Unemployed get squeezed on health insurance

By Kevin Freking • ASSOCIATED PRESS • January 10, 2009 WASHINGTON — Newly unemployed Americans will have to spend about 30 percent of their jobless benefits, on average, to pay for health insurance through their former employer, a new report says. And if they want coverage for their families, the report by Families USA says, that will take more than 80 percent of their unemployment check. Unemployment hit a 16-year high last month as 524,000 jobs were cut. Workers who lose their jobs are usually eligible to maintain their health insurance through their old employer if they pay the premiums, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. The benefit is called COBRA insurance, after the law that established it. President-elect Barack Obama is proposing to spend $80 billion to extend unemployment benefits and subsidize health care for people who have lost their jobs. Families USA, a liberal advocacy group, says its report comparing average COBRA costs and unemployment benefits shows the need for the subsidy proposed by Obama. At present, for most people who lose their jobs, COBRA cuts too deeply into their government-paid jobless benefits. In nine states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia — the average premium for continuing family coverage through a former employer equals or exceeds unemployment benefits, the report says. As for individual coverage, in six states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia — jobless workers would have to spend more than 40 percent of their unemployment insurance on COBRA premiums.

Obama asks Congress to delay digital TV switch

By Jim Puzzanghera and Christi Parsons • LOS ANGELES TIMES • January 9, 2009 WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama on Thursday asked Congress to delay next month's planned switch to all-digital broadcast television, warning that the TVs of millions of Americans could lose their pictures because of major problems in the government's preparations. I n a letter to congressional leaders, John Podesta, co-chairman of Obama's presidential transition team, urged that the Feb. 17 conversion date be extended. A major reason was the announcement this week by the Commerce Department that it had run out of money for a government program to provide $40 coupons for low-cost converter boxes to allow older TVs to receive the new digital signal. But Podesta also cited problems with the government's effort to educate the public about the switch and help prepare people, particularly the elderly, poor and those living in rural areas. "With coupons unavailable, support and education insufficient and the most vulnerable Americans exposed, I urge you to consider a change to the legislatively mandated analog cutoff date," Podesta wrote to the chairmen and top Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. According to the Nielsen Co., about 6.8 percent of U.S. TV households, or 7.7 million homes, were unprepared for the digital switch as of last month, meaning they had no TVs capable of receiving a digital signal. The digital TV transition is being hailed as broadcast television's most dramatic upgrade since it bloomed to color from black and white half a century ago. The technology gives free viewers vastly sharper pictures and enables TV networks to offer a wider range of channels. A wide swath of the analog airwaves will go for free to public safety organizations, such as police and fire departments, so they can improve their communications systems. People with cable, satellite or phone company TV services will continue to get broadcast stations. But those who rely on antennas to watch TV must either own a newer set with a digital receiver or get a digital-to-analog converter box. No-frills versions of those boxes cost between $40 and $70. To offset the cost, the federal government allocated $1.5 billion to provide households with up to two $40 coupons. But the agency running that program announced Monday that the program had reached its limit and that new requests would be put on a waiting list. Waiting list to grow Podesta said in the letter that 1 million requests were on the waiting list and that the number could climb to more than 5 million by early February. Obama supports waiving federal rules to allow the Commerce Department to start sending more coupons and is planning to include additional money for the digital TV switch in the economic stimulus package the administration is drafting. Broadcasters, who have spent billions of dollars preparing for the transition and are eager to turn off their old analog signals, oppose a delay. They're pressing for Congress to provide more money to make sure people who need coupons get them.

