The Friedenberg Online Journalism Award will recognize those who did the most innovative work online

The winner will have done original reporting and have taken advantage of online technology, such as interactive databases, primary-source interviews, and accompanying charts and graphs, in order to provide a thorough and graphically attractive report. This is not a contest for stories that run online rather than in a print publication; this is to recognize the best journalism that uses online technology to provide a more compelling report than a print or broadcast story alone.

The Latest: NTSB: Fatal rail crossing not on tour bus route

A National Transportation Safety Board member says the Texas tour bus hit by a freight train was not supposed to have taken the road where it got stuck at a rail crossing. WLOX-TV reports that Robert Sumwalt told a news conference the driver may have followed a GPS set for commercial vehicle use rather than directions from a Florida-based tour company.

RHOS star Athena X Levendi dons kaleidoscopic coat

Won’t lose her in a crowd! RHOS star Athena X Levendi makes a style statement in a kaleidoscopic coat and houndstooth trousers as she goes shopping for flowers And Real Housewives Of Sydney star Athena X Levendi made sure to stand out from the crowd when she stepped out in a kaleidoscopic coat and clashing houndstooth trousers this Tuesday. The reality star was seen enjoying a low-key spot of shopping at a local florist, but was hard to miss in her eclectic coat was emblazoned with a geometric floral print in vibrant blue, green and orange.

MKR’s ‘seafood king’ Josh savaged on social media

Trump’s inauguration – the OFFICIAL photos: The National Park Service releases dozens of photographs… so was Donald right to accuse the media of making his crowd seem smaller? ‘Obamacare GONE’: Republicans publish their plan to repeal The Affordable Care Act and replace it with tax credits – setting up an epic clash with Democrats Exposed, the truth behind the great health myths: From the five-a-day rule to eating oily fish once a week, experts reveal the common mantras that were completely made up Furious passengers dub the TSA’s new ‘invasive’ pat-downs ‘legalized groping’ as it’s revealed agents caught 79 people trying to get guns through security in one week ‘I sleep pretty good at night’: Casey Anthony tells how how her daughter Caylee would be a ‘rock music-loving badass’ if she were alive, six years after she stood trial for her murder ‘This is it.

Top Gear’s Chris Harris slated for acting like Chris Evans

Trump’s inauguration – the OFFICIAL photos: The National Park Service releases dozens of photographs… so was Donald right to accuse the media of making his crowd seem smaller? ‘Obamacare GONE’: Republicans publish their plan to repeal The Affordable Care Act and replace it with tax credits – setting up an epic clash with Democrats Exposed, the truth behind the great health myths: From the five-a-day rule to eating oily fish once a week, experts reveal the common mantras that were completely made up Furious passengers dub the TSA’s new ‘invasive’ pat-downs ‘legalized groping’ as it’s revealed agents caught 79 people trying to get guns through security in one week Casey Anthony speaks out: America’s most hated mom wistfully imagines how her murdered daughter Caylee would be a ‘badass’ if she were alive, says she ‘sleeps pretty good at night’ and calls herself ‘one of the unfortunate … (more)

Weather service: At least 2 tornadoes hit Missouri

The National Weather Service says at least two tornadoes touched down in Missouri Monday evening as a line of severe storms with heavy rain and large hail moved across the state, damaging homes in communities north and east of the Kansas City metro area. Dan Hawblitzel, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, said there were corridors of significant damage in the Oak Grove area east of Kansas City, in Smithville north of Kansas City and in the Kansas suburbs of Leawood and Olathe.

EFCC v. Emeka Mba: The Puzzles and Contradictions

The continued prosecution of Emeka Mba, erstwhile Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, by the Federal Government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presents several agonizing puzzles and contradictions. Recently, the Minister of Information, National Orientation and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed admitted that government was grateful for the N34 billion realised by NBC through the special auction of part of the 700Mhz digital dividend broadcast spectrum to MTN Nigeria in June 2015.

A clouded leopard conceived through artificial insemination born at Nashville Zoo

A male leopard cub born at the Nashville Zoo on Wednesday is the first of its species to be conceived using artificial insemination of cryopreserved — frozen and then thawed — semen, according to a joint announcement from the Smithsonian National Zoo and the Nashville Zoo. Clouded leopards have been listed as a vulnerable species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species since 2008.

