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VOL. 42 | NO. 38 | Friday, September 21, 2018

‘They keep coming and I can’t get them out’

Some rural jails at twice capacity as counties struggle to build more

When officers do hourly security checks at the Loudon County Jail, they’re often walking into a potent brew of danger.

Jailers search for better options for addicts

With a huge percentage of crimes in Tennessee now stemming from drug addiction, some county officials are realizing they can’t just keep adding jail beds. Instead, they’re looking to address the root causes of crime.

SAM STOCKARD: VIEW FROM THE HILL

Haslam has more in common with Dean than Lee

When it comes to bipartisanship, Tennessee politicians talk a good game. But in the ballot-box battle, they’re all about party.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
45.0°F
Overcast
Wind: North at 8.1 mph
Humidity: 68%

EVENTS

Business Studio: Happy Hour with Hip Hues. Business Studio gathers Nashville’s small business community quarterly for a casual happy hour. Come meet other local small business leaders and hang out in Hip Hues’ HQ over beer and light bites. Be among the first to arrive to print your own T-shirt. Thursday, 4-6 p.m. Hip Hues, 1201 4th Ave. South. Information

more events »

TIM GHIANNI: STREET LEVEL

If beer, smoke, karaoke top your list, this Santa delivers

Santa’s neither worried nor enthusiastic about the Major League Soccer stadium that’s going to be birthed across the street from his smoke-filled, cash-only, beer-and-karaoke oasis on Bransford Avenue.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

It’s not a slump if you’re still hitting home runs

There are hundreds, maybe even a few thousand people migrating here from the Northeast as a result of the new federal tax law limiting deductions on property taxes to $10,000 and mortgages to $1 million.

REAL ESTATE

Top Middle Tennessee residential sales for August 2018

Top residential real estate sales, August 2018, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.

US home sales were flat in August

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. sales of existing homes were unchanged in August, as a shortage of houses priced at less than $250,000 — a level considered to be affordable for the middle class — has become a drag on the real estate market.

Average US mortgage rates rise; 30-year at 4.65 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-term U.S. mortgage rates are up for the fourth consecutive week, with the key 30-year rate reaching its highest level since May.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans players driven to greatness – by their Maddon ‘19 rating

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then one of the biggest compliments that can paid to an NFL player is to see his own likeness in the Madden Football video game.

Titans at Jaguars: What to watch

1. The Titans quarterback situation. The Titans pulled a lot of tricks last week against Houston, and they will have an even bigger challenge this week on the road against Jacksonville. Marcus Mariota has had some good games against the Jaguars in the past, but the numbness in his throwing arm could linger, especially if there is nerve damage in the elbow. Blaine Gabbert was OK as a game manager against the Texans, but the Jaguars’ defense presents a major obstacle, no matter which QB is under center. Jacksonville defeated New England 31-20 last week to move to 2-0.

Titans' Mariota still dealing with weakness in throwing hand

NASHVILLE (AP) — Marcus Mariota wakes up every morning hoping his injured right hand feels better.

UT SPORTS

Vols-Gators once meant something. Not as much now

It used to be appointment viewing for every college football fan. It used to determine the SEC champion and factor into the national title chase.

NEWSMAKERS

Bass, Berry & Sims adds pair to Healthcare Group

Bass, Berry & Sims has added Gina R. Shockley and Marc A. Rigsby to its Healthcare Practice Group.

BRIEFS

Pinnacle is top bank in Nashville area for deposits

Pinnacle Financial Partners is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA by deposit market share, data from the FDIC reveals.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Rising interest rates mean fewer no-interest auto loans

Since the early 2000s, zero percent annual percentage rate auto loans have been an important part of the car-buying landscape. Whether the vehicles were subcompact cars or heavy-duty trucks, zero percent APR offers seemed to be everywhere, particularly around big holiday sale weekends and the fall car-clearance season.

CAREER CORNER

Don’t always jump at the first job offer that comes along

Years ago, when I was finishing graduate school in California, I spent a significant amount of time searching for the right job. I would go to job fairs and networking events as if it were my full-time job.

