Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about Monday:
1. WHO MAY FACE A CONFIRMATION FIGHT
Obama nominates Chuck Hagel for defense chief, but Republicans say they’ll oppose the former GOP senator and Vietnam vet.
2. HOW ASSAD CASTS HIS REGIME AFTER THIS WAR
The Syrian leader lays out a peace plan that keeps himself in power.
3. WHAT NEW FISCAL CHALLENGE CONCERNS MCCONNELL
The top GOP senator suggests a crippling default on U.S. loans may be possible without deep spending cuts.
4. AURORA SHOOTINGS HEARING TO GET UNDER WAY
The suspect in the Colorado movie theater killings returns to court for what might be the closest thing to a trial victims and their families will see.
5. HOW MUCH SMALLER THE INAUGURATION CROWD MIGHT BE
Up to 800,000 are expected to attend Obama’s second swearing-in – down from 2 million four years ago.
6. 27-INCH TABLET TO DEBUT AT GADGET SHOW
The IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC is the size of a coffee table and allows four people to use it simultaneously.
7. ONE TOWN’S SOUND OF FREEDOM IS ANOTHER’S NOISE POLLUTION
Plans on where to base the U.S. military’s new F-35 fighters prompt concern over the aircraft being too loud.
8. FOR MICHAEL J. FOX, TV TO IMITATE LIFE
In a new NBC comedy, he plays a newscaster who had quit his job due to Parkinson’s.
9. COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S BIG TEST
No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama will have to play nothing less than a classic to match the hype for Monday night.
10. THE NEXT NFL PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS ARE SET
The Ravens face the Broncos next weekend, Green Bay will play San Francisco, Seattle will battle Atlanta and the Texans face the Patriots.
