GM's Spring Hill workers worry

General Motors Corp.'s Spring Hill assembly plant could face a more difficult battle to survive a new round of auto industry cuts sought by the Obama administration in the wake of the ouster of GM's chief executive last week and the prospect of an even leaner GM.
In return for any continued federal financial support of GM, the Obama administration said, the automaker's reorganization plan must include steeper reductions in manufacturing capacity and labor costs, even though the company already has closed factories and reduced its work force by about 60,000 in the past year.


Washington Report: Federal Reserve
Holladay Properties begins office project
Washington Report: FDIC and Loan Pools
GM says 7,500 took buyouts, including 310 at Spring Hill

Comcast puts focus on phone and Internet

Steve Burke, president of Comcast cable and executive vice president of Comcast Corp., has been making the rounds nationally, pitching new products and rallying his corporate troops with the mantra that Comcast is investing $5 billion in capital expenditures this year despite the recession.
He leaves unsaid that the still lofty figure is down slightly from 2008 spending levels, based on stock analysts' reports on Comcast, but it's also far from a retrenchment.


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Recession boosts Roth’s tax-free appeal
Washington Report: Federal Reserve

AT&T labor talks down to the wire

Negotiators for AT&T Inc. and union officials representing 112,500 employees said Friday they expect to bargain into the weekend on five labor contracts that expire tonight.
The contract talks don't cover the nine-state region that includes Tennessee, however. This region's contract doesn't expire until Aug. 8.


Tennessee may lift restrictions on wine sales
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Real Estate Outlook: Housing Positioned For Growth
Investor Report: Bailout at Work

Disney cuts 1,900 jobs in parks

BURBANK, Calif. — In a sign that the recession is cutting into the Walt Disney Co.'s park business even deeper than originally thought, Disney on Friday said it eliminated about 1,900 jobs at its domestic theme parks through job cuts and attrition.
The entertainment giant in February announced a reorganization of its parks and resorts operation, which it acknowledged would set the stage for job cuts. The changes were announced amid falling attendance and expectations that the recession has many more months to run. But Friday's announcement signals that Disney is bracing for an extended downturn in its business as consumers continue to keep their wallets closed.


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FedEx to cut 1,000 jobs, $1 billion in expenses

TDOT agrees to pay $5.7M for state to replace wetlands

The state could soon begin replacing wetlands destroyed during road building over the past two decades.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has agreed to pay $5.7 million into a fund to close out any unfulfilled commitments made when construction plowed over wetlands and streams in cases as far back as 1990.


Tuition increase is likely this fall
Tennessee may lift restrictions on wine sales
Investor Report: Bailout at Work

Supreme Court urges more free legal services

The Tennessee Supreme Court will adopt three rules Friday aimed at encouraging lawyers to provide free services to Tennesseans who need legal assistance but can't afford it.
The changes will encourage but not require lawyers to provide 50 pro bono hours of work each year; enable lawyers to provide limited scope legal assistance to people without formally becoming their attorney-of-record, and enable lawyers to earn one hour of continuing legal education credit for every five hours of pro bono services they provide.


Supreme Court says union contracts can limit age bias lawsuits
Appeals court: Madoff will remain in prison
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Washington Report: Property Valuation

Supreme Court says union contracts can limit age bias lawsuits

WASHINGTON — Workers can't sue for age discrimination when the union representing them has agreed that any bias claims should go to arbitration rather than court, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled.
The justices, voting 5-4, ruled in favor of Temco Services Industries Inc. on a discrimination lawsuit by three men who were demoted from positions as night watchmen at a New York City office building. The suit invokes the U.S. Age Discrimination in Employment Act.


Washington Report: FDIC and Loan Pools
Washington Report: Property Valuation
Appeals court: Madoff will remain in prison
Madoff victims worry plea could deny justice