TENNESSEE NEWS

Poverty without Social Security 54 percent of Tennesseans over 65 would be considered at or below federal poverty levels according to a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The poverty mark for a single senior is $9,060 and $11,148 for a couple. There are about 634,000 seniors in the state now fall below the poverty mark. That’s approximately 13 percent. Historic Knox battlefield named to national “most endangered” list Civil War Preservation Trust compiled a list of battlefields and two made it to the top.One of the fields is Fort Higley in Knoxville and the other is a battlefield in Franklin that has been neglected for years. The two Civil War battlefields were listed Friday on the most endangered list. Interstate’s westbound I-40 lanes to reopen near North Carolina border Flooding from Hurricane Ivan caused a wash out on a section of I-40 near the TN NC border in September 2004. All westbound lanes of Interstate 40 were open Friday afternoon, according to the Department of Transportation. One eastbound lane of I-40 will continue to be closed on weekdays as crews continue repair work. The eastbound lanes are expected to reopen permanently in early summer. Work at home business are in the State and Feds scopes Tennessee along with 14 states and three federal agencies in the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice (DOT), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have charged more than 130 operations with violating consumer protection laws and or engaging in fraud. The scope is directed at envelope stuffing businesses. The promoters claim the participant could earn thousands of dollars per week from their homes. The enforcement sweep was known as Project Biz Opp Flop, includes 17 FTC actions against more than 70 corporate and individual defendants. The promoters offered money making opportunities in refrigerator magnet, medical billing, web design, and envelope stuffing work-at-home schemed and other related schemes. Tennesseans can file complaints with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs by calling (615) 741-4737 or roll-free 1 (800) 342-8385, or online at www.state.tn.us/consumer. Accountant charged with filing phony tax returns A Goodlettsville female accountant faces charges for filing phony tax returns and pocketing her clients’ tax payments. Tennessee Department of Revenue special agents arrested Angela Lockhart on charges of sales tax evasion. Agents say she retained the money her clients entrusted her to pay their taxes and falsified their returns. If convicted, she faces two-years in jail and a $3,000 fine.