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VOL. 48 | NO. 14 | Friday, April 5, 2024

Friendly rivalry hits 50

MTSU, Belmont music business programs mark half-century of producing industry leaders

Five minutes is an eternity in popular music. Five years is a not-unheard-of higher education degree path. Now imagine having an impact on popular music through higher education for five decades.

Belmont at the Opry showcases school's talent

The capstone event of Belmont’s yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of its music business program features some of the university’s most notable music business alumni including Opry member Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Hubbard, Ian Munsick, Ashley Cooke and Hailey Whitters and a songwriters’ round featuring Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey and Nicolle Galyon.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Logic goes for a spin in debate over guns in cars

The General Assembly ought to come with a warning label: Watching legislators in action may lead to eye-rolls, head-shakes and muttered oaths of exasperation.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
45.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Northwest at 8.1 mph
Humidity: 77%

EVENTS

Green Hills Library Spring Book Sale. The Green Hills Branch Library Spring Book Sale will offer books for children and adults, CDs and DVDs. Hours for the sale at 3701 Benham Avenue are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. All merchandise will be half-price Saturday. The sale ends Sunday with the $5 bag sale, 2-4 p.m. All proceeds benefit Green Hills Branch Library community programs and services.

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

No, NAR settlement isn’t going to lower home prices

Not to belabor the point, but the $418 million settlement by the National Association Realtors, followed by the $57 million settlement with Compass, has virtually all of the media filing various reports, most of which are confused and confusing.

REAL ESTATE

Average long-term US mortgage rate rises modestly this week, holding just below 7%

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose modestly this week, holding below 7% as it has for much of this year.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Streak resurrected Preds’ hopes

Streaks, like records, are made to be broken. But it seemed for a long while like the Predators stretch of consecutive games without losing in regulation would never come to an end.

What to do with all these defensemen?

After a remarkably healthy season, the Predators have been plagued lately by the injury bug, and it has bitten defensemen exclusively. Nashville has lost fewer than 100-man games due to illness or injury so far this season, which is a low number when compared to just about all the other NHL teams.

Three Periods: Town so nice, you play there twice

With the calendar turned to the regular season’s final month, the Predators’ week ahead features three on the road with just one home game mixed in, and that one is a tough divisional foe.

UT SPORTS

Knecht, Barnes find joy in season despite Elite Eight loss

To overcome a big hurdle, Tennessee had to overcome a big man. The Vols fell just short.

NEWSMAKERS

Civil litigator joins tpmbLAW as partner

Stefan Richard “Rick” Hughes has joined Taylor, Pigue, Marchetti and Blair PLLC (tpmbLAW) as a partner.

BRIEFS

Keep an eye on safety during solar eclipse

Millions of people will watch Monday as day turns into night during the 2024 total solar eclipse. It will be the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044, NASA reports.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Midsize SUVs: Honda Passport vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Midsize SUVs with two rows of seating are an excellent option if you want something a little bigger than the ubiquitous small SUV. They have room for five and plenty of storage space but also are less expensive and easier to park than three-row SUVs.

PERSONAL FINANCE

What you need to know about Social Security

Only about one in eight adults know when they’ll be eligible for full retirement benefits through Social Security, the Nationwide Retirement Institute 2023 Social Security Survey revealed. And compared to 2014, fewer people age 50 and up now know whether they might be eligible for Social Security benefits based on an ex-spouse’s record (they might) or if Social Security might offer benefits for their spouse or children (also yes).

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Adding a child to card might not help their credit

As parents, we want the best for our children: health, happiness – and hardy credit. Having a strong credit profile can determine whether your kid gets approved for a loan or how much they’ll pay for car insurance when they’re grown. But establishing credit for someone with no credit history is challenging.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Connor's OT goal leads Jets over Predators 4-3, Nashville clinches a playoff berth

NASHVILLE (AP) — Kyle Connor scored at 1:52 of overtime to give the Winnipeg Jets a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night.

