Tennessee briefs

UT-Knoxville panel looks for savings KNOXVILLE (AP) — Administrators at the University of Tennessee’s main campus have appointed a task force to help decide how to trim programs to reflect economic conditions. Interim Knoxville Chancellor Jan Simek says he wants plans for cuts of 3 percent and 5 percent, but says the final number “could be higher.” The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that UT-Knoxville is starting budget planning early this year because of the possibility of reduced state funding and to help new Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, who arrives in February. Knoxville Faculty Senate president John Nolt says the nine-member task force will develop methods for evaluating program cuts, reductions or reallocations. The Knoxville campus already has sustained $17 million in budget reductions this year, part of a $38 million cut for the entire UT system. ——— Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com Man pleads to charges of abusing his family KINGSPORT (AP) — A retired sheriff’s deputy has pleaded “no contest” to charges that he physically and sexually abused his wives and their sons. The Kingsport Times reported Louis Batori, who retired to Tennessee after working as a lawman in New York, entered an Alford plea. The plea does not admit guilt, but acknowledges the state has enough evidence to convict him. Batori’s second wife called police in September 2006, saying her husband had threatened to shoot her if she and her son did not engage in a sex act the next day. The woman, a Chinese national, said she married Batori after meeting him in China. The Times reported Batori entered the plea Tuesday after the court refused to suppress as evidence a DVD authorities found in his home. ——— Information from: Kingsport Times-News, http://www.timesnews.net Published in The Messenger 11.21.08

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