Author: Associated Press

Man indicted in death of 71-year-old in Shelby County

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A man who was the caregiver for a 71-year-old man who died last year of complications from multiple blunt force injuries has been indicted in West Tennessee on second-degree murder and other charges. Shelby County District…

Possible world record deer killed in Sumner County

GALLATIN, Tenn. (AP) - Hunting officials say a man has killed a whitetail deer that might break the world record. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2fD7S6K ) reports that 26-year-old Stephen Tucker of Gallatin shot the deer with a muzzleloader Monday afternoon in…

Trump wins Tennessee by 26 points in final vote tally

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Will all precincts reporting, Republican Donald Trump has won Tennessee's presidential election by 26 percentage points. More than 1.5 million voters cast their ballots in favor of Trump, or 61 percent, compared with about 866,000 for…

Republican Steve McManus of Memphis loses Statehouse seat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican state Rep. Steve McManus of Memphis has lost his Tennessee Statehouse seat to Democrat Dewayne Thompson. McManus, who served as chairman of the House Insurance and Banking Committee, lost by 373 votes. Delays in vote…

Forest fires trap firefighters, cause excessive smoke

CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (AP) - Ongoing wildfires in Tennessee are causing problems, trapping firefighters and filling the region's air with smoke. Media outlets report that seven firefighters were trapped Tuesday evening in a forest fire near Laurel Run Park, causing…

Southern wildfires create haze of smoke in metro Atlanta

ATLANTA (AP) - Authorities say drought-fueled wildfires burning across the South have created a smoky haze over metro Atlanta, and the smell of forest fires from several states is expected to linger. The National Weather Service says gusty winds from…

Addiction treatment center in Gray receives final approval

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Mountain States Health Alliance and East Tennessee State University officials have received final approval to open an addiction treatment clinic in the Johnson City suburb of Gray. The Johnson City Press reports (http://bit.ly/2fD0P1w) that on…

Gregg Allman cancels shows due to vocal cord injury

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Rocker Gregg Allman has cancelled or rescheduled his shows for the rest of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 after a vocal cord injury. The 68-year-old musician said in a statement posted on his website Tuesday…

State advises horse vaccinations for mosquito-borne illness

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - State agriculture officials are advising horse owners in west Tennessee to vaccinate their livestock due to the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses. Officials say horses in Dyer and Gibson counties recently have tested positive for West Nile…

Tennessee Dems hope to chip away at vast GOP majorities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Democrats are hoping to chip away at vast Republican majorities in the state Legislature by focusing on urban areas, while the GOP is seeking to stamp out the last vestiges of Democratic support in rural parts…

Tennesseans go to the polls to decide between Trump, Clinton

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican Donald Trump comes into Election Day in Tennessee with strong support across the state, though supporters of Democrat Hillary Clinton have been encouraged by heavy turnout in early voting in urban areas. Republican Gov. Bill…

Voters to cast ballots for Tennessee’s 9 House seats

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Voters in Tennessee will decide whom to send to Washington to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. Tennessee's eight incumbent House members - six Republicans and two Democrats - are expected to win re-election…

2 fatal crashes investigated in Virginia’s Brunswick County

LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia State Police say two people were killed in separate car crashes in Brunswick County. The agency said in a news release that the first crash occurred Saturday on Interstate 85 near Rawlings. Troopers say 18-year-old…

Huber Engineered Woods to reopen Spring City facility

SPRING CITY, Tenn. (AP) - State officials say Huber Engineered Woods plans to reopen its manufacturing facility in Spring City. Officials say the company, which makes specialty flooring, wall and roof building products for residential and light commercial projects, will…

Tennessee hunters urged to use caution with dry conditions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee officials are urging caution with dry conditions that can lead to fires as muzzle-loading season opens statewide. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wildlife and Forestry Chief Mark Gudlin says many fires have been battled already, including…

Trial of Pennsylvania man charged in armed robberies delayed

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A judge has agreed to delay the trial of a Pennsylvania man accused of plotting multiple armed bank robberies, including the botched robbery of a Connecticut credit union during which he strapped a bank executive with…

