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American LifePeople, Places & Issues in the News Across America

13 January 2009 

Today from VOA:

News in 45 Languages
American Life: Places
Kyle Remick shows off his first daughter, who arrived just in time for the Christmas holiday
American Military Bases Experience Baby Surge  Audio Clip Available
Pregnancies soar when troops return home between deployments
Construction of inauguration stand
US Presidential Inauguration Preparations Continue  Video clip available
Viewing stands at Capitol have been constructed, parade route is being readied, and people in Washington area are in a mood of anticipation
Military personnel act as stand-ins for President-elect Barack Obama and family on the West side of the Capitol in Washington, DC during a rehearsal for the Inauguration Ceremony, 11 Jan 2009
Obama's Inauguration Gets Test Run in Washington
Large-scale dress rehearsal to prepare for January 20 ceremony
In this photo released by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, pink corals are seen on the Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific in this photo, date unknown
Bush Establishes Huge Pacific Marine Sanctuary  Audio Clip Available  Video clip available
US president takes action to safeguard parts of three remote Pacific island chains that are US possessions
Barack Obama
Young New York City Immigrants, Parents Greet Obama Presidency Warmly  Video clip available
44th President will lead an increasingly multicultural US
Because of long periods of isolation from the rest of the continent by rising and falling sea levels, the Lake Wales Ridge has one of the highest concentrations in North America of endemic(locally-restricted)species
Sandy Strip of Florida Land Holds Ancient Secrets  Audio Clip Available
Lake Wales Ridge home to ecosystem of rare and endangered plants and animals
The U.S. flag is raised during a ceremony marking the opening of the new United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, 05 Jan 2009
New US Embassy Opens in Baghdad
Washington's largest diplomatic outpost in the world cost more than $600 million and will house more than 1,000 employees
President-elect Barack Obama, Mrs. Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha (7) and Malia (10) at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC, getting ready for the first day of school, 05 Jan 2009
Obama Joins Family in Washington
President-elect arrived late Sunday as his children prepare for first day of school in nation's capital
The tourist are gone and the slow pace has returned
Crawford, Texas Loses Tourists as Bush Term Wanes  Video clip available
Some residents welcome the calm, but business on Main Street declines
Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during the pre-New Year's celebrations on Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, 31 Dec 2008
Asia, Europe and New York City Ring in the New Year
Celebrations mixed due to global economic hardships
plastic bag
San Francisco's Plastic Bag Ban Gets Mixed Reviews  Video clip available
City measure banning plastic shopping bags welcomed by some shoppers, store owners, but also criticized
Mountains near Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, New Mexico: Then and Now  Audio Clip Available
Once-secret town where atomic bomb was developed has grown into research hub
Bob Brazell helps shovel out his daughter Julia's car in Crested Butte, Colo., 26 Dec 2008
Floods Could Follow Ice in Midwestern US
National Weather Service is warning that rain, rising temperatures, thick fog could lead to flooding after days of cold weather, heavy snow, ice
Customers gather outside of convenient store in Honolulu,  during blackout, 27 Dec 2008
Hawaiian Island Blackout Leaves Obama in Dark
Authorities suspect lightning strike Friday night cut power to nearly entire island of Oahu, including beach complex where president-elect, his family are vacationing