12.31.2008

December 31, 2008

Wind Advisory for Central NC including the Triad thru 6pm
High Wind Warning (til 9pm) for the Northern Mountains (including Surry and Wilkes)
Your WBFJ Family Station Forecast:
Today: Sunny and breezy…Temperatures staying in the mid 40s
Midnight: Clear skies. 30 degrees as the BALL drops

GASOLINE PRICES ARE HOLDING STEADY. The Triple A says the national average price for regular unleaded is hovering right around a dollar-62-cents a gallon. That's about 20 cents cheaper than what we were paying one month ago.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH HAS NAMED A SUCCESSOR TO FILL BARACK OBAMA'S SENATE SEAT…Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris has been named. PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama SAYS HE'S DISAPPOINTED BY THE MOVE.

Israel is rejecting international pressure to suspend its air offensive against Palestinian militants in Gaza.

TODAY is the final day of Greensboro's month long parking ticket amnesty program. Starting in 2009, the Greensboro police will tow cars that have three or more overdue parking tickets.
http://www.newsrecord.com/content/2008/12/29/article/hey_parking_scofflaws_time_to_pay_without_penalties_is_about_to_run_out

TODAY is the deadline for beneficiaries to review their prescription drug coverage and health-plan needs through Medicare and Medicaid early enrollment for 2009. More information online at the news blog at wbfj.fm. 1-800-MEDICARE
www.medicare.gov www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=622645

An extra second will be added to 2008…Immediately before Midnight, a leap second will be added to atomic clocks around the world by official timekeepers because of the Earth's erratic rotation. ww.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/31/leap.second.new.year/index.html

Thursday (New Year’s Day) is a state and Federal holiday. Banks will be closed. No Mail service.Garbage collection in Winston-Salem: Thursday collection will be Friday…Friday next Monday, January 5th.

College Basketball: Wake Forest over Radford…83-61 (Wake moves to 12 -0)
NC State at home (Towson) 2pm
Duke hosting (Loyola) Maryland 4pm
UNC at Nevada at 10pm

Looking Ahead:
Friday: Cloudy skies…High near 50
Saturday: Sunny…High 50
Sunday: Cloudy skies…High 53

12.30.2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Your WBFJ Family Station Forecast: Today: Sunny and mild…High 60
Wind Advisory: Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga County
High Wind Watch remains in effect from late tonight through Wednesday evening.

Pay your parking tickets by the end of the business day on New Year's Eve, and the city of Greensboro will forgive all those fines you have racked up for not paying on time. Wednesday is the final day of Greensboro's month long parking ticket amnesty program. www.newsrecord.com/content/2008/12/29/article/hey_parking_scofflaws_time_to_pay_without_penalties_is_about_to_run_out

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reminding beneficiaries to review their prescription drug coverage and health-plan needs for 2009 before the annual enrollment period ends on Wednesday (tomorrow) December 31st. More information online at www.medicare.gov. 1-800-MEDICARE www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=622645

Weekend showers in the southwestern mountains still not enough to ease the drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina reporting that 23 counties in Western North Carolina are in some stage of drought. The state’s drought is entering its third year.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/30/western-nc-still-in-drought-despite-rainfall/

Day 4 of ISRAEL'S MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST HAMAS IN THE GAZA STRIP. The Jerusalem Post reports a total of nearly 350 deaths since the operation began on Saturday.

THE FDA HAS APPROVED A NEW DRUG FOR PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED PROSTATE CANCER. ‘Degarelix’ is the first new drug in several years for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=622650

It’s a BOY! BRISTOL PALIN (The 18-year old daughter of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin) HAS REPORTEDLY GIVEN BIRTH TO A HEALTHY 7 POUND - 7 OUNCE BABY BOY. Little Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston was born late Saturday. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081230/D95D10G80.html

Just say NO to God? Michael Newdow, the California physician and attorney whose legal fight against the words "under God" in the pledge of allegiance has drawn national attention now says he will join a lawsuit seeking the removal of all references to God and religion from the upcoming January 20th Presidential inauguration ceremony. Michael Newdow believes references to God or religion are unconstitutional. He wants to remove the phrase "so help me God" from the oath of office and block the invocation prayer from Pastor Rick Warren. Newdow, who lived in Winston-Salem in the early 1990s, says the suit will be filed today in D.C. District Court.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/30/newdow-join-legal-challenge-inauguration-prayer/

College Bowl Games…PapaJohns.com Bowl yesterday: NC State losing to Rutgers…29-23
College Basketball: Wake Forest will play Radford at 7 p.m. tonight at the Joel.

12.23.2008

RECALL: Christmas Cocoa

Three Christmas cocoa products are being recalled because they may contain the industrial chemical melamine. The cocoa products voluntarily recalled by the Canadian company Dorsey Marketing Inc. are sold nationwide at Shopko and Big Lots stores.
You can return the products to the store where they bought them for a refund. www.wsbtv.com/health/18341530/detail.html

The specific items:
*G&J Hot Cocoa Stuffer Item 120144 (UPC 061361201444).
This hot cocoa product was sold in small green and blue boxes with a backer card, candy cane and marshmallows.
*G&J His and Hers Hot Cocoa Set Item 120129 (UPC 489702201296).
This cocoa product was sold with 2 ceramic mugs in a brown box.
*G&J Cocoa item 120126, sold in two flavors:
G&J French Vanilla Cocoa (UPC 061361201260).
This product was sold in a small green bag with a whisk attached.
G&J Double Chocolate Cocoa (UPC 061361201260).
This product was sold in a small pink bag with a whisk attached.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

US Postal service saying that TODAY is the deadline to use Express Mail to get your package to its destination by Christmas Day.
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=2008holidaypressroom

Christmas Recall: Three Christmas cocoa products are being recalled because they may contain the industrial chemical melamine. The cocoa products are sold nationwide at Shopko and Big Lots. The products were voluntarily recalled by the Canadian company Dorsey Marketing Inc. You can return the products to the store where they bought them for a refund. www.wsbtv.com/health/18341530/detail.html

What do you do with over a 1,000 Fraser fir trees? You give them away. Kersey Valley in High Point, better known for corn maizes and Halloween fright-nights, is giving away Christmas trees to anyone who needs one. Just show up at Kersey Valley between 10am – 9pm today (Tuesday) and 10am to 5pm (on Christmas Eve). http://www.kerseyvalleychristmas.com/

Wanna get into the Christmas spirit? Go to wbfj.fm for a complete listing of Christmas happenings, Moravian Lovefeasts even light displays. http://www.wbfj.fm/

University of North Carolina President Emeritus William Friday is recovering after suffering a minor heart attack last week. Friday, 88, attributed the episode to eating too much salt and too much fat, and he said he has adjusted his diet. www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/4186754/

No sponsor…no racing? Team owner Bill Davis has sold majority ownership of his race team and his engine company. Davis was having trouble finding a sponsor for 2009. Bill Davis Racing is based in High Point. Davis, who has been in NASCAR for more than 20 years.
www.wxii12.com/news/18337042/detail.html

ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE UNEARTHED MORE THAN 250 ANCIENT GOLD COINS IN JERUSALEM NATIONAL PARK. The Israel Antiquities Authority says it is one of the largest and most impressive coin finds ever discovered in Jerusalem. The coins are believed to be about 13-hundred years old. They were found in an excavation being conducted in a car park, in the City of David, in the walls around Jerusalem National Park.

