VOL. 39 | NO. 19 | Friday, May 8, 2015
STREET LEVEL
When the blonde left-fielder skidded across the outfield grass attempting in vain to catch a tricky hit, she likely didn’t know she was “visiting” – belly down – a well-fertilized, close-cropped living memorial to the man who spread love of Lipscomb from his jewelry store a couple hundred yards away.
REALTY CHECK
People are angry now. Angrier than ever. In the past, there may have been a slight skirmish or two, but now there are battles that often escalate into full-scale wars.
NEWSMAKERS
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization Nashville chapter has announced its 2015/2016 board of directors. Board members are:
BEHIND THE WHEEL
For a distinctive, luxury sport utility ride on a large scale, buyers need only to look to the 2015 Lincoln Navigator.
FAMILY TRAVEL
A trip to Europe isn’t a spur-of-the-moment happening. If you don’t have your week in Italy for June booked already, odds are it’s not on your radar.
CAREER CORNER
Lately, I’ve heard the phrase, “we’re all in sales” a few too many times.
THE WORLDLY INVESTOR
The U.S. economy grew 0.2 percent in the first quarter, well below analyst consensus. The fairly typical excuses followed the release, from weather to port strikes, to the first quarter growth curse that has stifled Q1 numbers since the financial crisis.
I SWEAR
“I want to throw my mercy on the court.” Twice from the bench I’ve heard a defendant say that.
NASHVILLE AREA
Xerox is hosting a recruiting open house Saturday to fill 400 new, full-time customer care jobs.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee records show that there are more former lawmakers enrolled in the health insurance plan for state employees than current lawmakers.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The State Building Commission has approved the first step toward making a building next to the state Capitol the new home of the Tennessee General Assembly.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - After a 2013 FBI raid on the truck-stop chain owned by Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Pilot Flying J moved quickly to settle fraud claims. But a handful of companies that refused to settle say they have uncovered a deception that other firms overlooked.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Encouraging news on the U.S. job market helped lift stock indexes in afternoon trading Thursday. Applications for unemployment aid fell last week, sending the four-week average down to its lowest level in 15 years. Technology stocks among the biggest gainers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharp drop in the cost of gasoline and food pushed down overall U.S. producer prices in April.
LONDON (AP) — Global stocks drifted Thursday after weak retail sales figures suggested the U.S. economy is struggling to maintain growth momentum and as bond markets remained volatile. In Europe, trading levels were low as many traders were on holiday even though it isn't a holiday in the markets.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A law banning price-fixing for contact lenses that took effect this week in Utah is a setback for the nation's largest manufacturers that could have ripple effects across the country amid an increasingly bitter fight with discount retailers.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Mark Cate is leaving Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration after serving as Haslam's campaign manager in 2010 and as the governor's chief of staff after he took office.
NASHVILLE (AP) - An overwhelming majority of Tennesseans support Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's failed proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income residents, according to a new Vanderbilt University poll released Wednesday.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Raising taxes is never popular, but a new coalition says the lack of funding for Tennessee's roads and bridges has reached a crisis point requiring action.
NASHVILLE (AP) — The price of cigarettes is going up in Tennessee, but the proceeds won't be landing in state tax coffers.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - AT&T is the latest Internet service provider to announce it is bringing gigabit speeds to Nashville customers.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi says Republicans will "rue the day" if the Supreme Court buys their arguments and invalidates tax subsidies for millions of people under President Barack Obama's health care law.
AUTO INDUSTRY
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The departing CEO of automaker BMW has cautioned that China's economy is "losing momentum."
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. shoppers kept their spending in check in April, as modest wage growth over the past year keeps family budgets tight.
Weak U.S. retail sales data helped set the stage Wednesday for a listless day of trading on Wall Street.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Macy's Inc. (M) on Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $193 million.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators reached a deal Wednesday to move forward on President Barack Obama's trade agenda only one day after Democrats embarrassed him by blocking it.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators of both parties worked Wednesday to revive trade legislation that's a top priority for President Barack Obama, a day after Obama's fellow Democrats repudiated him nearly unanimously on the issue.
TUESDAY, MAY 12
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - A bill passed by Tennessee lawmakers could give parents of severely disabled children more than $6,000 a year to spend on education and therapies that they choose, though critics say the measure hands the money to parents with few safeguards.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee has a dropped a spot in Chief Executive magazine's annual rating of the best and worst states for business over political interference on labor issues at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.
MURFREESBORO (AP) - Middle Tennessee State University is planning to expand its dual-enrollment program to offer more college-level classes to high school students.
