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alcoholic beverages
ABC Retreats from Ban on 'Infusion' Mixed Drinks
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission's executive director retreated Monday from plans to begin enforcing on July 1 a law he had interpreted as prohibiting restaurants from soaking fruits and juices in alcoholic beverages to create "infused" mixed drinks.
Critics had disputed the legal interpretation and said the prohibition would hurt the business of bars and restaurants that cater to customers with specialty drinks.
In an emailed statement, Keith Bell said the TABC still believes "the process of manufacturing infused alcoholic beverages, not for immediate consumption" by those holding only a liquor-by-the-drink license is a violation of a 2006 law and ABC rules.
"The TABC nevertheless determined it to be in the public interest that the regulatory enforcement of this prohibition be indefinitely suspended," Bell said.
The retreat came after a Monday morning meeting between Bell and representatives of groups who disagreed with his interpretation of the 2006 law, including the Tennessee Hospitality Association and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"There was a full and frank discussion of the matter and what was intended and what was not" by the 2006 law, said Dan Haskell, general counsel and lobbyist for the Tennessee Hospitality Association, which represents restaurants and motels.
With enforcement of the ban on infused drinks suspended, Haskell said he now anticipates further discussion on whether the ABC needs to change its rules or the Legislature needs to clarify the law in the 2014 session.
The law in question dealt with distilleries, effectively allowing them to sell products they make on premises that amount to a pre-mixed drink --- Jack Daniels Lemonade or Jack Citrus, for example, produced by the whiskey distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn.
Bell decided earlier that the language of the law prohibits anyone but distilleries from mixing fruits and juices with alcohol if they are then stored and not consumed immediately. Such storage could raise health concerns, he said.
"I think calmer heads will prevail," said Haskell, contending the the state Department of Health, which inspects restaurants, would have raised the issue if there were any health concerns. Connoisseurs believe some period of time is needed for the "flavors to marry up," he said.
More on ABC's Alcohol-Soaked Fruit Flap
A controversy over the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission's move to ban restaurants from soaking fruits and the like in booze to create a mixed drink (previous post HERE) is getting more attention... and may be left for legislators to resolve.
From WPLN:
The issue centers on who's allowed to make infusions--where an ingredient like fruit soaks in alcohol to flavor it, often for several days. Tennessee's ABC says in looking back at a law from 2006, it found that in some cases, making infusions requires a distiller's license, which restaurants can't get.
In an email, the commission says despite what some people fear, the rule does not apply to drinks like margaritas or sangria. But Nashville lawyer Will Cheek warns restaurants that infuse liquors don't want to risk having their license pulled.
"If you've got pineapple and fruit sitting in a vat of vodka, you need to be pulling that stuff out--it needs to be gone by July 1st."
When the Tennessee Hospitality Association sent a letter arguing the commission is misinterpreting the rule, Cheek signed on, representing a couple major restaurant chains. If the commission won't budge, Cheek says the matter could end up before state lawmakers next year.
And this excerpt from Cari Wade Gervin's thorough review of the dispute, its history and ramifications:
Bell says he'd be fine with a law change--he says he's encouraging people to look at newly passed legislation in Iowa that better regulates "Mixed Drinks or Cocktails Not For Immediate Consumption." But according to the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division, that law requires pre-mixed batches of drinks to be disposed of within 72 hours if not consumed. Bars are also required to keep records--for three years--detailing when each and every batch is made and disposed of, along with the recipe, the ingredients, and the names of the person who made the batch and the person who disposed of it.
We asked Sohn if this seemed like a practical solution. She laughed loudly.
"Yeah, no," Sohn says. "It would be very wasteful. ... If they changed it to that, we probably still wouldn't bother with infusions."
Scanlan says he hopes TABC will reconsider its actions, but Bell doesn't seem inclined to do so.
"I'm going to have to apply the law as it is right now," Bell says. "I'm pretty certain we'll start issuing citations sometime in the next few weeks."
See also a Chattanooga Free Press editorial, opining that "the fun police are back, and this time they have their sights set on making sure that you won't be able to sit back and enjoy a house-infused liquor at your favorite restaurant or neighborhood bar."
ABC To Begin Enforcing 2006 Law Banning Pre-Mixed Drinks at Restaurants
A 2006 law that bans Tennessee restaurants from infusing alcohol with food products, even non-alcoholic beverages, will be enforced by the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission starting July 1, reports WKRN-TV.
The ban covers flavored liquor, such as infused whiskey, and pre-made mixed drinks, like margaritas.
In less than two weeks, each drink will have to be made to order when the ban by the Tennessee Alcohol and Beverage Commission (TABC) becomes effective.
The new head of the TABC, Keith Bell, plans to enforce the 2006 law. Only licensed distilleries will be able to perform the practice.
Restaurant owners like Josh Rew, who is opening a French bistro in a few weeks in Whites Creek, planned to have a produce-driven infusion cocktail on his menu. He said the new enforcement will set back Nashville's cultural scene and could hurt his and other restaurant owners' bottom line.
"If you are able to prep, then you can definitely get drinks out quicker. You can do higher volume, which means your profit margin goes up. People are happier, more word of mouth, and it definitely snow balls, but it could snowball in the other direction as well," said Rew of the up and coming Chelsea Bistro.
The TABC cites health and safety concerns when restaurants infuse alcohol.
And, from WPLN:
In an email, the commission says despite what some people fear, the rule does not apply to drinks like margaritas or sangria. But Nashville lawyer Will Cheek warns restaurants that infuse liquors don't want to risk having their license pulled.
"If you've got pineapple and fruit sitting in a vat of vodka, you need to be pulling that stuff out--it needs to be gone by July 1st."
TN Wine Now Served in TN State Parks
Visitors to to Tennessee state park restaurants can now enjoy an exclusive Tennessee table wine with their dinner, reports the Crossville Chronicle..
The wine, a Seyval blanc grape blend grown in Tennessee, was developed especially for the state park system by Stonehaus Winery in Crossville in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Tennessee State Park system.
"They've [Stonehaus] been very involved in this region for a long time and are always looking for ways to partner with others to make things good for the whole area," said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
"It's in our interest to promote the state park and for the state park to promote us," said Rob Ramsey as he uncorked the first bottle of the special reserve wine."
State Rep. Cameron Sexton added, "It's nice to incorporate regional products into the state parks. It gives an idea of what's available in the communities. I hope it continues."
Winemakers Fay Wheeler and Jan Nix developed the blend that's considered a semi-dry table wine.
"It's not super dry or super sweet," Wheeler explained. "It's a nice in between that a lot of people should like."
It also pairs well with many foods.
Rob Ramsey said the grapes were grown in Johnson City, TN, making this wine a great "Pick Tennessee" product through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's marketing program. The label was designed by Smithville graphic artist Mary Ann Puckett.
Faison Calls for Lowering DUI Standard to .05 Blood Alcohol
State Rep. Jeremy Faison says he will sponsor legislation next year to lower the legal standard for a presumption of drunken driving in Tennessee from 0.08 blood alcohol content to 0.05 as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.
"I think it's an important thing to do. What we've been doing is not working and we have tens of thousands of Americans dying because of drunk driving," said Faison, R-Cosby.
The NTSB this week recommended that states lower the threshold for a presumption of drunken driving from 0.08 to 0.05, the standard already in place for more than 100 other countries around the world. No state currently has a 0.05 general standard.
Faison said Tennessee was among the last states to lower its DUI standard from 0.10 to 0.08 and being the first to drop the standard to 0.05 would position Tennessee as leader in combating drunken driving instead of a follower.
While there has been "an awful lot of emphasis lately on guns with high-capacity magazines" in crime, Faison said drunken driving causes far more violent death and thus deserves far more attention "if we're going to champion life."
The legislator, who serves as vice chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee, said his personal interest in the subjects dates to the death of his sister, Becky, in an accident caused by a drunken driver a week after her 16th birthday, when he was 14.
"He (the drunken driver) basically got off with probation," said Faison, who said he would otherwise like to see DUI laws strengthened to include seizure of a first offender's vehicle. Current law provides for seizure of a vehicle only after multiple convictions.
"If the punishment doesn't outweigh the pleasure of the crime, people are going to keep on doing it," he said.
The Legislature earlier this year voted to require for the first time that first DUI convicts be required to obtain an ignition interlock device, which requires the driver to take a breath alcohol test before his or her car will start.
According to the Governor's Highway Safety Office website, fatalities caused by alcohol-impaired drivers declined by 31.8 percent in Tennessee from 2007 through 2011 -- or from 377 to 257 in that period. The preliminary figure for 2012 is 246 fatalities involving an alcohol-impaired driver.
The office also says that Tennessee Highway Patrol arrests for DUI increased by 25.4 percent from 2007 through 2012.
Faison said he will either file a bill lowering the standard to 0.05 next year himself or sign on as a co-sponsor to a more senior member willing to push the measure.
Faison, who is in his second term as a representative, said he that "with the way things work" a veteran lawmaker likely would have a better chance of success with passage of a potentially controversial measure.
Haslam Lectures Media, Says He'll Sign Distillery Bill
Gov. Bill Haslam says he's likely to sign into law a bill updating the state's 2009 liquor distillery statute despite questions raised about two real estate investments he has with a Knoxville developer who helped push the bill, reports the Chattanooga TFP.
"It was passed by the Legislature," Haslam said. "I don't see any constitutional issues. I don't think there's a lack of clarity. I don't know at this point and date why I wouldn't [sign it]."
The bill was sent to Haslam on May 6. Governors have 10 days to decide what action to take. The governor can sign, veto or allow the bill to become law without his signature.
Haslam emphasized earlier this week the bill was not an administration initiative. And he said he didn't know developer Ned Vickers was involved in the bill and a proposed Gatlinburg distillery, let alone discuss the matter with him.
