CNN 2009-07-02

I am Catherine Callaway at the CNN center in Atlanta with a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

President Obama holds a national discussion this afternoon to sell you on the health care makeover. He is heading out to Virginia for a town-hall meeting and he will take your questions via Facebook and Twitter. Americans overwhelmingly want health care reform but just a small majority support the president's plan, at least that's the finding of a latest CNN opinion research Cooperation Poll. 95% of those polled favor either a great deal of reform or just some reform. 51% said they are behind the President's plan and 45 percent oppose it.

New developments in the Michael Jackson investigation¹. Lawyers for the superstar could file his will in a California court today. There is a flurry of activities in Jackson's Neverland Ranch² for an expected public viewing of his body on Friday. A law enforcement official tells CNN that it is planned for Friday. A 30-car motorcade is expected to carry Jackson to the ranch tomorrow and his family will hold a private ceremony on Sunday.

It s been 8 months since November election and now comedian³ turned politician Al Franken gets the final hold of the victory rally today. We know, now know that he will be Minnesota's new senator. Yesterday, the state's highest court settled the last of the illegal disputes and incumbent⁴ Norm Coleman conceded. Franken is expected to be sworn in next week and that would give democrats⁵ a filibuster⁶ proof majority in the Senate.

Might wanna take a look, a second look now at those Hamburgers you are supposed to be grilling⁷ this weekend because Kroger recalled some of its ground beef because of possible e-coli contamination. It was sold under its grocery store brand name. The beef came from the Colorado Company that expanded its recall this week.

Just like it does every time this year, the government is warning you about the dangers of fireworks. The good news, fireworks-related injuries and deaths were actually down last year. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says its No.1 warning though is that children should never play with any type of firework.

Those are the headlines for you. Stay with CNN for more on these stories and other news of the day.

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

3 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

4 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

5 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 filibuster   

n.妨碍议事，阻挠；v.阻挠

参考例句：

• A senator dragged the subject in as a filibuster.一个参议员硬把这个题目拉扯进来，作为一种阻碍议事的手法。
• The democrats organized a filibuster in the senate.民主党党员在参议院上组织了阻挠议事。

7 grilling   

v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问

参考例句：

• The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference. 部长在今天的记者招待会上受到了严厉的盘问。
• He's grilling out there in the midday sun. 他在外面让中午火辣辣的太阳炙烤着。 来自《简明英汉词典》