VOL. 38 | NO. 19 | Friday, May 9, 2014
REALTY CHECK
I have never hunted pheasants, although I must admit that I shot a dove or two in my youth in Maury County. Wrapped in bacon, drowned in butter and cooked on a grill, I considered the bird a delicacy.
BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW
“I know there are friendly people everywhere, but southern friendliness is different.” – Mark W. Nichols
NEWSMAKERS
Bone McAllester Norton PLLC has hired entertainment attorney and Belmont Law professor Loren E. Mulraine as the firm’s 38th attorney.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
When your business is young, you naturally welcome every new customer with open arms in an effort to generate cash flow and get on your feet.
I SWEAR
“You have trigger finger.” The words were uttered by my primary care physician. Matter-of-factly, I might add, to use a twice-hyphenated adverb.
KAY'S COOKING CORNER
Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, and I hope you celebrated with guacamole, tamales and enchiladas.
MIDSTATE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Former state Rep. Donna Rowland Barrett has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Tennessee State Election Commission.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee revenue collections are continuing to show signs of improvement, with April figures exceeding expectations.
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Governor's Highway Safety Office is urging Tennessee motorists to buckle up.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — General Motors recalled another 2.7 million cars Thursday, sending the company's total of recalled vehicles in the U.S. this year above 11 million and putting the auto industry on track to set a record for recalls in 2014.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
U.S. homebuilders are feeling less confident this month in their near-term sales prospects, reflecting doubts stirred by a sluggish start to the annual spring home-selling season.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Higher food and gas costs pushed up U.S. consumer prices in April by the most in 10 months, evidence that inflation is ticking up from very low levels.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in seven years last week, a sign the job market is steadily improving.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factory output slid last month after two months of strong growth. Manufacturers produced less furniture, machinery and plastics.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks fell sharply midday Thursday, with the Dow Jones industrial average slumping more than 200 points, as disappointing economic data and Wal-Mart earnings sent investors scrambling for safer assets.
The price of oil fell below $102 a barrel Thursday after official figures showed U.S. crude production at a 28-year high and stockpiles rising again.
NEW YORK (AP) — More travelers will take to the skies this summer, the U.S. airlines' trade and lobby group predicted Thursday.
NEW YORK (AP) — Labor organizers are turning up the heat on McDonald's and other fast-food chains to raise worker pay, with protests set to spread to more than 30 countries Thursday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly one out of four American honeybee colonies died this winter — a loss that's not quite as bad as recent years, says a new U.S. Department of Agriculture survey of beekeepers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Neighborhoods with a mix of older, smaller buildings make for more vibrant, walkable communities with more businesses, nightlife and culture than massive new buildings, according to a new study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's program to cover a full ride at two-year colleges for any high school graduate could be an incentive for students to perform better in school after a report shows most 12th-graders aren't prepared for college, education experts say.
REGION
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — You may have to be at least 18 to buy cigarettes in the U.S., but children as young as 7 are working long hours in fields harvesting nicotine- and pesticide-laced tobacco leaves under sometimes hazardous and sweltering conditions, according to a report released Wednesday by an international rights group.
COURTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — The administrator of courts in Shelby County has been appointed clerk of Tennessee's appeals courts.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A former Army post inspector whose job was to investigate misconduct pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stealing the identities of other officers to obtain bank loans and then trying to blame his crimes on a deceased officer.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Some of the country's largest retailers are banding together in hopes of protecting consumers' personal and financial information from hackers and thieves.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The prices that U.S. companies receive for their goods and services rose in April by the most in 19 months, a sign that inflation may be picking up from very low levels.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are closing lower a day after the market hit its latest all-time high.
The price of U.S. oil climbed above $102 a barrel Wednesday on signs of increased demand for gasoline just ahead of the summer driving season.
TOKYO (AP) — Sony Corp. sank to a 138 billion yen ($1.3 billion) quarterly loss, hit by costs from selling its personal computer business, and is forecasting more red ink as it struggles to execute a long-promised turnaround.
NATIONAL POLITICS
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — With New York's aging Tappan Zee Bridge looming behind him, President Barack Obama called on congressional Republicans to spend more money on the nation's crumbling roads, see-through bridges and outdated ports or face losing businesses to other countries.
TUESDAY, MAY 13
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - A Davidson County election worker has been fired after problems with electronic poll books allowed some people to vote twice.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville post offices are switching to an appointment-only system for passport applications.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville has become the latest city to join the open data movement, and people who live, work and play in Music City might soon be able to access a treasure trove of information about the city.
TECHNOLOGY
AMSTERDAM (AP) — In a landmark ruling that could rock the Internet search-engine industry, Europe's highest court said Tuesday that people are entitled to some control over what pops up when their name is Googled.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler is broadening the scope of his proposed open Internet rules and suggesting tougher standards for Internet providers who wish to create paid priority fast lanes on their networks.
AUTO INDUSTRY
General Motors' recall of 2.6 million small cars has shed light on an unsettling fact: Air bags might not always deploy when drivers — and federal regulators — expect them to.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German automaker Volkswagen AG has enough shares to take complete ownership of Swedish truck-maker Scania and move ahead with integrating its commercial vehicle business.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — The Standard & Poor's 500 index is flirting with a new milestone: 1,900.
