WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.000 >> female announcer: This is a 00:01.000 --> 00:03.000 production of WKNO, Memphis. 00:03.000 --> 00:05.000 Production funding for "Behind 00:05.000 --> 00:07.000 the Headlines" is made possible 00:07.000 --> 00:09.000 in part by.. 00:15.000 --> 00:17.000 >> Barnes: As we come to the end 00:17.000 --> 00:18.000 of 2012, a look back at the 00:18.000 --> 00:19.000 biggest stories of the year 00:19.000 --> 00:21.000 tonight on "Behind the 00:21.000 --> 00:23.000 Headlines." 00:23.000 --> 00:34.000 >> (instrumental music) 00:34.000 --> 00:38.000 ♪♪♪ 00:38.000 --> 00:40.000 >> Barnes: I'm Eric Barnes, 00:40.000 --> 00:42.000 publisher of the Memphis Daily 00:42.000 --> 00:43.000 News. 00:43.000 --> 00:44.000 Thanks for joining us. 00:44.000 --> 00:46.000 Joined tonight to look back at 00:46.000 --> 00:48.000 the biggest stories of the year 00:48.000 --> 00:50.000 with Bill Dries form the Memphis 00:50.000 --> 00:51.000 Daily News. 00:51.000 --> 00:53.000 Andy Meek also of the Memphis 00:53.000 --> 00:54.000 Daily News. 00:54.000 --> 00:55.000 Eleanor Boudreau, WKNO-FM 00:55.000 --> 00:57.000 and Jackson Baker from the 00:57.000 --> 00:58.000 Memphis Flyer. 00:58.000 --> 00:59.000 Thank you all for being here. 00:59.000 --> 01:00.000 We start. 01:00.000 --> 01:02.000 No big surprise, the biggest 01:02.000 --> 01:04.000 story of the year was the 01:04.000 --> 01:05.000 schools in all its forms. 01:05.000 --> 01:07.000 I guess I'll start with you, 01:07.000 --> 01:08.000 Bill, to kind of hit. 01:08.000 --> 01:10.000 And there's so many big mile 01:10.000 --> 01:11.000 stones that continue to go on. 01:11.000 --> 01:13.000 But let's start with you in 01:13.000 --> 01:15.000 terms of a review of all that 01:15.000 --> 01:16.000 did happen in this past year. 01:16.000 --> 01:18.000 >> Dries: Well, there was a lot 01:18.000 --> 01:19.000 that happened. 01:19.000 --> 01:21.000 There's still a lot more to come 01:21.000 --> 01:23.000 in terms of the school's merger. 01:23.000 --> 01:25.000 And it's broader than the 01:25.000 --> 01:26.000 school's merger. 01:26.000 --> 01:27.000 It's the rise of municipal 01:27.000 --> 01:29.000 school districts and the 01:29.000 --> 01:30.000 question about whether those 01:30.000 --> 01:32.000 districts will arise or not. 01:32.000 --> 01:34.000 Basically this year we had some 01:34.000 --> 01:35.000 decisions that were made. 01:35.000 --> 01:37.000 The Transition Planning 01:37.000 --> 01:39.000 Commission delivered it's report 01:39.000 --> 01:40.000 of 172 recommendations for what 01:40.000 --> 01:42.000 the merged school system should 01:42.000 --> 01:44.000 look like starting in August of 01:44.000 --> 01:45.000 2013. 01:45.000 --> 01:47.000 That was delivered to the school 01:47.000 --> 01:48.000 board. 01:48.000 --> 01:50.000 The school board is still to act 01:50.000 --> 01:52.000 on a number of those decisions 01:52.000 --> 01:54.000 In fact, they have not taken 01:54.000 --> 01:55.000 final action on any of those 01:55.000 --> 01:57.000 recommendations in terms of 01:57.000 --> 01:59.000 putting them in a budget for 01:59.000 --> 02:00.000 next school year as we speak on 02:00.000 --> 02:01.000 this show today. 02:01.000 --> 02:03.000 >> Barnes: Yeah and that 02:03.000 --> 02:05.000 includes those recommendations. 02:05.000 --> 02:06.000 Everything from, you know, 02:06.000 --> 02:08.000 nuanced issues of curriculum to 02:08.000 --> 02:09.000 closing 21 schools. 02:09.000 --> 02:11.000 You know, redoing the bus 02:11.000 --> 02:12.000 contracts, the janitorial 02:12.000 --> 02:13.000 services. 02:13.000 --> 02:15.000 You know, trying to save $100 02:15.000 --> 02:16.000 million in doing things 02:16.000 --> 02:18.000 differently that would involved 02:18.000 --> 02:20.000 a tremendous number of difficult 02:20.000 --> 02:21.000 decisions. 02:21.000 --> 02:23.000 And even then, you know, funding 02:23.000 --> 02:24.000 is a big question mark. 02:24.000 --> 02:26.000 So we've been talking about this 02:26.000 --> 02:28.000 for, you know, the whole year as 02:28.000 --> 02:30.000 these things have been going on. 02:30.000 --> 02:32.000 The other thing we have is the 02:32.000 --> 02:33.000 superintendant decision. 02:33.000 --> 02:35.000 And we've got a double headed 02:35.000 --> 02:36.000 situation right now. 02:36.000 --> 02:38.000 Let's go back to an interview we 02:38.000 --> 02:40.000 did in August with David Pickler 02:40.000 --> 02:42.000 formally of the county school 02:42.000 --> 02:44.000 board, now of the unified school 02:44.000 --> 02:46.000 board, when he was talking about 02:46.000 --> 02:47.000 what next with the 02:47.000 --> 02:50.000 superintendant. 02:50.000 --> 02:52.000 >> Dries: Do you think that the 02:52.000 --> 02:53.000 full board can vote on a plan 02:53.000 --> 02:55.000 whether it's the TPC plan or 02:55.000 --> 02:56.000 some plan that mixes in other 02:56.000 --> 02:57.000 parts? 02:57.000 --> 02:59.000 Can you all get a vote by the 02:59.000 --> 03:00.000 end of August? 03:00.000 --> 03:01.000 >> Pickler: Oh, I think that's 03:01.000 --> 03:02.000 highly unlikely. 03:02.000 --> 03:03.000 We need to. 03:03.000 --> 03:05.000 We need to begin that process. 03:05.000 --> 03:06.000 We need to have already selected 03:06.000 --> 03:08.000 a superintendant quite frankly. 03:08.000 --> 03:09.000 And it appears that Tuesday 03:09.000 --> 03:11.000 night we're at least going to 03:11.000 --> 03:12.000 approve a process for 03:12.000 --> 03:13.000 determining with the selection 03:13.000 --> 03:15.000 process it's going to be like 03:15.000 --> 03:16.000 for that superintendant. 03:16.000 --> 03:18.000 And that report is not expected 03:18.000 --> 03:22.000 until the end of September. 03:22.000 --> 03:23.000 >> Barnes: And so we have, 03:23.000 --> 03:25.000 Eleanor, I mean, a process that 03:25.000 --> 03:27.000 has frustrated a lot of people. 03:27.000 --> 03:28.000 That you have the two 03:28.000 --> 03:29.000 superintendants. 03:29.000 --> 03:31.000 They've now decided, you know, 03:31.000 --> 03:32.000 they've recently decided that 03:32.000 --> 03:34.000 they're about to sign a 03:34.000 --> 03:35.000 contract, I should say, with the 03:35.000 --> 03:36.000 search to find the 03:36.000 --> 03:37.000 superintendant. 03:37.000 --> 03:39.000 A lot of people saying-Why don't 03:39.000 --> 03:41.000 we just hire John Aitken from 03:41.000 --> 03:42.000 the former Shelby County 03:42.000 --> 03:43.000 Schools? 03:43.000 --> 03:45.000 No one really saying that Kriner 03:45.000 --> 03:46.000 Cash is going to continue. