National and International News-Thursday, Dec. 14th

WASHINGTON (AP) - Word is expected today on the condition of Senator Tim Johnson. The South Dakota Democrat underwent surgery overnight after being hospitalized with what aides initially feared was a stroke. Since then, though, there's been little comment. His continued service will determine which party controls the Senate.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - After three days of top-level deliberations on Iraq, President Bush gives no indication he's about to change policy. He's rejecting any ideas that he says involve removing U-S troops before the job is done. Still he says he'll be presenting plans next year for a "new way forward."

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Another mass kidnapping underscores Baghdad's shaky security. As many as 70 shopkeepers and bystanders were kidnapped in broad daylight today by gunmen who swarmed into a commercial district in S-U-Vs. Elsewhere, two police officers were killed trying to defuse a car bomb.

NEW YORK (AP) - A 14-year-old New York City girl is being charged with murder and manslaughter. Police say the child hurled her newborn baby out of the window of a fifth-floor apartment.

WASHINGTON (AP) - As you might expect, it's going to be crowded out there over Christmas and New Year's. A survey by Triple-A and the Travel Industry Association finds a record 65 million people plan holiday trips, most of them by car.