"Y'all's job is to ask questions, but it's also your job to get the answer right," the irritated governor lectured reporters about a news report on the issue.
He said previous investments he made with Holrob Investments, with which Vickers was associated, were placed in a blind trust he created when he became governor in 2011.
The Tennessean reported this week that before placing most of his holdings in the blind trust, Haslam listed 18 Holrob-affiliated investments on a disclosure. The newspaper reported he still has two. (Previous post HERE.)
Haslam said he can't say for sure whether he still has the two investments because they're part of the blind trust, controlled by a trustee.
Haslam Has Business Ties to Developer Benefiting from Distillery Bill
East Tennessee developer Ned Vickers, who will be able to build a moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg thanks to legislation awaiting Gov. Bill Haslam's signature, has worked with the governor on multiple private real estate deals, including at least one in Gatlinburg, according to the Tennessean.
Vickers' plan to open Sugarlands Distillery on the city's main tourist drag had been denied by the Gatlinburg City Commission because it would share a property line with Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, violating its distance requirement.
But in a remarkable power play in the state legislature that turned Gatlinburg's own lobbyist against the city and involved two prominent Republican lawmakers, Vickers managed to push a bill to overturn Gatlinburg's ordinance and limit other local governments that want to regulate the burgeoning industry.
Critics say Haslam should have disclosed his ties to Vickers during the fiery debate in the legislature, and that his continued secrecy about his business investments stretches the limit on state ethics requirements for public officials.
But Haslam said he didn't even know that Vickers was the co-owner of the proposed distillery until he was contacted by The Tennessean. Haslam said through a spokesman that his investment ties to Vickers are managed by a blind trust.
The bill, which Haslam has until May 16 to veto, sign or let become law without his signature... specifically takes aim at Gatlinburg (by exempting) distilleries from any local government's distance requirements between liquor stores, as well as any limits on the number of retail licenses to sell packaged liquor.
Gatlinburg had wanted to prevent a concentration of stores selling liquor through its distance laws, city officials said.
.... Haslam has numerous ties to Vickers through a real estate firm called Holrob. On six different ethics disclosure statements dating back to his time as mayor of Knoxville, Haslam listed his stake in Holrob companies 49 times. On the 2011 form, Haslam listed 18 different Holrob-affilated investments, such as Holrob Gatlinburg and Holrob-HH Partnership.
Though his ethics statements do not disclose the magnitude of his investment in Holrob, Haslam told The Tennessean in 2011 that when he guaranteed a $5.5 million loan to a Knoxville developer, it was handled through Holrob.
Vickers said he was a developer at Holrob for more than 10 years. He said Holrob functions as a real estate investment fund for proposals brought to the company by individual developers.
"Holrob was an umbrella of a lot of different business entities," Vickers said. "The way that we worked, the developers would bring deals to the company and the company would decide whether to invest in them or not."
Vickers said Haslam does not have a financial stake in the proposed distillery, though the governor remains invested in at least two of his developments through Holrob -- Holrob Gatlinburg and Holrob Henderson Chapel.
Vickers said he also sold his stake in a Gatlinburg Walgreens, located two doors down from the proposed moonshine distillery, to Haslam. He also purchased a property -- across the street from the distillery -- that he had co-owned with Holrob.
Vickers said he doesn't see it as a conflict if the governor signs the legislation clearing the way for his distillery because their co-investments are through the blind trust that has managed Haslam's investments since he took office in 2011. Vickers said he hasn't spoken to the governor since a charity event in 2011.
(Haslam) is an owner of a couple entities through a blind trust ... that are still part-owners, or minority owners, in a couple of real estate entitites that I own," Vickers said, adding that he deals with the trustee of Haslam's blind trust and not the governor. "I have absolutely no contact with the governor."
....The bill (SB129) was sponsored in the House by state Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, who is raising money for a run against U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais next year, and in the Senate by Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, a longtime champion of wine sales in grocery stores.
David McMahan, a prominent lobbyist for the state liquor store association, which opposes the wine-in-grocery-stores effort, helped raise support for the distillery bill. McMahan had been the city of Gatlinburg's lobbyist but became an investor in the distillery and began to work on the opposite side.
McMahan said his concern was that Gatlinburg was trying to box out competition for the city's existing distillery, Ole Smoky's.
"At the time, we had no idea we would need any legislation passed," Vickers said. "At that time, (Gatlinburg) was saying yes. And so we did include David in the project and, obviously, that's turned out to be a very fortuitous thing."
New State Library Exhibit: 'Prohibition in Tennessee'
News release from Secretary of State's office:
It was the constitutional amendment that tried - often unsuccessfully - to put Americans on the path to sobriety and in the process created a booming market for Tennessee's providers of illegal moonshine whiskey.
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which launched the Prohibition era in 1920, was called the country's "noble experiment." That experiment ended 13 years later with the ratification of the 21st Amendment - the only amendment to repeal another amendment - which halted Prohibition and brought imbibing back out of the shadows.
Now a new exhibit in the lobby of the Tennessee State Library and Archives building chronicles the history surrounding the passage of both amendments.
This exhibit, entitled "The Saloon and Anarchy: Prohibition in Tennessee," surveys the brewing and distilling industries in Tennessee prior to Prohibition, chronicles the rise of the Temperance Movement in the state and the impact it had on the passage of the 18th Amendment, examines the effect that the 18th Amendment had on moonshining in the state, and recounts the passage of the 21st Amendment.
Continue reading "New State Library Exhibit: 'Prohibition in Tennessee'"
Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill Clears Senate Finance, 7-4
The Senate Finance Committee has approved, 7-4, legislation that would authorize sale of wine in grocery stores.
The bill (SB837) was approved in a Wednesday evening meeting of the panel, which has been debating it for some time. On April 2, it failed on a 5-5-1 tie vote in the committee.
Those changing their position Wednesday from the first vote were Sen. Doug Henry, D-Nashville, who voted yes instead of no, and Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, who abstained the first time and voted yes on Wednesday.
The House companion bill failed earlier in committee, so the bill is dead for the year. Approval by the Senate committee, however, means that it will be poised for a vote on the Senate floor when legislators return for the 2014 session.
"We'll wait and see what the House does in January," said Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, in a brief Senate floor speech.
Note: A statement from proponents of the bill is below.
Continue reading "Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill Clears Senate Finance, 7-4"
Distillery Bill Gets Final Approval
Reversing an earlier vote, the Senate Thursday concurred with a House amendment to a bill that clears the way for more liquor distilleries to open in Tennessee cities.
With approval of the House amendment, the bill (SB129) now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature. Two cities immediately impacted will be Chattanooga, where plans are afoot to build a whiskey distillery, and Gatlinburg, which will get a second moonshine distillery despite earlier disapproval of city officials.
Both chambers had approved the bill earlier, but the House had added an amendment that was rejected by the Senate.
Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, said Thursday that he had not explained the amendment well prior to the earlier vote on "a bill that has been confusing from the get-go." The amendment basically corrects a mistake in the Senate and assured that local governments can require distilleries to be located at some distance from churches and schools. It has nothing to do with allowing sales of alcoholic beverages on Sunday, as some thought previously, he said.
The vote to concur with the House amendment was 23-6.
Bill for Gatlinburg Moonshine, Chattanooga Whiskey Gets House OK
After long and contentious debate Monday night, the House joined the Senate in approving legislation that clears the way for a new moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg and a whiskey distillery in Chattanooga.
The bill (SB129) also allows new distilleries to locate in other cities that have approved liquor-by-the-drink and liquor package stores. Under a prior law enacted in 2009, only county governments - not cities - were allowed to authorize distilleries.
Sponsor Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, said the measure originated with Chattanooga officials desire to have a brand called Chattanooga Whiskey, now made in Indiana, manufactured in its namesake city even though Hamilton County has not authorized distilleries.
It was expanded to allow a new moonshine distillery, Sugarlands, to locate in Gatlinburg, even though local officials have turned down its application and make what Carr called "cleanup" revisions to state alcoholic beverage laws. Gatlinburg already has Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery operating near the site of the proposed Sugarlands distillery, which counts Nashville lobbyist David McMahan as a minority investor.
Thirteen amendments were filed on the House floor to change the bill. Only one was adopted, but that will send the bill back to the Senate for concurrence. The adopted amendment, proposed by Carr, says a distillery cannot be located within 2,000 feet of a church or school - unless the local government having jurisdiction decides to set a shorter limit. That is the same rule that now applies to beer sales, Carr said.
One of the rejected amendments, filed by Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, would have had the effect of blocking Sugarlands by declaring local governments could reject a distillery application. Faison said the bills was influenced by "high-powered people who have a lot of money" and should not be "dictating" how many distilleries a town can have for "high-powered corn in a jar."
"This amendment creates a monopoly in a particular part of the state. That's a fact," responded Carr, reminding colleagues that the Ole Smoky operators ran a newspaper ad charging that legislators were trying to "sneak through" a bill to curb local control over liquor.
Faison's amendment was killed on a 55-28 vote. Other rejected amendments included one by Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, that would have prohibited distilleries and wineries from selling their products on Sunday.
The bill itself passed 57-31 with six lawmakers abstaining.
Beer Tax Reform Bill Goes to Governor
The House gave final legislative approval Wednesday to legislation intended to eventually end Tennessee's status of having the nation's highest beer taxes.
The bill was approved 87-2 by the House on Wednesday without debate beyond sponsor Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, describing it as "simply replacing an antiquated 1950s tax structure."
The Senate approved SB422 last week, 30-1, under sponsorship of Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown. It now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam, who is expected to sign it.
The bill transforms Tennessee's 17 percent tax on beer at the wholesale level to a flat-rate tax of $35.60 per barrel.
