WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush’s push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil. Pentagon officials are reviewing that possibility, and some in Congress agree it needs to be considered. Bush…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) — The federal government’s Hurricane Katrina reconstruction program could pose another leadership challenge for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in year already marked by them. The Tennessee Republican’s performance in shaping and passing the Bush administration’s package could affect his political future after he leaves Congress next year, said Dr. Bruce Oppenheimer,…

By JOHN GEROME / Associated Press Writer FRANKLIN — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta said Friday it will cost about $3 billion to rebuild highways damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Mineta — who spoke after touring a shelter as part of President Bush’s national day of prayer — said about $1.3 billion will be needed…

BENTON (AP) — The Polk County Commission has named a Democratic lawyer from Cleveland, Tenn., to temporarily fill the state House seat given up by Republican Chris Newton after his guilty plea in the Tennessee Waltz corruption probe. The appointment improves the Democrats’ advantage in the state House to 54-45, up from 53-46. The 9-member…

MEMPHIS (AP) — The Tennessee attorney general rejected a Republican request Friday to seize voting machines and investigate a 12-vote Democratic victory for the state Senate seat vacated by former Sen. John Ford. Ford, a Democrat who represented the Senate district in Memphis for 31 years, resigned in May following his indictment on federal bribery…

By ROSE FRENCH / Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE — Corporate headquarters relocation experts say Tennessee has a lot to offer a company looking for a new home while state officials remain tightlipped about a report Nissan Motor Co. may move its North American headquarters from California to Tennessee or Texas. The Japanese automaker is considering…

LUCEDALE, Miss. (AP) — Like any good Southern high school football coach, Don Nelson is prone to throwing his visor to the ground, kicking divots out of the grass and hollering things like “Will you line your dead butt over center?” or “How simple is it to catch the ball?” After Hurricane Katrina, the Gautier…

(AP) — As disappointed as he is to miss out on the Chase for the Nextel Cup championship, four-time NASCAR champ Jeff Gordon still has some goals for the last 10 races of 2005. Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the highest-profile drivers to miss out on the 10-man, 10-race Chase, but Gordon and his…

LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — It’s been a long time since Rusty Wallace had a legitimate shot at a championship, and the longtime NASCAR star is excited by the prospect. Sure, this season is “Rusty’s Last Call,” his final year as a driver, but the 1989 champ of what was then the Winston Cup series, is…

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA will not grant automatic waivers of its transfer rules for athletes affected by Hurricane Katrina. The association has relaxed some rules to help the athletes, but the NCAA said Friday it will consider transfer waivers case-by-case and take into account how the moves will affect the athletes, their new schools…