By MICHAEL HILL / Associated Press Writer NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) — New Paltz’s mayor vowed to go ahead with up to two dozen same-sex weddings this weekend, despite being charged with 19 criminal counts and possibly facing jail time for marrying gay couples. Jason West was scheduled to be in town court Wednesday night…

By ALAN FRAM / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The budgets Republicans plan to start pushing through Congress will cut the federal deficit in half faster than President Bush’s five-year plan, lawmakers and aides said Tuesday. The House and Senate election-year fiscal blueprints will also propose tighter curbs on spending, including for defense, and…

By DEB RIECHMANN / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — America is “breathing down” the necks of terrorists and will never relent, President Bush said Tuesday, marking the first anniversary of the Homeland Security Department. In a speech to some 200 department employees, Bush said the United States was cutting off the terrorists’ money supply,…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Lee Ann Womack and several other country singers have contributed to an upcoming album of Civil War-themed songs. Scheduled for retail release in May, “America Will Always Stand” is the first album of original material ever issued by Time-Life Music, said Cary Baker, a publicist for the project.…

PIGEON FORGE (AP) — Actress Debbie Reynolds will open the Hollywood Motion Picture Museum in this Great Smoky Mountains resort community to display her extensive collection of movie memorabilia, the film star announced Tuesday. “The Hollywood I remember from my early years in the business — the real ‘Golden Era’ — is now gone,” said…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal judge says a Franklin tax adviser has been falsely claiming he is a lawyer, professor and has other credentials. A court order from District Judge Joe Haynes says Daniel Gleason, who runs a company called MyTaxMan, can’t guarantee that customers will receive tax refunds and must stop using a number…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen has appointed a task force to study Tennessee’s welfare-to-work program, Families First. The task force includes researchers, service providers and former clients. It’s part of an effort to secure federal reauthorization of the program in 2007. “Families First has enabled thousands of Tennesseans to become self-sufficient, Bredesen said in…

Mark A. Halcomb / UT Area Nursery Specialist Ambrosia beetle attacks have been sporadic, unpredictable and extremely costly to a few local producers over recent years. Weakened or stressed plants are attacked. They have killed cherry, chestnut, hydrangea, lilac, red maple cultivars, especially October Glory, weeping mulberry, and redbud locally.Adult beetles bore into the wood…

J. Dale Beaty / Extension Leader Cattle and crop prices all trended higher last week, and according to Dr. Delton Gerloff, UT economist, corn prices for the 2004 crop still offer significant upside potential.Last week the December futures price for corn closed at $2.945 Thursday, 11 cents above, the previous week’s. Cash contracts for September…

BABY BOYHarrison Frederick Himelwright arrived Feb. 12 at River Park Hospital weighing 7 pounds, 11.5 ounces. He is the first child of Christina and Brian Himelwright. Grandparents are Alma and Pierre Kuypers of Corpus Christi, Texas, Mary Ann and Fred Himelwright of Kingsport. BABY BOYJason and Mandy Blankenship welcome the birth of their first child,…