Wednesday, December 12, 2012

MALL SHOOTER KILLS TWO THEN TAKES OWN LIFE
A gunman wearing a hockey mask and body armour killed two people and critically wounded another at a crowded food court in a Portland, Oregon mall. The gunman fired about 60 rounds from an assault rifle, into the crowd, then shot and killed himself. Officials are reviewing video to get a clearer picture of what happened.

TWO JOB FAIRS TODAY IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY
This sure seems to be a good sign, there are more job fairs this year than there've been in the past couple of years. And there are two more today at Goodwill Career centers. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Franklin Career Solutions, Goodwill will accept applications for new team members for its Williamson County locations. Meanwhile, several Brentwood employers including Kroger, Marriott, Renaissance Hotel, US Bank and Essex Bargain Hunt will accept applications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Career Solutions on Nolensville Pike.

HARD ROCK CO-FOUNDER UNVEILS PLANS FOR FAIRGROUNDS
The co-founder of the House of Blues and Hard Rock Cafe wants to turn the Tennessee State Fairgrounds into a world-class entertainment venue. Isaac Tigrett said his vision includes a concert hall with as many as five-thousand seats, a rehabilitated expo center, multiple restaurants, 14 concert stages, an RV park and a classic auto museum. However, there is that one hitch: fairgrounds officials say the property isn't for sale.

ASTRONOMY EXPERTS SAY WORLD IS NOT COMING TO AN END DEC 21st
Some versions of the Mayan calendar suggest the world will come to an end on the winter solstice this year, which is December 21st. Theories about what might cause it include an alignment of the planets which could cause chaos because of the gravitational effect, or a polar shift, which means a reversal of the north and south magnetic pole. Well, a panel of astronomy experts told a SETI Institute meeting last night they're CONFIDENT there's no such situation building that would cause any such problems. 

TEEN ARRESTED FOR ANTIOCH HIGH SCHOOL BLAST
Investigators have charged a 17-year-old Antioch High School student with possession of a prohibited weapon, for setting off the explosion in the school's bathroom on Monday. The 11th grader admitted he put reactive chemicals into a plastic water bottle and put it in the bathroom as a prank.

LATE DALLAS COWBOY MEMORIAL SERVICE
Jerry Brown of the Dallas Cowboys was honored in a private memorial service yesterday. He was killed when his friend and teammate, Josh Brent, was driving drunk and crashed the car in which Brown was a passenger. Brent is charged with intoxication manslaughter. 

NORTH KOREA ROCKET LAUNCH UPSETS OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING U.S.
The international community is upset over a rocket launch by North Korea that observers say probably placed a satellite into orbit.  The White House said Pyongyang's long-range rocket launch was in direct violation of United Nations' resolutions. ( China has voiced its "regret" and Russia expressed "deep regret" over the launch.)

DISH NETWORK WANTS TO OFFER CELLPHONE SERVICE
Dish Network may offer up some competition in the mobile phone market soon. Their proposal to start offering wireless phone service has enough votes for FCC approval.

MOST-WATCHED CONCERT EVER TONIGHT? WHERE CAN YOU SEE IT?
The concert that could be the most-watched in history is tonight. It's a fundraiser for Hurricane Sandy Victims and stars Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Kanye West, Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam and dozens more. It'll air on TV and stream live online, meaning it's accessible to more than 2 BILLION people. You can see it online at www.121212concert.org

'STORAGE WARS' STAGED, FIRED STAR CLAIMS IN LAWSUIT
"Storage Wars" star David Hester has been fired, and is suing the producer of the hit A & E TV series. The show focus is on finding treasuers in storage lockers... but he claims they're planted. He says in the lawsuit that almost every aspect of the series is faked. (WHAT?! A reality TV show is not REAL? You know you're not surprised.)

RACHAEL RAY VISITS NASHVILLE FOR WEDNESDAY BOOK EVENT
Celebrity chef Rachael Ray is in Nashville today to promote her new book "My Year in Meals," featuring a year's worth of dishes she made at home, and a year's worth of cocktails her husband came up with. They'll be at Belmont University, and it is a ticketed event. You can get details HERE.

AFGHANISTAN UPDATE
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Afghanistan today to get a feel for how many U.S. troops should be stationed in the country after 2014.  (Panetta will meet with General John Allen, who commands U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan, and with Afghan president Hamid Karzai [[ HAH-mid CARZ-eye ]]. )

RAVI SHANKAR, NORAH JONES' FATHER, PASSES AWAY
Indian music legend Ravi Shankar has died. The sitar maestro who influenced The Beatles died Tuesday following a short stay at a Southern California hospital.  He was reportedly suffering from breathing problems when he was admitted to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla last Thursday.  The 92-year-old Shankar was the father of Grammy-winning singer Norah Jones.  See Ravi HERE with George Harrison of the Beatles, on the Dick Cavett show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gWCiLexilY

ROLLING STONES ADDS GAGA AND BLACK KEYS
When the Rolling Stones wraps up their current tour this weekend in New Jersey, they'll be joined by Lady Gaga and the Black Keys.

CHARLIE SHEEN'S EX HITS 19 TRIES IN REHAB
Charlie Sheen's 3rd ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, is back in rehab -- this would be stay number 19, for those keeping score at home.