CBS Overnight News : KPIX : April 17, 2024 3:12am-4:31am PDT : Free Borrow & Streaming : Internet Archive (2024)

>> reporter: kentucky congressman thomas massie became the second house republican to say he'd support dumping speaker mike johnson. >> i am not resigning, and it is -- it is in my view an absurd notion. >> reporter: but he wouldn't say when they'd move against johnson. the louisiana republican second in line of success to the presidency surprisingly elevated to the job after last year's ouster of kevin mccarthy pushed back. >> when we are simply here trying to do our jobs. >> reporter: johnson is balancing the narrowest u.s. house majority and is under skrout scrutiny for his plan to provide billions in aid to israel and ukraine, but separately, which might satisfy his hard b-line critics but als risks delays of an aid package for both war zones. meanwhile, jons he's ounce republicans are trying to remove a different official, delivering impeachment articles to the senate today against homeland security secretary alejandro may

mayorkas. >> is impeached for high crimes and miami-dades. >> reporter: arguing he refused to enforce immigration laws. >> i have abided by the law each and every step of the way. >> reporter: setting up a formal proceeding tomorrow in the u.s. senate destined for a dead end. >> what are the prospects there's actually going to be an impeachment trial tomorrow? >> i'd say virtually none. >> reporter: democrats control the senate, and senators expect the matter will be quickly shut down without a trial. >> it's a bogus action by the house. that's the problem. >> reporter: the impeachment proceedings are scheduled to begin here tomorrow afternoon, but the biden administration says the entire endeavor is baseless and a waste of time. norah. >> it was a busy day on capitol hill. scott macfarlane, thank you very much. well, tonight increasing tensions in the middle east with israel vowing to strike back against iran after that unprecedented volley of drones, missiles, and rockets over the weekend. u.s. treasury secretary janet yellen warned today that the

u.s. intends to punish iran with new sanctions in the coming days, which could target iran's oil industry. here's cbs's debora patta. >> reporter: prime minister benjamin netanyahu rallying the troops as he met with a new group of conscripts today. this is part of a larger battle, he told them. iran is behind hamas and hezbollah. we are determined to beat them. his war cabinet met today for the third time since the iranian attack. a senior american official tells cbs news israel has not shared its plans with the u.s., but some in the administration expect a limited strike inside iran. but the fear of an all-out regional war has distracted attention away from the misery in gaza. there are still regular air strikes. each day bringing new grief. "gaza is tired" said this woman.

"we live in humiliation, in poverty, and in death." the united nations says there has been no significant change in the amount of aid trickling in. in the north, there were desperate lines for bread after supplies from the world food program brought this bakery brought to life for the first time in over six months. food prices have soared. banks are running out of cash. fed up with living in tents in rafah, thousands defied israeli orders and tried to return to their homes in the north over the weekend. but they were turned around. the idf says this is still an active war zone. a senior israeli government official has told cbs news that a rafah invasion will happen. it's not a matter of if, but when. but would not be drawn on a date or whether it's been delayed because of the iranian attack. norah.

>> debora patta, thank you head & shoulders is launching something huge. the bare minimum. anti-dandruff shampoo made with only nine ingredients - no sulfates, silicones or dyes and packaged with 45% less plastic - giving you outstanding dandruff protection and leaving hair beautiful and moisturized. major dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. job done. new head & shoulders bare. you'll love this! centrum silver is clinically proven to support memory in older adults. so you can keep saying, you mastered it! you fixed it! you nailed it! you did it! with centrum silver, clinically proven to support memory in older adults. hey, i just got a text from my sister. you remember rick, her neighbor? clinically proven to support sure, he's the 76-year-old guy who still runs marathons, right? sadly, not anymore. wow. so sudden.

um, we're not about to have the "we need life insurance" conversation again, are we? no, we're having the "we're getting coverage so we don't have to worry about it" conversation. so you're calling about the $9.95 a month plan -from colonial penn? -i am. we put it off long enough. we are getting that $9.95 plan, today. (jonathan) is it time for you to call about the $9.95 plan? i'm jonathan from colonial penn life insurance company. sometimes we just need a reminder not to take today for granted. if you're age 50 to 85, you can get guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance starting at just $9.95 a month. there are no health questions so you can't be turned down for any health reason. the $9.95 plan is colonial penn's number one most popular whole life plan. options start at just $9.95 a month. that's less than 35 cents a day. your rate can never go up. it's locked in for life. call today for free information. and you'll also get this free beneficiary planner,

so call now. (soft music) ♪ hello, colonial penn? finally yasso! a ridiculously creamy, crunchy, chocolatey-dipped ice cream-like experience with 25% fewer calories* and made with greek yogurt. so thanks for everything ice cream, we'll take it from here. yasso. love it or it's free. tonight the university of southern california is at the center of a growing controversy after canceling a graduation speech by this year's valedictorian. some on campus had been critical of the student's pro-palestinian views. the woman says she feels betrayed by the university.

>> it was such a shock and such a surprise and honestly such an honor. >> reporter: that's how biomedical engineering major as ta felt during this month when usc chose her to be this year's valedictorian and the first generation indian american was already thinking about her commencement speech. >> how were you going to address the issue? >> the core message i wanted to get across was one of hope. >> reporter: but just days later, the university abruptly rescinded its invitation in a campus wide letter, usc provost andrew guzman said social media discussions related to the valedictorian had taken on alarming tenor and have escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security. >> i was never given the evidence that any safety concerns and that any security concerns were founded. >> what do you think it is? >> i think anyone who's watching this can draw their own conclusion. i look what i look like. i am who i am. >> reporter: ta bus am is pro-palestinian and years ago shared a link on her social

media containing language that some consider hate speech. >> i'm not apologizing for the link that i put in my instagram. what i am saying is that i'm committed to human rights. i'm committed to the human rights for all people. >> reporter: the israeli-palestinian conflict overseas has ignited tensions on college campuses across the u.s. a recent study found 56% of jewish college students and 52% of muslim students felt they were in personal danger. that's 2 million to 3 million students. >> usc betrayed me. >> reporter: but the university insists it's not about free speech. it's simply an issue of safety. carter evans, cbs news, los angeles. a pregnant woman is medevaced from a cruise ship.

