Weekly Livestock Comments, March 1, 2013
FED CATTLE: Fed cattle sold mainly $5 higher on a live basis and about $8 higher on a dressed basis compared to last week. Prices in the South were primarily $127 to $129 while prices in the North ranged from $201 to $205 with most trade occurring at $203. The 5-area weighted average prices thru […]
Weekly Crop Comments, March 1, 2013
Price Change US Dollar 82.32 +0.73 Crude 90.89 -2.24 Dow 14,090 +90 Corn and cotton prices are up; wheat prices mixed while soybean prices are down for the week. Without an agreement on the budget in Washington D.C., sequestration goes into effect today, March 1, with no immediate impact expected. The effects on commodity prices […]
House Republicans Seek Changes To Legislative Per Diem
A bill that seeks to change the way per diems are granted to lawmakers in the Tennessee General Assembly moved out of the House Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee this week. House Bill 80 will eliminate the lodging reimbursement for members living within a 50-mile radius of the Capitol. Currently, all members of the General […]
Planning Commission Confirms Rescind Action Through No Action
The Dandridge Planning Commission met for their Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2013 in the Public Works Building in Dandridge. The Meeting was Called to Order by Chairman of the Commission Swann. Absent from Roll Call were Commissioners Franklin and Entwistle. The Commission Approved the Minutes from the January 24, 2013 Regular Meeting […]
Jefferson County School Board Meeting Feb 28, 2013
The Jefferson County School Board met in a Regular Monthly Meeting on Thursday, February 28, 2013 in the Media Center of Jefferson County High School. The Meeting was Called to Order by Chairman of the Board Potts. Absent from Roll Call was Board Member Vines. Special Recognition was given to Director’s Gallery K-2 winner, Jasmine […]
Republican Lawmakers Continue Push To Improve Tennessee Education
A proposal presented by Governor Bill Haslam and Republican lawmakers to improve education in Tennessee easily cleared the House Education Subcommittee this week. House Bill 190, referred to as the ‘Tennessee Choice & Opportunity Scholarship Act’, would give low-income families with students stuck in the lowest performing schools the opportunity to seek educational options outside […]
State Treasurer David Lillard Proposes Fiscally Responsible Pension Reform
State Treasurer David Lillard this week outlined his proposal to reform the state’s pension plan, the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), to ensure future generations will receive the benefits promised to them during their time as state employees. The proposed changes, which would only affect new employees hired on or after July 1 of 2014, […]
Rosa Parks has a Permanent Place in the U.S. Capitol
National Statuary Hall inside the U.S. Capitol was once the meeting place of the House of Representatives. Now it’s home to a collection of statues and monuments — two from each state — representing some of the defining figures in our nation’s history. Today those sculptures were joined by that of a civil rights icon. […]
Tennessee Roads & Bridges Rank High in 20 Year Report
A new study by the Reason Foundation examining 20 years of highway data finds Tennessee has improved in all seven key areas studied, one of only 11 states to do so. The report, “Are Highways Crumbling? State Performance Summaries”, looked at state highway data from 1989 through 2008. The report measures road performance in several […]
It’s Time to Bring Our Troops Home
In President Obama’s fifth State of the Union address, he highlighted his plan to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. While I disagree with much of the president’s agenda, I do agree it is time to bring our troops home. I am also pleased with the president’s decision to give military […]
Planning Commission Considers Guidelines for Cadaver Research Centers
The Jefferson County Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals met on Tuesday evening in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting preceded the County Planning Commission and only one item was on the agenda. The Board Approved a request for a 15 foot variance for a home to be placed […]
Dandridge Low Income Housing Development To Be Revisited This Thursday
A tax credit housing development that was slotted for the Shrader Road area in Dandridge, adjacent to the Field of Dreams and the new multi million dollar Activity Center investment, hit a bump in the road at last week’s Dandridge Planning Commission Meeting. WODA, an Ohio based Development Company, had appeared before the Planning Commission […]
Senate Resolution Condemns North Korea Nuclear Test, Calls for Additional Sanctions
U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today made the following statement after unanimous Senate passage of a resolution condemning North Korea’s recent nuclear test, which violated numerous international agreements and poses real dangers to regional and global security. “North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests pose real dangers […]
Learn about College Savings and Enter to Win Tickets
TNStars™ program offers Tennesseans a chance to win Today the TNStars College Savings 529 Program is announcing the “What’s Your Game Plan?” promotion to give away tickets to the semifinal games and final game of the 2013 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament. The tournament is being played at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Anyone who visits www.tnstars.com/sec-tickets […]
National Parks Serve as Powerful Economic Engines for Local Communities, Supporting 252,000 Jobs
National Parks continued to be important economic engines for local communities, with visitors generating $30.1 billion in economic activity and supporting 252,000 jobs nationwide in 2011, according to a peer-reviewed report released today by the National Park Service. “Places like the Grand Canyon or the Statue of Liberty take our breath away and inspire us […]
Treasurer Lillard Discusses Future of State Employee and K-12 Teachers Pension Plan
State Treasurer David H. Lillard, Jr. is recommending that the General Assembly adopt a number of reforms to the state’s retirement plan for public employees. The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) is a well-funded pension plan. The proposed changes will only apply to state employees, higher education employees, and teachers hired on or after July […]
