Small firms scrapping, scaling back health plans By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press Writer JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Faced with high health insurance costs, a North Carolina brokerage passed the buck on to its employees, a Texas public relations firm switched from group insurance to stipends, and a Missouri travel agency let its workers walk away instead paying for insurance. Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

Davidson County selected for jail-to-community study NASHVILLE (AP) — For the next two years, national consultants will be looking closely at how Davidson County jail inmates fare when they leave confinement and how Nashville’s sheriff’s office prepares inmates to be released. Eventually, officials hope the pilot project can help them do a better job of providing inmates with services like drug treatment, anger management and job placement that can help keep them from reoffending and eventually make their communities safer. Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

Professed 9/11 mastermind will be convicted — Obama By DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama predicted that professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be convicted and executed, as Attorney General Eric Holder defended the decision to put him on trial in the U.S. civilian legal system. Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

Pentagon: Wide probe likely after Fort Hood WASHINGTON (AP) — Worried that the Army may have missed red flags about the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood massacre, the Pentagon probably will open an inquiry into how all the military services keep watch on other volatile soldiers hidden in their ranks, officials said Tuesday. Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

Going high-tech to track Alzheimer’s patients WASHINGTON (AP) — Tom Dougherty jokes that he takes “get-lost walks.” To his wife, Cleo, it’s a constant fear: When will his Alzheimer’s get bad enough that she has to end his 4-mile daily strolls? The Irvine, Calif., woman is about to watch her husband’s neighborhood meandering via computer while she works. The Alzheimer’s Association is adapting technology developed for monitoring prisoners to let caregivers track where their Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

Associated Press poll: Government health plan divides public By ERICA WERNER Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Tell Americans that letting the government sell insurance in competition with private industry would be cheaper for them, and a majority is in favor. Published in The Messenger 11.18.09 Read More ... AP

New exhibit highlights offbeat Tennessee legends NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee has plenty of legendary people and places, but a new exhibit at the Tennessee State Library uncovers the truth about the state’s best-known myths and tales. Published in The Messenger 11.17.09 Read More ... AP

Government urged to invest in electric cars WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of businessmen on Monday launched a new coalition to urge the federal government to make a major investment in electric transportation, pointing to electric cars as the best way to confront the nation’s dependence on imported oil. Published in The Messenger 11.17.09 Read More ... AP

Students sue county schools over religion NASHVILLE (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of students accused Cheatham County schools of promoting Christianity and violating the U.S. Constitution. The complaint states the schools showed a pattern of endorsing religion that included the distribution of Gideon’s Bibles in class, a teacher who has a cross on a classroom wall and sectarian prayers at school events. Published in The Messenger 11.17.09 Read More ... AP

Tax rich to pay for health bill WASHINGTON (AP) — When it comes to paying for a health care overhaul, Americans see just one way to go: Tax the rich. That finding from a new Associated Press poll will be welcome news for House Democrats, who proposed doing just that in their sweeping remake of the U.S. medical system, which passed earlier this month and would extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. Published in The Messenger 11.17.09  Read More ... AP

Henderson: GM to begin repaying aid by year-end WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors Co. will begin paying back $6.7 billion in U.S. government loans by the end of 2009 and could pay off that full amount as early as 2010, five years ahead of schedule, CEO Fritz Henderson said today. Published in The Messenger 11.16.09 Read More ... AP

Retail sales increase 1.4 percent in October By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Retail sales rose more than expected in October, but the gain largely reflected a big rebound in auto sales. Published in The Messenger 11.16.09 Read More ... AP

News briefs from around Tennessee Japan drops case against Tennessee man NASHVILLE (AP) — A spokesman for a Tennessee father arrested in Japan when he snatched his children from his ex-wife says Japanese authorities are dropping the case. Read More ...

US adult smoking rate rises slightly ATLANTA (AP) — Cigarette smoking rose slightly for the first time in almost 15 years, dashing health officials’ hopes that the U.S. smoking rate had moved permanently below 20 percent. Published in The Messenger 11.12.09 Read More ... AP

Following Japan’s example of stagnancy a risk for US WASHINGTON (AP) — Heavy government stimulus spending and near-zero interest rates did little to end a “lost decade” of stagnation and mushrooming debt in Japan. Some economists and lawmakers say the U.S. may wind up following the same trajectory. Published in The Messenger 11.12.09 Read More ... AP

Senate Dems move to curb Fed’s powers WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed stripping the Federal Reserve of its supervisory powers and creating instead three new federal agencies to police banks, protect consumers and dismantle failing institutions. Published in The Messenger 11.12.09 Read More ... AP

