SEVIERVILLE (AP) — A state prosecutor defended the FBI’s involvement in a major cockfighting raid, saying he was “both surprised and disappointed” by U.S. Rep. Bill Jenkins’ criticism of the bureau’s participation. Jenkins told The Knoxville News Sentinel this week that with the scourge of methamphetamine in East Tennessee and fears over terrorism, “we don’t…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Growing Powerball ticket sales and bigger jackpots don’t mean greater security risks for one of America’s most popular lottery games, according to officials who run the game. A recent security glitch caused a delay in the drawing, but officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs Powerball, said such problems…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen, in a letter to Tennessee Valley Authority officials, is backing the idea of a land swap on Nickajack Lake with a developer. Developer John Thornton says he wants to build resort homes on 528 acres of TVA land in Marion County. In exchange, he is offering 1,100 acres of…

OAK RIDGE (AP) — Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk, the navigator on the airplane that dropped the first atomic bomb is still battling the Japanese 60 years after the end of World War II. Van Kirk, 84, was in Tennessee on Friday for a speech to members of the Manhattan Project Heritage Preservation Association, and upset…

NASHVILLE (AP) — State Democrats picked a Nashville attorney as their new state party chairman on Saturday. Bob Tuke, elected unanimously by party officials from around the state, was the sole announced candidate and was expected to win the slot. Tuke was previously the state’s party treasurer. Democrats decided to have Knoxville attorney Delania Davis…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Former Sen. Robert Dole said Friday the United States must continue to be engaged internationally, including in Iraq and with potentially hostile regimes in North Korea and Iran. “If we do nothing, what happens?” he asked. Dole was the keynote speaker for the Tennessee Valley Homecoming, an event marking the region’s role…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Roughly 1,000 Republicans and contributors gathered here Saturday night, pitching a message of optimism amid high hopes for upcoming state races. The annual Statesmen’s Dinner, held this year at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, is a place for the GOP to motivate the troops and talk about political strategy. At the top of…

Tara Burns, Miss Music City, is crowned Miss Tennessee 2005 by Ashley Eicher, Miss Tennessee 2004, Saturday, June 18, 2005, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tenn. (AP Photo) JACKSON (AP) — Tara Burns won the Miss Tennessee 2005 title Saturday night in the annual pageant held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.…

MEMPHIS (AP) — State epidemiologist Allen Craig said officials have ordered vaccine for the coming flu season and shortages in Tennessee are unlikely. Craig spoke Friday at the National Flu Vaccine Conference hosted by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Southeastern Center for Emerging Biological Threats. Last week one major vaccine supplier,…

Kingsport Times-News U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander has unleashed a storm of controversy among environmentalists over windmills, but we think he is using a commonsense approach.Alexander has introduced legislation that would restrict tax credits for new windmills, and he has asked TVA to place a moratorium on new windmills.Alexander’s bill would give local governments veto power…