WSB News

AARP: Free Lunch Could Be Scam

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:19:59 -0500

(WSB Radio) The American Association of Retired People is warning the elderly beware of the free lunch!

The AARP says a common setting for fraudsters to engage their victims is through a free lunch or dinner offer, by which an individual is solicited to attend and learn more about investing in retirement. Many of these invitees have received 10 or more invitations to these "free" events.

Once at the seminar, half of attendees surveyed said the presenter asked for personal information, such as contact or financial information, and nearly 46 percent reported that the presenter attempted to make a follow-up appointment at their home.

According to a new survey from AARP, 78 percent of surveyed Americans age 55 and older indicated they are very or somewhat concerned about financial scams affecting them or someone they know.

http://www.aarp.org/

OMG!! Pumpkin Pie Shortage?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:41:34 -0500

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) The holidays may not be so sweet this year.

Nestle which sells nearly all the canned pumpkin in the U.S. says poor weather hurt its harvest, creating a potential shortage of its Libby's pumpkin pie products through the holidays.

The company said heavy rains made it nearly impossible to pick its pumpkins during this year's harvest. The longer the pumpkins sit in the muddy fields, the more they deteriorate. As a result, the company announced this week that it would not pack any more pumpkins for the season which means it may be hard to find its canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling product until next year's harvest.

``Mother Nature had other plans for us,'' the company said in an open apology to customers online.

Nestle is the largest national brand for canned pumpkin products, with 80 to 90 percent of the market, the company said.

It plants a special strain of pumpkin at a farm in Morton, Ill., which provides nearly all its supply. Nestle estimates if you turned all the pumpkins it grows on the farm to pie, it would total 90 million pies.

``There are a lot of beautiful pumpkins out there that we just can't rescue,'' said Nestle spokeswoman Roz O'Hearn.

The company had a wet harvest last year, too, which meant it didn't have a surplus to carry over into this year and led to spotty shortages in late summer and early fall. The harvest started in August and it began getting products on its shelves soon after, but it won't be able to meet its normal demand.

``We hope everyone understands that Mother Nature was a little difficult this year and hope she's a little bit kinder to us next year,'' O'Hearn said.

Nestle said it has seen the popularity of pumpkin grow recently as more people have become aware of its health benefits, but Thanksgiving is still the company's peak season.

Pie makers can still use fresh pumpkin or other brands.

Trader Joe's said it has its store brand pumpkin in stock but said it couldn't predict what would happen to supplies in the future.

Whole Foods Market Inc. said that while it is aware of lower pumpkin yields in parts of the country, the company was able to get enough pumpkin for its store brand product and actually shipped more product to stores this year than ever before.

Farmers Market Organic, the country's largest provider of organic canned pumpkin, said it didn't experience the same issues with fungus and mold at its farm that big growers in the Midwest suffered this year and last.

And the company, based in Corvallis, Ore., said it increased its capacity and has shipped millions more cans of its product this year.

``Pumpkin pie is something people just won't do without, it's pretty sacred,'' said Tracy Miedema, national sales and marketing manager for Farmers Market. ``They are willing to switch out of a previous brand but they aren't willing to switch out of pumpkin pie.''

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Smash 'n Grab Bandits Hit Bars

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:10:58 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- An hour apart and a mile away.

Atlanta police are investigating the overnight thefts of three big-screen TVs in a pair of smash-and-grab burglaries at downtown bars just a mile apart.

Investigators were comparing security video from the Rise Sushi Lounge on Marietta Street and The Original Chocolate Bar on Trinity Avenue to see if the two burglaries were related.

WSB's Richard Sangster reports the first incident happened just after 2 a.m. at the sushi bar, about a block west of CNN Center on Marietta Street.

Less than an hour later, police received an alarm call from the Chocolate Bar a mile away on Trinity Avenue.

There, thieves tossed a cinder block through the front door, then stole two 40-inch flat screens.

Suspicious Package

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:04:33 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- A suspicious package found outside The Temple synagogue Friday morning turned out to be harmless.

"It was a black plastic bag with newspapers inside," Atlanta police spokesman Eric Schwartz said.

The package caused some tense moments outside the synagogue just south of the Brookwood Amtrak station.

WSB's Jon Lewis says the package was reported at about 6:30 a.m.

Fire Capt. Rick Perdue said a caretaker discovered the package, about a foot and a half long and six inches wide in a driveway.

Two lanes of the busy street in Atlanta's midtown area were blocked by fire trucks and police cars.

A dynamite blast blew a hole in the side of The Temple in 1958. No one was injured in the blast, and no one was ever convicted in the case.

Obese man Dies; Spent Months in Recliner

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:39:32 -0500

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) When an ambulance brought Daniel Webb home from the hospital after he hurt his knee in March, paramedics warned the then 550-pound man he probably wouldn't be able to get up from his recliner if they put him there, his wife said.

Webb told them to leave him there anyway. He would sit in that recliner, slowly dying, for the next eight months. Finally, paramedics were called back to his Greenwood home on Wednesday because he was in a lot of pain.

Webb's body was physically stuck to the power recliner and firefighters had to cut him from the chair to take him to the hospital. He died a few hours later, his body covered with sores and a ``very bad odor,'' according to a police report.

Webb, 33, didn't ask for help for all those months, because he was ashamed and didn't have health insurance, said his wife, Ada. He slept and used the bathroom in his chair and she cleaned it every day. The former preacher would post sermons online from the chair, and it wasn't long before he decided he was ready to go home to the Lord, she said.

``After he sat there in that one spot for a week, he was embarrassed. It was like he already knew what was going to happen,'' Ada Webb said.

