NASHVILLE (AP) — Gas customers can be charged on an ongoing basis for the amount gas companies lose to unpaid bills, state regulators decided. The Tennessee Regulatory Authority chose Monday to let the three large, privately owned gas companies in the state pass unpaid gas bills on to other customers on an ongoing basis. Before,…

By SCOTT REEVES / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich continued to call for an end to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization at campaign stops Tuesday in Nashville. Kucinich, trailing by wide margins in the polls, vowed to stay in the race to advocate…

By DUNCAN MANSFIELD / Associated Press Writer KNOXVILLE (AP) — John Edwards and Wesley Clark spent more time campaigning in Tennessee, but Democratic primary voters saw John Kerry as the best choice to challenge President Bush, according to an Associated Press exit poll. The Massachusetts senator won broadly Tuesday across most demographic lines — among…

By Hope Hines / Columnist Thanks to Janet Jackson, almost 90 million people saw, on TV, what our children have been seeing, on MTV, for years. And, guess what? The only people shocked by Justin Timberlake’s “grip-it, and rip-it” stunt were the grown-ups, most of whom, never take the time to monitor MTV so they…

By William Rusher / Columnist The disgruntled mutterings about President Bush in conservative circles are getting too loud to ignore. From National Review to The Heritage Foundation, not to mention such libertarian redoubts as The Cato Institute, the grumbling is reaching impressive levels. It doesn’t (yet) amount to outright rebellion. The protesters are still on…

By Duane Sherrill / Columnist Silly me. All these years I thought I was supposed to make up my own mind about who to vote for based on who would do the best job.But, it seems I’ve got it all wrong if I’m reading the Democratic race for president correctly. Instead of voting for the…

Our Viewpoint In rallying American troops for war with Iraq, President Bush made many bold statements about Saddam Hussein’s access to nuclear weapons.In a speech delivered in October 2002, Bush said, “If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today — and we do — does it make any sense for the world to wait…

The engagement of Cristi Lynn Womack and Brian Edward Waters is being announced. The couple is planning a March wedding.The bride-elect is the daughter of Carolyn R. Harper of Rossville, Ga. and C. Douglas Womack of McMinnville. She is the granddaughter of Maudell Womack, the late Austin Womack and Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Poss, all…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard There will be 28 little girls, ages 3 to 6, who will be competing for the title of Little Miss Valentine during the 37th annual pageant being sponsored by Morrison Ruritan.This popular event will take place Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at Morrison Elementary…

In presenting an original children’s play that is rich in national heritage, MTSU Theatre will call upon Paul Bunyon, Pecos Bill, Mike Fink, Annie Christmas and Slue Foot Sue – all heroes of America’s tall tales – when it delivers “American Tall Tales” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 on the stage at the…