Firefighters in Washington were called out earlier to battle a two-alarm blaze in a landmark government building that is right next to the White House. The fire in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was quickly extinguished with only a minor injury reported. The building houses one of the offices of Vice President Dick Cheney. In fact, the fire is said to have started in an electrical space near the vice president's office. Cheney was working in his White House office at the time of the fire.
The fire nearby did not prevent President Bush from signing a just passed energy bill into law. It mandates a 40% increase in auto fuel efficiency, more ethanol use since in tougher standards for federal buildings, and in new commercial construction, as well as in higher efficiency standards for appliances, from refrigerators all the way down to light lamps.
And the US security council voted unanimously to approve a mandate for the more than 150, 000 troops that are in Iraq. The mandate lasted to the end of 2008, and was requested by the Iraqi government. The overwhelming majority are American and are expected to remain after the mandate expires. Iraqi officials say they hope these troops can leave before the end of next year.
A dangerous ice storm is blamed for at least 18 deaths in Oklahoma and Missouri. Both states have declared states of emergency. Oklahoma is facing its biggest power outage in that state's history. Nearly half a million customers are without electricity this morning.
Editors of Time Magazine have made their pick in its Russian President Vladimir Putin "Person of the Year". The editors say the Russian president has provided stability in leadership in his country. Time Magazine is owned by Time Warner, which is also the parent company of CNN.
Those are the headlines for you. Stay with CNN for more on these stories and other news of the day.