Slow Down and Don’t Drink and Drive: The state Highway Patrol will be out in force between now and New Year Day. BTW: 27 people were killed (over 1,100 injured) last year between Christmas and New Year's Day. Speeding was blamed for many of the accidents.

Crossroads Community Church, a mega church in Cincinnati, is grieving the loss of one of its members who was killed during a Christmas service. 23-year old Keri Shryock fell 25 feet to her death during a Christmas presentation last week. Keri was suspended in a harness high off the floor when she fell.Police have reportedly determined the incident was an accident caused by equipment failure. The church is helping its members process the loss. www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1553277

SPORTS:
Monday Night Football: Bears rally to beat the Packers 20-17 in OT

College Basketball:
#6 Wake Forest all over ECU…95-54
NC State loses a close one to Marquette…68-65

College Bowl game: Boise State vs TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl (tonight 8pm ESPN)

No White Christmas in the Triad...:(
Your WBFJ Family Station 'Christmas' Forecast:
Christmas Eve (Wed): Cloudy and windy…High 55
Christmas Eve Night: Showers likely. Gusty winds…Low 45
Christmas Day (Thurs): More clouds than sun…High 55

12.22.2008

Major traffic situation in Clemmons

Lewisville-Clemmons Road between Brewer Road and Highway 158 is closed because of a broken water main. The road is expected to be closed until at least 4 p.m. this afternoon.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/22/220708/water-main-break-closes-portion-lewisville-clemmon/news/

Here is a map: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=36.030256,-80.376835&spn=0.022941,0.036306&z=15&msid=115231320526924384620.00045ea02a0d89eb83c03

Monday, December 22, 2008

Wind Chill will be a factor today. Warming up for Wednesday and Thursday
Your WBFJ Family Station Forecast: Today: Sunny and cold. Breezy…High only 34

Bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snow hitting much of the northern portions of the US over the weekend. Thousands of travelers are stranded in the Northwest, some since Saturday A 30-vehicle pile-up in western Michigan was blamed on a blizzard. More winter weather is expected today in the Northeast. www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/12/22/winter.weather/index.html

Banks that are getting taxpayer bailouts have awarded their top executives nearly $1.6 billion dollars in salaries, bonuses and other benefits in the calendar year 2007. The rewards came even to underperforming banks. Benefits included: cash bonuses, stock options, personal use of company jets and chauffeurs, home security, country club memberships and professional money management. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6504932

One firefighter calling it a ‘miracle’ that no one was killed in the crash of a 737 passenger jet at Denver International over the weekend. Continental Flight 1404 skidded off the runway during takeoff on Saturday evening. The FAA is still investigating. The Denver Post

GASOLINE PRICES ARE FALLING AGAIN. Triple A is projecting that fewer people will be traveling (50 miles or more) this Christmas than last year.

SUPPORTERS OF CALIFORNIA'S PROP 8 HAVE FILED LEGAL BRIEFS WITH THE STATE SUPREME COURT AFTER THE STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL ASKED THE HIGH COURT TO INVALIDATE THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT that was passed by voters in November.
Proposition Eight defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. A hearing on the case could be heard as early as March of next year.

THE FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL IS PRAISING PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA FOR INVITING PASTOR RICK WARREN TO OFFER THE INVOCATION AT HIS INAUGURATION. The invitation has irritated many on the ‘left’ because of Warren's pro-life and pro-traditional marriage views.

"The ultimate Christmas gift from God" The Duggar family (the conservative homeschool family made famous on TLC) adds #18 to its fold. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar celebrating the birth of child #18 (it’s a girl) delivered by C-section on Thursday (Dec 18).
Little ‘Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar’ weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 20 inches long. The Duggars who live in Rogers, Arkansas now have 10 sons and eight daughters. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469944,00.html

The Christmas deadline recommended mail-by dates: Tomorrow (Dec. 23)...Express Mail (US Postal service) will get your package to its destination by the 25th.
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=2008holidaypressroom

SPORTS:
NFL: Giants over the Panthers in OT 34 - 28

A BIG win for Deac fans: Wake Forest over Navy 29 -19 in the Eagle Bank Bowl

12.19.2008

Friday, December 19, 2008

Update: Dense Fog Advisory through noon

Traffic is slow but moving: One lane is back open along a portion of Highway 52 SB and Highway 66 in Forsyth County. Both southbound lanes should be open by noon. Crews worked overnight to clean up the crash site. An 18-wheeler carrying 40,000 pounds of small ammunition (mainly shotgun shells and rifle clips) overturned around 6pm yesterday evening. http://www.wxii12.com/news/18313687/detail.html

The Christmas deadline is coming quickly. Recommended mail-by dates / US Postal service:
This Saturday (Dec. 20)…First-class Mail + Priority Mail
Next Tuesday (Dec. 23)…Express Mail
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=2008holidaypressroom

"The ultimate Christmas gift from God" The Duggar family (the large homeschool family made famous on TLC) adds #18 to its fold. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar celebrating the birth of child #18 (it’s a girl) delivered by C-section on Thursday (Dec 18). Little ‘Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar’ weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 20 inches long. The Duggars who live in Rogers, Arkansas now have 10 sons and eight daughters. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,469944,00.html

A number of nationwide recalls (child related) include:
Evenflo is recalling about 95-thousand of its Majestic High Chairs.
The Regal Lager Corporation is recalling 16-hundred of its Phil and Ted’s Dash Buggy Strollers
The Xtreme Toy Zone is recalling about 480 toy dinosaurs.
For more information: Go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website: www.CPSC.gov

Commissioners in Forsyth County have rejected a bid to settle a lawsuit by the ACLU. The 2007 lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of allowing sectarian prayer (or praying to a specific deity) before board meetings.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/19/forsyth-rejects-bid-to-settle-prayer-lawsuit/

Allen Joines will run for a third term as Winston-Salem's mayor. Announcing his re-election, Joines will have to say NO to Governor Elect Bev Perdue…she wanted Joines to serve as state Secretary of Commerce. Joines will have more information about his campaign in January. www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/19/joines-will-run-for-third-term-as-citys-mayor/news/

CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL LEADER PAUL WEYRICH passed away early Thursday morning after years of poor health. Wyrich was one of the founders of the Heritage Foundation and is credited with coining the name ‘moral majority’. Paul Weyrich was 66.
www.heritage.org/?gclid=CPLI8sH7zJcCFRg6awodmWQ5Sw
http://blog.heritage.org/2008/12/18/conservative-leader-paul-weyrich-dies-first-to-lead-heritage/

Polaroid has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The restructuring should not impact day-to-day operations.
www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/19/polaroid/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

Deacon fans ready for Saturday: Wake Forest vs Navy in the Eagle Bank Bowl
The game will be at RFK stadium in Washington, D.C…Kick off @ 11am
www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/acc-m-footbl-body.html

12.18.2008

Thursday, December 18, 2008

CHILD-RELATED RECALLS: The Consumer Product Safety Commission saying that Evenflo is recalling about 95-thousand of its Majestic High Chairs. The Regal Lager Corporation is recalling 16-hundred of its Phil and Ted’s Dash Buggy Strollers and the Xtreme Toy Zone is recalling about 480 toy dinosaurs. Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/

Slow sales and no bailout in sight...CHRYSLER WILL SHUT DOWN ALL OF ITS MANUFACTURING FACILITIES FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY.
The cost-cutting move will affect nearly 46 thousand workers. Chrysler normally shuts down its factories between Christmas through New Year's Day.Ford Motor Company will add a week to its usual two week factory shutdown. The Detroit Free Press
More job cuts locally…
-Semi-conductor maker RF Micro Devices plans to eliminate 250 employees.
-Automotive Motors is closing its Thomasville facility and eliminating 82 jobs.

An explosion Tuesday afternoon in Winston-Salem blew the living room of a house on Forest Drive into the back yard. The fire was quickly extinguished, but not before the home suffered $65,000 in property damage. Two adults and two teenagers who live in the home were not at home at the time of the blast. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Some liberal groups are not very happy about President –Elect Barack Obama’s choice of Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback church in California, to deliver the invocation at the upcoming inauguration. Rick Warren is also the author of the best-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life". www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=358228
www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/17/obama.warren/index.html


In an e-letter sent out to customers, The Master’s Loft will be closing its retail location on Miller Street effective January 31, 2009…and shifting to a web-based internet store. Details about the ‘new’ site: http://www.mastersloft.com/

A man dressed up as Santa Claus has been added to the ‘naughty list’?
A New York City traffic agent gave Chip Cafiero a ticket while he stopped to deliver gifts to children in Brooklyn on Black Friday’. The 60-year-old retired schoolteacher was riding a horse-drawn carriage and handing out toys and candy canes. An SUV carrying the toys and protecting the horse from traffic was double parked next to him. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081217/D954E0CO1.html

ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards has been named to the Associated Press’ FCS All American team. Edwards is one of 4 Southern Conference players named to the first team. http://www.goasu.com/

Records are made to be broken: UNC center Tyler Hansbrough is nine points away from breaking Phil Ford's scoring record at UNC. Carolina plays Evansville tonight at the Dean Dome.
Phil Ford, now an assistant with the Charlotte Bobcats, is expected to attend the game at the invitation of Coach Roy Williams.

This Saturday (Dec 20)...Wake Forest vs Navy in the Eagle Bank Bowl
Kick off: 11 a.m. Location: RFK stadium in Washington, D.C.
www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/acc-m-footbl-body.html

12.17.2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Officials with Microsoft are issuing an ‘emergency fix’ for a ‘security hole’ in its Internet Explorer software. The "zero-day" vulnerability, which surfaced last week, allows criminals to take over computers simply by steering them to infected Web sites; users don't have to download anything for their computers to get infected.Microsoft's security advisory: www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx

THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS SLASHED ITS SHORT TERM INTEREST RATES TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL EVER. Wells Fargo and Wachovia immediately lowered their prime lending rates from 4% to 3.25%. Economists cautioned, though, that people frightened by the economy and worried about their own jobs may not feel like taking on more debt
http://www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/17/federal-reserve-cuts-key-rate-to-as-low-as-zero/news/

Difficult time for residents and staff at The Oaks in Winston-Salem. Six more people have become sick with symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps at the Oaks. The stomach illness affected 42 others last week. Officials also suspended visiting hours and group activities over the past wee..
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/17/6-more-at-the-oaks-are-sick/news/

Charges are pending against a deer hunter who fatally wounded a man in the Pisgah National Forest. 50-year-old Luciano Martinez was shot Saturday afternoon by a 21-year-old man who was deer hunting with a group of other hunters. Last season, eight people were killed in North Carolina while hunting. http://www.wxii12.com/news/18288997/detail.html

A five mile section of Interstate 85 in Davidson County is now known as the
‘Richard Childress Freeway’. Childress is the president and owner of Richard Childress Racing (or RCR) based in Welcome and Childress Vineyards located in Lexington. http://www.wxii12.com/news/18292181/detail.html

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announcing a recall of nearly 10,000 snow mobiles manufactured by the Arctic Cat company. The 2009 models of the Mountain Cat and the Crossfire snowmobiles pose a fire hazard. http://www.cpsc.gov/

Closure for the Walsh family after 20 years of the unknown. A serial killer who died in prison more than 10 years ago is the person who abducted and killed 6-year-old Adam Walsh (the son of America's Most Wanted host John Walsh) in 1981.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/17/police-resolve-81-case-of-adam-walsh/news/
Read about Adam's story here: www.amw.com/fugitives/case.cfm?id=39789

A woman so disfigured that she was willing to risk her life to do something about it has undergone the nation's first near-total face transplant. A re-constructive surgeon and a team of other specialists replaced 80% of the woman's face with that of a female cadaver. The procedure was done at the Cleveland Clinic a couple of weeks ago. The transplant was the fourth worldwide; two have been done in France, and one in China.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/17/near-total-face-transplant-is-done/news/

SPORTS: Four Carolina Panthers have been selected for the Pro-Bowl all-star game in Hawaii.

Junior Kevin Harris has made the leap from third-team fullback to first-team tailback. Harris will start for the Deacs in Saturday's EagleBank Bowl game against Navy.
Wake Forest vs Navy in the Eagle Bank Bowl this Saturday (Dec 20)
Kick off: 11 a.m.
Location: RFK stadium in Washington, D.C.
www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/acc-m-footbl-body.html

12.16.2008

Relient K on TV tonight

Relient K is scheduled to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight (December 16).
BTW: The band recently added three new singles to its 2007 Christmas release, "Let It Snow Baby, Let It Reindeer"
www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/calendar/

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Christmas deadline is coming quickly. Recommended mail-by dates from the US Postal service: TODAY: Dec. 16 (Tue) -- Parcel Post (or heavier packages)
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=2008holidaypressroom

THE FEDERAL RESERVE COULD CUT ONE OF ITS KEY INTEREST RATES LATER TODAY. The Fed is wrapping up a two-day monetary policy meeting.