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 And frustration-What's your take 03:48.000 --> 03:49.000 on that? 03:49.000 --> 03:51.000 >> Boudreau: Yeah, well one 03:51.000 --> 03:52.000 thing that school board did do 03:52.000 --> 03:54.000 this year is they decided not to 03:54.000 --> 03:55.000 renew Cash's contract. 03:55.000 --> 03:57.000 So I think it's pretty clear 03:57.000 --> 03:59.000 that he's not going to be the 03:59.000 --> 04:00.000 pick because of that move. 04:00.000 --> 04:02.000 But they still have yet to, you 04:02.000 --> 04:03.000 know, sort of set-up a really 04:03.000 --> 04:05.000 definitive process for how 04:05.000 --> 04:07.000 they're going to get to their 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 next superintendant. 04:08.000 --> 04:09.000 And I think, you know, Aitken is 04:09.000 --> 04:11.000 definitely going to be 04:11.000 --> 04:12.000 considered but whether or not 04:12.000 --> 04:14.000 he'll be chosen depends on who 04:14.000 --> 04:15.000 the other candidates are and 04:15.000 --> 04:17.000 what the process is which we 04:17.000 --> 04:18.000 don't really know yet. 04:18.000 --> 04:20.000 >> Barnes: And Jackson, your 04:20.000 --> 04:21.000 take? 04:21.000 --> 04:23.000 I mean, the biggest parts to the 04:23.000 --> 04:24.000 biggest story of the year? 04:24.000 --> 04:25.000 Maybe the ruling. 04:25.000 --> 04:27.000 I mean, the ruling by Hardy Mays 04:27.000 --> 04:29.000 and the ongoing decisions he has 04:29.000 --> 04:30.000 to make. 04:30.000 --> 04:31.000 >> Baker: There's no question 04:31.000 --> 04:33.000 that because that put everything 04:33.000 --> 04:34.000 in limbo. 04:34.000 --> 04:35.000 And given that August '13 04:35.000 --> 04:37.000 eventually will get here and 04:37.000 --> 04:39.000 there will be a school year 04:39.000 --> 04:40.000 beginning then and there will be 04:40.000 --> 04:42.000 a unified system that never, 04:42.000 --> 04:44.000 never, never proclamations you 04:44.000 --> 04:45.000 hear from some of the suburban 04:45.000 --> 04:46.000 mayors. 04:46.000 --> 04:48.000 Some of the, may end up and 04:48.000 --> 04:49.000 their proclamations may end up 04:49.000 --> 04:51.000 rethinking whether they can live 04:51.000 --> 04:53.000 with this unified system. 04:53.000 --> 04:54.000 Mentioned John Aitken. 04:54.000 --> 04:55.000 If he had been hired at a time 04:55.000 --> 04:57.000 when there was mood to hiring, 04:57.000 --> 04:59.000 back in the spring actually, 04:59.000 --> 05:00.000 they might have eased their way 05:00.000 --> 05:02.000 towards their making their peace 05:02.000 --> 05:03.000 with such prospect. 05:03.000 --> 05:05.000 I think frankly his prospect for 05:05.000 --> 05:07.000 being names superintendant are 05:07.000 --> 05:08.000 in decline now. 05:08.000 --> 05:09.000 I think that was the time to 05:09.000 --> 05:10.000 have done that. 05:10.000 --> 05:12.000 We're going with this search 05:12.000 --> 05:13.000 process. 05:13.000 --> 05:15.000 However, the more continues, 05:15.000 --> 05:16.000 then the less likely someone 05:16.000 --> 05:17.000 local will beat him. 05:17.000 --> 05:19.000 >> Dries: They're scheduled to 05:19.000 --> 05:20.000 make the decision in February. 05:20.000 --> 05:22.000 That's when the vote is 05:22.000 --> 05:23.000 scheduled to happen on a 05:23.000 --> 05:25.000 superintendant and a contract of 05:25.000 --> 05:26.000 being negotiated. 05:26.000 --> 05:27.000 Let's remember that the 05:27.000 --> 05:29.000 Transition Planning Commission 05:29.000 --> 05:30.000 and a number of political 05:30.000 --> 05:32.000 leaders, not the least of which 05:32.000 --> 05:33.000 was Shelby County Mayor Mark 05:33.000 --> 05:35.000 Luttrell, thought that the 05:35.000 --> 05:36.000 school board should make this 05:36.000 --> 05:38.000 decision on a superintendant no 05:38.000 --> 05:40.000 later than the end of the fall 05:40.000 --> 05:42.000 which is right about where we 05:42.000 --> 05:43.000 are now as we do this program. 05:43.000 --> 05:45.000 >> Barnes: Right, and you've 05:45.000 --> 05:46.000 already got-I'm sorry Jackson. 05:46.000 --> 05:48.000 But you've already got, you 05:48.000 --> 05:49.000 know, reports of, you know, 05:49.000 --> 05:51.000 frustration from the board 05:51.000 --> 05:53.000 saying that it is administrators 05:53.000 --> 05:54.000 under the superintendants who 05:54.000 --> 05:56.000 are slowing down some of this 05:56.000 --> 05:57.000 process, some of these 05:57.000 --> 05:58.000 decisions, the 172 05:58.000 --> 05:59.000 recommendations. 05:59.000 --> 06:01.000 And again, the critics saying- 06:01.000 --> 06:02.000 Look, if you've got this 06:02.000 --> 06:04.000 difficult situation in any 06:04.000 --> 06:05.000 circumstance, but when you've 06:05.000 --> 06:07.000 got two superintendants, it's 06:07.000 --> 06:08.000 not clear that either of them 06:08.000 --> 06:09.000 will be there. 06:09.000 --> 06:11.000 This is not the way to make 06:11.000 --> 06:12.000 these hard decision. 06:12.000 --> 06:14.000 >> Baker: And that February date 06:14.000 --> 06:15.000 will be inclined to float. 06:15.000 --> 06:17.000 >> Barnes: I mean, based on 06:17.000 --> 06:18.000 history, we would say otherwise. 06:18.000 --> 06:20.000 >> Dries: I think if it floats 06:20.000 --> 06:22.000 much that the criticism is 06:22.000 --> 06:23.000 really going to ramp up. 06:23.000 --> 06:24.000 I think there's a good 06:24.000 --> 06:26.000 possibility that by February, 06:26.000 --> 06:27.000 the political pressure could be 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 on the school board to jump the 06:29.000 --> 06:31.000 process that they have in place 06:31.000 --> 06:33.000 now for coming up with a merger 06:33.000 --> 06:34.000 plan and go to some other 06:34.000 --> 06:35.000 alternative method that is 06:35.000 --> 06:37.000 quicker that the bottom of line 06:37.000 --> 06:39.000 of which will be to give parents 06:39.000 --> 06:41.000 the reassurances they need about 06:41.000 --> 06:42.000 the next school year. 06:42.000 --> 06:43.000 >> Barnes: And even with all 06:43.000 --> 06:45.000 that going on, we also had new 06:45.000 --> 06:47.000 approaches to dealing with 06:47.000 --> 06:48.000 failing schools and Tennessee 06:48.000 --> 06:49.000 statewide. 06:49.000 --> 06:51.000 And the state decided to set up 06:51.000 --> 06:53.000 an Achievement School District. 06:53.000 --> 06:54.000 Some 70-something schools that 06:54.000 --> 06:56.000 are on the failing list, many of 06:56.000 --> 06:58.000 those, the vast majority of them 06:58.000 --> 06:59.000 in Memphis. 06:59.000 --> 07:00.000 I was able to sit down with 07:00.000 --> 07:02.000 Chris Barbeck who is the head of 07:02.000 --> 07:04.000 that achievement school 07:04.000 --> 07:05.000 district. 