PRODUCER KOURTNEY CHRISTOPHER PAIGE
ANCHOR DR. SUNNY FRIDGE
1. President Obama admits an Economic Failure.
2. A snapshot of the gloomy Employment Picture.
3. And, A Fridge it Weekend for the Metro.
Good Afternoon, I’m Sunny Fridge, and this is WJSU News Now…Degrees and Chilly Temperatures at this hour and this Weekend, we’ll have the latest details on your forecast, Today in Weather.
But, First at this Hour…President Barack Obama is acknowledging in the wake of this week's election rout that he hasn't been able to successfully promote his economic-rescue message to anxious Americans. It’s Our Top Story on the News Now Update at Noon.
Obama says in an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that he "stopped paying attention" to the leadership style he displayed during his run for the presidency.
Obama also said he recognizes now that "leadership is not just legislation," and that "it's a matter of persuading people, bringing them together and setting a tone and making an argument that people can understand."
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The employment snapshot due out today isn't expected to contain much to crow about. It’s Our Start at News Across America at this Hour and a First Look at the Economy. It could also serve as a reminder to newly elected members of Congress of the economic challenges they face in January. The jobs report for October is expected to show hiring weak and unemployment still high. The outlook for 2011 isn't much better.
The names of 13 people killed in last year's shooting rampage at Fort Hood are etched into a 6-foot-tall rectangular block of granite.
"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal — Love leaves a memory no one can steal" is engraved atop the memorial. It's to be unveiled Friday morning on the one-year anniversary of the attack.
Army Chief of Staff General George Casey and Army Secretary John McHugh also will present awards to more than 50 soldiers and civilians whose actions on November 5th, 2009, went above and beyond the call of duty.
Fort Hood will hold a memorial service and moment of silence on Friday afternoon.
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An Ellisville man has died following an accident at a construction site in Jackson. It’s News Around the State.
Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said that 46-year-old Medgar Evers was run over and crushed by a forklift Wednesday while working on a bridge. The Clarion-Ledger reports Evers is not related to the famed civil rights worker by the same name.
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The federal government says the names of 581 black World War I veterans are missing from bronze plaques hanging outside the courthouse in Natchez. The United States General Services Administration tells the Natchez Democrat that the names will be added to the plaques. The GSA says in addition to the 581 black soldiers excluded, more than 100 white veterans were also left off the plaques.
The GSA became aware of the missing names in 2008 when a California State University graduate student, Shane Peterson, highlighted the issue in his thesis.
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There's steady rain falling and the mud is up to people's ankles but residents of Haiti's earthquake camps are ignoring warnings to leave ahead of Hurricane Tomas (toh-MAHS'). It’s Breaking News at this Hour.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami predicts dangerous storm surges along the coast of the deforested and flood-prone nation and possible flash floods and mudslides in mountainous areas. Tomas' maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph.
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And, Finally this Afternoon… NASA is fueling space shuttle Discovery for one last liftoff.
Before sunrise Today, the launch team began filling the massive fuel tank for a mid-afternoon liftoff. It's the closest NASA has come to sending Discovery and a crew of six to the International Space Station, after nearly a week of delays.
Thursday's attempt was thwarted by stormy weather. The cold front quickly moved through. Now, forecasters say there is a 70 percent chance that conditions will be acceptable at the 3:04 p.m. launch time. Wind is the main concern.
This will be the 39th and final flight of Discovery. NASA will close out its 30-year-old space shuttle program next year.
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And, Your First Look at Weather this Friday Afternoon… High pressure is staying in control of our weather for today and the dominance of northern winds will keep a pronounced chill in the air.
Your Weekend Forecast for Jackson, Holly Bluff, Madison and the Rest of Central Mississippi is looking at a Freeze warnings and watches are in effect for this weekend as Saturday and Sunday morning will feature temps falling to near or below freezing state wide. A cool 52 for a High and a Chilly 32 for a Low.
