[newbie] cron error

[JK]

Every time cron runs the below thing is what is sent to the root user. I
logged on as root to install a new rpm I downloaded and it said I had
mail. I checked mail and 8 messages were based on this error. Any clue
how to fix the error?

/usr/bin/news.daily: /var/lib/news/.news.daily: Permission denied
/etc/cron.daily/slocate.cron: line 6: syntax error: unexpected end of
file

Thanks in advance
John