Webb's mother was the one who placed the final call to paramedics. Not only did crews have to cut apart the chair, but they had to cut a hole in the wall of the couple's mobile home about 70 miles west of Columbia to get him out. A police report said he weighed about 800 pounds, but his wife said he was closer to 500 pounds.

The hospital told Daniel Webb's wife he died from a heart attack, she said. The coroner's office isn't investigating the death and referred all questions to Greenwood County deputies, who sent their report, but didn't respond to a phone message.

Webb died on the couple's second anniversary. They met four years ago on MySpace, and Ada Webb said she didn't see a man who weighed more than 500 pounds, but instead saw a guy who loved the Lord and had a big heart.

``I had the worst anniversary yesterday I ever had, but I know he had the best one he ever had because he's with Jesus now,'' she said.

Daniel Webb drove school buses for nearly 15 years, until his weight made it impossible. His health kept getting worse, and Ada Webb said she begged hospital officials to keep him after doctors treated his knee injury in March. But the couple had no way to pay and were sent home.

For his first few weeks home, Daniel Webb was open to the idea of seeing someone. Getting to them was the problem.

``Everybody kept telling us, if you get here, we'll help you. We didn't have no way of getting him up, and nobody was willing to come help us,'' Ada Webb said. ``He just kind of said, 'it's in God's hands' at that point.''

Daniel Webb spent the rest of his days playing with his four dogs and talking about religion to other people on the Internet.

``I did all I could for him. He loved me with a passion,'' his wife said. ``The only reason he held on to life here was for his family because he wanted to go home and be with the Lord.''

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

WSB Poll

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:37:23 -0500

New Advice on Pap Tests

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:02:02 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) Most women in their 20s can have a Pap smear every two years instead of annually, say new guidelines that conclude that's enough to catch slow-growing cervical cancer.

The change by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists comes amid a completely separate debate over when regular mammograms to detect breast cancer should begin. The timing of the Pap guidelines is coincidence, said ACOG, which began reviewing its recommendations in late 2007 and published the update Friday in the journal Obstetrics Gynecology.

The guidelines also say:

Routine Paps should start at age 21. Previously, ACOG had urged a first Pap either within three years of first sexual intercourse or at age 21.

Women 30 and older should wait three years between Paps once they've had three consecutive clear tests. Other national guidelines have long recommended the three-year interval; ACOG had previously backed a two- to three-year wait.

Women with HIV, other immune-weakening conditions or previous cervical abnormalities may need more frequent screening.

Paps can spot pre-cancerous changes in the cervix in time to prevent invasive cancer, and widespread use has halved cervical cancer rates in the U.S. in recent decades. About 11,270 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and about 4,070 women will die from it, according to American Cancer Society estimates. Half of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never had a Pap, and another 10 percent haven't had one in five years.

Cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of the extremely common sexually transmitted virus called HPV, for human papillomavirus. There is a new HPV vaccine that should cut cervical cancer in the future; ACOG's guidelines say for now vaccinated women should follow the same Pap guidelines as the unvaccinated.

But the updated guidelines reflect better understanding of HPV. Infection is high among sexually active teens and young adults. Women's bodies very often fight off an HPV infection on their own without lasting harm, although it can take a year or two. The younger the woman, the more likely that HPV is going to be transient.

Moreover, ACOG cited studies showing no increased risk of cancer developing in women in their 20s if they extended Pap screening from every year to every two years.

As for adolescents, ACOG said cervical cancer in teens is rare one or two cases per million 15- to 19-year-olds while HPV-caused cervical abnormalities usually go away on their own, and unnecessary treatment increases the girls' risk of premature labor years later.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Lunchtime Bandit/Pics

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:08:28 -0500

Nov. 13 at the Wachovia Bank on Riverwood Parkway near Cumberland Mall in Northwest Atlanta.
Oct. 26 at the Roswell Wachovia branch at Mansell Road and Alpharetta Highway.
Nov. 12 at the Wachovia Bank branch on Jett Ferry Road in Dunwoody.

Northside Lunchtime Bandit

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:06:01 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- He strikes just before noon.

Or are there six different men who simply look similar?

Seven banks from northwest Atlanta to Dunwoody describe this lunchtime bandit striking often just before noon, wearing a variety of baseball caps pulled low on his face, making off with untold amounts of cash, and eventually driving away in a burgundy or maroon Chevrolet Tahoe missing a rear hub cap.

Or maybe seven different guys with uncanny resemblance have managed to pull separate bank heists -- twice at the same bank, and three out of the last four Fridays -- and escaped in eerily similar getaway SUVs.

Federal and local authorities and area bank security officials are calling this mystery suspect a serial bank robber.

"It's very plausible that if he's hitting one bank (in an area), he could be responsible for others nearby," FBI spokesman Special Agent Stephen Emmett told the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The man's M.O. changes slightly from one incident to the next. He usually strikes at or just before noon, but there have been afternoon and early morning robberies. He shows no obvious appearance of a weapon to reinforce the demand for money, but he has appeared on occasion to have shoved his hand into his pocket, creating the facade of an armed robbery.

Sometimes he uses a demand note, sometimes not.

Sunglasses, or ball cap pulled down low, never looking up to the camera.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of this robber.

Oprah Ending Show

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:37:55 -0500

CHICAGO (AP) ``The Oprah Winfrey Show,'' an iconic broadcast that grew over two decades into a daytime television powerhouse and the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media empire, will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air, Winfrey's production company said Thursday night.

Winfrey plans to announce the final date for her show during a live broadcast on Friday, Harpo Productions Inc. said, bringing an end to what has been television's top-rated talk show for more than two decades, airing in 145 countries worldwide and watched by an estimated 42 million viewers a week in the U.S. alone.

