BRIEFS: Frist Lady cancels visit to Phila.

The First Lady was planning to tour CHOP with University Professor Emeritus and former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop before speaking in favor of her proposed health care reform package at the Civic Center, representatives from the White House Media Affairs Office said last night. White House officials did not know whether her trip would be rescheduled and referred all calls to the First Lady's Office, which was closed. The federal government in Washington shut down yesterday and is expected to remain closed today due to the extremely cold temperatures plaguing the whole of the East Coast. -- Jeremy Kahn