Digital switch could send flood of TVs to trash

By Bill Theobald • TENNESSEAN WASHINGTON BUREAU • January 9, 2009 WASHINGTON — Environmentalists fear that next month's switch to digital television broadcasting could cause a flood of old televisions, and the toxins they contain, to be tossed in the trash. But electronics industry officials counter that these fears are overblown and that there are plenty of ways for people to continue to use their old TVs or to properly recycle them. Both sides agree that the issue of electronic waste probably will get more attention as the Feb. 17 switchover approaches and that federal legislation is needed to deal with the growing problem, of which televisions are just a small part. "There is a tsunami of e-waste that is going to be created," said Barbara Kyle, national coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, which includes environmental groups. "This is the largest government-sponsored planned obsolescence event in history." Kyle said tube televisions are a particular problem because they contain 4 to 8 pounds of lead, which is difficult to extract because much of it is in glass. In addition to lead, federal health officials warn that televisions contain cadmium, beryllium and other dangerous substances. Exposure to high levels of lead can damage the nervous system and other organs. Americans accumulated an estimated 99.1 million out-of-service TVs in 2007, according to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The same study estimated 6.3 million televisions were collected for recycling in 2007 out of 26.9 million ready to be disposed of. Less than one in five electronic devices disposed of in 2007 was recycled. A Consumer Electronics Association consumer survey done in early 2008 offered a somewhat rosier view with people saying they planned to recycle 25 percent of the 43.5 million televisions they expected to remove from their homes last year. Recycling efforts grow Concerns about how to dispose of televisions have prompted three manufacturers to create their own recycling programs in recent years: Samsung, LG and Sony. Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba formed a company to help consumers recycle their products. Manufacturers also were driven to act by a flood of state laws, 17 now, that require recycling — not dumping — of electronic products. Companies bridle at having to deal with a patchwork of state laws, but efforts to find agreement on a federal standard have been sidetracked over what will be covered and how a recycling requirement would be funded. Parker Brugge, vice president of environmental affairs for the electronics association, said a bipartisan electronic waste working group made up of House members has been meeting for several years. Kyle doesn't think legislation will move in 2009 and that Congress will instead wait to see which of the various approaches in state laws works best. Recent stories about the export of old televisions and other electronic waste to foreign countries where crude recycling methods expose people to harmful chemicals also may attract the interest of Congress. Advice for consumers Kyle advises people to hold onto their old TVs until laws and government oversight catch up enough to ensure recyclers aren't just going to ship your TV overseas. Brugge advises people to find out whether they are in a state with electronics recycling law and program, and to look for recyclers on the group's Web site www.mygreenelectronics.com. Households that rely on over-the-air television signals can purchase a converter box that will allow their old TVs to work just fine.

New map of state roads available

TENNESSEE The official 2009 Tennessee Transportation Map has been redesigned to feature larger, easier-to-read information with interstate mile and exit markers listed on the map, the state department of transportation says. The map is free and available at welcome centers and rest areas across the state. Individuals may request up to five free maps, and organizations and schools may order up to 100 maps. The state map is available on the TDOT Web site, www.tn.gov/tdot/maps.htm. Appeared in the Tennessean

TSU layoffs, furloughs are on the table

School must cut budget by $9M By Colby Sledge • THE TENNESSEAN • January 9, 2009 Tennessee State University could face furloughs and layoffs in the next year as the school faces a proposed 15 percent cut in state money as well as declining student revenues. TSU President Melvin Johnson delivered the news Thursday in his "State of the University" address, which also celebrated recent successes, including a $1 million gift, the largest TSU has ever received. "We have the opportunity to take a good hard look at not only what we need to cut back, but also what we need to invest in," Johnson said. In TSU's report to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission this week, the school planned to use layoffs, voluntary furloughs and possibly larger classes to reach the $9 million in cuts to the school's budget. State higher education funds overall probably will decrease at least 15 percent, or $181.6 million, in the next fiscal year. Johnson did not give specifics Thursday when asked about layoffs or furloughs, only saying all plans were on the table. The school laid off 10 employees last year. "No matter how much we do to cut back in other areas, it's going to eventually hit our personnel," Johnson said. Personnel costs account for about three-quarters of the school's budget. President-issued furloughs would have to be approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents, which will take up a vote on the matter Wednesday. David Stephens, a building activities supervisor for the student center, said he would be willing to take a furlough or even lose his job if it helped TSU. "We may say we work 40 hours, but we have people who come in on Saturday and Sunday," Stephens said. "A lot of people will bend over backward to keep TSU running and viable." After Johnson's address, faculty and staff members proposed possible cuts and savings, including an online warehouse for departments to keep running inventories of office supplies and renting out university spaces for conferences. Revenue from students will be increasingly important, Johnson said, as state appropriations decrease. Johnson displayed a chart that showed $57.1 million, or 56 percent, of the school's budget came from student tuition and fees. The tuition revenues were down $6.8 million from last year as enrollment dropped nearly 700 students to 8,400 this fall. Johnson fired the financial aid director and reassigned several top officials after students complained about student services. As of late Thursday, about 750 students had not paid or had not confirmed their registration on the school's intranet, meaning their schedules for the spring semester would be dropped. The school switched to the Banner student registration system in the fall, resulting in confusion over changes in requirements. All students who had not paid or confirmed their registration by mid-December were notified by e-mail to their TSU accounts and by phone, said Cynthia Brooks, TSU vice president of business and finance. Candace Carr, a senior nursing student, received an e-mail from the school when she hadn't confirmed her schedule. She took care of it that day. "It went smoothly," Carr said. "My sister had the same system in her school (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga), so she told me I needed to confirm my classes." Students whose schedules were dropped will be able to re-register for classes beginning Monday. The first day of classes is Thursday.

