Author: Associated Press

Tennessee prison used ‘Trump’ security stamp on visitors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Visitors entering a Tennessee prison one day last week had the word "Trump" stamped on their hands as they passed through security. State corrections officials say they don't know who chose to put the U.S. president's…

Grammy Museum plans East Coast experience in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The Grammy Museum is planning a location in New Jersey. Officials on Tuesday announced plans for the 8,000-square-foot Grammy Museum Experience at the Prudential Center arena in Newark. The Los Angeles-based museum says it will be…

Sheriff: Autistic child was caged; Child abuse charges filed

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee sheriff says two people face child abuse charges after deputies found an autistic child locked in a cage. Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal said in a statement that deputies conducted a welfare check at…

Attorney wants trial moved for driver in crash that killed 6

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - The attorney for a truck driver charged in a crash that killed six people on a highway near Chattanooga last year wants to have the case heard outside Hamilton County. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports…

Raise your glass to Kentucky bourbon’s rising economic kick

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The economic potency of bourbon is getting stronger with age, increasing its impact on Kentucky by $1 billion in the past two years as demand for American whiskeys continues to grow. The Distilled Spirits Council said…

More liberal rules might come to US striped bass fishery

Interstate fishing managers are considering liberalizing rules for commercial and recreational fishing of striped bass along the East Coast. The regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says the possibility of new rules arises from concerns raised over economic hardships in…

High Point to name new basketball court for alum Tubby Smith

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) - High Point University will name the basketball court in its planned new arena after University of Memphis men's basketball head coach Tubby Smith and his wife Donna Smith, who met while they attended the school.…

Stomach bug, the flu? Several Tennessee school systems shut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Several school systems around Tennessee have temporarily closed because a number of students and teachers have come down with the flu or a stomach bug. Tennessee Health Department spokeswoman Shelley Walker says officials are not aware…

Tennessee anti-abortion groups at crossroads on restrictions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee anti-abortion group is urging lawmakers emboldened by President Donald Trump to hold off on passing new abortion restrictions in the state until the courts decide the fate of several major abortion laws. Tennessee Right…

Trial underway for man accused of plotting mosque attack

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Trial is underway in Chattanooga for a 65-year-old Tennessee man accused of planning an attack on a mosque in New York. Robert Doggart, who ran for Congress in 2014 in East Tennessee and finished with 6…

Woman accused of causing officer’s death is charged

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A woman accused of causing the death of a Nashville police officer who tried to save her has been arrested and charged on the same day a public memorial was held for the decorated 18-year police…

TBI: Authorities shoot driver following Tennessee chase

NEWPORT, Tenn. (AP) - An investigation is underway after authorities shot a driver following a chase in Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tells media outlets that the incident began Sunday night when a woman drove over a National Park…

Fire official identifies toddler who died in house fire

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities have released the name of a 19-month-old boy who died in a house fire in east Knoxville despite efforts to save him. Local news outlets report Knoxville Fire Department Capt. D.J. Corcoran said in a…

Haslam questions call to label non-permanent residents’ IDs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is raising concerns about a bill seeking to label IDs issued to people without permanent residency status with the words "alien" or "non-U.S. citizen." The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports (http://bit.ly/2kaVDRB )…

Tennessee online sales tax rule draws legal challenge

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam says the state's move to require all major online vendors to collect sales taxes on purchases made Tennessee has drawn a legal challenge. Under current federal law, states are only allowed to require…

Ex-Memphis police officer convicted in wife’s fatal shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A former Memphis police officer has been found guilty in the fatal shooting of her wife. The Commercial Appeal reports (http://memne.ws/2kFpvZG ) 36-year-old Jaselyn Grant was convicted Saturday of second-degree murder in the death of 29-year-old…

Report cites violations related to Mount Carmel ex-mayor

MOUNT CARMEL, Tenn. (AP) - State officials have concluded that the former mayor of Mount Carmel was overpaid by more than $4,000 at a time when aldermen were underpaid. Tennessee Comptroller Justin Wilson said in a report released Tuesday that…

Lawmakers hold moment of silence for officer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State lawmakers have held a moment of silence at the Tennessee Capitol and Gov. Bill Haslam is expressing condolences to the family and friends of a police officer who died after slipping into the Cumberland River.…

Rival proposals may ‘divide and conquer’ Tennessee road plan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Legislative leaders warn that the introduction of several rival proposals could sink efforts to begin addressing a $10 billion backlog of road and bridge projects in Tennessee. The sticking point in Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's funding…

Tennessee list of possible voter fraud includes 1 conviction

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee election officials, who said up to 42 voter fraud cases could've happened in last year's elections, can identify only one resulting in conviction: someone who tried to register the year before the vote. Secretary of…

Listeria prompts recall of Ruth’s Salads pimento spread

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - Ruth's Salads has announced a recall of its Original Pimento Spread in 7-ounce plastic containers after determining it could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A statement from the Charlotte-based company on Thursday said the contamination was…

Federal utility, environmental groups close pollution trial

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority has finished a trial in which environmental groups accuse the utility's power plant outside Nashville, Tennessee, of illegally polluting the Cumberland River with coal ash. TVA and environmental attorneys wrapped the trial…

GOP Tenn. lawmaker seeks law to ban marijuana decriminalization

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Republican lawmaker has filed a bill to repeal any city ordinances that would reduce the penalty for people who possess small amounts of marijuana. The Tennessean reports that House Criminal Justice Chairman William Lamberth of…

Man with sullied water well testifies in coal ash trial

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee man has testified he won't drink well water at his house near a coal-fired power plant because officials found a harmful chemical in it in 2015. Albert Hudson testified Tuesday at a federal trial…

