Wind Advisory remains in effect for the Piedmont Triad through early evening
Winds will increase this afternoon…with wind gusts up to 40 mph at times.
Northern Mountains are under a High Wind Warning
Wind gusts over 50 mph are expected at the highest elevations.
Winds this strong coupled with wet ground may down trees and power lines.
Flood warning til 1:30pm for communities in southwest Virginia
(Carroll and Grayson Counties + City of Galax)
As of 9:40, flooding of several creeks was reported across the area.
Your WBFJ Family Station Forecast:
Clearing skies with some sunshine. Very windy this afternoon...High 62
1.8 million Duke Energy customers in the state will see their bills go up in January. North Carolina regulators have given the OK for Duke Energy to raise rates by 7% over the next two years. This is the first general rate increase since 1991. www.journalnow.com/content/2009/dec/08/nc-utilities-panel-agrees-duke-energy-increase/
MORE HARSH WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TODAY FOR THE NORTH AND EASTERN US.
A LOW TURNOUT IS EXPECTED IN MASSACHUSETTS TODAY AS VOTERS TAKE THE FIRST STEP TO SELECT A REPLACEMENT FOR THE LATE SENATOR TED KENNEDY.
World Against Toys Causing Harm (or W.A.T.C.H.) wants to warn parents about potentially dangerous toys. The group says in the past year, there have been 31 toy recalls representing 4.6 million toys. A list of "10 Worst Toys" for 2009 includes the Disney-Pixar Wall-E Foam Rocket Launcher. The group says the rocket launches at a high rate of speed with the potential to cause serious eye injuries. Check out the complete list: http://www.toysafety.org/worstToyList_index.shtml
All the recent rain has slowed the curbside leaf collection in Greensboro, forcing the city to change the pick-up schedule. The city of Greensboro will extend the collection date for the first round of pickups by one week. All leaves that are already left by the curbside will be picked up by Dec. 19. Leaves that are left by the curb by Dec. 21 will be picked up by Jan. 22.
The collected leaves are made into compost to fertilize city gardens.
Residents may purchase the compost at the White Street Landfill
Details: (336) 373-2489.
www.myfox8.com/wghp-story-rain-leaf-colleciton-0901204,0,910643.story
Bryant Gumbel shocked Kelly Ripa when he dropped a medical ‘bombshell’ while co-hosting "Live With Regis and Kelly." Gumbel revealed that he had surgery for lung cancer two months ago when a malignant tumor and part of his lung were removed. Gumbel had been keeping his condition a secret, but had to tell Kelly Ripa when she tried to get him to dance and he said he wasn't up to it.
Spare change could change a life: From now through December 13th, while you are shopping at the JCPenney at Hanes Mall, you can ‘round up’ your purchase (voluntarily) to the nearest dollar to support the Northwest North Carolina YMCA Afterschool Programs. 100% of the funds collected goes directly to 10 local YMCA programs, funding Christian Child Care to families in need. Phone: 336.768.2510
A member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians pleaded guilty yesterday to trafficking dozens of bear gall bladders against tribal law. Prosecutors said Clement Calhoun transported and sold 51 bear gall bladders that had a retail value of $6,600 dollars. The gall bladders are used in Asian medicine. Cherokee code prohibits members from selling parts of big game animals beyond the boundaries of tribal trust lands.
http://www.digtriad.com/news/most_popular/article.aspx?storyid=134257&provider=top
THE TSA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RELEASE OF SENSATIVE INFORMATION. The Screening Management Standard Operating Procedures manual was improperly posted by the agency to the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. Although the TSA has removed the document from the government contracting website, several online sources have uploaded it onto their websites. The T-S-A is reviewing the incident.
Hip to be 'Square': Twitter creator Jack Dorsey is giving the first public demonstration of his hotly-anticipated latest venture -- a device to allow credit card payments by cell phone -- and revealed it would be given away for free. Dorsey says the “Square” is scheduled for launch on iPhones and iPods in March 2010.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/12/09/twitter.dorsey.credit.card/index.html
