NASHVILLE (AP) — TennCare contractors are being forced to accept some of the risk for rising costs in the expanded Medicaid program, a move the state says could save up to $100 million. The change — taking effect next week — comes about three years after the state had to bail the managed care organizations…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / Associated Press Writer Sarah Wharton, 8, examines hair samples from humans and animals during the Dynamic Detectives class held at the Candy Factory Tuesday, June 21, 2005 in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) OAK RIDGE — Using tweezers to pick up bits of string and cotton swabs to collect samples…

TO THE EDITOR: This letter is in response to Mr. Miles Erwin’s comments in Friday’s paper.I think you are very wrong to even insinuate that the employees of Carrier are the reason the company is relocating. As an employee working there for 8-1/2 years, I can tell you the people there worked very hard every…

TO THE EDITOR: As I read Duane Sherrill’s Wednesday “Taking A Stand” column, I couldn’t help but think he’s got some great ideas.Wouldn’t it be great if the city and county would work together and appoint a group of businesspeople whose primary purpose would be to develop new good-paying jobs for our community. While we’re…

By Jim Mullen / Columnist Who was the fool that invented the weed wacker? What kind of sick, twisted mind does it take to think up a labor-causing device? Would anyone really trim around their trees and garages if they had to do it by hand? Most people would let it slide. And face it,…

By Thomas Vaughn / Columnist The saga of Bush and Bolton versus the U.S. Senate continues apace. Last Monday night, the Senate again rebuffed the president’s controversial nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. This is the second time in four weeks the Senate has denied Mr. Bolton an “up or down” vote.However, President…

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — A 14-year-old girl died Saturday after a shark attacked her while she and a companion were swimming in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle, authorities said. The teenagers were swimming on boogie boards about 100 yards offshore when they noticed a dark shadow in the water, authorities said. The…

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s home to Big Bird, Arthur, Bill Moyers and Jim Lehrer — and not normally a source of great controversy. But these days, PBS finds itself at the center of a political uproar over whether public television promotes a liberal agenda. The man alleging the bias is Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, a Republican…

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — As the mystery of a missing Alabama honors student drags on, questions abound about Aruban authorities’ handling of the Dutch Caribbean island’s highest-profile case in decades. Why were the young men last seen with 18-year-old Natalee Holloway left free for days after she disappeared May 30, the last day of a…

By JOHN GEROME / Associated Press Writer Sugarland lead singer Jennifer Nettles sings the group’s hit song “Baby Girl” as member Kristian Bush, background, plays guitar during the 2005 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, June 9, 2005. (AP Photo/John Russell) NASHVILLE — The classic Nashville success story begins with a beat-up guitar and…