President Obama will address the nation tonight at 8pm. Topic: Healthcare reform. The president is expected to campaign for what is known as the public option -- a government-run healthcare plan which would compete with private insurers. The current plan has virtually no Republican support on Capitol Hill and Democrats are split on the issue.
Pace Airlines has eliminated up to two-thirds of its workforce at its maintenance operation in Winston-Salem. After weeks of not getting paid, between 100 and 200 Pace employees were let go immediately yesterday.
http://www.journalnow.com/content/2009/sep/09/company-cuts-up-to-two-thirds-of-work-force-at-its/news/
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board voted last night to change its policy about students who take Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses but don't take the exams. From now on, if a student doesn't take the exam, the grade will be dropped a letter. An A will become a B, a B will become a C, and so on. The board voted 8-1 to adopt the new policy in order to put the school system in compliance with state policy.
http://www.journalnow.com/content/2009/sep/09/ap-students-will-lose-a-letter-grade-if-they-dont-/
A new partnership between the Forsyth County Humane Society and Meals on Wheels will allow volunteers to deliver pet food, in addition to human food, to seniors with pets who are unable to travel to buy groceries or prepare their own food.
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-meals-wheels-pets-090908,0,6245387.story
A New York Times reporter has been rescued by Allied commandos in Afghanistan. Stephen Farrell and his interpreter were abducted on Saturday. The interpreter and a British commando were killed during this morning's raid.
The station wildfire in California is more than twice the size of Sacramento. Winds are causing the station fire to spread again. Good news is that the fire north of LA is about 60% contained.
Hurricane Fred has quickly strengthened to a Category 2 storm in the Atlantic. Fred's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 mph. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says Fred is expected to start weakening within 24 hours.
In stores now (as of Tuesday): new CDs from Barlow Girl, Bethany Dillon, Josh Wilson, and Thousand Foot Krutch.
November 10th will be the release date for the latest project from Switchfoot. "Hello Hurricane" is Switchfoot's first album on Atlantic Records and its first studio album since the 2006 release of "Oh! Gravity". Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman says "Hello Hurricane acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives."
SPORTS:
The Winston-Salem Dash will take on the Salem red Sox in the first game of the Carolina League playoffs tonight. First pitch (7pm) at Wake Forest Baseball Park. BTW: Major league pitcher “Dice-K’ will start for Salem. “Dice-K” has been on the Boston Red Sox’s disabled list since June 19.
College Football: Michael Jordan has chosen David Thompson as his presenter at Friday’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Springfield. Jordan played college ball at Carolina. Thompson played at NC State.
