NASHVILLE — The White House says 953,000 Tennesseans now uninsured could get affordable coverage under a health insurance exchange envisioned in the federal health care overhaul.

NASHVILLE — The state is looking at cutting another 120 positions from regional mental health hospitals in the 2010-11 budget, but Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute in Chattanooga, which has been hit hard in previous budget reductions, will be spared, a top official said.

NASHVILLE -- A key legislative proponent of allowing Tennessee grocery stores to sell wine says he may push the bill again in 2010 rather than waiting until 2011 if he sees sufficient public demand for change.

CHARLESTON, Tenn. -- Business and elected officials are asking for help delaying a proposed federal regulation that would affect a manufacturing plant here and, they say, result in the loss of 1,000 jobs.

Planned cuts in payments to Tennessee physicians participating in TennCare could create a "nightmare" in terms of access for patients, providers in Chattanooga warn.

NASHVILLE — State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said Friday his office tentatively has identified at least 9,800 dead people on voter registration rolls across Tennessee.

State Election Coordinator Mark Goins said today his office tentatively has identified at least 9,800 deceased people on voter registration rolls across Tennessee.

NASHVILLE — Thousands of nonpregnant adult TennCare enrollees could face a $10,000 annual cap on hospital stays if 9 percent cuts in the program take place, officials said Wednesday.

NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee and Alabama tax systems are among the nation's worst when it comes to favoring the rich over the poor and middle class, according to a study by a Washington-based research organization.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s tax system ranks fourth nationally in terms of its bias “in favor of the rich,” a new report states.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen and top aides said Monday they are preparing for a “worst-case” budget scenario next year in which up to $1 billion must be slashed — on top of $515 million in previous cuts.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen characterized as “nonsense” and “posturing” a newspaper column written last week by Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, who accused the governor of having “delayed the inevitable” by resisting GOP efforts to speed up major budget cuts in the current budget.

Grappling with a budget gap that could reach $1 billion, Gov. Phil Bredesen may cut $82 million from the Basic Education Program.

NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen says "very, very tough" choices await him and Tennessee lawmakers when it comes to Tennessee's upcoming 2010-11 budget.

NASHVILLE -- Former state Sen. Lou Patten, R-Cleveland, announced Saturday he is running for the District 9 state Senate seat held by Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, who recently said he will not seek re-election.

NASHVILLE — Former state Sen. Lou Patten, R-Cleveland, today announced he is running for the District 9 Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, who recently said he will not seek reelection.

NASHVILLE -- State Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, ventured into national gun politics this week with an e-mail to GOP friends in which he called President Barack Obama a "socialist leader" and top administration officials a "gang of thugs."

NASHVILLE -- Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam's Republican gubernatorial campaign announced Friday that he has raised another $1 million since his June 30 report.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s Republican gubernatorial campaign announced today he has raised another $1 million since his June 30 report.

NASHVILLE -- As Tennessee revenues continued to take a beating, Gov. Phil Bredesen said he is open to measures such as furloughs and contract freezes to soften the need for state employee layoffs.

NASHVILLE -- While restructuring Tennessee's two competing systems of higher education "is not off the table," Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday that his top goal for the schools is promoting student retention and boosting graduation rates.

The health reform legislation approved over the weekend by the U.S. House would cost Tennessee government nearly $1.4 billion over a five-year period, Gov. Phil Bredesen said today.

Tennessee’s tax collections in October fell below budgeted estimates for the third straight month this fiscal year.

Gov. Phil Bredesen said today he will consider implementing state employee furloughs and contract freezes to save money.

NASHVILLE — Gov. Phil Bredesen said he and a select group of lawmakers are having a “good, spirited discussion” over higher education changes he hopes will ultimately lead to higher graduation rates in Tennessee public colleges and universities.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee’s senior elected Republican, U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, said Friday night that when it comes to state House Speaker Kent Williams, who was booted out of the party earlier this year, GOP leaders should remember Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, a wayward figure who ultimately was forgiven.