Abuse survivor quits popea s panel over Vatican stonewall

Frustrated by what she described as Vatican stonewalling, an Irish woman who was sexually abused by clergy quit her post Wednesday on a pontifical panel advising Pope Francis about how to protect minors from such abuse. The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors said Marie Collins quit out of “frustration” at an alleged lack of cooperation from other Vatican offices, known as the Curia.

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Comes Harris Center, 3/19

Considered to be one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine was entrusted with the premier performances of works by Prokofiev and Shostakovich, and joined by soloists like Artur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern , and many more. Their Folsom performance features award-winning conductor Theodore Kuchar.

Severe thunderstorms cause damage in parts of Indiana

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for areas including LaGrange County in northern Indiana on Tuesday night as the storms moved through the Midwest. Other portions of northern Indiana were under severe thunderstorm warnings that expired early Wednesday.

Jennifer Garner stresses early education with US governors

Actress Jennifer Garner says growing up “surrounded by generational, rural poverty” in West Virginia inspired her to become an advocate for early-childhood education. Garner spoke at a meeting of the National Governors Association on Saturday about programs that bring educators into the homes of low-income parents to help them get their kids ready for kindergarten.

Former treasury head Ken Henry attacks political system

Former federal treasury head Ken Henry has lashed out at the political and media dysfunction that he says has led to reform paralysis. The National Australia Bank chairman told a conference in Canberra that “politicians have dug themselves into deep trenches from which they fire insults designed merely to cause political embarrassment”.

Der Bates

The more that one learns about this faux controversy the more the flavor of offal sneaks through. There have been developments to curl one’s ears and Eli, of course, has long curlies.

Flood fears renewed as California is pounded by storm

Downpours swelled creeks and rivers Monday in Northern California, threatening to cause even more flooding in the already soggy region. In the San Joaquin Valley, residents were patrolling levees for signs of danger, reviewing evacuation plans and filling hundreds of sand bags after the San Joaquin River kept rising.

Legendary TV Icon Bob Barker Guests on Animal Radio

TV Host – Animal Activist Bob Barker will be guest hosting America’s most-listened-to pet talk, Animal Radio, on February 25th. Bob Barker may be best remembered for his “Spay and Neuter” messages at the end of the Price is Right, but many also know the 93 year-old television icon as a loud proponent towards the elimination of performing animals, including elephants.

Leni camp says PET resolution on Marcos protest ‘just procedural’

Macalintal refused to reveal his punches in his appeal but claimed that the PET resolution did not reflect the validity of Marcos’ claims of fraud in the May 2016 election. In their rejoinder, the verified answer and counter-protest filed by the camp of Robredo claimed that “the Tribunal has no jurisdiction over this case, considering that the Protest improperly questions the authenticity and due execution of the Certificates of Canvass , which should have been raised as an issue in a pre-proclamation case filed before Congress acting as the National Board of Canvassers”.

Willows Activity Farm featured on Good Morning Britain

ITV’s flagship morning news programme visited the St Albans activity farm for their weather broadcast on Friday, February 17. Weather presenter Laura Tobin gave her weather forecast from the popular attraction and also found time to feed some of the animals. Willows, whose owner Andrew Wolfe, recently received a Lifetime Achievement award from the National Farm Attractions Network, has been open since 2002, and had the world’s first Peter Rabbit adventure playground.

Quick Hits: 02.10.17

Published: February 10, 2017 in Beyond the Carolinas Updated: February 9, 2017 at 7:38 pm ENGAGE: Write a letter to the editor Soulforce is seeking individuals who want to craft doves for their Altar of Life protest at the National Religious Broadcaster’s global annual conference in Orlando, Fla., from Feb. 27-March 2. Doves have already made an appearance at the Creating Change Conference held in Philadelphia, Pa. in January.

Weak and short La Nina fades away; climate shifts to neutral

U.S. weather forecasters said Thursday that La Nina, the cool flip side to the climate phenomenon El Nino, has faded away. The La Nina episode lasted only four months and was among the weakest and shortest on record, coming on the heels of one of the strongest El Ninos, said Mike Halpert of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center.