Piedmont Natural Gas is requesting a billing rate cut for customers in North and South Carolina. If approved natural gas bills would be reduced by 7% effective January 1st.

A Brinks employee died yesterday morning after being shot during a robbery outside the Old Navy store at the Friendly Center. Greensboro police saying that the robbery was "well-orchestrated."Police are searching for the shooter who drove away in a black vehicle. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8074309&version=12&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

The Rev. Robert A. Schuller, the son of Crystal Cathedral's founder Robert H. Schuller, has stepped down as senior pastor of Crystal Cathedral in California. Last month, the younger Schuller was removed from the church's weekly syndicated television broadcast the "Hour of Power". http://www.centredaily.com/living/story/1014983.html
The announcement: www.crystalcathedral.org/hour_of_power/interviews/detail.php?contentid=3393

Sad…but they had to go: 10 Autumn Purple Ash trees were cut down on the Quad at Wake Forest University on Monday. The ash trees were found to have bacterial leaf scorch. In all, 30 Ash trees will be replaced over 3 years on the quad with three varieties of maples.
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/16/trees-to-fall-like-the-elms-before-them-ash-trees-/news/

Employees at UNCG were notified Monday of a security breach of one of the school’s computers that contained personal information used to process the payroll. The computer apparently had been infected with a ‘malware’ virus. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8075459&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

The Illinois House voting to begin impeachments against Governor Rod Blagojevich. A special committee to investigate a host of so-called pay-to-play allegations leveled against the Illinois governor. The Chicago Tribune

A twelve year honor roll student from Burlington was stopped by police in Virginia last Friday morning. Yes, the 12 year old boy was the one driving. The 7th grader had driven 200 miles from home (from Burlington to Spotsylvania County near Washington, DC) by himself. Police found 2 loaded handguns on the front seat of the car.
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8080667&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS STILL WITHOUT POWER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND. President Bush has declared states-of-emergency in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Two 16 year old students from High Point Central have been charged with hanging four ‘K-K-K hoods’ at various locations on the school grounds on Monday morning. The two students have been charged with felony hate crimes. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8074524&version=10&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

SPORTS: Monday Night Football: Eagles over the Browns…30 – 10

12.15.2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Have you mailed all of your Christmas cards, yet? According to the U.S. Postal Service, today will be the busiest mailing day of the year. Officials expect to process more than 900 million cards and letters today…about double the normal amount. The Christmas deadline is coming quickly.
Recommended mail-by dates from the US Postal service:
Dec. 16 (Tue) -- Parcel Post
Dec. 20 (Sat) -- First-class Mail
Dec. 20 (Sat)-- Priority Mail
Dec. 23 (Next Tue) -- Express Mail
www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/holiday/hpr.htm?from=home_newsandannounce&page=2008holidaypressroom

Six Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school buses were damaged over the weekend at Griffith Elementary school on West Clemmonsville Road. Vandals knocked out several windows. Damages were estimated at over $6,000 dollars. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8071722&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

President Bush making a stop in Afghanistan earlier today after a trip to Baghdad, where an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at the president.The incident happened during a news conference on Sunday. If you are wondering...the shoes were size 10. In Arab culture, throwing a shoe or turning it so that its sole faces someone is considered an insult.
www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/14/bush-arrives-iraq-surprise-farewell-visit/

PRESIDENT BUSH HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE OF THE ICE STORM THAT HIT NEW ENGLAND LATE LAST WEEK. Since Friday, hundreds-of-thousands of residents without power.

AN AVALANCHE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF UTAH HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A 27-YEAR OLD FEMALE SKIER. Snowbird Ski Resort received about 13 inches of snow in the 48 hours before the avalanche happened on Sunday.

Members of Wasilla Bible Church (where Alaska Governor Sarah Palin attends) gathered at a middle school yesterday, two days after their building was badly damaged by a fire authorities are investigating as arson. Damage to the 2 1/2-year-old church building is estimated at $1 million. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081215/D952S5HO0.html

In his first television appearance, former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain was asked (during ABC's "This Week), whether his VP pick Sarah Palin could count on his support if she ran for president in 2012. Well it wasn’t a definite YES. McCain said that other young governors will likely assume a greater leadership role in the Republican Party. McCain said he has "the greatest appreciation for Governor Palin and her family.
www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/14/mccain.senate/index.html

JARS OF CLAY IS OBSERVING ADVENT ONLINE IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS. The band's Charlie Lowell is providing Advent inspiration through poems and essays on a new blog at http://www.adventpoetry.blogspot.com/. Also, the band is also adding an audiobook of Advent readings at their website http://www.jarsofclay.com/

NFL: Panthers over the Denver Broncos…30 – 10

Congrats to all 4 area High School teams (including Mt Airy, Thomasville, West Rowan and Greensboro Dudley) that won state football championships over the weekend!

12.12.2008

Join the WBFJ Morning Show TODAY...

The WBFJ Morning Show will be on location from 11 to 1 collecting stockings for the WBFJ Great Stocking Stuff...helping kids through the Salvation Army

-Darren at Family Christian on Wendover in Greensboro
-Tami at Lemstone in Kernersville
-Verne at the Lifeway on Hanes Mall Blvd in Winston-Salem

Please pick up and return stockings filled to us between 11 -1pm and we will give you a FREE Christmas CD (while they last).

Thanks to Chick-Fil-A of the Triad, Wachovia and select Christian Bookstores
The Great Stocking Stuff deadline is next Wednesday, December 17
Details about the Great Stocking Stuff with WBFJ and the Salvation Army http://www.wbfj.fm/

Friday, December 12, 2008

The multi-billion dollar bailout to help the US auto industry stalls in the Senate. Supporters did not get the 60 votes needed to move the $14 billion dollar deal forward. Most of the opposition came from Republicans who wanted the United Auto Workers Union to agree to wage cuts by the end of 2009.

Charlotte based Bank of America will eliminate up to 35,000 jobs over the next three years pending a merger with Merrill Lynch.

