Our Top Local Story:  A severe weather alert today.  Big storms off to the west are moving toward town. The heaviest stuff is expected to arrive during Rush Limbaugh (1pm) and linger through the evening.  We're expecting heavy downpours and strong to severe thunderstorms today.  Strong storms through tonight and even tomorrow before we dry out and turn sunny for the weekend.   

Our Top National Story: The spending showdown in Washington features more bickering but little action.  Republicans in the House are blaming Senate Democrats for failing to act on their budget plans.  But Florida Democrat Bill Nelson says it's time for real deal making, not scoring political points.  Lawmakers have until April 8th to figure out a compromise, or face a partial government shutdown.

Hear Jamie Dupree update the story of a Senate Democratic conference call that featured an oops.

The Senate is expected to vote today on a Republican-backed plan that would bar the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. Environmentalists are doing their best to defeat the bill, saying the government must curb gases that contribute to global warming.

President Obama says the noose is tightening around Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, and the possibility of
arming Libyan rebels hasn't been ruled out.  Loyalists used tanks and rockets to force rebels to retreat after a rapid advance helped by international air strikes.

At 8:23, Jamie Dupree updated today's hearing featuring the NATO commander, and increasing calls for an exit strategy.

Governor Scott is calling for some budget cuts that has the parents of two kidnapped and murdered kids worried.  Deana Thompson, whose daughter Somer was kidnapped and murdered, says sexual predators are lurking in many dark areas, including the internet. 

Losing support in the polls doesn't seem to bother Governor Scott.  The Public Policy Polling Firm says 55 percent of Florida voters disapprove of the new governor's actions.  Scott says he's not trying to be the most popular, but the most successful.

We spoke live with Senate President Mike Haridopolos about the differences in spending proposals between the Senate and House.  Who is more conservative?
30 years ago today, John Kinley Jr. changed the course of history when he attempted to assassinate President Reagan near the Washington Hilton.

Senator Marco Rubio has kept a deliberately low national profile since his election win, but he's starting to re-emerge on the national stage.  Rubio November election and January swearing-in, but is re-emerging on the national stage.  He was on Sean Hannity's show on Fox last night, and is on ABC’s Good Morning America today.  Rubio still maintains he's not running for President OR Vice President next year.

More hearings today in Congress on NASA, as lawmakers try to figure out the future for manned space flight.

The Food and Drug Administration is taking a look at a possible link to hyperactivity in children.  An FDA advisory committee will decide whether available data links dyes found in everyday foods to the
disorder.

The killer whale that drowned a trainer at SeaWorld last year is back.  Tilikum will perform for the first time today in a show titled "Believe".