A Harpo spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday on Winfrey's future plans except to say that ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' will not move to cable television.

Winfrey, 55, is widely expected to start up a new talk show on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a much-delayed joint venture with Discovery Communications Inc. that is expected to debut in 2011. OWN is to replace the Discovery Health Channel and will debut in some 74 million homes. An OWN spokeswoman declined comment Thursday.

CBS Television Distribution, which distributes ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' to more than 200 markets blanketing the United States, held out hope that it could continue doing business with Winfrey, perhaps producing a new show out of its studios in Los Angeles.

``We know that anything she turns her hand to will be a great success,'' the unit of CBS Corp. said in a statement. ``We look forward to working with her for the next several years, and hopefully afterwards as well.''

Winfrey's 24th season opened earlier this year with a bang, as she drew more than 20,000 fans to Chicago's Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue for a block party with the Black Eyed Peas.

She followed up with a series of blockbuster interviews Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, exclusives with singer Whitney Houston and ESPN's Erin Andrews, and just this week, former Alaska governor, GOP vice presidential candidate and best-selling author Sarah Palin.

Over the years, ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' grew from a newcomer that chipped away at talk king Phil Donahue's dominance into a program that turned inspirational. The show covered a gamut that ranged from interviews with the world's most famous celebrities to an honest discussion about her weight struggles.

``As that show evolved, it really kind of dressed up the neighborhood of the daytime talk show,'' said Robert Thompson, professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University. ``There was a seriousness to it, as though what she was doing was a calling and not just a television show.''

In 1986, pianist-showman Liberace gave his final TV interview to Winfrey, just six weeks before he died. In a widely viewed prime-time special aired in 1993, Michael Jackson revealed he suffered from a skin condition that produces depigmentation.

Tom Cruise enthusiastically declared his affection for the much-younger Katie Holmes on the program in 2005 and jumped on the couch to prove it.

In 2004, Winfrey unveiled her most famous giveaway, when nearly 300 members of the studio audience opened a gift box to find the keys to a new car inside. The stunt became a classic show moment as much for Oprah's reaction ``You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! Everybody gets a car!'' as its $7 million price tag.

The show also became a launching pad for Oprah's Book Club, and authors whose books were selected became best-sellers. The titles ranged from ``Song of Solomon'' and ``Paradise'' by Toni Morrison to Wally Lamb's ``She's Come Undone'' and Elie Wiesel's ``Night.''

For others, the selection backfired. ``A Million Little Pieces'' exploded in sales after Winfrey chose the James Frey memoir in fall 2005. Soon after, it was revealed as a fabricated tale of addiction and recovery, and Winfrey later chewed out Frey on her show.

``She's been a great inspiration, a great support for all the shifts in politics and social consciousness and consciousness in general,'' said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. ``I call her 'Queen of the New Consciousness' because she did so many things to change lives, the books that she promoted.''

The loss of ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' would be a blow to CBS Corp. because it earns a percentage of hefty licensing fees from TV stations that use it; the show is largely seen on ABC affiliates. On a conference call with analysts two weeks ago, CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said the contract with the show runs through most of 2011 and ``if there's a negative impact, it wouldn't hit us until '12.''

``Oprah's been a force of media and there's really no person you can look to out there who you could say, `That's the heir apparent,''' said Larry Gerbrandt, an analyst for the firm Media Valuation Partners in Los Angeles. Gerbrandt noted many stations built their schedules around Winfrey's show and used it to promote other shows.

``It's a big loss, but not as huge as it would have been 10 years ago,'' he said. ``However, it still commands the biggest audience and ABC station competitors are licking their chops.''

Talk of the show's end often has accompanied impending contract negotiations for Winfrey. Before she signed her current contract in 2004, she had talked about quitting after the 2005-2006 season. As far back as 1995, she had called continuing ``a difficult and important decision.''

CBS continues to sell several top shows into syndication, including ``Wheel of Fortune'' and ``Jeopardy.'' But many TV stations are struggling with falling advertising revenue and were unlikely to pay the same fees as in the past for Winfrey's show, which has seen ratings slip 7 percent from a year ago and saw its average viewership slip below 7 million last season.

Winfrey started her broadcasting career as a teenager in Nashville, Tenn., reading the news at WVOL. Two years later, Winfrey started co-anchoring news broadcasts on WTVF-TV in Nashville. In 1976 she moved to Baltimore to anchor newscasts at WJZ-TV before becoming host of the local talk show ``People Are Talking.''

In 1984, she relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TV's morning talk show ``A.M. Chicago'' the show was became ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' one year later. She set up Harpo the following year and her talk show went into syndication.

Powered by the show's staggering success, Winfrey built a wide-ranging media empire. Harpo Studios produces shows hosted by Dr. Phil McGraw and celebrity chef Rachael Ray, and O, The Oprah Magazine was the nation's 7th most popular magazine in the first half of 2009.

``I came from nothing,'' Winfrey wrote in the 1998 book ``Journey to Beloved.'' ``No power. No money. Not even my thoughts were my own. I had no free will. No voice. Now, I have the freedom, power, and will to speak to millions every day having come from nowhere.''

Earlier this year, Forbes scored Winfrey's net worth at $2.7 billion, even as the magazine knocked her from atop its list of the world's most powerful celebrities. The honor went to Angelina Jolie, but Winfrey was still No. 2 on the annual Celebrity 100 list and the top earner at $275 million.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

2 Critical in Gwinnett Shooting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:35:42 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Two men are hospitalized and Gwinnett County police are looking for the suspects who allegedly shot them outside an apartment complex in Norcross.

