And Berke makes seven.

Following upon a decade of dismal and diminishing returns for Democratic office-holders in this state, a growing list of incumbent lawmakers are opting to call it quits rather to engage in future battles.

The roster of other'n's:

Rep. Joe Haynes (Goodlettsville)
Rep. Harry Tindell (Knoxville)
Rep. Janis Sontany (Nashville)
Rep. Bill Harmon (Dunlap)
Sen. Roy Herron (Dresden)
Sen. Eric Stewart (Belvidere)

It remains to be seen when the tide may turn, but it is exceedingly unfortunate that some of the veterans in the corps are opting out. Given the condition of the statewide party apparatus and the outlook for same, one can hardly blame them.

Does anyone have word on the bench players that have been / are being developed to succeed these folks...?

From News-Sentinel ...

The Development Corporation of Knox County this morning authorized the sale of 22 acres of land near I-40's Midway Road exit.

Article

Over twenty-four percent of Tennesseans reported "daytime fatigue for six or more days" in a recent study. The South has the most complaints of sleep disturbance.

Romney will hold a rally tomorrow at the Turkey Creek flea market. Gov. Haslam will be in attendance. Here's the flyer.

• In other Super Tuesday Tennessee Edition news, Newt Gingrich held a $1000 a plate coffee and danish fundraiser in Chattanooga and only 20 people attended. He promised them $2.50 gas.

• Rick Santorum held a rally at a church in Powell yesterday, promising 2500 worshipers he would repeal "Obamacare," calling it the "greatest threat to every American's freedom."

• Romney is also promising he will repeal "Obamacare." Those two must have a special edition of the Constitution nobody else has seen.

• Despite the massive torque of the diesel-fueled Haslam machine backing Romney, the latest MTSU poll says Santorum is leading Romney in Tennessee by 40% to 19%. Newt weighs in at 13% and Ron Paul brings the crazy at 11%.

We are told that one reason there weren't any voter ID provisional ballots during early voting is that poll workers were handing out applications for absentee ballots to voters ("quite a few," we are told) who showed up without ID.

(This wouldn't work on election day, however, because the absentee ballot must be returned via mail.)

If this is true, it is inconsistent with state requirements for obtaining an absentee ballot, which state the allowed reasons for voting absentee (lack of photo ID is not one of them).

Note that one of the allowed reasons for voting absentee is "The voter will be outside the county of registration during the early voting period and all day on election day." Clearly someone who shows up at an early voting location does not meet that criteria.

It's not clear why voters without ID wouldn't just go ahead and vote on a provisional ballot.

Perhaps these were isolated incidents. Has anyone else heard of someone being given an absentee ballot application during early voting?

UPDATE: Knox Co. Election Administrator Cliff Rodgers wrote to clarify that the absentee ballot option was offered only to voters over 65, who are allowed to vote absentee without any reason required:

"During the Early Voting period, if a voter over the age of sixty-five (65) appeared to vote with no valid photo ID, the voter was offered the option of voting by provisional photo ID ballot or by absentee ballot. Our staff has informed me that approximately five (5) voters chose to apply for an absentee ballot at our Early Voting locations. There were three (3) provisional photo ID voters during the Early Voting period. I assure you that our photo ID and absentee procedures are consistent with Tennessee law."

Thirty percent of college students transfer from their college of origin before graduating. Nearly 52% of those students are transferring from a 4-yr public college transfer to 2-yr public colleges.

"Transfer and Mobility: A National View of Pre-Degree Student Movement in Postsecondary Institutions," was published by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center in partnership with Indiana University's Project on Academic Success.

In transferring from a 4-yr college to a 2-yr college then back to a 4-yr college, one thing I found critical was the transfer of credit hours. When picking your next college, make sure the college is accredited and your existing classes will transfer to/from each. Upon graduating, every single hour I took at the various colleges was transferred, nothing was wasted. Not that the "learning experience" would have been wasted, but come on, some of us don't enjoy the college experience as much as others.

