DECEMBER 1, 2011

45-CAR PILEUP ON VIETNAM VETERANS BLVD

There's been a MASSIVE traffic pileup on Vietnam Veterans Blvd. The Hendersonville police say there were three different accidents, involving at least 45 cars, some injuries and one fatality. The family of the man who died has been notified.
The accident is on eastbound Vietnam Vets Blvd. away from Nashville, and has Vietnam Veterans completely shut down,eastbound, from Indian Lake Blvd exit. The accident scene is about a quarter mile long, and it's expected to be hours before it's cleared away.
A School bus was also involved, there were no injuries, but two children transported to the hospital as a precaution. Get updates through the day, and see photos and video from the scene, from our News partner, WKRN.

2 'DANGEROUS' INMATES ESCAPE ROBERTSON COUNTY JAIL
Two inmates being held on federal charges escaped from the Robertson County Detention Facility early Wednesday morning. The inmates, Joshua Edward Caldwell, 29, and Jessie Louis Lobbins, 26, are considered dangerous and known to be violent. Lobbins was last seen wearing thermals and orange pants, and Caldwell was wearing thermals. Caldwell of Westmoreland, TN is 5'9" and 136 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.  Lobbins of Memphis is 5'11" and 156 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. Lobbins was found guilty in a February 2008 murder that occurred in Antioch.   The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 (each) reward for information leading to the capture of the men. Please call the Robertson County Sheriff's Office at 615-384-4911 if you can help in their arrest.
 
NEW WALMART LOCATION HIRING 300 EMPLOYEES
Construction on a new Walmart location, just miles from downtown Nashville is on schedule, which means that hundreds of new jobs are now up for grabs. Construction crews are working on the old Expo Design Center across from 100 Oaks Mall in West Nashville, which will be the new Walmart's location. The new store will be the smallest Wal-Mart Supercenter in town, about half the size of the chain's typical supercenter. It will still offer the same products, just on a smaller scale. The new Walmart is expected to be open early in 2012, but those interested in jobs can apply now. The store will hire about 300 people, both part time and full time positions. If you're interested in applying for a position, you can visit the hiring center on Berry Hill Drive or apply online at Wal-Mart Careers.

NASHVILLE'S TIES TO GRAMMYS
There are lots of happy Nashville musicians and singers... many of them were nominated for Grammys last night. Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, all nominated for numerous grammys. British singer Adele and Bruno Mars both got SIX nominations each... though it's uncertain if Adele will have recovered enough from this month's throat surgery to sing at the February 12 show. The procedure to repair a "recurrent vocal cord hemorrhage" forced cancellation of the remainder of her 2011 shows.
Wednesday night's one-hour Grammy nominations telecast began and ended with Lady Gaga performances, including a finale with country duo Sugarland.
Kanye West got the most: 7 Grammy nominations including for song of the year for "All of the Lights". You can see the list and read more here http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/showbiz/grammy-nominations/index.html
The awards will be handed out February 12th.

TIM MCGRAW WINS RULING OVER RECORDING CAREER
Country music star Tim McGraw has won a court ruling in Nashville allowing him to keep recording while a lawsuit against him by Curb Records continues. Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled Wednesday after a four-hour hearing that McGraw can sign with another record label. Curb Records sought to prevent McGraw from recording or signing with another label until he fulfilled what Curb believed was his obligation for a fifth album. McGraw is accused of breach of contract, and that trial is scheduled for July. The performer and his wife, singer Faith Hill, were in court Wednesday. McGraw did not testify. His attorneys argued that Curb is trying to put his career on hold. He's been under contract with Curb since 1997.

HUNDREDS OF PRO-VEGETARIAN SIGNS RUIN $1,000 WORTH OF MEAT
You can see just about anything imaginable working at a convenience store. But on Thanksgiving, employees at the T-Mart on North Willow Avenue found the same message plastered everywhere. Hundreds of 1 inch by 1 inch pieces of a paper all with the same message, "Save Lives Go Vegetarian" were stapled to meat and even some non-meat products. The problem was, many were stapled through packages, meaning nearly $1,000 worth of food had to be thrown away. Owners of the store say a former employee of five years got a new job and was supposed to work his last shift last Thursday, but decided to make a grand exit. He left them with a huge mess, and lots of waste. Cookeville Police have not charged the former employee. According to the police report, to get paid back for the lost inventory, the store's owners would have to take him to court.

LOCAL DOCTOR'S FRIENDS: 'TAKEN ABACK' BY BRUISING ON 4-YEAR-OLD
Family friends of a former Mid-State pediatrician accused of killing her adoptive daughter nearly two years ago in Wilson County testified in court on Wednesday they were "taken aback" by bruising on the four-year-old girl in the weeks leading up to her death. At least two friends of Deborah Mark testified they became concerned after noticing bruises on Kairissa Mark. From the stand, Rebecca Allen said the young child seemed happy at first, though as the weeks went on, she began noticing that Kairissa had bruises on her arm.She said that she was in the process of determining how to approach the family to see if they  needed help after she noticed the bruises and how Deborah disciplined the child. Allen said before she could tell someone about her concerns she had learned the child had died. Another noted the little girl had bruises on her face when she saw her at a local karate studio. Read more.