Tennessee manufacturers seek workers as industry rebounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee manufacturers are in need of young employees as the industry rebounds and older manufacturing workers retire. State Economic and Community Development commissioner Randy Boyd tells the Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2f9AKGW) that of the 344,000 manufacturing workers in…

UT considering 3 finalists for Knoxville chancellor job

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The University of Tennessee says it has narrowed its search for the next chancellor in Knoxville to three finalists. The university said in a news release Monday that the candidates who made the final cut are…

Tennessee Supreme Court OKs warrantless blood draw in wreck

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that a blood sample obtained from a driver in a fatal wreck can be included as evidence even though police did not have a warrant. The state's highest court in…

Land Between the Lakes taking early reservations for eclipse

GOLDEN POND, Ky. (AP) - Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is taking early reservations for camping for next August, when a total solar eclipse is occurring. The Aug. 21 total eclipse will be visible from the contiguous United…

Tennessee inmate gets new hearing 2 years after wife’s lie

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Nashville man in prison on false allegations that led to his revoked parole two years ago will be getting a new hearing before the Tennessee Board of Parole. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2f0Pess ) reports that Robert…

Misconduct charges against Campbell County judge tossed

JACKSBORO, Tenn. (AP) - A judge has thrown out all charges against a Campbell County judge who was accused of mishandling multiple cases. News outlets report that suspended Judge Amanda Sammons was acquitted Wednesday on two charges of felony official…

Company: Blast-damaged gasoline line should reopen Sunday

HELENA, Ala. (AP) - The company that owns the gasoline pipeline that exploded and erupted in flames in Alabama this week says it expects to restore service to the line on Sunday. Colonial Pipeline Co. said in a statement issued…

Tennessee sets early and absentee voting record

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Election officials say Tennessee has set a record for early and absentee voting. Secretary of State Tre Hargett says almost 1.7 million people voted early in person or by mail, topping the record of almost 1.6…

Teen charged with killing girl, wounding others at city park

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis police say a 17-year-old boy has been charged with second degree murder and other offenses in a shooting that left a 16-year-old girl dead and five other people wounded. Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said Friday…

Ex-Vanderbilt player sentenced to 17 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A former Vanderbilt football player who encouraged his teammates to rape an unconscious female student has been sentenced to 17 years in prison. Testimony during the trial showed that Brandon Vandenburg…

More than 1.5M Tennesseans cast early or absentee ballots

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Early voting has come to a close in Tennessee. While turnout figures for the final day are not yet complete, more ballots have already been cast than in the last presidential election in 2012 and totals…

Beyonce makes surprise appearance at Country Music Awards

Pop superstar Beyonce helped celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Country Music Awards' with a secret and boisterous performance of her song "Daddy Lessons" with the Dixie Chicks. Beyonce hit the stage unintroduced when the show was about two-thirds over…

Country star Kenny Chesney honored with 1st of 2 awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Country star Kenny Chesney has picked up his first of two major awards in as many days just after releasing the 17th album of his career, "Cosmic Hallelujah." On Tuesday he was honored as a songwriter…

Shooting in Memphis park leaves 1 teen dead, 5 wounded

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A teenager has been killed and five others were injured in a shooting at a Memphis park. Memphis police say the shooting occurred at Zodiac Park near the Mississippi state line about 8:15 p.m. EDT. Police…

Company aims to restart pipeline as early as this weekend

HELENA, Ala. (AP) - Executives at a pipeline company say their goal is to restart the line as early as this weekend after an explosion and fire shut down gasoline shipments to millions across the South. The deadly explosion sparked…

Washington County wins lawsuit against Johnson City for tax

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (AP) - Reversing a trend in similar cases elsewhere in Tennessee, a chancellor has ruled in favor of Washington County in its lawsuit to share in Johnson City's liquor-by-the-drink tax revenues. News outlets report Chancellor E.G. Moody issued…

