More than 18,000 cans already for Can-a-thon courtesy of Pepperell High. Huge night of playoff football in Rome, Cartersville. More rain, perhaps severe weather, on the way. Weekend guide. Norman's No Nos on college conference showdowns.

For these and today's latest news, please see www.hometownheadlines.com:

Today's headlines:

• Pepperell High collects 18,705 cans for Friday's Can-a-Thon, nearly 20% of the goal. Donations accepted today at The Forum, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Cans
• What you need to know about tonight's playoffs: Rome vs. Stockbridge, Cartersville vs. Mary Persons. Scores on Hometown, social media. Get our text with the final scores. Football  
• Ware Mechanical forecast: Clear and cool today; rain starts again Saturday, ends Wednesday. Another 2.75 inches possible. Weather 
• Ware Mechanical storm update: Weather service confirms four tornadoes Wednesday; Catoosa site still being investigated. Tornadoes
• Big night of Christmas parades in Cartersville,  Cedartown. Parades 
• Weekend: More parades, Winter Arts Market, the Rome Half Marathon, 'Into the Woods.' Weekend 
• Your guide to Christmas parades, concerts, events and festive performances across Northwest Georgia this season. Christmas 
• Talk about a winter wonderland: Pepperell Primary 'snowmen' on parade at Starbucks at Riverside. Watch the video. Snowmen
• Buzz: Big day for visits, from former UGA football star at St. Mary's to a group of Chinese tour guides. Buzz 
• Georgia Health News: Fulton County ranks high in opioid deaths, HIV rate. Health 
• Remembering Mrs. Sondra Adams Lumpkin, Ralph "Jerry" Winkle. Obituaries. 
• Public Health restaurant inspection scores. Dining
• Area arrest reports brought to you by Dr. Miniyar's Pediatrics. Crimewatch

Also today:

• Christmas Headlines: Your guide to parades, concerts and more this season. Click Christmas
• Traffic: Georgia DOT, Google Maps or Waze. 
• State business headlines: Georgia Trend
  
• Northwest Georgia jobs: Career Builder
  

Chick-fil-A Dwarf House Sports Report 

• Norman Arey's Norman's No Nos: Penn State, Clemson, Alabama take league titles. No Nos
• John McClellan's high school football playoffs: Rome, Cartersville should have no problem getting to Georgia Dome. McClellan
• Latest college basketball updates. 
• SEC Championship game: Alabama vs. Florida, Saturday at 4 p.m., CBS.
• ACC Championship game: Clemson vs. Virginia Tech, Saturday at 8 p.m.
• Atlanta Falcons: Next: Sunday at home vs. Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS.
• Rome Half Marathon set for Saturday at State Mutual Stadium. 200 expected to complete.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition, 7-9 a.m., WRGA 98.7 FM. 

• Please join our guests today including:
• 7:20 a.m. Randy Quick from Rome Radio Partners LLC on the 2016 Can-a-Thon.
• 7:40 a.m.: Longtime Alabama fan Phil Ray on what to expect from the Crimson Tide as they meet the Florida Gators in Saturday's SEC Championship Game (you can guess who's doing the rebuttal).
• 8:10 a.m. Mindy Quinn, marketing manager for Blood Assurance, on critical needs for blood donations during the Christmas holiday season.
• 8:40 a.m.: Mike Dunn, general manager of the Rome Braves, on the team's being named Baseball America's Minor League Team of the Year -- a first for the Atlanta Braves' organization.