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Friday, February 27th AM National Headlines

President Obama plans to have U.S. combat forces out of Iraq by August of 2010. He's expected to make that date official in an announcement today at Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina. Even after the pullout, up to 50-thousand troops could be left behind to be involved with training and counterterrorism operations.

Changes are coming to Citigroup. The U.S. Treasury has announced a deal with the lending institution that involves some stock flipping, but also requires the current board of directors to leave their positions. The last man standing will be current Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit.

One of California's best known moms has apparently received an offer she's able to refuse. So-called Octo-Mom Nadya Suleman had until midnight Thursday to accept the offer of free medical care for her octuplets and a house large enough for her 14-child brood. RadarOnline.com reports as of late last night the charity Angels in Waiting hadn't heard from her.

Another major newspaper bites the dust. The "Rocky Mountain News" published its final edition today, only two months shy of its 150th anniversary. The paper's owner, the E.W. Scripps Company, failed to find a buyer for the institution. Denver will be left with only a single major newspaper.

The producers of "American Idol" now have six of an eventual dozen entertainers in the group of finalists. Next Tuesday night, a final group of semifinalists will take the stage on Fox singing for the votes of Americans and judges. This year's "Idol" brings back judges' wildcard picks so three previously jettisoned entertainers will be coming back.

The Chicago Bulls stopped by the White House Thursday for a visit with President Obama. The team presented one of their biggest fans with a Bulls jersey emblazoned with the number 44 and the name "Obama" on the back. The "Chicago Tribune" says the president might stop by Verizon Center in Washington, DC tonight to see the Bulls battle the Washington Wizards.

Friday, February 27, 2009 7:32 AM

Wednesday, February 24th AM National Headlines

President Obama says the U.S. will emerge from difficult and uncertain times "stronger than before." In his first speech before a joint session of Congress, Obama last night pointed to a weakened economy and slipping confidence and said the, quote, "weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation; the answers to our problems don't lie beyond our reach."

Most Americans say they have a better understanding of President Obama's economic plans and more faith in his leadership after last night's speech. That's according to a CBS News-Knowledge Networks poll conducted both before and after Obama's first address to a joint session of Congress.

"Octomom" Nadya Suleman may be having a problem with the hospital that's taking care of her eight newborns. TV's Dr. Phil McGraw told the "Los Angeles Times" Suleman called him yesterday afternoon claiming the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Bellflower, California may not release the octuplets to her until she has a better living situation.

A Muslim advocacy group wants equal time before Congress to counter charges in what they say is an anti-Muslim film. The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says they'd like to send a representative to the 15-minute screening being sponsored by Arizona Senator Jon Kyl.

Some entertainers want Congress to force radio stations to pay for playing their music. Stations pay royalties to song writers in exchange for airing their compositions, but it's always been understood that radio play translated into record sales and big checks for the entertainer.

Catholics worldwide are marking the beginning of Lent with today's commemoration of Ash Wednesday. The day begins 40 days of penance, reflection and fasting leading into Easter Sunday. Many Catholics will go to church to have a priest smear ashes on their forehead, which symbolize mourning and penance.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:59 AM

Monday, February 23rd Morning National Headlines,

Sunday night was all about Oscar. Presenters at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony handed out Oscars to actors, actresses, directors and dozens of people who mix audio and edit film. "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Sean Penn collected a Best Actor trophy for "Milk" and Kate Winslet took an Oscar home after winning Best Actress for her work in "The Reader."

President Obama has invited dozens of elected officials, economists and people representing a gaggle of special interests to the White House today. He wants to talk with them about future federal spending for Social Security and Medicare with an eye toward millions of Baby Boomers who will be retiring over the next few years.

Representatives of Citigroup are reportedly talking with federal officials about another possible bailout. The "Wall Street Journal" says that's one of several options, few of which will please current shareholders. Shares in both Citigroup and Bank of America tumbled again Friday thanks to investor fears their holdings will be nationalized.