TRANSPORTATION

Nashville awarded $9M to replace aging buses

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville officials say the city's bus fleet will get a massive facelift with the help of a $9 million federal grant.

COURTS

Tennessee to receive $1.7M from Uber data breach settlement

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's attorney general says the state will receive a $1.7 million share from a $148 million nationwide settlement with Uber over its data breach.

Pilot Flying J ex-president sentenced to 12 ½ years

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The former president of the largest U.S. fuel retailer has been sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison and fined $750,000 in a scheme to defraud trucking companies.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Marcus Mariota starting with Titans' backups hurt, learning

NASHVILLE (AP) — Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is starting this weekend against the Eagles, no matter how limited his injured right hand might be.

TECHNOLOGY

A US privacy law could be good for Google - but bad for you

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is taking the first steps toward setting national rules governing how companies use consumers data — although one of its goals might be to prevent states from enacting stronger privacy protections of their own.

REAL ESTATE

US pending home sales fell in August

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pending home sales slipped in August as fewer Americans signed contracts to purchase a house, the fourth decline in the past five months.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

US stock indexes start higher as Apple and Amazon climb

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are higher Thursday morning as Apple and Amazon both jump. Oil prices are bouncing back after they slipped a day ago. Banks lagged the market following Wednesday's drop in bond yields, which reduces profits on loans made by financial institutions.

US economy grew at robust 4.2 percent rate in Q2

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a robust annual rate of 4.2 percent in the second quarter, the best performance in nearly four years, but economists believe growth has slowed in the current quarter, in part because of a drag from trade.

August orders for US durable goods jump 4.5 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) — Orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods rose at a healthy pace last month, though the increase was mostly driven by a surge in aircraft demand.

More US corporate giants warn tariffs will mean price hikes

DETROIT (AP) — From Ford to Walmart to Procter & Gamble, a growing number of iconic American companies are warning that President Donald Trump's tariffs on U.S. imports are raising their costs and prices.

WTO cuts trade growth forecast to 3.9 percent for 2018

GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization has lowered its global trade growth forecast for this year by one-half percentage point to a still-robust 3.9 percent, saying increased trade tensions between large economies and heightened uncertainty contributed to the downgrade.

US, Japan agree to negotiate a free trade agreement

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Japan announced Wednesday they will open negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement between the world's first- and third-largest economies.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Trump says he rejected meeting with Trudeau over trade fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he rejected a one-on-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the trade dispute involving the North American neighbors and renewed his threat to slap tariffs on cars imported from Canada as negotiations drag on.

US House approves $1.7 billion in disaster aid for Carolinas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation that would provide $1.7 billion to help residents of the Carolinas and elsewhere recover from recent natural disasters.


WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
HEALTH CARE

Vanderbilt, East TN network form statewide health care alliance

The University Health Network, a clinically integrated network and accountable care organization based in Knoxville that includes The University of Tennessee Medical Center and University Physicians’ Association, as well as partnerships across East Tennessee, is affiliating with the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network. The new relationship with UHN creates a statewide network that can improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care across Tennessee.

STATEWIDE

Tennessee to allocate $35M to schools to improve safety

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam has announced all 147 school districts in Tennessee have completed a first-ever statewide assessment of school facilities and safety procedures.

ELECTION 2018

Bredesen, Blackburn clash in 1st debate

LEBANON (AP) — Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen quickly promised not to vote for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as his Republican opponent U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn repeatedly sought to tie the former Tennessee governor to national Democrats in their first debate for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Bill overhauling songwriter royalties heads to Trump's desk

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation to substantially overhaul the way music is licensed and songwriters compensated for songs online is being sent to the president's desk for his signature.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Daimler CEO Zetsche to step down early, succeeded by insider

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche, who unwound a troubled merger with Chrysler Corporation and led the German automaker to a string of record profits, will next year hand off to Ola Kallenius, a longtime insider who heads vehicle development for the Mercedes-Benz brand.

