Whitney Jones

A proposal to freeze the Tennessee's beer tax has been signed by Gov. Bill Haslam.

Tennessee’s beer taxes outstrip any other state's because the bulk of the levy is based on price rather than volume. The more a beer costs, the higher the taxes when buying it.

Legislation designed to reduce property tax bills for Illinois seniors is now law.

The bill raises the homestead exemption for Illinois residents age 65 and older from $4,000 to $5,000. Gov. Pat Quinn signed it into law Tuesday. The move could save seniors roughly $200 a year.

The leader of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus says the fate of a measure that would authorize same-sex couples to marry in Illinois may rest with 20 black legislators in the state House. 

Rep. Ken Dunkin is the head of the 30-member group. He announced his support for the legislation Tuesday.

The Chicago Democrat says he hopes to convince other black legislators to support the measure. He says the bill may fail if it doesn't get the yes vote from members of his caucus.

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials say flooding has temporarily closed the Ballard Wildlife Management Area.

Wildlife Regional Coordinator Tony Black says there are "safety concerns" about road travel due to recent rains. Black says staff began checking for visitors today and would close the entrance gates after the property has been vacated.

Kentucky's new poet laureate being inducted today in Frankfort as the state recognizes Kentucky Writers' Day.

Frank X. Walker and several of the state's past poet laureates will conduct poetry readings at the ceremony in the Capitol.

Walker is a Danville native who is known for coining the term "Affrilachia" to describe black culture in the multi-state Appalachian region. The Kentucky Arts Council says Walker at age 51 is both the youngest person to be named poet laureate in Kentucky and the first African-American.

From NPR: Between China’s one-child policy and the cultural preference for a son, ladies are scarce in the booming nation. That means men looking for wives are having to shell out money to buy gifts like apartments and cars just to get a woman – and her family – to agree to marriage.

Two Murray State University students report being assaulted near campus in the past three weeks, prompting the university to send out a safety alert.

Both victims were women, and the unknown attacker wrapped his hands around their throats. The first assault occurred around 3:30 a.m. at the Chase Apartment parking lot April 6th. The second attack was at 15th and Hughes streets around the same time April 14th. The second victim saw the attacker and describes him as a dark skinned male wearing a hoodie.

Gov. Pat Quinn has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with flood damage assessments in Illinois. 

Quinn says the state is working to get federal assistance to help Illinois communities recover from last week's flooding. The assessments start April 29 and provide documentation for Illinois to request federal help.

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says he has suspended several members of the sales team at Pilot Flying J, the family-owned truck stop chain that is under a federal fraud investigation.

FBI and Internal Revenue Service agents last week raided the Knoxville headquarters of the country's largest diesel retailer. An affidavit filed in federal court alleges a widespread scheme to defraud customers.

The National Weather Service is issuing flood warnings in Kentucky and Tennessee as the Mississippi River starts to slowly rise from northern floodwaters, but officials say the rising water should not have a significant impact.

NWS Meteorologist Marlene Mickelson in Memphis says the lower part of the Mississippi River will see elevated levels through the next two weeks.