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Chattanooga Today, March 29, 2013

104 views · Published 29 March 2013 · 4:21 · Indexed 4 November 2026

Channel: chattanooga times free press · 2013 · News & Politics

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Good morning Chattanooga.

Here's a quick look at the top five stories you need to know today.

First of all, when we're talking about nuclear plants, you want every part installed at the plant to be nuclear-grade quality. You want to make sure it can do the job.
Well now federal regulators have cited TVA with three more violations at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant — this time over thousands of parts the utility purchased that aren't documented as nuclear-grade quality.
What's more, officials say TVA didn't even test those parts to certify them as nuclear grade.
Now the utility must pay for dozens of experts to backtrack at least 6,000 purchases of different parts -- some of which have already been installed and some dating all the way back to 1995.
And the undocumented parts could also be installed at the Sequoyah and Browns Ferry nuclear plants. What began as a Watts Bar issue now includes all of TVA's seven reactors at three nuclear plants.
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Next up, two former area football stars were arrested Wednesday in Jackson County, Alabama, on drug charges.
Former Marion County High School and University of Tennessee football player Eric Westmoreland was charged, along with Robert Robinson, who was an all-state running back for South Pittsburg and was MVP in the team's 2007 championship game.
Westmoreland led Marion County to three state championships and was on the 1998 UT national championship team.
He later played professional football for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Cleveland Browns and was named to the Baylor School football coaching staff in 2006.
The two were arrested with three others after a stop for a traffic violation. Both were charged with unlawful possession of controlled substances and released on bond.
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Turning to politics, Dalton mayor David Pennington is considering a run for Georgia governor.
Pennington says he's received calls from conservatives and business owners across the state urging him to throw his name into the race.
And he criticized Nathan Deal, saying the current governor has done nothing for the state economy. 
Pennington says Georgia should consider getting rid of the income tax, make more legislative meetings open, and decentralize control of state education.
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And now an update on Hays State Prison.
Officials say hundreds of broken locks neglected for more than two years at the prison have been temporarily fixed.
Yet the mother of an inmate killed there still questions why the department waited to fix locks until after prisoners starting dying.
Warden Rick Jacobs says the prison is now secure, but that a permanent electronic fix for the locks will take more time.
The temporary solution was to install manual locks on every cell door to keep prisoners from slipping out, but sources say that doesn't keep prisoners on the outside from getting in.
Nevertheless, things are apparently getting better at the prison. Officers found only six weapons and six cellphones in February -- the lowest number in 14 months. And no inmate assaults were reported, either. However, the shortage of officers has only gotten worse.
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And finally, the Chattanooga Airport will be getting a $7.2 million dollar makeover, the biggest remake since the terminal opened in 1992.
Passengers will see new carpet, paint, windows, doors, restrooms, and escalators. Even the iconic copper dome will get an internal upgrade.
The teal accent colors of the 1990s will be replaced with wood and stainless steel.
Much of the work will go on at night. Plans are to start in May and finish by February next year.
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And we'll see a 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 p.m. today. The high will be near 61. Also, expect more rain tonight with a low around 44.
I'm Harrison Keely
For more on these stories and updates throughout the day follow us on Facebook and visit timesfreepress.com.

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