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Kidjacked | Jacked Up
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Sexual abuse is most frequent among children between 12 and 15 years old. (2008 report) Tennessee CPS News Archive
Tennessee News Coverage
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Memphis exploring virtual academy
by Jane Roberts
MEMPHIS - Denita Alhammadi has taken her son out of Memphis City Schools and enrolled him in Tennessee Virtual Academy, a new online school that makes home the classroom and puts parents in charge.
K12 hired three of Nashville's top lobbyists to push for the bill. Online education programs have operated in Tennessee for years, but the bill opened the door for school districts to establish entire virtual schools open to students from anywhere in the state and to contract with for-profit companies to run them.
knoxnews.com
July 17, 2011
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Bill to ease homeschool restrictions gets support
by Tom Humphrey
NASHVILLE - Legislation revising state law on homeschools will remove a current requirement that parent-teachers have a college degree in some cases and repeal the present penalty for failing to register a homeschooled child on time.
The Republican sponsors of SB1468, Sen. Mike Bell of Riceville and Rep. Bill Dunn of Knoxville, say the measure basically conforms the law - which has not had a major rewrite since 1985 - with "current practice" in homeschooling. Some Democrats voiced skepticism about repealing the degree and penalty provisions in committee hearings, but wound up supporting the bill after hearing explanations.
knoxnews.com
May 2, 2011
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Oliver Spring couple files $50 million lawsuit over abuse charges, removal of children
by Bob Fowler, Knoxville News Sentinel
An Oliver Springs couple accused of child abuse have filed a $50 million federal lawsuit over their arrest and the removal of six adopted children from their home.
The complaint was filed on behalf of Tobias M. Pethtel and Kathleen Elaine Pethtel, both 45. The legal action names nine organizations and 31 individuals - including eight Anderson County deputies and five foster parents - as defendants. An Anderson County judge has issued a gag order banning parties from discussing the case.
knoxnews.com
April 10, 2011
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Congress May Require 'Drunk-Proof' Cars
by Mark Huffman
It's been talked about for years. Congress could make it a law. You would not be able to start your car if you've consumed too much alcohol.
Two members of the U.S. Senate, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, have take a step, sponsoring the ROADS SAFE Act, which would authorize $12 a year for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop technology that would prevent an intoxicated person from driving a vehicle.
consumeraffairs.com
March 12, 2011
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Shelby County Foster Care Review Board hopes for progress
by Beth Warren
A petulant 17-year-old pursed her lips and rolled her eyes Thursday while standing before a panel of Memphis volunteers who were trying to help her.
Due to her aggression at school and home, she had been kicked out of both and landed in foster care. Board members review a child's case files and report cards. It's a state-mandated oversight of child welfare workers and court officials, who are supposed to find permanent placement for the children as quickly as possible so they don't languish in state custody, said Libby Lucchesi, one of the coordinators for the foster care review boards.
commercialappeal.com
March 6, 2011
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Some Knoxville families don't let Santa in
by Rebecca Williams
Stuart and Kristi Butcher's living room in Knoxville is a winter wonderland of toy trains weaving around the Christmas tree. All the trappings of Christmas are there, including stockings on the mantel and presents under the tree.
But the kids know where they came from. "The bottom line is that we wanted to be truthful with our children," she said. "If we said there's a Santa, an Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, and then we said Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas, what would they believe? Ultimately, it was about truth."
knoxnews.com
December 28, 2010
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Foster parenting: Helping families in trouble
by Allison Rupp
About 570 children in Knox County were in the foster care system earlier this month, said Denise Wilson, team leader for foster care in the county. There were 800 to 900 children in the system seven years ago.
The Tennessee Department of Children's Services has seen decreases across the state. In a report released in September, there were 7,090 existing foster care cases. On June 30, 2005, this number was almost 10,000.
Knoxville News Sentinel
October 22, 2010
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A mom's perspective on foster parenting
by Alicia Zanoni
Ami Carr, a foster parent in Knoxville, and her husband, Adrian, have five children - three from foster care and two of their own. She answers questions about foster parenting.
