MEMPHIS, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said his city will never be totally safe from hurricanes, no matter how much its levees are strengthened, but he urged Hurricane Katrina evacuees Wednesday night to come home…

RALEIGH, N.C. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The North Carolina State Lottery Commission’s planned trip to Tennessee appears to violate open meetings laws, some lawyers argue, although the commission chairman disagrees. At least five commissioners are going to Nashville, Tenn., on…

DULUTH, Ga. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Bryan Jones isn’t used to seeing violence in the municipal courthouse he guards as chief of a one-man police force in Barwick, a tiny town some 200 miles south of Atlanta near the Florida…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Firefighters responding to a blaze at a north Nashville home Wednesday evening found four bodies inside with gunshot wounds, authorities said. The fire was reported around 7:30 p.m. CST, and firefighters were able to…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Should Steven Spielberg be looking for a place to shoot his next movie, state officials have a bunch of pictures to show him. Representatives of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission are photographing…

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $3.2 million grant to reduce pollution runoff and help restore Tennessee streams. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture can use the annual grant from the Nonpoint Source Management…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A Crossville doctor accused of overcharging health insurance programs by nearly $500,000 is the victim of disgruntled employees who resented her short temper and frugality, her attorney said in court. “Over time, misunderstandings and…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The Tennessee Regulatory Authority mishandled complaints from consumer advocates and various phone service providers about a business phone service program offered by BellSouth Telecommunications Inc., the state Court of Appeals has ruled. The TRA…

FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Colleagues of a school principal who admitted to fabricating a beating attack said he had never displayed any unusual behavior prior to the incident. Steven Steelman, principal at Fayetteville Intermediate School, told police that…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A Veterans Affairs worker who was accused of taking kickbacks was found dead in his Cannon County home of an apparent suicide, authorities said. Joseph Haymond was arrested Tuesday for taking bribes in exchange…