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Tenn. Lawmakers Visit Arizona

Lawmakers Support State’s New Immigration Law

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nine Tennessee lawmakers traveled from Nashville to Arizona on Friday to meet with that state’s governor and General Assembly regarding Arizona’s controversial immigration law. After they landed in Arizona, they participated in a day full of meetings. The Tennessee lawmakers want to introduce a plan similar to Arizona. The nine lawmakers are expected to present Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer with a resolution congratulating the state for its passage of the immigration law. The law is supposed to require police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop or detain, and it’s supposed to require immigrants to keep documentation with them at all times. However, a judge put those parts of the law on hold this week. Arizona is appealing the decision, and the Tennessee lawmakers said they are undeterred by the court ruling. Brewer is now asking legislators to consider changing the law since the federal judge blocked part of it. While in Arizona, the Tennessee lawmakers will meet with the sponsors of Arizona’s immigration law and learn more about how to draft the legislation. They also plan to attend a candlelight vigil to memorialize the human cost of illegal immigration

More and more households are renovating a room in their home to accommodate their sports and game viewing pleasures. Whether you are turning a bonus room or basement into gaming central, there are a few things not to overlook before you begin the renovation work. Just as in games, proper planning can positively affect the end result.

Seating
When designing your gaming room, have reasonable estimates about how many people will be watching a game at any given time. With this number in mind, you will need to lay out the appropriate number of seats accordingly. Each seat should have an unobstructed view of a television and a place to set down refreshments. Stadium seating, bar stools, and additional chairs can all be used to provide the seating you need.

Internet Access
Many fans like to access the internet during commercials or in between games. Having an internet-ready computer available to all is a welcome addition. You can keep up with your fantasy teams, check all the stats, and get insider information on your favorite players. Your guests will enjoy this information ready room and know they are not missing out on a thing.

Refreshments
Everyone enjoys refreshments while watching the game. When planning your sports room renovation you should consider what type of refreshments will generally be served and how to accommodate them. In addition to a bar area where food plates can be laid out, consider storage and heating of items. Small microwave drawers, ice chests, mini refrigerators, keg refrigerators and wine chillers can all be designed into a bar area. You may also want to consider a dishwasher for easy clean up and a wet bar sink.

Temperature Control
If your sports room will be handling more than a few people, it should have a separate temperature controller. This room will easily be warmer than the rest of the home with all the activity. In wintertime you may want to be able to warm it up quickly before Sunday’s big game. Having a separate air conditioner and electric heater is all you need to handle the temperature demands.

Bathroom Access
Don’t overlook a bathroom within close range when planning your sports room renovation. You will not want guests trudging through your home looking for a bathroom. If there is not a bathroom close to your sports room, consider installing a small half bath. A sink, mirror, and commode is all you need to accommodate your fans. You may consider hanging a small flat screen television on the wall so your guests don’t miss the action.

Soundproofing
A final component of renovating your sports room is soundproofing. Depending on where the room is located, you may be subjecting other members of your household or your neighbors to unwanted noise. Consider added insulation in the walls of your game room. Remember that carpet and window treatments will also help absorb sound.

The harsh reality of the current real estate market is prompting many homeowners to stay put and repair instead of relocate.

Even if a big-ticket remodeling project isn’t in the cards right now, you can still save money by staying on top of regular maintenance items and eliminate the need for costly home repairs down the road.

Here’s our top five list of what you can’t afford to put off this year.

1. Change your air filters. HVAC experts estimate that 60 percent of all service calls are the result of dirty filters. Changing air filters regularly (every month or so), especially if you have shedding pets or kids frequently running in and out, can save you up to $100 each year in energy costs.
2. Repair leaky faucets and running toilets. Doing so could save hundreds of dollars per year on your water bill. And don’t neglect your sump pump. Check the batteries and update the appliance every few years. A flooded basement will cause thousands of dollars in damages, not to mention the loss of personal possessions.
3. Check the caulking around your tub and shower for moisture penetration, which can lead to mold. Bath fixtures can avoid premature replacement if the tile surface is kept watertight, and the subsurface, usually drywall, remains dry.
4. Inspect electrical cords and outlets for signs of distortion, discoloration or cracks in the insulation, and hire an electrician to replace tired outlets that no longer hold a plug. A defective receptacle, light switch or fixture replaced during a scheduled visit will save you hundreds of dollars over an emergency repair.
5. Weatherproof windows and doors. These are the two areas with the largest amount of air transfer in both cold and hot weather. Use a digital thermometer to check the seal quality and inspect the caulking for areas that have cracked or shrunken, which will allow water to damage siding and floors. Once sealed, use a programmable thermostat to help regulate air temperature, which could save you up to 10 percent on your monthly energy bill. Check Angie’s List consumer reviews for a highly rated home inspector that can perform an energy audit. 

An old-fashioned fireplace may look nice in your living room but it may be burning up your money with as little as ten percent of the heat it produces actually heating the room. Luckily for homeowners a properly installed fireplace insert will make all the difference.

Fireplace inserts can improve the heating efficiency of a traditional fireplace significantly by ensuring the heat produced actually goes into the room, rather than escaping up the chimney.

Basically, fireplace inserts are appliances that fit into the fireplace opening and burn wood, pellets or gas as fuel. Most inserts are controlled-draft units with built in air circulation, and range in appearance from a basic box with glass or metal doors to more elaborate models with features such as decorative tile and brass trim.

Fireplace inserts come as either a double or single wall units. Double wall is widely regarded as the safer and more efficient of the two types as air circulates and heats in the space between the walls rather than between the wall of the unit and the surrounding masonry walls of the fireplace.

The key to heating efficiency with fireplace inserts is proper installation of the unit. Measurements and materials used need to ensure the unit is as airtight as possible.

As with all heating devices, regular inspection and maintenance is crucial. Depending on how often you use your fireplace, and what type of fuel you use, you should have your unit inspected by a professional at least once a year.