Chuck Shepherd Are We Safe? In a two-day period in March, alarming reports revealed that “dirty (radiation) bombs” easily entered the country in car trunks in tests, that one-third of U.S. civilian nuclear research reactors were insufficiently secure, and that concerns were heightened about the 2,000 shoulder-fired missiles said to be unaccounted for in the…

WASHINGTON (AP) REID President Bush blamed Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid on Saturday for the potentially fatal blow dealt to compromise immigration legislation. The landmark bill, which would offer eventual citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants, fell victim Friday to internal disputes in both parties. But Bush ? echoing earlier complaints from Senate Majority Leader…

GALLATIN (AP) The storm damage in the Gallatin area was considerable as vehicles were thrown into buildings by high winds. Nine people died in Sumner County. People started work Saturday to begin rebuilding a day after tornadoes killed 12 people in Tennessee, the second wave of violent weather to hit the state in less than…

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Clarksville teacher is in trouble after she told a 10-year-old student who didn’t finish a test in time to go into a closet and finish up while the rest of the class moved on. LeJohntria Moore, a fourth grader at Glen Ellen Elementary, said she was scared inside the supply closet.…

CHATTANOOGA (AP) A driver pulled over by drug agents who said his “rigid” posture was suspicious but whose attorney claimed it was a case of Hispanic profiling has struck a plea deal over the $1.6 million hidden in his vehicle. Jose Luis Serrano-Lopez, a Mexican citizen who was living in Texas when stopped in January…

Dave Ramsey Dear Dave,I?m going through a divorce, but I get to keep the house. I?m thinking about refinancing, and was wondering if I should take a fixed rate or balloon payment.? Tom Dear Tom,Never do a balloon payment on a house. Anytime you take a balloon payment you?re painting a big, red target on…

James Clark photos Longtime tractor salesman and mechanic Jason Woodlee has opened CAW Equipment at the business his father operated for years as D. Woodlee Tractor. The Irving College business has a full line of Kioti tractors that come with a four-year drive train warranty. Jason named the business CAW for his two children, Cody,…

?I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.? ? E.B. White ?I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.? ? Frank Lloyd Wright ?Nature does nothing uselessly.? ? Aristotle ?When…

James Clark Harley Shelton, left, uses a shovel to make some changes to a putting green while his father, J.D. Shelton, talks on a cellphone. The two are nationally known golf course builders. I have to admit I?m a pretty proud daddy right now. Benjamin cruised through kindergarten registration Friday and, based on preliminary reports…

Business Roundup By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) ? A moderating economy and cooler weather gave consumers little incentive to shop in March and left retailers with tepid sales for the second month in a row. The later arrival of Easter this year also hurt business, but should help boost results in April. As…