(coi leray & metro boomin, “enjoy yourself”) new axe black vanilla? yum! ♪ he like when i get dressed, ♪ ♪ i live life with no stress, ♪ ♪ he said that's my best flex. ♪ ♪ i hopped on a big plane, said i'm doing big things, ♪ ♪ gonna bring out the champagne...yeah. ♪ ♪ baby i'm cool, yeah, you know what to do, ♪ ♪ yeah, we got nothing to lose.♪ sfx: yacht's horn ♪ metro boomin want some more ♪ ♪ with the bosses, i just pull up in ♪ new axe black vanilla. get closer with the finest fragrances. this charmin ultra soft smooth tear is soooo soft and soo smooth. charmin ultra soft smooth tear has wavy perforations that tear so much better for a smooth more enjoyable go. charmin, enjoy the go.

the coast guard swooped in to help a pregnant woman who was on a disney cruise and needed serious medical care. it happened yesterday about 180 miles off puerto rico. the 35-year-old american woman was taken onto the deck of the disney fantasy on a stretcher and then lifted into a coast guard helicopter and then taken to a san juan hospital. all right. illegal marijuana farms sprout up across the state of maine. who's behind them? it will surprise you. our investigation is next.

when you think of agriculture in maine, blueberries and maple syrup probably come to mind, right? but federal officials say the state is also a hotbed for illegal marijuana farms with many linked to chinese organized crime. cbs's nicole sganga has our cbs news investigation. >> reporter: along maine's rocky shoreline sits the quiet town of ma chai as. >> people lobster fish, they clam, and they log. >> reporter: but last fall a pungent smell woke up the neighbors. local police and chief keith merseer discovering more than $1 million in black market weed. >> it was very organized. >> reporter: more than 2,600 plants seized by police. just one case in a billion dollar black market marijuana boom now descending on rural

states like maine. >> how in the world did black market marijuana set up shop here? >> i think that was one of the draws was being a rural community. >> it's very isolated. >> reporter: ray donovan is the former chief of operations for the dea. >> that would allow them to continue to grow the marijuana crops uninhibited. >> sheriff's office! come out with your hands up. >> reporter: law enforcement now cracking down, with at least 34 busts statewide since last june and more targets dotting the i-95 corridor. >> the information we have says that there's over 200 that are actively working right now. >> reporter: 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana but most, including maine, limit cultivation and impose steep taxes. >> they're not buying licenses. they're not paying taxes. they're operating completely off the radar. >> reporter: editor of the maine wire, steve robinson, tracks suspected illegal grows. >> a transformer of that size could probably serve 10, 15 homes. >> reporter: and showed us this

chicken barn turned illegal weed grow in carmel, maine. >> these locations consume huge amounts of electricity. >> reporter: but perhaps more shocking than the budding number of illegal grows, who is behind them. >> by and large, we see chinese organized crime behind black market marijuana. >> reporter: donovan says some criminal growers are also laundering millions through a deadlier drug trade. >> law enforcement figured out that the chinese were running illegal marijuana grows by following the fentanyl supply chain. >> that's correct. >> wow. >> reporter: a dangerous network hiding out in an unlikely corner of america. nicole sgan

finally, tonight's "heart of america," honoring this year's slections for the library of congress' national recording registry. 25 audio recordings that carry special cultural and historic importance for the nation. ♪ see that girl ♪ ♪ watch that scene ♪ ♪ digging the dancing queen ♪ >> let's go. abba's smash hit dancing queen was featured on their 1976 album, arrival. other artists whose works made the cut this year, blondie, green day, the notorious b.i.g. gene autrey with his 1949 classic rudolph the red nosed reindeer, and bobby mcfarron's number one hit.

♪ don't worry, be happy ♪ >> that's a good one. the recordings will now be preserved for future generations to enjoy, and you can find the full list at cbsnews.com. the library of congress and the defining songs of our nation, that's tonight's "heart of ame america". and that's the overnight news for this wednesday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and remember you can follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm norah o'donnell. this is "cbs news flash." i'm shanelle kaul in new york. the maui fire department has released a report into the fires that killed 101 people last

year. the report found that limited resources and downed power lines contributed to the disaster. hawaii's attorney general is expected to release her own report today. the president of columbia university will testify before the house today on anti-semitism on campus. it comes months after testimony before the same committee led to the resignations of the presidents of harvard and penn. and fans were lined up in los angeles tuesday for a library-themed pop-up ahead of taylor swift's new album. the tortured poet's department will be released this friday. for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm shanelle kaul, cbs news, new york. tornadoes tear through the midwest. >> look at that funnel right up there. >> major damage in the plains as severe weather threatens 25 million americans, including thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. >> and it's coming our way.

holy [ bleep ]. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening. i'm norah o'donnell, and thank you for being with us. we're going to begin tonight with that breaking news and the threat of dangerous weather sweeping across the central u.s. at this hour, several states are under a tornado watch. at least a dozen suspected tornadoes have been reported in at least four states -- missouri, iowa, nebraska, and kansas. residents in smithville, missouri, outside kansas city are picking up the pieces after a tornado tore through a campsite earlier today. several buildings suffered significant damage with roofs ripped off, campers flipped over, and debris scattered across the area. a line of severe storms is moving east with thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, heavy rain, and possibly more twisters. some flights in the area are being rerouted to avoid the

weather. cbs's roxana saberi is following the storms, and she's going to start us off tonight. >> the majority of eastern iowa now under this tornado watch. >> reporter: tonight, under threat. millions of people across the midwest bracing for a dangerous trail of tornadoes. a twister ripping through rockwell city, iowa, sirens sounding. iowa state trooper paul gardner was on duty when he spotted this tornado. >> it was zigzagging all over the farmland. >> reporter: and a deputy's dash cam in sioux city captured this lightning strike. 100 miles of omaha in creston, nebraska, a funnel over farmland, sweeping over the plains. >> we got one that touched down. >> reporter: and in kansas, the national weather service says a twister with winds of up to 100 miles per hour tossed a man from his trailer, leaving his wife and two dogs stuck in the rubble. they all survived with minor injuries. meanwhile, in missouri,

