A language teacher at Heyer Elementary School in Waukesha, Wisconsin has called out her school’s administration after saying that they vetoed the inclusion of a pair of rainbow-themed songs in the spring concert. “My first graders were so excited to sing ‘Rainbowland’ for our spring concert but it has been vetoed by our administration. When will it end?,” she tweeted last week along with hashtags for the school system, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus...
Pot of gold
Noah's ark
Rainbow bridge
Somewhere over the rainbow...
"Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?"
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Three children and three staff members were gunned down at a private Christian school in Tennessee on Monday before the shooter was killed by police, authorities said.
She had two assault style rifles and a hand gun. Waahoo! We need to own assault style rifles WHY? To protect ourselves from school kids and teachers?
Just under a year ago......
Tennessee gov: No restricting firearms after mass shootings
Whatta ya gonna do? For some reason gun nuts rule.
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Crews are tearing down decades of history from Cumberland Avenue to the Smoky Mountain Market and Naples Italian Restaurant
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The Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill to allow 18-year-olds to carry handguns without a permit?!?!?! Although, they decided not to include long guns.
“It’s for self-defense. That’s not a right we’re given. It’s a right we have,” Sen. John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) said. “We’re given it by God alone.”
...
"At the same time as it moves forward, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti negotiated a deal with a far-right gun rights group in California after the group pressed a lawsuit against the state."
So, the Attorney General thinks he will lose a case so he decides to settle while not caring about the remaining citizens of the state?
It seems like it is time to step up and protest the ridiculous changes taking over parts of our country, e.g. anti-abortion, pro gun, anti trans, etc. But, we have to be afraid of getting shot by bumbling idiots that believe they are protecting their freedoms. Do they not understand they are going backwards? We must protect our Democracy. But how? When liars lie and get away with it, what can be done? When an entire news network promotes the lies for profit, what can be done?
Sheesh.
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I was at Foothills Mall yesterday during a career fair. I've never attended a career fair. What's the deal? There were about 30 booths where employers were there to attract employees, I guess.
I saw KUB, University of Tennessee maintenance, Arconic, Blackberry Farm, NHC (assisted living), LHC, I think (home health contractor), Newell Rubbermaid, and more.
Amazon was there with about 10 people in line. They are theoretically opening a warehouse in Alcoa/Rockford. Haven’t heard anything definitive locally, but the representative said early fall. I asked how they could be hiring after laying off around 27,000 employees in 2023. He said they are different kinds of jobs. They were pretty much handing out business cards with information on how to go online and apply for employment.
Smith & Wesson was there as well. There is a sign at the mall entrance stating no firearms allowed. Heh. They have a new facility going up in Alcoa/Maryville. There were about 200 people in line. Some of them looked like they came straight from working in the fields and a few wore suits. I heard a representative say they were currently looking for manufacturing employees, not administrative. They too were pretty much telling people how to go online and apply.
I've read that it is beneficial to attend career fairs. Hopefully, some of the other employers gave better expectations to those looking for employment. If nothing else, maybe they provided potential pay rates and benefits and that there are real jobs available.
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The City Council will discuss whether to increase the contract price of building a "Real Time Information Center" at the Public Safety Complex. The center would allow the Knoxville Police Department to watch 15 cameras around the city in real time.
The cameras are expected to cover the Market Square area, the Old City and the areas around shelters on West Broadway.
Knoxville City Council to vote on $1 million for Real Time Information Center
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Why was this proposed?: Parker told Knox News the 90-day period is needed to allow the council enough time to review the South Waterfront's form-based code and potentially make changes. Those changes would "ensure future developments along the South Waterfront align with the legislative intent of the code," she said.
Construction is booming on the South Waterfront. There's a call to pause the building rush
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The first day of spring was yesterday, Monday, March 20, 2023, at 5:24 p.m. EDT. The vernal equinox marks the turning point when daylight begins to win out over darkness.
The flowers and trees are budding out. The Daffodils have been beautiful this year. The Red Buds are in full bloom. Here's to hoping a Spring frost does not damage the new buds.
It will be warmer this week. Enjoy!
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It has been 3 years since the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic changed our lives. Many of us are still changed and many may never be the same.
Some of the results can be based on where you live and your political beliefs. In fact, political beliefs are still influencing some people on how they want to respond to pandemics.
Currently ongoing in Sarasota, FL, their are right wing MAGAs trying to punish a hospital for treating COVID patients with respect, good medical methods, and science.
"Some people insinuated Sarasota's public hospital prescribed certain medications for "kickbacks" from the pharmaceutical companies."Others touted "alternative treatments" for COVID like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. Both have been deemed at best ineffective in COVID treatment by medical studies." ... "Michael Flynn, former national security advisor to President Donald Trump and now a Sarasota County resident..."
