Ukraine: President Viktor Yanukovych is holding talks with the opposition after demonstrations and violence continued. Demonstrators briefly occupied the energy ministry in Kiev and fires burned in the streets throughout the night. In a growing crisis for the government, demonstrators occupied buildings and unrest has been reported in 11 Ukraine cities.

Syria: Representatives of the Syrian government and its opposition agreed to meet in the same room today in a minor victory for diplomacy that averts the collapse of peace talks. The opposition, the US, and its allies are pushing for an agreement that removes President Bashar al-Assad, but so far his representatives say he stays.

Money, Money: The Dow Jones dropped 318 points yesterday on fears of a slowing economy, according to stock watchers. It’s the biggest stock dive since June.

O-care: Signups for Obamacare health plans have topped 3 million and are on track to hit 3.25 million by the end of this month. It’s still far short of the 4.4 million signups that had been projected for the end of January when Obamacare first went online.

Warming Trend: Chicago, 21, Albany, NY, 18, Windsor, Ct, 28, Boston, Portland, Me., 26.

Nation: A Texas judge yesterday ordered a Ft. Worth hospital to remove from life support a woman who is brain dead and pregnant. In a strange case, John Peter Smith Hospital has kept Marlise Munoz on a respirator under the belief that it’s required by Texas law. A hospital spokesman said, “you cannot withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment for a pregnant patient.” But the women’s husband argued that it was death support, not life support.  Documents released yesterday show that the hospital knew Mrs. Munoz is brain dead and that her baby could not survive. Mrs. Munoz was found unconscious on her kitchen floor two months ago.

>Former Dallas Cowboy lineman Josh Brent could have received 20 years in prison for a drunk driving incident that killed his passenger, but yesterday he was sentenced to 180 days, a $10,000 fine and probation. The judge said, “You are not the first Dallas Cowboy to kill someone with a vehicle, but I hope you’re the last.” Brent had been driving 110 mph with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

World: Emergency workers used steam yesterday to reach bodies trapped in the icy rubble of a Quebec home for the elderly that burned overnight Wednesday. Fire hoses had left a coating of several inches of ice on the building. Eight people are confirmed dead and 30 missing in the fire that engulfed the wooden building. Firefighters had to work in shifts yesterday in 18-degree weather.

Pucks and Palms: The ice is laid down for the Anaheim Ducks to meet the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Dodger Stadium in the first outdoor NHL game in Los Angeles history. The temperature in LA today will hit a high of 70. It’s the first of a series of outdoor games to celebrate old time hockey. More appropriately the Devils play the Rangers tomorrow at Yankee stadium, where the temperature is expected to be 22.

Drive-thru News: Sources close to the frying station say the McDonald’s hamburger chain is struggling with softening sales. The company’s CEO said yesterday “we have lost some of our customer relevance.” That’s corporate speak for, “Some of our customers have decided they would rather eat real food.”

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