Gwinnett Police Corporal David Schiralli tells WSB's Mark Alewine the victims asked for help just before 10 Thursday night at the intersection of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Buford Highway. Schiralli says "One of our officers happened to be in the area when the victims rolled up upon him, at which point they flagged him down, where then he summoned for medical assistance."

The unidentified men were taken to a local hospital, but their conditions are unknown.

The victims were shot in a car parked at the Valiencia Park Apartment on Peachtree Corners Circle. Investigators are talking to witnesses and residents of the complex trying to determine a motive and identify potential suspects.

Dawgs Prep for Kentucky

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:33:54 -0500

ATHENS, Ga. - The University of Georgia football team made final preparations for its upcoming Southeastern Conference Eastern Division clash with Kentucky by working out for 90-minutes at the Woodruff Practice Fields on Thursday.

Georgia started the dress rehearsal at approximately 6:40 p.m., which is a little over an hour and a half later than the Bulldogs' normal Thursday routine. Head coach Mark Richt explained that the practice schedule was altered to accommodate a Swahili class function in which several players were involved.

"We had probably up to as many as 20 players involved in the class," Richt stated. "They had an event this afternoon, and that's why we actually met with our players this morning at 6:20 and finished about 7:30 a.m. just in time for them to go to class or study hall. We waited until the event was over and gave them about an hour to make sure they could eat and get dressed."

Under the lights, Georgia (6-4, 4-3 SEC) finalized the game plan for its final SEC contest of the 2009 season against Kentucky (6-4, 2-4 SEC). With a win on Saturday, the Bulldogs can lock up second place in the Eastern Division. Both teams will enter the contest coming off of wins last week that made them bowl eligible. Georgia rallied past 25th-ranked Auburn, 31-24, in Athens while Kentucky posted a 24-13 road win over Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs and Wildcats each erased halftime deficits in their respective victories as UGA trailed 14-7 and UK was behind 13-10.

Saturday's game will mark the 63rd time Georgia and Kentucky have met dating back to 1939, and the Bulldogs hold a 49-11-2 advantage.

Richt also expressed his sorrow for the loss of Georgia mascot Uga VII, who died unexpectedly Thursday morning in Savannah.

"I was very shocked and sad to hear about Uga VII," Richt said. "I got a chance to talk to (Frank W.) Sonny (Seiler) today actually and hear a little bit about it. You never think something like that can happen that quickly, but it certainly did. I'm sad we won't have him on the sidelines anymore.

"I don't know if it's unprecedented or not," Richt added about not having a live mascot at Georgia's game on Saturday. "Ever since Uga I there's probably been a game or two where there hasn't been a mascot at all, but this ball game there won't be one which will be kind of different."

The WSB Tailgate Show at 3:45 p.m.; Kickoff at 7:45 p.m.

Sandy Springs Scientology Vote

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:31:44 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- The Church of Scientology is one step closer to relocating its Georgia headquarters from Dunwoody to Sandy Springs.

On Thursday night, the city's planning commission recommended approval of a rezoning request that will allow the religious group to renovate a vacant office building on the corner of Roswell Road and Glenridge Drive.

The approval, which will be forwarded to the Sandy Springs City Council for a vote on December 15th, was granted after an attorney for the Scientologists submitted a renovation plan that did not add square footage to the building, placed a maximum occupancy for the building at 170 and included restriping and repaving of the parking lot to create 111 parking spaces.

Fearing increased traffic and noise in the mostly residential area, more than 700 people who oppose the rezoning have signed a petition asking the City Council to vote no on the Church of Scientology's request. The petition drive is also supported by the boards of directors of sixteen Sandy Springs' neighborhood associations.

CDC: South Most Obese

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:29:20 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) The first county-by-county survey of obesity reflects past studies that show the rate of obesity is highest in the Southeast and Appalachia.

High rates of obesity and diabetes were reported in more than 80 percent of counties in the Appalachian region that includes Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, according to the new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The same problem was seen in about 75 percent of counties in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina.

The five counties with the highest rates were Greene and Dallas counties in Alabama and Holmes, Humphreys and Jefferson counties in Mississippi. All are small, rural counties in the west central areas of each state, and each reported obesity rates of around 44 or 43 percent. The national adult obesity rate is roughly 26 percent.

The statistics are estimates for the year 2007 based on surveys, census figures and other information for that and other years and include a margin of error. The obesity rates in many counties were about the same, so it's difficult to say any county or counties was clearly the single most obese county, CDC officials said.

The CDC also released Thursday county-specific data for diabetes Type 2 is closely tied to obesity. Counties with the lowest rates of both obesity and diabetes were out west Boulder County, Colo., Santa Fe County, N.M., and Summit County, Utah, were at the top of each list.

Just under 13 percent of people in those counties were obese, and only about 4 percent reported diabetes, the CDC found.

There are a range of possible explanations for counties in the South and Appalachia have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes, experts said. A culture that embraces fatty, unhealthy foods and shuns exercise may be one. Genetics may be another. Income and education probably have a lot to do with it, too people living in poor communities may not have the money to eat healthier, more expensive foods or may not have access to gyms or safe jogging trails, they said.

The Alabama counties at the top of the list are low-income, mostly African-American communities that probably ended up high on the list because the estimates assumed higher rates of obesity and diabetes in counties with those demographics, said Dr. Jim McVay, director of the health promotion and chronic disease for the Alabama Department of Public Health.

``I can't say that those are accurate,'' he said of the CDC estimates.

Some experts said they hope the county estimates will highlight the problem and persuade local officials to focus more attention on combating the problems.

``In the end, it comes down to those that have to direct resources at the local level,'' said Dr. Miriam Vos, assistant professor of pediatrics at Atlanta's Emory School of Medicine. ``It's not something that can change as easily at the federal level.''