Tennessee is 7th highest in deaths per 100,000 residents from COVID-19.
If many of you remember, when the pandemic first started, we went through lots of iterations of safety practices to prevent getting COVID-19, e.g disinfecting groceries, leaving mail outside for a few days, stopping paper newspapers, discontinuing any gatherings. The Washington Post has a piece where they interviewed some medical experts to see how they are handling their response to COVID-19 today. Most of them still mask when in public. The majority now eat in at restaurants, but several would prefer patio dining. Several ask for testing if having visitors. Vaccinations are critical to overcoming the pandemic and leading a normal life. "Does life feel back to normal for you?" "Covid has changed what normal is."
Does life feel back to normal for you? Not for me. I don't know if it ever will. One reason, I am over 65. The majority of deaths are of the over 65.
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"The Senate Republican Caucus will hold a vote of no confidence in Lt. Gov. Randy McNally Monday..."
...
"The race to replace McNally heated up over the weekend when the Tennessee Firearms Association endorsed Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, as the next lieutenant governor. "
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Lady Vols basketball (4)
NCAA tournament- 1st round
Playing Saint Louis Billikens (13 )
ABC TV
1 pm
Men's Vol basketball (20)
NCAA tournament-2nd round
Playing Duke Blue Devils (12)
CBS TV
2:40 pm
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To do this, we analyzed and compared data across the following metrics: federal share of state government revenue, ratio of federal funding to income taxes paid, percentage of workers employed by the federal government and ratio of median earnings for federal workers to median earnings for private workers.
States Most Dependent on the Federal Government – 2022 Edition
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"Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton said he plans to introduce legislation that would do away with federal funding for the state’s education system."
...
"The state receives $1.8 billion in funding from the U.S. Department of Education."
He wants to replace it with state tax dollars. It would appear he really, really doesn't want federal standardized testing.
He declared his "his desire to “do things the Tennessee way,”
Heh. Hmmm... Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's way?
"The lion’s share of federal education funding goes to schools that serve disadvantaged students. And there are other programs and grants funded through the U.S. Department of Education that target certain needs ranging from rural education and English language learners to technology and charter schools. There’s also a variety of federal school grants that go through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide free meals to qualifying students.
“This funding lifts up underserved students and rural schools and ensures every kid gets warm meals during the school year..."
Alas. Where did we go wrong?
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If you have read any of the stories about women who have lost access to abortion, you should be crying. These women and their doctors are suffering. The women are suffering because they can't get the healthcare they need. The doctors because they can't provide needed healthcare.
Some state governments are making it impossible to receive and give the necessary healthcare during pregnancies.
One woman became septic.
One woman had to leave the state (Texas) to save one of two twins.
"If a pregnant patient is experiencing renal failure, does she have to be on dialysis before a physician may perform an abortion that would otherwise be prohibited by the Ban? If a pregnant patient has a cardiac lesion, does a physician have to wait until she experiences heart failure to intervene? If a pregnant patient has a clogged blood vessel, does a physician have to wait until she experiences chest pain before terminating the pregnancy to prevent pulmonary embolism?”"
Man sues women who help his wife get abortion-inducing medication. Two months before obtaining the medication she filed for divorce. "The lawsuit alleges that assisting a self-managed abortion qualifies as murder under state law..."
Tennessee legislature discussing loosening abortion laws. Currently, "the burden is on the physician to prove that an abortion was medically necessary, instead of requiring the state to prove the opposite." "...a Republican-controlled panel advanced legislation removing the “affirmative defense” element and clarifying situations where abortion is allowed, including adding ectopic pregnancies, “medically futile pregnancies” and lethal fetal anomalies. There is no exception for rape and incest."
For a party that continues to preach less government, they sure do like to use government to control women or anything that they want.
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According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security from February 2022 to January 2023 a crash that involved a distracted driver occurred nearly every 25 minutes.
Bill cracking down on distracted driving may be too severe, some say
My impression is the hands free Distracted driving law isn't enforced much, if any.
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The new rule intends to set drinking water standards for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” PFAS are a family of ubiquitous synthetic chemicals that linger in the environment and the human body, where they can cause serious health problems.
The proposal would regulate two chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion (ppt). For PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and GenX chemicals, the EPA proposes not one standard for each but a limit for a mix of them.
EPA proposes first standards to make drinking water safer from ‘forever chemicals’
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I'm back writing columns. Hope you enjoy this one.
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Saw this sign off Sparks Lane while up in Cades Cove a couple of weeks ago.
WARNING
This water temporarily does not meet water quality standards for bacteria. To prevent illness, avoid swallowing water and wash hands thoroughly before eating.
