This week’s County Commission package has the newly revised county water quality buffer regulations which are up for consideration.

Some of you will dance with joy that the new proposal limits the buffer to five feet on either side of a stream bed. The rest of us will regroup to find a way to actually protect the water quality in Blount County.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

AP - A man has taken flight in a lawn chair hoisted by more than 150 large helium-filled party balloons in a bid to ride the wind from the central Oregon town of Bend all the way to Idaho.

AP - Weary firefighters got no rest during the holiday weekend as a pair of out-of-control wildfires roared across the landscape along California's central coast at opposite ends of the arid Los Padres National Forest.

AFP - Tens of thousands of South Koreans marched through the streets here Saturday demanding the scrapping of US beef imports and the resignation of President Lee Myung-Bak, witnesses said.

AP - Now that they're allies, Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will help each other raise money in a series of fundraisers in New York next week.

AFP - South African President Thabo Mbeki, chief regional negotiator on the Zimbabwe crisis, met here Saturday with President Robert Mugabe and leaders of a breakaway faction of the main opposition party.

AFP - Brazil international Geovanni has joined newly-promoted Hull City, the English Premier League side announced Saturday.

AP - Dying of cancer, Thomas Amschwand did everything he was told to make sure his wife would collect on the life insurance policy he had through his employer.

AP - The government on Saturday increased the number of people reported being sickened in a record salmonella outbreak in which tomatoes are the leading suspect although investigators are testing other types of fresh produce.

AP - Home foreclosures will keep rising next year no matter who is elected president in November.

No criminal charges have been filed in relation to Knoxville News Sentinel reporting on a local election in Blount County. At this time there does not appear to be a formal investigation underway or any plans for criminal prosecution.

It is believed, however, that the statute of limitations would extend beyond the date of the local election. The extent of a probe into the situation, if any, is not known, nor is it known which authorities might have jurisdiction. The newspaper's representatives have not been in contact with us to comment on the matter.

According to Car Central in Australia, Volkswagen is bringing a concept car to market that travels 100KM (62 miles) on 1L (.26 gallons) of fuel. That works out to about 234MPG.