Evening Express

The effects of federal budget woes are already coming into play. The White House said Americans may soon start experiencing delays at the airport, and now the Federal Aviation Administration has made a pretty big announcement: It plans to close 173 air traffic control towers at small- and medium-sized airports on April 7. Another 16 towers will close on Sept. 30, which is the end of the fiscal year.

The closures come because of forced spending cuts. As of last week, the federal government is required by law to start cutting $85 billion from its budget over the next seven months.

See that guy on the left? His name is Ralph Napierski and he’s not really a bishop. But that didn’t stop him from trying to crash a secret meeting at the Vatican where cardinals are preparing to elect a new pope.

The Swiss Guard kicked Napierski out before he got in. It was his wardrobe that gave him away: Guards noticed his robes were a little shorter than they should have been. And you see that sash? Turns out it was just a scarf.

Martha Stewart has signed a new deal with J.C. Penney! Only problem is, she already has an agreement with rival department store Macy’s.

Now the home decorating diva is defending her decision in the New York State Supreme Court.

A Learjet 45 with landing gear problems made an emergency landing Monday afternoon at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

The pilot noticed issues with the landing gear on the Learjet around noon local time. When the plane flew by the air traffic control tower, a visual inspection confirmed that the plane wouldn’t be able to make a safe landing because of issues with the landing gear.

The list is out! You know, the one ranking all of the world’s super-duper rich; those who are worth more than a billion dollars (let’s put that in zeros: $1,000,000,000). And can you believe the list is growing?

There are about 1,426 billionaires around the globe, up 210 from last year.

A stomach bug couldn't keep the queen down -- not for too long, at least! Queen Elizabeth II has already been released from a London hospital.

She was admitted on Sunday with an upset stomach. Doctors had wanted her to stay for two days to get rehydrated.

President Obama has made nominations for three high-level Cabinet positions: Office of Management and Budget director, Environmental Protection Agency administrator and the head of the Energy Department.

Sylvia Matthews Burwell is the choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget. She has been the head of the Walmart Foundation (the charity arm of the retail giant).

The Internal Revenue Service says the government's issues won't be affecting your tax refunds this year. The agency plans to wait until the end of tax season to furlough its employees, forcing them to take days off without pay.

Many government employees have already started receiving furlough notices. This is all part of those forced budget cuts that are going into effect.