Author: Associated Press

Immigration raid takes 97 into custody at Tennessee plant

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Civil rights activists say a dramatic immigration raid at a Tennessee meat processing plant may be the biggest employment crackdown under President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Tammy Spicer says in a…

Father charged with murder in missing child’s death

DICKSON, Tenn. (AP) -- The father of a missing 5-year-old boy in Tennessee has been charged with his son's murder. Authorities said Saturday that Joseph Ray Daniels was arrested and charged with one count of criminal homicide. The Tennessee Bureau…

TN Senate passes bill that upends some short-term rental bans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Senate has passed a bill that overturns some local short-term rental bans following a debate that lasted more than two hours with lawmakers arguing about property rights versus local control. Lawmakers from Nashville were…

Ex-Tennessee teacher who fled with teen to plead guilty

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An ex-Tennessee teacher who fled with a 15-year-old student last year and set off a 39-day nationwide manhunt is scheduled to plead guilty. A document filed by his lawyer last week in federal court in Nashville…

Resilience, resolve and renewed commitment to MLK’s legacy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- As the world prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s murder, the milestone coincides with a resurgence of white supremacy, the continued shootings of unarmed black men and a parade of…

Tennessee medical marijuana bill dead for the year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- One of the lead sponsors of a medical marijuana bill in Tennessee has withdrawn the measure after telling lawmakers that the legislation has been so watered down that passing it would actually be more harmful, especially…

Bill to arm Tennessee teachers fails

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A bill that would arm some school teachers in Tennessee has failed after a number of state lawmakers, including several Republican gun rights advocates, criticized the idea. The measure was voted down Tuesday in the House…

Events to honor King, 50 years since Memphis assassination

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says the "age of bullies and bigots is not fully behind us" — despite advances the country has made since Martin Luther King Jr. was slain while fighting poverty and…

Memphis clerk charged in suspected shoplifter’s death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Police in Memphis say a convenience store clerk has been charged in the fatal shooting of a suspected shoplifter whose body was found near the store. The Commercial Appeal reports Memphis police charged 28-year-old Anwar Ghazali…

Tennessee pastor accused of molesting children

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A longtime pastor has been returned to Tennessee to face charges that he molested several children during his time leading a Nashville congregation. Media reports say Matthew Dennis Patterson was arrested March 8 by Nashville police…

Girl Scouts salute Fort Campbell with 50K boxes of cookies

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) -- The Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee have donated nearly 50,600 boxes of cookies to Fort Campbell this year. The Leaf-Chronicle cites a news release that says the donations are made possible through Troop Gift of…

Ex-Tennessee teacher who fled with teen wants to change plea

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- An ex-Tennessee teacher who fled with a 15-year-old student last year and set off a 39-day nationwide manhunt has asked to change his plea in federal court. A document filed by his lawyer Thursday in federal…

Nashville PetSmart raided over video of sick, hurt animals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A video of sick and injured animals led to the raid of a PetSmart in Nashville. Metro Nashville Public Health Department spokesman Brian Todd told The Tennessean that Metro Animal Care and Control had received a…

Grants available for dog parks in Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee communities of all sizes can now apply for grants to build or improve dog parks in their areas. The Boyd Foundation says it is taking applications for a Dog Park Dash Grant of up to…

Medical marijuana bill clears Tennessee legislative hurdle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A medical marijuana bill has cleared another panel despite opposition from law enforcement, state health officials and Republican Gov. Bill Haslam. In a 9-2 vote Wednesday, a House committee advanced legislation by Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison…

Gov. Haslam OKs school safety plan recommendations

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam has approved the recommendations of a school safety panel, including a security risk assessment of all Tennessee public school facilities. Haslam announced the approval Wednesday of the recommendations from the panel that he…

Visiting Memphis 50 years after King’s assassination

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis. The civil rights leader's shocking murder on April 4, 1968, marked one of the…

Great Smoky Mountains park hosting bear research conference

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) -- Researchers from around the world are meeting in Tennessee for a conference about how humans and bears can safely coexist. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting the Fifth International Human-Bear…

Sen. Alexander ‘not a big fan’ of arming teachers at school

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says he's "not a big fan" of arming teachers at school, saying they have their hands full without carrying guns. Alexander told reporters Monday he thinks teachers ought to teach and…

Holocaust violins now on display at Nashville library

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Violins that were once used to make music in concentration camps and ghettos during the Holocaust are now on display for free at the Nashville Public Library in Tennessee. A library news release says the Violins…

Opry Mills Mall damaged in 2010 flood seeks more insurance money

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The owners of Opry Mills are asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to reverse a ruling that reduced their 2010 flood insurance coverage from $200 to $50 million. The Tennessean reports the Simon Property Group filed an…

Thousands march in Tennessee cities in push for gun control

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Thousands of people have marched in Tennessee cities to push for gun control and school safety as part of a national campaign sparked by the recent Florida school shooting. Media reports say about 10,000 to 12,000…

