function outputHeadlines(){
//Used via: $("#newsLinks").html(outputHeadlines());

var output=''+       //Replace the following HTML to update Headlines (keep the ' at the front and the '+ at the end, be sure the last line has a '; instead)

// AS OF RIGHT NOW REDUCED TO A SINGLE HEADLINE LINKING TO CENTURYTEL AND EMBARQ MERGER SITE

'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>'+
'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>'+
'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>'+
'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>'+
'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>'+
'<p class="hide"><a href="http://www.centurytelembarqmerger.com">CenturyTel and EMBARQ launch combined website</a></p>';

return output;
}

// the code below is possibly temporary as its purpose is to assist the repeated news item of the merger seen above
var _interval = setInterval(function() {
    if (document.getElementById("newsIcons") != undefined) {
        clearInterval(_interval);
 
	$("#newsIcons").hide(); // hides animated dots
	$("#ticker").css({'background':'transparent url(/embarq/media/images/common/bg_latest.gif) no-repeat 0 2px' }); // replaces HEADLINE with LATEST
 
    }
}, 1000);