We had classes one evening each week, three weekends of classes, first aid and CPR training, and a home-study - a three-part interview process to make sure a potential foster parent is mentally and physically capable of handling the challenges of fostering.
Knoxville News Sentinel
October 22, 2010
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Giants' Bulluck believes and achieves off the field too
by Barbara Barker
In Bulluck's early childhood, home was a fluid concept. He bounced around the apartments and houses of various relatives in Rockland County, N.Y., sleeping on sofas and even floors.
Welch eventually became Bulluck's foster parent, making him one of the 12 million Americans who have spent some time in the foster care system. It is a population that Bulluck has embraced since the Titans drafted him out of Syracuse in the first round in 2000. His Believe and Achieve Foundation has provided college scholarships and run a number of support programs for children in foster care in Tennessee and New York.
Victoria Advocate
September 25, 2010
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Doctor in child abuse trial refutes Shaken Baby Syndrome
by Gilbert Soesbee
A neurosurgeon called by the defense in the child abuse trial of a Jefferson City man said that "Shaken Baby Syndrome" does not exist.
Expert witness, Dr. Ronald Uscinski told the criminal court jury that Shaken Baby Syndrome, "defies the laws of physics."
The Newport Plain Talk
August 31, 2010
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US Census Workers Knocking on Your Neighbors' Doors, Looking for Snitches in Memphis
by SusanAnne Hiller
Just when we thought flag@whitehouse.gov - which appears to be alive and well when clicked - was scary and invasive - it seems the Obama administration's Census Bureau has outdone itself.
A US census worker, driving a metallic gray Ford Taurus-type car, has been reported to be combing through the Memphis, TN suburb of Germantown knocking on doors asking people for information on their neighbors. Yes, you read that correctly. The US census worker was asking how many people lived in the house next door on or about April 1, 2010.
Big Government
May 15, 2010
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Kay Brooks: Flood Update
by Kay Brooks
We are under mandatory water restrictions since one of our two water filtration plants is under water. We're being asked to use just half our normal consumption.
The police and water company are shutting down car washes and locking meters of irrigation violators. (Amazingly some corporations didn't consider shutting off automatic sprinklers).
The Homeschool Scuttle
May 5, 2010
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TnHomeEd Update
Many of you may know Kay Brooks, she is the editor of TnHomeEd, Tennessee's comprehensive homeschool information site. She contacted me today with an update of her situation during the flooding.
We're fine... just no phone line. A lot of Nashville isn't -- historic flooding for Nashville. WKRN is a great place to view what's going on if you have an interest.
The Homeschool Scuttle
May 4, 2010
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Group suing DHS says state 'resistant'
by Ginnie Graham
Oklahoma has been as resistant as any state that Children's Rights has sued over child welfare concerns, the group's founder says.
Children's Rights began as a project of the New York Civil Liberties Union and later the American Civil Liberties Union. It became an independent nonprofit in 1995. The group has filed lawsuits against child welfare systems in Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Tulsa World
April 28, 2010
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Experts: Orphanages can lead to kids' problems
by Ted Czech
Mental and physical problems in children adopted from Russia are not because of the country itself but because of the damaging environment orphanages present, according to several national experts.
Children adopted from Russia have made headlines recently, from York County parents charged in their son's death to a Tennessee woman who sent her son back to Russia on a plane. Torry Hansen of Tennessee called her son, Justin, "mentally unstable" and said he had threatened to burn the family home down.
The York Daily Record
April 18, 2010
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Three more lawsuits doomed to fail, three more bad child welfare systems likely to get worse
by Richard Wexlar
The group that so arrogantly calls itself "Children's Rights" has filed another one of its Mclawsuits against a state child welfare agency - this time in Massachusetts. And NCCPR's sources say that another such Mclawsuit, in Texas, is imminent.
Meanwhile a group which is unaffiliated with CR but has the same myopic outlook about how to fix child welfare systems, the National Center for Youth Law, has filed the same kind of suit in Nevada. All of these child welfare systems almost certainly are every bit as bad as CR and NCYL say they are.