WATER CONTACT DISCOURAGED.
Maybe the contamination is from the horses?
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Hancen Sale posted some data surrounding home prices and showed that the median listing price in the U.S. dropped starting mid-2022 until around the start of 2023. During that time, he said the median price of a Knoxville home rose, passing $450,000, according to an analysis by KAAR of data from realtor.com.
He said that as of February 2023, the city's listing price was around $42,000 higher than the U.S. average.
Knoxville median home prices exceed national median prices for first time
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Discussing:
- Nashville christian school shooting (2 replies)
- Wrecking ball blues: Knoxville landmarks are coming down (1 reply)
- Are career fairs beneficial? (1 reply)
- Construction is booming on the South Waterfront. There's a call to pause the building rush (3 replies)
- Tennessee Vol basketball today - 2 Wins! (3 replies)
- McNally vote of no confidence? (1 reply)
- States Most Dependent on the Federal Government – 2022 Edition (1 reply)
- Women are losing essential healthcare (2 replies)
- Contaminated stream in the Smokys (3 replies)
- Group identifies East TN roads with most crashes (2 replies)
- New downtown stadium pricetag is $114M; Boyd to cover extra costs (3 replies)
- Country-Punk band performs in drag in Maryville (1 reply)
TN Progressive
- Man shoots self while at Maryville gun range (BlountViews)
- Guess What is BANNED FROM TRUMP RALLY IN WACO? (RoaneViews)
- How to Republican (RoaneViews)
- So there! (RoaneViews)
- Not Only Is Trump Still Not in Jail But: Pennsylvania chocolate plant blast kills 2, leaves 9 missing (RoaneViews)
- Blount County Covid-19 update as of 3/4/2023 (BlountViews)
- Blount County Democrats to elect new leaders on 3/12/2023 (BlountViews)
- Alcoa Schools close for teacher shortages (BlountViews)
- Fall 2022 (Whitescreek Journal)
- Mmmm, A Fresh Hot Cup of Joe (Joe Powell)
- You asked for it and you are going to GET IT, Part 3 - State and Federal Democratic Primaries (Left Wing Cracker)
- You asked for it and you are going to GET IT, part 2 - Judgeships! (Left Wing Cracker)
TN Politics
- Metro Police chief backed secure gun bill before Nashville shooting incident (TN Lookout)
- Updates on Nashville school shooting: police investigation continues as city mourns (TN Lookout)
- A grim theory on how we get gun safety laws (TN Lookout)
- House, Senate cancel floor calendars following fatal school shooting in Nashville (TN Journal)
- 3 kids, 3 adults killed in shooting at Nashville private elementary school (TN Lookout)
- Hume-Fogg HS parent organization asks GOP lawmakers to kill Tootsie’s-backed beer board bill (TN Lookout)
- What is going on at Metro Nashville’s homeless division? (TN Lookout)
- New TNJ edition alert: Confidence in McNally, Kelsey’s about-face, abortion and toll lane bills (TN Journal)
- Kansas City attorney sues over Tennessee professional privilege tax (TN Journal)
- Major League Baseball lobbies up in Nashville (TN Journal)
- Kelsey wants to take back guilty plea made with ‘unsure heart and confused mind’ (TN Journal)
- New TNJ edition alert: McNally succession moves, abortion exceptions, and the Slashville challenge (TN Journal)
Knox TN Today
- WW2 soldier grew up in Dempster-Francis House (Knox TN Today)
- All Heart Gunner ~ A Beautiful Son ~ A Beautiful Mission (Knox TN Today)
- Stormwater project underway at Collier Preserve (Knox TN Today)
- Another one bites the dust – literally! (Knox TN Today)
- Adopt a tree: Honor a loved one (Knox TN Today)
- Community Spring Fling is Thursday (Knox TN Today)
- Greylan James signs with Big Machine Label (Knox TN Today)
- Millie Norris ‘best all around’ (Knox TN Today)
- Just the facts, ma’am: 25-11, 11-7 (Knox TN Today)
- KPD’s Seth Blaine: Big on community policing (Knox TN Today)
- Stitch happens! (Knox TN Today)
- Collake joins Covenant Health as VP (Knox TN Today)
Local TV News
- THP: Two kids severely injured in Loudon Co. crash, driver facing DUI charges (WBIR)
- ORNL-led scientists design molecule to disrupt infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 (WATE)
- Crime Stoppers recommends 'Run, Hide, Fight' tactic in active assailant situations (WATE)
- Where to find a livestream of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon (WATE)
- Find roads impacted by Knoxville Marathon, Big Ears Festival (WATE)
- TWRA requesting public comment on 2023-24 hunting season regulations (WATE)
- LIVE BLOG: Suspects Deondre Davis and Rashan Jordan on trial for 2021 murder (WATE)
- WATCH LIVE | Davis-Jordan trial: Jury to begin hearing murder evidence Tuesday against Knoxville teens (WBIR)