UT SPORTS

New Lady Vols coach Kim Caldwell vows to get historic program back on top

Kim Caldwell and the Tennessee Lady Vols are taking a very big leap together with the young coach tasked with turning the historic program back into title contenders.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee Senate OKs a bill that would make it illegal for adults to help minors seeking abortions

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee on Wednesday advanced legislation making it illegal for adults to help minors get an abortion without parental consent, sparking objections from Democrats who counter that doing so could result in young victims needing approval from their parents who may have raped them in order to terminate the pregnancies.

Tennessee Senate advances bill to arm teachers a year after deadly Nashville school shooting

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Tennessee advanced a proposal Tuesday to allow some teachers to carry handguns on public school grounds, a move that would mark one of the state's biggest expansions of gun access since a deadly shooting at a private elementary school last year.

Tennessee Senate advances bill to allow death penalty for child rape

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-controlled Senate advanced legislation on Tuesday allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions as critics raised concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment in such cases.

COURTS

Trump's lawyers try for a third day to get NY appeals court to delay hush-money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's lawyers tried for a third straight day Wednesday to get a New York appeals court to delay his hush money criminal trial, which is slated to begin next Monday.

Former Trump executive Allen Weisselberg sentenced to 5 months in jail for lying in civil fraud case

NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Weisselberg, a retired executive in Donald Trump's real estate empire, was sentenced on Wednesday to five months in jail for lying under oath during his testimony in the civil fraud lawsuit brought against the former president by New York's attorney general.

Judge in Trump's classified files case agrees to redact witness names, granting prosecution request

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump granted a request by prosecutors on Tuesday aimed at protecting the identities of potential government witnesses.

Ex-Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg will be sentenced for perjury and faces a second stint in jail

NEW YORK (AP) — Allen Weisselberg, a former longtime executive in Donald Trump's real estate empire, is set to be sentenced Wednesday for lying under oath in the ex-president's New York civil fraud case.

Two tribal nations sue social media companies over Native youth suicides

Two tribal nations are accusing social media companies of contributing to the disproportionately high rates of suicide among Native American youth.

ELECTION 2024

Trump renews criticism of Jewish voters who back Biden: 'Should have their head examined'

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned the mental fitness of Jewish voters who back President Joe Biden and framed this year's election as a referendum on the strength of Christianity in the U.S., part of his sharp-edged continuing appeal to evangelical conservatives who are a critical element of his political base.

Trump says Arizona's abortion ban goes too far while defending the overturning of Roe v. Wade

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Arizona law that criminalizes nearly all abortions goes too far and called on Arizona lawmakers to change it, while also defending the overturning of Roe v. Wade that cleared states to ban the procedure.

As medical perils from abortion bans grow, so do opportunities for Democrats in a post-Roe world

WASHINGTON (AP) — For much of her life, Angela Crawford considered herself a fairly conservative Republican — and she voted that way. But then a wave of court rulings and Republican-led actions in states restricted abortion and later in vitro fertilization, the very procedure that had helped her conceive her daughter.

HEALTH CARE

Company that made millions of defective sleep apnea machines ordered to overhaul manufacturing

WASHINGTON (AP) — The company responsible for a global recall of sleep apnea machines will be barred from resuming production at U.S. facilities until it meets a number of safety requirements, under a long-awaited settlement announced Tuesday by federal officials.

ENVIRONMENT

UN climate chief presses for faster action, says humans have 2 years left 'to save the world'

OXFORD, England (AP) — Humanity has only two years left "to save the world" by making dramatic changes in the way it spews heat-trapping emissions and it has even less time to act to get the finances behind such a massive shift, the head of the United Nations climate agency said.

MEDIA

Warner Bros. teases 'Joker' sequel, 'Beetlejuice 2' and more at CinemaCon

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Warner Bros. isn't resting on its " Barbie " laurels: The 100-year studio has its sights on a record-breaking 2024 as well, with a release slate that includes a new Mad Max film, " Furiosa," Kevin Costner's two-part Western epic, " Horizon: An American Saga, " the " Beetlejuice " sequel, and "Joker: Folie à Deux," which brings Lady Gaga to Gotham City.

BANKING

Switzerland lays out new 'too big to fail' rules in wake of Credit Suisse banking turmoil last year

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss government Wednesday announced steps to bolster its "too big to fail" rules aimed at avoiding potentially disastrous fallout from banking sector turmoil after woes last year at Credit Suisse before it was taken over by rival UBS.

