Cleveland Weather: Flood Watch Today

Flood Watch in place for all of Northeast Ohio through this afternoon

Today: Mostly cloudy with periodic showers and storms.  Low 80s

Friday: Mostly cloudy with periodic rain and storms.  Near 80

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and storms.  Around 80

Sunday: Partly sunny with scattered shower/storm chances. Upper 70s

Monday: Partly sunny with isolated showers/storms in the afternoon.  Upper 70s/low80s

Tuesday:  Partly sunny with scattered rain and storms during the afternoon.  Low 80s

Wednesday:  Partly cloudy with isolated rain and storms.  Low 80s

Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!

WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook

Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page

Hollie Strano: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page

Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page

Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page

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North Olmsted: Water main break closes road

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James Gandolfini funeral Thursday in NYC

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Caesars drops Paula Deen's restaurants

The company said it is 'in the best interest' to part ways.

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New rules aim to rid schools of junk foods

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Goodbye doughnuts, candy bars, high-fat chips, full-calorie soft drinks and chocolate sandwich cookies. Those kinds of foods and beverages will no longer be allowed to be sold in school a la carte lines, vending machines and snack bars during the school day, beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.

Hello granola bars, peanuts, fruit cups, light popcorn, low-fat chips and no-calorie flavored water. Those types of foods will be offered.

The government is announcing Thursday its "Smart Snacks in Schools" nutrition standards for "competitive foods," the name given to foods that are not part of the regular school meals. The standards set limits for calories, fat, sugar and sodium.

These interim final rules do not apply to foods sold at after-school fundraisers, concession stands at sporting events and other after-school activities. They also don't affect the foods kids bring in their lunches or what's served at birthday parties, holidays and other celebrations at school.

Updated nutrition guidelines for school lunch went into effect this past school year.

"Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children," U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

"It's great to be one step closer to getting junk food out of schools," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The nutritional quality of food served at schools has been a hot-button issue for years because a third of U.S. kids are overweight or obese. Extra pounds put kids at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other health problems. The 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to update nutrition standards for all food served in schools.

Under the new nutrition standards, all competitive foods must:

-- Have no more than 200 calories for snacks and side dishes; and no more than 350 calories for entrees that are not part of the school-meal program.

-- Meet requirements for fat, saturated fat and sugar. They can contain no trans fat. Some exceptions on the fat limits will be allowed for foods such as reduced-fat cheese and nuts.

-- Be either a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, a protein food, a whole-grain-rich grain product or a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit or vegetable. For the first two years after the standards go into effect, foods can qualify as a competitive food if they contain at least 10% of a nutrient that's been designated as public health concern for children such as calcium, potassium, vitamin D or fiber.

There are special exemptions being made for entrees sold in the a la carte lines that are also part of the school meal. For instance, a food such as a hamburger or turkey taco might be able to be sold in the a la carte line on the same day it's served on the lunch line or the day after.

In practical terms, these standards mean that schools won't be able to sell high-fat chips and high-fat cookies but might sell low-fat chips chips or granola bars. They can also sell sugar-free gum.

When it comes to beverages, all schools may sell water or carbonated water; unflavored low-fat milk; flavored or unflavored fat-free milk and soy alternatives; 100% fruit or vegetable juice. Portion sizes of milk and juice vary by the age of students.

There are additional beverage options for high school students including lower or calorie-free beverages. But schools can't sell regular-calorie sports drinks.

"Eventually all school foods will have to contain real food -- fruit, vegetable or other healthy food component," Wootan says. "Companies won't be able to just fortify snacks with cheap nutrients and then sell them in schools as healthy."

Sandra Ford, president of the School Nutrition Association, a non-profit group representing school food-service professionals, says, "School cafeterias are still in the midst of making school lunch changes. Breakfast regulations go into effect this fall, and new sodium limits will phase in at the same time as the competitive food rule.

"We need time to evaluate the impact of these changes on school meal programs and to encourage students to accept these healthier choices."

She says the group asked that the regulations be an "interim final rule" so that the standards could be tweaked if necessary.

Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY

Gannett / USA Today

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Cleveland Weather: More showers and storms

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has put Ohio under a "slight" risk for severe weather today. Any storms that develop will likely do so in the afternoon and evening hours and could produce heavy rain, strong winds, hail. Even Isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out of the question. Greatest will be strong damaging winds.

Stay weather ready!

Today: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mid/Upper 80s.

Thursday: Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and storms. Low/Mid 80s.

Friday: Partly sunny with a few scattered showers/thunder.  High: 80.

Saturday: Partly sunny, less humid. Small chance of a shower.  Upper 70s.

Sunday: Partly sunny with isolated showers. Upper 70s/near 80.

Monday: Partly sunny.  Shower and thunder chances.  Near 83.

Tuesday:  Partly cloudy.  Isolated shower/thunder.  Near 82

Get more weather info and connect with us on Twitter and Facebook!

