McMinnville resident and Overton County native Lula M. Martin Basham, 75, died April 23 at Hospice House in Cleveland, Ohio.A receptionist with the UCHRA and a member of the Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Foster Winton and Sally Elizabeth Qualls Norrod; and was preceded in death by husbands, Frank Benton Martin in 1985,…

Manchester resident and Warren County native Johnnie Ruth Fisher, 82, died April 24 at Manchester Medical Center.A member of Pleasant Knoll Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late John M. and Medla St. John Prater; and was preceded in death by her husband, James Clayton Fisher; one brother and one sister.She is…

By DUNCAN MANSFIELD / Associated Press Writer KNOXVILLE (AP) — Regal Entertainment Group, the country’s largest movie exhibitor, plans to expand its reach in the Northeast and into Hawaii by acquiring 37 theaters with 384 screens. The deal announced Tuesday includes all the holdings of San Ramon, Calif.-based Signature Theatres’ holdings. Signature operates 26 theaters…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Former state Rep. Ronnie Davis has been sentenced to 26 months in prison after pleading guilty to four felony charges. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Echols recommended that Davis, 60, of Newport be sent to a federal prison in Beckley, W.Va., that offers treatment for drug addiction. “I would just like to…

JACKSON (AP) — A rainy April hasn’t hurt West Tennessee crops, say corn, cotton and wheat farmers. April has been one of the wettest on record in the area in 20 years, said William Brantley, a certified spotter for the National Weather Service in Memphis. Crockett County farmer Steve Bailey said most corn crops are…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman is headed toward the House floor for a vote. With no discussion, the bill was approved on a voice vote Tuesday by the House Finance Committee. Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said his resolution would insert current state…

By KARIN MILLER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Despite concerns about enabling racial profiling by police officers, the House Finance Committee narrowly approved a bill Tuesday allowing motorists to be stopped if they aren’t wearing seat belts. Currently, an adult motorist can be cited for failing to wear a seat belt only if…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Charities whose applications to hold gambling fund-raisers were rejected by the secretary of state would get a second chance under legislation approved Tuesday in a state House subcommittee. Rep. Harry Tindell, who sponsored legislation authorizing the events, helped write the new bill after 48 of…

By AMBER McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Legislation reforming the state’s financially mushrooming TennCare program cleared its last committee hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday and is headed for consideration by the full chamber. The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved the measure, which was later approved by the House Commerce Committee after…

By William Rusher It’s a little hard to remember, now, that George H.W. Bush took a brutal 10-year beating from the American public for calling off our attack on Iraq after he had ousted its troops from Kuwait. He should have finished the job, many said, there and then, by occupying Baghdad and toppling Saddam…