(Monday, 23 February 2009)  Georgia's governor says he may reject some of the economic stimulus money; President Obama plans to cut the federal deficit in half; Keith Sweat's new reality show featuring a Dru Hill comeback, "Platinum House," debuts tonight!  Get the latest on KISS News Now!

• Some GOP governors--including Georgia's Sonny Perdue--say they're considering rejecting some of the economic stimulus money; they contend there are too many strings attached.  Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, says this isn't about theory, it's about real laid-off people and as for any stimulus cash other states reject--she'll be happy to accept it.
  
  
• President Barack Obama says the nation's future depends on curbing the flow of red ink. The president submits his first budget to the Congress this week, and it aims to slash the federal deficit in half within four years.  The idea is to scale back Iraq spending, let temporary tax cuts for the wealthy expire and streamline government.  President Obama convenes a high-stakes fiscal summit at the White House today.
  
  
• Three former Atlanta narcotics cops convicted of conspiracy in connection with the deadly Neal Street shooting of Kathryn Johnston will be sentenced today in federal court.
  
  
• Dozens of child prostitutes have been rescued, and 50 accused pimps arrested, in a three-night nationwide sweep in more than two dozen cities, including Atlanta.  The feds say some of the children taken off the streets in "Operation Cross Country" are as young as 13.
  
  
• Clayton County authorities swing into action after complaints of increasing sex trade along Tara Boulevard.  Cops made a dozen arrests of suspected prostitutes.
  
  
• DeKalb Police Chief Terrell Bolton will fight for his job; he has until 10:00 this morning to formally respond to notice the county CEO plans to fire him for allegedly misusing county property and comp time.
  
  
• A Georgia lawmaker is proposing that first and second graders be required to pass the CRCT to move up a grade--saying schools need to stop promoting kids who aren't ready.
  
  
• Final answer:  "Slumdog Millionaire," the winner of Best Picture and seven other Oscars.  Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis, who both lost to Penelope Cruz in the Supporting Actress category, say it really was enough just to be nominated!
  
  
• Tyler Perry's "Madea Goes To Jail" locks up the top spot in the weekend box office race.  The film debuts with a $41 million take.
  
  

• Tonight, executive producer Keith Sweat's brainchild, "Platinum House," debuts on Peachtree TV.  The show gives once mega-hot group Dru Hill a chance for comeback--stashing them in an Atlanta mansion for 30 days with house rules and mandatory therapy.
  
  "Not only do the groups have issues between each other, there's things that might trend back to family issues, and things along that line which might make them have conflicts among other members of the group," Sweat tells KISS 104.1, "so it's good to get inside their heads."
  
  Sweat says his purpose in producing Platinum House stems from his history with R&B groups of the late '80s and '90s.  Many of these groups consisted of some very talented individuals, he says, but they also seem to have their problems.  If this season's a success, he says he hopes to do it again--and has already had positive talks with other groups including Jodeci and Silk about their willingness to participate.
  
  
  
• A Pennsylvania 5th-grader is accused of killing his father's pregnant fiancee as she lay in bed, putting his gun away and hopping on the school bus.  The Lawrence County prosecutor will charge Jordan Brown as an adult.  They say the motive was that the boy was apparently jealous of the coming baby and his dad's new family.
  
  
• Remember the murder of DC intern Chandra Levy?  Eight years after she disappeared jogging in a park, police say they'll charge a Salvadoran immigrant with her killing.  He's already behind bars for attacking two other female joggers in that park.  
  
   
• The KISS 104.1 weather forecast:  sunny high near 50, low 28.  Tuesday, partly cloudy high of 53.  Wednesday, partly cloudy, high of 59.