Joe Sullivan takes a look at the fiscal trials and budgetary tribulations that TennCare presents the state in Insights, Jack Neely shows how an address by any other number is a problem in Secret History, and
Attica Scott wonders why to bother with raising race questions at all in Color Conscious.
Citybeat
Scott McNutt ambles up to the bus stop and puts his bike in the rack as he explores Bike-Walk-Bus Week, which is the launching pad for Smart Trips, a new program of incentives for employees who carpool, bike, walk, or take the bus to work.
Cover * BRIAN'S SONG
The state Department of Children's Services is struggling to comply with a court-ordered settlement in the so-called 'Brian A.' class-action settlement. Mike Gibson discusses the options for placing more at-risk children in the sort of nurturing environment that a stable foster home has to offer. The outlook is improving, but the task of satisfying the court order is a difficult one for the state to tackle, especially in caring for children with special needs.
Gamut * BLOOD ON THE KEYS
When Jay Hardwig was still a mere slip of a classics-trained piano-pumping boy, he up and took to the blues like a claw hammer takes to a tenpenny nailhead. Years went by before, one night in a long-gone Fort Sanders suds (and suds) institution, he arrived at the point when he knew that the blues not only had a stranglehold on him, he had done got hold of the blues. In his inimitable style, Jay tells the whole tale in the key of C.
Music
That holy roller the Reverend Horton Heat and his rockin' disciples don't limit their music to any one denomination. Everybody can regain their faith at this travelin' salvation show, reports Leslie Wylie. Plus, Eye on the Scene was in the audience this weekend at Valleyfest and gives the lowdown on up-an-comers there.
Artbeat
You haven't much time left to go see it, but go you should, says Heather Joyner— to KMA's show, A Century of Progress, which celebrates 100 years' of work by
Tennessee artists.
Platters
Ministry returns, Saturday Looks Good To Me beats bleakness, and former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus gives formal recognition to his new back-up band, The Jicks, on his latest.
Movie Guru
Coury Turczyn opines that Bend It Like Beckham bends Hollywood's and the recording industry's irresponsible icons of "girl power" over its knee and spanks those bad girls but good—to the benefit of all. Movie Blurbs, p. 26: The Metro Pulse Movie Blurbs: "'Girl power' fuels these blurbs."ª
Spotlights
It's Easter! Go out and lay an egg, or go to the Laurel and hum along with the Carawan Family or maybe go get a piece of the action with Hot Action Cop at Blue Cats.
News of the Weird by Chuck Shepherd
Crossword by Montford Manassas
Classifieds