Lee Names New Health Commissioner

 Gov. Bill Lee has named a Kentucky State Senator to be Tennessee's next Commissioner of Health.

More from NewsBreak:

A Kentucky doctor and state Senator will become Tennessee's next Commissioner of Health, Gov. Bill Lee has announced.

Dr. Ralph Alvarado will take on the role effective January 16th, as Lee begins his second term in office.

Lee noted Alvarado's combination of experience in medicine and public service as strong qualifications for the role.

“Dr. Alvarado’s significant clinical and hospital management experience make him well-positioned to lead the Department of Health, and I appreciate his service to Tennesseans," Lee said.

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County Commissioners Interview Law Director Candidates

 The Sumner County Commission is hiring for a Law Director and four local attorneys have emerged as candidates.

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A special committee of the Sumner County Commission recently held interviews for the position of County Law Director. The Committee was established to conduct a search for a new law director following the August 2022 elections.

Four area attorneys interviewed for the role. They include Russ Edwards, Eric Sitler, Jason Coleman, and Jim Cochran.

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SCORE Releases State Policy Priorities

 A statewide education advocacy nonprofit founded by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist has released a list of education policy priorities for Tennessee.

NewsBreak has more:

The Statewide Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) - a nonprofit issue advocacy group chaired by former U.S. Senator Bill Frist - today released a list of key education priorities they believe the Tennessee General Assembly should focus on when they return to session in January.

The group focused on three key areas they say merit policy attention. These include advancing high-quality instruction for every student, addressing the decline in the state's college-going rate, and ensuring Tennessee schools prepare students for work.

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Free Reading Resources Available for Families of Kids in K-2

 More from NewsBreak:

The Tennessee Department of Education (TNDOE) has announced that in partnership with the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), free reading resources are now available to Tennessee families with children in grades K-2.

“We know early literacy is incredibly important and sets the foundation for a child’s education and life after graduation,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Thanks to partners like GELF, Tennessee families can easily order free books and resources to make reading fun this winter break and help their children become excellent readers.”

All Tennessee families can order one booklet pack for each of their kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students using this site. 

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Shoaf Takes on "Filth" in Schools

 Sumner County Commissioner Matt Shoaf says he and his fellow County Commissioners are taking on "filth" in schools.

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"We won't stand for filth that has made its way into our schools. We're not going to get stuck on process - we want it fixed, because that's what our children deserve."

In reference to "filth" making its way into schools, Shoaf appears to be referencing a recent County Commission resolution calling for the School Board to ban two books from Sumner County school libraries.

READ MORE local news at NewsBreak 

 

Book Battle in Sumner County

 A pair of stories from NewsBreak detail a battle between the Sumner County Commission and Sumner County School Board over books:

The County Commission last week passed a resolution raising objections to two books:

The resolution specifically mentions the books A Place Inside of Me by Zetta Elliott and Dragonwings by Laurence Yep.

The resolution states "text found in the books has examples of racism, underage drinking, foul language, violence, drugs, prostitution, alcohol, hatred of police, overthrow of the government, destruction of the nuclear family, and communism."

Meanwhile the Sumner County School Board held a hearing and retained "A Place Inside of Me."

The Sumner County School Board last night voted in favor of keeping "A Place Inside of Me" on the bookshelves in the school system's library. The move comes following a complaint that the book violates a new state law around objectionable content. Seven members (out of 11) voted in favor of keeping the book.

The vote on the library book - an award-winning illustrated book by Zetta Elliott - took place after a public hearing featuring speakers both for and against the text.

READ MORE local news at NewsBreak 

 

 

Liberty Creek Names Baseball Coach

 Liberty Creek High School has announced that Eli Carlisle will be the school's Head Baseball Coach.

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A Word of Caution on Buy Now, Pay Later

 From NewsBreak:

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) issued a report analyzing complaints made to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Buy Now, Pay Later products. The report contained key findings that create cause for concern around these products.

In a press release, PIRG warned of the hazards of using such products - offered by companies such as AfterPay, Sezzle, Klarna, Affirm, and others.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Or free airline tickets. Or free appliances. But it isn’t hard to get the latter two with no money down these days with the proliferation of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ plans,” said Ed Mierzwinski, the senior director of U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s consumer program. “Many of these installment plans, often advertised as ‘free’ to the consumer if all payments are made on time, aren’t run by the company you buy your furniture or electronics from. Instead, they’re managed by third-party financial firms -- known as fintechs -- and some claim they aren’t subject to credit card consumer protections.” 