Police searched the Orlando home of Casey Anthony last night after a child’s skeletal remains were discovered in a nearby wooded area. Speculation is that the remains could be those of missing toddler Caylee Anthony. 3 year old Caylee Anthony disappeared last June but her mother, Casey Anthony, did not reported her missing until a month later.
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6441931&page=1

A report by the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse finding that 10% of High School Seniors Use Vicodin. While marijuana and alcohol use has declined among teens, the abuse of painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin has increased. www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=622210

The funeral service for Khalid Prince, the Parkland High School basketball player who collapsed and died last week, is set for noon on Saturday at Pinedale Christian Church in Winston-Salem. Visitation is tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. also at Pinedale. All services are open to the public.
Pineville Christian Church is located on Peter's Creek Parkway (or Highway 150 south of WS)

Coffee wars brewing in Seattle…and Starbuck’s is not amused. McDonald’s has blitzed Seattle, Washington with close to 140 billboards talking down Starbuck’s while promoting its own specialty coffees. Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks. Some of the billboards say…
"large is the new grande" or "four bucks is dumb."
www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/12/coffee.costs/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Rev. Richard Cizik (VP Governmental Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals) has stepped down after comments he made in favor of same-sex civil unions (even same sex marriages) on National Public Radio. The President of NAE says although Cizik apologized there is a, quote, "loss of trust in his credibility as a spokesperson among leaders and constituents." Cizik has also generated criticism for his activism on Global Warming. www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,465807,00.html
Listen to the NPR interview:
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97690760

How long does it take for you to make up your bed? The Guilford County Hotel/Motel Association (GCHMA) is hosting the "Fastest Bed Maker in Guilford County" Contest TODAY (Dec 12th) at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Greensboro around 1pm. The event is open to the public. http://www.gchma.com/ (336) 378-6465

Area High Schools playing in the state football Championships this weekend include Mt Airy, Thomasville, West Rowan and Greensboro Dudley
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/11/110020/nchsaa-football-championships/sports-highschool-football/

12.11.2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Two small Christian colleges are merging into one. Piedmont Baptist College in Winston-Salem and Atlantic Baptist Bible College of Chester, Va., will merge in January. Students on Atlantic's campus will move to North Carolina and Atlantic's property will be sold to create an endowment and scholarship at Piedmont. http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/12/11/article/two_small_church_colleges_to_merge

Office Depot will close 112 underperforming retail stores in North America during the next three months. 8 stores will be closed in the South. Office Depot has six Triad ocations.
www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2008/12/08/daily35.html?ana=from_rss

State agencies should plan for additional spending cuts. That’s the word from Raleigh. Governor Easley has ordered all state departments and other institutions to develop proposals on how they will reduce spending by up to 7%. At least 43 states are facing shortfalls in their budgets for this year and/or next year.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/10/news/economy/state_budgets/index.htm?postversion=2008121016
http://www.wxii12.com/news/18251318/detail.html

Authorities in Winston-Salem are trying to determine what caused the death of a man who crashed his van into a tree in the Target parking lot last night. Authorities say that John Lord's van was traveling around 40 MPH at the time of the crash.
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8048847&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

How long does it take for you to make up your bed?
The Guilford County Hotel/Motel Association (GCHMA) is hosting the "Fastest Bed Maker in Guilford County" Contest this Friday (Dec 12th) at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Greensboro around 1pm. Housekeepers from local hotels will be competing. The 2007 winning time was one minute, twenty-five seconds, by defending champion Irma Benites of the Airport Marriott. The event is open to the public. http://www.gchma.com/ (336) 378-6465

A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT LOAN FOR THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY HAS WON APPROVAL IN THE U.S. HOUSE. However, the plan faces an uphill battle in the Senate…where a number of Republicans are ready to block it. President Bush supports the plan.

President-elect Barack Obama is calling on Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich to resign, a day after the Democratic governor’s arrest on corruption charges.
www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/10/obama.blagojevich/index.html

President Bush frustrated with the United Nations saying that the UN has not done enough to help the suffering people of the Darfur region of Sudan. The Sudanese president has been charged with leading a campaign of terror and genocide against the people of Darfur by the International Criminal Court.

A POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A TEENAGED BOY THAT TRIGGERED NATIONWIDE RIOTS IN GREECE. Warning shots were fired when a patrol car was surrounded by gang members. A stray bullet ricocheted and hit one of the gang members.

Sports: Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is in need of a heart transplant and has been placed on a donor waiting list.The 72-year-old Richardson has a history of heart trouble and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2002. Doctors last month installed a pacemaker to control his heart's rhythm. More info about organ donation: 1-800-200-2672 http://www.donatelifenc.org/

Fun Fact: Artificial Christmas trees have out-sold real trees every year since 1991

12.10.2008

This morning on WBFJ...

"Keeping your pets safe during the Holidays"
In studio guest: Sandy Ellington, R.H.Ed.
Health Educator (Environmental Health Division)
Guilford County Department of Public Health
For more information…Call (336) 641-7777
http://www.guilfordhealth.org/
http://www.paw-rescue.org/
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s 24 hour emergency hotline: 1-888-4-ANI-HELP


Also...more information about becoming an organ donor…
North Carolina Registry: http://www.donatelifenc.org/
Carolina Donor Services: http://www.carolinadonorservices.org/
Questions? 1-800-200-2672

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Severe weather possible this afternoon
Keep tuned into WBFJ for the latest weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

What actually caused a Parkland JV basketball player to collapse last Tuesday? Results from an autopsy confirming that Khalid Prince had a condition known as myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle that weakened his heart.
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myocarditis
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/10/autopsy-shows-that-parkland-basketball-player-had-/news/
The funeral service for Khalid Prince is scheduled for noon this Saturday at Pinedale Christian Church. Visitation for the family will be Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m. also at Pinedale. All services are open to the public. Pineville Christian Church is located on Peter's Creek Parkway (or Highway 150 south of WS)

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS EXPECTED TO VOTE TODAY ON A $15 billion dollar FEDERAL BAILOUT LOAN FOR THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY. If approved the car companies could get the emergency loan as early as next week.

So how much is a US Senate seat worth? The Governor of Illinois (D) Rod Blagojevich and one of his aides were arrested on Tuesday. Both now face federal corruption charges. The governor is accused of, among other things, conspiring to obtain personal financial gain in the naming of a successor to President Elect Barack Obama's Senate seat.

The man who lost his entire family when an F-18 fighter jet crashed in a neighborhood near San Diego is asking the public to pray for the pilot of the plane. Don Yoon lost his wife, two young daughters and his mother-in-law on Monday. Yoon says he does not blame the pilot who ejected safely from the F-18 before in crashed into his home. During his first visit back to what was left of his home, Yoon was joined in prayer by his pastor, brother, sister, and other supporters. Yoon is also asking for help in dealing with the loss of his family.

Wake Forest senior linebacker Aaron Curry had been awarded the Butkus Award. Curry named the nation's top college linebacker. Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus presented the award to Curry yesterday during Coach Jim Grobe's media luncheon. http://www.thebutkusaward.com/
http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120908aac.html
EagleBank Bowl with Wake Forest vs Navy on Saturday, December 20 in Washington, DC.