Beer Tax Bill Zips Through Senate
The Senate Monday night approved, 30-1, legislation that will switch Tennessee's wholesale beer tax to a levy on volume rather than on price.
The current system has left Tennessee with the highest beer tax in the nation, according to the Tennessee Malt Beverage Association, which has been pushing SB422 by Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown.
The state's present 17 percent wholesale beer tax amounts to about $37 per 31-gallon barrel and has increased 30 percent over the past ten years as beer prices have risen.
The bill effectively freezes the tax at current levels, avoiding future increases as prices rise.
"This bill will increase jobs in the brewing industry and help consumers by leading to a better selection at lower prices," Kelsey told colleagues.
Who said the "traditionally we have taxed things in Tennessee based on their sales price" and questioned why beer should be treated differently.
Kelsey noted that beer is also subject to the state sales tax, which will continue to rise as beer prices increase, and said the legislation is needed to make Tennessee more competitive with other states in recruiting breweries.
He said the present system is particularly hard on microbreweries, which typically sell their brew at higher prices because of low volume. The tax now makes their products even more expensive, he said.
Campfield abstained on the final vote. The sole no vote was cast by Sen. Mae Beavers, R-Mount Juliet.
The bill is up for a House floor vote on Wednesday.
Today's Wine-in-Grocery-Stores News Tidbit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Legislation to allow wine to be sold in Tennessee supermarkets and convenience stores isn't quite dead yet.
A tie vote in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday morning initially indicated that bill had failed for the year. But a spokesman confirmed later in the day that Democratic Sen. Douglas Henry of Nashville, who abstained on that vote now wants to vote in favor of the measure after receiving assurances that it would no longer include a provision allowing Sunday liquor sales.
Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey has said he wants to the measure to clear all of his chamber's committees this year. But he has said he would keep it from receiving a full floor vote unless the House version that failed in committee is revived this year or next.
Revised Supermarket Wine Bill Would Let Liquor Stores Open on Sunday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee liquor stores would be allowed to be open for business on Sundays under changes to a supermarket wine bill adopted by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.
The panel voted to make several changes to the measure seeking to allow cities and governments to hold referendums on whether to permit supermarkets and convenience stores to sell wine.
The changes included ending a ban on liquor stores operating on Sundays and holidays, and linking supermarket wine sales to the hours they are currently allowed to sell beer. The measure would also allow liquor stores to begin selling items like snacks, beer and ice in 2014, regardless of whether a city or county had approved supermarket wine sales.
The panel delayed a final vote on the bill for a week so members could have time to think about the changes. The companion bill has failed in a House committee, but supporters hope it can be revived either this year or next.
The Sunday liquor sales provision was the most contested element of the bill, with its approval coming down to a single vote.
All six votes in favor of Sunday liquor sales came from Republicans, while two GOP members sided with all three Democrats on the panel voting against it.
"I know the blue laws are outdated, but there's something wrong about selling a bottle of whiskey on a Sunday morning," said Democratic Sen. Douglas Henry of Nashville.
Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro and the bill's main sponsor, noted that under the bill, liquor store hours would be limited to noon until 11 p.m. on Sundays.
Republican Sen. Doug Overbey lauded Ketron for having "labored long and hard in this vineyard," but argued for taking a week to contemplate the many changes made to the original legislation.
Fellow Republican Sen. Ferrell Haile of Gallatin said he was worried about the range of changes to the original bill.
"I don't want to vote against wine in grocery stores because I think our constituents are looking for this," he said. "But there are all kinds of warning signs here to me that I'm concerned about our younger people and availability in the convenience markets that they go to."
Republican Rep. Jon Lundberg of Bristol, the main House sponsor of the bill, said he was unaware of any move to resurrect his version of the bill this year, but questioned why the Senate was trying to add so many elements beyond a local referendum to the measure.
"It's real simple, it's an up-or-down, yes-no vote, on whether they want to have wine sales in grocery stores," Lundberg said. "The opposition is trying to make it vastly more complex than it is.
New Lobbying Twist: Beer (actually, 'high tax ale') Named After Beer Tax Bill
By Eric Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A special joint offering from Tennessee craft brewers Yazoo and Calfkiller features an unusual sales pitch to beer aficionados: "Now With Even More Taxes!"
The new product going on sale this week is the latest effort among brewers to draw attention to Tennessee's highest-in-the-nation tax scheme for beer, which high-end brewers argue disproportionately affects their ability to compete.
The beer is called "The Beacon: A Tennessee High Tax Ale," and urges consumers to "Cut the red tape, pop the cap, and enjoy this oppressively refreshing ale."
A legislative proposal to freeze the state's beer tax cleared its first committee last week, and the brewing industry hopes it can avoid the fate of a bill to allow supermarket wine sales. The wine measure appeared to be gathering in momentum before its surprise defeat in a House committee last week. (Note: Don't think there's a valid analogy here. The beer bill (HB999) is virtually assured of passage.)
Tennessee's beer taxes outstrip any other state's because the bulk of the levy is based on price rather than volume. The more a beer costs, the higher the taxes that must be paid to buy it.
Continue reading "New Lobbying Twist: Beer (actually, 'high tax ale') Named After Beer Tax Bill"
Pigeon Forge Approves Liquor-by-the-Drink (again)
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) -- Voters in Pigeon Forge have again approved liquor by the drink. This time, the margin was 154 votes.
The Mountain Press (http://bit.ly/ZtC0Uc ) reported Ken Maples, who led the pro-liquor initiative, said the election Thursday validated the choice voters initially made on Nov. 6.
Results of that referendum were thrown out by a court over confusion about who was allowed to vote. The question was on a crowded general election ballot, headed by the presidential race.
Jess Davis, who is co-chairman of Concerned Churches and Citizens of Pigeon Forge, said his group was disappointed in the outcome and might contest the results.
The Sevier County Election Commission meets March 21 to certify the vote.
Pro-liquor Forces Outspend Antis in Pigeon Forge
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) -- Proponents of liquor by the drink in Pigeon Forge are vastly outspending a group trying to defeat the issue as it comes back for another vote.
The Mountain Press (http://bit.ly/13Vud7j ) reported proponent group Forging Ahead filed documents showing it had received nearly $27,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 26.
Concerned Churches and Citizens of Pigeon Forge reported it had about $3,400 in donations.
Voters narrowly approved a liquor referendum in November, but it was overturned after complaints that people who live outside the city were allowed to vote.
On Thursday, Pigeon Forge voters will again choose whether to allow restaurant liquor sales.
House Commitee Rejects Wine in Grocery Stores
NASHVILLE - A bill clearing the way for sale of wine and grocery stores was killed in a House committee Tuesday, shattering hopes of proponents who had thought they were on the verge of breaking a six-year run of defeats.
Eight members of the House Local Government Committee voted against HB610 while just seven voted for it. The sponsor, Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, had asked that the vote be postponed a week, but his request was rejected after Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, said members "should hear it and make a decision today."
The bill, in a change from most versions of the bill in prior years, did not directly allow wine in grocery stores. Instead, it let any city council or county commission - where liquor-by-the-drink is now legal - to schedule hold a local referendum on whether to expand wine sales to convenience stores and supermarkets.
Currently, only liquor stores can sell wine and they are forbidden to sell anything other than alcoholic beverages. Multiple amendments had been filed - 10 in the House committee - and most would have granted new rights to liquor stores faced with new competition. The amendments included proposals to allow sale of other products in liquor stores, to allow them to open on Sundays and holidays and to allow the same person to own more than one liquor store.
Continue reading "House Commitee Rejects Wine in Grocery Stores"
Senators Delay Wine-in-Groceries to Cut a Deal
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A proposal to allow local referendums on whether grocery stores should be able to sell wine has been delayed in its final Senate committee to consider several changes desired by groups newly interested in negotiating over the measure.
A special subcommittee was appointed on Tuesday to work out a final version of the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro. A full Senate Finance Committee vote was rescheduled for next week.
Among the issues supporters want to hammer out is whether the bill should also allow liquor stores to sell beer, which hours wine would be available for sale and the exact start date of supermarket wine sales after it is approved by voters and w.
The bill has been opposed by liquor wholesalers and package store owners.
Beer Lobby Backs Wine-in-Groceries (if high-alcohol beer sold, too)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The beer industry has swung its support behind a bill to allow Tennessee supermarkets and convenience stores to sell wine as long as the measure also allows places to sell strong beer.
Tennessee Malt Beverage Association President Rich Foge confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that his board decided to drop its long opposition to changing the law. In return, the beer makers want a provision allowing grocery stores to sell high-gravity beer, which has higher alcohol content and is currently only allowed to be sold in liquor stores.
"If the marketplace is going to change where regular beer and wine are sold side-by-side on a grocery store shelf, high-gravity beer should be, too," Foge said.
Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, have made it a priority to pass the bill seeking to allow cities and counties that already allow liquor sales to hold referendums on whether to allow supermarket wine sales.
Foge said the speakers' strong support for the measure played into his association's decision to change course on the bill.
"We had a long discussion about it and one of things that got serious consideration is that the speakers of both chambers urged the parties to come to the table," he said. "And we're heeding that advice."
The bill opposed by liquor wholesalers and the association representing package store owners has cleared its first legislative committees in both chambers. The Senate Finance Committee was scheduled to take up the measure on Tuesday.
Ketron: 'The Liquor Lobby is Starting to Fall Apart'
State Sen. Bill Ketron predicts the liquor lobby will "come to the table" next week and start negotiating details in his wine-in-grocery-stores bill as it gains momentum more than four years after he initiated it, according to the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.
"I think the liquor lobby is starting to fall apart," Ketron said after Friday morning's Chamber of Commerce Capitol Connection breakfast.
Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, said he expects to talk to liquor industry lobbyists to negotiate amendments allowing package stores to sell more items than liquor, wine and lottery tickets.
