Thurs, January 26, 2012

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ELDERLY NASHVILLE WIDOW SCAMMED OUT OF NEARLY 5 GRAND
http://www.wsmv.com/story/16602932/elderly-widow-scammed-out-of-nearly-5000
An elderly Nashville woman has been scammed out of nearly $5,000 by a con man... who came to her home, offering to clean her gutters. The woman was going to pay him 400 dollars...but had a hand injury and let HIM write the check.... and he made it out for 45 hundred dollars. By the time she realized what had happened, the man had cashed the check and was gone.

HENDERSONVILLE TEACHER CHARGED WITH STATUTORY RAPE
http://www.wkrn.com/story/16600452/hendersonville-teacher-suspended
A teacher and assistant football coach in Sumner County has been arrested for raping a female student. The alleged incident happened last month on the same day he assaulted an ex-girlfriend. 31 year-old Darrell Keen teaches math and is the running backs coach at Beech High School in Hendersonville. right now he's suspended without pay.

TX WEATHER
Cleanup efforts are under way in Texas after severe weather.... including several tornadoes yesterday... in Houston, at an industrial park in Austin and a neighborhood in San Antonio.

CHAPPY'S SET FOR FORECLOSURE
A popular Church Street restaurant is facing foreclosure. The building housing Chappy's restaurant is scheduled to go up for auction on February 13th. John Chapman opened "Chappy's" the 240-seat creole-style restaurant in 2006, modeled after the one he lost to Katrina in Long Beach, Mississippi. The Alabama native says he has been trying to refinance for months, but can't get financing.

MNPS OFFICIAL SUSPENDED FOR FORWARDING CARTOON
Metro schools Food Services Director Jay Nelson has been suspended for three days for sending a sexist email.  The message showed two cavemen under the heading "The Original Sin." The caption read, "I've decided to teach her to talk, what harm could it do?" A school spokesperson called the email, "inappropriate, offensive and inconsistent with the district's vision of embracing and valuing a diverse community."

HEALTH: MORE FRIENDS, LESS WAISTLINE?
Growing your circle of friends could shrink your waistline. When mice were moved from an environment where they had few pals to one they shared with 15 to 20 rodent roommates, they shed 50 percent of their belly fat within four weeks. Somehow the more engaging environment caused white fat, the stuff that causes pudge, to turn into brown fat, a type that burns calories. Humans also have both kinds of fat. Scientists are doing more research. (Women's Health)

NASHVILLE ZOO JOB FAIR FEB 13, 14TH
There's another job fair coming up. If you're interested, you'll want to save the dates. The Nashville Zoo is hosting a job fair for summer jobs. It'll be Feb 13th and 14th, at the Zoo, on Nolensville Road. Positions include retail, concessions, maintenance and guest services. (hours 10-3 both days. www.NashvilleZoo.org)

CHILD'S HEALTH PREDICTS PARENTS' FUTURE HEALTH
The overall health of a child could offer clues into the future health of his or her parents. A new study shows if the children have high blood pressure or cholesterol at age 12, their parents are more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and stroke by 60. Researchers say the findings show the impact of the lifestyle that's being passed down to the kids, and that parents often keep up with their kids' medical needs while neglecting their own. (The study appears in the "Journal of Pediatrics.")

OBAMA CUTS SHORT ARGUMENT WITH ARIZONA GOV.
Have you seen the photos of that woman pointing a finger at President Obama? It's the President and Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. They reportedly had an unpleasant exchange when he stepped off Air Force One near Phoenix. At one point, the governor was pointing her finger at the President. Then they appeared to be talking at the same time, and then he stepped away, apparently while she  was still speaking.

DICK TUFELD, VOICE OF "LOST IN SPACE" ROBOT, DIES
A voice from many of our childhoods is silent today. The guy behind this voice has passed away. Dick Tufeld, a radio and TV announcer best known as the voice of the robot in the 1960s television show "Lost in Space," . died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 85.

TEXAS STORM DAMAGE
Texans are cleaning up after tornadoes hit homes and businesses in Austin, Houston and San Antonio.

HEALTH: EXERCISE ENHANCES MOOD OF CHRONICALLY ILL
If you have a chronic illness, instead of sitting around like the illness makes you WANT to do, get up and take a walk. A new study shows regular exercise can reduce symptoms of depression by about 22-percent in people with diseases like cancer and fibromyalgia. ( Researchers say moderate and vigorous exercise appeared to provide the most benefit. The study appears in the journal "Archives of Internal Medicine.")

NUCLEAR PLANTS IN TN VULNERABLE TO FLOODS
The sand baskets the Tennessee Valley Authority has installed at dams to protect its nuclear power plants aren't enough to withstand a worst-case flood scenario. That's according to a report from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, advising that debris barrelling through the Tennessee River could eventually brush them aside. TVA officials say the baskets are a temporary measure and lack of funds have delayed them making dam modifications. The NRC says the bags are acceptable as a temporary fix.

CHARTER SCHOOL EXPERT APPOINTED FOR CITY PLAN
Nashville has enlisted a nationally recognized education expert to advise on its plan for new charter schools. Mayor Karl Dean has appointed Todd Dickson to oversee plans to open eight to ten high performing charter schools by 2014. Dickson's school in California was featured in the education documentary "Waiting for Superman" and made it on "Newsweek's" list of the country's top ten transformational schools.

PEDESTRIAN KILLED ON I-40 MAY HAVE BEEN SUICIDE
Interstate 40 near downtown Nashville was shut down for several hours overnight Tuesday after a pedestrian walked into the interstate, and was hit by a car and killed. Metro police said the victim, Dorse Carroll, 42, made statements before the incident that led them to believe he was committing suicide. He wrote his social security number on his arm, then walked into traffic. He also caused two cars to crash, though none of the injuries in those crashes was life-threatening.

MADONNA AND CEE LO AT SUPER BOWL
Madonna might be sharing the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show. TheInsider.com is reporting that she's invited R&B singer Cee Lo Green to join her for the big performance. Super Bowl 46 will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and air on NBC on February 5th.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S HAND/FOOTPRINT IN FRONT OF GRAUMAN'S TODAY
The late Michael Jackson's hand and foot print will be put into cement at Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theater. Since he's unable to do it, his three kids, Prince, Paris and Blanket, will use their father's sequined glove and shoes to make impressions in the cement.

RAZZIE AWARDS MOVED TO APRIL FOOLS' DAY
The Golden Raspberry Awards ceremony, given for the worst of the worst movies...a re traditionally held the day before the Academy Awards, but this year they've been moved to April 1st... to coincide with April Fools' Day. But, they will announce their nominees for Worst Picture, Worst Actor and Worst Actress ... on February 25th, one day before this year's Oscar Ceremony, so you'll be able to see if any of their picks for 'worst of' win awards for 'Best of". They hinted that potential Razzie nominees include: "Bucky Larson" and "Just Go With It" for "Worst Picture", and Adam Sandler could earn a nomination for "Worst Actress" for his dual role in "Jack & Jill."