Wednesday, July 11, 2012

FOOD GIVEAWAYS TO BENEFIT 1,200 LOCAL FAMILIES 
You may know someone who needs this: there are a couple of food giveaways today for families who need a little extra help. News 2, WKRN, reports that the first is at 9 this morning at the New Livingstone Baptist Church on Hancock Street in east Nashville, the second food giveaway starts at noon at the Nashville Family Church -- the former Alexander car dealership location -- on Hillsboro Road in Franklin. The food handouts are while supplies last. 

START OF METRO SCHOOLS 3 WEEKS AWAY
Before schools start back up this year, parents of seventh graders are being reminded that the children MUST have another round of immunizations or they won't be allowed to go back to school.
MNPS Back-to-School guide: http://www.mnps.org/Page66226.aspx 
See the Full list of required school supplies: http://www.mnps.org/AssetFactory.aspx?did=70788)

METRO SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVE: AND WHAT YOU'LL NEED
Schools start back in the next couple of weeks ... and Metro Nashville Public School officials want you to consider buying extra school supplies while you're shopping over the next few weeks. There's a school supply donation drive underway... and you can drop them off at any Nashville Public Library, Metro police station, Nashville Fire Department or Metro community center.
See the MNPS Back-to-School guide:
See the Full list of required school supplies:

WHEN IS FIRST DAY OF CLASSES FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS?
http://www.wsmv.com/story/18984518/first-day-of-school-2012-13

NES SCAM HITS
Nashville Electric Service warned us about a scam coming out way... but says more than 10 thousand people have STILL fallen for it. Even worse, customers are SPREADING the scam message to each other via social networking. They're told that there's special federal funding for utility bill assistance, but to get it, you have to provide your Social Security number or other personal information. There IS no such funding. NES employees will never request such personal information. If you're contacted, or have questions, call NES at (615) 736-6900.

WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH THREATENS TO PICKET MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHURCHES
And Westboro Baptist Church, of Topeka, KS, known for its protests at soldiers' funerals, says it'll picket Sunday outside Crosspoint Community Church on Charlotte Pike..... one of the fastest-growing churches in the state. Gracepointe Church in Franklin was also targeted...  for preaching tolerance and building bridges between faiths.  And Westboro leaders call First Baptist Church in Clarksville, "a dog kennel masquerading as a church." The church members have different plans to deal with the picketing, including bringing donuts and showing GRACE and love to the Westboro Baptist picketers.

11 NASHVILLE MARKETS CLOSED FOR SELLING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA
http://www.wsmv.com/story/18992050/11-markets-shut-down-in-synthetic-drug-raids>
11 Nashville convenience markets, beer-and-tobacco stores and smoke shops have been shut down, for illegally selling synthetic marijuana, which is so dangerous it's potentially fatal. Since May it's been a felony to sell it. The stores are shut down and padlocked pending court dates tomorrow. Law enforcement officers seized thousands of packets of illegal drugs, and more than 100 thousand dollars in cash.

RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES RUSSIA-US ADOPTION LAW
http://www.wsmv.com/story/18990511/russian-parliament-passes-russia-us-adoption-law
More than two years ago, Tennessee woman Torry Hansen sent her 7 year old adopted son back to Russia, complaining Russia misled her about the boy's behavior problem. Now, in part because of that situation, Russian lawmakers have approved a new law that requires all adoptions go through registered Russian agencies, that the adoptive parents know more about the child's history and that the adoption agencies better monitor the child's upbringing. (UNICEF estimates there are more than 740,000 Russian children in need of parents.)

WILLIAMSON COUNTY LANDLORD SUSPECTED OF PAYING TENANT TO BURN HOMES
http://www.wsmv.com/story/18995243/landlord-accused-of-paying-tenant-to-set-fires
Brentwood business owner Scott Williams has been arrested, for allegedly paying one of his tenants to set fire to homes Williams owns… so he could collect on the insurance. A firefighter was injured fighting one of the blazes. Now, investigators are checking into other homes that Williams owned... which had burned but were thought THEN to have been accidental.

TSU FACES ALLEGATIONS OF GRADE FIXING
http://www.wsmv.com/story/18994194/nashville-university-facing-allegations-of-grade-fixing
Tennessee State University in Nashville has been accused of grade-fixing. A group claims hundreds of math grades were changed from I (incomplete) to a C, a passing grade. The TSU President says teachers were just trying to follow new state guidelines that prevent faculty from handing out "incompletes" as frequently. Before, students could keep retaking courses until they passed. Now, an "incomplete" is a failing grade.

WALDO CANYON FIRE UNDER CONTROL
The most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, the massive Waldo Canyon wildfire in the Colorado Springs area, has been officially declared 100-percent contained. The fire killed two people, destroyed 347 homes and scorched more than 18-thousand acres.  

DOGS COULD BOOST BABY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM
Spending time with the family dog could help infants develop a stronger immune system.  A new study finds infants who live with dogs spend less time sick with breathing problems and respiratory infections... and are less likely to get ear infections than babies not exposed to dogs. (The study appears in the journal "Pediatrics.")

NASHVILLE MAN WON'T FACE ABUSE CHARGES FOR DEAD AND NEGLECTED DOGS
I know it sounds unbelievable, but a Nashville man will not be prosecuted for animal abuse even though animal control officers found a dead dog chained to another dog on his property. The second dog was taken from Jose Palomino... but will probably not be released for adoption. 

"FIFTY SHADES OF GREY" MOVIE IN THE WORKS
The racy bestseller "Fifty Shades Of Grey" is being made into a movie....  and the search is on to cast the characters for the book's steamy love affair. The novel trilogy has sold more than 31 million copies this past year.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER DRIVING WITH KIDS STRAPPED TO CAR HOOD 
And a Fort Wayne, Indiana man pled guilty to four felony charges after police found him driving drunk with four kids tied to the hood of his car with tow straps. He told officers he was just going around the corner and thought the kids ... from four to seven years old.. would enjoy the ride.  He may face prison time.