"It'll be opening up to allow them to sell whatever they want to sell," Ketron said. "It'll open it up to allow them to purchase more than one store."
Liquor store proprietors in Tennessee are limited to one store. But Ketron said he knows of one liquor store owner in Gatlinburg who wants to purchase four other stores there.
"Why should he be restricted to one if the other four want to sell?" Ketron said.
The bill goes to the Senate Finance Committee next and the full House Local Government Committee.
Of Chattanooga Whiskey, Gatlinburg Moonshine, Lobbyists and Legislators
Legislation brought to help Chattanooga whiskey has become entangled in a Gatlinburg moonshine war.
A prominent Nashville lobbyist is already a casualty - at least in losing Gatlinburg as one of his clients.
The bill in issue (HB102) cleared its first hurdle Wednesday in the House State Government Subcommittee under sponsorship of Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas, over the objections of Joe Baker, who operates Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in the Sevier County city. Gatlinburg officials are also opposed to the measure.
Baker, who was on hand for the subcommittee hearing, was roundly criticized by Reps. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, and Kent Williams of Elizabethton, an independent, for newspaper ads saying lobbyists were trying to "sneak" the bill through the Legislature.
Baker said the ads were based on lobbyist David McMahan, who says he is a "minority investor" in Sugarlands, a proposed new distillery that hopes to open near Ole Smoky. McMahan had been signed as a contract lobbyist for Gatlinburg, but he and city officials agreed to terminate the relationship last month after mutually deciding his ties to Sugarlands posed a conflict of interest.
Haynes said the ads were "false;" Williams said they implied "I was trying to do something underhanded." Baker said he apologized if legislators felt the ads were disrespectful.
Continue reading "Of Chattanooga Whiskey, Gatlinburg Moonshine, Lobbyists and Legislators"
Harwell Rescues Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill
House Speaker Beth Harwell cast the deciding vote Wednesday to keep a wine-in-grocery-stores bill from failing in a House subcommittee.
Harwell, who has the right under House rules to sit and vote on any committee, voted twice in the House State Government Subcommittee.
First, she broke a 4-4 tie on a motion by Rep. Dale Carr, R-Sevierville, to delay action on the bill (HB610) until July, 2014. Carr said the delay - which would have effectively killed the bill - would provide "time to sit down on both sides and see if we can get something worked out."
After Carr's motion was defeated, Harwell then broke a 4-4 tie on the bill itself. With her vote, the measure advances out of the subcommittee for a vote next week in the full House State Government Committee.
Harwell said afterwards she felt it important to "show momentum" for the legislation in the House and hopes that will "bring folks to the table" from the opposing side to negotiate some compromise - probably to be incorporated into separate legislation.
The bill as introduced by Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, would allow local governing bodies in cities or counties that already have liquor-by-the-drink and retail liquor stores to hold a local referendum on whether line could be sold in grocery stores and supermarkets within their jurisdiction.
The bill has now cleared its initial committee hurdles in both the House and Senate, though several remain before floor votes. Similar bills to straightforwardly legalize the sale wine in grocery stores - without the referendum provision - have failed repeatedly over the past five years.
Continue reading "Harwell Rescues Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill"
Liquor PACs Gave $364K to Legislator Campaigns Last Election Cycle
By Erik Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Contributions totaling more than $364,000 have poured into lawmakers' campaign accounts over the past two years from liquor wholesalers, package stores and the beer industry -- three groups that have traditionally opposed changing state law to allow wine to be sold in supermarkets.
An Associated Press analysis of campaign finance data shows that six of the 11 members of the Senate Finance Committee, which is scheduled to take up a bill Tuesday to hold local referendums on whether to expand wine sales, received a combined $38,000 from the three political action committees. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville alone received $13,000. (Note: The vote was postponed until next week.)
The remaining five members of the Senate panel received no contributions from the three groups.
Norris, who voted against the measure when it eked out of the Senate State and Local Government Committee by a one-vote margin last week, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Continue reading "Liquor PACs Gave $364K to Legislator Campaigns Last Election Cycle"
Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill Clears Senate Committee, 5-4
By Eric Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A proposal to allow wine to be sold in Tennessee supermarkets and convenience stores scored its first legislative victory on Tuesday after years of frustration.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 5-4 to advance the bill that would allow cities and counties to hold referendums next year to decide whether to expand wine sales beyond the state's nearly 600 licensed liquor stores.
Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro and the bill's main sponsor, stressed that the wine votes would only be allowed in communities that have previously passed referendums to allow sales of liquor by the drink and retail package stores.
"Both of which wouldn't be in your city or county if it did not get there by referendum," he said. "All we're doing with this bill is asking the same opportunity: Let your people vote."
The measure would have to be approved by the Senate Finance Committee before heading for a full floor vote. The House began hearings on the measure on Tuesday, but a first vote had not yet been scheduled.
Continue reading "Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill Clears Senate Committee, 5-4"
Baptist Leader Sees More Harm Than Good in Wine Referendum Bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Opponents of a proposal to allow communities to hold referendums on whether to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores argued Monday that the votes could do more harm than good.
The Senate State and Local Government Committee heard from opponents and supporters during a nearly two-hour meeting. The measure would leave it to voters in cities and counties to decide whether to expand wine sales beyond liquor stores.
A full committee vote on Tuesday will decide whether the measure advances or fails for yet another year. While allowing wine sales in supermarkets and convenience stores enjoys strong public support, it is strongly opposed by the liquor industry, package stores and religious groups.
Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, told the panel that he fears putting the wine measure before voters would have consequences similar to a recent campaign over allowing liquor-by-the drink sales in Pigeon Forge.
"Right now Pigeon Forge is polarized, families torn apartment, friendships ruined, because in our small communities they are battling over this liquor-by-the drink issue," he said. "And the same thing is going to happen."
Davis said lawmakers should stop short of putting more liquor issues on the ballot on the basis of convenience.
"We don't know where this idea of convenience is going to lead us, we don't know what the next step is," he said. "Others before you have not put it at the feet of the voters to have wine in liquor stores and I beg of you not to take it there."
Republican Sen. Janice Bowling of Tullahoma, who declined to give her position on the bill after the meeting, told Davis that several issues will affect her decision.
"As a teetotaling Baptist myself, I can assure that my vote will not be based on convenience, it's going to be based on Tennesseans and what I'm hearing from my constituents my district," she said.
Another Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Story (more to come, soon)
By Eric Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee lawmakers are poised to decide this week whether a proposal to allow supermarket wine sales moves ahead or withers on the vine.
The bill to overhaul the current system that prevents shoppers from buying wine alongside groceries faces votes in both House and Senate committees this week, where as little as a single vote could decide the bill's fate after months of lobbying.
"It could fall either way at this point," said Republican Sen. Ken Yager of Harriman, chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Yager's committee meets Monday to hear from both sides of the bill, which seeks to allow cities and counties to hold referendums on whether to do away with liquor stores' exclusive license to sell wine. The nine-member panel is scheduled to vote the following day.
Yager, who opposes of the bill on the basis that the change would hurt existing package stores in his district, said the measure could come down to a 5-4 vote.
Continue reading "Another Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Story (more to come, soon)"
Pigeon Forge Liquor Vote Voided; New Election Planned
A judge has voided Pigeon Forge's liquor-by-the-drink election and ordered a new vote.
From Jim Balloch's report:
It all fermented down to this: In the controversial Nov. 6 referendum that approved liquor by the drink for Pigeon Forge, there was no fraud.
But a series of errors by poll workers that let nearly 300 ineligible people vote are enough to invalidate the election and require a new poll, Chancellor Telford Forgety ruled Thursday.
"It is clear that this election must be set aside," Forgety said. "The results of the election are without question incurably uncertain."
He added: "There is no evidence of any intentional fraud by anybody. No evidence whatsoever ... (these were) good faith mistakes."
Forgety ordered a new election held in 45 to 60 days, as state law requires when an election has been overturned.
With dozens of spectators on hand to see the proceedings, the case was moved from the small Chancery Court courtroom to the larger room where Sevier County Commission holds its public meetings.
The Sevier County Election Commission will schedule an emergency meeting for as soon as possible, within public notice requirements, for the purpose of scheduling a new election, said the commission's lawyer Dennis Francis.
The meeting could be sometime next week, and the election itself will likely be held "sometime in the middle of March," Francis said.
Sheriffs, Police Chiefs Oppose Wine in Grocery Stores
More than 100 Tennessee sheriffs and police chiefs, including Knoxville's Chief David Rausch, have declared their opposition to legislation that would allow the sale of wine in grocery stores.
Raush and several other law enforcement officers, part of a "Tennessee Law Enforcement for Strong Alcohol Laws" coalition, declared at a Legislative Plaza news conference that they see wine sales in groceries and supermarkets as weakening control over alcohol sales and causing an expansion of underage drinking.
Rausch said the concept is a "no brainer." Knoxville police often run "sting" operations with state Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents on liquor stores, currently the only place wine is sold in Tennessee, and "rarely do we find them doing anything wrong" by selling to underage youths.
He said convenience stores, which now can sell only beer, are much more likely to have clerks caught in "sting" operations. Other officers amplified the point with Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork saying grocery stores often hire underage clerks willing to "wink and nod" for beer sales to underage friends and the practice would be amplified if wine is sold.
Continue reading "Sheriffs, Police Chiefs Oppose Wine in Grocery Stores"
As the Wine Ages (but not on TN grocery store shelves)...
Holiday season news notes on wine in grocery stores stuff:
The Bill is Back, With Hopes Higher
Richard Locker has a general re-hash of wine-in-grocery-stores legislation, scheduled to be considered by the Legislature for the seventh consecutive year in 2013 - not counting efforts made decades earlier, then abandoned for years. The article is themed on the proposition that chances for passage are better this year.