ECONOMY

Federal Reserve minutes: Some officials highlighted worsening inflation last month

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Federal Reserve policymakers argued at their most recent meeting in March that inflation was likely worsening, even before the government reported Wednesday that price increases re-accelerated last month.

Higher gas and rents keep US inflation elevated, likely delaying Fed rate cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer inflation remained persistently high last month, boosted by gas, rents, auto insurance and other items, the government said Wednesday in a report that will likely give pause to the Federal Reserve as it considers how many — or even whether — to cut interest rates this year.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street falls after hot inflation report burns hopes for a June rate cut

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell on worries that what seemed like a blip in the battle to bring down inflation is turning into a trend. The S&P 500 lost 0.9% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave back 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.8%. Treasury yields also leaped in the bond market, raising the pressure on the stock market. Traders pulled back on bets for coming cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve following a third straight inflation report that came in hotter than expected. The yield on the 10-year Treasury jumped to 4.55%.

Macy's names 2 independent directors as part of agreement with activist investor

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's said Wednesday it has named two independent directors to its board that were pushed by activist investor Arkhouse Management, ending a proxy fight that aimed to replace most of the board and to acquire the iconic chain.

Delta Air Lines posts a narrow Q1 profit and says travel demand remains strong despite flight scares

Delta Air Lines eked out a narrow first-quarter profit and said Wednesday that demand for travel is strong heading into the summer-vacation season, with travelers seemingly unfazed by recent incidents in the industry that ranged from a panel blowing off a jetliner in flight to a tire falling off another plane during takeoff.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Conservative revolt in the House blocks effort to reauthorize a key US spy tool

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill that would reauthorize a crucial national security surveillance program was blocked Wednesday by a conservative revolt, pushing the prospects of final passage into uncertainty amid a looming deadline. The legislative impasse follows an edict earlier in the day from former President Donald Trump to "kill" the measure.

Ukraine will be outgunned by Russia 10 to 1 in weeks without US help, top Europe general says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top general for U.S. forces in Europe told Congress Wednesday that Ukraine will be outgunned 10 to one by Russia within a matter of weeks if Congress does not find a way to approve sending more ammunition and weapons to Kyiv soon.

Japan is giving Washington 250 new cherry trees to replace those to be lost in construction work

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japan is giving the United States 250 new cherry trees to help replace the hundreds that are being ripped out this summer as construction crews work to repair the crumbling seawall around the capital's Tidal Basin.

Biden welcomes Prime Minister Kishida and praises Japan's growing clout on international stage

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden praised Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's "bold leadership" on a series of global crises as he welcomed the Japanese leader to the White House on Wednesday for wide-ranging talks that touched on the delicate security situation in the Pacific, the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and more.

Steak, cherry blossoms and Paul Simon will be featured at the White House state dinner for Japan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon are on tap for more than 200 guests who are expected to attend a swanky White House state dinner on Wednesday to celebrate the relationship between the United States and Japan.

Congress summons Boeing's CEO to testify on its jetliner safety following new whistleblower charges

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Senate subcommittee has summoned Boeing CEO David Calhoun to testify about the company's jetliners in an inquiry prompted by new safety-related charges from a whistleblower.

More Republican states sue to block Biden's student loan repayment plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Another group of Republican-led states is suing to block the Biden administration's new student loan repayment plan, which offers a faster path to cancellation and has already been used to forgive loans for more than 150,000 borrowers.

House to delay sending Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson will delay sending the House's articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate this week as previously planned after Republican senators requested more time Tuesday to build support for holding a full trial.


TUESDAY, APRIL 9
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to hit No. 1 on Billboard country albums chart

NEW YORK (AP) — Beyoncé has made history once again. Her latest album, the epic "Act ll: Cowboy Carter", hit No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart, making her the first Black woman to top the chart since its 1964 inception.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee lawmakers seek to require parental permission before children join social media

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-dominant Senate on Monday unanimously signed off on legislation requiring minors to have parental consent to create social media accounts.

