John Dean, of Watergate renown, will speak June 8 at Lipscomb University’s Christian Scholars’ Conference.

Dean was the former White House counsel for President Richard Nixon and key witness for the prosecution before the Senate Watergate Committee and the Watergate trials.

Dean will be one of three keynote speakers at the 33rd annual Thomas H. Olbricht Christian Scholars’ Conference (CSC), to be held June 6-8. He will speak on “The Ethical Legacy of Watergate” on Saturday, June 8, at 10:45 a.m. in Collins Alumni Auditorium. A book-signing will follow at 12:15 p.m.

“Crisis in Ethics: theology, business, law and the law and liberal and fine arts” is the conference theme. Other speakers include theologian Charles Mathewes, who will speak on the “The Future of Political Theology,” and David Miller, founding director of Princeton University’s Faith & Work Initiative.

Historically, the conference has drawn more than 500 theologians and scholars. Keynote sessions are free to the public.

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks to MLK's graduates. A report.

The Dean reports that candidates failed to report 181 PAC and corporate contributions:

House Republican Chairman Glen Casada, sponsor of a bill that critics say would undermine the present law, was found to have two unreported $1,000 contributions from political action committees. House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, who staunchly opposed the bill, had more unreported donations than anyone on the list — 18 totaling $19,875.

So Lamar Alexander keeps comparing this Obamacare thing to Iran-Contra:

Host Greta Van Susteren took pains not to quibble with the senator, though she couldn’t help herself from pointing out one detail.

“I would say Iran-Contra involved deaths. It’s a little bit different than here, umm,” she said.

Ah, yes, the deaths thing. That does seem significant.

At least twice in the nearly five-minute interview, Van Susteren suggested the Iran-Contra scandal stemmed from the fact that Oliver North had sold arms secretly to the Islamic Republic of Iran and used the money to fund fighters in Central America linked to death squads.

But Alexander didn’t back away from the comparison.

“The principle’s the same,” he insisted.

Stacey Campfield thinks there should be balance of the political views of speakers on college campuses. Or something.

Rep. Cooper isn't so sure federal money is going to be there for the bus rapid transit project Mayor Karl Dean wants to build. And there's a new opposition group.

“I think his view is that right now with sequestration going on, and until we strike some sort of grand bargain on the deficit, there’s just not a whole lot of extra money floating around out there for projects like this,” Hill said.

A Vanderbilt University School of Law professor says the copyright system in the U.S. needs changing.

Daniel Gervais, FedEx Research Professor of Law and director of the Vanderbilt Intellectual Property Program, testified Thursday before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, telling the august group that the nation’s copyright system needed a “comprehensive modernization.”

“It may indeed be time to embark on the process that will give us the ‘Next Great Copyright Act,’ as was done three times in the past (Copyright Acts of 1790, 1909 and 1976),” Gervais (pictured) told the congressional subcommittee in prepared testimony, according to a university statement released Thursday.

Gervais said America is best when it produces and exports intellectual property — this fact accentuated by the continuing transition to the digital realm.

“It’s time to get our copyright policy right,” Gervais said.

The full version of Gervais’ prepared testimony will be posted at Gervais’ website. Video of the testimony will be posted at the Vanderbilt News and Communication website.

The head of Ft. Campbell's harassment and sexual assault prevention program was relieved of his duties...because he violated an order of protection.

Is Kane the wrestler going to challenge Lamar the senator?

From Reason:

Still pure rumor mill for now, but sources close to the one-time World Heavyweight Champion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar (among many other wrestling honors) who goes by the name "Kane" tell me that Glenn Jacobs (Kane's legal name) is "open to the possibility of considering a primary campaign against Sen. Lamar Alexander" for the Tennessee Senate seat Lamar! has held since 2003.

Two notes from today's bill signings: ignition interlocks are now required for first-time DUI offenders and the Hall and food tax cuts are now law.