Conyers Police say they're clamping down on rowdy house parties; the gunman who killed a Greene County chief deputy may have been trying to cut a deal; President Obama has written another book--this one, for kids; check out the fine print when picking a seniors' Medicare plan. Get informed with today's big KISS News Now!

• Conyers Police are cracking down on crazy house parties after the one last weekend that preceded the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old.  Police Chief Gene Wilson says last Saturday's party on Tree Leaf Lane was out of control, and that the home was basically a nightclub--with admission charges, lots of booze, loud music, no parents and an 18-year-old toting a shotgun in charge of the security.  Now, Conyers Police will put eight officers on "party patrols" on the weekends, hoping to stop out-of-control events.  The owner of that home, Javoy Jones, has been charged with keeping a disorderly house. 
  
  

• Greene County investigators search for a motive in the killing of a chief deputy  who was shot to death after answering his front door Sunday.  The shooter, Sherman Branch, was under DEA investigation, and was apparently going door-to-door trying to work out a deal with the cops because he was facing major prison time as a major drug dealer.  Branch apparently had shown up at the door of the sheriff--who was out with his family--before going to the house of Chief Kevin Roberts (right). Branch shot Roberts, then turned the gun on himself in a murder/suicide.
  
  
• Experts are cautioning consumers about a new Medicare drug plan with the lowest upfront cost around. With open enrollment season under way, a plan offered by insurer Humana and retail giant Wal-Mart has the lowest monthly premium at $14.80. But experts say the program may not be beneficial for people who need costly medications but can't easily get to a Wal-Mart. Plan members can choose to fill prescriptions at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide, but only about 4,000 Wal-Mart, Sam's Club or Neighborhood Market stores are "preferred,'' and offer the lowest copayments. You could face copayments as high as 50% for drugs purchased at other local independent drugstores that the plan considers "non-preferred."
  
  

• President Obama is adding a new title to his resume:  children's book author.  HIs first book for kids, "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters," is published today, by Random House.  It was written before he took office.  The book retails for about $18--although it debuted on Amazon.com at $8.99--and will fund scholarships for the children of American soldiers. 
  
  
• October registered the largest increase in retail sales in seven months. Auto sales led the way.  Steadily higher inventories and sales are seen as signs that the economic recovery will continue.

• A special House ethics panel may have a decision today on the case of Congressman Charlie Rangel.  Instead of an expected week-long trial, the panel moved right into deliberations after refusing Rangel's request for more time to come up with enough money to hire a lawyer.  The 80-year-old shook hands with each member of the panel before walking out of the meeting.  The former chairman of the Ways & Means Committee was first elected in 1974, defeating the legendary Adam Clayton Powell.
  
  
• She made up a word, and apparently it's going to get to stick around for a minute.  Sarah Palin tweeted the nonexistent word "refudiate," which has now been named the New Oxford American Dictionary's 2010 Word of the Year.  New Oxford says there are no plans to actually add the word to its dictionary, however.  Others among the top ten words or phrases in the running were the terms "gleek"--to describe a fan of the show Glee--and "nom nom"--used to express delight about something tasty. 
  
  
• Facebook is set to roll out a new messaging system in coming months which it thinks will ultimately replace e-mail.  The CEO says looking at the current way people communicate, he thinks e-mail will fall by the wayside, with more instant messaging and texting.  The new system will haul cell phone texts, IM chats and e-mails and stack them in one inbox, organized by the sender.  For users who want them, the site will also hand out facebook.com e-mail accounts. 
  
  
  
• Hey, Jude...the Beatles are finally on the Internet.  You can now download the Fab Four's songs from iTunes, starting today.  The company which manages the band's affairs, Apple Corps. Inc, has long heldout on allowing Beatles downloads.  It also didn't help that that company decades ago accused Apple Computer of infringing on its trademark.
  
  
• The KISS 104.1 weather forecast:  morning showers and thunderstorms clear out to a 30% chance of rain for the afternoon drive home.  Expect a breezy high of 65 Tuesday, with a low of 42 tonight.