NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Gov. Phil Bredesen on Wednesday suggested decreasing the number of political appointees within the Tennessee Highway Patrol as a way to improve the performance of the troubled agency. Allegations of political favoritism and mismanagement…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Gov. Phil Bredesen’s priorities during next month’s legislative session will include improving the state’s health insurance programs, education and emergency communications, he said Wednesday. The governor also ruled out calling for an increase in…

NEW YORK Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Javier Vazquez is joining the World Series champions and their stellar pitching staff. The Chicago White Sox agreed Wednesday to acquire Vazquez from the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-hander Orlando Hernandez, reliever Luis Vizcaino and…

DETROIT Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? The Memphis Tigers are not one of college football’s powerhouse programs. Still, they look awfully good to the Akron Zips. Memphis (6-5) and Akron (7-5) will play in the Dec. 26 Motor City Bowl at…

SAN DIEGO Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? The San Diego Chargers apparently are up against semantics as much as they are Peyton Manning and the unbeaten Indianapolis Colts. Asked at his Wednesday news conference about his team’s “desperate situation,” Marty Schottenheimer…

PHILADELPHIA Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Donovan McNabb is still taking shots ? the latest from an NAACP leader who criticized the quarterback’s leadership skills and said he “played the race card” in explaining why he no longer runs the ball.…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Steve McNair watched a shortened practice Wednesday and rested a sore left ankle, but Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said his quarterback is doing better than last week when he missed a week of practice…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? If Tennessee rookie Adam “Pacman” Jones needs an omen, this might be it: Of the 10 players who have finished a season ranked in the top five in both punt and kickoff returns, nine…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck enjoys a challenge ? anything that can help motivate him, push the Titans’ leading tackler to improve himself as a player. Enter the NFL’s leading rusher, Seattle running back Shaun…

NOTICE: There was no winner last week. The jackpot increases to $75. Play the Southern Standard’s Web Eye-D contest and you could win $25! Playing the game is simple. We display the eyes of a famous or noteworthy person at the Web Eye-D Contest link on our site. To win the game all you have…