Wed, February 8, 2012

MAYOR DEAN UNVEILS PLAN TO 'BANK ON MUSIC CITY'
Mayor Karl Dean, and local bank reps have announced a new initiative called "Bank On Music City." Community organizations, banks and credit unions have signed on to help working class families get their finances in order. Those who do not have checking or savings accounts will be offered low or no monthly fees to open one. More than 80,000 adults in Nashville do not use traditional banking services, instead relying on check cashing services, payday loans and other potentially predatory financial services.

O'CHARLEY'S BUYOUT ANNOUNCED
It's not clear what it'll mean for your dining experience, but insurance company Fidelity National Financial is negotiating to buy out the O'Charley's restaurant chain. The deal would take the company private, which analysts say might help it focus on the bottom line.

ILLNESS FORCES EARLY END TO CRUISE
Thousands of people on a Princess Cruise Ship are being brought back to port in Florida after more than 100 passengers and nearly 60 crewmembers got sick with some sort of gastrointestinal illness, probably caused by a norovirus. The passengers are getting refunds and a 25% discount in their next cruise.

CDC STUDY SHOWS 90-PERCENT OF AMERICANS TAKE TOO MUCH SALT
A new study shows 90-percent of people over age two, eat potentially fatal amounts of salt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says most of us get it in hidden sources, like bread. One slice can have over 200 grams of salt. Overdosing on salt raises your blood pressure, and leads to heart disease... and death. (We're supposed to have about 23 hundred grams a day, most of us eat at least 33 hundred.)

CONVENTION CENTER SPROUTING GREEN ROOF
The New Music City Center is sprouting a green roof. Workers are currently laying soil and laying out coconut fiber mats to grow plants on the six acres of greenery which will mostly be out of public sight. The city says the project will prevent urban storm runoff.
SEE PHOTO OF A GREEN ROOF HERE

SANTORUM WINS THREE
Rick Santorum has won three Republican presidential contests. The former Pennsylvania senator won caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota and a non-binding primary in Missouri. Mitt Romney finished second in Colorado and Missouri and third in Minnesota, behind Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. What that means, is Romney may NOT be the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination... as it had appeared with his string of early wins.

SUMNER CO. USING RESTAURANT BUZZERS FOR LONG WAITS
At the Sumner County Tax Building, officials have started using those buzzers that some restaurants use, so customers can roam around instead of sitting in a crowded room or in the hallway with overflow waiting. The county bought 20 of the new buzzers and just started using them. So far, people say it's better than sitting captive in the Trustee's office for an hour.

BILL TO REMOVE OCCUPIERS MOVES FORWARD
State lawmakers are close to approving a law banning Occupy Nashville protestors from camping at the state Capitol. The law, that passed in committees, also increases the penalties, reclassifying the violation just short of a felony that could call for up to a year in jail. Occupy Nashville representatives say the bill criminalizes homelessness. The House and Senate could take up the proposal next week.

HEALTH: STUDY; OLDER WOMEN MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF BREAST CANCER
Scientists now say older women are more likely to die of certain breast cancers, even though it's generally been thought to be more deadly to younger women. The research leader says it seems that we're UNDER treating older women, giving them less chemo and radiation and they're not suriving cancers they could survive.
A U.S. Oncology Research scientist theorizes that the difference might be undertreatment of older women. Dr. Stephen Jones says rates of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are lower in older women diagnosed with one form of breast cancer. His research looked at nearly ten-thousand women who were diagnosed with what's known as hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It's the most common form of the disease.

ARTISTS ASKED TO SUBMIT BIKE RACK IDEAS
If you're feeling creative, the Metro Arts Commission wants you to send your ideas for some new bicycle racks. We put up the first 'artistic' bike racks in 2010... you've probably seen them: a microphone, and near the Farmer's Market, bike racks that look like corn or tomotoes. Get information at this link to submit your design.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS NO CHARGES IN BEATING DEATH AT NURSING HOME
As more of us get older and need nursing homes.... this is a horrible situation to see happen. Law enforcement officials say an 89 year-old man at an assisted living center in Madison, Tennessee, beat another resident, an 83 year-old man, with his cane. the 83 year-old died, but because of the attacker's mental condition, he won't be charged. Both the attacker and the victim had Alzheimer's and dementia.

FDA APPROVES HEAD LICE TREATMENT
If you have small children in your family this could be GREAT news! The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment to get rid of head lice. It's a lotion called Sklice, and it's said to work pretty well! You should see it on store shelves pretty quickly.

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ARRIOLA RESIGNATION DELAYED
The Metro Council is putting off voting on a resolution that would call for the resignation of Davidson County Clerk John Arriola. A recent audit found Arriola raked in close to 120-thousand dollars over five years for wedding services he performed on government time. Council members say they'll put off the vote until the district attorney decides whether any laws were broken.