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A Very Bad State School Board Appointment

 From NewsBreak:

Members of the Southern Christian Coalition spoke out in opposition to Gov. Bill Lee's appointment of Jordan Mollenhour to the Tennessee State Board of Education.

In a statement issued after Mollenhour was confirmed by the Senate, pastors shared their concerns:

“As a father with two children who attend public school in Tennessee, I question the wisdom of appointing someone to the State Board of Education whose company is currently under litigation for supplying deadly ammo to underage persons, ammo that was subsequently used in the perpetration of mass shootings,” said Rev Brandon Baxter, Elder in the United Methodist Church serving in Nashville.

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Bill Lee Turning Tennessee Schools Over to Michigan Billionaire

 From Tennessee Education Report:

NewsChannel5’s Phil Williams has been following the money to find out who is behind efforts to privatize Tennessee’s public schools. It’s no surprise that Lee’s longtime friend Betsy DeVos is among the key backers of privatization.

MORE on how Betsy DeVos is a big player in running TN education reform.

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A Warning on School Funding Reform

 From Tennessee Education Report:

Nashville education blogger TC Weber has a couple of pieces out that break down Gov. Lee’s proposed school funding reform.

The bottom line: Be afraid, be very afraid.

I mean, if you like using public money to fund private schools OR if you’re a fan of the state taking over districts, this funding scheme is for you.

MORE on how Lee's new funding formula will lead to school vouchers and school district takeovers.

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Pastors Respond to Lee's Curriculum Plan

 In response to news reports that a curriculum supported by Gov. Bill Lee for use in charter schools in Tennessee involves a re-telling of the Civil Rights Era that downplays the racial injustice of the time, a group of Tennessee pastors affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition spoke out about the move.

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Sumner Democrats Announce Local Candidates

 From NewsBreak:

The Sumner County (Tennessee) Democratic Party announced that there are a number of Democrats seeking election to local office in this year's election cycle. 2022 marks the first time in Tennessee history that races for school board will be partisan.

In announcing the candidate slate, party chair Jessie McKinney said:

I’m so excited to share with you that we have SEVEN Democrats who are running for county offices and have qualified to be on the May 3 primary ballot. This is a historic number of Democratic candidates in Sumner County.

MORE (Including the list of candidates)>

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Borrower Beware: Rise Credit is BAD NEWS!

 From Medium:

Studies on American financial health indicate that most Americans are ill-prepared for an emergency costing more than $1000. These numbers, reported by Fortunly, tell a grim tale:

American savings statistics for 2020 show that nearly 70% of Americans have less than $1,000 stashed away in their bank accounts. That number rose from 58% in 2018. Meanwhile, the number of those with savings between $1,000 and $5,000 stands at roughly 12%.

It’s not difficult to imagine an emergency costing more than $1000.

In Tennessee, Rise offers short-term loans from $500 to $5000 with interest rates ranging from 99% to 149%.

Yeah - bad news - 

and it gets worse.

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Constitutional Republicans Make Endorsements

 The Sumner County Constitutional Republicans have announced endorsements in races for County Commission, School Board, County Mayor, and Judge.

Here are the candidates the so-called "true conservatives" are backing: 

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Can Tennessee Solve the Teacher Shortage with Temporary Licenses?

 From Tennessee Education Report:

House Bill 1901 sponsored by Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (and in the Senate by Sen. Joey Hensley) would allow for the granting of temporary teaching licenses to individuals not otherwise trained in order to address the growing teacher shortage in Tennessee.

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It's worth noting here that Weaver represents a portion of Sumner County in the House.

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Wealth Dynasties Grab Power, Evade Taxes

 From NewsBreak:

Upon releasing a report about wealth accumulation among America's wealthiest families, advocates at Americans for Tax Fairness called for tax reform.

The report notes that tax loopholes will allow the wealthiest families - dynasties - to accumulate $21 trillion by 2045.

The report estimates there could be as much as $8.4 trillion in foregone revenue from estate-, gift- and generation-skipping tax avoidance by dynasty trusts between now and 2045 based on the current estate tax rate of 40%. Most or all of this is legal due to huge loopholes built into the tax system over the years, in some cases by clever tax lawyers and in others by Congress. “Dynasty trust” is the term for a variety of wealth-accumulating structures that remain in place for multiple generations to ensure their fortunes cascade down to children, grandchildren and beyond undiminished by wealth-transfer taxes. They typically are employed by estates of $10 million or more. 