thousands are in the dark after severe storms struck this afternoon. a tornado ripping off roofs and flipping this camper. and hail the size of half dollars pelted the pavement. here in davenport, iowa, it's going to be a tense night. the severe weather is now headed this way, and tornadoes that happen at night are especially dangerous because it's harder to see the twister and debris, and people may be sleeping. norah. >> thinking of the people there. roxana saberi, thank you so much. as she mentioned, the threat of severe weather is going to continue through the night and into tomorrow. so let's bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channel. good evening, mike. >> norah, good evening. looking for more active storms tonight and tomorrow similar to what roxana was showing us there in iowa. just pushing farther eastbound and southbound now, so active storms in milwaukee, chicago, eventually tomorrow michigan, ohio, so detroit gets hit, then right down i-75. stormy conditions in the morning as well as in the afternoon. we've got a severe weather threat across detroit, fort wayne, columbus, and cleveland.

torcon of 3. what that means is low risk for tornadoes but a tornado risk nonetheless across the buckeye state and across the great lakes state. showers in the morning. more rough weather through the evening, including right during the evening drive in many locations. and storms later on in the evening after dinnertime, norah, in places like pittsburgh, pennsylvania. >> mike bettes, thank you. tonight a big development. the first seven jurors have been selected to serve on donald trump's criminal trial in new york. day two of the case also brought some fireworks inside the courtroom with the judge scolding the former president for trying to intimidate a prospective juror. cbs's robert costa explains what happened. >> we think we have a very conflicted, highly conflicted judge, who shouldn't be on the case, and he's rushing this trial. >> reporter: what had been a very slow jury selection process gained considerable steam late today. the seven jurors seated in the historic trial are four men and three women, including a nurse

who said in court, "no one is above the law. i am here for my civic duty." and a teacher who claimed she was not very interested in politics and did not have strong opinions on donald trump. the foreperson who will help guide deliberations for the jury is a salesman originally from ireland, who now lives in west harlem. lawyers on both sides spent the afternoon examining the social media posts of the possible candidates, asking them for their opinion of the former president and judging their ability to be impartial. >> both sides really are going to want to suss out potential stealth jurors, those jurors that potentially fly under the radar but then get on the jury and really do have those preconceived notions. >> reporter: tensions flared when the judge, juan merchan, heard trump audibly uttering something as his attorney questioned a potential juror. the judge chastised trump's behavior, saying, "i won't tolerate that. i will not have any jurors

intimidated in this courtroom." of 96 potential jurors, 87 were excused. behind the scenes, sources close to trump tell me he feels like he's caged sitting inside that courtroom, and they say those grievances about this trial will certainly be seen soon on the campaign trail. norah. >> a day off tomorrow, will resume thursday. robert costa, thank you. while trump is stuck inside that new york courtroom, president biden is on the campaign trail in his hometown of scranton, pennsylvania. cbs's nancy cordes reports the president is talking taxes and is slamming his republican rival for putting billionaires ahead of the middle class. >> reporter: president biden highlighted his pennsylvania roots today with a visit to his childhood home in scranton. >> scranton's a place that climbs into your heart, and it never leaves. >> reporter: in this blue-collar former mining town, biden squeezed in nearly a dozen references to trump's primary residence in faraway palm beach.

>> he looks at the economy from mar-a-lago. scranton values or mar-a-lago values? these are the competing visions for our economy. >> reporter: biden won pennsylvania by just over one percentage point in 2020, and polls show the two men neck and neck now. so the biden team is pouring money into the state, airing new ads. >> joe loves scranton. >> reporter: and opening 14 campaign offices across pennsylvania. the trump team declined to tell cbs news how many offices they have here, saying only that "we have paid staffers and volunteer-powered field programs in every battleground state, including pennsylvania." trump acknowledged today that his trial schedule is holding him back. >> i should be right now in pennsylvania, in florida, in many other states. >> reporter: trump did visit pennsylvania this weekend and shared his views on the keystone state's most famous civil war battle. >> the battle of gettysburg, what an unbelievable -- i mean

it was so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible. >> he's clueless. he's clueless about pennsylvania. >> reporter: pennsylvania governor josh shapiro was campaigning with biden today. >> it will be a clear choice at the end of the day, and just like they did last time, i think they're going to re-elect joe biden. >> reporter: part of the reason biden has been able to spend more heavily here in pennsylvania is because he is raising more than donald trump. more than $120 million just over the first three months of 2024 according to new figures, norah. that is nearly double what the trump team has brought in. >> nancy cordes with that new reporting. nancy, thank you very much. there's a lot more news ahead on t feeling sluggish or weighed down? could be a sign that your digestive system isn't at its best. but a little metamucil everyday can help. metamucil's psyllium fiber gels to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down... so you can lighten every day the metamucil way.

head & shoulders bare clinically proven dandruff

protection with just 9 essential ingredients no sulfates, no silicones, no dyes. dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. job done. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm nicole sganga in

washington. thanks for staying with us. the legal marijuana trade is big business. nearly half the country, 24 states, and washington, d.c. allow the recreational use of marijuana, and the dispensaries that sell the drug collect billions of dollars in taxes. washington state, for instance, charges a 37% tax on cannabis products. that's got a lot of growers sticking to the black market, growing and selling pot outside the legal system. and it's not all mom and pop operations. large-scale grows are sprouting all across rural america, and some of them are financed overseas and tied to other deadlier drugs, including fentanyl. i recently got a firsthand look at the problem in maine, one of the states where the drug is legal. >> reporter: nestled along maine's rocky shore line, the sleepy town of machias. >> people lobster fish, they clam, and they log. >> reporter: population, about

2,000. >> it's sleepy? >> sleepy, very quiet. >> reporter: but last fall, a pungent smell and a stream of vans starting to and from this barn woke up the neighbors. triggering a six-week investigation by local police and chief keith mercier. and unearthing more than $1 million in black market marijuana. >> they had irrigation systems set up. they had heating systems, humidifying systems. it was quite an impressive operation. >> reporter: a maze of more than 2,600 plants seized by police. >> how in the world did black market marijuana set up shop here? >> i think that was one of the draws was being a rural community, it could go undetected. >> reporter: just one flash point in a billion dollar black market marijuana boom now sinking its teeth into less populated states like oklahoma, colorado, and maine. >> if i can go into maine and buy a house for cheap, that's rural. it's very isolated.

