Okay, I know what you’re thinking.  Not another pious, self-righteous call to remember the reason for the season.

But seriously, are you even thinking about the spirit behind July 4th today?  As I’ve shared before on this blog, these thoughts come to me as I try to explain things to my four year old.  We’re working through the fact that today is America’s birthday, that some men and women who lived a few hundreds of years ago worked really hard to make sure we can be independent and free, and that freedom isn’t something everyone in the world is able to enjoy.

A four year old can’t comprehend how remarkable the “Founding Fathers” were.  Heck, many adults can’t either, it seems.  These patriots deliberately decided to risk losing everything with the single goal of living independently of a government they no longer believed in.  Such courage seems to be in short supply today.

Seems to me that, for a country to remain great, we must never forget how we got to be this way. 

Do you agree?  How are you celebrating today? 

We’re all talking about this one today.

Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk-show host who inspired a legion of copycats, signed a $400 million deal securing his presence on the air through 2016.

That’s about $38 million a year.

Yesterday, Limbaugh commented on news coverage of his contract and told listeners he’s worth every penny.

By the way, Limbaugh - a media “outsider” not tied to legacy broadcast or newspaper companies like CBS or the New York Times - now makes more than the three network anchors combined.

What do you think?

I’d love your take on the latest “oh no you didn’t just say that” moment from Campaign ‘08,

“Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be President,” said retired General and former Democratic Presidential candidate Wesley Clark on CBS’s “Face the Nation” last Saturday.  He was responding to a grilling by Bob Scheiffer after Clark said McCain’s military service and his 5 years as a P.O.W. doesn’t necessarily qualify him to be President.

McCain shrugged it off, and even Obama distance himself from the General’s comments.

What do you think?  Does McCain’s military service and his time as a P.O.W. factor into your opinions about him so far? 

This morning, TriCities.Com Reporter Nicki Mayo reported live outside the brand new Bristol Regional Medical Center Emergency Department.  The newly expanded facility will significantly increase the square footage and bed court in the 14 year old hospital.

Last week, a spokesman for the Johnson City Medical Center said that hospital’s emergency room will be renovated and expanded starting later this year.

This got me thinking: have you ever been stuck in the emergency room?  By stuck, I mean for a long time?  Or have your local ER visits been smooth sailing and better than expected?

Share you stories here on the Morning Edition blog?

What’s your reaction to yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling that a handgun ban in Washington D.C. violates the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution? 

Some really feel that too many guns in too many hands spells trouble.  Others feel the 2nd Amendment assures an inherently American right, the right to bear arms.  To quote America’s most famous gun advocate Charleton Heston, “Out of my cold dead hands.”

A couple of things really surprised me yesterday:

1. We came really close to the death of the 2nd Amendment.  Five Justices voted to overturn the D.C. ban, but four did not.  One different opinion would have changed everything.

2. Some Mayors and even some Congressmen and Senators say they’ll continue to push for laws banning or limiting individual gun use.

Where do you stand on the issue?

A new survey out today indicates more than half of America’s kids are drinking before they’re legal, and almost half of them claim to get the booze from a grown-up.

These kinds of stories leave the mouth gaping.  Almost half the kids in America are breaking the drinking age law?  Parents are helping them do it?

I’m curious.  Does this suprise you as much as it does me?  Or am I just the naive parent of little kids who’s yet to learn the realities of raising kids in America in 2008?

A looooonnng time ago when I was underage, I was fortunate to end up with friends who either didn’t have the desire or the courage to get “adult beverages”.  Life was tough enough navigating the perilous seas of the teenage years.  Yes, that makes me “sheltered”.  Is that such a bad thing?

I wonder if news agencies are reporting stories like this in European countries like Italy and France where drinking isn’t such a cultural taboo and children get their first sip of vino while bouncing on grandpa’s knee?

Okay, hit me with a dose of reality.  What do you think of this?

The Morning Edition blog is back up and running.  Sorry for the blog drought.  I’m blaming vacation and some computer problems.

Yesterday, the News Channel 11 family said farewell to another great friend.  News reporter Josh Green is moving on to our sister station in Raleigh, North Carolina.

You’ve enjoyed Josh’s top-notch reporting for the past three years.  Those who got to work with him enjoyed his remarkable kindness and compassion.  In three years, Josh made more friends in the Tri-Cities than people I know who’ve lived here all their lives.  The smile in the picture above is just one of the reasons why people who knew him couldn’t help but love him.

Around the newsroom, he was called “Young Josh” and I got to be “Old Josh”.  Once, a co-worker called him “Skinny Josh” but then hesitated before unveiling my nickname.

Meanwhile, we’ve welcomed a new member of the WJHL-TV crew.  While Rob fills in for Mark Reynolds this week, I’ve enjoyed working with and getting to know our new meteorologist Mallory Nichols.  Tomorrow on the blog, more on Mallory and her unusual choice of footwear while working on the Morning Edition.

Yesterday, Mountain States Health Alliance announced a massive plan to renovate, expand, and eventually replace the Johnson City Medical Center with a new building,

Look for News Channel 11’s Nate Morabito full report on the announcement in the news section here on TriCities.Com.

What do you think about the plan?  All opinions are welcome.

Yesterday, Rob Williams got a call from the zany morning radio hosts at WTFM.  Taylor Morgan and Steve Mann phoned to tell him he once again won their “Sexiest Man in the Tri-Cities” award.

As I walked past the Storm Center, I noticed Rob’s head down on the desk with the phone to his ear.  The body language: “Oh, brother!” At first, I thought someone had called to ask for a beach forecast in late September.  He gets those from time to time.

Some men… heck, most men,… would LOVE to be called the “Sexiest” man anywhere.  Rob, I think, appreciated the compliment but knows the kidding that was soon to follow.  In other words, he’s far more humble than others would be in his position.  I doubt some of those famous “pretty boys” on the cover of PEOPLE magazine are nearly as nice and down-to-earth as WJHL’s AM and Noon meteorologist.

All you other pretty boys out there in the Tri-Cities… eat your heart out!

Send your congratulations to the Tri-Cities “Sexiest” man here on the Morning Edition blog.  Do you have another nominee?

It’s been so long since a good soaking storm, a moderate blast of severe weather becomes the talk of town.

Where were you when the storms rolled through?

Rob was on the covered back deck, waiting for the heavy rain and wind that, at his house, never really arrived.  He says man hardly got a drop of rain, sad news as we’re dealing with drought.

The Smith’s were in the minivan.  As rain and hail pelted the windshield, I was white-knuckling the steering wheel and the kids were screaming with delight.  My wife was trying to calm us all down.

Send your pictures to stormteam@wjhl.com, and share your story here on the Morning Edition blog.