It's March Madness on the East Coast, and I'm not talking about basketball. It is the return of winter, after a week of spring-time temperatures for those of us here in New York.  The forecast is for up to two feet of snow in some places, but the real headache is travel.  Hundreds of flights have been cancelled today because of the snowstorms. JetBlue preemptively cancelled many of its flights to try to head off a repeat of their February mess when passengers were stuck on runways for hours. We will keep an eye on the storm and the travel problems and update you tonight.

The other big story we are watching today is on Capitol Hill.  Former CIA officer Valerie Plame spoke out publicly for the first time, giving testimony to a House committee. Her appearance today made for fascinating theater, with Plame surrounded by more cameras than Lindsay Lohan.  Plame described her feelings when she found out her cover had been blown ("...like I had been hit in the gut."). She also said she had nothing to do with her husband's trip to Niger, even though the White House implied he traveled at her suggestion. Chip Reid has been watching the hearing all day and will have a full wrap up for us tonight.

And an important health story tonight about CPR. According to a new study, chest compressions WITHOUT mouth-to-mouth resuscitation may be the most effective way to help someone in cardiac arrest -- which is a lot different from what most of us have been taught. Bob Bazell will have that for us tonight.

And it's Friday, so count on "Making a Difference." See you tonight.

Today we are keeping our eye on developments on Capitol Hill. As I write, the Senate is voting on three Iraq resolutions. The  most controversial is offered by Democrats and sets a timeline or "goal" for withdrawing most troops by March, 2008. It failed by a close vote moments ago. We will keep watching and have the details tonight on today's other votes.

In other news, we will have a full report on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the al-Qaida suspect who claims responsibility for the Sept. 11 attacks. According to Pentagon documents, he says he also beheaded American journalist Daniel Pearl. He is admitting involvement in more than 30 plots or attacks, but is he telling the full truth?

On the political front, a big development in California: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill moving California's presidential primary date to February 5, 2008. California is just one of many states considering that date, and it means an advanced primary season and nominating process. Related to that, we are on the campaign trail with Republican candidate, Sen. John McCain and we will look at his move from being the maverick to the establishment candidate -- a move that doesn't seem to be working for him according to recent polls. Chip Reid will have more from Iowa.

Also tonight, a look at college students who are combining binge drinking with prescription drugs, and the zero tolerance response on some college campuses. And more of our series "What Works." See you tonight.

If you asked the producers of Nightly News (and we did) how many occasionally rely on sleeping pills, far more than a few (try 99%) would say they indulge. A lot of us don't think it is indulgence, but rather necessity. So today's news about some of the most popular sleeping pills brought all of us to attention. The FDA is calling for new warnings for 13 different prescription sleeping aids -- Ambien and Lunesta among them. The big risk -- engaging in potentially harmful behavior like "sleep-driving" while on the drugs, and then having no memory of the experience. There is a lot more to this and we will have a full wrap up for you tonight, along with some other big health news involving heart attacks and a potential shortage of cancer doctors.

From Washington tonight, Pete Williams will have more on the fallout over the firing of the federal prosecutors and what seems to be an evolving explanation from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Roger O'Neil will look at an effort underway to get all of us to switch from traditional light bulbs to more environmentally friendly ones. And Bob Faw has a fascinating piece tonight about a recently discovered new world of microscopic marine life. Scientists are looking at whether this world could help us develop new antibiotics or even new energy sources.

We will see you tonight.

It is the latest shoe to drop. The Army's top medical officer quit today, or more accurately, was forced to quit. The fallout over the scandal at Walter Reed shows no signs of letting up and there could be more bad news for the Army before the day is out. Late today we are expecting a report from the Inspector General. It's a wide review that looks at the dramatic increase in the number of soldiers being cared for at the facility -- a hospital overwhelmed by casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan. We'll have the latest on the report and the change in leadership. Related to this, Bob Bazell has a piece tonight about the growing number of reported cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the long waiting lists now for treatment at VA hospitals around the country.

In other news, Lisa Myers got an advance look at a new report on government monitoring of radioactive material. She raises some serious questions about whether federal money is being directed the right way given the current risks. And on the political front, an interesting endorsement today for the Republican front runner in the presidential primary race, plus the latest on President Bush's trip to Latin America.

Finally, as part of our ongoing series "What Works," Rehema Ellis looks at a program aimed at improving literacy among children. It started with a few doctor's offices giving books to their young patients... just a small grassroots effort that grew into something really special.

I'm sitting in for Brian all week while he takes some well-deserved vacation time. Hope to see you all later tonight.

By the time this is posted, the situation may well have entirely changed. It has been that kind of day. When our correspondents got word that the execution of Saddam Hussein was imminent, our network kicked into high gear... everyone is essentially on standby. That was many hours ago. And it may be many hours from now before we have any sense of when the execution will take place.

