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1. NBC newsman Tim Russert has died. The network says its Washington Bureau Chief and host of Meet the Press collapsed² and died at work. Initial reports said the cause was a heart attack, but now the network says it's not sure. Tim Russert was 58.

 2. Thousands have been evacuated³ from their Midwest homes, and there is a concern because more rain is expected in the region through the weekend. Nearly all of Iowa's counties have been declared state disaster areas, and nine rivers are at or above historic flood levels.

 3. A metal clip broke off space shuttle Discovery's brakes, but NASA says the missing part doesn' t pose a threat for tomorrow's re-entry and landing. Ever since the Columbia tragedy 5 years ago, any shuttle part seen floating away in orbit gets NASA's attention-- fast.

 4. R. Kelly was acquitted⁵ of all charges in his child porn trial, ending a six-year ordeal⁶ for the R&B superstar. The Grammy Award-winning singer had to faced 15 years in prison if convicted.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

 1.newsman  plural  newsmen [countable]n.

someone who writes or reports news for a newspaper, radio, or television
 
2.network [countable]n.
a group of radio or television stations, which broadcast many of the same programmes, but in different parts of the same country
 
3.collapse¹ [intransitive]v.
to suddenly fall down or become unconscious because you are ill or weak
 
4.brake [countable]n.
a piece of equipment that makes a vehicle go more slowly or stop

rudder [countable]n.
a flat part at the back of a ship or aircraft that can be turned in order to control the direction in which it moves
 
5.acquit⁴ [transitive usually passive]v.
to give a decision in a court of law that someone is not guilty of a crime
acquit somebody of something
 
6.porn  [uncountable]n. informal
pornography
 
7.ordeal  [countable]n.
a terrible or painful experience that continues for a period of time