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VOL. 43 | NO. 18 | Friday, May 3, 2019

Ruta Sepetys: Seeker of lost stories

Award-winning Nashville author sheds light on some of history’s darkest chapters

Ruta Sepetys, a former manager of singers and songwriters and now a New York Times bestselling author, will tell you that she is a seeker of lost stories.

Sepetys book connects Nashville, Lithuanian students

Ruta Sepetys’ work has inspired many across the world to seek out stories from others. Her first book, “Between Shades of Gray,” which tells the story of Lithuanian deportation to Siberia by the Soviets, has inspired staff and students at Montgomery Bell Academy and St. Cecilia Academy to seek out stories from afar. For the fifth consecutive year, Montgomery Bell Academy’s Emmett Russell has coordinated an exchange program with students from Lithuania.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

New anti-litter campaign tosses aside punishment

Capital punishment is perhaps too harsh a penalty for litterbugs – emphasis on “perhaps.”

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
41.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Southwest at 4.6 mph
Humidity: 47%

EVENTS

Young Professionals Luncheon. This event is tailored for ambitious individuals who are interested in furthering their leadership aspirations, cultivate relationships and grow professionally. The luncheon is an excellent opportunity to network, connect and learn from some of the most experienced business leaders. WCAR, 1646 Westgate Circle, Suite 104. Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Members: $20, Nonmembers: $30. Information

more events »

TIM GHIANNI: STREET LEVEL

King of the Road was like Nashville’s own Vegas, complete with Miller’s ‘Rat Pack’

Standing on the open terrace outside the location of Roger Miller’s private suite next to The Roof, the Vegas-styled club atop his King of the Road Motor Inn, I look back in time and, dang me, I both wonder where it all went and celebrate that I can remember.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Real estate frenzy shifts to those looking for rentals

The uptick in residential property sales, in both condominium and single-family homes, has been well-documented, but the most active sector this spring is the rental market.

REAL ESTATE

US long-term mortgage rates down; 30-year average at 4.14%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell this week after four weeks of increases, giving a boost to prospective home buyers during the spring sales season.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans hope draft enthusiasm carries into season

The NFL Draft has come and gone from Nashville, taking with it the elaborate stage, celebrity guests and an estimated 600,000 visitors to downtown over its three-day run.

First pick moved by Strunk, Titans’ confidence

When the Tennessee Titans took Jeffery Simmons with the 19th pick overall in the draft, an alarm immediately went off in ESPN’s coverage of the draft.

SPORTS

Former Lady Vol hopes to flip Lipscomb’s fortunes

Lauren Sumski proved she could rebuild quickly at Rhodes. Now, she’ll try to do the same thing at Lipscomb University.

NEWSMAKERS

Newell joins Fifth Third as wealth management adviser

Paul M. Newell II has joined the private banking team at Fifth Third Bank as a vice president and wealth management adviser.

BRIEFS

Bass, Berry & Sims adds pro bono program

Bass, Berry & Sims has launched a comprehensive pro bono program that will provide opportunities and incentives for the firm’s attorneys to give back to the community.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Car top down, radio on: Best convertible picks for 2019

Spring is here, which means it’s warm enough to visit a few dealerships and test-drive the new convertibles you’ve been eyeing all winter.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Retirement planning warning: Income will likely peak in 40s

Most retirement calculators are optimistic to a fault. They assume our incomes will rise throughout our working lives, or at least stay roughly the same.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee speaker spurns calls to resign from leadership

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's House speaker pushed back Wednesday against calls to abandon his top legislative leadership post from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, releasing a plan intended to restore trust in his office.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashvillian charged with leaking classified information

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former government intelligence analyst has been charged with leaking classified documents about military campaigns against terrorist group al-Qaeda to a reporter.

Nashville Craft Distillery launches its first whiskey

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville Craft Distillery is releasing its first whiskey.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Reports: Court denies Ghosn appeal on no contact with wife

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court has rejected an appeal from the lawyers of Nissan's former chairman Carlos Ghosn over bail conditions that forbid him to contact his wife, as a prosecutor defended the restriction as needed to prevent evidence tampering.

