Mike Osborne

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Officials now say those mortar shells found Wednesday in Murfreesboro were live rounds. 

Lt. Bill Miller with the Tennessee Highway Patrol tells WMOT the five shells did contain explosives. They were defused by a bomb disposal group from Ft. Campbell and taken into military custody.

The shells and a dummy training grenade were found in a backpack near the dumpsters at Ashwood Cove Apartments Wednesday morning by a maintenance worker.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Nashville based Corrections Corporation of America lost more than a third of its stock value Thursday following an announcement by the Department of Justice that it will begin phasing out the use of privately held companies to house federal inmates.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates issued a memorandum Thursday outlining DOJ plans to terminate or scale back contracts with for-profit companies now operating 13 federal prisons. CCA currently operates four of those facilities.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Tennesseans head to the polls this week for primary and general election balloting and Middle Tennessee is home to two of the more interesting races.

Kent Syler teaches political science at Middle Tennessee State. He notes that 4th Tennessee Congressional District Rep. Scott DesJarlais and 6th District Rep. Diane Black are both facing Republican primary challengers on Thursday.

Syler says that DesJarlais and Black are two of Tennessee’s most conservative lawmakers, so he finds it ironic that both are facing challenges from their right.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  If you’re one of the 250,000 people expected to attend this year’s Independence Day celebrations in downtown Nashville, you should be aware that new security restrictions will be in force.

WKRN-TV reports that only a handful of items will be allowed into the celebrations downtown, including a blanket or tarp, a personal umbrella, personal camera, and a small bag measuring no larger than 16 by 10 by 4.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Rutherford County Sheriff Robert Arnold is maintaining his innocence in the face of a 14 count federal indictment.

The Daily News Journal reports Arnold pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday. Arnold and two associates are accused of illegally profiting from the sale of e-cigarettes sold to inmates in the jail the Sheriff administers.

Arnold waived his right to appear in federal court in Nashville, entering his plea instead through an attorney.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Rutherford County Commissioners are set to vote later this month on a resolution encouraging state officials to resist Supreme Court decisions that violate Tennessee law.

The Daily News Journal reports that the non-binding resolution was forwarded by the Steering Committee to the full County Commission for consideration at its meeting January 14.

County Commissioner Adam Coggin proposed the resolution and says the intent is to show support for the efforts of state lawmakers to resist federal laws that conflict with state law.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  MTSU Police have released the details about that armed robbery that took place on campus Friday.

Murfreesboro resident Desmond J. Howard tells police he was visiting a friend at the Scarlett Commons apartments when he was robbed by two men.  Howard tells police the men cornered him on the stairs and threatened him with a handgun. The 19-year-old says he lost an I-phone, cash, and a book bag.

WASHINGTON, DC  (WMOT)  --  Tennessee’s U.S. Senators yesterday canceled each other’s votes on a replacement bill for the expired terror surveillance act.

The Tennessean says Senator Lamar Alexander joined 66 fellow senators in passing the USA Freedom Act, a replacement for the 9-11 era Patriot Act. President Obama quickly signed the measure last night, restoring some surveillance capabilities the administration says it needs to track terror suspects.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The Middle Tennessee State Lady Raider’s post season play came to an end yesterday with a 69-57 loss to Temple.

A sluggish first half left the MTSU women trailing by 20 points at the half.

Fifteen unanswered points in the first three minutes of the second half let the Lady Raiders pull within five points, but Temple held on to earn a spot in the WNIT final four.

The MTSU women had a solid season, finishing with 20 or more wins for the 12th straight season, along with post season berths in both Conference USA and WNIT.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  An unindicted person of interest in the Holly Bobby kidnap and murder case has apparently committed suicide.

WKRN-TV is quoting Shayne Austin’s attorney, Luke Evans, saying that the 30-year-old Tennessee man took his own life while out of state.

Austin was never arrested in connection, but soon after Zach Adams was charged with Bobo’s murder, Austin was offered immunity for his testimony.

Prosecutors eventually withdrew the immunity deal saying that Austin was no longer cooperating with the investigation and had not been truthful.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  Mid-state highways were in better shape Thursday, but many schools are still closed and Middle Tennesse could see more bad weather Friday.

Most area schools were closed again Thursday morning and many have already canceled classes for tomorrow as well.

Most universities in the region re-open today, Middle Tennessee State among them. But Austin Peay State is closed today, along with Columbia State, Tennessee Tech, and Volunteer State. Motlow will open two hours late.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A new wrinkle in the Vanderbilt rape trail.

Over the weekend, the ABC news magazine 20/20 aired surveillance video and interrogation tapes the presiding judge sealed in the case.

According to WSMV-TV, the story, which aired Friday night, included previously unreleased videos, photos, and other materials that Judge Monte Watkins had ordered should not be released to the public.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  A new poll suggests that just one week ahead of the November 4 General Election, Tennessee’s abortion amendment vote is too close to call.

A “Yes” vote on Tennessee Amendment One would give state lawmakers more authority to regulate the practice of abortion. Supporters say abortion should be more tightly controlled to protect women. Opponents say the amendment is an effort to deny woman access to the procedure.

The following press statement was released Tuesday morning, October 14, by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation:

Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained an indictment in the ongoing investigation of the murder of Holly Bobo, charging a Decatur County man with Rape.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — Officials in Tennessee are warning motorists to stay off icy roads, and the governor has declared a state of emergency due to the deteriorating conditions.

Dean Fleanor is with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s very hazardous and treacherous on Tennessee roadways and travelers need to stay home if they can, delay their travel if they can, because it is a very treacherous situation out there.”

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)   --  A new study suggests Tennessee businesses could get hit with an additional $72 million a year in federal tax penalties if the state does not expand Medicaid.

An expansion of state Medicaid programs was written into the new health care law, commonly called Obamacare, but that provision of the law was struck down by the Supreme Court. Many states then opted out, including Tennessee.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  -- For the second year in a row Murfreesboro Police are reporting a drop in crime.

In a report released yesterday, the MPD reports a two percent drop in crime last year over 2012.

The report shows there were three homicides committed in 2013, down one from the previous year. There were also significant declines in the number of reported rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries and vehicle thefts.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The Tennessee Lottery says a $61 million dollar Mega Millions ticket was drawn last Friday, but the prize hasn’t yet been claimed.

Lottery officials say the winning ticket was purchased in Bellevue. If claimed, this would be the first Mega Millons winner in Tennessee since the game was first offered in the state beginning in 2010.

The cash value of the winning $61 million dollar ticket will be just over $32 million dollars.

Nashville, Tenn. (MICHAELSON) --   Most Tennesseans believe the country's immigration reform system needs to be fixed, and a new poll also has found majority support for the U.S.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee held a news conference this morning to announce big changes for Blue Raider sports.

“Today ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to formally announce that Middle Tennessee State University has accepted an invitation to become a member of Conference USA.”

In a press statement, MTSU says it will “enjoy significant national and regional television exposure and revenue sharing,” as a new Conference USA member school.