07:05.000 --> 07:06.000 And he talked a little bit about 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 the responsibility and approach 07:08.000 --> 07:10.000 that they'll have to taking over 07:10.000 --> 07:13.000 those schools. 07:13.000 --> 07:15.000 >> Barbeck: There will be six 07:15.000 --> 07:16.000 schools that we're working in 07:16.000 --> 07:17.000 next year. 07:17.000 --> 07:18.000 Three of those will be in 07:18.000 --> 07:19.000 Frasier. 07:19.000 --> 07:21.000 There's also two charter schools 07:21.000 --> 07:22.000 that we work in other parts of 07:22.000 --> 07:23.000 Memphis. 07:23.000 --> 07:25.000 And then we'll also have a 07:25.000 --> 07:26.000 school. 07:26.000 --> 07:27.000 So the schools that we'll be 07:27.000 --> 07:29.000 running as achievement schools 07:29.000 --> 07:30.000 are all focused in Frasier. 07:30.000 --> 07:31.000 And the charters-There's one 07:31.000 --> 07:33.000 charter working in Binghampton 07:33.000 --> 07:34.000 and then another charter working 07:34.000 --> 07:37.000 in North Memphis. 07:37.000 --> 07:39.000 >> Barnes: So that has gotten 07:39.000 --> 07:40.000 underway. 07:40.000 --> 07:41.000 But even there, there's still 07:41.000 --> 07:42.000 some uncertainties. 07:42.000 --> 07:44.000 You know, how quickly that whole 07:44.000 --> 07:45.000 process will grow. 07:45.000 --> 07:47.000 As he said, some ultimately nine 07:47.000 --> 07:48.000 schools are getting taken over 07:48.000 --> 07:50.000 by the achievement school 07:50.000 --> 07:51.000 district in the Memphis area, 07:51.000 --> 07:53.000 moved in to kind of a charter 07:53.000 --> 07:54.000 school model. 07:54.000 --> 07:56.000 What more do we know now, Bill? 07:56.000 --> 07:57.000 >> Dries: We know that we'll 07:57.000 --> 07:59.000 have a school system in which we 07:59.000 --> 08:01.000 have roughly half run directly 08:01.000 --> 08:02.000 by the ASD, the other half run 08:02.000 --> 08:04.000 by charter school operations. 08:04.000 --> 08:06.000 And that has really impacted the 08:06.000 --> 08:07.000 move to merger as well because 08:07.000 --> 08:08.000 there's definitely more 08:08.000 --> 08:10.000 competition among the public 08:10.000 --> 08:12.000 schools with the ASD schools and 08:12.000 --> 08:13.000 the charter schools in the mix. 08:13.000 --> 08:15.000 >> Barnes: Right, right. 08:15.000 --> 08:16.000 Last thoughts on the school 08:16.000 --> 08:17.000 situation? 08:17.000 --> 08:18.000 I mean, we look ahead. 08:18.000 --> 08:20.000 We've got, Jackson, a couple 08:20.000 --> 08:21.000 rulings coming up probably in 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 the first part of the year from 08:23.000 --> 08:24.000 Hardy Mays. 08:24.000 --> 08:25.000 Your thoughts on that? 08:25.000 --> 08:27.000 >> Baker: If he decides that the 08:27.000 --> 08:28.000 final portion of Norris-Todd 08:28.000 --> 08:30.000 which is what allows the special 08:30.000 --> 08:32.000 school districts in Shelby 08:32.000 --> 08:33.000 County only, if he allows that 08:33.000 --> 08:35.000 to go down the way that he ruled 08:35.000 --> 08:37.000 in the subsequent legislation. 08:37.000 --> 08:38.000 Then again, I think that some of 08:38.000 --> 08:40.000 the suburbs are going to rethink 08:40.000 --> 08:41.000 their desperate need for 08:41.000 --> 08:42.000 independence. 08:42.000 --> 08:44.000 I think you could have a 08:44.000 --> 08:45.000 somewhat larger unified district 08:45.000 --> 08:47.000 than we're thinking of. 08:47.000 --> 08:48.000 >> Barnes: And that's where you 08:48.000 --> 08:50.000 get in to the kind of paths to 08:50.000 --> 08:51.000 autonomy, the idea that the 08:51.000 --> 08:53.000 suburban schools could be 08:53.000 --> 08:55.000 charter schools like the failing 08:55.000 --> 08:56.000 schools, like all the charter 08:56.000 --> 08:58.000 schools and that sort of thing. 08:58.000 --> 08:59.000 And that's another story as we 08:59.000 --> 09:01.000 move on. 09:01.000 --> 09:02.000 But from this part year, the 09:02.000 --> 09:04.000 rise of charter schools has been 09:04.000 --> 09:05.000 pretty remarkable. 09:05.000 --> 09:06.000 I think, you know, when the 09:06.000 --> 09:08.000 state took the cap off those-no 09:08.000 --> 09:09.000 more limits on the number of 09:09.000 --> 09:11.000 charter schools in the state. 09:11.000 --> 09:13.000 If you remember back, there was 09:13.000 --> 09:14.000 some resistance from the city 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 and the county and the school 09:16.000 --> 09:17.000 boards and kind of slowed down 09:17.000 --> 09:19.000 some of the applications but I 09:19.000 --> 09:21.000 think next year, you'll see the 09:21.000 --> 09:22.000 flood gates open. 09:22.000 --> 09:23.000 And potentially, the Willie 09:23.000 --> 09:25.000 Herenton schools working with 09:25.000 --> 09:26.000 the juvenile courts. 09:26.000 --> 09:27.000 Is that right? 09:27.000 --> 09:29.000 >> Dries: Right, that's planned 09:29.000 --> 09:30.000 for next school year to open up 09:30.000 --> 09:32.000 a north side high school as 09:32.000 --> 09:33.000 well. 09:33.000 --> 09:34.000 And let's not forget the 09:34.000 --> 09:35.000 Governor will probably be at 09:35.000 --> 09:37.000 least backing, if not 09:37.000 --> 09:38.000 introducing, a bill to permit 09:38.000 --> 09:39.000 school vouchers. 09:39.000 --> 09:41.000 >> Barnes: Yeah, your thoughts 09:41.000 --> 09:42.000 on the Herenton? 09:42.000 --> 09:43.000 >> Baker: Well, I'm going to 09:43.000 --> 09:45.000 come in a little different 09:45.000 --> 09:46.000 direction. 09:46.000 --> 09:47.000 I'm going to go ahead and spin 09:47.000 --> 09:49.000 the prediction I was going to 09:49.000 --> 09:50.000 save for the end of the show. 09:50.000 --> 09:52.000 The ever-busy Mark Norris who 09:52.000 --> 09:54.000 does what he can every year for 09:54.000 --> 09:55.000 the suburbs, he will be 09:55.000 --> 09:57.000 producing legislation that will 09:57.000 --> 09:58.000 greatly enlarge and change the 09:58.000 --> 10:00.000 nature of the charter school 10:00.000 --> 10:01.000 process because, you know, that 10:01.000 --> 10:03.000 Nashville school that was 10:03.000 --> 10:05.000 ordered by the state to accept a 10:05.000 --> 10:06.000 charter school. 10:06.000 --> 10:07.000 I think you're going to find 10:07.000 --> 10:09.000 that as another door to open for 10:09.000 --> 10:10.000 his kind of legislation. 10:10.000 --> 10:11.000 That's the next move that 10:11.000 --> 10:12.000 suburbs will make. 10:12.000 --> 10:14.000 >> Barnes: I think you're right. 