The federally protected right for women to choose to have an abortion is facing the greatest threat to its continued existence since it was implemented in 1973. History shows that women's rights to the autonomy of their bodies and their right to privacy is fundamental to women's progress. States are attempting to do an end run around the federal government by passing anti-choice legislation in lieu of expectant Supreme Court decisions regarding federal protections for women. According to the Feminist Majority, nine states may have anti-abortion measures on the ballot this November. These so-called "personhood initiatives" threaten not only abortion, but also certain methods of birth control.

Today's News-Sentinel has a great editorial on three bills that are pending in the state legislature.

One of the bills, Sentate bill SB4119 and House bill HB4185, is not so good. It tries to remove protection from wetlands and "ephemeral streams" that are often the headwaters of rivers in mountainous areas, and also removes the protections from adjacent lands. Wetlands serve as a habitat for aquatic life and protect surrounding areas from flooding, and they provide a filtration system for surface waters. If these wet weather streams are polluted, they carry the pollutants to other water bodies and contaminate them as well.

The other two bills, "Stop Work Orders Bill" (HB3521 and SB3651) and "Green Design Incentives Bill" (HB3965 and SB3956), provide the "carrot and the stick" tools for cities and counties to protect their water resources.

We have an obligation to our children and grandchildren to protect our clean water resources, and I'm so glad to see the News-Sentinel take a stand on this important legislation.

Contact your legislators and let them know you oppose SB4119 and HB4185 and that you support HB3521 and SB3651 and HB3965 and SB3956.

sen.tim.burchett@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.bill.dunn@legislature.state.tn.us
sen.jamie.woodson@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.harry.tindell@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.park.strader@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.joe.armstrong@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.frank.niceley@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.stacey.campfield@legislature.state.tn.us
rep.harry.brooks@legislature.state.tn.us

I'm excited that Sundown is back soon, but one thing, I wish they would do away with the yellow shirt cops. I don't mind to have a guy look through my purse to get on a plane, but for a concert that went on for 9 years without incident without them, I find it violating, and frustrating that I can't bring a bottle of water. I also wish the Wailers were coming this year, they're my favorite Sundown band, but Tedeschi puts on a great show. If you haven't seen tomorrow's MP yet the list is there.

Wake Up Walmart has released its first video of 2008. Walmart is a key issue for progressives to focus on- because of their awful health care benefits, Tennessee citizens are estimated to be paying $44,223,375 a year in taxes to cover poor Walmart employees and their families with health care- while Walmart is making huge profits.

Please check out this video, and let your friends know why we need to "Wake Up Walmart".

Knox public defender's office asks court to stop sending clients

Knox County Public Defender Mark Stephens filed a petition today asking that the General Sessions Court stop assigning his attorneys to defend people accused of misdemeanors.

Stephens for months has detailed concerns that his staff cannot handle a burgeoning caseload.

According to the article, the PD's office has 22 lawyers plus Stephens. Is that average for a community this size, or is there a lot of crime?

According to the AP, an Oklahoma man was declared brain dead and was about to have his organs removed, only to be saved by family members after he showed reactions to touch while paying their last respects. This sounds like the making of a horror story. How many thousands, after being declared brain dead, have gone under the knife and had their organs plucked from their bodies, while alert enough of their situation to know it, but unable to convey their horror externally.

Five Points to get energy-efficient homes

"Housing is not affordable if just the mortgage is affordable," said Madeline Rogero, director of the city's Community Development Division. "You have to look at the utility bills."

Good for the Knox Housing Partnership. This should be the standard for all publicly funded affordable housing development.

Lots of geeky scientific details.... (Link...)

Some initial notes:

1. 1997 standard not adequate to protect public health, based on > 1700 studies. Clinical studies show evidence of adverse respiratory response in HEALTHY adults at old standard (80 ppb).
2. First evidence linking high ozone to mortality (deaths) in sensitive popultions
3. High ozone also reduces crop yields and increases susceptibility to disease and insects (e.g., threatens our food production)

D.B. Cooper's parachute possibly found

Summitt Is First to Win 100 Tourney Games

The [78-52 win over Perdue] not only sent top-seeded Tennessee to its annual regional semifinal appearance, but also made Summitt the first coach in Division I basketball history — men's or women's — to record 100 wins in the tournament.

The Democratic Party of Knox County
Invites You to the Political Event of the Year
2008 EAST TENNESSEE TRUMAN DAY DINNER
“An Evening With James Carville”

6:00 p.m. May 15, 2008
Knoxville Convention Center

$1000 Premium Tables
$600 Regular Tables
$60 Individual Tickets

Tables and Tickets are on sale now.

Make checks payable to "Democratic Party of Knox County" and mail them to:

Truman Day
8737 Brucewood Lane
Knoxville, TN 37923

Contact Info:

Judith Mallory, Event Coordinator
Telephone: 865-694-7075

Don Daugherty, Chairman
Telephone: 865-525-7028

According to the KNS, a Knox Co. IDB committee recommends turning down two TIF proposals:

Todd Napier of the Development Corporation of Knox County questioned whether the project would generate new sales or simply redistribute spending.

"To say there's new sales tax revenue is a bit of a guess, and in our estimation it's not very likely unless this becomes like a destination, something very unique," Napier said.

Finally, some common sense. One of the developers said he didn't need the TIF to go forward, meaning it doesn't meet the "but for" test. The other developer, Tim Graham, says he needs a TIF because Halls needs a Lowe's anchored strip mall.

Hillary has a sitdown with Richard Mellon Scaife.

Link...