REAL ESTATE

US long-term mortgage rates decline; 30-year average 4.10%

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates declined this week for a second straight week, reversing the upward trend in April as a lure to potential home buyers.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US trade deficit edges up to $50 billion in March

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. trade deficit increased slightly in March even though the deficit with China fell to the lowest point in five years.

US, China wield threats going into high-stakes trade talks

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. and Chinese negotiators are to resume trade talks Thursday just hours before the United States is set to raise tariffs on Chinese imports in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the world's two biggest economies.

Chinese companies brace for tariff hike as trade talks begin

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese exporters of all sorts of products, from power adapters and computers to vacuum cleaners, are anxiously hoping trade talks in Washington this week will yield a deal that might stave off higher U.S. tariffs on imports from China.

After disrupting shaving industry, Harry's is absorbed by it

NEW YORK (AP) — Harry's, the upstart shaving company, is being acquired by the owner of Schick razors for $1.37 billion.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Barr contempt citation heats up House's dispute with Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats' extraordinary legal battle with the Trump administration over access to special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report .

Senate subpoenas Trump Jr. over earlier testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate intelligence committee has subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr., calling him in to answer questions about his 2017 testimony to the panel as part of its probe into Russian election interference.


WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
STATEWIDE

Trade report: Tennessee exports drop $500M in Q4

Tennessee’s exports dropped by almost $500 million in “a poor fourth quarter” of 2018, the latest “Global Commerce” trade report from MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center shows.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Tennessee speaker apologizes, promises probes

NASHVILLE (AP) — Embattled House Speaker Glen Casada says he's asking for multiple probes of the scandals surrounding his office, saying he takes "complete ownership" of exchanging sexually explicit text messages with a former top aide about women.

Tennessee speaker calls lewd texts 'locker room talk'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's House speaker on Tuesday said he was wrong to participate in lewd conversations about women with his former chief of staff and described the language as "locker room talk" between adult men.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Kevin Mawae donates memorabilia to Pro Football Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — A poem that hung in Kevin Mawae's locker is among more than 200 items he's donated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with many to be displayed this summer as part of an exhibit featuring Mawae as a member of the Class of 2019.

COURTS

Officer accused of racial profiling sues over punishment

SMYRNA (AP) — A Tennessee police officer is suing the town of Smyrna over the handling of allegations that he racial profiled a 13-year-old black boy.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM in talks to sell shuttered factory in Lordstown, Ohio

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is negotiating the sale of its shuttered factory in Lordstown, Ohio, to a company that builds electric trucks.

Toyota reports dip in quarterly profit, projects recovery

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's top automaker Toyota said Wednesday its profit for January-March fell 4% as vehicle sales lagged in North America, while smaller car manufacturer Honda reported a loss.

Honda reports fiscal quarterly loss, to streamline models

TOKYO (AP) — Honda reported a loss for January-March Wednesday, despite growing sales, as an unfavorable exchange rate, income tax expenses and other costs hurt results.

TECHNOLOGY

US regulators under scrutiny as they look to punish Facebook

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal privacy regulators are under scrutiny in Congress as they negotiate a record fine with Facebook to punish the company for alleged violations of its users' privacy.

Google's privacy push gets a mixed reception

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google announced new privacy tools Tuesday intended to give people more control over how they're being tracked on the go or in their own home, part of a broader effort by big tech companies to counter increasing scrutiny of their data collection practices.

HEALTH CARE

TV pitches for prescription drugs will have to include price

WASHINGTON (AP) — TV pitches for prescription drugs will soon include the price, giving consumers more information upfront as they make medication choices at a time when new drugs can carry anxiety-inducing prices.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Attorneys general from 33 states urge pot banking reform

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys general from 33 states on Wednesday urged Congress to approve a proposal intended to fully open the doors of the U.S. banking system to the legal marijuana industry.

US stocks slide as modest rally fades ahead of trade talks

A modest rally faded in the last few minutes of trading on Wall Street, leaving stocks slightly lower Wednesday ahead of the latest round of trade talks between the U.S. and China.

Senate confirms trio of Export-Import Bank officials

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed a trio of nominees to the Export-Import Bank, reviving a U.S. agency that provides loans and other help to foreign buyers of U.S. exports.

