Around the region

Tennessee

Haslam supports Amazon on taxes

CHATTANOOGA - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says Internet retailerAmazon shouldn't have to collect sales tax in Tennessee just becauseit's building a new distribution center here.

Speaking after an economic development roundtable with businessand political leaders at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,Haslam said the state lives off of the sales tax. But he said thatcollecting sales tax from Internet retailers will take a nationaleffort.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports there will be a hearingbefore state regulators on the Amazon tax issue later this month.

The company is building 1 million-square-foot distributioncenters in Hamilton and Bradley counties that will employ more than1,400 people full-time.

College giving seesaws in state

NASHVILLE - In a sluggish season for higher education giving,Tennessee colleges saw dips and rises in the amount of money donatedlast year to help pay for scholarships and building projects.

Some colleges have been able to raise millions in fundraisingcampaigns, but still saw decreases over 2009 donations.

Vanderbilt University raised almost $124 million last year, butthat is down from the $160 million the school raised in 2009.

Tennessee State University had an increase in donations from $1.4million in 2009 to $7.8 million in 2010, due in large part to a $6million bequest from gospel legend Bobby Jones.

Ann Kaplan, who directed a donation survey for the Council forAid to Education, told The Tennessean it is normal to see broadswings in donation totals from one year to the next, usually becauseof large, one-time donations.

Arkansas

Man charged in deaths of two

LITTLE ROCK - A Maumelle man has pleaded not guilty after beingcharged with first-degree murder in the deaths of two Little Rockmen.

Police arrested 25-year-old Brandon Ulysses Westbrook on Thursdayand he appeared in Little Rock District Court on Friday. Judge AliceLightle set Westbrook's bail at $1 million.

He's charged with two counts of first-degree murder and criminalattempt to commit first-degree murder.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports Westbrook's arrest cameafter a week-long investigation. The arrest affidavit from policesays Westbrook was a "regular" at the home of 55-year-old Robert"Popcorn" McDonald but had recently "been put out" of the house.

Police found McDonald and 41-year-old Sterling Bolden shot todeath in the home on Feb. 3. A 47-year-old North Little Rock womanalso suffered injuries during the shooting.