Tropical Storm Claudette made landfall early this morning along the Florida Panhandle near Fort Walton Beach. What’s left of Claudette is expected to dump 3-6 inches of additional rain…while tracking north into Alabama then into northeastern Mississippi later tonight.
Meanwhile, out in the Atlantic:
Tropical depression Ana has been down-graded. Tropical storm watches remained in effect for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
‘Bill’ is now the first hurricane of the 2009 Hurricane Season. Hurricane Bill could develop into a major hurricane by Wednesday. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090817/D9A4IR3G0.html
President Barack Obama is willing to embrace insurance cooperatives over a government-run plan as the White House faces mounting opposition to its broad overhaul of the nation's health care system. Bowing to Republican pressure and offering political cover to fiscally conservative Democrats. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090817/D9A4IUK01.html
As part of the 2009 budget, city leaders in Chicago set aside three reduced-service days: the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Eve. But City Council recently decided to move the New Year's Eve reduced-service day to today. In all, the three days of unpaid leave for city employees are expected to save the city eight-point-three million dollars.
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH WILL BE WORKING TO KEEP ORDINATION LIMITED TO THOSE WHO ARE CELIBATE OR MARRIED DURING THIS WEEK’S CONVENTION. Delegates will also be considering whether ELCA churches should begin blessing same-gender unions.
A 1,224-pound triple vanilla cupcake with pink frosting has set a record as the world's largest cupcake. The mega cupcake was unveiled this past Saturday at a classic car event in Royal Oak, Michigan. You may be wondering: The cupcake took 12 hours to bake and included 800 eggs and 200 pounds each of sugar and flour. Calorie count: an estimated 2 million calories. Slices of the cupcake were served in exchange for donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090816/D9A44KEG3.html
THE PAUL COLMAN TRIO IS BACK TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TOUR IN FIVE YEARS. Ten years after the Paul Colman Trio released its first CD and five years after it disbanded, pc3 is reuniting for a tour of Australia and New Zealand this October. Paul says the band is looking forward to touring together, playing fans favorite’s and "singing some new ones". http://www.paulcolmantrio.com/
THE MAYOR OF MILWAUKEE IS BEING HAILED AS A HERO, AFTER CONFRONTING A PIPE-WIELDING MAN WHO WAS THREATENING A WOMAN AT THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR. The man with the pipe turned his attention from the woman crying for help to Mayor Tom Barrett. Before he fled the scene, the man struck the 55-year old Barrett in the head and torso. Read more...http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/53347442.html
SPORTS:
NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson ran out of gas…Brain Vickers takes the checkered flag in Michigan. Three races remain before the Chase.
PGA: South Korean golfer Y.E.Yang beat Tiger Woods to win the PGA championship.
This week: Wyndham Championship (Sedgefield Country Club)
Bring 5 cans of non-perishable food items to the tournament and be entered into a ‘raffle’ for a seven night vacation courtesy of Wyndham Hotels.
