NASHVILLE (AP) Two demoted officers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol have asked for a return of their campaign contributions to Gov. Phil Bredesen. Former Lt. Col. Larry Rucker was demoted from the agency’s No. 2 post to lieutenant in March, and Charles Laxton was demoted from captain to sergeant in May. The two men and…

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) COOPER An Alabama businessman headed to prison for fraud has testified before a grand jury investigating a land sale scheme with links to state Sen. Jerry Cooper and Lt. Gov. John Wilder. Anthony Auyer of Huntsville, Ala., testified in a closed grand jury session Tuesday in Chattanooga, according to a report in…

Jim Mullen Today was the perfect day to mow the lawn. The sun was shining; not too hot, not too cold; the sky was full of puffy, white clouds; the birds were singing; the insects were buzzing. It was also the perfect day to plant the new flowering trees Sue had bought, the perfect day…

Guest Editorial: By Charles C. Haynes Lest we forget, our first national motto (adopted by the Founders in 1782) was E pluribus unum – out of many, one. But look around America these days and you’ll see plenty of “pluribus” but very little “unum.” Divided and angry, many Americans are spoiling for a fight. Even…

James Clark Let me get this straight. The federal government won?t fund stem cell research because, the logic goes, it will kill some tiny organism on a petri dish. Never mind the organism, the first form of life, would be destroyed anyway because the government can?t store all of them. Let?s just literally throw the…

Cokie & Steven Roberts When the Israelis bombed Lebanon, trying to neutralize the Hezbollah guerrillas, one of their first targets was a complex of towers that transmitted television and cell phone signals. “It’s important to understand why the attack was carried out,” explained Capt. Jacob Dallal, an Israeli army spokesman. “This will disrupt their ability…

Baby Girl Kimberly Renee and Ben Merriman announce the birth of their daughter, Kloe Mai Merriman. She was born June 26 at River Park Hospital weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces. She is joined by sisters, Paige and Maddie Merriman. Grandparents of the infant include Patsy McBride, James Norrod, Karyl Poss and Steve Merriman. Baby Boy…

Photo provided The engagement and forthcoming marriage of Krystal Dianne Cox of Gallatin and Timothy Blake Woodlee are being announced. The engagement and forthcoming marriage of Krystal Dianne Cox of Gallatin and Timothy Blake Woodlee are being announced. The couple plan to wed Aug. 10 at 3 p.m. at Gallatin Church of Christ. The bride-to-be…

Margo Howard Dear Margo: My husband, “Sean,” and I have been married for eight and a half years and known each other for nine. Almost two years ago, my husband was on a business trip a few states away from where we live. He and a few friends went to a strip club to drink…

Photo provided After the birth of the fifth generation baby girl, the family of Bethany Stoner traveled from far and wide to celebrate the blessed event. From left is great-great grandmother Nellie Stafford of Nashville, great-grandmother Linda Reece and grandmother Connie Barnes of Campaign, and new mother Bethany Stoner of McMinnville holding her daughter Sierah…