Government

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.

A bill to help students from coal mining counties in Kentucky finish their education is once again in limbo. House Bill 260 creates a fund to give college juniors and seniors scholarships to finish their degrees at schools in coal-producing counties. The bill didn’t pass before lawmakers adjourned for a veto recess last week, leaving only one day for both chambers to approve the measure. House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he’s not sure why the Senate didn’t vote on the bill.

A measure that would prohibit students from dressing indecently in school is headed to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam's desk for his consideration.  The Senate passed the proposal 29-0 on Monday evening, and the House approved it 81-9 shortly afterward.  The legislation seeks to prohibit students from exposing "underwear or body parts in an indecent manner that disrupts the learning environment."  A stricter version of the proposal failed to pass the Legislature three years ago.

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam says he may sign a proposal critics deride as the "monkey bill" for once again attacking evolution.  The measure would protect teachers who allow students to criticize scientific theories like evolution.  It’s headed to the governor after passing the Senate last month and the House last year.  When asked by a reporter Monday if he's leaning toward signing the measure, Haslam said "probably so."  Haslam says he's talked with the State Board of Education about whether the bill will affect the current curriculum and what's being taught in schools regarding evolut

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Haslam is proposing a greater reduction in the states' sales tax on groceries as part of his final amendment to his annual spending plan.  Haslam says  he’s included an additional $3.3 million dollars in the budget proposal to drop the state sales tax on groceries from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent.