rebel retreat. libyan troops have opposition forces on the run. but for how long? as the u.s. considers arming the insurgency. cajun cleanup. a powerful storm rolls through louisiana, threatening the southeast with flooding and high winds. and union fight. ohio can vote on limiting collective bargaining rights, as the battle in wisconsin goes to collective bargaining rights, as the battle in wisconsin goes to court. captioning funded by cbs good morning, everybody. thanks for joining us, i'm betty nguyen. this morning, the back and forth fighting in libya has turned against the rebel troops. opposition forces are on the run, fleeing the latest government counterattack. the rebels were trying to advance on moammar gadhafi's hometown of sirte.

they've also had to leave two critical oil ports, brega and ras lanuf. the u.s. navy launched a new barrage of cruise missiles at targets near tripoli and nato takes command of the operation today. joel brown is in washington with more. good morning, joel. what's the latest? >> betty, it wasn't even a close fight. gadhafi forces routed the rebels, proving again to many, they don't stand a chance without the coalition's help. the u.s. starts handing over control of the military operation in libya to nato today. in the past two days, the u.s. stepped up its assault on the country, launching 22 cruise missiles at weapons storage sites around tripoli. >> gadhafi knows exactly what he needs to do to stop the constant bombardment that he's under. >> reporter: representatives from more than 40 countries attending a summit in london, led by secretary of state hillary clinton, agree there's only one solution. that libyan leader moammar gadhafi step down. >> gadhafi has lost the

legitimacy to lead. so we believe he must go. we're working with the international community to try to achieve that outcome. >> reporter: president obama's trying to decide whether the u.s. should provide weapons to the rebel forces. a tough choice, given the testimony of nato's top commander to congress about who the rebels are. >> we have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al qaeda, hezbollah. >> reporter: but the president says those elements are just a small fraction of the opposition forces. >> most of them are professionals, lawyers, doctors, people who appear to be credible. that doesn't mean that all the people who -- among all the people who oppose gadhafi, there might not be elements that are unfriendly to the united states and our interests. >> reporter: counterattacks forced the rebels to retreat in at least two libyan towns. clearly demonstrating their weakness without allied support. fresh from london, secretary of state clinton will be on capitol

hill this morning to give a closed-door briefing to lawmakers there. many of whom still want answers to what's the administration's end game in libya. betty? >> a lot of people want those answers. joel brown in washington, thank you, joel. this morning, secretary of state clinton and other administration officials will brief congressional leaders on the situation in libya. president obama hopes the libyan leader will step down soon, and mr. obama told erica hill that some of those closest to moammar gadhafi may have already gotten the message. >> people around him are starting to recognize that their options are limited, their days are numbered. and so they are probably reaching out to a range of different people. but, that information may not have filtered to gadhafi yet, and i think it's too early for us to start having formal negotiations. gadhafi knows exactly what he needs to do. >> and you can see more of erica's interview with president obama on this morning's "early"

show. now to syria, where president bashir assad is expected to speak to parliament this morning about the past two weeks of anti-government protest. yesterday, assad's cabinet resigned. it's reported assad may lift a 60-year-old emergency law which is a key demand of government opponents. pro-assad demonstrators rallied in the syrian capital, and elsewhere, yesterday. in japan, radiation levels at the crippled nuclear power plant continue to rise. sea water outside the plant contains more than 3,000 times the usual amount of radiation. the highest rate yet detected. government officials admit there is no end in sight for this crisis, and today japan upgraded its safety standards for nuclear power plants. tomorrow, french president nicolas sarkozy is due to visit tokyo. he is the first foreign leader in japan since the march 11th quake. the president of the utility company that owns the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant has been hospitalized.

he's being treated for high blood pressure and dizziness. he hasn't been seen in public for nearly two weeks. also this morning, powerful and potentially dangerous storms are moving throughout the southeast. the weather system is producing heavy downpours. up to two inches an hour. flood watches are being posted in mississippi, and alabama. the storm produced strong winds, and possible tornado, and damaging hail as it moved through louisiana. >> never experienced hail like that before. it just beat everything to pieces. it knocked paint off my house. knocked holes in the wooden walls and broke windows. knocked the fence down. just a little bit. all kind of damage. my screen's all just tore to pieces. >> the storm is expected to move up the atlantic coast later today. now for the battle over state budgets and workers' rights. the state house in ohio is expected to vote today on a measure that would limit the collective bargaining rights of state workers.

