The Associated Press

The Tennessee Valley Authority has approved more than 250 small-scale renewable energy projects for 2013, the overwhelming majority relying on solar energy. TVA officials say the demand for renewable energy projects across the Tennessee Valley is strong - so strong that the agency has met its application goals for 2013.

A trucking company suing Pilot Flying J is accusing Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Haslam of obstructing justice and buying off alleged cheated customers.

In a motion for a restraining order filed Thursday, attorneys for Atlanta Coast Carriers accuse Haslam of asking customers to sign releases giving up their rights to sue.

The trucking company filed a lawsuit against Pilot in Circuit Court last week accusing the company of racketeering violations. They say Pilot, the country's largest diesel retailer, owes the company interest on the lost money, along with damages as punishment. Pilot lawyers have denied any wrongdoing.

The Kentucky Fire Commission and the Kentucky National Guard are celebrating the opening of the new National Responder Preparedness Center.

An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony is set to take place today at the facility in Greenville. It is located at the Kentucky National Guard's Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center.

The Kentucky Supreme Court has ordered Kentucky child welfare officials to publicly release records of child abuse cases resulting in death or serious injury.

The court released the 3-3 vote Thursday on whether to halt a lower court decision ordering the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to open the cases. The tie vote let the lower court decision stand.

The campaign manager for Republican Aaron Schock says the three-term congressman will seek re-election and forgo a run for Illinois governor.

Steve Shearer says Schock has concluded he can do more on Capitol Hill as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee than as governor. He says Schock could work on comprehensive tax reform and long-term repairs to entitlement programs.

Supporters of a gambling expansion proposal are making changes to the legislation in an attempt to improve its chances with the Illinois Legislature and Gov. Pat Quinn.

Rikeesha Phelon is a spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton. She says Cullerton plans to strip language from the bill that would legalize Internet gaming and let lawmakers consider it as a separate measure.

Gov. Pat Quinn isn't saying whether he'd support legislation boosting the speed limit on Illinois interstates and tollways.

The Illinois Senate approved a measure 41-6 Wednesday raising the speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph. The bill awaits a House vote. If Quinn signs it, the new speed limit could take effect at the start of next year.

Gov. Bill Haslam has signed legislation that clears the way for cities to begin forming municipal school systems.

The measure passed the House 70-24 and the Senate 24-5. It lifts a 1998 ban that forbids municipalities from starting their own school systems, and benefits six Memphis suburbs seeking to bypass a merger of the Shelby County and Memphis school districts and run their own schools.

A measure that allows any photo identification issued by the state of Tennessee or United States to be used for voting has been signed by the governor.

The Senate version of the legislation at one time would have allowed student ID cards issued by public universities to be used, but the House stripped out that provision and the Senate later agreed with it. The legislation also eliminates library cards as suitable voter ID.

The Governor's Office of Early Childhood is making nearly $200,000 available to strengthen early childhood advisory councils and to promote school readiness. 

The money is being divvied up in grants of nearly $50,000 each to fund four regional initiatives to improve education and health services for Kentucky's youngest citizens. 

Gov. Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that Clinton, Adair, Cumberland and Russell counties will share one of the grants. Morehead State University will work with Bracken, Lewis, Lawrence and Martin counties on another. Madison, Estill, Powell and Lee counties also will receive a grant, as will Todd, Christian, Muhlenberg and Hopkins counties.