Hampton Roads LIVE (HRL) Network Ends and a new network begins.

As of January 1, 2012 Hampton Roads LIVE (HRL) will be converting to a new broadcasting format called Notice Today. HRL was originally created from a challenged effort to bring local news and area promotions to local recipients via an annual print publication, e-news, a web news format, and a locally produced television show. From a young network started a little more than two years ago, HRL has experienced a multitude of successes that came from your continued support and viewership. We have had first shot at top interviews from NASCAR driver Jeffery Earnhardt, Superbowl Champ Doug Williams, performer and writer Angela Winbush, New York best selling author William Young to the White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra and others. We also have a fantastic partnership with a strong local TV station, WSKY-TV Channel 4. Our publication included great local advertisers and interesting cover stories. Not to mention our joy in producing TV segments and providing multimedia promotion to outstanding businesses, special issues, and invaluable non-profit organizations. In as little as two years HRL has taken home two awards that included the Bryant & Stratton Commitment to Excellence Award for our participate on in their internship program and the silver award for Best of Hampton Roads for Best Business to Business in PR, advertising, and marketing. Serving the community through our developments was full of sacrifice but very rewarding. 

The consideration of this change has been in the process throughout 2011. Area interest in our developments that where managed by BINCHMARK Marketing and Agency has expanded to areas across the nation and we must prepare accordingly. Notice Today will allow us to continue our core purpose of bringing insightful productions and news in an appealing format to a wider audience. However, it will always be stated that the site for the start of our network was Hampton Roads Virginia. Some new changes you will come to see are as follows:

Website: The new website that is currently in development will be located at www.noticetoday.com. The previous website will be taken down and previous domains such as www.HamptonRoadsLocalNews.com and www.ItsHamptonRoads.com will point to www.NoticeToday.com

                                               

The Weekly E-Paper: The weekly news sent via e-mail will continue and may experience points of downtime throughout January 2012 as it will be converted to the E-News by Notice Today. 

The Publication: The magazine is currently scheduled to continue as an annual publication called the Notice Today Magazine. 

The TV Show: The HRL TV program will be airing reruns throughout January 2012 as we are in the process of producing new TV segments for Notice Today. The new show is expected to air locally and plans to air the show in other areas is underway. 

So as we embark on this journey of expansion we look forward to your continued support and viewership. In closing, we are fortunate to live by our creative ideas and innovations and we encourage the same within our communities and the next generation. Thank you. 

Comet Lovejoy survives brush with the Sun.

It was an unbelievable sighting; the Comet Lovejoy survived a dive through the hot atmosphere of the sun.  The comet journeyed through the sun’s corona coming within 87,000miles of the sun’s surface. It's said the sun's corona can reach up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.  Many experts expected the comet to be completely destroyed but it was a lot tougher than they thought. According to a video by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft it shows the comet's journey around the sun to reemerge on the other side. Read full article.

Stars battled some serious health concerns this year.

Some of today’s biggest stars have battled some serious health problems this past year. Everyone’s favorite young star that played Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe admitted that he has had problems with self-confidence and has been fighting alcohol dependency this past year.  Tennis star sisters Venus and Serena Williams both battled with their health this year.  Venus was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome which is a autoimmune disorder in which the body's white blood cells attack moisture-producing glands that in turn can cause problems with extreme fatigue, joint pain, and problems with other vital organs. While sister Venus had her problems sister Serena dealt with her own health issues as well. She was treated for a blood clot in her lung and then later survived a life threatening hematoma from the blood clot. While other stars such as Giuliana Rancic has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and singer Glen Campbell has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. To read about more celebrity healthbattles click here.

Kobe Bryant's wife files for divorce.

Kobe's wife Vanessa has filed for divorce. According to documents filed Vanessa Bryant signed the papers on Dec. 1st and Kobe Bryant signed his response on Dec. 7th.  The current Mrs. Bryant has requested joint legal and physical custody of their daughters, and it is said in Kobe's response filing he has also requested the same. She is also requesting spousal support from Bryant. They have been married for ten years and according to reports they have no prenup, which means since they live in California she is entitled to half his net worth which is estimated to be worth $360 million.

The couple released a joint statement, "The Bryant's have resolved all issues incident to their divorce privately with the assistance of counsel and a judgment dissolving their marital status will be entered in 2012," according to a statement from a representative for the couple. Read full article.

The 18th Annual SAG Nominations have been announced.

The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild awards have been announced and leading the pack with nominations for this years awards is the movie The Help which was based on the #1 New York Times best seller by Kathryn Stockett. The movie got four nominations including Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role for Viola Davis who plays the maid Aibileen Clark, and Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In a Supporting Role for Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer, and they also received a nomination for best ensemble in a motion picture.

The television nominations were lead by ABC’s Modern Family which had five nominations including outstanding comedy ensemble, which TV shows Dexter and 30 Rock follow with three nominations each. For a full list of nominations click here.

Should the age limit be higher on singing reality shows?

America is obsessed with watching programs like American Idol and now the ‘X’ Factor but how young is too young for the contestants on these reality shows? During a recent elimination on the ‘X’ Factor show the young favorite singer Rachel Crow, 13yrs was sent home.  After hearing the news she was eliminated she fell to her knees crying in disappointment and shock and her mother had to come from backstage to console her. This raises a good question, should shows like this up the age limit above 18 for more mature contestants?  Are kids really ready to handle this type of rejection at this age in front of a national audience or is this type of rejection a good life lesson for them to keep move forward an not give up? What do you think?  Watch her reaction.

Memorable Moments of 2011

As the year comes to a close take a look back at some of the memorable moments. Moments like the volunteers who worked to rebuild Joplin, Missouri, Gabrielle Giffords leaving the hospital after being shot by gunman, Paraplegic Austin Whitney walking at his college graduation through the help of an exoskeleton, or the Labrador retriever that laid near the casket at the funeral of his Navy SEAL owner. Watch pictures and video that were simply inspiring in 2011.