NCCPR Child Welfare Blog
April 15, 2010
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School Budget Crisis: Illinois Loses Much-Needed 'Race To The Top' Funds
by Will Guzzardi
The already grim Illinois public education budget got even bleaker Monday, with the announcement that a desperately-needed infusion of federal cash is not coming.
Illinois did not make the final cut in its application to the Department of Education's "Race to the Top" fund. Delaware and Tennessee were the only two of the 16 finalists to receive funding, according to the Chicago Tribune. Illinois's application came in at fifth place.
The Huffington Post
March 29, 2010
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Donelson Foster Parents Cleared In Baby Death
by Brent Frazier
NASHVILLE -- Preliminary autopsy results show 3-month-old Cherokeewolf Diedrich, a baby born to a Nashville homeless woman, died of natural causes and not from any type of abuse as originally thought.
Dr. Bruce Levy told NewsChannel 5, the injuries that resulted in the little boy's death were likely caused during the delivery process, or shortly before. Levy said though the case is not open and shut the foster parents, Earl and Cheryl Green, can be cleared of any wrongdoing.
News Channel 5
March 4, 2010
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Woman With 8-Year-Old Arrested After Meth Lab Fire
The Tri Community Fire Department was called to 1259 Lester Lane this afternoon at approximately 4:50 p.m.
When they arrived on the scene it was determined that the fire was the result of a suspected methamphetamine lab. Child Protective Services was notified to respond to take custody of an eight-year-old child.
The Chattanoogan
February 18, 2010
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Hamilton County Suspected Meth Lab Bust
by Calvin Sneed
After arriving at a house fire this afternoon... firefighters realized the home was a suspected meth lab.
Angela Thompson was arrested at the scene, and charged with promotion and manufacturing methamphetamine, as well as child endangerment. Child Protective Services took custody of an 8-year old child.
Chattanooga News 9
February 18, 2010
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German homeschooling family allowed to stay in Tennessee
A German couple who fled to Tennessee so they could homeschool their children have been granted political asylum by a U.S. immigration judge.
The decision, announced Tuesday in Memphis, clears the way for Uwe Romeike, his wife and five children to stay in Morristown, where they have been living since 2008.
WBIR News
January 26, 2010
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4 Year Old Drunk A Beer And A Dress 4 Year Old Drunk Steals Christmas
A 4 year old drunk drinking beer and wearing a girl's dress was found wandering around in Chattanooga. The 4 year old drunk wanted to get put in jail.
The boy, named Hayden, put on the dress and continued wandering the streets. His mother woke up frantic, worried that the worst happened to her son. The police found him wearing a dress and sipping on a 12 oz can of beer.
Tech Banyan
December 18, 2009
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Home school double standards
by Kelly Fernandez
We home schools, so when I came across this I about choked on my captain crunch!
First of all, for those of you who are unaware, in Tennessee you can home school your children up to the 8th grade as long as you have a high school diploma or a GED, but in order to home school grades 9-12 you (1)must have a bachelors degree or be approved by the school superintendent.
Shelbyville Times-Gazette
October 16, 2009
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Finding a fix for the criminal justice system
by Vincent Lewis
Black Cotton Commentary: The movie Left Behind tells the story of Christians who have missed the opportunity to go with God when he returns for his people. This is known as the "Rapture".
The feeling of being left behind is experienced by children of incarcerated parents daily. These kids have their world turned upside down and face hardship and suffering because their parents have been harvested by a corrupt criminal justice system.
Memphis Drug Policy Examiner
September 12, 2009
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Moms charged in Memphis, Bartlett with leaving children in cars
by Clay Bailey and Matthew Woo
Two women, one in Bartlett and another at Southland Mall, were arrested Thursday in separate incidents of children left unattended in cars.
Bartlett police charged 30-year-old Wafaa Khartoum of 5295 Steuben in Raleigh with reckless endangerment of a child. Memphis police charged 27-year-old Tiffany Purnell of 3417 Spottswood in East Memphis with child abuse and neglect.
Memphis Commercial Appeal
July 3, 2009
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