AP美联社一分钟新闻 2009-02-18（在线收听）

1. In Denver, President Barack Obama is signing the economic stimulus bill into law today. He says the plan creates jobs, consumer spending and public optimism. It's the most sweeping economic package in decades and a big win for Obama's one-month-old administration.

2. Florida investigators say they're working new leads in the disappearance of five-year-old Haleigh Cummings. They aren't giving specifics but they did say the girl's neighbors offered new information. Haleigh vanished from her father's home more than a week ago.

3. A 16-year-old civilian girl was found dead and another was found unresponsive in an army barracks in Washington State. The second teen is hospitalized and listed in stable condition. Officials say there are no outward signs of physical trauma on either girl and they are now awaiting the results of an autopsy.

4. This video may be an Internet hit but it's a disaster for Japan's finance minister. He's resigning to calm critics who say he was drunk at a recent summit. He says cold medicine and fatigue made him groggy. He had promised to stay at his post until parliament passed budget.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. barracks: n [plural]

a building or group of buildings in which soldiers live

2. fatigue: n.

very great tiredness

3. groggy: adj.

weak and unable to move well or think clearly because you are ill or very tired