Remember, Finster Fest will be this Saturday and Sunday in Summerville.

Chattanooga Times Free Press: “Changes are in the works this year. For one, the festival will be centered at Dowdy Park in downtown Summerville, with shuttles taking the anticipated 5,000 visitors to and from Paradise Garden, which is in a residential neighborhood that lacks parking. There will be live music both days with Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers headlining at 6 p.m. Saturday. In another change, tours will start inside Finster’s studio, which hasn’t been open to the public since Finster died.”

Paul Chapman has formally withdrawn his request to move North Georgia Firearms & Ammunition to Chickamauga. He said he doesn’t want to cause trouble for nearby businesses that have protested his plan. He’s been a lot nicer to them than they were to him, hope he can find a more suitable place soon.

Chattanooga Times Free Press / CEOs like look of south: “For the eighth consecutive year, Texas ranked No. 1 in a survey of 650 CEOs by Chief Executive magazine. Tennessee maintained its No. 4 ranking among the 50 states for its favorable business climate, while Georgia slipped three places this year to No. 8.”

The way Mr. Chapman was treated by the people of Chickamauga probably won’t help the state rank any higher next year.

ajc.com / Don’t put taxpayers on hook for new nest: “As an American for prosperity, I’m not one to promote class envy; actually, I’d welcome more billionaires and millionaires to Georgia. But as a fiscal conservative, I have one big question about the proposed new stadium: With all due respect to the Falcons and the owner, why should taxpayers be on the hook for the improvement of your bottom line?”

But as we’ve said, it doesn’t matter. The state legislature set all this into motion several years ago. The new stadium will come, and we’ll pay for it, no matter what. Vote out every single state legislator and the governor, but the state is still going to spend a billion of our tax dollars on a new football field in Atlanta 95% of the state’s residents will never go in.

Next year Georgia students and schools won’t be judged by CRCT test results, but by a mix of testing, attendance, graduation and “school climate.” Sounds the same as NCLB, only now the schools with poor kids won’t be held to as high a standard.

Some educator will say this is wrong, but No Child Left Behind graded each school on its AYP, and AYP was testing, attendance, and graduation – right?

This sounds the same only now the schools that have a lot of economically poor students will have the bar lowered. That’s probably a lot simpler explanation than it actually has, but is that really what we want? You’re poor, so it’s OK nobody here can read. Poor test scores? Well you’re Title I so that’s fine!

Yesterday we mentioned a GA Senate ethics hearing, regarding corrupt behavior from Senator Don Balfour. Nothing came from the meeting, and he’s waved away the charges. GA’s legislature cements the state’s reputation for corruption by letting a senior senator get away with lying about comped expenses. Thick as thieves.

Jeff Mullis isn’t far behind him in influence or uselessness.

Apparently the ticks are bad this year.

6oz can of Deep Woods Off sells for $3.90 on Amazon.com or $4.88 at Walmart. Walmart also sells yard spray, but it’s not especially effective.

New state law beginning July 1 is meant to reduce scrap metal theft, which it will do, but may also put scrap dealers out of business. Aluminum cans and batteries are exempt, at least.

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The next Daily Update will post Monday morning at 5 AM.