Cut to the News . . . Your Daily News Briefing
Thursday, January 29, 2009 Make us your homepage
Leading the News
Stimulus Price Tag at $888 Billion in the Senate . . . House passes $819 billion plan without any Republican support. Senate wants to tack on more. USA Today
Obama Seeks Accord with Military on Iraq . . . Iraq Commander has proposed slower timetable than the president wants.
New York Times
Politics
Holder Approved by Judiciary Panel . . . By 17-2 vote, senators cast aside concerns about Clinton-era pardons, putting him on his way toward confirmation at attorney general. New York Times
Post Office May Deliver Only Five Days a Week . . . Rising costs and an ongoing decline in mail use made worse by the global recession.
Washington Post
U.S. Gets Tough on . . . Roquefort Cheese . . . Departing Bush officials slapped on a 300 percent tariff, essentially banning the real French stuff. Washington Post
The Goracle Comes to the Senate . . . Former vice president prophesies doomsday as lawmakers clutch to his every word.
Washington Post
Blagojevich Decides to Appear at his Own Trial . . . Will give the closing argument today. Chicago Tribune
Just Call Me Barack . . . Obama takes off his jacket in the Oval Office. It's more than Bush took off, but less than Clinton . . . New York Times
Get Rid of the Rabbit Ears - Now . . . House defeats move to delay switch from analog from Feb. 17 to June. Many are not ready.
New York Times
National Security
Transit Systems Not Ready for Osama . . . Seventy five percent of major rail and bus systems aren't meeting Homeland Security guidelines. Airlines doing well, though. USA Today
Obama Team Crafting Letter to Heal Iran Rift . . . Symbolic gesture gives assurances that US does not want to topple Islamic regime.
Guardian
Iraq Won't Renew With Blackwater . . . Contractor has faced charges of excessive force. Washington Post
Business
New Bank Bailout Could Cost $2 Trillion . . . Officials seeking to revamp the U.S. financial bailout have discussed spending another $1 trillion to $2 trillion. Wall Street Journal
Fed Pegs Rates Near Zero . . . Will keep it there as long as needed. Considers expanding menu of options, but fails to start buying bonds.
Financial Times
Chinese Premier Blames U.S. for Recession . . . Latest sign of Growing economic row. Largest U.S. lender is re-examining its U.S. investments. Wall Street Journal
Starbucks to Axe Up to 6,700 Jobs . . . More stores will close - about 300 of them. Breakfast value meals? Is this McDonalds? USA Today
Thanks for Nothing . . . It's less than last year, but Wall Street still gave itself hefty bonuses while the market tanked. New York Times
International
Energy Czar . . . Putin has made Russia's energy sector his personal project, using it to try to restore the country's lost greatness. New York Times
Pope Seeks to Repair Rift With Jews . . . After reinstating Holocaust denier, calls Jews "our brothers of the first covenant" and condemns Holocaust denial. New York Times
China Locking Up Tibetans . . . Preparing for 50th anniversary of Tibetan uprising. Associated Press
Violence Continues to Threaten Gaza Truce . . . Hamas launches rockets, Israel bombs Gaza, as Mitchell comes to visit. Reuters
Also Today. . .
Nearly Half of Americans Want to Live Elsewhere . . . City dwellers are more likely to dream of moving, and men in rural areas are far happier living there than women. USA Today
Internet Crime Spree . . . With economy tanking, hackers are looking for your personal information. USA Today
U.S Probing Los Angeles Archdiocese . . . Wants to determine if officials covered up sexual abuse of minors by priests. Wall Street Journal
James Brady Dies at 80 . . . Long time gossip columnist worked until the end on his Parade magazine profiles. New York Times
How the Generations Use the Internet . . . The youngest live there. But even seniors are catching up. USA Today
Things Are Looking Up For Katie Couric . . . CBS News finally begins to move in the ratings. Washington Post
Today's Video
Obama Disses Washington Snow Wimps . . . NBC
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