City of Knoxville: Two westbound lanes of Blount Avenue between Gay Street and Chapman Highway will be closed through September 19 to accommodate demolition work at the former Baptist Hospital site.

Commuters will share the two eastbound lanes, with side-by-side lanes of eastbound and westbound traffic.

JW Demolition, which is doing the South Waterfront site preparation work, applied for the traffic control permit.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2014
Contact: John Crooks
(Office) 865-637-3227 ext. 119 (Cell) 865-223-4513 jcrooks@emeraldcharterschools.org
DR. JON RYSEWYK HIRED AS FOUNDING PRINCIPAL OF EMERALD ACADEMY
Longtime educator to lead Knox County’s first public charter school
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Emerald Charter Schools (ECS) has hired Dr. Jon Rysewyk as the founding principal of Emerald Academy, a college-prep public school of choice for urban youth. Rysewyk, following a thorough process, was the unanimous choice of Emerald Charter Schools’ nine-member board of directors.

Martin Daniel is running in the Republican primary against incumbent Steve Hall for 18th District Tennessee House. Apparently, Hall sent out a mailer attacking Daniel for donating to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat.

In response, Daniel said "sometimes, campaign contributions go beyond politics," noting that his son has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and that Rep. Cohen had helped by sponsoring the MD Care Act which provides funding in the fight against Muscular Dystrophy. Mr. Daniel's full statement after the break...

U.S. Senate candidates Terry Adams and Gordon Ball appeared onstage together last week at a candidate forum in Bolivar, a small town in lower West Tennessee. During the forum, Adams criticized Ball for his past support of Republicans, including Haslam and Alexander. Ball responded by saying he had "made some mistakes," and went on to apologize and explain his position.

You can watch the exchange right here...

SL Tennessee announced 1,000 new auto parts manufacturing jobs as part of a $80.5 million expansion in the Clinton I-75 Industrial Park in Clinton. It could be the largest expansion of industrial employment in Anderson County since World War II.

Nice!

"The Tennessee State democratic Executive Committee is the governing body of Tennessee Democratic Party (TNDP). As such, we are by definition a support group that helps elect Democrats throughout Tennessee. I am proud to have the opportunity to donate my time, energy and money to the TNDP. I have done so consistently for many years.

One of the responsibilities and expectations of Executive Committee Members is donating money. Sylvia and (the late) Harold Woods have been consistent donors. Committeewoman Gayle Alley has been a consistent donor. Contributing $ is part of the job of a Committee Member

Mr. Harmon's complaint reminds one of the story when someone shouted, "Give 'um Hell, Harry." at President Harry Truman. He replied, "I just tell the truth and they think it's Hell."

Mr. Harmon has spent the entire campaign bragging about bringing "resources" to candidates. But the reality is he has never given any money-or any other visible resource- to the Tennessee Democratic Party. Yes, I guess the truth hurts his campaign, but elections are about choices and to date Mr. Harmon had chosen to be "Missing in Action" when it comes to contributing to Tennessee Democratic Nominees except in rare instances.

In my campaign I have stressed the need to help elect Democrats at the County, State and National levels. I've talked about the need for Tennessee to expand Medicaid. I've promoted the entire Democratic ticket. It's the same thing I've done for many years. I will continue to do so."

We went with some friends to see Leon Russell at the Shed again last night. Another outstanding performance. The show had been postponed from May along with a bunch of other scheduled appearances, not sure why. There was some kind of biker rally in the area and there were a lot more bikers and a much bigger crowd than last time. It was still a laid back fun vibe at the Shed and their staff is the best.

A couple of video clips that might render on your browser after the break...

I continue to run an upbeat and positive campaign for State Democratic Executive Committee. Recently, however, my opponent Bill Owen sent a negative mailing, dwelling on comparing campaign donations. Apparently he thinks that this party position is all about money. Here is a link to my video reply.

A Reply to Mud

PS It is a shame Bill has chosen to go negative, but because he chose to emphasize donations I went online and found the following at Open Secrets.org federal campaign finance records. These clearly raise items worthy of our attention:

OWEN, WILLIAM S, KNOXVILLE, TN ASSET & EQUITY LLC/Consultant

11/17/98 $750 McCain, John (R)
9/23/03 $2,000 National Republican Senatorial Cmte (R)
3/9/00 $1,000 Thomas, Bill (R)
2/24/99 $1,000 McCain, John (R)
10/17/95 $1,000 Quillen, James H (R)

                Contributions        Candidate       Total       Total        Cash  
            Individual  Candidate        Loans    Receipts    Spending     on hand
Adams          $80,758         $0       $8,100     $88,858     $78,454     $10,507
Ball           $38,100    $28,941     $209,161    $276,203    $268,023      $8,179
Alexander*  $4,095,873     $5,200     $665,000  $6,180,688  $5,173,937  $2,194,021
Carr        $1,055,365         $0           $0  $1,283,105    $799,900    $442,221
Flinn           $7,000         $0   $1,805,250  $1,812,250    $146,331  $1,665,918 

Notes: Total receipts include committee transfers (PACS, party, etc.) and "other" receipts in addition to individual and candidate contributions and candidate loans. Alexander's totals include his Pre-Primary report filed on 7/24. Click here for bigger...

