1. “Pen Farthing is 2014's CNN Hero of the Year”

2. Pen Farthing, who founded a nonprofit that reunites soldiers at home with stray dogs and cats they took in during combat, has been named the 2014 CNN Hero of the Year. The announcement was made Tuesday night at New York's American Museum of Natural History, where Anderson Cooper hosted "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." The event honored the Top 10 CNN Heroes, everyday people making extraordinary efforts to change the world. "Wow, I am absolutely at a loss for words," Farthing said as he accepted the award. "This is absolutely amazing. I would really like to thank everybody who voted for the Nowzad charity. And I would also like to thank all the other heroes in this room for doing what they do to make this world an absolute better place. Thank you guys for doing what you do.” In 2006, when Farthing helped break up a dogfight in the town of Nowzad, Afghanistan, the Royal Marine sergeant didn't think much of it, until one of the dogs followed Farthing back to base. The war- torn town was overrun with dogs. As a result of his struggle to bring Nowzad, his dog, home to his native England, Farthing founded Nowzad Dogs to help other soldiers whose lives were turned around by the animals they befriended in war-torn towns. The winner was selected after of six weeks of public voting. In addition to the $25,000 that each of the 2014 Top 10 CNN Heroes receives, Farthing will be awarded $100,000 for his cause.

3. In Other News Stores may be opening early for Black Friday, but that doesn't mean shoppers will show up. Most Americans, in fact, are not going to be shopping on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday this year, according to a new report released Wednesday by Bankrate.com. "Traditional Black Friday has a bit of a bad rap to the casual shopper," said Bankrate analyst Jeanine Skowronski. She mentioned the long lines and horror stories that have popped up in news reports over the last several years. "That's making them inclined to stay away on that particular day." It's not just fear of being pepper-sprayed in Walmart, though. The length in the holiday shopping season is a major factor: Some retailers began offering Black Friday deals as early as Nov. 1, taking away the urgency for customers to make it into stores the day after Thanksgiving. Stores may be opening early for Black Friday, but that doesn't mean shoppers will show up. Most Americans, in fact, are not going to be shopping on either Black Friday or Cyber Monday this year, according to a new report released Wednesday by Bankrate.com. "Traditional Black Friday has a bit of a bad rap to the casual shopper," said Bankrate analyst Jeanine Skowronski. She mentioned the long lines and horror stories that have popped up in news reports over the last several years. "That's making them inclined to stay away on that particular day." It's not just fear of being pepper-sprayed in Walmart, though. The length in the holiday shopping season is a major factor: Some retailers began offering Black Friday deals as early as Nov. 1, taking away the urgency for customers to make it into stores the day after Thanksgiving. Snowstorms and record low temperatures whacked much of the country this week -- and there's more havoc coming Wednesday. About 50% of the country had snow on the ground Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Buffalo, New York, one of the hardest-hit, is buried under 6 feet of snow -- and counting. "This storm is basically a knife that went right through the heart of Erie County," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "I can't remember and I don't think anyone else can remember this much snow falling in this short a period." Snowstorms and record low temperatures whacked much of the country this week -- and there's more havoc coming Wednesday. About 50% of the country had snow on the ground Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Buffalo, New York, one of the hardest-hit, is buried under 6 feet of snow -- and counting. "This storm is basically a knife that went right through the heart of Erie County," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "I can't remember and I don't think anyone else can remember this much snow falling in this short a period."