1. New Defense Secretary Robert Gates has wrapped up his visit to Iraq. He says he hopes to update President Bush over the weekend on what he leaned there. He isn't saying whether he'll recommend increasing US troop levels.

2. Thousands of travelers are still stuck in Denver. The airport was closed on Wednesday causing hundreds of flight cancellations. The governor is urging motorists to stay home, so road crews can push tons of snow from area roads. Retailers hope last-minute shoppers will fill stores to help recoup their losses.

3. Experts expect millions of Americans to head out of town for Christmas. That means roads, train stations and airports will be crowded today and right through the weekend. The best advice if you are on the road--pack plenty of patience.

4. Here is a little Christmas riddle--where does a jumbo-sized Santa's helper keep his gifts? For these helpers in Thailand, it's obviously in their trunks. The elephants visit school kids every year and they don't just pass out gifts; they also do tricks

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. update: verb
If you update someone on a situation, you tell them the latest developments in that situation.

2. recoup: verb
If you recoup a sum of money that you have spent or lost, you get it back.

3. jumbo: adj.
Jumbo means very large; used mainly in advertising and in the name of products.

4. trunk: n-count
An elephant's trunk is its very long nose that it uses to lift food and water to its mouth