COURTS

Appeals court rejects Donald Trump's latest attempt to delay April 15 hush money criminal trial

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court judge Tuesday rejected Donald Trump's latest attempt to delay his hush money criminal trial, taking just 12 minutes to swat aside an argument that it should be postponed while the former president fights a gag order.

Norfolk Southern agrees to pay $600M in settlement related to train derailment in eastern Ohio

Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $600 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement related to a fiery train derailment in February 2023 in eastern Ohio.

Prosecutors urge Supreme Court to reject Trump's immunity claims in election subversion case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith's team urged the Supreme Court on Monday night to reject former President Donald Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Asbestos victims in Montana want Buffett's railroad company held responsible

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — An attorney for two people who died of a rare lung cancer argued on Monday for a jury to hold BNSF Railway responsible for pollution in a small Montana town near the U.S.-Canada border where thousands of people were exposed to toxic asbestos dust.

ELECTION 2024

Conservative Christians praise Trump's anti-abortion record but say he's stopped short of the goal

For conservative, anti-abortion Christians, former President Donald Trump delivered in four years what no other Republican before him had been able to do: A conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court that would go on to overturn Roe v. Wade, a Holy Grail of the movement.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Tesla settles lawsuit over man's death in a crash involving its semi-autonomous driving software

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Tesla has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a Silicon Valley engineer who died in a crash while relying on the company's semi-autonomous driving software.

ENVIRONMENT

New EPA rule says 218 US chemical plants must reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 200 chemical plants nationwide will be required to reduce toxic emissions that are likely to cause cancer under a new rule issued Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule advances President Joe Biden's commitment to environmental justice by delivering critical health protections for communities burdened by industrial pollution from ethylene oxide, chloroprene and other dangerous chemicals, officials said.

Broken record: March is 10th straight month to be hottest on record, scientists say

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the 10th consecutive month, Earth in March set a new monthly record for global heat — with both air temperatures and the world's oceans hitting an all-time high for the month, the European Union climate agency Copernicus said.

MEDIA

At movie industry convention, leaders say blockbusters alone aren't enough

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Movie theater owners are still feeling the high from " Barbenheimer." The counterprogramming of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" brought audiences to cinemas around with the world, ultimately earning nearly $2.5 billion in combined ticket sales. But, gathered in Las Vegas this week for the annual CinemaCon convention and trade show, they're also acutely aware that they need more than two movies to survive.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street steadies as bond yields ease ahead of inflation report

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks meandered to a mixed close on Wall Street as traders made their final moves before several potentially market-moving reports later in the week.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Austin tells Congress Israel is taking steps to boost aid to Gaza as lawmakers question US support

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told Congress Tuesday that pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian aid to Gaza appears to be working, but he said more must be done, and it remains to be seen if the improvement will continue.

GOP's Greene delivers fresh threats of ousting Speaker Johnson in scathing rebuke

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is escalating her criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson, blistering his leadership in a lengthy letter to colleagues and renewing threats of a snap vote that could remove him from office.

Biden to meet Japan's PM Kishida over shared concerns about China and differences on US Steel deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a much-anticipated visit to Washington on Tuesday aiming to spotlight shared concerns about provocative Chinese military action in the Pacific and at a rare moment of public difference between the two nations over a Japanese company's plan to buy an iconic U.S. company.

What to know about Biden's latest attempt at student loan cancellation

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is taking another shot at student loan cancellation, hoping to deliver on a key campaign promise that he has so far failed to fulfill.

6 northern European nations sign a deal to protect North Sea infrastructure from hostile actors

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Six northern Europe countries bordering the North Sea said Tuesday that they have signed an agreement to work together to protect underwater infrastructure in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean from an increased risk of sabotage.

From overcapacity to TikTok, the issues covered during Janet Yellen's trip to China

BEIJING (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and her team are leaving China and returning to Washington after trying to tackle the major questions of the day between the countries. Here's a look at what she tried to accomplish, what was achieved, and where things stand for the world's two largest economies:

Blinken, Cameron urge Congress to approve aid for Ukraine, calling it critical for world security

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged Congress on Tuesday to approve new military aid for Ukraine, saying the stalled funding is critical for U.S., European and world security.

