WNWO special to look at crime

WNWO-TV, Channel 24, is exploring the increasing number of local crimes and homicides in a live report airing at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The special will feature Mayor Mike Bell and Deputy Chief of Investigations George Taylor addressing the recent crime in northwest Ohio and how the community can end it. Former gang members Paul Parker and Justin Coffey will also join the discussion.

Viewers can add their questions to the discussion by emailing news@wnwo.com, posting on the station's Facebook page, facebook.com/NorthWestOhio, or tweeting #stoptheviolence @wnwotv.

Shelton to co-host

Get ready for another dose of Blake Shelton as country's hottest leading man -- who comes to Toledo's Huntington Center Thursday -- joins Reba McEntire again this year as co-host of the Academy of Country Music Awards.

The 47th annual show will be held April 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Like Shelton, the ACM's Fan Jam also will return for a second year. Zac Brown Band will host the parallel event at the Mandalay Events Center.

The academy also will salute Lionel Richie with "ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends -- A Lifetime of Hits," its annual television special taped the day after the awards and aired later on CBS. Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, the Band Perry, Martina McBride, and others will join Richie on the show.

More awards

Modern Family and Curb Your Enthusiasm received double nominations in the comedy category when the Director's Guild of America's television and commercial nominations were announced Tuesday. The final slot went to NBC's 30 Rock.

Cable dominated in the drama field, with episodes of Game of Thrones (HBO), Homeland (Showtime), The Killing (AMC), Breaking Bad (AMC), and Friday Night Lights (101 Network) in the running.

Competition-based shows governed the reality front. NBC's The Biggest Loser and Fear Factor are up against CBS' The Amazing Race, Fox's Master Chef and Food Network's The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs. In the daytime serials category, ABC's All My Children, which ended its run in September, earned two nominations, as did the network's General Hospital. They'll compete against ABC's other canceled soap, One Life To Live, and CBS' The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Winners will be announced on Jan. 28.