Chertoff Speaks at NCSL Conference

The nation’s Homeland Security director, Michael Chertoff, told a group of state legislators today that emergency communications and verifiable identification remain challenges for states to deal with in protecting the nation against future terrorist attacks. Chertoff told the annual convention of the National Conference of State Legislatures today that last week’s foiled terrorist plot show […]

States across the country are moving forward with creating uniform standards for state sales taxes, but significant challenges remain according to a panel of experts at the National Conference of State Legislatures today. At issue is whether sales taxes should be collected at the point of sale or at the delivery address.  Local governments are […]

The National Conference of State Legislatures labels Tennessee as one of the top ten battleground states for legislative elections in November. The NCSL calls the state’s Republican controlled Senate and Democratic controlled House within “striking distance for the minority party.” Alex Johnson directs the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. He says he doesn’t expect his party […]

State education officials say Tennessee schools performed better overall this year under the No Child Left Behind benchmark known as AYP, or Adequate Yearly Progress. AYP measures a school’s performance based on its reading, writing and math scores, as well as graduation and attendance rates. Schools that don’t achieve AYP are placed on a high […]

A report released today at the National Conference of State Legislatures says term limits make legislatures less effective. 15 states have enacted term limits laws since 1992 with the aim of having a more diverse legislature and preventing lawmakers from becoming career politicians. But one of the co-authors of the report, Jennifer Drage Bowser, says […]

An investigation to take down a Mexican drug ring started here in Nashville and has led to more than 150 arrests around the country. U-S Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez announced the operation’s findings (today/yesterday) even as local law enforcement was making arrests. Drug Enforcement Agency officials say the Mexican-based organization was made up of mostly […]

Perennial favorite Alison Krauss and Union Station received 11 nominations, including Vocal Group and Instrumental Group of the Year, from the International Bluegrass Music Awards today. The group Blue Highway was close behind with 10 nominations, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for “Marbletown.” [“Marbletown” sample] Bluegrass veterans Doyle Lawson and […]

In the United States, about two million children have a parent in prison. These children are considered to be at high risk – as in seven times more likely ““ to end up in prison too. There’s one hope to divert these children from this path that’s a simple one – having a mentor.

Today Tennessee became the 24th state to have a state-wide 511 phone number for traffic and weather updates. The system is voice automated. “To hear up to date traffic information, say traffic conditions, or press one.” TDOT Motorist Information Coordinator John Hall is the voice of 511. He says callers can name a specific route […]

About two million children in the United States have a parent in prison. According to a U.S. Senate report these children are seventy percent more likely to end up behind bars themselves. These kids often withdraw from society because they’­re either not told the truth about their parent in prison, or they’re sworn to secrecy. In the first of our two-part series on children of the incarcerated, Adelyn Jones reports on one Nashville family who is breaking the silence and hoping to beat the odds.