In 2018, as one of the attorneys in a lawsuit against agricultural giant Monsanto for using a probable canced causing pesticide, glyphosate, they were awarded 289 million dollars.

In 2026, the president "issued an executive order late Wednesday aimed at spurring the domestic production of glyphosate."

The Secretary of Health and Human Services defended the president’s executive order spurring the domestic production of the weedkiller glyphosate... the president’s executive order puts America first where it matters most — our defense readiness and our food supply,” he said.

Ya gotta love politics.

From Bloomberg,

The goods and services trade gap expanded from the prior month to $70.3 billion... The shortfall culminated in a full-year deficit of $901.5 billion, still one of the largest in data back to 1960.

The president "has leaned on tariffs as part of his strategy to reduce reliance on foreign goods, encourage domestic investment and correct decades of declines in manufacturing employment."
$56 trillion national debt leading to a spiraling crisis: Budget watchdog warns the U.S. is walking a crumbling path

How's it working out to have a "business" person trying to run a country? We could be in a depression in the next 3 years. Although, I'm already a little down in the dumps.

U2 releases Renee Good tribute song 'American Obituary'
"These songs were impatient to be out in the world," said singer Bono.

American Obituary lyrics

Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Minneapolis"

Streets of Minneapolis lyrics

From the New York Times, an essayist from Minneapolis.

In the resistance we drive minivans, we take ’em low and slow down Nicollet Avenue, our trunks stuffed with hockey skates and scuffed Frisbees and cardboard Costco flats. We drive Odysseys and Siennas, we drive Voyagers and Pacificas, we like it when the back end goes ka-thunk over speed bumps, shaking loose the Goldfish dust.
...
In the resistance we play Idles loud... In the resistance we drive the high school car pool, that holy responsibility, the ferrying of innocents among the wolves.

A beautiful, well written essay of the resistance. It brings to mind some of what was written 80 or so years ago in Europe.

The origins of Mardi Gras can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. From here, the traditional revelry of "Boeuf Gras," or fatted calf, followed France to her colonies.
...
New Orleans was established in 1718 by Bienville. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans,
...
By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback riders to celebrate Mardi Gras
...
Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by their members, New Orleanians call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth!"

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Eugene Robinson: Jesse Jackson in three photos

Three images document Jackson’s journey and his role in expanding the Constitution’s promise of freedom and opportunity.

U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania...ordered the Trump administration to restore displays discussing slavery at a site in Philadelphia where George Washington lived as president.

“The government claims it alone has the power to erase, alter, remove and hide historical accounts on taxpayer and local government-funded monuments within its control. Its claims in this regard echo Big Brother’s domain in Orwell’s 1984,” Rufe wrote.

"Why should I bother to read something someone else couldn't be bothered to write?"

AI;DR, AI, didn't read

Exactly!

Alcoa Electric raised the residential "customer charge" last fall, 2025, by 11.3%.

Now, last fall, the Alcoa Electric Department wants to add to the “energy charge” portion of our bill, Demand Cost Recovery Adjustment.

Alcoa Electric has been around for nearly 70 years. Demand charges have been handled within existing charges to residential customers. From what I was told, demand charges are when TVA charges extra for high usage. High usage times are fairly rare in Alcoa. We might have several days in the winter where it gets really cold or really hot (not sure there were any days in 2025). From what I have been told, Alcoa Electric does not pass on the cost incurred for high demand, and Alcoa Electric has not been hurt financially.

Alcoa Electric thinks this is the time to start adding Demand Cost Recovery Adjustments to our electric bills. In the past 4-5 years, our electric bill has increased by 21.7%, our water/sewer bill by 46.9%, our city property taxes by 24.2%, our homeowners insurance by 52.7%, ground beef up by 55.7%, mayonnaise up by 75.2%, mushroom soup up by 59.2%, etc. You can see comments on the Alcoa Electric Facebook page as to how residents feel about these increased charges.

KUB does not have this charge. Maryville Electric does not have this charge.

Greeneville, TN does have this charge. I'm not exactly sure why, However, it would appear their energy charge is less than Alcoa Electric and adding the Greeneville DCRA rate to the Greeneville energy rate appears to still be less than Alcoa Electric energy charge.

Why does Alcoa Electric feel now is the time? Are they hurting for money with the growth being pushed by the city?

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services recently admits to,

Snorting cocaine off a toilet seat

Went on a "dinosaur bone hunting trip convicted pedophiles

It just gets better. We know how to run a government.

The current Federal administration declares carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases no longer endanger public health and welfare.

"The Supreme Court ruled in a 2007 case that planet-warming greenhouse gases, caused by burning of oil and other fossil fuels, are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act."

