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1. Flood warnings and watches were in effect Tuesday afternoon for much of the Mid-Atlantic region. A deluge over the past two days has forced people from their homes and put tourists and government workers out of dozens of federal buildings in the nation's capital.
2. Israeli tanks are now on the move as warplanes attack several bridges in central Gaza. The action comes in response to a weekend Palestinian attack in which two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third was captured.
3. The surgeon general says there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The latest report issued today finds secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and heart disease and has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
4. The seven crew members of the space shuttle Discovery have arrived at the Kennedy Space Center to prepare for this weekend's scheduled launch. Earlier this month, NASA's top safety and engineering officers recommended against a launch until further design changes were made to prevent the foam problem that doomed Columbia in 2003, but they were overruled.
WORDS IN THE NEWS
1. flood watch :
A Flood watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for very heavy rain and flash flooding. In the United States, the National Weather Service issues watches and warnings for flooding on a per-county basis.
2. deluge : n-count
A deluge is a sudden, very heavy fall of rain.
= downpour
3. surgeon general : n-title
The Surgeon General of the United States is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Public Health Service, and - ex Officio - is the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the Government of the United States. The Surgeon General is nominated by the U.S. President and confirmed by the Senate for a 4-year term of office. In carrying out all responsibilities, the Surgeon General reports to the Assistant Secretary for Health, who is the principal advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health and scientific issues. The current Surgeon General is Richard Carmona, appointed by President George W. Bush.
4. cardiovascular : adj
Cardiovascular means relating to the heart and blood vessels. (MEDICAL)
5. doom : verb
If a fact or event dooms someone or something to a particular fate, it makes certain that they are going to suffer in some way.
6. overrule : verb
If someone in authority overrules a person or their decision, they officially decide that the decision is incorrect or not valid.
= override
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