Fri, January 6, 2012

In Today's News, below: Is Hickory Hollow a lost retail cause? A bizarre new lab-invented life, students suspended for video, what kids can get at your house and abuse, new electronics, new Girlscout cookies and Doggie DNA testing.

IS HICKORY HOLLOW LOST CAUSE FOR RETAIL?
A decision by Macy’s this week to close its Hickory Hollow store was another blow for the mall as a retail center, and in spite of Metro officials' efforts to reinvent the property, questions remain about whether it can ever be a viable draw for consumers. Local retail analyst Steve Rudd says, "The location has proven it doesn’t work as a restaurant and retail area, so lets move on." Metro has already approved buying the former JC Penney store site and convert it into a library, community center and outdoor park, and Nashville State Community College plans to open a satellite campus in the former Dillard’s building.

KIDS' COMMONLY ABUSED DRUG THAT PARENTS ARE BLIND TO
As a concerned parent, you try to keep up on the dangers your child faces, but experts say there's one sneaking up on us, that you need to be aware of. Cough syrup. It's become the number one drug of choice for children under 18. To try and keep kids from abusing cough syrup that contains dextromethorphan (or DXM) California has banned the sale of cough syrup to minors. DXM is found in medicines like Robitussin, NyQuil and Dimetapp… and kids consume it in large quantities to get high. They call it "robotripping" or "Dexing." Pediatricians say abusing cough syrup is more common even, than marijuana because it is so easily accessible. And now YOU know.

HICKMAN STUDENTS SUSPENDED FOR YOUTUBE VIDEO
More than 100 students at Hickman County High School in Centerville are under three days in-school suspension for making a youtube video of the students standing in various locations throughout the school and on buses, repeatedly shouting a profane phrase. The video even had a counter in the corner to show that the derogatory phrase had been used 109 times in the three-minute clip. 103 students got three-day in-school suspensions for making it, the person who edited and posted the video online has been suspended from the school indefinitely.

APP CREATED BY NASHVILLE MAN TO CHECK BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT
A Nashville inventor has come up with a new app for smart phones that uses EYE movement to determine blood alcohol content. It's called BreathalEYES, and works like a police pen to measure involuntary eye movement. The creator says it's just for entertainment purposes.

HEALTH; BABIES BREAST FED LONGER LESS LIKELY TO BE OBESE
A new study suggests babies who were breastfed longest and consumed few or no sugary drinks are about half as likely to be obese than people who weren't breastfed as long when they were babies. Researchers speculate that breastfeeding may biologically program a child's metabolism and eating behavior to protect against obesity. The study is published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."

18 -YEAR-OLD OKLA WOMAN SHOOTS, KILLS INTRUDER
And did you hear about the 18 year-old Oklahoma mom who shot and killed an intruder on New Years... who was trying to break into her home... while she was there alone with her 3 month old baby. Sarah mcKinley called 9-1-1 first, to get some advice. She told the dispatcher someone was trying to get in, and that she had two guns in her hand. She asked whether she could shoot him, and the dispatcher said,"I can't tell you that, but you do what you have to do to protect your baby."
When the guy broke in, who Sarah knew and said was stalking her, she shot and killed him. His accomplice ran but later surrendered. When Sarah was asked how she had the courage to stand her ground and face her intruder, she said she did what she had to do, and that there's nothing more dangerous than a mother with a child. She was alone with the baby because her husband had just died of cancer on Christmas.
See the VIDEO HERE

SWIFT OFFERED LEAD IN MOVIE
Taylor Swift has been offered the lead role in a movie adaptation of the Broadway classic Les Miserables.

STEVIE NICKS' MOTHER DIES
Stevie Nicks is mourning the death of her mother... who she credits with her success. Stevie's mom, Barbara Nicks had been battling pneumonia and was 84. She asks that if you want to do something... instead of flowers or cards... she hopes you'll make a donation to the Salvation Army in her name. (www.onlineredkettle.org/BarbaraNicks. Stevie lost her father several years ago. Jess Nicks died of heart failure in 2005 at the age of 80.)

