Tuesday December 18, 2012

Titans Win!
Titans Win 14-10 Over Jets in last night’s Monday Night Football. But the real winner is Chris Johnson who 'sharpied' the names of Sandy Hook's victims on his shoes and ran for them.  See his memorial here.

Meningitis Claims Another in TN
The death toll in Tennessee from the fungal meningitis outbreak is now 14 after another death was reported yesterday.

Officer Cleared in Shooting of Family Pet
Clarksville police have cleared an officer of any wrongdoing after he shot and killed a pit bull leashed in the owner’s yard last month. Officer Todd Bell was searching for a 13 yr old runaway, and said ‘he felt he was in danger and took the action he thought he needed to take. The Chief of police said “of course we regret it. It was a very unfortunate event that took place.

Big Macs for Christmas
McDonald's is pushing its franchise owners to open their stores on Christmas , and the fast-food chain won't be paying workers holiday overtime at company-owned stores, AdvertisingAge reports.One former franchisee told the outlet that the strategy represented a shift in corporate culture -- four or five years ago, he said, opening on Christmas simply wasn't expected.

TN Gun Laws
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says last week's Connecticut elementary school massacre will stir new debate about gun laws and better ways to help those with a mental illness . Haslam says he doesn't know if there will be any changes to gun laws in Tennessee.

Franklin Theatre Gets $48,300 Piano
Gibson/Baldwin has gifted the Franklin Theatre with the long-term use of a Baldwin R1 Artist Grand piano valued at $48,300. Miller Piano in Cool Springs has signed on to tune, transport and house the instrument for the historic music venue.

Williamson County Schools Discusses Added Officers
In light of Connecticut, officials across Williamson County want to ensure students are safe. Plans are being discussed to add a School Resource Officer at each of the county's 23 elementary schools. Officials believe this will help put concerned parents at ease. Sheriff Jeff Long says "We also ask the public to be on the lookout for any suspicious behavior, and notify local authorities."

Flu Numbers Increase in TN Emergency Rooms
Patient numbers in emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms is skyrocketing in Nashville with a 50 to 75% increase over the normal average. Unless you are in a high risk group, the first line of defense is supportive care and a visit to primary care provider to screen whether you need the E.R. or not. www.flu.gov  has more tips on caring for yourself or others with the flu.

Gun Sales Accelerate in TN
Brisk gun sales could lead to a shortage of ammunition and certain types of weapons next year, along with steep price increases. Gun sales in Tennessee are topping record levels. So far this year TBI, which runs background checks for weapons, reports 379,209 checks as of last month.

Surveillance Tape Yeilds Thief's Identity

Metro Police detectives said thanks to surveillance video shown">shown on TV, officers were able to identify Jeffery Halstead, as the man who robbed the Donelson Pike Tobacco & Ale at gunpoint on Sunday. Anyone with info about Halstead's whereabouts is asked to call Metro Police at 74-CRIME.

Cardio Alone More Effective Than Weight Cardio
A new study in the "Journal of Applied Physiology" says cardio exercise is better for burning fat and losing weight.   Cardio only  proved to be as effective as cardio-weight lifting and took less time to accomplish weight loss.  The study's lead author says for people who don't have much time to spare, cardio workouts are more effective than lifting weights.

Vietnam Veteran's Heroes and Victims Honored
The victims of a massive car accident were remembered in a special ceremony last night. In 2011 a dangerous fog caused more than 50 vehicles to collide on Vietnam Veterans Boulevard. A monument and tree were dedicated to recognize the efforts of the first responders and the memories of the two persons who died. The ceremony was held at The Sumner County Administration Building in Gallatin.

Facebook Clues Citizens To Security Threat
19 yr old Shawn Lenz of Columbia allegedly posted a message on Facebook threatening a shooting rampage similar to the one in Connecticut. He appeared in court yesterday after several concerned citizens called 911, where he was charged with terrorism, harassment through the internet and possession of drug paraphernalia. His sister said he is bipolar and the post was a cry for help. Authorities didn’t agree. Lenz is being held on $760,000 bond. Read the story here.

New Airport App Gets You Faster Shuttles
Nashville International Airport has opened two new priority lanes to move frequent fliers through the security screenings more quickly. In addition, short term parking rates have been cut and new technology allows passengers to track airport parking shuttle buses. It’s a free app and Nashville is the first airport in the country to use the smartphone technology. Get the app here.
 

Brentwood Mapco Yeilds Another $1Million Ticket
During Saturday’s Tennessee Lottery drawing, a Powerball ticket that came from the Mapco at 8007 Moores Lane matched all five white balls of the second-place prize in the game. Michael Jason Swift won $1 million in the Nov. 28th drawing. He bought the ticket at another Mapco on the same street. No one has come forward to claim the prize in Saturday night’s game. The person holding the winning lottery ticket has 180 days from the date of the drawing to redeem the ticket. Find more info here.

Smartest Dog List is Out
The list of smartest dog breeds is out – what ranks #1 based on the list of obedience and scientific criteria? The border collie followed by the Australian kelpie and the poodle. Unfortunately the Pekingnese came up last in the smart study. Having a dog on the smart list may not be all good – they need lots of mental stimulation and if they don’t get it…they can demolish the deck or eat the couch. See the whole list here.