Walmart raises minimum age to buy tobacco to 21

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart said Wednesday that it will raise the minimum age to buy tobacco products and e-cigarettes at its U.S. stores to 21 amid growing pressure from regulators to cut tobacco sales and use among minors.

China's investment in US drops 83% amid growing mistrust

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chinese direct investment in the United States dropped 83% last year, pushed down by growing mistrust between the world's two biggest economies.

Uber, Lyft drivers protest across the US, overseas

NEW YORK (AP) — Some drivers for ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft turned off their apps Wednesday to protest what they say are declining wages at a time when both companies are raking in billions of dollars from investors.

China's April exports fall ahead of US tariff talks

BEIJING (AP) — China's exports fell unexpectedly in April, adding to pressure on Beijing ahead of negotiations on ending a tariff war with Washington over Chinese technology ambitions.

NATIONAL POLITICS

House panel votes Barr in contempt, escalating probe dispute

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, escalating the Democrats' extraordinary legal battle with the Trump administration over access to special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report.

Trump invokes 'privilege' over the full Mueller report

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House invoked executive privilege Wednesday, claiming the right to block lawmakers from the full report from special counsel Robert Mueller on his Trump-Russia probe and escalating the battle between President Donald Trump and Congress.

US imposes new sanctions on Iran as tensions escalate

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump ordered new sanctions on Iran Wednesday, just days after the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf over what it described as a new threat from Tehran .

US regulators get sympathy from Congress on powers, fines

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal privacy regulators got a sympathetic hearing from Congress on Wednesday for their request for greater powers and funding to police privacy, as lawmakers warned that fines against big companies may be inadequate to change their conduct.

Trump acknowledges massive tax write offs, calls it 'sport'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday acknowledged taking massive tax write offs for real estate losses topping $1 billion from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s, calling it "sport" among developers like himself during that period.

Trump: Report his businesses lost more than $1B 'inaccurate'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday a New York Times report that his businesses lost more than $1 billion from 1985 to 1994 was "highly inaccurate."

Ex-White House lawyer defies House subpoena for Mueller docs

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House lawyer defied a congressional subpoena Tuesday, setting the Trump administration on course for another collision with the Democratic-led House over its pursuit of documents related to the Russia investigation.


TUESDAY, MAY 7
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Zac Brown, Lambert and Morris lead CMT Music Awards noms

NASHVILLE (AP) — It's a wide-open field for this year's CMT Music Awards as four artists have a leading three nominations each: Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Zac Brown Band.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Casada calls lewd texts 'locker room talk'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's House speaker on Tuesday said he was wrong to participate in lewd conversations about women with his former chief of staff and described the language as "locker room talk" between adult men.

Casada chief of staff resigns amid allegations

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Republican Tennessee House speaker's chief of staff resigned Monday amid allegations that he sent sexually explicit and racist text messages, and after admitting he used cocaine inside a legislative office building when he held a previous job.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee WIC benefits move to electronic card system

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's Women, Infants and Children program has moved from issuing its benefits on paper to a debit card-style system.

On-duty Tennessee trooper killed in wreck on Interstate 40

JACKSON (AP) — A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper has been killed in a wreck on Interstate 40.

ENVIRONMENT

Climate change missing as US defends Arctic policy

ROVANIEMI, Finland (AP) — The Arctic is melting, but don't ask U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to talk about climate change. Nor even to agree on a text that mentions it.

UN environment agency warns of effects of rising sand use

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s environment program is warning about the overuse of sand resources, saying a three-fold increase in demand over the last 20 years amid increasing population, urbanization and building work has contributed to beach erosion, flooding and drought.

AUTO INDUSTRY

GM Cruise autonomous vehicle unit gets $1.15B investment

DETROIT (AP) — A group of institutional investors is sinking $1.15 billion into GM Cruise LLC, the autonomous vehicle unit of General Motors.

BMW profit hit by anti-trust case, spending on technology

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — BMW lost money making cars in the first quarter as its automotive division was hit by a 1.4 billion-euro ($1.6 billion) set-aside for an anti-trust fine from the European Commission and by higher up-front costs for new technology and factories.

TECHNOLOGY

Google promises a smarter and smaller AI assistant

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google CEO Sundar Pichai kicked off the company's annual developer conference Tuesday with updates to Google's artificially intelligent voice assistant. It will get a series of updates this year, including one that lets it book rental cars and movie tickets.

