Local health center to provide 1,000 free mammograms

WKRN Sep 30, 2010 8:31 PM CDT NASHVILLE, Tenn. – To kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center hopes to provide 1,000 free mammograms through the end of November. "Last year we had about 300 women screened and maybe around three or four women who were found to have some early stages, early signs early stages of breast cancer," said Katina Beard with the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center. "We were able to refer them and get them early treatment," she added. Mammograms will be available to women with no insurance and also those who have a family history of breast cancer but have health insurance that won't pay for the test. "We do find a lot of women that come and don't have any insurance and they're just ever so grateful to have this opportunity to be able to receive a mammogram with out that barrier of cost," said Beard. Screenings are by appointment only, by calling Matthew Walker at 615-340-1280 or 615-327-9400 ext. 341. Read more online at MWCHC.org.

Hunters Lane H.S. evacuated

WKRN Oct 01, 2010 9:01 AM CDT NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Hunters Lane High school in north Nashville was evacuated Friday morning due to a strange odor. The school was evacuated at about 8:30 a.m. after students and faculty smelled what could be gas. A Metro Schools spokesperson said the students have been moved to the football field while the Nashville Fire Department goes through the building, looking for the source of the odor. There were no immediate reports of injuries and no students had been taken to the hospital. News 2 has a crew on the scene. This weekend is homecoming at Hunters Lane High School.

Heart Association expects over 10,000 for Saturday's walk

By Andy Humbles • October 1, 2010 Over 10,000 walkers are expected for the American Heart Association’s Start! Nashville Heart Walk, will start festivities at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Vanderbilt University on the corner of Children’s Way and Natchez Trace. The walk begins at 10 a.m. The course is 2.5 miles. Parking is free at the Natchez Trace lot. The walk aims to raise over $1 million for cardiovascular disease education and research. For information visit http://nashvilleheartwalk.org.

Health-care law may threaten limited insurance plans

By Tom Murphy • ASSOCIATED PRESS • October 1, 2010 INDIANAPOLIS — The new health-care law could make it difficult for companies such as McDonald's to continue offering limited insurance coverage to their low-wage workers. The world's largest hamburger chain provides its hourly workers with low-cost plans known as "mini-meds" or limited benefits plans. These plans typically cover things such as doctor's office visits and prescription drugs. But they don't provide comprehensive coverage, and they often come with a cap on how much the insurer pays in annual benefits that is much lower than a major medical insurance plan. Next year, the health-care law passed by Congress will require insurers to pay minimum percentages of 80 percent and 85 percent of the premiums they collect toward medical care, figures that may be hard to meet for some of these limited plans. On Thursday, McDonald's denied a report that it's considering dropping health-care coverage for some employees because they won't meet those limits. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that McDonald's has warned regulators it could drop its plan for some 30,000 workers unless the government waives a new requirement in the health-care overhaul. The paper cited a memo from McDonald's to federal officials. McDonald's said Thursday in a statement that it has been speaking with federal agencies to understand the law, but the company called reports that it planned to drop health-care coverage for employees "completely false." A statement from the Department of Health and Human Services said the agency remains "committed to implementing the law in a way that minimizes disruption to coverage that is available today while also ensuring that consumers receive the benefits the (Affordable Care Act) provides." Still, insurance experts say the medical loss ratios may create a coverage gap for some people before the law starts offering coverage help through subsidies in 2014. Limited benefits plans have grown popular as health-care costs have climbed, said Steve Wojcik, vice president of public policy for the National Business Group on Health. Employers in the retail or hotel industries offer this basic coverage as a way to keep workers and improve employee productivity by cutting health-related absences. About 1.4 million workers have group health-care coverage through limited benefits plans, according to the National Restaurant Association, which doesn't track growth of the plans. The limited coverage means patients can be stuck with big bills if something serious happens, but they also can get insurer-negotiated payment rates for that care instead of paying full price. "Compared to nothing, they're a really good deal," said Robert Laszewski, a former insurance executive who's now a consultant. AP writer Emily Fredrix contributed to this report.