Soldier’s daily letters detail life in WWII NASHVILLE (AP) — In the summer of 1942, Army 2nd Lt. Roswell Weil was eager to go to war, but his parents were pained to say goodbye to their only child. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Maine troop greeters age along with wars BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Jerry Mundy rarely misses an opportunity to extend his hand and offer thanks to young soldiers and Marines returning home, or departing for the war zone, during their brief layovers at the nation’s easternmost major airport, a refueling hub for military transports. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Poll: A grouchy public sticking with Obama WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama still has the public approval of a majority of Americans, but he finds himself governing an increasingly pessimistic country. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Clinton urges Senate to pass health care bill By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton urged Senate Democrats on Tuesday to pass health care legislation by year’s end, pointedly telling skittish lawmakers that an imperfect bill is preferable to another failure like the one he and the party endured in 1994. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Strollers recalled after children lose fingertips WASHINGTON (AP) — About a million Maclaren strollers sold by Target and Babies “R” Us are being recalled after 12 reports of children having their fingertips amputated by a hinge mechanism. Read More ...

Biofuels investment back in ‘good shape’ — Bredesen NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen said Tuesday that a private investment deal is back on track following discussions between the company and the head of a legislative panel that questioned a state-backed biofuels initiative in East Tennessee. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Military sees increase in wounded in Afghanistan WASHINGTON (AP) — Far from winding down, the numbers of wounded U.S. soldiers coming home have continued to swell. The problem is especially acute among those who fought in Afghanistan, where nearly four times as many troops were injured in October as a year ago. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Blame game erupts over probe of Fort Hood murder suspect By DEVLIN BARRETT Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The mystery over whether the military knew Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan was communicating with a radical Muslim imam lapsed into finger-pointing ahead of congressional investigations looking into the Army psychiatrist’s contacts with any extremists. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Randy Houser makes leap from honky tonks to red carpet By CHRIS TALBOTT Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Randy Houser has no illusions when it comes to the Country Music Association Awards. The new artist of the year nominee doesn’t think he’s got even the longest of shots in that category during Wednesday’s awards show, where he faces the Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, Jamey Johnson and Jake Owen. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Darius Rucker shoots for country music milestone NASHVILLE (AP) — Darius Rucker was just a young boy with a love for “Hee Haw” and FM radio when he made a discovery — and a decision — that would shape the rest of his life. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Paisley focused on duties, not awards NASHVILLE (AP) — Brad Paisley is up for seven trophies at tonight’s Country Music Association Awards, but his duties as co-host with Carrie Underwood and performer will keep his attention elsewhere. He welcomes all distractions. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Student effort to name tower after television comedian fails By JOSH FLORY Knoxville News Sentinel KNOXVILLE (AP) — A push to re-name one of Knoxville’s tallest buildings resulted in a parking spot for a television comedian and a $1,000 check for a local history buff. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

21-year-old becomes youngest World Series of Poker champ By OSKAR GARCIA Associated Press Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — A 21-year-old Michigan poker professional who chose cards over college won the World Series of Poker main event in Las Vegas early Tuesday, winning $8.55 million and becoming the youngest player to win the tournament in its 40-year history. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

Tips for getting best deal when you rent a car By BETH J. HARPAZ AP Travel Editor NEW YORK (AP) — Travelers have been able to score decent deals on hotel rooms and airfares over the last year. But car rental prices have increased dramatically despite the weak economy. Published in The Messenger 11.11.09 Read More ... AP

DC area relives terror as sniper’s execution nears By DAVID DISHNEAU Associated Press Writer WHEATON, Md. (AP) — When James D. Martin was shot dead seven years ago in the parking lot of a grocery store in suburban Washington, it got little attention on the nightly news. Published in The Messenger 11.9.09 Read More ... AP

Fort Hood soldiers ready for return By ANGELA K. BROWN Associated Press Writer FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — Pvt. Joseph Foster took a bullet in the leg during the Fort Hood shooting rampage. He pauses when he’s asked about the mayhem, then credits a stout heritage with bringing him through the ordeal and leaving him eager for his scheduled January deployment to Afghanistan. Published in The Messenger 11.9.09 Read More ... AP

Tennessee gets $12 million for career retraining NASHVILLE (AP) — The state of Tennessee has received an additional $12 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to enhance the state’s Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program. Published in The Messenger 11.6.09 Read More ... AP

Governor: Criticism of biofuels project ‘outrageous’ By TRAVIS LOLLER Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen says a legislative staff member who attacked a state-backed initiative to turn switchgrass into ethanol is playing politics and endangering chances to land a large investment for East Tennessee. Published in The Messenger 11.6.09 Read More ... AP