CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Chattanooga Police Chief Steve Parks is trying to recruit more black police officers, saying the department should reflect the community it protects. “As a department, we’re right at 20 percent African-American, and that figure needs to increase,” Parks said. Department recruiters are visiting colleges, community centers and churches seeking qualified minorities, especially…

MEMPHIS (AP) — Producers of an upcoming movie on the life of Johnny Cash, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash, say they may start shooting in June. The movie biography is titled “Walk the Line,” and is scheduled to cost 20th Century Fox’s “Fox 2000” division roughly $28 million. The movie…

By WOODY BAIRD / Associated Press Writer MEMPHIS (AP) — Protesters gathered on the one-year anniversary of the war in Iraq want the fighting to stop but have broader goals, too. “This is not just about Iraq. This is about a new way of approaching international relations,” said Allan Lummus, 43, of the Mid-South Peace…

By Morton Kondracke Trailing Democrats by more than 20 points on the issue, Republicans ought to think boldly about health care and recommend truly universal insurance coverage — by making it mandatory and paying for it by capping tax deductibility of insurance premiums. For that matter, it’s an idea Democrats could also support. After the…

By Ed Kimbrell Like a perfect storm, the headlines continue to chronicle the woes of education in Tennessee, with little news to brighten our hopes for a better tomorrow.Nashville’s budgetary shortfalls are hammering its schools after several years of apparent progress. Now the projections show the loss of 240 teaching positions and never mind what…

By Will Stewart The Bush administration, by nearly all accounts, runs one of the tightest ships in presidential history. This is especially true in its relations with the press. Case in point is the president’s lack of press conferences. In his three plus years in office Bush has given only about a dozen, the fewest…

The Jackson Sun Gov. Phil Bredesen’s efforts to ban Toughman competitions in Tennessee are misguided. There are far more pressing issues for him to deal with. Besides, there is no evidence these events are any more dangerous than countless other things the public has the right to do.Bredesen’s argument is predicated upon the safety issue,…

Kingsport Times-News There’s a growing medical emergency in this country, but the culprit is not a new virus, though it may be found in the emergency rooms of hospitals. Nationally, the nation’s nearly 4,000 hospital emergency rooms are operating at critical capacity with ER patient visits up more than 16 percent between 1996 and 2001.But…

BABY BOYKatrina Terry and Damion Blake announce the birth of their son, Jacoby Iverson Blake. He was born Feb. 20 at River Park Hospital weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces.He is joined by brother, Isaiah Jones. Grandmothers are Lila Terry and Debra Hampton of Fayetteville. BABY BOYSheila and Jesse Merriman of Doyle welcome the birth of…

The Station – Pure Art announces its spring exhibition featuring the painting of local artist J.T. Sherrill. This will be his first showing in Warren County.“Don’t miss this opportunity to see J.T.’s work,” said Vicki Monroe Spivey, gallery owner.This exhibit will open March 28 with a reception for the artist. Hours for the reception will…