COURTS

NFL concussion fund pays out $485M, but legal fights resume

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The NFL concussion fund has paid out nearly $500 million in its first two years, but some players' lawyers say there aren't enough doctors in the approved network to evaluate dementia claims.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Worsening trade tensions sink stocks

NEW YORK (AP) — An escalating showdown between the U.S. and China over trade sent shudders through the stock market, handing the S&P 500 is biggest loss since late March.

Debt collectors to use email, texts under new Trump rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Debt collectors are going to be able to start contacting borrowers via text and email under new regulations proposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

US consumer borrowing growth slowed in March

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer borrowing in March grew at the slowest pace in nine months as Americans pulled back on credit card use.

Mexico says tariffs will send tomato prices soaring in US

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Economy Department says U.S. consumers could pay 38% to 70% more for tomatoes after the U.S. Commerce Department announced it would re-impose anti-dumping duties on Mexican imports.

US job openings jump to nearly 7.5 million in March

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised almost 7.5 million jobs at the end of March, a solid figure that signals hiring will likely remain strong in the months ahead.

Iraq pursuing $53B megaproject with ExxonMobil, PetroChina

BAGHDAD (AP) — The prime minister of Iraq says he has instructed his country's Oil Ministry to finalize an agreement with global energy giants ExxonMobil and PetroChina to lead a $53 billion megaproject to boost oil production.

EU cuts economic forecasts over trade uncertainty

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Union's executive arm has trimmed its forecasts for eurozone economic growth this year and next as uncertainty over trade conflicts and weakness in the auto industry hold back output.

UK's May seeks Brexit deal amid mounting pressure to quit

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May faced renewed pressure Tuesday from lawmakers in her Conservative Party to abandon efforts to seek a Brexit compromise deal with the opposition Labour Party.

US commerce secretary urges India to open markets further

NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday that American technologies and expertise could play an important role in developing India's economy, but were facing significant barriers to accessing its markets.

China economy czar heading for Washington tariff war talks

BEIJING (AP) — China confirmed Tuesday its economy czar will go to Washington for trade talks despite fears he might cancel after President Donald Trump threatened to escalate a tariff war over Beijing's technology ambitions.

NATIONAL POLITICS

FBI chief: No evidence of illegal spying on Trump campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Chris Wray said Tuesday that he does not consider court-approved FBI surveillance to be "spying" and said he has no evidence the FBI illegally monitored President Donald Trump's campaign during the 2016 election.

Ex-White House lawyer defies House subpoena for Mueller docs

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House lawyer defied a congressional subpoena Tuesday, setting the Trump administration on course for another collision with the Democratic-led House over its pursuit of documents related to the Russia investigation.

GOP leader McConnell to say 'case closed' on Mueller probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is declaring "case closed" on the Russia probe and potential obstruction by President Donald Trump.

GOP senators to be briefed on White House immigration plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Republican senators are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss a new White House immigration plan.

House committee moving ahead with contempt vote for Barr

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee is poised to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress — the opening salvo in what could be a lengthy, acrimonious court battle between House Democrats and President Donald Trump's administration over special counsel Robert Mueller's report .

Refusal to hand over Trump's tax returns sets up legal fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has made it official: The administration won't be turning President Donald Trump's tax returns over to the Democratic-controlled House.

NY, NJ sue IRS for info on nonprofit-donor disclosure shift

NEW YORK (AP) — New York and New Jersey want to know how the Internal Revenue Service decided to stop requiring donor information from certain nonprofit organizations — among them big political spenders.


MONDAY, MAY 6
STATE GOVERNMENT

Winning and losing legislation in Tennessee in 2019

NASHVILLE (AP) — Over the last four months, Tennessee lawmakers passed bills that would create a two-county expanded education voucher program, seek federal permission to overhaul TennCare through block grant funding and allow online sports betting in the state.

House Speaker's top aide admits using cocaine at work

NASHVILLE (AP) — A top aide for Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada has admitted using cocaine in a legislative office building.

STATEWIDE

FBI: Internet scam losses soar in 2018 in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The FBI says its Internet Crime Complaint Center reports victims of internet scams in Tennessee lost more than $28 million last year.

