US & World News, Friday 1/4

US & World Summary --- Iowa Sees Record Turnout For Caucuses (Des Moines, IA) -- More than 346-thousand Iowans caucused yesterday for Democratic and Republican candidates, easily beating the 2004 turnout of 124-thousand. Analysts say the record turnout was due in large part to a huge number of first-time caucus-goers. Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee were the big winners. Obama beat former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and New York Senator Hillary Clinton, while Huckabee upset former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. As a result of last nights caucus, the 2008 race for the White House is minus two Democrats. Delaware Senator Joe Biden and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd have dropped out of running after placing a distant fifth and sixth, respectively. --- Britney Spears Hospitalized (Los Angeles, CA) -- Theres been another twist in the Britney Spears saga. The pop singer is under "medical hold" in a Los Angeles hospital after being whisked away last night from her Beverly Hills home. According to TMZ.com, Spears arrived via ambulance at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and police at the scene say they found her to be under the influence of an "unknown substance." Police were called to the home after Spears reportedly refused to turn over her children after her scheduled visitation ended. Spears ex-husband Kevin Federline currently has custody of their two sons, while Spears has supervised visitation rights. --- Al-Qaeda Announces New Video (Cairo) -- American-born Islamist Adam Gadahn is set to appear in a new video message. Al-Qaeda says it will be releasing the video featuring Gadahn, who is known as "Azzam the American." Gadahn is on the FBIs most wanted terrorist list, and the bureau is offering a one-million-dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. --- Bush To Meet With Financial Markets Advisors (Washington, DC) -- President Bush meets with financial markets advisors today amid growing concerns about the national economy. Yesterday, the President hinted hes considering proposing an economic stimulus package, but hasnt made up his mind yet. The meeting comes during growing concerns about the housing industry crisis and skyrocketing energy prices. Crude oil prices hit 100-dollars a barrel this week. --- Striking Writers Unhappy With Leno (Los Angeles, CA) -- Striking Writers Guild of America members arent laughing over Jay Lenos new "Tonight Show" jokes. The union claims Leno violated union strike rules by preparing the monologue he delivered Wednesday when his NBC show returned from a two-month layoff caused by the strike. The guild says its members are prohibited from preparing scripted material for "struck productions," including their own shows. Leno is a WGA member. NBC disagrees, saying the WGA agreement allows Leno to write his own monologues. --- Six Flags Requests Mixed-Drink Permit (Arlington, TX) -- Some Texas residents arent too happy with the Six Flags amusement parks application for a mixed-drink permit. Six Flags executive John Bement defended the plan last night during a public meeting, saying the company will do everything possible to maintain the parks family-friendly reputation. Even though the park plans to sell beer, critics say Six Flags applied for a mixed-drink permit to circumvent local opposition. A mixed-drink permit has to be approved by the state while permission to sell beer-only or beer-and-wine comes from a county judge. --- FDA Approves New Virus ID Test The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new test that can quickly tell doctors what kind of virus is making patients sick. According to "USA Today," the test is expected to be used mostly by hospital labs and private medical practices. The test can reduce the use of unneeded antibiotics and can more rapidly identify a virus even at low levels. According to the manufacturer, Luminex, antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory infections more than half the time even though 80-percent of those infections are viral. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-04-08 0844CST