According to Major Paul Egan with the Salvation Army in Greensboro, someone intentionally put a counterfeit $100 bill in one of the red kettles. The Army receives more than cash and coins in their Red Kettles during the holidays including: buttons, batteries, foreign coins, stamps, fuses, flattened pennies even Chuckie Cheese tokens.
www.digtriad.com/news/features/article.aspx?storyid=115476&catid=216

Sharing is Caring…Need Knows No Season
The Great Stocking Stuff with WBFJ and the Salvation Army going on NOW thru next Wednesday, December 17 (Wed) This week's focus: The older kids…Teenagers
Pick up stockings at Chick-Fil-A stores, Wachovia banks and select Christian Bookstores
Details: http://www.wbfj.fm/

12.09.2008

Breaking News...

THE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY FEDERAL AGENTS. Governor Rod Blegojevich (bluh-GOY-a-vich) and an aide are facing federal corruption charges. A statement by the U.S. Attorney in the case says the governor is accused of, among other things, conspiring to obtain personal financial gain in the naming of a successor to Barack Obama’s Senate seat. He’s also accused of trying to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions.
The 51-year old Blegojevich and his 49-year old aide were each charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2008/pr1209_01.pdf
Rip-N-Read news & information, inc. (WBFJ News)

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

CONGRESSIONAL AND WHITE HOUSE NEGOTIATORS WORKING INTO THE NIGHT ON A $15-BILLION DOLLAR BAILOUT LOAN FOR THE U.S. AUTO INDUSTRY. Chrysler, Ford, and GMC were asking for $34 billion dollars.The latest bailout package requires the automakers to present restructuring plans by March. A so-called "Car Czar" will supervise how the auto makers are spending the loan money.

The self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants have asked a judge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to allow them to make immediate confessions. Each defendant is facing the death penalty. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97948707

Electronics maker Sony will cut 8,000 jobs. The worldwide layoffs should be completed by the end of March 20-10.
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=8030572&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

More layoffs at Petty Enterprises: The struggling race team released at least three dozen additional employees on Monday…making the total number of job cuts close to 70. SportsIllustrated.com reporting that Petty Enterprises is talking with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports in a possible merger. www.digtriad.com/news/features/article.aspx?storyid=115467&catid=216

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS FILED MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AGAINST FIVE AMERICAN EMPLOYEES WITH THE BLACKWATER SECURITY FIRM. Prosecutors saying that Blackwater employees shot 14 unarmed Iraqi civilians and wounded 20 others in Baghdad in September of 2007.

THE CRASH OF A U.S. FIGHTER JET INTO A SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CLAIMED AT LEAST THREE LIVES. The pilot of the F-18 Hornet ejected safely before the plane went down, destroying two houses and damaging three others. The incident is under investigation.

Spare the grin? The British Government announced another extraordinary move in the name of security…no-one can be shown smiling in their passport photograph. Starting this week, all passports issued from today must show the bearer "looking straight at the camera, with a neutral expression, with their mouth closed". The Home Office said the move was essential to fight fraud and keep terrorists out of the country.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-12393989-details/Smiles+banned+from+passports/article.do

Encompass Insurance, an insurance company linked to Allstate will no longer write new homeowner policies in North Carolina over concerns about a state-sanctioned program for coastal insurance called the ‘Beach Plan’. The plan insures properties in 18 counties. It could require insurance companies to pay hundreds of millions of dollars should a major hurricane hit North Carolina. www.wxii12.com/news/18233576/detail.html

The economy still good for renting nativity animals. Farmers in Frankville, Wisconsin who rent animals for Nativity scenes say business is holding steady, although some organizers are swapping camels for cheaper livestock amid the recession. Renting a camel can cost $500 to $700 dollars per day, including a handler and liability insurance.
The cost of two or three sheep, a couple of goats and a handler…$250 per night.
www.jsonline.com http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081208/D94UPT8O0.html

Monday Night Football: Carolina Panthers running all over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers…38 – 23

12.08.2008

Monday, December 08, 2008

This morning’s Recipe with Chef Jeff Bacon:
Pecan Crusted Pork Loin with Sweet Potato Mash and Maple Hoisin Sauce

Details on the Morning Show page at wbfj.fm

Find out more about ‘I am second.com’ a website that provides testimonies from celebrities and everyday Christians including Joe Gibbs, Steven Baldwin and Tony Evans. http://www.iamsecond.com/

NEWS:
Gas prices are the lowest in nearly 5 years. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded has fallen 22 cents a gallon during the past two weeks. The national average price of regular unleaded is around $1.75 a gallon.

An autopsy will be performed on 15-year-old Khalid Prince…the Parkland High School JV basketball player that collapsed during a basketball game last Tuesday. Khalid died Saturday evening. Funeral arrangements are pending.
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8021032&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

A DEAL BETWEEN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND THE WHITE HOUSE ON A BAILOUT LOAN FOR THE BIG THREE AUTO MAKERS COULD BE FINALIZED TODAY. Ford, Chrysler and GM are asking for $34 billion dollars in loans from the government.

THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREECE IS ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE CALM TO THE NATION FOLLOWING A WEEKEND OF RIOTING TRIGGERED BY THE FATAL SHOOTING OF A TEENAGED BOY BY POLICE OFFICERS.

The Cincinnati Zoo has canceled a joint promotion with the nearby Creation Museum in Kentucky. Some scientists and bloggers had complained that the zoo should not work with a religious museum that rejects the theory of evolution. The Creation Museum presents the Bible's version of natural history . www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=339600


CHRIS TOMLIN will appear on the "THE 700 CLUB" later today. Tomlin’s latest album, "Hello Love" has been recently nominated for a Grammy Award. A link to CBNs “700 Club” online in the News Blog at wbfj.fm. www.cbn.com/700club
The "Hello Love" tour will swing by the Triad in April. Details http://www.wbfj.fm/

Sports: The ACC becomes the first conference to have 10 teams going to a Bowl game in a single year. 2008 Conference champ Virginia Tech will play Cincinnati in the FedEx Orange Bowl in Miami on Jan. 1 in an 8:30 pm. North Carolina and NC State will be 'Bowling'
Wake Forest vs Navy (EagleBank Bowl) Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. at RFK stadium in Washington, D.C. The Full list: www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/acc-m-footbl-body.html

NFL: Tennessee, Arizona and the New York Giants clinching playoff spots yesterday
Monday Night Football: Carolina vs Tampa Bay tonight in Charlotte

12.05.2008

Triad military dad surprises his 3-year old daughter…

You gotta see this early Christmas wish comes true! Thanks to WXII 12 for doing this story on Thursday.
Kensley Penney (age 3) was asking Santa for 2 'requests' this Christmas…a blue truck and her daddy. Sgt. Scottie Penney, Kensley’s dad, has been serving in Afghanistan since March. Every night Kensley Penney says her prayers while hugging a special American doll with her father's picture. "When we go to bed, we say prayers and ask Jesus to keep him safe," said Kensley's grandmother.
Watch the emotional homecoming here: www.wxii12.com/news/18208857/detail.htm

Christmas Stuff...

