1. It's not winter yet, but much of the country has already experienced the winter blast. Snow and freezing rain which moved through the Midwest early Friday knocked out power, delayed flights and slowed traffic on some of the nation's major roadways.

2. More human contact with radiation is being reported out of London. The wife of a former Russian spy who died from radiation poisoning is showing signs which indicate she may be suffering from radiation exposure.

3. In observance of World AIDS Day, curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art have set up an exhibit called "A Day Without Art". Eight thousand museums and schools nationwide are taking part in Friday's observances.

4. Mexico's new president Felipe Calderon took the oath of office Friday amid jeers and whistles. It was a lightning-fast ceremony because lawmakers had been exchanging punches and insults over the conservative leader's narrow victory. All broadcast on television.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. knock out: phrase
If something is knocked out by enemy or bad weather, it is destroyed or stops functioning because of it.

2. observance: noun
The observance of something such as a law or custom is the practice of obeying or following it.

3. curator: n-count
A curator is someone who is in charge of the objects or works of art in a museum or art gallery.

4. jeer: n-count
Jeers are rude and insulting things that people shout to show they do not like or respect someone.

5. narrow victory: phrase
If you have a narrow victory, you succeed in winning but only by a small amount.