SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

The Detroit Free Press said the plan includes intermittent closures of locks along the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, which connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. The closures could begin by the end of April and keep the locks closed three weeks per month, officials said.

At a Washington meeting Monday, Obama administration officials and Midwestern governors such as Michigan's Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin's Jim Doyle discussed ways to keep the voracious invasive species out of the lakes.

Federal officials plan to create electric barriers and expand crews to search for carp using sonar observation, electro-shock and netting, the Detroit News said, and DNA sampling will be increased.

Asian carp are insatiable feeders that can grow to more than 100 pounds and some fear they could destroy the Great Lakes fishery.

Granholm said intermittent lock closures are not enough, adding, "I think there's enough (Asian carp) DNA evidence now to shut them down."

Illinois lawmakers say the ship canal is a vital transportation link and needs to be kept open. A lawsuit brought by the state of Michigan seeking the locks' closure has so far been unsuccessful.

U.S. House lawmakers were set to debate proposed legislation Tuesday during a meeting of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, while on Wednesday, attorneys general for Great Lakes states were to meet with U.S. Department of Justice officials on the carp issue, the Chicago Tribune reported.

 BREAKING STORIES

Bernanke pitches for strong Fed

Crude oil prices rebound Tuesday

Three possible Fed governors named

Fed board seats remain unfilled

USDA accused of risking public health

Postal service delivers bad budget news

Fed Vice Chairman Kohn to retire

FDIC closes banks in Nevada, Washington

FDIC closes banks in Nevada, Washington

Justice asked to probe absent Bush e-mails

FDIC has 702 banks on problem list

FDIC has 702 banks on problem list

USDA facing allegations of discrimination

Governors, White House to meet on carp

Consumers dropping the credit habit

GOP: Obama budget, deficits 'reckless'

Gates, Mullen defend Defense budget

Pentagon: Budget reflects reform goals

Commerce sees decrease in 2011 budget

Senate confirms Bernanke for second term