News

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A coalition of groups opposed to Tennessee’s new voter photo ID law are scheduled to hold a press conference on Legislative Plaza Wednesday afternoon.

The upcoming Super Tuesday presidential preference primary March 6th will be the first state-wide vote where the new law will be enforced. Most voters will be required to present some type of state or federal ID before being allowed to cast a ballot.

Opponents have launched initiatives to repeal the law as well as efforts to get voters the kind of photo ID they’ll need to vote.

The coalition “No Barriers to the Ballot Box” is hosting the press conference this afternoon at 3 p.m. and they’re expected to announce new initiatives in opposition to the law.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) --  Murfreesboro Police made what they’re calling a major drug bust on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University Tuesday afternoon.

MPD spokesman Kyle Evans tells WMOT News that police were hearing rumors that drugs were being sold out of Jim Cummings Hall. University police gave MPD permission to pursue the case.  Evans described for WMOT what happened when officers approached the dorm room where suspicious activity had been reported.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The 46 institutions of higher learning governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents have nothing to fear from President Barack Obama’s latest education initiative, according to TBR Chancellor John Morgan. 

The Associated Press says in a story released Monday that the Obama administration is concerned about rising student debt, which now averages over $25,000. The president is also reportedly concerned by the apparent disconnect between what students learn at the nation's universities and the skills employers say they're looking for.

ATLANTA (AP/WMOT) — Health officials say the flu season is finally here, but so far few cases have been reported in Tennessee.

Until this month, there weren't enough cases in the U.S. to signal the start of the season. 

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta says this is the slowest start to the flu season in nearly 25 years. Flu season usually starts in December or January. Often, it's half over by this point in the year.

Here in Tennessee, the CDC is calling the incidence of flu "sporadic."

Dr. Eric Clark is the Medical Director at Middle Tennessee State Student Health. He says that it’s not only been a very lite flu season, but may be an unusually short one as well.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The nation has seen a rapid rise in fuel prices in recent weeks. The Triple “A” Fuel Gauge report says the average price for regular gas in the U.S. now stands at is $3.55.

The average price here in Tennessee is up to $3.48. Middle Tennessee’s prices are some of the highest in the state at $3.52.  Memphis and Knoxville stand at $3.46 and regular gas in Chattanooga is selling for $3.49.

Dr. Murat Arik, an economist with Middle Tennessee State, says if gas prices remain higher for any length of time, it could put a serious dent in the state’s economic recovery.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments in the case of a Tennessee elementary school student who claimed he was prohibited from holding playground Bible studies.

The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati will hear arguments in the case.

The original lawsuit was brought by the parents of student Luke Whitson in 2004. Whitson was in fourth grade at the time and was told by the school that he couldn’t hold Bible studies with his friends on the playground at recess.

A jury in Knoxville sided with Knox County Schools in the case, turning away arguments that Whitson’s rights were violated. The Court of Appeals has now decided to review that decision.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.  (WMOT)  --  Fire Departments throughout Tennessee are having trouble finding and keeping volunteers, and that may impact what you pay for home-owners insurance, or even put your family at increased risk.

Kevin Lauer is a fire management consultant with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service. He says fire fighting is a difficult and dangerous job that requires a significant time commitment and volunteers are getting harder to come by.

“About 80 percent of the fire departments in Tennessee are either completely volunteer, or the majority are volunteer firefighters. Almost all of those departments struggle to maintain membership.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT)  --  A proposal aimed at stopping Occupy Nashville protesters from staying overnight on the Capitol complex has passed the House.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Eric Watson of Cleveland was approved 70-26 after a lengthy debate Thursday morning. The companion bill was to be heard on the Senate floor, but the upper chamber adjourned before hearing the legislation.

Many occupy protesters have already left the plaza, but organizers don’t seem especially worried by the legislature’s efforts to dislodge them. Occupy spokesperson Jason Steen says the group is discussing other options.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander came out strongly Wednesday against renewing wind industry tax incentives.

On the floor of the Senate Wednesday morning, Alexander said the $27 billion worth of federal wind power subsidies would be better spent on renewable energy research, or on reducing the national debt.

During his comments, Alexander highlighted the Tennessee Valley Authority’s experience with a wind farm it built in East Tennessee.

"TVA, a few years ago, built 30 big wind turbines on top of Buffalo Mountain. The wind blows 19 percent of the time. So TVA signed a contract to spend 60 million dollars to produce six megawatts over that ten year period of time. It was a commercial failure."

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Blue Raiders baseball kicks off its 96th season this weekend.

MTSU will take on Kansas Saturday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. The 2012 baseball season at MT is the 25th under the direction of head coach Steve Peterson.

Noting that Middle Tennessee had a losing season last year, Coach Peterson says his team has something to prove in 2012.

"We went through a season last year that Middle Tennessee is not used to having, especialy the 24 or 25 years that I've been here. We've only had a year like that one other time. But, you gotta' wear it. I would say that the 2012 club has something to prove."