VOL. 41 | NO. 3 | Friday, January 20, 2017
Frustrated commuters look to better roads, light rail
Angie Graves has always been a resident of Portland in Sumner County, pretty much on the same property. She is currently living in the same home her father once rented when she was a child.
One surefire way to get some heated interaction on social media – other than talking politics – is a discussion of traffic, road conditions or both. But ranting about why there isn’t an interstate ramp here or a turn lane there simply won’t get the job done.
NASHVILLE – In its first scorecard, Moving Forward finds that the Middle Tennessee region has made progress in a number of key areas, most notably in developing a regional transit plan. The challenge ahead is securing funding from local and state sources.
SAM STOCKARD: VIEW FROM THE HILL
Rural broadband backers such as Misty O’Beirne in Rutherford County can take heart. Legislation to spread high-speed internet into cyberspace deserts is making the right connections.
RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK
Many among the hordes relocating to Nashville have admired the changing of the seasons in the area, especially those coming from California. And lately, of course, they’ve been able to enjoy all four in a matter of 24 hours.
REAL ESTATE
Top commercial real estate sales, 2016, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.
Top residential real estate sales, December 2016, for Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson and Sumner counties, as compiled by Chandler Reports.
DAVID CLIMER: OUT OF LEFT FIELD
I keep reading that Nick Saban is ruining SEC football because his Alabama program is so dominant. And I just don’t get it.
TERRY McCORMICK: TENNESSEE TITANS
Now that the NFL playoffs are down to four teams remaining, it is easy to point out the common thread among them: Elite play at the quarterback position.
After going 4-0 on predictions last weekend, it’s on to the conference championship games to determine which teams will play in Super Bowl LI.
NEWSMAKERS
Travis G. Lloyd and Junaid Odubeko have been named partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
BEHIND THE WHEEL
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is a sharp-looking, roomy and versatile minivan with more technology than previous Chrysler vans and thoughtful features that other minivans can lack.
GUERRILLA MARKETING
When planning your price increase, you probably thought about:
CAREER CORNER
Interviewing for a job is an incredibly personal process – at least for the job seeker.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is scheduled to release his second major priority item for the 2017 legislative session on Thursday.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans pulled back sharply from buying new homes in December, but sales for all of 2016 were the highest since 2007.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
U.S. stock indexes drifted mostly lower in morning trading Thursday as the market gave up some of its gains from the day before, when the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 20,000 for the first time. Technology stocks were down the most, while financial companies led the gainers. Investors have their eye on the latest company earnings news.
WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but jobless claims remained low enough to suggest that most Americans enjoy job security.
NEW YORK (AP) — Your TV provider may soon become your phone company. Which seems only fair, because your phone company also wants to be your TV provider.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
STATE LEGISLATURE
Tennessee’s district attorney generals are negotiating with the governor’s office to keep $5.6 million for DUI enforcement and prosecution, federal funds they could lose in an unintended consequence of his proposed IMPROVE Act.
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) — The deputy director of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville is being offered the job of executive director of the new Tennessee state museum.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
The Dow Jones industrial average crossed the 20,000 mark for the first time Wednesday, the latest milestone in a record-setting drive for the stock market.
With the Dow Jones industrials above 20,000, it's natural to ask what's going on and what, if anything, investors should do. Here are some answers to common questions that people have about the stock market.
CHICAGO (AP) — The national debate over immigration policy could be coming to a diner near you.
BERLIN (AP) — A closely-watched survey of business confidence in Germany, Europe's largest economy, dropped in January as managers worried about the uncertainty associated with the advent of Donald Trump's presidency.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24
STATE LEGISLATURE
Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris is set to tag-team sponsorship of a comprehensive tax plan designed to bolster Tennessee’s transportation fund.
MUSIC INDUSTRY
NASHVILLE (AP) — A gospel singer is apologizing to her fans after posting an image on her social media account suggesting that Jesus was returning to the White House under President Donald Trump.
COURTS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will announce a candidate next week to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.
REAL ESTATE
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans retreated from purchasing homes in December, as the number of properties listed for sale sank to its lowest level since 1999.
AUTO INDUSTRY
DETROIT (AP) — The threat from President Donald Trump to tax Mexican-made cars sold in the U.S. would throw the industry into disarray, analysts say, forcing some uncomfortable choices: Raise car prices or swallow the cost. Stop selling Mexican-made cars in the U.S. but risk losing customers. Move production to the U.S. but make less money.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has inherited a stable economy and a government that is on track to run a $559 billion budget deficit for the year, congressional analysts said Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) — An afternoon buying drive on Wall Street sent the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Nasdaq composite to all-time highs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed executive actions Tuesday to advance construction of the huge Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, moving aggressively to overhaul America's energy policy and dealing a swift blow to Barack Obama's legacy on climate change.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Despite a threat from cable giant Comcast to take legal action, Philadelphia has banned employers from asking potential hires to provide their salary history, a move supporters say is a step toward closing the wage gap between men and women.