>> reporter: ray donovan is the former chief of operations for the dea. >> that would allow them to continue to grow the marijuana crops uninhibited. >> search warrant! >> reporter: law enforcement now cracking down. >> sheriff's office! >> come out with your hands up! >> reporter: with at least 34 busts statewide since last june, more sites dotting the i-95 corridor now under investigation. >> this is not just a machias problem? >> no. this is a statewide problem. the information we have says that there's over 200 that are actively working right now. >> reporter: but perhaps more shocking than the budding number of illegal grows, who is behind them. >> by and large, we see chinese organized crime behind black market marijuana. >> reporter: in february, 50 lawmakers penned a bipartisan letter to attorney general garland demanding answers about china's role in thousands of illicit marijuana grows nationwide. >> they're unregulated. they're illicit.

they're destroying homes. >> marijuana all over the place laying around. >> reporter: operators allegedly stealing more than $10,000 in power. >> just how much power was running through? >> a substantial amount. probably four or five times what a normal household would run. >> these locations consume huge amounts of electricity. >> so this is the spreadsheet? >> yes. >> reporter: native mainer steve robinson meticulously tracks suspected illegal marijuana grows statewide and took us to one identified in court records. >> this looks like a suburban dream home. >> if you look on this garage right here, there's a newly installed 400-amp service. >> poring over power records, findings published on his website attracting the attention of lawmakers and law enforcement. >> why would anyone need that much power? >> if you're running, say, a car wash, a grocery store. >> or? >> or if you're growing a lot of marijuana. >> reporter: in some cases, the suspects arrested may have been victims. >> we encountered three asian males. they were being paid $1,000 a

month to work 24/7. >> reporter: trapped inside sparse living quarters with blacked-out windows. >> some of the people have been brought here from china under the auspices that they're working under a legit business. >> it sounds like you're talking about victims of human trafficking. >> yes. >> reporter: marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but a majority of americans now live in a state that has legalized weed. with some states still limiting cultivation and others imposing steep taxes, the marijuana underworld thrives. >> it is not something that's going to go away, especially if we are investing in legal marijuana statewide. then we're going to have to pursue the black market marijuana organizations. >> you think it's time to sound the alarm. >> i do. >> reporter: donovan and other law enforcement sources told us some of the same criminal groups behind illicit weed are also prt of a larger criminal network tied to a deadlier drug trade, fentanyl. in fact, donovan said the dea first connected chinese organized crime to these illegal

weed grows by following some of the same criminals profiting off the fentanyl supply chain. the overnight news will be right back.

this delectable knorr ramen noodle recipe will put an end to your drive-thru dinner rituals. throw that knorr bouillon in that tasty combo of delightful carrots and the rich touch of bok choy. make your own knorr taste combo. it's not fast food, but it's so good. this charmin ultra soft smooth tear is soooo soft and soo smooth. charmin ultra soft smooth tear has wavy perforations that tear so much better for a smooth more enjoyable go. charmin, enjoy the go.

wanna know a secret? more than just my armpits stink. that's why i use secret whole body deodorant. everywhere! we're all human, its okay to smell like one. (sniffs) i smell very human right now. which is totally normal. girl preach. but if it bothers you, 4/5 gynecologists would recommend whole body deodorant. which gives you 72 hour odor protection. from your pits to your bits. so you can use it on your... (spraying) secret whole body deodorant.

some of the most beloved story book characters will be showing up next year in, get this, slasher films. bam bee, winnie the pooh, pinocchio, and peter pan just to name a few, are all set to splash across the big screen with blood and gore. how is this possible? well, look no further than the copyright law. lee cowan explains. ♪ >> reporter: nearly four decades, united airlines licensed george gershwin's rhapsody in blue to be its musical identity. ♪ in 2020, however, gershwin's jazzy classical classic fell out of the friendly skies and landed in the public domain. >> what does that mean? >> what it means is that the copyright expires. anyone is free to use and build upon that work. >> with no fees, no licensing in. >> no fees, no licenses, no tracking the person who owns it. no permission. >> reporter: jennifer jenkins,

director for the center of the study of public domain at duke university law school, says there are a lot of famous works that don't belong to their creators anymore. >> peter pan! >> reporter: characters like peter pan, dracula, and frankenstein. >> it's alive, it's alive! >> reporter: they're all now owned by us, the public. free for anyone to use to create something fresh. >> the public domain doesn't represent the death of copyright. it's just the second part of copyright's life cycle. >> reporter: the concept of putting an expiration date on intellectual property was something the founding fathers actually put in the u.s. constitution to promote the progress of science and the useful arts. they left it to congress, however, to decide just how long the copyright term should last. >> if copyrights lasted forever, it would be very difficult for a lot of creators to make the

works they want to make without worrying about be in the crosshairs of a copy right lawsuit. >> reporter: f. scott fitsz gerald's the great gatsby was published in 1925. anyone who wanted to use elements from the novel, whether it be robert redford or leonardo dicaprio -- >> i'm gatsby. >> reporter: -- had to get permission from the fitzgerald estate which held the copyright for 95 years. >> that's a really long time. >> it is a long time, yeah. >> do you think it's too long? >> i don't think it's too long, and that's my personal opinion. i'm obviously biased. >> reporter: blake hazard is f. scott fitz jarrell's great, great granddaughter and she's a trustee of his estate. when gatsby finally entered the public domain back in 2021, she watched as a slew of zbatsbiesque projects were waiting at the starting line. >> i always hope there will be some faithfulivities but we don't have any control over it. so we just have to kind of

