Good morning, Nashville. The newly-elected 107th General Assembly was called to order yesterday and had their first session bright and early this morning. If the budget hearings of the past few weeks have been any indication, it’s going to be a long year fraught with budget cuts across pretty much every state department. The new lawmakers also expect to deal with some controversial education, immigration and voter’s rights issues this year. And speaking of controversy, Rep. Glen Casada filed a bill yesterday to block localities from passing nondiscrimination employment policies that cover anything other than what’s in the Civil Rights Act, meaning that these policies couldn’t prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Energy assistance demand on the rise. Since our energy bills have been so dang high in the past few months, more and more people are applying for assistance, which has been a little overwhelming for the agencies that can help them.
• Something in the water. The issue of fluoride in tap water has at least one group of lawmakers riled up this year. Though fluoride is put into the water to help prevent tooth decay, many opponents argue that it poses a number of health risks and hope to eliminate it.
• Bits & pieces. More snow on Wednesday! … If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities, Second Harvest and Red Cross could both really use some help right now … Some new plans for a scaled-back May Town Center will likely be introduced soon … Sen. Mike Faulk is proposing that women be allowed to breastfeed in public regardless of the age of the child.

Photo by Richard Call.

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