Volunteering is a Great New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year District 29: I pray that this information finds you looking forward to a very positive New Year 2009! As you begin to initiate your New Year's resolution, please consider "Volunteering" as one of your resolutions. It has been said that volunteering ignites your social justice being and establishes a legacy of what you stand for. That's why volunteer work makes a difference. So, please, add to your list an effort or many efforts of making a difference through volunteer work. With that said, allow me to suggest volunteering in our Metro Public Schools. Below is vital Volunteering opportunity information provided by Bradley Rodmond of Metro Nashville Public Schools. Once again Happy New Year and Happy Volunteering, of course. Vivian Metro Nashville Public Schools Volunteer DatabaseWelcome to the MNPS Volunteer Database. This database has been developed as part of the Community School Partnership, a collaborative effort to bring community service providers together with public schools to effectively meet the needs of students and their families. Volunteers are encouraged to use this site to log their service hours. Community Service Providers can submit applications to provide services to individual schools or simply post the services they offer. Organizations can also submit applications to become PENCIL partners <https://mail.nashville.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.pencilfd.org/partners> . School Principals and Volunteer Coordinators can review and approve any partnership applications that have been submitted to their school by logging into their school's account. Your account can also be used to post requests for services and supplies. In addition, schools may also search for needed services through the partner programs search <https://mail.nashville.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.schoolvolunteers.org/advsearch.php> page. Teachers can submit requests for classroom speakers and search for volunteers that have signed-up for the Speakers Bureau.Please volunteer and sign up at:http://www.schoolvolunteers.org/ <http://www.schoolvolunteers.org/>

Police Search For Two Men Who Robbed Dairy Queen

News Channel 5 Posted: Jan 6, 2009 07:35 AM CST NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Police said they were searching for two gunmen who held up a restaurant overnight. A worker told police two gunmen forced him back inside the Dairy Queen on Murfreesboro Road as he was closing up shop around 11 p.m. Monday. The robbers demanded money and took off with some cash. Police with K-9 units tried to track the suspects, but didn't have any luck. Tuesday morning, the robbers were still on the loose.

