TOP NEWS STORIES (jan 5, 2012)

1. Private-sector hiring surged in December as employers added 325,000 new workers while claims for jobless benefits fell, raising hope that recent labor market improvement would continue in 2012.

2. President Obama will continue his campaign to bypass Congressional opposition to his jobs agenda Thursday by announcing a new partnership aimed at helping a quarter of a million young people find summer jobs.

3. A restyled Casey Anthony has made a public debut, speaking publicly for the first time since being released from jail.!!!!