embrace that. ♪ only we know what we've both been through ♪ >> reporter: she's just been invited to a new post-copyright adaptation of her great-grandfather's work, a gatsby musical which opens on broadway this month. >> hope it's good. >> she comes in first. then he comes in and like -- >> do you want to try that? >> any group of artists is going to distill down a story through their own lens. >> bigger as in more pointed? >> reporter: the musical's director, mark bruni, and writer, kate carrigan. >> we didn't want to do something that was wildly different from the novel. we wanted to add perspective and layers to the novel. ♪ >> reporter: the truth is most works aren't lucky enough to be economically viable for as long as f. skots fitzgerald's or ernest hemingway's or even walt disney's. this year, steamboat willie entered the public domain. ♪

it unleashed two of the most lucrative rodents in history. to be clear, though, don't go using this mickey or that minnie because they're still under copyright. it's only the big-eared couple as they first appeared that's fair game. ♪ still, as soon as those first copyrights expired, we got this. a mickey slasher film. >> we need to go! >> reporter: the same thing happened when a.a. milne's winnie the pooh entered the public domain. it's that kind of re-imagine nation that many estates fear. >> what do you mean, holmes? >> don't you see, my dear watson? >>. >> reporter: sherlock holmes is one of the most recognize the literary kinder-- but copy righ started to expire in the 1980s. >> mr. holmes, apologies for

summoning you like this. >> reporter: nevertheless, the conan doyle estate kept seeking licensing fees, arguing that since some the later sherlock holmes stories were still under copyright, they should own the rights to all the characters still. >> at some point, enough is enough. >> reporter: in 2013, author les clinger, one of the leading scholars on sherlock holmes, was about to publish this adaptation of the supposedly copyright-free detective when this happened. >> the estate contacted that publisher and said, you need a license. and we said to the publisher, no, you don't. we just thought it was wrong, absolutely wrong, and it made us very angry. >> reporter: so clinger filed a civil suit in federal court, and he won. >> they didn't give up easily. they were trying to squeez all the juice out of these lemons that they could right up until they run out of copyright. >> copyright gives rights to creators and their descendants that provide incentives to create. but the public domain really is

the soil for future creativity. >> reporter: there are surely more copyright clashes ahead, though. >> we've got a long wait, huh? >> a little bit of wait, yeah. >> reporter: characters like bugs bunny. >> what's up, doc? >> reporter: superman and -- >> i'm batman. >> reporter: -- will all find themselves out of copyright protection soon enough. even luke skywalker will eventually find himself in the public domain too. sometime around 2073. that sure seems like a galaxy far, far away.

on opening day this year, just 6% of major league baseball players were black. that's the fewest in decades. and as the country celebrates jackie robinson's legacy, a group in chicago is working to give the next generation of

black players a chance at living their field of dreams. here's cbs's charlie de mar. >> reporter: 77 years after jackie robinson blazed a trail for black players, coaches like earnest horton know the work is far from over. >> if the grassroots are suffering and there's no baseball being played in the communities, of course there's not going to be black baseball players in mlb. >> reporter: he's a teacher in chicago. he started black baseball media, an organization giving players from predominantly underserved communities access to top-notch facilities and exposure to college scouts. >> seeing is believing. everyone's drinking the kool-aid. >> reporter: high school senior kamari thomas will play in college. so will demere heidelberg, aiming to follow in the footsteps of current black big leaguers. >> what difference does that make having that access? >> it's a huge difference because usually kids with my skin color, they can't get into

it because they don't either have the money or they don't have the exercise to it. >> what message does that send to you? >> it's time for everybody to get the boots on the ground. it's time to unite. we can't 1i9 here on the sideline and complain about it. >> reporter: bridging baseball's racial divide for the next generation. charlie de mar, cbs news, crestwood, illinois. and that's the overnight news for this wednesday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings" and follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm nicole sganga. this is "cbs news flash." i'm shanelle kaul in new york. the maui fire department has released a report into the fires that killed 101 people last year.

the report found that limited resources and downed power lines contributed to the disaster. hawaii's attorney general is expected to release her own report today. the president of columbia university will testify before the house today on anti-semitism on campus. it comes months after testimony before the same committee led to the resignations of the presidents of harvard and penn. and fans were lined up in los angeles tuesday for a brary-themed pop-up ead of taylor swift's new album. "the tortured poets department" will be released this friday. for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm shanelle kaul, cbs news, new york. tornadoes tear through the midwest. >> look at that funnel right up there. >> major damage in the plains as severe weather threatens 25 million americans, including thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes. >> and it's coming our way.

holy [ bleep ]. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening. i'm norah o'donnell, and thank you for being with us. we're going to begin tonight with that breaking news and the threat of dangerous weather sweeping across the central u.s. at this hour, several states are under a tornado watch. at least a dozen suspected tornadoes have been reported in at least four states -- missouri, iowa, nebraska, and kansas. residents in smithville, missouri, outside kansas city are picking up the pieces after a tornado tore through a campsite earlier today. several buildings suffered significant damage with roofs ripped off, campers flipped over, and debris scattered across the area. a line of severe storms is moving east with thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, heavy rain, and possibly more twisters. some flights in the area are

being rerouted to avoid the weather. cbs's roxana saberi is following the storms, and she's going to start us off tonight. >> the majority of eastern iowa now under this tornado watch. >> reporter: tonight, under threat. millions of people across the midwest bracing for a dangerous trail of tornadoes. a twister ripping through rockwell city, iowa, sirens sounding. iowa state trooper paul gardner was on duty when he spotted this tornado. >> it was zigzagging all over the farmland. >> reporter: and a deputy's dash cam in sioux city captured this lightning strike. 100 miles west of omaha in creston, nebraska, a funnel over farmland, sweeping over the plains. >> we got one that touched down. >> reporter: and in kansas, the national weather service says a twister with winds of up to 100 miles per hour tossed a man from his trailer, leaving his wife and two dogs stuck in the rubble. they all survived with minor injuries. meanwhile, in missouri, thousands are in the dark after severe storms struck this