Ruth’s blood, sweat and tomato sauce

Ruth’s blood, sweat and tomato sauce: Actress says playing Hedda Gabler is like is like ‘a workout on stage every night’ Ruth Wilson says that playing Hedda Gabler in Ivo van Hove’s incendiary production at the National Theatre is like ‘doing a workout on stage – every night’. She added that van Hove’s take on Henrik Ibsen’s tragedy is like ‘nothing I’ve ever been part of before’.

Weak and short La Nina fades away; climate shifts to neutral

The La Nina episode lasted only four months and was among the weakest and shortest on record, coming on the heels of one of the strongest El Ninos, said Mike Halpert of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. La Nina, a cooling of parts of the equatorial Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide, often lasts a year or more, longer than El Ninos.

What weak La Nina means for our weather

The La Nina episode lasted only four months and was among the weakest and shortest on record, coming on the heels of one of the strongest El Ninos, said Mike Halpert of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. La Nina, a cooling of parts of the equatorial Pacific that changes weather patterns worldwide, often lasts a year or more, longer than El Ninos.

This thin, flexible light-absorber Material gives You Stealth Feature

This thin, flexible and light-weight material can cool your room on hot sunny days, may give you stealth features by blocking thermal detection and absorb light from every angle. Engineers from the University of California, San Diego have developed an absorbing material called near-perfect broadband absorber that can absorb more than 87 per cent of near-infrared light.

Maui National Park Grapples With Overtourism

The National Park Service is no stranger to overtourism in its most renowned parks. Requiring reservations and payment in advance may irritate some visitors to Maui, but if the NPS wants to preserve this valuable natural habitat for future travelers to enjoy, it doesn’t have much choice.

After walkabout, escaped bobcat Ollie nonchalantly returns

After a two-plus day walkabout in the leafy wilds of northwest Washington, an escaped bobcat returned to the National Zoo and walked right into a trap where some “goodies” had been left for her Wednesday, zookeepers said. The adventures of the female bobcat known as Ollie lit up social media and transfixed the nation’s capital after she went missing Monday, offering a distraction from the more serious news of the Trump administration’s early days.

Venezuela bans Hugo Chavez TV series

Venezuela has banned TV networks from broadcasting a new series on late president Hugo Chavez, calling the US-Colombian production an attack on the legacy of the charismatic socialist firebrand. “El Comandante,” a 60-episode series on Chavez’s life, premiered Monday night in Colombia.

The Latest: Trump says hea s made his Supreme Court choice

President Donald Trump says he will announce his pick for the Supreme Court on Tuesday night. Trump tweeted Monday that he has “made my decision” and will announce it Tuesday at 8 p.m. President Barack Obama had nominated Merrick Garland for the post, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to take up the nomination.

Re: Ruckus: Minimum Wage, Infrastructure Bond, Petition Fatigue, Inauguration, Women’s March

Mike Shanin interviews Dr. Matt Naylor, President and CEO of the National WWI Museum , about the new expansion and what visitors should expect. Then Terry Riley, Crosby Kemper III, Annie Presley and Jim Heeter discuss the details of April’s infrastructure bond issue, the absence of the minimum wage issue on the April ballot, Steve Rose’s CFRG criticism , Trump’s inauguration and the Women’s March.

Re: Ruckus: Minimum Wage, Infrastructure Bond, Petition Fatigue, Inauguration, Women’s March

Mike Shanin interviews Dr. Matt Naylor, President and CEO of the National WWI Museum , about the new expansion and what visitors should expect. Then Terry Riley, Crosby Kemper III, Annie Presley and Jim Heeter discuss the details of April’s infrastructure bond issue, the absence of the minimum wage issue on the April ballot, Steve Rose’s CFRG criticism , Trump’s inauguration and the Women’s March.

