National and International News-Tuesday, Dec.5th

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Much of the bloodshed in Iraq today is in the capital. At least 30 people have died in shootings and car bombings in Baghdad. Outside the capital, two Iraqi soldiers died in a roadside bombing. A U-S soldier was killed in combat yesterday while an accident killed another.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Rescuers in Oregon say there's still a chance to find a missing father of two girls alive. They plan to use helicopters with thermal imaging technology today to search for the man who set out in the snow to get help for his snowbound family. The mother and girls have been rescued.

HOUMA, La. (AP) - Louisiana police say a man has confessed to suffocating 23 men in an eight-year killing spree. Officials say Ronald Dominique shared details about the murders that only the killer and investigators would know. He now faces eleven murder charges and a possible death penalty if convicted.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Wal-Mart continues to lead the pack this Christmas shopping season , with 43 percent of shoppers going to the world's largest retailer. But America's Research Group head Britt Beemer also says a lot more bargain hunters are holding out in hopes of finding deeper discounts.

UNDATED (AP) - Thursday's space shuttle launch may be the foremost issue for NASA but the space agency is also setting its sights farther out into space. Even as the countdown continues for Discovery, NASA says it's making plans to return to the moon in 2020 and establish a base camp there by 2024.