Jamaica Sets Eyes On Digital Future......Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss is taking the lead.
Jamaica is primed to be another hub, this one of the digital variety.
Representatives from various sponsors, supporters and information and communication technology stakeholders gathered at King's House yesterday to launch Digital Jam 3.0 - Caribbean Edition. The initiative is the follow-up to the highly successful Digital Jam 2.0 mobile-app creation competition, the finals of which were held earlier this year.
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| Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House, St Andrew, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer |
Industry Minister Anthony Hylton, a key figure as Jamaica positions itself to be the next global logistics hub, said digital infrastructure was at the heart of developing both hubs, noting the 3.0 theme: 'The Future of Work is Digital'. He added that Jamaica had the ability, leadership and human capital to succeed on both fronts.
IN JAMAICA: Anti-Gang Bill May Seriously Impact Music Industry - Artistes Should Lobby Against Its Passing, Says Damion Crawford.
Tourism State Minister Damion Crawford believes the move to create a law which will force local artistes to refrain from creating music with content that is deemed as being violent is based on prejudice against dancehall music.
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| Hon. Damion Crawford |
The minister, who recently won a selecting clash against Daryl Vaz, says he witnessed several clashes at Sting which were not violent.
He also indicated that it was hypocrisy to say that dancehall contributed to violence when the same is not being said of cartoons, movies and games with violent content.
"It starts from the premise that there is no research, which shows that the consumption of violent media leads to criminal activities. It is merely an assumption, and it is also an assumption that a reduction of violent media will reduce criminal activity," Minister Crawford said. read more
Gov't says $20m spent on PM, SIMPSON-MILLER's China trip
THE Government has confirmed that it spent more than $20 million on the official visit to China of a Jamaican delegation headed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in late August.
Leader of Government Business in the Senate, AJ Nicholson, made the disclosure in answers he provided on Friday to questions tabled by Opposition member Senator Robert Montague.
According to Senator Nicholson, the trip cost the Government $19,680,537, including payments for "travel, subsistence and contingencies", which were paid from the budgetary allocation in the ministries of foreign affairs and foreign trade; water, land, environment and climate change; national security; and the Office of the Prime Minister. He said, however, that the figure did not include costs incurred by the embassy of Jamaica in Beijing, which amounted to US$3,461.84 or J$366,869.52. Read more:
LATEST NEWS in SANTA CRUZ, JAMAICA: KIMBERLY SIMPSON, 18 year old chopped to death by her child's father...... Cops praised for protecting accused man in eight-hour stand-off with angry mob
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| The victim: A recent photo of Kimberly Simpson. |
They won’t easily forget the manner of Simpson’s death — chopped allegedly by the father of her two-year-old son. Nor will they forget the ensuing drama involving an eight-hour stand-off between angry residents and police — the latter protecting the accused, 30-year-old barber Rohan Thomas, from jungle justice
Indeed, while grieving family members complained that a prompt response by the police to frantic calls for help early Friday could have saved Simpson’s life, the police have also come in for high praise for putting their lives on the line to uphold the law. “I don’t want it to get lost in the mix that the police were heroes on the day,” said Richard Parchment, member of parliament for South East St Elizabeth...
“The police have often come under pressure for allegedly carrying out extra-judicial killings, but (Friday) I saw police putting their lives on the line for a man accused of a most heinous crime because they recognised their responsibility to uphold the law,” said Parchment. Read more:
Black Friday Marred By Violence In Several States
The shopping frenzy surrounding Black Friday has already led to a number of violent incidents across the country.
Starting as early as Thursday night, shootings and stabbings have been reported at retailers in several states. Among the most violent episodes happened yesterday at a Kohl's in Romeovile, Ill., when an alleged shoplifter dragged a police officer from his car before being shot in the arm by other law enforcement officers present at the scene, The Chicago Tribune reports.
A shooting was also reported Thursday night in Las Vegas. Two assailants reportedly attempted to steal a TV from a man who had recently purchased it. After arguing, theman was shot in the leg before the attacker sped off in his car, leaving the TV behind, CBS News 8 reports. In an email sent to The Huffington Post, Kohl's said it was "cooperating with the authorities leading the investigation" into the incident. A police officer in Rialto, Calif., was also injured Thursday night when a fight broke out at a local Walmart. read more
KINGSTON, JAMAICA: Four cops charged with shooting death of pastor get bail
FOUR police officers were on Wednesday offered bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's court after being charged with murder over the shooting death of a pastor in 2010.