Davidson County crime log from Dec. 27-29

These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address. Some reports may be unfounded. Police calls are listed by police precinct or town. When police cannot immediately determine the location of a crime, the address given is that of the police station or hospital where the crime was reported. Dec. 29 Antioch 2:14 a.m., holdup/robbery, 400 block Mountainhigh Drive 2:29 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1100 block Bell Road 10:17 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 5100 block Hickory Hollow Parkway 3:10 p.m., residential burglary, 2800 block Evergreen Ridge Point 9:45 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1100 block Bell Road Belmont 6:25 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block 19th Avenue South Bordeaux 10:31 a.m., residential burglary, 2400 block Buena Vista Pike 11:42 p.m., residential burglary, 800 block Hillmore Drive Central 6:27 a.m., residential burglary, 1300 block Seventh Avenue North 5:39 p.m., holdup/robbery, 800 block Monroe Street Crieve Hall 9:41 p.m., residential burglary, 5200 block Overton Road Donelson 1:19 p.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Donelson Pike East 6:58 a.m., residential burglary, 800 block Virginia Avenue 9:36 a.m., residential burglary, 1300 block Shelton Avenue 10:51 a.m., residential burglary, 4500 block Saunders Avenue 11:47 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 100 block Kingston Street 12:08 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1000 block Lischey Avenue 2:26 p.m., residential burglary, 1400 block Crockett Court 2:32 p.m., residential burglary, 1500 block Forrest Avenue 2:44 p.m., residential burglary, 1200 block Joseph Avenue 5:23 p.m., residential burglary, 700 block Lemont Drive 6:09 p.m., residential burglary, 600 block South 12th Street 6:19 p.m., residential burglary, 600 block South Sixth Street 11:41 p.m., residential burglary, 300 block Chapel Avenue Goodlettsville Davidson 8:32 p.m., holdup/robbery, 800 block Wren Road 9:06 p.m., holdup/robbery, 800 block Wren Road Hermitage 12:47 p.m., residential burglary, 600 block Dutchmans Drive 2:08 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 600 block Cornelia Court 2:51 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block Omohundro Court Madison 7:05 p.m., residential burglary, 1500 block Pierce Road 10:57 p.m., holdup/robbery, 600 block East Old Hickory Boulevard North 12:58 a.m., shooting, at Chesapeake Drive and Brickmont Drive 11:34 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 2800 block Buchanan Street 11:46 a.m., residential burglary, 1500 block 16th Avenue North 12:22 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block Cephas Street 3:47 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block Cephas Street 4:31 p.m., residential burglary, 1700 block 23rd Avenue North 6:20 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2200 block 26th Avenue North Old Hickory 2:45 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 11:20 p.m, 200 block Donelson Avenue Priest Lake 4:51 a.m., residential burglary, 3400 block Towne Village Road 4:24 p.m., residential burglary, 3100 block Hamilton Church Road 6:20 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1200 block Second Avenue South South 6:31 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 500 block Hagan Street 8:20 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 300 block Plus Park Boulevard 2:57 p.m., residential burglary, 50 block Trimble Street Trinity Hills 1:06 a.m., residential burglary, 400 block Cornish Drive Tusculum 3:53 p.m., residential burglary, 4900 block Karen Ray Drive 10:18 p.m., holdup/robbery, at Haywood Lane and Nolensville Road West 3:03 a.m., rape, at 11th Avenue South 10:14 a.m., holdup/robbery, 1300 block Jefferson Street 11:49 a.m., residential burglary, 2400 block Meharry Boulevard 12:20 p.m., residential burglary, 500 block Old Hickory Boulevard 5:30 p.m., rape, at Acklen Park Drive Whites Creek 6:09 p.m., residential burglary, 3100 block Bridgepoint Drive Woodbine 9:01 p.m., residential burglary, 3300 block Dumas Drive 11:40 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2200 block Nolensville Road Dec. 28 Antioch 1:28 p.m., residential burglary, 1800 block Hickory Hollow Terrace 2:22 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Dover Glen Drive Bordeaux 11:45 a.m., rape, at Crowe Drive Central 3:32 a.m., holdup/robbery, at Second Avenue North and Broadway