The ‘Festival of Lights’ tonight (Friday, December 05) in Greensboro. The 20th annual downtown family friendly festival happens ( 5:30 to 9pm ) from Center City Park to Bain Street. http://www.festivaloflightsgso.org/

Catch the 2008 Billy Graham Christmas Special with Franklin Graham this Saturday evening at 7pm on WFMY-TV. (CBS Ch 2 ) Additional cable listings here: www.billygraham.org/TV_Index.asp?r=2#TVListings

I saw FIDO licking Santa Clause? Pet Photos with Santa. Between 7-9pm this Sunday (December 07) bring your pet to Hanes Mall and get their photo taken with St Nick. All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier and brought into the Mall through the TGI Friday’s entrance at Hanes Mall. http://www.shophanesmall.com/shop/hanes.nsf/sales_events

Less than a week to get those cards to soldiers…
Holiday Mail for Heroes
is a partnership between the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes to deliver one million holiday cards to American service members, veterans and their families this Christmas. All cards must be postmarked no later than next Wednesday, December 10th Details: www.redcross.org/email/saf/

Friday, December 05, 2008

THE US SUPREME COURT IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER TODAY WHETHER TO TAKE UP A LAWSUIT CHALLENGING PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA'S U.S. CITIZENSHIP. The Chicago Tribune reports the case is a continuation of a lawsuit filed by a New Jersey man. Officials in Hawaii saying Obama's birth certificate is locked in a vault in Hawaii.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama-birth-certificatedec04,0,664988.story
Show me the birth certificate.
Sign up today: www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81550

15 year old Khalid Prince, a JV basketball player who collapsed during a game at Parkland on Tuesday, remains in critical condition at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Parkland’s JV team will play Reynolds HS at Reynolds tonight. http://www.journalnow.com/

PRESIDENT AND LAURA BUSH flipped the switch last night to bring on the lights during the 85th annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree.

Don’t expect to find Christmas trees in the libraries at Duke, North Carolina State University and now UNC Chapel Hill. The News & Observer of Raleigh reporting that Associate provost Sarah Michalak decided against the trees after getting complaints from employees and library users about the Christian display. www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/05/unc-chapel-hill-library-drops-christmas-trees/

Samaritan’s Purse is officially sending out millions of little shoe boxes to children in 100 countries this week. Since the ministry began in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has sent ‘shoe boxes’ to more than 61 million needy children in 130 countries. http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

New research showing that ‘happiness’ may be contagious? Researchers found that people with the most social connections, such as friends, spouses, neighbors, and, relatives, were the happiest. The study appears in the British Medical Journal.

CCM artists nominated for a Grammy Award in February: Best Contemporary Album: Steven Curtis Chapman, Brandon Heath, Leeland, Chris Tomlin, and Cece Winans. Best Gospel Song: Brandon Heath, Kirk Franklin, and Mercy Me.Other performers receiving nominations in various categories: Casting Crowns, Take 6, tobyMac, Sanctus Real, Superchick and Bart Millard (of MercyMe). http://www.grammy.com/

NASCAR: Petty Enterprises is apparently talking with Gillett-Evernham Motorsports about a possible merger. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8006193&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

High School Football Play-offs (schedule at the bottom of the link)
www.journalnow.com/content/2008/dec/04/starmount-worried-about-newton-conovers-speed/sports-highschool-football/

Second round of the FCS college sub-division play-offs: ASU hosting the Richmond Spiders in Boone at noon on Saturday http://www.goasu.com/

The ‘Dash’ is the new name of the minor league baseball team in
Winston-Salem. Name the mascot contest: http://www.wsdash.com/

12.04.2008

Thursday, December 04, 2008

All lanes back open along I-85 near Hopewell Church Road after a multi-vehicle accident closed I-85 northbound in Trinity early this morning. Authorities say the accident was caused by a deer running across the highway.
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7999167&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Airports in India are on High Alert today after new terror warnings were issued
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081204/D94RTHA80.html

AT&T to cut 12,000 jobs due to economic downturn
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081204/D94RTSPO0.html

Leaving their private jets behind…the CEO’s of the big 3 auto makers drove ‘Hybrid’ vehicles to Washington DC. The heads of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors hope to convince Congress to provide them with a multi-billion dollar bailout loan. Today they testify before the Senate Banking Committee.

A J-V basketball player from Parkland is still in critical condition at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. 15 year old Kha-lid Prince collapsing during the Parkland – North Surry game on Tuesday evening. All athletic games and practices at Parkland were canceled yesterday.
http://www.wxii12.com/news/18192223/detail.html

In the first 10 months of this year, bankruptcy filings have jumped 12% in Winston-Salem and up 13% in Greensboro compared to the same period in 2007. Local plant closings and other layoffs have forced more families with kids in Guilford County to request assistance in paying for school lunches. In 2007…48% of students in the Guilford County school system qualified for full or reduced lunches. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7995294&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

What would you have done??? When a man sounding remarkably like President-elect Barack Obama called a Florida congresswoman yesterday, she assumed it was a crank call.
So Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen did what anyone of us would likely do…she hung up. But, this was no prank. Read more: www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7999309&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.3.1

Sports: ACC – Big 10 Challenge (College Basketball)
Last night: UNC vs Michigan State…98-63…Wake Forest over Indiana…83-58

So what’s the name gonna be? The new team name, logo and uniforms for the new baseball team in Winston-Salem (formerly the Warthogs) will be revealed at the Millennium Center around noon today.

12.03.2008

Associates in Christian Counseling

Topic: Dealing with stress during the holidays…keeping the focus on Christ
Guest: Dr Joe Verga
(336) 896 – 0065
www.christiancounseling.org/

Article: What's stressing you out this Christmas season? Tips to help de-stress during the Holidays www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=67

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Great weather for taking care of the leaves or finishing putting up your outdoor Christmas decorations. Sunny skies…High 54. Tomorrow...mostly cloudy and breezy with a slight chance of a shower.

A link to the online deer-donation registry that connects hunters with people who want deer meat: http://ncbowhunter.com/

A junior varsity basketball player from Parkland High School is in critical condition after collapsing during a game last night. 15 year old Khalid Prince was rushed to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Parkland was playing North Surry. http://www.wxii12.com/news/18192223/detail.html

Around 400 students and staff at West Forsyth High School were evacuated from their classrooms after ‘smoke’ was detected. School officials saying that the smoke was caused by a malfunction in a fan motor in the building's heating and cooling system. www.wxii12.com/news/18189451/detail.html

In yet another sign of the economic Recession…more and more members of the armed services are re-enlisting. Pentagon officials say that they just finished their strongest recruiting year in four years.

