US & World News, Monday 2/11

US & World Summary: --- Gates Says He Wants To Pause Troop Pull Out (Baghdad) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he wants to freeze the departure of American troops from Iraq after an initial July pullout. Gates made the comments earlier today during an unannounced visit to Iraq. U.S. troop levels in Iraq are a hot-button issue this election year with both leading Democratic candidates saying they favor swift withdrawal while Republican candidates say U.S. commanders should decide when its safe to pull out. Five combat brigades are scheduled to leave Iraq in July. --- Campaign Primary Focus Shifts To Potomac (Washington, DC) -- After a flurry of weekend contests, the presidential campaign shifts to the mid-Atlantic region. Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama enjoyed a big weekend with wins in Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, Washington state and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He hopes to keep the momentum going tomorrow with wins in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC primaries. On the Republican side, Mike Huckabees campaign is challenging the results of Saturdays Washington state caucus. According to the "Seattle Times," Huckabees camp is upset that the state Republican party declared Arizona Senator John McCain the winner with only 87-percent of the precincts counted. --- Prosecutors Want Death Penalty For Six Gitmo Terrorists Military prosecutors are asking for the death penalty in the cases of six Guantanamo Bay detainees involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks. The charges against the group are expected to be announced today at the Pentagon. According to the "New York Times," numerous charges are expected to be filed against the men, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He was the former al-Qaeda operations chief who boasted to being the mastermind behind the attacks. Defense lawyers say that asking for the death penalty in all six cases could draw worldwide attention. --- Fifty-Car Crash On Michigans I-96 (Coopersville, MI) -- Whiteout conditions caused by nasty winter weather led to a 50-car pileup yesterday afternoon in Michigan. According to authorities, the massive accident happened on eastbound I-96 near Coopersville, Michigan, about 18 miles northwest of Grand Rapids. The pileup started with just three cars, but a whiteout prevented dozens of other vehicles from avoiding the collision. Twenty people were transported to hospitals and about 400 cars were stranded on the highway for several hours until the accident could be cleared. --- Amy Winehouse Big Winner At Grammys Amy Winehouse and Kanye West were the big winners last night at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. Winehouse, who has been in the news for her substance abuse problems, was named Best New Artist. Her hit "Rehab" got the award for Record and Song of the Year and for Best Pop Vocal Performance. West won four awards in the events five rap categories. Other winners included Alicia Keys, the Foo Fighters, Vince Gill, and the soundtrack to The Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil show "LOVE." Herbie Hancock won Album of the Year for his work "River: The Joni Letters." --- Evolution Hot Topic In Orlando Public Schools (Orlando, FL) -- New science standards in Florida public schools are the center of attention today. The states Department of Education will hold the final public hearing on the issue before voting. The most controversial aspect of the new plan introduces the word "evolution" into the school science curriculum. Critics have suggested emphasizing evolution as a "theory" or offering equal time to teach creationism. --- Oversupply Helps Drive Gas Prices Lower (New York, NY) -- Gas prices are continuing to drop. Thats according to the nationwide Lundberg survey, which says prices have fallen more then three cents over the last couple of weeks. With an oversupplied market affecting the oil companies, the national average for a gallon of gas has fallen to two-dollars-94-cents, about 13-cents cheaper than last month. Despite the drop, prices are still 74-cents-a-gallon higher than last year. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-02-11-08 0746CST