Plan For Struggling Middle School May Become A Model

Nashville’s Cameron Middle School is undergoing a major overhaul. It was one of about a dozen struggling Tennessee schools that needed to come up with an improvement plan or risk being taken over by the state. The changes being made at Cameron could pop up in other districts.

A Tennessee charity aimed at helping veterans faces a $50,000 fine for not providing the services it said it would.

Nissan is recalling more than 40,000 Cube models that were built in 2009-2010.

Instead of echoing the negative tone of their campaign ads, Monday night Republican candidates in the 8th Congressional District tried to show they’re the most conservative. The three appeared at a forum in Dickson – the last before the August 5th primary.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has received more than 2,000 appeals from applicants either rejected or asking for more help after May’s flooding. And of those appeals, just under half have succeeded.

More than two-thirds of Tennesseans want higher testing standards in public schools, despite the added cost to districts and the hardship on students whose grades will drop. The poll was paid for by the education advocacy group called SCORE, founded by former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist.

The Environmental Projection Agency has now disposed of some 8,300 fuel and chemical containers scattered by May’s flooding. The EPA is reporting only minor spills and no long term damage.

The State Board of Education is concerned middle school teachers in Tennessee are being stretched too thin and student performance, particularly in math and science, is suffering because of it. The board is considering changing the way middle school teachers are trained and licensed.

Lawmakers are saying “no” to President Obama’s plans for NASA and the future of human space flight. And one of the many lawmakers standing in the President’s way is Tennessee Democrat Bart Gordon.

Federal stimulus dollars for fighting unemployment in Perry County are set to expire at the end of September. After that, state officials aren’t yet sure how many of the program’s 400 workers will be able to hold on to their jobs.