News Around the Region from TRN...
 

From Corn Cobs to Ethanol...
Governor Phil Bredesen and the DuPont Company are on the road to building the 1st pilot-scale biorefinery in the U-S using corncobs and switchgrass grown on Tennessee farms. The project has received a 40.7-million dollar commitment from the state and a 26-million grant from the U-S Department of Energy. This marks a change in development partners for the University of Tennessee-managed cellulosic ethanol project.


Hourly Workers To Get A Raise Today...
The federal minimum wage goes up to 6-dollars and 55-cents per hour. People making minimum wage will "now" earn about 13,500-dollars per year in Tennessee. This increase is the 2nd of three provided by the fair minimum wage act passed in 2007. A 3rd increase of 70-cents goes into effect July 24th, 2009, bringing the federal minimum wage to 7-dollars and 25-cents per hour.


DHS Collects on Fed Stimulus Package
MORE INFORMATION ON THE STIMULUS PACKAGE COLLECTIONS... The Department of Human Services Commissioner says the state collected a record of more than 530-million dollars for child support in 2008. That's up 508-million dollars from the previous year. Over the last 6-months, the Volunteer State has diverted more than 50,000 stimulus checks, tax refunds and lottery winnings.


Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite!
A Nashville pest control manager says bed bugs don't discriminate and are not a "sanitation issue." Check your linens for reddish, brown blood or stains...check the closets, and keep your clothes off the floor. The nocturnal bed bugs feed off human or animal blood and generally like to hide in mattress creases or baseboards.

Sales Rep Convicted of Fraud, Money Laundering
A federal jury has convicted a refrigeration company sales representative from Mount Juliet (JULIE-et) on charges he pocketed thousands of dollars intended to buy equipment at a failed Mississippi beef plant. James Draper has been found guilty of money laundering and interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud.

In Entertainment...
Publicists for country singer Mindy McCready say McCready has checked into an extended-care treatment facility, although the reason wasn't disclosed. The singer was charged in June with violating her probation, specifically falsifying her community service records. She is on probation for a 2004 drug charge.

Singer Sheryl Crow says she isn't recording with Fleetwood Mac - at least, not soon. Taking questions from college students in Nashville as part of a Grammy Foundation event, Crow said she's a big fan of the group but says she'll be on the road when Fleetwood Mac is scheduled in the studio.

Sports Wrap
ROUND 4 OF BREWERS / CARDINALS ACTION TONIGHT.  6:32 AIR TIME, ON OLDIES 1450 AM AND 101.7 FM (WTRO).

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