Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam: Deal to open national parks came too late

Arkansas-Tennessee Live Blog
photo Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Gov. Bill Haslam says a deal to open national parks in Tennessee for the weekend came too late for the state to send money to the federal government.

Haslam told reporters after an economic development announcement in Clarksville today that talks finally reached their conclusion just before 5 p.m. on Friday, with the federal government saying the state would have to wire the money in order for the parks to open.

The governor said that banks were already closed at that point. Haslam did not say how much it would cost the state to give the public access to areas like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which have been closed as part of the partial shutdown of the federal government.

The governor said talks will resume this week.

Upcoming Events