By Cokie & Steven Roberts / Columnists The new pope, Benedict XVI, faces a problem common to many secular leaders. Can he impose a rigid worldview on unwilling followers?The Roman Catholic Church has never pretended to be a democracy. But it is not immune from the laws of human nature, either, so the question is…

By Nat Hentoff / Columnist High school student Drew Toop’s editorial, “You can speak freely — as long as it’s politically correct,” should be read around the nation as a reminder of why we have to remain a free people. The op-ed appeared in the March 29 Yakima Herald-Republic in Yakima, Wash. Parents particularly concerned…

By James Clark / Columnist Some things are just no fun. Getting stung by a wasp. Dropping a heavy piece of furniture on your toe. Eating at Waffle House.Near the top of the list of things that aren’t much fun has to be driving in Murfreesboro. Anyone who has suffered the misfortune of traveling through…

Our Viewpoint As a society, nothing should be more important to us than our children. Our children are our future. They are our family, and not only part of our individual families, but also a part of the family of man, and as such, they deserve our love and our protection. Even more, because of…

BABY GIRLJennifer and Benjamin Rangel welcome the birth of their daughter, Brianna Marie Rangel. She was born March 9 at River Park Hospital weighing 6 pounds, 9.5 ounces. Her grandparents are Mary Farless, Clifford Ward, Lorene Rackley, Maria Asuncion Espanol and Benjamin Rangel of Mexico. BABY GIRLTameria Jenay Martin was born March 9 at River…

On the evening of Friday, April 29, lovers of both the music and art of the Impressionists are in for a treat when the Cumberland County Playhouse and sponsor, The Art Guild of Fairfield Glade, present pianist Andrea Anderson from Los Angeles. Anderson has performed in the United States, China, Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania. Anderson’s…

The band Second Coming will perform at a two-day youth rally tonight and tomorrow at Pioneer Community Baptist Church. The youth rally starts at 7 p.m. each night and will also feature other entertainment. Band members are, from left, Nathan McMinn, Brandon Black, Cotey Tanner, Jeremy McMinn, and Bryan Brown.

Twenty-nine Warren County sixth through eighth grade 4-H members recently learned about all aspects of county and state government by participating in the 4-H Citizenship Tour 2005. The tour involved an intensive six week study of how our county government operates. In order to graduate from the course, participants were allowed to miss only one…

The upcoming marriage of Lora Caroline Smith and John Steven Lewis, both of Cookeville, is being announced. The wedding will be held June 11 at Collegeside Church of Christ in Cookeville.The bride-elect is the daughter of Lucinda Smith; and William L. Smith, Cottonwood, Arizona.The groom-to-be is the son of Steve and Nancy Lewis of Cookeville.Her…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have so many holes on their salary cap-ravaged roster that filling them will be the top priority in the NFL Draft. That doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to be a little extravagant with their first selection, the sixth overall. “For the first pick, it’s not going to be a…