(Tuesday, 24 February 2009)  President Obama talks to Congress tonight; the disgraced ex-Atlanta drug officers tied to the deadly Neal Street raid apologize--for the most part; a new study says raunchy, degrading song lyrics may lead to teen sex.  Read more on today's KISS News Now!

• It's not the State of the Union, but it's just as important as President Barack Obama prepares to address Congress and the nation tonight, making his case for the importance of the economic stimulus and fiscal recovery. He'll make it clear that the $1.3 trillion deficit is one he "inherited," and also talk about a health care overhaul and other details of his first-year agenda.
  
  
• DeKalb County Police Chief Terrell Bolton has been fired. The county CEO says Bolton didn't refute charges of abusing comp time and mishandling county property. Bolton has 10 days to appeal his dismissal.
  
  
• Three ex-Atlanta drug officers apologize for their roles in the fatal Neal Street drug raid; their sentencing hearing continues today. One officer, Arthur "Bruce" Tesler, maintains he was not as culpable as the other two because he didn't fire his gun at Kathryn Johnston's house and that he was only following orders during the cover-up. The U. S. Attorney, David Nahmias, plans to address that in court himself.
  
  
• Citing record unemployment numbers, Georgia's labor commissioner is urging the governor to rethink his objections to the economic stimulus money. Commissioner Michael Thurmond and Governor Perdue have signed an agreement for the part of the stimulus money which would provide an extra $25 to weekly unemployment checks.
  
  
• Gwinnett County property owners may face higher taxes because of a budget shortfall and to pay for more police and firefighters. The county leaders don't plan to dip into the rainy day fund to balance the books, so the county commission is set to vote on a budget which would adjust the millage rate.
  
  
• Fat Tuesday! Mardi Gras! National Pancake Day! Whatever you call it, today's the day you get a free short stack at IHOP to celebrate; they only ask that in exchange, you consider making a donation equivalent to the cost of the pancakes to the Children's Miracle Network or another charity.
  
  
• His agent says Marvin Harrison is getting cut by the Colts; they'll shave $6 million off their salary cap. The Falcons say they've decided not to resign 35-yr-old safety Lawyer Milloy. The Washington native has expressed interest in finishing his career with the Seattle Seahawks.
  
  
• A new study says teens who listen to music with degrading, raunchy lyrics are more than twice as likely to start having sex. The survey in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine quizzed over 700 Pittsburgh-area students ages 13-18. An experts says parents trying to ban the music probably won't help--but that parents should take time to talk to their kids about sex and put the lyrics in context. Researchers refused to name which songs would fall into the degrading category, but cited phrases such as "I'm gonna beat that p***y up" as the kind of lyrics that were being used. 
  
  
• It's a big deal over something very small. Model Dani Sperle has set a new record for the skimpiest G-string at a Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil-- a strip of cloth just a smidge over an inch--plus a sparkly silver headdress and matching arm bands. The nude Carnival queen, Viviane Castro, painted Barack Obama's face on her leg.
  
  
• Puff, puff, pass and pay up. A California lawmaker has an idea to ease the state's cash crunch--legalize marijuana and tax it, just like alcohol. Democrat Tom Ammiano says taxing weed at $50 an ounce would bring an estimated $1 billion in tax money to California.
  
  
• The KISS 104.1 weather forecast: increasing cloudiness and a high of 53. Low tonight 36. Wednesday, mostly cloudy, high 57.