KNOXVILLE (AP) – Lamar Alexander and Joe Lieberman are trying to encourage more civility in the Senate by hosting weekly breakfasts for their fellow lawmakers. Both conservative and liberal senators have said they will attend, said Alexander. The Tennessee Republican said he is still working on more commitments. “It’s easier to work together if you…

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats in the first weeks of the new Congress plan to establish a dedicated fund to promote renewable energy and conservation, using money from oil companies. That’s only one legislative hit the oil industry is expected to take next year as a Congress run by Democrats is likely to show little…

NASHVILLE (AP) – In their planning for disaster relief, communities across Tennessee are keeping in mind that many of the state’s non-human residents will need help, too. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is showing those communities how to set up “disaster animal response teams.” The department is coordinating training and providing credentials for team members.…

NASHVILLE (AP) ? The state Department of Safety has reported seven traffic fatalities over the Christmas holiday weekend, and at least one more was expected to be added from accident reports. The preliminary state count doesn?t include those from Tennessee?s largest cities, which keep their own figures and have not yet reported to them to…

By Jim Mullen For 45 minutes, the camera never moved. I sat behind Video Mom in the community college field house as she held it on her child for the entire Christmas concert. The camera was tightly focused on Junior, it never once strayed to anyone else in the chorus, it never showed the orchestra,…

By Gene Lyons In the end, the most significant aspect of the Iraq Study Group may be that none of its esteemed members publicly doubted the wisdom of conquering Mesopotamia in the first place. President Petulant appears determined to ignore its recommendations for dealing with the “grave and deteriorating” crisis anyway. Why the hawks-only lineup?…

Editorial – Our Viewpoint McMinnville city officials deserve praise for listening to both sides of the issue and making an informed decision to go with architect James Hailey instead of EG&G for phase II of the downtown revitalization plan. That?s not to endorse Hailey or denounce EG&G. Outside of using tax dollars wisely, the Standard…

By James Clark With a song in my heart and a tear in my eye, I prepare to give 2006 a kiss goodbye. I haven?t decided if it will be a long, emotional kiss, but it will be a kiss nonetheless. The start of a new year always means two things: 1) it?s time to…

Baby Girl Laura Mullins and Lymon Davis are the parents of a daughter, Isabell Rose Davis. She was born Nov. 15 at River Park Hospital weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces. She is joined by siblings, Abigail Mullins, Jeremiah Davis and Ethan Davis. Her grandparents are Wayne and Dale Farris and Lewis and Joyce Davis. Baby…

By Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: I have been seeing “Alberto” for a couple of years. He is 56, and I am 45. Alberto has had quite the past with various women. He does not see anything wrong with keeping in contact with them. They call him on his cell phone, he continues…