CNN news 2008-12-04 加文本

Hello, I'm Melissa Long here at the cnn Center in Atlanta. It is Wednesday, December 3rd. Here's a look at some of the stories happening NOW IN THE NEWS.

The United Auto Workers official says the union has agreed to restart contract talks with the Detroit Three automakers. The union will also take steps to eliminate the jobs bank in which laid-off workers are paid most of their salaries. The actions will help automakers to strengthen their argument for 34 billion dollars in bailout funds. Congress has demanded the Big Three demonstrate an ability to be more competitive before doling out any cash. Reducing labor costs, that's a key component of that effort.

Democrat hopes of a Senate super majority are dashed today.  Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia defeated Democrat Jim Martin in a Senator run-off on Tuesday. That means Democrats won't have enough seats to block filibusters. Chambliss received about 57 percent of the vote.

Democratic challenger Al Franken has gained a little bit of ground in the Minnesota U.S. Senate race recount. Election officials in St. Paul area discovered 171 ballots, no one accounted before. Most were cast for Franken. Incumbent Republican Norm Coleman still holds a narrow lead as the recount drags on. The final results will be certified before the middle of the month.

President-elect Barack Obama has nominated Bill Richardson to become his next secretary of commerce. Richardson served as U.N. ambassador and later as energy secretary under President Bill Clinton. He endorsed Obama after ending his own bid for the presidential nomination. Richardson was widely viewed as a potential secretary of state before that post was offered to Hillary Clinton.(WWw.hxen.net)

O.J. Simpson and his co-defendant are seeking minimum prison sentences for their roles in the gunpoint robbery and kidnapping of two sports memorabilia dealers. Defense lawyers for the former football great and Clarence C.J Stewart filed their brief yesterday. They are asking a judge for a minimum six-year prison term when she sentences the two men on Friday. State authorities are recommending 18-year prison sentences for both of them.

And those are the headlines making news this hour. Do stay with cnn, cnn.com for more on these stories or other news of the day.