Haslam to detractors of gas tax hike: ‘Show me the math’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has a challenge for lawmakers seeking alternatives to his proposal to hike the state's fuel taxes to help tackle $10 billion backlog in in bridge and road programs. In the Republican governor's…

3 dead after head-on collision on I-640 in Knoxville

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Three people have been killed after a crash on Interstate 640 in Knoxville. Multiple media outlets report that Knoxville police say in a statement that the crash happened Monday night. Police say a preliminary investigation shows…

4 hurt in helicopter crash during training at Fort Campbell

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) - Fort Campbell says four soldiers have been injured after a helicopter crashed and caught fire at the Army post. A post statement said the crash occurred shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday during training. The helicopter…

Police: Deputies shoot armed man during encounter

ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say deputies have shot and wounded a Tennessee man during an encounter at a traffic stop. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that deputies made the traffic stop in a driveway…

Sexual violence under investigation at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The federal government is investigating sexual violence at Vanderbilt University, the second federal investigation of the Nashville school. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2jsfP5l ) reports the investigation began Jan. 13. Details of the investigation are not public, and…

Haslam to deliver annual State of the State address Monday

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is scheduled to give his annual State of the State address to a joint convention of the Tennessee General Assembly on Monday. Haslam's top legislative priority this year is to boost state…

Defendant at murder trial denies shooting Memphis officer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A man charged with killing a Memphis officer in 2012 has denied during his trial that he shot at her. The Commercial Appeal reports 25-year-old Treveno Campbell testified Sunday in his murder trial that he was…

2 firefighters hurt in Nashville apartment fire

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Nashville fire spokesman says two firefighters were injured and dozens of families were displaced when a fire ravaged an apartment complex. Nashville Fire Department spokesman Brian Hass says in a news release the fire was…

New TVA chair hopes to keep trajectory as Trump fills slots

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The new Tennessee Valley Authority board chairwoman says she hopes the federal utility will maintain its trajectory as President Donald Trump has the chance to pick a new board majority by the spring. Lynn Evans, the…

Skeletal remains identified as missing Fort Campbell soldier

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Authorities say skeletal remains found in Tennessee are those of a missing Fort Campbell soldier. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Susan Niland sent a statement to news media Wednesday confirming that the remains found at Exit…

No charges against Memphis officer involved in shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- The top prosecutor in Memphis says no criminal charges will be filed against a police officer who fatally shot a man last year during a confrontation inside a home. Shelby County district attorney Amy Weirich said…

Haslam cites trucking industry support for fuel tax hike

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is citing the willingness of the trucking industry to pay more at the pump as an example of why Tennessee needs to increase the state's gas and diesel taxes. It's been a…

Gospel singer Vicki Yohe apologizes for Trump posting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A gospel singer is apologizing to her fans after posting an image on her social media account suggesting that Jesus was returning to the White House under President Donald Trump. Vicki Yohe, known for her song…

South Dakota museum awarded ownership of Presley guitar

VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that a South Dakota museum is the legal owner of a guitar played by Elvis Presley. The Martin D-35 guitar has been on display at the National Music Museum since 2013.…

Ex-Division III football player indicted on murder charge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A former Division III college football player facing a first-degree murder charge has been indicted. William Riley Gaul was a freshman receiver for Maryville (Tennessee) College last November when he was arrested in connection with the…

Former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer to receive Summitt award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Former Southeastern Conference Commissioner Roy Kramer is the 2017 winner of the Pat Summitt Lifetime Achivement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The hall announced the award Monday. Kramer will be honored June 3…

Memphis mayor, police chief decry weekend killings of 5

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The city's mayor and police chief are speaking out against a rash of gun violence in Memphis over the weekend that left five dead, including two 15-year-old boys. Mayor Jim Strickland's office issued a statement Monday…

3 charged with murder in Memphis drive-by shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis police have arrested three people in a drive-by shooting that killed one teenager and wounded two others. Media outlets report 21-year-old Demarcus Johnson, 19-year-old Frederick Wilson and 20-year-old Otha Ray each were charged with one…

McNally adds new staff to speaker’s office, keeps spokesman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Newly-elected Tennessee Senate Speaker Randy McNally has announced more staff changes in his office at the state Capitol. The upper chamber of the General Assembly earlier this month elected McNally to succeed longtime Speaker Ron Ramsey,…

Chattanooga police: Woman shot man in self-defense

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Chattanooga police say a woman who shot and wounded a man was defending herself and others. Police said in a news release that 30-year-old Dieshunn Lindsey was trying to assault the woman and others Sunday morning…

Tennessee highway lanes closed after sinkhole opens

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities have closed all northbound lanes of a highway in east Tennessee after a 15-foot deep sinkhole opened up. Blount County Emergency Manage Agency spokesman Lance Coleman told news outlets that the sinkhole, which was reported…

Tennessee State Museum under audit after director gets raise

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State officials have authorized a special audit of Tennessee State Museum operations after its executive director received a 26 percent pay raise. The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2joW0rr ) reports that museum officials announced the audit last…

Police fear removal of speed cameras will strain manpower

MOUNT CARMEL, Tenn. (AP) - Mount Carmel's police chief is not happy that speed enforcement cameras on a two-mile stretch of highway are going to be deactivated at the end of March when a contract expires. Police Chief Jeff Jackson…

Tennessee governor taps Barnes to head Human Services

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is tapping Danielle Whitworth Barnes as the state Department of Human Services commissioner. A news release says Barnes will assume the post Feb. 6. The 41-year-old currently serves as deputy commissioner and…

Tennessee preliminary unemployment rate up in December

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's preliminary unemployment rate for December rose slightly to 4.9 percent compared with November. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development says total nonfarm employment in the state grew by 6,000 jobs over the month.…