'10 Things to Know' for Tuesday

[May 08, 2012]  (AP) -- Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (times EDT):

1. FBI explosives experts pick apart sophisticated new al-Qaida bomb

They want to find out if the seized underwear device, which contained no metal, could have slipped past new airport body scanners.

2. Senate showdown on student loans

A noon vote is scheduled on a Democratic proposal to keep student loan interest rates from doubling for 7.4 million students.

3. Specialists meet in Washington to develop a blueprint for conquering obesity

With a third of American adults obese, nearly every idea is on the table at the 9 a.m. CDC conference, from healthier school lunches to workplace wellness programs.

4. Rick Santorum endorses Romney in a late-night email

The former Republican presidential rival acknowledges he has many differences with Romney but says they can agree "President Obama must be defeated."

5. Big turnout expected in North Carolina for gay marriage vote

The Rev. Billy Graham has been featured in full-page newspaper ads urging voters today to pass a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman.

6. Republican Sen. Richard Lugar battles for his political survival

The face of Indiana politics for nearly for decades is in a tough primary fight today against a tea party-backed challenger who says Lugar has been too willing to compromise with liberals.

7. Wisconsin primary sets the stage for governor's recall election

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is one of four Democrats in today's primary vying for the chance take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker in the June 5 recall election.

8. Deal for unity government in Israel could influence debate on possible strike on Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's surprising deal teams him with an opposition leader who had criticized any unilateral Israeli military attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

9. Hand-painted signs making a comeback as nostalgic art in New York City

Old masters known as "walldogs" work on the sides of buildings to restore gleaming color to painted ads that in some cases are hundreds of years old.

10. Meow the fat cat dies

Obesity finally claims the life of the orange and white tabby from New Mexico who gained national attention for tipping the scales at 39 pounds.

[Associated Press]

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