DIGEST

• Commuter alert: Two eastbound lanes on I-55/70 are closed near Poplar this morning

  Traffic around the metro-east Monday morning:

• Today's weather: High near 80, chance of shower this afternoon

  The metro-east will warm to a high of 80 this afternoon, with intervals of clouds and sunshine.

• 15-year-old Ill. girl charged with abandoning baby

  A 15-year-old Chicago girl has been charged with wrapping her newborn baby in a plastic bag and abandoning the infant in an apartment courtyard.

• Missouri woman charged with burning her 3 small children

  A Kansas City woman is jailed on charges that she burned her three children - aged 5, 2 and 1 - to discipline them.

• Fatal traffic accidents declining in Illinois

  Illinois State Police say 2008 may be least deadly year on Illinois roadways in recent history.

• Plans for historic Missouri bridge up in the air

  The U.S. Coast Guard has scheduled a public meeting for later this month to review plans to remove a drawbridge that spans the Missouri River.

• Illinois Lottery reports record sales

  The Illinois Lottery had a record fiscal year 2008 with more than $2 billion in sales.

• US government takes on big role in mortgage market

  

  Uncle Sam has just become the 800 pound gorilla in the U.S. mortgage market. The Bush administration announced Sunday it was seizing troubled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a bid to help reverse a prolonged housing and credit crisis.

• Officials announce takeover of mortgage giants