The Show 11/03: Black Silence of The Lambs/Nashville Metro Public Schools/Rihanna's First Interview Post Assault/KANYE WEST done with AMBER

A BLACK "SILENCE OF THE LAMBS"

Cleveland Policewere scrambling to identify the bodies of six women found in various stages of decomposition inside a convicted rapist's house of horrors over the weekend.

In a scenario ripped from "The Silence of the Lambs," Ohioex-con Anthony Sowellallegedly strangled a series of women in his three-story house over a period of months - or even years.

Rotting bodies were found in upstairs bedrooms, the living room, a crawl space, a shallow grave in the backyard and another grave in the basement, police said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/11/02/2009-11-02_ohio_rapist_anthony_sowell_lived_among_rotting_bodies_of_victims_of_women_he_str.html#ixzz0VnSZGqUd

SCHOOL UPDATE

Elected officials are settling lawsuits in SECRECY

The Metro Council posts details of what happened, who sued, and why it should be settled out of court. The Metro School Board kept all details secret. They wrote the plaintiff a check and told the public, basically, "Trust us."

Here's an example of how it usually works: A woman named Kandiss Smith will get $6,200 from the city to pay her medical bills after her car was accidentally hit by Metro Police Officer Jason Duncan. The council, which approved the settlement unanimously, learned in October on its public agenda and analysis all the details of what happened, and that the officer received a written reprimand.

Compare and contrast: Last week, taxpayers paid $33,000 to an unnamed person who sued Metro Schools for, well, we don't know. The school board approved the payment, but refused to give any details.

It has the whiff of school officials circling the wagons to protect somebody from getting bad publicity, doesn't it?

NEW NASHVILLE ORGANIZATION - SECULAR LIFE??

A new Nashville organization classifies itself as non-religious, but the group's billboard has stirred up a religious debate. The organization behind the billboard is called Secular Life.

Secular Life is a group of about 340 people who consider themselves part of the non-religious community. On Sunday, they began advertising on a billboard in Green Hills, and already Secular Life is getting a lot of attention.

"It just absolutely wrong place, wrong town, wrong timing," said Green Hills resident Donnie Cude.

Something about the phrase "Not Religious, You're not alone", doesn't sit well with Cude.

"It's a slap in the face to the Nashvillians and the people who have a strong foundation and do so much good for this town," said Cude.

A non-religious group called Secular Life is behind the message. Founder Thaddeus Schwartz said the billboard is not meant to disrespect anyone or any faith.

"It simply is a statement that says ‘hey, you know if you find yourself to be non-religious you're not alone,'" said Schwartz.

RIHANNA: First Post-Assault Interview Friday

Rihanna will appear on A-B-C's 20-20 on Friday for her first interview since the Chris Brown assault in February. She'll also perform on A-B-C's Good Morning America on Thursday. A promo at Vimeo.com teases, "Rihanna -- music superstar. Pop sensation. Now for the very first time, Rihanna tells her story."

Rihanna's Rated R disc arrives November 23rd

KANYE WEST: Done With Amber?

The rumor mill says Kanye West has ended things with girlfriend Amber Rose. MediaTakeout.com cites "one of Kanye's buddies" saying Yeezy is "focusing 100 percent of his time towards music...and he doesn't need any distractions."

As we've reported, Kanye is said to have spent some time recently soul searching in India.

MORE BLACK CHILDREN ON FOOD STAMPS

Almost 50-percent of American children are on food stamps, 90-percent of whom are black, according to an Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine study. Food stamps are important indicators of poverty, and the study states, "Children in poverty are significantly more likely to experience a range of health problems, including low birth weight, lead poisoning, asthma, mental health disorders, delayed immunization, dental problems and accidental death. Poverty during childhood is also associated with a host of health, economic and social problems later in life." Researchers calculated that 97-percent of black children living in non-married households headed by a parent with less than 12 years of education will have received food stamps, compared with 21-percent of white children living in married households whose head of household has 12 or more years of education.

Barack and Michelle Obama have opened up about their relationship in a new article in the New York Times Magazine, in which the president admits that though he never thought his political career would break up their marriage, "there were points in time where I was fearful that Michelle...would be unhappy."

The first lady also admits that their marriage has hit some rough patches. She says, "If my ups and downs, our ups and downs in our marriage, can help young couples sort of realize that good marriages take work... It's unfair to the institution of marriage, and it's unfair for young people who are trying to build something, to project this perfection that doesn't exist."

Kenny Asks:

• What kind of marital image do you think the Obamas project?
• Are you inspired by the Obamas' marriage? Or do you think they're putting on an act for the cameras?
• How do you balance work and home life? Has there ever been a time when you thought you might have to choose between them?
• Clearly the first lady is second banana in the Obama family -- how should a smart, driven woman support a husband who's in the limelight?
• Can you learn something about marriage from celebs and public figures, or do you need to find your own path?