Though there were no major Tennessee races in Tuesday’s elections, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and attorney Chuck Fleischmann, a Republican candidate for Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, commented on the day’s significance.

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander will attend a fundraiser organized by Tennessee House Speaker Kent Williams, who's on the outs with the state GOP.

Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s gubernatorial campaign says the candidate “handily” won a straw poll conducted Thursday night by the Tennessee Conservative Union.

NASHVILLE — State officials Thursday selected six venture capital firms, including one with Chattanooga ties, that will split $120 million in tax credits intended to spark investment in new Tennessee companies.

State officials today selected six venture capital firms, including one with Chattanooga ties, to split $120 million in tax credits.

NASHVILLE — When the state’s largest organization of conservatives hears from 2010 Republican gubernatorial hopefuls at its annual Reagan Day Dinner in Knoxville today, Knoxville mayor — and GOP candidate — Bill Haslam will not be there.

Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, a 2010 Republican candidate for governor, will not be attending a major gathering of conservatives in Knoxville on Thursday, his campaign confirmed today, citing a previously scheduled fundraising event in Sumner County.

NASHVILLE — State Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, said he will seek re-election to the House District 24 seat he now holds.

Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, said today he thinks an 8.1 percent increase in Tennessee legislators’ expense reimbursements that took effect Oct. 1 is “ludicrous.”

NASHVILLE — U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said he continues to think term limits are a good thing and that he never felt “whole” after he broke a 1994 campaign pledge to serve no more than 12 years in Congress.

NASHVILLE -- Tennessee legislators now will get another $14 a day in expenses as they come to the Capitol to wrestle with drastic state budget cuts that could force layoffs.

NASHVILLE — More than 24,000 jobs in Georgia have been created or saved so far through the federal stimulus, according to federal government estimates which gauge the impact on Tennessee employment at nearly 9,600 jobs.

NASHVILLE -- Nearly 180 years after President Andrew Jackson forcibly began uprooting American Indians from the Southeast, a Tennessee commission that deals with Native American issues may die amid a fight involving groups wanting state recognition.

NASHVILLE — One potential 9th Senatorial District candidate took himself out of the running for the seat Thursday.

NASHVILLE -- Children attending state-funded prekindergarten programs do better academically than their peers, but the gains appear to diminish by second grade, a new state comptroller's report says.

Children who attended Tennessee’s state-funded pre-kindergarten program before going to kindergarten did better academically over their kindergarten peers, but those higher achievements appeared to putter out by second grade, a new report says.

NASHVILLE -- Former state Sen. Lou Patten confirmed Wednesday he is weighing a run in the Senate District 9 GOP primary now that Sen. Dewayne Bunch has decided not to seek re-election.

While most of its lawmakers didn’t vote for the stimulus package, Tennessee still is among the top states in jobs generated through stimulus-funded federal contracts, according to an early report on the program’s progress.

NASHVILLE — Some legislative Republicans hope to put Tennessee government at the forefront of a national state “sovereignty” movement aimed at defending states’ rights from what conservative critics say are intrusions by the federal government.

NASHVILLE — A newer, greener welcome center soon could greet visitors traveling to the Volunteer State.

NASHVILLE — The U.S. Small Business Administration has granted Gov. Phil Bredesen’s request for a disaster declaration for Hamilton and contiguous counties after severe storms and flooding in September.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has granted Gov. Phil Bredesen’s request for a disaster declaration for Hamilton County and adjoining counties in Tennessee and Georgia after recent severe storms, the governor said today.

NASHVILLE -- The use of cameras by Chattanooga and other Tennessee cities to nab speeders and red-light runners may be limited but not eliminated by the General Assembly, according to local lawmakers.

NASHVILLE — Tennessee may have to slash as much as $350 million more from its budget next year on top of $753 million in already planned reductions.