BLITZER: A deadly day in southern Afghanistan, Lisa Sylvester is monitoring that and some of the other stories in THE SITUATION ROOM right now. Lisa, what do you have?</s>LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Wolf. Well, troops patrolled the streets of Kandahar in the wake of three explosions across the city. They killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more. The first was an IED blast that injured no one, but when people gathered, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle blew himself up near the crowd killing nine people. An earlier suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed five people at a police check point. So far no one has claimed responsibility. And U.S. officials are rejecting a warning from Iran and another threat that it could close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran warned the U.S. today not to send this aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis back to the Persian Gulf region. The U.S. Navy moved the Stennis to the North Arabian Sea last week during Iranian naval exercises. After Iran's statement, the Pentagon said deployment in the region will continue as it has for decades. And a city spokesman in West Palm Beach, Florida, says initial tests were inconclusive on a white powder in the mail room of state attorney's office. Three mail room workers reported getting sick after exposure to the suspicious powder. All were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The spokesman said the powder was in an envelope, but he did not say who's name was on it or where it came from. And Wall Street is kicking off 2012 on a high note. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial average had jumped over 180 points to close at 12,397. Today's year opening surge came after a purchasing survey showed U.S. manufacturing activity grew at a faster rate in December. Weekend manufacturing reports also were better than expected in China and India -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Lisa, thank you. Social conservatives in tonight's caucuses. CNN'S John King, he's standing by with a closer look at what we can expect. Plus, the battle over President Obama's record is starting to heat up.
U.S. Rejects Iranian "Warning"; Powder Sickens Florida Mail Workers