Ramsey Says Substantial Agreement on Budget Still Leaves Sticking Points

The speakers of Tennessee’s House and Senate have agreed to a budget that will go up for floor votes this week.

Tennessee lawmakers postponed their floor sessions Wednesday, but they may be able to agree on a budget by Thursday.

Gaylord Opryland announced plans today to lay off more than 1,700 workers as repairs are made to the hotel and surrounding attractions.

Hundreds of people looking for work in counties south of Nashville will soon have another option. That’s after an organization that treats mental health and addiction received a 5 million dollar stimulus grant to help funnel people who are out of a job into healthcare training.

Last night Metro council members took a step toward approving a budget for next year. The decision came even as members heard from school bus drivers frustrated to have their hours cut, and school custodians angry over being outsourced.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is shifting into the next phase of its cleanup of the massive coal-ash spill near Knoxville. That’s where an earthen dam burst in December of 2008, spilling millions of tons of ash sludge, which is what’s left over after coal is burned for energy and dumped in a lake. And now TVA says it will keep some of the ash from the cleanup on site.

Tennessee lawmakers are expected to finally come to grips with a budget when they meet Wednesday. A proposal in the House has received support of both Democrats and Republicans.

An order to conserve drinking water in Davidson County was lifted Monday. Metro Water Services has repaired the flooded K.R. Harrington treatment plant, which is now operating at half capacity.

Nissan only broke ground on its battery plant in Smyrna last week which will produce a power source for electric vehicles. But already, engineers are envisioning alternate uses and second lives for the batteries.

The number of people who are getting unemployment checks because of the recent flooding is now expected to double original projections.