REAL ESTATE
Young people aspiring to buy their first home are already facing disappointment this year.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — Only three of seven midsize SUVs from the 2015 model year performed well in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Drivers who have seen a steady rise in the price of gasoline can relax: They will almost certainly be paying far less for gas this summer than they have in at least six years.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of available jobs in the U.S. fell in March, though companies filled more of their open positions in a sign they are still confident enough to hire.
A spike in long-term interest rates rattled investors Tuesday, nudging major U.S. stock indexes lower for the second day in a row.
NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon is buying AOL for about $4.4 billion, advancing the telecom's push in both mobile and advertising fields.
NEW YORK (AP) — A vibrant, multi-hued painting from Pablo Picasso set a world record for artwork at auction, selling for $179.4 million on Monday, and a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti set a record for most expensive sculpture, at $141.3 million.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Royal Dutch Shell's Arctic drilling program has cleared a major bureaucratic hurdle to begin drilling for oil and gas off Alaska's northwestern coast this summer.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee unveiled legislation Tuesday that would ease regulatory requirements on mid-size banks and give lenders the option for greater freedom from mortgage lending rules.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats dealt President Barack Obama a stinging setback on trade Tuesday, blocking efforts to begin a full-blown debate on a top priority of his second term.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's top Republican on Tuesday pleaded with lawmakers to move ahead on a trade bill that has the strong backing of President Barack Obama but faces fierce opposition from several rebellious Democrats.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A much-anticipated Senate vote on trade will pack some suspense Tuesday, but it won't be the final word, no matter how it turns out.
MONDAY, MAY 11
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Tennessee Board of Regents is taking a look at how students are charged for classes.
AUTO INDUSTRY
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Volvo Cars will build a $500 million plant in South Carolina that will eventually employ up to 4,000 people, the company announced Monday.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four of the nearly 50 self-driving cars now rolling around California have gotten into accidents since September, when the state began issuing permits for companies to test them on public roads.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A small fleet of cars that maneuver through traffic using an array of sensors and computing power is driving on California roads and highways.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — From contraception to colonoscopies, the Obama administration Monday closed a series of insurance loopholes on coverage of preventive care.
REAL ESTATE
Eager to buy your first home this spring? Already own, but want to trade up? Be warned: there'll be plenty of competition.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are closing moderately lower as the market comes off its best day in two months.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The compact city that inspired ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft is offering a new way to get to work: fancy $6 big-bus rides with spacious seating, free Wi-Fi and attendants who deliver snacks.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama's bid for new trade agreements faces big tests in Congress this week, mostly from his fellow Democrats.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has signed a bill into law placing licensing restrictions on abortion clinics.
NASHVILLE (AP) - A state agency has released detailed information about the nearly $6 million in taxpayer-subsidized health insurance benefits provided to Tennessee lawmakers.
NASHVILLE (AP) - State officials on Thursday put the brakes on releasing information to The Tennessean newspaper about nearly $6 million in taxpayer-subsidized health insurance benefits since 2008.
AUTO INDUSTRY
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota zoomed to a record 2.17 trillion yen ($18.1 billion) profit for the fiscal year through March, up 19 percent from the previous year, buoyed by sales growth in the U.S. and a perk from the cheap yen.
ATLANTA (AP) — A German automaker has opened its North American headquarters in metro Atlanta.
NASHVILLE (AP) - The United Auto Workers on Thursday unveiled a proposal for creating a German-style works council at Volkswagen plant in Tennessee that is predicated on the automaker recognizing the union as its exclusive bargaining partner.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - Comcast says it is bringing its super-fast Internet service to Nashville, but won't say how much it will cost to install or subscribe.
STATEWIDE
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority will retire a coal-burning power plant in Stevenson about four years ahead of schedule to avoid having to comply with new coal ash regulations.
TECHNOLOGY
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — The latest ally in competitive gaming's fight for mainstream awareness just might be marketers.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration will ask a group of outside medical experts next month to evaluate a much-debated experimental drug designed to boost sexual desire in women.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rebounding from a dismal start to the year, the U.S. economy added 223,000 jobs in April, a solid gain that suggested that employers are helping fuel a durable if still subpar recovery.
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market had its best day in two months Friday following encouraging news about the job market.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumers increased their borrowing in March by the largest amount in nearly a year as borrowing on credit cards rebounded following two months of declines.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Listeria bacteria was found in Blue Bell ice cream's Oklahoma plant as far back as March 2013. That's according to test results released Thursday by the government.
NATIONAL POLITICS
BEAVERTON, Ore. (AP) — President Barack Obama argued forcefully Friday for a pending international trade agreement, saying the U.S. must write the rules for global commerce now, while it's in a position of economic strength, or lose out.