From NPR: In the unregulated heyday before Prohibition, distilleries in New York produced whiskey, gin, rum and other spirits. Then the industry was all but wiped out for the next 80 years. But state laws regulating distilling have been loosened and now dozens of new distilleries have sprung up.
Kentucky: House Floor Leader Rocky Adkins is touting figures that show the positive impact the state's coal severance tax has had on the mountain region. Land Between the Lakes is offering bird fanciers the opportunity to dine with the hummingbirds. People who enjoy products from Kentucky farmers can vote for their favorite in a contest that will culminate in awards to be presented at next month's state fair in Louisville. Kentucky’s child abuse and fatality panel is meeting today to continue its work reviewing 55 cases.
Tennessee: The University of Tennessee-Martin has installed two electric car chargers on campus. The wait time at driver service centers in Tennessee decreased slightly for the first six months of this year over the same period last year.
Illinois: Former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley is calling on Gov. Pat Quinn to hold around-the-clock talks to resolve the state's $97 billion pension shortfall.