Frist on Child Custody Protection Act

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says he expects the “Child Custody Protection Act” will pass the Senate this evening. In a conference call with reporters this afternoon, Frist says the bill will penalize adults taking girls under 18 across state lines for an abortion, without informing their parents. “Transporting a minor across state lines to […]

Tennessee’s tourism industry grew by $1 billion last year, with all 95 counties seeing an increase in tourism dollars—something that hasn’t happened in 8 years. Speaking in Goodlettsville today, state tourism commissioner Susan Whitaker says the momentum from last year should continue. Witaker says a recent state tourism commercial, featuring Dolly Parton inserted into old […]

Congressman Harold Ford Junior told a group of African American ministers today that education is one of his main themes as he campaigns for the seat of outgoing Senator Bill Frist. Ford told the Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship that all kids need to be encouraged to go to college and says he’d support the government paying […]

Tennessee lawmakers questioned the state’s poor rankings in child welfare today. The national organization that annually ranks the well-being of children in each state gave lawmakers an overview of its methodology. The Annie E. Casey Foundation publishes a report each year called KIDS COUNT. It ranks states on things like infant mortality, high school dropout […]

Oreck, the maker of lightweight vacuums and other home cleaning products, is expanding its manufacturing operations to Tennessee. The New Orleans-based company purchased a 310-thousand square foot facility in Cookeville, and is starting to bring in equipment today. CEO Tom Oreck says the company wanted to expand and diversify its manufacturing operations. “After Katrina, we […]

HCA’s shares rose this afternoon after news that a private buyout of the company is the largest on record. Nashville-based HCA announced this morning that it has agreed to a buyout with investors valued at $33 billion. The buyout is the largest on record, surpassing RJR Nabisco’s buyout of $31.3 billion in 1989. This investor […]

Chet Atkins, who died five years ago this summer, may be the only Nashville musical icon with a living, music-making memorial. Every year in July, hundreds of his fans and guitar-playing protégés gather to pay homage to the man they regard as the greatest guitar player that ever lived.

Local Tennessee officials passed on the chance to attend an environmental conference for local governments. The British consulate for the Southeastern U-S paid for 15 officials from other states, including North Carolina and Georgia to attend the Local Governments for Sustainability conference held earlier this month in Chicago. Ulla Reeves is with the Southern Alliance […]

Governor Phil Bredesen says Tennessee needs to establish a list of priorities when it comes to deporting illegal immigrants. The arm of the federal government in charge of deportation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the governor today that it doesn’t have enough agents to process every illegal immigrant who commits a crime or traffic […]

When Van Hilleary lost to Phil Bredesen by only 3-percent in 2002, it marked one of the closest governor’s races in Tennessee history. Despite the loss, Hilleary demonstrated strong campaigning skills and looked well positioned for another political campaign. But vying for the seat of outgoing Senator Bill Frist hasn’t been easy. The three-way race in the Republican primary pits Hilleary against two strong opponents.