Millions face being struck down by a deadly winter vomiting bug sweeping the country.

Scores of hospitals have been forced to close wards to new patients as they struggle to cope with the influx of norovirus sufferers.

One of London’s leading hospitals has even had to turn away 999 emergency patients after being overwhelmed with cases of the virus.

Last year more than three million people were struck down by the bug as it reached epidemic levels. Now experts are warning that the virus could affect even more this year.

Source:http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/75741/Killer-virus-grips-Britain

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Police arrested Vincent A. Primo Saturday, ending an intense search by Cambridge and Somerville police for a man who had alarmed residents in both cities.

Police believe Primo has robbed or tried to rob seven women in Cambridge and Somerville since Nov. 19.

Police said that in the space of three days last week, Primo stabbed two Somerville women, one in the hand and the other just inches from her heart, as he tried to snatch their purses.

Yesterday, Primo, a 40-year-old Medford man with a record of 35 convictions, pleaded not guilty to felony charges that included armed assault with intent to murder, armed robbery, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/12/16/suspect_charged_in_somerville_attacks/

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President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday announced Arne Duncan, the head of Chicago public schools, as his choice for education secretary.

Duncan has headed the Illinois city's public schools district since 2001. It's the third-largest in the nation. Like Obama, he is a graduate of Harvard University.

Duncan also worked for six years with the Ariel Education Initiative, which tried to create educational opportunities for inner-city students on Chicago's South Side.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/16/transition.wrap/index.html