Gov. Haslam Signs Law to Close Loopholes on Rape Offenders

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Gov. Bill Haslam signed Kimberlee’s Law into effect on Tuesday.

The Chattanoogan reports that Kimberlee’s Law closes old loopholes that previously allowed violent rapists to earn good behavior credits for early release from prison.

The law is named after Kimberlee Morton, a rape victim who survived an attempted murder by an violent rapist.

“Kimberlee Morton was victimized twice,” one of the bill’s primary sponsors, Rep. Antonio Parkinson, said. “Once by her assailant and once by our state laws that put such violent offenders back into society after only serving parts of their sentences."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Top Walking Horse Trainers Show History of Horse Soring

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- Data compiled by an industry watchdog group show that eight of the last 10 winners of the Trainer of the Year award from the Walking Horse Trainers' Association have been suspended for soring at least once, The Tennessean reports.

Charlie Green, one of the winners identified in the Friends of Sound Horses database, committed the most violations of the Horse Protection Act, with 22. The violations ranged from one-foot and two-foot soring to scarring on a horse's legs, which could indicate previous soring, the paper says.

Soring is the practice of pouring harsh chemicals or cutting a horse's hooves and legs to induce a high gait that is prized at Tennessee Walking Horse competitions.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Former Business Owner Sentenced to Probation for Tax Evasion

(RIPLEY, Tenn.) -- A former Lauderdale County business owner has been sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay the State of Tennessee full restitution for tax evasion.

Carolynn Reeves, 58, -- the former owner of Chisholm Lake Store in Halls, Tenn., and Country Girl Steaks in Ripley, Tenn. -- pleaded guilty on May 17 to one count of sales tax evasion.

"When sales tax is collected from the public and not remitted, it is a breach of the public trust and a crime," Revenue Commissioner Richard Roberts said in a statement. "The Department of Revenue aggressively pursues criminal sanctions and demands accountability for such actions."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

UT Awarded More Than $1.7 Million for Nuclear Training Efforts

(KNOXVILLE, Tenn.) -- More than $1.7 million was awarded to the University of Tennessee for its nuclear industry training and research efforts, according to published reports.

The United States Department of Energy for scholarships, a fellowship and research grants donated the money as part of a nationwide program to boost nuclear energy efforts.

There were 46 colleges and universities across the nation that were awarded money under the Nuclear Energy University Program and Integrated University Program. UT students were awarded more scholarship money that any other institution, according to university officials.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

New Website Launched Marks State Parks 75th Anniversary

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) -- The state's Department of Environment and Conservation has launched a new website to mark the 75th Anniversary of Tennessee State Parks.

The website -- which can be access by logging on to www.tnstateparks75.com -- features information on the State Parks' heritage and showcases the activities available to state park visitors, according to a news release by the department.

"Working with our partners at the Department of Tourist Development and Designsensory, Tennessee State Parks now has a new digital platform that engages citizens and visitors with a great new online experience," Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau said in a statement. "That experience is reflective of the exceptional natural, cultural and historical resources available at our 54 state parks."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio