What: WDVX Blue Plate Special at the Square Room
When:
Where:

Two Man Gentleman Band and Kevin Abernathy

Just watching the American Idol eliminations for this week. Are they kidding? As Lilly said, "I don't know what America wants." I guess Crystal will be next, and then I'll be done watching. (Mostly agree with the other eliminations, though.)

Two scientists who authored the Science paper "Mountaintop Mining Consequences", Dr. Dennis Lemly and Dr. Orie Loucks, testified before the Senate and House Environment committees on Tuesday. It was amazing.

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Bernie Sanders (I-Sanity) shows the character that can get this done.

Previously: Grayson's Public Option Act .

The Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s didn't happen with unconstitutional Senate rules and neither should a seminal to our times legislation such as health care be stopped with the "supermajority."

Per KNS:

Davis also argues that in 2008, when a group of citizens filed petitions with the Election Commission to put several Knox County charter changes on the August ballot, that the Election Commission allowed non-registered individuals to sign voter registration applications forms and sign the charter amendment petitions "simultaneously."

So did Davis turn in voter registeration apps for her unregistered petition signers, "simultaneous" with her candidate qualifying petition? The article doesn't say she did..

Also per KNS:

When those individuals signed the charter petition, some became registered voters after the deadline for turning in the charter amendment petitions, Davis argues.

The relevant question here would seem to be whether the Election Commission certified the charter amendment petitions before registering some of the new voters who signed it. Again, the article doesn't comment on whether this happened (but I never before read anything to indicate that it did)...

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/mar/11/commission-candidate-wannabe-el...

It is my theory that outrage passes for foreplay in most Republican homes. They watch Glen Beck and then get frisky. How else could you explain his popularity? - Juanita Jean Herownself or Susan DuQuesnay Bankston, one t'other.

Sen. Majority Leader Reid has announced that the Senate will move forward with reconciliation to approve health care reform.

The letter...

Pelosi: "It is not something that we are going to drag out, because the decisions are made."

Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Kim McMillan, will be a guest on the Hubert Smith show this Sunday at 10:00am Eastern Time on 90.3 The Rock WUTK-FM. Listeners can also tune in at www.WUTKradio.com

This will be a great opportunity for people in East Tennessee to hear Kim McMillan's message of educational growth and partnership for the economic future of Tennessee. Kim's appearance on the Hubert Smith show will mark the second time in as many weeks that Kim McMillan has reached out to the East Tennessee community. Last Friday she spent the day in Roane County meeting with Tennesseans at several public events. Then she attended the opening of the East Tennessee Regional Headquarters of the Democratic Party in Knoxville with the Chair of the TNDP, Chip Forrester and local party chair, Gloria Johnson. Saturday, Kim delivered the keynote address to the largest gathering in several years of the Boyd Cloud Democratic Club!

Kim's campaign remains strong and is growing its grass-roots base to reach across all 95 counties of Tennessee and engage all Tennesseans in moving the state and its citizens forward in 2010 and beyond! To learn about Kim, please visit http://www.kimmcmillan.com

I remain as excited and engaged as a volunteer in Kim's campaign since I first met her in 2008! I urge everyone to tune in to Hubert Smith's show to listen to her message, learn about her experience, and to call in with questions and ideas for Kim McMillan!

Angela Danovi
Knox County Volunteer for Kim McMillan!

Corker says pressure to pass health care reforms derailed negotiations on financial reforms.

Dodd is moving ahead on financial reforms without Corker.

RELATED: Meet Sen. Corker's Payday Lender Friend

are now on line. P-cards are available here and T-cards are available here

Dwight Van de Vate
Chief Administrative Officer
Knox County Government

McWherter is the anointed, and this is "good for the party."

OK, then.

Personally, I don't see it. McMillan and McWherter would both be fine governors, I'm sure. And both are vulnerable to getting beat like a rented mule by Haslam, especially in the current political climate.

