VOL. 41 | NO. 35 | Friday, September 1, 2017
SAM STOCKARD: VIEW FROM THE HILL
Outsourcing is starting to become a four-letter word in state government. Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration told lawmakers during a summer study session it’s giving up on privatization of state parks, including a plan to hire a company to raze the inn at Fall Creek Falls and build a new one, at a cost of more than $22 million, then take over the keys and the profits.
TIM GHIANNI: STREET LEVEL
Merle Haggard likely is playing in the head of the man I spot, tiny dogs dancing at his feet, as he puffs on a thick stogie atop an asphalt knoll in the middle of Nashville.
RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK
As residents of Texas suffer from the ravages of Harvey, the United States Congress is faced with a vote on the National Flood Insurance Program. Over the years, the program has been added to various appropriations bills as it expires, which amounts to kicking the can down the street. The current program expires on September 30.
VANDERBILT SPORTS
It’s always good to know who you are. Gives you a foundation. A starting place. “We know the academics are a huge piece of our identity as a Vanderbilt football player,” says senior Oren Burks, who has moved from safety to linebacker. “But at end of the day, it’s about winning. That’s why you play.”
DAVID CLIMER: OUT OF LEFT FIELD
Based on preseason predictions, the SEC East is pretty much a toss-up between Georgia and Florida. My question: Why not Tennessee?
TERRY McCORMICK: TENNESSEE TITANS
By the time you read this, it is possible that Alex Tanney might have already thrown his last pass as a member of the Tennessee Titans.
NEWSMAKERS
Waller, a provider of legal services to the health care, financial services, retail and hospitality industries, has named Paula Torch executive director of the firm’s health care department.
BRIEFS
Clarksville Regional Airport set a single-day record on the day of the solar eclipse as eclipse viewers flocked to the area, which lay in the “path of totality.”
GUERRILLA MARKETING
You have likely invested, to some degree, in search engine optimization – SEO – to improve how prospective customers find you via an internet search. Unfortunately, few companies continue to invest in this vital strategy.
CAREER CORNER
If you have a job seeker in your life, there’s a decent chance you’re concerned about them. This is especially true if they are currently unemployed.
STATEWIDE
KNOXVILLE (AP) — The superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is heading to Washington temporarily as acting superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks.
MIDSTATE
ASHLAND CITY (AP) — A former Tennessee jailer has been charged with assaulting an inmate with a stun gun.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-term US mortgage rates fell this week, led by the benchmark 30-year rate, which declined for the sixth straight week.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican and Democratic governors is endorsing a bipartisan Senate effort to control health insurance costs.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A panel of Tennessee lawmakers wants to address the opioid epidemic with referral requirements at pain clinics, more state investigators and a public awareness program.
AUTO INDUSTRY
LONDON (AP) — Jaguar Land Rover says all of its new vehicles will be at least partially electrified by 2020.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
U.S. stocks edged lower in early trading Thursday, pulled down by insurers and other financial companies as investors weighed the prospects of big losses for the sector from Hurricane Irma. The storm, which hammered the Northern Caribbean, was projected to hit Florida this weekend. Health care and technology companies were among the biggest gainers.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. workers' productivity rose a bit more this spring than initially reported, but the gains were relatively weak and a key reason why recent economic growth has been modest.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits soared last week by the most in nearly five years, driven by Hurricane Harvey's impact on Texas and Louisiana.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Faced with the looming threat of dual disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has ramped up preparations for Hurricane Irma as it barrels toward the Florida coast, even as the agency continues the massive recovery effort in storm-battered Texas.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — As Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida, an Associated Press analysis shows a steep drop in flood insurance across the state, including the areas most endangered by what could be a devastating storm surge.
LONDON (AP) — The British government began battle Thursday to pass a major plank of its Brexit plans through Parliament, amid faltering progress in divorce talks with the EU.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump Jr.'s scheduled visit to Capitol Hill on Thursday marks a new phase in the Senate investigation of Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election and a meeting that the president's eldest son had with Russians during the campaign.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump briskly overruled congressional Republicans and his own treasury secretary to cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government operating and raise America's debt limit. The immediate goal was ensuring money for hurricane relief, but in the process the president brazenly rolled his own party's leaders.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
STATEWIDE
MEMPHIS (AP) — Tennessee officials say the head of the state-run Achievement School District is resigning.
REGION
NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal utility says it would take 24 years to dig up and move its coal ash at a Tennessee power plant under a court order that it still might appeal.