10:14.000 --> 10:16.000 And I think as we go, we think 10:16.000 --> 10:17.000 looking ahead to next year, I 10:17.000 --> 10:19.000 think the rise of charter 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 schools is going to be 10:20.000 --> 10:21.000 remarkable. 10:21.000 --> 10:23.000 And that's probably a multi-year 10:23.000 --> 10:24.000 thing. 10:24.000 --> 10:25.000 And it's exactly on that front, 10:25.000 --> 10:27.000 Up 'til now, we in Memphis have 10:27.000 --> 10:28.000 thought of charter schools 10:28.000 --> 10:30.000 because we've seen them as, you 10:30.000 --> 10:32.000 know, entities that step in. 10:32.000 --> 10:33.000 And failing schools be it 10:33.000 --> 10:35.000 through the ASD or just invited 10:35.000 --> 10:36.000 in. 10:36.000 --> 10:37.000 And they've done some remarkable 10:37.000 --> 10:38.000 things. 10:38.000 --> 10:40.000 And some have bottomed out. 10:40.000 --> 10:42.000 I mean, charter schools aren't a 10:42.000 --> 10:43.000 perfect solution but overtime, 10:43.000 --> 10:45.000 like the school in Nashville, 10:45.000 --> 10:46.000 you'll get companies coming to 10:46.000 --> 10:48.000 Memphis that are more schools of 10:48.000 --> 10:49.000 choice. 10:49.000 --> 10:51.000 They're not just about helping 10:51.000 --> 10:53.000 kids who are in failing schools. 10:53.000 --> 10:54.000 They're about competing with 10:54.000 --> 10:55.000 private schools. 10:55.000 --> 10:57.000 They're about competing with the 10:57.000 --> 10:58.000 optional schools. 10:58.000 --> 11:00.000 And that will really change the 11:00.000 --> 11:01.000 face of not just the suburban 11:01.000 --> 11:03.000 areas but I think the city, as 11:03.000 --> 11:04.000 well. 11:04.000 --> 11:06.000 So that's my prediction such as 11:06.000 --> 11:07.000 it is for next year. 11:07.000 --> 11:08.000 We move on to another big story 11:08.000 --> 11:09.000 this year. 11:09.000 --> 11:11.000 As always, Jackson, there were 11:11.000 --> 11:12.000 numerous elections. 11:12.000 --> 11:13.000 Too many, as I always say, 11:13.000 --> 11:15.000 because there were constant 11:15.000 --> 11:16.000 elections and you can't keep 11:16.000 --> 11:17.000 track of them. 11:17.000 --> 11:19.000 But your thoughts looking back 11:19.000 --> 11:20.000 on some of the big moments in 11:20.000 --> 11:22.000 election history in 2012? 11:22.000 --> 11:23.000 >> Baker: Well I want you to 11:23.000 --> 11:25.000 know that next year is our off- 11:25.000 --> 11:26.000 year. 11:26.000 --> 11:28.000 We're going to have about three 11:28.000 --> 11:29.000 special elections. 11:29.000 --> 11:30.000 There were two different 11:30.000 --> 11:32.000 tendencies going in different 11:32.000 --> 11:33.000 directions in the election 11:33.000 --> 11:34.000 process as concerns us. 11:34.000 --> 11:36.000 Statewide, the Democratic Party 11:36.000 --> 11:38.000 was virtually rendered null and 11:38.000 --> 11:39.000 void. 11:39.000 --> 11:40.000 They ended up redistricting 11:40.000 --> 11:42.000 which was under the control of 11:42.000 --> 11:43.000 the Republicans who were 11:43.000 --> 11:44.000 dominate in the legislature 11:44.000 --> 11:45.000 already. 11:45.000 --> 11:47.000 Really accentuated that process. 11:47.000 --> 11:49.000 There are now seven Democrats in 11:49.000 --> 11:50.000 the state senate, 33-member 11:50.000 --> 11:51.000 state senate. 11:51.000 --> 11:53.000 They actually had an election a 11:53.000 --> 11:54.000 couple of weeks ago for 11:54.000 --> 11:55.000 Democratic leader. 11:55.000 --> 11:57.000 Jim Kyle of Memphis was 11:57.000 --> 11:58.000 reelected senate Democratic 11:58.000 --> 11:59.000 leader of a vote of 4 to 3. 11:59.000 --> 12:01.000 When you think about it, they 12:01.000 --> 12:03.000 probably conducted that election 12:03.000 --> 12:04.000 on a phone booth. 12:04.000 --> 12:05.000 And in the house it's not much 12:05.000 --> 12:06.000 better. 12:06.000 --> 12:08.000 24 members out of 99. 12:08.000 --> 12:09.000 So the Republicans have a super 12:09.000 --> 12:10.000 majority in both houses. 12:10.000 --> 12:12.000 The election established them as 12:12.000 --> 12:14.000 the one party that really 12:14.000 --> 12:15.000 governs in Tennessee. 12:15.000 --> 12:16.000 Locally, however, things were 12:16.000 --> 12:17.000 different. 12:17.000 --> 12:19.000 Shelby County not only of course 12:19.000 --> 12:20.000 went for Obama. 12:20.000 --> 12:22.000 Of course, the nation is going 12:22.000 --> 12:23.000 in a different direction than 12:23.000 --> 12:24.000 the state. 12:24.000 --> 12:26.000 But Shelby County is going in 12:26.000 --> 12:27.000 the same direction as the 12:27.000 --> 12:28.000 nation. 12:28.000 --> 12:30.000 Two Democrats who were thought 12:30.000 --> 12:31.000 to be in danger back in August 12:31.000 --> 12:33.000 running for county seats, 12:33.000 --> 12:34.000 Cheyenne Johnson the Assessor 12:34.000 --> 12:36.000 and Ed Stanton, the general 12:36.000 --> 12:37.000 sessions clerk, were thought to 12:37.000 --> 12:39.000 be in danger because of the 12:39.000 --> 12:40.000 municipal elections were going 12:40.000 --> 12:41.000 on then. 12:41.000 --> 12:43.000 They won which indicates that 12:43.000 --> 12:45.000 the Democratic Party still has a 12:45.000 --> 12:46.000 niche here in Shelby County 12:46.000 --> 12:47.000 which will endure. 12:47.000 --> 12:49.000 >> Barnes: Well, and one thing 12:49.000 --> 12:50.000 that's interesting about that 12:50.000 --> 12:52.000 and I want to come back to the 12:52.000 --> 12:54.000 state situation you described. 12:54.000 --> 12:55.000 But let's stay local for a 12:55.000 --> 12:56.000 second. 12:56.000 --> 12:58.000 You do still have on a local 12:58.000 --> 12:59.000 level this kind of mix and match 12:59.000 --> 13:01.000 and these greyer areas of who's 13:01.000 --> 13:03.000 Republican and who's Democratic. 13:03.000 --> 13:05.000 I mean, we talked before about 13:05.000 --> 13:06.000 Mike Ritz, the head of the 13:06.000 --> 13:07.000 County Commission. 13:07.000 --> 13:09.000 A Republican who has fought this 13:09.000 --> 13:10.000 suburbs', you know, desire to 13:10.000 --> 13:12.000 separate who is by some accounts 13:12.000 --> 13:13.000 is, you've joked, a rhino. 13:13.000 --> 13:15.000 You've repeated that people have 13:15.000 --> 13:16.000 said that about him. 13:16.000 --> 13:18.000 >> Baker: That's what his fellow 13:18.000 --> 13:19.000 Republicans call him. 13:19.000 --> 13:21.000 >> Dries: And he lives in 13:21.000 --> 13:22.000 Germantown. 13:22.000 --> 13:23.000 >> Barnes: I mean, what do we 13:23.000 --> 13:24.000 make of that? 13:24.000 --> 13:26.000 Is that a good thing maybe that 13:26.000 --> 13:27.000 there aren't these kind of 13:27.000 --> 13:29.000 clear-cut lines between left and 13:29.000 --> 13:30.000 right, Republican-Democrat? 