NASHVILLE (AP) — A vocational school, a lending institution and an insurance company are trading accusations in federal lawsuits over loans to students learning how to drive tractor-trailer rigs. The Commercial Driver Institute operates several schools teaching adults how to drive 18-wheelers. The lawsuits began when CDI schools sued now-bankrupt Student Finance Corp., a firm…

Kingsport Times-News Should TennCare cover methadone treatment? Two Northeast Tennessee lawmakers don’t think so and are trying to stop TennCare from paying for it.

NASHVILLE (AP) — General aviation airports across the state are tightening security using $1 million in federal grants distributed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division. The small, regional airports provide a range of services, including weekend pleasure flights, commercial cargo delivery and corporate travel. Under the program, Tullahoma airport for example has received…

NashvilleCityPaper.com In an unusual step for broadcast radio, legendary country station WSM-AM is converting some of its free online programs to a paid subscription service.

By TOM SHARP / Associated Press Writer Sen. David Fowler, R-Signal Mountain, discusses his abortion amendment with members of the Senate during a afternoon session in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, March 8, 2004. (AP Photo/John Russell) NASHVILLE (AP) — The state Senate debated 90 minutes Monday on a resolution specifying that the state constitution contains no…

By SCOTT REEVES / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Fifty-seven percent of Tennesseans have a positive opinion about Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ” and 60 percent said it wouldn’t make others anti-Semitic, a poll conducted by Middle Tennessee State University found. Sixty-four percent of self-described Evangelicals had a favorable opinion of…

MURFREESBORO (AP) — The faculty senate of Middle Tennessee State University decided not to seek a staff vote on the leadership of school President Sidney McPhee, still struggling to move beyond a sexual harassment complaint against him. The senate voted 38-11 Monday night to adopt its steering committee’s position that it’s inappropriate for a full…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — While colleges are ready to accept tuition payments funded by Tennessee’s lottery, that doesn’t mean tickets for the games of chance will be sold on state campuses. About 65,000 students are expected to attend state universities this fall on lottery-funded scholarships, and some students see a conflict in no on-campus ticket sales.…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Charities could not hire professional companies to run their fund-raising raffles under a compromise agreed to Monday by the governor and lawmakers. The agreement comes after several weeks of discord over three bills to allow nonprofit charities to hold gambling fund-raisers, starting this year. Gov.…

By TOM WITHERS / AP Sports Writer BEREA, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback situation isn’t getting any clearer — just crazier. “I don’t know what’s going on, or what’s going to happen,” Tim Couch said. Join the club. On Monday, as he awaited another contract proposal from the Browns, Couch was surprised to…