But that doesn't mean passage is a certainty, or possibly even likely, in the 2013 legislature that opens Jan. 8. Both sides have powerful backers and agree it will be an uphill battle for approval.
...Tennessee is among 14 states that prohibit wine in grocery stores.
(Sponsoring Sen. Bill) Ketron, who has sponsored similar bills for several years, said the reasons why its chances are improved include the referendum clause, the non-election year session and the new backing of the legislature's top two leaders.
Harwell Won't Stack Committees
While Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has said he will appoint committees in the coming session with passage of the wine-in-groceries bill in mind, House Speaker Beth Harwell says that's not in her plans.
Here's a quote from the House speaker, responding via email to a News Sentinel inquiry on whether she would appoi9nt panels to help the cause:
"I've made it quite clear I believe it's time for grocery stores to be allowed to sell wine--and I believe Tennesseans want that--but we want to do it in a way that creates an equal playing field for the mom and pop stores as well. However, I don't develop my committees based on one particular issue. There are many things to consider when appointing members to committees--expertise, personal experiences, and previous service on the committee, among other things."
The Liquor Store Owner's Perspective
From a Bristol Herald Courier op-ed piece:
The potential for wine sales in Tennessee food, convenience and drugstore outlets has once again reared its dangerous head. This time around, the effort is spearheaded by Bristol-area lawmakers, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Rep. Jon Lundberg, among several others in the Tennessee legislature.
Apparently, the fact that this measure was extensively studied over the past five years and voted down each time is meaningless to these gentlemen. In what might be described as a fit of sour grapes at those past decisions, both lawmakers have vowed passage of this bill during the upcoming session. In their words, they intend to stack the deck through selective and supportive appointments to the committees involved, without regard to public safety or what the majority of Tennessee residents might desire.
The Lundberg Perspective
From Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, also in a Bristol Herald Courier op-ed:
To say the liquor industry lobby has done a good job of bottling up the bill might be a bad pun, but unfortunately it's an accurate one. Perhaps, though, this session will be different. There is reason to be optimistic.
Corporations Can Vote -- Or at Least Authorize People to Vote For Them?
Jim Balloch reports on new curiosities coming to light in a Pigeon Forge liquor-by-the-drink referendum that was decided by 100 votes with, reportedly,, 303 more people voting than were registered to cast ballots in city elections. It's already inspired a lawsuit and now it appears the FBI is interested.
But the real curiosity is the apparent move by some companies to make people eligible - as property owners - by giving them an interest, temporarily, in property within the city limits. An excerpt
Pigeon Forge City Hall is a split precinct. Besides city voters, many county residents who live outside the city vote there in countywide, state and national elections.
In sworn depositions, poll workers say they were instructed to allow nonresidents to vote in the referendum, that many who did not live in the city were given liquor by the drink ballots, and that there was a lot of confusion that day because different ballots were required for combinations of races.
"I'm sure that contributed to the problem," Francis said. "I cannot disagree with (poll workers' statements) that it was a chaotic and confusing day."
Sevier County property records show some spurious land transactions that were the basis of votes cast by more than a dozen nonresidents who voted as property owners. The votes were perfectly legal, according to state election officials, even though the property ownership claimed by those voters was a 1 percent interest in extremely valuable commercial properties.
Those interests were given -- for free -- shortly before the election, by four Knoxville-based corporations with numerous links to developers and restaurant businesses in Pigeon Forge.
There are also questions about the validity of what are listed on voter rosters as residential addresses for some Pigeon Forge voters. These include mail drops, a vacant lot, and a building that houses a tattoo parlor and check cashing business.
The News Sentinel was unable to locate some of those individuals for whom those addresses were listed. Some others were found residing in Pigeon Forge residences, and said they used other locations as a mailing address that should not have been listed as their residences.
The News Sentinel has learned that two FBI agents from the Knoxville office recently met with about six members of Concerned Churches and Citizens of Pigeon Forge, a group that opposed liquor by the drink and has filed a lawsuit challenging the election.
The FBI does not confirm or deny the existence of an ongoing investigation, or even say if it has made a preliminary inquiry about a possible investigation
..."I was told that whoever came to my table, if their name was on my roster, they got to vote on the referendum," even if they did not have a Pigeon Forge address or property, poll worker Mary Louise Beck said in a sworn deposition. She was one of four Election Commission employees subpoenaed to give depositions in CCCPF's lawsuit challenging the election.
More depositions are being taken this week. Trial is set for Jan. 10-11.
Continue reading "Corporations Can Vote -- Or at Least Authorize People to Vote For Them?"
Distilling an Issue for Chattanooga Legislators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Members of Hamilton County's state legislative delegation say they're mulling a request from county commissioners to allow local whiskey distilling.
State Rep. JoAnne Favors, a Democrat from Chattanooga, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/11FVoPn ) she believes at least five members of the seven-member delegation will support including the county in a recently-passed statute. State Rep. Richard Floyd, a Chattanooga Republican, said last week he remains adamantly opposed.
The brand Chattanooga Whiskey is currently distilled under contract in Indiana because Hamilton County requested to not be included when the statute passed in 2009.
Delegation chairman Rep. Bo Watson, a Republican, said he wants any inclusion limited to areas where voters have already approved liquor by the drink and package sales referendums.
Harwell, Ramsey Think It's Time for Wine in Grocery Stores
By Erik Schelzig, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The top two Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly support allowing the sale of wine in supermarkets, and the influx of new GOP lawmakers is giving them the opportunity to reshape key committees where efforts to make that change have long been blocked by opponents.
Under the state's restrictive three-tiered beverage control system, every drop of alcohol is supposed to flow from the manufacturer to a wholesale distributor and then to the retailers. And any bottle stronger than beer can only be bought at one of 501 liquor stores around the state.
The latest proposed overhaul would give counties that currently allow liquor sales to hold a referendum on whether to remove liquor stores' exclusive right to sell wine.
"It's one of those issues we've battled forever," Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, told The Associated Press. "And I think the opponents have held it off for about as long as they can hold it off."
Fellow Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell of Nashville agreed.
"This has been coming for a long time," she said. "It's certain that the public would like to see that, and hopefully we can work out something that is a win-win for everybody."
Continue reading "Harwell, Ramsey Think It's Time for Wine in Grocery Stores"
Gibbons: DUI Law Needs 'Streamlining'
Tennessee Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said Tuesday that the state's DUI laws have received so many additions over the years that they are in need of streamlining, which he may ask lawmakers to do, according to Richard Locker.
"What we're looking at is trying to possibly streamline our DUI laws. Right now our DUI law is 58 pages long. That's compared to an 18-page first-degree murder death-penalty statute. So it's very complicated," Gibbons said after a speech to Southeastern law enforcement officials meeting in Nashville this week.
"What's happened over many, many years is that it's simply been added to and as a result, we have a patchwork, Band-Aid approach to our DUI law. What we're trying to do is really streamline it, make it more understandable for prosecutors, defense lawyers and, most important, citizens."
Gibbons, a former Shelby County district attorney general, said he expects that decisions will be made within a couple of months on what kind of DUI proposals will be presented to the state legislature in January.
In addition to streamlining the existing law, Gov. Bill Haslam's administration will also decide whether to propose additional measures to strengthen the law -- such as whether to require DUI convicts to undergo mandatory treatment for alcohol abuse.
Court Strikes Down Kentucky Law Banning Wine, Liquor in Grocery Stores
A federal court ruling against a Kentucky law prohibiting wine and liquor sales at grocery stores could energize efforts to loosen similar regulations in Tennessee, according to the Tennessean.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II found the neighboring state's law unconstitutional by preventing grocery and convenience stores from selling liquor and wine but allowing other retailers to do so. The judge said the 70-year-old law violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Jarron Springer, president of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, said the ruling in Kentucky should serve as a "wake-up call to legislators that these state laws do need to change."
Despite the ruling, Springer said it's unlikely his group would take the state to court as business groups did in Kentucky. That's because the neighboring state explicitly prohibits grocery stores from selling liquor -- the source of its constitutional problem -- while Tennessee simply restricts liquor and wine stores from selling other products.
Still, one more border state potentially allowing wine sales in grocery stores bolsters his group's case as it lobbies for legislative changes, Springer said.
Note: For more on the Kentucky ruling: HERE.
Eight DUI Suspects Forced to Give Blood Under 'No Refusal' Law
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Safety Department says the new "no refusal" state law produced warrants for blood samples from eight drunken driving suspects who wouldn't take a breath test.
A five-county effort launched last week aimed to raise motorist awareness of the law. Until this year, drivers could refuse a blood alcohol content test but faced losing their licenses for violating what's known as the "implied consent" law.
The toughened law allows officers to ask a judge to issue a warrant for blood samples that can support a drunken driving charge.
Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols led to one warrant in Anderson County, one warrant in Davidson County and six in Maury County. Bradley and Warren counties also were part of the crackdown, which produced 48 DUI arrests.
New Collaboration Between THP, ABC
The state Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which issues liquor licenses in Tennessee, now has direct access to the Tennessee Highway Patrol's computer database for accidents related to drunken driving, reports the Chattanooga TFP.
That means the commission will know sooner about any distributor who may be serving underage drinkers or visibly intoxicated ones, officials said Tuesday.
THP Director Col. Tracy Trott and ABC Executive Director Danielle Elks joined others at the Charleston Fire Department on Tuesday to announce the partnership put together by state Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland.
"You've heard the expression 'where there's smoke, there's fire.' Well, where there's smoke, the ABC special agents can now look for the fire," Watson said at the news conference.
"This partnership will allow ABC special agents to more quickly gather information regarding alcohol-related traffic accidents," he said. "This information could lead to further investigations into possible violations of state liquor laws."
Defense attorney Jim Logan, a Democrat, said he and Watson, a Republican and veteran law enforcement officer, agreed quickly about the need to spread the responsibility beyond the driver.
