WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people out of work because of Hurricane Katrina has reached 279,000, and many more job losses are expected because of Hurricane Rita. The lost jobs, coupled with surging energy prices, are expected to deliver a sharp blow to overall economic growth in the second half of this year. Also…

NASHVILLE (AP) — A Cookeville-based medical equipment supplier has agreed to reimburse the Medicare and Medicaid health insurance programs a total of $930,000 through a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, officials said Thursday. Allied Home Medical Inc., the leading supplies of power wheelchairs in Tennessee, was alleged to have submitted claims for medically unnecessary…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. is considering moving its North American headquarters to the Nashville area, a top company executive said, confirming reports that the automaker is looking to relocate to Tennessee or Texas. Jed Connelly, senior vice president of sales and marketing and a member of Nissan North America’s management committee, told The…

MEMPHIS (AP) — The new owners of Elvis Presley Enterprises are making a first move toward an expansion from Memphis by buying an Elvis museum in Las Vegas. But they expect to close the independently run museum and no firm outline has been drawn for what will replace it. “There are no specific plans,” Ed…

Smithville resident Wilma Lorene Vanatta, 84, died Sept. 28 at DeKalb Hospital after an extended illness.A retired Shirt Factory employee and a member of Bethlehem Community Church, she was the daughter of the late Jim and Mary Jane Cripps Page, and was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Vanatta; daughter, Fay Pedigo; son, Mark…

Manchester resident and Warren County native Robert Eucle Elkins, 81, died Sept. 27 at Manchester Health Care after an extended illness.A retired farmer and a member of Grace Baptist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.The son of James Franklin and Violet Johnson Elkins, he is survived by wife,…

Spencer resident and native Johnny Eugene Delong, 44, died Sept. 29 at White County Hospital after a two-week illness.A Baptist and a member of the Masonic Lodge, he was the son of Jim and Imogene Delong of Spencer; and is survived by children, James Nicholas and Beth Delong, Johnny Colter Delong and Jayden Drew Delong,…

McMinnville resident and White County native Gertie Lee Kirby, 83, died Sept. 21 at her home.A grocery store merchant, she was the daughter of Jessie L. and Oney Ellen Freeman Graham; and was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Kirby; and brother, Floyd Graham; and sister, Edna Newman.She is survived by sons, Kenneth and…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native Faye Morgan Wallace, 68, died Sept. 27 at NHC Healthcare after an extended illness.A office manager with King’s Department Store and a member of Central Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late Aulton Tallman and Julia Catherine Fugitt Morgan.She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Janet…

McMinnville resident and Spencer native Eugene Dodson Rigsby, 70, died Sept. 28 at Stones River Hospital in Woodbury.A carpenter, he was the son of Frank Dodson and Dorothy Rigsby; and is survived by wife, Doris Rigsby; children and spouses, David Eugene and Kim Rigsby, Debbie Jean and David Marino, Paul Rigsby, all of Michigan, Edward…