IN WASHINGTON DC:

1)  The King Holiday Get Away:  Sponsored by the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, t's a 5-day bus tour to Washington DC for $500 per person (with 4 people to a room).  You cannot beat this price, especially this close to the Inauguration.  They are in the process of filling up their fourth and final bus (there's only about 30 seats available).  If you're interested, call tomorrow:  (501) 683-1300 or 1-888-290-KING.  

2) The Arkansas Inaugural Gala:  Already 700 Arkansans have bought tickets to attend this event sponsored by the Arkansas State Society.  President-Elect Barack Obama is invited, Bill Clinton is slated to attend, and Congressman Mike Ross will be the MC.  They've already run out of VIP tickets, but General Admission tickets are $200. 

IN LITTLE ROCK: 

1) Arkansas Martin Luther King Commission Gala:  A semi-formal inaugural ball sponsored by the commission on January 20th at the Clear Channel Metroplex.  If you are interested in attending, call the commission:  (501) 683-1300

2) 2009 Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony  "Watch Party" at the Moody Chapel AME (5630 Mabelvale Pike).  Breakfast will be served at 9 AM which coincides with the swearing-in ceremony, followed by a program at 10 AM.  The keynote speaker will be Arkansas NAACP President, Dale Charles.  Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.  Contact:  Venita Ross Franklin (501) 541-7651

Finally,  the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff band was invited to march in the inaugural parade on New Years Eve.  However, they now need to raise between $150-200,000 in fifteen days in order to afford the trip.  If you would like to help them make it to DC, you can call (870) 575-8919 or you can mail donations to:  UAPB, 1200 N University Ave. #4981, Pine Bluff, AR.  Make checks out to the "UAPB Foundation Fund" ATTN: Band. 

1. Looking at Christmas Lights
2. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
3. Attend a Holiday Christmas Program at Church
4. Host a Christmas Tree Decorating Party
5. Window Shopping
6. Watch Christmas Movies
7. Join/Organize a Caroling Group
8. Neighborhood Pot-Luck
9. Bake Christmas Cookies
10. Jonesboro:  Winter Wonderland Attraction (kids can wander through a virtual North Pole)

If you have any other suggestions, please post below.  Happy Holidays!

THE GREAT DEBATE:  It's rather pathetic.  I am almost 48-hours late in writing my response to the debate... how old-media of me.  Truth be told, I was burned out on the Brummett issue and simply overwhelmed with all of your emails.  Now that I've had a day to recover from the so-called cage fight, here's my thoughts on how the Great Debate went down...  

I'm biased, but I think I won.  As the Arkansas Times reports, Brummett apologized.  Done and done.  With that said, he made some very valid points, especially in regards to the live streaming web camera on my desk.  Brummett took issue with showing the more mundane moments of my day, specifically the times when I'm typing away on my computer with my mouse clicky (so pretty much  what people are watching right this second as I write).  No solutions yet and I'm still not sure I entirely agree, but point duly noted.  I'm on it. 

In case you missed the media debate of the year, have no fear, KATV and the Arkansas blogosphere have got you covered.   On our website, you can watch the full 90-minute debate by clicking here and view some pictures from the big night here.  I think bloggers Lance Turner and Jason Tolbert win the award for most impressive coverage (They have video.  And here at CYN, we are impressed by such techno-geeky things).  Blake Rutherford and David Kinkade tie for second (who by the way are in the middle of their own feud over who is the "most handsome blogger in the state).  And the Arkansas Times comes in third (Simply because they were late to the game.. I'm even worse).

CORRUPTION:  That's the theme of today's CYN story.  It stems from the scandal surrounding the Governor of Illinois and Barack Obama's empty senate seat.  With 7,192 votes cast, the winning assignment was, "The safeguards in place to protect taxpayers from illegal activity by elected officials." 

This is a complex issue with no one governing body in charge of these types of crimes.  So far I've spoken with the FBI, the Arkansas Ethics Commission, and the Attorney General's Office.  I'm still hoping to speak with the Pulaski County Prosecuting Attorney, Larry Jegley.  The full story will air tonight at 6PM. 

Until then, take a look at this USA Today Website.  It shows that from 1998 to 2007,  Arkansas has had 80 public corruption convictions.  Illinois has had 502.  But North Dakota, with 53 convictions, wins the award for the most corrupt state on a per-capita basis.  North Dakota? 

KARAOKE: There will be no Daily Debrief tonight due to 103.7 The Buzz's annual "Celebrity Christmas Karaoke" benefiting Youth Home.  All of the Channel 7 ladies are performing a surprise number.  So sorry to disappoint, but we will be back tomorrow with Matt Decample as our special guest.  He is the spokesman for Governor Mike Beebe.