Mayorkas impeachment trial set to start in Senate this week but might be over before it starts

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will bring their case against Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate this week, two months after impeaching the Homeland Security secretary. It will be the third time in five years that senators are sworn in as jurors in the court of impeachment.


MONDAY, APRIL 8
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Morgan Wallen has been arrested after police say he threw a chair off of the roof of a 6-story bar

NASHVILLE (AP) — Country music singer Morgan Wallen has been arrested after police say he threw a chair off the rooftop of a newly opened six-story bar in downtown Nashville.

Jelly Roll dominates the 2024 CMT Music Awards with host Kelsea Ballerini and a Toby Keith tribute

Jelly Roll won big at the 2024 CMT Music Awards Sunday night, taking home three awards at the annual event celebrating the best in country music videos.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

O'Reilly's shootout goal lifts Predators past the Devils 3-2

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Ryan O'Reilly scored the deciding shootout goal to lift the Nashville Predators over the New Jersey Devils 3-2 on Sunday night.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee hires Marshall's Kim Caldwell as the Lady Vols' 4th coach in NCAA era

Tennessee athletic director Danny White has moved quickly and gone outside the historic Lady Vols' program in hiring Marshall coach Kim Caldwell as only its fourth head coach in the NCAA era.

MIDSTATE

Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles draws Republican and Democratic challengers

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles will have Republican opposition in the August primary as he seeks to retain a congressional seat passing through Nashville.

COURTS

New York appeals judge rejects Trump's request to delay his April 15 hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York appeals court judge has rejected former President Donald Trump's request to delay his April 15 hush money criminal trial while he fights to move the case out of Manhattan.

ELECTION 2024

Trump's abortion statement angers conservatives and gives the Biden campaign a new target

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump still says he's proud that the Supreme Court justices he nominated overturned Roe v. Wade. Yet he again on Monday avoided tough questions about abortion, including whether he would support a national abortion ban should he return to the White House.

Trump declines to endorse a national abortion ban, says limits should be left to the states

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump said Monday he believes abortion limits should be left to the states, outlining his position in a video in which he declined to endorse a national ban after months of mixed messages and speculation.

Biden promotes 'life-changing' student loan relief in Wisconsin as he rallies younger voters

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that college graduates would see "life-changing" relief from his new plan to ease debt burdens for more than 30 million borrowers, the latest attempt by the Democratic president to make good on a campaign promise that could buoy his standing with young voters.

HEALTH CARE

Many cancer drugs remain unproven 5 years after accelerated approval, a study finds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval program is meant to give patients early access to promising drugs. But how often do these drugs actually improve or extend patients' lives?

AUTO INDUSTRY

Toyota will oversee model certification at subsidiary Daihatsu after safety testing scandal

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automaker Toyota will oversee model certification at its subsidiary Daihatsu to regain trust among dealers, customers and workers after a safety testing scandal, Daihatsu's new president said Monday.

Here's what we know about Uber and Lyft's planned exit from Minneapolis in May

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The future of Uber and Lyft in Minneapolis has garnered concern and debate in recent weeks after the City Council voted last month to require that ride-hailing companies pay drivers a higher rate while they are within city limits.

TECHNOLOGY

Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two influential lawmakers from opposing parties have crafted a deal on legislation designed to strengthen privacy protections for Americans' personal data.

ECONOMY

JPMorgan's Dimon warns inflation, political polarization, wars creating risks not seen since WWII

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation's most influential banker, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, told investors Monday that he continues to expect the U.S. economy to be resilient and grow this year. But he worries geopolitical events including the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, as well as U.S. political polarization, might be creating an environment that "may very well be creating risks that could eclipse anything since World War II."

US will push China to change policy that threatens American jobs, Treasury Secretary Yellen says

BEIJING (AP) — The Biden administration will push China to change an industrial policy that poses a threat to U.S. jobs, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday after wrapping up four days of talks with Chinese officials.

Will China flood the globe with EVs, green tech? What's behind latest US-China trade fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — China's burgeoning production of electric cars and other green technologies has become a flashpoint in a new U.S.-China trade fight, highlighted by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her five-day visit to China and seized on by former President Donald Trump in incendiary remarks on the campaign trail.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street holds at a virtual standstill following last week's sharp swerves

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes held at a virtual standstill Monday as trading calmed after a whirlwind couple of days left them a bit shy of their records.

