National: The Dow Jones hit a daytime record high of 14,198.10 shortly after the opening bell this morning. It kept climbing. If the market holds the Dow could close at an all-time record high as investors pour money and their financial confidence into the market.

• A blizzard is dumping snow on the upper Midwest. As much as a foot of snow has caused the cancellation of about 1,000 flights in Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The storm is expected to move on to the Atlantic states on Wednesday.
• Voters go to the polls in Los Angeles today to choose between five candidates for mayor. Low turnout is expected with none of the candidates likely to win a majority. If not, a runoff will be held in May.

World: Syrian rebels appear to have taken the city of Raqqa in the north central part of the country. It’s a strategically important city on the Euphrates River and the first provincial capital taken over by forces fighting the dictator Bashar al-Assad. More than 70,000 people have died so far in Syria’s two-year civil war.

• Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is reported to be suffering a severe lung infection. Chavez returned home last month after cancer surgery in Cuba and has not been seen in public. An official statement said, “The commander-president remains clinging to Christ and to life.”

Running, Not Walking: Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who went missing for six days  “hiking the Appalachian trail” while actually having an affair in Argentina, is making a political comeback. Sanford is the front -runner in a primary to elect a congressman for a newly drawn district. Back in 2009 after his affair was discovered, he resigned from office, divorced his wife Jenny of 21 years and is now engaged to the girlfriend. As you can imagine, his opponents have made character an issue in the election.

iLocked: The FCC and the Obama administration say that cell phone customers should be able to “unlock” their phones and switch to another carrier once their initial contract is satisfied. Right now if you want a new phone company you have to buy a new phone. But the FCC says it’s your phone and you should be able to do what you want. It’s been 10 years since the FCC made it possible to switch companies and keep your phone number.

Boo, Boo: Singer Justin Bieber was booed last night in London after showing up two hours late for a concert. The teen throb, who was roasted recently for showing up bare-chested at a nightclub, was at least wearing a shirt.

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