NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Proficiency levels are up in all but one of 24 of the latest assessment tests of elementary and middle students, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Tuesday.
The Republican governor credited the state’s recent emphasis on improving education standards for the improved test results of students in grades three through eight.
“We are making efforts on a broad front,” Haslam said. “There is a renewed focus on teaching in Tennessee, and I think our teachers get a lot of credit for that.”
On the whole, about half of the students tested at their grade level or above in reading and math, while 60 percent were proficient in science. That’s the equivalent of about 55,000 more students achieving proficient scores in reading and 38,000 more in science than two years ago, according to education officials.
The governor acknowledged that despite the improving scores in the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program tests, the remaining half of students fail to reach proficiency in math or reading
“It concerns me, and that’s why we’re pushing so hard to make the kind of changes we’re making,” he said.
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis-area officials are urging residents who are sick, elderly or don’t have an air conditioner to take special precautions as temperatures approach 100 degrees and the risk of heat-related deaths rises.
Temperatures will climb into the high-90s and even 100 degrees or above by the middle and end of the week in much of Tennessee, according to the National Weather Service. A weather service advisory said that it will feel like a “pressure cooker” in Middle Tennessee by Friday.
The heat and abnormally dry weather is expected to worsen drought conditions in parts of the state. In West Tennessee, officials are warning of an increased risk of fire due to hot and dry conditions.
In Shelby County, which includes Memphis, officials are telling people to check on elderly relatives and neighbors who live alone to make sure they are safe from the heat. The county also sends out air quality messages each day to make sure residents with respiratory problems are aware of any potential breathing hazards.
Meanwhile, the city of Memphis is urging citizens — especially those without air conditioners — to use community centers, senior centers and libraries as cooling stations.
“We are also monitoring the situation and may open up other cooling centers or expand hours of cooling centers as needed,” city spokeswoman Mary Cashiola wrote in an email.
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Organizers say that this year’s Elvis Week, the annual party celebrating the life of late rock and roll icon Elvis Presley in Memphis, is expected to be the largest since the event began 30 years ago.
Each year in August, fans flock to Memphis to honor Elvis and his music. This year marks the 35th anniversary of his death on Aug. 16. 1977, and up to 75,000 people are expected to show up for Elvis Week.
A candlelight vigil at Graceland, Elvis’ home, is always the centerpiece of Elvis Week. Film screenings, panel discussions and the Elvis tribute artist contest also take place every year
But this year, there are several events uniquely designed to celebrate the 35h anniversary of Elvis’ death.
One of those is a concert at the 18,000-seat FedExForum featuring a video display of Elvis singing along to music performed live by former band members. His widow, Priscilla Presley, and daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, are scheduled to attend.
Also, an Elvis-themed baseball game between the minor-league Memphis Redbirds and the Tacoma Rainiers will include Elvis music and merchandise giveaways. It will be preceded by a street party that will open Elvis Week on Aug. 10.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge has dismissed the petition to put the father of actress Reese Witherspoon in an emergency conservatorship and refused to open any records related to it.
The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/NyeZYS) reported that all parties, including a court-appointed guardian, agreed Monday to stop seeking a conservatorship to oversee the finances of Dr. John Witherspoon.
Judge Randy Kennedy rejected an attempt by the newspaper and WSMV-TV to open records and hearings in the case.
Kennedy said making the records public would cause unnecessary embarrassment and likened efforts to report on the case to tabloid journalism.
Robb Harvey, lawyer for the news organizations, said the high burden for closing court proceedings to the public wasn’t met in this case.