TECHNOLOGY

Facebook unveils Quest, its new virtual-reality headset

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is off to a slow start in his mission to bring virtual reality to the masses, so perhaps it's appropriate his company's next VR headset will be called Quest.

Senate panel to hear from internet execs on privacy policies

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is hoping Congress can come up with a new set of national rules governing how companies can use consumers' data that finds a balance between "privacy and prosperity."

Into the fold? What's next for Instagram as founders leave

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — When Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger sold Instagram to Facebook in 2012, the photo-sharing startup's fiercely loyal fans worried about what would happen to their beloved app under the social media giant's wings.

REAL ESTATE

After a lull, new-home sales up 3.5 percent in August

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new U.S. homes climbed 3.5 percent in August, snapping a two-month decline as buying surged in the pricey Northeast and West housing markets.

COURTS

Uber agrees to $148M settlement with states over data breach

CHICAGO (AP) — Uber has agreed to pay $148 million and take steps to tighten data security, after the ride-hailing company failed for a year to notify drivers that hackers had stolen their personal information.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stocks give up early gain and end lower

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gave up an early gain and closed lower after the Federal Reserve made its third interest rate hike this year.

Fed raises rates for 3rd time this year with 1 more expected

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve signaled its confidence Wednesday in the U.S. economy by raising a key interest rate for a third time this year, forecasting another rate hike before year's end and predicting that it will continue to tighten credit into 2020 to help manage growth and inflation.

Study: Post-Maria contracts go to mainland, not Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A study published Wednesday found that the bulk of federal funds slated for post-hurricane reconstruction efforts in Puerto Rico are going to mainland companies, despite a federal provision that states local companies should receive priority.

Fox plans to sell stake in Sky to Comcast for $15B

NEW YORK (AP) — 21st Century Fox will sell its remaining stake in British pay TV provider Sky to Comcast in the latest financial wrangling as Disney prepares to acquire Fox's entertainment assets.

China cuts some tariffs – but does not address US complaints

BEIJING (AP) — China announced more tariff cuts Wednesday on imports of construction machinery and other goods, but took no action to address the U.S. complaints about its technology policy that are fueling an escalating trade battle.

Report: Long trade war would hurt US more than China

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A fierce global trade war would hurt the United States economy significantly, making households poorer and destroying jobs, while China would not suffer as much, according to a simulation carried out by economists at the European Central Bank.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Ryan confident Trump will sign bill to avert shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan says he's confident President Donald Trump will sign a spending bill that averts a looming government shutdown, even though the bill does not pay for Trump's long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Third Kavanaugh accuser submits allegation to Senate panel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee is reviewing allegations by a third woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, a panel spokesman said Wednesday, in yet another potential blow to his prospects for Senate confirmation.

AP-NORC/MTV Poll: Young people feel anxious about election

WASHINGTON (AP) — Engaged? Check. Anxious? Check. With weeks to go until the November midterm elections, more young adults are interested but, according to a new poll, they're also feeling more anxious about the results.

Kavanaugh accuser has 4 affidavits backing claim

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Christine Blasey Ford say they have submitted sworn affidavits to the Senate Judiciary Committee from four people who say she told them that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had assaulted her in high school.

GOP lines up Kavanaugh vote plan as showdown hearing nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump denounced Democratic efforts to block Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation as a cynical "con job" on Tuesday and launched a dismissive attack on a second woman accusing the nominee of sexual misconduct in the 1980s, asserting she "has nothing."

If Rosenstein leaves Justice Department, what happens next?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The investigation into Russian election interference is often called the Mueller probe, but it's Rod Rosenstein who oversees it.


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
EDUCATION

Boyd approved as University of Tennessee interim president

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the selection of Knoxville businessman and former gubernatorial candidate Randy Boyd as the university system's interim president.

ELECTION 2018

Blackburn, Bredesen compete in 1st debate tonight

LEBANON (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen are set to face off in their first debate in a critical race for U.S. Senate in Tennessee.

Former Virginia gov to visit Tennessee to campaign for Dean

NASHVILLE (AP) — Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is swinging by Tennessee to help campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean.