Cockrill Bend 11:22 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 7300 block Cockrill Bend Boulevard Downtown 5:46 p.m., rape, at Broadway East 3:14 a.m., residential burglary, 600 block South 12th Street Hermitage 1:24 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 1300 block Central Court 7:49 p.m., residential burglary, 6000 block Baltic Drive 9:28 p.m., residential burglary, 80 block Maury Street 10:40 p.m., holdup/robbery, at Lafayette Street and Lewis Street J.C. Napier 1:24 p.m., residential burglary, 700 block Lewis Street Madison 12:43 a.m., holdup/robbery, 200 block South Gallatin Pike North 4:09 p.m., residential burglary, 1900 block 10th Avenue North 10:12 p.m., residential burglary, 400 block Ponder Place Oak Hill 10:01 a.m., holdup/robbery, 4900 block Thoroughbred Lane Old Hickory 12:03 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1400 block Robinson Road 1:02 a.m., residential burglary, 1000 block Berry Street Paragon Mills 4:59 a.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block Harding Place South 12:07 a.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block Harding Place 1:02 p.m., residential burglary, 700 block Woodmere Drive 7:03 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 2700 block Murfreesboro Pike 8:24 p.m., residential burglary, 15100 block Old Hickory Boulevard 8:36 p.m., residential burglary, 2900 block Hamilton Church Road Una 2:08 p.m., holdup/robbery, 2500 block Murfreesboro Pike West 12:35 a.m., holdup/robbery, 1200 block 14th Avenue South 10:27 a.m., holdup/robbery, 3800 block Hillsboro Pike 3:03 p.m., residential burglary, 1300 block Erin Lane 5:51 p.m., residential burglary, 1400 block Grandview Drive 7:20 p.m., residential burglary, 5400 block Knob Road Dec. 27 Bakertown 1:35 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 600 block Bakertown Road Belmont 12:03 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 2500 block 12th Avenue South Brentwood 9:34 a.m., residential burglary, 200 block Glenstone Circle Central 12:36 a.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Broadway 9:02 a.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Church Street 1:40 p.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block Fourth Avenue North Donelson 9:12 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 2600 block Lebanon Pike East 5:26 p.m., residential burglary, 800 block Carter Street 7:42 p.m., holdup/robbery, 900 block Woodland Street 8:10 p.m., residential burglary, 100 block Hart Lane 11:10 p.m., residential burglary, 1000 block West Greenwood Avenue Hermitage 4:30 p.m., holdup/robbery, 3300 block Lebanon Pike 7:55 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1200 block Kermit Drive Joelton 11:37 a.m., kidnapping, 5200 block Whites Creek Pike Madison 10:36 a.m., holdup/robbery, 1100 block South Gallatin Pike 12:13 p.m., nonresidential burglary, 100 block Welworth Street 7:36 p.m., holdup/robbery, 100 block North Gallatin Pike 10:35 p.m., holdup/robbery, 200 block South Gallatin Pike North 5:27 a.m., holdup/robbery, at Cockrill Street and Dr D B Todd Jr Boulevard 1:50 p.m., shooting, 1700 block Kellow Street 2:31 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1700 block Kellow Street 10:14 p.m., shooting, 2400 block 25th Avenue North Priest Lake 10:33 a.m., residential burglary, 3300 block Oak Trees Court 4:41 p.m., residential burglary, 300 block Kothe Way South 2:13 a.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Bell Road 3:40 a.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Bell Road 6:51 a.m., holdup/robbery, 500 block Bell Road 8:54 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 14900 block Old Hickory Boulevard 11:04 p.m., holdup/robbery, 800 block Murfreesboro Pike Tusculum 9:41 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 1600 block Bell Road 2:03 p.m., residential burglary, 4600 block Packard Drive 2:08 p.m., residential burglary, 5200 block Edmondson Pike Una 5:48 a.m., nonresidential burglary, 2500 block Murfreesboro Pike West 9:05 a.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block White Bridge Road 11:43 a.m., holdup/robbery, at 12th Avenue South and Edgehill Avenue 1:47 p.m., holdup/robbery, 3700 block Hillsboro Pike 5:52 p.m., holdup/robbery, 1400 block Hillside Avenue Whites Creek 2:49 p.m., residential burglary, 4800 block Lickton Pike Woodbine 3:30 a.m., holdup/robbery, 300 block Lutie Street 4:37 p.m., residential burglary, 300 block Glenrose Avenue 9:24 p.m., holdup/robbery, 100 block Neese Drive