AUTO INDUSTRY
CHIBA, Japan (AP) — Nissan's new Leaf electric car will go farther on a charge and has a new type of drive technology and the possibility of single-pedal driving. It will also be cheaper, though the world's top-selling electric car still won't match the driving range of its prime competitors.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to speed the introduction of self-driving cars by giving the federal government authority to exempt automakers from safety standards not applicable to the technology, and to permit deployment of up to 100,000 of the vehicles annually over the next several years.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans and Democrats serenely discussed ways to curb premium increases for individual insurance policies on Wednesday at a Senate hearing that veered away from years of fierce partisanship over the failed GOP effort to revoke President Barack Obama's health care law.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Both parties must give ground to craft a compromise bill shoring up the nation's individual health insurance markets or they'll be blamed for hurting millions of consumers, the chairman of the Senate health committee said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators are launching hearings to help Republicans and Democrats decide if they can forge a modest agreement to shore up the nation's individual insurance markets. The effort will show whether divided Republicans are ready to pivot from trying to obliterate the Obama health care law to helping it survive, and if both parties can overcome lingering raw feelings over that battle.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Energy companies led U.S. stocks to modest gains Wednesday as the market recouped some of its hefty losses from the day before.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer will resign next month for personal reasons, leaving a fourth vacancy on the seven-member Fed governing board.
NEW YORK (AP) — Gap Inc. says it will shift its focus to its growing brands Old Navy and Athleta, and away from the Gap and Banana Republic.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kohl's said Wednesday that it will open up Amazon shops in 10 of its stores, making it the latest department store operator to make a deal with the e-commerce giant.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump overruled congressional Republicans and his own treasury secretary Wednesday and cut a deal with Democrats to fund the government and raise the federal borrowing limit for three months, all part of an agreement to speed money to Harvey relief.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed $7.9 billion in Hurricane Harvey disaster relief as warring Republicans and Democrats united behind help for victims of that storm as an ever more powerful new hurricane bore down on Florida.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama had a "pen and phone" strategy. President Donald Trump has an eraser.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Since the day he launched his presidential campaign, Donald Trump has talked tough on immigration, promising to take the kind of decisive action he accused other politicians of avoiding.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lindsey Graham says he believes "there's a congressional deal to be made" that could resolve the question of a legal shield for young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally while improving border security without building a wall.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
MIDSTATE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Mark H. Wildasin will be Middle Tennessee's top federal prosecutor while President Donald Trump's appointee awaits U.S. Senate confirmation.
STATEWIDE
CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Tennessee wildlife officials say they suspect a disease transmitted through bug bites is behind recent sightings of dead white-tailed deer.
SPORTS
ATLANTA (AP) — This was a game Tennessee had no business winning.
HEALTH CARE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is traveling to Washington this week to testify in Congress.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — If you're willing to fly, you can save when you buy.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky museum dedicated to Corvettes has opened a new exhibit featuring much older forms of transportation spanning the state's history.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — The stock market had its biggest drop in almost three weeks, led by banks and technology companies.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders at U.S. factories tumbled in July, dragged down by a sharp fall in orders for civilian aircraft.
NEW YORK (AP) — Newspaper publisher Tronc has acquired the Daily News, a storied New York tabloid newspaper that won a Pulitzer Prize this year but has been buffeted by the changing media environment.
NEW YORK (AP) — United Technologies is acquiring Rockwell Collins for $22.75 billion in order to expand its aerospace capabilities.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday began dismantling the government program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children. Attorney General Jeff Sessions declared the Obama administration's program "an unconstitutional exercise of authority" that must be revoked.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is phasing out a program for thousands of young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children. He is asking Congress to find a legislative solution to protect the immigrants, who are often called "Dreamers."
NEW YORK (AP) — Technology companies are criticizing the Trump administration for its plan to undo protections for young immigrants.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers returned to Washington Tuesday facing fast-approaching deadlines, including pressing demands to replenish dwindling disaster aid reserves as Texas and Louisiana dig out from Harvey and an even more powerful hurricane, Irma, bears down on the U.S.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Congress returns from recess, President Donald Trump's family and associates will be back in the crosshairs of congressional committees investigating whether his campaign colluded with Russia, as well as of the high-wattage legal team assembled by special counsel Robert Mueller.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sanctions on North Korea have been tried, and failed. Serious negotiations seem like a pipedream. And any military strike would almost surely bring mass devastation and horrific civilian casualties.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NEW YORK (AP) — Miranda Lambert led the pack with five nominations for Country Music Association awards on Monday, with Little Big Town and Keith Urban earning four nods each.
SPORTS
NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have brought back offensive lineman Brian Schwenke and waived center-guard Tim Lelito.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of people who buy individual health insurance policies and get no financial help from the Affordable Care Act are bracing for another year of double-digit premium increases, and their frustration is boiling over.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican hopes for repealing and replacing former President Barack Obama's health care law are still flickering in Congress — but just barely.
TECHNOLOGY
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Security guard Eric Leon watches the Knightscope K5 security robot as it glides through the mall, charming shoppers with its blinking blue and white lights. The brawny automaton records video and sounds alerts. According to its maker, it deters mischief just by making the rounds.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio board has approved an estimated $7.8 million tax credit for Amazon as the e-commerce giant plans a new fulfillment center outside of Cleveland that could employ 2,000 people.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
TOKYO (AP) — Global stocks mostly fell on Monday after a nuclear test by North Korea over the weekend raised fears about regional instability and as trading volumes remained thin due to a U.S. holiday.
