By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — Former Nashville mayor Phil Bredesen won a second chance at the governor’s mansion Thursday with a sweep in the Democratic primary against Randy Nichols and Charles Smith.With 89 percent of precincts reporting, Bredesen had 386,808 votes or 79 percent, compared to 33,347 votes for Nichols and…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard SLATTON Sheriff Jackie Matheny had no trouble achieving a third term as Warren County’s chief law enforcement officer as he was voted in by a three-fourths mandate of the electorate, carrying all 21 precincts with 7,728 votes.Taking 74 percent of the vote over his three…

By BILL POOVEY / Associated Press Writer BOWLING CROSSVILLE — Democratic state Sen. Lincoln Davis and Republican Tullahoma alderwoman Janice Bowling won their primaries for Tennessee’s 4th Congressional District seat, which both parties consider key to control of the U.S. House.With 80 percent of precincts reporting, Davis, a veteran legislator from Pall Mall, had 37,942…

By George Plagenz / Columnist It’s called the “rapture,” and there are Christians who take this Bible prophecy literally.Some believers have even pasted instructions on the dashboards of their cars, telling passengers what to do if the driver of the car should suddenly be whisked from behind the steering wheel and transported to heaven.The passengers…