Biden administration announces $6.6 billion to ensure leading-edge microchips are built in the US

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The Biden administration pledged on Monday to provide up to $6.6 billion so that a Taiwanese semiconductor giant can expand the facilities it is already building in Arizona and better ensure that the most-advanced microchips are produced domestically for the first time.

Two years after its historic win, a divided Amazon Labor Union lurches toward a leadership election

Two years after clenching a historic victory at a warehouse in New York City, the first labor union for Amazon workers in the United States is divided, running out of money and fighting over an election that could determine who will lead the group in the near future.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Justice Department blasts GOP effort to hold Attorney General Garland in contempt over Biden audio

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Monday blasted Republicans' effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt over his refusal to turn over unredacted materials related to the special counsel probe into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents.

US treads carefully in responding to Hong Kong's new national security law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has denounced Hong Kong's new national security law as a tool to potentially silence dissent both at home and abroad, but so far the action from Washington has been notably muted, disappointing those fighting for the Chinese territory's democracy and freedoms.


FRIDAY, APRIL 5
NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Forsberg has 2 goals and an assist to lead Predators over Blues, 6-3

NASHVILLE (AP) — Filip Forsberg had two goals and an assist, Juuse Saros made 44 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the St. Louis Blues 6-3 on Thursday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee bill untangling gun and voting rights restoration advances, but faces uncertain odds

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee residents convicted of felonies can apply to vote again without restoring their gun rights under a bipartisan bill that faces some GOP skepticism as it advances late this session.

LGBTQ+ foster youths could expect different experiences as Tennessee and Colorado pass opposing laws

DENVER (AP) — LGBTQ+ children in foster care in Tennessee and Colorado could have vastly different experiences in where they are placed under opposing legislation advanced by state legislatures this week.

Tennessee court to weigh throwing out abortion ban challenge, blocking portions of the law

NASHVILLE (AP) — Attorneys defending Tennessee's sweeping abortion ban alleged Thursday that doctors challenging the law do not want any oversight when deciding to terminate a pregnancy and instead are improperly withholding care to women facing serious medical emergencies.

COURTS

Judge says Trump's lawyers can't force NBC to turn over materials related to 'Stormy' documentary

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's lawyers were blocked Friday from forcing NBC to provide them with materials related to the TV network's recent documentary about porn actor Stormy Daniels, a key prosecution witness at the former president's upcoming hush-money criminal trial in New York.

NY state is demanding more information on Trump's $175m appeal bond in civil fraud case

NEW YORK (AP) — Days after former President Donald Trump posted a $175 million bond to block New York state from imminently collecting on a huge civil fraud judgment, state lawyers Thursday called for more information on the bond's bona fides.

ELECTION 2024

Biden is touring collapsed Baltimore bridge where recovery effort has political overtones

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is expected to get a firsthand look Friday at efforts to clear away the hulking remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, as cranes, ships and diving crews work to reopen one of the nation's main shipping lanes.

Former Trump officials are among the most vocal opponents of returning him to the White House

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has called him a "threat to democracy." Former national security adviser John Bolton has declared him "unfit to be president." And former Vice President Mike Pence has declined to endorse him, citing "profound differences."

Americans think a president's power should be checked, AP-NORC poll finds — unless their side wins

WASHINGTON (AP) — Like many Americans, Richard Bidon says he'd like to see the U.S. government "go back to its original design" — a system of checks and balances developed nearly 240 years ago to prevent any branch, especially the presidency, from becoming too powerful.

EDUCATION

President Joe Biden will unveil his new plan to give student loan relief to many new borrowers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce his latest effort to broaden student loan relief next week for new categories of borrowers, according to three people familiar with the plans, nearly a year after the Supreme Court foiled his administration's first attempt to cancel debt for millions who attended college.

REAL ESTATE

Investors pushing for fatter yields on mortgage-backed securities may undercut easing mortgage rates

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mortgage rates are expected to come down later this year, but any benefit to homebuyers could be muted by developments in the market for financial instruments tied to mortgages.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Mercedes workers at an Alabama plant call for union representation vote

NEW YORK (AP) — A majority of workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, are calling for a vote to join the United Auto Workers union, which is on a drive to sign up non-union plants across the country.

