At 5 pm a million people had already visited the health insurance website and starting at 11 am officials began asking some to come back at a later time. Those trying to reach call centers were also told to prepare for long waits and to be sure their call or cellphones were fully charged. Because of the heavy volume officials reprogram computers to allow everyone trying to sign up on what was supposed to be this last day to finish the process Tuesday. But that also means people who just show up can also sign up for coverage. A few days running their own exchanges Mariland, Minisuda and Roda Island have still later deadlines for Jan 1st start day. Juli Roberner, NPR news, Washington.

 

U.S. military officials are reporting that about 150 U.S. marines are poised to enter South Sudan to provide security for the U.S. embassy and to evacuate Americans. NPR's Graig Rewaner reports form Juba where thousands of displaced people have gathered at the UN compound.

 

Most of the people that could flee have flet. America, Britain and other countries have been shelting their nationals, have been shelting out their nationals from South Sudan on evacuation flights. For those left here in the capital Juba, the mood is quite, life in town is almost return to normal. But the UN compound is full of thousands of displaced people and in jungle stage which seen some of the worst fighting, people are sleeping outside the full compacity UN compound prefering to sleep on the ground in relative safety than risks spending the night in their homes. For many in South Sudan it's a chilling reminder of the recent past in those years of civil war when people would flee to the jungle for safety as long as their food would last. Graig Warner, NPR News, Juba.

 

Nearly 700 same sex couples in Utah obtained marriage licenses since Friday when federal judge ruled against the state ban on same sex weddings. That's judge refuse today to go along with request by the state to block the issue of licenses while the case works its way through the appeal process. Most of the licenses were issued in Salt Lake city.

 

Economic report out today showed Americans increased spending in Nov by most in five month, income was alos higher slightly. Commerce department says consumer spending rose by 0.1% from Oct, the best showing since June.   was driven by a dropping spending on long lasting durable goods like autos and consumer income rose 0.1%, that's improvement form 0.1% drop in Oct. Wages and salaries the most important components of income rose slight 0.4%.

 

On Wall Street higher by the closing bell, the Don up 73 end at 16,294, the NASDAQ up 44. This is NPR News.

 

Audio gears seems to be topping the holiday gifts lists of many Americans this year. The research from NPD group says audio equipment including headphones and speakers     30% of eight billion dollars in consumer electronic sales between nov 24th and Dec 7th. Headphone sales rose 14% as streaming speakers nearly a quater        Americans look to squizze better sound of new smart phone, tablats and TVs.

 

The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC has unveiled a Vangle painting completed in last few weeks of artist's life. NPR's Alice Kays reports it's one of the best preserves examples of his work.

 

The painting Green    feels    is from 1890. National gallery of key retor   Mury says it was painted after Vangle's voluntary confinement in this island.

 

It's a revolution on many levels.

 

Vangle is    return to north France's homecoming and Mury says the bright painting with swollaing blue white and green clouds in dancing week fields has better on public views of 1966, it was what retains his p   .

 

Pretty much like the day that he finished it.

 

The painting was bequithed to the national gallery of art by Flan Mallen. Alice Kays, NPR News, Washington.

 

A new study shows women who eat nuts or peana butter during pregnancy don't appeared to rise the risk of their kids will have anergies. The study published in Jama PD examined more than 8,000 children born to female nurses. It found children whose moms ate nuts at least 500 a month while pregnant were 69% less likely to have anegies than those moms who rearly ate nuts.

 

Oil prices are lower by the closing bell, down 41 cents at 98.91 a barral. 

 

I am Jane Heburst, NPR News in Washington.