Mayor to kick off Walk Nashville Week today

Mayor Karl Dean will participate in the kickoff event for the 12th Annual Walk Nashville Week at 11 a.m. today, at the Nashville Farmer’s Market. Dean will greet participants and a group walk will follow. Other events planned for Walk Nashville Week include: • Saturday — Nashville Cares AIDS Walk; • Sunday — Walk to the Titans Game; • Monday — Walk Your Neighborhood; • Oct. 5 — Walk to Work; • Oct. 6 — Walk to School; • Oct. 7 — Walk for Active Aging; • Oct. 8 — Walk at Lunch. For more information about Walk Nashville Week, go to http://www.nashvillechwt.org/

TennCare program will give 7,000 a break on medical expenses

Neediest can apply only via hot line By Jennifer Brooks • THE TENNESSEAN • October 1, 2010 Tennessee hospitals have partnered with the government to help thousands of the state's sickest and poorest residents offset the sky-high cost of their medical bills. But if they want a shot at the program, the state's poorest and sickest will need to stick close to the phone on Monday night. The program, known as TennCare's Standard Spend Down, will help a limited number of Tennesseans qualify for Medicaid by deducting their hospital and medical expenses from their incomes. There are only enough funds to offer the medical relief to 7,000 people, and only to the neediest residents — applicants must be elderly, blind or disabled, or the caretaker relative of a Medicaid-eligible child. "You could have a $5,000-a-month job, but have $7,000 a month in medical bills," said Michelle Mowery Johnson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The program will restore TennCare coverage to a fraction of the estimated 97,000 people who were cut out of the spend-down program in 2008, said Tony Garr, spokesman for the TennCare advocacy group Tennessee Health Care Campaign. "The fact of the matter is, reopening the program to 7,000 people … only scratches the bottom of the barrel," Garr said. The remaining people who have lost the spend-down support "are going without care or the hospital is picking up the bill for their care." Hoping to get the first few thousand people into the program as quickly as possible, the state has set up a toll-free hot line that swings into action on Monday night. The hot line will be open just 2½ hours every day — from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. — and will shut down as soon as the first 2,500 applications come in. Kelly Gunderson, TennCare's director of communications, said the hot line is designed to allow people in every corner of the state to apply for the aid without having to drive to a service center. Strict guidelines The program is operating under strict federal deadlines for the funds, so the first round of applications needs to enter the system within the next 45 days. Later, enrollment will open again until all 7,000 spots are filled. The $32.7 million program is funded in part by $9.6 million in voluntary fees that Tennessee hospitals imposed on themselves to attract federal matching funds for indigent health care. The one-year program will allow people who would not otherwise qualify for Medicaid to meet the income requirements — once their medical bills are factored into the equation. So, a widow living off a comfortable pension but dealing with mounting medical bills, or a single mother battling cancer, might be able to qualify for aid without sacrificing their incomes. "This is a program for people who either have very low incomes or very, very high medical bills," Mowery Johnson said. Because the eligibility requirements are so narrow, it's not known how many Tennesseans may qualify for the program, although TennCare officials expect to fill all the available program spots. It's also not clear how quickly the first 2,500 applications will be snapped up. Gunderson estimated that the hot line will shut down within a matter of days, and she urged people to call in as early as possible. But first, would-be applicants are encouraged to read the full eligibility requirements at www.tn.gov/tenncare

Nashville airport to offer limited free wi-fi, charging stations

By G. Chambers Williams III • THE TENNESSEAN • September 29, 2010 Nashville International Airport said today that it plans to add limited free wireless Internet service and 14 complimentary charging stations for portable electronic devices in its terminals. The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board approved the additions during its September meeting, modifying a 2004 concession agreement with CCG/Boingo. Travelers will be able to connect to the wireless system free for up to 20 minutes in the food courts, meter/greeter waiting areas and some restaurants, and members of the airport’s frequent-parker program will have 15 minutes of compemetary Wi-Fi access anywhere in the terminals, the airport said. For those who need longer periods of service, Boingo is available for $7.95 a day or $9.95 a month for unlimited access. The monthly subscription can be used at more than 30,000 wi-fi hotspots in North America, including those in many airports and hotels. At least two of the new charging stations will be in place by the end of the year, the airport said.

