WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress’ agenda for the remainder of the year has changed dramatically in the last few days, as lawmakers vowed to help Gulf Coast hurricane victims and senators faced a confirmation decision for a new chief justice — rather than an associate justice of the Supreme Court. The House and Senate met briefly…

By RON FOURNIER / AP Political Writer WASHINGTON — President Bush chose the path of least resistance in nominating John Roberts as chief justice, acting with unusual haste as the war in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina sap his political strength. He was the safest choice Bush could make. Roberts is a Washington insider well versed…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush is spending much of his time these days on relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina after his administration was harshly criticized for an initial response to the storm called slow and inadequate. Visiting the devastated region again Monday, Bush tried to repair tattered relations with Louisiana’s Democratic governor, Kathleen…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush’s decision to nominate John Roberts as the nation’s 17th Supreme Court chief justice raises the stakes of the upcoming Senate confirmation hearings, with lawmakers now asked to pass judgment on a man who could lead the nation’s highest court for decades. Republicans say nothing has changed, that Roberts is the…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Several lawmakers say they’ve been inundated with calls from people having problems getting their medicines through Tenncare’s “safety net” drug program. The complaints have led a number of lawmakers to question the state paying $11.4 million to St. Louis-based Express Scripts to provide the drug program — some of whose services are…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Since a state-funded lottery hotline began handling calls from people with gambling additions this spring, at least 14 people have called seeking help, officials say. Tennessee’s 2-year-old lottery, however, is still relatively new and that number could increase as people are just now developing compulsive gambling problems, according to Stacy Bernard, a…

By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II / Associated Press Writer MURFREESBORO — School teacher Cheryl Schmidt said she supports the governor’s effort to expand preschool in Tennessee because she’s seen the results. She taught at Northfield Elementary in Murfreesboro, which has been running a pre-kindergarten program since 1999 as part of the state’s voluntary pilot program.…

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Bob Stoops found much to dislike in Oklahoma’s season-opening performance. No consistent running game. Poor pass protection. Errant throws. And in the interest of fairness, he said the coaching also left something to be desired in a 17-10 loss to TCU on Saturday. “They outplayed us and outcoached us as a…

MEMPHIS (AP) — DeAngelo Williams, the best running back in Memphis history, begins his final season farewell tour Monday trying to spoil the debut of Mississippi coach Ed Orgeron. The two scenarios, plus the long rivalry between the schools, was attractive enough to draw the national stage of ESPN. The Labor Day afternoon game will…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford and Kyle Wright, his counterpart from Miami, are about to take center stage in one of college football’s greatest rivalries. Both will be making his first career start Monday night when the ninth-ranked Hurricanes open the season against the 14th-ranked Seminoles. What a way to make…