BROOKS RENAMES STUDIO IN HONOR OF REYNOLDS
Garth Brooks certainly has a knack for surprises. The country superstar chose yesterday, his 50th birthday, to honor his longtime producer Allen Reynolds by renaming a Music Row recording studio in his honor. Reynolds thought he was goingt o a birthday party for Garth, and found the former Jack's Tracks studio... once owned by Cowboy Jack Clement... had been renamed Allentown Studios.

"PERSON TO PERSON" RETURNS TO TELEVISION TONIGHT AFTER 50 YEARS
On your TV tonight: the premiere of a series REVIVED from 50 years ago. It's called "Person to Person".... a look into the private lives of celebrities. Tonight's show features billionaire Warren Buffett, New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi and actor George Clooney.... letting cameras into their homes.

"AMERICAL IDOL" PRODUCER NIGEL LYTHGOE ISN'T WORRIED ABOUT COMPETITION
As the eleventh season of "American Idol" gets ready to head to Hollywood tonight, producer Nigel Lythgoe has a few words for the Fox show's new competitors. NBC's "The Voice" has enjoyed a boost in ratings with the premiere of its second season, but Lythgoe told reporters on Tuesday that he's "thrilled" with the ratings "Idol" is getting after eleven years on TV. The post-Super Bowl episode of "The Voice" was seen by more than 37-million people, and Monday's episode attracted 17-point-seven million. Meanwhile, almost 20-million people watched last week's episode of "Idol." That's a 20-percent audience decline since the show came back in January, but Lythgoe says viewer fatigue is to be expected after such a long run and says they have no plans to try to spice up the format.

JUROR COULD FACE JAIL TIME FOR 'FRIENDING' DEFENDANT
A man accused of "friending" a defendant in a case while serving on her jury could face jail time next week.Jacob Jock was selected for the jury in a car-wreck case in December and told the usual prohibitions. But when the judge learned Jock looked up the female defendant on Facebook and sent her a friend request, Jock was kicked off the jury and admonished. His present troubles came when he didn't stop. Court officials became aware of more Facebook activity from the Sarasota, Fla., man after his dismissal from the jury, including a wall post detailing his excitement at being let go. "He went home and made a joke out of it and said, 'Ha, ha, ha, I got out of jury duty,'" said Damien Mallard of Sarasota, who served as the plaintiff's lawyer in the civil trial. "To my client who had $48,000 in medical bills on the line, it was a very big deal to him," Mallard said. The judge has scheduled a new hearing to discuss contempt-of-court charges for Jock. If found guilty, he could face a hefty fine or even jail time. "If this type of behavior is permitted without there being serious ramifications, it's something we'll see over and over again," said Mallard, who is concerned what would have happened if the female defendant had responded to Jock's friend request. Instead, she alerted her lawyer and Jock was dismissed. But that might not happen in a future case. "If I go out on a date with him, then he might find in my favor," Mallard said any defendant could be thinking.

CONGRESSMAN BARNEY FRANK MARRIES THIS SUMMER
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/02/barney-frank-gay-marriage-wedding-date-/1
Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts will write a page in the history books this summer when he marries partner Jim Ready. Frank tells "USA Today" they've set a wedding date for July in Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage is legal. It'll make Frank the first member of Congress to have a legal gay marriage.

GRAMMYS ARE SUNDAY/LOCAL NOMINEES
http://www.grammy.com
Bonnie Raitt, Tony Bennett, and Ringo Starr are some of the latest stars to sign on for this weekend's Grammy Awards. Raitt is slated to join Alicia Keys for a tribute honoring the late Etta James, who just passed away last month. Bennett will team up with country star Carrie Underwood for a song. They're adding to a performance lineup that already features Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Glen Campbell, and plenty of others. Ringo is on board as a presenter, along with country stars Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and Dierks Bentley; Ryan Seacrest; Gwyneth Paltrow; and others. LL Cool J is set to host the 54th annual Grammy Awards, which will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and air on CBS on Sunday.

LOCAL GRAMMY CONNECTION: The Nashville Symphony and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra -- Alias-- are both nominated for Grammys.
READ MORE

LAST KNOWN WWI VETERAN FLORENCE GREEN DIES AT 110
Florence Green never saw the front line. Her war was spent serving food, not dodging bullets. But Green, who has died at age 110, was the last known surviving veteran of World War I. She was serving with the Women's Royal Air Force as a waitress at an air base in eastern England when the guns fell silent on Nov. 11, 1918.It was not until 2010 that she was officially recognized as a veteran after a researcher found her service record in Britain's National Archives. Green died Saturday at the Briar House Care Home in King's Lynn, eastern England, two weeks before her 111th birthday, the home said.