CNN 2012-03-16

 Wanted to slice out little time,we wish everyone a happy pie day on this March 14th.413 Ok.let's go ahead to get today's headlines.

Two primaries two caucuses 1,110 delegates,that's what was the stake yesterday in the race for the Republican presidential nomination 2.You know the candidates by now,former House speaker Newt Gingrich,US representative Ron Paul,former Massachusetts Governor,Mitt Romney and former Senator Rick Santorum.The battle for most of those 110 delegated happened in Mississippi and Alabama.Those were the states that held primary elections yesterday and they were close ones,too close to call,when we produced the program last night.The caucuses were in Hawaii and American Samoa,those results were still coming in last night as well.You can get all the latest details,of course from Tuesday's contests right in our homepage.You go to the spot light section,click on the link to the cnn election center.
 
 
Today's Shout Out goes out to Mr. Moss's sociology class at Farson-Eden High School in Farson,Wyoming.
 
 
On the periodic table,cerium,promethium and europium are all what? Here we go. Are they noble gases,halogens,alkali metals or rare earth elements?You've got three seconds.Go.
 
 
These are all part of the rare earth group,many of which are used in electronics.That's your answers and that's yoru shout out.
 
 
You might find some rare earth elements in your phones and of course we're also talking about things like flat-screen TVs,any sort of electronics really.Luckily,rare earth elements,despite being called rare,actually aren't rare.In fact,we know most of them come from China,that country produces about 97% of the world's rare earth elements.But other nations accuse China of holding these minerals.The US,Japan and European Union are challenging China's restrictions 3 on how much the materials get sent out of the country.China says its policy meets international standards.Countries involved think this is important,because of what these elements can be used for.Chad Myers explains what they can do.
 
 
They will power your battery.They actually,they are the part that makes the power. They will turn red green and blue which are the colors of your tv set.They will make a tiny magnet,which in with real magnets,would be this size,they could be almost down to the size of a quarter,for the same amount of power.Therefore making very small very motors or aerial space for space crafts,for satellites that go up.They are elements,they are plentiful 4 in the world.They are all over the place.But a long time ago,China really reduced the cost of them and a lot of mines just basically went out of business.They couldn't compete.Now China makes 97% of these minerals,they don't want to give them anymore.They want the make things with them and sale us things,rather than just give away the elements.
 
 
Color tvs,smart phones,wind turbines,all of the things rely on these rare earth elements.They are very powerful things and they are in the periodic table.There are 15 here,the lanthanides here down on the bottom and then the 21 and 39 here in the middle are the biggest ones that we need and you need them to make,and,to make anything,really that's now high-tech,and here's the deal.China says we are just going to give them away,let you make the things.We are going to make the things and then sell them for higher value than just giving away the elements.That's the issue here.