NPR NEWS 2008-02-02

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Paul Brown.

At least 55 people are dead today after two suicide bombings at popular outdoor pet markets in Baghdad. At least 100 people were hurt. Here is Greg Smith with more.

Just around 10:30 this morning, apparently 1 this woman walked into the market and blew herself up in the middle of the crowd, and almost the exact same time within just a few minutes, there's another woman at another market killed herself, she apparently was carrying the bomb inside a box of birds over this bird market. That's NPR's Greg Smith in Baghdad.

After numerous bombings, the markets have regained 2 some popularity as security in Baghdad improved.

The two remaining Democratic contenders on the race for the presidency 3 met in a one-on-one debate in Los Angeles last night. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama avoided the wrangle 4 and the occasional testiness 5 that marked their last debate. The tone was set in opening statements. 'I think it's imperative 6 we have a problem solver, that we roll up our sleeves. I'm offering that kind of approach because I think that Americans are ready once again to know that there isn't anything we can't do if we put our minds to it.' 'I don't think the choice is between black and white, or it's about gender 7 or religion, I don't think it's about young or old. I think what is at stake right now is whether we are looking backwards 8 or we are looking forward.' They did each highlight what they see as differences: Clinton talking about her experience and readiness, Obama questioning her judgment 9 in voting for the Iraq war in 2003. Don Gonyea, NPR News, Los Angeles.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt 10 Romney campaigned in Southern California yesterday, where he argued he was more capable of handling the sputtering 11 economy than his main rival, Arizona Senator John McCain. NPR's Ina Jaffe reports.

At an outdoor rally in San Diego, Romney told an enthusiastic crowd that because of his business background, he understood how to create jobs and what made jobs disappear. He belittled 12 John McCain's response during Wednesday's debate to a question about home foreclosure, calling extreme of consciousness. 'And when Senator McCain stands up and says the economy is not his strong suit, let me tell you that it is my strong suit.' But McCain is now clearly the frontrunner, and Romney said it will be impossible to advertise in the many states voting on February 5th as intensively as he did in Iowa and New Hampshire. He does have his first spot up in California now. It goes after Hillary Clinton however, instead of John McCain. Ina Jaffe, NPR News, San Diego.

McCain has also been campaigning in California which is the big prize among the Super Tuesday states.

Software giant Microsoft said today it's offered to buy internet media company Yahoo for cash and stock worth more than 44 billion dollars.

This is NPR News.

Bidding in a government auction 13 has set a new record for the most money ever offered for wireless 14 spectrum 15. But at the same time, the Federal Communications Commission is having a hard time getting any offers for some of the spectrum for sale. NPR's Laura Sydell reports.

Auction bidders 16 have offered more than 14 billion dollars to get a piece of some high quality spectrum. The competitive bidding flies in the face of critics who thought that restrictions 18 placed on the network could keep bidders away. Whoever wins the 700 MHz spectrum must keep the network open that means the customers will no longer have to buy a phone from their wireless network provider. They can purchase a phone themselves and use it on any network. The auction for another block of airwaves designated for the creation of a national safety network is going badly. The winning bidder 17 of that spectrum will have the right to operate a nationwide voice and data service. It would also serve local public safety agencies. FCC chair Kevin Martin says he still believes it will sell. Laura Sydell, NPR News.

Another big winter storm has hit parts of the U.S. midsection, forcing cancellation 19 of hundreds of flights and blocking roadways. A 40-car pileup on an interstate highway in the Texas panhandle left at least one person dead, and officials blamed at least 3 other deaths in Texas and Oklahoma on the storm system. More than 600 flights in and out of Chicago's O'Hare airport have been cancelled, and many others have been delayed. Some Indiana school districts have announced cancellations. Farther west in Northern Idaho, there is a state of emergency in effect with snow so high that officials say they don't have places to put it once they've cleared it. And food and fuel supplies have been dwindling 20 in areas of China affected 21 by huge snowstorms and record-breaking cold.

I'm Paul Brown in Washington.