5 Things You Need to Know Today: Sept. 21

[Your Song of the Day]

1. Today's weather report: Today will be partly cloudy with a high 73 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear with an overnight low of 51 degrees. IT should be a nice weekend before the rain comes in on Sunday.

2. Tainted rice? Consumer Reports has found traces of arsenic in 60 rice products they studied. The report said that arsenic is a potent human carcinogen and can set up children for health problems in later life.

3. Patch Fact: Did you know: The first microwave ovens were very different from the countertop models we're familiar with today. In 1947, the Raytheon Company's first commercial units weighed a whopping 750 pounds.

4. Biden time. Vice President Joe Biden will be campaigning at the Merrimack Middle School at 1:30 p.m this Saturday. Tickets are free, but are required to attend these events. One ticket per person will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out where to get them here.

5. Scouts wanted! Amherst Pack 613 will be hosting a meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in Wilkins School. Anyone interested in joining Cub Scouting is more than welcome to join. They are also having Amherst Fire, EMS, Police, and Dispatch join as well, as this month’s theme is Hometown Hero’s. They will also be having a Pack Campfire/Cookout Saturday evening around 4 p.m. at a camp in Merrimack. Those folks who are interested in joining are welcome to attend the Campfire as well. For more information they can either got to their website or contact Jay Cohen at jayc@rennlist.net or 603-882-8996.