Government

The governor has vetoed a measure that tried to force Vanderbilt University to exempt student religious groups from its nondiscrimination policy. The university's so-called "all-comers" policy requires student groups at the school to allow any interested students to join and run for office. Some religious groups have waged a high-profile battle to overturn it. Haslam says he disagrees the universities policy, but he says it's "inappropriate for government to mandate the policies of a private institution." The veto is Haslam's first since he took office in 2010.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says he will allow a bill seeking to limit the number of foreign workers at charter schools to become law without his signature. Haslam says he questions the constitutionality of the measure and doesn't want to harm the state's efforts to improve education standards. But he notes the bill is "permissive and not mandatory," so he will let it become law while he asks for a formal legal opinion from the attorney general. 

An Illinois Senate committee has approved a measure to end the controversial legislative scholarships program. The legislation would also create a task force to study all state university tuition waivers. Under the legislative scholarships program, lawmakers can award two students in their district a four-year tuition waiver to a state university. The program came under fire after reports that lawmakers have given awards to relatives, children of political allies or students outside their district.

Sixty-five soldiers are set to return to Fort Campbell today after a yearlong deployment to Kuwait and Afghanistan. They are members of the 227th Quartermaster Company, 129th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade. A welcome ceremony is scheduled at the PPC Bay A.

For the first time since 1976, Kentucky courts will temporarily close due to budget cuts. All state court employees will be furloughed 3 days this year. Chief Justice John Minton blames the legislature for the furloughs. The latest state budget massive cuts to the judicial branch. In addition to the furlough, many part-time employees will soon see their hours reduced and their benefits cut.

An Illinois Senate education committee has approved a measure to end the controversial legislative scholarship program. The measure creates a task force to study all state university tuition waivers. The existing program allows lawmakers to award two students in their district a four-year tuition waiver to a state university. The measure came under fire after reports that lawmakers have given awards to relatives, children of political allies or students outside their district.