The Daily News-Journal from Murfreesboro, Tennessee • 3

www-dnjxom THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL Saturday, July 25, 2009 1 A3 STATE Ru nnig5J Tennessee Supreme Court strikes down tariff on drugs BRIEFLY Two held in stabbing death of man JELLICO (AP) Jellico police have arrested a 22-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy in connection with the stabbing death of a cigarette store employee wounded about 60 times and robbed in Louisville, Ky. Officers said Andrew Marra and the teen are accused of stabbing 28-year-old Joshua Pendleton on Wednesday and stealing 16 cartons of cigarettes, several bottles of liquor and about $1,600. Judge: No live' pictures of slain couple KNOXVILLE (AP) Jurors deciding the fate of four people charged in the carjack slayings of a young Knoxville couple won't get to see pictures of the victims while they were alive. Criminal Court Judge Richard Baumgartner ruled Friday that jurors will only get to see living pictures of Christopher Newsom and Channon Christian if they convict the defendants and are weighing sentences. Disabled services center sues Tennessee NASHVILLE (AP) A Nashville center that helps disabled clients is suing Tennessee, claiming the state tried to void its contracts after it criticized I 0343 III AP PHOTO A tax stamp that is issued by the Tennessee Department of Revenue for people in possession of marijuana is shown in Nashville.

The state Supreme Court in a 3-2 ruling on Friday declared Tennessee's tax on illegal drugs unconstitutional. ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Friday that a state law taxing illegal drugs dubbed the "crack tax" is unconstitutional The court found in 3-2 decision that the law exceeds the state's taxing power because it isn't a tax on "merchants, peddlers and privileges." But the court also ruled that the law didn't violate constitutional protections against self-incrimination, leaving open the possibility that the General Assembly could develop a new tax on drugs that would be The ruling differed from some of the reasoning of lower courts that struck down the tax because of the self-incrimination issue and because it seeks to generate revenue from illegal activity. Justice Gary Wade acknowledged in the court's opinion the "enormous burden" using, possessing and selling illegal drugs places on Tennessee. Our legislature is worthy of commendation for its effort to defray the costs incident to the struggle against illegal drugs," Wade wrote. "Even under these circumstances, however, it is our duty to dispassionately apply the rule of law in we are trying to do is figure out what our next steps are." The tax, approved by the Legislature with one dissenting vote in 2004, took effect in January 2005 and has since generated $10.4 million, Moery said a fair and impartial manner, unswayed by genuine public concerns, partisan interests, or fear of criticism." State Revenue department spokeswoman Sophie Moery said officials had just received the ruling and "right now what funding cuts.

The Tennessean reports Rochelle Center attorney Bob Tuke called the state's actions "retaliatory" and "punitive." Tennessee Division of Intellectual Disabilities Services spokeswoman Missy Marshall said the cuts to the center were part of overall state reductions in a tight budget year. TUKE DA: Rep. lying about gag order On Wednesday a federal judge issued an order that temporarily prohibits the state from trying to void the Rochelle Center's contracts, enforcing an admissions moratorium, reducing the center's payments or recouping back payments. Lawmaker blackmailed after affair with intern, TBI claims ment Tuesday saying had asked him not to discuss the matter with the STANLEY with Morrison and took pictures of her in various states of undress, according to affidavits and testimony from a TBI agent Joel Watts, Morrison's boyfriend, is charged with demanding $10,000 from Stanley in return for the pictures and a video. Stanley, 47, on Wednesday stepped down as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Labor and Agriculture Committee, but said he would remain in the Senate.

Morrison's intern duties included working with that committee. Police: Officer injured by drunken driver KNOXVILLE (AP) A Knoxville police officer was injured early Friday when a police accuse of driving drunk slammed into his cruiser. The officer was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after the 1:30 a.m. crash. He was treated and released.

Sgt. Jason Hill said Sakovich was positioning his cruiser to block an intersection to help a pursuit involving a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper. As Sakovich was going through the intersection, a vehicle driven by Crystal Blair made a U-turn and hit-the cruiser, sending it into a guardrail. The officer was trapped for several minutes. The 22-year-old Blair also was taken to the UT Medical Center where she was treated and released.

She was then arrested and charged with DUI. became public because the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was investigating an extortion plot that threatened to reveal the relationship, court and legislative records reveal other details about them. Stanley, whose seat is up for election next year, has not responded to text and phone messages from The Associated Press. He issued a state- ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE The Republican state senator who was having an affair with a legislative intern says he's been asked to keep silent because of a pending criminal case, but the district attorney's office disputed that Friday. While neither Sen.

Paul Stanley or the in-terji, 22-year-old McKen-sie Morrison, have talked publicly since their affair media. District attorney general spokeswoman Susan Niland said that is not the case. "Nobody told him that he could not talk to anybody," she said. Stanley, a married father of two from Ger-mantown, admitted he had a sexual relationship La Vergne man headed to grand jury in McNair case www.r79.9.9,cars'comi ASSOCIATED PRESS NASHVILLE A federal grand jury will consider charges against a convicted murderer accused of selling the gun used to kill ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair. Adrian J.

Gilliam 33, -KMMMIIIIIMIIMIIIIIIIIIiMimMMK'-BJWnlMMilllMIIIIMMMOTMMHIIIMI ir El AN Gl Gi AlAj L'AB Umm oUjUcHluUcSi INlSfrUUK! confer with his attorney, public defender Hugh Mundy. Prosecutors would not say when the grand jury would meet. Gilliam remains in federal custody and can ask for bond to be set later. He faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The pistol was sold two days before McNair was shot four times as he slept Police have said Kazemi's life was spinning out of control because of financial and other problems.

McNair, 36, a married father of four, retired from the NFL last year. He spent most of his career with the Tennessee Titans and his last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. of La Vergne on Friday waived his right to a detention hearing and a preliminary hear MCNAIR KAZEMI tol to McNair's girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, 20, for $100 two days before McNair was shot Police have said Kazemi, a waitress, shot McNair at his downtown con-do July 4 before turning the gun on herself Gilliam has been out of prison seven years since serving time in Florida for murder and attempted armed robbery. Gilliam, in orange jail garb, did not speak in the courtroom, other than to GILLIAM ing on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gilliam, who has most recently worked as a car salesman, is accused of selling a loaded 9 mm pis- MKKCUKV VILLAGEH SORT I I VIA PMftNTI UNCfHNTOWWfM maT Se3 fp' FIR- JfZy ILOBO.Myp.xlT 1 1 MERCURY COUGAR CKEVROirr.

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