NASHVILLE (AP) — A hearing that would determine whether 97,000 TennCare patients can stay on the health care program has been delayed to at least the end of the month, but a federal judge on Monday asked attorneys to try to reach an agreement before then. At issue are modifications to a consent decree that…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A hearing that would determine whether 97,000 TennCare patients can stay on the health care program has been delayed to at least the end of the month, but a federal judge on Monday asked attorneys to try to reach an agreement before then. At issue are modifications to a consent decree that…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will likely recommend up to a 15 percent tuition increase for some of the state’s colleges at its meeting Wednesday, officials said. The expected recommendation is the result of flat state funding this year and rising operating costs, said Jim Vaden, associate executive director of fiscal affairs…

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Wide receiver Kevin Dyson signed with the Washington Redskins on Monday in hopes of returning to the NFL after playing in just one regular season game since the end of the 2002 season. Dyson had 178 receptions for 2,325 yards and 18 touchdowns in parts of six seasons with the Tennessee…

NEW YORK (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks had four enticing options for perhaps the most important draft decision in franchise history. “We feel that there is a very short list of guys that are impact-quality players,” scouting director Mike Rizzo said. “And since we pick No. 1, we plan on picking one of those players.”…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court refused to consider reinstating a lawsuit that accuses federal officials of discriminating against male athletes in enforcing equal opportunities for women. Justices, without comment, rejected an appeal Monday from the National Wrestling Coaches Association and other groups that have been fighting federal policies under the anti-discrimination law known as…

MIAMI (AP) — Adversity again brought out the best in the Detroit Pistons. All indicators suggested the Pistons’ reign atop the NBA was minutes from ending. They trailed the Miami Heat by six points, on the road, midway through the fourth quarter. They were shooting poorly, defending ineffectively, and were hearing the bloodlust of a…

NEW YORK (AP) — Brad Pitt is taking on poverty and AIDS in Africa — and the tabloids. In an hour-long ABC “Primetime Live” special set to air Tuesday night (10 p.m. ET), Pitt talks to Diane Sawyer about the humanitarian crisis in Africa. “I can’t get out of the press. These people can’t get…

NEW YORK (AP) — Russell Crowe was arrested and charged Monday for allegedly throwing a telephone at an employee of the Manhattan hotel where he was staying. Crowe, 41, who plays a boxer in his latest film, “Cinderella Man,” allegedly threw the phone at the concierge at the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, “hitting him in…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of murders fell last year for the first time since 1999, part of a nationwide decline in all types of violent crime, according to FBI data released Monday. Cities with more than 1 million people had the greatest decrease in violent crime, 5.4 percent, while cities under 10,000 saw the…