This undated photo supplied by the Comedy Central cable channel shows the cast from “Stella,” Michael Ian Black, left, Michael Showalter and David Wain, right. (AP Photo/Comedy Central,Scott Pasfield) NEW YORK (AP) — To hear them talk, it’s no accident that two members of the comedy trio Stella share the same first name. “It was…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most states are reporting lofty high school graduation rates that far exceed reality and mislead the public about how schools are performing, a private analysis found. The majority of states — 36 of them — say 80 percent to 97 percent of their high school students graduate on time, according to state…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee trustees voted Thursday to raise tuition 13 percent for undergraduates in Knoxville and more than 9 percent at two other campuses. The increases were set as part of a $1.3 billion budget that the board also approved for the fiscal year beginning July 1. UT President John Petersen…

MURFREESBORO (AP) — Enrollment at Middle Tennessee State University, which has the state’s largest undergraduate program, is expected to continue growing. MTSU could reach 23,000 students this fall, and enrollment may increase as much as 3 percent by fall 2006, said Bob Glenn, vice president for student affairs and vice provost for enrollment management. Campus…

MEMPHIS (AP) — A dozen candidates have filed to run for the state Senate seat John Ford vacated last month, including his sister, Ophelia Ford. Nine Democrats — including three current state representatives — two Republicans and one independent plan to run for the District 29 Senate seat John Ford gave up after his indictment…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A state Department of Tourism contract awarded to an associate of Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker is being canceled, the department said Wednesday. The two-year, $720,000 contract with Ackermann PR Inc. will be terminated effective Sept. 30, Whitaker confirmed to WTVF-TV of Nashville. The firm is run by Knoxville public relations executive Cathy…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Authorities investigating the defacing of a Muslim holy book found in front of an apartment complex say it may have been a hate crime. The Quran was discovered midday Wednesday by a passerby in the LeNore Garden Apartments complex, which is located in a community largely populated by Islamic immigrants from Somalia.…

MEMPHIS (AP) — The New Madrid seismic zone remains under enough strain to unleash devastating earthquakes, University of Memphis researchers say. The Memphis research team study published in the journal Nature rebuts the conclusions of a Northwestern University researcher’s 1998 report that the dangers of the seismic zone had been “vastly overstated.” The U of…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The state is investigating an abuse complaint against a therapy group in Memphis that claims to turn gay teens into heterosexuals. The Department of Child Services says it received a complaint about Love in Action, which runs an outpatient therapy program. The complaint was screened and enough substance was found to open…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Administration fees for Tennessee’s prepaid college tuition savings program are being lowered, while an option for a guaranteed minimum rate of return and online enrollment have been added, state Treasure Dale Sims said Thursday. The reduction in program fees takes effect immediately, while the guaranteed return option is available July 1, Sims…