Both gubernatorial candidates announced their participation Wednesday. The first debate takes place September 14 in Cookeville, then in October they’ll meet again in Knoxville and Memphis.

In addition, McWherter’s camp released a list of twelve other forums they say the Democrat is willing to attend but Haslam is not. Haslam’s press release lists only the three televised debates, and says the Republican will spend the rest of his campaign, quote, “meeting Tennesseans where they live, work and play.”

Miniature Precision Components makes plastic parts for automobiles and lawnmowers. As a supplier of Volkswagen, the company was offered the same tax credits that lured the automaker to plant its flag in Tennessee.

At issue is whether or not the Environmental Protection Agency should be allowed to say that global warming is caused by human activity. The agency issued a statement saying as much in December. That opens the door to regulation of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon, under the Clean Air Act.

The filing asks for a judge to force the EPA to reconsider that statement. It claims that the conclusions were based on flawed research and manipulated data.

The papers were initially filed in late December by the Southeastern Legal Foundation. The plaintiff list now includes a handful of businesses that support the effort, along with fifteen members of Congress.

Blackburn is also sponsoring a bill that would specifically exempt carbon gasses from EPA regulation.

In a letter sent to legislators this week, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said the agency doesn’t plan to begin restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions until late next year, and then only at facilities that are already regulated for air pollution, like power plants.