Haslam Defends Expansion of State Government, Passive Stance on Veto

Governor Bill Haslam is defending his plan for how to spend excess tax revenues, admitting that he is “adding to the size of government.”

Tennessee farmers say they’re planting as much as three weeks ahead of schedule because of unseasonably warm weather. The Nashville farmers market is preparing for the first fruits to come early.

Cold weather usually helps mosquitoes die off, but a warm winter this year means no relief.

They might not have a nose you can see, but mosquitoes have a strong sense of smell.

A Shelby County fight over who should run the schools boiled over into the rest of the state last night. A proposal that passed in the state senate would allow the creation of new city schools.

The State Senate Monday night passed a bill that would allow any college instructor to receive a license to teach his subject in high schools with no additional educational training.

Governor Bill Haslam says he’s going to ask that the sales tax on food be cut by slightly more than he proposed earlier this year. The administration has discovered many cash registers can only be set in quarter-percent increments.

The Tennessee State Employees Association has agreed to support Governor Bill Haslam’s overhaul to civil service rules. TSEA came to an agreement with the administration over the weekend.

Pinnacle operates regional carriers like Delta Connection and United Express.

This week state lawmakers will get down to the business of passing a budget. Governor Bill Haslam says he’ll unveil his final update Monday, adding back at least some funds that were cut from the original $30 billion spending plan.