Having to take a few sick days. Getting better, will be back soon. Y'all feel free to jump in any time. Lots of news to talk about. Carry on.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero

The City has teamed up with Legacy Parks Foundation and River Sports Outfitters to create the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center. It will be in the Gateway Pavilion Building at Volunteer Landing, which has been vacant for quite some time.

The Adventure Center will house offices for the Legacy Parks Foundation upstairs and retail on the first level including boat and bicycle rentals and outdoor merchandise. There's lots more to the city's plan to promote outdoor recreation, including a slick new website.

This is a pretty big deal and we hope it's a success. Read all the details in the press release after the jump.

It's not a real issue until the late night comedians start cracking jokes. Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams explain.

Glenmark Generics is recalling Norgestimate and Ethinyl Estradiol birth control pills that were distributed to wholesalers and retail pharmacies between September 21, 2011 and December 30, 2011.

"As a result of this packaging error, the daily regimen for these oral contraceptives may be incorrect and could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy,"

This is the third recall of birth control pills in 6 months. On Feb. 1, 2012, Pfizer recalled Lo/Ovral-28 for the same reason. In September, 2011, Qualitest recalled 1.4 million packets of birth control pills that could "leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy".

Oops!

Not something I would have equated with emergency room visits.

From AP via News-Sentinel ...

Tennessee ER dental visits totaled more than 55,000 in 2009 — five times more than for burns.

Article

From the Pew Center ...

A Costly Dental Destination: Hospital Care Means States Pay Dearly

We kid around about Stacey Campfield, but his brand of hate has consequences:

Like many 13-year-olds, Brittany knew seventh grade was a living hell. But what she didn't know was that she was caught in the crossfire of a culture war being waged by local evangelicals inspired by their high-profile congressional representative Michele Bachmann, who graduated from Anoka High School and, until recently, was a member of one of the most conservative churches in the area. When Christian activists who considered gays an abomination forced a measure through the school board forbidding the discussion of homosexuality in the district's public schools, kids like Brittany were unknowingly thrust into the heart of a clash that was about to become intertwined with tragedy.

Read more...

The Daytona 500 race was postponed yesterday due to rain. This is the first time in 54 years the race has been delayed.

The race will be held today, Monday, Feb. 27, at noon. Although, more rain is predicted for today.

Trevor Bayne, local boy and last year's winner of the Daytona 500, will start in the 40th position at the Daytona 500. He finished 11th in the NASCAR Drive4COPD 300 Nationwide series Saturday, Feb. 25. We watched the race and his driving was excellent. He escaped two massive pile-ups before being caught in the third.

Drivers, start your engines.

Update: it's now being reported the race won't start until tonight at 7 PM, due to rain.

My latest column takes on a frequent claim by State Rep. Bill Dunn.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/feb/26/mark-harmon-myths-about-pre-ks-...

Southern Living features Bill and Ginger Baxter's "heaven with a view" in the March, 2012, issue (not yet on-line).

The high school sweethearts have been working on their project since 1977. Lots of native plants, a man-made stream, and a maze of yews on the approximately 40 acres on the North side of Knoxville. The pictures are beautiful.

The Daily Beast asked their Facebook readers to describe their reactions to the GOP candidates during the Wednesday night debate and produced these entertaining word clouds from the results.

When in doubt, make stuff up...

Oklahoma creep takes spotlight off Tennessee for a few minutes...

(Bonus: the bill in question is the Ryan budget, which would dismantle Medicare.)

TBI has arrested a McMinn Co. deputy for official oppression. The deputy is accused of making numerous undocumented traffic stops during which he took prescription narcotics such as oxycodone without making arrests or turning in the evidence. Read more...

Wim Wenders' Academy Award-nominated film Pina will be playing for at least a week in 3D at The Carolina in Asheville NC.

While you're on their website, check out the Cinema Lounge which hosts the Asheville Film Society. Also note that their screens are divided between mainstream and independent films. Looks like a creative enterprise.