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



Weather:



Today we have a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Tonight, expect showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 52. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent .



Best bets:



CRMC’s Breastfeeding support group: This group will meet at 9 a.m. in the CRMC Community Education Center in Professional Office Building II (1912 Alabama Highway 157, POB II, Cullman, AL 35058). Info: CRMC Nursery at 256-737-2221.



VFW Tuesday night dance: A country dance will be held at 7 p.m. each Tuesday at the VFW, 112 Veterans Ave., Cullman 35055. Concessions available — no alcohol or smoking allowed. Admission is $5, public welcome. Stoney Lonesome Band will be entertainment. Info: Jeanette Caples at 256-287-0221. VFW building rentals are available Sunday through Friday. Info: Commander Jerry Willibey at 256-347-0807. Proceeds cover cost of renting building.



SSCWA dinner reminder: The SSCWA dinner will be today at the Red Rooster Retreat. Info: John Teague at 205-621-9591 or Beth Scalf at 678-570-5246.



For Kids’ Sake Variety Show auditions: The 2013 Bownes Memorial For Kid’s Sake Variety Show Auditions will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, in the Colonel Cullmann Room in Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Professional Office Building II – 1912 AL Highway 157, POB 2, Cullman 35058.

The auditions are open to children age 4 through 20. Vocalists, dancers, twirlers, instrumentalists and groups/ensembles are invited to audition. Judging is based on audience appeal and family entertainment value. Audition length is two minutes for solo performers and three minutes for groups of two or more. There is a $30 tax-deductible donation for individual performers and $60 tax-deductible donation for groups of two or more performers.

Those interested in auditioning should bring a completed “Entry and Audition” form to the audition. Forms may be obtained online at www.crmchospital.com/FKS, by contacting the Foundation office at 256-737-2604 or forms will be available at the registration table the evening of the auditions.

Performers auditioning should remember that the Variety Show features talent for family entertainment, not competition, and that the same talent performed during auditions must be performed at the For Kid’s Sake Show Feb. 16, 2013. All performers are encouraged to make sure all attire and performances are age appropriate and outfits worn for auditions should be the same as the ones worn in the performance. Any participants that require music for their audition must bring a CD for their audition and performance. If any participant requires a keyboard for your audition, please notify the CRMC Foundation office by no later than Thursday, Dec. 13.

The 2013 Bownes Memorial For Kid’s Sake Variety Show will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 in the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre located in the Student Center at Wallace State Community College.

For additional information on the For Kids’ Sake event, contact the CRMC Foundation Office at 256-737-2604 or 256-737-2565. The CRMC Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by IRS rules. All proceeds from this event benefit the nursery and pediatric care at Cullman Regional Medical Center.



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. ATTACKED BY AN UNEXPECTED ENEMY

The AP’s Robert Burns reports that Afghan soldiers, not the Taliban, were responsible for an attack that killed two U.S. soldiers inside an Afghan army base in 2011.

2. WHY EGYPT’S MEDIA SHUT DOWN

Several newspapers suspended publication to protest decrees that would give President Mohammed Morsi nearly unrestricted powers.

3. RYAN MOVES FROM CAMPAIGN TO ‘FISCAL CLIFF’

The former vice presidential contender has joined GOP strategy meetings for dodging a budget meltdown.

4. WHO IS HAPPIEST ABOUT THE ROYAL PREGNANCY

Americans just might rival their British cousins in their excitement over a new heir to the throne.

5. AH-CHOO!

Flu season came earlier than it has in a decade, and with a strain that tends to make people sicker.

6. REBUILD, DON’T MOVE OUT

A New York City program aims to repair storm-battered homes rather than finding new digs for thousands.

7. WHY PHOENIX POLICE WANT TO FIND AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

Authorities say the girl has leukemia and could die within days if her parents don’t bring her back to the hospital.

8. NEW JUDGE NEEDED IN FORT HOOD TRIAL

A military court tosses the judge from the case, saying he didn’t appear impartial after ordering the suspect in the 2009 rampage to shave his beard.

9. TAKING A TEST TO BECOME A TEACHER

The national teachers’ union calls for a written test much like a lawyer’s bar exam and a minimum grade point average.

10. ROOKIE’S 1-POINT WIN TIGHTENS THE RACE FOR THE NFC EAST

Robert Griffin III’s touchdown gave the Washington Redskins a 17-16 win over the New York Giants and put the Redskins a game out of first place.