US board clears path for mini-union vote at big Nissan plant

NASHVILLE (AP) — Fewer than 100 employees out of the thousands who work at Nissan’s auto assembly plant in Tennessee can hold a vote on whether to form a small union, the federal labor board has decided.

The ruling Thursday by the National Labor Relations Board overturns a June 2021 decision by one of its regional officials that has long blocked the vote. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers sought to limit the push to about 86 tool and die technicians at Nissan’s Smyrna plant, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) outside Nashville.

The union said it is discussing the ruling with the employees at the Nissan facility “to determine the best path forward.”

The board’s three Democrats, who now hold a majority under President Joe Biden, signed off on the decision. The last remaining GOP member did not join the majority’s ruling.

The ruling offers a dash of hope for unions in their struggle to get a foothold in foreign-owned auto assembly plants in the traditionally anti-union South.

Man charged in Tennessee jogger’s death pleads not guilty

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The man charged with raping and killing a Tennessee kindergarten teacher during a pre-dawn run in Memphis last year pleaded not guilty Friday.

Cleotha Henderson, who has also used the name Cleotha Abston, was indicted last week on charges that include first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping, The Daily Memphian reported. The first-degree murder charge carries a sentence of life in prison or 60 calendar years. However, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office has indicated it may seek an enhanced sentence of life without parole or the death penalty.

Police have said Eliza Fletcher, 34, was running on the University of Memphis campus when she was forced into a vehicle after a struggle about 4 a.m. on Sept 2. Her body was found three days later behind a vacant home after a massive police search.

The killing of Fletcher, a mother of two, shocked the Memphis community led to a flood of support for her family. Runners in Memphis and several other U.S. cities held an early-morning running event in her honor a week after she was kidnapped.

Tony Hawk to donate photo proceeds to Tyre Nichols fund

NASHVILLE (AP) — Skateboard legend Tony Hawk says he will donate half of the proceeds of autographed photos of himself and BMX rider Rick Throne to the memorial fund for Tyre Nichols.

“My proceeds from these will go to the Tyre Nichols Memorial Fund, which includes plans to build a public skatepark in his honor; as our worlds continue to grieve his loss,” Hawk tweeted on Friday. “He was a talented skater among other admirable traits. Let’s keep his legacy alive.”

The photos can be purchased on Thorne’s website for $30. Only 1,000 copies will be available for sale.

Half of the proceeds from the autographed photos will go to Nichols’ memorial fund “to help his family out, and to build a memorial skate park in his name, honoring his love for skateboarding,” according to Thorne’s website.

Nichols was a 29-year-old skateboarder, FedEx worker and father to a 4-year-old boy.

He died Jan. 10 after police stopped him for what they said was a traffic violation and beat him. Video released after pressure from Nichols’ family shows officers holding him down and repeatedly punching, kicking and striking him with a baton as he screamed for his mother.

Six officers have since been fired and charged. One other officer has been suspended, but has not been identified.

Giant panda Le Le dies after 20 years at Memphis Zoo

MEMPHIS (AP) — Giant panda Le Le has died, the Memphis Zoo announced Friday.

The panda, born July 18, 1998, died Wednesday, zoo spokesperson Rebecca Winchester said in an email. His cause of death has yet to be determined as a medical investigation is pending, the zoo said.

“Le Le’s name translates to ‘happy happy,’ and his name perfectly reflected his personality,” the zoo said in a statement. “Le Le was a happy bear that enjoyed apples, engaging with enrichment and relaxing while covering himself with freshly shredded bamboo. He had an easy-going personality and was a favorite of all who met and worked with him over the years.”

Le Le’s peaceful death as he slept was “sudden and unexpected” with no indication that he was sick, zoo President and CEO Matt Thompson said at a news conference Friday. Nothing in video footage from the days leading up to Le Le’s death indicated that there was anything wrong with him, he said.

Le Le had been at the zoo since 2003 and was expected to return to China soon with female panda Ya Ya as a loan agreement ended with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens.

Advocacy groups In Defense of Animals and Panda Voices raised concerns about the pandas’ conditions in the past and applauded the animals’ planned return to China. In recent days, Panda Voices members watching the panda cam saw Le Le collapse and when they tried to get information about his condition, they were told there were no known health issues, according to Tom Clemenson, the group’s U.S. spokesman.

“We are absolutely devastated,” Clemenson said.

Second meeting for Hawkins crisis intervention Thursday

From Contributed Reports

A second meeting to gauge community interest and possible involvement in a crisis intervention group has been set for Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Hawkins County Natural Gas Company meeting room located on Park Boulevard in Rogersville.

All interested parties, whether churches, existing civic organizations, individuals, business leaders or governmental agencies are invited to attend and offer their input and suggestions. There are leadership roles that need to be filled, as well as coordinated efforts to work with existing agencies to make a concerted push to make this a reality.

The Rev. John Butler, pastor of East Rogersville Baptist Church, Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte and FourSquare Inc., President Dr. Blaine Jones will lead the meeting again this week. Everyone welcome.

Ohio man sentenced to 65 months after fatal wreck in GSMNP

On Feb. 2, Bryce Allen Axline, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Axline was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and, upon his release from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for three years.

According to filed court documents, Axline’s convictions resulted from a single-vehicle crash in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the night of June 7, 2021.

Axline was intoxicated and driving recklessly when he crashed his car into an embankment on the Spur. His two female passengers, both 19 years of age, were seriously injured during the crash. One victim suffered life-altering injuries, and the other victim died shortly after the accident.

Axline was released from the hospital the following day after being treated for minor injuries.

He was interviewed by the National Park Service at his home and admitted that he was driving the vehicle when the accident occurred.

Based on an analysis of the vehicle’s air bag module, the National Park Service determined that the vehicle was fully accelerated and traveling at 90 miles per hour just seconds before the accident occurred.

The surviving victim provided a victim impact statement to the court explaining how the accident has affected her life. The deceased victim’s family members also provided victim impact statements.