MURFREESBORO, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A high-ranking member of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department was fired during an investigation into his relationship with a subordinate. Maj. Eddie Farmer was fired Thursday for conduct unbecoming an officer, Sheriff Truman Jones…

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — With a pair of drenching tropical systems moving across West Tennessee this year, it may not have seemed the region faced the threat of drought. But the soakings Katrina and Rita brought to Memphis…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — For its New Year’s resolution, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere will be giving up smoking. Starting Sunday, the zoo will no longer allow smoking anywhere in its 70-acre facility, a benefit for both children…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Nashville police have started an internal investigation into six incidents involving use of stun guns on suspects. Five of the cases to be reviewed next month by the Use of Force Review Board involve…

MONROE, Ohio Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — This community hardly rolled out the welcome mat five years ago when Larry and Jimmy Flynt opened a business. But despite opposition and fears that the Hustler Hollywood adult store would hurt the town’s…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — A Nashville agency that uses federal money to help low-income city residents with their heating and cooling bills failed to meet a June 30 deadline for doling out the funds, forcing it to return…

WASHINGTON Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Contaminated dog food which was sold in 23 states killed nearly two dozen dogs and sickened 18 more, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. The deaths and illnesses sparked an FDA investigation into the…

COLUMBIA, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — As the new Tennessee Farm Bureau president, Lacy Upchurch doesn’t have to stretch his imagination to understand how economic changes and diminishing farm land are challenging farmers. Upchurch has raised cattle in Cumberland County…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — The lighter, weirder side of Tennessee news in 2005: At the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, a T-shirt was on sale proclaiming: “Manure happens.” —— In August, the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Tennessee has launched an online methamphetamine offender registry, the latest among the state’s efforts to combat the drug made from common household items. The Web site — http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/methor — will list anyone convicted of…