NASHVILLE (AP) — A state lawmaker embarrassed about a fracas at a bar near the Capitol added some political pain for himself with an errant claim that the House speaker was also there. Rep. Jim Vincent, R-Soddy Daisy, apologized to House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh for telling a Chattanooga-based Web site that Naifeh was among lawmakers…

The Commercial Appeal WASHINGTON — By all accounts, they are respectful colleagues, collaborating on responses to state issues with joint press releases, and appearing together at weekly “Tennessee Tuesdays” with constituents. Conservative Republicans Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander often share identical views.

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN / AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alan Jackson, who received a leading eight Academy of Country Music nominations Wednesday, can justify celebrating as early as he wants because — as the title of his hit song suggests — “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” The ode to leaving work early for the…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer Jim Nottingham tapes a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in Nashville. The committee approved a bill requiring immediate notification of local police of any death or rape on campus. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) NASHVILLE (AP) — A couple upset with the way East Tennessee State University…

Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS), an international touring theater organization, will visit MTSU on March 18 and 19, where its players will perform Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” at 7:30 nightly on the university’s Tucker Theatre stage.Based at the University of Notre Dame, the AFTLS actors hail from such prestigious theater companies as the Royal…

By Morton Kondracke / Columnist Although Democrats invariably say their party is “pumped” to beat President Bush, primary election turnout numbers don’t confirm it – a factor Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., might consider when he selects his running mate.Total Democratic turnout in the 30 primaries and caucuses through Super Tuesday was 8.85 million according to…

By Hope Hines / Columnist All the great ones know the formula. A man who knows said, “If you want to be great, you have to lengthen your stride. If you just stride so that it’s comfortable, you’ll never improve. You always have to stretch the muscles just slightly. If you lengthen your stride and…

By Duane Sherrill / Columnist Is there anything more irritating in the world, aside from my weekly column, than to put something down and forget where you put it?We’ve all done it at one time or another. We put something away, seemingly in a place where it would be easy to remember, and then it…

Our Viewpoint When two pit bulls attack a local mail carrier, there is cause for alarm and concern.If this story has a reason to give thanks it’s that the post office employee, Nancy Jones, was able to fight her way back to the safety of her vehicle. Then, using her door as a weapon, she…

BABY BOYMatthew Paul Edward Meeks weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces upon arrival Feb. 2 at River Park Hospital.He is the son of Amanda and Eddie Meeks. Siblings include Tayler, Sarah, Ashley, Gabriel, Seth and Lane.The grandparents are Tommy and Angel Powell, Dot and Frank Powell, William and Bernice Parker, Paul and Shirley Meeks, all of…