Topic: Tennessee

Commencement 2013: A sampling of advice to this year's college grads

Here are some memorable excerpts from this spring's college commencement addresses.

Oklahoma tornado choice: Trust school building integrity or retrieve kids?

After the Moore Public School District in Oklahoma let parents know via text alert their kids were being held inside the school building, parents had to make a quick choice: Trust that the buildings would stand or race to pick them up before the tornado hit. 

Boy Scouts vote on allowing openly gay scouts

The Boy Scouts of America local troop leaders will vote Thursday on allowing openly gay boys to participate in the organization. The proposal, however, includes continuing a ban on gay scout leaders.

Man who fled zombies injures seven with strawberry truck

Man who fled zombies: A Tennessee man stole a big-rig truck in California, caused several accidents, and told investigators he was fleeing zombies when he did it.

Surge in babies born addicted to prescription drugs worries hospitals

Babies born addicted to prescription drugs are increasing in Tennessee — the first state to track the number of babies born dependent on drugs. And a study published last year said more than 13,000 infants nationwide were affected in 2009. 

Saving Money It's family vacation time. Best deals to Florida, California, and more.

Cover Story Telecommuting: Steady growth in work-at-home culture, Yahoo or not

Telecommuting is a rapidly growing work-life style. Yahoo's recent ban of remote work sent a wave of concern through white-collar legions who consider themselves fortunate – and more productive – working in pajamas at home or holed up in a Starbucks cafe. 

USA Update Obama's 'try anything' bid to woo GOP moves from dinner to golf course

President Obama hit the golf course Monday with two Republican senators in an effort to build support for his second-term agenda. He has also had several dinners with GOP lawmakers.

Decoder Wire Al Gore now 'Romney-rich': Enough to make him happy?

Al Gore being 'Romney rich' has opened him up to jabs from the political left and right. It's not clear, though, whether his new wealth compensates for the loss of the presidency.

5-year-old shoots, kills 2-year-old: In Kentucky, kids get guns early

The 5-year-old who accidentally shot and killed his 2-year-old sister is from Kentucky, a state where some kids get guns before they start school. The 5-year-old shot his sister with a .22 caliber rifle from a gun company that markets specifically to children with the slogan, 'My first rifle.' 

Two airplanes clip each other, no injuries (+video)

Two airplanes clip on the taxiway at Newark, N.J., airport. A Scandinavian Airlines' left airplane wing clipped the tail of a United Airlines airplane, ripping a portion of the left wing.

In Gear Nissan Leaf electric taxis launch in New York

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg joined with Nissan officials Monday to announce that six Nissan Leaf taxis would go into service this spring. Nissan Leaf taxis already operate in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Osaka, Japan,

49ers trade up? San Francisco has draft picks to deal, if they want

49ers trade up?: The defending NFC champions have 13 draft picks to wheel and deal with. If the 49ers trade up, they might look for a backup quarterback.

Along the Mississippi, river views trump flood protection

Mississippi floods don't have the impact today that they had during the Great Flood of 1993, thanks to better flood walls and levees and thousands of flood-plain homes converted to green space. But in some river towns, flood protection is a non-starter.

Chicago flooding closes airports and highways, opens sinkhole

Chicago flooding opened a sinkhole, shut down expressways, delayed commuter trains, flooded basements, and caused officials to close schools, cancel flights, and evacuate a hospital.

USA Update Mississippi man charged in ricin attacks was an Elvis impersonator

Paul Kevin Curtis has been arrested and charged with making threats against the president and sending letters threatening to injure other persons. Relatives, who call him a 'super entertainer,' are shocked.

MPAA movie ratings: New initiative to assist parents gets mixed reviews

Dubbed Check the Box, the movie ratings campaign is designed to give parents more and faster information about how a film got its rating. The White House had requested action along these lines.

Decoder Wire Four reasons the Senate gun control bill may be kaput

The Senate is slated to vote Wednesday on nine gun control provisions, but prospects for passage for several – including expanding background checks to more gun buyers – look dim. Here's why.

USA Update States drop GED: At $120 a pop, some say test is just too expensive

States drop GED, which will be available in the future only on computer. It's a historic shift away from the test that set the standard for high school equivalency certification for more than 70 years.

States drop GED? Why some states are balking at GED (+video)

States drop GED: Some 40 states and the District of Columbia may drop the GED due to rising costs. New York, Montana, and New Hampshire have already made the switch to an alternative high school equivalency exam.

Change Agent Rural electric co-ops go green

Electric cooperatives have served rural Americans for generations. Some are taking advantage of their member-owned status to begin weaning their regions off of fossil fuels.

Meat recall expands to 13 states

Meat recall includes roast beef, ham, turkey breast, corned beef, and pastrami shipped to retailers. No illnesses have been linked to the meat recall.

USA Update Powerful spring storm heads into the Carolinas and Virginia

A severe storm system, stretching from Texas to New York, caused flooding and tornadoes in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee, and downed power lines in Minnesota and South Dakota with ice and heavy snow.

Senate ends gun control filibuster, but GOP still skeptical of bill

In a bipartisan vote Thursday, the Senate voted to override a filibuster and proceed with debate on a package of gun control bills. But support for debate doesn't mean support for the bill.

Story changes? Diplomat now said to be on foot when killed in Afghanistan (+video)

A witness contradicts the story told to relatives of the young diplomat Anne Smedinghoff that her group was traveling in an armored vehicle.