By TOM RAUM / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — They are at each others’ throats already. And there are still nearly eight months to go. The battle between President Bush and presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry could become one of the longest and hardest-hitting of recent U.S. presidential races, and easily will be the…

By RON FOURNIER / AP Political Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Fighting earlier and uglier than usual, President Bush and Democrat John Kerry are in a race to shape the campaign for the White House on their terms — tax cuts and terrorism for Bush, joblessness and change for Kerry. Both camps can taste victory, but…

By MARTHA IRVINE / AP National Writer ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) — Samantha Hennen counts on her fingers as she poses a question to a couple high-school classmates: “How many girls in our class were pregnant before our junior year?” the 18-year-old senior asks. They come up with five, out of about 75 girls. It’s…

With newsprint zipping through the press, Standard press foreman Tim Hogan flips through pages of a section to ensure the quality of the work. What’s two stories tall, 60 feet long and can print over 17,000 newspapers in a hour?The answer is the Southern Standard’s new 10-unit press which is now up and running at…

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard The county’s Safety Committee decided Thursday night to try and find a way to fund several new vehicles for the sheriff’s department this year.The move comes despite a bitter and divisive battle last year over substantial cuts to the sheriff’s department in the 2003-2004…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard In addition to saving millions for Tennessee taxpayers, proposed reforms in the state’s TennCare system could reduce the number of drugs being sold on the street.According to District Attorney Dale Potter, who has joined with fellow district attorney generals across the state in endorsing Gov.…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard POTTER Twelve convicted sex offenders have been targeted for arrest for failing to list themselves with the state sexual offender registry.Round-up of the suspects began Friday as lawmen fanned out around the community to serve the 12 sealed indictments recently rendered by the Warren County…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Clementine Myers, with her attorney Bob Peters, listens as she is sentenced to 20 months in prison for her role in the July 30, 1999 Myers Lane triple murders. Her hopes for full probation were dashed Friday afternoon when the court announced Clementine Myers will…

Plans for the approaching marriage of Stacey Leigh Robinson and Cory Lynn Barrett are being revealed. They will be married May 22 at College Hills Church of Christ in Lebanon.Parents of the betrothed couple include Bill and Shirley Robinson of Watertown, Lindrell and Jeanie Barrett of Readyville and Bobby and Kaye Insell of Gallatin.The bride-elect…

Breaking into country music means more than just packing up and moving to Nashville. Getting a foot in the door can be a difficult task, but veteran country music writer Carolyn Hollaran tells how to push the door wide open in her new book, Country Music Stars Reveal: What It Takes to Get a Break.…