Titans to take on Ravens in rematch of 2000 playoff game

WKRN Channell 2 News Posted: Jan 5, 2009 09:59 AM CST With Sunday's 27-9 win over the Dolphins in Miami, the Baltimore Ravens will travel to Nashville this weekend to take on the Titans in what eerily resembles a post-season matchup from eight years ago. Just like this year, Tennessee posted the NFL's best record at 13-3 in the 2000 season and earned the AFC's No. 1 seed with home-field advantage throughout. Tampa is hosting the Super Bowl this year, just like in 2000, and the Ravens win Sunday only added to the déjà vu feeling. The Ravens defeated the Titans in the divisional playoff game that year, 24-10, en route to what would become a Super Bowl championship. Titans coach Jeff Fisher called Baltimore a "tremendous challenge." "Baltimore has improved in all areas since we saw them earlier this season. They are built around a strong run game and a great defense, which reminds us of the classic matchups against them in the past," he said in a statement. In week five, the Titans defeated the Ravens in Baltimore 13-10 but it was a game the Ravens defense dominated. Kerry Collins was intercepted twice as Baltimore built a 10-6 lead but the Titans intercepted rookie Joe Flacco two times and Collins got it together late, delivering a game-winning fourth quarter touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler. The big question this weekend for the Titans will be Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae who, in December 21's win over Pittsburgh, injured his right elbow. He did not play against Indianapolis and did not practice during the team's bye week. Fisher said he may be questionable going into Saturday's game and will be "day by day." Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth also missed the final two games of the season with a sprained left knee and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch missed the final three with an injured groin. Fisher said Sunday both would practice this week. Kick-off Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m. at LP Field. Should the Titans win, they will host the AFC Championship game the following week.

Metro Action Commission plans faster help on rent, utilities

By Michael Cass • THE TENNESSEAN • January 5, 2009 Deluged with requests for help from residents who are struggling to pay their bills, the Metro Action Commission plans to give priority this week to those in danger of being hit the hardest by cold weather and economic misfortune. The commission said it would look first at applications from customers who are having trouble paying energy bills, in jeopardy of being evicted or potentially facing foreclosure as a result of overdue mortgage payments. The agency has received nearly 1,000 applications for utility assistance alone in the last 10 business days. "With nearly 200 people coming to us each day for help mostly with utilities, rent and mortgages, we need to make some temporary changes to the way we handle all requests so that families will not have to wait extreme amounts of time for assistance," Cynthia Croom, the commission's executive director, said in a news release Friday. MAC spokeswoman Lisa Gallon said the economic recession has forced people who never showed up at the agency before to seek help this winter. "We think it's primarily due to the economic situation our nation is facing," Gallon said. Metro gets $3.1 million MAC recently received an additional $3.1 million in federal energy assistance funds to aid more families who need help with utility payments. Gallon said the agency expects to have served 6,000 customers by mid-January, a little more than six months into this fiscal year, which began July 1. MAC served 5,993 customers in the full 12 months of the previous fiscal year. Most customers won't notice any change in the way the agency operates, Gallon said. Applications that aren't processed this week will be handled next week. Contact Michael Cass at 259-8838 or mcass@tennessean.com.

Early voting underway for English-First special election

Posted: Jan 2, 2009 08:40 AM CST WKRN NEWS Channel 2 Early voting in a special election to decide whether English should be Nashville's official language has begun. Metro Councilman Eric Crafton is behind the amendment that, if approved, would require all government communications, publications and meetings to be conducted in English with exceptions allowed for health and safety concerns. "The first three words of our constitution are, ‘We the people' and so we the people are taking back control of this government and making sure that they listen to what we have to say for a change," the longtime sponsor of the bill has said. Crafton gathered the thousands of voter signatures needed for the special election. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has expressed that he is against the proposal. "If we're sending out a message that you can only communicate in one language, those Metro employees, no matter what language they can speak, can't use that language, then we are undermining our own economy," Mayor Dean said. Crafton said 20,000 people have signed petitions and sent mail supporting the amendment because it will unify Nashville under one language. Officials said the election will cost taxpayers $350,000. Voters wanting to vote early in the election should go to the Davidson County Election Commission, located at 800 Second Avenue South. Early voting ends January 17. Election Day is January 22.

