AP 2009-12-22（在线收听）

1.The Senate has now scheduled final passage of a healthcare reform bill by Christmas. Under Senate rules, Democrats need 60 votes on three separate occasions to limit Republican debate and pass the legislation. The first vote came early this morning, Democrats getting exactly the 60 votes they need.

 2.The clean-up is well underway up and down the East Coast after a massive snow storm dumped up to two feet of snow in some areas. All airports from Washington to Boston are opened again this morning but there is a fat lot of passengers from this weekend's cancelled flights.

3.A Los Angeles county coroner official says authorities will have to wait for toxicology tests before determining exactly how actress Brittany Murphy died. She was 32, died Sunday from what appears to be natural causes. Murphy starred in the films "Clueless" and "8 Mile".

4.A Brazilian stepfather has admitted in a local television interview that he tried to kill his two-year-old stepson by sticking him with sewing needles. The man said he did it to get back at his ex-wife. The man and his lover are currently in jail.