Flash Flood Watch through this evening
Forsyth, Davidson, Guilford, Davie and Randolph Counties
-1 to 2 inches of rain possible today
Severe weather threat ‘possible’ between 6pm this evening and 3am Thursday morning
Wind Advisory through midnight tonight (Surry and Wilkes)
Wind gusts up to 50 mph are likely at the highest elevations.
Forsyth County is defending its public ‘prayer policy’ in a new court filing after a magistrate judge issued a preliminary ruling last month that suggested the county's ‘prayer policy’ was unconstitutional. Now that the county has filed its response to the preliminary ruling, the plaintiffs who originally sued over sectarian prayers have 10 days to file their response. Some time after that, Chief District Court Judge James Beaty Jr. is expected to rule on the case.
-On Nov. 9, Magistrate Judge Trevor Sharp recommended that the federal district court for the Middle District of North Carolina make a ruling that Forsyth County's prayer practices are unconstitutional.
-Under the county's policy, clergy are invited to give the invocation before board meetings on a first-come, first-served basis. The board makes no effort to monitor the content of the prayers.
-A lawsuit was filed against Forsyth County in March 2007, asking that all prayers of a sectarian nature be banned at board meetings. The plaintiffs were supported by the American Civil Liberties Union.
http://www.journalnow.com/content/2009/nov/30/forsyt-county-files-response-lawsuit-over-sectaria/
Take Action: Voice your support…
http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/Commissioners/elec_MeetTheBoard.aspx
President Obama outlined his plan for Afghanistan during prime time last night. The President will send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan but will start removing US troops by the middle of 20-11. Some Democrats are complaining about the President’s escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Republicans are unhappy with his promise to withdraw troops in 18 months.
An agreement reached yesterday by Novant Health Inc. and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center may lead to both health systems moving forward on building competing community hospitals. A news conference is set for 1:30 p.m. today. http://www.journalnow.com/content/2009/dec/02/novant-wfu-reach-a-deal-on-hospitals/news/
Recall: Nestlé Prepared Foods Company issuing a recall of three of its Lean Cuisine Frozen Chicken Meals that may contain small pieces of hard plastic. Nestlé Consumer Services Center at (800) 227-6188.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_043_2008_Release/index.asp
Update: A Triad family’s stolen van and wheelchair found. A van stolen from Hanes Mall Monday afternoon that carried a wheelchair for a disabled person was found yesterday afternoon just north of downtown Winston-Salem. Police said that Denae Ayers was shopping at Hanes Mall on Monday and returned to the parking lot to discover that her 2002 Ford Windstar van was missing. Ayers said her daughter's wheelchair was inside the van.
http://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-wheelchair-donated-091201,0,6271865.story
A stay-at-home mom’s recipe for sesame crouton Thai chicken salad could be worth $1 million dollars. Katie Long was chosen as one of 100 finalists in the annual Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. Katie Long, a stay-at-home mother of four from Summerfield, submitted five entries for the contest -- four cookie recipes and the chicken salad recipe -- and was surprised to find out the entrée made the cut. Katie’s recipe was chosen from tens of thousands of entries from across the country. Katie (along with the other 99 finalists) will travel to Florida in April for the official bake-off, where they'll have to make their recipes and present the dishes to the judges. The winner is awarded $1 million.
http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-summerfield-woman-pillsbury-bake-off-091201,0,3071149.story
SPORTS:
College Basketball: ACC / Big Ten Challenge
Wake Forest and NC State both lose
UNC over Michigan State…89 - 82
(series tied 3 to 3)
FSU head coach Bobby Bowden will retire after Bowl Game
Case closed? Even though Tiger Woods refused to talk to the Florida Highway Patrol, Woods has been charged with careless driving, which carries a $164 fine and four points on his driving record.