Resolve to rebuild retirement

By Christine Dugas • USA TODAY • January 1, 2009 The bear market and the economic slump have caused most 401(k) retirement savings to have a major meltdown this year. Not only has the financial mess caused retirement investments to plummet in value, it also has caused a growing number of employers to suspend their 401(k) company match. But as gloomy as it all seems, you shouldn't spend the winter hiding under the blankets. After you put away your holiday decorations, it's a good time to regroup and learn from this year's pitfalls and mistakes. Here are seven tips to rebuild retirement savings in 2009: Make sure you can sleep at night As difficult as the year was, you may have learned some important things about yourself. You may be far less willing to take risks than you thought. "We've been through one of the most rapid and extreme bear markets in history," said Stephen Utkus, principal at Vanguard's Center for Retirement Research. "And if that wasn't a test of your risk tolerance, I don't know what would be." If you're still comfortable with your asset allocations, then your risk and return are in good balance. But if you've lost much sleep this year, you know it's time to reduce risk and adjust investment priorities. Don't panic After the worst financial crisis since the 1930s, start 2009 by making a candid assessment of your retirement plan, Utkus said. If that means investing less in stocks, fine. Just be aware that you may have to increase your savings over the long term to compensate for the lower returns you'll get from bank CDs and money market funds. If you shifted money in a panic, however, you might want to reconsider. So far this year, 401(k) trading activity has risen to 6 percent. Not surprisingly, most people have moved their money into stable value funds and money market mutual funds. That may seem safe. But if you are planning to get back into stocks, don't think you can time the market. Most people simply sell low and buy higher. Start the year by making sure you have a smart financial strategy — and don't rely on the past when you plan for the future. "Everyone says, 'The market is going down, therefore I shouldn't invest in equities,' " Utkus said. "You should think about how to be best positioned going forward, as opposed to spending too much time gazing out the rearview mirror." And most planners say that if you have a long-term investment horizon — 20 years or so — you should have most of your assets in stocks. Diversify your holdings Some plan participants were too aggressive in their investments by investing only in one kind of stock — small company stocks, for example. When the market collapsed, their retirement savings did, too. It's even more risky to be too concentrated in company stock, said Christopher Jones, chief investment officer for Financial Engines, which provides advice to 401(k) plan participants. Even though the Enron debacle should have provided a cautionary tale about investing in company stock, that's still a major problem, Jones said. And many plan participants continue to invest 100 percent of their 401(k) money in company stock. "They look at the stock market and say that they've done better in their company stock," he said. "The fallacy, of course, is that it doesn't guarantee anything about the future." Make sure that you have a well-diversified portfolio that includes broad-based stock funds, such as those that track the S&P 500 stock index. Keep age in mind When you are 30, you can put all your money in stocks because you'll have plenty of time to make up for any losses. When you are 55, it's much harder to make up those losses. Many employees who are close to retirement are now suffering because they overly invested in stocks. But if they'd invested in a target-date fund, they would be in better shape. These funds invest in a mix of stocks, bonds and money funds based on when you plan to retire, and they're managed by professionals who make disciplined investment plans. Nearly half of 401(k) plan participants who are ages 56 to 65 had portfolios that had at least 20 percent more in stocks than target funds designed for that age group did, said Jack VanDerhei, research director of the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Older plan participants should consider target-date funds, especially if they don't believe they have the financial acumen to accomplish their asset allocation on their own, VanDerhei said. Keep saving Even if the stock market calamity has made you feel frightened and demoralized, you should try to stay in the game. Then you can take advantage of the pretax savings that you have in a 401(k) plan. And if your company offers a matching contribution, you also can take advantage of that. "You should make sure that you are saving enough to get every last penny of your company matching contribution," Jones said. Unfortunately, more than 20 percent of the workers who participate in their plan do not contribute enough to get the total company match, according to Hewitt Associates. Remember the big picture A growing number of employers are suspending their company match. That creates worries and resentment among workers, and some are considering dropping their 401(k) plan entirely. But keep in mind that most companies, unless they go into bankruptcy, will eventually reinstate their matching contribution. And the responsibility for retirement savings was yours, anyway, said Sheryl Garrett, a financial planner in Kansas City, Mo. "Companies have to cut where they think it inflicts the least amount of pain on their employees and their business," she said. "Cutting into your retirement nest egg temporarily is their way of trying to stay viable and continue giving you a paycheck." Do not cash out Younger employers tend to cash out their 401(k) plan when they switch jobs. Big mistake. For most, if they have $10,000 or less in their plan, it looks like free money, and retirement seems far away, said Pamela Hess, director of retirement research for Hewitt Associates. But if a 25-year-old has just $5,000 in a retirement account that earns a 7 percent average rate of return, it will be worth $74,872 when the worker reaches 65 — even without adding any more money, according to Hewitt.

