NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Three inmates escaped from a crowded Jackson County jail Tuesday night, but all three were captured later Wednesday, authorities said. Sheriff Kenneth Bean said that the three inmates — Christopher L. Henry, 28, Ricky…

KINGSTON, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Residents upset over a property tax increase have turned in petitions asking for a recall of the mayor and city council. The Kingston Recall Committee, a citizens’ group, delivered the petitions in a large…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The bulk of a $14.3 million overhaul of the legislative complex should be ready for the General Assembly’s special session beginning next month, officials said Wednesday. A nearly $3 million project to complete upgrades…

DICKSON, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A stand of white oaks that may be older than the state will be preserved after an environmental activist struck a deal to buy the rural property and save the trees from a lumber…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The most popular Tennessee baby names in 2004 were Emma and William, according to the state Department of Health. The department released its official 2004 health statistics Wednesday, just in time for New Year’s…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — State Comptroller John Morgan wants the state to take on all funding of public schools in an effort to improve Tennessee’s low graduation rates. Morgan is proposing that public school funding be raised from…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Two state troopers were suspended Wednesday for allegedly selling promotional items, such as golf towels, patches and money clips, to the Department of Safety over a one-year span. The troopers from the Nashville area,…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Tennessee businesses prospered in 2005, but that growth didn’t translate into the number of jobs economists say they would like to have seen. Auto manufacturing made some of the biggest news in 2005, for…

EAST LANSING, Mich. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — After Michigan State’s 10th straight win, Tom Izzo saw the dangers of the Christmas break and a Big Ten schedule with no breaks in sight. Maurice Ager scored 17 of his 23 points…

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Maurice Hampton and Zac Schlader combined for 46 points to lead hot-shooting Austin Peay past Middle Tennessee State 83-67 Wednesday night. Hampton scored 24 points and Schlader 22 as Austin Peay (7-4) shot 52.5…