A former Davidson County Sheriff's deputy was killed when his car was rear-ended by a fast-moving SUV Sunday afternoon while on the way to buy gifts for the needy. Jeffery Rollins and his wife, Vickie, were stopped at the intersection of East Hartley and Johnson Street in High Point when an SUV driven by Brady Snow plowed into the couple's Toyota Camry.Rollins died at the scene. His wife was taken to the hospital.
The couple had just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7986904&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Pirates have released a Yemen cargo ship without receiving a ransom. So far this year, pirates have attacked almost 100 vessels and successfully hijacked nearly 40 off the coast of Somalia.
A multi-national fleet has been patrolling the waters in and around the Gulf of Aden, which connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Around 20,000 oil tankers, freighters and merchant vessels pass along the crucial shipping route each year.
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/12/03/somalia.pirates.boat.released/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss claimed victory Tuesday night over Democrat Jim Martin in the Senate run-off race in Georgia…ending the Democrats hopes of gaining enough seats to halt filibusters in the senate. Minnesota is the only state with a ‘contested’ Senate race (Al Franken vs Norm Coleman). www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/02/georgia.senate/index.html?iref=hpmostpop

An independent study by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education gives North Carolina and 48 other states an ‘F’ when it comes to affordability. North Carolina scored a "B-minus" for preparation and completion and a "C-plus" in a category that measures benefits from higher education. www.wxii12.com/news/18193036/detail.html
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7991250&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Even though Thanksgiving is over, the Salvation Army is still giving thanks because of what was found inside a red kettle outside a grocery store in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Instead of cash…a half-carat diamond ring. A local jeweler appraised the half-carat diamond ring at $2,000 dollars. Capt. Jennifer Blessing with the Salvation Army is hopeful that the diamond ring was a true donation. If no one comes forward to claim it the money from the diamond ring will be used to provide hot meals for hundreds of needy folks this winter. www.thepittsburghchannel.com/money/18186764/detail.html

Sports: ACC – Big 10 Challenge (College Basketball)
Last night: Duke over Purdue…76 - 60
Tonight: UNC vs Michigan State (9:15pm)…Wake vs Indiana (7:15pm)

12.02.2008

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will hold its annual Moravian Christmas Star lighting and worship service this afternoon beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the employee parking lot on Cloverdale Avenue across from the Shell gas station in Winston-Salem. The service will feature the Medical Center Chorale, a Moravian band and the lighting of the 31 foot star. The public is invited. For more information: Call Paul Mullen, director of church and community relations, at (336) 716-3027.

President Bush will make his final official visit to North Carolina today. The President will visit Youth Focus Incorporated in Greensboro. The visit will highlight the group's Mentoring Children of Prisoner's program. The President will also honor Donna Turner from High Point with the Volunteer Service Award. Donna has been a hospice volunteer for 25 years.
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7982858&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Check out the new song from Steven Curtis Chapman honoring President Bush: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

How about some ‘deer’…dear?
Ramon Bell, who heads the North Carolina Bowhunters Assocation, created an online deer-donation registry at http://ncbowhunter.com/ that connects hunters with people who want deer meat. At the site, people can sign up to donate or receive deer meat. The site: http://ncbowhunter.com/
www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7978779&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Vaughan-Bassett Furniture will close its Elkin plant, leaving 400 workers without a job. The Elkin plant will close January 30, 2009. www.wxii12.com/news/18179765/detail.html

Two additional emergency overflow homeless shelters will help those in need this winter. The Winston-Salem Rescue Mission has donated an overflow shelter at the old Lawrence Hospital in Winston-Salem. In January, a second shelter will open in the gym at First Baptist Church in downtown Winston-Salem. Local homeless families will be referred to the Salvation Army. Woman can receive help at the Bethesda Center. www.wxii12.com/news/18181323/detail.html

Two teenagers have been arrested for robbing a man at the Sheetz gas station at Hickory Tree Road and Highway 150 in northern Davidson County. The Sheriff's Office saying that the victim was assaulted by one of the suspects wearing brass knuckles and had his wallet was taken. The victim was able to write down the vehicle's license plate number and authorities quickly located and arrested two suspects: Joshua Bowman, 19, and Jordan Brock, 18, were arrested at another gas station in Winston-Salem. www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/News/Local?pageId=3.2

College Basketball: ACC – Big 10 Challenge: Last night: Wisconsin over Virginia Tech at the buzzer…74-72. Tonight: UNC vs Michigan State
Monday Night Football: Texans over the Jaguars…30-17

12.01.2008

Monday, December 01, 2008

Today is ‘Cyber Monday’…one of the busiest shopping days of the year for online retailers. Cool Cyber Monday sites: http://www.bestcybermondaysales.com/ http://www.slickdeals.net/

Over the weekend, shoppers spent more money on Black Friday than last year. The National Retail Federation says spending for the weekend was up by 7.2%...nearly 41 billion dollars in sales. Shoppers spent an average of $372.57.

Tensions are high between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week that killed over 170 people. Day to Day activity is slowly getting back to normal in India’s financial hub. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging Pakistan to fully cooperate in the ongoing investigation. Six Americans were among the 19 foreigners killed in the attacks. www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97621969

A new ‘gang’ law goes into effect statewide: The new law is designed to give law enforcement and prosecutors a set of ‘ground rules’ for tackling the state’s growing gang problem.
www.news-record.com/content/2008/12/01/article/new_gang_law_takes_effect_across_state
Also, Jessica's Law, a law created to protect children from child molesters, goes into effect today in North Carolina. http://news14.com/content/top_stories/601983/jessica-s-law-goes-into-effect/Default.aspx

Bad weather forcing the Space Shuttle Endeavour to land in California on Sunday. The Endeavour crew will meet family members in Texas today to celebrate a late Thanksgiving meal and fellowship.

Today is ‘World Aids Day’: Pastor Rick Warren will present President Bush with the first International Medal of Peace. The award, from the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health, recognizes President Bush for his work combating HIV and AIDS around the world. Rick Warren says the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has saved millions of lives in the past five years. Rick Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life" is the pastor of Saddleback Church in California

President Bush will visit the Triad tomorrow. The President will be in Greensboro to visit Youth Focus, Inc…which connects mentors with children who have parents in prison. www.wxii12.com/news/18168322/detail.html

Putting ‘Christ’ in Happy Holiday shopping:
www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000008772.cfm

Sports:
NFL: A late TD lifting the Panthers over the Packers…35-31
Monday Night Football: Jaguars vs Texans
ACC Basketball: ACC – Big 10 Challenge: Virginia Tech vs Wisconsin