The Associated Press

Tennessee law enforcement will be using the new "no refusal" law over the weekend before New Year's Eve that allows police to get blood samples of suspected drunken drivers. Previously drivers in Tennessee could refuse a blood alcohol content test but they would face losing their licenses for violating the "implied consent" law. The law passed this year allows police to seek search warrants for blood samples. Police have held "no refusal" enforcement periods during several holidays this year.

A newly created data center will link education and workforce data in Kentucky to try to improve training for students at all levels. Gov. Steve Beshear issued an executive order earlier this month creating the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics. He says data from individual agencies only gives one part of the picture and that policymakers, parents, students and educators will all benefit from the combined information.

A new survey of retail tobacco outlets in Kentucky shows more than 94 percent are compliant with the law barring tobacco sales to people younger than 18. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services says Kentucky's average since the program began in 1997 is 9.5 percent violation, which was below the national average of 15.8 percent in that time.

A $10 million federal grant is allowing the Tennessee Department of Transportation to assist a number of transit agencies across the state. The "State of Good Repair Grant" will be used to replace transit vehicles that have exceeded their use based on years in service or mileage.

Recent studies show a Kentucky program that works with needy parents improves the health and development of their children. Health Access Nurturing Development Services, or HANDS, started as a pilot program in 1998 as a way to combat child abuse. Now the program is in all 120 Kentucky counties and has served more than 60,000 families since 2000.

Tennessee health officials are warning pregnant women against inducing labor to ensure their baby is born on New Year’s Day. The state Department of Health says inducing labor to make the delivery date fall on a special day can cause birth defects. 

Tennessee's public libraries will soon be able to share books cheaper and faster thanks to a new interlibrary loan service. The Secretary of State’s office says the Tennessee State Library and Archives has been paying about 200 thousand dollars annually to help libraries mail books to each other. But that amount only covered about half of the postage costs.

The Tennessee State Parks system is commemorating its 75th anniversary by sponsoring hikes at the start of the new year.  State Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau says each park will host its own special hike in the first few days of 2013.

Illinois lawmakers are facing two critical decisions about how to carry out President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing legislation to establish a state-run health insurance exchange to help middle-class citizens and small businesses, along with a multi-billion-dollar expansion of Medicaid to cover the poor.

Kentucky wildlife officials say they’ve spotted endangered whooping cranes in Henderson and Hopkins counties. The sightings were at the Sloughs Wildlife Management Area and along the Pond River.