Special Constable Dian Thompson and constables Zabdiel Dewar, Roan Dennis and Alecia Jones were each offered bail in the sum of $500,000 following applications before Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey.
The four are charged with the murder of Pastor Trevor Edwards, who was shot dead while travelling in an illegal route taxi along Alexander Road, off Maxfield Avenue in Kingston. Edwards was shot after the police pursued the vehicle which was believed to have been stolen. Read more: Ky-Mani Marley's Hope Chant Hits TV Screens Worldwide
Hope Chant features American Country Music artiste Big Kenny from the duo Big & Rich and debuts Ky-Mani's son, KJ Marley, who delivers a good rap on the track.
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| Kymani Marley |
Directed by Mykal Cushnie, the video was shot in early November on location in Trench Town and Tuff Gong Studios; two locations very important to the music of Marley.
Showcasing another side of Ky-Mani Marley, Hope Chant is the first single from 'Big Kenny Presents Electro Shine Record', which is slated for release in 2014. Hope Chant is an uptempo song, fusing together Techno and Reggae beats.
Electro Shine, brainchild of Big Kenny, sees the fusion of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) with Classical Instrumentation. read more
ST. ELIZABETH, Jamaica: 30 y-o man murdered his 18 y-o baby mother with machete in the presence of their 2 y-o child then sets house on fire.... Police rescue alleged murderer after teenager's death, stand-off with residents
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – The murder of a teenaged girl allegedly by her former lover Friday morning led to a stand-off between angry residents and police, which was eventually broken late evening with police firing teargas canisters and shots in the air.
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| Kimberly Simpson |
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| Angry residents wanted to kill alleged murderer |
The police have since taken into custody the father of Simpson’s two-year-old son - the police have identified him as 30-year-old Rohan Thomas, a barber of a New England address in Central Manchester. Reports are that he was before the Courts on a carnal abuse charge as a result of having impregnated the murder victim. Read more:
VYBZ KARTEL MURDER TRIAL: You made up Lizard's murder story to get off a gun charge, attorney tells key witness.
KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Defence in the murder trial of Dancehall DJ Vybz Kartel Friday morning suggested that the prosecution’s main witness made up the story of Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams’ murder, with the help of the police, to get off of a gun charge.
The witness said that on the night of August 16, 2011 when he went home he was given a gun which he buried.
Attorney Pierre Rogers suggested that he made up the story about Kartel and the other men killing Lizard after the police went to his yard and found that he had a gun.
The witness said he was not charged by the police but denied that this was in exchange for him making up a story about Kartel. He said that he wasn’t charged because the police did not find the gun. Rogers then said that the witness “sold the accused men for 30 pieces of silver just like Judas did Jesus”.
-- Paul Henry
Holly jolly christmas? Santa arrested.....Walmart Wage Protest Leads To Arrest Of Man Dressed Like Santa
These days it's not so easy to tell if Santa's being naughty or nice.
A protest on behalf of Walmart workers in Ontario, Calif., led to the arrest of up to 10 people Friday, among them Karl Hilgert, who dressed up as Santa Clause for the event, according to The San Bernardino Sun. The protest was one of around 1,500 planned nationwide Friday accusing Walmart of providing employees unfair wages and working hours. The matter is serious for those protesting, but Hilgert's attire did make for a more amusing photo opportunity:
This is the second year protesters have come out in support of Walmart workers on Black Friday with the help of OUR Walmart, a group advocating for Walmart workers. Some protesters at the Walmart in Ontario carried signs reading "25k,"which is the yearly wage protesters are requesting workers be paid, according to the Los Angeles Times. OUR Walmart claims that, like Hilgert, protesters in nine cities are practicing civil obedience. Protesters have been arrested in several cities including Chicago and Alexandria, Va., according to CNN. read more
This Proves Black Friday Isn't Worth The Trouble.....The Scene Inside The Macy's Flagship On Thanksgiving Was Completely Insane.
It's quiet inside Macy's gargantuan flagship store in Manhattan's Herald Square, a half hour before the doors are set to open for the much-hyped annual shopping frenzy known as Black Friday.
Of course, it's not actually Friday. It's Thursday night. It's still Thanksgiving..