Metro can require restaurants to post calories

Opinion backs menu labeling By Rachel Stults • THE TENNESSEAN • January 1, 2009 The Metropolitan Board of Health has the right to require restaurants to post calorie content on their menus and menu boards, according to a legal opinion that backs a controversial proposal to regulate how at least 500 area restaurants sell food items to customers. The Metro Law Department opinion states that the Board of Health has the authority to adopt a regulation governing menu labeling, that no state or federal law pre-empts the regulations and that the regulation is likely to be held constitutional. Health officials say obesity here has tripled in the past 20 years. In an effort to fight the trend, the board of health is considering a regulation that would require all Davidson County restaurant chains with 15 or more establishments to include calorie information for items on their menus. The legal opinion says if the board determines that menu labeling is required to protect public health, it is the board's duty to do it. "We're disappointed in the opinion," said Walt Baker, who represents about 150 of Tennessee's restaurants. "It was our sense that the health department only had the authority granted to it by state and there was nothing specific in state law that had to do with menu labeling. We felt like the dots never connected, but our issues still remain the same. The legal opinion was a tactical element of this whole process." "The fact is it doesn't make any sense to us on a city-by-city basis. The fact that Nashville does it and Franklin doesn't will not solve the problem. We want to be part of the solution, but the solution is not one little dose at a time. It's bigger than that." Under Nashville's proposal, calorie data would be printed next to the menu item, in similar font and size as the item or its price. Restaurants also would have to post a notice that adults should limit their daily intake to 2,000 calories. Board sought opinion The board will vote on the measure at its February meeting. The board had asked for a legal opinion to be rendered after several restaurant representatives in a November public hearing questioned whether a city board had the authority to require menu regulation. During the public hearing and the subsequent weeks allowed for written feedback from the public, there were 47 votes in favor of the regulation. There were 37 votes against the move, with all but one opposing vote coming from the restaurant industry, said Brian Todd, spokesman for the Metro Department of Health. Baker said he was surprised that the legal opinion went so far as to say it's the board's duty to require menu labeling if board members see it as a way to protect public health. "That's really narrow language," he said. "And they're talking calories, and there are so many other nutritional facts that come into play — calories from fat content, there's proteins, there's carbs, there's sugars. This whole thing is about calories, and, to me, calories is an oversimplification of the issue." Contact Rachel Stults at 615-726-8904 or rstults@tennessean.com.

Smokers, quit with coach's help

Free service guides process By Rachel Stults • THE TENNESSEAN • January 1, 2009 Tennessee smokers who have made the New Year's resolution to quit could get some help just by picking up the phone. State health experts are urging smokers to call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, a free stop smoking coaching service available to all adult state residents, at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support connecting smokers with trained coaches to guide them through the quitting process. Callers will receive ongoing help through scheduled calls with a quit coach personally assigned to them. The service is free and available in both English and Spanish. The service is also available for the deaf and hearing impaired at TTY: 1-877-559-3816. QuitLine callers also have free access to relapse prevention techniques, printed resource materials, information on nicotine replacement therapies and other services to help with quitting.

Happy New Year to all of Our Followers!

Thank you for keeping up with this blog for 2008. We have had over 27,000 visitors for the first year of this blog and the count continues to grow. Please feel free to contact us if there is any suggestions you might have to make this blog more informative. Just leave a comment on this post if you have any suggestions, topics that you would like to have covered, or anything else that you would like to see added for 2009. Thank you all again and Happy New Year! Best Wishes! Vivian Wilhoite and Mindy Schwartz