McVay said local efforts are important, but ultimately obesity comes down to individual behavior and trying to change that. ``How do you influence people to make lifestyle changes? That's the question,'' he said.

The study was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Speedy Screening at More Airports

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:26:20 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of preapproved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States to most international airports in the country.

For more than a year, the department has been testing this program at seven airports across the country and found that participating travelers cut their average waiting time to be screened from 10 minutes to three.

The voluntary program, called Global Entry, would be open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents at least 14 years old. They would have to pay a $100 fee and undergo a background check. If accepted into the program, they can go through expedited screening when they fly into the United States. Ultimately, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a homeland security agency, plans to expand the program to include foreign travelers whose countries have an acceptable prescreening process. For instance, people from the Netherlands who are part of that country's Privium program have been accepted into the pilot program.

The program will begin at seven airports testing the pilot program and expand to most major international airports. The seven are New York's Kennedy, Houston's George Bush, Washington's Dulles, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago's O'Hare, Los Angeles International and Miami International.

The program allows registered participants to use a self-service kiosk to report their arrival, scan their passport or permanent residency card, submit their fingerprints for biometric verification and make a declaration at the touch-screen kiosk. The kiosk then takes a digital photograph of the traveler as part of the transaction record, issues a receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit. Global Entry participants may still be selected randomly by customs officers for additional screening at any time in the process.

The Homeland Security Department published the proposed rule in Thursday's Federal Register. The public has until Jan. 19 to comment on the proposal.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Beloved UGA Mascot Dies

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:31:05 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Uga VII, the legendary Georgia mascot who roamed the sidelines at Bulldog football games, died unexpectedly Thursday morning in Savannah.

He died of heart-related causes according to owner Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler. He was four years old and finishing his second season as the team's mascot. His given name was "Loran's Best" and his first game was Aug. 30, 2008, vs. Georgia Southern.

"We are all in a state of shock," said Seiler. "We had no warning whatsoever."

There will be no live mascot at Georgia's game on Saturday but a wreath will be placed on Uga VII's doghouse on the north sideline.

"He was 10-3 last year which is not bad for a 'freshman,'" said Seiler. "Uga VII was not as active or mischievous as his father but more distinguished. He realized his role when he put his shirt on. He was well-behaved and always appreciated the significance of his role."

"This is a very sad day for the Seiler family but also for all Georgia people," said Damon Evans, UGA Director of Athletics. "Just as his ancestors, he had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country's number one mascot. He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country. We will miss him dearly."

Seiler said there were options available for Uga VII's replacement but no final determination would be made until sometime next year.

"Our hearts go out to the Seilers and the entire Bulldog Nation at this unexpected loss," stated University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams. "Uga VII was both a family pet and a symbol for millions of fans, and besides that he was just a sweet dog. We will miss him."

"The College of Veterinary Medicine is saddened by the sudden loss of our dear friend and mascot, Uga VII," said Dr. Sheila W. Allen, dean of the College, and Dr. R. Bruce Hollett, personal faculty veterinarian for Uga VII. "His playful personality and winning spirit will be missed by all of us at the veterinary college, and all of us at the University of Georgia. The Seilers are long-time friends of the University, and we share in their grief."

Failed Computer is New

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:52:45 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- The computers which manage flight plans are talking to each other once again as airlines work to catch up after a glitch this morning a glitch caused widespread flight delays nationwide.

It's the second time in 15 months that there has been a problem.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said the country's aviation system is ``in shambles'' and the FAA needs more resources to prevent such problems from continuing.

``If we don't deliver the resources, manpower, and technology the FAA it needs to upgrade the system, these technical glitches that cause cascading delays and chaos across the country are going to become a very regular occurrence,'' he said in a statement.

The telecomm router which failed is part of the modernization of the air traffic control system and was installed less than two years ago.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the problem was fixed around 10 a.m., but it was unclear how long flights would continue to be affected. Doug Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Union, said controllers were still entering flight plans manually in some locations.

FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto said the problem started between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m. and affected mostly flight plans but also traffic management, such as ground stops and ground delays.

Airplane dispatchers had to send plans to controllers, who entered them into computers by hand.

``It's slowing everything down,'' Takemoto said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest, has been particularly affected. Chicago and Washington, D.C., metro airports also reported delays due to the glitch.

Mary Rulo, an educator from Atlanta, was trying to get to Philadelphia for a conference. She said her 9 a.m. flight was delayed until 3 p.m. and AirTran was not able to help with other arrangements.

``This is really going to affect my conference schedule,'' she said. ``It's really frustrating.''

AirTran canceled at least 22 flights and dozens more flights were delayed as of 8 a.m. Delta Air Lines was also affected.

Passengers were asked to check the status of their flights online before going to airports.

Only minor delays were reported at metropolitan New York City area airports, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Delays were also minimal at Logan International Airport in Boston. Orlando International Airport, Florida's busiest, reported about a dozen delays due to the chain reaction around the country, and flights in Tampa, Fla., were also delayed.

Flight plans are collected by the FAA for traffic nationwide at two centers one in the Salt Lake City area and the other in the Atlanta area. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said she did not know which center was affected Thursday. Church said the computer failure involved both centers.

Victor Santore, the National Air Traffic Controllers Union southern region vice president, said he began getting e-mail messages from air traffic controllers around 7 a.m. EST Thursday that the Atlanta-area computers had stopped processing flight plans.

Santore said some controllers were pulled away from their normal duties talking to airplanes or pulled off breaks to help enter the flight plans.

