Obama's day: Vegas-bound

Good morning from The Oval. On this day in 1861, the first transcontinental telegraph message raced from California to President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C.

President Obama launches another Western swing today to promote his economic policies, heading first to Las Vegas for a campaign fundraiser and a meeting with local homeowners.

The president will again seek to promote his $447 billion jobs bill during the Vegas trip, including plans to address the home mortgage crisis.

Obama then heads to Los Angeles for another campaign event and an overnight stay.

The three-day West Coast swing will also take Obama to San Francisco and Denver. The trip also comes as Obama seems to renew his ties to young voters, reports USA TODAY's Susan Page.

In other news:

States plan to sharply limit Medicaid hospital stays.

A string of natural disasters is straining the government's emergency response budget, reports Thomas Frank of USA TODAY.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confronts the prospect of defense budget cuts.

Libya seeks to rebuild post-Gadhafi.

And an earthquake in Turkey killed more than 200 people.

The Oval will be here throughout the day, so please join us as we report on the president's trip and other White House happenings. And thanks for your support.