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State lawmakers today took up a measure which allowed them to debate dress codes for students – including the proper dress for “young lady” athletes.

After more than a year, backers of the bill nicknamed “don’t say gay” have put it aside. Now their focus is on a measure meant to rewrite Tennessee law on sex education.

The state Senate was expected tonight to easily pass an industry-approved bill to regulate coal mining that involves mountain-top removal. But a fired-up Senator Eric Stewart fought off industry-friendly changes and kept alive his proposal to ban the practice.

A state senator from upper East Tennessee announced Thursday that he’ll step down after serving only one four-year term.

Former Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh today announced that after 38 years, he won’t run for re-election in his Tipton County district.

The state legislature is moving ahead to make it harder to qualify for a lottery-financed scholarship. But the proposal got a rare self-destruct mechanism written into it today.

A dozen representatives of the state’s largest employers today urged state lawmakers to turn down an attempt to let employees carry guns on company property – even if the weapons are locked in car trunks.

An East Nashville voter balked at showing a photo ID at his polling place today, then protested the law requiring one. The former Marine contends making voters produce IDs doesn’t line up with what he tried to do during his military service.

Political maneuvering continued last night on Tennessee’s lottery scholarship fund. The state House approved a bill that raises the amount of money that must stay in a reserve account, but the debate is really about whether the state should trim back the amount of some scholarships in order to keep the overall program viable.

Three Republican legislators weighed in today presidential primary, declaring Newt Gingrich ought to be the winner in Tennessee.