NTK (Need to Know)

Top o' the morning. Today is Wednesday, March 17.

The metro wakes to an overcast St. Patrick's Day, possibly accompanied by drizzle for the morning commute.

But the luck of the Irish is shining today. The sky is expected to clear, helping push the temperatures into the low to mid 50s.

News of note:

• Virginia Lamp Thomas, an Omaha native married to Justice Clarence Thomas, says she is getting involved in the conservative tea party movement, stirring a political controversy over the role of a Supreme Court spouse. Supreme spouse brews up a debate

• Coming off their first loss of the basketball season, the Husker women refuse to believe that their below-average shooting performances last weekend constitute a trend. Huskers not worried about regaining shooting touch

• An Omaha teen's death influenced two key points in the first-ever national guidelines for diagnosing and treating an uncommon but deadly condition, a tear in the lining of the aorta. Lessons from teen's death live on

• The Omaha-Council Bluffs area continues to ride out the recession in better shape than most cities, but job growth is lags behind many. Omaha lags in job growth

Some of the day's happenings:

• The Firefighter's Union Hall near 60th and Grover is the site of a daylong St. Patty's party, beginning with 9 a.m. Mass and followed by an 11 a.m. luncheon of corn beef and cabbage. Performances throughout the day by The Turfmen, Irish Brennan Dancers, Craoi na Tire Dancers and Shillelagh Law.

• Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning will hold a press conference this morning to discuss a credit card scam that has hit the Broken Bow area.

• Nebraska lawmakers take up a controversial bill that would renew government-paid prenatal services for women, including some who are in the country illegally. Gov. Dave Heineman has opposed the measure, pitting him against every major pro-life and medical group in the state. But it appears the governor will get his way as the bill is scheduled to be pulled from the agenda.

Later, a major issue of the 2010 session will be debated for the first time -- wind energy.

• Iowa First Lady Mari Culver visits Washington Elementary pre-school in Atlantic this morning to talk about expanding the state's voluntary pre-school program, which to date has enrolled more than 12,000 youngsters throughout the state.

In Des Moines, a group will announce a proposal to end greyhound racing in Iowa.

- compiled by Judith Nygren

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