Wake Up Q

A Thumpa-Thumpa Grandma! Monday Morning Prep!

Here’s The Things You’ll Want To See Hear and Know Today.

The Big Picture

Kate Middleton went into labor last night.

Everyone’s WORST amusement park nightmare came true on Friday at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas.  Around 6:30 P.M., a woman named Rosy Esparza was riding a roller coaster called the Texas Giant . . . and she FELL OUT of the cart.  She died on impact.  Six Flags Over Texas was closed on Saturday and the Texas Giant has been closed indefinitely.  Investigators are working to figure out what went wrong.  The Texas Giant peaks at 153 feet high.  It’s made of both steel and wood, and it’s the tallest steel-wood hybrid roller coaster in the world.  This isn’t the first death at Six Flags Over Texas.  In 1999, a 28-year-old woman drowned when her boat overturned on a ride called Roaring Rapids.

On Friday, President Obama appeared in the White House press briefing room and gave a personal reaction to the Trayvon Martin verdict.  He compared himself to Martin, and said it could have been him 35 years ago.  He also pushed for tighter legislation on our gun laws.

 

Showbizzy Newz

We proudly salute 70-year-old Geraldo Rivera who tweeted a nearly-naked picture of himself, wearing only a towel.

Phil Mickelson won the Open Championship yesterday, at Muirfield in Scotland.  It’s his fifth major championship.  He started the day five strokes off the lead, and shot a 66 to win it by three strokes.

 

Q Country Closeup

. DIERKS BENTLEY has lost all respect for “Rolling Stone” because they put the Boston Marathon bombing suspect on their cover.  He says, “Something you dream about as a little kid, like, ‘One day I’m gonna be on the cover of ‘Rolling Stone’.  But I never want to be.  Why would I want to be if you can be a terrorist and get on the cover?  The cover’s lost all value.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD released an overly dramatic trailer to get you all excited about her “Blown Away Tour Live” DVD, which will be out August 13th.

 

The Backside of the News

40-year-old Josue Rodriguez was arrested a few days ago for attacking his roommate with a MACHETE . . . all because his roommate CHANGED THE RADIO STATION while he was in the shower.  It could have been a lot worse.  Rodriguez missed with the first swing because his roommate ducked.  On the second swing, he managed to smash his roommate in the cheek with the handle.

A guy from Tennessee just got arrested for breaking into a man’s home and stealing his DEAD MOTHER.  The man was keeping his mother’s ashes in a wooden box, and they were marked with the woman’s name and the name of the funeral home.  But apparently this guy wasn’t a good reader . . . because he took the ashes, THINKING THEY WERE COCAINE.  Here’s the guy’s grandmother talking about it with local news.

 

Randoms

 

As expected, JOHN STAMOS’ “Full House” band JESSE & THE RIPPERS reunited on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Friday night.  It ended with LORI LOUGHLIN, who played “Rebecca” coming out and kissing “Jesse.”

 

http://youtu.be/Dor96YnM_qo

 

The average movie ticket price has reached an all-time high of $8.38.  Of course, it basically reaches an all-time high every year.

 

A video of a white-haired old lady playing a drum solo is racking up millions of hits on YouTube.  It’s from a drum store in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the employees say she just walked in and started drumming.  Here’s a clip of her drum solo.

Headlines

9 hours ago in Business, Community, Environment, Lifestyle, Local, Politics

Cortland County farm wins $35K microenterprise grant award

Dylan Barber Farm in Marathon won a microenterprise grant award for $35,000 in a unanimous vote.

9 hours ago in Community, Local, Politics

Cortland mayor explains 8% tax rate increase

In the 2026 budget adopted last week by the Cortland Common Council, property taxes are going up eight percent, double what was expected.

9 hours ago in Community, Crime, Education, Local

Bath PD trace school threat to Geneva woman

A call to Steuben County 911 on Dec. 19 making unspecified threats to the Bath Central School District was traced back to Carrie McChesney.

10 hours ago in Community, Lifestyle, Local

City of Ithaca parking rates to increase January 5

In 2026, the hourly rate for on-street parking in the ParkMobile/electronic pay station zones will increase to $2.50 per hour.

10 hours ago in Business, Community, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Local

With pool closed for repairs, Cortland YMCA partners with SUNY Cortland for swimming

SUNY Cortland is allowing YMCA members to use the Student Life Center pool while repairs are happening at the YMCA.

10 hours ago in Community, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Local

Tompkins County Advocacy Center office closed for holidays, services still available

Beginning today, December 19th, the Advocacy Center of Tompkins County’s administrative office is shut down for the holidays.