The candy-colored love letter to musicals "La La Land" has landed a record-tying 14 Academy Awards nominations, matching it with "Titanic" and "All About Eve" for most nominations ever.
List of nominees for the 89th annual Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning will give a motivational speech to Republican lawmakers at their annual policy retreat in Philadelphia.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Tuesday offered a plan to spend $1 trillion on transportation and other infrastructure projects over 10 years, challenging President Donald Trump to join them on an issue where they hope to find common ground.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's opening work day offered a look at his tricky balancing act between American businesses and the working-class voters who propelled his march to the White House.
SYDNEY (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as promised, is prompting other member countries to seek ways to salvage the trade pact.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union trade chief says the trade policies U.S. President Trump has set out are "doomed to fail" and that the world's biggest trading bloc remains committed to open borders and economies.
MONDAY, JANUARY 23
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - Former Southeastern Conference Commissioner Roy Kramer is the 2017 winner of the Pat Summitt Lifetime Achivement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is tapping Danielle Whitworth Barnes as the state Department of Human Services commissioner.
NASHVILLE (AP) - State officials have authorized a special audit of Tennessee State Museum operations after its executive director received a 26 percent pay raise.
STATE LEGISLATURE
NASHVILLE (AP) — Newly-elected Tennessee Senate Speaker Randy McNally has announced more staff changes in his office at the state Capitol.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump can do plenty on his own to unravel the Obama health care law, but some of those actions would create disruptions that undermine his administration's early promises. Other less sweeping steps could open the way for big changes, but might not get as much notice.
A federal judge has rejected health insurer Aetna's bid to buy rival Humana on grounds that the deal would hurt competition in hundreds of Medicare Advantage markets, ultimately affecting the price consumers pay for coverage.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump has picked a fierce critic of the Obama-era "net neutrality" rules to be chief regulator of the nation's airwaves and internet connections.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Samsung Electronics says flaws in the design and production of batteries used in its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, not its hardware or software, made it prone to catch fire.
COURTS
NEW YORK (AP) — To fight what it called a "grave threat" to the country, a watchdog group on Monday filed a lawsuit alleging that President Donald Trump is violating the Constitution by allowing his business to accept payments from foreign governments.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Energy companies led U.S. stock indexes slightly lower Monday as the price of crude oil fell.
VIENNA (AP) — OPEC and key non-OPEC oil producers are near their target of taking 1.8 million barrels of crude a day off global markets less than two months after agreeing to do so in efforts to push up the price of crude, Russia's energy minister said Sunday.
NATIONAL POLITICS
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump moved to pull the United States out of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact Monday, dealing a quick blow to Barack Obama's legacy as the new chief executive began fulfilling campaign promises in his first full week in office.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of state headed for approval in a key Senate committee Monday after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced his support, backing off from a challenge to the new president.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has tasked a group of top business leaders with coming up with a series of actions to help stimulate the American manufacturing sector.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Pence has returned to Washington. So has his closest political ally, Bill Smith.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
NASHVILLE AREA
NASHVILLE (AP) - Hundreds of people sat in silent protest at a Nashville park while President Donald Trump took the oath of office.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) - State officials say 29 Tennessee communities will receive more than $1 million in grants to improve tourism infrastructure.
NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee's preliminary unemployment rate for December rose slightly to 4.9 percent compared with November.
HEALTH CARE
SEATTLE (AP) — Costco Wholesale Corp. has agreed to pay nearly $12 million to settle Justice Department allegations of lax pharmacy controls over a four-year period.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican governors who turned down billions in federal dollars from an expansion of Medicaid under President Barack Obama's health care law now have their hands out in hopes the GOP-controlled Congress comes up with a new formula to provide insurance for low-income Americans.
COURTS
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Uber Technologies is paying $20 million to settle allegations that it duped people into driving for its ride-hailing service with false promises about how much they would earn and how much they would have to pay to finance a car.
NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter says it has suspended 360,000 user accounts in the past 18 months for threatening or promoting acts of terrorism.
AUTO INDUSTRY
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. safety regulators have closed an investigation into a fatal crash involving electric car maker Tesla Motors' Autopilot system without seeking a recall, but they criticized the way the company markets the semi-autonomous driving feature.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ending higher, recouping much of the market's loss from a day earlier and breaking a 5-day losing streak for the Dow Jones industrial average.
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — It's been impossible to escape the shadow of Donald Trump at this year's gathering of the business elites at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — A top Russian official says President-elect Donald Trump can only succeed if he cooperates with Russia — and invited Trump to the country's flagship investment forum to boost economic ties.
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The head of the European Central Bank has warned there is still little sign of an enduring pick-up in shop prices and workers' wages in the eurozone — a symptom of economic weakness that means the bank will leave its stimulus programs running nearly full blast at least until year-end.
DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Trade Organization's top official has voiced his concern that talk of a trade war between the U.S. and China could become self-fulfilling.