COURTS

Appeals court reverses Tennessee coal ash cleanup order

NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal appellate panel has overturned an order that the nation's largest public utility must unearth and remove a Tennessee power plant's coal ash.

Jury awards $7,500 for each body in Tennessee cemetery case

MEMPHIS (AP) — A Tennessee jury has awarded $7,500 for each body at issue in a class-action lawsuit against several funeral homes and a now-closed cemetery where hundreds of bodies were mishandled.

PREDATORS

Preds see no reason to mess with success in chase for Cup

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Nashville Predators see no reason to make any major changes to a roster that won the franchise's first Presidents' Trophy, not with a group that has been so very close to that elusive Stanley Cup the past two seasons.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans add QB Austin Davis with injuries to Mariota, Gabbert

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have added a quarterback with Marcus Mariota dealing with an injured elbow and backup Blaine Gabbert in the concussion protocol.

Titans building early confidence with pair of AFC South wins

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have a rookie head coach. They started the season with the longest game in the NFL since the league's merger with the AFL in 1970.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Automakers seek flexibility at hearing on mileage standards

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Automakers sought flexibility while environmental groups blasted the Trump administration's proposal to roll back fuel economy standards at a public hearing on the plan in the industry's backyard.

Automaker BMW issues profit warning on trade, pricing

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — German luxury automaker BMW says its profits and sales will fall short of its forecasts this year because of fears over international trade conflicts and as new emissions tests affect the pricing of cars.

Trump plan to rollback fuel standards to get second hearing

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — The Trump administration's proposal to roll back national fuel economy standards was headed for its second public hearing a day after California officials and scores of speakers blasted it as a danger to the environment and public health.

TECHNOLOGY

Instagram co-founders resign from social media company

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The co-founders of Instagram are resigning their positions with the social media company without explanation.

REAL ESTATE

US home prices rise at slowest pace in nearly a year

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home prices rose in July at the slowest pace in 10 months as climbing mortgage rates become a more significant factor for a growing number of prospective buyers.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Higher interest rates and oil prices send US stocks lower

NEW YORK (AP) — Major U.S. indexes finished mostly lower Tuesday as rising interest rates hurt stocks that pay big dividends and higher oil prices pushed transportation and shipping companies lower. The S&P 500 index fell for the third day in a row.

Nike's marketing strikes a chord without hurting business

NEW YORK (AP) — Nike caused an uproar earlier this month with its ad featuring former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick that debuted just as the football season was about to begin. But the shoe maker's stock is up and sales have been steady.

Just Dunkin': Dunkin' Donuts to change its name

Dunkin' is dropping the donuts — from its name, anyway. Doughnuts are still on the menu, but the company is renaming itself "Dunkin'" to reflect its increasing emphasis on coffee and other drinks.

US consumer confidence rises to 18-year high in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence shot up to an 18-year high in September.

Inspire Brands buys Sonic burger chain for $2.3B

ATLANTA (AP) — Arby's owner Inspire Brands is buying the Sonic drive-in hamburger chain.

World trade body's chief urges nations to avert trade war

BERLIN (AP) — The head of the World Trade Organization says the whole international community has a responsibility to reduce tensions and avert a full trade war, which would produce "no winners."

Europe tech firms urge tougher rules to offset US dominance

LONDON (AP) — Music streaming sites Spotify and Deezer are among European tech companies and trade associations calling on EU officials to toughen proposed legislation aimed at combating unfair business practices by U.S. giants like Apple, Google and Amazon.

China official says talks impossible with 'US holding knife'

BEIJING (AP) — China cannot hold talks with Washington on ending their escalating trade dispute while the United States "holds a knife" to Beijing's neck by imposing tariff hikes, a Chinese official said Tuesday.

Michael Kors ups the glamour, buys Versace for $2B

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Kors is buying the Italian fashion house Versace in a deal worth more than $2 billion (1.83 billion euros), continuing its hard charge into the world of high-end fashion.

