Wake Up Q

First Storm, CMT, Chris’s Thursday Prep

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

 

The Big Picture

Okay, here we go….Meet Tropical Storm Andrea….

Details

President Obama might have another scandal on his hands.  A newspaper in the UK just published a top secret court document that orders Verizon to turn over millions of phone records to the National Security Agency . . . both international AND domestic calls.  They’re not even looking for people they’re suspicious about.  They just want records of everyone’s calls.

Details

The Powerball winner finally came forward.  Her name is Gloria Mackenzie, and she’s 84.  She lives in Zephyrhills, Florida, where she bought the winning ticket.  She said in a statement that she won because someone else let her CUT IN LINE when she bought the ticket.

A building was being demolished yesterday in Philadelphia, and it fell on top of the store next to it.  Six people were killed, and 14 more were injured.  (They’re still trying to figure out why the building fell the wrong way.  The injured people were all trapped in the rubble, and were rescued by bystanders and first responders within a few hours.  This report is from earlier in the day, when only one person had died, but since then there have been five more confirmed deaths.  The last survivor was pulled from the rubble about 12 hours after the accident.)

He may have lost his title for a while but TIGER WOODS is once again theWorld’s Highest-Paid Athlete, according to Forbes.com.

He’s pulled in $78.1 million over the past year in prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and other sources.

 

 

 

Showbizzy Newz

Paris Jackson tried to commit suicide on Tuesday night.  She slit her wrists and took a lot of pills.  She’s going to be fine, but obviously they’re worried about her mental state.  Apparently it’s not the first time she’s tried.  (It sounded like she regretted it almost immediately, because she called a suicide hotline before the pills took effect, and it might have saved her life.)

 

Barbara Walters passed on a message from Michael Douglas yesterday on “The View”.  She said he told her that Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn’t have HPV.  (And he also said he doesn’t know how he got cancer.)

 

Q Country Closeup

CARRIE UNDERWOOD won Video of the Year at last night’s “CMT Music Awards”.  Other big winners included MIRANDA LAMBERT and FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE who won two awards each.

 

Here’s your complete list of last night’s winners . . .

 

Video of the Year:  “Blown Away”Carrie Underwood

Male Video of the Year:  “Sure Be Cool If You Did”Blake Shelton

Female Video of the Year:  “Mama’s Broken Heart”Miranda Lambert

Group Video of the Year:  “Downtown”Lady Antebellum

Duo Video of the Year:  “Cruise”Florida Georgia Line

Collaborative Video of the Year:  “The Only Way I Know”Jason AldeanLuke Bryan and Eric Church

CMT Performance of the Year:  “Over You” . . . Miranda Lambert from “2012 CMT Artists of the Year”

USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year:  “Cruise”Florida Georgia Line

 

And how about that Little Big Town!  Check out what could be the performance of the night:

MUST See Video

The Backside of the News

Last week, at an elementary school talent show in Florida, two moms got into a brawl when one felt like the other one’s camera was blocking her view.  They argued, then started BRAWLING until other parents broke it up.  The one who turned things physical is facing battery charges.

Wanna see a kid ride on his broomstick?  Apparently a lot of people do.

Randoms

 

KEITH OLBERMANN is returning to sports.  He’s going to host a postseason baseball show for TBS, alongside former pitcher DENNIS ECKERSLEY.

 

That huge invasion of cicadas?  CANCELLED.  Experts say they should have been out by now.

Details

That hands-free whopper-eating contraption?  It was just a joke. 

Details

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.