OnlineDirector UPDATE: We will have Sunday’s edition online by 1 p.m. today. Again, we regret the inconvenience.

By Cokie & Steven Roberts / Columnists “The secretary of state is America’s face to the world,” President Bush declared with his National Security Advisor’s smiling face at his side. It is, of course, the face of a black woman, a first for the nation’s chief diplomat. And that fact is likely to affect how…

By James Clark Local teachers are trying to get some help from the school system to battle their rising health insurance costs. But they aren’t the only ones struggling to afford the soaring price of medical insurance.Some 1.3 million Tennesseans are currently waiting to find out if their TennCare insurance will still be available in…

Our Viewpoint According to current Main Street revitalization plans, the familiar downtown evergreen often referred to as the community’s Christmas tree is scheduled to be chopped down.The plan to remove the tree has apparently been in the works since the early stages of the Main Street project, but the proposal had slipped under the radar…

BABY BOYJessica and Brian Spencer Jr. are the parents of a son they have named Colby Dewayne Mason Spencer. He weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces upon arrival Oct. 20 at River Park Hospital and is the couple’s first child.Grandparents are Terry and Barbara Mason, Elmer and Vicki Honeycutt, all of McMinnville, and Brian Spencer Sr.…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard Don Turner, left, governor of the local Moose Lodge, presents a check to Pacesetters representative Doug Gillentine. (Photo provided) With November designated as National Health and Wellness Month, it seems only fitting that a celebration is in order for Pacesetters clients Brenda Dixon, Gail…

Have you worked hard this week, are you tired of the rat race, or perhaps feeling a little under the weather? Then treat yourself to a mini vacation tonight by enjoying the Community Playhouse production of the high-energy comedy “Noises Off.”Final performances will be held tonight and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the South…

By TERESA M. WALKER / AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE — Steve McNair thinks the time has come for him to play football once again for the Tennessee Titans. The co-MVP of 2003 has missed three starts this season, including the last two games, since bruising his chest once again in the second quarter of a…

By TERESA M. WALKER / AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are about to find out what kind of team they really are. Tied for the NFL’s best record between 1999 and 2003 with playoff berths in four of those five seasons, the Titans (3-6) are living through the worst season since going…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / AP Sports Writer KNOXVILLE — Even though Tennessee can’t start making its travel plans for the Southeastern Conference championship yet, the Volunteers are clearly looking forward to facing Auburn again. No. 15 Tennessee (7-2, 5-1) can clinch a berth in the SEC title game by beating Vanderbilt on Saturday. If…