First, the U.S. military attacked a party balloon in El Paso, TX.

The Pentagon had undertaken extensive planning on the use of military technology near Fort Bliss, a military base that abuts the El Paso International Airport, to practice taking down drones.
...
The anti-drone technology was launched near the southern border to shoot down what appeared to be foreign drones. The flying material turned out to be a party balloon, sources said. One balloon was shot down, several sources said.

Then, two U.S. Navy ships collide in the Caribbean.

Two people reported minor injuries Wednesday when a U.S. warship and a Navy supply vessel assigned to the military buildup in the Caribbean collided during a ship-to-ship refueling, according to a military spokesman.

We have to keep our country safe by shooting down party ballons.

Tennessee is going all out on the public education voucher program, known as the Education Freedom Scholarship program (EFS).

WBIR has requested information (at least 6 times) about demographics like zip code, county of residence, income, for who applied for the EFS and who was accepted... No one from the Tennessee Department of Education has been made available.

Speaker of the House Rep. Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) "That data will come here, I think next year, is what I've been told by the Department of Education."

Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) said he is looking for more answers about data. ""We received absolutely no information on 'what areas the vouchers are going to? Is it evenly spread throughout the state?" McKenzie said. "Of the folks who have the vouchers who are the first time applicants? There's just been a black hole and we've made several requests."

Don't worry your pretty little head about this program. The Tennessee government is in control.

We received our new Atmos Energy natural gas bill. I noticed the rate per CCF was 0.7177. I have been very busy for the past six months and had not noticed the change in rates.

The rate for this period last year (ending 2/7/2025) was 0.3925 per CCF. The rate this year (2/6/2026) is 0.7177. That is a 82.9% increase over the past year, nearly double.

2/9/2025 rate - 0.3925
6/6/2025 rate - 0.5328
9/9/2025 rate - 0.486
11/9/2025 rate - 0.6874
1/6/2026 rate - 0.7177

What's the deal? I called Atmos but could not get a definitive answer except that the market demand determines the rates. Well, duh. I would think there is something else. Was there much more demand in November? The 2025 rate was not nearly double the 2024 rate. What gives?

The president "escalated his rhetoric by warning that closer ties between Canada and China would have dire cultural consequences, including the end of professional hockey in Canada."

"He claimed China would “terminate all ice hockey” in the country and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League’s (NHL) championship trophy. Trump offered no evidence for the assertion."

Heh.

Knoxville Preparatory School, an all-boys charter school that first opened in 2024, announced Friday that it will cease operations at the end of the current academic year.

Friday’s announcement cited lower-than-expected enrollment numbers, facility issues, and “academic outcomes that do not meet the standards of excellence promised to the families.”

The Chattanooga version is also having problems that required new leadership. "Nearly half of the teachers...did not have proper licensing." "A former teacher was arrested on charges including solicitation of a child."

Oh, my.

Sunshine Services is working to place employees in new jobs ahead of the closure of its Sunshine Industries program, which provides job training and employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, at the end of the month.
...
"Due to recent direction and requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor, Sunshine Services is required to discontinue operations at Sunshine Industries,” [Executive Director] Crittendon wrote in a letter to state."

Sunshine Services has been providing these services for approximately 60 years. Wonder what "direction and requirements" the U.S. Dept. of Labor has given them forcing this change.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Thursday said she was concerned about Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s ability to remain “above political influence” after seeing her take part in the Grammys, which she deemed a “highly politicized” event.

Above political influence!?!?!?

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated for a Grammy for her narration of the audiobook of her memoir, Lovely One.

Knox County Election Commission
Blount County Election Commission

In May, 2026, there are
Knox County Democratic and Republican Primary Election
Blount County Primary
Rockford City Municipal General

In August, 2026, there is the
Federal/State Democratic and Republican Primary Elections
Knox County General Election
Town of Farragut Municipal Election
Blount County General
Alcoa/Maryville School Board Primary
Friendsville & Townsend City Municipal General

In November, 2026 there are
Federal and State General Elections
Alcoa City Council (3 seats)
Alcoa City School Board (2 seats)
Louisville City Mayor
Louisville City Alderman (2 seats)
Maryville City Council (3 seats)
Maryville City School Board (3 seats)

Although most anyone viewing this site is a registered voter and votes frequently, you might want to confirm you are registered voter. You want to make sure you do not have an "inactive" status.

"Inactive status does not mean ineligible. But it does mean vulnerable. Vulnerable to being flagged at the polls. Vulnerable to provisional ballots. Vulnerable to being told something is wrong on Election Day after making a good-faith effort to participate."