MEMPHIS (AP) — In the process of being robbed for the fourth time in less than a week by the same thieves, 96-year-old Virgil Kindig decided he’d had enough. After escaping from the telephone and electrical cords used to tie him up, Kindig grabbed a pistol hidden nearby and fired twice at one of his…

By PAM EASTON / Associated Press Writer HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas state court judge Monday approved a $149 million settlement of 30 class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of tire owners against Bridgestone-Firestone North American Tire. The settlement, approved by State District Judge Donald Floyd, comes more than three years after the 2000 recall of…

ATLANTA (AP) — BellSouth Corp. plans to eliminate another 778 positions by the end of June, citing low work volume. The jobs being eliminated include technical workers and employees in repair center positions, collections and clerical work, BellSouth spokeswoman LeAnn Hansen said. “Volume of work has decreased,” Hansen said. “Continuing economic pressures and changes in…

By BILL POOVEY / Associated Press Writer CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Tennessee Valley Authority officials said they have yet to tally the employees who met a Monday deadline to apply for voluntary retirement incentives. The voluntary retirement plan is aimed at reducing costs and cutting TVA’s 13,400-employee payroll in advance of planned job cuts. The nation’s…

NASHVILLE (AP) — State lawmakers are being asked to approve new Tennessee Supreme Court rules that would speed adoptions. Currently, if the biological mother or father appeals the termination of parental rights, the appeals process can take as long as two years. That leaves children stuck in limbo. “We think (the wait) is a major…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer KETRON NASHVILLE (AP) — Lawmakers deciding whether to abolish the Department of Children’s Services are appalled at problems found in a scathing audit, but said Monday they will give its new leadership time to make changes. The troubled department, which provides services for children in state custody, is…

By JOHN WAWROW / AP Sports Writer ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Billy Volek visited with the Bills on Monday, the latest candidate to become Buffalo’s potential quarterback of the future. Volek is an unrestricted free agent who spent the past four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, including last year when he emerged as Steve…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / AP Sports Writer KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee made it to the postseason, and the Volunteers will have to win on the road if they want to keep playing. Tennessee (15-13) will play at George Mason on Wednesday in the opening round of the NIT. Losing on the road was Tennessee’s…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / AP Sports Writer KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has made one escape after another this season. The Lady Vols often looked ripe for an upset before pulling out overtime wins, briefly dropped in the polls and stumbled through the Southeastern Conference tournament. Now Tennessee enters the NCAA tournament as the overall…

By SHARON THEIMER / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Have a million bucks to spare? If so, Republicans may want to pass the hat your way. Unaccustomed to playing catch-up in the game of big money politics, GOP activists are struggling to persuade wealthy donors to write seven-figure checks to new outside political groups…