Thursday, August 30, 2012

ISAAC LATEST
Tropical Storm Isaac keeps growing weaker as it moves across land....but it's still drenching Louisiana, and the water's still too high for people to go home. Nearly a MILLION people are still without electricity, and The Red Cross and Salvation Army are still on the scene, handing out food and supplies, till this mess clears up. People there are hoping the 15 billion dollars the federal government sank into flood management will hold, and that the levies, pumps and dams will keep the overall damage to a minimum.

IN NAME OF ZERO TOLERANCE, DEAF 3 YEAR-OLD TOLD TO CHANGE THE WAY HE SIGNS HIS NAME
I don't know who made this decision, but it's started a HUGE controversy! A 3 year-old deaf boy has been told by his Nebraska school to change the way he signs his name because the gesture resembles shooting a gun. Little Hunter Spanjer uses the standard signing symbols, which means he crosses his index and middle fingers and waves them slightly to signify his name. The school says it looks like he's making a GUN with his fingers, and they have zero tolerance for anything that looks like a weapon. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Deaf say they're ready to help if the parents want to take legal action, and people on the family's Facebook Page say it's OUTRAGEOUS, and hope the Nebraska school district changes its mind.

TITANS, VANDERBILT GAMES EXPECTED TO CAUSE TRAFFIC DELAY
For the first time ever, the Tennessee Titans and Vanderbilt Commodores have games kicking off at the same time tonight (Thursday night).The Titans wrap up the pre-season while Vanderbilt kicks off the 2012 season.Both games are set to begin at 6 p.m., likely causing traffic problems on both sides of the city.

ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS TURN TO STORIES INSTEAD OF MEMORIES  Since we haven't found a cure yet, and more people every day are being diagnosed with dementia... there's a big focus on how to DEAL with it. One recent breakthrough is a way to keep communicating with Alzheimer's patients, who don't  remember their own lives. It's communication through stories. Family members or caregivers use magazines... and start conversations about the people in the pictures. The Alzheimer's patients can talk about what they think that person is doing, thinking, why they're dressed like they are... driving what they are. The patients LIGHT UP, they smile and talk, and enjoy the visit, instead of being frustrated trying to remember things they just can't. It's Amazing, and I'll post that story for you on our MIX929.COM news page... in case there's someone you want to share it with. 

LOCAL ELDERLY WOMAN DIES, AFTER FALLING AT BELLE MEADE STORE   A Nashville woman died after falling down an escalator at an area grocery store on Wednesday afternoon.  The incident was reported at Harris Teeter located at 4416 Ridgefield Way around 3 p.m. The store is almost across the street from St. Thomas Hospital.  Officials told Nashville's News 2 the victim fell on a ramp designed to carry shopping carts down to the parking lot as customers take the escalator.  The victim, whose identity was not released, was transported to an area hospital where she later died.    On Thursday evening the grocery store released the following statement regarding the accident, "Harris Teeter deeply regrets the incident that took place at its Belle Meade store and would like to express its condolences to family and friends also affected. We work very hard to maintain a safe store environment for both our customers and our associates, and the news of what happened today is extremely upsetting."   No additional information was released.

100-YEAR-OLD DRIVER HITS 11 NEAR LA SCHOOL http://www.wkrn.com/story/19411937/8-hurt-when-car-crashes-into-crowd-near-la-school 
11 people, including 9 children, are recovering today in California ... after a 100-year-old man backed his car into them ...  as they stood in line to buy snacks from a street vendor. Four of the children are in serious condition. The driver, (Preston Carter) who'll be 101 next week, claimed his brakes failed. Police say he backed out of a parking space ... onto the sidewalk instead of the street. 

GAS PRICE CLIMB TO CONTINUE THROUGH LABOR DAY
http://www.wkrn.com/story/19393451/local-gas-price-feel-impact-of-isaac
Experts expect the trend of increasing gas prices to continue through the Labor Day weekend.
Over the course of just one week, the Tennessee average has increased about seven cents per gallon. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Nashville Wednesday was $3.63 a gallon, up from $3.51 a week ago, $3.29 a month ago
The trend is worse in Nashville where drivers are paying more than 10 cents more to fill up their gas tanks than they were a week ago.   Hurricane Isaac and a refinery blast in Venezuela are pushing prices up, according to a spokesperson for AAA.   
Hurricane Isaac has caused nearly 350 offshore oil and gas production platforms to shutdown and evacuate as a precaution, causing a loss of one million barrels of oil per day. That's nearly 17% of the daily oil production in the country.  NashvilleGasPrices.com

BAD IDEA: STEALING A CELL PHONE FROM A QUARANTINED ROOM
A man stole a cell phone from a quarantined room in Uganda recently, then got punished in a big way. The phone had been infected with the Ebola virus, which causes horrible symptoms and death. The 40 year old thief showed back up at the hospital when he started having symptoms. (The Ebola virus, which can cause Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a contagious sickness that includes painful symptoms such as rash, diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding from every orifice, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

TENNESSEE EMS WORKER FIRED FOR STEALING FROM DEAD PERSON
http://www.wkrn.com/story/19396385/ems-worker-fired-for-stealing-from-dead-person
A Tennessee woman must be regretting a poor choice that cost her job, some respect, and a lot of money. 28 year-old Ashley Choate of Bethpage, has been arrested, and fired from her Emergency Medical Services job with Summer County, for  stealing 100 dollars from the home of a dead person. She was one of the first responders on the scene. (The cash was in a car at the scene. Other officers saw it, but by the time they went to get the money to give to family members, it was gone. Choate admitted she took it. She's also the chief of a Volunteer Fire Department in Bethpage.) 