Mayor Karl Dean launches Nashville Impact for education, flood recovery

Michael Cass • THE TENNESSEAN • September 30, 2010 Mayor Karl Dean launched Nashville’s first comprehensive plan to get citizen volunteers involved in addressing the city’s pressing needs with an event at an elementary school today. The plan, titled Impact Nashville, outlines service initiatives related to education and environmental recovery from the May flood. The city received a two-year, $200,000 grant in January to develop the program, and Dean is one of 17 founding mayors of Cities of Service, an umbrella organization spearheaded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.“What I did not realize (when Cities of Service started) was that volunteerism would become Nashville’s biggest asset and biggest source of community pride as we faced a historic natural disaster,” Dean said in a news release. We need to harness that spirit of volunteerism to tackle some of our city’s other great challenges, and that’s what this plan sets out to do.” Students and parents at Glendale Elementary helped construct a rain garden on the school property today to help absorb and divert water during future rainfalls. Impact Nashville also calls for recruiting reading tutors to work with students in Nashville’s most high-need schools in kindergarten through second grade. For more information, see www.nashville.gov/volunteer or www.impactnashville.net.

Fire investigation will likely will take several days

Hickory Woods Apartment building still unsafe for full inspection By Andy Humbles • THE TENNESSEAN • September 30, 2010 The Metro Fire Department says it will take several days before a complete investigation can done and conclusions drawn about Wednesday’s fire that destroyed a 24-unit building at Hickory Woods Apartments off Nolensville Pike. The building is not safe enough to do a complete investigation immediately, said District Fire Chief Charles Shannon of the Nashville Fire Department. The fire has displaced over 100 people, according to reports.

Mayor's First Day Festival gets students off on right foot

By Suzanne Normand Blackwood • THE TENNESSEAN • August 9, 2010 ville Mayor Karl Dean said he shakes more hands at the Mayor's First Day Festival than at any other time during the year. And there was a whole lot of hand shakin' going on Sunday at Bridgestone Arena as the festival celebrated its 11th year. The event was designed to kick off the school year with live entertainment and educational activities for children. More than 100 booths offered information for parents, and local businesses and community organizations sent kids home with bags stuffed full of free school supplies. "I got some magnets, a highlighter and some pencils … a notebook, a water bottle … some good stuff," said Jake Rosen, a fifth-grader at Abintra Montessori School. Ella Dunn, who brought her three great-nephews, found information on Boy Scouts and programs offered by the YMCA. Dunn said there also was a lot of information about various social programs, such as adult education and health care. Children's entertainers FunikiJam and Kevin Kidd entertained audiences, while mascots mingled with kids. Volunteers, many of them members of the Mayor's Youth Council, dashed about taking care of various tasks. Dean said he was pleased with the turnout, which despite the heat was comparable to last year's attendance of 20,000. "I think it's a great indication of the level of interest in public education," Dean said. "It shows (parents') commitment to making sure their kids get off to a great start."

Nashville loses video of 1,300 traffic stops

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Metro Nashville police say a computer software problem has blanked about 1,300 police dashboard camera videos. The loss puts prosecution of some DUI and aggressive driving cases in doubt. The president of the software provider, however, said the program worked correctly. The Tennessean quoted police officials who said the video erasures occurred when the department tried to install a flawed electronic update to its system in May. Police spokesman Don Aaron said the majority of the lost video was recorded traffic stops and the department believes electronic evidence of some DUI arrests no longer exist. "We are pretty incensed," said police spokesman Don Aaron. The prosecutor's office says the loss could hurt cases. "Once we identify each case that has an associated video that has been lost, it definitely hurts the prosecution of the case," said Assistant District Attorney Kyle Anderson, head of the prosecutor's Vehicle Crimes Unit. "It's always problematic going forward when there was a piece of evidence that existed and it no longer does." Reached at her office in Lenexa, Kan., on Friday, Laura Owen, President and Chief Operating Officer of ICOP Digital, Inc., said the company's product wasn't at fault. "ICOP's software performed exactly as it was designed to do, given the settings that were applied by the Nashville police department," she said. Owen said the erasure came not from hard drives in the police cars, but when the data was downloaded to digital servers for storage. The original loss was close to 1,600 files, but some of the data has been recovered, Owen said. The remaining files are not retrievable. That was possible because of a "safe delete" feature of the software that allows deleted files to be recovered, based on the maximum number of days the user selects, Owen said. The department has used the$100,000 system for more than a year. It was purchased in late 2008 and has been installed in six cars used by the DUI squad, four cars used by the aggressive driving unit and two cars assigned to the fatal crash team. ___ Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Metro Nashville patrolman accused of rape while on duty

