Tuesday's story ideas

Negative politics. McCain & Huckabee seem to get along while Hillary & Obama are firing sarcasm back and forth. How is this affecting voters?

Lowest-ever ratings for the Academy Awards. How's the movie business in your market?

This week's reason to quit smoking. The use of Vitamin E may cause tuberculosis in heavy smokers.

Daylight saving time starts in March. Yes, Congress moved it up (probably so they could play golf earlier) to save energy, and that resulted in a one percent hike in gasoline usage last year. The other big effect... teachers and students: how can people teach and learn when they're zombies? Since it isn't working, will Congress move it back to late April, the way it used to be?

Need a second mortgage or equity loan? Fuhgeddaboudit. Banks are cutting off lines of credit.

Government estimates health care will eat twenty percent of its budget in ten years. (A lot of people will be on Medicare as the boomers retire.)

Travel illness. With so many people getting sick on cruises and planes packed like sardines, how can you protect yourself?

Feature: Starbucks to close its stores at 5:30 this afternoon for three hours to refresh employees on the coffee making process and how to make the perfect cup of joe.

Feature: Massages for your pet. (I'm not making this up.)

And don't forget to contribute your own story ideas (after you've used them, of course...)