the senate passed a similar bill earlier in the month. the bill would affect 350,000 state employees, including police officers, firefighters, and teachers. meanwhile, a wisconsin county judge ordered the state to put a similar law limiting workers' union rights on hold. the wisconsin law takes away workers' rights to collective bargaining and has them contribute more to their pensions and health insurance. now to the federal budget. the latest short-term spending measure expires april 8th. if a deal isn't reach, the federal government will partially shut down. but, house majority leader eric cantor said yesterday, quote, time is up and there will be no more stopgap measures. democrats are fighting dramatic budget cuts proposed by republican lawmakers. on the "cbs moneywatch," are home prices headed for a double-dip? and the bank bailout turns a profit. ashley morrison is here in new york with much more on that. good morning, ashley. >> good morning, betty. the asian markets hit positive ground this morning. tokyo's nikkei gained more than

2.5% while hong kong's hang seng jumped almost 2%. and oil is back near $105 a barrel. well, today, wall street gets the latest on the job market. on tuesday, corporate earnings helped pull stocks higher despite a big drop in consumer confidence. the dow rallied 81 points while the nasdaq gained 26. today the government's controversial bank bailout will actually turn a profit. the u.s. treasury expects three banks to repay a total of $7.4 billion. $245 billion in taxpayer money was used to rescue big banks and firms during the financial crisis. but, after today, the government will have gotten back $251 billion. new fears this morning of a double-dip in the housing market. a new report finds home prices fell in 19 out of 20 big cities in january. they're off more than 30% since 2006. and in four of those cities, atlanta, las vegas, detroit, and cleveland, home values are at

their lowest in 11 years. analysts say there are a few problems holding back the recovery. first there's way too much supply. especially with foreclosures accounting for almost a third of the market. second, unemployment remains high, and buyers are nervous. so demand is weak. and lastly, banks are still not giving out loans like they used to. most buyers need a 20% down payment. most economists expect it to take another two years before the market gets back on its feet. well, airlines are doing a better job of arriving and departing on time but new data shows they're losing baggage at record levels. worldwide, nearly 30 million bags did not arrive on the same flight as their owners last year. that's a 6% jump from 2009. that's more than 12 bags for every 1,000 passengers. and those preflight safety videos that you never pay attention to? well, maybe you would if you flew air new zealand. >> before takeoff we'd like to

run you through a few in-flight safety exercises. ♪ the only way >> hi, everybody, in the next three minutes we're going to work hard. work out. and get you fit to fly! let's go! >> that's right. the carrier hired fitness fanatic richard simmons to do the honors. as you might expect the video has gone viral on the internet. and betty, that looks like a good idea, actually. it's pretty funny. >> looks like a mess. okay. thank you, ashley joining us live here in new york. appreciate it. just ahead on the "morning news," the dramatic rescue of a snowboarder, and it's all caught on tape. plus, the disaster on the deepwater horizon. could bp employees face manslaughter charges? this is the "cbs morning news." from body and bath shops? with olay get what you love at half the price with new olay body collections, tantalizing fragrances and olay moisturizing ingredients that transform lathering into lavishing. olay body collections.

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virginia tech has been hit with a huge fine for its slow response to the deadly shooting on its campus nearly four years ago. 32 students and faculty were killed during the rampage. the department of education says

the school has to pay the maximum fine of $55,000 but did not take away any of its $98 million in student aid. the university says it will appeal. almost a year after the massive oil spill in the gulf, a possible security breach at bp. the company says an employee lost a laptop containing the data of thousands of people who filed claims after the gulf oil spill. the company sent a letter notify being them their information was in the computer, but says there is no evidence that it is being misused. the u.s. justice department is exploring whether to bring manslaughter charges against bp. 11 crew members died in the blast on the deepwater horizon. the explosion caused a huge leak, gushing oil for three months. it was the largest spill in history. but, prosecutors could have a hard time proving their case. >> they need to prove some culpability on behalf of some individuals at the well, perhaps even corporate actors for