13:30.000 --> 13:32.000 >> Baker: Well, I think it is a 13:32.000 --> 13:34.000 good thing because there was a 13:34.000 --> 13:35.000 time at least when the county 13:35.000 --> 13:37.000 commission, even though they had 13:37.000 --> 13:38.000 partisan elections, was 13:38.000 --> 13:40.000 partisan-free on most issues. 13:40.000 --> 13:41.000 Now basically, the division on 13:41.000 --> 13:43.000 the County Commission is not 13:43.000 --> 13:44.000 Republican-Democratic. 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 It's urban-suburban. 13:45.000 --> 13:46.000 And Ritz who lives in 13:46.000 --> 13:48.000 Germantown, nevertheless, the 13:48.000 --> 13:49.000 majority of his constituents 13:49.000 --> 13:51.000 live in the city of Memphis. 13:51.000 --> 13:52.000 And he has adopted their point 13:52.000 --> 13:53.000 of view. 13:53.000 --> 13:55.000 He has become a leader on that 13:55.000 --> 13:57.000 County Commission of a sort we 13:57.000 --> 13:58.000 haven't seen in a while. 13:58.000 --> 13:59.000 He's led on the IP issue. 13:59.000 --> 14:01.000 He's the one that kept that IP 14:01.000 --> 14:03.000 issue within bounds frankly with 14:03.000 --> 14:04.000 the pressure he put on. 14:04.000 --> 14:06.000 I look for him to be making a 14:06.000 --> 14:07.000 similar moves with regard to how 14:07.000 --> 14:09.000 we handle TIFs in the future. 14:09.000 --> 14:11.000 >> Barnes: TIFs, the tax income 14:11.000 --> 14:12.000 financing which is where they 14:12.000 --> 14:13.000 steer money from various 14:13.000 --> 14:15.000 districts in to redevelopment. 14:15.000 --> 14:17.000 They've used it downtown to 14:17.000 --> 14:18.000 great extent and so on. 14:18.000 --> 14:20.000 >> Baker: And so it's not really 14:20.000 --> 14:21.000 a partisan thing. 14:21.000 --> 14:22.000 But Ritz, by the way, when Mike 14:22.000 --> 14:24.000 Carpenter was on the commission, 14:24.000 --> 14:26.000 he was one of those that agreed 14:26.000 --> 14:27.000 that Mike Carpenter was a rhino 14:27.000 --> 14:28.000 Republican. 14:28.000 --> 14:30.000 Now, he's the one that has that 14:30.000 --> 14:31.000 label. 14:31.000 --> 14:33.000 >> Meek: Jackson made the point 14:33.000 --> 14:34.000 about looking at Cheyenne and 14:34.000 --> 14:36.000 bucking the trend of somebody. 14:36.000 --> 14:37.000 I've just always wondered. 14:37.000 --> 14:39.000 You know, you get down to the 14:39.000 --> 14:40.000 local levels. 14:40.000 --> 14:42.000 Is there a Democratic way to be 14:42.000 --> 14:43.000 a property assessor? 14:43.000 --> 14:44.000 Is there a Republican way? 14:44.000 --> 14:46.000 Some of that seems to really not 14:46.000 --> 14:47.000 matter in this. 14:47.000 --> 14:48.000 That may explain some of the 14:48.000 --> 14:50.000 dichotomy Jackson noticed. 14:50.000 --> 14:51.000 >> Dries: I think there was 14:51.000 --> 14:53.000 something else at work and that 14:53.000 --> 14:54.000 was that neither Cheyenne 14:54.000 --> 14:56.000 Johnson nor Ed Stanton conceded 14:56.000 --> 14:57.000 the Republican vote to their 14:57.000 --> 14:58.000 challengers. 14:58.000 --> 15:00.000 They campaigned in Republican 15:00.000 --> 15:01.000 areas. 15:01.000 --> 15:03.000 They frankly worked harder than 15:03.000 --> 15:04.000 their Republican challengers did 15:04.000 --> 15:06.000 precisely because they knew 15:06.000 --> 15:08.000 there was going to be a big turn 15:08.000 --> 15:09.000 out in the mostly Republican 15:09.000 --> 15:10.000 suburbs. 15:10.000 --> 15:11.000 And they won. 15:11.000 --> 15:13.000 >> Barnes: I think also along 15:13.000 --> 15:14.000 those lines and talking about 15:14.000 --> 15:16.000 what does it mean to be 15:16.000 --> 15:17.000 Republican or Democratic at a 15:17.000 --> 15:18.000 very local level. 15:18.000 --> 15:20.000 I mean, Mark Luttrell who was 15:20.000 --> 15:21.000 very involved in the Transition 15:21.000 --> 15:23.000 Planning Committee conversations 15:23.000 --> 15:25.000 and pushing as we just said for, 15:25.000 --> 15:27.000 you know, whole leverage back. 15:27.000 --> 15:28.000 You know, we don't want to give 15:28.000 --> 15:30.000 the school system a blank check 15:30.000 --> 15:32.000 until we know they're going to 15:32.000 --> 15:33.000 put a good school system in 15:33.000 --> 15:34.000 place. 15:34.000 --> 15:36.000 But there's still this big gap. 15:36.000 --> 15:37.000 And he was very clear in a an 15:37.000 --> 15:39.000 interview we did with him and 15:39.000 --> 15:40.000 interviews he did with other 15:40.000 --> 15:41.000 people. 15:41.000 --> 15:43.000 He said-"I'm not afraid to raise 15:43.000 --> 15:44.000 taxes. 15:44.000 --> 15:46.000 I didn't sign a no tax pledge. 15:46.000 --> 15:47.000 I would never sign a no tax 15:47.000 --> 15:48.000 pledge." 15:48.000 --> 15:50.000 And that's not the kind of thing 15:50.000 --> 15:51.000 you hear. 15:51.000 --> 15:53.000 But he said-"I just want it to 15:53.000 --> 15:54.000 be an effective school system 15:54.000 --> 15:56.000 and if we're going to spend that 15:56.000 --> 15:58.000 money, we're going to spend it, 15:58.000 --> 15:59.000 you know, effectively." 15:59.000 --> 16:00.000 Eleanor? 16:00.000 --> 16:02.000 >> Boudreau: Yeah, I think that 16:02.000 --> 16:03.000 the divisions when it comes to 16:03.000 --> 16:05.000 schools that are the most 16:05.000 --> 16:06.000 meaningful are the city and 16:06.000 --> 16:07.000 county line. 16:07.000 --> 16:09.000 It's not strictly Republican or 16:09.000 --> 16:10.000 Democrat. 16:10.000 --> 16:11.000 I think that's where you see, 16:11.000 --> 16:13.000 you know, Republicans like Mark 16:13.000 --> 16:15.000 Luttrell, the County Mayor, and 16:15.000 --> 16:16.000 Mike Ritz on the Shelby County 16:16.000 --> 16:18.000 Commission have had opposite 16:18.000 --> 16:19.000 opinions on different issues 16:19.000 --> 16:20.000 with schools. 16:20.000 --> 16:22.000 Well, Mike Ritz represents a 16:22.000 --> 16:24.000 district that is majority in the 16:24.000 --> 16:25.000 city of Memphis. 16:25.000 --> 16:26.000 And Mark Luttrell is the County 16:26.000 --> 16:27.000 Mayor. 16:27.000 --> 16:29.000 So even though they're both 16:29.000 --> 16:30.000 Republicans, a lot of those 16:30.000 --> 16:32.000 issues split city to county. 16:32.000 --> 16:33.000 They're not really party issues. 16:33.000 --> 16:35.000 >> Barnes: Right, and let me do 16:35.000 --> 16:36.000 one more thing. 16:36.000 --> 16:37.000 You mentioned the state. 16:37.000 --> 16:39.000 Just one last minute, Jackson. 