Government

A measure to legalize medical marijuana has likely failed in the Tennessee Senate.  The Government Operations Committee voted 5 to 4 Wednesday to send the proposal sponsored by Democratic Senator Beverly Marrero to the Senate Health Committee.

A proposal allowing Tennessee teachers to qualify for tenure if they "meet expectations" on their evaluations is likely dead this session. The measure failed 7-5 in the House Finance Subcommittee yesterday. A companion bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate Education Committee. Under the state's new evaluation system, teachers can gain tenure only if they score at least a four on a 5-point rating scale two years in a row. The proposal would allow teachers who score 3 or above in the last two years of the probationary period to receive tenure.

Tennessee Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey is chiding the state’s Chamber of Commerce for focusing on a bill guaranteeing workers the right to store firearms in vehicles parked on company lots.  Ramsey told the group Wednesday there are far more important business issues pending in the Legislature, like making it easier to deny unemployment insurance to fired employees.  While the Republican acknowledged the guns-in-parking-lots measure involves prickly property rights issues, he says he expects to reach a compromise on the matter.  Ramsey also criticized the Chamber's support for expanding pre-ki

Efforts to allow hemp production in Kentucky appear to be growing despite the defeat of another legalization effort this year in the General Assembly.  State Senator Joey Pendleton has repeatedly introduced hemp legalization bills in an effort to restore a crop that was a major industry in Kentucky decades ago.

A Coast Guard hearing on the collapse of the Eggner's Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake begins April 16 in Paducah. The hearing will set the stage for a comprehensive Coast Guard report.

The fact finding hearing will last up to seven days and include testimony from parties in interest, which will likely include the  Commonwealth and Foss Maritime, which owns and operates the ship that collided with the bridge. The ship’s pilot is another likely witness.  The pilots name hasn’t been released since the January collision, which collapsed a 322 foot span of the bridge.

Bardwell city officials are offering a $2,000 dollar reward for information about a suspicious downtown weekend fire. The blaze occurred late Saturday night, burning down four abandoned buildings along Front Street and damaging others. 80 firefighters from eight rural cities responded to the fire.