^{Ear to the Ground.  Memphis to Mountain City .}

^{A Daily News Compilation by Farris Mathews Bobango Public Strategies, LLC}

^{Historic Caster-Knott Building -}

618 Church Street, Suite 300 - Nashville , Tennessee 37219

- (615) 726-1200

 

October 1, 2009

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TENNESSEAN

 

Nashville area schools probably won't close for flu

Sanchez- Children account for most of the patients in the emergency room and clinics who have flu-like illnesses.

 

Vanderbilt gets $66.5M in stimulus research grants

Ward- The National Institutes of Health has awarded $5 billion in grants to fund medical research and create jobs as part of the Obama administration's economic stimulus program.

 

New jobless claims rise more than expected to 551,000

WASHINGTON -- First-time claims for jobless benefits increased more than expected last week, a sign employers are reluctant to hire and the job market remains weak.

 

Consumer spending jumps 1.3% in August

WASHINGTON -- Consumer spending, propelled by the wildly popular Cash for Clunkers auto sales program, shot up in August by the largest amount in nearly eight years even though personal incomes continued to lag.

 

NASHVILLE SCENE

 

Ethics cloud hangs over squeaky clean Yarbro

Woods- He's young, energetic and squeaky clean. Just look at that baby face! He contrasts perfectly with that slightly befuddled, old white-haired dude, Douglas Henry, right? At least that's what they're saying.

 

NASHVILLE POST

 

No cutting: Jason Holleman endorses Doug Henry over Yarbo

Kleinheider- The Councilman lists the accomplishments of the state Senator from Belle Meade in a letter to friends:

 

Corker: France and Canada have parasitic relationship with US

Kleinheider- During a hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, the Tennessee Republican told Canada ’s former Public Health Minister, Dr. Carolyn Bennett, that her country is “living off of us” because they set lower prices for health care and “all the innovation, all the technology breakthroughs just about take place in our country and we have to pay for it.”

 

Penske pulls Saturn's plug

Lombaerde- After his deal with General Motors didn’t pass muster with the unnamed company that would have taken over manufacturing operations, Roger Penske has cancelled his planned purchase of Saturn. Without the assurance of someone to take over production, “the risks and uncertainties related to the availability of future products prohibit the company from moving forward.”

 

CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE PRESS

 

Frist backs limited requirement to purchase health insurance

Sher- NASHVILLE — Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s endorsement of a limited individual insurance mandate as part of health care reform isn’t going down well with some conservatives.

 

KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

 

School board member Bill Phillips admits signing for wife, treasurer

Hickman- Just as election commissioners approved Wednesday a citizen group’s recall petition against Knox County school board member Bill Phillips, the petitioners attacked him on a second front with allegations that he forged signatures on his most recent campaign financial disclosure statement.

 

Leadbetter going for Burchett's Senate seat

Vines- Ron Leadbetter, retired associate general counsel at the University of Tennessee , has decided to seek the Republican nomination for the state Senate seat being vacated by Tim Burchett in what will be a rematch with state Rep. Stacey Campfield next year, Leadbetter said Wednesday.

 

COMMERCIAL APPEAL

 

Pay for some temporary city employees under scrutiny

Maki- The administration of Memphis Mayor Pro Tem Myron Lowery is reviewing what it considers exorbitant pay rates for some temporary city workers.

 

Council delays decision on school tax during election

Roberts- To prevent political "posturing" so close to the mayoral election, the City Council has decided to delay voting on how much it will raise taxes to fund its share of the city schools bill.

 

Herenton, Cohen agree to July debate

Sullivan- WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON -- Former Mayor Willie Herenton and incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen have agreed to at least one televised debate next July, both said Wednesday.

 

City-county school funding panel not done

Connolly- Members of a special committee on school funding met for eight months of grueling debate before wrapping up work in June, but now County Commissioner Mike Ritz is seeking to bring the committee back to life to discuss his plan.

 

A good time to move on for City Atty. Elbert Jefferson

Accused of spending public funds inappropriately, City Atty. Elbert Jefferson finds himself today with a chance to save the public some money. All he has to do is quit his job.

 

Wharton: The rest of the story

I have to agree with what you wrote in your Sept. 29 endorsement of A C Wharton for mayor as it is the positive side of his qualifications. But there are too many questions that your paper has brought to my attention that you did not address in your endorsement.

 

MEMPHIS FLYER

 

Rope-a-dope

Baker- The polls say now, as they said three months ago, as the conventional wisdom said six months, a year, two years ago, that A C Wharton, the well-liked Shelby County mayor, is a cinch to be the next elected mayor of Memphis .

 

MULTICHANNEL NEWS

 

Cox boosts bandwidth caps

Spangler- Cox Communications has increased the maximum data-usage limits for broadband customers, including more than doubling the limit for its popular Preferred package to 200 Gigabytes per month.

 

Former FCC Chairman Martin lands at D.C. law firm

Eggerton- Former FCC chairman Kevin Martin has landed a new gig.

 

 

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