Obama talks "Homestar"

Barack Obama made an appearance in Georgia today at Savannah Technical College.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the president spoke to an invitation-only crowd about his proposed “Homestar” initiative.  The plan would reward people for making their houses more energy efficient, offering homeowners up to $3000 in rebates as an incentive. It would also create jobs and cut household energy bills by as much as $500 annually.  The program, which Obama brought up back in January during his State of the Union address, will cost Congress around $6 billion.  Two to three million homes would participate in the project.

 Courthouse fire postpones start of Lil Wayne's jail term

Rapper Lil Wayne’s prison sentence was delayed for the second time earlier today after a fire closed down the New York City courthouse where he was scheduled to have a 2:15 hearing.  According to USA Today, the fire began this morning in the basement and forced over 1,000 people to evacuate the building.  Lil Wayne was originally supposed to begin serving his one-year jail term in February but he was allowed to postpone his court hearing so that he could undergo dental surgery.  Last October, the rapper pled guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon for an incident that occurred back in July of 2007 on his tour bus.

 Smith, Patchett taken into custody today

Onondaga County’s Most Wanted List is getting smaller.  The Post Standard reports that number three on the list, Jesse Smith, was arrested today in Camillus after detectives saw him driving on West Genesee Street earlier in the day.   Alex Patchett, who was number nine on the list, was also found and captured today in Florida.  Smith had been wanted for felony criminal possession of a controlled substance while Patchett had been wanted for felony grand larceny.  Another member of Onondaga’s Most Wanted, Luis Quinones, who was being charged with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, is dead.  Authorities found his corpse in a river in Puerto Rico on Christmas.