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| Huge crowd at Macys |
No matter. Lines snake out from each of the store's many entrances, hugging its exterior walls and curling around the block. Shoppers huddle together in the 32-degree chill, largely outfitted in puffy black coats and scarves wrapped around their necks. A New York Police Department van sits nearby, a half-dozen officers watching over the scene with semi-automatic rifles in hand. The largest crowd lingers outside the main entrance on Broadway, corralled in barricades so they don't spill out too far into the square. TV crews scamper around, documenting the scene. read more
Trinidad accepts invitation for talks in Jamaica on immigration issue
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| Prime Minister Persad Bissessar, who is also chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping, said that she believed dialogue was the best way to the resolve the issue. |
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Wednesday November 27, 2013, CMC – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has welcomed the move by Jamaica to hold talks on the issue involving the deportation of 13 Jamaican nationals saying she had advised Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran to accept the invitation from his counterpart to travel to Kingston to discuss the matter.
“A letter…of invitation from Jamaica and I have advised him to accept the invitation and to go to Jamaica and speak with his counterparts there,” Persad Bissessar said.
Dookeran later told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that he expects the meeting would take place as soon as all the necessary logistics were in place. Read more:
6 y-o Trinidad schoolgirl sexually assaulted before death - pathologist
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Friday Nov 29, 2013, CMC – A six-year-old schoolgirl, whose body was found in a barrel at her home on Thursday, had been sexually assaulted while unconscious and dying, according to the results of an autopsy done on Friday.
Pathologist Dr. Valery Alexndradrov said that a blunt force trauma was the cause of the death of Keyana Cumberbatch whose body was found stuffed in a barrel in a bedroom at her home.
“She sustained massive cranial cerebral trauma, which means there was trauma to the skull and the brain and the trauma to the skull was so extensive that all the (wounds) were open,” he said, adding that before the autopsy, X- rays were done, and there were no previous fractures ".Read more:
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Rihanna congratulated by Barbados Culture Minister on winning first (American Music Awards) AMA icon award
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| Rihanna |
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) -- the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley has congratulated Barbadian superstar, Rihanna, on receiving the first-ever Icon Award at the American Music Awards. “This is a triumph not only for Rihanna and her family but indeed for Barbados,” said Lashley in a statement.
As a proud Barbadian, I, too, felt as though I had received this award. It was a glorious moment to see this humble, intelligent young woman, who just a few short years ago was still a schoolgirl attending Combermere School and living in Westbury Road, transformed into a fashion and music icon, being acknowledged by one of the greatest countries in the world for her craft,” he added. Read more:
VYBZ KARTEL MURDER TRIAL: Key witness comes under pressure at Kartel trial.
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| Kartel |
THE defence yesterday painted the prosecution's star witness as untruthful during the murder trial of Vybz Kartel and four other men in the Supreme Court, downtown Kingston.
Kartel, Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, André St John, Kahira Jones, and Shane Williams are jointly charged with the August 2011 murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams.
Attorney Pierre Rodgers, who represents Jones, asked the witness during cross-examination if he had handled an illegal firearm on the evening in August 2011 when Williams was allegedly murdered at a house in Havendale, St Andrew, owned by Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer.
"Did you have a firearm that day?" Rodgers asked.
"No sir," the witness answered.
"At no point did you have a firearm with you?" Rodgers asked again.
"No sir," the witness replied.
'Have you told anyone that you had a firearm on the night of the 16th of August 2011?" the attorney asked....
Read more:
IN JAMAICA: Ganja Medicine Local doctors approve patients' use of marijuana
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| Local doctors approve patients' use of marijuana |
"This is an important piece of finding," Anderson told the audience at the briefing held at Lowe's Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa on Lady Musgrave Road in Kingston.
"There is use of marijuana for treatment of medical condition. One in every three persons who use ganja for some medical condition tell it to their doctor and, probably, in 50 per cent of those cases the doctor approved the treatment," he stated. Read more:
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Jamaica's PM joins call for more women political leaders
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has joined the call by global leaders for more women to become political leaders.
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| Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (right) proudly holds the award given to Jamaica for bridging the gender gap in terms of women in public administration, awarded by the European Union. |
Simpson Miller, who was addressing Wednesday's opening of the Women In Parliament Global Forum, held here at the European Parliament, noted that as of January 2013 the average share of women in Parliaments globally stood at only 20.4 per cent. This, she said, was a far cry from the 40 per cent advocated by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women's roles and rights to be considered as decision makers in the formal economy and development.