The price of oil rose Tuesday as traders anticipated a report showing another decline in U.S. supplies.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The regulator overseeing government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has announced a policy that could make more loan money available to borrowers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Seeking to boost exports, the Obama administration is launching a new initiative aimed at helping small- and medium-sized businesses sell their products in new markets overseas.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. businesses increased their stockpiles in March, and sales increased by the largest amount in 10 months.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. retail sales growth slowed in April, with consumers shopping less online and cutting back on purchases of furniture and electronics.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) —?? A bill to renew a package of more than 50 expired tax breaks cleared its first hurdle in the Senate Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of a popular energy savings bill and the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline say they will keep trying to force Senate action on the measures, even after they were defeated amid partisan gridlock in the Senate.
MONDAY, MAY 12
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker have joined fellow Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah on the stage of the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville to announce legislation seeking to improve royalties for songwriters.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell and Robert Ellis are the top nominees at this year's Americana Honors & Awards.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Curb Records CEO Mike Curb is giving Belmont University a 40-year-lease on a historic Music Row property where some of Nashville's greatest music was recorded.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — Funeral services for former U.S. Sen. Harlan Mathews are scheduled for Monday in Nashville.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Democratic leader of the state Senate is urging Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to veto his own legislation to limit the purchase of cold and allergy medicines used to make illegal methamphetamine.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee could be facing the costliest state Supreme Court election in its history now that conservatives have targeted three sitting justices on the state's highest court.
NASHVILLE (AP) — It's not unusual for a governor to hold a ceremonial bill signing on a different day than when he actually puts his signature on a piece of legislation.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler Group saw big sales gains in the first quarter thanks to the new Jeep Cherokee and Ram pickup, but its results were overshadowed by charges related to its merger with Italian automaker Fiat SpA.
TOKYO (AP) — Nissan's quarterly profit edged up nearly 5 percent as sales grew around the world and a favorable exchange rate helped earnings.
TECHNOLOGY
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — "Think different" became Apple's creed during the late Steve Jobs' reign as CEO. Now, chief executive Tim Cook is embracing the idea while making decisions that would have seemed crazy to his fabled predecessor.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
The Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index are closing at record highs Monday as investors regain their appetite for riskier stocks.
The price of oil rose above $100 a barrel on Monday amid renewed tensions over Ukraine.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government ran a big surplus in April, thanks to a flood of tax payments that helped keep the budget on track for the lowest annual deficit in six years.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Days after President Barack Obama touted executive actions aimed at increasing energy efficiency, a bill with similar goals is expected to fall victim to partisan gridlock in the Senate.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government has failed to inspect thousands of oil and gas wells it considers potentially high risks for water contamination and other environmental damage, congressional investigators say.
FRIDAY, MAY 7
MIDSTATE
MURFREESBORO (AP) — Middle Tennessee State University and Civil Air Patrol's Tennessee Wing have agreed to partner in aerospace education for state high school students in the U.S. Air Force auxiliary's cadet program.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — Harlan Mathews, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Al Gore after he was elected vice president in 1992, died Friday. He was 87.
NASHVILLE (AP) — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam are among the featured speakers at an upcoming meeting of the Education Writers Association being held at Vanderbilt University.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) — Snapchat has agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission over charges that it deceived customers about the disappearing nature of messages sent through its service and that it collected users' contacts without telling them or asking permission.
NEW YORK (AP) — It's a tough time for a tech debut. As e-commerce giant Alibaba gets ready for a blockbuster stock sale in the next few months, technology shares are retreating.
HEALTH CARE
Patients who use medical marijuana for pain and other chronic symptoms can take an unwanted hit: Insurers don't cover the treatment, which costs as much as $1,000 a month.
NEW YORK (AP) — It's a tough time for a tech debut.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers advertised slightly fewer jobs and slowed hiring a bit in March, though the declines came after healthy gains the previous month. The figures suggest the job market is improving in fits and starts.
NEW YORK (AP) — Jenna Broems shops for clothes the same way she hunts for a new car: She considers resale value.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing slightly higher, enough to send the Dow Jones industrial average to another all-time high.
The price of oil slipped Friday to just under $100 a barrel, leaving crude nearly flat for the week.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Timothy Geithner says in a new memoir that he considered stepping down as Treasury secretary in 2010 after the financial crisis and suggested Hillary Rodham Clinton as a possible successor.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Thursday that the Fed's bond holdings will likely remain at high levels for up to eight years after it starts raising short-term interest rates.
NATIONAL POLITICS
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Flanked by bargain-priced displays of women's wear and patio lighting, President Barack Obama came to a Wal-Mart store in Silicon Valley on Friday to praise new steps by businesses and communities to deploy solar energy, showcasing efforts to combat climate change that don't rely on a disinclined Congress.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Airlines tried and failed to block a federal rule making them tell passengers up front the full cost of airfare, including government taxes and fees. So they're trying another route, asking Congress to do what the Obama administration and the courts refused to do: roll back the law.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight Senators are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to examine new research suggesting that some electronic cigarettes can produce dangerous carcinogens similar to those from traditional cigarettes.