var currentNews = 0;
var newsDelay = 5000;

$(function() {
  var $allNews = $("#scrollingNews .news");
  var interval = null;

  $allNews.css({ "position": "absolute", "top": "0px", "left": "0px" });

  function rotateNews() {
    thdebug("rotateNews() [currentNews=" + currentNews + "]");

    currentNews++;

    if (currentNews >= $allNews.length)
      currentNews = 0;

    $allNews.fadeOut("slow");
    var $curr = $allNews.eq(currentNews);

    $($allNews.get(currentNews)).fadeIn("slow");
  }

  if ($allNews.length > 0) {
    interval = window.setInterval(rotateNews, newsDelay);

    // halt scrolling when mouse is over
    $("#scrollingNews").mouseover(function() {
      if (interval)
        window.clearInterval(interval);
      interval = null;
    });
    $("#scrollingNews").mouseout(function() {
      if (!interval)
        interval = window.setInterval(rotateNews, newsDelay);
    });
  }

});