US & World News, Thursday 12/20

US & World Summary --- President Bush To Conduct WH Press Conference (Washington, DC) -- President Bush will be holding a press conference this morning. What is expected to be his final press conference before he and the first lady head off to Camp David and then Crawford, Texas for the Christmas Holiday is due to get underway at 10am Eastern time. He is expected to make an opening statement and then will field questions on a variety of topics. --- Missing California Family Found Alive In Mountains (Inskip, CA) -- Four members of a missing California family are alive and well. The family hadnt been seen since last Sunday and were missing in the snow-covered mountains of northern California. Thirty-eight-year-old Frederick Dominguez and his children, 18-year-old Christopher, 15-year-old Alexis and 12-year-old Joshua, were all taken to a hospital for treatment of hypothermia. They had been stranded after going into the mountainous woods looking for a Christmas tree. They hid from the winter storm in a culvert and left help messages in the snow for rescuers to see. --- Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized In St. Louis, Missouri (Chesterfield, MO) -- Rudy Giuliani is not only battling other Republican candidates, but now hes fighting the flu. The former New York City Mayor was hospitalized last night in St. Louis, Missouri after experiencing flu-like symptoms and consulting by phone with his personal physician. According to the "Los Angeles Times," Giuliani cancelled a campaign flight from Missouri to New York because of the illness. A campaign spokesman told the "Times" Giuliani became ill earlier in the day, but continued campaigning until the symptoms worsened in the evening. --- House Approves Massive Spending Bill (Washington, DC) -- The U.S. House has finally approved a catch-all government spending bill. The roughly one-half-trillion-dollar measure gives President Bush an end-of-year victory by providing another 70-billion-dollars for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The overall spending bill was approved by the Senate on Tuesday and is expected to be signed by President Bush. The measure funds the federal government through the 2008 fiscal year. Democrats dont have veto-proof majorities in the Senate or the House and have failed in numerous attempts to force an exit strategy from the nearly five-year-old war in Iraq. --- Operation Date Uncertain For Irans First Nuclear Plant (Moscow) -- Irans first nuclear power plant wont be up and running until at least the end of next year. Thats according to a Russian news agency, which reports that the head of the Russian company building the facility says timing for completion of the plant has been plotted out, but no date has been set. Earlier this week, Russia confirmed delivery of the first shipment of nuclear fuel to the facility. Thats a step Moscow and Washington say should convince Iran to stop its independent uranium enrichment program. --- Earthquake Rocks New Zealand (Wellington) -- Parts of New Zealand have been rocked by an earthquake. Authorities say the city of Gisborne along the countrys east coast were hit by a six-point-eight-magnitude quake. Three buildings collapsed and there were reports of interruptions of power, gas, water and phone service, but no reports of injuries. The last fatal earthquake in New Zealand happened in 1968, when a seven-point-one-magnitude quake killed three people. --- Writers Strike Costing LA Economy Big Bucks (Los Angeles, CA) -- The continuing writers strike in Hollywood is hurting the Los Angeles economy. Thats according to one economist who told the LA City Council that the walkout has pulled nearly 220-million-dollars out of the area economy. Jack Kaiser also told those attending the city council meeting that the writers have already lost about 122-million-dollars in wages. A spokesperson for the Writers Guild says that if the strike continues very far into next year, the loses could reach two-and-one-half-billion-dollars. (Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-12-20-07 0745CST