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1. President Barack Obama is expected to ask for a three-year freeze on part of the federal budget during his State of the Union address tomorrow. The freeze would affect almost five hundred billion dollars in programs, but not touch the Pentagon, veterans programs, foreign aid or homeland security.

 2. Lebanon's transportation minister says the pilot of an Ethiopian Airlines jet was flying the wrong way before yesterday's crash. He says the control tower asked the pilot to change directions. But he did a very fast and strange turn. All 90 people aboard are presumed dead.

 3. John Travolta has flown to Haiti to aid in relief efforts. The actor and his wife brought a plane full of medical supplies with them. Travolta says he is using his celebrity¹ and money to help those in need.

 4. It could be good news for the nation's retailers². A forecast, set to be released today, is expected to say retailers should see sales rise moderately this year, compared to a decline in 2009. Sales should rise 2.5% this year, but that is still down from the 4% average annual gain from 2000 through 2008.