Fri, February 17, 2012

BOBBY BROWN, OTHERS WILL ATTEND WHITNEY HOUSTON'S FUNERAL
Whitney Houston's funeral is tomorrow at 11, local time. It'll be televised and streamed online. We'll have a link at mix929.com so you can see it if you want. Her ex-husband Bobby Brown is being invited to the funeral after talk of keeping him out, because many people blame him for leading her astray. www.tmz.com  says the family decided that inviting him would keep peace at the funeral. Aretha Franklin will sing, Stevie Wonder and actor Kevin Costner will also be there. Bishop T.D. Jakes will deliver the message. He's the senior pastor at a megachurch in Dallas, but also was a friend of Houstons, and worked with her on the production of the movie "Sparkle."

MAYOR DEAN'S NIECE KILLED IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT
There's horrible news involving Nashville's First Family. Mayor Karl Dean's 2 year old niece has been killed in an accident at her home in Belle Meade. The child's father accidentally backed over the little girl in the driveway. She was rushed to Saint Thomas Hospital, then transferred to Vanderbilt Medical Center but they were unable to save her.

ARSENIC IN FOODS WITH BROWN RICE SYRUP
There's a call for new rules on arsenic levels in food as a study has found significant levels of arsenic in products including baby formula. Researchers at Dartmouth College link the arsenic to organic brown rice syrup. It's used in some energy bars as a substitute for high fructose corn syrup, and it's used in some infant foods as a sweetener. One infant formula tested had arsenic concentrations at six times the federal standard for safe drinking water. Other research recently found arsenic levels in some fruit juices that exceeded the federal drinking water arsenic levels. ( "Environmental Health Perspectives.")

METRO COUNCILMAN CHARGED WITH PATRONIZING PROSTITUTION
A prostitution sting yesterday caught some very well-known people. 33 year-old Metro Councilman Brady Banks whose wife, a minister, just had a baby recently. And 38-year-old Matthew Moynihan of Hendersonville, one of the co-founders of a Sumner County Tea Party group. Police posted an online ad for 'escort service' and arrested those who took met them at a Motel at MetroCenter to pay for more than someone to hang out with.

SLOW WALKING PREDICTS DEMENTIA, WEAK GRIP PREDICTS STROKE
The speed you walk may predict your likelihood of developing dementia later in life. Researchers say slower walkers are more likely to develop dementia, and those with weaker grip-strength in middle-age are more likely to have a stroke. The scientists say they need to study more to find out why those things are linked.

WILSON CO. MAGISTRATE, WIFE INDICTED FOR FAILING TO REPORT CHILD SEX ABUSE
A Wilson County judicial magistrate and his wife were indicted by a Wilson County grand jury this week on charges they failed to report child sex abuse. Givens Phillips and his wife, Tonya surrendered to authorities last night and were released on their own recognizance. Failure to report child sex abuse is a misdemeanor. The couple go to court in March.

TN DELINQUENT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS NEARLY WORST IN U.S
Tennessee has more deadbeat parents than nearly any other state. There's $2.6 billion owed in child support payments ..and not paid... since the program began in 1975. And judges said the number of people who haven't paid to support their children recently seems to be growing. There are currently 684 outstanding arrest warrants in Middle Tennessee for people who have consistently not paid child support.

TRAVEL WARNING FOR MEXICO
With Spring Break around the corner, the United States has issued a travel warning for some parts of Mexico. We're being told to avoid areas in Mexico most affected by drug cartel violence including Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo and other spots close to the border, and popular destinations deep inside Mexico including Acapulco and Mazatlán.

NASHVILLE RESTAURANT MAKES "GQ" TOP 5 IN THE COUNTRY
One of Nashville's hottest restaurants has been ranked one of the top five in the country by "GQ" magazine. The publication says The Catbird Seat in Midtown is one of ten best restaurants in the country. The interactive eatery has 32 seats surrounding a U-shaped kitchen. "GQ" says the restaurant,"stands out as hybrid of highbrow cooking and chilled-out Southern charm."

BELMONT STUDENT ADMITS TO SELLING POT BROWNIES ON CAMPUS
A student at Belmont University in Nashville has been arrested for selling brownies with marijuana in them. 18 year-old Marley Lentz was caught with a nearly 3 pound bag of pot brownies, prescription drugs and more than $1,600 in cash in his dorm room.

"DON'T SAY GAY" BILL MOVES FORWARD
Tennessee's "Don't Say Gay" bill is set for more debate after clearing the first obstacle in the state House of Representatives. The law restricting teaching about homosexuality to school children before high school made its way out of the House Education subcommittee on Wednesday. Opponents say it stigmatizes homosexuality among grade school kids while supporters say it protects parents' rights to educate their children on the subject on their terms.

REPS SAY DEMI LOVATO NOT BACK IN REHAB
Reps for Demi Lovato say the pop star's absence from last Sunday's Grammy ceremony had nothing to do with a return to rehab. Her camp is putting an end to persistent relapse rumors, telling MTV News Lovato was never scheduled to attend the awards show as either a guest or a presenter. Instead, Demi told her fans via Twitter that she's spending this week on a "mind and body cleansing retreat." A source close to the singer-slash-actress explains that she made the personal decision to spend the time off from work with a professional support team. The friend adds that Lovato knows her recovery is an "ongoing battle," and is fully committed to working with the group on her way to a "healthy future."

42 HOPEFULS SURVIVE TWO CUTS ON 'AMERICAN IDOL'
"American Idol" is another step closer to the live shows after last night. The judges whittled 70 hopefuls down to 42.

TENNESSEE JUDGE HALTS STATE FUNDING CUT TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD
The Tennessee Department of Health's decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood programs has been halted by a federal judge. The organization sued the state for more than 150-thousand in dropped grants when it pulled funding for its HIV and syphilis testing program. Planned Parenthood argues its exclusion from programs testing for the diseases is a violation of constitutional rights and federal law, and they are being punished for providing abortion services.

WOMAN CAUGHT IN HANDICAP PARKING SPOT WITH ILLEGAL DRUGS
A Washington state woman is in hot water after authorities say they caught her with drugs when she illegally parked in a disabled spot. Leeann Coates was arrested on Monday in Lynden after an officer saw her car parked in the disabled spot without the proper permit. Officials say a suspicious smell was coming from the vehicle and they used a K-9. That allegedly led to the discovery of meth as well as other drugs and paraphernalia. She is facing possession with intent to deliver charges.

TEACHER HAS CLASS SEND CARDS TO INCARCERATED BOYFRIEND
Tricking your students into sending Christmas cards to your incarcerated boyfriend isn't a great way to keep your job. The "New York Daily News" says Melissa Dean is likely to be fired after having her fifth grade class send cards to her locked up lover. Dean reportedly told the class that they were sending cards to people who were lonely during the holidays. Her plan came unraveled when a guard at the Groveland Correctional Facility received the cards and reported them to Dean's principal. School officials in Queens say they're now moving to terminate Dean from her position. Dean's boyfriend, John Coccarelli, is serving time for gun possession and violating an order of protection. In 2008, he was found to be in possession of child pornography.

OPRAH JOINS JIMMY KIMMEL FOR POST-OSCAR BASH
Oprah's invited to Jimmy Kimmel's post-Oscar late night party. ABC announced Thursday that media mogul Oprah Winfrey will join the late night TV host and other guests on "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Academy Awards." Oprah, who received the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award late last year, will join George Clooney, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep and others for the post-Oscars show. This year's Oscar host Billy Crystal is expected to kick off the Kimmel party. British rockers Coldplay will close it out. The 84th Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 26th on ABC.