MT. JULIET WOMAN WANTED FOR THREATENING SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD
http://www.wsmv.com/story/19412296/crossing-guard-said-parent-threatened-to-run-her-over
Do not threaten the school crossing guards, no matter HOW big a hurry you're in! They're trying to keep the children safe! A Mt. Juliet woman, who has a history of making threats, got out of her car at West Elementary school, cursed at the Crossing guard, and threatened to run OVER HER with her car! I guess she thought somehow that was acceptable public behavior. Cops say, no it's not, and have issued a warrant for her arrest. 

CHIPOTLE RESTAURANT ROUNDING BILLS TO ELIMINATE USE OF PENNIES http://www.inquisitr.com/315246/chipotle-caught-cheating-customers-restaurant-rounds-off-checks-gets-rid-of-pennies/
Chipotle restaurants had a little controversy going on when customers found out that the business was just rounding the tabs up or down -- to do away with pennies. But, they apparently hadn’t told the customers they were doing it. After some complaints, the fast food chain says it still won’t use pennies, but it will round the bill down, in the customer’s favor.
 
LEBANON SPRAYS, WILL METRO?
http://www.wkrn.com/story/19400062/wilson-county-community-plans-to-spray-for-mosquitoes
The City of Lebanon has already had to spray for mosquitoes. They hit some problem areas this week with  foggers that kill mosquitoes within a 300 yard radius. They're trying to stop the spread of West Nile Virus. Metro waits until a mosquito tests positive for the virus before we spray here. (No cases have been reported in Middle Tennessee or in Wilson County. http://health.state.tn.us/ceds/wnv/wnvhome.asp)

ANTIOCH MINISTER BLAMED FOR NOT REVEALING BANKRUPTCY WHILE ASKING FOR MONEY
http://www.wsmv.com/story/19400530/minister-blamed-for-not-revealing-bankruptcy-while-asking-for-money
Former members of an Antioch church say they were asked to continue donating the their church to try and get it out of debt, as the pastor hid the fact that he'd filed for bankruptcy more than a year ago.
The congregation of Abundant Life Christian Church in Antioch showed up for services (on July 15), found the church doors locked, and a note saying it was temporarily closed. The church wasn't temporarily closed, the bank had seized it. Now members want to know what happened to all their money.( Lawyers for the bank say there was gross mismanagement of the estate.) 

WYNONNA JUDD RESUMES TOUR AFTER HUSBAND'S CRASH
http://www.wkrn.com/story/19401668/wynonna-resumes-tour-after-husbands-crash
Wynonna Judd is going back on tour tonight. This is her first show since her husband, and drummer, Michael Cactus Moser lost a leg in a motorcycle crash. They both say they're looking forward to him recovering enough to be back on stage.

NJ WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS BITTEN BY BED BUGS AT BRENTWOOD HOTEL
http://www.wkrn.com/story/19410847/business-woman-bit-by-bed-bugs-in-brentwood-hotel-room
A New Jersey business woman claims she discovered bed bugs in her Brentwood hotel room during a recent stay.  According Cynthia Milbourne, she woke up to bite marks all over her body.  Milbourne said she immediately notified hotel management at Courtyard by Marriott. Experts say you should keep your belongings OFF of soft surfaces in hotel rooms, to keep bugs from getting into your clothes. He says, instead, to use the luggage rack usually provided by the hotel. According to health officials, once personal belongings have been exposed to bed bugs, placing clothing in a clothes dryer or hot trunk will help get rid of the pests.

GOLD MEDALIST CLAIMS SHE WAS BULLIED AT HER FIRST GYM
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/gym-denies-gabrielle-douglas-s-racism-claims.html
Gabrielle Douglas, the Olympic gold-medal gymnast, says she was the target of racist bullying at the gym where she first trained, and left it when she was 14, because she was scared to show her potential.
She said in an interview with on Oprah's show, "Oprah's Next Chapter," that the girls at the Virginia gym called her a "slave."   Excalibur Gymnastics denies the allegations.
Gabrielle -- who says she prefers to be called by her full name, even though her fans call her Gabby -- eventually moved to Iowa to train with Shawn Johnson's Olympic coach.  Watch Highlights of Gabby's Talk With Oprah]

ROBIN ROBERTS LEAVES GMA TODAY INSTEAD OF FRIDAY, MARTINA MCBRIDE SINGS
News anchor Robin Roberts says she'll leave Good Morning America a day early. Today will be her last day before she goes on extended medical leave to have a bone marrow transplant. Barbara Walters and Dianne

METRO COUNCILMEN WANT RETIREMENT PLAN FOR POLICE ANIMALS
Several Metro councilmen want the city to provide a retirement plan for its police animals.  Under the proposal, the retired dogs and horses would get free food for life, up to 14-days of boarding at the police department's facilities and up to 25-hundred dollars a year in veterinary care.  Council member Tim Garrett says the animals are willing to lay down their lives so caring for them when they retie is "the least we can do."

DANCING TWINS WILL CRACK YOU UP AND STEAL YOUR HEART!
http://now.msn.com/11-month-old-twins-dance-to-dads-guitar-in-this-viral-video?ocid=xnetr3-3
HERE'S VIDEO LINK.
http://youtu.be/to7uIG8KYhg