Headlines from the Web

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints committed so many blunders, not even Reggie Bush's record-tying two punt returns for touchdowns could make up for them in a 30-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

A downtown hotel with ties to the 1982 World’s Fair may soon change hands. Bill Lyons, senior director of policy and communications for Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, said Monday that a New York firm has agreed to buy the downtown Holiday Inn Select at 525 Henley St.

A downtown hotel with ties to the 1982 World’s Fair may soon change hands.

A downtown hotel with ties to the 1982 World’s Fair may soon change hands.

Darcus "Lady" McDaniel already had mild asthma when she lived in Chicago. But she wasn't prepared for the flare-up that happened when she moved to East Tennessee's asthmatic-unfriendly climate. McDaniel, 43, had used only an inhaler occasionally in Chicago. Now in Knoxville, she's had three hospital stays so far this year.

A year that’s already seen plenty of bad fiscal news for the University of Tennessee got worse Monday as UT President John Petersen announced that the state has told him to cut $17 million from the system’s already dwindling budget.

Darcus "Lady" McDaniel already had mild asthma when she lived in Chicago. But she wasn't prepared for the flare-up that happened when she moved to East Tennessee's asthmatic-unfriendly climate. McDaniel, 43, had used only an inhaler occasionally in Chicago. Now in Knoxville, she's had three hospital stays so far this year.

A year that’s already seen plenty of bad fiscal news for the University of Tennessee got worse Monday as UT President John Petersen announced that the state has told him to cut $17 million from the system’s already dwindling budget.

One campaign sign, one pitch to vote for so 'n' so, and Stewart Higgins said he might have let his New Year's resolution lapse. But he appreciated the no-pressure, nonpartisan offer from the trio of volunteers seated in the lawn chairs outside McKay Used Books and CDs, who left politics off their nondescript folding table in favor of more voter registration forms.

One campaign sign, one pitch to vote for so 'n' so, and Stewart Higgins said he might have let his New Year's resolution lapse. But he appreciated the no-pressure, nonpartisan offer from the trio of volunteers seated in the lawn chairs outside McKay Used Books and CDs, who left politics off their nondescript folding table in favor of more voter registration forms.

Knoxville Police Department investigators have taken saliva swabs and hair samples from Valentino Vasquez Miranda, the suspect in the slaying of former Alabama homecoming queen Jennifer Lee Hampton.

Knoxville Police Department investigators have taken saliva swabs and hair samples from Valentino Vasquez Miranda, the suspect in the slaying of former Alabama homecoming queen Jennifer Lee Hampton.

No clear consensus emerged Monday as about 30 students, parents and teachers shared input during a forum on a future academic calendar for Knox County Schools.

NASHVILLE - As a prelude to a nationally televised presidential debate, Gov. Phil Bredesen and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour discussed civil discourse in politics - and disagreed over whether one aspect of the current campaign is proper.

No clear consensus emerged Monday as about 30 students, parents and teachers shared input during a forum on a future academic calendar for Knox County Schools.

NASHVILLE - As a prelude to a nationally televised presidential debate, Gov. Phil Bredesen and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour discussed civil discourse in politics - and disagreed over whether one aspect of the current campaign is proper.

Municipal distributors and electric cooperatives that purchase wholesale power from TVA will for the first time buy a stake in a TVA power plant, according to a filing with the government Monday. The Seven States Power Corp. has secured loans to buy a majority interest in TVA's combined-cycle combustion turbine plant in Southhaven, Miss., Knoxville-based TVA told the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

CLINTON - Lana Seivers, the former state commissioner of education, is one of three new inductees for the Clinton High School Wall of Fame.

OAK RIDGE - City Council members say they strongly support Roane State Community College, but they're not ready to write a check. In a special session Monday, the council deferred action on a request for a $500,000 donation for a major expansion of Roane State's Oak Ridge campus.

The operator of Hillcrest nursing homes wants to buy the land it leases from Knox County for $6 million, allowing it to use the property as collateral for loans and to expand facilities as demand increases for new kinds of care for the elderly.