AG Says State Liquor Licensing Laws Unconstitutional
Attorney General Bob Cooper says a state law that requires liquor store owners to be Tennessee residents - enacted by state legislators who said they wanted to block "interstate whiskey" - violates the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.
State Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, who requested the Cooper opinion released Tuesday, says he will next year sponsor legislation to repeal the requirement and hopes it will be a first step toward a comprehensive rewrite of state liquor laws that currently "are not business-friendly and not citizen-friendly."
The Cooper opinion (full text HERE) deals with statutes applying to both wholesale and retail liquor licenses.
To get a wholesaler license, a corporation's officers and stockholders must be Tennessee residents for five years and "a majority of its assets" must be located in Tennessee. For a retail package store license, a company must have "all of its capitol stock" owned by persons who have resided in Tennessee for at least two years.
"These residency and corporate asset location requirements for applicants seeking a license as an alcoholic beverage wholesaler or package retailer violate the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution," says the opinion.
Continue reading "AG Says State Liquor Licensing Laws Unconstitutional"
Grand Jury Formally Indicts Todd on DUI, Gun Charges
A Davidson County grand jury has formally returned an indictment against state Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, who was arrested last October on DUI and gun charges, reports The Tennessean.
Todd's attorney said Friday's indictments were not a surprise. In addition to the criminal indictments, Todd was indicted on a charge of implied consent, a civil offense that can lead to loss of a driver's license.
"This is part of a normal process," Nashville attorney Worrick Robinson said. "We have been expecting this to happen at some point. We'll address the issues and the charges when required in court."
Despite the arrest, Todd, who is a retired police officer, does not face opposition for his House seat.
Speaker of the House Beth Harwell said Monday that the indictments will make it "difficult if not impossible" for Todd to be restored to his powerful post as chairman of the House State and Local Government Committee, which he resigned after his arrest.
"Certainly I respect the legal system," Harwell said. "I think all along Rep. Todd and I have both said we will abide with the decision of the judicial system. So clearly we will. I'll think through what action will take place at the legislative level, but certainly it will impact."
...No arraignment date has been set on the case, according to district attorney spokeswoman Susan Niland.
Nine Counties in Liquor Law 'Pilot Project'
The House has given final approval and sent to Gov. Bill Haslam a bill that makes nine counties part of a "pilot project" on enforcing laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages.
The bill has bounced back and forth between the House and Senate for three weeks as lawmakers debated what counties should be included in the pilot project.
The final version of HB3633 includes Knox, Hamilton, Cocke, Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union. With the House signing off on the latest Senate changes, the bill now goes to the governor.
The bill makes several changes in laws governing local beer boards, which issues licenses and enforces laws dealing with beer sales, and the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which issues licenses and enforces laws dealing with the sale of liquor and wine. The changes take effect on July 1 in the pilot project counties only and will continue for two years.
In general, the idea is to make the two agencies coordinate their efforts, said House sponsor Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga. In the past, a local beer board has occasionally suspended the license of an establishment violations, but the business - typically a bar -- remained open because the ABC license remained - or vice versa.
Examples of other changes include provisions intended to block the practice of a bar operator closing after being charged with law violations, then having the establishment reopen immediately in the same location under a new name or new ownership; and a ban on operators charged with breaking the law voluntarily surrendering their license - a move that allows them to later receive a new license with no violation on their record.
Open Container Bill Fails Again
Yet another attempt to pass an "open container" law for Tennessee highways has been shot down at the state legislature, reports WPLN.
It is the sixth year in a row the bill has failed. (Note: Actually, I think the failures go back a couple of decades.) Currently a driver can not legally drink, but passengers can. Without an open container law, the driver can simply hand off his drink when pulled over by police.
The House State and Local Government Subcommittee voted 2 to 2 on the bill today, with five members failing to vote at all.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott wanted the bill as a weapon against drunk driving.
"I'm for anything that keeps alcohol out of vehicles. People have to remember that driving is a privilege, and not a right, in this state. For us to neglect the fact that drinking and driving affects our life and innocent people on the roads, I think, is irresponsible."
A state transportation official says failure to pass the law costs Tennessee about $17 million in federal funds that would be spent on roads and bridges. The state does not completely forgo the money, instead it must be spent on highway safety programs, such as the "Booze It and Lose It" advertising campaign.
Beer Self-Checkout Ban Checks Out of Subcommittee
A bill to prohibit sale of beer through self-checkout lines at supermarkets was approved by a subcommittee Wednesday over the objections from store lobbyists who said it is unnecessary.
The sponsor of HB3568, Republican Rep. Bill Sanderson of Kenton, said teenagers were using a tactic called "swipe and swap" to buy beer through self-checkouts and, as pointed out by his 15-year-old son, this has been publicized on television shows. Basically, the youngster brings a six-pack of soft drinks and a six-pack of beer to the checkout, swipes the soft drinks, then bags the beer and leaves.
Dan Haskell, lobbyist for the Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association, and Jarron Springer, both said there is no indication of such practices afoot in Tennessee and all checkouts are monitored by employees. The identification of anyone with beer is routinely checked, they said.
Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville, asked the two sides to "sit down together and try to work this out" with a compromise before the bill comes up in the full State and Local Government Committee.
Marijuana Found at ABC Director's Home
When law enforcement officers saw what appeared to be a small amount of marijuana when at the home of Danielle Elks, director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission, they did not launch an investigation, reports WSMV-TV.
Apparently, that related to the circumstances. The officers went to the home last October to notify Elks that her husband had been killed in a traffic accident.
Elks was married to Joel "Taz" Digregorio, the beloved keyboardist in the Charlie Daniels band.
When Digregorio was killed in a car crash on Oct. 12, a THP trooper and two Dickson County deputies went to his home for a death notification.
Elks was in Memphis at the time, but the officers didn't know.... According to the police summaries, the officers found the back door open and entered, concerned there may have been an intruder and wanting to check on the welfare of the occupants.
When the deputies and the state trooper went in, the deputies say they saw what they both suspected to be marijuana on the kitchen table, describing it as a "green, leafy substance."
The deputies also found rolling papers, and noted that there was a Governor's Marijuana Eradication Task Force sticker in the kitchen.
One of the deputies wrote, "It (the suspected marijuana) was brought to the attention of the THP officer."
One of Elks' business cards was also found in the home.
A source close to the investigation confirmed there was no attempt to collect the substance, and the THP trooper never launched an investigation.
The ABC employee said it sends the wrong message, and that if drugs are found at an average citizens' home, even under terrible circumstances, it can still be investigated.
"If you've got two people living in the same house, and they don't know what the other is doing, there's something bad wrong," the ABC employee said.
Digregorio's autopsy showed both alcohol and marijuana were in his system when his car crashed.
"Some people at home seeing this might be saying, the woman just lost her husband. Give her a break," Finley asked.
... The Channel 4 I-Team was respectful of Danielle Elks given her recent loss, but we did ask her to speak with us to give her side of this story. She declined.
State Leasing Cars Rather Than Buying Them or Paying Employee Mileage
Tennessee has launched a $65 million pilot program meant to cut driving costs for state workers by leasing up to 500 cars from an Orlando, Fla., vehicle-leasing firm, reports 'Chas Sisk.
The state has signed a three-year contract with Mears Motor Leasing, a division of Bancorp Inc., to lease 500 Ford Fusion sedans for use by child welfare agents, inspectors and other state employees. Officials estimate the deal will cost the state about 33 cents a mile, including leasing costs, maintenance and gasoline.
Tennessee reimburses state workers 47 cents for each mile they drive while using their personal cars for business, and if the program succeeds, the state could shift more workers to leased vehicles.
"We're going to try this and see how it works," said Tom Chester, deputy commissioner for the Department of General Services, which agreed to the deal.
Mears, which specializes in leasing cars to state governments, beat three other companies for the low-bid contract, which runs through the summer of 2014. So far, 420 cars have been delivered to the state.
A Bredesen Becomes a Brewer
Ben Bredesen, Qualifacts Marketing Vice President and son of former Gov. Phil Bredesen, is leaving the health care software company after eight years to start a beer brewery in Nashville, reports The City Paper.
At the beginning of this month, Bredesen filed incorporation documents for Fat Bottom, which he says will be a small but not insignificant operation.
"It will be a production brewery, not a pub or anything like that," he said.
The brewery will begin with distribution and kegging operations. Bredesen said that he would like to get into bottling but that such an operation comes with significant costs. Asked what variety of beers Fat Bottom will produce, he told NashvillePost.com, "that hasn't been nailed down yet."
On Tennessee's Slow (but sure?) Overhaul of Alcoholic Beverage Laws
Tennessee's Legislature is slowly, but surely overhauling laws governing the making and selling of alcoholic beverages, issues entangled with state government since repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
The trend will continue, predicts Senate Republican Caucus Chairman Bill Ketron of Murfreesboro, who has spearheaded efforts in the past couple of years - often teaming with House State and Local Government Committee Chairman Curry Todd, R-Collierville.
Ketron characterizes his efforts as "modernization" of convoluted state laws, many dating back to the 1930s. Some laws have roots extending to the 1830s when Tennessee enacted its own prohibition before the national movement succeeded in 1919.
On the last day of this year's legislative session, lawmakers approved by lopsided margins a bill (SB1224) to allow the manufacture and sale of beer with up to 20 percent alcohol. The measure was touted as means to lure Sierra Nevada Brewing Inc. to build a $200 million brewery in Blount County.
Another provision of the bill allows liquor retailers and restaurants selling liquor-by-the-drink to give away free samples. Ketron says this was a "last-minute" concession to liquor store owners who cannot sell beer and wanted the means to promote their products.