16:39.000 --> 16:40.000 We look ahead. 16:40.000 --> 16:41.000 We talked about the super 16:41.000 --> 16:43.000 majorities in the Republicans. 16:43.000 --> 16:44.000 They've got the governor. 16:44.000 --> 16:46.000 They've got, you know, the 16:46.000 --> 16:47.000 house. 16:47.000 --> 16:48.000 They've got the senate. 16:48.000 --> 16:49.000 Big majorities. 16:49.000 --> 16:50.000 But looking ahead, you know, 16:50.000 --> 16:52.000 that's when sometimes 16:52.000 --> 16:53.000 legislatures-and it happened to 16:53.000 --> 16:55.000 the Democrats years ago-when 16:55.000 --> 16:56.000 they over reach and when the 16:56.000 --> 16:57.000 divisions among. 16:57.000 --> 16:59.000 And a lot of people would say, 16:59.000 --> 17:01.000 up in the state capital, a lot 17:01.000 --> 17:02.000 of the time the division is not 17:02.000 --> 17:03.000 Republican-Democrat. 17:03.000 --> 17:05.000 It's actually urban and rural. 17:05.000 --> 17:06.000 What's your take on how this 17:06.000 --> 17:08.000 sessions going to go? 17:08.000 --> 17:09.000 The voucher bill is going to 17:09.000 --> 17:10.000 come up probably, school's 17:10.000 --> 17:11.000 voucher. 17:11.000 --> 17:13.000 There's going to be a gun bill. 17:13.000 --> 17:15.000 Your sense of how that plays out 17:15.000 --> 17:17.000 with these big super majorities? 17:17.000 --> 17:18.000 >> Baker: I don't know if 17:18.000 --> 17:19.000 there's going to be much 17:19.000 --> 17:21.000 division on Republican ranks on 17:21.000 --> 17:22.000 the voucher bill. 17:22.000 --> 17:24.000 The governor had a task force. 17:24.000 --> 17:25.000 I saw Brian Kelsey the other 17:25.000 --> 17:26.000 day. 17:26.000 --> 17:28.000 He thinks he feels confident 17:28.000 --> 17:29.000 that the governor would allow 17:29.000 --> 17:31.000 him to bring an administration 17:31.000 --> 17:32.000 bill. 17:32.000 --> 17:33.000 He already has a bill on the 17:33.000 --> 17:34.000 hopper. 17:34.000 --> 17:36.000 The controversy is going to come 17:36.000 --> 17:38.000 again on the gun issue because 17:38.000 --> 17:39.000 there was a huge controversy 17:39.000 --> 17:41.000 last year in which you had the 17:41.000 --> 17:43.000 business Republicans on the one 17:43.000 --> 17:44.000 side, the NRA Republicans tea 17:44.000 --> 17:45.000 party types on the other. 17:45.000 --> 17:47.000 That is not going to go away 17:47.000 --> 17:49.000 because even though the governor 17:49.000 --> 17:50.000 has said he thinks some kind of 17:50.000 --> 17:52.000 bill will pass, some compromise, 17:52.000 --> 17:54.000 it's hard to see what that 17:54.000 --> 17:55.000 compromise is going to be. 17:55.000 --> 17:56.000 I don't think FedEx is still 17:56.000 --> 17:58.000 going to be crazy about having 17:58.000 --> 18:00.000 guns locked in cars in parking 18:00.000 --> 18:01.000 lots. 18:01.000 --> 18:02.000 So the business community, I 18:02.000 --> 18:04.000 think, is still going to look at 18:04.000 --> 18:05.000 that. 18:05.000 --> 18:07.000 And, you know, as one of the 18:07.000 --> 18:08.000 Republicans who is on the other 18:08.000 --> 18:10.000 side of the issue said-"Listen, 18:10.000 --> 18:12.000 if business says you can't bring 18:12.000 --> 18:13.000 a yo-yo on their property, you 18:13.000 --> 18:15.000 can't bring a yo-yo on the 18:15.000 --> 18:16.000 property, much less a gun." 18:16.000 --> 18:17.000 >> Barnes: Right, right. 18:17.000 --> 18:18.000 You mentioned FedEx. 18:18.000 --> 18:20.000 And that segues in to another, 18:20.000 --> 18:22.000 you know, area looking back at 18:22.000 --> 18:23.000 the last year. 18:23.000 --> 18:24.000 The country came officially out 18:24.000 --> 18:26.000 of the recession, Bill, but, you 18:26.000 --> 18:28.000 know, still a tough year, 18:28.000 --> 18:29.000 without a doubt. 18:29.000 --> 18:30.000 And changes at FedEx-Let's start 18:30.000 --> 18:31.000 there. 18:31.000 --> 18:32.000 Changes at IP. 18:32.000 --> 18:34.000 Changes at some of the big 18:34.000 --> 18:35.000 corporate players. 18:35.000 --> 18:36.000 But let's start with the FedEx 18:36.000 --> 18:38.000 experiences last year. 18:38.000 --> 18:39.000 >> Dries: Well, FedEx and Fred 18:39.000 --> 18:41.000 Smith as founder and CEO began 18:41.000 --> 18:42.000 2012 very optimistic about the 18:42.000 --> 18:44.000 prospects for recovery from the 18:44.000 --> 18:45.000 recession. 18:45.000 --> 18:47.000 They were seeing economic growth 18:47.000 --> 18:49.000 in the form of economies joining 18:49.000 --> 18:50.000 the global economy, mainly 18:50.000 --> 18:51.000 China. 18:51.000 --> 18:53.000 That changed dramatically during 18:53.000 --> 18:54.000 the year. 18:54.000 --> 18:55.000 And as a result, we end the year 18:55.000 --> 18:57.000 with FedEx about to hand out 18:57.000 --> 18:59.000 some buy-out packets to probably 18:59.000 --> 19:00.000 several thousand employees 19:00.000 --> 19:02.000 within the United States which 19:02.000 --> 19:03.000 is part of FedEx Express really 19:03.000 --> 19:05.000 paying the price for this shift 19:05.000 --> 19:07.000 in slow down in the global 19:07.000 --> 19:08.000 economy that we've seen in the 19:08.000 --> 19:09.000 last year. 19:09.000 --> 19:11.000 Very real results locally on 19:11.000 --> 19:12.000 that. 19:12.000 --> 19:13.000 >> Barnes: Lets move to a couple 19:13.000 --> 19:15.000 of other business stories from 19:15.000 --> 19:16.000 this past year, Andy. 19:16.000 --> 19:17.000 One is a recent story. 19:17.000 --> 19:19.000 International Paper is going to 19:19.000 --> 19:20.000 stay in Memphis. 19:20.000 --> 19:22.000 Tell us a little bit about that. 19:22.000 --> 19:23.000 >> Meek: Well, they've acquired 19:23.000 --> 19:24.000 a competitor. 19:24.000 --> 19:26.000 They are growing and need more 19:26.000 --> 19:27.000 space frankly. 19:27.000 --> 19:29.000 You know, when the economy's 19:29.000 --> 19:30.000 bad, that's especially a time 19:30.000 --> 19:32.000 when incentives become more 19:32.000 --> 19:33.000 paramount to these kinds of 19:33.000 --> 19:34.000 moves. 19:34.000 --> 19:36.000 It was originally looking like 19:36.000 --> 19:37.000 they were going to try for an 19:37.000 --> 19:39.000 extraordinarily long tax freeze 19:39.000 --> 19:41.000 amount that, you know, gave a 19:41.000 --> 19:42.000 lot of people pause. 19:42.000 --> 19:43.000 That since has been dialed back 19:43.000 --> 19:44.000 this week. 19:44.000 --> 19:46.000 The good news is they're going 19:46.000 --> 19:47.000 to stay here. 19:47.000 --> 19:48.000 They're applying for tax 19:48.000 --> 19:50.000 incentives to help make that 19:50.000 --> 19:51.000 happen. 