THE SHOW: 01/07/2010 - CLEAN AIR / GETTING THE SKINNY / LIMBER AT IT'S BEST ??? / GARY COLEMAN IN THE HOSP

Local Buzz:
"New Jobless Claims Rise Less Than Expected"

*WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time barely rose last week, after two weeks of sharp drops, further evidence that layoffs have been easing. The Labor Department said initial claims for jobless benefits rose by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 434,000 last week. That's lower than the 447,000 that analysts expected. The number of continuing claims dropped 179,000 to 4.8 million.
But that figure doesn't include an additional 5.4 million people receiving unemployment under federal emergency programs, as of the week ending Dec. 19, the latest data available. Economists have been closely watching initial claims, which are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs and an indication of companies' willingness to hire new workers.

"Officials Raid Nashville Food Distributor"

*BERRY HILL, Tenn. - Inspectors with the US Food and Drug Administration and Deputy US Marshals raided Won Feng Trading Company in Nashville. Federal officials claim rats and rodents have infested a Berry Hill food distributor at 2728 Eugenia Avenue..
US Marshals seized more than $1-million worth of bulk restaurant foods, such as rice, fresh produce, and frozen food that were believed to be contaminated by rodents and insects. "I can tell you that seizures by the FDA are rare," said FDA spokesperson Tom Gasparoli.
Wednesday's raid is the third federal investigation at Won Feng in less than a year.
In November 2009, FDA investigators found evidence of live and dead rodents, rodent hair, rodent nesting material, and rodent urine.
"The violations at Won Feng Trading are both serious and repetitive," said Michael Chappell, the FDA's associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. Much of the seized items were to be sealed and monitored at Won Feng's warehouse.
Owners of the food distributor will get the chance to state their side of the case in federal court.

*WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Tenn. - Wouldn't it be nice to not have to wait in line for your emissions test? It looks like that could soon be a reality.
Williamson County will be the first county in the state to offer drive-by emissions testing.
The testing would be done along entrances and exits to Interstate 65, and drivers won't have to stop or even slow down.
A mobile van will be able to do the testing as you drive by, and a camera will take a picture of your license plate. Then the results would be mailed to you. The cost would stay the same - $10. Mobile testing could begin in the next six months.

*Freed from his liberal base and moneyed donors, Sen. Chris Dodd can now cast himself as the honest broker in negotiations over a massive Wall Street regulation bill. In deciding Wednesday not to seek re-election and to retire at the end of this year, the five-term Connecticut Democrat, who is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has the latitude to cut a deal with Republicans without fear of alienating liberal voters, according to political strategists from both parties and financial sector lobbyists. At the same time, his decision also dilutes the influence of financial sector executives and hedge fund managers who have regularly filled Dodd's campaign treasury. That means President Barack Obama might see his proposed independent consumer protection agency significantly altered in a compromise. Dodd might also stand tough for requirements that banks put more of their money at risk when they make loans and that regulators have more control over previously hidden financial transactions. "He can say, 'This is a good idea, I don't have to worry whether this is coming from the left or the right, and don't worry whether it's going to gain me 10 more votes or lose me 25 more votes,'" said former Democratic Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana, a dealmaker during his Senate days and now a lobbyist with financial services clients. Dodd still has to negotiate tough Senate politics and seek common ground with Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, the Banking Committee's top Republican. But it will be harder for his critics — on the left and the right — to deride him as a populist panderer one day and a water carrier for Wall Street the next.

*Democrats are near the finish line on health care legislation but they have yet to overcome one of the biggest hurdles -- merging the Senate and House bills together. Although Congress is officially still in recession, key lawmakers are actively involved in intense negotiations to merge the two different bills that, while similar, have some important differences between them. Experts say Congress is likely to pass the health care bill, but the political ramifications remain to be seen. "I think that still the sense is, if this fails, it would be worse for them politically than if it passes and I think that's a calculation across the Democratic party," Democratic strategist James Carville said on "Good Morning America" today. "My sense is it's still going to pass it at some point." Republicans say the health care bill -- and the lack of bipartisanship involved -- could kill support from independents, a key voter group in the last presidential election. "The problems with the health care bill that used to exist only on the right are now affecting the thoughts of the independent voters," Republican strategist Nicole Wallace said on "GMA." "We have to wait and watch and see. ... I think it will probably pass but I think they will do something that's even uglier than limping across the finish line."

That's what might be in store for us, as Seinfeld star Jason Alexander has become the latest spokesperson for the weight-loss program Jenny Craig. He tells People magazine that he decided to slim down after seeing recent footage of himself. "I just got to a point where when I would look at the Seinfeld reunion stuff or one of these other projects that I had done, I said, 'I don't like the way that guy looks. That guy is not attractive in any way, shape or form to me.' It made me go, 'Oh, yuck!'" But don't worry -- he won't be following in the footsteps of fellow Jenny Craig spokesman Valerie Bertinelli. He says, "I will not be wearing a bikini for you."

*Gary Coleman was rushed to the hospital yesterday after suffering an apparent seizure at a Los Angeles hotel. His agent, Robert Malcolm, says the 41-year-old Diff'rent Strokes star is doing fine and he's expected to be released today. Gary -- who's had two kidney transplants -- was in town to meet with producers of his latest film, Midgets Vs. Mascots, described as a "Borat meets Jackass shockumentary." He wants the producers to remove a brief scene in which he appears nude. Malcolm tells E! News, "He was very upset to cancel this meeting...because there's a shot of a penis in the film. Supposedly it's his, and he's not happy with it."

*Hanes has suspended its commercials featuring Charlie Sheen.
The underwear company decided to pull the spots, which star Charlie and basketball legend Michael Jordan, after the actor was arrested Christmas Day on domestic violence charges. Though you won't see Charlie hawking the underwear on T-V, you can catch him on the pages of some trade publications this spring. Because of publishing schedules, those ads couldn't be changed.

*January 7, 1955 ~ Marian Anderson made debut at Metropolitan Opera House as Alrica in Verdi's Masked Ball. She was the first Black singer in the company's history.

*Here's a weird new discovery ... People with the first initial "D" have the shortest life expectancy.
Psychologists at Wayne State University looked at the life spans of 10,000 people through the years and found those people whose names began with the letter "D" lived, on average, the shortest lives.
At the other extreme, those who had the first initial "A" lived the longest, out-living "D"-people by nearly 10 years.
The researchers speculate that having a name beginning with "D" contributes to poor self-esteem -- which lowers a person's defense against disease.
This lower self-confidence is due to a link with the grading systems, where D's constitute poor achievement -- and A's are awarded to the smart kids.

*Every single day is a blessing. Each moment with your partner is a moment to learn something new and discover the finer nuances of your relationships. Each one of us keep changing everyday, the circumstances around us change everyday and with that our attitude also needs to change. The same applies when you are living with a person. Learning everyday and taking up everyday as a challenge will help you perfect healthy relationship tips.

Mess of the Day:
"Big Splits"

*Just because you're out of shape doesn't mean you can't be limber -- as this young lady proves.