Within the next decade (yes, you read that right and it bears repeating, within the next 10 years), the city of Murfreesboro will build a shortcut from Robert Rose Drive to Gateway Boulevard, The DNJ reported.
The road is on the city's 2040 Major Thoroughfare Plan as a pain reliever for Thompson Lane.
"It would provide an alternative and a backdoor out of Medical Center and Stones River Mall area avoiding Thompson Lane," City Engineer Sam Huddleston told Scott Broden. "We have proposed that as a short-term improvement, which would suggest a target of the next 10 years for completion. Projected costs are just under $2 million."
The road would only be 1,400 feet long (that's a quarter-mile) so maybe they could move up the timeline some?
Huddleston said he thinks the recent development in The Gateway could speed things up a bit. Let's all hope we don't die of old age stuck in traffic before then.
Bills to combat school shooting get mixed reactions
Humphrey On The Hill reported the bill that would arm Tennessee teachers cleared another hurdle in the House on Tuesday, Tom Humphrey reported.
The bill cleared the Civil Justice Committee on an 8-3 vote. This came hours after Gov. Bill Haslam's announcement that the state would spend $30.2 million, $5.2 million of that annually, to fight school-safety problems.
Bill sponsor Rep. David Byrd, R-Waynesboro, said he's pushing for the legislation because Wayne County Schools can't afford to pay school resource officers.
The Democrats on the committee objected to the bill, citing safety concerns like the California teacher who injured a student when his gun accidentally discharged.
Smyrna man pleads guilty to murder
The Smyrna man accused of killing Kimberly Allen and living with her dead body for several days in 2016 has pleaded guilty to murder, according to the Murfreesboro Post.
Eric Ellis, 33, of Smyrna entered his plea of felony first-degree murder in Judge David Bragg's Circuit Court. As part of the plea, additional charges of aggravated burglary, theft and kidnapping were dropped. Ellis was sentenced to XX years in prison. He is required to serve 51 years before being eligible for parole.
Ellis killed Allen March 20, 2016, at her Branch Trail home in Smyrna. Before the murder, Ellis forced Allen to withdraw $420 from an ATM. He then stabbed her, drugged her and bound her hands and feet before placing a plastic bag over her head.
Her body was discovered five days later. Ellis previously admitted to living with the corpse for three days before leaving.
Read all the gory details here.
Murfreesboro man denied appeal in 2014 kidnapping case
A Murfreesboro man who was holding several women captive in 2014 has been denied his appeal for a new trial, WGNS reported.
Taris C. Frazier was convicted by a Rutherford County jury in Judge David Bragg's court on three counts of especially aggravated kidnapping and three counts of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison.
After sentencing, he filed an appeal claiming insufficient evidence to support his conviction.
He was accused of holding several women hostage in his East Castle Street home. He was discovered after one of the women escaped and found help by banging on the drive-thru window of the McDonald's restaurant on Broad Street.
Police raided Frazier's home, freeing the women as Frazier hid under a pile of clothing in a bedroom.
Frazier will not be eligible for parole until 2085. He is currently being held in the Northwest Correctional Complex located in Tiptonville, Tenn.
Other stuff
Report finds 109 TN school districts allow corporal punishment; legislature eyes new restrictions
Call to exhume President Polk falls short in House
Obscure GOP megadonor put $500K into Joe Carr PAC
Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.
