COLD WEATHER ADVISORY

A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect until 10:00am. Very cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero expected. Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.

LICKING COUNTY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Licking County’s November unemployment rate was 3.6%, according to figures released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Across central Ohio, Delaware County had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.4%, while Perry County had the highest at 4.4 percent.

BLOOD SHORTAGE

The Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, leading to about a 35% drawdown of blood products in the past month. Individuals are urged to give now so patients don't face delays in lifesaving care. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O, A negative and B negative blood. To schedule a donation visit www.redcross.blood.org or call 1-800 Red Cross.

UNITED WAY EVENT

The United Way of Licking County invites residents to attend this evening's - Obstacles and Opportunities: Supportive Housing in Licking County a second follow-up event to the October screening of Beyond the Bridge. They will be hosting a panel of local and regional housing experts as they discuss current work being done to address housing in Licking County, as well as some other strategies to increase our available housing and provide supports to those in need of them. This event will take place at 6:00 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Newark.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES

Get ready to eat some delicious cookies. The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland are taking orders for their world famous cookies. Kendra O'Reilly says the cookie program teaches the girls a number of skills.

The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland is comprised of 30 counties in central and southern Ohio including Licking and surrounding counties.

SAVE OUR BACON

The proposed federal “Save Our Bacon Act” would override voter-approved laws in more than a dozen states that restrict extreme confinement practices such as metal gestation crates for pigs, veal crates for calves, and battery cages for egg-laying hens. Alicia Prygoski with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, says the bill mirrors earlier failed efforts to weaken state animal-welfare laws.

Supporters of the bill argue differing state standards restrict interstate commerce and raise costs for producers.