By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan to make workers’ compensation less costly to businesses would reduce benefits significantly for injured employees, but he says it’s necessary to ensure they continue to have work. “It’s about trying to make sure that we remain competitive in our state and…

By TOM SHARP / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Urban school systems retreated from their attack on Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposal to equalize teacher pay after getting assurances the state will look at their concerns over the next year. Three of the state’s four most populous counties — Davidson, Knox and Hamilton — were…

By Morton Kondracke Despite the best efforts of his enemies and the media, President Bush has politically weathered the latest violence in Iraq and implications that he could have stopped the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.Bush’s overall approval rating has taken a hit — his early-April average is 48 percent, down from 54 percent in January…

By Hope Hines I fully realize I have no power to do what I’m about to do, except that I’m a dog owner and lover of all animals, which gives me certain rights, (and responsibilities). Therefore with absolutely no authority vested in me I do hereby proclaim Gizmo to be Saint Gizmo.This makes the 16-year-old…

By Duane Sherrill You know there’s a real problem when a man can’t eat like he wants without being harassed by the rest of the “normal” world.I’m one of those people who eat one thing at a time. You know, one of those freaks who doesn’t know how to eat right. If I’m eating a…

Our Viewpoint Warren County commissioners can’t figure out how much they want to earn.After a comedy routine of suggestions at their regular meeting Monday night, commissioners finally defeated a resolution which would have lowered their overall pay. Yes, lowered it.It was the right move to make considering no one has ever accused commissioners of getting…

As America prepares for the 34th annual Earth Day celebration on April 22, the president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation says, “for farmes and ranchers, every day is Earth Day.” Because its survival depends on the condition of the land and water, agriculture has been a leader in the area, continuously adopting new procedures…

By Mark A. Halcomb / UT Area Nursery Specialist I hope you’re not reading this too late. I did mention this pest briefly several weeks ago.Spray Talstar when the second pair of new leaves have come out and each leaf is about the size of a nickel. More than 2 sprays have been useless on…

By J. Dale Beaty / Extension Leader Tennessee cattle producers are voting on whether to approve and fund a state beef promotion program. According to the Tennessee Agricultural Statistics Service, cattle and calves are the state’s most valuable commodity.Some 51,000 producers across the state generated more than $343 million in farm cash receipts in 2002…

BABY GIRLJeanna and Michael Morton of Morrison are the parents of a daughter, Sarah Elizabeth, who arrived March 30 at River Park Hospital. She weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces.Grandparents are Dennis and Marilyn Cunningham of Morrison, Edward and Novella Morton of McMinnville. BABY GIRLShayla Marie Dykes was born April 4 at River Park Hospital weighing…