US first-quarter auto sales grew 5.1% despite high interest rates, but EV growth slows further

DETROIT (AP) — New vehicle sales in the U.S. rose 5.1% from January through March, as buyers stayed in the market despite high interest rates. But electric vehicle sales growth slowed during the first three months of the year, with mainstream buyers wary of limited range and a lack of charging stations.

ENVIRONMENT

Amid legal challenges, SEC pauses its climate rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is pausing the implementation of its new climate disclosure rule while it defends the regulation in court.

ECONOMY

Another month of robust US job growth points to continued economic strength

WASHINGTON (AP) — America's employers delivered another outpouring of jobs in March, adding a sizzling 303,000 workers to their payrolls and bolstering hopes that the economy can vanquish inflation without succumbing to a recession in the face of high interest rates.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street gains ground following surprisingly strong US jobs report

Stocks ended solidly higher and bond yields rose Friday as Wall Street welcomed a surprisingly strong U.S. jobs report.

J&J to pump another $13B into its MedTech business with Shockwave deal

Johnson & Johnson is pumping more money into heart care with a roughly $13 billion deal for Shockwave Medical, which specializes in technology that helps open clogged arteries.

Apple lays off more than 600 workers in California in its first major round of post-pandemic cuts

Apple is laying off more than 600 workers in California, marking the company's first big wave of post-pandemic job cuts amid a broader wave of tech industry consolidation.

Yellen calls for level playing field for US workers and firms during China visit

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on China on Friday to address manufacturing overcapacity that she said risks causing global economic dislocation, and to create a level playing field for American companies and workers.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

US-Chinese military talks resume on safety in the air and at sea after a nearly 2-year break

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time in nearly two years, U.S. and Chinese defense officials met this week to discuss unsafe and aggressive ship and aircraft incidents between the two militaries in the Pacific region, restarting a dialogue that Beijing abruptly ended in a dispute involving Taiwan.

Federal report finds 68,000 guns were illegally trafficked through unlicensed dealers over 5 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 68,000 illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. came through unlicensed dealers who aren't required to perform background checks over a five-year period, according to new data released Thursday by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives.


THURSDAY, APRIL 4
NASHVILLE AREA

Judge finds last 4 of 11 anti-abortion activists guilty in a 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade

NASHVILLE (AP) — The final four of 11 anti-abortion activists charged with blocking access to a Tennessee clinic in 2021 have been convicted of violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

VU poll: Nashville ‘back on the right track,’ residents largely unified

A majority (53%) of Nashvillians say the city is on the right track, which represents a nine-point increase from last year, the 2024 Vanderbilt Poll–Nashville poll has found. It is the first time in four years the measure has increased.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Kiss sells catalog, brand name and IP. Gene Simmons assures fans it is a 'collaboration'

It's never really the end of the road for Kiss. The hard rock quartet have sold their catalog, brand name and IP to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million, it was announced Thursday.

COURTS

Judge denies Trump bid to dismiss classified documents prosecution

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge refused Thursday to throw out the classified documents prosecution against Donald Trump, turning aside defense arguments that a decades-old law permitted the former president to retain the records after he left office.

Judge rejects Trump's First Amendment challenge to indictment in Georgia election case

ATLANTA (AP) — The judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others rejected on Thursday arguments by the former president that the indictment seeks to criminalize political speech protected by the First Amendment.

Border Patrol must care for migrant children who wait in camps for processing, a judge says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Migrant children who wait in makeshift camps along the U.S.-Mexico border for the Border Patrol to process them are in the agency's custody and are subject to a long-standing court-supervised agreement that set standards for their treatment, a judge ruled.

Judge rejects Donald Trump's request to delay hush-money trial until Supreme Court rules on immunity

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Wednesday rejected Donald Trump's bid to delay his April 15 hush money criminal trial until the Supreme Court rules on presidential immunity claims he raised in another of his criminal cases — spurning another of the former president's ploys to put off the historic trial. Several more are pending.

