Tuesday, December 11, 2012

TORNADOES HIT SOUTHEAST U.S.
People in parts of the Southeast and the Gulf states have a lot of cleaning up to do after tornadoes ripped through the region.  The National Weather Service says at least six tornadoes touched down, including two in Mississippi, two in Louisiana, one in Alabama and one in Florida.  

ANTIOCH BABYSITTER CHARGED WITH MURDER
An Antioch babysitter is facing murder charges, after a two month old boy she was caring for died. Fifty-seven-year-old Mary Ann Lane says she tripped and fell in August while holding the infant, causing him to hit the floor. An autopsy found the head injuries he died from weren't consistent with her story.

U.S. HEALTH REPORT SHOWS OBESITY, DIABETES ARE MAJOR THREATS
America's Health Rankings Report card is out, from the United Health Foundation, and it shows that we're just killing ourselves. Obesity, and diabetes stemming from obesity, are the biggest health threats to most americans. 25-percent of U.S. adults are now obese, with Mississippi and Louisiana ranked the least healthy states (Yay! Tennessee is not in the top 5 of the least-healthy states!), and Vermont, for a sixth straight year, was ranked healthiest.

MORE SOLDIERS FAILING FITNESS TESTS
The U.S. Army is dismissing more soldiers who fail the fitness requirements.  Military officials say obesity is now the leading cause of ineligibility for people wanting to join the Army.

HOMEMADE BOMB EXPLODES INSIDE ANTIOCH HIGH BATHROOM
Parents of Antioch high school students were horrified to hear a bomb had gone off in the school Monday, and some rushed to the school to try and pick up their child, but weren't allowed to, since schools get put on lockdown in such situations. Turns out it was a small homemade device that someone set off in a bathroom. No one was hurt, and not a lot of damage to the bathroom... but police are investigating.

YOU EAT MORE WHEN YOU'RE EATING WITH A GROUP
I'm about to tell you something that could keep you from accidentally sabotaging your diet. Research at Pennsylvania State University found that when you eat with a group of friends or family members, as many of us do at the holidays, you tend to eat more. Nearly 50% more calories in fact, than you would eat if you ate alone. 

EX-ELMO PUPPETEER SUED AGAIN
A fourth accuser has come forward with a lawsuit against Sesame Street's former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash. The unidentified man charges that when he was 16 or 17 in late 1995 or early 1996, he had a sexual relationship with Clash who was then in his mid-30s. Clash, who had provided the voice of Sesame Street muppet Elmo for almost 30 years, resigned from the Sesame Workshop last month.

ONLY ONE IN FIVE COLLEGE STUDENTS GET FLU SHOTS
If you know a college student you need to know this: college students are much less likely than the rest of us to get flu shots (only one in five do), and they're much more likely to catch the flu and then spread it around. It's mostly because of their communal living situations. Everybody has roomates, classmates, they're always in a group, sharing germs. Doctors say that means if you have a college student in your life, you should make sure you are protected with a flu shot.

12-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED AFTER ARMED ROBBERY ATTEMPT
A 12 year-old boy was caught over the weekend, using a stolen rifle to rob a convenience store in Smith County.
The kid also stole his parents' truck and ended up in a standoff with police. He's finally in custody.

MURFREESBORO MAN ARRESTED FOR CHILD ABUSE
The Murfreesboro man who allegedly made a three-year-old girl stand in the corner for up to 15-hours with a sock in her mouth is behind bars.  Police say 28-year-old Joseph Price was arrested last Thursday after a month-long investigation into child abuse claims.  Investigators say they were tipped off by the Department of Children's Services who reported several injuries to the girl's legs, back, buttocks and head.

METH LAB COMPONENTS FOUND NEAR MTSU
Two people are in police custody after Murfreesboro police found met lab components at an apartment near Middle Tennessee State University.  Officials say the apartment at Campus Crossings has been quarantined and no other units at the complex were exposed to the hazardous materials.  Charges are pending against the two people arrested. 

NO MONEY HANDED OUT YET TO 9-11 FIRST RESPONDERS
It's been nearly two years since President Obama signed the 9-11 Health Act, but so far... none of the first responders or residents who got sick at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks have gotten any of the 2.7 BILLION dollars set aside for them. The people who manage the fund claim it's because most of the applications they've received are not filled out right.

NHL CANCELS GAMES THROUGH DECEMBER 30TH
More Predators games are being canceled.  The NHL has called off games through December 30th. 
(The league previously announced it was cancelling its Winter Classic and the All-Star Game over the stalemate between NHL team owners and players. )

WHAT A PRINCE! MAN STEALS RING FROM GIRLFRIEND TO GIVE TO WIFE
Awww, how about this 'lovely' story? A guy in Pennsylvania wanted to rekindle his romance with his wife. So he brings her this beautiful ring. 35 year old Donnie Albritton presented his wife with the ring, she apparently loved it. But then the cops came. Good ole Donnie had stolen the ring back from his girlfriend, who he'd been seeing behind his wife's back. When his mistress dumped him, he took the ring back while she cooked, and took it back to the wifey. The girlfriend pressed theft charges and Donnie was found out.

POLICE USE CARDBOARD CUT-OUTS TO DETER SHOPLIFTERS
Police in England found a way to cut crime. They put up cardboard standups of police officers. At first, crime dropped, and shoplifting fell by 50%. Then.. the thieves started setaling the cardboard cops. 

WOMAN UNCOVERS WEDDING GOWN MIX-UP AFTER 26 YEARS
And you'd better look in that box where you THINK your wedding dress is being stored away. A woman who got married 26 YEARS ago, had her dress stored away for all that time. Now that her daughter's getting married, she opens the box and it's the wrong dress! By now the Brentwood dry cleaner that packaged the dress for her is closed. She still has hopes of tracking hers down.

DEC 11TH MOST COMMON DAY TO CONCEIVE
National birth records show the most popular birthday is September 16th, which -- if you count back nine months from that-- means that December 11th is the most ...um...fertile day of the year. It's the most popular date for conceiving babies. It's the festive season, people are in a good mood, there are lots of holiday parties going on this time of year, and people going home happy.

CONSCIENCE STRIKES MAN WHO STEALS FROM SALVATION ARMY
A "Grinch" in Ohio had the Christmas spirit catch up with him. He stole a Salvation Army Red kettle, broke it to get the money inside, but then his conscience got the better of him. He left 130-dollars at the Salvation Army office along with a note that said, "Here is the money I took, plus money for a new kettle and bell. Please forgive me."