Peeping Tom? No, I’m a crossdresser actually

‘A disgrace’: President Trump blasts SNL writer for targeting his son Barron and calls Madonna ‘disgusting’ for talking about blowing up the White House in interview with Sean Hannity Miami bows to Trump: Mayor makes his town the first sanctuary city to accept Trump’s demands as he orders jails to cooperate with immigration officials Donald Trump ‘called the National Park Service on the first day of his presidency to complain about inauguration crowd photos’ What if David Muir’s kids were kidnapped? Trump doubles down on his support for torture and praises waterboarding after grilling by ABC reporter Trump tells Republicans he could slap 20 per cent tariff on Mexican imports to pay for his wall – and White House says that’s just one of the options Trump could PARDON sailor jailed in ‘very unfair’ case for photographing nuclear sub’s classified areas – after his leniency plea cited … (more)

AMI announces scholarship program for 2017

Accessible Media Inc. announced today that the 2017 AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship campaign will launch Monday, February 6. Entering its sixth year, the AMI Robert Pearson Memorial Scholarship program offers much needed financial assistance to students with a disability. The scholarship was renamed in 2016 in memory of AMI’s former Accessibility Officer, Robert Pearson, who passed away suddenly in December 2015.

NT Live: Saint Joan

On Thursday, February 16th at 2:00 pm, The Grand screens a live, high-definition simulcast of The National Theatre of London’s production starring Gemma Arterton in the title role of “Saint Joan,” broadcast live from the Donmar Warehouse. Bernard Shaw’s classic play follows the life and trial of a young country girl who declares a bloody mission to drive the English from France.

The Latest: On Trumpa s 1st day, women to march in Washington

Look to the National Mall in Washington for lots of bright pink hats and signs that say “less fear more love” and “the future is female” Thousands of women are set to make their voices heard on the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency. Rena Wilson came to Washington for the march on Friday from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Analysis: Trump speech shows America getting what it ordered

The new president delivered an inaugural address Friday that was straight from his campaign script – to the delight or dismay of different subsets of Americans. Trump gave nods to unity and began with kind words for Barack and Michelle Obama, but pivoted immediately to a searing indictment of the status quo and the Obama years.

Obama administration urges Canada to reverse Super Bowl ad decision

In one of its final communications with Canada, the outgoing Obama administration is engaging in pigskin politics: asking the Trudeau government to overturn a regulation affecting ads during the Super Bowl. The U.S. trade representative wrote last week to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, urging her to reverse the CRTC’s new ban on “simultaneous substitution” of Canadian commercials during the football spectacle.

The Racists Are Not Afraid Anymore

Donald Trump has just been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. I’m sitting at a Bolt Burger in Washington, D.C., watching the inauguration ceremony post-mortem play on several flatscreen TVs.

Inauguration of Donald J. Trump

NewsHour’s Inauguration day livestream will be anchored by managing editor Judy Woodruff, with John Yang reporting from the steps of the U.S. Capitol and Lisa Desjardins from the National Mall.

Pretzer: When Trump’s sworn in, I’ll be There

JANUARY 19: Architect of the Capitol Stone Mason Division employee Romel Lazo uses a power washer to clean the West Front of the U.S. Capitol one day before the inaguration of Donald Trump January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

Chris Beardshaw Inspires Music with The Morgan Stanley Garden

Morgan Stanley is returning to Chelsea Flower Show for a third consecutive year with ‘The Morgan Stanley Garden’ designed by Chris Beardshaw. The garden creates an exciting opportunity for young musicians from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain to work with Chris to compose and perform a unique piece of music inspired by the garden design.

German supreme court rejects bid to outlaw far-right party

Germany’s supreme court has rejected a lawmakers’ bid to outlaw a far-right party accused of promoting a racist and anti-Semitic agenda. Andreas Vosskuhle, chief justice of the Federal Constitutional Court, said Tuesday that even though the party had unconstitutional goals, “there are currently no concrete indications that its actions will lead to success.”

Gambia leader, pressured to go, declares state of emergency

Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on Tuesday, just two days before he is supposed to cede power after losing elections last month. The longtime leader is refusing to step down despite international pressure and the threat by other West African nations of a military intervention.

The Latest: Biden in Davos backs fight against cancer

DAVOS, Switzerland – The Latest on the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos : U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says his “prayer” is that the incoming Trump administration will continue to support the fight against cancer, which kept Biden from running for president after it took the life of his son, Beau. Biden was speaking Monday before the start of the World Economic Forum in Davos to promote his “Cancer Moonshot” initiative.

