NASHVILLE (AP) — Three people who served on a panel that studied Tennessee’s tax system say the process was rushed and members didn’t get a chance to vote on anything but a state income tax. “It wasn’t a very democratic process,” said Julius Johnson, chief administrative officer of the Tennessee Farm Bureau. Earlier this month,…

By NANCY ZUCKERBROD / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — If your holiday shopping spree included big-ticket items, you might want to hang on to those receipts. For the first time in about two decades, Tennesseans will be able to deduct their state sales taxes from their 2004 federal taxes. Members of Congress from Tennessee pushed…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee’s Public Records Law does not apply to the Legislature, specifically allowing allegations of sexual misconduct by lawmakers and their staff to remain confidential, a judge has ruled. The ruling by Davidson County Chancellor Claudia Bonnyman comes two years after the state Court of Appeals ruled that the Legislature is exempt from…

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — Tonya Mahan’s future seemed hopeless. Her nine-year addiction to methamphetamine had sent her to jail, isolated her from family and driven her to the brink of suicide several times. “I didn’t have anywhere to go,” said Mahan. “I had used up all my resources.…

MC MINNVILLE (AP) — The idea for a New Year’s Eve vigil for the troops grew out of a conversation among friends at a coffee shop just a couple of weeks ago. Connie Ditmore said she never imagined that 300 people would show up. “We were just petrified that there would only be 10 of…

McMinnville resident and Murfreesboro native James Lester Murphy died Dec. 30 at River Park Hospital of a sudden illness.A self-employed handyman, he was preceded in death by his parents Tommy Murphy and Lilly Merriman.He is survived by his wife Anna Johnson Murphy, four stepchildren: Dorothy Murphy, Patricia Murphy and Jamie Harper all of Nashville and…

Ray and Linda Witherington, who are associated with Midnight Cry Ministries, will lead a one-night rally Jan. 7 in the Civic Center meeting rooms following a special Country Gospel Concert before the services. The rally portion will begin at 7 p.m.Witherington, headquartered in Townville, S.C., recently conducted services in Kenya Africa and Botosani, Romania after…

Mr. and Mrs. Joshua David Walker were honored at a reception following their marriage at Trinity Baptist Church in Manchester. The bride is the former Amanda Jane Fibelkorn. Amanda Jane Fibelkorn became the bride of Joshua David Walker in a recent ceremony taking place at Trinity Baptist Church in Manchester.The bride is the daughter of…

It’s human nature to seek a quick fix, a diet that will take off pounds easily and safely with minimal effort. But studies show that people who want to optimize their weight loss — and those who stand the best chance of keeping the pounds off — must do more than transform their eating habits.…

By Janice M. Howard / Style Editor for the Southern Standard Working out on stationary bicycles, firemen Jonathan Gaither, left, and Mike Troglen keep physically fit by routinely working out in the Civic Center weight room. You have good intentions as you begin setting goals to make 2005 a year of healthy living and laying…