AP/WMOT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — A study commissioned by the AARP finds that Tennessee would reap nearly $30 for every dollar spent on expanding Medicaid.

The study was delivered this week to Gov. Bill Haslam's administration and the speakers of the House and Senate. The report notes that the state's participation in Medicaid expansion would result in $9.4 billion in direct federal funding through 2019.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam's latest proposals for education reform are advancing in the Tennessee General Assembly.

The governor’s school voucher proposal was approved 9-4 in the House Education Committee Tuesday. The bill would limit the program to 5,000 students in failing schools beginning this fall, grow to 20,000 students by 2016.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tennessee Senator Bob Corker was among GOP lawmakers scheduled to meet with President Obama on Capitol Hill Wednesday to discuss the current budget impasse.

The president told reporters Wednesday morning a deal may not be possible because Republicans continue to insist that no new revenues can be raised unless entitlement programs are significantly overhauled.

Obama, who has been stepping up efforts to talk to both Republicans and Democrats this week, told ABC News that current difference between the two parties may be too wide.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT)  --  University of Tennessee officials will be back in Nashville this Friday to ask the state for permission to drill for oil in East Tennessee’s Cumberland Forest using a controversial extraction process called fracking.

UT says it wants to conduct research on the fracking process, which involves using explosives to crush oil bearing stone, then using chemicals under pressure to extract the oil.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Members of a new coalition say they plan to assist with a statewide campaign to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment on abortion scheduled to be on the ballot next year.

That amendment would allow the state to enact laws requiring a 48-hour waiting period for abortions and requiring all but first-term abortions to be performed in hospitals.

Members of Healthy and Free Tennessee spoke to reporters at a news conference yesterday. Rep. Gloria Johnson, a Knoxville Democrat, was one of the event’s speakers.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Middle Tennessee is wrapping up one of the warmest winters of the last 150 years.

Forecaster Trevor Boucher at the National Weather Service office in Nashville notes the meteorological winter was much warmer and a bit wetter than usual.

December through February averaged 4 degrees above the 30-year norm. Precipitation was 2.5 inches above normal for the period. The coldest reading of the winter was 17 degrees, recorded Feb. 1.

Spring officially arrives March 20, but Boucher says we’ve already turned the meteorological corner.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is warning Tennesseans about the impact of looming across-the-board federal budget cuts set to kick in Friday.

In his weekly radio address, President Obama said the so-called sequester cuts will slow the economy and hurt the middle class. He blamed the GOP for the impasse.

“Unfortunately it appears that Republicans in Congress have decided that instead of compromising, instead of asking anything of the wealthiest Americans, they’d rather let these cuts fall squarely on the middle class."

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.(AP/WMOT) — Tweety Knight scored a career-high 15 points off the bench to lead Middle Tennessee in an 87-46 shellacking of Louisiana-Monroe Saturday.

The win was the 14th straight for the Blue Raiders the second longest winning streak in program history. They currently stand at 25 and four overall and 17 and 1 in Sun Belt Conference play.

Knight hit 5 of 7 from the field and 4 of 5 at the foul line. Starters Raymond Cintron and Marcos Knight had 11 points each for Middle Tennessee, which has already clinched first in the Sun Belt.

CHICAGO (AP/WMOT) — Drug overdose deaths are up dramatically here in Tennessee and in the nation.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows there were more than 38,000 drug overdose deaths nationwide in 2010. Of those deaths, 1059 occurred here in Tennessee.

Prescription narcotics were involved in nearly 60 percent of those deaths, overshadowing those from illicit drugs. OxyContin and Vicodin contributed to 3 out of 4 medication overdose deaths.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A proposal to eliminate affirmative action initiatives from higher education institutions has stalled in the Tennessee Senate.

The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Jim Summerville of Dickson was deferred in the Senate Education Committee after committee members expressed concern with the bill's language.

As written, the legislation would prohibit colleges and universities from granting preference "based on race, gender or ethnicity ... to any student or employee of the public institution."