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TOWNSEND, Tenn. (AP) — A poor season for nuts and berries means a Smoky Mountains rescue center for black bears has a record number of abandoned cubs.

Appalachian Bear Rescue took in its 31st cub of this year last week. The previous record year for bear cub rescues by the center was 2009 when it took in 23 animals.

Jack Burgin is the organization’s President.

"When bears range out of the Smokies they tend to be hit by cars, or orphaned, or shot by hunters. So Appalachian Bear Rescue steps in to care for the orphaned cubs."

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  It’s been a difficult fall for Middle Tennessee State sports, but one team has made into postseason play. 

For the sixth straight year, MTSU volleyball has earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Raiders had to sweat through the selection process before hearing their name called as an at-large pick.

Now, MTSU will travel to Knoxville for a first-round match on Thursday, taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The match will begin at 3:30 PM at Thompson-Boling Arena.

The winner will play again Friday against either Tennessee or Duke.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s looking to improve Tennessee students' proficiency scores by 20 percent over the next five years. Haslam says that kind of improvement would provide evidence that his education overhaul is working.

Education commissioner Kevin Huffman says assessment scores currently show that only 40 percent of Tennessee third graders rank as proficient in reading, while just 29 percent of seventh graders are proficient in math.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A recent study by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce found that Middle Tennessee has experienced a wave of relocations in the past five years. People are moving to the area from other parts of the country at a much higher rate than other metro areas.

Los Angeles was the biggest contributor of new residents from 2005 to 2009. Those relocating include about 600 who came with Nissan North America.

Nancy Eisenbrandt is a Chamber spokesperson.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)  --  Freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Diane Black is having a good year.

Representative Black is the only freshman in her class of 94 to have legislation pass both chambers of Congress.

Her bill to close a Medicaid loophole and save billions is headed to President Barack Obama for his signature. The president supported it even before it made it to the House floor.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  --  Good news on the Tennessee jobs front for a change.

The State Department of Labor has released the final unemployment numbers for October. The rate fell from 9.8 to 9.6 percent.

More importantly, joblessness fell across the state, dropping in 93 of 95 counties.

Several regions saw far more dramatic drops. The Nashville region, including Rutherford County, fell eight-tenths dropping from 8.5 to 7.7 percent.

Williamson County has Middle Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate at 6.3 percent.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.  --  New developments Tuesday in last week’s armed robbery here on the campus of Middle Tennessee State.

Police have arrested an MTSU student in the case. Eighteen year-old Christopher Hendrix turned himself in to authorities after campus Police obtained arrest warrants charging Hendrix with Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Assault and Carrying Weapons on School Property.

Police said Hendrix told them last week’s incident in a Scarlett Commons apartment began when he and the victim got into a fight over a drug deal.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  --  Metro Davidson County has scored a rare economic victory over its upscale neighbor Williamson County.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was joined Tuesday by Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty at a press conference to announce that the LifePoint hospital group would be relocating its corporate headquarters to an office park on the metro side of Brentwood.

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (AP) —Sullivan County in East Tennessee will no longer provide pauper burials.

On Monday, County Mayor Steve Godsey told county commissioners that if they’re contacted about an indigent death they should provide the caller with the phone number for Restore Life USA.

That's a Johnson City-based nonprofit that provides human tissue for research and education.

With budgets tight, the commission this year cut the funds for pauper burials to $10,000 and Godsey says the money is nearly gone already.