Simpson Miller argued that if women are not at the decision-making table, their long-term impact is negligible, so the first task therefore, is to get more women to the table. Read more:
IN FLORIDA: Marissa Alexander, Woman Sentenced For Firing Alleged 'Warning Shot' At Her Husband Gets Released.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville woman awaiting a new trial in a controversial "stand your ground" case is free on bond. First Coast News (http://fcnews.tv/18q19sa) reports that Marissa Alexander was released from jail Wednesday. According to the Duval County Clerk of Court, she must remain under house arrest while awaiting trial.
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| Marissa Alexander |
In 2012, Alexander was sentenced to a mandatory 20-year prison sentence for firing what she insisted was a warning shot during a fight with her husband. She tried to invoke Florida's "stand your ground" law, but the judge threw out her self-defense claim....
An appeals court ruled in September that the judge in the case gave improper jury instructions. Alexander says she fired a bullet at a wall in 2010 to scare off her husband when she felt he was threatening her. read more
125 Drug Tests Before Olympics - JAAA Boss Counters WADA Claim - Lists High Frequency Of Testing Prior To London 2012 Games
President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake has come out in defence of the nation's top athletes, following recent threats made by the World Anti-Doping Agency against the background that not enough was being done by the island's track and field officials to deal with drug use in the sport.
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| Dr. Warren Blake |
"Our athletes are the most tested in the world, as prior to the London Olympic Games, some 125 drug testing was done on our elite athletes by the IAAF ... while WADA was not doing enough, the IAAF was extensively testing our athletes and our athletes are tested more than any other athletes in the world," said Dr. Blake.
"When you look at the performances of our athletes since this extensive drug testing by the IAAF it is the best medal haul we have had in major competition in our history." read more
Excelsior High was beaten 4-2 on penalties by Wolmer's Boys in Wlaker Cup Finals.
Dear All,
In the Walker Cup Football Finals, Excelsior High was beaten 4-2 on penalties by Wolmer's Boys a few minutes ago. Penalty kicks became necessary after both teams were locked on 1-1 after full and extra time.
In the Walker Cup Football Finals, Excelsior High was beaten 4-2 on penalties by Wolmer's Boys a few minutes ago. Penalty kicks became necessary after both teams were locked on 1-1 after full and extra time.
Congratulations to Wolmers, worthy champions. Hearty congrats to the Excelsior team who represented the school well all season; making the Manning Cup semi-finals and the Walker Cup final. Congrats also to Coach Halliman and staff for a wonderful season.
Coach Leebert Halliman, an Excelsior Alumnus will be our special honouree at this years Wesley Powell Invitational T&F Meet. He will be honored for his continuous contribution to the development of the school.....
Age Animo,
Shaks
NIKKI MINAJ IN LIVING COLORS: Your skin and nose doesn't need fixing. Fix your mind. www.blackgirlsbeautybible.blogspot.com
She was already pretty without all of that. So sad how our sistas hate themselves and don't even know it.
Rihanna congratulated by Barbados Culture Minister on winning first (American Music Awards) AMA icon award
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| Rihanna |
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) -- the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley has congratulated Barbadian superstar, Rihanna, on receiving the first-ever Icon Award at the American Music Awards. “This is a triumph not only for Rihanna and her family but indeed for Barbados,” said Lashley in a statement.
As a proud Barbadian, I, too, felt as though I had received this award. It was a glorious moment to see this humble, intelligent young woman, who just a few short years ago was still a schoolgirl attending Combermere School and living in Westbury Road, transformed into a fashion and music icon, being acknowledged by one of the greatest countries in the world for her craft,” he added. Read more:
IN JAMAICA: Trinis turn to Shanique Myrie for help........says she has been contacted by Trinidadian friends who have voiced their disgust at the actions of that country's immigration officers.
SHANIQUE Myrie, the poster girl of free travel through the Caribbean Community, says she has been contacted by Trinidadian friends who have voiced their disgust at the actions of that country's immigration officers.
Myrie, who was recently awarded damages against Barbados in the Caribbean Court of Justice, says some Trinidadians are not in agreement with the unfair treatment being meted out to Jamaicans.
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| Myrie |
"I have friends who live in Trinidad and they are calling on Jamaicans not to blame the Trinidadian people. It is the actions of the immigration officers. They asked me to tell the people of Jamaica that they love us," Myrie told the Jamaica Observer. Last week 13 Jamaicans, including an 11-year-old child, were denied entry into the twin island, forced to sit on a hard bench for an entire night and sent back to Jamaica the next morning.
