Wednesday, Hump Day, which makes that camel in the insurance commercials happy…

Weather: Rumbly. Thunderstorms will be likely throughout the day today, with highs in the middle 80s; rain chances are 70 percent. Rain chances diminish tonight to 40 percent with lows in the lower 70s. A few scattered storms will linger on Thursday.

Shovels, dirt and lots of people. Gardendale officials estimated a crowd of more than 1,000 people attended last night’s community groundbreaking at Northgate Village shopping center, the first concrete step toward the opening of a new Publix supermarket there. You can see our HD video coverage of the event by clicking here, and see more photos on our Facebook page.

Snowden not guilty of most severe charge, convicted on all others. Army PFC Bradley Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy when he leaked classified documents to the website Wikileaks, but was found guilty of five counts of espionage and theft, among other counts. The military court-martial passed down the verdicts from a sole judge, Col. Denise Lind. While Snowden will not get life in prison on the major charge, he could still face more than 100 years hard labor in federal prison on the rest.

Lifting ladders? Hmmm… Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Forestdale man whom they believe pawned dozens of industrial ladders that either he stole, or got from someone else who did. Michael Scott Hall was found in possession of ladders stolen last week form an AT&T facility in Graysville. Hall told investigators that someone else gave the ladders to him to pawn. Investigators believe Hall may have pawned more than 100 ladders in recent months.

Sports: Welcome, newbies. Metro Birmingham High School Football Media Days wrapped up Tuesday at the Gardendale Civic Center, and it was time for north Jefferson coaches and players to face reporters. New Fultondale head coach Richie Busby said his team will fill the gaping hole left by the departed ArDarius Stewart “by committee,” while new Mortimer Jordan coach Dusty Goode said the quarterback Devlin Hodges will run his offense out of multiple schemes. Official practice begins on Monday… Baseball: Freddie Freeman went yard twice as Atlanta scored six runs in the fourth inning, on their way to an 11-3 whipping of Colorado. Brain McCann also hit a three-run shot for the Braves, who now sit atop the NL East standings by 10 games over Washington.