WKYC Weather Warriors on Facebook

Betsy Kling: @BetsyKling on Twitter or Betsy's Facebook Page

Hollie Strong: @holliesmiles on Twitter or Hollie's Facebook Page

Marcus Walter: @MarcusDWalter on Twitter or Marcus's Facebook Page

Bruce Kalinowski on Bruce's Facebook Page

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Paula Deen's 'Today' show interview ends in tears

Paula Deen. Photo by Slaven Vlasic, Getty Images.

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Looking a little worn out and speaking with emotion, Paula Deen showed up Wednesday at the appointed early hour for her Today show interview, the latest mea culpa to come from the celeb chef who has been under fire for uttering racial slurs.

And it was a teary mea culpa.

Appearing in the 7:30 a.m. half-hour, she started out telling Matt Lauer the last week has left her "overwhelmed. I was in a state of shock."

Still?

"Somewhat, yes, because there's been some very very hurtful lies said about me."

RELATED | Paula Deen fans vent their outrage at Food Network

Lauer tried to bring up the business side of what has happened.

"Let me say this before we even get into that," Deen said. "The main reason I am here today, Matt, is it's important to me to tell you and everyone out there what I believe. ... I believe that every creature on this earth was created equal, no matter who you choose to go to bed with at night, what church you go to to pray ... that's the way I was raised."

He interrupted her to ask if she was really doing the interview because "millions of dollars" are at stake from endorsement deals.

WATCH | Paula Deen visits the WKYC studios (from Oct. 2012)

"I am here today because I want people to know who I am. People that have worked beside me, have walked beside me, know what kind of person I am. I am so distressed that people I have never heard of are all of a sudden experts on who I am."

She began to choke up. "Their words are being given weight."

Deen, 66, thanked those who have stood by her, saying, "I'm so fortunate that so many of my partners that know who I am have decided to stand by me. QVC has not dropped me. There's only two that has dropped me. I'm so very thankful for the partners that I have that believe in me."

When Lauer asked her, "Is Paula Deen a racist?" she replied, "No. No, as a child, I was raised in a home that my father tolerated bad grades. He would tolerate me maybe breaking a curfew, but he told me, girl, if I ever find out that you have behaved in a way that you think you're better than others, your butt is going to be mine."

But she did say the n-word, Lauer pointed out, as came out in the deposition for the lawsuit she's facing from a restaurant employee.

"The day I used that word it was a world ago. It was 30 years ago. I had had a gun put to my head because the man that had the gun to my head was my customer at the main office ..."

Lauer interrupted her to ask, "Only that one time in the bank with a robber?"

Yes, replied Deen. "I have never ... They asked me in all of my 66 years on earth had I used it. ... I answered it truthfully. It's just not a part of who we are."

Lauer then asked if she had any doubt that African Americans are offended by the n-word.

"I don't know, Matt, I have asked myself that so many times. It's very distressing for me to go into my kitchens and hear what people are calling each other. ... It's very distressing for me. I think that for this problem to be worked on that these young people are going to have to take control and start showing respect for each other and not throw that word at each other. It makes my skin crawl."

When Lauer asked if maybe she wished she hadn't told the truth, she said, "No. Because there's a couple of kinds of people I don't like that I'm prejudiced against - that's thieves and liars."

As the lengthy interview drew to a close, Deen began crying. "I know how I treat people. I know my love for people. I'm not going to sit here and tell everything I have done for people of color. Somebody else can do that. ... I have apologized. And I have never with any intention hurt anybody and I never would."

She added that there is no separate side from the sugary, sassy Southerner we've seen countless times in the kitchen. "What you see is what you get. I'm heartbroken."

And finally, after mentioning support she had gotten from civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, she said, "If there's anyone out there that has never said something that they wished they could take back. If you're out there, please pick up that stone and throw it so hard at my head that it kills me. Please. I want to meet you. I is what I is and I'm not changing."

Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

Gannett / USA Today

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Browns rookie facing attempted murder charges

Photo by Ryan Haidet, WKYC-TV.

PASSAIC, N.J. (AP) - A Cleveland Browns rookie is charged with attempted murder for allegedly punching a man outside a club in northern New Jersey.
    
Ausar Walcott turned himself in to Passaic police Tuesday after he was identified as a suspect in the incident that happened around 3 a.m. Sunday.
    
Authorities tell The Record (http://bit.ly/19t3uSU ) newspaper the 23-year-old Hackensack native and former University of Virginia player punched 24-year-old Derrick Jones in the head just after The Palace Gentlemen's Club closed. Police say Jones, who is from New York City, is in critical condition.
    
Walcott is held on $500,000 bail. It's not clear if he has a defense lawyer.
    
The linebacker was signed by the Browns last month. In a statement, the team says it is "aware of the situation."

