Chuck Shepherd The Texas insanity-defense law requires that a delusional person acting under “orders” from God be judged not guilty by reason of insanity, but that a delusional person acting under “orders” from Satan be considered sane, according to prominent forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz (according to a June USA Today story). Thus, Dietz believed that…

SELMER, Tenn. (AP) WINKLER A minister?s wife charged with killing her husband asked for a bond reduction Friday in hopes of getting out of jail to await her first-degree murder trial. Bond for Mary Winkler of Selmer, Tenn., was set a week ago at $750,000, but her family has been unable to raise the money,…

Morton Kondracke With student performance still dismal 23 years after a federal report proclaimed ?a nation at risk,? it?s just possible that a decisive, bipartisan grand bargain can be struck to improve the public schools. The deal would be: Republicans agree to more equitable distribution of school funding — including higher teacher pay — while…

TO THE EDITOR: I am writing this letter as a way to let the public know about problems with our county?s 911 system. My father passed away on June 29. The thing I?m trying to make the people of our community aware of is that, after living in the same house for over 30 years…

To the Editor: In response to the comments in the paper defending Pamela Rogers and blaming her ex-husband, I personally feel this is a pathetic way to cover-up and place blame on an innocent man who not only had to give up his job but had to endure pure humiliation for what I consider to…

Thomas Vaughn There was good news and bad news on the economic front last week.?First, the good news.? The White House announced a surprising jump in tax revenues, about $150 billion above what they projected six months ago.?? With tax revenues climbing twice as fast as previously predicted, we could see a decrease in the…

Lisa Hobbs Hey guys this could be for you, so read up. I want to know where the Southern Gentlemen are? Recently I had the unfortunate luck of being privy to some statements made by a man to a friend of mine. Although she does dress nice every day, on this particular day she wore…

James Clark photo Nationwide is one of four businesses that have moved to the remodeled spot that was formerly the Outdoor Shop. Pictured, from left, are Nationwide employees Lulu Quezada, Christy Tanner and Butch Bullen.

Business Highlights from the Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) ? Surging oil prices pulled stocks sharply lower for a third straight session Friday, with bland earnings at General Electric Co. and weak consumer data further dampening the economic outlook. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 396 points in the past three days. Crude futures reached…

Knoxville resident Velma Mae Hughes, 90, died July 12 at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center. A retired employee of Cherokee Mills after 40 years of service and a member of Marble City Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Pallie Hughes; and was preceded in death by brother, Homer Hughes. She…