Odds And Ends, A Mother-In-Law Comes To Town

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today the state's second U.S. Senate seat should remain vacant until Gov. Rod Blagojevich is impeached and a new appointment can be certified. "At this point we've clearly reached an impasse," Durbin told reporters at his Chicago office. Durbin said a candidate for the job must have signatures from the governor and secretary of state on his certification papers. Secretary of State Jesse White has not certified Roland Burris.

Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, will live in the White House with the next first family.

Indicted! Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, a Democrat, was indicted today on multiple counts of theft and perjury.

Former Clinton Treasury Sec. Robert Rubin is leaving Citigroup. Rubin is also a member of Pres.-elect Barack Obama's economic advisory team.

Obama announces Leon Panetta as his CIA director. Retired Adm. Dennis Blair will be the national intelligence dir. From prepared remarks, here's Obama on Panetta: "Let me be clear -- In Leon Panetta, the Agency will have a director who has my complete trust and substantial clout. He will be a strong manager and a strong advocate for the CIA. He knows how to focus resources where they are needed, and he has a proven track record of building consensus and working on a bipartisan basis with Congress. I am confident that he will strengthen the CIA’s capability to protect the American people as it continues to adapt to our reformed intelligence community."