US & World News, Wednesday 11/21

US & World Summary Record Number Of Americans Traveling For Thanksgiving (Orlando, FL) -- People are hitting the road and flocking to airports around the nation this morning on one of the busiest travel days of the year. According to Triple-A, 38-point-seven-million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the long weekend, with 80-percent of them going by car. The travel agency reports that even though gas prices are at their peak, air fares, hotel room rates, and car rental costs are substantially lower this year compared to last year. Meanwhile, rain and snow is forecast to hit parts of the country today, which could snarl air travel across the country. --- Polls : Americans Send Mixed Signals In Economic Polls (Washington, DC) -- Most Americans say their personal finances are in good condition. Thats according to a new Reuters/Zogby survey, which says 55-percent of those responding say their finances are good. That compares to 54-percent last month. At the same time. 40-percent of Americans expect a recession next year, while a growing number say theyll spend less on gifts this season than last year. Just under eleven-percent said they will spend more this year. --- McClellan Writes Tell-All Book On Bush Administration Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan says he unknowingly gave out false information about the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. McClellan made the admission in a new book that comes out next year. In "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Whats Wrong with Washington," McClellan claims he publicly exonerated Karl Rove and Scooter Libby when he shouldnt have. He says Rove, Libby, the Vice President, Bushs chief of staff and Bush himself were all involved, but the book excerpt doesnt give any more details. --- Report: Drew Peterson Proposed To Fifth Woman (Bolingbrook, IL) -- Drew Peterson married four women, and almost married number five. Thats according to Kyle Piry, who told the "Chicago Sun-Times" that she and Peterson were engaged in the early 1980s. She says she broke off the engagement after four months because she didnt want to be a stepmother to Petersons children. Piry says at the same time she felt there was something wrong with the relationship. Peterson is considered a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife Stacy, who hasnt been seen in more than three weeks. 1/81/8 NOTE NATURE OF FOLLOWING 3/83/8 --- Florida Boy Beaten And Starved, Escapes Captives (Baker County, FL) -- A seven-year-old Florida boy is expected to fully recover after what authorities say is one of the worst cases of child abuse theyve ever seen. According to police, the boy was starved, burned with cigarettes, kicked in the stomach and forced to drink shampoo. Investigators say they believe the abuse had been ongoing for several years and would have continued if his alleged abusers, Suzette Stevenson and Jamie Martin, hadnt been caught and the boy hadnt escaped. --- Hulk Hogans Son Declared Danger On Road (Largo, FL) -- Hulk Hogans son is a danger on the road. Thats the opinion of Floridas Division of Motor Vehicles, which has declared Nick Bollea a driving danger. The 17-year-old son of professional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan has already had his license suspended for six months after a crash in August that critically injured his passenger. Now he faces a one-year suspension of his license beginning December 10th. The DMV says it will lift the longer suspension if Bollea is found innocent of the federal charge he faces. --- Stage Set For "Dancing With The Stars" Finale "Dancing With the Stars" is down to its final three couples for the fifth season finale of the ABC reality show. Marie Osmond, Spice Girl Melanie Brown, and race car driver Helio Castroneves are left in the competition, after "Beverly Hills 90210" alum Jennie Garth was voted out last night. The three finalists will have one more night on the dance floor next Monday. The winner will be announced on the "Dancing With the Stars" results show finale, which airs on ABC next Tuesday. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-11-21-07 0845CST