Tennessee state parks recognized for 'Go Green' achievements

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's 56 state parks have been recognized for their efforts to practice environmental sustainability.

TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft offers software tools to secure elections

Microsoft announced an ambitious effort it says will make voting secure, verifiable and more transparent with open-source software. Two of the three top U.S elections vendors have expressed interest in potentially incorporating the software into their voting systems.

Google's AI Assistant aims to transcend the smart speaker

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google Assistant has made for a name for itself in a voice technology market once dominated by Amazon and Apple.

TRANSPORTATION

Plane was heavy with extra fuel before deadly crash landing

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian airliner that took off from Moscow was airborne for just 28 minutes before returning to make an emergency landing while still heavy with unburned fuel, which then ignited after a rough touchdown.

Russian plane in deadly fire found few customers worldwide

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The SSJ100 passenger jet that caught fire during an emergency landing in Moscow is part of Russia's effort to maintain a presence in civil aviation in a market dominated by companies like Boeing, Airbus and Embraer.

Boeing didn't tell airlines that safety alert wasn't on

Boeing said Sunday that it discovered after airlines had been flying its 737 Max plane for several months that a safety alert in the cockpit was not working as intended, yet it didn't disclose that fact to airlines or federal regulators until after one of the planes crashed.

MEDIA

CBS News names new evening anchor, revamps morning show

Norah O'Donnell will become anchor and managing editor of the "CBS Evening News" and Gayle King is getting two new morning show co-hosts as CBS News seeks to boost the programs' ratings and put a tumultuous, scandal-scarred period behind it.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US stocks slide after threat from Trump to raise tariffs

Fresh market jitters over the possibility of an escalation in the costly trade war between the U.S. and China pulled stocks broadly lower on Wall Street Monday.

Trade threats press China to change or suffer consequences

BEIJING (AP) — By threatening to raise taxes on Chinese imports, President Donald Trump is throwing down a challenge to Beijing: Agree to sweeping changes in China's government-dominated economic model — or suffer the consequences.

A grim preview of a trade war takes shape

In what could be a grim preview of how investors might react to a full-out trade war between the world's two largest economies, shares in multinational corporations sank Monday after President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on China.

US to make 30,000 more visas available for seasonal workers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration plans to allow 30,000 more foreign workers temporarily into the United States for seasonal work through the end of September, a move that reflects how the booming economy has complicated President Donald Trump's efforts to restrict legal immigration.

Lord & Taylor may be put on the block soon

NEW YORK (AP) — Lord & Taylor, one of the country's oldest department stores, may be put up for sale.

Survey shows eurozone economy loses more momentum in April

LONDON (AP) — A closely watched survey is showing that the 19-country eurozone economy lost further momentum in April.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Ex-prosecutors: Trump would've been charged if not president

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 400 former federal prosecutors have signed onto a letter saying President Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he were anyone other than the president.

With Mueller on Justice staff, Barr has sway over testimony

WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller was expected to step down days after concluding his investigation in March. Yet he remains a Justice Department employee — and the department won't say why.

Democrats set to hold Barr in contempt over Mueller report

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee is poised to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress — the opening salvo in what could be a lengthy, acrimonious court battle between House Democrats and President Donald Trump's administration over special counsel Robert Mueller's report .

Fines, jail time? Trump team resists oversight, Dems dig in

WASHINGTON (AP) — They're talking at the Capitol about jailing people. Imposing steep fines. All sorts of extraordinary, if long-shot measures to force the White House to comply with Democratic lawmakers' request for information about President Donald Trump stemming from the special counsel's Russia investigation.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump, Putin on 'no collusion'; economy myths

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is still pulling numbers out of thin air on the economy.

Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen arrives at prison

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen took a last swipe at President Donald Trump as he reported to a federal prison Monday to begin a three-year prison sentence for crimes including tax evasion and campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made to protect his former boss.


FRIDAY, MAY 3
STATE GOVERNMENT

Lawmakers adjourn from their annual session

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers have adjourned their annual legislative session.

Tennessee lawmakers pass gun permit bill, wrap up session

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that would offer new concealed carry-only handgun permits that don't require training that involves actually firing a weapon, highlighting the final decisions of a frenzied last day of a monthslong legislative session.

