Thursday at noon was the deadline for all candidates to submit qualifying petitions to run in the May 6 county primaries. General elections are set for Aug. 7. Contenders -- including a “Saturday Night Live” cast member --  filled the ballots in counties throughout the state including in Davidson, Hamilton, Hawkins, Knox, Madison, Maury, Shelby, Sumner and Williamson counties. Watch for  information on additional races as it becomes available.

Tennessee, Illinois and Iowa are receiving a grant from the Department of Justice to increase public safety by sharing criminal justice information, News Channel 5 reports. The Cross Boundary Corrections Information Exchange Policy Academy intends to promote state-level reforms aimed at reducing recidivism, lowering corrections costs and improving safety by equipping states with a way of sharing corrections information with each other.

State senators approved two bills yesterday that honor the legacies of Knox County couple Channon Christian and Chris Newsom, who were brutally murdered seven years ago, WBIR reports. The Chris Newsom Act would do away with the state's 13th juror rule, which requires a judge to validate a jury verdict by signing a document. An amended version of the Channon Christian Act would prevent evidence or allegations of previous behavior that could call into question the character of a victim, defendant, witness or third-party. The House companion bills are set to be discussed by a subcommittee next Wednesday.

Chattanooga law firm Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel honored the 2013-2104 John C. Stophel Distinguished Students at a reception Tuesday at the Chambliss Conference Center. The reception offered the 10 award recipients — eight undergraduates and two graduate students — the opportunity to meet and engage with members of Chattanooga’s business community. Now in its sixth year, the Stophel Scholars program aims to foster local talent and encourage promising students to build long-lasting mentor relationships with Chattanooga professionals. The Hamilton County Herald has more.

Former Assistant District Attorney General Eric D. Christiansen of Greeneville died Tuesday. He was 72. After his retirement, the University of Tennessee College of Law graduate continued to serve the courts as a senior member of the local bar. The family will receive friends tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Children’s Center, 119 Fairgrounds Circle in Greeneville.

The U.S. Department of Justice has joined a whistle-blower lawsuit claiming Tenet Corp. and Health Management Associates (HMA) entered into contracts with clinics that referred pregnant women living in the U.S. illegally to hospitals operated by HMA and Tenet in exchange for kickbacks from fraudulent Medicaid claims. Last year, Tenet acquired Nashville-based Vanguard Health Systems, while HMA was recently purchased by Franklin-based Community Health Systems. The Nashville Business Journal has more.

Neal Pinkston, executive assistant in the district attorney's office, will be the next Hamilton County District Attorney since he was the only candidate to file for the seat being vacated by Bill Cox as the noon deadline passed today. Criminal Court Judges Rebecca Stern, Don Poole and Barry Steelman are also unopposed, as are City Judges Sherry Paty and Russell Bean and Chancellor Jeff Atherton. Circuit Court Judge Marie Williams, Neil Thomas and Jeff Hollingsworth also do not have opposition. Visit the Chattanoogan for a summary of campaign filings.

Legislative efforts to remove the Supreme Court’s power to select the state Attorney General appear to be stalled. A bill calling for popular election of the post (SJR 123) was rejected by the full Senate on Feb. 5 and Wednesday the House Civil Justice Subcommittee took off notice SJR 196, which called for appointment of the AG by the General Assembly. Gavel to Gavel looks back at similar bills that have failed to change the selection process over the past 17 years.

A number of judicial campaign committees in Sumner County have filed fundraising reports to the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. The Tennesseean provides some highlights from the reports, including how several candidates are faring in their efforts to replace Chancellor Tom Gray, who is not seeking re-election. Results are also available for candidates running for juvenile court judge and clerk and master.

The Tennessee Senate will likely go along with minor changes made to the wine in food stores bill passed today by House of Representatives, the Commercial Appeal reports. The bill allows towns, cities and counties with liquor stores or liquor by the drink to start holding public referendums this November to decide whether to permit local food stores to sell wine.