WASHINGTON (AP) — Like millions of Americans, William and Sylvia Long of Texas are carrying out an annual spring tradition — rushing to finish their federal income taxes and get them in the mail by Friday’s April 15 deadline. “Anybody who says they don’t mind their taxes is lying,” said Long, a businessman from Ferris,…

NEW YORK (AP) — Irked by the success of the nationwide Day of Silence, which seeks to combat anti-gay bias in schools, conservative activists are launching a counter-event this week called the Day of Truth aimed at mobilizing students who believe homosexuality is sinful. Participating students are being offered T-shirts with the slogan “The Truth…

DALLAS (AP) — The shooting last week of a Texas high school football coach — allegedly by a player’s father — was just the latest and most extreme example of the threats and assaults that teachers around the country say they are increasingly being subjected to by parents. “I know teachers really feel they’re in…

A robotic alarm clock on wheels, that rolls away and hides when it’s time to wake up, is seen in this undated photo provided by Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. (AP Photo/MIT Media Lab) CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Before you hit the snooze button a second time on this alarm clock, you’ll have to…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Strategies the Tennessee Department of Transportation is considering to approach transportation needs over the next 25 years would require an extra $11 billion to $36 billion if fully funded. TDOT is developing a long-range plan to help officials decide how to pay for road, railway, waterway and other public transportation projects. The…

NASHVILLE (AP) — State Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said Monday he’s optimistic about state revenue projections after sales tax collections were $14.8 million more than estimated in March. Sales taxes also came in higher in February, Goetz said. “The sales is 65 percent of what we collect,” said Goetz, adding that Tennessee has been about…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Metro Nashville Police Department’s plan to use a network of surveillance cameras that also could capture audio is being downgraded before it begins. Public pressure over the proposed surveillance network led police to scrap plans for the audio monitoring system that would have allowed officers to randomly eavesdrop on conversations in…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A “conspiracy” among prison guards to smuggle drugs and cell phones to inmates is leading to sophisticated jailhouse drug rings, the Department of Correction commissioner said Tuesday during a legislative hearing. Prison guards earning little more than $20,000 a year are being coerced to traffic drugs and, worse yet, authorities suspect that…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The governor’s preschool initiative took another step forward Tuesday with the House Finance Committee unanimously approving legislation for the proposal. “The momentum has built, and it’s moving very well,” said Rep. Leslie Winningham, D-Huntsville, and a sponsor of the “Voluntary Pre-K for Tennessee Act of 2005.” The pre-K proposal for at-risk 4-year-olds…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Some state rules that limit alcohol advertising infringe on free speech, according to an opinion released Monday by the Tennessee attorney general’s office. Existing Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules “would be subject to serious constitutional challenge on First Amendment grounds,” according to an opinion from the office of state Attorney General Paul…