Hidden fees are costing Americans billions

A new report released by the National Economic Council , a board created in 1993 to advise the president on domestic and global economic policy, shows that declining competition in some markets has led to rising pricing in the form of hidden fees for American consumers. The NEC noted that competition not only keeps prices down, it also forces companies to innovate, and can push wages higher.

Winter storm to bring crippling ice, rainfall to central US

By TIM TALLEY Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY – A winter storm that brought heavy snow and rainfall to northern California was bearing down on the southern Plains on Thursday, and forecasters said crippling ice accumulations and heavy rain could cause widespread power outages and flooding this weekend. The National Weather Service issued an ice storm warning for northwestern Oklahoma beginning Friday morning as well as a winter storm watch for much of the rest of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri along with parts of Illinois and Texas.

a Atmospheric riversa weather phenomenon soaks California

They’re called “atmospheric rivers” and they can dump massive quantities of Pacific Ocean water on California, carrying it through the air from as far away as Hawaii. Here’s a look at the weather phenomenon that has swelled the state’s rivers, flooded vineyards, dumped snow and rain on the Sierra Nevada and raised the risk of mudslides on hills scorched by last summer’s wildfires.

2016 was hottest year ever recorded in New Zealand

The average temperature during 2016 was 13.4 Celsius , according to a report released Monday by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. That was nearly 1 degree Celsius warmer than normal and fractionally hotter than the previous record set in 1998.

Winter storm hits New England after icing over the South

By JONATHAN DREW and BEN FINLEY Associated Press DURHAM, N.C. – The first big snowstorm of the year in the Northeast dumped more than a foot of snow in areas of southern New England after leaving a glaze of ice and snow and bitterly cold temperatures across the South. Below freezing temperatures persisted throughout much of the eastern U.S. on Sunday.

Dining with the Chef

DINING WITH THE CHEF introduces Americans to the techniques, ingredients and harmony of Japanese cuisine. Hosted by Yu Hayami who cooks alongside master chef Tatsuo Saito, and co-host Patrick Harlan who cooks with chef Rika Yukimasa, with occasional appearances by other guest chefs, the series presents delicious Japanese dishes that can be made at home.

Storms kill 4, damage buildings across Southern states

A powerful storm system that moved across the South on Monday killed four people in Alabama and left a trail of damage over several states, officials said. The line of severe thunderstorms spawned several possible tornadoes, and the threat continued into early Tuesday for southern Alabama, southwest Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

Storms kill 4, damage buildings across Southern states

A powerful storm system that moved across the South on Monday killed four people in Alabama and left a trail of damage over several states, officials said. The line of severe thunderstorms spawned several possible tornadoes, and the threat continued into early Tuesday for southern Alabama, southwest Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

Speaker Ethuro orders investigations into police deployment

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro has ordered investigations into heavy deployment of police to Parliament Buildings ahead of Wednesday’s special sitting. The Speaker also ruled that the entire session would be broadcast live after the Parliament Broadcasting Unit signal was switched off last week when the National Assembly sitting degenerated into chaos.

TrueVisions to drop HBO, Cinemax

Regulators have approved pay-TV operator TrueVisions’ request to drop six entertainment channels including HBO and Cinemax from Jan 1 as the cable operator claimed it had lost the rights to air them, according to a commissioner. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission made the decision at its Monday meeting, Col Natee Sukonrat, chairman of the NBTC’s broadcasting committee, said a briefing shortly after the meeting.

Family Travel with Colleen Kelly

Family Travel with Colleen Kelly breaks new ground as the first ever television show dedicated to traveling with families of all ages. Host and Family Travel Guide, Colleen Kelly explores must-see locations and attractions throughout the U.S. and abroad, sharing expert travel tips and insights to create easier family vacations filled with once-in-a-lifetime memories: Why just go to an aquarium when your family can actually get in the water with the whales? How about getting the whole family in the chef’s kitchen to make their own pizzas? Each episode of this new 13-part series will feature a new and exciting .