Jan. 7: Regionals in Today's News

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports on the growing significance of Wisconsin for Democrats; Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News and Josh Drobnyk in the Allentown Morning Call report that Pennsylvania also is growing in importance for the Dems; Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports that Arkansas Democrat Sen. Blanche Lincoln is not choosing sides as the state primary approaches; Lisa Friedman in the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports on what the unseated Florida and Michigan delegates could mean to the Democratic race; Thomas Burr in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Mitt Romney vows to trudge on; Matt Canham in the Salt Lake Tribune reports that Obama took Utah with the help of independent voters; and Herb Jackson in the Bergen Record reports that thousands of independents voted in the N.J. Democratic primary Tuesday.

LOCAL RACES: Lesley Clark in the Miami Herald reports on a challenge to Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

BUDGET: Aaron Sadler for Stephens Media reports that Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and other Democrats say the deadly tornado outbreak in the South shows deficiencies in the Bush 2009 budget; Faith Bremner in the Argus Leader reports on how South Dakota senators voted on the stimulus package; Lisa Mascaro in the Las Vegas Sun reports on the controversy over illegal immigrants in the simulus package; and Raju Chebium for Gannett reports on how N.J. senators voted on the stimulus package.

DHS FUNDING: Jake Thompon in the Omaha World-Herald reports that Omaha wasn't listed as one of the states that qualify for some of the $781.6 million in grants for anti-terrorism programs in urban areas.

PARK GUNS: Jim Myers in the Tulsa World reports that park officials object to measures by Oklahoma Republicans that would drop a ban on carrying loaded guns into national parks.

LOCAL LOBBYING: Steve Tetreault in the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports on city convention center officials in town this week.

IRAQ: Leo Shane III in Stars and Stripes reports that shorter tours may precede a drawdown in Iraq.

FEATURES: Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News reports on Pennyslvania Democrats and Republicans who unite one night a week to teach a politics class at a local university.