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A Tennessee Message for Education Secretary Cardona

 From NewsBreak:

During Education Secretary Miguel Cardona's recent visit to Nashville, a group of Tennessee pastors and parents urged the Cabinet leader to take action to protect public schools.

“No matter what we look like, where we live, or what's in our wallets, most of us want our neighborhood public schools to inspire imagination, cultivate critical thinking, and ensure our children can live fulfilling lives,” said Rev Dr Kevin Riggs, Pastor of Franklin Community Church. “But Governor Lee and the Legislature are dividing us and working to bypass local leaders and voters when they promote charter schools over local public schools."

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School Privatization is Big Money Game

 From Tennessee Education Report: 

$8 million.

That’s how much groups seeking to privatize Tennessee’s public schools are spending lobbying the General Assembly, according to an analysis by NewsChannel5.

In a story on lobbying expenditures, NewsChannel5 noted that among the “big spenders” were school privatization groups:

Privatization groups pushing charter schools and school vouchers: just under $8 million over the past five years.

With Gov. Bill Lee at the helm, it seems that big money is paying off. Just last month, Lee announced plans to hand over millions in Tennessee tax dollars to a private, Christian college in Michigan to run a network of 50-100 charter schools in the state.

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Gov. Lee's Plan to Give Public Money to Private Schools

 From Tennessee Education Report:

Gov. Bill Lee made clear in his State of the State that he is a proponent of an alternative history known as “American exceptionalism.”

This theory is grounded in a sort of American evangelicalism – and certainly has strong ties to far-right Christian movements. To advance his “exceptionalism agenda” Lee has announced a partnership with conservative Hillsdale College – a private, Christian school in Michigan. Yes, Tennessee is such a great example of exceptionalism that we have to turn to a private college from Michigan to “properly” teach history.

Lee claims that he has been inspired by Reagan’s words. This inspiration is ostensibly the impetus for the focus on an American exceptionalism curriculum from Hillsdale College.

Of course, Reagan is no stranger to efforts to dismantle public education and turn schools over to those on the extreme right of the political spectrum.

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Beware Predatory Puppy Loans

 From NewsBreak:

Consumer advocates are calling out EasyPay Finance and Utah-based TAB Bank for their roles in predatory loans for financing puppies. These loans can carry rates up to 189%. Consumer and animal welfare advocates joined together to issue a report on the practices of EasyPay and their bank partner TAB Bank.

EasyPay offers financing for purchases at pet stores, auto mechanics, furniture stores and other retailers at rates ranging from 130% to 189% APR. In 32 states where those rates are illegal, EasyPay launders its loans through TAB Bank, headquartered in Utah, to disguise the loans as bank loans that are exempt from state rate caps.

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What is the impact of the growing teacher shortage?

 From Tennessee Education Report: 

Last Saturday, some teacher friends and I were having lunch, and the conversation turned to the conditions required for students to trust their teachers with questions about racism, equity, and justice. 

One of the teachers was recounting a recent experience with some of her students who were discussing the use of a racial epithet by some other students. Some were quoting recent headlines and others were using it in full while questioning appropriate usage. It sounded very much like kids playing with fire – it was dangerous, potentially harmful, and if things got out of hand, there was the risk that people would be hurt. Lines were crossed and confusion was leading to injury, so they came to this teacher seeking some help and guidance. 

She shared the details of the conversation she facilitated with them, in between classes, in the hallway, then later in the day for some follow up. It was tricky and sensitive, and it worked – everyone involved in the conversation reported leaving it with a better understanding of the risks, the consequences, and the humanity involved. 

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Who is enabling payday predators?

 From NewsBreak:

The District of Columbia yesterday announced a settlement with online lender Elevate that will refund millions of dollars to consumers. The agreement was reached as a result of Elevate violating interest rate caps in DC — the maximum rate for a loan there is 24%.

Loans at 99% to 251% Interest?!?. Rent-a-bank lender Elevate pays $4… | by Andy Spears | Feb, 2022 | Medium

In order to get around the rate cap, Elevate partnered with a Utah bank known as FinWise. Utah’s ABC4 has more:

Elevate Credit, Inc. (Elevate) was laundering loans with up 149% APR to D.C. consumers through Utah FinWise Bank to evade DC’s interest rate limits.

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