19:51.000 --> 19:52.000 So, you know, it's a win. 19:52.000 --> 19:54.000 >> Barnes: When you talk about 19:54.000 --> 19:55.000 the tax incentives, there's a 19:55.000 --> 19:56.000 number of business. 19:56.000 --> 19:58.000 There are many businesses and I 19:58.000 --> 19:59.000 won't hit all of them. 19:59.000 --> 20:01.000 But that's been more of a topic 20:01.000 --> 20:02.000 of debate, in particular after 20:02.000 --> 20:04.000 Electrolux which I think came 20:04.000 --> 20:06.000 through in probably 2010, 2011. 20:06.000 --> 20:07.000 But broke ground this summer, 20:07.000 --> 20:09.000 started hiring it's first 20:09.000 --> 20:10.000 people. 20:10.000 --> 20:11.000 Huge amount of tax incentives, 20:11.000 --> 20:13.000 you know, involved with that. 20:13.000 --> 20:14.000 Mitsubishi is moving towards 20:14.000 --> 20:16.000 it's plant opening downtown. 20:16.000 --> 20:17.000 Or another one that got a great 20:17.000 --> 20:19.000 deal of tax incentives was 20:19.000 --> 20:20.000 Pinnacle Airlines back-what? 20:20.000 --> 20:22.000 A year and a half ago, Bill? 20:22.000 --> 20:23.000 I can't quite remember when. 20:23.000 --> 20:25.000 When it first got it's 20:25.000 --> 20:26.000 incentives to move Downtown. 20:26.000 --> 20:27.000 A lot of fan fare. 20:27.000 --> 20:28.000 And then this year Pinnacle 20:28.000 --> 20:30.000 ended up in Bankruptcy. 20:30.000 --> 20:31.000 >> Dries: Right, Pinnacle filed 20:31.000 --> 20:33.000 for bankruptcy reorganization in 20:33.000 --> 20:34.000 April. 20:34.000 --> 20:36.000 And the company has had to 20:36.000 --> 20:37.000 rethink it's organization plan 20:37.000 --> 20:39.000 or its reorganization plan 20:39.000 --> 20:40.000 several times because of what's 20:40.000 --> 20:42.000 been happening in the airline 20:42.000 --> 20:43.000 industry in general. 20:43.000 --> 20:44.000 Pinnacle is a regional air 20:44.000 --> 20:45.000 carrier. 20:45.000 --> 20:47.000 Delta Airlines on the other hand 20:47.000 --> 20:49.000 has renegotiated its contract 20:49.000 --> 20:50.000 with airline pilots to the 20:50.000 --> 20:52.000 extent that they can drop the 20:52.000 --> 20:53.000 50-seat and under jets that they 20:53.000 --> 20:55.000 have been flying which Pinnacle 20:55.000 --> 20:57.000 has a lot of in their fleets. 20:57.000 --> 20:58.000 That agreement caused Pinnacle 20:58.000 --> 21:00.000 basically to say we have to 21:00.000 --> 21:01.000 rework our reorganization plan 21:01.000 --> 21:03.000 and go back to our employees and 21:03.000 --> 21:05.000 negotiate wage concessions. 21:05.000 --> 21:06.000 >> Barnes: Yeah and another big 21:06.000 --> 21:08.000 story of the year for, you know, 21:08.000 --> 21:09.000 in the business community but 21:09.000 --> 21:11.000 also affecting families and 21:11.000 --> 21:13.000 everyone is Delta cutting back 21:13.000 --> 21:14.000 dramatically the number of 21:14.000 --> 21:15.000 flights out of Memphis, the 21:15.000 --> 21:17.000 number of direct flights out of 21:17.000 --> 21:18.000 here. 21:18.000 --> 21:20.000 And a lot of concern about where 21:20.000 --> 21:21.000 Delta is going. 21:21.000 --> 21:22.000 But also some amount of hope 21:22.000 --> 21:24.000 that for people who really have 21:24.000 --> 21:26.000 always wanted Southwest to come 21:26.000 --> 21:27.000 in to Memphis in a big way, 21:27.000 --> 21:29.000 Southwest has said that they'll 21:29.000 --> 21:30.000 probably be here. 21:30.000 --> 21:31.000 You had another comment, Andy. 21:31.000 --> 21:33.000 >> Meek: It was about Pinnacle. 21:33.000 --> 21:35.000 There's an expectation that as a 21:35.000 --> 21:36.000 result of the bankruptcy, they 21:36.000 --> 21:38.000 were going to scale down their 21:38.000 --> 21:40.000 real estate in a big dramatic 21:40.000 --> 21:41.000 way. 21:41.000 --> 21:42.000 So if the worst does happen in 21:42.000 --> 21:44.000 Memphis, people are looking at 21:44.000 --> 21:45.000 that in different ways. 21:45.000 --> 21:47.000 Well, they have had this halo 21:47.000 --> 21:48.000 effect in really reinvigorated 21:48.000 --> 21:50.000 the tower that they're in now. 21:50.000 --> 21:52.000 It just causes you to look at 21:52.000 --> 21:53.000 incentives in a whole light 21:53.000 --> 21:55.000 because you might say-"Well, was 21:55.000 --> 21:56.000 that a bad investment if they 21:56.000 --> 21:57.000 leave?" 21:57.000 --> 21:59.000 Well, maybe not if you look at 21:59.000 --> 22:00.000 it in a different way. 22:00.000 --> 22:02.000 >> Baker: The whole Pinnacle 22:02.000 --> 22:03.000 affair if a reminder of just how 22:03.000 --> 22:05.000 transitory some of the feel-good 22:05.000 --> 22:07.000 stories are because a year ago, 22:07.000 --> 22:08.000 we were celebrating Pinnacle 22:08.000 --> 22:09.000 moving downtown. 22:09.000 --> 22:11.000 Kind of like University if 22:11.000 --> 22:12.000 Memphis going in to the Big 22:12.000 --> 22:13.000 Eight. 22:13.000 --> 22:14.000 That's another one. 22:14.000 --> 22:15.000 Big East. 22:15.000 --> 22:17.000 >> Barnes: And that's a business 22:17.000 --> 22:19.000 story in its way because there's 22:19.000 --> 22:20.000 a big economic impact with these 22:20.000 --> 22:21.000 sports teams. 22:21.000 --> 22:23.000 And yeah, I mean, the big story 22:23.000 --> 22:25.000 would have been a month ago if 22:25.000 --> 22:26.000 we had done this show. 22:26.000 --> 22:27.000 We would have said-"Oh, you 22:27.000 --> 22:29.000 know, the University of Memphis 22:29.000 --> 22:31.000 finally going in to one of the 22:31.000 --> 22:32.000 big elite conferences and all 22:32.000 --> 22:34.000 that that brings in terms of 22:34.000 --> 22:35.000 tournament and recognition, the 22:35.000 --> 22:37.000 money coming in with traveling." 22:37.000 --> 22:39.000 Oh, by the way, there's no Big 22:39.000 --> 22:40.000 East. 22:40.000 --> 22:41.000 (laughter) 22:41.000 --> 22:42.000 >> Barnes: Another story along 22:42.000 --> 22:44.000 those lines was business 22:44.000 --> 22:45.000 ownership, local ownership in 22:45.000 --> 22:47.000 part of the Memphis Grizzlies. 22:47.000 --> 22:49.000 You want to touch on that, Andy? 22:49.000 --> 22:50.000 I mean, it was a big year for 22:50.000 --> 22:51.000 that really, 22:51.000 --> 22:52.000 >> Meek: Yes it was. 22:52.000 --> 22:54.000 A young technology company guy 22:54.000 --> 22:55.000 from California who stepped up 22:55.000 --> 22:57.000 and really wanted to buy the 22:57.000 --> 22:58.000 team and has excited a lot of 22:58.000 --> 22:59.000 people. 22:59.000 --> 23:01.000 You mentioned the local 23:01.000 --> 23:02.000 ownership. 23:02.000 --> 23:03.000 A lot of big names involved- 23:03.000 --> 23:05.000 Duncan Williams, Autozone, 23:05.000 --> 23:06.000 Justin Timberlake, Peyton 23:06.000 --> 23:07.000 Manning. 