Mrs. Obama to Receive 'Big Help' Award
First Lady Michelle Obama is being honored with an award on Thursday. The kids' network Nickelodeon is giving her the "Big Help" award for her Let's Move campaign, which is working to eliminate childhood obesity. Mrs. Obama will not be present to receive the award, because guests must endure being slimed. Instead, a taped message will debut on Saturday. [CBS News]

Republicans Make Last-Ditch Efforts to Derail the Health Bill
Republicans were able to force the "final chapter" that Democrats are writing back to the House, because they reportedly found "two minor provisions," which violate budget rules. The Democrats were hoping to write a chapter of additions and fixes that could go straight to the president to sign. With Republicans happy to locate any obstacles that would put a wrench in health care legislation, Congress reportedly stayed up until 2 a.m. voting on 29 GOP amendments. Once such bill pushed by Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma had congressmen voting to stop sex offenders from gaining access to erectile dysfunction drugs. House Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was said to be exhausted, remarked, "There's no attempt to improve the bill. There's an attempt to destroy this bill." All in all, the two problematic provisions will be removed from the bill today and then approved by the Senate. The bill will then be sent to the House, where Democrats are expected to pass it there. [AP]

Obama to Speak in Iowa Today
President Barack Obama will speak at the University of Iowa today to connect with Iowa voters on health care. For some Democrats, who represent conservative-leaning states, supporting the president on his top initiative was a risky. Obama, though, intends to give ongoing support to those particular Democrats by speaking directly to the voting public in those states. [Washington Post]


90-Year-Old Man Allegedly Kills 89-Year-Old Wife
John Bunz, 90, was charged with the second-degree murder of his 89-year-old wife, Virginia Bunz, this past Sunday. Today he is due in court. Authorities have not released information regarding the details of the alleged murder, although they have said it appears to be a domestic homicide. The couple would have celebrated their 68th anniversary in April. [Washington Examiner]

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