CNN 2009-02-19

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Nicole Lapin, Here is your NOW IN THE NEWS update.

President Obama is set to unveil his $50-billion program targeting the housing crisis today; sources say the government will cut monthly mortgage payments, allow more borrowers to refinance their loans and give bankruptcy¹ judges greater power to modify mortgages. According to realtytrac.com, state with the highest foreclosure rate is Nevada, where one out of every 76 housing units is now in foreclosure. California and Arizona are second and third respectively.CNN.com will of course carry President Obama's remarks as soon as they happen, they are expected to occur around 12:15 pm Eastern Time.

And US automakers are now asking for more federal bailout money, GM says it's now going to need a total of 30 billion dollars in bailout money in the worst case scenario². It has already received 13.4 billion and was set to receive another promised four billion. As for Chrysler, it is seeking another five billion in government loans on top of the four billion it has already received.

Meanwhile, out west California is still trying to get its budget passed. Lawmakers are still trying to figure out how to close this $42-billion budget gap. State leaders are now warning of a fiscal³ disaster if lawmakers can't reach an agreement. Also budget deal in Kansas may clear the way for state workers to get paid this week. Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed the bill calling for new cuts in the new budget.

More problems meanwhile for embattled Senator Roland Burris, the Chicago Tribune is now calling for his resignation, this is after Burris changed to swear saying that he did, in fact had several conversations with Rod Blagojevich's brother about possibly raising money for the now former Illinois governor. Burris maintains he did nothing wrong.

Well Facebook doesn't about face, under some pressure from tens of thousands of its users. The website is now going back to its old policy on who owns the stuff you post. Facebook has changed its policy to say that it may keep copies of your stuff even if you close your account. But now it says the site couldn't actually claim the rights to your content.

And those are the headlines at this hour. For more on those stories and other news of the day, CNN is always your source online, on TV or on your cell phone.

1 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

2 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

3 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。