University of Tennessee Revisits Idea of Enrolling Illegal Immigrants

(CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.) -- University of Tennessee (UT) admissions officers are revisiting the issue of allowing undocumented students to enroll.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that admission representatives from the three UT campuses in Chattanooga, Knoxville and Martin will discuss the topic during their annual fall meeting in October.

The meeting will focus on the issue of whether or not to move forward with the policy that currently forbids illegal immigrants from enrolling at the university.

The meeting comes after Tennessee and Georgia failed to pass bills introduced in the 2011 legislative sessions that would have banned undocumented students from receiving in-state tuition or from enrolling at public institutions.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Burn Permits Required in Tennessee

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- To prevent wildfires, Tennessee residents who want to burn brush and debris are required to obtain burn permits from Oct. 15 to May 15.

In the state, anyone burning debris within 500 feet of woodland or grassland requires a permit. Wildfires caused by arson is a felony punishable with fines and prison time.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry issues the permits, which are free. Residents can obtain the permits by calling the local forestry or by filling a form online.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

State Burns $434 Million Worth of Marijuana Plants

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- On Thursday, state officials burned more than 362,000 marijuana plants discovered at a farm in Olbion County on Monday.

The marijuana plant haul, with a street value of about $434 million, is the largest in the state. Law enforcement agents from the local police force to the Governor's Task Force on Marijuana Eradication, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation participated in removing the marijuana plants from at least 15 acres of land.

No arrests have been made over the elaborate operation, which included generators, tunnels, and irrigation systems.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Gov. Issues Executive Order to Help Farmers Through Drought

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- The State of Tennessee is extending a helping hand to farmers across the state who have been experiencing a shortage of hay as a result of drought and extreme weather conditions.

According to a release issued by the state Thursday, Governor Bill Haslam recently signed an Executive Order which allows hay haulers to carry larger loads by truck, provided they observe safety requirements.

"The governor’s order will help farmers in our own state who may need hay, and it will ensure that market supply and demand is met," Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson said in a statement. "Tennessee farmers have seen their share of weather related problems this year, and I applaud the governor for recognizing that farming is a tough but important business in our state and across the region."

The order will remain in effect for 60 days.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

TVA Announces More Electricity Rate Drops

(CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.) -- More Tennesseans will feel better about leaving their lights on longer; the Tennessee Valley Authority recently announced that electricity rates will drop for the third consecutive month in a row in December.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the electricity drop is due to the seasonal decline in what TVA pays for fuel and purchased power.

In a statement Friday, TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said, “This decrease in the wholesale total monthly fuel cost is due to significantly lower fuel costs for September; mild temperatures, lower sales, and higher hydro generation.”

November’s TVA rates will average nearly 4 percent less than during the same time in 2010 due to the decline in prices of coal, natural gas, oil, and purchased power over the past year.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio