Belleville News Democrat: Your life

Tis the $eason: Belleville spends $37,000 to market city for holiday shoppers

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:19 CST

While national estimates predict a decline in holiday sales, small businesses in Belleville are finding new ways to encourage patrons to spend locally.

Needed: Toys and food for Dorris shelter

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:57 CST

For 28 years, the Rev. Dorris Davis has been making sure children in the metro-east get some toys for Christmas and their family can enjoy a hot festive meal on Christmas Day.

`MNF' tops TV cable ratings for Nov. 24-30

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:07 CST

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for the week of Nov. 24-30. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses:

Country star Alan Jackson honored with CMT special

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:07 CST

Alan Jackson knows that typically an artist is dead or his career is over when a group of hot new stars get together to salute a veteran like him.

Madonna postpones opening concert in Argentina

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:12 CST

Don't cry Argentina: Madonna has postponed the first of four shows in Buenos Aires.

Grammy nominations hit prime-time with TV special

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:37 CST

In an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out. So the Recording Academy is trying something different when it announces its nominees for its upcoming Grammys. Instead of its traditional morning roll call of nominee names at a staid press conference, top nominees will be revealed during a prime-time concert special to air live Wednesday on CBS.

Estranged relative charged in Hudson family deaths

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:57 CST

Jennifer Hudson's estranged brother-in-law was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of three of her family members.

Knock, knock ... what's there

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:11 CST

Q. I have a knocking noise that seems to come from the front left side of my Honda Accord. The car has 150,000 miles on it. The noise sounds like an unbalanced wheel. All of the tires were balanced at least twice since I first heard the noise.

Pontiac G5 builds 37-mpg excitement

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:06 CST

Pontiac has trouble deciding what it wants to be when it grows up.

Celebrity birthdays

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:11 CST

Singer Ozzy Osbourne is 60.

Secret millionaires get a lesson in humility

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:11 CST

The new Fox reality show "Secret Millionaire" features a group of millionaires who go undercover, posing as average people, to find others worthy of financial help.

Parents and children get the chance to work together

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

If you're thinking ahead about how to keep the kids busy this winter, consider what a group of area youngsters did recently. Five students at Young Chefs Academy in O'Fallon won Third Place in the Group Category of the 19th Annual Gingerbread Walk in Belleville. During two baking sessions, Morgan Barnum, Anna Flath, Alex Mueth, Neal Shekar and Tiffani Volkman created -- with direction from instructor Dina Volkman -- "Young Chefs Express," a train made entirely of edible ingredients.-

Food Briefs Dec. 3

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

Chiles and chilis

Very Lemon-Lime Souffle Pie

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:07 CST

VERY LEMON-LIME SOUFFLE PIE

Save money but show your holiday spirt with gift mixes

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

By Suzanne Boyle

Chinese five-spice powder

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:10 CST

Try it: This multi-tasking Chinese blend combines a quintet of spices to potent and aromatic effect. "The ancient Chinese believed the number five had curative powers, and ... (five-spice powder) probably began as an herbal medicine," Martin Yan writes in his "Culinary Journeys Through China."

Seafood on a budget? It's easier than you think

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

Brighten up the holidays with perfect kitchen gifts

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

By Suzanne Boyle

NBC exec: 'Meet the Press' deal close for Gregory

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:27 CST

NBC News is close to naming chief White House correspondent David Gregory as Tim Russert's replacement on the top-ranked Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press," a network executive said Tuesday.

Wrestling with loss: Finding the kingdom of heaven after hell on Earth

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:25 CST

In February 1976, Tom Janicik brought jubilation to metro-east prep wrestling fans by winning the 119-pound state title for Belleville Township High School West.

Celebrities to flock to inauguration for Obama

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:52 CST

The Super Bowl? Forget it. The Oscars? Who cares. The biggest star-studded event on the horizon is President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.

Swayze says he's winning fight against cancer

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:03 CST

Patrick Swayze is angry about tabloid reports that say he doesn't have long to live. The actor, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, issued a statement Tuesday affirming that so far he is winning his fight against the disease and responding well to treatment.

Roman Polanski requests dismissal of sex charge

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:06 CST

Lawyers for Roman Polanski, a fugitive for 30 years in a notorious sex case involving a 13-year-old girl, filed a request Tuesday to dismiss the charge against him because of prosecutorial and judicial misconduct.

Parents angry about lead paint in schools

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:02 CST

Some parents in St. Louis are angry that 27 grade schools have potential lead paint hazards, but the district does not have money budgeted to fix the problem.

Dunst gets order against alleged stalker

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:36 CST

Actress Kirsten Dunst doesn't need Spider-Man — she's got an assistant who recently proved capable of protecting the Hollywood performer.

Celebrity birthdays

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:10 CST

Singer Britney Spears is 27.

Cooling brain may offer anesthesia protection

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:10 CST

Researchers at Washington University may have come up with a cool way to prevent brain damage in young surgical patients.

Horoscope

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:10 CST

TUESDAY, DEC. 2

Medicare drug plan help offered

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15 CST

A little help is on the way for those who are doing their annual head-scratching over which Medicare prescription drug plan to choose for 2009.

Tina Fey's husband talks about her facial scar

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:20 CST

Tina Fey's husband is talking about something the "30 Rock" actress would rather not discuss: the scar on her left cheek.

191 endure 9 frustrating hours stuck on LA tarmac

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:55 CST

Nearly 200 passengers on a flight from El Salvador landed Monday in Los Angeles after spending nine hours aboard a grounded plane at a smaller airport as the airline and customs officials tried to work through apparent confusion.

How to do things: How to string outdoor Christmas lights

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:28 CST

Say you haven't put Christmas lights up in 20 years (or come to think of it, ever). Say you have a kid now and the importance of holiday traditions has suddenly dawned on you. Say it's mid-December. Say your husband is Jewish. This was my position a few years ago when I realized that if Christmas lights were going to be a part of our holiday tradition, it was up to me. Here are a few things I learned about stringing lights the hard way.

France's first lady wants to help fight AIDS

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:43 CST

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy says she wants to divert media attention surrounding her marriage to French President Nicolas Sarkozy to a worthy cause - by becoming a goodwill ambassador for the fight against AIDS.

Online retailers seek a slice of sales with Cyber Monday deals

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:00 CST

Cyber Monday is no Black Friday - at least not yet.

David Archuleta chasing his dream even faster than before 'Idol'

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:57 CST

On last season's "American Idol," David Archuleta's version of "Imagine" earned him the title of "the one to beat" early on. He never once placed in the bottom three. In the end, David ended up losing the crown to another David -- David Cook -- but he still got a chance to pursue his pop star dreams with a record deal on 19 Recordings/Jive Records.