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Good morning, from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Melissa Long. It's Monday morning, December 15th. Here is a look at some of the stories happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Will he or won't he? The question many in Illinois are asking as calls mount for the governor to step down. Republican lawmakers in Illinois are pushing for a special election by the voters to fill Barack Obama's Senate seat. The state Attorney General says the Governor Rod Blagojevich could step aside today, but an aide for the governor is simply denying that. Illinois legislature meets this afternoon and could pursue impeachment².

Now in the midst of all of these, President-elect Barack Obama is trying to stay focused. Obama will be meeting with his national security advisers³ today in Chicago. Sources tell CNN Secretary of State Nominee⁴ Hilary Clinton will attend along with Vice⁵ President-elect Joe Biden and current Defense⁶ Secretary Robert Gates. Later today, Obama is also expected to tap physicist⁷ Steven Chu as his energy secretary. That's at 5 pm eastern time news conference.

This video quickly making its way to the top of YouTube: the president coming under unfriendly fire at a press conference during his surprise visit to Iraq. His attacker's weapon of choice, yes, that was a shoe, in fact, two shoes. An angry Iraqi journalist hurled⁸ the shoes at the president. In Arab culture, throwing your shoes at someone is a sign of contempt. President Bush took the whole thing in stride and kept going with that interview. The journalist is now in police custody⁹ right now.

And it appears the future of Detroit's Big Three auto¹⁰ makers¹ rest in the hands of the White House. President Bush says the administration is working on a way to keep the auto industry afloat. No announcement is expected today. But the president says using money from the 700-billion-dollar Wall Street bailout for emergency loans to carmakers, says it is still on the table.

Plan long lines all day today if you need to mail something. The post office says today will likely be the single busiest mailing day of the holiday season. So bring patience if you are planning on mailing any gifts and cards today.

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.

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收听单词发音

1 makers
n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）
参考例句：
The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。 The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。来自《简明英汉词典》

2 impeachment
n.弹劾；控告；怀疑
参考例句：
Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。 The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

3 advisers
顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授
参考例句：
a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员 She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

4 nominee
n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者
参考例句：
His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。 Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

5 vice
n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的
参考例句：
He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。 They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 defense
n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩
参考例句：
The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。 The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 physicist
n.物理学家，研究物理学的人
参考例句：
He is a physicist of the first rank.他是一流的物理学家。 The successful physicist never puts on airs.这位卓有成就的物理学家从不摆架子。

8 hurled
v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂
参考例句：
He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。 The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。来自《简明英汉词典》

9 custody
n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留
参考例句：
He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。 He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

10 auto
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车
参考例句：
Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。 The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。