National and International News-Friday, Jan 5th

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - President Bush confers about Iraq with top lawmakers today. They'll include Democrats, who've been pushing to have U-S troops brought home from Iraq. Media reports say Bush is also considering replacing the top generals who command U-S troops in the Mideast region and in Iraq.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - A senior administration official expects President Bush to name retired Navy Vice Admiral Mike McConnell to be the next national intelligence director. If senators approve him, McConnell would replace John Negroponte, whom Bush had moved from diplomacy to top spy chief.

CAPITOL HILL (AP) - The House, now run by Democrats, today starts debating something called the "PAYGO rule." It requires tax cuts or spending increases in entitlement programs, like Medicare, to be paid for with tax increases or spending cuts elsewhere in the budget. Republicans are not fans of the idea.

NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) - Three children, missing after tornadoes ripped through southern Louisiana, have been found. But, two people died in Iberia Parish. At least 15 people have been hurt. Residents also are being warned to watch for flash flooding.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) - Within hours, a commercial fishing vessel could catch up with American sailor Ken Barnes, off the tip of South America. Barnes left Long Beach, California, on October 28th, hoping to be the first solo sailor from the West Coast to circumnavigate the globe. He's drifted hundreds of miles from an expected rescue site.