NTK (Need to Know)

Good morning. Today is Thursday, March 4.

The metro reached 40 degrees for all of one hour on Wednesday -- a mark we haven't hit since Jan. 23.

Today will provide a longer window to enjoy the spring warmup. Temperatures should be in the mid-40s for much of the afternoon and the sky will be sunny. You might want to take a walk over your lunch hour. By Friday evening, clouds and rain are expected to move in and dampen part of the weekend.

News of note:

- President Barack Obama has begun his final push for health care reform. He urged Congress on Wednesday to allow an “up or down vote” on the measure as part of an ambitious timetable for his party. He said he wants a bill within weeks, a call for action that some Democrats said is unrealistic. Obama calls for ‘up or down vote' on health care

Senators from the Midlands are split on an up and down vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. Check out what each has to say about the issue. Senators split on health bill vote

- It's not exactly like the widow's mite from the Bible, but Nebraska inmates have scraped together a donation to help the earthquake victims in Haiti. Nearly 200 inmates gave donations ranging in size from 10 cents to $150 to raise more than $2,000 for the American Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts. Inmates' cash heads for Haiti

- Lathan Russell doesn't think about his heart condition when he coaches the Superior High School girls basketball team. He's not fazed by the fact he was out of coaching for 36 years before this season. Today, the 72-year-old has something more important to focus on - his team's game on opening day of the girls state tournament. His Wildcats are 19-4 and prepping for their Class C-2 first-round game against Hartington Cedar Catholic at 8:45 p.m. at Lincoln High. Keeping it upbeat, new coach has team fired up

Follow the three-day tournament at Omaha.com as we bring you scoring updates, photos, a live chat with our courtside reporters and more. Tournament Central: Girls state basketball

Some of the day's happenings

- Day 2 of the Triumph of Agriculture at the Qwest Center Omaha is expected to be another big draw,. By the time the show closes today, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 visitors will have checked out all the gleaming displays of farm equipment - a testament to the strength of equipment industry in a down economy, experts say. Ag show draws thousands of visitors

- Crossroads Mall, excluding the Target site, will be sold at auction at 9 a.m. at the City-County Building. The lender of a loan on which the mall owner defaulted is expected to bid on the property. Check back to Omaha.com to learn who else might bid.

- Nebraska lawmakers will resume debate on a bill to grant as much as $325 million in sales tax breaks for Omaha-area residents on future sewer, water and gas fees. The debate pits prominent Democrats -- State Sen. Tom White and Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle -- on opposite sides.

- John Mayer performs at 8 p.m. at the Qwest Center. Tickets are $46 or $66 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.

- "Disney on Ice" opens at 7 p.m. at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. The show runs through Sunday. Tickets range from $15 to $55 and are available through ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

-- Compiled by Judith Nygren

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