afternoon. a tornado ripping off roofs and flipping this camper. and hail the size of half dollars pelted the pavement. here in davenport, iowa, it's going to be a tense night. the severe weather is now headed this way, and tornadoes that happen at night are especially dangerous because it's harder to see the twister and debris, and people may be sleeping. norah. >> thinking of the people there. roxana saberi, thank you so much. as she mentioned, the threat of severe weather is going to continue through the night and into tomorrow. so let's bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channel. good evening, mike. >> norah, good evening. looking for more active storms tonight and tomorrow similar to what roxana was showing us there in iowa. just pushing farther eastbound and southbound now, so active storms in milwaukee, chicago, eventually tomorrow michigan, ohio, so detroit gets hit, then right down i-75. stormy conditions in the morning as well as in the afternoon. we've got a severe weather threat across detroit, fort

wayne, columbus, and cleveland. torcon of 3. what that means is lower risk for tornadoes but a tornado risk nonetheless across the buckeye state and across the great lakes state. showers in the morning. more rough weather through the evening, including right during the evening drive in many locations. and storms later on in the evening after dinnertime, norah, in places like pittsburgh, pennsylvania. >> mike bettes, thank you. tonight a big development. the first seven jurors have been selected to serve on donald trump's criminal trial in new york. day two of the case also brought some fireworks inside the courtroom with the judge scolding the former president for trying to intimidate a prospective juror. cbs's robert costa explains what happened. >> we think we have a very conflicted, highly conflicted judge, who shouldn't be on the case, and he's rushing this trial. >> reporter: what had been a very slow jury selection process gained considerable steam late today. the seven jurors seated in the historic trial are four men and three women, including a nurse who said in court, "no one is

above the law. i am here for my civic duty." and a teacher who claimed she was not very interested in politics and did not have strong opinions on donald trump. the foreperson who will help guide deliberations for the jury is a salesman originally from ireland, who now lives in west harlem. lawyers on both sides spent the afternoon examining the social media posts of the possible candidates, asking them for their opinion of the former president and judging their ability to be impartial. >> both sides really are going to want to suss out potential stealth jurors, those jurors that potentially fly under the radar but then get on the jury and really do have those preconceived notions. >> reporter: tensions flared when the judge, juan merchan, heard trump audibly uttering something as his attorney questioned a potential juror. the judge chastised trump's behavior, saying, "i won't tolerate that. i will not have any jurors intimidated in this courtroom."

of 96 potential jurors, 87 were excused. behind the scenes, sources close to trump tell me he feels like he's caged sitting inside that courtroom, and they say those grievances about this trial will certainly be seen soon on the campaign trail. norah. >> a day off tomorrow, will resume thursday. robert costa, thank you. while trump is stuck inside that new york courtroom, president biden is on the campaign trail in his hometown of scranton, pennsylvania. cbs's nancy cordes reports the president is talking taxes and is slamming his republican rival for putting billionaires ahead of the middle class. >> reporter: president biden highlighted his pennsylvania roots today with a visit to his childhood home in scranton. >> scranton's a place that climbs into your heart, and it never leaves. >> reporter: in this blue-collar former mining town, biden squeezed in nearly a dozen references to trump's primary residence in faraway palm beach. >> he looks at the economy from

mar-a-lago. scranton values or mar-a-lago values? these are the competing visions for our economy. >> reporter: biden won pennsylvania by just over one percentage point in 2020, and polls show the two men neck and neck now. so the biden team is pouring money into the state, airing new ads. >> joe loves scranton. >> reporter: and opening 14 campaign offices across pennsylvania. the trump team declined to tell cbs news how many offices they have here, saying only that "we have paid staffers and volunteer-powered field programs in every battleground state, including pennsylvania." trump acknowledged today that his trial schedule is holding him back. >> i should be right now in pennsylvania, in florida, in many other states. >> reporter: trump did visit pennsylvania this weekend and shared his views on the keystone state's most famous civil war battle. >> the battle of gettysburg, what an unbelievable -- i mean

it was so much and so interesting and so vicious and horrible. >> he's clueless. he's clueless about pennsylvania. >> reporter: pennsylvania governor josh shapiro was campaigning with biden today. >> it will be a clear choice at the end of the day, and just like they did last time, i think they're going to re-elect joe biden. >> reporter: part of the reason biden has been able to spend more heavily here in pennsylvania is because he is raising more than donald trump. more than $120 million just over the first three months of 2024 according to new figures, norah. that is nearly double what the trump team has brought in. >> nancy cordes with that new reporting. nancy, thank you very much. (♪♪) i'm getting vaccinated with pfizer's pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. so am i. because i'm at risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. come on. i already got a pneumonia vaccine, but i'm asking about the added protection of prevnar 20®. if you're 19 or older with certain chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes,

copd, or heart disease, or are 65 or older, you are at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia. prevnar 20® is approved in adults to help prevent infections from 20 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia. in just one dose. don't get prevnar 20® if you've had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. adults with weakened immune systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common side effects were pain and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and joint pain. i want to be able to keep my plans. i don't want to risk ending up in the hospital with pneumococcal pneumonia. that's why i chose prevnar 20®. ask your doctor or pharmacist about the pfizer vaccine for pneumococcal pneumonia.

