Metro Council briefs: Man who had grill ripped out to get settlement

Briefs Metro Council unanimously approved at its Tuesday meeting a resolution to give a former Davidson County jail inmate a $95,000 settlement. The funds will go to former prisoner Anthony McCoy, who had his grill — a piece of gold jewelry — ripped from his mouth by a Davidson County sheriff's lieutenant last year. Lt. Tanya Mayhew was demoted and suspended five days as a result of the incident. Council supports hospital bed tax The council also unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution showing its support for a proposed hospital bed tax, which is under consideration in the state legislature. The tax, supported by hospitals across the state, would close a potential $11 million budget gap facing Metro General Hospital at Meharry, the city-operated safety net facility. — NATE RAU

Tanker Explodes Near Airport

Channel 5 News Posted: Mar 09, 2010 8:45 AM CST Updated: Mar 09, 2010 9:13 AM CST NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A tanker exploded Tuesday morning at a Raceway service station on Donelson Pike at Interstate 40. The northbound lanes of Donelson Pike have been closed while crews work the scene. Stay connected to www.newschannel5.com. Sky5 and a camera crew are on the way.

New Irish Pub restaurant opens in Donelson

McNamara's up and running just in time for St. Patrick's DayBy Andy Humbles • THE TENNESSEAN • March 8, 2010 Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, McNamara’s Irish Pub & Restaurant has taken over the Plantation House restaurant site, hoping to make Donelson a destination for a bit of Ireland. Proprietor Sean McNamara leads the ownership group, having established himself by playing Irish music at different establishments in the Nashville area since 1995. “I’m taking 15 years of Irish pub experience and incorporating what I’ve seen work, and I’ve tried to incorporate that,’’ McNamara said. It’s a true, authentic Irish pub and restaurant from the moment you walk in — from the décor, to the music and hospitality.’’ Kirk Orndorff is the general manager. Paula McNamara, born and raised in Ireland, is active in the business ownership. “She lends the authenticity to the place,’’ Sean McNamara said of his wife. The new owners have renovated the building at 2740 Old Lebanon Pike that was last home to E. Devine’s Good Times restaurant which replaced Plantation House. McNamara estimated the building was vacant about 10 months. Councilman Phil Claiborne believed the timing with the down economy and with inconsistency of hours hurt E. Devine’s Good Times, a restaurant and sports bar concept. Business for McNamara’s has been good, and Claiborne believes it will work. “It should be a real asset for the community; I hope folks get behind it,’’ Claiborne said of McNamara’s. “It brings to this side of town something totally different than anything that has been here or is here.’’ The location is just off Lebanon Pike, but the restaurant is visible from the high traffic thoroughfare, one reason it was attractive to McNamara. “I think Donelson needed something like this,’’ said customer Emily Scholes, a Hermitage resident. Scholes had been to both the Plantation House and E. Devine’s Good Times. “I think it trumps the other two,’’ she said. “The atmosphere, the location. It works.’’ McNamara’s offers live music regularly Thursdays through Sundays. That will include his band that has been known as Nosey Flynn. McNamara has his own name recognition as well. Irish foods will be offered as will mainstream menu items. The restaurant will be smoke-free. Different areas of the restaurant have different Irish themes. The upstairs houses an Irish theme sports pub that will show the major sporting events of interest here. It was scheduled to open last week. The music business drew McNamara to Nashville in 1995, and he first worked as a waiter and then bartender at Mulligan’s Pub And Restaurant. That position evolved into work as the house band. “McNamara’s going to be known for music,’’ he said. Initial opening was in mid-February and the grand opening was March 5.

