[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/23/fast_forward_art.jpg caption=" "]

The stories that will be making news later today.

New ash-fall warnings are in effect today for parts of southern Alaska after the Mount Redoubt volcano erupted for a 6th time yesterday sending a burst of ash nearly 60 thousand feet high. Residents are being told to seal windows and doors and protect water supplies.

At 2 pm Eastern – the battle on the border comes to Washington. A House Appropriations Subcommittee will hear from government agents about America's efforts to keep Mexico's bloody war against drug cartels from slipping into the U.S.

At 9:40 Eastern – this morning President Obama will make a really long distance call to congratulate the shuttle "Discovery" crew and astronauts at the International Space Station on their current mission. The President will make the call with Congressional leaders and middle school students from the Washington area.

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/23/fast_forward_art.jpg caption=" "]

Officials in Fargo, North Dakota are desperately trying to save six thousand homes threatened by the swollen Red River. They need more than a million sandbags to stop the flooding. So far just over 300 thousand have been filled. The river is expected to crest this week at about 40-feet. Flood stage is above 17-feet. Forecasters say more rain is expected over the next several days.

The shuttle "Discovery" astronauts are preparing this morning for their third and final spacewalk scheduled to begin at 11:43 am Eastern time this morning. Two "Discovery" astronauts will try to fix an equipment storage platform that jammed and couldn't be deployed.

At 12:30 pm Eastern President Obama will make the case for investments in clean energy and new technology which are included in his budget. You can see the President's remarks live on CNN or online at CNN.Com/live.

FULL POST

The stories that will be making news later today:

This morning, some people are saying he should either resign or be fired, but Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner still has the full support of President Obama. At 12:30pm Eastern, CNN's Ali Velshi will sit down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the Treasury Secretary.

At 12:30 Eastern Vice-President Joe Biden attends a town hall meeting at a bus company plant in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. He'll talk about the administration's effort to strengthen the middle class. Biden will be joined by Education Secretary Arne Duncan and other Cabinet members.

President Obama, will push his economic plan again today in California. At 4:30 pm Eastern President Obama will hold a town-hall meeting in Los Angeles with the mayor. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will also be there. Then he'll appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". The President will be sharing the stage with country music legend, Garth Brooks.

A federal appeals court will hear arguments later today to decide whether Bernard Madoff will see a lot more daylight between now and his sentencing on June 16th. He's supposed to remain in a Manhattan jail until then, when he faces up to 150 years behind bars. Madoff was the sole person charged in what is the largest investment scheme in U.S. History.

The stories that will be making news later today:

The "Discovery" astronauts about to begin their first full day at the International Space Station. The crew is scheduled for a wake-up call at 8:43 am eastern. They're preparing for their first spacewalk on Thursday.

President Obama travels to Southern California this afternoon. He'll hold a town hall meeting in Santa Ana on his economic recovery plan... Then head to Los Angeles. The President is scheduled to make a guest appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno Thursday before returning to Washington.

And in Washington... Vice President Joe Biden hosts a conference of community leaders from across the country. The group will discuss the best ways of spending the stimulus money. There will be a working dinner tonight at 7 o'clock eastern. And, meetings are scheduled throughout the day tomorrow.

The stories that will be making news later today:

We're standing by for more insight from the White House on President Obama's promise to revamp the nation's food safety net. During his weekly radio address the President announced the creation of a new food safety group to update laws untouched since President Theodore Roosevelt.

In a few hours actress Lindsay Lohan will have a court hearing regarding an arrest warrant issued Friday. Lohan's attorney told CNN the warrant was issued "Out of a misunderstanding." It's believed to be connected to a possible parole violation. Lohan is currently serving three years probation following two d-u-i arrests in 2007. She's not expected to appear at the hearing.

We'll also be learning new details of an interview Levi Johnston gave to ABC. The former fiance of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's daughter reportedly says he and Bristol Palin have split... But he's also not ruling out a reunion in the future

FULL POST

The stories that will be making news later today:

A court ruling is expected this morning on New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's request for access to a secret memo about 3 million dollars in bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch employees just before Bank of America acquired the bank. Bank of America has received 45-billion dollars in bailout money.

The search resumes for survivors of a helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland. 16-people are still missing. The chopper was carrying oil workers to an off-shore platform Thursday when it ditched and sank in the frigid North Atlantic. One man was rescued and one body has been recovered.

The Los Angeles Attorney General will hold a press conference on charges Anna Smith's former companion and lawyer provided highly addictive drugs to the late model. Howard K. Stern and two doctors charged with *eight* felonies. It all comes more than two years after Smith died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

FULL POST