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Woman uses music to get on 'right path'

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Dozens of Mid-South adults who have turned their lives in wrong direction have a second chance thanks to the HopeWorks program.

One of the adults is a woman who is using music to get back on track.

The same hands that play her a violin were in handcuffs close to 12 months ago. Now, Heather Grady is playing for students in her HopeWords class.

Years ago, she played a violin with the symphony in Forth Worth, Texas.

"It's relaxing, it makes me feel good about me. It helps put me in another world," said Grady.

However, Grady's violin playing came to a screeching halt after she moved to Memphis and got in trouble with law.

When Grady finally got released from jail she enrolled in Hopeworks, which is a 13 week program that teaches everything from self esteem to career development.

Civil rights attorney Richard Fields killed crossing street

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Longtime Memphis civil rights attorney Richard Fields was killed while crossing the street in Midtown Saturday.

According to police, the 65-year-old was walking in the 1200 block of Peabody Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle.

Police said there was no crosswalk or traffic signal where Fields crossed the street.

Fields began practicing law in Memphis in 1976. He worked on cases involving school desegregation, and racial employment discrimination.

Also, he was an outspoken advocate for African-American equality. But in the final chapters of professional life, Fields' candid nature put him in the crosshairs of a political crossfire.

In the early 90s he was a champion for the city's first elected black mayor, Willie Herenton. But in 2008 Fields and Herenton would become enemies.

Herenton accused Fields of concocting a sex scandal to ruin his chances at a fifth term.

Cohen uses 'politwoops' for Memphis Soul promotion

(WMC-TV) - After garnering national attention for tweets to his secret daughter weeks ago, Congressman Steve Cohen is in the spotlight again for what appeared to be another Twitter mishap.

"It sound like he's trying to get close to her it seems like," said resident Tony King.

Cohen and singer Cyndi Lauper were both at the Memphis Soul concert at the White House Tuesday night.

The next day Cohen tweeted, "@cyndilauper: great night,couldn't believe how hot u were.see you again next Tuesday.try a little tenderness." He was making a reference to one of her songs and the concert that airs on PBS next Tuesday.

He quickly deleted the tweet.

Cohen said Friday that he deleted his tweets to singer Cyndi Lauper to promote the musical tribute to Memphis Soul at The White House.

Memorial service planned for ABC24 meteorologist, Mark Walden

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - A local television station is grieving the loss of its chief meteorologist, who was also an active community member, father, and husband.

According to ABC 24, Mark Walden died in his home over the weekend from natural causes. He was 38 years old.

"Our ABC 24 family is deeply saddened by the passing of chief meteorologist Mark Walden," said ABC 24 General Manager Ardyth Diercks in a written statement. "He was highly respected among his colleagues and served this community as a gifted meteorologist and through his generous work with local charities. He touched our lives and will be greatly missed."

Walden joined ABC 24 in 1999.

News Director Lisa Lovell said in a news release that Walden was highly respected among his colleagues as a talented meteorologist with a passion for weather and keeping the community safe and informed. He also proudly served with numerous charitable organizations

Permit approved to upgrade Liberty Bowl

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - The building permit to renovate the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium to bring it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is approved. The upgrades are expected to cost $9,120,307.

The Memphis City Council previously approved a $12 million plan to upgrade stadium with the expectation of being reimbursed by the federal government.  The deal was reached to avoid a lawsuit, which was threatened by the Department of Justice if changes were not made within one year.

The list of violations for the stadium spanned 23 pages.

Currently, people who use wheelchairs face 187 access violations. They cannot see over the concession stands, cannot reach some paper towel dispensers, and some water fountains are also out of reach. They are also limited to one area of the stadium.

Church Health Center celebrates 25 years

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Celebrating 25 years of helping to heal the community's working poor, the Church Health Center put its faith on display with a conference dedicated to faith community nursing.

Hundreds of people from all over the country and as far away as the Philippines are learning how to become better faith community nurses, by making sure their church members get healthy.

Jan Earlenbaugh-Gaddis made the trip from Indianapolis.

"Knowing that church is bigger than our congregation, that it's broader, it's about the joy, it's about hope, it's about healing, it's about bring people into whole health," said Earlenbaugh.

One of the high points of the Church Health Conference is the Friday night banquet featuring key note speaker, Ambassador Andrew Young.

Young shared his memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 45 years after King's assassination, and how faith and healing go hand in hand.