tennessee

A Meeting On Tolerance Turns Into A Shouting Match

Blake Farmer (Nashville Public Radio) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:47:35 +0000

The public meeting in Manchester, Tenn., about 70 miles from Nashville, was supposed to address and tamp down discrimination toward Muslims there.

But instead it turned into a shouting match.

Bill Killian, the local U.S. attorney who organized the meeting, told the people in attendance that hate speech was not protected by the First Amendment. Over the last few years, there have been tensions between Muslims and many Christians in Tennessee.

Tennessee DCS Charges News Agency $35,000 For Public Records

Todd Hatton — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:06:10 +0000

The Tennessee Department of Children's Services said it will charge close to $35,000 to produce public records of children who died, or nearly died, in the past 11 months after having some contact with DCS. The agency announced the fee Wednesday after the Tennessean requested files from July 2012 to May 2013.

TN Guns in Trunks Passes Over Business Objection

Blake Farmer (Nashville Public Radio) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:19:21 +0000

Neither businesses nor firearms groups are pleased with a bill that passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee late yesterday. The “guns-in-trunks” legislation is headed to a vote of the full state Senate.

The head of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce – Bill Ozier – told the panel that corporations see no need to expand the rights of gun owners. He also admitted businesses realize guns are already being stored in cars on their property.

Repealing TN Precious Metal Sales Tax Could Create New Industry

Blake Farmer (Nashville Public Radio) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:35:51 +0000

More gold bars could be headed to Tennessee if one Republican lawmaker from Rutherford County has his way. A bill introduced last week would repeal the state’s sales tax on precious metals.

Gold investors range from savvy stockbrokers to seniors convinced by infomercials that precious metals will keep them safe from economic calamity. If they just receive a certificate and keep the physical gold in a tax-free state, they can avoid the sales tax in Tennessee.

Governor Bill Haslam's State Of The State: Tennessee Is Different

Blake Farmer (Nashville Public Radio) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:47:00 +0000

In his third State of the State address last night, Governor Bill Haslam laid out a plan to cut taxes, pay state employees more, and still save money for a rainy day.

“Tennessee is different,” Haslam told members of the Tennessee General Assembly, his cabinet, and the public gathered on the floor of the state Legislature. The governor said that Tennessee is different from other states because of its low cost of living and relatively low unemployment, and different from Washington D.C. because Tennessee has made cuts instead of raising taxes.

TN To Introduce Drivers’ License Kiosks

John Walker and The Associated Press — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:49:02 +0000

Tennessee State government is opening self-service kiosks that will allow drivers to renew or replace their driver licenses and state identification cards that will hopefully reduce lines and wait times.

TN Governor Prepares For State of the State Address

John Walker and The Associated Press — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:45:04 +0000

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has no public events scheduled this week as he prepares to deliver his annual State of the State address.

Fort Campell Praises Local Communities

John Walker and The Associated Press — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:00:50 +0000

A Fort Campbell official is noting how important the infrastructure of surrounding communities is to the Army post.

TN Gov. Haslam Announces School Voucher Program

John Walker and The Associated Press — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:27:30 +0000

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he will introduce his own proposal to create a school voucher program in the state, though he declined to elaborate about which parents he wants to make eligible to use public money to send their children to private schools.

TN Politicians Meet Over Child Records

John Walker and The Associated Press — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:15:21 +0000

Tennessee House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner is calling for a special meeting to investigate the Department of Children's Services' refusal to release records related to the abuse and death of children under its care.