Jim Balloch

• TBI mulls charge for laboratory testing Published 11/07/2009 at midnight

  If the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation begins charging law enforcement agencies to test everything from blood in drunken driving cases to DNA-stained clothing in slayings, police agencies will be scrambling to find the funds to pay the fees.

• Retired Rural/Metro officer gets 6 years for child porn Published 11/07/2009 at midnight

  A retired Rural/Metro Fire Department officer and former member of the board that governs Knox County's emergency 911 operations was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court to nearly six years in prison on a federal child pornography conviction.

• Man sentenced for drug crime says he must pay price Published 11/06/2009 at midnight

  It was just a mild illustration of what a dangerous profession the drug business is, but a good one nevertheless.

• Arson defense makes new claim Published 11/04/2009 at midnight

  The man who authorities allege is a longtime prolific firebug who set many blazes in the Cherokee National Forest has been ordered to undergo psychological testing to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

• Major drug ring exposed Published 11/03/2009 at midnight

  More than a dozen suspects from Florida and East Tennessee - including three brothers - have been arrested in a drug conspiracy case that involves oxycodone, ecstasy and marijuana, according to documents recently unsealed in U.S. District Court.

• Knox school system cleared in Bible case Published 10/30/2009 at midnight

  The Knox County school system did not violate a Karns Elementary School pupil's constitutional rights when an issue arose over students reading and discussing the Bible during recess, a U.S. District Court jury ruled Thursday.

• Fed jury sides with Knox Schools in lawsuit over Karns Bible study Published 10/29/2009 at 11:29 a.m.

  KNOXVILLE - A federal court jury today declared that the Knox County school system did not violate the civil rights of a Karns Elementary School pupil who was participating in a Bible discussion group during recess.

• Jury deliberating in religious freedom case against Knox school board Published 10/29/2009 at midnight

  A U.S. District Court jury today will resume deliberating a religious freedom case that began on a schoolyard playground more than four years ago.

• Closing arguments set in Bible case Updated 10/28/2009 at 1:37 p.m.

  KNOXVILLE - Proof ended today in U.S. District Court in the Karns Elementary School Bible study case with a parent's testimony that the whole flap was a misunderstanding.

• Knox school officials say lawsuit unnecessary Published 10/28/2009 at midnight

  Knox County Schools officials testified in U.S. District Court on Tuesday that they are being sued over an action they never took in a situation that could have easily been resolved outside of a courtroom.

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