Nashville Davidson County crime stats Feb. 27-March 1

Nashville-area businesses to cut more than 300 jobs

Borders, Sears, others plan layoffs By Getahn Ward • THE TENNESSEAN • March 9, 2010 Add some 300 other workers to the ranks of the unemployed in the Nashville area in addition to cuts planned by Ford Motor Credit in Middle Tennessee this month. Cuts planned by Borders books, outsourcing firm Celestica, defense contractor Lockheed Martin and a handful of other firms — just reported to state labor officials — come as some signs of a more stable job market emerge nationally. "Even as we see positive job growth … we're going to find many businesses continue to cut back on payroll," said Matt Murray, an economist at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. "It's still possible that unemployment rates go up, but I do think that the worst is behind us." Jobless rate is steady Nationwide, unemployment held steady at 9.7 percent last month, while the state's unemployment rate remained a percentage point higher at 10.7 percent for January, the latest data reported. Generally, there's a lag between a rebound in the economy and when employers add workers to payrolls. Under the federal WARN Act, employers with more than 100 people on the payroll must give the state notice of substantial layoffs. Borders, cheese producer Schreiber Foods Inc., and collections services firm Axiant LLC will cut a total of 184 employees in the area, state officials said Monday. Meanwhile, Celestica, Lockheed Martin, Sears and Highland Youth Center gave notice of planned closures affecting 132 people. Sears plans to close its store in Columbia, Tenn., for instance. Borders said it would move a returns operation from La Vergne to a distribution center in Carlisle, Pa., by mid-April — a move that should eliminate 120 jobs. By the end of next month, Celestica plans to close its fulfillment services operation and cut 43 jobs in Mt. Juliet. Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, last month closed a flight services operation that offered pre-flight services to noncommercial pilots as part of a consolidation. That affected 28 local employees.

Suit against Novartis moves forward

March 9, 2010 DAVIDSON COUNTY A federal judge in Nashville has refused to dismiss 40 lawsuits against a Swedish-based pharmaceutical company accused of failing to warn patients that two of its drugs can cause severe deterioration of the jaw. U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell's ruling last week is the latest blow to Novartis Corp., which is facing lawsuits from hundreds of patients around the country over its bone-strengthening drugs Aredia and Zometa. The 40 cases from people treated with the drugs in Florida represent a portion of the more than 600 cases against Novartis in U.S. District Court in Nashville. There are about 150 additional cases being handled by a state court in New Jersey. Trials are set to begin later this year around the country. — ASSOCIATED PRESS

30 on council ask mayor to file suit over school funds

By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • March 9, 2010 Three-quarters of the Metro Council is calling on Mayor Karl Dean to file suit to fight what they describe as unfairness in the way the state allocates school funds. A letter signed by 30 members of the Metro Council formally asked Monday for the Dean administration to challenge the state's Basic Education Program for school funding. The group said Metro Nashville receives about $1,100 less per pupil than the state average. "Williamson County gets more dollars from the state to educate their students than Davidson County despite the challenging population that we have to educate," said council member Eric Crafton. Davidson County's state allocation of $3,027 per student is the fourth-lowest in the state, despite having the most English language learners and the second-biggest population of at-risk students, said the letter, which also went to Metro legal director Sue Cain. Second challenge A spokeswoman for the Department of Education declined to comment on the possibility of a lawsuit but noted that funding for counties that have high numbers of English language learners and at-risk students was increased three years ago. The request is the latest Metro Council challenge to the BEP, the formula the state uses to distribute money to its public schools. Crafton and others who support the challenge, including council members Jim Gotto and Michael Craddock, say the formula is skewed to give more money to rural counties. Crafton, Gotto and Craddock, who are term-limited on the council, are all running for other local or state offices this year. Last summer, the council called on state lawmakers to pass a bill equalizing funds. Council members said they dropped that effort because they lacked the votes in the legislature to push through a new formula. A spokeswoman for Dean said Metro's law department would review the letter and advise him on whether a suit is worthwhile. Only the mayor's office can file a lawsuit on behalf of the city.

Updated crime log for Feb. 23-24

Nashville to start free downtown bus service

USA TODAY Posted 3/4/2010 8:45 AM ET NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville is adding a free downtown circulator route to its transit bus system. New diesel-electric hybrid buses, painted a bold blue and green, will run the routes and should pass any given stop in about 15-20 minute intervals, reported The Tennessean. The service begins March 29 at the same time the Metro Transit Authority puts other changes into effect, including additional service to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's clinics at 100 Oaks Mall. Buses and vans will run Monday through Saturday from before the morning commuter rush to as late as midnight. The free downtown service is similar to a circulator route Chattanooga has had in place for several years, utilizing electric buses. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2 sue over health cuts