GENEVA (AP) — Boeing notched a key victory in a years-long legal case against its European rival, Airbus, after an international body rejected the European Union's claims that Washington state was giving Boeing illegal tax incentives.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling the U.S. tax code "self-destructive" and says he'll work with Congress on a plan to simplify it and "dramatically" reduce income taxes for Americans.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce that he will end protections for young immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children, but with a six-month delay, people familiar with the plans said.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress needs to combine a $7.9 billion disaster relief package for Harvey with a contentious increase in the nation's borrowing limit, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says, arguing it is needed to ensure storm victims in Texas get the help they need.
WASHINGTON (AP) — After a summer of staff shake-ups and self-made crises, President Donald Trump is emerging politically damaged, personally agitated and continuing to buck at the confines of his office, according to some close allies.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Harvey has scrambled the equation for Congress as lawmakers get ready to return to Washington on Tuesday after a five-week summer recess.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
REGION
DALLAS (AP) — The spike in gasoline prices in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has hit the accelerator.
DALLAS (AP) — A major gasoline pipeline may be able to resume shipping fuel from the Houston area by Sunday, its operator said, potentially mitigating gasoline shortages across the southern United States since Hurricane Harvey forced Gulf Coast refineries to close. But filling tanks was already becoming difficult Thursday in central Texas, where some stations were out of gas and pump costs have risen steeply.
COURTS
KNOXVILLE (AP) — A Taiwan-born U.S. nuclear engineer who pleaded guilty to helping China build reactors using U.S. technology has been sentenced in Tennessee to two years in prison.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee man has been convicted for conspiring with soldiers to steal sensitive military equipment and sell it to foreign buyers.
STATEWIDE
The Tennessee Capitol Commission blocked Gov. Bill Haslam’s request today to move the embattled Nathan Bedford Forrest bust out of the State Capitol to the Tennessee State Museum.
MEMPHIS (AP) — Harvey spread its misery into the Deep South as flooded creeks drove people from their homes in Tennessee and an apparent tornado damaged homes and toppled trees in a rural area of northwest Alabama.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee environment officials say the whole state now complies with federal air quality health standards for particle pollution.
NASHVILLE (AP) — A review has concluded that drought-stricken Great Smoky Mountains National Park was not prepared for the fire that contributed to 14 deaths and up to $2 billion of damage in November.
NASHVILLE (AP) — Great Smoky Mountains National Park will receive a $2.5 million upgrade to its radio communications systems in response to a fire in Tennessee that contributed to 14 deaths and millions of dollars of damage in November.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — August was a strong month for U.S. auto sales but Hurricane Harvey is putting pressure on some of those gains.
DETROIT (AP) — Honda and some of the people suing the company over faulty Takata air bag inflators have agreed to a $605 million settlement.
CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Volkswagen is rolling out its plan for re-selling most of the cars involved in the German automaker's diesel emissions cheating scandal.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Affirming its disdain for "Obamacare," the Trump administration on Thursday announced sharp cuts in programs promoting health care enrollment under the Affordable Care Act for next year.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people signed contracts to buy homes in July, the fourth decline in the past five months. The decrease likely reflects the worsening shortage nationwide of homes being listed for sale.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week. It was the fifth straight weekly decline for the benchmark 30-year rate, which again reached a new low for the year.
TECHNOLOGY
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple's faithful fans and investors won't have to wait much longer to see what the iPhone maker has in store next.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — The more things change, the more they stay the same: U.S. stocks rose Friday as investors viewed a relatively weak jobs report for August as likely to help keep interest rates low. Banks, energy companies and automakers led the way.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job growth slowed in August as employers added 156,000 jobs, though still enough to suggest that most businesses remain confident in an economy now in its ninth year of recovery from the Great Recession.
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. factories expanded at a brisk pace in August, a likely sign of strength for the U.S. economy as new orders, production and employment all improved.
Explosions that rocked a Texas chemical plant after it was inundated by Harvey's floodwaters are raising questions about the adequacy of industry preparations for the monster storm and stoking fears of more accidents in the days ahead.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As high water spreads from Houston through Texas and Louisiana, authorities are bracing for an inevitable wave of fraud and other criminal activity set into motion by Harvey's punishing rains.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When management upheaval, allegations of corporate espionage, and revelations of sexual harassment sent Uber into a public relations sinkhole, its long overshadowed rival Lyft shifted into overdrive.
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy's and Best Buy are expanding their same-day delivery offers as they try to be more competitive with online leader Amazon.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's hiring and budget plans are raising questions about whether he can deliver the "better-than-ever" recovery he's promised after Hurricane Harvey devastated a swath of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
PHOENIX (AP) — Politicians have made numerous claims about former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's legal troubles and his immigration enforcement legacy since he was granted a White House pardon last week.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have pledged to overhaul the nation's complex tax code. To slash taxes, they say they'll curb a web of expensive deductions and credits to allow more revenue to flow to the government.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A grand jury used by Special Counsel Robert Mueller has heard secret testimony from a Russian-American lobbyist who attended a June 2016 meeting with President Donald Trump's eldest son, The Associated Press has learned.