| Extreme weather takes toll on farmers
With snowstorms wreaking havoc on the country's central and southern regions and drought drying up farmland in the north, the agriculture industry faces grave challenges this year. More than 11 million hectares of arable land, or 9 percent of the country's total, is drought-affected and 2.43 million people and 1.89 million livestock are short of drinking water due to the drought, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said yesterday. Most areas in the country's north have seen significantly lower rainfall this winter - 20 to 70 percent less than the average annual rainfall in decades, Zhang Zhitong, a researcher at the headquarters, said. Local governments have been urged to raise awareness to ensure drinking water safety and irrigation water supply for farming in the spring.
Starbucks to temporarily close this evening
Beware: If you normally get your caffeine fix on the way home from work today, don't go to Starbucks for your double latte. Starbucks will temporarily close its 7,100 stores across the United States for three hours starting at 5:30 p.m. today to improve workplace morale and the quality of drinks, according to CNNMoney.com. .
PCPA to offer beloved classic 'The Sound of Music'
Running Nov. 8 through Dec. 23, the classic musical is based on the book "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers," written by Maria Von Trapp. The author was played by Julie Andrews in the movie based on the musical. It features a score by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi" and "Climb Every Mountain." In the musical, a spirited young postulant named Maria is sent to serve as a governess for Captain Von Trapp, a widower with seven children. Her unorthodox methods quickly win over the children, but clash with the regimental conduct the captain insists upon. Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts Director Roger DeLaurier said, "What should be the happy ending after the fairytale romance — the lonely mountain girl gets her prince — is delayed by the invasion of Austria.
Man wanted by FBI among recent arrests by Sheriff's Department
Pike County's Relay for Life has met its fundraising goals for the last several years, but the teams aren't the only ones who have made this possible."Normally we have raised say $200,000 plus for the last so many years," said Norman Rape, chairman of the sponsors committee. "Since I've been doing it the last years, $40,000 to $45,000 of that money has come from sponsors.""So the sponsors give about a fifth of the money," he added.Sponsors are local businesses that make donations, whether they be monetary or services, to the program. .
Hillary's Mutnemom!
Dickerson vs. Maguire: Did Karl Rove dissemble to the special prosecutor by not revealing he'd talked to Time's Matt Cooper about Valerie Plame? Slate's John Dickerson (Cooper's former Time colleague) suspects yes. JustOneMinute's Tom Maguire tries to shoot holes in Dickerson's account. Rove apparently claims he didn't remember talking to Cooper--it was only when Time reporter Viveca Novak tipped off his lawyer that his memory was jogged. Dickerson says it's implausible that Rove would forget the Cooper conversation after: a) Rove wrote an ass-covering email about it; b) Cooper wrote a story saying unnamed "government officials" had leaked to him about Plame; c) Washington made a big fuss over the Plame disclosure; d) Plame's husband specifically accused Rove of outing her; e) Bush's press secretary was barraged with questions about Plame leaks and seemingly denied Rove was involved; f) Rove received a subpoena with Matt Cooper's name on it; and g) Cooper made headlines by almost going to jail for refusing to talk.
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