Tennessean

tennessean.com — A nonprofit consortium of companies that sell or use wireless technology in health care has signed a lease to eventually occupy 80,000 square feet in the medical trade mart proposed for Lower Broadway.

blogs.tennessean.com — After months of murmurs, it looks like the secret's out: Beck has been recording in Nashville, and the first of his Music City-made efforts will be released next week. Jack White's Third Man Records has just announced the release of a new "Blue Series" single from the award-winning, genre-bending singer/songwriter on May 28/29.

tennessean.com — An errant golf ball from the 14th hole on Murfreesboro's Indian Hills Golf Course knocked a motorcyclist's teeth out as she and her husband rode blissfully along South Church Street. A man teeing off at the 14th over the weekend hooked his shot, watched the ball disappear and then heard screams, according to a Murfreesboro Police Department incident report.

tennessean.com — DOSWELL, VA. - The owner of a Tennessee-based amusement company is paying $5.67 million for the State Fair of Virginia and the Caroline County site where it has been held, including where Triple Crown winner Secretariat was born. Mark Lovell, owner of Cordova, Tenn.-based Universal Fairs, placed the winning bid of $5.35 million at an auction on Tuesday.

blogs.tennessean.com — Ending Metro government's subsidies of the city's bus system and safety-net hospital would put the hospital out of business and make Nashville a unique place in the world of mass transit, department heads testified at Metro Council budget hearings Tuesday evening.

blogs.tennessean.com — A recent study suggests that isolation may breed corruption in state government, with much of the blame or praise being attributed to the media. The Los Angeles Times reports this morning that researchers at Harvard University and Singapore Management University found a strong correlationbetween convictions on federal corruption charges and distance from the states' population centers.

tennessean.com — A state advisory council meets Thursday to consider a 5.1 percent overall reduction in average rates that play a large role in determining what Tennessee businesses pay for workers' compensation premiums. But whether the proposed reduction takes effect depends on more than just what happens this week.

tennessean.com — As Tennessee celebrated four years of general crime declines last month, a devil was lost in the details: Drug crimes rose to their second-highest number in 11 years. The story was repeated across the Nashville area. While overall crime in 2011 was a mixed bag, drug-related incidents generally rose in Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties.

tennessean.com — Aileen Stalvey says she was "born to shop," but shopping for surgery left her with a bill from Baptist Hospital for more than twice the amount she'd been quoted. "Even though we asked for a price and got a written estimate, the invoice comes out afterward charging us double what we signed for," said the Inglewood woman, whose disputed bill has been turned over to a collection agency.

tennessean.com — As Tennessee celebrated four years of general crime declines last month, a devil was lost in the details: Drug crimes rose to their second-highest number in 11 years. The story was repeated across the Nashville area. While overall crime in 2011 was a mixed bag, drug-related incidents generally rose in Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties.

blogs.tennessean.com — Nashville dobro master Jerry Douglas has assembled a star-studded guest list for his upcoming album, Traveler (June 26, eOne Music). Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Mumford & Sons, Mark Cohn, bandmates Alison Krauss & Union Station and local blues star Keb' Mo' are among the famous friends who've contributed guest vocals to the disc, while instrumental appearances are made by Dr. John, Sam Bush, Béla Fleck, Omar Hakim, Viktor Krauss, Del McCoury and more.

blogs.tennessean.com — The Titans have agreed to terms on four-year deals with two more of their draft picks â€" fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson and seventh-round defensive end Scott Solomon. Thompson and Solomon are the fifth and sixth members of the Titans’ seven-man draft class to agree to terms. The only remaining 2012 draft pick without a deal is wide receiver Kendall Wright, the team’s first-round selection.

blogs.tennessean.com — It's tough to remember a Predators rookie before forward Craig Smith who came to Nashville with such high expectations. Smith was a fourth-round draft pick in 2009, but developed quickly. He played on Team USA's first line in the 2011 World Championships almost directly following his sophomore year at Wisconsin.

blogs.tennessean.com — U.S. Rep. Diane Black says via a presser Tuesday that she, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and 22 other female Republican lawmakers are joining together to form the Women's Policy Committee. The group is meant to raise the profile of Republican women as lawmakers.

tennessean.com — THOMPSON'S STATION - Pet food giant Mars Petcare today broke ground on its $87.9 million regional innovation center in Thompson's Station. It will be Mars' sixth site in Tennessee, and the company's first U.S. regional innovation center for North America, one of five globally, with the other five overseas.

