AP/WMOT

NASHVILLE, Tenn (AP/WMOT) — Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey is chiding the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce for focusing on a bill to guarantee workers the right to store firearms in vehicles parked on company lots.

The Blountville Republican acknowledged Wednesday that the guns-in-parking-lots measure involves prickly property rights issues, but said he expects to reach a compromise on the matter.

In a recent interview with WMOT, Chief Policy Officer Mark Hill was adamant about the chamber’s opposition.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Almost 90 years after the Scopes "monkey trial," the state of Tennessee is close to enacting a law that critics say renews the attack on evolution.

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said he’ll likely sign the bill, which would protect teachers who allow students to criticize evolution and other scientific theories, such as global warming.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The month just ended was the warmest March on record across Tennessee.

National Weather Service records for Middle Tennessee show the average temperature was more than 11 degrees above normal. Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities were all more than 10 degrees warmer than normal.

That news comes on the heels of Weather Service announcements that the winter just ended was also one of the warmest on record. Jason Wright is Weather Service Senior Meteorologist in Nashville.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A symposium on human trafficking will be held this week here in Middle Tennessee.

The conference is scheduled for Wednesday at Middle Tennessee State University and will feature a Special Agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The TBI released its first ever report on trafficking in Tennessee last year. Margie Quin, Special Agent in Charge, described the numbers as shocking.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Legislative plaza was briefly occupied once again Sunday night, but not by the Occupy Movement.

About 30 homeless advocates slept overnight on the plaza in defiance of a new state law that prohibits camping on state property. Advocates say the law, recently passed by the Tennessee legislature specifically to dislodge occupy protesters from the plaza, makes homelessness a criminal offense.

Lindsey Crank is a divinity student at Vanderbilt University and has worked with Nashville’s homeless for the past five years.

BRISTOL, Tenn (AP/WMOT) — The Supreme Court’s deliberations on the president’s health care reform continue to day and the head of the Tennessee based Christian Medical Association is weighing in on the issue.

Dr. David Stevens says the country desperately needs health care reform, but believes the president’s measure is flawed.  He fears the Affordable Care Act may bankrupt the country.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT)  --  The Tennessee chapter of the NAACP is ramping up protests across the state in response to the death of Trayvon Martin.

The unarmed 17-year-old black teenager was shot in Sanford, Florida, just over a month ago by a neighborhood watch captain who says he acted in self-defense.

Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the state NAACP, said protests are scheduled in several cities around the state, including a protest Wednesday in Memphis.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The House has passed a bill declaring that Tennessee will not enforce federal regulations governing child labor on family farms.

The chamber voted 70-24 Monday evening to approve the bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison of Cosby.

The measure is in response to rules being considered by the U.S. Labor Department seeking to keep children away from some of the most dangerous farm jobs.

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Officials of Lenoir City say a patch that includes the word "religion" will remain on police uniforms.

Mayor Tony Aikens says he told a large crowd at a city council meeting last night the city will not yield to the Freedom from Religion Foundation's demand that the patch no longer be displayed.

Lenoir City Police shirts and jackets display a triangular shoulder patch with the words "education," ''religion" and "industry."

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A bill that would restrict public access to Tennessee teacher evaluation data is headed for a full Senate vote.

The Senate State and Local Government Committee voted 7-0 Tuesday to advance the bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Tracy of Shelbyville.

Tracy says his bill repairs an oversight in the original legislation governing the new system of teacher evaluations.