23:07.000 --> 23:08.000 I mean, the list goes on. 23:08.000 --> 23:10.000 They did not do that with the 23:10.000 --> 23:12.000 expectation of making a lot of 23:12.000 --> 23:13.000 money. 23:13.000 --> 23:14.000 The sense you hear from all of 23:14.000 --> 23:16.000 them is this really high-minded. 23:16.000 --> 23:18.000 We wanted to make an investment 23:18.000 --> 23:19.000 in keeping a big civic asset 23:19.000 --> 23:21.000 that everybody loves here in 23:21.000 --> 23:22.000 town. 23:22.000 --> 23:23.000 And that story is continuing. 23:23.000 --> 23:25.000 The Grizzlies this week have 23:25.000 --> 23:26.000 hired ESPN's John Hollinger. 23:26.000 --> 23:28.000 Excited a lot of people to bring 23:28.000 --> 23:29.000 kind of a Moneyball-esque 23:29.000 --> 23:31.000 analytics sort of laser focus to 23:31.000 --> 23:33.000 the team and player evaluation 23:33.000 --> 23:34.000 and things like that. 23:34.000 --> 23:35.000 >> Barnes: And they've been at 23:35.000 --> 23:37.000 the top of the standings for 23:37.000 --> 23:38.000 much of the last month. 23:38.000 --> 23:40.000 >> Meek: I'm told Robert watches 23:40.000 --> 23:41.000 every game either on his iPad or 23:41.000 --> 23:42.000 his laptop. 23:42.000 --> 23:43.000 He travels a lot. 23:43.000 --> 23:45.000 Robert Pera, the new owner. 23:45.000 --> 23:46.000 So, very engaged. 23:46.000 --> 23:47.000 >> Barnes: We'll go around. 23:47.000 --> 23:49.000 We've got just a couple of 23:49.000 --> 23:50.000 minutes left. 23:50.000 --> 23:51.000 Thoughts about looking ahead? 23:51.000 --> 23:53.000 The biggest stories of next 23:53.000 --> 23:54.000 year. 23:54.000 --> 23:55.000 Clearly, I mean, they're going 23:55.000 --> 23:57.000 to involve the schools so may be 23:57.000 --> 23:59.000 it's the biggest stories other 23:59.000 --> 24:00.000 than the schools. 24:00.000 --> 24:01.000 I'm going to start with you, 24:01.000 --> 24:02.000 Eleanor. 24:02.000 --> 24:04.000 >> Boudreau: Well, I mean, the 24:04.000 --> 24:06.000 schools are going to be merged 24:06.000 --> 24:07.000 August of 2013. 24:07.000 --> 24:08.000 When I think about next year, 24:08.000 --> 24:10.000 that's what I think about. 24:10.000 --> 24:11.000 >> Barnes: I mean, you want to 24:11.000 --> 24:13.000 make a prediction on the court 24:13.000 --> 24:14.000 rulings to come or no? 24:14.000 --> 24:15.000 You may not want to. 24:15.000 --> 24:17.000 >> Boudreau: No, I really don't 24:17.000 --> 24:18.000 want to. 24:18.000 --> 24:19.000 But thank you for the offer. 24:19.000 --> 24:20.000 I appreciate it. 24:20.000 --> 24:22.000 >> Barnes: Bill, looking ahead, 24:22.000 --> 24:23.000 big stories for next year? 24:23.000 --> 24:25.000 >> Dries: I think the impact of 24:25.000 --> 24:26.000 vouchers coming. 24:26.000 --> 24:27.000 I think the atmosphere for 24:27.000 --> 24:29.000 changing education and a broader 24:29.000 --> 24:31.000 sense state-wide which will have 24:31.000 --> 24:33.000 a big impact here is going to be 24:33.000 --> 24:34.000 the real story of 2012. 24:34.000 --> 24:35.000 The pace for change is going to 24:35.000 --> 24:37.000 become more aggressive and the 24:37.000 --> 24:39.000 line that separates public from 24:39.000 --> 24:40.000 private education is going to 24:40.000 --> 24:41.000 continue to blur. 24:41.000 --> 24:42.000 >> Barnes: I agree. 24:42.000 --> 24:44.000 I think that's the biggest story 24:44.000 --> 24:45.000 for the next five years. 24:45.000 --> 24:47.000 >> Meek: Economy, no question. 24:47.000 --> 24:49.000 At the time of this taping, the 24:49.000 --> 24:50.000 fiscal cliff still is not 24:50.000 --> 24:51.000 solved. 24:51.000 --> 24:53.000 It's going to impact people just 24:53.000 --> 24:54.000 in a tremendous way no matter 24:54.000 --> 24:55.000 what happens. 24:55.000 --> 24:57.000 The last recessions officially 24:57.000 --> 24:58.000 ended according to the press 24:58.000 --> 24:59.000 release July 2009. 24:59.000 --> 25:01.000 Things are pretty precarious 25:01.000 --> 25:02.000 right now. 25:02.000 --> 25:03.000 >> Barnes: Jackson, looking 25:03.000 --> 25:04.000 ahead? 25:04.000 --> 25:06.000 >> Baker: The diminishing brand 25:06.000 --> 25:08.000 of Tennessee Democrats has a 25:08.000 --> 25:09.000 hope. 25:09.000 --> 25:10.000 That's Craig Fitzhugh of nearby 25:10.000 --> 25:11.000 Ripley. 25:11.000 --> 25:13.000 A state representative who 25:13.000 --> 25:14.000 survived a very stiff from 25:14.000 --> 25:15.000 Republicans in this year's 25:15.000 --> 25:16.000 elections. 25:16.000 --> 25:18.000 And he's indicated he may run 25:18.000 --> 25:19.000 for governor. 25:19.000 --> 25:20.000 He's a very solid guy. 25:20.000 --> 25:22.000 He may lead something of a 25:22.000 --> 25:23.000 renaissance. 25:23.000 --> 25:24.000 >> Barnes: And with just one 25:24.000 --> 25:26.000 last minute, I would go back to 25:26.000 --> 25:27.000 something Andy said. 25:27.000 --> 25:28.000 I mean looking ahead, the real 25:28.000 --> 25:30.000 estate economy this past year 25:30.000 --> 25:32.000 seems by all accounts nationally 25:32.000 --> 25:33.000 and in Memphis, has bottomed 25:33.000 --> 25:34.000 out. 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 That's a big driver of local 25:36.000 --> 25:37.000 economic growth from mortgages 25:37.000 --> 25:39.000 to construction and so on. 25:39.000 --> 25:41.000 That will be something really to 25:41.000 --> 25:42.000 watch next year. 25:42.000 --> 25:43.000 I'm not going to make a 25:43.000 --> 25:44.000 prediction on that because 25:44.000 --> 25:45.000 housing is too fickle. 25:45.000 --> 25:47.000 And we don't know about the 25:47.000 --> 25:48.000 fiscal cliff. 25:48.000 --> 25:49.000 I mean, that could have a huge 25:49.000 --> 25:51.000 impact on jobs, spending by 25:51.000 --> 25:53.000 businesses like FedEx, spending 25:53.000 --> 25:54.000 taxes for small businesses and 25:54.000 --> 25:55.000 large businesses. 25:55.000 --> 25:57.000 So that really is probably the 25:57.000 --> 25:58.000 way that plays out is going to 25:58.000 --> 25:59.000 actually. 25:59.000 --> 26:01.000 I'm sure people are sick of 26:01.000 --> 26:03.000 hearing about it but it's going 26:03.000 --> 26:04.000 to have a big impact locally. 26:04.000 --> 26:06.000 Thank you all for being here. 26:06.000 --> 26:07.000 Thank you for joining us. 26:07.000 --> 26:09.000 Join us again next week, first 26:09.000 --> 26:10.000 show of the new year. 26:10.000 --> 26:11.000 Thanks again. 26:11.000 --> 26:14.000 Goodnight. 26:14.000 --> 26:25.000 >> (instrumental music) 26:25.000 --> 26:26.000 ♪♪♪ 26:26.000 --> 26:30.000 ♪♪♪