An eleven-year-old boy is in custody in Pennsylvania facing two murder counts after allegedly shooting his father's pregnant girlfriend. The attorney representing the boy says he'll file a motion today to have his client released on bond. Prosecutors say the youngster will be facing charges as an adult.

There were probably some tense moments Sunday when an airplane carrying the governor of Indiana was forced to make an unscheduled landing. The plane was headed to Washington, DC, when the windshield cracked. The pilot decided to touch down in Columbus, Ohio, as a safety precaution. There's no word yet what caused the windshield to break.

NASCAR's second race of the season is in the history books and so is driver Matt Kenseth. He has won both races so far in the 2009 Spring Cup Series. He's the fifth NASCAR driver in history to win the two opening races. Jeff Gordon finished Sunday's race second. Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Kurt Busch round out the top five.

Monday, February 23, 2009 7:54 AM

Wednesday, February 18th National Headlines AM Edition

President Obama is in Phoenix today to talk about the administration's plans to curb home foreclosures. The meltdown in the housing sector is widely seen as the root cause of the faltering national economy. The President signed the massive economic stimulus bill yesterday in Denver, calling it the beginning of what he called the "essential work of keeping the American dream alive."

Both General Motors and Chrysler are asking for more money from the government. The car companies have submitted their plans outlining their restructuring as part of the deal to get billions of dollars in federal aid. Chrysler is asking for another five-billion-dollars, while GM plans to ask for upwards of 16-billion more.

Former jailed U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are now free. The two were sent to prison in 2007 for shooting and wounding a drug smuggler then trying to cover up the incident. President Bush commuted their sentences before leaving office.

Authorities continue investigating Monday's chimpanzee attack on a Connecticut woman. Fifty-five-year-old Charla Nash remains hospitalized in critical condition after being mauled by the pet chimp named Travis.

Under a test program that begins today, some airline passengers will pass through body scanning machines instead of metal detectors. "USA Today" reports the experimental program in Tulsa will see whether the body scanners could eventually replace metal detectors that have screened airline passengers since 1973.

A one-time Los Angeles parking garage is the site of a new discovery. While tearing down the garage, workers stumbled upon a section of tarpit. It contains millions of fossilized animals and plants from the last ice age, estimated to be between ten-thousand and 40-thousand years old.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:49 AM

Tuesday, February 17th National Headlines, AM Edition

President Obama will sign a 787-billion-dollar economic stimulus package today. The legislation is aimed at pushing the nation's lethargic economy into a higher gear. Jobs creation and tax cuts for the middle-class are two of the main provisions in the measure.

California's 41-billion-dollar budget gap is leading to the layoffs of 20-thousand state employees today. The move by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger comes after legislators failed to find a solution to the state's budget problems over the weekend.

The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan last year rose by 40-percent over 2007's death toll. The UN says 55-percent of the victims were killed by Taliban insurgents and their allies. Air strikes by U.S. and NATO-led forces are blamed for a quarter of the civilian deaths.

Instead of a bailout of the U.S. Postal Service, most Americans think stopping Saturday mail delivery is a better option. A Gallup poll has also determined Americans are willing to give up some conveniences in favor of the Postal Service closing a number of local branches. The Postal Service has lost nearly eight-billion-dollars over the past two years.

Most TV stations will move from analog to digital signals as planned today. That comes despite congressional approval of a delay for the switch to digital TV broadcasts to June. The FCC is preventing 43 stations in 20 states from changing until June 12th. Another ten stations in five states will still be in question over whether they can make the switch.

The doctor responsible for implanting the embryos that led to the births of eight babies should foot the bill for the children. That's the conclusion of a new Rasmussen Reports poll over the multiple babies born to unemployed California resident Nadya Suleman. Two-thirds in the survey think Dr. Michael Kamrava should pay for the kids, rather than state taxpayers.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:01 AM

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