tennessee legislature

Police to Use "Refusal" Drunk Driving Blood Tests

AP/WMOT — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:05:38 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — More than 750,000 Tennesseans will be on the roadways over the holiday period, according to AAA estimates.

To help ease Fourth of July congestion, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes from noon today through 6 a.m. Friday.

Tennessee law enforcement is cracking down on drunken driving during this week with the state's first-ever "no refusal" campaign.

Haslam Responds to Calls for Legislative Session

AP/WMOT — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 15:52:21 +0000

KNOXVILLE, Tenn (AP/WMOT) — The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees have approved tuition hikes that range from 8 percent at the Knoxville campus to 3.5 percent at the university's College of Law.

Senate Minority Leader Reviews State Legislative Session

Mike Osborne — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:12:55 +0000

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Tennessee Senate Minority Leader Jim Kyle of Memphis is speaking out on the just completed state legislative session.

Kyle notes that the 107^th General Assembly was the first in decades under the control of a Republican House, Senate and Governor. The Shelby County Democrat says his party was able to do little more than react to a Republican agenda.

Rep. Joe Carr Reviews the 107th Tenn. General Assembly

Mike Osborne — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:55:07 +0000

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- Tennessee legislators recently brought the state’s 107^th General Assembly to a close. WMOT is asking news makers for their take on the session’s accomplishments. Today, the views of Rutherford County Republican Representative Joe Carr.

TIRRC Reviews the 107th General Assembly

Mike Osborne — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:41:48 +0000

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- WMOT News is asking news makers from across the political spectrum to offer their take on the just-completed 107^th Tennessee General Assembly. Today the views of Eben Cathey of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Cathey says the Coalition counts as a legislative victory the defeat of a bill that would have made harboring or transporting an undocumented person a felony. He says the Council is happy that it’s worst fears for the legislative session were not realized.

Governor Blames Media for "Crazy" Legislation

Mike Osborne — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:54:57 +0000

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is expressing exasperation at the flood of "crazy" measures flowing through the Tennessee General Assembly. But instead of taking lawmakers to task, the governor points the finger of blame squarely at the news media.

AARP Holding Town Meetings Statewide

AP/WMOT — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:46:59 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The AARP will host town hall meetings across the state to give Tennesseans a chance to provide input on the future of Medicare and Social Security.

Meetings are planned for Johnson City, Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson on April 4, and in Memphis on April 5.

According to AARP, a new survey finds that most Americans believe lawmakers in Washington are making too many decisions about Medicare and Social Security behind closed doors and not listening to the public.

Karin Miller is an AARP spokesperson.

Proposed Legislation Concerns Local Governments

Mike Osborne — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:34:17 +0000

MURFREESBORO, Tenn (WMOT) -- Franklin Mayor Ken Moore says city and county governments across the state are becoming increasingly concerned about a series of bills under consideration by the Tennessee General Assembly.

The Franklin Board of Alderman recently passed a resolution opposing 14 measures currently working their way through the state legislature. Moore says the bills would strip local governments of the ability to regulate everything from land use to fireworks sales.

Occupation of Public Square Short-Lived

AP/WMOT — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:13:41 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — An attempt to move the Occupy Nashville protest from the state Capitol to the city's Public Square was short-lived.

One tent was set up on the lawn of the city government headquarters Monday night. According to an Occupy spokesperson, seven Metro Nashville police cruisers arrived at the site early Tuesday morning and officers told tent dweller Matt Hammill a local ordinance barred camping there.

Hammill packed up his tent and left.

Default on Student Loans, License to Teach Revoked

AP/WMOT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:16:56 +0000

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Teachers and lobbyists would be penalized for defaulting on student loans under legislation headed to the governor for his consideration.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Charles Sargent of Franklin passed the House 70-24 last week. The companion bill was approved in the Senate 32-1 last year.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, under the proposal individuals could lose the right to practice their professions if they default.