Metro Nashville police beef up homeless patrols

Complaints bring more police to park By Nicole Young • THE TENNESSEAN • August 7, 2010 Downtown residents and business owners frustrated with the homeless hanging around Church Street Park complained to the mayor's office, prompting police to bring in officers from other parts of the city to help with patrols. The e-mails, many from people who expressed disgust at seeing the homeless sleeping on park benches, washing their clothes in public fountains and using street corners as toilets, prompted the mayor's office to ask for the extra patrols. "My assumption is that we are the benefactors of the closure of Tent City," said Bob Watson, a Nashville architect and five-year resident of The Cumberland downtown. "The situation has improved, but I'm concerned that time will go by and we'll be forgotten because we're not making any noise right now." Resident RJ Stillwell, also of The Cumberland, shares Watson's concern. "We need to be looking at a concerted effort between everyone to find solutions for the homeless, not just temporary fixes,'' said Stillwell, a seven-year Nashville resident. Before the May flood washed away the homeless encampment called Tent City, members of the Metro Key Alliance, an arm of the Metro Homelessness Commission which is working is to end homelessness, already had begun searching for a permanent housing solution. Until one emerges, Metro police say they will increase their presence along Church Street. All six of the city's precincts are sending teams downtown to help, Metro police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford said. There were more than enough downtown officers to handle the patrols, Central Precinct Commander Damian Huggins said, but officials decided to bring in additional units to show an increased presence. "The continuous shift change of officers rotating in and out can create an even greater appearance of officer presence, more so than the same number on fixed post spread out in any given area,'' Huggins said. The mayor's office asked for the extra patrols after the e-mails began to circulate in mid-July, spokeswoman Janel Lacy said. Many included comments from multiple residents and business owners. "Guests and visitors complain constantly about being harassed," Ed Mroz, general manager of the Sheraton Nashville Downtown, wrote in one e-mail. "I have been forced to hire staff to do nothing but prevent homeless people from entering the facility, using the restrooms, sleep in our fire escapes and interface with our out-of-town visitors." Mroz said the situation has improved, but it isn't resolved. "They are still here. I know they are working on it, and I'm very supportive of them, but we would like to see a solution sooner rather than later. "We have all of this investment in downtown, in trying to bring people to Nashville, but people won't feel comfortable here if they are always fighting the homeless. This will be a key component of making sure people return," Mroz said. On Friday afternoon, George Boone, 68, shared a shaded bench in Church Street Park with two other homeless men. Three police officers stood on the opposite street corner. "I've heard about the complaints that some of the residents here have and I agree with some of them,'' said Boone, who has lived on the streets of Nashville for 10 years. "Some people do stupid things down here that reflect on all of us. It's pretty bad when people can't sit out here on the benches and enjoy the park without getting begged for money. They can get pretty aggressive too when they don't get it.''

Bond lowered for Antioch woman in 'worst' case of animal cruelty

By Juanita Cousins • THE TENNESSEAN • August 3, 2010 function(){ A judge lowered bond for an Antioch woman accused of allowing her four children to live in horrid conditions among dog feces and corpses during her preliminary hearing Tuesday morning. Dorothy Kifer, 37, is charged with 18 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of aggravated child neglect stemming from a July 15 visit Metro Police, Metro Animal Control, and the Departments of Children Services and Health made to her home which has now been condemned. Metro Police Detective Thomas Rollins testified that he found Kifer’s children - ages 18 months, 1, 4 and 6 – covered in feces, bug bites and wounds. Inside the Maxwell Road home with little furniture and no air conditioning, there were 15 dogs with their matted hair covered in feces and two dead dogs. It appeared the other dogs had been feeding on the corpses, Rollins said. Animal Control Officer Billy Biggs and Judge Leon Ruben both called it the “worst” case of animal cruelty they have witnessed in their careers that span nearly three decades. Ruben lowered Kifer’s bond from $420,000 to $210,000 after her husband testified he could not afford to post more than $2,000. Jesse Kifer told the court that he had no knowledge of the living conditions because he had been in Iraq on duty as a National Guardsman since February and returned to Fort Campbell the day his wife was arrested. Dorothy Kifer pleaded guilty last year in Dickson County to animal cruelty. Since 2004, the Department of Children Services has had seven cases with Kifers involving their children being kept around dogs, feces and urine, said assistant district attorney Allen Grant.

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