NOVEMBER 17, 2011

Tennessee Dems Push Food Tax Cut
State Democrat officials are asking for support through an online petition to lower the state's sales tax on food. Tennessee has one of the country's highest rates at 5.5 percent. Officials say money saved in a revenue surplus over the last few months should make up for the tax. The petition can be viewed at tndp.org.
 
 Megabus Begins Nashville To Atlanta Route
You now have a cheap way to travel from Nashville to Atlanta, and back. It's the Megabus. The first bus left Wednesday morning from Commerce Street. Megabus.com is a city-to-city, express bus company with fares starting at $1. The service also goes to Chattanooga. Atlanta is a hub. You can see where else it goes, at megabus.com

MTSU Student Robbed At Gunpoint On Campus
A student at Middle Tennessee State University was robbed at gunpoint and pistol whipped Tuesday night near the dorms. Police described the suspect as a white man, about 5'6 to 5'8, with a goatee, wearing blue jeans and a hoodie.

Accused Flasher Arrested In Murfreesboro
A Murfreesboro man who allegedly exposed himself to two teen girls on two separate occasions this month has been arrested in Murfreesboro. Charles Andrew Springer was wanted on two counts of indecent exposure for allegedly flashing the girls while they waited at a bus stop on Monday. One of the teens reported Springer had also driven past them "totally naked" on November 3. During a previous police interview, the 26-year-old Springer told authorities that he gets a "high" from flashing strangers.

Williamson County Police Add DUI Checkpoints
Williamson County police are cracking down on drunk drivers this weekend by adding extra sobriety checkpoints. Police say they will post officers on the Goose Creek Bypass on Friday and on U.S. Highway 31 on Saturday. Over the Thanksgiving weekend they will be on State Route 96 East and Carothers Parkway.

Police Deny Penn State's McQueary Called Cops
Police in State College, Pennsylvania deny assistant Penn State football coach Mike McQueary's claims that he reported former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's alleged sexual abuse of a boy. McQueary had become the subject of threats after a grand jury report revealed that McQueary witnessed Sandusky assaulting a young boy but did not tell police.

Big Ten Removing Paterno's Name From Championship Trophy
The Big Ten will remove Joe Paterno's name from the trophy given to the winner of the conference championship game. Paterno, the winningest coach in major college football, was fired last Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a child sex abuse coverup involving former coach Jerry Sandusky. League commissioner Jim Delany said Monday that it is "inappropriate'' to keep Paterno's name on the trophy that will be awarded Dec. 3 after the first Big Ten title game.  The trophy had been named the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy. Amos Alonzo Stagg won 319 games in 57 years, most at the University of Chicago. Paterno's 409 wins are the most by a major college coach. The trophy will now be called the Stagg Championship Trophy.

Bieber Paternity Case Withdrawn, DNA Test Still On
An attorney for a woman who claims Justin Bieber is the father of her baby boy said Wednesday her lawsuit has been withdrawn, but could be refiled later. Mariah Yeater, 20, claims she had just turned 19 when she and Bieber, then 16, had a brief sexual encounter after one of the singer's concerts last fall in a backstage backroom at Los Angeles' Staples Center. Bieber has said he's never met Yeater, and denies he's the father, but still intends to take a paternity test.

Tornadoes Strike Southeast
Several states in the Southeast are in cleanup mode this morning following severe weather that included suspected tornadoes yesterday. Half a dozen homes were destroyed or seriously damaged last night in South Carolina. In North Carolina, there are reports of tornadoes touching down and several deaths.

Occupy Protesters Show Solidarity In 'Day Of Action'
Occupy protesters nationally are calling for a day of action, and the Nashville group is on the move. Local protesters moved to the courtyard of Tennessee Towers yesterday to show solidarity with groups who have been evicted in other cities. The Nashville organization has won a restraining order allowing them to stay on Legislative Plaza until another court date. Occupy protesters will be joined by labor groups in New York City to mark two months since the Occupy effort began.

Vanderbilt Player Charged With Felonies
A Vanderbilt football safety is being charged with two felonies. Andre Simmons has been suspended indefinitely after being charged with burglary and robbery Tuesday night. Police say he chased and robbed his victim.

Suspect In Shooting Near White House Due In Court
An Idaho man arrested for a shooting at the White House goes to federal court today. Oscar Ortega-Hernandez was arrested yesterday at a Pennsylvania hotel. The Secret Service says he's suspected of firing shots near the White House on Friday. The bullets were found Tuesday.

Last TCBY In Middle TN To Close
Before the month is over, Middle Tennessee's last TCBY frozen yogurt shop will be gone. The Cool Springs location is the last store left, and after nearly a decade, the owners are closing up. The owner says he's happy other frozen yogurt chains are doing so well, and he and his family will just find something else to do.

Metro Police Supervisors Being Investigated
Three Metro Police supervisors are under internal investigation after giving an intoxicated former officer a ride home instead of writing him a ticket for DUI. The cops say he wasn't driving, they saw him standing next to his vehicle, and took him home.
 
Kindergartners At Lebanon, TN School Dedicate Tree To Classmate 
A 5-year-old who passed away this summer was remembered by his teachers and classmates this week in a special ceremony at school. Ian Tisdale, a kindergartner at Southside Elementary School in Lebanon, died in June of bacterial meningitis. His classmates and teachers dedicated an oak tree in his honor, sang a song he used to love, and placed a permanent plaque near it with Ian's name, including a backwards letter N which is how his family says the 5 year old wrote his name.

Hybrid Cars 'Safer' Due To Heavy Battery
Hybrid cars are safer in a crash than traditional cars, according to an insurance industry report released today. The report says hybrids' heavy batteries give the vehicles protective heft that lowers the odds of being hurt in a crash by 25-percent.

TN Hospitals Report Drug Dependent Infant Increase
More babies born dependent on pain killers are being reported in Tennessee hospitals. The 60 babies so far this year have been hooked on drugs such as Vicodin, OxyContin and Methodone. Doctors say they have to watch closely for withdrawal, and wean the child off the drugs.
 
Canadian Billionaire Buys Into Predators
A Canadian billionaire is now part owner of the Predators. "The Nashville Business Journal" reports Brett Wilson has bought a five-percent stake in the management and team. Wilson lives outside Nashville but has a home here. He is chairman of a Canadian investment group.