                Contributions        Candidate       Total       Total        Cash  
            Individual  Candidate        Loans    Receipts    Spending     on hand
Adams          $80,758         $0       $8,100     $88,858     $78,454     $10,507
Ball           $38,100    $28,941     $209,161    $276,203    $268,023      $8,179
Alexander*  $4,095,873     $5,200     $665,000  $6,180,688  $5,173,937  $2,194,021
Carr        $1,055,365         $0           $0  $1,283,105    $799,900    $442,221
Flinn           $7,000         $0   $1,805,250  $1,812,250    $146,331  $1,665,918 

From Reuters via Yahoo …

The law, often called Obamacare, requires insurance companies to refund customers when they spend less than 80 percent or 85 percent of healthcare premiums they collect for medical care.

The rebates will go to about 6.8 million people and have a value of about $80 per family.

U.S. health insurers to pay $330 million in premium rebates

The Federal Election Commission put U.S. Senate candidate Gordon Ball's campaign on notice Tuesday for not filing a campaign finance disclosure for the second quarter. The disclosure was due July 15th. In a letter to the campaign, the FEC said:

It has come to the attention of the Federal Election Commission that you may have failed to file the above referenced report of receipts and disbursements as required by the Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended.

In addition, the failure to timely file this report may result in civil money penalties, an audit or other legal enforcement action. The civil money penalty calculation for late reports does not include a grace period and begins on the day following the due date for the report.

As noted in comments earlier, Senate candidate reports are sent to the Secretary of the Senate. Olivia Farrow from the FEC Public Records Office said in an email that "Senate reports are usually sent to the FEC from the Secretary of the Senate within a day, and are posted on the FEC website within 48 hours." According to the notice, the campaign has four business days from the date of notification to comply.

SEE ALSO: FEC notice...

UPDATE: Ball's summary info was posted on the FEC website overnight. It shows $28,637 in individual contributions, $28,941 in candidate contributions, $209,161 in candidate loans, $268,023 in total disbursements and $8,179 cash on hand as of 6/30.

Detailed lists of contributors and disbursements have not yet been posted, nor have copies of documents received from the Senate secretary showing when they were received.

I've talked about this before specifically in the Campfield race, but I look at it from a broader point of view in today's column. Along the way, I give a shout out to White's Creek.

Rumor has it the paywall is down because of the new website, so check it out.

In order to "remain in full compliance with state law regarding access to Neyland Drive," Boomsday will now be a mostly free event with Neyland Drive viewing areas open to the public.

Organizers had previously announced that there would be a $20 admission fee, but that plan has been dropped.

There is still a $20 admission fee for the Rodney Atkins concert, which has been moved to the Thompson Boling Arena as an "after party." The Black Lillies have apparently canceled. All other previously announced concerts will now be free.

More in the press release after the break...

From NBC News ...

A new study suggests that “Stop-Start” technology — which shuts an engine off, rather than idling — can reduce fuel consumption by 5 percent to 7 percent. And it achieves a similar reduction in the production of global-warming CO2 emissions, according to research by the AAA. “Up to 7 percent improved fuel economy can mean a $179 annual fuel savings for consumers,”

Stop-Start Vehicle Technology Saves Gas: Study

Through the first six days of early voting, 13,273 votes have been cast. More than half of the early votes were at Downtown West (3987) and Farragut (2720).

In the party primaries, Republican votes (11,595) are nearly five to one v. Democrats (2394). Early voting for the Aug. 7th county general and state primary elections continues through Saturday, Aug. 2nd.

Early voting locations and schedules...

Sample ballot...

Many of you may have missed last weekend's Front Page Follies. So here are some snippets of lyrics for your enjoyment.

From They Call the Wind Mariah;
Messiah! Messiah! They called the kid Messiah...

From O Danny Boy:
Go Donnie Ball. The fans, the fans are cheering. From nosebleed seats, to skyboxes so fine...

From Karma Chameleon, Bill Haslam done as Boy George:
Guv-a Guv-a Guv-a Guv-a Guv-a Chameleon. I come and go. I come and go. Wish that I was bolder like the colors in Pilot's logo, red, black, and gold. Red, black, and gold.

From American Pie
Bye-bye, UT band leader guy.
You can stay on as professor but you can't lead The Pride.
Sports gold old boys pushed band music aside
For more trendy tunes that are amplified, trendy tunes that are amplified...

From I Am Woman
I'm R. Larry hear me roar.
My gaffes just too big to ignore.
And I've kind of, sort of, half apologized...

We had a great crowd, really good singing, and many other great song parodies--and raised a good chunk of change for journalism scholarships.

a.k.a. adaptive reuse of failed strip retail, tamarac, florida

The latest round of wingnuttery comes by way of Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) and Campfield's west end doppelganger Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown), who are asking the state's Attorney General to sue President Obama to stop him from giving away money to Tennessee residents for health insurance premium subsidies because FREEDOM!

Tom Humphrey has the particulars.

I really hope Tennessee Republicans keep this up until the November elections. Denying health care to hundreds of thousands of otherwise Medicaid eligible citizens and doubling down by taking money out of the pockets of hard working taxpayers trying to provide health insurance for their families will not be a winning strategy. If anyone's paying attention, that is.

What a surprise: Despite its flotilla of high-dollar lobbyists, the support of the governor and practically all the usual "Private enterprise does it better" suspects, K-12 Inc is a failure.

(link...)