infections in the country shot past 200,000 Thursday amid a devastating surge that is straining a fragile health system.

J&J vaccine to remain in limbo while officials seek evidence

Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine will remain in limbo for a while longer after government health advisers declared Wednesday that they need more evidence to decide if a handful of unusual blood clots were linked to the shot — and if so, how big the risk really is.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US stocks rise to records on more proof of economic recovery

Stocks rallied to more record highs on Wall Street as a suite of stellar data suggested the recovery for the economy and corporate profits is accelerating.

US industrial production warms with the weather, rising 1.4%

WASHINGTON (AP) — American industry rebounded last month as the United States recovered from an unusually frigid February.

$1,400 stimulus checks helped March retail sales soar 9.8%

NEW YORK (AP) — Newly vaccinated and armed with $1,400 stimulus checks, Americans went on a spending spree last month, buying new clothes and going out to eat again.

With layoffs down and spending up, US rebound gains momentum

WASHINGTON (AP) — A much-awaited economic boom coming off the pandemic recession appeared to edge closer to reality Thursday with fresh data showing the pace of layoffs dwindling, consumers spending freely and manufacturing rebounding.

After union vote, Bezos vows to do better for Amazon workers

NEW YORK (AP) — After a union battle at an Alabama warehouse, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos acknowledged that Amazon has to do better for its workers and vowed to make Amazon a safer place to work.

Bank of America profit doubles in 1Q to $8.1 billion

NEW YORK (AP) — Bank of America's profits doubled in the first quarter, the bank said Thursday, as the improving economy allowed it to release billions from its loan-loss reserves that it originally set aside in the early days of the pandemic.

Citigroup profit triples in 1Q, tops estimates; revenue down

NEW YORK (AP) — Citigroup's profits more than tripled in the first quarter, the banking conglomerate said Thursday, helped by the release of billions of dollars from its loan-loss reserves.

'Hillbilly Elegy' author J.D. Vance quits firm after tweets

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance has resigned from the board of a company that uses green technology to mass-produce food in Appalachia, days after sending some controversial tweets.

COURTS

Democrats begin long-shot push to expand the Supreme Court

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of congressional Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to add four seats to the Supreme Court, a long-shot bid designed to counter the court's rightward tilt during the Trump administration and criticized by Republicans as a potential power grab that would reduce the public's trust in the judiciary.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Equal pay bill nears approval in House, long odds in Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats were poised to pass legislation Thursday that they say would help close the gap between what men and women are paid in the workplace, though the measure faces little chance of overcoming Republican opposition in the Senate.

US expels Russian diplomats, imposes sanctions for hacking

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday announced the U.S. is expelling 10 Russian diplomats and imposing sanctions against dozens of companies and people, holding the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year's presidential election and the cyber hacking of federal agencies.

Capitol Police watchdog says force needs a "culture change"

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top watchdog for the U.S. Capitol Police will tell a House committee on Thursday that there is a need for a culture change within the force after broad failures in its response to the Jan. 6 insurrection, including missed intelligence predicting a "war" and weapons that were so old that officers didn't feel comfortable using them.

House panel votes to advance bill on slavery reparations

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House panel advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves by approving legislation Wednesday that would create a commission to study the issue.

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