The Fortlander

From this week’s Tennessean (and one from the NYTimes)

Murfreesboro, Metro teacher filmed kids’ sex, police say
But for real, bearded dude’s holding a snake and has a rat on his shoulder. In his myspace profile pic.

House passes bill allowing guns in restaurants
Kill your dinner.

Tenn. House will vote on abortion amendment
A proposal to amend the Tennessee Constitution to place more restrictions on abortion picked up speed. Voters could see the amendment on a ballot by 2014. Specifically, the proposal says that women wanting abortions would have to wait 48 hours before the procedure, and all abortions besides first-term abortions would have to take place in hospitals. Republicans argue that these measures would make the state’s constitution more neutral toward abortion than it currently is, and Democrats say the proposal is politically charged and doesn’t help women. As usual with emotional political issues, the comments in the Tennessean are hilarious and frightening–people’s survivalist tendencies are really showing these days. One commenter links to a how-to book on self-induced abortions and suggests that everyone buy it because “you or someone you know may need it someday.” Another opts for simplicity: “Save the Babies.”

Rutherford County faces $11M suit for rejecting Bible park
The family in Rutherford County who owns the land where Bible Park USA was supposed to be built before the city rejected the project is suing the county and city attorney for $11 million plus attorney fees. Plaintiffs contend that the city cost them the land deal. But I think it just wasn’t God’s will.

Firm Acted as Tutor in Selling Towns Risky Deals
Lewisburg, tiny town south of Nashville, was convinced by its financial adviser, Morgan Keegan & Co., to invest in risky bond derivatives that went sour: interest in January had quadrupled to $1 million annually, adding to the shrinking town’s woes. Morgan Keegan pitched the bonds, offered seminars explaining the benefits with very little focus on risks, and then processed the transaction. When discussing the company’s involvement in all steps leading to investment, John G. Morgan, the former State Comptroller who held this rank when all this was established, said, “I didn’t think there was a problem.”