Local News
Spencer Blood Drive
Jay Walker Wednesday March 10, 2010
The American Red Cross will have a community blood drive Wednesday from 12 noon until 6pm at the Spencer Civic Center in Van Buren County.
The goal for this blood drive is 40 units. All blood types are urgently needed.
Girls' State Tournament
Jay Walker Wednesday March 10, 2010
The Girls' State High School basketball tournament gets underway today at MTSU.
In Class A action, North Greene plays Middleton at 10am, Jackson County plays Coalfield at 11:30, Chattanooga Schools for Arts and Sciences plays Scotts Hill at 1pm and Moore County plays Wayne County at 2:30.
In Class AA, Christ Presbyterian plays Gibson County at 4pm and Polk County plays South Greene at 5:30.
The tournament continues through Saturday.
Tax Amendment
AP Wednesday March 10, 2010
An income tax and payroll tax would be declared unconstitutional under a proposed constitutional amendment advancing in the state Senate.
The measure was approved 7-3 in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.
The earliest it could go before voters in 2014.
Lawmakers who voted against the measure questioned its necessity because the state constitution already says an income tax is not allowed in Tennessee.
But the bill's sponsor, Representative Brian Kelsey, says the legislation is necessary because it's uncertain how the Tennessee Supreme Court will rule in the future.
Mattea Speaks To Lawmakers
AP Wednesday March 10, 2010
Country singer Kathy Mattea spoke before the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee Tuesday, urging lawmakers to ban the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining in Tennessee.
Mattea told the committee that mountaintop removal makes people sick and makes them die sooner.
The committee also heard testimony from scientists about the environmental impact of the mining method that involves blasting away mountaintops to expose coal seams, and often filling nearby valleys and streams with mining waste.
The committee adjourned without taking action on a bill seeking to curb the practice in Tennessee.
Collections Fall Short
AP Wednesday March 10, 2010
General fund tax collections missed projections by about $44 million in January.
General fund collections were $196 million below expectations through the first seven months of the budget year.
Sales taxes, which account for two out of every three tax dollars in Tennessee, fell $38 million short in January.
State Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said the unusually cold month might have contributed to the poor sales tax collections.
