Decker makes cover of SI Swimsuit Edition

Charlotte native Brooklyn Decker was revealed as the cover girl for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition last night on “Late Show with David Letterman.”

A sheet was removed from a billboard in New York’s Time Square to reveal the cover photo of Decker in a bright yellow bikini.

Decker, 22, is making her fifth appearance in the SI Swimsuit Edition.

Born in Middletown, Ohio and raised in Charlotte, Decker was discovered at age 16 in a shopping mall. She has appeared in numerous magazines, including Victoria’s Secret.

As a teenager, she ran hurdles for the track team, played soccer and participated in competitive cheerleading. She is a Tar Heels fan.

Decker is married to tennis player Andy Roddick.

2010 Swimsuit Edition | Brooklyn Decker | “Late Show” reveal

From Raleigh to Charlotte in an hour

I had what I called the "absolute" pleasure two Octobers ago to take the Amtrak from Raleigh to Charlotte for a meeting. It was a trip that "did nothing but reinforce my belief that trains should be highly invested in as a critical mass transit option --whether for intra- or intercity travel." The trip took roughly the same amount of time as it would have if I had driven, except I was able to read a book, sleep or just enjoy the scenery.

Well, thanks to federal funding, that Raleigh-to-Charlotte trip could take about an hour. Nice.

"Uncle Sam is betting $520 million you’ll think twice about driving to Charlotte or Raleigh if a train can get you there in an hour," says the News & Record.

"That’s how much stimulus money the federal government gave North Carolina recently for the Raleigh-to-Charlotte run, with Triad stops in Greensboro, Burlington and High Point.

The award covers enough work to make high-speed rail a reality in the Central Piedmont in four or five years, said Gene Conti, state secretary of transportation.

“On the Raleigh-to-Charlotte connection, we’re going to be in good shape to get our average speed up to 90 mph, where we’re averaging just over 50 mph now,” Conti said. “Going from that to 90 mph is huge.”

The aim of high-speed rail at the regional level is curbing highway congestion and pollution, primarily by getting commuters off the roads.

“High-speed rail will provide business and leisure travelers with a competitive option to car or air travel for distances of 100 to 500 miles,” said Joan Bagherpour of North Carolina’s rail program. ...

The route belongs to the national Southeast High Speed Rail corridor, which eventually could extend from Washington through Atlanta. The larger route won a total of $620 million in stimulus money for work in both Virginia and the Tar Heel State.

North Carolina’s piece of the larger award was $545 million, but $25 million is earmarked for the route from Raleigh to Richmond. That route is not as close to completion as Charlotte-to-Raleigh.

“For the Raleigh-to-Charlotte (leg), we got pretty much everything we asked for,” Conti said of the $520 million.

So, before long, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. But don't get too comfortable -- you'll be at your destination before you know it.

Quick hits: Charlotte studio gets two Grammys, and deal ends 'Road to Nowhere' standoff

Charlotte studio gets 2 Grammys

"A Charlotte-area producer and sound engineer received Grammy awards during the streaming webcast prior to the 58th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony Sunday," says the Charlotte Observer.

"Producer Cedric Thompson and sound mix engineer Glenn Tabor picked up awards for their work on vocalist Heather Headley's 'Audience of One,' which was named Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. They also received the Best Traditional Gospel Album award for 'Oh Happy Day,' a compilation featuring Jon Bon Jovi, Patti Griffin and Queen Latifah.

"Also, Charlotte trumpeter Ashlin Parker received a Grammy as a member of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. The 15-piece ensemble's latest release 'Book One' received the trophy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble. ..."

Deal ends 'Road to Nowhere' standoff

"The federal government has agreed to pay $52 million to Swain County, settling a 67-year conflict over a promised but never built mountain road, Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., said Tuesday," according to the Observer.

"Swain County commissioners are expected to approve the agreement on Friday. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Gov. Bev Perdue will appear at a signing ceremony in Bryson City planned for the next day.

"The dispute dates to World War II, when the government quickly built the Fontana Lake hydroelectric project in North Carolina's western tip.

"The government moved 600 families off mountain land that the lake would flood. It also vowed to build a new road to compensate for taking thousands of acres off the county's small tax base.

"The government started construction - but then stopped in 1972 - of what became known as the seven-mile 'Road to Nowhere.' ..."

(Sign photo courtesy of Western NC Attractions.com)

Update: Asheville finishes third in ‘Most Romantic City’ race

Not sure if they give out medals for this sort of thing, but if they do, the city of Asheville will be getting a bronze in the Korbel Champagne "Most Romantic City" contest. And the AVL may have done better, says the Citizen-Times, had a few more locals cast ballots.

