Countdown newsletter

[SharonRB]

Tonight on Countdown
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Rescuers trying to reach 13 trapped miners successfully punched a hole into the
mine early Tuesday, but a company executive said initial reports of air quality
in the area were very discouraging. Carbon monoxide levels measured 1,300 parts
per million, exceeding the 400 parts per million maximum level that sustains
life, said Ben Hatfield, chief executive officer of mine owner International
Coal Group Inc. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10682163/

Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann broadcasts LIVE at 8 pm et, and the count is never
complete without you. Join us.

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty to federal charges in Washington and
Miami, clearing the way for him to cooperate in a massive government
investigation of influence peddling involving members of Congress, his lawyer
and the Justice Department said Tuesday. Abramoff, 46, had become one of the
best known lobbyists on the Hill, employing people who had worked for lawmakers
and creating close ties to the former House majority leader, Rep. Tom Delay,
R-Texas. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10692635/

The new book on the government's secret anti-terrorism operations. "State of
War," by The New York Times' James Risen holds new details on the secret spy
program. A report on the book by Time magazine reveals, "Risen's chief target
is the CIA, where, he argues, institutional dysfunction and feckless leadership
after 9/11 led to intelligence breakdowns that continue to haunt the U.S. Though
much of 'State of War' covers ground that is broadly familiar, the book is
punctuated with a wealth of previously unreported tidbits about covert meetings,
aborted CIA operations and Oval Office outbursts. The result is a brisk, if
dispiriting, chronicle of how, since 9/11, the 'most covert tools of
national-security policy have been misused.'"
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001772661

A northern Michigan university has issued its annual list of annoying phrases
and words that should be banned from the English language. Phrases like 'person
of interest' and 'FEMA' the acronym for the much criticized federal disaster
relief agency are among the winners. The 2006 'List of Words and Phrases
Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness'
was released on Saturday by Lake Superior State University. The list was
selected by a university committee. Among the nearly 800 words banned so far are
'metrosexual' (2004), 'baby boomers' (1989) and 'detente' (1976). Heading into
2006, the committee targeted linguistic gems as "hunker down," which it noted is
used by media "in reports about everything from politics to hurricanes."
http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/01/01/survey_tracks_2005s_most_annoying_phrases/

It wasn't a raccoon or dog digging for scraps that spread trash around the
parking lot at a Wendy's in Kenosha. For the last two months, a promotion by
the fast-food restaurant chain has some people Dumpster diving for cups and
buying Biggie sodas by the dozen. Wendy's and Florida-based discount airline
AirTran have been offering free frequent-flyer rewards on the sides of 84
million Biggie drink cups. A collection of 64 coupons can be redeemed for a
round-trip flight anywhere AirTran flies. Thirty-two coupons buy a one-way
ticket. http://wfrv.com/local/local_story_003082007.html

That's some of what we're planning for tonight's show.

Finally,
Police aren't sure how else to explain it. But when an officer walked into an
apartment Thursday night to answer a 911 call, an orange-and-tan striped cat was
lying by a telephone on the living room floor. The cat's owner, Gary Rosheisen,
was on the ground near his bed having fallen out of his wheelchair. Rosheisen
said his cat, Tommy, must have hit the right buttons to call 911. "I know it
sounds kind of weird," Officer Patrick Daugherty said, unsuccessfully searching
for some other explanation. Daugherty said police received a 911 call from
Rosheisen's apartment, but there was no one on the phone. Police called back to
make sure everything was OK, and when no one answered, they decided to check
things out. That's when Daugherty found Tommy next to the phone. "He's my
hero," Rosheisen said.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/9/911_CAT_CALL?SITE=NWCN&TEMPLATE=STRANGEHEADS.html&SECTION=HOME
And that's the cat's meow.

-- Carey Fox

Countdown Home: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

More:
Firefighters battling blazes across drought-stricken Texas, Oklahoma and New
Mexico feared conditions could worsen Tuesday as forecasters predicted high
winds and drier, warmer weather. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10619217/

Homeowners shoveled away mud and other debris and authorities worked to repair
damaged levees Monday after a pair of storms that flooded Northern California's
wine country moved south. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10632481/from/RS.4/

The U.S. military said Tuesday that none of its helicopters had crashed after
searching for a downed aircraft following a report by an Iraqi army soldier that
one went down northeast of Baghdad. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10681158/

Sen. John Kerry keeps options open for 2008. Democratic former presidential
candidate won't rule out another bid.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10663257/from/RS.1/

Rescuers halted their search Tuesday for survivors feared trapped for nearly a
full day under the wreckage of a fallen ice rink roof that killed 11 people,
including six children, fearing the ruins could collapse further.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10596709/

Former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry was robbed at gunpoint at his
apartment by some youths who had helped him carry his groceries.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10663267/

Children are no safer riding in sport utility vehicles than in passenger cars,
largely because the doubled risk of rollovers in SUVs cancels out the safety
advantages of their greater size and weight, according to a study.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10683183/

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