By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard LANCE A year after leaving Warren County Schools for more money and better benefits, veteran educator Anita Lance has been named a 2004 Teacher of the Year by Rutherford County Schools.A content reading teacher at Rutherford County’s Daniel McKee Alternative School, Lance was nominated for…

Charles W. Johnson photo There’s nothing like a colorful bed of tulips and a pretty little lady like Lilly Marttala, 6, to make for a glorious afternoon.

Gov. Phil Bredesen released yesterday the 2004-2005 Transportation Improvement Program for the state. The proposal contains 58 individual road construction projects located in 44 counties, including the four-lane to Woodbury project in Warren County.“This year’s transportation plan will focus on maintaining our roads, improving safety on our highways, and developing our transportation system to spur…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Even though Gov. Phil Bredesen doesn’t take his salary, a gesture of good will given the state’s financial woes, the federal government says it still wants its cut. Bredesen declared after taking office that he would not accept his $85,000 salary as the state faced major budget cuts. He is a multimillionaire…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A bill to institute a 24-hour waiting period and other restrictions on abortion in Tennessee will begin legislative debate next week. The bill by Sen. Roy Herron, D-Dresden, and Rep. Phillip Pinion, D-Union City, was approved by the House’s Late Bills Committee this week. The Late Bills Committee, consisting of House Speaker…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Lottery officials gave the state nearly $64 million Thursday to fund college scholarships. The transfer of $63,774,000 from the Tennessee Education Lottery Corp. to the bank account for scholarships represents the profits since the first scratchoff tickets were sold Jan. 20. “It’s the most…

By MATT GOURAS / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — A plan to funnel more high school graduates into community colleges received a temporary setback Thursday when state officials decided to raise enrollment caps at state universities. The enrollment caps were put in place a few years ago as an attempt to get more students…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee’s financial outlook for the remainder of the year is rosy and next year looks good — just not quite as strong, economists said Thursday. Even if growth slows significantly, the state can expect to collect about $37 million more than budgeted before the current…

By Cokie & Steven Roberts In a week when it’s hard to think about much else besides income taxes, is there anything that could possibly make you feel better about paying them? We found the answer to that question in this godforsaken corner of the Earth.A former republic of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has lived…

By George Plagenz You might think that asking what the Prohibition Party stands for is like asking who is buried in Grant’s Tomb. Actually they are both trick questions. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant is buried in Grant’s Tomb, of course, but so is his wife, Julia Dent Grant, and unless you included her in your…