By ROSE FRENCH / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — The nation’s largest for-profit hospital operator, HCA Inc., is administering an inexpensive test which detects severe jaundice in newborns that can lead to kernicterus, a condition that can leave babies brain damaged. Nashville-based HCA — which delivers about 5 percent of the 4 million babies born…

LEXINGTON (AP) — Scooter Clippard Jr. said Tuesday he will not seek the Republican nomination for governor next year and is returning to his banking job. Clippard and his employer, Lexington-based FirstBank, jointly announced in April that he was taking a leave of absence to consider whether to run against incumbent Democrat Gov. Phil Bredesen.…

By MATT GOURAS / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — The credit card company responsible for the security breach that exposed 40 million cardholders to possible fraud needs to immediately inform those consumers about the risk, attorneys general from around the country said in a letter released Tuesday. In a terse letter sent to CardSystems Solutions,…

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — State officials are optimistic about sparing 97,000 people from TennCare cuts if they’re able to successfully argue for modification of a key court settlement during a hearing that begins this week, but the leading representative for enrollees is doubtful. “This is not going to…

By MATT GOURAS / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — Four legislators have asked Gov. Phil Bredesen to call a special session to tighten ethics laws, and House Republicans outlined their ideas Tuesday for what could be accomplished. Also Tuesday, a special legislative panel charged with sifting through ethics proposals gathered informally to set a timeline…

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — A leading advocate for separation of church and state said Monday’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court prohibiting the displaying of the Ten Commandments inside courthouses could reactivate a case in Tennessee. In its sharply divided 5-4 ruling, the high court upheld the constitutionality…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A day after the Supreme Court ruled on a pair of cases concerning Ten Commandments displays on public property, a survey by the First Amendment Center shows 70 percent of Americans approve such postings. The survey released Tuesday also reveals that 85 percent would approve if the Commandments are included as “one…

By Tad Bartimus / Columnist The bookkeeper’s voice on the phone was crisp and efficient: “I’m sorry, but your credit card has been declined. We can’t fill your order. If you have any questions, please call Visa.”I was embarrassed, irritated — and scared. The message reminded me that nowadays, instead of wondering whether my credit…

By Morton Kondracke / Columnist While Washington, D.C., is consumed by issues ranging from the important (Iraq) to the downright petty (the recent apology by Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin), there’s something huge lurking out there to really worry about: infectious diseases.The journal Foreign Affairs highlights the threat on the cover of its summer issue,…

By Duane Sherrill / Columnist There was barely a cloud in the sky this past week yet the new $85,000 weather warning siren was sounding due to a policy which is tantamount to crying wolf for the umpteenth time.I take that back. There was a lone drop of rain which hit my windshield as I…