By DUNCAN MANSFIELD / Associated Press Writer KNOXVILLE (AP) — The questions are expected to get harder as the field of candidates narrows in the University of Tennessee’s unusually open search for its next president. The first round of interviews with nine hopefuls was to be completed Thursday with an appearance by Kenneth Olden, 65,…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The House sent legislation to Gov. Phil Bredesen Wednesday that would prohibit overweight people from suing the food industry for causing their obesity. The bill, called the “Commonsense Consumption Act,” specifies that civil immunity is granted to manufacturers, packers, distributors, sellers and advertisers of food from people claiming weight gain or obesity…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to abolish “toughman” and “badman” fighting competitions in Tennessee. The ban was proposed by Gov. Phil Bredesen’s administration, which says the bouts are too dangerous to participants. Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, said there are no standards set for competitors, so that professional athletes and martial arts experts end…

By JOHN GEROME / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — It’s a good thing Eric Clapton invited Vince Gill to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas this June, because Gill would have a hard time staying away if he wasn’t. “It sounds like something I’d like to go to anyway even if I…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer MATHENY NASHVILLE (AP) — A bill that would allow Coffee County to tax tickets to the Bonnaroo music festival was killed for the year by a House subcommittee Wednesday. The bill died in the House Finance Budget Subcommittee after it failed to produce a motion for consideration by…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — A House subcommittee defeated a resolution proposing to amend the Tennessee Constitution to limit abortion rights, but it might not be dead. After nearly an hour of debate Wednesday in a room packed with vocal supporters and opponents, the five women on the Public Health…

By MATT GOURAS / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Restrictive enrollment caps at state universities may have to go as student applications surge because of the lottery scholarship program, officials say. A plan in front of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission on Thursday would raise the caps at universities roughly 12 percent — a…

By TOM SHARP / Associated Press Writer Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen talks with reporters on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo) NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen warned against overly optimistic spending in advance of Thursday’s State Funding Board meeting, which will determine how much money the state can budget for the…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Motorists could be stopped by police and ticketed if they or their front-seat passengers aren’t wearing seat belts, according to legislation approved Wednesday by a House committee. Currently, a motorist can be cited for failing to wear a seat belt only if stopped for another…

GATLINBURG (AP) — A new report by the National Parks Conservation Association on the future of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park paints a dire picture. “This park is beginning to die,” said Tom Kiernan, the conservation group’s president. “This assessment clearly shows the park is in danger, and its long-term viability is at risk.”…