CULLMAN — Good morning, readers, this is what's happening in your county today:



Traffic:



Crews from the Cullman City Street Department will continue working/painting the city parking deck. A crew is working on drainage ditches throughout the city; this operation is not expected to interfere with traffic.



Weather:



Today: A chance of rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet before noon, then rain. High near 43. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Rain, mainly before midnight. Low around 36. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light north after midnight.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.



Of note:



What will you do for New Year’s? Here are a couple of events in the Cullman County area for Monday:

• Life Church in downtown Dodge City (471 Highway 69 S, Hanceville 35057) will have their annual ball drop at 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31, and countdown to midnight with numerous bands, free food, and a free giant blowup slide for the children. The giant ball is eight feet wide and covered with clear LED lights so it can be easily seen by all who attend.

• The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2214 will hold a New Year’s dance from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $15 at the door. Info: Randy McGraw at 256-287-5650. All proceeds going towards the cost of the dance.



Here are a couple of notes for the coming year:

• The Cullman County 4-H Clubs are in need of good Rigid Heddle looms or something similar to work with, by April 1. Those who’d like to donate or sell their looms, may contact Raydonna Sims at 256-737-9386.

• The 2013 Cullman Oktoberfest Committee is currently accepting proposals for an entertainment promoter for the fall event (Oct. 5-12, 2013). Those interested in submitting a proposal should contact Julie Burks at the Cullman County Museum at 256-739-1258 or by email at oktoberfest@cullmancity.org; a scope of services will be sent. Deadline for submission is Jan. 10, 2013.



10 Things to Know for Today

By The Associated Press

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today (times in EST):

1. WILL ANYONE BUDGE

Top congressional leaders will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House in a last-ditch effort to bridge the fiscal divide, but there’s no sign a deal is taking shape.

2. WHAT’S IN A NICKNAME

To many, retired Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf will always be “Stormin’ Norman,” the no-nonsense Desert Storm commander. But the general who died Thursday preferred a lighter sobriquet: “The Bear.”

3. WHO SHOULD HAVE GUNS IN SCHOOLS

The NRA envisions armed volunteers to protect schools from attacks like the one in Newtown, Conn. School safety experts say trained police are needed.

4. TRYING TO KEEP A LID ON THE INTERNET

China passes rules aimed at tightening controls on Internet, following online postings about graft and abuses that rattled the ruling party.

5. CLOSING THE DOOR ON ADOPTIONS

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin signs a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

6. WHAT’S THREATENING TO CRIPPLE PORTS

If 14,500 longshoremen strike, ships that move much of American commerce would be unable to use most major ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

7. ANOTHER TRAGEDY ON THE TRACKS

Police in New York City were seeking a woman seen fleeing a subway station after a man was pushed onto the tracks and killed by an approaching train. It was the second such fatality this month.

8. WHEN RONALD REAGAN SOUGHT FASHION ADVICE

Confidential documents released by Britain’s National Archives reveal the inner workings of the government led by Margaret Thatcher, including a query asking what former President Reagan should wear to go riding with the Queen.

9. PAVING THE WAY HOME WITH MUSIC

Voices of Valor, a pilot program helping veterans re-enter civilian life, uses music to ease the way.

10. BUSH SENIOR STILL IN HOSPITAL

As former President George H.W. Bush remains in intensive care at a Houston hospital, a longtime aide says, “put the harps back in the closet,” Bush is in good hands.