ETTA JAMES RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
And soul singer Etta James is out of the hospital. The singer, most known for her huge hit "At Last", is at home resting almost two weeks after she was admitted for breathing difficulties. James is said to be terminally ill and suffering from leukemia, kidney disease and dementia. She was taken off of a respirator last weekend after showing signs of improvement. Etta James is 73.

HASLAM UNVEILS ANTI-CRIME PACKAGE
Governor Bill Haslam has released his new anti-crime package... which includes mandatory jail time for repeat domestic violence offenders -- about a third of domestic violences is committed by repeat offenders -- as well as stiffer penalties for gun-related crime, and requires doctors and pharmacists to check a prescription drug database before dispensing pain killers. Many people get the pain killers when they no longer need them, then deal the drugs to their friends.

DEMOCRATS THREATEN LAWSUIT OVER REDISTRICTING
Tennessee Democrats are threatening legal action over the new Republican redistricting plan for Nashville. They say the plan consolidates Democrats into new districts pitting them against each other and undermines minority representation. Republicans say they reflect population changes.

GOOD FINANCIAL NEWS: EMPLOYMENT UP
The latest employment figures seem to show improvement... the jobs report for December is expected to show the addition of 150-thousand new jobs, confirming the economy picked up speed and strength in the fourth quarter.

SCIENCE: MIXED-EMBRYO MONKEYS
http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/06/first-mixed-embryo-monkeys-are-born-in-us.html
This sounds like something from a sci-fi movie: researchers say they've combined cells from as many as six monkey embryos to 'Frankenstein-together' mixed-embryo monkeys. The researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland say the altered animals could advance study of diseases and treatments including diabetes, Parkinson's, heart disease, anxiety and obesity.

VAN DER SLOOT TRIAL
The Dutchman long suspected in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway goes on trial today for the death of another young woman. Joran van der Sloot confessed to killing 21-year-old Stephany Flores after the two met in Peru. He said it was a crime of passion sparked by an argument they had when she reportedly found materials about Holloway on his computer.

LATEST CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ROLLING OUT
http://www.cesweb.org/
The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas gets underway Tuesday, showing off lots of new technology you'll be hearing about and using in coming years. And it's got a lot of star power this year, including Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, and Snooki of MTV's "Jersey Shore" appearing for various companies. (CES kicks off next Tuesday and runs through January 13th.)

CRACKS FOUND IN WINGS OF PLANES
http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2012/01/airbus-a380-cracks/597668/1
Cracks have been found in the wings of airliners: The Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft. One was being repaired when the half-inch long cracks were found in parts that stabilize the wings. A check found similar cracks in other Airbus super jumbo jets worldwide. They allegedly do not pose a safety threat.

DOGGIE DOO DNA TESTING
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/dna-testing-dog-poop_n_884060.html
Some apartment complexes are using DNA testing on dog doo to find out who's not cleaning up after their pets. The dogs' cheeks are swabbed to collect dna samples, then when incriminating evidence is found, it's sent to the lab and compared to the samples. The pet OWNER who didn't scoop has to pay a fine. So far it's working GREAT and apartment lawns and kids' play areas where the doggie doo dna tests are being done are much cleaner.

GIRLSCOUT UNVEILS NEW COOKIE FOR 100TH ANNIVERSARY
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/sns-chi-girl-scouts-mark-100th-year-with-new-cookie-20120105,0,136074.story
Girl Scouts across the country have added a new cookie, a lemony "Savannah Smile" to its lineup to mark the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting. They'll join the classics (Tagalongs, etc.) in the offerings this year when the sale kicks off Jan. 7.What’s behind the name? Savannah (as in Georgia) salutes the birthplace of Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low. And the cookie’s half-moon shape is meant to represent a lemon wedge and "Brownie Smile." (Don’t know what that is? Every Brownie learns to sing: "I’ve got something in my pocket, it belongs across my face…"). A serving of the cookies -5- is 140 calories. Not bad compared to, say, or Thin Mints (4 cookies = 160 calories). www.girlscoutcookies.org