Areas of fog through mid-morning. Dense Fog Advisory for the southern mountains (including Morganton, Marian and Asheville)
In their first public statement…John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are "heartbroken" and ‘devastated’ over the death of their 16-year-old son. Jett Travolta collapsed and died while vacationing with the family in the Bahamas on Friday. Funeral arrangements are pending. www.travolta.com
Day 10 of Israel’s retaliation against Hamas militants. Israeli ground forces continue their push into the Gaza Strip. The ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza began on Saturday.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is withdrawing his name as the nominee for commerce secretary in the Obama administration. Richardson saying that an on-going federal investigation into a company that has supported his political activity would likely delay his confirmation. Richardson served as energy secretary in the Clinton administration.
www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/04/richardson.withdrawal/index.html
The Minnesota Senate re-count race goes to Franken. State election officials will announce Democrat Al Franken has defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in Minnesota's U.S. Senate ‘re-count’ race. Coleman is expected to challenge the result.
A memorial service was held yesterday for Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the actress who played Nurse Chapel on the Star Trek television series and wife of the late 'Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry. Majel died of leukemia at her home in Bel Air on December 18. She was 76. Roddenberry is survived by her son, Eugene. www.ktla.com/print_landing?Memorial-Service-to-be-Held-for-Star-Tre=1&blockID=175828&feedID=171&
Scientists have discovered that ‘Love can last a lifetime’. Using brain scans, researchers at Stony Brook University in New York have discovered that a small number of couples responded with as much passion after 20 years together as those who just fell in love. Previous research has suggested that the first stages of romantic love fade within 15 months and after 10 years it was completely gone. www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/01/04/true.love.found/index.html
“Bailout”, “maverick” and “carbon Footprint” making the list of ‘banished’ words or phrases? The annual list of “Mis-use or Over-used’ words and phrases is compiled by Lake Superior State University. Not to worry…the list is more about letting off steam and offering laughs than actually banning any words. http://www.wxii12.com/index.html
SPORTS:
ACC basketball: Upset last night- Boston College over the Tarheels…85-78
NFL Play-offs:
This Saturday, Jan. 10…
Baltimore at Tennessee, 4:30 (CBS)
Arizona at Carolina, 8:15 (Fox)
This Sunday, Jan. 11…
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. (Fox)
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 4:45 (CBS)
Super Bowl (Sunday, Feb. 1) in Tampa, Fla. (NBC)
