美联社一分钟新闻 2009-03-12（在线收听）

1.As expected, the federal budget deficit is climbing skyward. It’s hit 765 billion dollars in just the first five months of the fiscal year and it’s well on its way to the administration’s projection of 1.75 trillion for the whole year. The blame goes to a slump in tax revenue, and a surge in spending on the bank bailout.

2.In Alabama, investigators haven’t been able to figure out what triggered the gunman’s rampage that left 11 dead including his mother and himself. But officials said 28-year-old Michael McClendon had a list of those “who’d done him wrong.”

3.Tonight’s rescheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery has been delayed yet again, this time because of a hydrogen leak. NASA hopes to get the mission to the space station underway tomorrow night.

4.Chris Brown withdrew from the Kid’s Choice Awards. The embattled pop star, who was arrested for allegedly attacking his girlfriend Rihanna, was up for two awards.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1.skyward: adv.

up into the sky or towards the sky

2.projection: n.

a statement or calculation about what something will be in the future or was in the past, based on information available now

3.hydrogen: n.

a colourless gas that is the lightest of all gases, forms water when it combines with oxygen

4.be up for: phrase

when you are up for an award, you are one of the nominees.