4 things to watch for -- Thursday, July 4th

Kim DeGiulio WDIV-TV

Kim DeGiulio: Hey everyone!! It’s the day before Fourth of July which is one of my favorite holidays! I’m looking forward to spending some time with my family for the holiday. I have plans to see the movie Rocketman with my parents. I’m a huge Elton John fan so I’ve been dying to see this movie. 

Yesterday was a great day. I spent some time with Rhonda at her house. We hung out on her patio for a little bit until it started to downpour! Two more weeks til she’s back!

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Don’t forget to tune in to 'Back to Basics' Thursday. We’re talking about camping! Going full on rustic camping is something that intimidates me. I think it intimidates a lot of people. That’s why I wanted to do a few segments about the things you need to know before you head out on a camping trip! Check it out at 5:55 a.m. Thursday.

Hope you have a great Wednesday and an awesome 4th of July holiday!

Watch beginning at 4:30 a.m.

Here's what's coming up Thursday, July 4th, 2019 on Local 4 News Today.

All Morning -- 4th of July Forecast

It’s still very warm and muggy on Independence Day. We should see a decent amount of sunshine with morning lows near 70 degrees and highs taking aim at 90 degrees again. Scattered afternoon showers and storms are possible with the heat of the day, so keep an eye to the skies and make sure you have a safe place to sit out a random storm or two Thursday.

  • You can get the full forecast here.

All Morning - 4th of July BBQ

It's one of the biggest BBQ days of the year! We've got the experts from Red Smoke joining us all morning to help you step up your game. Some of the topics we're focusing on: the most popular items, food to quick quickly for last-minute parties, the most forgiving foods and what to do with all those leftovers. 

6:40 a.m. -- 4th of July Smartphone Warning

You might be hitting the pool or spending time in the sun. But, did you know the 4th of July is the most dangerous day for your smartphone? Help Me Hank explains why and what you can do to keep your expensive device protected.

6:45 a.m. -- Play Ball!

It doesn't get much more American than baseball! The United Shores Professional Baseball League wants you to celebrate America's independence at Jimmy John's Field in Utica. The crew from USPBL will join us live to talk about new family-friendly events that offer many freebies and fun additions this week. They'll also give away a great fan experience for one lucky Local 4 viewer (for 4 people). 

ICYMI

Today's Trivia Retake 

Every morning at 6 a.m., we ask you a trivia question on Local 4 for a chance to win a prize.

  • Wednesday Question: In Tuesday's World Cup semi-final win, which USA women's soccer player celebrated her birthday with a goal?
  • Answer: Alex Morgan
  • Be sure to watch daily at 6 a.m. and click this link to enter for a chance to win.

Today's Quiz 

National Days: July 4th

  • Independence Day 
  • National Barbecued Spareribs Day
  • National Caesar Salad Day

A Look Back at History: July 4th

  • In 1802, the United States Military Academy officially opened at West Point, New York.
  • In 1817, ground was broken for the Erie Canal in Rome, New York. The middle section of the waterway took three years to complete; the entire canal was finished in 1825.
  • In 1826, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died.
  • In 1831, the fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, died in New York City at age 73.
  • In 1872, the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth, Vermont.
  • In 1917, during a ceremony in Paris honoring the French hero of the American Revolution, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles E. Stanton, an aide to Maj. Gen. John J. Pershing, declared: “Lafayette, we are here!”
  • In 1939, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees delivered his famous farewell speech in which he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”
  • In 1942, Irving Berlin’s musical revue “This Is the Army” opened at the Broadway Theater in New York.
  • In 1947, the small central California town of Hollister was overrun by thousands of motorcycling enthusiasts, dozens of whom ended up being arrested, most for drunkenness, in what came to be called the “Hollister Riot.”
  • In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Freedom of Information Act, which went into effect the following year.
  • In 1997, NASA’s Pathfinder spacecraft landed on Mars, inaugurating a new era in the search for life on the red planet. CBS newsman Charles Kuralt died in New York at age 62.

Celebrity Birthdays: July 4th 

Celebrating a birthday Thursday? Submit a Sunshine Award here and we could say your name on Local 4 News Today during our 5 a.m. show.

Here's who you're sharing a birthday with -- 

  • Actress Eva Marie Saint is 95. 
  • Actress Gina Lollobrigida is 92. 
  • Singer Bill Withers is 81. 
  • Actor Ed Bernard (“Police Woman,” ″White Shadow”) is 80. 
  • Actress Karolyn Grimes (Zuzu in “It’s A Wonderful Life”) is 79. 
  • Singer Annette Beard of Martha and the Vandellas is 76. 
  • TV talk show host Geraldo Rivera is 76. 
  • Percussionist Ralph Johnson of Earth, Wind and Fire is 68. 
  • Singer John Waite is 67. 
  • DJ Zonka (Big Audio Dynamite) is 57. 
  • Singer Michael Sweet of Stryper is 56. 
  • Bassist Matt Malley (Counting Crows) is 56. 
  • Actor Tracy Letts (“Homeland”) is 54. 
  • Actor-comedian Al Madrigal (“Gary Unmarried,” ″The Daily Show”) is 48. 
  • Actor John Lloyd Young (“Jersey Boys”) is 44. 
  • Singer Stephen “Ste” McNally of BBMak is 41. 
  • Actress Becki Newton (“Ugly Betty”) is 41. 
  • Actor Mo McRae (“Sons of Anarchy”) is 37. 
  • Reality star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino (“Jersey Shore”) is 37. 
  • Singer Melanie Fiona is 36.

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About the Authors:

You can watch Kim on the morning newscast weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m., and frequently doing reports on the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.