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Cleveland Hts: Parents wary of neighborhood lurker

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS -- Cleveland Heights Police are searching for a man who is reportedly driving around and making obscene, lewd gestures at children.

The first incident happened late last week, in the vicinity of Taylor Road and Severance Town Center.

Officers have received several calls of the incident happening again in other parts of town, including Sunday evening on Bendemeer Road.

Since the first report last week, many rumors about what's happening have begun to circulate on Facebook and social media.

In fact, Channel 3 received phone calls and emails from concerned neighbors on Monday of an attempted child luring or abduction.

Police say so far, there have been no reports of luring, or of someone physically trying to grab a child.

But the Cleveland Heights Police Department is looking for a white man with dark hair, driving a silver crossover or small SUV, with temporary tags.

Police have not gone into detail as to the kind of lewd gestures the suspect is making.

Neighbors in one community say they've seen more police cars patrolling the streets.

"If something happens in this neighborhood, everybody knows. Everybody watches," says Rabbi Sruly Wolf.

Rabbi Wolf often acts as a community liaison between the police and the Orthodox Jewish community in Cleveland Heights.

He says the goal is not to create panic; in fact the area where the sightings have happened is generally a safe, family-oriented neighborhood.

"Our main emphasis is to spread around the community that if something happens, call the police. The police response time is literally two minutes or sooner," said Rabbi Wolf.

Rabbi Wolf says announcements were made in synagogues over the weekend, as a precaution for people to look out for their children.

Especially right now, when so many children are playing outside during the summertime.

"The children should be safe. That's all of our concern. A stranger shouldn't be stopping and talking to children," said Rabbi Wolf. 

Anyone with information on the suspect or vehicle is asked to call Cleveland Heights Police.

WKYC-TV

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Akron: 2 dead in Monday night highway crash

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AKRON, Ohio -- Two people died in a crash involving a pair of semi trucks on I-76 East near Grant Street Monday night.

According to the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office, the crash happened around 7:45 p.m. as a semi was traveling eastbound on I-76.

Authorities say the driver failed to notice slower traffic and collided with another semi's rear-end although attempting to swerve around it.

The driver and his passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene at 8:28 p.m.

Their names have not yet been released pending identification and notification of family.

Hazmat crews were also called to the scene, likely because of fuel spilled from the trucks. It is not clear what type of cargo the trucks were carrying.

The left lanes were closed overnight and reopened after 3 a.m.

No further information is available.

WKYC-TV

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Richfield: 911 lines not working

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RICHFIELD -- Police say 911 lines are down in Richfield and calls are being re-routed to Bath Police until further notice.

Making the announcement via Twitter, Richfield Police also indicate that business lines are still working.

No further information was provided.

WKYC-TV

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Man completes tightrope walk near Grand Canyon

Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

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LITTLE COLORADO RIVER GORGE, Ariz. -- Daredevil Nik Wallenda, the seventh-generation high-wire artist, on Sunday successfully walked a two-inch thick cable across the Little Colorado River Gorge near the Grand Canyon.

PHOTOS | Wallenda tightrope walk near Grand Canyon

He completed the walk in just under 23 minutes.

His tightrope was stretched 1,500 feet above the gorge floor, and he made the 1,400-foot long televised walk without a net or safety harness.

Wallenda began his walk a bit before 9:40 p.m. ET, as the sun was setting at the site in Arizona. His ground crew reported he had passed the half-way point about 11 minutes or so into the walk.

"Thank you, Jesus,'' he could be heard saying repeatedly as he walked.

At one point, 13 minutes into the walk, he stopped and knelt in an effort to slow the cable's movement.

When he reached the other side of the gorge, he said he had made that move to stop a rhythmic movement of the wire.

"I had to just sit down to get that rhythm out,'' he said.

Wallenda told reporters after the walk that he hoped his next stunt would be a tightrope walk between the Empire State building and the Chrysler building in New York.

Wallenda, 34, of Sarasota, Fla., is part of the famous "Flying Wallendas,'' a circus family whose acts have brought it tragedy in the past. A year ago he made a similar walk on a cable across Niagara Falls.

He told reporters two days before making the gorge attempt that he would say a prayer, then "I give my wife and kids a hug and a kiss and tell them I'll see them in a bit.''

The location of his crossing attempt was at a site in the Navajo Nation, 10 miles southeast of the Grand Canyon in northwest Arizona.

Wallenda's great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, died at 73 when he fell during a performance in Puerto Rico. Several other family members have died performing on the high wire.

His gorge walk was being telecast by the Discovery Channel, with a 10-second delay.

He was wired with cameras and a microphone, and his voice could be heard saying prayers as he walked the rope.

"Winds are way worse than I expected,'' he could be heard to say, about 6 minutes into his walk.

Wallenda was walking with shoes that have an elk-skin sole to help him grip the steel cable.

By William M. Welch, USA TODAY

USA Today / Gannett

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