It’s Friday, and you’ve made it to the end of the work week…
Weather: More storms likely. Proof positive that mid-summer weather is notoriously hard to forecast accurately — what was expected to be hot and humid with isolated showers has turned into a much better chance of rain. Highs today, Saturday and Sunday will be in the lower 90s, with a 60 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms each afternoon. Nighttime lows will be near 74, with a 20 percent chance of rain.
Mark Butler surrenders. The former Gardendale resident, who’s of sending sexually explicit images online to an undercover investigator posing as a teenage girl, turned himself in Thursday afternoon to the Effingham County, Georgia sheriff’s office. Butler was identified through a photo he posted in a chat-room; that photo was distributed to media outlets throughout the South where viewers quickly identified him, according to a sheriff’s spokesman. Butler is the subject of a continuing investigation and more charges may be forthcoming, the spokesman added, and some of those may be federal charges because the transmission crossed state lines. The spokesman also said that Butler had moved on Wednesday to Vidalia, Ga., where he has family.
Romney fires back at Reid. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney took on an accusation by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, who said that an unidentified source within Romney’s former company told him that Romney paid no income taxes over a 10-year period. “Well, it's time for Harry to put up or shut up. Harry's going to have to describe who it is he spoke with because of course, that's totally and completely wrong,” Romney said in an interview on Sean Hannity’s syndicated radio show Thursday.
Sports: Golden day for the USA. Gold medals galore for the Americans on Thursday, including yet another for legendary swimmer Michael Phelps. He edged out teammate and rival Ryan Lochte in the 200-meter individual medley. For the women, Rebecca Soni set a world record in the 200-meter breaststroke for her gold. In gymnastics, Gabby Douglas won the individual all-around gold by finishing with a strong performance in the floor exercise. Kayla Harrison won America’s first-ever gold medal in judo, defeating Great Britain’s Gemma Gibbons 2-0 in the title match. In rowing, the USA women’s eight won their second straight gold, beating Canada by two-thirds of a boat length. And in men’s basketball, the Americans overwhelmed Nigeria 156-73 in group play…. Football: The first pre-season poll of the coming college season is out, and LSU is on top — but just barely. The Tigers had 1,403 points in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll, just four points more than second-place Alabama. But the Crimson Tide had more first place votes 20 to LSU’s 19. Southern Cal was a close third, with 1,388 points and 19 first place votes. Oklahoma was a distant fourth, Oregon fifth and Georgia sixth.
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