The treatment of the Jamaicans have elicited calls for consumers to boycott goods from the twin island and a movement has already started on the social media Facebook. Read more:
DAMMING TESTIMONY AGAINST VIBES KARTEL IN MURDER TRIAL : Witness testifies seeing ‘Lizard’ motionless in Kartel’s living room
A prosecution witness yesterday gave damning evidence against Vybz Kartel and his four co-accused as their murder trial continued in the Home Circuit Court, downtown Kingston.
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| Kartel leaving court last Thursday |
The witness, who gave an initial statement that led to Kartel and Shawn 'Shawn Storm' Campbell, Andre St John, Kahira Jones, and Shane Williams being arrested and charged with murder, seemed to tremble while on the witness stand. He testified that he was present at a house on Swallowfield Avenue in Havendale, St Andrew on August 16, 2011 when Clive 'Lizard' Williams was attacked.
The witness, who was surrounded by a security detail of about 10 police officers, said he and Williams were summoned by Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, to the house to give account for two illegal firearms that went missing while in their care. He was accompanied to the house by Campbell in a taxi driven by a man known as 'Nefa', who he begged not to leave him. He said, after a brief exchange between Kartel and Williams, Kartel invited them inside. Read more:
7 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Your Thanksgiving Meal
When it comes to Thanksgiving, every year is delightfully repetitive: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pecan pie. Your uncle will make the same insane political assertions; your young cousins will sulk. There will be lipstick all over your cheeks. You'll vow to do a better job with the gravy -- and then it will taste familiarly paste-like, despite your best efforts. We hate to interrupt this idyll of sameness, but we think there are a few things you might not know about your Thanksgiving meal. And we're here to tell you. read more
Thanksgiving is responsible for the creation of TV dinners
DAMION CRAWFORD LAUDS STING’S LONGEVITY
DANCEHALL music has always had its share of critics, some of whom point to the genre's negative impact on Jamaican youth.
Entertainment minister Damion Crawford, however, is not one of the naysayers. Speaking at Monday's launch of Sting at the Jamaica Pegasus in New Kingston, Crawford defended reggae's controversial spin-off.
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| Damion Crawford (left), minister of state in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, greets Supreme Promotions’ Howard McIntosh (right), while Lisa Hanna (second left), and Isaiah Laing, Supreme Promotions’ boss, look on. |
"The saying that dancehall is a crucial part of society's violence is a myth. If that was the case, Sting would not have been sustained over the years. We don't hear the same thing being said about cartoons, books and movies," said Crawford. He noted that other music forms such as rock and roll, and hip hop have been similarly chastised but like dancehall, and Sting, have endured. Read more:
No doubt! Tessanne in Voice Top 6
TESSANNE Chin moved into the top six of the American television talent contest, The Voice, during last night's results show that proved nerve-wracking for Jamaicans.
Chin, who injected a Jamaican flavour to the NBC contest Monday night with an energetic performance of the reggae number Underneath It All by No Doubt, featuring deejay Lady Saw, was visibly nervous each time presenter Carson Daly announced the name of the contestants who, based on public vote, moved up to the next round.
Her anxiety, however, ended on the fourth announcement which triggered celebration among Jamaicans on the island and in the diaspora, as well as from her coach, Adam Levine. Read more:
Protect brand Ocho Rios
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Newly appointed spokesperson on tourism Shahine Robinson said the resort town of Ocho Rios is in a deplorable condition and needs immediate attention. Similar sentiments were voiced by stakeholders at the recently held St Ann Chamber of Commerce meeting where Robinson was speaking. “T ...moreRead more:
Jamaica Sets Eyes On Digital Future......Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss is taking the lead.
Jamaica is primed to be another hub, this one of the digital variety.
Representatives from various sponsors, supporters and information and communication technology stakeholders gathered at King's House yesterday to launch Digital Jam 3.0 - Caribbean Edition. The initiative is the follow-up to the highly successful Digital Jam 2.0 mobile-app creation competition, the finals of which were held earlier this year.
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| Newly named I Believe Initiative Ambassador Roxanne Wanliss shares a moment with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House, St Andrew, yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Photographer |
Industry Minister Anthony Hylton, a key figure as Jamaica positions itself to be the next global logistics hub, said digital infrastructure was at the heart of developing both hubs, noting the 3.0 theme: 'The Future of Work is Digital'. He added that Jamaica had the ability, leadership and human capital to succeed on both fronts.
Wicked weather may wreck your travel plans
It's already left a mess in the western half of the country. Now, a big storm is soaking the South and may ice up roads in the Northeast -- just in time for Thanksgiving travel.FULL STORY
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