BILL WOULD FINE PEOPLE WHO DECLINE HEALTH PLAN:

WASHINGTON — Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health-care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Read the full story

JUNE 29 NASHVILLE TEA PARTY:

GIVE THEM MONEY:

CONVENTION CENTER CON:

PASSENGER SAYS TSA AGENTS HARASSED HIM:

Steve Bierfeldt says the Transportation Security Administration pulled him aside for extra questioning in March. He was carrying a pocket edition of the U.S. Constitution and an iPhone capable of making audio recordings. And he used them. Read the full story

HILL WANTS REINS ON FED:

Still, the pressure is mounting. The Fed is fighting a lawsuit by Bloomberg News calling on it to release the names of banks receiving assistance. Read the full story

JAPAN WARNS THAT NORTH KOREA MAY FIRE MISSILE AT U.S. ON INDEPENDENCE DAY:

North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials. Read the full story

LAWMAKERS CALL FOR AN END TO FEDERAL MARIJUANA PROSECUTIONS:

Washington, DC: Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, along with co-sponsors Ron Paul (R-TX); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA); and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), will reintroduce legislation today to limit the federal government’s authority to arrest and prosecute minor marijuana offenders. Read the full story

TENNESSEE'S $29.6B BUDGET PASSES:

Hundreds of state workers will lose their jobs and borrowing for bridge projects will be spread over four years under a budget deal hammered out by lawmakers late Wednesday night. Read the full story

METRO NASHVILLE MOVES TO BAN GUNS IN PARKS:

The Metro Council took a preliminary step to ban guns in city parks Tuesday and approved a $1.54 billion operating budget that deals with a punishing economy by laying off dozens of employees and making sharp cuts to many departments. Read the full story

NASHVILLE PICKS CONVENTION HOTEL DEVELOPERS:

A team of developers known for erecting hotels around the country was picked Tuesday to build a 1,000-room hotel to serve Nashville's proposed downtown convention center, though it remains unclear how the city will pay for it. Read the full story

BOND DEALS FACE MORE SCRUTINY:

Tennessee's comptroller on Tuesday called for more state oversight of deals involving local government's borrowing money and more disclosure of fees in these transactions. Read the full story

NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS, PC PROCLAIMS:

Of all the dogged victims of our times, none is more beleaguered than the truth, says Dr. Peter Phillips, who has made it his project to help repel the assault. Read the full story

THE BAD PR OF DEAD CIVILIANS:

Early reports of a massive U.S. attack on civilians in western Afghanistan the week of May 5 hewed to a familiar corporate media formula, stressing official U.S. denials and framing the scores of dead civilians as a PR setback for the White House's war effort. Read the full story

COUNCIL PASSES $1.5B METRO BUDGET:

Metro Council found enough funds to spare 17 workers from losing their jobs, but otherwise left untouched Mayor Karl Dean’s $1.5 billion operating budget proposal, balanced by layoffs, pay freezes and the suspension of longevity bonuses. Read the full story

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