ignoring known risks. >> bp officials could also face perjury charges if they lied to congress after the accident. a killer whale returns to performing today for the first time after killing a trainer last year. the six-ton male orca is scheduled to perform in the main show at seaworld orlando. the killer whale dragged trainer dawn brancheau under water last february, killing her. seaworld says it is taking precautions to protect its trainers. a california snowboarder's amazing rescue was caught on videotape. james drum und was wearing a helmet camera while snowboarding on mount shasta last monday. he fell upside down in six feet of snow in a tree well. he was able to reach his cell phone when his wife called, he told her to call the ski patrol. >> i'm stuck in a tree well. give them my phone number. >> are you serious? >> i'm going to die if they don't find me. >> are you serious? >> yes! call them!

give them my number. >> where are you? >> give them my number! >> hello. >> wow. the ski patrol did find him, thankfully, unharmed and he is already back on the slopes. that is one lucky man there. in the barry bonds trial, a mass confession to using steroids. all-star jason giambi admitted he got performance enhancing drugs from bonds' trainer greg anderson. two other players said the same thing. bonds claimed he didn't know the substance his trainer was giving him was steroids. straight ahead your wednesday morning weather, and in sports, the cavs hitting lebron james hard, looking for a whole lot of revenge.

here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. new york, sunny, 52. miami, partly cloudy, 88. chicago, it's going to be sunny there, 44 degrees. dallas, mostly cloudy, 62. and l.a., a sunny 81. time now for a check of the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows powerful storm clouds in the southeast. the northwest is bracing itself for the next wave of rain. and it will be another tranquil day in the southwest. northern plains and northeast. but later today, more severe weather in the southeast. heavy rains will dump several inches in the gulf coast states as well as in the northwest. and temperatures will feel

cooler in the southern plains and slowly return to normal in the northeast. in sports, the cleveland cavaliers finally get the win they desperately want. lebron james was back in town making crazy shots for the miami heat. but the cavs would not be denied this time. cleveland runs over the heat 102-90. golden state and oklahoma go into overtime on ellis' last-second three pointer. with the clock running out, ellis takes the shot for the win but it bounces off the rim. the thunder beat the warriors 115-114. the rockets continue to roll, demolishing new jersey nets. this one wasn't even close. houston cruises past the nets 112-87, for their sixth win in seven games. and a close game in sacramento as demarcus cousins hits the off-ballet-in to tie the game. phoenix battle to keep it close but in the end, sacramento slides past the suns 116-113.

when we return, another look at this morning's top stories. and women versus walmart. it could be the biggest gender discrimination lawsuit ever. but will the supreme court let them sue? you know rheumatoid arthritis means pain. but you may not know it can also mean destruction. not just of your joints, but of the things you love to do. and the longer you live with the aching, swelling, and stiffness, the closer you may be to having your favorite things... taken away from you. but you can take action today. go to ra.com for your free joint profile so you can better talk to your rheumatologist about protecting your joints.

a fiber that dissolves completely, is clearly different. benefiber. it's the easy way to get more fiber everyday. that's the beauty of benefiber. the financial aid, now on the way to landslide victims in hercules.. why one homeowner says he should have never been allowed to move in. plus.. baseball all-stars confess on the stand. what their steroids admission means for barry bond's case. and.. not just a sugar rush. how food dye, could be making your kids hyper. and breaking news.. in san francisco. a fire evacuates several apartments. join us for cbs 5 early edition ... beginning at 4:30. ,,,,

on the "cbs morning news," here's a look at today's weather. more severe weather will shake up the southeast. the wet weather seems endless in the northwest. the southwest will stay dry and warm, though. and temperatures return to normal on the northeast and stay cool in the northern plains. here's another look at this morning's top stories. today, nato takes control of the allied military operation in libya. libyan troops have launched a counteroffensive and rebel troops are retreating from several key cities. the u.s. navy launched another barrage of cruise missiles in libya. and sea water outside the damaged japanese nuclear power

plant has radiation levels more than 3,000 times higher than normal. that is the highest rate yet detected. the u.s. supreme court heard arguments tuesday on whether a huge class action suit against walmart should be allowed to proceed. the suit alleges female workers were discriminated against at more than 3400 walmart and sams club stores. danielle nottingham reports. >> reporter: betty dukes talked to reporters in front of the supreme court tuesday, almost ten years after she first complained about alleged sex discrimination at walmart. a complaint that has turned into a giant class action lawsuit against america's largest retailer. dukes went to court because she says male workers at walmart make more, and get promoted faster. >> walmart is trying their level best to keep us out of court so the facts will not be presented to the public at large or before a sitting jury. >> reporter: walmart says not so.

the company argues that the suit is so big, that not all the women covered by it are in the same situation. and that's the issue that the supreme court will decide. not whether walmart is guilty, but whether hundreds of thousands of women should all be part of one giant lawsuit. at least one justice suggested he's troubled by lower court decisions that allowed the lawsuit to proceed. anthony kennedy also said he's unsure what was the unlawful policy at walmart. >> i've had a very positive experience at walmart, like thousands of other women. >> reporter: but outside court, a plaintiff told about being held to a different standard when she asked for a promotion. >> i was told to blow the cobwebs off my makeup and to doll up. >> reporter: walmart says it has a long history of promoting women and fighting discrimination. if the case goes ahead, it could end up costing america's largest employer billions of dollars. danielle nottingham, cbs news, at the supreme court. this morning on "the early

show," more of erica hill's one-on-one interview with president obama. i'm betty nguyen. this is the "cbs morning news." depression is a serious medical condition. i feel like i have to wind myself up to deal with the sadness, the loss of interest, the lack of energy. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor about pristiq -- a prescription medicine proven to treat depression. pristiq is thought to work by affecting the levels of two chemicals in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. pristiq is not approved for children under 18. do not take pristiq with maois. taking pristiq with nset pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. tell your doctor about all your medications, including those for migraine, to avoid a potentially life threatening condition. pristiq may cause or worsen high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or glaucoma. tell your doctor if you have heart disease, or before you reduce or stop taking pristiq.

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an eighth grader in west port, connecticut, has made a disturbing video about bullying. the youtube video shows her using handwritten signs to explain why she is unhappy. she says she is insulted every day and her haunting video pleads for help. it has thousands of hits on youtube and has received an outpouring of sympathetic comments. the fda opens two days of hearings this morning on the safety of food coloring. the agency wants to see if the dyes might play a role in causing behavior problems in children such as adhd or other disorders. consumer advocates hope this leads to warning labels on some food products like cereals and sodas. critics say there is no evidence

the coloring has any effect on children. well, love hurts. the song was a top ten hit in 1975, but it was also a medically accurate song, because at least that's what a new study reveals. ben tracy explains why. >> reporter: the santa monica pier is often overrun with flocks of lovebirds. they do a lot of this. >> there's like no words for it really to explain. you know that it's love. >> reporter: but laquita jones knows there are words when it ends. have you ever been dumped? >> yes. >> reporter: what did that feel like? >> heartbreaking. >> reporter: most of us have felt the pain. >> it was a gut punch. that's classic, man. you don't actually have to get hit to feel it. >> you feel like you're hyperventilating. >> it's sick. you know, like you just got punched in the stomach real hard. >> reporter: science is now trying to explain why getting our feelings hurt actually, physically hurts.

the researchers rounded up 40 people who had been broken up with in the past six months. in one test they touched them with a hot probe to make them feel physical pain, and then in another test they made them focus on a picture of their ex and think about their breakup. the very same area of their brains was activated whether they were in actual, physical pain or the emotional distress of being rejected. and researchers now think heartache has a purpose. >> there's a lot of evidence which indicates that having good, social relationships is paramount to health. so when we're alone, we experience physical pain, and that's a cue to say, time to get things back on track. >> reporter: and that's what laquita did. >> hopefully soon to be engaged. >> reporter: very good. so you still believe in love? >> yes, love is out there. >> reporter: it might hurt. >> but it's worth the pain. >> reporter: ben tracy, cbs news, santa monica. >> and coming up a little bit later on "the early show," former defense secretary donald rumsfeld on president obama's strategy in libya. plus, speed traps. do they make the road safer? or are they just money-making schemes?

and actor david schwimmer joins us to talk about his new movie that deals with online sexual predators. that's the "cbs morning news" for this wednesday. thanks for watching, everyone. i'm betty nguyen. have a great day. ,,,,,,