Smoke is back with us again today.  It could blanket much of the area as we saw yesterday.  Accuweather's Heather Zehr says very little is going to change until Friday, so we may smell the smoke the next few days.  Showers and thunderstorms are with us this weekend, and winds will pick up.

Breaking news in Murray Hill, where a homeowner shoots two intruders who had broken into his home around 1am.  One suspect is hospitalized with critical injuries, the other is in police custody.  The homeowner was not hurt. 

Today's interview lineup:

At 6:53 hear Jamie Dupree explain why the Republican win in that special Congressional race in New York is a strong sign to the White House.

At 8:23 hear Jamie Dupree update the fracas over a stimulus loan given to a solar power company that recently went bankrupt. 

At 8:40 hear Fox's Todd Starnes with the political reaction to the GOP's win in that special NY congressional race. 

At 8:53 hear Congressman Cliff Stearns on the allegations of wasteful spending in a stimulus award given to a company that has since gone bankrupt.

Our Top Local Story:  Questions about reckless spending and fraud.  Sheriff John Rutherford is responding to criticism that he's wasting your tax dollars.  Rutherford says he has cut 60 positiosn in the office, and a 2% pay cut for employee whose salaries he controls.  Rutherford is also fighting off questions about a no-bid contract with a company that handles the JSO's legal papers.  The company is getting a contract for more than one million dollars despite allegations of fake signatures on sworn statements. 

While you were sleeping the bomb squad was called to a convenience store on Argyle Forest Boulevard on the Westside.  The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says a clerk noticed a suspicious package inside a garbage can. The bomb squad is taking X-rays of the package. Everything is back open now.

The day after Bank of America announces it's letting go of 30-thousand employees nationwide, we're now hearing Wells Fargo is going to make some big staffing cuts.  The Times Union is reporting 62 employees in Jacksonville will be let go by October 14th.  A company spokesperson says the change is a result of ther merger with Wachovia, but they'll help the employees find new jobs.

Florida Republicans want an early presidential primary date, even at the risk of losing some of their delegates.  House Speaker Dean Cannon, Governor Rick Scott and Senate President Mike Haridopolos say they're determined to get their voters to the polls on February 21st, which would make Florida the 5th state in line during primary season.  But, rules by the Republican National Committee state that Florida can't hold its primary before March 6th.

Our Top National Story:  A Republican wins a Congressional seat in New York--delivering a rebuke against President Obama.  Bob Turner takes over the seat held by Anthony Weiner, who resigned months ago.  Another special election in a Congressional race in Nevada has Republican Mark Amodei winning.

Two Obama Administration officials will be in the hot seat today over a stimulus loan given to a solar power company that recently went bankrupt.

It's another battleground state, North Carolina is where the President pitchesh is jobs plan today.  He'll visit a business the White House says would benefit from the proposals Obama has been pressing Congress to pass right away.  Republicans are pushing back against the plan to raise taxes on the rich to pay for the jobs plan.

Congress is considering a bill sponsored in part by local Rep. Cliff Stearns that would give Americans who hold permits to carry weapons the right to take them across state lines.The bill aims to establish a nationwide framework for honoring permits and licenses in a uniform manner.

WalMart is announcing initiatives it says will help women around the world over the next five years.  The retailer plans to spend 20 billion dollars on goods and services from U.S. businesses owned by women. It also plans to offer life and jobs skills training for 200-thousand low income women.