Tennessee news in brief...

Bredesen signs
resolution rejecting
Ga. border commission
NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen has signed into a law a legislative resolution to reject participation in a boundary commission proposed by Georgia lawmakers.
Both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously approved the resolution following Georgia’s efforts to establish a commission to try to rectify a 19th-century survey that mistakenly placed Georgia’s northern line just short of the Tennessee River.
Officials in Tennessee have characterized the proposal as a land grab designed to supply water to Atlanta.
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Newest most-wanted
suspect surrenders
NASHVILLE (AP) — A Columbia prison parolee wanted on two counts of murder surrendered one day after being added to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list.
The agency reports Javoris Deray Sparkman surrendered Thursday morning at the Maury County Jail.
Sparkman was wanted in Saturday’s killings of a teeange boy and a woman.
Police said three gunman shot into a sport utility vehicle carrying 11 people. Two others were arrested.
The TBI said Sparkman is currently on parole for robbery, drug offenses and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
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Bill to require recording
interrogations stalls
NASHVILLE (AP) — Legislation that would require recording interrogations of suspects in custody by law enforcement for criminal cases has stalled in the Senate.
The measure sponsored by Dickson Democrat Doug Jackson was general subbed in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, meaning it could be called back up at anytime.
The companion bill has been retained in a House subcommittee.
Under the measure, the recording must be kept until the defendant’s conviction for any offense relating to the statement is final.
Failure, however, to electronically record the investigation would not affect admissibility in court of any statements made by the accused.
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Read the full text of SB3878 on the General Assembly’s Web site at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us
Published in The Messenger 4.18.08

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