| KISS News Now! |
Senator Stops Blocking Jobless Benefits; Kids Snack Too Much; Child Services Probes Stun Gun At Katherine Jackson's House
Federal transportation employees go back to work and jobless Americans get unemployment benefits restored as a $10 billion stopgap bill finally gets a vote; researchers say children are snacking up to three times a day on junk food--and risking obesity; a lawyer says a stun gun at Katherine Jackson's house never put any of Michael Jackson's kids in danger. Get today's KISS News Now!
- The newest numbers show Georgia's unemployment at a record high 10.4 percent. For the 28th straight month, the jobless numbers here are higher than the national average. The cities with the highest percentage of job loss were Atlanta, Dalton and Valdosta.
- At least a million jobless Americans can breathe a little easier today. After being pummeled for days by Democrats and with little public support from fellow Republicans, Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning gave up on blocking a stopgap bill to keep unemployment benefits flowing to jobless workers. Bunning had been holding up action on the measure for days. The vote was 78-19 to approve the bill, which also takes transportation workers off furloughs and provides COBRA subsidies. President Obama quickly signed the bill.
- A state lawmaker is pushing for a dramatic increase in the cost of cigarettes--a dollar per pack. Representative Ron Stephens believes a tax hike could raise as much as $350 million for the state and save many government jobs. But the head of the Georgia Convenience Store Association says the move could drive customers across the border to states where smokes aren't so high--putting more folks out of work.
- College students converge on the State Capitol today, in protest of possible budget cuts. Lawmakers are holding a budget hearing on the possible fallout from mandatory cutbacks, including up to 4,000 layoffs, closing satellite campuses and eliminating dozens of majors.
- A University of West Georgia student out jogging Monday is sexually assaulted by a stranger on a campus footpath. Police say the coed didn't hear the man with the knife coming up behind her because she was listening to her iPod.
- No one ever said air traffic control was child's play--but that may have been what was happening at JFK Airport in New York during schools' winter vacation week. A child's voice can be heard on tape making five transmissions to pilots preparing for takeoff one day last month, and the pilots enthusiastically responded to the young voice. The controller who brought his kid in to work is off the rotation for now. The FAA is investigating.
- In KISS news about your child's health: a new study says children are eating more unhealthy snacks than ever before. Research finds children munching on everything from sugary drinks to salty snacks to candy are taking in 27% of their calories from junk food alone. Over 16% of the nation's kids are obese. First Lady Michelle Obama has taken up the fight against childhood obesity. Researchers say parents should try to limit snack time to once per day for children 6 and older and make sure plenty of healthy foods are available, such as apple slices or carrots.
- Right after his first presidential physical reveals his cholesterol is borderline high, President Obama visits Savannah--and sits down for some good Southern cooking. On the menu at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room: fried chicken, creamed corn, sweet potatoes, ambrosia, greens, and macaroni and cheese. The president told reporters he didn't want any lectures about his cholesterol--nor anyone blabbing to the first lady.
- Washington, DC becomes the sixth place in the nation where same-sex couples can marry. Couples started lining up for licenses this morning before the courthouse even opened. The ceremonies can start March 9.
- New York Congressman Charles Rangel is temporarily stepping down as chair of the House Ways and Means committee. Mired in an ethics investigation, Rangel told reporters this morning he is leaving "to avoid my colleagues having to defend me'' during the campaign season.
- Michael Jackson's mom denies anyone was endangerd by a stun gun at her house. But child services investigators in California are probing a stun gun incident at the Jackson family compound. Mrs. Jackson's attorney says Jermaine Jackson's 13-year-old son Jaafar bought a stun gun online and had it sent to the house. He fired it on a piece of paper in his bathroom, but his grandmother heard the noise and confiscated the Taser. Along with Michael Jackson's three kids, Jermaine's children also live at the home. "Blanket Jackson never saw or heard the Taser,'' her lawyer says in a statement. "Neither did Paris Jackson. Prince saw the Taser in possession of security.'' That clashes with some reports that said Jaafar and Jackson's children played with the stun gun for three days before being caught using it to chase eight-year-old Blanket.
- Lil Wayne hasn't started serving his prison time yet. First he had to have all that dental surgery; then Tuesday, there was a fire in the courthouse where he was supposed to be sentenced. No new date has been rescheduled.
- If it sounds like a headline we've heard before, that's because it kind of is. Another employee is accusing Naomi Campbell of getting violent. Campbell's driver says the supermodel punched and slapped him, then hopped out of the Escalade and ran off. Campbell's lawyer says don't rush to judgment on this one--there's more than meets the eye.
- The KISS 104.1 weather forecast: windy, with highs 43-46. Lows Wednesday night around 28. Thursday, sunny and a high near 49. Friday, sunshine and a high around 53.
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Current conditions for Atlanta
Last Updated on Jul 31 2010, 11:52 am EDT
Humidity: 53%
Wind: W 5.8
Pressure: 29.91
5-day forecast
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