“Some people have 15 years of experience; some have one year’s experience 15 times.” That’s a maxim which I learned decades ago, which accurately reflects the paradigm shift taking place in the way Tennessee state government and our public education system now operates. Laws have already gone into effect this summer radically altering the state’s half-century old Civil Service system.

On the first day of June at 5:15 p.m., Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, surrounded by a sea of jubilant constituents, will dedicate the new Fifth Avenue of the Arts streetscape with its sensational strands of festive, over-the-street lights. As we break out the party hats and prepare to celebrate this grand achievement, we want to commend the mayor and Metro government for

As I was contemplating writing a column pleading for more mature and measured bipartisan efforts in the face of our nation’s presumed forthcoming fiscal disaster, I recalled the column I wrote exactly four years ago about a “purple coalition” and what the Volunteer State could offer America’s new president early on in his administration. Though my support for President Barack

Edwards worked on World Fair, 2000 Gore staff and Sports Authority, among others Emmett A. Edwards, a businessman and public servant for more than three decades, died Monday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center due to complications from lung cancer. He was 59. Born in Covington, Tenn., in May of 1953, Edwards graduated in his high school’s first racially integrated class

Most of us are familiar with the lyrics from the famed ‘60s Disney musical film, Mary Poppins: “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down…” The “medicine” I’m referring to is the current proposed property tax increase in our fair city while “the sugar” is something I have enjoyed ever since moving to Nashville

As this final (allegedly) legislative week unfolds, my fellow Democrats (the remaining few left in the General Assembly) brought shame to our party. Playing political games can be entertaining, but to play games with guns is no laughing or recreational matter. The overall story is the battle over guns in parking lots. Tennessee has been thrust into the spotlight with

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right Here I am, stuck in the middle with you   The chorus from the 1972 Stealers Wheel hit, co-written by Joe Egan and the late Gerry Rafferty, keeps echoing in my head as I’ve observed the frightening, politically divisive landscape which has erupted in Washington and Nashville, eroding the long-established

“Give me a Big O,” the team of energetic fifth-grade cheerleaders shouted out. “O” was the resounding answer from more than 1,000 first, second and third-graders at a Tennessee elementary school recently. The cheerleaders and their enthusiastic responders continued to spell out: “O-L-L-I-E,” until they reached the finale: “What have you got?” “OLLIE, OLLIE!” the kids shouted back, as the

During the current session of the state legislature, I have found it embarrassing to watch the asinine attempts of a dozen lawmakers as they have worked, once more, to sully the reputation of the Volunteer State. I am referring to the proposed driver’s license tests in English-only legislation (SB0063/HB0262). This bill is not only insulting, but is a slap in

The proverbial statement from the Book of Ecclesiastes,” To everything there is a season,” always circles back to remind us of its wisdom. Such is the case with the recent action taken by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). Last month, the TBR tapped John Morgan, the state’s current deputy governor, as chancellor of the nation’s sixth largest system of