Todd Hatton

A proposal to repeal Tennessee's estate tax is advancing in the state House.  The measure passed the House Finance Subcommittee Wednesday. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate’s finance committee.  Under the proposal, the tax - also called the "death tax" - would be gradually phased out over the next four years.  Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell says the proposal is beneficial because the tax, in her words, "drives people, capital and jobs out of the state."

Scrap yards in Kentucky would be barred from paying cash for copper and other recyclable metals under legislation that cleared the state Senate Wednesday.  The measure requires people selling scrap metal be paid by a check sent by mail.  That move could give police names and addresses if the metals are later found to be stolen.  The Senate voted unanimously for the bill, which now returns to the House for final passage.  Bill sponsor Democratic state Representative Tanya Pullin says thieves have taken guardrails, manhole covers, catalytic converters, utility lines, and even rooftop air cond

The Republican sponsor of a proposal letting workers in Tennessee store firearms in vehicles parked on their employers' lots says he's listened to GOP leaders and plans to amend the legislation so that it's not so broad.  The original bill was up in the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, but Senator Mike Faulk decided to delay it a week.  The measure would apply to any legally owned firearm regardless of whether the owner had a state-issued handgun carry permit.

The Kentucky House has passed a Senate measure requiring seat belts on vans carrying 15 or fewer passengers.  The bill is intended to strengthen the Commonwealth's seat-belt laws two years after an Interstate 65 crash that claimed the lives of 11 people in a 15-passenger van.  Democratic Representative Hubert Collins proposed the bill in the House. It would change the current law, which applies only to vans that carry 10 or fewer passengers. It passed in that chamber Tuesday.

A proposal to allow people to cast early votes in Tennessee without a photo ID has failed in the state House.  The measure sponsored by Democratic House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh sets up a system for photographing voters at the polling place instead of requiring them to provide government-issued photo identification.  The measure failed Tuesday in the House State and Local Government Committee by one vote.  A separate measure seeking to do away with the state's new photo ID law altogether was delayed for a week.

Paducah City commissioners last night rejected an ordinance that would have changed a property swap agreement with the city’s Housing Authority.  In May 2009, both parties agreed to exchange city property on H.C.

The Kentucky Heritage Council has recognized a Calloway County tobacco barn as an area landmark.  Built in the 1880s, the log frame barn was part of the Arnett Farm in the southwest of the county. A descendent of the family, Sam Arnett, told the Murray Ledger & Times that he sought historic recognition for the barn as a way to signify the cultural importance of tobacco in the region.  Although tobacco barns are plentiful in the area, few have been the subject of artwork. J. C. Goodman, one of Arnett's cousins, used the Old Arnett Tobacco Barn in one of his paintings.

(1.) WHEN GEN. GRANT EXPELLED THE JEWS 2-WAY -- Conflict and uncertainty can make life difficult for minorities in the United States.  As we’ve seen, events of the last decade have led some to be suspicious of American Moslems.  This isn’t new in our history.  During the U.S. Civil War, it was Jewish Americans who came under suspicion.  Adding to existing prejudices were broad accusations of trading with Confederates and undermining the Union.  Things came to a head in December 1862 when U.S. Major General, and future President, Ulysses S.

(1.) COLSTON ON THE CAPITOL –- Lawmakers in Frankfort have been hard at work over the past week in the Kentucky General Assembly.  A proposed state-wide indoor smoking ban cleared its first legislative hurdle and the senate has passed four constitutional amendments.  Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Kenny Colston gives Rick Howlett the latest on what’s happening in Frankfort.

Conflict and uncertainty can make life difficult for minorities in the United States.  As we’ve seen, events of the last decade have led some to be suspicious of American Moslems.  This isn’t new in our history.  During the U.S. Civil War, it was Jewish Americans who came under suspicion.  Adding to existing prejudices were broad accusations of trading with Confederates and undermining the Union.  Things came to a head in December 1862 when U.S. Major General, and future President, Ulysses S.