H1N1 "Swine Flu" Outbreak; Knox County Budget Proposal

The outbreak of what was first known as swine flu and later as the H1N1 virus reached into the heartland of the U.S. this week. Cases began cropping up everywhere, including probable cases here in Tennessee.

Joining Gene Patterson to discuss the virus and what we should do to protect ourselves is Dr. Martha Buchanan from the Knox County Health Department.

Knox County Commission budget hearings have begun on Mayor Mike Ragsdale's 2009-2010 spending proposal. The mayor presented his State of the County address to a packed house Tuesday at the Bijou Theater.

Though he describes it as a no-frills budget, it is $7 million more expensive than the current budget. With sales tax revenue down and property taxes slightly up, the mayor proposes dipping into the county's rainy day fund to to balance the budget.

Gene sat down with Mayor Ragsdale Wednesday to follow up on his plan to keep the county operating in 2010.

Then for a final word this week, Gene is joined by 6 News political analyst George Korda and Kelvin Moxley, a member of the Tennessee Conservative Union.