News from the AP

Federal judge dismisses charter school suit
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit against the Metro Nashville Board of Education by a charter school that was ordered to close because of poor student performance....

Nashville judge permanently suspends guardian
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Nashville judge has permanently suspended the public guardian of Davidson County while citing "significant concerns" that she charged excessive fees to the elderly and disabled people she is supposed to protect....

Photographer facing child pornography charges
JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say a professional photographer from Perry County has been charged with possessing child pornography....

W.Va.'s local-food movement a model for Appalachia
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- With eight in 10 farmers making less than $10,000 a year, West Virginia will never rival big Midwestern factory farms in producing food. But creative collaborations with food entrepreneurs are seeding a new kind of economy that federal officials say could become a model for 12 other Appalachian states....

Tennessee recoups unemployment benefits
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- State Labor Department officials say they have recouped about $15.3 million worth of fraudulently collected unemployment benefits by garnishing tax refunds and other federal payments to people who were not entitled to receive the assistance....

Audit finds $51K missing at Hamblen animal shelter
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (AP) -- An audit by the state comptroller's office has found that more than $51,000 in animal adoption fees and donations for the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society was not deposited into the facility's bank account....

Sheriff says deputy sneaked in drugs, smokes
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) -- The Rutherford County sheriff has fired a deputy who he said was sneaking in contraband to jail inmates....