``When something crazy like this happens, we'll pull everybody onto the floor,'' Santore said. ``Every airport at some point some will be affected ... (The delays) are going to ripple through the entire system.''

In August 2008, a software malfunction delayed hundreds of flights around the country.

In that episode, the Northeast was hardest hit by the delays because of a glitch at the Hampton, Ga., facility that processes flight plans for the eastern half of the U.S.

The FAA said at that time the source of the computer software malfunction was a ``packet switch'' that ``failed due to a database mismatch.''

Flights Resume

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:05:16 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) A problem with the FAA system that collects airline flight plans caused widespread flight cancellations and delays nationwide Thursday, the second time in 15 months that a glitch created such problems.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the problem was fixed around 10 a.m., but it was unclear how long flights would continue to be affected. Doug Church, a spokesman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Union, said controllers were still entering flight plans manually in some locations.

FAA spokesman Paul Takemoto said the problem started between 5:15 and 5:30 a.m. and affected mostly flight plans but also traffic management, such as ground stops and ground delays.

Airplane dispatchers had to send plans to controllers, who entered them into computers by hand.

``It's slowing everything down,'' Takemoto said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest, has been particularly affected. Chicago and Washington, D.C., metro airports also reported delays due to the glitch.

Mary Rulo, an educator from Atlanta, was trying to get to Philadelphia for a conference. She said her 9 a.m. flight was delayed until 3 p.m. and AirTran was not able to help with other arrangements.

``This is really going to affect my conference schedule,'' she said. ``It's really frustrating.''

AirTran canceled at least 22 flights and dozens more flights were delayed as of 8 a.m. Delta Air Lines was also affected.

Passengers were asked to check the status of their flights online before going to airports.

Only minor delays were reported at metropolitan New York City area airports, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Delays were also minimal at Logan International Airport in Boston. Orlando International Airport, Florida's busiest, reported about a dozen delays due to the chain reaction around the country, and flights in Tampa, Fla., were also delayed.

Flight plans are collected by the FAA for traffic nationwide at two centers one in the Salt Lake City area and the other in the Atlanta area. FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said she did not know which center was affected Thursday. Church said the computer failure involved both centers.

Victor Santore, the National Air Traffic Controllers Union southern region vice president, said he began getting e-mail messages from air traffic controllers around 7 a.m. EST Thursday that the Atlanta-area computers had stopped processing flight plans.

Santore said some controllers were pulled away from their normal duties talking to airplanes or pulled off breaks to help enter the flight plans.

``When something crazy like this happens, we'll pull everybody onto the floor,'' Santore said. ``Every airport at some point some will be affected ... (The delays) are going to ripple through the entire system.''

In August 2008, a software malfunction delayed hundreds of flights around the country.

In that episode, the Northeast was hardest hit by the delays because of a glitch at the Hampton, Ga., facility that processes flight plans for the eastern half of the U.S.

The FAA said at that time the source of the computer software malfunction was a ``packet switch'' that ``failed due to a database mismatch.''

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ga. Economic Recovery in '11?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:08:04 -0500

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia's recession continues.

That's the word from the director of Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center. Rajeev Dhawan said job losses continue to plague the Peach State. The third quarter of 2009 saw more than 50,000 jobs lost in Georgia, the fourth dismal quarter in a row.

Tax collections in the state also continue to plummet. Dhawan said that's because unemployed Georgians are spending less.

Dhawan says that hospitality and airline industries will continue to suffer from cutbacks in business travel and other corporate belt-tightening. But the Kia plant opening in west Georgia is good news for the state.

Dhawan said he sees the state's fiscal picture should improve in 2011.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Legalize Horse Betting?

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:06:12 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- The tight economy is renewing calls to legalize betting on horse racing in Georgia.

"It would generate revenue and jo for the state," Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell), the chairman of the Special Equine Study Committee, told WSB.

Support for pari-mutuel gambling is not known, but proposals to amend the constitution to allow pari-mutuel betting was last introduced in 2005.

"Every time there is an economic slow down someone saddles up the idea of horse racing," Jerry Luquire, the president of the Georgia Christian Coalition, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Horse racing in Georgia is a bad idea, that will not make it to the starting gate this session."

But Geisinger argues the state already has a lottery. "The lottery doesn't take any brains at all .. just buy your ticket and pick some lucky numbers .. fortunately that money goes towards education," said Geisinger.

WSB Poll

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:02:17 -0500

Army Corps Liable for Katrina Floods

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:53:37 -0500

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The federal government could be vulnerable to billions of dollars in claims after a judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers' failure to properly maintain a navigation channel led to massive flooding in Hurricane Katrina.

U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval on Wednesday awarded seven plaintiffs $720,000, but the government could eventually be forced to pay much more. The ruling should give more than 100,000 other individuals, businesses and government entities a better shot at claiming damages.

Duval sided with six residents and one business who argued the Army Corps' shoddy oversight of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet led to the flooding of New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward and neighboring St. Bernard Parish. He said, however, the corps couldn't be held liable for the flooding of eastern New Orleans, where two of the plaintiffs lived.

The ruling is also emotionally resonant for south Louisiana. Many in New Orleans have argued that the flooding in the aftermath of Katrina, which struck the region Aug. 29, 2005, was a manmade disaster caused by the Army Corps' failure to maintain the levee system protecting the city.

``Total devastation could possibly have been avoided if something had been done,'' said Tanya Smith, one of the plaintiffs. ``A lot of this stuff was preventable and they turned a deaf ear to it.''

The 36-year-old registered nurse anesthetist lived in Chalmette close to the channel when Katrina hit. She was awarded $317,000 in property damages, the most of any of the plaintiffs.

Duval referred to the corps' approach to maintaining the channel as ``monumental negligence.''