But with McWherter v. Haslam, what do you get? Businessmen? Check. Rich and influential daddies? Check. Governing experince? Hmmm. McWherter's name might carry some weight, but the Haslam political machine carries large caliber ammunition and big sacks of money.

And with a business-friendly, moderate Republican v. a business-friendly, moderate Democrat, Republicans and independents who mostly lean Republican in Tennessee will go with the real deal every time. Ask Harold Ford, Jr.

At least with McMillan v. Haslam you get a Democratic candidate with actual experience in state government from the House to the Governor's office, and, bonus, a self-made, successful woman. So there would be differentiators, and voters would have a clear choice. Then we could have a real election and let the chips fall where they may.

What: The Great Cake Bake brought to you by your public library
When: Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 12:00pm
Where: The L&N Train Station on World's Fair Park

This is a new event for the library so we want to make sure everyone knows about it. It's a cake decorating competition so there should be some cool cakes to see (90 plus entries). And cakes and cookbooks for sell. Plus a magician and Sean McCullough making music. Benefiting Imagination Library.

More info after the jump...

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Kleinheider with the news and the analysis.

PREVIOUSLY: All aboard the State Senate Crazy Train

What: City Council Workshop on East County Sector Plan
When: Thursday, March 11, 2010 - 5:00pm
Where: City County Building Small Assembly

On Thursday, March 11th, City Council is holding a workshop on the East County Sector Plan, including the Midway Road business park recommendation, at 5:00 pm in the Small Assembly Room.

I would encourage you to attend to learn more about this important and complicated issue, which affects all of us as Knox County taxpayers. Those of us who have been working on the Midway Road issue for years believe this is a classic example of urban sprawl, placing an employment center on the rural fringe and extending infrastructure to support it. The Development Corporation would like to equate Midway Business Park with new jobs. However, they do not have any prospects for this business park and they have several empty or near-empty business parks they can't fill already.

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What: Vigil for Peace
When: Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 12:00pm
Where: Corner Kingston Pike and Morrell Road (West Town)

In 2003, some 2000 people came out to West Town to protest the impending invasion and occupation of Iraq. Since then, Knoxvillians have gathered annually to mark the anniversary of that action and demonstrate support for its termination. This year, on March 20, protests and vigils will be held across the US in continued concern about the ongoing military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Stand again at West Town this year for peace.

"Rush Limbaugh is the fart in America's elevator."Frank Schaeffer, on the Thom Hartmann Show

The Bill is four pages long.

CDC uses shopper-card data to trace salmonella

Not sure about this. Certainly a public health benefit in this case, but what about the potential for abuse? I never liked those things for reasons like this.

Memphis venture capital fund Innova announced today they are investing in Knoxville-based TrakLok Corporation, marking the first investment through the state's new TNInvestco venture fund tax credit program.

TrakLok has patents for electronic locking and tracking technology that shippers can use to "combat theft, smuggling, and vandalism to the millions of cargo containers arriving at ports and rail yards throughout the world." The locks can "deny or allow entry to a protected container based on a combination of time, location, and authorization codes."

This is a pretty clever idea that could go a long way towards helping secure our ports, something Homeland Security has been putting off for nearly a decade.

More info in the press release...

The TNInvestco program, created by legislation passed last year, allocates $120 million dollars in tax credits to venture capital funds that invest in Tennessee companies. The funds then market the tax credits to insurance companies, which purchase the credits with capital reserves.

The program is not without controversy. A rejected applicant sued for access to records relating to the selection of venture funds included in the program. A Nashville Chancery Court judge ruled that the documents would remain confidential until 2015.

What: Public meeting re. proposed West Town area homeless supportive housing
When: Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 7:00pm
Where: Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Drive

Area homeowners are having a public meeting with Ten Year Plan director John Lawler to discuss a proposed 48-unit supportive housing development on Teaberry Lane off Gleason Rd. More details in the press release after the jump...

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