Daily Dose January 07, 2006

Petition Time -- The Chattanoogan captured this picture of former mayor of Chattanooga Bob Corker picking up his petition to run for the U.S. Senate at the Hamilton County Election Commission. The Chattanoogan has a list of those who picked up petitions in Hamilton County and the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle also features those picking up petitions in Montgomery County.

Major Changes to the THP -- Governor Bredesen recently told the Associated Press that major changes are likely to come to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Among the recommendations of Kroll, Inc., a consulting company that Bredesen hired following the Tennessean's extensive reporting on the politically tainted Highway Patrol, is a recommendation to move the THP under the wing of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The Tennessean points out in an article today about Bredesen defending Deputy Governor Dave Cooley that the TBI is exempt from state open records laws and the move could make it easier to cover up any corruption in the organization and limit media oversight.

Memphis Continues to Fight Over Schools -- The Commercial Appeal reports that Shelby County continues to be split over the issue of education. Mayor of Memphis Willie Herenton contends that governments of Memphis suburbs are not paying their fair share towards county education. Bartlett's Mayor Keith McDonald admits that the City of Memphis pays about 66% of county education dollars, but he also says the City uses 72% of the total dollars, taking more from the pot than it puts in.