- Hanging Mary the elephant: TN town wrestles with legacy of circus animal's death (WBIR)
- Wrecking ball blues: Knoxville landmarks are coming down (WBIR)
- 'Being a mentor changed my life' | Big and little brother celebrate a decade of friendship (WBIR)
- Out of this world: Knoxville man to pilot private space mission (WBIR)
News Sentinel
- Nashville school shooting updates: Suspect legally purchased 7 guns, was under doctor care (KNS News)
- How to help those affected by the Covenant School shooting in Nashville (KNS News)
- A timeline of Covenant School shooting in Nashville: What we know (KNS News)
- A tweet prompted Nashville church to provide sanctuary in wake of school shooting (KNS News)
- Police release body camera, surveillance footage of Covenant School shooting (KNS News)
- 'Truly horrific': Nashville mourns after mass shooting at elementary school (KNS News)
- Progressives are selective in their silence over books banned by schools | George Korda (KNS Opinion)
- Before Buc-ee's opens in Sevierville, it needs staff. Here's how you can apply for a job (KNS Business)
- Why UT Knoxville students picked up 8,000 pounds of litter – they're just getting started (KNS News)
- The original Copper Cellar is now in the hands of Cumberland student housing developers (KNS Business)
- Knox County keeps losing your tax dollars in fight against special-needs children | Ashe (KNS Opinion)
- Women lack access to basic addiction treatment and recovery support services | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- 50 years after the Vietnam War ended, its veterans deserve our gratitude | Opinion (KNS Opinion)
- Dempster Mansion in Fountain City for sale (KNS Business)
State News
- Nashville school shooting updates: Suspect legally purchased 7 guns, was under doctor care (Commercial Appeal)
- Owners of Poplar Plaza implored Halbert for months to sign letter for new location, emails show (Commercial Appeal)
- Nashville school shooting updates: Suspect legally purchased 7 guns, was under doctor care (Tennessean)
- Who are the Nashville officers who killed the Covenant School shooting suspect? (Tennessean)
- Planning effort taking on Hamilton County growth - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Channel 4 reporter 'immediately was taken back' to school shooting she witnessed in 2010 (Tennessean)
- Citywide vigil to honor victims of Covenant School shooting in Nashville (Tennessean)
- Memphis basketball mailbag: Mikey Williams' role, Malcolm Dandridge's future and the new AAC (Commercial Appeal)
- The best brunch in Memphis: Here are 10 spots brunch lovers shouldn't miss (Commercial Appeal)
- Joyce Downer Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Ruth Keener Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
- Carol Calvert Obituary - Chattanooga Times Free Press (Times Free Press)
Local .GOV
- It's a Camporee on the Hill (Knox County)
- Adult Social Tennis League Returns! (Knox County)
- Register for Adult Softball Super Season! (Knox County)
- KCHD Releases the 2022 Annual Report (Knox County)
- Applications are open for KCHD?s Youth Health Board (Knox County)
- Free Two-Part Heart Health Series (Knox County)
Wire Reports
- Fire at migrant center near U.S.-Mexico border kills at least 39 - NBC News (US News)
- Court Reinstates Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction in 'Serial' Case and Orders New Hearing - The New York Times (US News)
- Nashville school shooting: Shooter bought 7 firearms legally from 5 stores, police chief says - CBS News (US News)
- Republican congressman says ‘we’re not going to fix’ school shootings - The Guardian US (US News)
- Former CFTC Chairman: Regulator's Lawsuit Against Binance 'Is a Big Deal' - CoinDesk (Business)
- Fed's Barr sees 'need' for stronger regulation of regional banks after SVB - Yahoo Finance (Business)
- Sam Bankman-Fried accused of sending a $40 million crypto bribe to Chinese officials - The Verge (Business)
- Debt ceiling impasse: McCarthy presses Biden to negotiate - ABC News (US News)
- 'It's a powerful effect': Austin fires back at GOP senator's blockade of military promotions - POLITICO (US News)
- Apple Pay Later is finally available in the US, but only with an invite - Engadget (Business)
- Pepsi has a new logo - CNN (Business)
- Aide to Sen. Rand Paul is recovering after an assault in Washington, D.C. - NPR (US News)
- US home prices fell in January for seventh straight month - Fox Business (Business)
- Bob Chapek’s Metaverse Division Cut in Disney Layoffs - Hollywood Reporter (Business)
- Fishermen plead guilty to charges in tournament cheating scandal - Fox News (US News)
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