Aides deny report that Alexander will step aside for Manning Senate bid

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander's office on Friday denied a report published in Politico that he will not seek re-election. The same report suggested that "several Republicans are wondering whether Peyton Manning will run" for that seat.

In fact, Tom Ingram, a top aide in Sen. Alexander's office and one of his longtime campaign leaders, told 10News he and the senator have already begun discussing the 2020 re-election bid.

Even though he has made no formal decision to run, Senator Alexander has already begun fundraising for that campaign, according to a statement from David Cleary, his chief of staff.

As to the mention of legendary Vol quarterback Peyton Manning, who retired from the NFL last year, he has not indicated any interest in getting into politics.

Manning did speak at a GOP retreat on Thursday, though that event was not open to the press.

Manning, a popular figure in Tennessee, owns property in the state where he played college football before heading to the NFL.

Cleary acknowledged Manning's popularity in his statement, though didn't comment on his political aspirations.

“Like everybody else in Tennessee, Senator Alexander is a big fan of Peyton Manning," he said.

Mayoral pandamonium set for zoo?

So, I normally don't like this cute stuff, but, heh, you'll see why I'm running this one as it:

The nominations are in, and it’s time to choose names for Knoxville Zoo’s red panda cubs!  After receiving more than 1,000 submissions, the zoo has narrowed the field to four pairs of finalists.  Now it’s up to the public to vote on what the male and female siblings will be officially christened.  

You can read the entire release, right smack here. 
The naming options are:

• Tabei and Tenzing (some first pioneers to reach the summit of Mount Everest)
• Madeline and Tim (I am not making this up!)
• Shyla and Beaumont (something to do with the Smoky Mountains and East Tennessee)
• Summitt and Neyland (in honor of Pat Summitt and General Robert Neyland)

Voting ballots are $1 each and votes can be cast online right smack here or in person at the zoo.  The first pair of names to reach the $5,000 mark or receive the highest number of votes by Friday, September 13, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. will be chosen as the cubs’ official names.  All funds raised will go to support Knoxville Zoo’s world-renowned red panda conservation program.    

I betcha Lord McIntyre is upset right, and Tom Ingram is probably getting a little nervous.

Heh.