Possible to split the black, header area in two?

Hello, I would like to be able to put two different modules side by side within the black area of the 'header' area. I would like to keep an image rotation of some kind to the left and then place something else to the right, like latest news, weather, etc.

Is this possible with or without PHP template modifications? What can I, or you help me with here? Or can I modify the top1-top12 areas to just have a black background? Maybe that wouldn't work.

Please Review:
http://38west.com/two-different-modules.jpg
http://38west.com/cvhc/

Thanks so much!