House Republican Caucus Chairman Looks To Lift Corporate Spending Ban

A state representative is hoping to lift a Tennessee ban on corporate contributions to political races. That’s as the U.S. Supreme Court has just overturned a similar ban at the federal level.

Lawmakers passed Governor Phil Bredesen’s bill to change the course of higher education last night. Only two legislators voted against the measure.

The Army Corps of Engineers says the draw of water from Old Hickory Lake may be a problem.

Governor Phil Bredesen says he’s confident the programs proposed in the state’s Race to the Top application will be supported by his successor, if the state wins the massive federal education grant.

Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling will shake up the way Congressional races are funded this fall. But it’s not expected to immediately affect political races at the state level. The ruling overturns a federal ban on political spending by companies.

The state Senate has approved the governor’s plan to increase college graduation, and the House is poised to do so as well this afternoon.

Two Tennessee-based companies made Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

Today a new solar company announced plans to set up shop in Tennessee. Missouri-based Confluence makes materials for solar cells, which are pieces of solar panels. Most of its customers are in China.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded $2 million in stimulus funding to the Tennessee Valley Authority to repair a levee on Kentucky Lake.

Some Davidson County residents are pushing to keep the state fairgrounds open. They’re circulating a petition to protest Mayor Karl Dean’s plan to effectively shut down the state fair, as well as other events at the site throughout the year.