The Triad is under a Code Orange Air Quality Alert
Your WBFJ Family Station Forecast: 50/50 chance of showers and thunderstorms later this afternoon into this evening…High 92
TODAY is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. Dressed up like a ‘cow’ and get FREE food from Chick-fil-A www.CowAppreciationDay.com
The lack of rainfall is starting to cause problems for NC farmers. 18 counties in the state are currently in ‘moderate drought’ conditions. Another 62 other counties including Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin are considered abnormally dry...just below the moderate drought category. www.journalnow.com
As temperatures in the Piedmont soar well into the 90s, the number of calls to Forsyth County Animal Control has gone up. Reports of animals left out in the heat, without access to water or shade, are up almost 25% compared to last week. (WXII)
US – Russian spy swap is underway. A U.S. flight that carried 10 deported Russian agents landed in Vienna earlier today, as part of the biggest spy swap between the U.S. and Russia since the Cold War. In exchange for the 10 Russian spies, Russia has pardoned the four prisoners convicted of spying for the United States
www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/US-Russia-Swap-Agents-at-Vienna-Airport--98099129.html
Iran's government is denying reports that a 42 year old Iranian woman convicted of adultery will be executed by stoning, though her death sentence may still be carried out by some other method. The woman’s son is appeal to Human Rights Groups around the world for help. CNN
The shooting of a 13-year-old boy at a Greensboro apartment complex Monday afternoon has been ruled accidental. According to police, the teen was accidentally shot in the neck by his brother, Ricky Woods. Police have a warrant for the arrest of the brother. (Fox8)
The Highway Patrol has released a two-page "Code of Conduct" that each trooper will be required to read and sign. The document's creation was ordered by Gov. Bev Perdue as one of a series of changes intended to curb incidents of bad behavior among the patrol's 1,800 sworn law officers. With the "zero tolerance" standard that Perdue announced Wednesday, violation of the new code of conduct would be considered a firing offense.
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/07/09/article/patrol_sets_trooper_code_of_conduct
A Winston-Salem pastor who was asked to offer an opening prayer at the North Carolina legislature each day for a week says he was barred after the first day when he refused to change his prayers to exclude the name of "Jesus Christ." Dr. Ron Baity, pastor at Berean Baptist Church, said he was asked to open the May 31 through June 3 sessions. The Christian Law Association, an organization that offers free legal defense and counsel to churches, helped Baity draft a nine-page letter to House Speaker Joe Hackney asking for an apology and the ability to return to offer another prayer. www.wxii12.com/news/24182899/detail.html
A Billboard battle is brewing. Billboards with the message "one nation, UNDER God" are going up across the state in response earlier billboards that did NOT mention God. In June, the North Carolina Secular Association put up billboards with the message "one nation, indivisible" dropping the words "under God," which were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. The group says it wanted to show that non-believers are patriotic, too. (The Asheville Citizen-Times)
SPORTS
The Atlantic Coast Conference has reached a 12-year agreement with ESPN for the exclusive rights to air ACC sporting events. The deal begins in 2011-12
www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2010/07/05/daily18.html
NBA news: LeBron James will be playing for the Miami Heat.
Spain will play the Netherlands in the World Cup championship game on Sunday The World Cup soccer action (Johannesburg, South Africa) www.fifa.com
Minor League Baseball: The Winston-Salem Dash over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans…4 – 3
Dash at home again tonight. Fireworks after the game. www.wsdash.com
