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One of four finalists to be the University of Tennessee's next police chief has endured a letter of no confidence signed by 10 officers and four sergeants, as well as department scandals that include K-9 abuse and cops sending pornographic emails from university computers. UT officials declined Monday to comment on University of Nevada Reno chief Adam Garcia's background, including when the search committee became aware of the controversies surrounding his tenure in Reno. Garcia, however, called the issues "old news" and said he discussed them with UT administrators during his interview on campus nearly two weeks ago. "That was a defining moment of my employment here," said Garcia, 54, of the 2008 letter of no confidence. "By virtue of the fact that I'm still ... Continue reading →
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- The University of Notre Dame is suing Obama administration officials over the mandate requiring most employers to cover birth control. The school said Monday that the mandate violates religious freedom by requiring many religiously affiliated hospitals, schools and charities to comply. President Barack Obama offered to soften the mandate to accommodate religious groups, but U.S. Roman Catholic bishops say the change doesn't go far enough. Other religious colleges are already suing the Health and Human Service agency and administration officials over the mandate. Still, observers had been closely watching for Notre Dame's next step. The university is the most prominent Roman Catholic school in the country. Notre Dame came under then unprecedented criticism from U.S. bishops and others in 2009 ... Continue reading →
Tammi Smith, the woman who wanted to adopt long-missing Baby Gabriel, was found guilty of charges stemming from her activities around the time of the child's December 2009 disappearance. The Maricopa County Superior Court jury returned at midday Thursday with its guilty verdicts on charges of conspiracy to commit custodial interference and forgery. Following announcement of the verdict, the jury considered and found aggravating factors that will be considered at Smith's sentencing: that the crimes caused emotional harm and that an accomplice was involved. Smith was not taken into custody pending sentencing. The charges on which Smith was found guilty are felonies with sentencing ranges of 1 to 3.75 years each. Smith's eligibility for probation is to be determined at a hearing before sentencing. The ... Continue reading →
A pair of historic buildings on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus may soon get broader recognition. The Historic Zoning Commission on Thursday recommended National Register of Historic Places status for the Tyson Alumni House, at 1609 Melrose Ave., and Ayres Hall, the iconic hilltop building on Circle Drive. The local panel's action is only one step in a longer process — a state review board is slated to consider the nominations on May 23 — but it's noteworthy given the tension between the university and local preservationists. The recent Fragile 15 list of endangered historic properties, issued by Knox Heritage, included several buildings on the UT campus, although the list didn't mention the Ayres or Tyson structures. Kim Trent, executive director of Knox Heritage, praised ... Continue reading →
