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WZTV FOX 17 - Top Stories
January 7, 2013
State lawmakers are putting the final touches on some controversial legislation.
They will all return to Nashville on Tuesday as the 108th General Assembly is called to order.
It's often said there's a calm before the storm.
At the State Capitol Monday night, the familiar phrase might also apply.
On Tuesday the new session begins and lawmakers have plenty to talk about.
Last month's shooting in Connecticut has made school safety a key topic.
"It's a pretty simple bill. I mean it's hard to explain to a parent why the neighbor's children have a guard and their children don't.," says Sen. Frank Niceley, (R) Strawberry Fields.
Senator Frank Niceley's bill would require an armed person in every school.
The person would go through a specialized training course and it's not just limited to law enforcement.
"Teacher, principal, maintenance man, vice principal," says Sen. Niceley.
Education is also a focus of Senator Brian Kelsey's plan to create a school voucher program.
"If they are not happy with their local school that they're districted to go to, they can go somewhere else," says Sen. Brian Kelsey, (R) Germantown.
Kelsey's bill would provide an "opportunity scholarship" to low income students who choose an alternative, such as a private or parochial school.
"It's time we start focusing much more on whether our children are being educated, rather than where they're being educated," says Sen. Kelsey.
Republicans hold a dominant two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, which is a concern to state Democrats.
"You have the more radical tea party element that is up here now, that is trying to push the Republican party further to the right and Tennessee further to the right," says Rep. Mike Turner, (D) Old Hickory.
Democrat Mike Turner hopes cooler heads prevail, which is something he knows doesn't always happen on Capitol Hill.
Many of the lawmakers who will be in town Tuesday are being sworn in for the first time.
Almost one fourth of the State House will include freshman Representatives.
For news updates follow John Dunn on twitter @WZTVJohnDunn
State lawmakers are putting the final touches on some controversial legislation.
They will all return to Nashville on Tuesday as the 108th General Assembly is called to order.
It's often said there's a calm before the storm.
At the State Capitol Monday night, the familiar phrase might also apply.
On Tuesday the new session begins and lawmakers have plenty to talk about.
Last month's shooting in Connecticut has made school safety a key topic.
"It's a pretty simple bill. I mean it's hard to explain to a parent why the neighbor's children have a guard and their children don't.," says Sen. Frank Niceley, (R) Strawberry Fields.
Senator Frank Niceley's bill would require an armed person in every school.
The person would go through a specialized training course and it's not just limited to law enforcement.
"Teacher, principal, maintenance man, vice principal," says Sen. Niceley.
Education is also a focus of Senator Brian Kelsey's plan to create a school voucher program.
"If they are not happy with their local school that they're districted to go to, they can go somewhere else," says Sen. Brian Kelsey, (R) Germantown.
Kelsey's bill would provide an "opportunity scholarship" to low income students who choose an alternative, such as a private or parochial school.
"It's time we start focusing much more on whether our children are being educated, rather than where they're being educated," says Sen. Kelsey.
Republicans hold a dominant two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, which is a concern to state Democrats.
"You have the more radical tea party element that is up here now, that is trying to push the Republican party further to the right and Tennessee further to the right," says Rep. Mike Turner, (D) Old Hickory.
Democrat Mike Turner hopes cooler heads prevail, which is something he knows doesn't always happen on Capitol Hill.
Many of the lawmakers who will be in town Tuesday are being sworn in for the first time.
Almost one fourth of the State House will include freshman Representatives.
For news updates follow John Dunn on twitter @WZTVJohnDunn
Tuesday, January 22 2013, 05:58 PM CST
Tennessee News
Tishomingo County voters OK beer, alcohol sales
May 22, 2013 23:38 GMT
IUKA, Miss. (AP) -- Tishomingo County is the latest Mississippi jurisdiction to legalize alcohol sales.
Voters approved the sale of liquor, wine and beer Tuesday, reports the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/13JCcix).
It wasn't clear referendums would pass until affidavit ballots were counted Wednesday.
With more than half Tishomingo County's voters casting ballots, legalizing alcohol passed by 42 votes, while legalizing beer and light wine passed by 73. The county borders Alabama and Tennessee.
Lawmakers legalized liquor at a proposed resort at the county's Bay Springs Lake in 2010, but it wasn't built.
Greene County voters legalized beer sales last year, while Corinth, New Albany and Senatobia have legalized alcohol sales under a 2012 law that allows cities to hold votes.
Mississippi has 13 remaining counties that allow no beer or alcohol sales.
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