New Tennessee law punishes voter signup missteps; suit filed

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's governor signed GOP-backed legislation Thursday that would likely make his state the first to fine voter registration groups for turning in too many incomplete signup forms, prompting a federal lawsuit and protests by critics who said it would suppress efforts to register minorities and other voters.

Governor to mull gun permits without live training

NASHVILLE (AP) — It will be up to Republican Gov. Bill Lee to decide whether Tennessee will start offering a concealed carry-only handgun permit that doesn't require training that includes actually firing a weapon.

Tennessee lawmakers winding down legislative session

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers are winding down the work of their annual legislative session.

NASHVILLE AREA

Nashville teachers stage sickout after budget proposal

NASHVILLE (AP) — More than 1,000 Nashville public school teachers were absent on Friday, but no one seemed to be taking credit for an action the school district called a "'sick out' demonstration designed to bring awareness to teacher pay."

Freight carrier Western Express plans Tennessee expansion

NASHVILLE (AP) — Freight carrier Western Express is planning to invest $88 million to expand operations at its Tennessee headquarters.

EDUCATION

Trustees approve Plowman's selection as Tennessee chancellor

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's Board of Trustees has approved the selection of Donde (DON-dee) Plowman as chancellor for the university's Knoxville campus.

MIDSTATE

Williamson County Schools superintendent leaving

ATLANTA (AP) — The school district of Fulton County, Georgia, has picked a new superintendent.

PREDATORS

Predators Foundation distributes over $675,000 in grants

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Nashville Predators Foundation has distributed 145 grants totaling nearly $676,000 to community service and charitable organizations based in Nashville and middle Tennessee.

COURTS

Supreme Court: Tennessee Valley Authority can be sued

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Tennessee Valley Authority can be sued over its commercial activity. But it left a lower court to decide whether the case of an Alabama man injured by a power line can proceed.

ENVIRONMENT

Trump easing offshore drilling safety rules from Deepwater

PORT FOURCHON, La. (AP) — The Trump administration is easing safety rules adopted after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon blowout, the worst offshore oil disaster in U.S. history.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Detroit reaches land deals for new Fiat Chrysler plant plan

DETROIT (AP) — Land deals that will allow Fiat Chrysler to build a new assembly plant in Detroit are expected to cost the city and state about $107 million.

Tesla raises goal in capital hunt and Musk doubles down

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is increasing the amount of money it will attempt to raise to as much as $2.7 billion.

Fiat Chrysler completes sale of components maker

MILAN (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it has completed the sale of components maker Magneti Marelli to Japanese supplier Calsonic Kansei, allowing a special dividend to shareholders for the first time in a decade.

Tesla to raise money after painful 1Q, Musk is buying in

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — A week after revealing a huge first quarter loss and the need to raise cash, Tesla is doing just that with CEO Elon Musk buying $10 million in new shares being offered as part of a stock and debt offering that could raise more than $2 billion.

Volkswagen earnings upbeat despite diesel scandal charges

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German automaker Volkswagen saw its profit slip in the first quarter as the company set aside 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) for legal risks related to its 2015 diesel scandal.

TECHNOLOGY

30 nations pitch internet security rules amid Huawei concern

PRAGUE (AP) — Officials from over 30 countries have proposed a set of principles to ensure the safety of next generation mobile networks amid concerns over the use of gear made by China's Huawei.

Report: Facebook considering its own bitcoin for payments

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Wall Street Journal reports that Facebook plans a cryptocurrency-based payment system that it could launch for billions of users worldwide.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Investors gather to learn from Buffett and each other

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In the days before Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting, classrooms and hotel meeting rooms around Omaha fill up with investors eager to learn more about the philosophy Warren Buffett used to build his fortune.

Are retail jobs in a funk? It's complicated

NEW YORK (AP) — The overall economy is adding jobs, but there's one spot that appears to be in a funk: retail.

US stocks end broadly higher on solid jobs report, earnings

A solid jobs report and company earnings spurred U.S. stocks broadly higher Friday, driving the S&P 500 to its second straight weekly gain.