New York man charged with sending threats to state attorney general and judge in Trump civil suit

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York man has been charged with sending death threats to the state attorney general and the Manhattan judge who presided over former President Donald Trump's civil fraud case.

Man cuffed but not charged after Chiefs Super Bowl Rally shooting sues 3 more lawmakers over posts

MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A man who was briefly handcuffed but not charged in the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl rally is suing three more lawmakers over social media posts falsely accusing him of being among the shooters and an immigrant in the country illegally.

Two Florida men plead guilty to insider trading charges related to taking Trump media firm public

NEW YORK (AP) — Two Florida brothers pleaded guilty Wednesday to insider trading charges, admitting making over $22 million illegally before the public announcement in 2021 that an acquisition firm was taking former President Donald Trump's media company public.

ELECTION 2024

When Trump has needed cash, a California bank and one of its top shareholders come to the rescue

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump left the White House facing a cash crunch and a tattered reputation after his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, threatening the viability of his business empire. Soon, though, a new source stepped forward to provide a financial lifeline when many longtime lenders refused.

Biden faces protest over his support for Israel during White House meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has faced protests over the conflict in Gaza all over the country, but this week he confronted one inside the White House itself.

Trump, Republican Party say they raised more than $65.6 million in March

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump and the Republican Party said Wednesday that they raised more than $65.6 million in March as the former president became the presumptive nominee and installed new party leadership.

Trump's events aren't drawing big protests this year. Instead, Biden is facing public ire

NEW YORK (AP) — When Donald Trump first ran for the White House eight years ago, protesters filled the streets.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Ford to delay production of new electric pickup, large SUV as US EV sales growth slows

DETROIT (AP) — With U.S. electric vehicle sales starting to slow, Ford Motor Co. says it will delay rolling out new electric pickup trucks and a new large electric SUV as it adds gas-electric hybrids to its model lineup.

HEALTH CARE

ALS drug will be pulled from US market after study showed patients didn't benefit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of a drug for Lou Gehrig's disease that recently failed in a large study said Thursday it will pull the medicine from the market, acknowledging it didn't help patients with the deadly neurological condition.

Biden, Sanders join forces to promote lower health care costs, including for inhalers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden teamed up with Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday to promote his administration's efforts to lower the cost of inhalers and other health care needs, as the White House continues its effort to highlight Biden's legislative achievements to voters ahead of the November elections.

MEDIA

Free blue checks are back for some accounts on Elon Musk's X. Not everyone is happy about it

NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk's X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has begun restoring complimentary blue checks for some of its users, the latest unexpected shift to cause a lot of confusion on the platform.

EDUCATION

Jill Biden says the nation's top teachers will be recognized at their own White House state dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden has new guidance for the nation's top teachers.

ENVIRONMENT

Southeast Asian countries consider ways to boost 'green financing' as region chokes on smog

LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Senior finance and central bank officials from Southeast Asia and major economies met Thursday in the scenic Laotian city of Luang Prabang to discuss ways to help the region build resilience against shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters brought on by climate change.

ENERGY

Lawsuit challenges $1 billion in federal funding to sustain California's last nuclear power plant

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An environmental group has sued the U.S. Energy Department over its decision to award over $1 billion to help keep California's last nuclear power plant running beyond a planned closure that was set for 2025. The move opens another battlefront in the fight over the future of Diablo Canyon's twin reactors.

ECONOMY

US applications for unemployment benefits rise, but layoffs remain at historically low levels

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits rose last week but layoffs remain at historically low levels as the labor market continues to chug along despite elevated interest rates.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street has its worst day in weeks, with more shakes possibly still to come

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slumped after a Federal Reserve official raised the possibility of delivering none of the cuts to interest rates this year that Wall Street has been banking on, if inflation worsens.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden tells Israel's Netanyahu future US support for war depends on new steps to protect civilians

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued a stark warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday that future U.S. support for Israel's Gaza war depends on the swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workers.

New rule strengthening federal job protections could counter Trump promises to remake the government

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government's chief human resources agency issued a new rule on Thursday making it harder to fire thousands of federal employees, hoping to head off former President Donald Trump's promises to radically remake the workforce along ideological lines if he wins back the White House in November.

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