NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s latest crime statistics show slightly more than 2,700 amphetamine drug offenses for 2004, a number that even officials there say is underreported. “The reason we don’t think the number of meth cases is completely accurate is because that figure includes all amphetamines,” TBI spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson said.…

MEMPHIS (AP) — Judge Rita Stotts found an unwed teenage mother in her courtroom earlier this year seeking approval for an abortion without her parents’ consent. The Shelby County Circuit Court judge was amazed that state law allowed it — and it was up to her to decide. “I demanded to see the statute because…

NEW YORK (AP) — Homeowners who missed the refinancing boom of 2002-03 have another crack at it while mortgage rates hover below 6 percent. “The planets are aligned right now,” said Anthony Hsieh, president of LendingTree.com, an online mortgage site. Hsieh pointed out that the prevailing rate of about 5.75 percent for a 30-year, fixed…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Economic activity expanded at a decent pace in the last two months, although improvements in some parts of the country and in some business sectors appeared spotty. That was the latest picture emerging from the Federal Reserve’s nationwide survey of economic conditions, released Wednesday. Most of the Fed’s 12 regional districts “characterized…

SMYRNA (AP) — Before Mercedes, BMW, Saturn, Toyota, or Hyundai built their automotive plants in the Southeast, there was Nissan’s facility — which is making waves again in the industry in this region with its plans to build the company’s first hybrid vehicle. Nissan’s plant debut in 1980 in this town about 20 miles outside…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. announced Friday it has picked its assembly plant in Tennessee for production of its first more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle. The company is entering the hybrid market behind some of its competitors but still expects to sell as many as 50,000 gas-electric Altimas for the 2007 model year — a…

Shift leader Marco Hernandez, left, helps his brother Ian Hernandez with a computerized English learning game during a break at Cracker Barrel restaurant in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, May 4, 2005. (AP Photo/John Russell) NASHVILLE (AP) — Cracker Barrel was first accused of mistreating minorities nearly 15 years ago. Numerous lawsuits and a federal inquiry later,…

By James Clark Rickey Butcher, left, and Chad Coppinger shoot a game of pool at Highlights Sports Grill on Sparta Highway. The two are co-owners of the restaurant which officially opened Friday. Fathers around the country rejoice! It’s a great day to be alive.Since it’s Father’s Day, the one and only day set aside just…

Smithville resident Elder T.Z. Turner, 77, died June 18 at DeKalb Hospital in Smithville after an extended illness.A retired foundry worker and a member of Mt. Hope The Baptist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army.The son of the late Hebron and Elmer Turner, he was preceded in death by brothers, J.P. and…

ATLANTA (AP) — Credit card users, don’t fret. Only a small fraction of the 13.9 million credit cards accounts at MasterCard exposed to possible fraud were considered at high risk, the company said Saturday. MasterCard International Inc. spokeswoman Jessica Antle said only about 68,000 of its card holders are at “higher levels of risk.” And…