#leftmenu a.news{
    position:relative; /*this is the key*/
    z-index:24; 
    color:#000;
    text-decoration:none; float: left;}

#leftmenu a.news:hover{z-index:25; font-size: 100%;} /* Force IE to work */

#leftmenu a.news span{display: none}

#leftmenu a.news:hover span{ /*the span will display just on :hover state*/
    display:block;
    position:absolute;
    top:20px; left:42px; width:auto;
    background-color: #FFFFCC;
    border:1px solid #FFFFCC;
    color:#000;
    font-size: 10pt;
    text-align: left;
    color: black;}

#leftmenu img{margin: 25px 0px 0px 8px; border: 0px solid black; width: 44px; height: 44px;}

#leftmenu ul, li{text-decoration: none;}
#leftmenu li {margin: 0px 0px 0px 25px; padding: 0px 0px 48px 0px;}