Trying to predict has been a confusing exercise. Our correspondent in Baghdad, Richard Engel, has done a stellar job of outlining the basic scenarios on timing and the debate now taking place on our sister blog 'Blogging Baghdad.' Richard will be updating as he can. Also worth noting is another entry on yet another sister blog, 'Hardblogger' from Lt. Col. Rick Francona and how the execution is personal for him.

As I write, we are watching live pictures of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, Calif. Former First Lady Betty Ford, her four children, seven grandchildren and one of her great-grandchildren are receiving the casket with the remains of the former President. The casket was carried past Mrs. Ford by a military honor guard. A private service for the family is taking place at the church this afternoon led by the Ford family's pastor. The family has been attending the church for years. On tonight's broadcast we will update you on the events of today.

In addition, Andrea Mitchell has a piece tonight with more revelations on the former President's thinking... what he really thought of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and wife Barbara and also former President Reagan.

We also are still watching that massive storm in Colorado. It has dumped more than a foot of snow in Denver and more than two feet in some of the surrounding areas. Hundreds of flights have been canceled, making for a tough travel situation on yet another holiday weekend. We will have the very latest tonight. See you then.

It is issue No. 1 for the President right now: a new strategy for Iraq. But is the President any closer to making a decision on just what that strategy should be? After a meeting today with his top national security advisors, the President said he needs still more input. Much of the reporting suggests the President is leaning toward a surge in the number of American forces, as many as 30,000 additional troops whose mission would be to secure Baghdad and Anbar. But top White House officials say Mr. Bush is not ready to make his case to the American people just yet. Kelly O'Donnell is in Crawford, Texas, with the President and will have more for us tonight.

The White House is also making plans for the President to take part in services to honor former President Gerald Ford. And adding an interesting twist ... Ford is getting in his final words on the current President's handling of the war in Iraq. In an interview with journalist Bob Woodward, Ford called the decision to go to war a "big mistake" and was sharply critical of how the administration tried to justify the decision. The interview was conducted a few years back for a Woodward book. Andrea Mitchell will have more on this story tonight.

And also ... a look ahead to 2008. Former Senator John Edwards is making it official. Today the Democrat announced he will seek his party's nomination for President. Chip Reid will have the details.

See you tonight.

Just a few weeks ago, I was on vacation swimming in the Pacific ocean. In the water just a  few feet from shore, and a few feet from me, was a stingray. I shouted to some of the kids on the beach to come and look. One couple grabbed a camera. But none of us thought for a second that this could be a deadly animal. So I was truly stunned this morning to hear how Steve Irwin had died. Most people know him as television's "Crocodile Hunter." The 44-year-old animal lover and wildlife preservationist was shooting a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef when a stingray struck him in the chest and pierced his heart.  Australia's prime minister said today it is a huge loss for his country. We will have all the details tonight.

Then to politics. Labor Day weekend is traditionally when campaigns kick into high gear. This year the war in Iraq is the major factor likely to shape the new Congress. The latest polls and political analysis point to Democrats retaking the House by possibly more than the 15 seats they need. It is looking more like these midterm elections are a referendum on President Bush -- with his low poll numbers taking a toll on Republicans. The White House is pushing back, though, with an aggressive strategy to make national security the primary theme. But it looks like Iraq will remains the focus with more Democrats and some Republicans calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign. We will have two reports tonight.

Also tonight our series "Whose America?" -- not enough migrant workers to pick fruits and vegetables because of the crackdown on illegal immigration; Baby boomers retrofitting their homes for retirement -- it's big business; and fewer people are making it an annual outing -- is this the end of the State Fair?

See you tonight.

Tonight the top of the broadcast will focus on two stories. One domestic and one foreign -- the announcement today of big cuts in production by Ford Motor Co.; and Hezbollah handing out bags of cash to war victims in Southern Lebanon. They are stories that on the surface seem unrelated, yet are inextricably linked (see Tom Friedman's column today in The New York Times for the best explanation).

First to Detroit. Ford says it is cutting production by 21 percent or 168,000 vehicles. That puts production at its lowest level in more than 20 years. Ford has been struggling, with year-to-date sales down nearly 10 percent over last year. The Ford brass say they are not happy about the cuts but have no choice. The main reason? You probably guessed it -- high gas prices. Ford is taking a real hit on gas guzzling trucks and SUVs. Chief Financial Correspondent Anne Thompson will have all the details for us tonight.

On the flip side... high oil prices have meant plenty of extra spending money in oil-producing countries (think Iran), which may explain how Hezbollah got wads of cash to hand out to people who are trying to rebuild their homes in Southern Lebanon. As Richard Engel will tell us tonight, the Lebanese government is not providing much help and the international community isn't coming through either. Hezbollah is looking like a savior of sorts to a lot of desperate people right now... and hardly like the big "loser" in this conflict. U.S. and Israeli officials are voicing concerns, and privately many fear the group has strengthened its hand.