how do i love thee? ask your doctor or pharmacist about the pfizer vaccine ...let me count the ways. ♪ love can get a little messy... good thing there's resolve. love the love. resolve the mess. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." the supreme court heard arguments today in a case that

could impact hundreds of defendants facing charges for the january 6th attack on the capitol, including former president trump. at issue is a federal law against obstructing an official proceeding. the u.s. solicitor general told the court there's no question the defendants obstructed the count of electoral votes. conservative justices seemed skeptical of the justice department's position, questioning whether prosecutors went too far or if other disruptions like a sit-in could be considered criminal. for only the second time in the history of the house, articles of impeachment against a presidential cabinet member were delivered to the senate today. but the politically charged impeachment of the nation's homeland security secretary is expected to be quickly dismissed in the senate while a far-right republican mutiny against house speaker mike johnson gains momentum. cbs's scott macfarlane is tracking it all on capitol hill. >> reporter: for the second time in eight months, house republicans are talking about removing their own speaker. >> yeah, i asked him to resign. >> reporter: kentucky

congressman thomas massie became the second house republican to say he'd support dumping speaker mike johnson. >> i am not resigning, and it is -- it is in my view an absurd notion. >> reporter: but he wouldn't say when they'd move against johnson. the louisiana republican, second in line of succession to the presidency, surprisingly elevated to the job after last year's ouster of kevin mccarthy, pushed back. >> when we are simply here trying to do our jobs. >> reporter: johnson is balancing the narrowest u.s. house majority and is under scrutiny for his newly released plan to provide billions in aid to israel and to ukraine but separately, which might satisfy his hard-line critics who want to cut off ukrainian aid but also risks delays and derailments of an aid package for both war zones. >> hear ye, hear ye. >> reporter: meanwhile, johnson's republicans are trying to remove a different official,

delivering impeachment articles to the senate today against homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas. >> -- is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. >> reporter: arguing he refused to enforce immigration laws. >> i have abided by the law each and every step of the way. >> reporter: setting up a formal proceeding tomorrow in the u.s. senate destined for a dead end. >> what are the prospects there's actually goingto be an impeachment trial tomorrow? >> i'd say virtually none. >> reporter: democrats control the senate, and senators expect the matter will be quickly shut down without a trial. >> it's a bogus action by the house. that's the problem. >> reporter: the impeachment proceedings are scheduled to begin here tomorrow afternoon, but the biden administration says the entire endeavor is baseless and a waste of time. norah. >> it was a busy day on capitol hill. scott macfarlane, thank you very much. well, tonight increasing tensions in the middle east with israel vowing to strike back against iran after that unprecedented volley of drones, missiles, and rockets over the weekend. u.s. treasury secretary janet yellen warned today that the u.s. intends to punish iran with new sanctions in the coming

days, which could target iran's oil industry. here's cbs's debora patta. >> reporter: prime minister benjamin netanyahu rallying the troops as he met with a new group of conscripts today. "this is part of a larger battle," he told them. "iran is behind hamas and hezbollah. we are determined to beat them." his war cabinet met today for the third time since the iranian attack. a senior american official tells cbs news israel has not shared its plans with the u.s., but some in the administration expect a limited strike inside iran. but the fear of an all-out regional war has distracted attention away from the misery in gaza. there are still regular air strikes. each day bringing new grief. "gaza is tired," said this woman.

"we live in humiliation, in poverty, and in death." the united nations says there has been no significant change in the amount of aid trickling in. in the north, there were desperate lines for bread after supplies from the world food program brought this bakery back to life for the first time in over six months. food prices have soared. banks are running out of cash. fed up with living in tents in rafah, thousands defied israeli orders and tried to return to their homes in the north over the weekend. but they were turned around. the idf says this is still an active war zone. a senior israeli government official has told cbs news that a rafah invasion will happen, it's not a matter of if, but when, but would not be drawn on a date or whether it's been delayed because of the iranian attack. norah. >> debora patta, thank you very

much. the "cbs overnight news" when enamel is gone, you cannot get it back. but you can repair it with pronamel repair. it penetrates deep into the tooth to actively repair acid weakened enamel. i recommend pronamel repair. with new pronamel repair mouthwash you can enhance that repair beyond brushing. they work great together.

inez, let me ask you, you're using head and shoulders, right? only when i see flakes. then i switch back to my regular shampoo. you should use it every wash, otherwise the flakes will come back. tiny troy: he's right, you know. is that tiny troy? the ingredients in head and shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. microbes, really? they're always on your scalp... little rascals... but good news, there's no itchiness, dryness or flakes down here! i love tiny troy. and his tiny gorgeous hair. he's the best. - make every wash count! - little help please. at oofos, we don't make footwear. we make shock absorbers. fatigue fighters. mobility maximizers. this is the science of active recovery. revolutionary oofoam technology absorbs

impact and reduces pressure. it's the foundation of every pair of oofos, and the key to recovering faster. this is not a shoe. this is oofos active recovery. activate your recovery with oofos. finally yasso! a ridiculously creamy, dipped, chipped, sandwiched, ice cream-like experience that's super snackable and made with greek yogurt. so ice cream, get the whoop out of our freezer! yasso. love it or it's free. tonight the university of southern california is at the center of a growing controversy after canceling a graduation speech by this year's valedictorian. some on campus had been critical of the student's pro-palestinian views. krx's carter evans spoke with the young woman, who says she

feels betrayed by the university. >> it was such a shock and such a surprise and honestly such an honor. >> reporter: that's how biomedical engineering major asna tabassum felt during this month when usc chose her to be this year's valedictorian and the first generation indian american was already thinking about her commencement speech. >> how were you going to address the issue? >> the core message i wanted to get across was one of hope. >> reporter: but just days later, the university abruptly rescinded its invitation in a campus wide letter, usc provost andrew guzman said social media discussions related to the valedictorian had taken on an alarming tenor and have escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security. >> i was never given the evidence that any safety concerns and that any security concerns were founded. >> what do you think it is? >> i think anyone who's watching this can draw their own conclusion. i look what i look like. i am who i am. >> reporter: tabassum is pro-palestinian and years ago shared a link on her social media containing language that

some consider hate speech. >> i'm not apologizing for the link that i put in my instagram. what i am saying is that i'm committed to human rights. i'm committed to the human rights for all people. >> reporter: the israeli-palestinian conflict overseas has ignited tensions on college campuses across the u.s. a recent study found 56% of jewish college students and 52% of muslim students felt they were in personal danger. that's 2 million to 3 million students. >> usc betrayed me. >> reporter: but the university insists it's not about free speech. it's simply an issue of safety. carter evans, cbs news, los angeles. a pregnant woman is medevaced from a cruise ship. we'll show you the dramatic images next.

