From NPR news in Washington, I am Lakshimi Singh.

 

　　The Republican-led House has passed a continuing resolution that would avoid a government shutdown this month. The measure would provide $982 billion in funding to keep federal agencies operating through September. The vote was mainly along party lines. NPR's Craig Windham reports the bill would keep in place the across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester which took effect last week.

 

　　"The chairman of the House Appropriation's Committee Hal Rogers says the continuing resolution accomplishes one major goal."

 

　　"This bill takes the risk of a government shutdown off the table."

 

　　"Rogers says the measure also gives the Pentagon new flexibility to manage the sequester cuts. But house democratic Whip Steny Hoyer says that's not enough."

 

　　"This vote will do nothing to lessen the effects of the sequester whose impact has already been felt in my district and throughout the country."

 

　　"Senate democratic leaders say they will seek to amend the House GOP bill to give domestic programs the same flexibility been given the Pentagon to help soften the impact of the sequester cuts. Craig Windham, NPR news, Washington."

 

　　The confirmation vote the Senate was expected to hold today on John Brennan's nomination for CIA director is on hold. NPR's Tamara Keith says Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has decided to filibuster.

 

　　"Senator Rand Paul has concerned about the operation of drones in the potential for drones to target US citizens on American soil. He was not satisfied with the answers that he got from the Obama administration. And so he is doing a filibuster. Um, and so he is standing on the Senate floor and has been talking for some time now and says he will stay on the Senate floor and keep talking as long as he possibly can."

 

　　NPR's Tamara Keith.

 

　　A few hours ago, Attorney General Eric Holder was on Capitol Hill where he told a Senate panel President Obama will soon review his administration's legal rationale for using drone strikes. NPR's Paul Brown reports Holder was also on the hill to talk about gun violence.

 

　　"Holder says that military style assault weapon and high capacity magazines should be banned. He says universal background checks for gun-buyers should be mandatory. Another thing the administration wants Congress to do?"

 

　　"To eliminate misguided restrictions that require federal agencies to allow importations of dangerous weapons simply because of their age."

 

　　"Holder also advocates tougher penalties on gun traffickers. Polls show public support rising for more regulation but many lawmakers still appear hesitant as gun-rights advocates loudly object to some of the proposals. Paul Brown, NPR news, Washington."

 

　　At last check on Wall Street, Dow was up 54 points at 14309, NASDAQ up slightly. This is NPR news.

 

　　The United Nation's security council is condemning the Syria's rebels for detaining a group of UN peacekeepers near the Golan Heights. Officials say more than 30 fighters may have been involved. Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin and the council's president this month told reporters that talks are underway between UN officials and the Syrian opposition.

 

　　Still no sign of that so-called snow sequester in the capital city where just the threat of a significant snow was enough to shutdown much of the city. But areas to the west and south are reporting heavier snowfalls. WMRA's Bob Leweke filed this report from Harrisonburg, Viginia.

 

　　"Snowplows in Virginia have been working overtime since Tuesday night when the first flake from winter-storm began falling in Western Virginia. And most schools in the area closed for today Wednesday. Trees buckled under the weight of the heavy wet snow, and electric companies reported thousands of customers have lost power. Gusty winds are 30 miles per hour or more and complicating the effects of the storm. Governor Bob McDonnell called for Virginia residents to have plenty of supplies on hand and to alert their power companies if they loss electricity. And the State Department of Transportation warned the residents to stay off the roads. Snow is expected to be heaviest along the Alagani mountain with a total of a foot or more on the ground by this evening in parts of the Shenandoah valley and the mountains to the west. For NPR news, I am Bob Leweke, in Harrisonburg."

 

　　Another sign that business investment will pick up in the US. Factory orders for machinery and other goods rose more than 7% from December to January.

 

　　US stock is trading high with Dow gaining 55 at its 14,309. This is NPR.