Winning the title was Hana, Hawaii, followed by Indialantic, Fla, and Asheville. About 2,000 votes were cast, with Hana receiving 210 more votes than Asheville. Only 10 votes separated Asheville from Indialantic.

But, hey, No. 3 ain't nothing to sneeze at. After all, Asheville beat out the likes of Charleston, Duluth, Pittsburgh and Manhattan ... Kansas, that is.

Zach G from 'The Hangover' to host SNL on March 6

North Carolina native and N.C. State alum Zach Galifianakis (in the middle of the photo) is slated -- according to his Twitter feed -- to host "Saturday Night Live" on March 6.

Galifianakis starred in "The Hangover," which recently won a Golden Globe for best motion picture (musical or comedy), beating “(500) Days of Summer,” “It’s Complicated,” “Julie & Julia" and "Nine."

(Image courtesy of 280characters)

Quick hits: AVL in the running for 'most romantic city' in America, and a grouper ban hurts

Asheville in the running for Most Romantic City in America

"Asheville is always winding up on one top-ten list or another, and now it’s in the running to be named Most Romantic City in America in a contest by Korbel California Champagne," according to the Citizen-Times.

"Asheville is one of 12 cities to make the finals in this contest. Korbel asked the public to nominate their favorite romantic city, and hundreds responded with stories and photographs on why their towns should be considered. ...

"Also in the running are Indialantic, Fla.; Kansas City, Miss.; Duluth, Minn.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Bend, Ore.; Gold Beach, Ore.; Manhattan, Kan.; Hana, Hawaii; Mackinaw Island, Mich.; Grand Junction, Col. and Charleston, S.C."

Grouper ban strains coastal restaurants

"It may be a few months before James Clark, the executive chef at Waterscapes at the Marina Inn in Myrtle Beach, serves up another grouper platter to his patrons," says the Sun News.

"Most of the fish he cooks come from Murrells Inlet, and the four-month grouper ban enacted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council means no grouper for his restaurant.

"The ban - which started Jan. 1 and runs through April 30 - prohibits commercial and recreational fishermen from keeping the shallow-water grouper that is caught in federal and state Atlantic waters from North Carolina to Key West, Fla., as well as state waters in the Gulf of Mexico. ..."

Smithfield to reflect on star Gardner's death

The town of Smithfield has become synonymous with one of Hollywood's legendary leading ladies from the golden era, Ava Gardner. Today, visitors to the Ava Gardner Museum in Smithfield will be able to honor her, exactly 20 years after her death.

Visitors "will receive a reproduction of the program given to mourners at the service held at her graveside in the Johnston County town," says the AP.

Gardner died in London on Jan. 25, 1990 at age 67. She was buried four days later at Sunset Memorial Park alongside her parents and siblings.

She starred in films including "The Barefoot Contessa," "The Night of the Iguana," and "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" during a career that peaked in the 1950s and '60s. She appeared in a handful of episodes of the CBS prime-time drama "Knot's Landing" in the mid-1980s.

According to Wikipedia, Gardner was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in Mogambo (1953). She appeared in several popular films during the 1950s, and received BAFTA Award nominations for her performances in Bhowani Junction (1956), On the Beach (1959) and The Night of the Iguana (1964).

During her life, Gardner was married to the likes of Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw and Frank Sinatra.

Note: Edited to get the "correct" Rooney mentioned. (Thanks, KB!)

(Image from hollywoodyesterday.com)

Bullock, Hall receive Screen Actors Guild awards

East Carolina alumnus Sandra Bullock and Raleigh native Michael C. Hall won Screen Actors Guild awards on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Bullock solidified her status as the favorite to win a Best Actress Oscar for her role in “The Blind Side.” | People.com

Sandra Bullock continued her awards-show winning streak, picking up the trophy for outstanding performance by a female leading actor for The Blind Side ...

“If this were only not televised so I could use the appropriate words I’m feeling right now,” Bullock, who won the same award at last weekend’s Golden Globes, said. “I’m Sandra Bullock, and I’m an actor and I’m so proud to say that in a room full of faces that have inspired me.”

Hall has been nominated four times for the title role in the Showtime series “Dexter,” but Saturday marked his first win. | People.com

Michael C. Hall had plenty to celebrate Saturday night.

... the actor was named outstanding actor in a drama series at Saturday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards. And, he told PEOPLE backstage, his cancer is in remission.

“I’m two-thirds of the way through this treatment that already has this thing in remission,” he said. “It’s nice in the homestretch to have this kind of shock of positive energy. It’s a celebration.”

IMDb.com: Sandra Bullock | Michael C. Hall