CNN 2009-02-01

Hello to you, I'm Creshon Saunders at the CNN.com newsroom in Atlanta, here is a look at what's happening NOW IN THE NEWS,

Iraqis put democracy into action today in elections held across the country. The polls have closed and a vote-counting has begun. Voters went to 6,000 polling stations to pick from among 14,000 candidates including 4,000 women. Security is very tight though, voters were searched before they entered the polls. The borders with Iran and Syria were sealed and a curfew has been put into place. Now even the United Nations was involved in monitoring those elections.

The military is asking service members to throw away any treats that contain peanut butter. It comes as the FDA has launched a criminal investigation¹ into the company at the center of that salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter. The company has issued a statement, it says, in part, we at Peanut Corporation of America express our deepest and most sincere empathy for those sickened in the salmonella outbreak and their families, our top priority has been and will continue to be to ensure the public safety and to work promptly² to remove all potentially contaminated products out of the marketplace.

The huge ice-storm earlier this week is still affecting a million people from the mid-west to the Atlantic coast. Many remained in extreme cold and without electricity,42 people have died as a result of the cold and icy conditions. Kentucky has seen some of the worst of the storm toll³, 12 people have died there. County emergency officials are even telling people to head south and find a motel because their shelter is filled to capacity. The campus of Mary State University is haven⁴ for some folks where a heated dormitory has been converted to a shelter. Emergency officials say they still haven't been able to reach everyone who may need help.

" We have people on our lakefronts and so on that we don't know if they're alive or dead. We haven't even got to clear the roads into them. "Among the latest storm victims, a man and two women were found dead in their Louisville  home. One woman was found frozen in her bed, the other two were found in a garage next to a generator⁵.

Another of President Obama's cabinet picks is having tax troubles, former Senator Tom Daschle, the nominee⁶ for health and human services secretary. Daschle recently paid $150,000 in back taxes and interest, amid questions about his consulting work and the use of a borrowed car and driver. Now the Senate Finance Committee has been reviewing Daschle's records and he is expected to meet on Monday. but the meeting and the review is not expected to derail his nomination⁷.

The Republican National Committee has elected its first African-American chairman. Former Maryland Lieutenant⁸ Governor Michael Steele was chosen as the new face of GOP after six heavily contended rounds of voting. The Party chose Steele over four other candidates including former President Bush's handpicked GOP chief who bowed out saying the winds of change are blowing. The Party is trying to recover from crushing defeats in November's National Election.

Those are the headlines this hour, for more on these stories and other news of the day, CNN is your source online, on TV, even when you're on the go.

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 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

5 generator   

n.发电机，发生器

参考例句：

• All the while the giant generator poured out its power.巨大的发电机一刻不停地发出电力。
• This is an alternating current generator.这是一台交流发电机。

6 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。

7 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

8 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。