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During the 1990's, the Latino population in Tennessee grew by 278 percent. Other Southeastern states saw similar increases. That represents an important shift in immigration patterns. Over the next two days, researchers and professionals will gather at the University of Tennessee to discuss the ways in which that immigration shift affects the state's culture and economy. John Shefner is the head of U-T's Global Studies Program and one of the conference's organizers. He tells WUOT's Chrissy Keuper that the conference will address a variety of issues... 
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled late Wednesday that voter-approved term limits for local elected officials are constitutional. The order has thrown the May 2nd Knox County Commission primary election into turmoil. In 1994, Knox County voters approved term limits for county commissioners. But they weren't enforced while the courts examined the constitutionality of them. Now that the Supreme Court has upheld term limits, 12 County Commissioners may be removed from the primary ballot because their re-election would violate the term limit rule. Commissioner Mark Cawood has served five terms and until today, planned on running for a sixth. He tells WUOT's Ann Lloyd the Supreme Court decision took everyone by surprise...
A two day conference on the relationship between the United States and Great Britain began today on the UT campus. Called "The Legacy of Churchill's Atlantic Alliance", it's sponsored by the Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. One of today's speakers is Thomas Barnett, former professor of the US Naval War College and current Distinguished Scholar at the Howard Baker Center. Barnett tell's WUOT's Ann Lloyd that globalization is forcing open new markets and is bringing unlikely partners together for mutual security needs...
This Wednesday and Thursday, the Howard H Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee will host a conference on the relationship between the United States and Great Britain. The conference is presented in partnership with the Churchill Archives Center in the UK and will feature speakers ranging from Lord Charles Powell to Henry Kissinger. Alan Lowe is the executive director of the Baker Center...
A group of University of Tennessee students plans to travel to the West African nation of Ghana this summer. It's a venture called Project Live Action and the purpose is to teach Ghanaian women about basic business practices. The organization's local chapter is housed in the College of Business at UT. Austen Diamond is a major in Finance and is the local president of the group Students in Free Enterprise...
Tennessee's Special Education laws changed last year. Because of the changes, parents of disabled children have new guaranteed rights. The organization STEP, or Support and Training for Exceptional Parents, offers a workshop Tuesday evening covering those changes. STEP spokeswoman Donna Brogden says the federally funded group has been aiding families with disabled students since 1989...
Administrators at the University of Tennessee will uncover one of the school's most intriguing mysteries tonight. The controversial "Greenwood Mural" covers an entire wall of the student center ballroom. But it's been covered with paneling since 1972 because of its stereotypical depiction of African-Americans. WUOT's Matt Shafer Powell has more...
For generations, stories of the mysterious Melungeon people of Hancock County have been told and embellished upon. Even scholars and genealogists don't agree on the ethnic origins of these early mountain people. An exhibit on the Melungeons of Vardy, Tennessee is currently featured at the East Tennessee Historical Society. It's curated by DruAnna Overbay. She recently told WUOT's Ann Lloyd that her ancestors settled Vardy on Newman's Ridge
Tomorrow afternoon the movie "A Day Without a Mexican" will be presented at the UT College of Law. It's the second in a three part film series on Latino immigration to the United States. UT law professor Fran Ansley tells WUOT's Ann Lloyd the idea for the series was broached while planning a major conference on the subject: "The New Latino Immigration to Tennessee: Opportunities and Challenges"...