Proposed Changes to Pre-K Programs; Innovation Valley

A controversial proposal by State Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) is the first topic for this week's show. Rep. Dunn explains why he wants to stop the expansion of the governor's pre-kindergarten initiative, moving those dollars instead to existing K-12 programs.

Rep. Dunn points to a study conducted for Tennessee by Ohio-based Strategic Research Group that showed gains by pre-K students in the first grade wane by the time they enter second grade.

Also joining us to defend pre-K programs is Knox County Schools Supt. Dr. Jim McIntyre.

Then, the director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory Thom Mason explains the purpose of a newly-formed group called Innovation Valley.

Later, Gene Patterson is joined for the Final Word segment by political columnist Frank Cagle and political consultant Piper Cortney.