CHURCH HILL (AP) — Police in Church Hill have cited a Kingsport woman for what officers termed the excessive spanking of her 19-month-old son.
The toddler and a 2-year-old child have been placed in the care of a relative while the child abuse charge against Allison Marie Blevins is resolved, according to The Kingsport Times-News.
Arraignment of the 28-year-old Blevins had been set for Monday, but was moved to Sept. 19.
An arrest report states Blevins spanked the younger child three separate times while at Derrick Park on July 13. The case was initially referred to Kingsport Police by Child Protective Services, but it was then determined the boy was spanked in Church Hill.
Detective Kevin Grigsby said photos of the boy’s injuries show substantial bruises to his buttocks and the side of his head, where he struck it on a park slide.

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MEMPHIS (AP) — Officials at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis say doctors successfully separated a rare set of conjoined twins that were born connected at the pelvis and lower spine during a 13-hour procedure.
The hospital announced in a news release on Tuesday the procedure on Aug. 29 was the most complex case in the hospital’s 59-year history. The hospital planned a press conference today with physicians from the surgical team to provide more details about the procedure.
The mother of the twins, who are from Memphis, will also be at the press conference.

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MAYNARDVILLE (AP) — Parents in Union County could be on their own in getting their children to school if more money isn’t found for the schools.
The County Commission meets tonight to consider a tax increase requested by the county school board. Schools director Wayne Goforth said the alternative to a 1-cent tax hike would be a drastic cut in the schools budget, which is now $771,000 in the red.
Goforth said cutting some teaching jobs, all sports coaching positions and eliminating morning bus routes would be necessary, according to WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

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CHATTANOOGA (AP) — Police in Chattanooga say a young man was fatally shot after a large fight broke out among rival groups of females.
The incident occurred Monday night during a large gathering at which the fight broke out.
The victim was later identified as 19-year-old Aundre Bush, according to Chattanooga Police Sgt. Jerri Weary.
Witnesses told police that after the fight erupted between two groups of women, a heavy-set man pulled a gun and started firing into the crowd. A bullet struck Bush in the head. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

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CHATTANOOGA (AP) — A California man is the first to receive delivery of a purchased 2012 Volkswagen Passat built at the automaker’s plant in Chattanooga.
A statement posted on the Volkswagen of America Inc. website said Matt Duchesne of San Jose, Calif., received the diesel TDI SEL model of the midsize sedan on Monday.
A VW executive vice president, Marc Trahan, said in the statement that the automaker was excited to share such a seminal moment with Duchesne.
Duchesne had previously ordered the car. VW is to start selling the vehicles at dealer lots later this month.
Volkswagen is sending Duchesne and a guest to Chattanooga for a tour of the new plant in November. He will get a gift bag of VW gear and Shell will provide $500 in Shell Gift Cards.