They want state to pay for home treatment By Clay Carey • THE TENNESSEAN • March 5, 2010 Two Tennessee men with severe disabilities have sued the state's TennCare program over cuts in home health care that could force them into nursing homes. Justin Cochran, 27, and Glen Barnhill, 49, say in the federal lawsuit that the state violated the Americans with Disabilities act by cutting off their access to home-based nursing. Both men are seeking a court order requiring the state to pay for them to get treatment at home, not in a nursing home. This year, TennCare is launching a new program called CHOICES designed to give people the opportunity to get long-term care in their homes rather than in a nursing home. But to qualify, the cost of home care can't be more than the cost of a nursing home, TennCare spokeswoman Kelly Gunderson said. According to their lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court, the state contends it is less costly to provide Cochran and Barnhill daily, around-the-clock care in nursing homes, so TennCare would not cover the cost of their in-home care. "For both of them, it would be an extraordinary loss of independence," said Katie Evans, an attorney representing Cochran and Barnhill. She said both men are able to live in their homes, with the help of caregivers. "It would be extremely damaging to their mental health as well as their physical health if they were to be forced into a nursing home," Evans said. Gunderson and a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Attorney General's office, which represents the state in court, declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday. Cochran, who lives in a Knoxville apartment, has exhausted his administrative appeals, the lawsuit says. Five years ago he suffered a spinal injury that left him partially quadriplegic and dependant upon a ventilator. Barnhill, who was left partially quadriplegic after a shooting in 1994, is awaiting an administrative hearing. He is getting treatment at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Before his hospitalization, he lived independently, with help from caregivers paid by TennCare. According to court documents, Barnhill told a clinical psychologist that he had a bad experience in a nursing home before, and he fears he would die if he were to be placed in a nursing home again.

Concert at Nashville church to aid Chile quake victims

DAVIDSON COUNTY A benefit concert for Chile will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. March 13 at Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville. The concert will feature Dave Perkins, Spanish Serenatta, Martina Dreems, Leslie Rodriguiez, Chilean writer and earthquake survivor Alberto Fuguet and others. The church is located at 3511 Belmont Blvd. A $15 donation is suggested. The United Way of Williamson County will handle the proceeds and direct all the money raised to Chilean relief efforts, according to the concert's organizers. Donations may also be made by check to the United Way of Williamson County. Include "For Chile" on the memo line. — JANELL ROSS THE TENNESSEAN

Tennessee is finalist for Race to the Top

State delegation will make pitch in D.C. for Race to the Top funds By Jaime Sarrio • THE TENNESSEAN • March 5, 2010 Tennessee lawmakers came a step closer Thursday to learning whether their massive education reform efforts will earn the state's schools a $501 million federal grant. The state was one of 16 selected as front-runners in the Race to the Top competition, a federal initiative offering the chance to win a slice of $4.35 billion in exchange for making significant changes to public school policy. The winners will be announced in April. Forty states and Washington, D.C., applied for the money, but fewer than 10 will be chosen to split the final prize, said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. "Only the best proposals will win, and we expect winners to blaze the path for the future of school reform for years, and even decades to come," Duncan said. "They will make education reform America's mission." Duncan said all of the finalists scored more than 400 points out of a possible 500 points in an evaluation of their grant applications, but he did not release individual scores. Up next — finalists will send teams to Washington to defend the applications. "It's important we not make these decisions based on a piece of paper," Duncan said. "Looking people in the eye and having heart-to-heart conversations will make me more confident when we pick the actual winners." If Tennessee doesn't win in this round, there's another in the summer. And if President Barack Obama's proposed education budget passes, Duncan said, there will be a third round of money to hand out next year. Tennessee, which requested a half-billion dollars in its application, is favored to win the competition by local and national education experts. Its sophisticated student tracking system can predict academic progress over time, and the application process put a premium on data-driven decision-making in education. Gov. Phil Bredesen said a K-12 reform bill passed in January also gives the state an edge. It requires teachers to be evaluated on student test scores and makes it easier for the state to take over low-performing schools. "A lot of the things they're looking for are things that we've already done, not that we're promising to do," Bredesen said. Bredesen will be one of five team members defending the state's 1,000-page application later this month. He said state Education Commissioner Tim Webb is likely to join him, and the two will begin meeting today to develop their strategy. "We're going to put our best foot forward," Bredesen said.