'THE CONTRIBUTOR' TO BEGIN PUBLISHING TWICE PER MONTH
The street newspaper The Contributor plans to begin publishing twice a month beginning early next year. According to a report in The Tennessean, the second publication will begin in February. The newspaper hopes to create a greater level of service and community impact in 2012 while doubling donor support. The Contributor is sold on street corners throughout the city by the homeless and the formerly homeless.

ANNE HATHAWAY ENGAGED
Anne Hathaway has signed on for a new role: Fiancee.
A spokesman for the 29-year-old actress says Hathaway is engaged to boyfriend and fellow actor Adam Shulman. Hathaway is among the stars of the anticipated Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises." She was nominated for an Academy Award for 2008's "Rachel Getting Married" and hosted the 2011 Oscars with James Franco. Hathaway's other credits include "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Get Smart."

BILLY GRAHAM HOSPITALIZED IN NC
The Rev. Billy Graham is in a North Carolina hospital being tested for possible pneumonia. Graham, perhaps America's most prominent pastor, was admitted to Mission Hospital in Asheville. According to his Facebook page, Graham was "alert, smiling, and waving at hospital staff as he was admitted. We're sure he would appreciate your prayers." He was most recently treated for pneumonia in May. According to a statement from his publicist, Graham's personal physician says his condition is stable and, while no discharge date has been set, Graham is looking forward to spending the Christmas holiday at home with his family. He celebrated his 93rd birthday on Nov. 7. Graham released his 30th book, Nearing Home, a memoir on growing older, in October.

MEDICARE'S NEW OBESITY FIGHT
Should your taxpayer dollars be spent to fight the battle of the bulge? A plan introduced this week will allow Medicare to spend millions to help fight obesity. On Wednesday Medicare came out and said they will pay for one on one counseling, and other services for obese Medicare recipients. But there is some concern that these efforts won't go far enough. The new Medicare program will include counseling sessions every week for a month, and more counseling to follow for 5 months for obese patients. Medicare believes this program is a step in the right direction, because the problem is only getting worse. New estimates show by 2030 50% of the population could be obese and right now 34 %of Americans are overweight.

STUDY: TENNESSEE 44TH IN TOBACCO PREVENTION
Tennessee is among the worst culprits when it comes to funding programs to prevent kids from smoking and helping smokers quit, according to a national report released today by a coalition of public health organizations. While most states have cut spending on tobacco prevention programs, Tennessee has fared particularly poorly, ranking 44th in the nation, according to the report from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Tennessee currently spends $200,000 a year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is 0.3 percent of the $71.7 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, tobacco companies spend $254 million a year to market their products in Tennessee, or 1,268 times what the state spends on prevention. The state will collect $432 million in revenue this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will spend just 1 percent of it on prevention programs, meaning it is spending less than one penny of every dollar in tobacco revenue to fight tobacco use, according to the study.
 
UPDATE: KRIS HUMPHRIES FILES TO ANNUL ON GROUNDS OF FRAUD
Kris Humphries doesn't want a divorce. He wants to annul his 72-day marriage to Kim Kardashian, reports People.com, and plans to file court papers for a legal separation. That way, the whole thing never really happened. People says Humphries filed papers in Los Angeles today to have the marriage annulled on grounds of fraud. And TMZ says Kim tells friends there was no fraud; she loved him, but things fell apart. Also, TMZ reports the two talked about getting the marriage annulled, but lawyers advised against it, so she filed for divorce. What course of action is taken will be decided by a judge.

FDA EXAMINES LEVEL OF ARSENIC IN APPLE JUICE
The Food and Drug Administration is considering lowering its standards for the levels of arsenic allowed in apple juice after consumer groups pushed the agency to crack down on the contaminant. Studies show that apple juice has generally low levels of arsenic, and the government says it is safe to drink. But consumer advocates say the FDA is allowing too much of the chemical - which is sometimes natural, sometimes man made - into apple juices favored by thirsty kids. There is little consensus on whether these low levels could eventually be harmful, especially to children. Michael Taylor, FDA's deputy commissioner for foods, said Wednesday the agency has already stepped up testing and research on arsenic in apple and other juices and is seriously considering lowering the FDA's so-called "level of concern" for the contaminant.

$4 MILLION WORTH OF HELP FOR NASHVILLE DADS
In Nashville, 23,000 children grow up without having a relationship with their birth fathers. During this press conference at Hadley Park Wednesday, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined other community leaders in welcoming a $4 million "Fatherhood Grant" from the Federal government. The money will be used in designated communities for mentoring and training dads to be better dads. Agencies like the Martha O'Brien Center will be one of several community partners receiving some of the grant money to help fathers with life-skills training and education.  The $4 million grant will be spent over three years.