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1.John McCain says Sarah Palin is exactly what he and the country need. He tapped her today to be his running mate.Palin is the governor of Alaska, and while she's been on the job for only a short while, she is known to be someone of a maverick¹.

2.The Democratic presidential ticket is taking its bid for the White House on the road.Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden are kicking off a bus tour that will take them on a tour of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan.

3.New Orleans marked the third anniversary of Katrina by keeping a wary² eye on another potentially dangerous storm. Gustav is expected to move over open waters today where forecasters say it could gain strength as it makes its way toward the Gulf³ Coast.

4.The King of Pop is celebrating a milestone⁴. Michael Jackson turns fifty today. He says he plans on marking the occasion by having some cake with his children and watching some cartoons with them.

WORDS IN THE NEWS
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online
Merriam-Webster Online

1.maverick n.[countable]
If you describe someone as a maverick, you mean that they are unconventional and independent, and do not think or behave in the same way as other people.

2.ticket n.[countable]
A ticket is the list of candidates who are representing a particular political party or group in an election.
He plans to remain on the Republican ticket for the November election.

3.kick off  [phrasal verb]
If an event, game, series, or discussion kicks off, or is kicked off, it begins.
The shows kick off on October 24th...
The Mayor kicked off the party...
We kicked off with a slap-up dinner.