Wake Up Q

Heads Explode! Thursday Morning Prep

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

The Big Picture

Former NFL player Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder yesterday, and prosecutors think they have him dead to rights.  The body of his friend Odin Lloyd was discovered last week in an industrial park near Aaron’s house.  And there are PILES of evidence linking him to the crime . . . including his OWN SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.  But the thing that might end up clinching the case is a piece of chewed-up bubblegum that was found in Aaron’s rental car.  Here’s how a prosecutor presented it at the arraignment yesterday.  (It sounds like this guy didn’t even make an attempt to cover his tracks.  They have him on camera leaving his house with a gun on the night of the murder.  And the bubblegum was found in his rental car next to a SHELL CASING that’s the same caliber as the bullets found in Odin Lloyd.  This only scratches the surface.   The Patriots released Aaron immediately after the news broke that he had been arrested.

Yesterday the Supreme Court issued two huge rulings on gay marriage.  They struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented the federal government from recognizing gay marriages.  And they dismissed the case involving California’s Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage in California but had already been struck down by a federal judge.

 

Showbizzy Newz

 

HERE IT IS!  This is about the funniest video we’ve seen in a long time. A montage of famous women’s heads exploding!

Here’s another one:

PAULA DEEN denied she was racist yesterday on the “Today” show.  And while she kind of acted like SHE was the victim, she did make us this offer . . . quote, “If there’s anyone out there that has never said something that they wish they could take back, then please pick up that stone and throw it at my head so hard it kills me . . . Hit me as hard as you can.”

PAULA DEEN lost two big partners yesterday:  Wal-Mart and Caesars Entertainment.

Wal-Mart says, quote, “We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed.”

Paula has restaurants in four Caesars casinos . . . in Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina and Mississippi.  They’ll be “re-branded” immediately.  The company says that even though she apologized, they decided it was in their best interest to part ways with her.

OPRAH tops this year’s “Forbes” list of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities, which measures fame in a variety of categories.  Meanwhile, MADONNA was the top earner of the year with $125 million . . . and Will Smith, Jennifer Aniston, and Sandra Bullock are considered the most “marketable.”

 

Q Country Closeup

Shania Twain and Chely Wright are among the country stars voicing their support for the Supreme Court’s decision Wednesday on same-sex marriage.  The Canadian-born Shania tweets, “Congratulations to everyone celebrating #equality today in the U.S. #loveislove.”  Chely, who in 2010 became the first country star to come out, calls it “a huge day,” adding, “Please let it be a day that bends mightily toward justice, equality and love.”

Taylor Swift’s star power is on the rise.  The country-pop superstar is landing in the top ten on “Forbes” magazine’s 2013 “Celebrity 100” list, taking the number six spot.  She’s been on the list four times before.  Last year she missed the top ten, falling in at number eleven.

The genealogy show “Who Do You Think You Are?” is coming back next month.  This season they’ll be featuring Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson, among other celebrities.

Hunter Hayes now has a number one album to his credit.  “Hunter Hayes (Encore),” the revamped, deluxe edition of his self-titled debut album, is taking the number one spot on the Billboard Country Albums chart.  The original set peaked in the top five following its release in October 2011.  “Encore” is also giving Hunter his first appearance in the top ten on the Billboard 200.

 

The Backside of the News

A guy stopped to pee on a wall in New Orleans on Wednesday morning, when a one-ton slab of concrete fell forward and pinned him to the ground.  Someone heard him calling for help . . . and firefighters were able to rescue him.  The ground was wet and soft from rain . . . so his legs got pressed into the mud instead of getting crushed.  He just suffered a broken ankle.

Don’t believe me?  Read more http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Eyewitness-discovers-man-trapped-under-concrete-slab-in-Mid-City-213107111.html

A British man, who placed a plastic traffic cone over his head while joking with friends, but then had to be rescued by a policeman after he was unable to free himself. The man apparently had the traffic cone on his head for a few minutes and then realized he couldn’t get it off. A passerby caught the incident on video

http://youtu.be/rMx2TAXCC-k

Randoms

A guy in San Diego is facing 13 years in prison and $13,000 in fines . . . for writing on the sidewalk in chalk?

Read more

A 64-year-old in Australia tried to steal a car, and was foiled . . . because he took too long to load his walker.

Read More

There’s a new app for the iPhone called “Heard,” which records everything within earshot of your iPhone, and keeps it in the phone’s memory for five minutes.  Then the user can either save it, or it will be deleted.

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.