NATIONAL POLITICS

With newfound aggressiveness, GOP ramps up Kavanaugh fight

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brett Kavanaugh says he won't let "false accusations drive me out of this process" as he, President Donald Trump and top Republicans mount an aggressive drive to rally the public and GOP senators behind his shaky Supreme Court nomination.

Rosenstein's job to be topic of Thursday meeting with Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a long weekend spent wondering if he should resign or would be fired, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein still has his job — for now.


MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
STATEWIDE

Tennessee campuses competing in voter registration drive

MURFREESBORO (AP) — Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett has launched a statewide competition for voter registration at college campuses.

NASHVILLE AREA

Assistant coach collecting shoes, socks for children in Cuba

NASHVILLE (AP) — An assistant coach for women's basketball at Tennessee State University is working to send shoes to children in Cuba.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Mariota comes off bench, Titans beat Jaguars 9-6

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Marcus Mariota just has a knack for beating Jacksonville.

Jaguars 'expressed emotion' after 9-6 loss to rival Titans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars trudged into the locker room one by one, and before coach Doug Marrone started to address the team, a few players chimed in.

UT SPORTS

Tennessee's Pruitt says LB Sapp remains part of team

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt says linebacker Quart'e Sapp remains a part of the team after the coach and linebacker offered conflicting accounts of a sideline incident.

ELECTION 2018

Trump returning to Tennessee for Blackburn Senate fundraiser

JOHNSON CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Monday he is returning to Tennessee for another fundraiser to boost Republican Marsha Blackburn in her tough U.S. Senate race, as well as hold a rally for his supporters.

Finch endorses Blackburn in Tennessee Senate bid

NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn's former GOP opponent for Senate has endorsed her, a change from February when he left the race and urged Republican Sen. Bob Corker to reconsider retiring from the seat that Blackburn is seeking.

Bredesen aims for Senate win by edging away from party

NASHVILLE (AP) — Phil Bredesen is a Democrat. But he'd rather you not mention that. "I need to make clear to everybody my independence from all of the national Democratic stuff," said Bredesen, the former two-term governor of Tennessee who is now running for the U.S. Senate.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Trump mileage rollback under fire at California hearing

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Electric vehicle advocates, environmental groups and California officials blasted the Trump administration's proposal to roll back car-mileage standards at a Monday hearing in a region with some of the nation's worst air pollution.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Global stocks dip on report China calls off US trade talks

NEW YORK (AP) — Global stocks took small losses Monday after China reportedly pulled out of trade talks with the U.S. Industrial companies and banks suffered some of the worst declines among American stocks.

Fed's 3rd hike this year expected despite rising trade risks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is set this week to raise interest rates for a third time this year to prevent the economy from growing too fast. But with President Donald Trump's trade fights posing a risk to the U.S. economy, the Fed may soon be ready to slow its hikes.

Keystone XL developer plans to start construction in 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The developer of the Keystone XL oil pipeline plans to start construction next year, after a U.S. State Department review ordered by a federal judge concluded that major environmental damage from a leak is unlikely and could quickly be mitigated, a company spokesman said Monday.

Brexit backers advocate alternative economic plan

LONDON (AP) — Brexit advocates unveiled Monday a new economic plan for Britain's departure from the European Union as official figures emerged showing the country's increasingly deteriorating trade in goods relationship with the bloc.

Some farmers worry Trump's bailout checks won't be enough

WASHINGTON (AP) — Farmers across the United States will soon begin receiving government checks as part of a billion-dollar bailout to buoy growers experiencing financial strain from President Donald Trump's trade disputes with China.

Why the 'gig' economy may not be the workforce of the future

WASHINGTON (AP) — The "gig" economy might not be the new frontier for America's workforce after all.

SiriusXM presses play on deal with Pandora Media

NEW YORK (AP) — Subscription radio company SiriusXM says it's buying music streaming service Pandora Media Inc. in a deal valued at about $3.5 billion that will allow it to expand its service beyond cars and into mobile devices and homes.

Sky shares rally after Comcast wins bidding war

LONDON (AP) — Shares in Sky plc are up 8.8 percent after Comcast won a bidding war for the British pay TV giant in a weekend auction that pushed the value of the company to almost 30 billion pounds ($39 billion).

