NPR 2009-01-09

Key Arab nations and western powers have reportedly reached an agreement in principle on a UN resolution will impose a cease-fire in Gaza. That News comes as Palestinian officials say the bodies of 35 people were found beneath rubble 1 in a battle zone in Gaza taking the death toll 2 there since the fighting began to nearly 750. Official of the Palestinian Health Ministry 3 says the bodies were retrieved 4 during a brief pause in fighting to allow aid shipments into Gaza. There are also reports of at least three rockets fired into Israel from Lebanon today. There was no immediate 5 claim of responsibility. Hamas also reportedly fired upwards 6 of two dozen rockets into Israel, injuring four people, one of them seriously. Twelve Israelis, including nine soldiers, died since the offensive began last month.

President-elect Obama made a high-profile case for his economic stimulus 7 plan today. He warned of dire 8 consequences as Congress doesn't act quickly. NRP's Giles Snyder has more.

 The President-elect speech at George Mason University outside Washington came on the date that saw more troubling economic data. The government said the number of people staying on the unemployment benefit rolls has climbed to a 26-year high. Also retail 9 sales figures for December confirm fears of the weakest holiday season in decades. Mr. Obama said it's not too late to turn things around. "But it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years." Mr. Obama is seeking bipartisan support for his plan which could carry a 775-billion-dollar price tag. Giles Snyder, NPR News, Washington.

A committee of Illinois State lawmakers is recommending Governor Rod Blagojevich be impeached 10. The 21-member committee has been conducting hearing since mid-December, and today issued a preliminary report. Chicago Public Radio's Ben Calhoun reports.

 Near the beginning of their report, lawmakers stress that the possibility of impeachment 12 "should be, and in Illinois has been, rarely invoked 13". The 59-page document then sprints 14 through Blagojevich's history in office. It outlines the corruption 15 charges he now faces, and plea agreements from people already convicted in the investigation 16 of his administration. The report concludes Blagojevich repeatedly abused his power, and recounts several ugly incidents. It also describes some of the governor's worst moments like when he spent millions in state money on flu vaccines 17 that were never approved to be imported into the country, and were ultimately destroyed. The report concludes that  "the totality of the evidence warrants the impeachment of the Governor for cause."  Should the state house vote to impeach 11 Blagojevich, the matter would go to the state Senate for a trial. For NPR News, I’m Ben Calhoun in Chicago.

Testifying before the committee today, Blagojevich appointee Roland Burris denied having any improper 18 dealings with Blagojevich prior to his appointment.

 On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 27 points, ending the session at 8,742. The NASDAQ gains 17 points. The S&P 500 grows up three points today.

 This is NPR.

Russia now says it's agreed to the deployment 19 of monitors to oversee 20 gas supplies to the European Union via Ukraine, a move that could clear the way for resumption of supplies. The chiefs of Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom and Ukraine held talks today for the first time since negotiations 21 collapsed 22 on News Year's Eve over 2009 gas prices. Europe depends on Russia for a quarter of its gas supplies, about 80% of that  shipped through pipelines 23 crossing Ukraine.

Flooding mudslides and avalanches 24 virtually shut down road travel in Washington State today. Interstate 5 which runs from Canada to Mexico was closed, through all three paths to the Cascade 25 Mounts. Austin Jenkins reports from Olympia, Washington.

A Pineapple Express storm warmed up temperatures, melted snow and dumped nearly ten inches of rain in 48 hours. The result of 1-2-3 punch from Mother Nature’s snow slides, mudslides and extensive flooding, it closed nearly 70 state roads in Washington, chief among them, Interstates 5 and 90, the main north-south and east-west routes. Washington State Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond says the closures are costing businesses millions of dollars a day. "We have totally stopped commerce in the state. It's most important to get an east-west path open and to get I-5 cleared as quickly as possible." But that could take one to four days depending on how quickly rivers recede 26 and crews can clear the debris 27 and fix damaged roads. For NPR News, I'm Austin Jenkins in Olympia, Washington.

The Buffalo 28 News has become the latest newspaper to announce it's offering buyouts. The paper which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway says it's offering about 300 employees in the newsroom and elsewhere buyouts. That's more than a third of the newspaper's staff.