blogs.tennessean.com — "Sustainability" - the concept celebrated in a United Nations policy paper/global conspiracy - may not be popular among statehouse Republicans, but it appears to be an idea that Tennessee's senior senator is comfortable with. According to Bloomberg, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander used a little anecdote last week to show the breadth of support for sustainability.

tennessean.com — Metro Nashville school officials hope for the first time in three years to get money from the city for school renovation projects, including a $20 million makeover at Stratford High School. Seven middle and elementary schools are also on the list for renovation or expansion, but other high schools will have to wait.

tennessean.com — DaJohn Harris arrived at the NFL Combine as a likely middle- to late-round draft pick, but it took just one medical evaluation to change his future. A doctor diagnosed the defensive tackle from USC with a small hole in his heart because of a condition known as patent foramen ovale.

tennessean.com — The fiscally conservative Beacon Center of Tennessee released an alternative city budget proposal that would maintain current tax rates and give raises to Metro employees but would eliminate proposed increases for schools, a local hospital and other recipients of city funds.

tennessean.com — What you think of President Barack Obama's job performance over the past 40 months might have something to do with your race, sex or beliefs. Tennessee women are more likely than men to approve of the job the 44th president is doing, a Vanderbilt University poll found.

tennessean.com — MURFREESBORO - Conference USA's decision last week to add Old Dominion as its 14th member school in 2013 essentially defeated MTSU's bid for the same spot - but contrary to some fans' perception, it wasn't for lack of trying.

tennessean.com — When a BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee patient has a total knee or hip replacement at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance or Vanderbilt Medical Group, the state's largest health insurer gets billed separately for a bunch of services. Bills arrive for the surgery, physical therapy and other care that happens weeks after the procedure.

tennessean.com — An 18-year-old has been arrested for throwing a hammer from one vehicle into another vehicle. The hammer hit the other driver in the neck on Interstate-40 near White Bridge Road in Nashville. William Garton is charged with aggravated assault and vandalism, according to court documents.

tennessean.com — In celebration of its 75th anniversary, Tennessee State Parks will gain its newest edition - Cummins Falls State Park. More than 200 acres of land along the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River in Cookeville will officially become Tennessee's 54th state park with a dedication ceremony at the site at noon today.

tennessean.com — Some supporters of the Tennessee State Fair hope Gov. Bill Haslam's veto pen will make another rare appearance soon, setting aside state legislation that would put the fair in new hands.

blogs.tennessean.com — More on how the battle lines are shaping up in Sumner County: State Sen. Kerry Roberts, a Republican who lost his seat to a fellow Republican in this year's redistricting process, is among the hosts of a Courtney Rogers fundraiser later this week in Goodlettsville. Rogers is taking on state Rep.

tennessean.com — Circuit Court Judge Randy Kennedy on Monday ordered a hearing to determine whether records and hearings involving Reese Witherspoon's father will be open to the media and public. Witherspoon is attempting to have her father, Dr. John Witherspoon, placed under a conservator, who would act as his legal representative because of concerns about his competency.

tennessean.com — President Barack Obama is now running neck and neck with Mitt Romney in the state, and many Tennesseans didn't care for the socially conservative direction the General Assembly often took this year, a Vanderbilt University poll found. But Republican Gov. Bill Haslam remains very popular.

tennessean.com — WellNow Urgent Care has opened a pair of clinics in Dickson and Springfield, Tenn., the latest sign of growth across Middle Tennessee in the walk-in medical care niche. In Dickson, the Nashville-based company acquired and renovated the former Walk-In Quick Care (now WellNow Dickson) at 199 Henslee Drive.

tennessean.com — Mothers never stop fretting about their children even when they become adults, but Louise Hardaway worries less now that her 21-year-old son is back on her health insurance. A mandate of the Affordable Care Act allowed the Nashville woman to put him back on her employer-based plan.

blogs.tennessean.com — For a good portion of the year, it seemed like 2011-12 would be a turning point for Colin Wilson. He played on Nashville's top line for the majority of the season. He matched his point total from last season (34 which he accrued in 82 games) in late February.

blogs.tennessean.com — The Titans have agreed to terms on a four-year deal with linebacker Zach Brown, the team’s second-round pick last month. Tennessee is hoping the speed and athleticism of the 6-1, 242-pound Brown will bring new elements to the Titans’ linebacking corps.