Winter Storm Pounds Cleveland

Up to 2 feet of snow in some areas
KNN-Cleveland

The storm pounding the county is only expected to intensify as the night wears on, and the National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch starting at 4 a.m.

A winter storm warning will continue through midnight Saturday.

The service is predicting 6 to 10 inches of snow in midday Saturday in our area — and as much as 10 to 15 inches in areas east of Interstate 71.

Freezing arctic winds of 20 to 30 mph are also expected to rake the area, leading to horrible visibility and drifting snow for drivers.

Blizzard conditions could set in Saturday as winds increase to 30 to 40 mph. Blizzard warnings are only issued when the weather service expects incredibly heavy snow to fall for several hours at a time.

The storm has already grounded dozens of flights at Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland.

Airport Director of Marketing Todd Payne said Continental Airlines has cancelled 60 percent of its affiliated flights for tonight and Southwest has cancelled 50 percent of its flights.

Hopkins remains open and a fleet of 25 plows are working to keep runways clear, Payne said. But those expecting to depart should anticipate delays, he said.

Sugarless Week and Live Week to Commence

Akote Hodahvyah-KNN Chicago

I pray that this message finds you all in excellent health and high spirits in this glorious season. Please be advised that Sugarless and Live Weeks are fast approaching.

In our pursuit of perfect health and Everlasting Life it has been decreed that four (4) times a year there will be a Sugarless Week and a Live Food Consumption Week. During Sugarless Week we will consume no sugar, honey, or other sweeteners that have not been approved by the Ministry of Divine Health. During Live Food Consumption Week we will consume the required live food diet.

Sugarless Week will commence on Yom Shee Shee (Friday) March 7, 2008 (at sundown) and end on Motsai Shabbat (Saturday) March 15, 2008 (at sundown).

Live Food Week will commence on Motsi Shabbat (Saturday) March 15, 2008 (at sundown) and end on Yom Shee Shee (Friday) March 21, 2008 (at sundown).

1 in every 100 adults in America are in jail

Study shows prison numbers high
NBC News

WASHINGTON -- For the first time in history more than one in every 100 adults in America are in jail or prison -- a fact that significantly impacts state budgets without delivering a clear return on public safety.

According to a new report released by the Pew Center on the States' Public Safety Performance Project, at the start of 2008, 2,319,258 adults were held in American prisons or jails, or one in every 99.1 men and women, according to the study. During 2007, the prison population rose by more than 25,000 inmates. In addition to detailing state and regional prison growth rates, Pew's report, One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008, identifies how corrections spending compares to other state investments, why it has increased, and what some states are doing to limit growth in both prison populations and costs while maintaining public safety.

As prison populations expand, costs to states are on the rise. Last year alone, states spent more than $49 billion on corrections, up from $11 billion 20 years before. However, the national recidivism rate remains virtually unchanged, with about half of released inmates returning to jail or prison within three years. And while violent criminals and other serious offenders account for some of the growth, many inmates are low-level offenders or people who have violated the terms of their probation or parole.

See: One in 100 Adults behind bars