MTSU Poll Finds Sizeable Santorum Lead in Tennessee

A poll out from MTSU finds former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum more than 20 points ahead of Mitt Romney in Tennessee. Pollsters are cautioning that their results reflect opinions from last week, prior to Romney’s wins in Michigan and Arizona.

Tennessee officials are reminding voters they’ll be open Saturday to make photo IDs required in next week’s Super Tuesday elections. Officials are downplaying concerns over seniors, many of whose driver’s licenses don’t qualify, saying they can use other IDs to vote.

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is returning to Tennessee today ahead of next week’s primary. Appearing on the Steve Gill radio show, Santorum said Tennessee is part of his Super Tuesday strategy.

The governor’s proposed Civil Service overhaul tested the patience of some state senators today. A committee ultimately moved the measure out with a party-line vote, after some three hours of talk.

Coach, the high end accessory brand, has filed a federal lawsuit against a Murfreesboro beauty shop it claims is selling fake versions of its branded items.

The push to allow motorcyclists to ride helmet-free in Tennessee has been set aside for another year. The proposal would have ended the requirement that adults must wear helmets to ride, but it was idled today in a state House committee.

Governor Bill Haslam has made a quick about-face on a proposal critics charged would hurt veterans’ chances of landing a state job. Lawmakers had seized on that part of Haslam’s Civil Service overhaul, with one Republican calling it “almost an insult” to veterans.

Police officers could shut down stores that sell synthetic drugs under a proposal moving through the state legislature. The measure includes a “nuisance provision,” which could be used to close a business for 60 days if it is caught selling so-called “designer drugs.”

Metro Government is offering one of its largest private employers a 7-year tax break for expanding in Davidson County. Last week HCA announced it would build a data center in Antioch. Legislation filed with the Metro Council would discount the company’s property taxes at the site by 60 percent.

The final day of early voting comes as candidates in the GOP primary are becoming more active in the state. Turnout has been picking up in most counties since polls opened nearly two weeks ago.