WASHINGTON (AP) — A private commission trying to restore public confidence in national elections recommended on Monday requiring a free photo ID for voters, drawing opposition from Democrats and some voting rights activists. Critics suggested that having to acquire the ID cards in order to vote could be an obstacle for minorities, the poor and…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush’s supporters want him to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor with a rock-solid conservative jurist, but Bush’s low poll numbers have given liberals hope he’ll nominate a moderate to avoid a raucous fight in the Senate. “The real question is, `What is he trying to accomplish here? How much does…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush said he was concerned that Tropical Storm Rita could hit the already devastated Gulf Coast as he prepared for a fifth trip to the region to survey hurricane recovery efforts. A day after helping pressure New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin to stop the reopening of the city, Bush on Tuesday…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee attorney general’s office has called for an investigation to determine whether Atmos Energy Corp. is overcharging its customers more than $10 million annually for natural gas service. Attorney General Paul Summers said Atmos’ delivery costs have declined significantly over recent years due to lower interest rates and corporate down-sizing in…

MEMPHIS (AP) — The Republican business owner who lost a special election for state Senate by 13 votes to Ophelia Ford has requested all records related to the election to determine if he will contest the results. Terry Roland sent a letter to the Shelby County Election Commission on Monday seeking all ballots, records and…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Enrollment at Tennessee’s public colleges and universities is going up this year but not like the surge in 2004 when the number of students grew more than in the previous decade, officials say. Total enrollment in the Tennessee Board of Regents and the University of Tennessee systems rose 2.1 percent in 2004,…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen named a second woman to the Tennessee Supreme Court on Monday by picking Cornelia Clark, the current director of the state’s court system, for an open post. Clark, 55, becomes the fourth woman to serve on the state Supreme Court, and joins Justice Janice Holder as the second woman…

By GARY TANNER / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — The state Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities has ordered the closing of what it calls two unlicensed personal care facilities run by a Christian group that counsels gays to give up homosexuality. The state inspected two facilities in Memphis on Aug. 19 and determined…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — A blocked field goal, an ill-advised fake punt and a fumbled punt probably were enough to doom the Tennessee Volunteers at Florida. Another poor showing by their offense was the final blow. After the 17-6 loss, the No. 10 Vols are trying to find quick answers as they prepare for another tough…

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer on Monday named Erik Ainge the starting quarterback against LSU in hopes of getting the Volunteers’ offense rolling. Tenth-ranked Tennessee lost 16-7 at Florida, and now heads to Baton Rouge, La., as the No. 3 Tigers’ first Southeastern Conference opponent on Saturday. The Vols’ offense has sputtered in…