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



Weather:



Today, spots of rain, mainly after noon. High near 52. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Its gonna rain, folks!

Tonight, more rain. Low around 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.



Best bets:



Well, its finally here! The chocolate tasting extravaganza fundraiser. Beta Delta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Honorary Teachers Sorority will host this event from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, at St. Paul’s School Auditorium, 510 3rd Ave. SE, Cullman 35055. Lots of chocolate, even sugar free. Tickets are $5 advance or at door. Takeouts available. Proceeds go to scholarship fund for a student pursuing a career in the teaching profession.



Looking ahead:



Singing Valentines for Feb. 14: Have someone special you’d like to serenade? Groups will be glad to show up at your destination of choice (in Cullman County) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Valentine’s Day. Prices are $25 for a large group of singers; $15 for either a group of ladies OR gents; and $30 for both of the groups to really belt out that love tune. For more information about where you can send a singing valentine, or what selections they will perform, or to order your musical sentiments, contact Tiffany Richter at 256-352-8034. All proceeds will be used for a trip to the Kennedy Center, where the choral group has been invited to perform.



There’s still time to sign up: The Cullman Police Department’s Equalizers class will be offered from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 26 and March 5 at the Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center. Officer Cindy Rohrscheib will be instructor for this class for women ages 13 and older. Cost is $25/household for student manual, free to those who already have the student manual. All need to register to ensure your space in the class. Forms available at the Aquatic Center or by email: cindyr@cullmanpd.com or call Officer Rohrscheib at 256-736-4703. Many techniques taught and applied during the class. Info: visit www.equalizerwomen.com. Also, a RadKIDS safety program for boys and girls in elementary school (grades 3, 4, and 5) is available. Churches and other groups wanting to host a RadKIDS summer camp, may contact Officer Rohrscheib.



Send your Valentine to a special jewelry party. Sign them up for the Origami Owl Lockets party. S.T.A.R.S., a Relay For Life team, will host an Origami Owl party from 10:30 a.m to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Rumor’s Deli, 105 1st Ave. NE, Cullman 35055. Proceeds from the lockets will go to Relay For Life, American Cancer Society. The lockets may be purchased along with little charms, backdrops and other items to tell the story of your life, or of the life of a loved one. Those who cannot attend, may purchase a locket online at AmberHeaton.origamiowl.com or contact Ms. Heaton at 256-339-3875.



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:

1. NORTH KOREA CONDUCTS THIRD NUCLEAR TEST

North Korea called the detonation its “first response” to what it described as U.S. threats.

2. WHO WILL SUCCEED THE POPE

A conservative cardinal in Milan and several contenders from Latin America and Ghana have been mentioned.

3. BENEDICT SURPRISES BY SAYING HE’S TOO OLD TO CONTINUE

The AP’s Victor L. Simpson reports the 85-year-old pontiff chose to step down rather than suffer a long decline like his predecessor.

4. MONEY STILL A KEY WORRY

Obama plans to focus on the economy and job creation in his State of the Union speech at 9 p.m.

5. WHY SOCCER IS BECOMING THE DIRTY GAME

An AP investigation finds at least 50 nations had match-fixing probes last year. 

6. REBELS CAPTURE AIR BASE IN NORTHERN SYRIA

Opposition fighters won their second strategic victory in as many days in their uprising against Assad.

7. HAGEL FACES SENATE VOTE

Democrats are calling a committee vote for the defense secretary nominee, rejecting Republican demands for more financial information.

8. GANG MEMBERS CHARGED WITH SHOOTING TEEN WHO SANG AT INAUGURATION

Chicago police say the two men mistook Hadiya Pendleton and her friends for members of a rival gang.

9. COMEDIAN’S SISTER DETAINED WHILE PRAYING AT ISRAEL’S WESTERN WALL

Sarah Silverman’s sister Susan, a Jerusalem rabbi, was stopped because she was wearing religious clothing that Orthodox Judaism reserves for men only.

10. WHAT WESTMINSTER WON’T TOLERATE: PERFORMANCE-ENHANCED DOGS

That means no cosmetic surgery and no steroids. “It goes against the spirit of showing dogs,” club President Sean McCarthy says.