Flu continues to hit hard in Northwest Georgia; more state schools close. Local work force at 13-month high; first-time jobless claims drop. Local theaters drop 'The Interview.' Ebola drill set for early Friday at Floyd, Polk hospitals.

Where Rome's news day starts – and ends. Continuing coverage at www.hometownheadlines.com

 

Ware Mechanical forecast:

• High of 50 today; rain starts Friday afternoon well into Saturday.

Headlines:

• With Christmas a week away, flu cases continue to spike in Northwest Georgia. Latest updates. Health
• Area work force at highest level in at least 13 months. First-time jobless claims drop from 7.5 to 21.8% in area counties, up in Chattooga.  Employment
• 'The Interview' canceled by Rome, Cartersville theaters -- and now Sony -- amid threats by hackers. Hometown Radio to discuss at 8:10 a.m. Thursday. Movie
• Floyd, Polk Medical Center to stage Ebola drill beginning at 3 a.m. Friday. Ebola
• Junior Service League seeks Community Partnership Program applications. Harbin Clinic honored in Cedartown. Updates
• Weekend: Quiet weekend of pre-Christmas events. Calendar
• Signing set Monday for 'Majestic: The Bald Eagles of Berry College.' Eagles
• Public Health restaurant inspection scores for Northwest Georgia. Dining
• Floyd County Jail reports. CrimeWatch

Regular features:

• Christmas services in Northwest Georgia. Christmas
• Today's business headlines from  Georgia Trend
• Northwest Georgia's best source for job leads. Click Career Builder

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report  (click)

• Seven Hills Rotary-Rome News Holiday Basketball Tournament: Brackets for boys, girls teams; partial scores.
• Rome Braves announce 2015 promotional schedule: Concerts, 6 p.m. Saturday games, fireworks, Batman and ... Dora!
• Bowl season: Georgia going to Belk Bowl vs. Louisville; Georgia Tech vs.  Mississippi State in Orange Bowl. SEC has 12 teams bowl-bound.
• Links to latest local college results.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition on WRGA 98.7 FM & 1470 AM

• 7-9 a.m. Click to listen live online
• Please join our guests including:
• At 7:40 a.m., Kenna Baker, Floyd's Safety Officer, on Friday's Ebola drill in Rome and at Polk Medical Center.
• At 8:10 a.m., Dr. Brian Carroll, a communication professor at Berry College, joins us to discuss the movie The Interview, the threats surrounding it and the decision to pull the movie from the theaters.
• At 8:40 a.m., Brian joins us to discuss the state of baseball as the Hot Stove League continues in the off season, including all the changes by the Atlanta Braves' organization.