Cuts Now Could Lead to New Directions for State Government Later

Governor Phil Bredesen says several years of painful state budget cuts may eventually lead to an opportunity for his successor to reshape the way Tennessee spends its money.

Federal Funding may not come through for some items that were built into the state budget that was signed on Friday.

Nashville’s Sports Authority decided today it no longer needs a finance committee. The board oversees relations between the city’s professional sports teams and their venues.

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander will hold a hearing next month on how the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service handled last month’s record flooding.

The state is moving ahead with plans to take control of Tennessee’s worst-performing schools, but just how many will be included in the new Achievement School District depends on officials in Washington.

Last month’s flooding continues to attract out-of-state groups who are part of the more than 17,000 volunteers who’ve participated in the clean-up. Many are affiliated with churches and religious organizations, including one Muslim relief group.

A recent poll shows strong support in Tennessee for immigration measures like Arizona’s new law, and even higher support when Arizona is taken out of the question.

Friday, the Department of Defense released the name of the fifth Fort Campbell soldier killed by an improvised explosive device earlier this month in Afghanistan. The Army had already released the names of the four other soldiers killed in the June 7th attack in the Kunar province.

The Commanding General of the 101st Airborne says his troops are in one
of the riskiest times of deployment.

Tennessee Republican Bob Corker is among a bi-partisan group of senators asking for hearings on the U.S. mission in Afghanistan prior to the July 4th congressional recess.