美联社新闻一分钟 AP 2011-01-03

（单词翻译）

1. Federal investigators¹ have opened a criminal probe into whether Delaware Republican Christine O'Donnell broke the law by using campaign money to pay personal expenses. O'Donnell set a state record by raising more than 7 million dollars in her unsuccessful Senate campaign. O'Donnell called the allegations politically motivated.

2. The White House says the Obamas are going to extend their Hawaii vacation. The first family will now leave Hawaii on January 3rd, arriving in Washington the following day. A White House spokesman says the president is trying to squeeze in more time with his family before returning to the nation's capital.

3. Investigators are trying to determine whether natural gas caused an explosion at a Detroit-area furniture store that killed two workers and injured the owner. A spokeswoman for Consumers Energy says the utility believes natural gas was involved, but the cause is still unknown. The store is in downtown Wayne, about 15 miles from Detroit.

4. An Australian state leader says flooded communities across eastern Australia could be under water for more than a week, and the cleanup bill could hit billions of dollars. Days of torrential downpours have left parts of Queensland inundated² with water, flooding thousands of homes and businesses.