The Associated Press

Both chambers of the Tennessee General Assembly adopted Governor Bill Haslam's $32.8 billion budget proposal.

The Senate unanimously approved the spending plan Wednesday afternoon, and the House followed suit. The House vote came after the chamber rejected a Democratic proposal to include a provision allowing the state to spend up to $3 billion in federal Medicaid money if the governor succeeds in negotiating an expansion under the federal health care law.

Legislation that changes the way certain charter schools are authorized in Tennessee is headed to the Senate floor.

The proposal sponsored by Republican Sen. Dolores Gresham passed the Senate Finance Committee 7-3 Wednesday. The advancing measure is one of at least three proposed versions. The previous version sought to create a state panel to authorize charter schools for five counties where there are failing schools.

The Illinois House has approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Lawmakers voted 61-57 Wednesday to allow physicians to prescribe marijuana to patients with specific terminal illnesses or debilitating medical conditions. The legislation goes to the state Senate, where a similar version was approved in 2009. Senate President John Cullerton's spokeswoman says he supports the legislation.

The difficulty over how lawmakers will craft a law allowing public possession of guns in Illinois has been clearly demonstrated on the House floor.

After being goaded by a Democrat, a pro-gun Republican got upset during a debate yesterday on legislation that would let local law enforcement officials decide who gets a permit to carry concealed weapons.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says he's disappointed that the Senate has rejected expanded background checks for gun purchases.

Kirk was one of four Republicans to vote in favor of the proposal, which failed Wednesday, 56-46. Five Senate Democrats voted against the measure.

A Tennessee bill requiring anyone recording or taking photos of livestock abuse to turn images over to law enforcement within 48 hours has been approved in the House with 50 votes -- the bare minimum needed to clear the chamber.

Animal protection activists like the Humane Society of the United States say the bill would have a chilling effect on whistleblowers and prevent undercover operations from establishing a pattern of abuse.

The Tennessee House has approved a proposal that caps enrollment in virtual schools.

The House voted 66-29 Tuesday to pass the bill that allows beginning online schools an enrollment of 1,500 with the ability to expand as long as they meet performance requirements. If they fail to do so for three consecutive years, then the state education commissioner could chose to cap enrollment or direct the local school board to close the school.

Nearly 250 Illinois physicians are calling on state lawmakers to legalize the use of marijuana for seriously ill patients.

Some physicians say marijuana can be a safer and more effective treatment than narcotics for patients with diseases such as cancer and HIV.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers are praising the Food and Drug Administration's decision requiring generic versions of OxyContin to be tamper-resistant.

The move means generic versions of the popular painkiller, which is often used by drug addicts, will be based on formulations that make it harder to crush. Addicts often crush the pills to be able to inject them.  The two Kentucky Republicans praised the decision in statements Tuesday.

Statewide, fire officials have begun discussing ways Kentuckians can stop the rising number of accidental fire deaths, which have claimed 30 people so far this year.

Kentucky Fire Marshal William Swope led the first brainstorming session Tuesday. He says most of the fire deaths have occurred in rural areas.

Much of the two-hour discussion hinged on how to get more working smoke detectors in homes in areas that lack fire personnel who can visit areas door to door. Most rural areas depend on volunteer fire departments that have limited time and resources.