Good morning! Here’s the rundown for August 11, 2014.
KURDISH FORCES, AIDED BY AIR STRIKES, REBOUND… 20,000 CIVILIAMS REPORTEDLY RESCUED
Reinvigorated by American airstrikes, Kurdish forces retook two towns from Sunni militants Sunday, achieving one of their first victories after weeks of retreating. A Kurdish general says that Kurdish peshmerga fighters were able to push the militants of the Islamic State group out of the villages of Makhmour and al-Gweir, some 45 kilometers from Irbil. The United States launched a fourth round of airstrikes Sunday, and there are reports some 20,000 Yazidi Iraqis were rescued. At 6:35 ABC’s Tom Rivers will join us.
RESIDENT OBAMA SAYS U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ COULD LAST FOR MONTHS
Over the weekend, President Obama said that airstrikes and humanitarian assistance drops in Iraq could go on for months, as that country’s leaders try to build a new government. After earlier suggesting a mission of limited scope, he pledged that the U.S. would stand with Iraq to counter the Sunni militants who threaten its future, and of course ISIS. Ann discusses the issues confronting the administration compelling the actions, the ramifications now being wrestled with as a result, and reaction. At 7:10 Ann Compton joins us.
COLORADO LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO DISCOURAGE TEENAGE POT-SMOKING
A total of 36 states now have laws that allow for some kind of use of marijuana. Colorado has legalized recreational smoking, and many are watching to see what trends develop, particularly among teenagers, whose pot usage has been trending upwards nationally since 2000. To discourage youth marijuana use, Colorado is launching a campaign called “Don’t Be A Lab Rat,” which rather than scare kids off about using dope, basically points out that their behavior is being watched by the country. Workers will begin dropping human-sized rat cages around Denver on Monday as part of the campaign. At 7:35 Jim Ryan joins us.
THE KEY TO HAPPINESS, SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, IS THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
A new study says that the element of surprise has a big impact on how we feel from moment to moment and that we’re happier when satisfied unexpectedly instead of being certain of a positive outcome in advance. According to this new mathematical model of happiness, you’ll be happier after a great meal if you anticipated it would be average, rather than if you expected it to be delicious. However, moping around hoping to be happily surprised isn’t the way to go, because well, you’ll be bummed the entire time you are waiting for the payoff. It’s a complicated formula, but, you know, it is science. Steven Portnoy joins us at 8:10.
At 8:51 AAA’s Mark Jenkins will join us to discuss local, state and national gas prices.
Your Wake Up Call airs every weekday from 6-10 am on AM 820 News in Tampa and 1190 News in Orlando. Also listen live on NewsTalkFlorida.com.