US service companies grew at a slower pace in April

U.S. service companies grew at a slower pace in April, as business activity generally showed a leveling off.

Unemployment hits 49-year low as US employers step up hiring

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers added a robust 263,000 jobs in April, suggesting that businesses have shrugged off earlier concerns that the economy might slow this year and now anticipate strong customer demand.

Stocks fall along with price of oil

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing broadly lower Thursday after energy shares sank with the price of oil and some big technology and media names also tallied losses.

Trump Fed choice Stephen Moore withdraws amid controversy

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Moore, a conservative commentator whom President Donald Trump had tapped for the Federal Reserve board, withdrew from consideration Thursday after losing Republican support in the Senate, largely over his past inflammatory writings about women.

US productivity grows at solid 3.6% rate in first quarter

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. productivity grew at a solid 3.6% rate in the first three months of this year, the strongest quarterly gain in more than four years and a hopeful sign that a long stretch of weak productivity gains may be coming to an end.

UK economy to slow near-term as Brexit preparations halted

LONDON (AP) — The British economy will weaken in the near-term as firms ease up on Brexit preparations now that the country's departure from the European Union has been delayed by months, the Bank of England said Thursday.

Under Trump change, Cuba business partners can now be sued

MIAMI (AP) — In 1958, José Ramón López's father owned Cuba's main airport, its national airline and three small hotels. All were taken in Cuba's socialist revolution.

France, Germany plan to create leading battery industry

PARIS (AP) — France and Germany have unveiled details of a plan to create a leading electric battery industry in Europe, from the extraction of raw materials to recycling.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Trump discusses 'Russian Hoax' in long call with Putin

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin discussed what Trump again dismissed as the "Russian Hoax" in their first known phone call since the release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian election meddling. Putin chuckled about Mueller's findings, Trump said.

What's known about surveillance of Trump campaign aides

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a London bar three years ago, a young foreign policy adviser for Donald Trump's campaign told an Australian diplomat something astonishing: Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton.

Barr besieged by allegations he's being Trump's protector

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr portrayed himself as an apolitical elder statesman at his confirmation hearing. He declared he'd rather resign than be asked to fire special counsel Robert Mueller without cause and insisted the prosecutor he'd known for decades would never involve himself in a witch hunt as the president claimed.

The attorney general Trump wanted: A look at Barr's rhetoric

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has found the attorney general he's wanted all along.

Cohen's prison reality: A bunk bed in barrack-style hall

NEW YORK (AP) — "The Situation" and the Fyre Festival fraudster are already there. President Donald Trump's former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, is up next.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump's double-false claim about GDP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump told Fox Business Network the country reached a rate of growth last quarter that hadn't been seen in 14 years. That's false in two ways and correct in none.

Facebook bans Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones for hate speech

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook has banned Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones and others from its main service and from Instagram, saying they violated the company's ban against hate and violence.

Aiming at Trump, House OKs bill to keep US in climate accord

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House approved a bill Thursday that would prevent President Donald Trump from fulfilling his pledge to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris climate agreement and ensure the U.S. honors its commitments under the global accord.

Pelosi: Barr lied to Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is asserting that Attorney General Robert Barr has committed a crime by lying to Congress.

No. 2 House GOP leader says $2T infrastructure cost too high

WASHINGTON (AP) — The No. 2 House Republican leader is suggesting that Congress won't agree to the full $2 trillion price tag that the White House and congressional leaders have discussed for a compromise infrastructure deal.

Poll shows most in US want changes in how government works

After more than two years of the Donald Trump presidency, Andrea Petrusky is ready for some fundamental changes in the way the United States government works.

Empty chair and a prop chicken: Barr skips Mueller hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr skipped a House hearing Thursday on special counsel Robert Mueller's Trump-Russia report, escalating an already acrimonious battle between Democrats and President Donald Trump's Justice Department.

Key takeaways from Barr's testimony and Mueller's letter

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was Attorney General William Barr's testimony, but Robert Mueller's words stole the show.

HEALTH CARE

Sticker shock: Trump taking aim at 'surprise medical bills'

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will begin a push Thursday to fight health care sticker shock by limiting "surprise medical bills," the unexpected charges faced by insured patients when a member of a health care team that treated them is considered an out-of-network provider.

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