Joe Bruno, one of the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs, said the ruling underscored the Army Corps' long history of not properly protecting the New Orleans region.

``It's high time we look at the way these guys do business and do a full re-evaluation of the way it does business,'' Bruno said.

He said he expected the government to appeal.

The corps referred calls seeking comment to the Justice Department. Spokesman Charles Miller said the government would review the judge's ruling before making any decision on how to proceed.

During trial testimony, government lawyers and experts argued the levee system was overwhelmed by the massive storm, and levee breaches couldn't solely be blamed on the shipping channel dug in the 1960s as a short-cut between the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans.

The corps had also unsuccessfully argued that it is immune from liability because the channel is part of New Orleans' flood control system.

In his 156-page ruling, Duval said he was ``utterly convinced'' that the corps' failure to shore up the channel ``doomed the channel to grow to two to three times its design width'' and that ``created a more forceful frontal wave attack on the levee'' that protected St. Bernard and the Lower 9th Ward.

``The Corps had an opportunity to take a myriad of actions to alleviate this deterioration or rehabilitate this deterioration and failed to do so,'' Duval said. ``Clearly the expression 'talk is cheap' applies here.''

Ahead of Duval's ruling, experts had said it would likely have consequences for the way the Army Corps does business nationwide.

Pierce O'Donnell, another lead plaintiffs lawyer, said the ruling was the ``first time ever the Army Corps has been held liable for damages for a major catastrophe that it caused.''

The plaintiffs lawyers would like Congress to set up a compensation fund to speed up payments to the thousands of others whose claims must still be heard in court.

At a one-month trial in May, experts clashed over the causes of flooding and the channel's contribution to it.

Government experts argued the levees and floodwalls would have failed regardless of whether the channel had been dug.

By contrast, the plaintiffs' team of experts said the outlet became a ``hurricane highway'' that funneled storm surge into New Orleans. They said that without the channel, the flooding would have been minimal.

The lawsuit was the first major case against the federal government over Katrina flooding to go to trial. A decision rested with Duval because a jury cannot try a case against the federal government.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sebelius: Mammograms Still Vital

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:45:39 -0500

WASHINGTON (AP) Women should continue getting regular mammograms starting at age 40, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday, moving to douse confusion caused by a task-force recommendation two days earlier.

Sebelius issued her statement following a government panel's recommendation on Monday, that said most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50.

That recommendation was a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position that women should get screening mammograms starting at age 40.

The task force does ``not set federal policy and they don't determine what services are covered by the federal government,'' Sebelius said.

Medicare, which covers older Americans and some younger ones who are disabled, provides women on Medicare coverage for an annual mammogram at age 40 and older.

Sebelius noted that there has been debate about the age at which routine mammograms should begin, and how often they should be given.

``The task force has presented some new evidence for consideration but our policies remain unchanged,'' she said. ``Indeed, I would be very surprised if any private insurance company changed its mammography coverage decisions as a result of this action.''

``My message to women is simple. Mammograms have always been an important lifesaving tool in the fight against breast cancer and they still are today. Keep doing what you have been doing for years talk to your doctor about your individual history, ask questions and make the decision that is right for you,'' Sebelius said.

In the meantime, she added, it is clear that more research is needed into ways to help women prevent and fight breast cancer.

The recommendations from the task force have left women across the country confused about which advice to take. It also quickly led to charges from opponents of changing health care policy that it is an example of what could be expected from government-managed care.

In its report the panel of doctors and scientists concluded that such early and frequent screenings often lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies, without substantially improving women's odds of survival.

But their recommendation was loudly criticized by breast cancer survivors who were diagnosed at a young age.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ga. Unemployment Hits 10.2%

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:43:52 -0500

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 10.2 percent in October, up one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in September.

The October jobless rate was up 3.3 percentage points from 6.9 percent at this same time last year. Georgia's unemployment rate matched the national rate of 10.2 percent for the first time in two years. Since October of 2007, when a jobless rate of 4.8 percent was recorded by both the state and the nation, Georgia's rate has exceeded the national rate.

"The recession will not end for the thousands of jobless Georgians until more employers start hiring again," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "Georgia's public and private leaders must work together to develop a bi-partisan recovery strategy that focuses on three critical elements: protecting vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, and the sick; preserving our health, safety and educational institutions; and encouraging economic development and job creation."

The number of payroll jobs in October decreased 227,700 or 5.6 percent, from October of 2008. The metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of job losses during the same period are Dalton, down 8.1 percent; Atlanta, down 5.7 percent; and Macon, down 5.2 percent. The metropolitan areas with the smallest percentage of job losses are Athens, down 1.2 percent; Hinesville, down 1.5 percent; Brunswick, down 1.6 percent, and Columbus, down 1.8 percent. The over-the-year losses came in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, professional and business services, and construction. On a positive note, educational and health services added 13,200 jobs over the year. Also, from September to October, a total of 5,200 jobs were added in retail trade, public and private education, and health care.

The state's labor force decreased 139,015, or 2.9 percent, from 4,859,703 in October 2008 to 4,720,688 in October 2009. The number of jobless workers receiving regular state unemployment benefits increased 32,282 or 32.8 percent, from 98,530 in October 2008 to 130,812 in October 2009. Another 146,000 received federal Extended Unemployment Compensation.

Tax-Free Weekend on Guns

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:42:11 -0500

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina shoppers will get a second chance to buy tax-free guns.

The state Revenue Department sent out a reminder Wednesday of the upcoming ``Second Amendment Weekend.'' The 48-hour tax break begins just after midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Shoppers will pay no state or local sales taxes on handguns, rifles and shotguns, which can tally 9 percent. Taxes still apply to ammunition and accessories.