it ain't my dad's razor, dad. ay watch it!

it's from gillettelabs. this green bar releases trapped hairs from my face... gamechanga! ...while the flexdisc contours to it. so the five blades can get virtually every hair in one stroke. for the ultimate gillette shaving experience. the best a man can get is gillettelabs. the coast guard swooped in to help a pregnant woman who was on a disney cruise and needed serious medical care. it happened yesterday about 180 miles off puerto rico. the 35-year-old american woman was taken onto the deck of the disney "fantasy" on a stretcher and then lifted into a coast guard helicopter and then taken to a san juan hospital. all right. illegal marijuana farms sprout up across the state of maine. who's behind them? it will surprise you. our investigation is next.

when you think of agriculture in maine, blueberries and maple syrup probably come to mind, right? but federal officials say the state is also a hotbed for illegal marijuana farms with many linked to chinese organized crime. cbs's nicole sganga has our cbs news investigation. >> reporter: along maine's rocky shoreline sits the quiet town of machias. >> people lobster fish, they clam, and they log. >> reporter: but last fall a pungent smell woke up the neighbors. local police and chief keith mercier discovering more than $1 million in black market weed. >> it was very organized. >> reporter: more than 2,600 plants seized by police. just one case in a billion dollar black market marijuana boom now descending on rural

states like maine. >> how in the world did black market marijuana set up shop here? >> i think that was one of the draws was being a rural community. >> it's very isolated. >> reporter: ray donovan is the former chief of operations for the dea. >> that would allow them to continue to grow the marijuana crops uninhibited. >> sheriff's office! come out with your hands up! >> reporter: law enforcement now cracking down, with at least 34 busts statewide since last june and more targets dotting the i-95 corridor. >> the information we have says that there's over 200 that are actively working right now. >> reporter: 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana but most, including maine, limit cultivation and impose steep taxes. >> they're not buying licenses. they're not paying taxes. they're operating completely off the radar. >> reporter: editor of the maine wire, steve robinson, tracks suspected illegal grows. >> a transformer of that size could probably serve 10, 15 homes.

>> reporter: and showed us this chicken barn turned illegal weed grow in carmel, maine. >> these locations consume huge amounts of electricity. >> reporter: but perhaps more shocking than the budding number of illegal grows, who is behind them. >> by and large, we see chinese organized crime behind black market marijuana. >> reporter: donovan says some criminal growers are also laundering millions through a deadlier drug trade. >> law enforcement figured out that the chinese were running illegal marijuana grows by following the fentanyl supply chain. >> that's correct. >> wow. >> reporter: a dangerous network hiding out in an unlikely corner of america. nicole sganga, cbs news, machias, maine.

some migraine attacks catch you off guard, but for me a stressful day can trigger migraine attacks too. that's why my go to is nurtec odt. it's the only migraine medication that can treat and prevent my attacks all in one. don't take if allergic to nurtec. allergic reactions can occur even days after using. most common side effects were nausea, indigestion and stomach pain. now i'm in control. with nurtec odt i can treat a migraine attack and prevent one. talk to your doctor about nurtec today. long after guests leave, viruses and bacteria linger. air fresheners add a scent. but only lysol air sanitizer helps erase the trace, eliminating odor and killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria in the air. scent can't sanitize. lysol can. scent can't sanitize. i was like shaking you know, i was so scared. when i first reached out to jacoby and meyers.

i didn't know if i had a case or not. as soon as i got a hold of my attorney, she was very, very nice, very kind. because of jacoby and meyers, i don't have that pressure to worry about a medical bill or things like that. if i know of any accident, i'm like, call jacoby and meyers, they'll help you.

finally, tonight's "heart of america," honoring this year's selections for the library of congress' national recording registry. 25 audio recordings that carry special cultural and historic importance for the nation. ♪ see that girl ♪ ♪ watch that scene ♪ ♪ digging the dancing queen ♪ >> let's go. abba's smash hit, "dancing queen," was featured on their 1976 album "arrival." other artists whose works made the cut this year -- blondie, green day, the notorious b.i.g., gene autry with his 1949 classic "rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer," and bobby mcferrin's number one hit.

♪ don't worry, be happy ♪ >> that's a good one. the recordings will now be preserved for future generations to enjoy, and you can find the full list at cbsnews.com. the library of congress and the defining songs of our nation, that's tonight's "heart of america." and that's the overnight news for this wednesday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and remember you can follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm norah o'donnell. this is "cbs news flash." i'm shanelle kaul in new york. the maui fire department has released a report into the fires that killed 101 people last

year. the report found that limited resources and downed power lines contributed to the disaster. hawaii's attorney general is expected to release her own report today. the president of columbia university will testify before the house today on anti-semitism on campus. it comes months after testimony before the same committee led to the resignations of the presidents of harvard and penn. and fans were lined up in los angeles tuesday for a library-themed pop-up ahead of taylor swift's new album. "the tortured poets department" will be released this friday. for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm shanelle kaul, cbs news, new york. it's it's wednesday, april 17th, 2024. this is "cbs news mornings." hate on campus. as one college finds itself on the hot seat for banning a

tv

A full range of news correspondents from around the world are featured in this overnight offering that includes highlights of the day's events, stories from the West Coast edition of "CBS Evening News With Norah O'Donnell," and unique storytelling. The staff is on hand to cover breaking news and keep viewers compelled and informed.

TOPIC FREQUENCY

Pennsylvania 22, Maine 19, Cbs 18, U.s. 16, Biden 16, Us 12, New York 10, Iowa 10, Scranton 10, Norah 10, Iran 9, Trump 9, Cbs News 9, Donald Trump 6, Usc 6, Missouri 6, Nicole Sganga 5, Johnson 5, Los Angeles 5, America 5

Notes

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code).

info Stream Only