US & World News, Tuesday 1/15

US & World Summary --- McCain, Romney Face Michigan Showdown The polls are open in Michigan, where John McCain and Mitt Romney are battling in the states presidential primary. Its Romneys home state, where his father once served as governor. McCain beat the former Massachusetts Governor in last weeks New Hampshire Republican primary and political watchers say Romney badly needs a win in the Wolverine State to keep his campaign going. On the Democratic side, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is the only leading Democrat on the Michigan ballot. After Michigan, all attention will turn to South Carolina and Saturdays Republican primary. --- Bush Pushes For Greater OPEC Oil Output (Riyadh) -- President Bush says he believes OPEC holds the key to easing some of the countrys increasing gas pains. Speaking during his visit to Saudi Arabia, the president said that without a boost from OPEC, rapidly rising energy costs could eventually cause the U.S. economy to slowdown. Bush also confirmed plans to address the issue later today during talks with Saudi King Abdullah, pledging to convey to King Abdullah the fact that sky-high oil prices are, quote, "painful for our consumers." --- Congress Probes Baseball Steroids Report (Washington, DC) -- The Mitchell report on the use of steroids in Major League Baseball will be the focus of attention later today on Capitol Hill. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig is among those scheduled to testify as lawmakers probe the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. Former senator George Mitchell, the author of the study, is also scheduled to testify along with Don Fehr, the longtime head of the Major League Baseball Players Association. About 90 players were named in the document that said the illegal use of performance-enhancing substances poses a serious threat to the integrity of the game. --- Wesley Snipes On Trial For Tax Evasion (Ocala, FL) -- Jury selection is underway in the tax fraud trial of actor Wesley Snipes. Yesterdays jury pool included 134 people, all of them white. Snipes lawyers tried unsuccessfully to have his trial moved out of Ocala, Florida, arguing that he wouldnt get a fair trial in the town because of racial prejudices they say still exist there. The 45-year-old actor faces up to 16 years in prison on nine counts. The trial is expected to last about one month. 1/81/8 NOTE NATURE OF FOLLOWING 3/83/8 --- Toddlers Parents Dont Want Suspect Prosecuted (Lauderhill, FL) -- A 12-year-old boy accused of beating a toddler to death may have an ally in the victims parents. Theyve written the Broward State Attorneys Office asking that the boy not be prosecuted for his actions or if he is prosecuted that he be tried in the juvenile system. In their letter, Ocnel Joseph and Merlande Alexis say they dont want revenge against the 12-year-old and dont want to see their daughters death turned into a circus-like atmosphere. --- Mercury Pictures Due Today, First In 30 Years (Laurel, MD) -- Scientists are eagerly awaiting the first pictures of the planet Mercury in more than 30 years. Those photos are due to arrive today as the MESSENGER satellite radios back the results of yesterdays first flyby of the faraway planet. The 12-hundred images and other data were gathered during yesterdays planetary approach. The pictures are expected to include a first-ever look at the half of Mercury that was never documented during the only previous Mercury mission in 1976. --- Netflix Subscribers Get Free Upgrade Of Streaming Video Netflix customers are getting a free upgrade. Beginning today, the company that pioneered the online movie rental business is giving some subscribers unlimited access to hours of movies and television programs. Those shows will be streamed directly to customers computers free of charge. The upgrade applies only to Netflix unlimited plans costing around nine dollars a month. Subscribers with the four-dollar and 99-cent plan will still be restricted to only two hours of free monthly streaming video. (Copyright 2008 by Newsroom Solutions) RNS-01-15-08 0737CST