NASHVILLE (AP) — State Democratic Party Chairman Randy Button said Tuesday he’s stepping down to return to his business and spend time with his family in East Tennessee. “I’ve been away from my family for 2 1/2 years,” said the 45-year-old Roane County native, who has three children. “I also want to get back to…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — A Knoxville man argued that he could have gotten a lighter sentence had authorities arrested him on federal drug charges two years sooner. Gregory E. Smith received a mandatory 10-year prison sentence Monday in U.S. District Court. He was already the focus of a federal investigation when he was caught in August…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A condemned killer is challenging Tennessee’s method of lethal injection, which includes a drug forbidden in the euthanasia of animals. The lawyer for Abu-Ali Abdur’Rahman, 54, will argue before the state Supreme Court on Wednesday. He said the case over the steps taken to execute inmates — called the death penalty protocol…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld taking blood from felons to sample their DNA, saying a prisoner’s right to privacy is outweighed by the need to solve crimes. The ruling Friday was the first to test Tennessee’s law requiring felons to submit blood for DNA testing and establishing the process…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A string of new ethics complaints was sent to legislative ethics committees Tuesday, asking for the removal of three lawmakers charged in a federal corruption probe. The complaints were filed by Clarksville resident Barry Schmittou, a frequent filer of complaints on everybody from the governor on down. The Senate Ethics Committee has…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The two lobbyists wrapped up in the federal corruption sting targeting lawmakers face a state hearing over their activities. But the Registry of Election Finance, which regulates lobbying and campaign finance issues, said it hasn’t been told if one of them was working as an FBI informant on behalf of E-Cycle Management…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A former legislator from Memphis with a long history of trouble over his revoked law license was hauled into the Tennessee Supreme Court in shackles. It was the first time the court could remember that a law license dispute escalated to the point where police had to bring a defendant into court…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — If any state lawmakers indicted in the federal “Tennessee Waltz” bribery case decide to try a legislative privilege defense in court, they won’t be the first. They also may not be successful. That legal strategy was a loser in 1980 for a state senator charged in a corruption case, and both a…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — State Rep. Frank Buck spoke with FBI agents at least three years ago about former state Sen. John Ford “bragging” about taking consulting fees, the Dowelltown Democrat said. Buck, who has crusaded for ethics changes in the state Legislature, said he’s not sure if his tip was the one that spawned the…

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard COLLIER For 23 years, when Bonnie Collier went to work, she was surrounded by children.Now the longtime teacher and principal is making a move to the school system’s central office as the new professional and community development coordinator. Collier is filling a job last done by…