TENNESSEE

The Detroit Auto Show 2012 has been so far a testament to value and design combinations, key elements that deliver winning car products. The Hyundai Elantra kicked off the first day of the North American International Auto Show -- as it's officially called -- Monday with a somewhat surprising win as Car of the Year. The compact Elantra, cited by voting jurors for its low price and high efficiency with 40 miles per gallon, beat the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Passat for the annual honor.

The name e-Bugster is derived from the obvious -- e is for electric, Bug is the nickname of the iconic Beetle, and speedster describes the open-top two seater, the company said.

President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America Jonathan Browning told journalists the company will use global resources and a focus on the U.S. is a global (company) priority.

The Nissan Motor Co. and Daimler AG said on Sunday they would produce Mercedes-Benz gasoline engines at Nissan's Tennessee factory for fitting on Mercedes and Infiniti models, beginning in 2014.

The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Both teams, who have never faced each other in the postseason, will be riding the coattails of rookie quarterbacks looking to lead the way to the Super Bowl.

Two rookie quarterbacks duel in the Lone Star State.

Two Top-10 teams battle at Cowboys' Stadium on Friday.

U.S. apartment vacancies dropped to 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter, a 10-year low, as more Americans chose renting over buying, according to real estate research firm Reis.

More than half of the company's announced cut backs are taking place in the United States. Company officials intend to permanently close its smelting operations in Alcoa, Tenn., as well as two of six idled potlines in Rockdale, Texas.

Popcorn Sutton, a famous Appalachian moonshiner, was a surge in popularity after the Discovery TV network aired Moonshiners Wednesday, a show that explored his life that ended in suicide in 2009.

The United States auto industry put a cap on its best year since crumbling to unforeseen depths in 2008, as the Big Three auto companies all reported strong December sales that met or exceeded analyst estimates.

Estrogen-like compounds that come with a soy-rich diet are sometimes linked to a reduced risk of cancer, but new research from Japan suggests that protection doesn't extend to stomach cancer.

Denver and Cincinnati were considered longshots to make the postseason.

Shaky Europe. Political gridlock. Volatile markets. Familiar themes for those who lived through this year, and investors should be ready to revisit them next year.

The final week of the National Football League (NFL) regular season takes place on New Year's Day with seven teams battling for the last three available spots in the playoffs and another four hoping to earn a week off on the road to the Super Bowl.

Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill and his wife, Victoria's Secret model Lily Aldridge, said on Thursday they are expecting their first child, ending a rollercoaster year for the rock band.

About 40,000 laws were enacted in the 50 states during 2011, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

A series of groundbreaking (and head-scratching) bills in states from Florida and Tennessee are set to become law on New Year's Day 2012. Here's everything you need to know, from aids for illegal immigrants and abortion restrictions to Utah's ban on Happy Hour and California's move for LGBT rights, and why you should care.

Three zinc miners who were trapped by smoke after a rig fire broke out 800 feet underground at the Young Mine in New Market, Tenn., on Wednesday were rescued the same day.

Authorities claim at least two miners have been injured and three have been trapped underground following a fire in a zinc mine in eastern Tennessee.

Penn State has targeted Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak as the replacement for Joe Paterno, but Munchak isn't interested in the coaching position.