Duke Energy Progress shut down the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County on Wednesday after the company discovered that the reactor vessel, which contains the plant's nuclear fuel, showed early indications of corrosion and cracking.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission reported this morning that the discovery was made this week during a review of ultrasonic data. It showed a 1/4-inch flaw in the reactor vessel head, the name for the lid that is bolted on top of the vessel to maintain superheated water under high pressure.

The defect did not penetrate the vessel wall, which is about 6 inches thick, and there is no indication that radioactive water leaked out of the vessel.

"The reactor is shut down and our repair plans are in progress," said company spokeswoman Kim Crawford. "There is no impact to public health or safety as a result of this issue."

There's a great printable coupon available right now for .75/1 Kraft Homestyle Macaroni & Cheese dinner.

This will pair nicely with the Kraft deal that Harris Teeter is offering this week.

Mix and Match Kraft promotion: Buy any five participating products for $8, which ends up being $1.60 each. (Regular price: $2 each)

Using two of these coupons, you'll pay just 10 cents each for two of your five items!

Here are more letters regarding the health-care reform debate. Some of these are still under consideration for print. Find other letters on tomorrow's Other Opinion page

Here is another installment of letters on the health-care reform debate. The first one is pretty funny, but Mr. Koch already has had a letter in the past 30 days, so that disqualifies this one from publication.