International Business News - TN http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Tennessee may have set a historic low in the state's sales tax growth rate, according to preliminary monthly revenue figures released Wednesday. The early look at sales tax collections shows they shrank by 7.7 percent to $560 million in October, state Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/tenn-sales-tax-growth-rate-could-set-historic-low.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:35:08 EST The Tennessee Valley Authority is looking to buy up to 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2011. The nation's largest public utility issued a request for proposals Tuesday to buy enough clean energy from the wind, sun and other renewable sources to supply about 978,000 homes in three years. It would be like adding two new nuclear reactors to the TVA system. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/tva-seeks-2-000-megawatts-of-clean-energy.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:56:39 EST About one in six Tennesseans received food stamp assistance in the latest monthly reporting period, setting a new state record. Nearly 1 million people participated in the recently re-branded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in October, an increase of more than 75,000 people, or 8.4 percent, since the beginning of the year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081202/record-1-in-6-tennesseans-receive-food-stamps.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:25:14 EST Former Sen. Howard Baker says health care reform is on the horizon. Baker spoke Monday at a forum designed to find solutions to such reform and present them to the White House and Congress early next year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081202/ex-tenn-sen-baker-says-health-care-reform-needed.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:17:00 EST Tennessee department heads ordered to make a second round of budget cuts to address a massive budget shortfall say it will be difficult to spare their staffs from layoffs. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081128/tennessee-department-heads-bracing-for-layoffs.htm Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:50:20 EST Despite lingering drought conditions in some parts of the state, Tennessee agricultural officials say 2008 is a good year for the harvest. With 98 percent of the corn harvested, 95 percent of the soybeans reaped and half the tobacco stripped, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued its final weekly Tennessee Crop Weather bulletin on Nov. 17. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/tenn-officials-say-2008-harvest-deemed-a-good-one.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:29:48 EST TennCare officials say relief from a 20-year-old lawsuit is critical for eligible enrollees to maintain their medical benefits at a time when Gov. Phil Bredesen is looking to make deep budget cuts. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081124/tenn-medicaid-enrollees-could-lose-some-benefits.htm Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:55:56 EST A lean budget year and a tax loophole that is saving some family owned businesses roughly $45 million could turn into the first showdown between Tennessee Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and the new Republican majorities in the General Assembly. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081124/tenn-gov-end-tax-exemption-for-family-businesses.htm Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:24:28 EST In the next few weeks, thousands of tons of largely invisible smokestack pollutants rising from the Tennessee Valley Authority coal-fired power plant nearest the Great Smoky Mountains will be replaced by a billowing plume of steamy water vapor. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081121/tva-smokestack-scrubbers-to-help-clear-smokies-air.htm Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:55:15 EST Gov. Phil Bredesen insists he wasn't broadcasting mixed signals when he hosted a ceremony last week to re-sign a law clamping down on illegal music downloads at Tennessee colleges and universities. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081120/bredesen-no-mixed-signals-on-tenn-downloads-law.htm Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:26:53 EST Tennessee will suspend efforts to attract more large business projects if it lands one or two more deals on the scale of the $1 billion Volkswagen plant being built in Chattanooga, Gov. Phil Bredesen said Wednesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081119/tenn-guv-time-for-break-on-business-incentives.htm Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:24:07 EST Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday he won't seek a hike in Tennessee's gas tax as a way to bolster the state's ability to build and repair roads. The state's road fund is struggling because people have been driving less amid high gas prices and a worsening economy, Transportation Department officials said in a budget hearing. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081118/tenn-governor-wont-seek-to-raise-state-gas-tax.htm Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:38:32 EST A Tennessee county commission has approved a development agreement that would turn the vacant, 32-story Pyramid arena into a Bass Pro Shops retail location. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081118/arena-in-memphis-tenn-to-become-retail-store.htm Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:51:14 EST Gov. Phil Bredesen won't rule out laying off state employees amid a growing Tennessee budget shortfall. Bredesen, a Democrat, told reporters Monday that it won't be possible for the state to bridge what could end up being an $800 million budget gap without reducing the number of employees on the payroll. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081117/tenn-gov-wont-rule-out-layoffs-amid-budget-gap.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:28:14 EST The Knoxville News Sentinel newspaper has unveiled a redesigned Monday edition that consolidates sections to cut costs. Separate local news, national news, sports and features sections were merged into two sections in Monday's paper. The combined paper still ran 30 pages, plus a classified ad section. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081117/knoxville-newspaper-redesigns-to-cut-costs.htm Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:55:29 EST Tennessee has chosen Zycron Inc. as its primary vendor to provide information technology services for the state for a company estimate of $30 million. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081113/zycron-awarded-3-year-it-contract-with-tennessee.htm Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:16:21 EST Worsening state economic conditions combined with a Republican takeover of both chambers of the Tennessee Legislature have led to increasing speculation that Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen might want to bolt for Washington. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081111/tenn-governor-no-plans-to-bolt-for-washington.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:27:43 EST Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the Tennessee state lottery: Cash 3 Day http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081111/tennessee-lottery-numbers.htm Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:17:23 EST Here are the winning numbers selected Monday in the Tennessee state lottery: Cash 3 Day http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081110/tennessee-lottery-numbers.htm Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:47:12 EST Foundering first quarter revenue collections indicate that Tennessee's state budget shortfall could reach $800 million, Gov. Phil Bredesen warned Monday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081110/governor-tenn-budget-shortfall-could-reach-800m.htm Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:24:45 EST