Radio America Online News Bureau

We have Monday’s top news…Which two men are smiling today after having their prison sentences commuted by President Bush?  Why might some Bush administration figures soon be facing their own prosecution?  Just how much security will be in place for Tuesday’s presidential inauguration?  What little secret did Joe Biden’s wife let slip about how her husband got his new job?  And who is the apparent winner of the race to replace Hillary Clinton as the new U.S. Senator from New York?  We have all the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, January 19, 2009.

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On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.  The cost for this year’s celebration – from the ceremony to the giant screens on the National Mal, to the portable toilets to the security to the lavish inaugural balls will total $170 million.  Is that too much?  Why are there fewer complaints this year than four years ago when President Bush was criticized for a much smaller tab?  How does all of this plus a presidential transition get planned in just over two months?  And how important is Obama’s inaugural speech?  We ask Rich Galen, former press secretary to Dan Quayle and communications director for then House Speaker Newt Gingrich.  Galen served on the Presidental Inauguration Committee in 2001 and 2005.  He now writes the internet column mullings.com.

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Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas both declared unilateral cease-fires.  Did Israel accomplish everything it sought to do or is there another reason its forces are pulling back?  Why is a major reason for the end to operations the changing of the administration right here in Washington?  What has Israel accomplished over the past three weeks?  And what will be the likely Obama policy towards Israel?  We ask Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, vice president for research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

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On his final full day in office, President Bush commuted the remaining prison sentences of former U.S. Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.  Should we be surprised that Bush finally acted in favor of two men that millions believe are the victims of a great injustice?  Why were they really prosecuted in the first place?  And what is the impact of this case on border enforcement?  We ask Dr. Jerome Corsi, best-selling author and senior staff reporter for World Net Daily.com, who has closely followed the story.

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This month, Dr. Martin, Luther King, Jr. would have celebrated his 80th birthday.  As the nation pauses to honor his memory and legacy just one day before the inauguration of the first black president, we honor Dr. King for his passionate and dignified pursuit of a nation in which all men are created equal.

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We have Friday’s top news…What is the focus of the investigation into the New York plane crash?  How is the U.S. Airways CEO reacting to Thursday’s miracle?  What promises is Barack Obama making about his forthcoming economic stimulus plan?  What does the Bush administration believe ought to be the foundation for a MIddle East ceasefire?  What did Dana Perino say Friday at her final White House press briefing?  And how did the markets fare today?  We have all the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Friday, January 16, 2009.

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The Capitol Steps say goodbye to President Bush with two classic parodies. We visit with Steps star Elaina Newport and enjoy “Ain’t No Surplus” and “The Brain-Mouth Connection”.

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America is still marveling over the safe rescue of all passengers and crew aboard U.S. Airways Flight 1579 after is crash-landed in the Hudson River shortly after takeoff Thursday afternoon.  How unique is this kind of outcome from a water landing?  How common are collisions between birds and jet engines?  What were the most amazing accomplishments of the pilot in getting the plane down in one piece?  We ask David Field, The Americas editor at Airline Business magazine.

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The fight over the disputed Minnesota U.S. Senate seat continues.  This week a group of Republican activists filed suit, complaining that double counting happened during the recount process and the final result is clearly flawed.  So what is the evidence for faulty vote counting?  How much may have occurred?  What answers are forthcoming from state officials?  And what can we expect from the three-judge panel deciding the challenge to the recount totals?  We ask Annette Meeks, former vice-chair of the Minnesota Repubican Party.  She is one of the citizens who filed suit against the recount conclusions.

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On Thursday evening, President Bush delivered his final televised address to the American people.  What did he highlight most about his eight years in office?  What did he say in reference to his controversial and sometimes unpopular policies?  What advice does he have for Barack Obama and other future presidents?  Listen for yourself as we bring you extended excerpts from Bush’s farewell speech to America.

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