Continue reading "On Tennessee's Slow (but sure?) Overhaul of Alcoholic Beverage Laws"
Bill Gets Alcoa to Top of List for New Beer $70 Million Brewery
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Legislature's approval of a bill governing the sale of strong beer has placed an East Tennessee site at the top of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.'s list for a new brewery.
Bill Manley, spokesman for the Chico, Calif.-based beer maker, said Monday that the company is doing its due diligence on the Alcoa facility, and plans to make a decision on the more than $70 million plant within weeks. Three other sites remain in the running.
Gov. Bill Haslam has said he will sign into law the bill to establish legal guidelines on beer with an alcohol content of 5 percent to 20 percent, including a provision to allow brewers to sell the product on site.
On a related note...
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- In a story May 21 about legislation aimed at enticing Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. to select an East Tennessee site for a new brewery, The Associated Press, relying on statements made by the bill sponsor during legislative discussion, reported erroneously the size of the potential investment. According to company spokesman Bill Manley, it is $70 million to $75 million, not $200 million.
(The earlier story was posted on this blog.)
High-Alcohol Beer Bill Passes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A bill to allow strong beer makers to sell their product at Tennessee breweries was given final approval by the House on Saturday and sent to the governor for his consideration.
The House voted 69-15 to pass the bill (SB1224) sponsored by Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville. It passed the Senate 28-3 a day earlier.
The measure is aimed at enticing Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. to establish a $200 million plant in East Tennessee.
Alcoa is on the short list of locations being considered by the Chico, Calif.-based company, but the brewer has said that it won't remain in the running without changes in state law. The company wants the state to allow on-site sales of high-alcohol beer and the sampling of products at a taproom and restaurant that would be built alongside the brewery.
"This is a good bill, it's an economic development bill," Todd said.
On Legalizing Liquor by the Drink in Dry Areas
Ten businesses are on track to get special permission from the Legislature this week to sell liquor by the drink, while one that wanted a special "resort license" was turned down.
The difference, according to knowledgeable legislators and lobbyists, is that the proposal for Hickory Star Marina on Norris Lake ran afoul of a tacit understanding on such measures, sometimes flippantly called "booze bills."
The understanding: No special booze bill will pass unless the legislator representing the district of the business to be licensed gives the go-ahead, even if he or she officially objects to the idea and votes against it.
"They will never go against a member," said Tom Hensley, veteran lobbyist for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Tennessee. He and lobbying colleague John New monitor the bills closely, Hensley said.
Continue reading "On Legalizing Liquor by the Drink in Dry Areas"
Bill Allows California Brewery to Locate in Alcoa
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Supporters of a bill to establish state guidelines for high-alcohol beer hope the measure will help encourage a California beer maker to choose an East Tennessee site for a new brewery.
The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday voted 10-0 to advance the bill (SB1224)sponsored by Republican Sen. Ken Yager of Harriman to a full floor vote. The measure would govern the sale of beer with an alcohol content of 5 percent to 20 percent.
Bill Manley, a spokesman for Chico, Calif.-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., said Alcoa is on the short list of finalists for the new brewery.
He says the company brews several beers with both more and less than 5 percent alcohol, and that law changes are key to whether Alcoa will remain in contention.
Pigeon Forge Votes Down Liquor-by-the-Drink
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) -- Voters in the Great Smoky Mountains gateway city of Pigeon Forge have again voted down liquor by the drink, leaving Gatlinburg and Sevierville the only nearby resort towns serving alcohol in a region known for its moonshine heritage.
The unofficial result Tuesday was 590-482. The issue also lost in 2009.
The area, portrayed as a moonshine-rich region in the Robert Mitchum movie "Thunder Road" and other works, draws 9.4 million tourists annually to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Pigeon Forge, on busy U.S. 441 leading into the park from Interstate 40, is lined with motels, restaurants, miniature golf courses, go-cart tracks, shopping malls and other tourist attractions including the Dollywood theme park.
Pastor Ronnie Reagan, who had become one of the most prominent public faces of the opposition, was at the polls throughout the day and stayed to celebrate the results.
"I just thank the Lord everyone spoke out like they did," he told The Mountain Press.
Continue reading "Pigeon Forge Votes Down Liquor-by-the-Drink"
Mail-order Wine Approved for Statewide Delivery
While the Legislature has rejected the idea of wine sales in grocery stores, it has decided to allow all Tennesseans to order wine by mail and over the Internet.
The House approved and sent to the governor today a bill that will allow wine to be shipped directly to any address in the state.
Direct shipment of wine to consumers from wineries and retailers both inside and outside of Tennessee was authorized by a bill enacted in 2009. But that law declares that shipments can be made only addresses in cities that now allow liquor-by-the-drink sales.
The bill, SB1030, repeals that provision. It passed the House 70-23 under sponsorship of Rep. Ryan Haynes, R-Knoxville. It passed the Senate 21-7 on March 28 and now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam for his expected signature.
Haynes described the bill as closing a loophole that is unfair to people living outside a city that has liquor-by-the-drink sales. Rep. Curry Todd, R-Collierville, described the provision in current law as "a glitch" and the current bill as correcting it.
The measure drew limited discussion in floor debate. In committee, some objected that the measure is an unneeded expansion of alcohol sales into "dry" counties and cities that have chosen to prohibit alcohol sales.
Proposals to allow sale of wine in grocery stores and supermarkets have repeatedly failed in the General Assembly, most recently last month when a House subcommittee killed a the latest effort.
Whiskey Flowing from Legalized TN Stills
Whiskey is being legally made in Nashville for the first time since Prohibition, reports Bonna Johnson in a followup on what's happened since small liquor distilleries were legalized by the Legislature in 2009.
Nearly two years after a state law overturned Prohibition-era restrictions on the manufacture of distilled spirits and eased the way for liquor manufacturing, Corsair is one of only two distilleries to set up shop in the state. The other is moonshine-making Ole Smoky Distillery in Gatlinburg.
But local distillers say this small start is the beginning of a growing movement for Tennessee to reclaim its whiskey-making heritage as the artisan distillery industry is flourishing in far-flung places such as San Francisco, Denver, Oregon, Michigan and New York.
They envision, in less than 10 years, whiskey enthusiasts flocking to Tennessee's micro-distilleries just as wine lovers visit the Napa wine country in California.
"Being in Tennessee gives you instant cachet," said Darek Bell, 37, owner and distiller at Corsair. He is also vice president and partner at Bell and Associates Construction. "When people think of Kentucky and Tennessee, they think of quality whiskey," he said.
Wine-in-Grocery-Stores Bill Dead Again -- 5th Year in a Row
Legislation to allow wines sales in grocery stores was killed today in a House subcommittee.
The House State and Local Government Subcommittee, by voice vote and on a motion by Rep. Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, decided to delay any further consideration of HB406 until July 4, 2012.
Before that happened, sponsor Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, tried to salvage the measure by amending it to authorize wine sales in grocery stores only when local voters approved the idea by referendum.
That amendment was rejected with only three members of the panel voting for it while five voted no and one abstained.
Williams, former House speaker, said that the measure has been pushed for five years and the sentiment of legislators has not changed, so the bill should simply be shelved. Personally, Williams said, he previously opposed launching a state lottery and looks at the wine-in-groceries bill in the same light.
"I think a state is in pretty bad shape when we have to promote gambling and drinking to raise revenues in the state of Tennessee," Williams said
His motion then carried on a voice vote.
Earlier in the debate, lawmakers including State and Local Committee Chairman Curry Todd questioned studies that suggested passage of the legislation would lead to millions of dollars in new revenue and multiple new jobs.
Todd said people now buying wine in liquor stores would simply shift to groceries as more convenient - "just swapping out," he said. People will lose losing their jobs in liquor stores because of lost business, he said, while people in supermarkets likely will not be hiring any extra employees.
Recurring Open Container Bill Suffers Recurring Failure
State Rep. Jon Lundberg surprisingly took a recurring piece of his legislative agenda -- his open container bill -- off notice in a Tennessee House State and Local Government subcommittee on Wednesday, reports the Kingsport Times-News.
Lundberg's so-called "pass the bottle" legislation would have created a misdemeanor offense to possess an open alcoholic beverage container within a vehicle's passenger area on a public highway.
Lundberg, R-Bristol, was not able to get the bill out of subcommittee when it was controlled by Democrats in past years. But this year, the subcommittee is run by Republicans. Still, Lundberg appeared before the subcommittee and indicated he knew where the bill's fate was again headed this year.
Wine in Grocery Stores Bill Left to Age Further
After lengthy testimony pro and con, a Senate committee has once again delayed a vote in legislation that would allow the sale of wine in grocery stores - an indication that proponents still lack the votes needed to advance the measure.
Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, put off any vote on SB316, which he sponsors, for at least two more weeks. He noted afterwards that Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, who presumably would have voted for the bill, was absent on Tuesday.
Similar legislation has been actively pushed for three years now in a public relations and lobbying campaign, but has never been put to a vote. The bill is stoutly opposed by lobbyists for liquor and beer businesses, as well as some groups - including the Baptist organizations - that see grocery store wine sales as increasing alcohol consumpution.
Ramsey on Liquor Laws, County Election Administrators
In an interview with Robert Houk, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey says he's appointing a special Senate committee to "revamp the state's liquor laws from top to bottom" and will do "everything I can" to see that some sort of compromise passes.
To be successful, Ramsey said legislators will need concessions from both liquor stores and grocers. Part of that will be a compromise to allow grocery stores to sell wine and permit liquor stores to sell beer, ice and other items they are now prohibited from offering.
(Note: Sen. Bill Ketron, who is sponsoring four versions of wine-in-grocery-stores legislation, has also filed a SB320 to allow liquor stores to sell "ice, soft drinks, mixes, glassware and corkscrews" - but not beer. Of course, that could be amended in. The Kingsport Times-News, meanwhile, has a Sunday story on wine-in-grocery-stores with comments from House sponsor Rep. Jon Lundberg. And Michael Silence notes the online PR efforts.)
