Governor Having Medical Procedure

Governor Phil Bredesen’s public schedule has a glaring gap. He isn’t going to House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s annual Coon Supper in Covington tonight, a must-attend on the political calendar.

State representatives will try to rescue a bill regulating rock harvesting from a standing committee next week.

The U-S Drought Monitor map released today shows the state is recovering from record dry conditions.

The Nashville Film Festival opens tonight with The Deal, starring William H. Macy, who is also scheduled to make an appearance. Several of the screenings throughout the week have Nashville connections.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean released his budget proposal last month and within it were significant cuts, including the elimination of 330 jobs. Most departments will have to find a way to pinch five to 10 percent out of their operating budgets, but not Metro Schools. Its 600-million dollar budget grew to nearly 630-million. WPLN’s Blake Farmer asked Dean to explain the logic.

Yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling approving Kentucky’s lethal injection procedure means Tennessee may soon resume executions.

Thanks to a federal rule change, Tennessee is loosing millions of dollars in money that helps pay the salaries of case workers for children in state custody.

Today is the first-ever National Health Decisions Day-a time when medical professionals across the country are encouraging people to create living wills and assign medical power of attorney.

Metro Council members gave the Dickerson Road redevelopment plan the final nod of approval last night. The mile stretch of the thoroughfare has long been a mecca for drug dealing, crime and prostitution.

The Metro Council approved the city’s lease with the Nashville Predators hockey team last night, finishing up nearly a year’s worth of negotiations.