LOS ANGELES Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Voter turnout among Iraqi expatriates in the United States fell short of some expectations and far short of the heavy participation in their homeland’s historic parliamentary elections. More than 28,000 ballots were cast over…

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? A fugitive New York fashion writer wanted for questioning in the Halloween night sexual attack on a woman in her Manhattan apartment by a man posing as a city firefighter was captured Friday at…

DYERSBURG, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Police say an 11-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly hitting a middle school assistant principal in the face. The student at Dyersburg Middle School was punished for being unruly when he allegedly struck…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Tennessee public defenders say they’re overloaded with criminal cases and need increased funding from lawmakers to hire more lawyers. “There’s a high percentage of indigent defendants not receiving effective assistance from counsel because public…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? A lawsuit filed by a contractor accused by the state of shoddy work installing highway guardrails and suspended from further state work can go forward, a judge ruled Friday. And the powerful Tennessee Roadbuilders…

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? A multi-million dollar marketing effort touting Tennessee as a tourist destination has paid dividends and needs to be continued, Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Susan Whitaker said. “Tourism is not an expense, it’s an…

MEMPHIS, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? A hotel that’s part of the Grand Casino in Tunica was evacuated Friday for nearly an hour after three sticks of dynamite were found in a room. The dynamite? which was without fuses or…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Nashville illusionist Brock Gill never figured Jesus for a master magician. As an evangelical Christian, Gill always accepted the biblical accounts of Jesus’ miracles as just that ? miracles. But when the BBC asked…

By James Clark / Columnist Mary Christmas, left, with her sister Christy Noel Christmas. For anyone who has seen me around town the past couple days, yes I am the proud new owner of a mustache.I’ve found if you want to generate conversation, grow a mustache. Of course those conversations will revolve around the reasons…

Dear Santa,I would like you to bring me Star wars Lego Game boy game, guitar, Pokemon game, Remote control car, remote control truck, Aircraft carrier, Star Pin Yu Gi Oh.Love,Duncan Gilley Dear Santa,I want to know what’s at the north Pole. Why does reindeers fly? I have been 100 percent good. I really, really want…