Hermitage Precinct - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 4, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Hermitage Precinct officers, aided by citizen tips, today arrested five teen burglary suspects involved in three home break-ins. At 8 a.m., officers responded to an alarm at a home on Tulip Grove Road. A rock had been thrown through a window. Citizens reported a suspicious Honda Civic parked nearby. Officers Jeb Johnston and Paris Spraggins soon located the suspect car on Rockwood Drive. Both suspects, Keno Lane, 18, and a 17-year-old who lives on Rockwood Drive, admitted their involvement. Lane, of Chandler Place, is charged with criminal trespass. The 17-year-old is charged in Juvenile Court with attempted burglary and loitering during school hours. In the other two cases, four teens are believed to have broken into a home on Cloudfalls Trace at 10:30 a.m. and a home on Grace Falls Drive just 30 minutes later. Citizens in the area reported the four teens arrived in two separate vehicles, parked, and walked behind houses. Officers located and arrested three of the suspects, one eluded capture. Stolen items and two handguns were recovered from the vehicles. Two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old are each charged in Juvenile Court with two counts of aggravated burglary, unlawful weapon possession and loitering during school hours.

TN widens choices for long-term care

More elderly, disabled can stay in homes as new program kicks in By Christina E. Sanchez • THE TENNESSEAN • March 1, 2010 Ruby Brown enjoys settling into a big chair in a bedroom of her Bordeaux home to watch daily court shows on television. Her daughter, Gail Brown, says the familiar surroundings and routine are important to her mother's quality of life. She brought her 78-year-old mother, who has early-onset dementia, to live with her and her husband. "That's the best thing for her right now," Gail Brown said. "I want her with us while she still knows me and where she is." A new long-term care program will allow more low-income elderly and disabled people to stay in their homes or live with family instead of moving to nursing homes. Under the Long-term Care Choices Act of 2008, eligible people can choose to get services such as bathing, medications and meals at home. Because home care is less expensive than nursing home care, more people will be able to receive services, officials said. The Choices program kicks off today in Middle Tennessee and on July 1 statewide. Tennessee ranks dead last in the country for spending on home- and community-based care. Of the $1 billion that Tennessee and the federal government spend on long-term care in the state, more than $900 million, or about 95 percent, goes to nursing homes. "Choices changes how we deliver long-term care and makes home- and community-based care services more available," said Patti Kill ings worth, chief of long-term care for the TennCare Bureau, the state's Medicaid program. "People will have freedom of choice between home-based care and facility care as long as care can be safely provided and doesn't cost more than a nursing home." To qualify for TennCare Choices, people must be older, blind or disabled and must meet income and other eligibility criteria. Forms will be filled out by a representative from the local area agency on aging and submitted on behalf of the person in need. That is a new element of the program designed to streamline the process and get people approved for services within 10 days. "This program has been a long time coming," said Rebecca Kelly, state director of AARP Tennessee. "We know people want to stay in their homes and community as long as they can." People in nursing homes will also be able to look at other care options, she said. "Until now, nursing homes have been the default for people who need care," Kelly said. "They want more choices." 'A huge step forward' The Choices program, when fully rolled out in July, will be able to serve almost 9,500 people, giving 3,500 more people access to long-term care. Killingsworth said serving more people is important because the long-term care population is expected to triple in the coming years. "We will be able to rebalance how we spend our long-term care dollars," she said. "It's not going to make us first, but we're not going to be 50th. This is a huge step forward in a long journey." The state has also awarded almost $2.6 million in one-time grants to long-term care facilities statewide to diversify the options they offer, such as adult day care, meal delivery and home care services. Bordeaux Long-term Care, in North Nashville, received more than $127,000 to expand its care to include home-delivered meals and personal care services at home, such as bathing or light housekeeping. The facility also has a nursing home, adult assisted living and an adult day care. "The Choices program will in some ways mean a new way of doing business in the long-term care industry," said Barbara Morrison, administrator at Bordeaux. "It will help more people to be able to access different kinds of services." On the Bordeaux campus, the Knowles Adult Day Care serves about 40 people a day. It provides activities, physical care and a place to socialize for people who live at home but need a place to go during the day, said Rhonda Dunn, Knowles administrator. "Our goal is to keep them at home as long as possible until they no longer are able," Dunn said. "They are able to stay at home or with family but get the additional quality of care they need."

Gangs rattle schools !

Click the above link to read the whole story!