,,, Some of Ramsey's optimism for the wine bill may be the waning influence of the state's liquor lobby on Capitol Hill. Last year, the liquor industry was forced to team up with the Tennessee Baptist Convention to stop wine sales in supermarkets.
Another issue that might be brought up (by Democrats) in the General Assembly this year is civil service protection for county election officials. The idea has come up in the wake of the recent firing of a local elections administrator. Patricia Lumpkins was fired on Jan. 18 by the Hawkins County Election Commission in a 4-1 vote (one Democratic member sided with the board's three Republicans).
In July 2009, Lumpkins joined other Democratic-appointed election administrators who had been fired or thought to be in line to be fired in a class-action federal lawsuit alleging Republicans conspired to treat the position as a political patronage job. Since a federal injunction was lifted in November to prevent such dismissals, six county election administrators have been fired or forced to retire.
There's been talk that Republican-led election commissions across the state have been instructed by GOP leaders in Nashville to dismiss election administrators hired by formerly Democratic-controlled boards. The lieutenant governor said he knows of no such pressure being placed on election commissions. Even so, Ramsey said these "are political jobs" and "you'll see more changes" being made in the coming months.
"To the victor go the spoils," Ramsey said.
Republicans earned control of the state and county election commissions when the GOP gained a majority in the General Assembly in 2008.
"I almost think it's insulting to say there are no Republicans in these counties who can't serve as election administrators," Ramsey said.
(Note: Republican Rep. Bill Dunn has filed HB36, which "clarifies" the duties of county election administrators. Democrats last year charged that a similar bill was designed to assure that election administrators are deemed to hold political jobs and thus can be fired at will - effectively deciding the pending lawsuit in favor of the defendant election commissions. The Democrats managed to stop the bill on the House floor last session... when they had a lot more votes than in the current session.)


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How to make data presentation efficient and interesting?
by Sandeep Phatak - Research Associate, Army Audiology and Speech Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
- Most readers and listeners are interested in your interpretation of the data and not the raw data itself. Stay focused on presentation of concepts and interpretations as opposed to the raw data itself.
- Do not overwhelm your poster or slides with excessive text. A simple rule would be to not use more than three major text bullets on a slide. Remember - a picture is worth a thousand words!
- Start your presentation with background and motivation for your research work. This is essential to get readers/listeners interested in your presentation. Review the past work, leading to the research question(s) that you worked on. Use an online journal database to search for the relevant publications, including PhD dissertations, journal articles and conference proceedings. Cite references wherever necessary.
- Provide a brief description of your research framework (e.g. experiment/survey design), followed by data analysis. Use figures and graphs to show results of data analysis, rather than tables with raw numbers.
- Choose the right type of plotting method (e.g. lines/bars/pie). For example, pie charts are best for displaying percentages of different categories in a dataset whereas line graphs are best when the data on the x-axis represent magnitude of the same entity/variable. When the data points are across different conditions, the points cannot be connected to form lines. In such cases, bar graphs should be used. In all cases, don't forget to label axes!
- Provide your interpretation of the results and interweave past work based on your literature review mentioned above. Your ability to carefully interpret the data will determine the quality of your research work. Provide bulleted conclusions.
- It is important to close the loop by restating the question(s) answered by your research as well stating those which remain unanswered. You may want to propose follow-up work under the title of "Future Work."
Related resources:
ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis Database.
Online digital libraries such as Proquest, PubMed and Ovid.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai
Title: Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai, Oretsuba, We Don\'t Have Wings, Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai, Without Wings -under the innocent sky-
Type: TV, Episodes 12
Year: Apr 4, 2011 to ?
Status: Ongoing
Haneda Takashi has a secret he cannot speak of. To leave his dull school-life, he was supposed to have escaped to another world. However, he is reeled in by certain ties on his heart. One of these is Kobato, his awkward younger sister. The other is Watarai Asuka, his negligent girlfriend.
Chitose Shuusuke is a poor freeloader. He passes his days working at various part-time jobs. One day, he has a disastrous first encounter with Tamaizumi Hiyoko. The next time they meet, Shuusuke discovers that they are fellow employees at his part-time job.
Narita Hayato sees himself as a "hard-boiled" person. Back-breaking jobs are nothing to him. Hayato shuns normal human contact, but, during the nights, he would get together with delinquents and other denizens of the night. One such night, he meets the cheerful and oblivious Otori Naru.
The relationships with these girls will greatly affect these 3 young men. But what, exactly, is the relationship these young men have with each other?
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi,
You are going to watch Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai english subbed / dubbed online for free. All Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai episodes are updated every hour by our search engine. To begin watching Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai, choose an episode below. Have fun watching!
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Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai Episode 3
Published by akuiejohnny on April 17, 2011 [Comments]
Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai Episode 2
Published by haila_021 on April 15, 2011 [1 Comment]
Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai Episode 1
Published by haila_021 on April 4, 2011 [6 Comments]


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Come Visit the Animal Orphanage!
71 Airport Road
Animals On-The-Air!
Check out WABI Channel 5 News on Tuesdays at the 6:30am segment to see some of the animals who are ready for adoption. We would like to thank Channel 5, especially Joy, Wayne, and Todd for making this possible!
Animal Orphanage Pet Run 5k Results! (April 2013)
Click the runner to view the results of the Animal Orphanage Pet Run 5k.


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Defense Spending02/05/2014
Americans recognize that the world is a dangerous place. In a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 23 percent of those polled said that we should increase defense spending, 47 percent said to keep it about where it is now, and 28 percent said cut it back. More than half of the public in the poll (56 percent) say U.S. policies should try to keep America as the only military superpower, while 32 percent say it would be acceptable if China, another country, or the European Union became as powerful militarily as the United States.


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Cheese Enchiladas
For a fun dinner that kids like--and that's easy to prepare--fill these meatless enchiladas with a Mexican cheese and slather in red chile sauce.
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 2 ounce package ancho chiles
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped white onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped serrano or jalapeno chile
- 1/2 teaspoon Mexican dried oregano
- 2 14 ounce cans chicken broth
- 1/4 cup brewed coffee
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon masa harina
- 8 soft corn tortillas, warmed
- 2 cups shredded Queso Blanco or Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/3 cup thinly sliced white onion, for garnish
1. For the Red Chile Sauce, toast cumin in a large skillet over low heat, until fragrant, 2 minutes. Transfer to a cup; set aside. Add ancho chiles to same skillet and heat over low heat until chiles become pliable and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and cover with hot tap water; let stand 15 minutes, until very soft. Drain liquid from chiles. Discard stems and seeds; chop chiles.
2. Heat oil in a small Dutch oven or medium saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin with onions, garlic, serrano and oregano and cook until vegetables soften, 5 minutes. Stir in chopped ancho chiles, broth, coffee and salt. Bring mixture to a boil; sprinkle in masa harina. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer mixture, partially covered, 1 hour. Transfer mixture to blender and puree. Return Chile Sauce to Dutch oven and keep warm on low heat.
3. Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. Wrap warm tortillas in foil. Spoon 1 cup warm Red Chile Sauce into the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish. Place 1/4 cup cheese in center of one warm tortilla and roll up (keep remaining tortillas wrapped). Place enchilada seam side down in prepared dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas and cheese. Pour remaining 2 cups Chile Sauce over enchiladas. Cover dish with foil and bake until cheese has melted and Chile Sauce is hot, about 15 minutes. Garnish top with onion, if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
- Servings Per Recipe 4
- cal.(kcal)420,
- Fat, total(g)25,
- chol.(mg)50,
- sat. fat(g)12,
- carb.(g)39,
- fiber(g)7,
- pro.(g)19,
- sodium(mg)1818,
- Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet


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While most of us were enjoying our July 4th, Beane was working. As a result a lot of journalists suddenly had to start working too. Links from around the web on the A's blockbuster.
Per Ken Rosenthal, the Mets' deal with Shaun Marcum deal is for 1 year and $4 million, with incentives
Kevin Youkilis might not be long for the Red Sox, as Boston is willing to chip in money to send him packing.
From Rosenthal via Larry Stone's Twitter and mlbtraderumors. Love their use of the word "early". Oh, and supposedly the Mariners are interested too.
The Past Ain't What It Used to Be: We all cheered for the Yankees post-9/11 says people who should know better
What's the problem? Why are people bitching so much? That's my question. That's my frustration. The problem is people having patience with the process.Brian Cashman. Hey Ca$hmoney, Dayton knows all about impatient fanbases and high-pressure media firestorms. Give him a call and I'm sure he'll help you out, maybe even send you a stud reliever locked up for years. All it will cost you is some kid that I heard doesn't even have a real position.
The idea isn't to win the Baseball America organizational rankings. The idea is to win the World Series.Ken Rosenthal, on the Zack Greinke trade.
A rebuttal to Ken Rosenthal's argument that great GM's should be paid and recruited like superstar athletes.
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witf's Real Life | Real Issues is a multimedia series devoted to providing several angles on a single issue of interest to Central PA each month. The goal is to provide in-depth coverage of the topic on all witf media, including witf 89.5 & 93.3, witf TV, Central PA Magazine and witf.org. Real Life | Real Issues also engages listeners, viewers and readers on witf's Facebook and Twitter accounts to discuss the issues with members of the community.
(Undated) -- Some 110,000 illegal immigrants were estimated to have jobs in Pennsylvania last year. That's about 1.8 percent of the state's workforce, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. But, who are these workers? Who hires them? Who suffers the consequences? In our Real Life | Real Issues series on immigration in central PA, WITF's Tim Lambert reports on three stories, three voices, offering their own answers.
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