OAK RIDGE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A censored version of an Oak Ridge High School newspaper will be printed after administrators confiscated an earlier edition that they considered offensive, Superintendent Tom Bailey said Tuesday. Administrators at Oak Ridge High…

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — State officials concluded Farragut Health Care Center workers failed to report or investigate claims patients were sexually assaulted. The 11-page Department of Health report released Monday states that on several occasions a nursing home…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A popular federal program that prepares low-income children for kindergarten could lose 643 classroom spots in Tennessee under a proposed funding reduction. The estimated cuts in Tennessee are part of an overall reduction being…

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A school principal who claimed two masked men attacked him now says he made up the story, authorities said Tuesday. Fayetteville Police said that Steve Steelman, who was found beaten Nov. 7 at Fayetteville…

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Full-time women professors at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville make three-quarters as much as their male counterparts, an annual faculty salary study shows. Moreover, more than 80 percent of full professors and more than 75…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Republican Eric Watson won his party’s primary Tuesday for a special election to replace former state Rep. Chris Newton. Democrat Sally Love, who was appointed in the interim to hold Newton’s seat after he…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Two Veterans Affairs workers were charged Tuesday with taking kickbacks on the purchase of 100,000 rolls of red tape. Joseph Haymond and Natalie Coker were arrested in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and charged with taking bribes…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — State officials said Tuesday they’re working to promote a so-called “safety-net” program for people kicked off TennCare, but also need people familiar with the initiative to help spread word to those who aren’t. “Communication…

By LISA CHAPMAN / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Charles Ryan Barber has been walking since June 2005. While in town Monday, he stopped at Magness Library to update his Web site to include McMinnville as his latest destination. The Web site is www.flippingblind.com. (Lisa Chapman photo) He says his journey started with a…

By LISA CHAPMAN / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Local apartment complex owner Sam Womack denies he owes McMinnville Water Department nearly $41,000 for unpaid water, sewer and garbage bills.Womack says his water was never terminated, as stated by the water department. Rather, he had it switched over into the names of his tenants…