The Associated Press

The Tennessee Arts Commission has reinstated its popular Arts Build Communities grant program. Through the program, the commission seeks to build communities by nurturing artists, arts organizations and arts supporters. Awards range from $500 to $2,000 and may be used for a variety of arts projects. Any projects that use ABC funds must be open to the general public.

One of Kentucky's Medicaid managed care groups will begin laying off workers next month to prepare for shutting down.  Kentucky Spirit Health Plan, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene Corporation, announced last fall that it would exercise a contractual right to end its contract with the state effective July 5th. The organization notified state and local government officials and its 145 employees of the impending layoffs yesterday.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration collected more than 7,100 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications in Kentucky during a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. During last week's event, agents picked up 50 percent more pills than the previous year. The Commonwealth's numbers have been on the rise since the DEA started the National Drug Initiative in 2010.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to increase electric rates by roughly $70 million, a proposal ComEd says would have helped get so-called Smart Grid technology back on track. Quinn vetoed the plan yesterday saying the bill would undermine oversight and force automatic rate hikes. ComEd touted the bill as a way to clarify 2011 legislation allowing utilities to raise rates to fund a high-tech system. But executing it has been tricky.

Southern Illinois residents are bracing for change as the Legislature considers a regulatory bill that could set off a rush to drill for oil and gas. The area includes two counties that have never had conventional oil or gas drilling, and its residents are deeply divided over what it could mean for their way of life. Johnson and Pope counties have some of the Illinois' most remote and scenic areas. 

Kentucky education experts will soon be examining applications from public schools districts across the Commonwealth that want to become "Districts of Innovation." The state Education Department says the designation allows districts to seek exemption from some rules and regulations to try to improve student learning.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wants to hear from people with concerns about the state's hunting regulations. The TWRA is asking the public for comments on proposed regulations for the 2013-2014 hunting seasons. Officials say it's an opportunity for citizens to share their concerns with the agency. Proposed regulations can be found on the TWRA website at tnwildlife.org. Those interested can also send comments by mail. The TWRA will be taking comments until May 27th.

The U.S. Supreme Court has given Illinois' attorney general more time to decide whether to appeal their ruling that the state's ban on the public possession of firearms is unconstitutional.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan now has until June 24 to ask the high court to hear the case.

Clarksville police have arrested four suspects, including a state prosecutor's adult son, in a home invasion robbery. The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle reports John Wesley Carney III was booked into the Montgomery County Jail Friday, charged with robbery and kidnapping.

A Christians-only medical program that had been banned in Kentucky is expected to resume operations next month, unless officials at the state's Department of Insurance decide to continue a decade-long legal fight.

The Kentucky General Assembly passed a law in March exempting Florida-based cost-sharing ministry Medi-Share from regulations applying to traditional insurance companies. That was done in response to a Franklin County Circuit judge's order barring Medi-Share from the commonwealth.