Friday, January 4, 2013

SELF-SERVE KIOSKS AVAILABLE FOR RENEWING LICENSE
If you've been to renew your driver license in the past year or so, you may have used a self-service desk, basically a little podium with a keyboard where you enter your information, you wait to have your photo taken, then you wait till someone prints out the license and hands it to you. Apparently that system is being fine-tuned. There are new self-serve license renewal kiosks at the Hendersonville and Mt. Juliet city halls, that will let you enter your info, it'll take a phot and print out a plastic temporary license for you, on the spot. You get your permanent driver license in the mail in a few days.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SELLS FRANKLIN HOME
Carrie Underwood has sold her home in Franklin that she bought shortly after she won American Idol. But don't worry... Carrie hasn't gone far, she's just moved to Brentwood.

DEEPWATER SETTLEMENT
It looks like the federal government has settled on a fine for the owner of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that exploded in 2010, causing one of the nation's worst environmental disasters, and killed 11 people. Transocean will plead guilty to charges it violated the Clean Water Act and pay a billion-dollar civil penalty in addition to a 400-million-dollar fine for safety violations.   A judge must still approve the settlement.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ASTEROID
Earth will have a very close encounter with an asteroid next month.  NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab says the space rock will pass about 14-thousand miles from our planet on February 15th.  That's well within the orbit of the moon.

2012 BROUGHT MORE TORNADOES BUT FEWER DEATHS
Tennessee had more tornadoes than usual in 2012, but they caused fewer deaths. We had 34 tornadoes statewide last year (the average is 21), and most of those hit us in March, which is just ahead. Weather experts and Emergency Management officials say we should be getting our plan together now, to deal with possible tornadoes in the spring.

COLD LIKELY PLAYED ROLE IN HOMELESS MAN'S DEATH
Here we are in 2013: amazing technology, culturally aware, enlightened people, and a homeless guy froze to death here in Nashville, sleeping on someone's doorstep Wednesday night. He was found with his crutches and a blanket that some man bought for him at a store nearby. Apparently the rescue shelters were filled, and the homeless guy may not have been able to get there anyway without transportation. the Nashville Rescue Mission says it's increasing its "Cold Patrols" this time of year, driving around, looking for people without houses, and inviting them in for the night. 

SET LOWER GOALS!
Most of us have given up on New Year's Resolutions because they seldom work. But psychologists say we shouldn't give up on getting better, just make smaller, achievable goals. Instead of resolving to go on a strict diet, commit to adding one serving of fruit or veggies per day, or resolve to just put your sneakers on each day, and lace up. You're much more likely to carry a little bit farther whatever you start. One psychologist says you might even choose a phrase like, "I will eat a little less fried food this year, I will drive a little more slowly this year, or I will be a little better person than I was last year. Doing a little bit is like a seed that can grow.

GIFFORDS GOES TO CONNECTICUT
The former Congresswoman who was nearly killed in a mass shooting will visit the Connecticut town recovering from the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.  Gabrielle Giffords will be in Newtown, Connecticut today.  Giffords was shot at a gathering with constituents two years ago in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.  

BROWNIE RECALL
There's a food recall today that's worth a quick mention. It's Food Club brand Brownies. The ingredients doesn't list walnuts, so even though the box clearly says on the front, "With walnuts," and the photo clearly shows nuts in the brownies, the maker says it's possible that people with nut allergies could think they're nut-free and eat some. The food maker is just covering all the possibilities by recalling it.

TEN YEAR OLD KILLED BY CELEBRATORY BULLET
How senseless is this death? A ten-year-old Maryland girl was watching fireworks with her family on New Year's eve when she suddenly collapsed and died. Police say she was hit in the head by a bullet someone shot into the air to celebrate. 

MORE AMERICANS SAY THEY'RE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS WHEN CHOOSING FOOD
More Americans claim they're being more health-conscious in making food choices (even though more of us are overweight than ever before). Half of the respondents in a new survey say they now eat healthy foods as PART of a "nutritious and balanced diet." Fifty-percent also say they'd like to see restaurants offer more healthy options, and say they MIGHT order something from those options.
However-- researchers also found if we see the worlds "low salt," "lowfat," and "low sugar" -- we think the dish is healthier but tastes bad, and are less likely to eat it.

RETIRED FIREFIGHTER STALKS MADONNA
A 61-year-old retired New York City firefighter is on probation for stalking Madonna.  Robert Linhart has been arrested twice for camping outside the Queen of Pop's building and holding up signs asking her to meet him.  A New York judge sentenced Linhart to three years probation this week and also ordered him to attend anger management sessions.

METRO COUNCIL MAY RAISE TOWING FEES
If your vehicle is towed, it may soon cost you more to get it out of impound.  The Metro Council is considering raising the maximum amount private companies can charge when the police department has someone towed.  If approved, a tow in the inner loop of downtown interstates that now costs 85-dollars, would go up to 125-dollars. 

MOST STRESSFUL CAREER
The most stressful career in the U.S. is service in the military, according to CareerCast.com.  Enlisted personnel ranks number one on the list, while a General, with the added stress of being responsible for others lives comes in at number two.  Firefighters are third on the list followed by commercial airline pilot.  

COUPLE BUYS "FIELD OF DREAMS" SITE AND PLANS BASEBALL COMPLEX FOR KIDS
A couple has bought the site where the movie, "Field of Dreams" was filmed and say they'll turn it into a youth sports complex, including 24 baseball diamonds and 60 clubhouses.

"STAR WARS" GEORGE LUCAS ENGAGED
"Star Wars" creator George Lucas is engaged.  "The Hollywood Reporter" is citing a representative as saying that Lucas is engaged to DreamWorks Animation board director Mellody Hobson.  The couple has been dating since 2006.  Last year, Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm Limited, to the Walt Disney Company for a reported four-billion-dollars.
 
VOTE ON AID FOR SANDY
The House of Representatives may vote today on the first of two aid packages for communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The first a nine BILLION dollar aid package the second one for 51 billion.  

HATCH SHOW PRINT DESIGNS COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP
There is a distinct Nashville connection to a new postage stamp commemorating one of the most important events in our nation's history.   On Tuesday, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a limited edition stamp honoring the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. 
Many people in Middle Tennessee likely recognize the familiar style of the stamp because it was designed and produced at Nashville's own Hatch Show Print.
"It's an honor to be part of something that's celebrating such an important date in our history and an important act by our president, President Lincoln. So, we're excited and can't wait to get the post office and buy some stamps, frankly. They look great. They're beautiful," said printmaker Celene Aubrey.  Hatch Show Print is one of only a few letter press print shops left in the United States.  The typeface and ornament used for the stamp are what would have been used back in the year 1863.
In addition to the stamps, the company also printed 5,000 commemorative posters.