blakefarmer

The University of Tennessee trustees reversed course this week on a decision earlier this year that gave the system president power to hire and fire school chancellors. Each campus within the UT system is run by its own chancellor who historically has been elected by the board.

The automobile remains the fastest way to get around Nashville, as demonstrated by a commuter race from Donelson to downtown this morning. A driver finished in 17 minutes, followed by a bicyclist who beat out the train passenger and bus rider.

A deadline for GM factory workers in Spring Hill to take or leave a company-wide buyout offer has been extended to May 22.

The high price of oil has led producers in Tennessee to seek out once-abandoned wells and get them pumping again.

Police made an arrest today in a 14-year-old rape case. Investigators believe Robert Burdick of South Nashville committed more than a dozen rapes since 1994 in Nashville, Brentwood and Mt. Juliet.

While bad economic news continues to dominate headlines, Tennessee received a pat on the back for its economic development work today. The state won the 2007 Competitiveness Award from Site Selection magazine.

The state funding board set the official estimated range for next year’s tax collections today. The figure could be as much as 585-million dollars lower than previous estimates.

Governor Phil Bredesen says his revised budget proposal due out next week will include substantial job cuts for state employees. WPLN’s Blake Farmer reports:

Governor Phil Bredesen says his revised budget proposal due out next week will include substantial job cuts for state employees.

A group of about 50 people stood silent outside the Metro jail on Harding Place last night to call attention to the recent immigration raids at Pilgrims Pride plants around the country.