CNN 2009-09-02（在线收听）

Hi there, I’m Virginia Cha at the CNN center here in Atlanta, with a look at what’s happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

Fire still raging in California. The worst is in Los Angeles foothills. It's called station fire has burned more than 164 square miles right now. Dozens of buildings including a lot of homes have been destroyed. It is so hot and dry. Fire officials admit they have no chance in getting this fire contained at the moment. They're just doing whatever they can to save homes and lives.

Hurricane Jimena is nearing Category five status as it moves towards Baja peninsula in Mexico. Top sustained winds are nearing 155 miles an hour. Emergency workers are struggling to evacuate thousands of people from that area.

It will be January before Massachusetts voters get achance to choose a successor to the late Senator Ted Kennedy. But somestate lawmakers are pushing to change state law, allowing Governor Deval Patrick to name a temporary replacement until then. A public hearing is set for next week.

People in Illinois will have to pay extra to get a buzz or to satisfy their sweet tooth because the state is imposing some new taxes today on anything from candy and soft drinks to beer and liquor. The state says it needs money for schools and roads.Some taxpayers,not so happy.
"I think that is ridiculous to put a price increase that high on alcohol."
"It's just a tax on top of another tax on top of another tax. And it seems to me our government just keeps it bigger. And there's nothing stopping it."
These new taxes are expected to bring in about 115 million dollars a year.

And those are the headlines for you at this hour, stay with CNN for more on those stories and all the other news of the day.