Datebook: January 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien Turns 120

Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892 (and died September 2, 1973). He was best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. He was an English professor at Pembroke College in Oxford for most of his career, and close friends with C.S. Lewis. His works form a connected body of tales, poems, fictional histories, invented languages, and literary essays about a fantasy world called Arda, and Middle-earth within it. In 2008, The Times ranked him sixth on a list of “The 50 greatest British writers since 1945″. Forbes ranked him the 5th top-earning dead celebrity in 2009.

It’s Tuesday, January 3

The McCracken County Public Library offers a free program on identity theft Thursday night at 7. Detective John Sims of the Kentucky State Police and Trooper Dean Patterson will explain what criminals do with your identity and will offer information about protecting yourself from identity theft.

The Paducah Symphony Orchestra holds auditions for the 2012 Youth and Children’s Choruses on January 5th, 7th, and 12th at First Presbyterian Church in Paducah. The groups are directed by Dr. Brad Almquist and Dr. Amy Aucoin. To schedule an audition time, contact Leigh Ann Renfro at (270) 444-0065.

A round-robin rook tournament begins at 7 on Friday night and runs through Saturday evening at the Pennyrile Forest State Park. Registration is $25 per team and a new deck of rook cards. Prizes will be given to the top three teams. For more information, call Rebecca Clark at (270) 797-3421.

Find regional news and community events online at wkms.org.

the morning cram [i'm afraid your world is over edition]

Just in case you hadn’t heard, Kim Jong Il is dead.

NPR reports North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il is dead at 69 from an apparent heart attack. Now, the reigns of leadership may be passed on to his son Kim Jong Un.

Kentucky~ A Calloway County pastor charged with sex abuses says he needs help. Gas prices are higher than ever for this time of year, Merry Christmas.  We’ve lost the race to the top.  Our juvey justice system makes more criminals apparently, oops.

the morning cram [massive dust storm edition]

A massive 50-mile wide dust storm enveloped Phoenix yesterday evening.

NPR reports a giant dust storm rolled into Phoenix yesterday evening reducing visibility to zero, and shutting down the city.

Kentucky~ A missing Marshall County woman has been found. Some students might have to get more vaccines. Farmers in counties bordering Illinois could get assistance due to storms. The Farmworker Agency garnered a $1.2 million grant.

Tennessee~ Two Nashville men who killed a Fort Campbell soldier have been sentenced. A father and son are stable after a serious boating accident. A man involved with one Clarksville pharmacy robbery has been arrested.

morning cram [turn and coffee edition]

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

NPR reports a Harvard study finds that may be true.

KENTUCKY~ A section of US-62 in Carlisle County is shut down this morning as police reconstruct a fatal school bus wreck. Paducah’s City Manager recommends no new taxes and the city will fund a new Murray State extended campus there. A worker yesterday was electrocuted @ MSU. Police make McCracken County pump ‘n run arrest. GOP Gubernatorial candidate David Williams says ‘No more Mr. Nice Guy‘ and Gov Steve Beshear claims he’s ‘Tested, trusted and tough.’

TENNESSEE~ Clarksville is trying out a new way to dole out non-profit funding. TVA says next month’s electricity bills will see hikes up to 50 cents. Legislators want to change the state’s alcohol laws to woo Sierra Nevada to build a brewery there.

morning cram [g20 edition]

NPR reports world leaders are confronted with intensifying friction over currencies and trade at back-to-back summits in Asia aimed at safeguarding the still fragile global recovery.

KENTUCKY~ You can salute veterans tomorrow in Paducah during their parade. Paducah’s portable bathrooms are expected to cost +$17ok and officials vote next week on extending the city limits. A McCracken County jury convicts a bank robber. Two Ballard County escapees are captured in Cairo, IL (hours after breaking out). MSU trounces Freed-Hardeman. State Senator Pendleton of Hopkinsville is in the hospital (again). The University of Louisville kicks off its biggest fundraiser ever.

TENNESSEE~ A Camden couple pleads guilty to a stab and stash. Gov-elect Haslam appoints his top campaign consultant to oversee January’s administration transition.

morning cram [very light car edition]

The future of fuel-efficient cars top the 100 miles per gallon mark. This week, the Edison2 team is being rewarded with half of the technically prestigious $10 million X Prize.

~NPR takes a ride in a very light car.

KENTUCKY~ Paducah rocks out on an insurance safety test. Beshear announces another major industrial tax break (in Calvert City). State Police arrest a man for zooming around like a cop. An MSU sophomore is the OVC’s Golfer of the Week. Oak Grove’s mayor removed his opponent from the tourism board for wearing a campaign T-shirt at a public festival. Even though 63 new KSP troopers graduate this week, the Commonwealth is still short some 150.  Dentists keep getting older.

TENNESSEE~ A Clarksville hotel employee finds out the hard way seeing-eye dogs are not ‘pets’. Bredesen divvies up $15mil for statewide highway law enforcement.

ILLINOIS~ Free fishing Saturday!

morning cram (spacelab 2010 edition)

What do you get when you put three Russians, two Europeans, and one Chinese in a fake space capsule for 520 days? Find out @ NPR.

KENTUCKY~ A Paducah DUI lawyer is arrested for his (4th) DUI. No inmates are coming to Paducah’s halfway house (for now). State Police admit mistakes delayed a case by almost a decade. The price tag on Fort Campbell’s planned museum is $15m cheaper after redesign. Labor officials want to share their workplace wisdom (for free). Attorney General Jack Conway wants to deny rate hike plans to a pair of merging electric utilities and opposes Rand Paul on immigration. The US Senate race is looking more contentious and there’s no libertarian candidate running (yet).

TENNESSEE~ Paris is set to interview police chief candidates next week. Gaylord lays off +1,700 Opryland employees. A state budget vote is coming on fast after a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations. Renewing your driver’s license will cost the same after a bill fails this session.