Friday, August 10, 2012

MOTHER ACCUSED IN HEAT-RELATED DEATHS  CHARGED
That woman in Smyrna who admits she put her two and three year old kids in the car, and they died in the heat, was officially charged yesterday. 25 year-old Samantha Harper admitted she left them there, went inside and fell asleep.

TENNESSEE 11TH MOST TOXIC STATE
We're doing better, but Tennessee is still one of the biggest polluters in the country because of the toxic particles we spew from our coal-fired power plants. We're ranked 11th in the "Toxic Twenty" states list from the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kentucky is ranked number 1.

GE RECALLS MORE THAN A MILLION DISHWASHERS
If you have a GE Dishwasher, you'll wanna check it to make sure it's safe. Their heating elements have been catching on fire and have caused a lot of property damage in people's homes. See the info HERE. 

HASSELBECK TO START IN TITANS-SEAHAWK GAME 
Tomorrow night the Titans play the Seahawks, but it's in Seattle so it starts late: 9:00 our time. Matt Hasselbeck will be the starting quarterback in the preseason game, that'll air on News2 tomorrow night. 

ANNA MARIE'S FAVORITE STORY OF THE DAY:
LOCAL NURSE DONATES KIDNEY TO PATIENT
A 38-year-old Nashville man named Jason needed a kidney to live. And he got one. But what's really cool is how it all happened. Lisa Cejka is a nurse at Baptist and didn't even know Jason. But she found one of her co-workers crying in the breakroom, asked why, and the woman said "my husband's kidney is failing."  Lisa walked out of the breakroom praying, asking God to help them, and she says it wasn't an AUDIBLE voice, but she felt like God told her, "YOU help them." She was tested and she was a match for Jason, and gave him a kidney. Now he's recovering, and teared up as he said, "How can you EVER thank someone for giving you the gift of life? You can't."  Way to go, Lisa! You're our hero, too.

ELVIS WEEK BEGINS: 35 ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH
Elvis Week starts today in Memphis. People are coming from all over the world to Graceland in Memphis, to celebreate the life of Elvis Presley, who's been dead now for 35 years. And they're celebrating in all kinds of ways. For example: tonight at the ballgame... the Memphis Redbirds are giving out Elvis bobbleheads.

SUMNER COUNTY SCHOOLS LATEST
Hundreds of parents attended a Sumner County school board meeting on Thursday night as school officials met to discuss budget issues that have delayed the start of the 2012-2013 school year.
Students were supposed to have returned to school on Monday, however without an approved budget the start day remains unknown.
The school of board previously requested an additional $7 million for the budget which would allow for teacher pay increases, among other items.
The county commission previously voted to give the schools an additional $2.2 million if schools were opened immediately.   http://www.sumnerschools.org

DALLAS COUNTY DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER WEST NILE VIRUS
Please be sure you use bug repellent when you go out. You hear people talking about how many times they got bitten, but one bite could be a MAJOR problem with all the diseases mosquitos carry these days. In Dallas, they're declared a public health emergency because so many people have gotten sick with West Nile virus, and nine people have died because of it. 

MURFREESBORO MOSQUE OPENS TODAY
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/19244881/after-long-fight-opening-day-...
That two year battle over whether there should be a mosque in Murfreesboro is over. It opens today. And if someone's thinking of causing trouble - since there's been vandalism, as well as bomb threats, fire and protests - there's extra security on hand to keep people safe as they observe their religious beliefs.

USING THOSE POSTAL TUBS FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE COULD LAND YOU IN JAIL
If you used one of those white mail tubs and somehow forgot to return it, you may want to. The Post Office says it spends 50 MILLION dollars a year replacing those things and wants them back! If you're caught using one for your personal storage, it could cost you some jail time and a thousand-dollar fine. (To report people using them illegally, you're asked to call 1-866-330-3404. Or if you have one that needs to be picked up, you can email the post office. hqmte@usps.gov)

CRITICS AGREE: 'HONEY BOO BOO' IS BAD BAD & VIEWERS LOVE IT!
Have you heard about the new hot TV show? It's called "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo." About a former "Toddlers and Tiaras" star, 6 year-old Alana Thompson -- and her 'redneck' family. It was the second-most-watched show on cable Wednesday night.
Critics call the show, "trash," saying TLC has "hit a new low" with the program. Buddy TV called the show a "sign of the apocalypse," and Zap 2 It pulled no punches in describing it as "everything wrong with America."