NATIONAL POLITICS

Employers giving paid leave getting tax credits in new law

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employers who offer paid family and medical leave to their workers earning up to $72,000 a year can receive tax credits under the new tax law, the government has affirmed.

Rosenstein to meet Trump Thursday as job hangs in balance

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will meet later this week with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the White House said Monday amid indications that Rosenstein was about to lose his job.

Trump no statehood for Puerto Rico with critics in office

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday declared himself an "absolute no" on statehood for Puerto Rico as long as critics such as San Juan's mayor remain in office, the latest broadside in his feud with members of the U.S. territory's leadership.

New accusation rocks Kavanaugh nomination; Trump stands firm

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump staunchly defended his embattled Supreme Court nominee against a new allegation of sexual misconduct Monday, calling the accusations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh "totally political."

Congress set to keep gov't open, delay action on border wall

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is set to pass a crucial spending bill that averts a government shutdown, but there's one potential obstacle: President Donald Trump.

AP FACT CHECK: Trump wrong on judges, 'plummeting' poverty

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the midterm elections draw near, President Donald Trump's tendency to declare his campaign promises fulfilled when they aren't has come into starker relief.


FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Texas man allegedly sent threatening letters to Taylor Swift

NASHVILLE (AP) — A 26-year-old Austin, Texas, man has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly sending threatening letters to pop star Taylor Swift and showing up at her record label in Nashville, Tennessee.

STATEWIDE

Haslam: Tennessee unemployment rate remains low

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials say the state's unemployment rate continues to remain near historic low levels.

1st Tennessee woman elected to full term in Congress dies

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Marilyn Lloyd, the first Tennessee woman elected to a full term in Congress, has died. She was 89.

Tennessee revenues exceed forecasts in August

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials say tax revenues for the first month of the state's fiscal year came in nearly 3 percent higher, or $34.4 million higher than originally projected.

ELECTION 2018

Pence: Bredesen would make Senate Dem center of resistance

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence on Friday told a crowd of conservatives in Tennessee that a win by Democrat Phil Bredesen would help the U.S. Senate become the center of the Democratic resistance.

Dean expresses regret as Lee cancels governor's forum

NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean said Thursday that he's disappointed GOP opponent Bill Lee made a surprise cancellation at a forum where the two were set to appear together, but stopped short of accusing the Republican of actively avoiding him.

Bredesen says Kavanaugh accuser 'credible'

NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen said that the woman accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault "has a very credible story." But he said the Judiciary Committee should consider proceeding with a vote if she does not testify under oath.

COURTS

US appeals court gives expelled lawmaker's lawsuit hope

NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal appeals court is reviving a lawsuit filed by an expelled Tennessee lawmaker seeking to recoup lost lifetime health care and pension benefits.

Tennessee man gets 15-month sentence for postal worker bribe

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Tennessee man who pleaded guilty to bribing a postal worker to deliver a package later found to contain marijuana has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Court: Anti-gay preachers had right to protest outside Pride

NASHVILLE (AP) — The U.S. Court of Appeals says the city of Nashville violated the First Amendment rights of anti-gay preachers at a 2015 LGBT pride festival.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Nissan recalls cars, SUVs due to risk of fire

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan recalled nearly 240,000 cars and SUVs worldwide due to a fire risk and is advising people to park the vehicles outdoors in rare cases.

TECHNOLOGY

AT&T fires back in bid to preserve its deal with Time Warner

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting to defend its $81 billion takeover of Time Warner from a government challenge, AT&T is arguing the Trump Justice Department has failed to show that the merger will raise prices for pay-TV programming and for the consumers who watch it.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Dow hits another all-time high on mixed day for US stocks

Wall Street capped a milestone-setting week Friday with a mixed finish for the major U.S. stock indexes and the second all-time high in two days for the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Rising oil prices haven't hurt the US economy so far

DALLAS (AP) — America's rediscovered prowess in oil production is shaking up old notions about the impact of higher crude prices on the U.S. economy.