There are also new developments in the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation. A better portrait of the suspect is emerging, but there were also new questions raised today about whether he could have committed the crime.  We'll wrap up all the latest details. Plus a special report tonight from Dateline's Stone Phillips. He has a rare interview with the COO of McDonald's. He talks about the high profile lawsuit against the fast food chain in which the plaintiffs have blamed McDonald's for their obesity. This is a preview of Stone's report airing on Dateline NBC tonight. See you in a bit.

If you have been checking the Internet, listening to the radio or watching cable news, then you already know that prosecutors are treating this arrest in connection with the JonBenet Ramsey case with caution... urging the public, as AP reports, not to "jump to conclusions." As we reported earlier, a school teacher is in custody in Thailand and says that he accidentally killed the girl. But now some are suggesting that parts of the story just don't add up. The suspect spoke to reporters in what seemed to be a highly unusual perp walk/press conference. We recognize there is enormous interest in the story and we are covering it from all angles tonight.

But there is other news to report beyond developments in the Ramsey case. And important news at that. Richard Engel is in Southern Lebanon where the Lebanese army arrived to take positions today even though its mandate is still unclear. The Lebanese army apparently will not be disarming Hezbollah and there is still confusion about what countries will participate in the U.N. peacekeeping force.

Also, George Lewis spent time in Fairbanks, Alaska with the 172nd Stryker Brigade. Its welcome home from Iraq party was interrupted with new orders to redeploy. Some of its members had been home for three weeks... and others had not even left Iraq yet. 

Pete Williams raises concerns about cargo safety, asking whether that is the real weak link in homeland security. And Ron Mott looks at what some companies are doing to help employees cope with high gas prices. See you tonight. 

A few changes to tell you about since the Early Nightly this morning. Pete Williams has shifted gears given the breaking news a bit ago about United Flight 923 from the U.K. Still a lot we don't know, but here is what we do: Fighter jets were scrambled and diverted the London-Washington, D.C. flight to Boston. The pilot had declared an emergency based on the behavior of a passenger. The concern involved a 59-year-old American woman who was returning home from an overseas visit. There were some earlier media reports suggesting she was carrying a screwdriver or an al-Qaida-related. But now several federal officials are telling us NOT to put much stock in those reports. She did apparently have matches, Pete reports, which are not banned. She may also have been carrying hand cream (a violation of the new rules). But bottom line... so far it appears to be a panic attack of some sort rather than a real threat... but again, given recent events, the reaction may well have been appropriate. Other passengers on the flight are being interviewed now by the FBI in Boston. They are hoping to make it to D.C. by tonight. Quite a detour for them and they will arrive at their final destinations many hours later than expected. It demonstrates how much anxiety there is to go around right now. Normally this is a story we may not give a lot of attention to, but given the current environment and how federal officials reacted to it, it is a story that now warrants our attention. We will aim to have more clarity for you tonight. See you in a bit.

Much of what I told you about this morning on the Early Nightly holds for tonight's broadcast... but a few new developments to fill you in on. Lisa Myers has a number of new details on the terror investigation including an al-Qaida connection. Lisa reports that there is growing evidence the alleged ringleader of the plot had contact with senior al-Qaida leaders. Plus, new video of a key player for this cell in London... and another arrest to report. She will have a full wrap from Scotland Yard.  Also, Pete Williams reports tonight on Homeland Security, with aviation security officials defending the new order that all passengers must remove their shoes.  As you can see... the terror plot still dominating our news coverage. See you tonight.

Dueling lead stories tonight and a lot of ground to cover with both the extremely fragile ceasefire in the Middle East and new developments in the investigation of the airline terror plot.

First to the situation in southern Lebanon. Today, Richard Engel traveled south with aid workers to survey the damage and try to reach people who have been trapped in some of the hardest-hit areas. The trip was a struggle with bombed-out roads and traffic jams. Thousands of people are making the journey, trying to get back to their homes to see what is left.

Harder to assess is what happens next. Hezbollah's leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah declared victory. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said this is a long-term battle that will require patience. Olmert is now facing intense political pressure and criticism for his management of the war. Martin Fletcher will report from Israel.

In London, Lisa Myers has been closely following the investigation there. She will have more on the dispute between the U.S. and Britain over when to move in on the terror suspects. Also today, Britain downgraded the threat level, but at the same time cancelled some flights because of security concerns. There are still lots of delays and lots of confusion at airports both at home and abroad. Pete Williams will look at what is happening on the homefront, asking some tough questions about just how proactive the Department of Homeland Security has been to prepare for an attack, and why research into new technologies to detect explosives is taking so long.

Also, strong words from President Bush who blamed Hezbollah for the Middle East conflict... but also bluntly put responsibility on Iran. David Gregory is tracking the President now and will have the full story tonight.

See you in a bit.