NASHVILLE (AP) A federal judge let a well-known civil rights attorney enter into the touchy legal debate over TennCare, saying people who may lose their health insurance under a return to basic Medicaid have a right to be part of ongoing negotiations. The order from U.S. District Judge John Nixon, who last week informally suggested…

Ingrid Canterbury How do I love the South? Let me count the ways ? To Yankees, especially when we first arrive, certain things about the South and the people who live here can be disconcerting. Upon closer examination, these qualities are precisely what convince us to stay. The pace, to the northerner, at first seems,…

Cokie & Steven Roberts We love the House of Representatives. Cokie’s parents, Hale and Lindy Boggs, belonged to that body for a total of almost 50 years. Cokie’s seventh birthday party was held in the House dining room. As reporters, we both spent many fruitful years covering Capitol Hill. So it pains us deeply to…

Our Viewpoint Based on the reports coming from Capitol Hill, it appears Gov. Phil Bredesen is doing an admirable job in his quest to run the state with a sense of fiscal responsibility. Sometimes that means making choices with severe ramifications and the governor’s current TennCare dilemma certainly fits that description. Bredesen has said he…

Joan Ryan Adding a 28th Amendment to the Constitution to allow foreign-born citizens to run for president isn’t about him, though this news could come as a surprise to the California governor. One look at those worshipful “Amend for Arnold’ commercials and “Operation Arnold’ Web sites, and even the most humble megalomaniac might imagine himself…

By Janice M. Howard raftsman Nolberto Gillespie weaves cordage from fibers to be used to lace woodland gathering baskets made from tulip poplar bark. Throngs of people from Warren, surrounding counties and beyond converged on the Civic Center Nov. 19 and 20 for the 35th annual Warren County Arts and Crafts Fair. A constant flow…

Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: I am a 13-year-old girl in eighth grade. My mom comes home from work an hour later than I do. She leaves a list of chores for my brother and me. Annie, I have over two hours of homework every night. When Mom comes home, she expects everything…

Betty Crocker Dear Betty, We’re going to several holiday parties where I have to bring an appetizer. Any ideas? Porterville, Calif. Since you’ve got several parties to attend, I’m going to suggest an old appetizer favorite — a cheese ball — but with a new twist. Here’s why: you can make all the cheese balls…

Many people argue that the holidays have become too commercial and materialistic. After all, you often see holiday decorations and advertisements as early as October. While everyone purchases gifts, attends parties and sends out cards, deeper sentiments are often lost in the shuffle. This year, make an effort to slow down and create some thought-provoking…

Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, My husband just turned 75 last month and his driving bothers me. He drives very jerky and doesn’t pay much attention to what he’s doing and I don’t like being in the car with him. He says he drives as well as he always has, which by the way, has…