The Associated Press

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.

A new western Kentucky high school has reached deals to sell the naming rights to the gymnasium and on-campus field houses and is seeking sponsors willing to pay up to $200,000 to name the football stadium.

McCracken County High School —the merger of Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland high schools — wants a company to pay $200,000 spread out over 10 years for the rights to the football stadium.

For years, Tennessee history buff Bill Carey has been concerned about the lack of state history in the schools. Now he is seizing what he thinks is an opportunity to reverse that trend.

Carey is taking advantage of the new Common Core standards that require English and reading teachers to make use of more nonfiction.

Hopkins County officials are bracing for a drop in coal severance tax funds following a slowdown in coal production over the next 18 months.

State officials are reporting a 26 percent drop in coal severance for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which began July 1. That could leave Hopkins County with $1 million less than the $4.05 million officials projected from 2012-2014.

Illinois public pension fund managers are reviewing their portfolios for investments in gun manufacturers after last week's Connecticut school shooting. Illinois State Board of Investment Executive Director William Atwood says the agency's $12 billion portfolio includes about 84,000 shares worth $1.7 million in three gun-makers — Olin, Sturm Ruger and Smith & Wesson. Spokesman Dave Urbanek says the teachers' system is reviewing its $37 billion portfolio for connections to other gun-makers.

Kentucky State Police have collected 52 tons of food to help feed people during the holidays. Commissioner Rodney Brewer says the "Cram the Cruiser" food drive netted more than 10o,000pounds of food statewide.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon says funding for the state's veterans homes is being threatened by a growing public pension burden. Simon visited the Adjutant Illinois Veterans Home in Anna Thursday to celebrate the holiday season with residents and highlight the service the homes provide. The state operates homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno and Quincy but has cut funding for them.

Tennessee officials hope a new law requiring doctors to check a database before prescribing certain drugs will help curb addiction and prevent deaths. The state's controlled substances monitoring database has been around for several years, but its use has not been mandatory. Starting Jan. 1, doctors and others who prescribe drugs must register with the database. They will have to start checking it every time they prescribe certain powerful drugs, with limited exceptions starting April 1.