Local and National News Headlines 1/24

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's State of the Union address tonight includes an appeal for the middle class. President Obama will make an argument for economic fairness for the middle class and say he is the one to deliver it. He is also expected to urge higher taxes on the wealthy, propose ways to make college more affordable and offer new steps to tackle the housing crisis. The address before Congress is 8 p.m. tonight.

TYLER - Former first lady Barbara Bush will be in Tyler today. Mrs. Bush is the keynote speaker at todays Celebration of Literacy benefiting the Literacy Council of Tyler. This month marks the 15-year anniversary of her first visit to Tyler in 1997, when she gained community support for The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, which she founded more than 20 years ago.

Hit-and-Run Suspect Turns Himself In

TYLER - The suspect who fled the scene of a hit-and-run pedestrian accident that occurred Saturday, has turned himself into authorities. Tyler police say 58-year-old William Earl Bowser of Tyler faces a third degree felony in connection with the hit-and-run that critically injured 47-year-old Larry King, who was attempting to cross Gentry Parkway. Bowsers bond was set at $3,000.

Corpus Christi Man Dies in Accident

TYLER - A traffic accident on Bascom Road in Smith County has claimed the life of a Corpus Christi man. The Texas Department of Public Safety said 26-year-old Derek Simoneaux struck an 18-wheeler and was then struck by a car following Simoneaux. The fatal wreck happened just before noon Monday.

Divers Find 16^th Body

ROME - Another body has been found by divers searching the Costa Concordia. The discovery on the third floor deck brings to 16 the number of bodies recovered from the toppled cruise ship off the Tuscan coast. The discovery was made as a large platform carrying a crane and other equipment hitched itself to the shipwreck, signaling the start of preliminary operations to remove a half-million gallons of fuel from the ship’s tanks.

Romney Releases His Taxes

TAMPA, Fla.— Advisers to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney say more than 500 pages of his 2010 and 2011 income tax returns show "full compliance" with U.S. tax laws. Romney released two large sets of documents today on his campaign website. The 2010 federal return shows that he paid about $3 million on nearly $22 million in income. The 2011 return indicates he will pay $3.2 million on nearly $21 million income. Much of Romney's earnings came from investments made by his blind trust.

Testimony Set on Texas Wildfires

AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers will hear testimony today on the effects of record-setting drought and wildfires on tourism across the state. Last month, officials said the fires, record heat and drought meant state parks received fewer visitors, causing a $4.6 million funding deficit. Last year's wildfires destroyed nearly 4 million acres and 4,000 homes, making it the most destructive season ever.

Texas Redistricting Still Under Fire

WASHINGTON — Experts on voting patterns and redistricting are testifying in Washington today as a trial continues to determine if the Texas Legislature's new political district map violates the federal Voting Rights Act. Both the state of Texas and the U.S. Justice Department, along with several minority voting groups, are expected to call witnesses examining the impact of political maps.