4 men federally charged in gun thefts at 5 Tennessee stores

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Four Nashville men are facing federal firearms charges in the recent thefts of about 125 guns from five area gun stores. According to U.S. Attorney Donald Cochran's office, a federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted 22-year-old…

Tennessee man got violent when denied gun purchase

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Police in Knoxville say a man grew violent and attacked employees when he couldn't buy a gun at a pawn shop. Police say 30-year-old Edward Graham physically assaulted employees and damaged items at the UT Money…

Gangster Disciples ‘regional enforcer’ sentenced to 30 years

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- A so-called "regional enforcer" for the Gangster Disciples in Tennessee has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. The U.S. attorney's office in Jackson said Friday that 37-year-old Henry Cooper received the prison term after…

4 officers charged with bringing drugs into Lake County prison

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say four corrections officers in West Tennessee have been charged with bringing drugs into a prison. The U.S. attorney's office in Memphis said Thursday that the four officers worked at the Northwest Correctional Complex,…

Discrimination trial begins for gay ex-Tennessee magistrate

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- The discrimination trial has begun for an openly gay former Tennessee magistrate who sued in 2015 over her firing. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Monday that was the first day of trial for 38-year-old Elizabeth…

Tennessee AG, prosecutors clash over local opioids lawsuits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee attorney general says lawsuits by local prosecutors over the opioid epidemic are complicating his efforts to reach a multistate settlement with drug companies. In response, prosecutors say local communities lose out when lawsuits like…

Nashville church shooting suspect indicted on 43 counts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The man accused of fatally shooting a woman and wounding six people at a Middle Tennessee church in September faces a 43-count indictment, including first-degree murder, attempted murder and felony civil rights intimidation charges. Friday's grand…

Missing firefighter’s body found after car went into lake

WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP) -- The body of a Nashville firefighter who went missing when his car went into the Tennessee River has been found. The Nashville Fire Department says in a statement released Saturday that Jesse Reed's body was found…

Former Tennessee judge faces new obstruction indictment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A former Tennessee judge who was initially accused of helping a woman with legal troubles in exchange for sex faces a new indictment. The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release that former Davidson County…

Tennessee lawmakers revive child marriage ban proposal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Republican-led Tennessee House panel has revived legislation to ban child marriage. A House subcommittee advanced the bill Wednesday after amending it to let 17-year-olds continue to marry, but only with judicial approval, parental permission, proof…

Dollar General posts healthy same store sales, bold outlook

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Dollar General Corp. fell short on profit and revenue projections, but everyone is focusing on booming sales at established stores and a strong outlook. The 3.3 percent jump in same-store sales Thursday easily surpassed expectations, and…

Tennessee lawmakers revive child marriage ban proposal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Republican-led Tennessee House panel has revived legislation to ban child marriage. A House subcommittee advanced the bill Wednesday after amending it to let 17-year-olds continue to marry, but only with judicial approval, parental permission, proof…

Toys R Us said to be planning to liquidate US operations

NEW YORK (AP) -- Toys R Us's management has told its employees that it will sell or close all of its U.S. stores. That's according to a toy industry analyst who spoke to several employees who were on the call…

FedEx investing $1 billion to modernize Tennessee hub

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- FedEx says it is investing more than $1 billion to modernize its Tennessee hub, in a move the shipping giant says will improve its efficiency and reliability as it delivers packages throughout the world. FedEx Corp.…

Gov. Haslam joins chorus of concerns over Trump tariffs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Gov. Bill Haslam is joining several other Tennessee officials voicing concerns over President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday he's concerned about additional costs to manufacturers, particularly the…

Trucker sentenced to 55 years in deadly East TN crash

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- A man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for killing six people and injuring others in 2015 when his tractor-trailer careened into stopped traffic on an East Tennessee highway. Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge…

At least 3 kid-on-kid sex assault cases at Tenn. Navy base

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (AP) -- A decade after the Pentagon began confronting rape in the ranks, the U.S. military frequently fails to provide justice to the children of service members when they are sexually assaulted by other kids on base. An…

2 ex-US environmental chiefs blast truck emissions loophole

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Two ex-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrators say officials should withdraw a proposed trucking emissions exemption, saying it's based on flawed scientific analysis. Carol M. Browner under President Bill Clinton and Christine Todd Whitman under President George…

Tennessee plant expansion put on hold after tariff announcement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - In Tennessee's U.S. Senate race, Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and ex-Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen are concerned about President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. On Thursday, Bredesen compared broad tariffs to taking a…

New Nashville Mayor plans to run in August election

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - New Nashville Mayor David Briley, who was sworn in after ex-Mayor Megan Barry resigned in the fallout of her extramarital affair, says he plans to run to keep the job in an August election. Briley told…

Defendant charged in Middle TN gang racketeering plot killed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Prosecutors say a person among more than a dozen Middle Tennessee gang members and associates accused in a racketeering conspiracy was kidnapped and killed. His whereabouts had been unknown when 15 gang members and associates were…