Kernersville Police Chief "Neal" Stockton is retiring in September after 34 years in the department. Stockton (age 53) saying that he wants to spend more time with his family and friends. http://www.journalnow.com/content/2009/apr/09/kernersvilles-stockton-ready-to-retire/
The State Senate tentatively approved a $20 billion dollar budget yesterday.The spending plan includes $500 million dollars in new tax revenue but doesn’t say where the money will come from. A final vote is set for later today. http://www.digtriad.com/news/top/article.aspx?storyid=122203&catid=14
A U.S. warship is on the scene of a hostage standoff with Somali pirates near the Horn of Africa. The pirates are still holding the ship’s Captain (Richard Phillips). The remaining crew members aboard the Maersk-Alabama are safe and in good physical shape. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/09/ship.hijacked/index.html
Rescuers are losing hope in finding any survivors after Monday's earthquake in central Italy. A series of aftershocks is still affecting an estimated 28,000 people made homeless by the quake. The death toll continues to rise. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513377,00.html
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest medical insurance provider, deciding to no longer pay hospitals for problems caused by preventable medical errors. Blue Cross is following the lead of Medicare. Only ten states in the U.S. require hospitals to report medical errors. North Carolina is not one of them. http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-medical-errors090408,0,4461895.story
Seven people were arrested during demonstrations surrounding a controversial immigration enforcement program in Alamance County. Nearly 100 protestors on both sides of the 287-G program made their message known yesterday. The sheriff's Department contracted with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house illegal aliens arrested in the cooperative 287(g) program between Alamance deputies and ICE.
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/04/08/article/dueling_immigration_protests_in_alamance_county
Well, there’s good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. And now, it seems, there may be good body fat and bad body fat (even in adults). Until recently, scientists believed that the "good" type of body fat, which spurs the body to burn calories to generate body heat, helped keep infants warm but was mostly gone or inactive by adulthood. http://www.digtriad.com/news/features/article.aspx?storyid=122189&catid=216
Are you virtually connected? A recent Pew Internet & American Life survey found that 45% of Americans in all age groups are enthusiastic about socializing via computer and mobile devices. Meanwhile, 48% of people are indifferent to Internet social networks, overwhelmed by gadgets or often avoiding Internet use altogether.
You’re invited to the WBFJ Dove Awards Party happening Thursday, April 23rd from 7-10pm at Confluence Coffee on Hwy 150 in Winston-Salem. VOTE now for Dove ‘Artist of the Year’ and ‘New Artist of the Year’ at www.wbfj.fm
SPORTS:
Wake Forest basketball star Jeff Teague is ready to test the ‘NBA’ waters but will not hire an agent…retaining his college eligibility.
The Master’s in Augusta…starts today through Sunday
Local minor league baseball: Greensboro Grasshoppers season opener tonight at NewBridge Park www.gsohoppers.com
Winston-Salem Dash…first home game on April 23