High-speed rail routes between Atlanta, Chattanooga studied

ATLANTA (AP) - The Georgia Department of Transportation has conducted a study examining three potential routes for a high-speed train service between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee. News outlets report the department believes the best-performing route would be along Interstate 75,…

Restoration work on cupola of Tennessee Capitol underway

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Restoration work is getting underway on the cupola of the Tennessee Capitol building. The $2.3 million project starts Wednesday and is expected to take about year to complete. The Capitol building was constructed in 1859, and…

Luke Bryan wants a ‘three-peat’ at the CMA Awards

Christmas could come early for country star Luke Bryan: The singer may have a "three-peat" as entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night. Bryan's competition this year includes Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton…

Memphis DA: No charges for officers in fatal shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The top prosecutor in Memphis says no charges will be filed against two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man in January. In a statement released Wednesday, Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich…

More than $16M flows to Tennessee legislative candidates

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - More than $16 million in political contributions has flowed to candidates running for seats in the Tennessee General Assembly this year. That total includes $1.5 million given to candidates in the final reporting period before next…

Tennessee pastor arrested on sexual abuse charges

KINGSTON, Tenn. (AP) - An assistant pastor of a Tennessee church has been charged with sexually assaulting two girls at his home and at the church. The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2fetLuM ) reports that 62-year-old Jeremy Hugh McDowell was arrested…

Chicago judge gives Tennessee man 4 years for cyberattacks

CHICAGO (AP) - A Tennessee man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for a series of cyberattacks on businesses, universities and governments. Federal prosecutors in Chicago say 22-year-old Timothy Justen French of Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced Tuesday.…

Explosion in Alabama shuts gas pipeline, shortages possible

HELENA, Ala. (AP) - An explosion has shut down a pipeline that supplies gasoline to millions of people for the second time in less than two months, raising the specter of gas shortages and price increases. One worker was killed…

Seven Counties, Centerstone finalize partnership

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky-based behavioral health care provider Seven Counties Services has become a part of Nashville, Tennessee-based Centerstone. The companies said Monday in a statement that they have finalized their affiliation, which will have 211 locations in five…

Haslam to kick off annual public budget hearings next week

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam is kicking off his annual public budget hearings next week as he gets ready to put together his annual spending plan for the state of Tennessee. Sixteen agencies are scheduled to present their…

Nashville mayor proposes $12m for police body cameras

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Mayor Megan Barry says she will push for a $12 million undertaking to equip all Nashville police officers with body cameras. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2dVDJ6s ) reports that Barry says she will make the request when she…

Shelby County DA faces more disciplinary charges from board

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich is facing more disciplinary charges from a state board in connection with a murder case she handled as a prosecutor. Media outlets report that the Board of Professional Responsibility of…

City buys Morristown College; plans to build a park

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (AP) - The city of Morristown has agreed to buy the long-abandoned Morristown College in order to tear it down and build a public park that will address the city's historical significance. Mayor Gary Chesney told WBIR-TV (http://on.wbir.com/2f7R9tb…

Tennessee statehouse refuses to release sex harassment data

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Legislative leaders have said that sexual misconduct accusations levied against ex-lawmaker Jeremy Durham are not demonstrative of the state Capitol culture, but officials have refused to give data about sexual harassment in state government. The Tennessean…

Drought causes damage to roadway on Natchez Trace

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - The extreme drought plaguing Mississippi has caused damage to the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2dYbSm3) officials on Monday cautioned travelers about pavement problems that have developed along the Mississippi portion of…

Dry conditions blamed for wildfires in eastern Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Dry conditions are being blamed for several wildfires in eastern Tennessee. Tennessee assistant district forester Nathan Waters tells the Knoxville News Sentinel that crews are battling fires in several counties. In Campbell County, a fire threatened…

Memphis man convicted of reckless homicide in retrial

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A Memphis man has been found guilty of reckless homicide in the retrial of a 1996 case involving the death of his toddler daughter. The Commercial Appeal reports a jury convicted Benjamin Brown on Saturday. He…