Alexander Weighs in on Gulf Oil Spill

As thousands of gallons of oil continued to pour into the Gulf of Mexico, Tennessee Republican Senator Lamar Alexander grilled top oil executives, but also gave his own suggestions to prevent another environmental catastrophe.

Federal Emergency officials have opened four more disaster recovery centers for flood victims.

Republican state senators have finally unveiled a counter-proposal to Governor Phil Bredesen’s recommended budget.

Bredesen vetoed the original measure last year, but lawmakers overrode him before a court struck the law down as unconstitutionally vague.

Governor Phil Bredesen says the Army Corps of Engineers could’ve done a better job communicating last week how it was managing floodwaters at area dams. But Bredesen says he doesn’t know whether the corps should’ve handled the rising waters differently.

Some businesses are realizing there will be little federal help to rebuild after suffering massive flood damage.

The federal Small Business Administration has started working out loan deals to help Middle Tennesseans cover the costs of flood recovery. SBA officials say thousands could be eligible for loans, and today they opened up a temporary office downtown to take applications.

Volunteers turned out in large numbers last week and over the weekend to help flood victims clean up. But now, as people return to work and a regular schedule, there’s been a slight dip in their numbers.

Under a bill passed last night by the state Senate, some voters will have to show a driver’s license, a passport, naturalization papers or some other proof of their U.S. citizenship.

State senators last night approved a bill that, at one time, would have required English only driver’s license tests, but as passed, changes nothing about the process.