美国有线电视 CNN 2008-12-24

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Hello, from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Melissa Long. Let's begin with a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

And focus on the economy, the news isn't so good. The government reports the Gross Domestic Product--the GDP over the summer fell by an annual rate of half percent. That marks the biggest decline in 7 years. And something homeowners already know. It's pretty impossible to sell right now. The National Association of Realtors reports  sales of existing homes fell 8.6% last month.

The economy continues to be one of the big things Americans are thinking about this week. A new CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll finds 93% of viewers say the economy is in bad shape. Only 7% of those questioned think things are okay. 2/3 of the respondents feel economic conditions are very poor right now. But it's up 12 points from last month and 3 times higher than last December which was the start of the current recession.

Fire and rescue teams in Maryland spent much of the morning plucking people from a flooded-out road in suburban¹ Washington. It all started when a water main broke shortly before 8: 00 this morning. At least two people were pulled out in a basket lowered by a helicopter. Others were helped in two boats by swift water rescue teams. Our affiliate² WJLA television says the road is still flooded.

Barack Obama's transition team will release its report on the scandal surrounding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich this afternoon 4: 30 Eastern Time. Two Democratic officials tell CNN the report will ultimately clear Obama's team of any wrongdoing.

The Minnesota Supreme³ Court will hear a challenge in that state's still unsettled Senate race today. Incumbent⁴ Republican Norm Coleman is fighting about 130 ballots⁵, he says, may have been counted twice in its recount with Democratic Al Franken. Election watchers are also concerned about 1,600 absentee ballots that weren't in count because they may have been improperly⁶ rejected.

Utah is the fastest-growing state in the country. New census⁷ estimates put Arizona second on the list followed by Texas, North Carolina and Colorado. Officials say the main reason for Utah's growth is natural birth minus death. Overall, the West is the fastest growing region. Michigan and Rhode Island, the only two states to lose population.

And those are the headlines making news at this hour. Do stay with CNN and cnn. com for more on these stories or other news of the day.