The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 1

Ah ADVERTISEMENT Cath 4 1 Asian Bistro nnnr uni injtv 3 Student sews gifts for kids in hospital, fan i nuuc nuLiuMi SAVINGS OPEN CHRISTMAS A NEW YEAR'S DAY Saa tnrtM Ml insula Hk Mil far tn-ffiwe CfHJWinSf i jr GET BREAKING NEWS ON YOUR CELL PHONE: Text DNJ NEWS to 44636 (4INF0) mw.CattavAuan8istro.C6m 2l845 S. Chun St. 615.904.2221 lit Bail Ham fan nmrnal I Cristas quilts MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE 754 DECEMBER 22, 2009 TUESDAY SERVING RUTHERFORD COUNTY SINCE 1849 Iterate Wia mm program COUNTY SCHOOLS Number getting lunch aid goes up Economy cited; district still ranks low statewide Aw te BY CHASITY GUNN CGUNNDNJ.COM As unemployment rates have grown and the economy weakened, the amount of It IT? Inside students in Rutherford Countv Schools I List of schools DNJ PHOTOS BY AARON THOMPSON MTSU Coach Rick Stockstill and quarterback Dwight Dasher hoist the New Orleans Bowl trophy after the Blue Raiders' win over Southern Miss on Sunday. 0 to (MueKaUktfUont fr6t4 feHr, rll tn-ii and mmi Impressive New Orleans Bowl boosts Blue Raider profile on subsidized that have seen lunch has in- most significant creased almost anges; 40 percent over the last three school years, according to district data. It also means that roughly 3,900 more students are on free and reduced lunch this school year compared to 2007-2008.

Despite this, the school district has one of the lowest percentages of students living in poverty across the See LUNCH, page A2 v. 't BY ADAM SPARKS SPARKSDNJ.COM NEW ORLEANS After MTSU's 42-32 win in the New Orleans Bowl Sunday night, Blue Raider coach Rick Stockstill ended his post-game press conference with a simple message: "Merry Christmas to everybody." Stockstill has played the role of Saint Nick to an MTSU fan base hungry for a winner, and his Blue Raiders delivered a program-elevating package at the peak of the holiday season in the Big Easy. Inside Blue Raiders never lacked confidence. CI Pogue: Time will tell where victory ranks. The fourth-year coach has indeed helped propel the program to new heights.

"We're just better now, and not just on the field," Stock-still said. "What we've done in the four years I've been here academically, on the field, off the field, who we have beaten, how we play yeah, I think we're better See MTSU, page A2 Ifs official: Dems, GOP to caucus Party leaders notify election office of intent -II lllf I life llf I in MlB Coach Rick Stockstill receives a second Gatorade bath from Chris McCoy, left; Chris McGover, center; and Brandon Perry during the Blue Raiders' win over Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl on Sunday. Health care bill set for pre-Christmas vote ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON Well on the way to winning passage before Christmas after clearing its Senate Democratic leaders basked in the victory for the landmark leg-, islation that will insure 30 million more Americans. They looked ahead to the next make-or-break vote this mornine. Thev BY SCOTT BRODEN SBRODENDNJ.COM Rutherford County Democratic and Republican leaders have each made their decisions official to hold caucuses instead of primaries for six county executive offices in 2010.

Rutherford County Democratic Party Chairman Jonathon Fagan confirmed Monday that his party would hold a caucus. He notified the Rutherford County Election Commission office in writing Friday about holding a caucus after the Tennessee Democratic Party approved the local party's request, he said. The general election is set for See CAUCUS, page A2 biggest hurdle in the wee hours of the the Senate's health care bill Inside Americans' views of health care remain have something in it important to them, then it doesn't speak well of them," retorted Majority Leader Harry Reid, when questioned at a press conference about the GOP criticism. The deals in the massive bill range from $100 million to pay the full cost of a Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, home to Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, the crucial 60th vote for the bill, to exempting roughly 800,000 seniors in Florida from potential benefit cuts by private Medicare Advantage plans, See HEALTH CARE, page A2 steady this year.

A4 will make a tremendous difference for snapped up a coveted en- OBAMA dorsement from the American Medical Association and batted down Republican complaints about special deals lawmakers got in the bill. "I don't know if there's a senator that doesn't have something in this bill that was important to them, and if they don't families, for seniors, for businesses and for the country as a whole," President Barack Obama said Monday. TODAY'S WATHft BUSINESS MTMC lights up cross symbol at the site of the new hospital LOCAL A program that has helped kids stay out of trouble may be headed to Rockvale Middle. A3 Business Classified 61 B1 Obituaries A5 Opinion A9 Sports Page editors: Jimmy Hart and Chris Jones Congratulations to Coach Rick Stockstill and the Blue Raiders on their historic season. A9 Partly sunny High: 55 UmU.

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