Posted: 12:56 p.m. Friday, July 16, 2010
Billy McKinney Dies At 83; Gulf Oil Gusher Stopped; Too Much Sitting Is Bad For Health; Extra TV Harms Kids
By Veronica Waters
- He proposed changing the state flag and starting a lottery years before either came to pass; the AJC says he put the "fire" in firebrand. Now, the fiery and outspoken Billy McKinney, father of ex-Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, has passed away. Former State Representative Frank Redding was at McKinney's bedside when he died Thursday; he remembers the former cop even picketing his own police chief back in the day, because McKinney didn't like the way the force treated people of color. McKinney was 83.
- A harness meant to save a man's life helped put him in more danger. A Georgia Power crew on Birmingham Highway in Milton hit a gas line Thursday afternoon, causing an explosion. A man working 30-feet up in a cherry-picker got caught in the flames when he leapt from the truck's bucket-- and the harness kept him dangling over the fire until he dropped. Doctors at Grady are treating the worker for burns on more than 80% of his body.
- In KISS news about your health: get up and move! Spend too much time on your behind...and your health will fall behind. Several studies suggest that people who spend a long time sitting are more likely to be overweight, have heart disease, or even die. Sitting too much decreases circulation and shuts down metabolism. Some researchers suggest using exercise or stability balls as an alternative to chairs for "active sitting."
- Financial hard times inspire people to get their debt house in order. Five of the top six credit card banks report charge-offs have dropped in the first part of this year--that's when they write off debt they have no hope of collecting, usually after 180 days. But Citibank bucked the trend; its charge-offs went up, and they're seeing more late payments too.
- Guess that's why the call it the "boob tube." Too much television has been linked to developmental problems, and obesity, in children. The CDC recommends kids get no more than two hours of "quality" TV programming a day.
- Apple holds a news conference at 1:00 Atlanta time today about the iPhone 4, which users complain drops calls or signal strength when held over the lower left-hand corner because of that antenna design. Some speculate--and hope--Apple will give a $29 Bumper case to iPhone owners to solve the problem.
- ESPN's Erin Andrews is suing seven hotels, and the imprisoned man who videotaped her naked self through hotel door peepholes. Andrews alleges the hotels gave Michael Barrett her room number without permission. She's asking more than $1.2 million for "permanent emotional distress."
- On Day 87, the Gulf oil gusher is shut down. For the first time since April, there's no oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico, as BP's new tightly-fitted cap has stopped the runaway leak for a 48-hour stress test. They only plan to keep the well fully capped through tomorrow afternoon before releasing oil again to analyzing test results. Pressure readings will show whether the oil and gas are being diverted somewhere else--possibly creating another leak.
- Don't look for the new obesity drug, Qnexa, in drugstores anytime soon. FDA advisers voted against approving the drug, which showed some success in clinical trials, because it also comes with higher risk of heart rate increases, psychiatric problems and birth defects.
- American Idol auditions for season 10 begin tomorrow in Nashville. It's the first season without Simon Cowell, and the first time the age minimum for contestants has been dropped to 15. That's partly due to the success and popularity of Atlanta's Justin Bieber.
- The KISS 104.1 weather forecast: increasing clouds this afternoon, with a 40% chance of afternoon or evening showers and a steamy high of 89.
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