Senate reaches ‘broad agreement’ on health care bill

President Obama praised a deal brokered in the Senate that would drop the government-run public health care option from a proposed bill and replace it with a package of other provisions.

The deal represents major progress in the Obama administration’s attempt to move health care legislation through Congress.  The President said he believes it “will help pave the way for final passage” of the bill. 

CNN.com reports that the package to replace the public option includes creating a private, not-for-profit insurance option run by the Office of Personnel Management and a provision to allow people to buy into Medicare coverage from age 55 on.

My Take:  This is a huge development in the ongoing health care saga.  Such a large compromise between two sides of the issue means that passage of reform is more likely now than it ever has been. 

USA Masters 5 KM Championships to stay in Syracuse

The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau announced today that the city will host a long-distance footrace for men and women over 40 through 2012. 

The USA Masters championships had been a part of the Syracuse Festival of Races, an annual track event held on Meadowbrook Drive east of Syracuse University, for the last two years and was scheduled to change locations after 2010.  

The festival raises money for non-profit organizations and, according to Syracuse.com, produced four national 5-kilometer records last year. 

My Take:  The Syracuse Festival of Races attracts thousands of participants each year, and the USA Masters 5K is arguably its biggest race.  It attracts competitors from throughout the country, so this extension represents Syracuse becoming an epicenter in the world of Track & Field.  Also, does anyone else find it newsworthy that Syracuse has a Convention & Visitors Bureau?  Who knew?...

Gisele Bunchden and Tom Brady have a baby

Supermodel Gisele Bunchden and her husband, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady welcomed a new member to their family yesterday, a healthy baby boy.

The child is Brady’s second son, and his first with Bunchden.  However, when asked about the newborn, Brady told reporters that he was eager to focus on football. 

Brady’s Patriots are 7-5, but they have lost three of their last four games as their lead in the AFC East division dwindled to one game. 

My Take: Tom Brady and Gisele Bunchden are one of the most famous couples on the planet.  Any news involving them makes headlines in the world of both sports and entertainment.  Plus, that's gonna be a really good-looking kid.