And there is a very troubling last minute bill that would allow the party in power to require all judges who are members of the other party to run in contested elections. Just how corrupt is our legislature?

The Daily Buzz

American Idol finalist, Janelle Arthur, has a scholarship established in her name at Roane State Community College. Tonight and tomorrow night will determine the winner.

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I've only lived in Tennessee for half my life but I don't remember a time when the Legislature showed such total disregard for what is good for Tennesseans. Oh, and it's going to be illegal for cities and counties to pass their own knife legislation.

The Daily Buzz

Clay Bennett is a treasure:

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This is an outrage and indicates just how insidious lobbyist money is in our legislature. We could have developed the same program right here in Tennessee's own colleges. We even have a business in Roane County that produces the software and serves other state's university degree programs. Why send our money to Utah?

The Daily Buzz

KNOXVILLE — FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents on Monday locked down the headquarters of Pilot Flying J, the truck stop business owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his brother, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

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This is sponsored by the AFL-CIO: Link....

-- OneTahiti

These people are sick beyond realization!

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And a bunch of other stuff...

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I think about this a lot. It seems like we focus on too much bad things going on and forget to discuss the good. It would help if our community leaders could give us a little more good accomplishments to work with, but you guys know what I mean. Here's the punch line from an essay that I found on this subject:

Like a manager trying to improve a workplace, never forget to inspire your community even as you seek and honestly confront the challenges which face it. That’s what “doing something good” for your community really requires.

As time runs out on the Tennessee General Assembly’s 2013 session, some lawmakers are pushing for Tennessee to secede from the current century.

Scott McNutt

An ALEC Bill would require all unedited video of animal abuse be turned over to police within 48 hours or face a Class C Misdemeanor charge. This would end the ability of news organizations to make documentaries of animal abuse since they would not even be able to keep a copy. It would also allow police to inform the abuser that an investigation is in progress.

The Creative Arts Co-op is taking our show on the road. While we are still headquartered in Harriman and will continue to produce entertainment and arts education for our area as we have for eleven years, we are trying to broaden our audience within our region. And we need your help! Read about it here - then buy tickets at the Palace Theatre, Crossville...
THANKS!

LIVE AT THE PALACE THEATRE IN CROSSVILLE...

Dearly Beloved, We are Gathered...to Solve a Murder?'
'Murder a la Mode' interactive murder mystery
April 20, 2013 @ 7:00pm (CST)

WVLT in Knoxville has the story: Link...

-- OneTahiti

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From Commissioner Ellis:
The Roane County Commission and the Roane County Board of Education will meet in a Workshop on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Kingston Community Center in Kingston, Tennessee.

The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the upcoming budget and safety concerns of the schools.

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Martineau wants States to be Coal ash regulators. This is in light if the spectacular failure of his own state agency in allowing the TVA to set the stage for the worst coal ash disaster ever.

Here's the WBIR story:

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The grand opening will be a bit later but they will serve you right now with some great food and excellent service. I've eaten lunch twice and the food is very good. Today a couple of us got there at 12 sharp, got our gourmet personal pan pizzas with a really good salad as the side. We were done by 12:30, so it looks like folks on a lunch break will have plenty of time to eat and get back on time. If anything, they give you too much on a serving. There's a nice beer selection but I can't speak to that just yet.

Alternet has the article ("The Southern State Fast Becoming Ayn Rand's Vision of Paradise - Tennessee lawmakers have elevated hatred for government and disgust for poor people to an art form"): Link...

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Update: new daily end time.

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual "elegant junk" yard 'sale' at Station 1 on Pumphouse Road near Rockwood on May 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday before Mother's Day) from 8:00 AM until dark each day.

On Friday, April 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance (ETPA) and Roane State Community College will host an open house, recital, and panel discussion about the restoration project. The FREE event will take place at Princess Theatre Complex at 421 Roane Street in Downtown Harriman.

More about this event on the Princess Blog.

The focus would be helping students become more intelligent science consumers by learning how scientific work is done: how ideas are developed and tested, what counts as strong or weak evidence, and how insights from many disciplines fit together into a coherent picture of the world.

(Previously)

For it: Commissioners Copper Bacon, Brummett, Randy Ellis, Jerry Goddard, Johnson and Fred Tedder

Against it: Commissioners Berry, Ray Cantrell, Benny East, Forrester, Moore and George Nelson

Also against using ankle bracelets for inmates who can't make bond: A local bail bondsman with an office located on County Property who summoned commissioners out of the meeting to inform them as to how they should vote.