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This Hour: Latest Tennessee news, sports, business and entertainment

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MAYOR DEAN-GROUNDBREAKING

Hockey, community center to open in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A new hockey center managed by the Nashville Predators will be constructed at the city's new mixed-use complex in southeast Nashville.

Mayor Karl Dean and Predators officials said on Monday that the facility will also include an expanded branch library, new regional community center and park at the site of the former Hickory Hollow mall, now known as the Global Mall at the Crossings.

According to a news release from the Predators, the city will build and own the $14 million hockey center with two rinks, but the NHL organization will lease it and manage the facility.

Predators CEO Jeff Cogen said in the release that more rinks in the community will help grow their fan base and create economic opportunities in the Antioch area.

FRANKLIN COUNTY-COLD MEDICINES

Franklin Co. takes aim at meth production locally

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Franklin County is trying to become the first county in the state to require prescriptions for pseudoephedrine-based cold medicines as a way to fight methamphetamine production.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports Cowan, Decherd and Estill Springs are the remaining municipalities set to pass local rules on the purchase of these drugs, which are already required to be placed behind the pharmacy counter statewide. The medicines are a primary ingredient in the production of meth.

Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said the General Assembly couldn't pass a statewide law requiring a prescription, but local municipalities can put guidelines on how they can be sold. Fuller said he was challenging the local communities to take a stand to stop meth production and abuse.

AARP-HEALTH SYSTEM

AARP honors Johnson City health system

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Mountain State Health Alliance in Johnson City has been recognized by AARP as 1 of the 50 best employers in the nation for workers over 50.

In 2011, the health system created a committee made up of a number of members over the age of 50 and asked them for suggestions to make Mountain State an attractive employer for mature workers.

The company made several changes based on the panel's recommendations, including the addition of a retiree relationship manager to advise team members on retirement plans, benefit questions and other issues.

The company also created a job sharing program for team members who are nearing retirement. It allows workers to ease into retirement by reducing their hours without losing benefits.

Mountain State is the only company in Tennessee to receive the AARP honor this year.

CATCHING HOGS REMOTELY

New technology saves TWRA money in trapping hogs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - How many wildlife agents does it take to catch a wild hog? One, under a new remote system in use by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

Richard Kirk of TWRA said the new method alerts an on-call agent, who can watch feral hogs in real time and spring the trap by pushing a virtual button on a computer or smartphone from miles away.

Agents set up a corral that is 35 feet in diameter. When hogs wander into the view of a camera that is focused on the gate, an agent gets a text message.

Verizon spokesman Michael Swearingen said the video is in high definition and the system was built by IC Realtime, which is based in Pompano Beach, Fla.

OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING

Man shot by Memphis officer facing charges

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Police say that a man who was shot after pointing a shotgun at Memphis officers has been charged with aggravated burglary and assault.

Memphis police say 29-year-old Joe Willis was discovered by officers who responded to an alarm call at a home early Saturday.

Police said Willis pointed a shotgun at the officers. An officer fired shots at Willis, who was struck once.

Willis ran away and later was located at a hospital in Southaven, Miss. He was airlifted in critical condition to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. His condition is now stable.

The officer has been relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. He has not been named.

Online court records do not show if Willis has a lawyer.

YOUNG MOTHER KILLED

Suspects waive hearing in killing of young mother

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Two men charged with first-degree murder in the apparent drive-by shooting of the mother of twin newborns have waived probable cause hearings.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the suspects allowed charges to be sent to a grand jury on Monday.

Knoxville police charged 22-year-old Lavonte Dominique Simmons, and 24-year-old Shawn David O'Neill in the fatal shooting earlier this month of 21-year-old Uniquea Brown.

Neither Public Defender Mark Stephens, who represents Simmons, nor attorney Bruce Poston were immediately available by telephone Monday after their clients' court hearing.

Police found the defendants hiding in a house, hours after Brown was shot June 7 in a front yard near the Knoxville College campus.

Both suspects are held in lieu of $1 million bond.

FIAT-TENNESSEE

TN officials hope to lure Fiat-Chrysler to state

PULASKI, Tenn. (AP) - State officials are making the case to Fiat head Sergio Marchionne to select Tennessee for the Italian automaker's joint headquarters with Chrysler Group LLC.

Marchionne met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and others on Sunday at a ceremony to mark the expansion of Fiat subsidiary Magneti Marelli's components plant in Pulaski.

WPLN-FM reports that Marchionne said Tennessee officials have been "working me over pretty well."

When he rhetorically asked where those assembled for the ribbon cutting where they would prefer the headquarters to be, Haslam replied: "I vote right here."

Fiat SpA holds a majority stake in Chrysler, which is based in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Marchionne, who is the CEO of both companies, has said the merger could be complete by the middle of next year.

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