UK leader May hits back on Brexit plan; pound falls

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May accused the European Union on Friday of creating an "impasse" in divorce negotiations by bluntly rejecting her blueprint for Brexit, sending the value of the pound falling as worries about a chaotic U.K. exit from the EU soared.

Carolinas farms could take billions in losses from Florence

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Florence is testing the resolve of farmers in the Carolinas, who could face billions of dollars in agricultural damage while still feeling the sting from Hurricane Matthew almost two years ago.

California makes people ask for straws, sodas with kid meals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — If you want a straw with your drink or a soda with a kids' meal at a California restaurant, you'll need to ask for them starting next year.

Will American Airlines bar customers from changing a ticket?

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines is threatening to prohibit customers from making changes to nonrefundable tickets if Congress makes good on a proposal to crack down on unreasonable airline fees.

It's high times for soaring marijuana stocks on Wall Street

NEW YORK (AP) — Reefer Madness has gripped Wall Street.

Buoyant stocks lift US household wealth, mainly for affluent

WASHINGTON (AP) — A rising stock market lifted U.S. household wealth to a record $106.9 trillion in the April-June quarter, the culmination of a decade of economic recovery but a gain that is concentrated largely among the most affluent.

Fox-Comcast battle to buy Sky to be settled by auction in UK

LONDON (AP) — Comcast and 21st Century Fox will settle their battle for control of broadcaster Sky through a rare auction designed to put an end to months of offers and counteroffers from the American media empires seeking a foothold in the European pay TV market.

NATIONAL POLITICS

Rosenstein denies that he proposed secretly taping Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein denied a New York Times report Friday that he floated the idea of using the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump as unfit for office and suggested secretly recording the president to expose the chaos in the administration.

Analysis: Trump upends GOP strategy on assault claim

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump went there.

Trump drops civil tone, slams Kavanaugh accuser credibility

WASHINGTON (AP) — Abandoning his previous restraint, President Donald Trump challenged by name the woman accusing his Supreme Court nominee of sexual assault on Friday, declaring that if the alleged attack was so terrible she would have reported it to law enforcement.

Kremlin slams new US sanctions affecting arms exports

MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin has dismissed the latest round of U.S. sanctions that affected an aircraft-making factory as an "unfair" move to undercut Russia as a major arms exporter.

China 'outraged' by US sanctions over Russian weapons buy

BEIJING (AP) — China said Friday it was "outraged" over U.S. economic sanctions against a Chinese military agency and its director over the purchase of Russian fighter jets and surface-to-air missile equipment, and demanded the U.S. cancel the measure.

Kavanaugh's accuser says she would testify under right terms

WASHINGTON (AP) — Christine Blasey Ford may testify against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after all, her attorney said, breathing new life into the prospect of a dramatic Senate showdown next week over Ford's accusation that he assaulted her when they were in high school.

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen boasts of aiding Mueller investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer says he is providing "critical information" as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and possible coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Trump boosting offensive capabilities in cyber strategy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is warning foreign adversaries that the U.S. is preparing to step up its offensive cyber capabilities as part of a new government-wide strategy.

State-backed hackers target Gmail of US senators, aides

State-backed hackers are still trying to break into the personal email accounts of U.S. senators and their aides — and a lawmaker focused on cybersecurity says the Senate's security office should stop refusing to help defend them.

Trump blasts GOP spending plan that lacks money for wall

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says a spending plan pushed by congressional Republicans is "ridiculous" because funding for a border wall with Mexico that Trump has promised is not included.

GOP pushing forward for Kavanaugh, accuser wants 'fairness'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans say they're forging ahead in their drive to push Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination through the Senate, even as the woman accusing him of a decades-old sexual attack is threatening to boycott a committee hearing and suggesting she's not being treated with "fairness and respect."

Trump delays Russia probe documents; allies voiced concerns

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday delayed his own order to declassify and release documents from the FBI's Russia investigation, saying the Justice Department and U.S. allies have raised security concerns about their disclosure.

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