http://www.metropulse.com/news/news-features/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: News & Featuresen-usnews-featureshttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/19/gopers-caught-twist-business-activists/?partner=RSSA House vote on a bill that would allow states to force online retailers to collect sales tax is a couple of months away, but the Republicans in the Tennessee delegation are being lobbied heavily. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26151-735038stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNGOPers Caught Twist Business, ActivistsMetroPulsegopers-caught-twist-business-activistsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26151-735038Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/19/here-comes-judge/?partner=RSSThere are 15 candidates who have applied for the Eastern District Court of Criminal Appeals position (which includes Knoxville) with the announced retirement of Judge Joseph Tipton. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:46:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26150-735038stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNHere Comes the JudgeMetroPulsehere-comes-judgeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26150-735038Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/19/older-workers-face-test/?partner=RSSMany state employees nearing retirement were high school dropouts who got a low-level job in places like the highway department and worked their way up. Legislation has been passed requiring state employees to have a high school diploma. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26149-735038stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNOlder Workers Face a TestMetroPulseolder-workers-face-testurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26149-735038Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/19/state-abc-cracks-down-house-infused-spirits-can-te/?partner=RSSIt wasn’t that long ago that house-infused spirits were a rarity in Tennessee, but these days, everyone from high-end speakeasies like Peter Kern Library to casual chains like Tupelo Honey have them on the menu. gervinc@metropulse.com (Cari Wade Gervin)Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:28:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26147-735038stories/city-beatCari Wade GervinKnoxville, TNState ABC Cracks Down on House-Infused Spirits. Can Tennessee's Cocktail Culture Survive?MetroPulsestate-abc-cracks-down-house-infused-spirits-can-teurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26147-735038Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/artful-dodge-why-wont-knoxville-commit-public-art/?partner=RSSSo what has Knoxville’s Public Arts Committee achieved in the five years it’s been around? According to its own members, not a lot, really. It was originally formed five years ago when the city realized it had no formal public arts policy, and no program to approve pieces of public (outdoor) art. But aside from approving or disapproving public-art proposals, the committee doesn’t really chart a direction for acquiring new art for Knoxville. And that’s largely because it has no operating budget and no acquisition budget. If other cities can do it—like Kingsport!—how come Knoxville can’t? Or won’t? Holly Haworth takes a look. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26144-735031stories/featuresHolly HaworthKnoxville, TNThe Artful Dodge: Why Won’t Knoxville Commit to Public Art? MetroPulseartful-dodge-why-wont-knoxville-commit-public-arturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26144-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/knoxvilles-people-driven-public-art/?partner=RSSThere’s public art, and then there’s the art of the public, what might be called the people’s art—small neighborhood committees, less organized groups, or individuals acting alone, committing random acts of art in unexpected places. It springs up despite a lack of funding. Small grants are scraped together. Fund-raisers are held, volunteers give their time and energy, college students experiment. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:14:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26139-735031stories/featuresHolly HaworthKnoxville, TNKnoxville's People-Driven Public ArtMetroPulseknoxvilles-people-driven-public-arturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26139-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/ho-hum-council-races/?partner=RSSDo term limits, in reality, mean eight-year terms? Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26131-735031stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNHo Hum Council RacesMetroPulseho-hum-council-racesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26131-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/what-does-vacant-mean/?partner=RSSThe state constitution says the governor can appoint a judge to a vacant position. What’s a little sticky right now is what constitutes a vacant position. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26130-735031stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNWhat Does Vacant Mean?MetroPulsewhat-does-vacant-meanurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26130-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/campaign-without-candidate/?partner=RSSAn organization has been formed to find and support a candidate against U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in next year’s Republican primary. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26129-735031stories/ear-to-groundStaff WriterKnoxville, TNCampaign Without a CandidateMetroPulsecampaign-without-candidateurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26129-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/oak-ridges-young-activist-marcel-neergaard-gets-st/?partner=RSSWhen Marcel Neergaard decided to start a petition calling for StudentsFirst—a national political action committee pursuing “transformative” school reforms—to revoke the “reformer of the year” honor it had awarded to Tennessee state Rep. John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) in April, he didn’t know what to expect. But he managed to get exactly what he sought, as Paige Huntoon reports. paige.huntoon@metropulse.com (Paige Huntoon)Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:42:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26127-735031stories/city-beatPaige HuntoonKnoxville, TNOak Ridge's Young Activist Marcel Neergaard Gets State Rep. John Ragan's "Reformer of the Year" Honor RevokedMetroPulseoak-ridges-young-activist-marcel-neergaard-gets-sturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26127-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/debbie-donahoo-publicist-ladies-charity-wild-wes/?partner=RSSDebbie Donahoo is the publicist for the June 22 Ladies of Charity Wild West Roundup, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to LOC’s emergency assistance program for Knoxville and surrounding areas. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:36:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26124-735031stories/street-talkRose KennedyKnoxville, TNQ&A: Debbie Donahoo, Publicist for the Ladies of Charity Wild West RoundupMetroPulsedebbie-donahoo-publicist-ladies-charity-wild-wesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26124-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/knoxville-eyewear/?partner=RSSYes, not only can you live in Knoxville, now you can also wear it on your face. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:34:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26123-735031stories/triage/knox-found-onlineStaff WriterKnoxville, TNKnoxville: the EyewearMetroPulseknoxville-eyewearurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26123-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/quote-week-we-hire-human-race/?partner=RSSKPD Chief David Rausch explains the roots of bad behavior. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26122-735031stories/triage/quote-of-the-weekStaff WriterKnoxville, TNQuote of the Week: “We hire from the human race."MetroPulsequote-week-we-hire-human-raceurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26122-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/weekly-plan-it-june-13-june-20/?partner=RSSHighlights of the week ahead: June 13-June 20 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26121-735031stories/triage/weekly-plan-itStaff WriterKnoxville, TNThe Weekly Plan-It: June 13-June 20MetroPulseweekly-plan-it-june-13-june-20urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26121-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/commuters-two-wheels/?partner=RSSSean Messamore: “We need for more people to get behind the idea of commuting alternatives..." Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26120-735031stories/triage/what-knoxville-needsStaff WriterKnoxville, TNCommuters on Two WheelsMetroPulsecommuters-two-wheelsurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26120-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/12/jessica-weiss-jewelry/?partner=RSSA professional metalsmith, Jessica Weiss creates custom-made jewelry such as this wraparound ring with its turquoise, emerald, peridot, and chrysophrase. Though she ditched her marine biology studies for fine arts study after “three hard years” of classes, all Weiss’ jewelry has semi-precious and precious natural stones and many are the blues and greens of the sea. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:01:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26116-735031columns/knoxville-culture/whos-making-whatRose KennedyKnoxville, TNJessica Weiss JewelryMetroPulsejessica-weiss-jewelryurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26116-735031Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/05/local-filmmaker-seeks-funds-make-documentary-pedia/?partner=RSSKnoxville student filmmaker Micah Russell would like to make a documentary about pediatric cancer. coury@metropulse.com (Coury Turczyn)Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:24:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26112-735024stories/triage/knox-found-onlineCoury TurczynKnoxville, TNLocal Filmmaker Seeks Funds to Make Documentary on Pediatric CancerMetroPulselocal-filmmaker-seeks-funds-make-documentary-pediaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26112-735024Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/05/quote-week-i-am-against-man/?partner=RSSAn 11-year-old activist speaks out against rewarding a state representative for education reform. Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26110-735025stories/triage/quote-of-the-weekStaff WriterKnoxville, TNQuote of the Week: “I am against a man..."MetroPulsequote-week-i-am-against-manurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26110-735024Change735025Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/05/larry-kitchen-winner-2013-mark-dewolfe-award-int/?partner=RSSLarry Kitchen will receive the 2013 Mark DeWolfe Award from Interweave Continental (Unitarian Universalists for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Concerns) at the UUA’s general assembly in Louisville June 20. The award memorializes the first openly gay UU minister. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:11:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26109-735024stories/street-talkRose KennedyKnoxville, TNQ&A: Larry Kitchen, Winner of the 2013 Mark DeWolfe Award from Interweave ContinentalMetroPulselarry-kitchen-winner-2013-mark-dewolfe-award-inturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26109-735024Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jun/05/downtown-knoxvilles-broadband-internet-access-kind/?partner=RSSIt’s no secret that there are many places downtown that get less-than-amazing Internet service—while some buildings have perfectly fine Internet connections, others suffer from substandard speeds or don’t get broadband service at all. How can this be in the 21st century? Isn’t broadband now considered a basic utility for most businesses and residents? Will it harm Knoxville’s ability to compete in the digital age? Paige Huntoon examines those questions, and the answers aren’t altogether promising. paige.huntoon@metropulse.com (Paige Huntoon)Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26108-735024stories/featuresPaige HuntoonKnoxville, TNDowntown Knoxville’s Broadband Internet Access Kinda Sucks. Can It Be Fixed?MetroPulsedowntown-knoxvilles-broadband-internet-access-kindurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-26108-735024Change0Usable