South Carolina had the nation's first tax holiday on guns last year, after legislators tacked it on to a tax break on energy-efficient appliances. But the state Supreme Court threw out that law in May because of an unrelated energy amendment. Lawmakers restored the tax break as a one-time event in the budget this year.

Louisiana followed this year with its own sales tax holiday for hunters in September. That break went further, applying to any item that can be used for hunting or fishing, including off-road vehicles, airboats, animal feed and ear plugs.

South Carolina is the only state to designate a tax-free weekend during two of the year's biggest shopping days.

How much shoppers saved in the gun-friendly state last Thanksgiving weekend is unknown. State economic officials estimated it would cost the state about $15,000.

The National Rifle Association praises the idea.

``It allows gun owners in tough economic times to stock up on the hunting season and holiday season,'' said NRA spokeswoman Alexa Fritts.

But the director of a nonprofit that advocates for changes in South Carolina's tax structure said ``there is no good tax reason to have a gun sales tax holiday.''

``It isn't tax policy. It's gun policy,'' said John Ruoff of South Carolina Fair Share. ``Our state tax system is sufficiently screwed up that instead of taking a serious look at it ... we keep doing stuff like a gun sales tax holiday, or a going-back-to-school tax holiday, all of which are very shortsighted tax policies or kneejerk pandering.''

His group argues the state unfairly relies on sales and excise taxes, which disproportionately affect the poor.

South Carolina's tax-free weekend for school supplies is in August.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Ch 2 News Truck Explodes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:40:18 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Two WSB-TV reporters are recovering from minor injuries they received when their news truck touched power lines and caused an explosion.

Reporter Tom Jones and photographer Leonard Raglin were driving away after doing a live shot at the Fulton County jail Wednesday afternoon when the truck's telescoping pole hit power lines.

The mast is supposed to be lowered if the truck is in motion.

The resulting explosion left the truck heavily damaged and blew apart the road underneath.

Fire singed the front of the truck and the explosion left the side-view mirrors dangling off the vehicle. Jones and Raglin were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital to be checked.

WSB-TV General Manager Bill Hoffman said there were no apparent injuries aside from minor bumps, bruises and burns. He said the men are very lucky.

Cobb: Burglary Suspects Sought

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:38:14 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Cobb County Police are asking for the public's help in catching the burglars who have targeted businesses all over east Cobb. Sgt. Dana Pierce tells WSB for the most part, they get in by breaking in through the roof.

"At least 18 business burglaries have happened since November 1st of this year. We believe in at least two-thirds of these business burglaries, the method of operation of the suspect has been the same," said Pierce.

Pierce says they have stepped up patrols in Johnson Ferry, Roswell Road, and the Lower Roswell Road areas. "All these roads are fairly heavily traveled roadways, and any activity past midnight, or even after darkness hours, should be very suspicious to people," said Pierce.

Sports bars and gas stations appear to be have been the primary targets. Pierce encourages business owners to not only install security cameras, but to leave a light on.

"If an officer or a citizen is driving by and they see movement inside of the business, they can immediately dial 9-1-1," said Pierce.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department.

DeKalb: Home Invasion Suspects Sought

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:36:20 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- DeKalb County police are using K-9 units and ground patrols to search for two home invasion suspects who are accused of terrorizing a man and his son.

The suspects, described as black males between the ages of 17 and 19, allegedly approached the victim in the driveway of his home on Big Valley Road in Stone Mountain.

After forcing the man inside at gunpoint, one suspect stayed with the man and his 11-year-old son in the kitchen while the second suspect rummaged through the house.

At one point, the boy tried to run for help, but was grabbed by one of the suspects and thrown on the kitchen floor.

Neither victim was hurt and the suspects got away with $450 dollars in cash, a cell phone and a video game system.

A DeKalb officer arrived as the suspects were leaving the house. They ran in different directions and the officer fired his service revolver at one suspect who made a threatening gesture toward him.

The home invasion occurred around 6pm Wednesday.

Lilburn Mosque: Denied

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:39:36 -0500

(WSB Radio) -- Despite the threat of a lawsuit, the Lilburn City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to deny a rezoning request that would have allowed an existing mosque on Lawrenceville Highway to expand on 8 acres of property owned by Lilburn Mayor Diane Preston.

The Muslim congregation of Dar-E-Abbas wanted to build a 20,000 square foot mosque, a gymnasium, 200 parking spaces and a one acre cemetary on 8 acres of land at the corner of Lawrenceville Highway and Hood Road. About 90 families already worship in two 2,000 square foot buildings on the property. They have done so for the last 11 years.

Prior to the vote, the council listened to speakers on both sides of the proposal. One opponent told them "To me, this is not a religious issue or an issue of racism as some would portray it. It's a land use, rezoning issue."

Mosque attorney Doug Dillard also addressed the council. He said "They're asking that they be allowed to expand as other churches, as other religious institutions have been allowed to expand in your community. To deny them this right is unlawful."

After the denial was approved, Dillard notified the city he would be filing suit in federal court on the grounds that the vote violated his client's First Amendment rights.

Business Burglary Spree in Cobb

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:10:23 -0500

(WSB Radio) Cobb County Police are asking for the public's help in catching the burglars who've targeted businesses all over east Cobb. Sgt. Dana Pierce tells WSB for the most part, they get in by breaking in through the roof.

Sports bars and gas stations appear to be have been the primary targets. Pierce encourages business owners to not only install security cameras, but to leave a light on.

"If an officer or a citizen is driving by and they see movement inside of the business, they can immediately dial 9-1-1," said Pierce.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department.

11/18/09