>> jeff: tonight the heat is on, power is off. high temperatures persist across much of the country. millions still have no electricity. whit johnson has the latest. >> mexico's old guard on the brink of winning today's presidential vote. bill whitaker is there. >> it's been very, very difficult. i felt like i've been letdown. i felt like i've been betrayed. >> jeff: what happens when public employee pensions are pinched by city governments. a report from san jose. >> and comfort food after a crisis. lucy kraft watches a master chef at work preserving local recipes half a world away captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news." >> jeff: good evening, everyone, i'm jeff glor. the national weather service calls the heat historic.

and for americans just about everywhere there is little relief. temperatures in the 90s, even 1900s have settled in across much of the country. take a look at this, 99 new record highs were set in june. compare that with only one in june of 2011 and none in june 2010. and to make matters worse right now roughly 3 million people are still without power following friday night's powerful storms. whit johnson is tracking the weather and the cleanup. >> as utility crews scramble to restore power to 45% of the dc metro area, temperatures flirted with triple digits for the fourth day in a row. >> all cleaned out. >> for people like 67-year-old bob cole of arlington, virginia, the combination of heat and no lech tris sit life threatening. >> i'm diabetic so we have to keep insulin and i have to eat, you know, certain foods. >> reporter: fortutely bob is able to store his insulin in a neighbor's refrigerator. but with so much damage left

over from friday night's violent storm, utility crews from as far away as new england and canada have been asked to help out. in ohio where 700,000 are still in the dark, eddie and dreama thomas lost their house after their generator caught fire. >> i heard a boom and then i heard him screaming, dreama, get out of the house. the house is on fire. >> reporter: in virginia william and edith benetton were killed in their home by a fire likely caused by sparking power lines. both were in their 90s. >> they were an amazing couple with an incredible faith. and they were together to the very end. >> reporter: in west virginia, 230 amtrak customers spent the night on a train. the tracks blocked in both directions by fallen trees. and new york city which dodged the brunt of the storm is having its own power problems. 8,000 workers at con ed, the city's major utility provider are off the job after union negotiations broke down. this as the city once again faces temperatures in the

90s. with outages expected to go into next week, many are surviving with generators. >> now here to cool the living room and kitchen area. >> reporter: others unable to beat the heat are doing their best to enjoy it. >> dancing joyfully, just getting wet. >> reporter: here in the greater d.c. area nearly a million people are still without power. the outages and intense heat so severe that tomorrow nonemergency federal workers have been given the option to stay home. jeff. >> jeff: whit johnson, thank you. the extreme heat and tender dry conditions are creating more problems for firefighters. more than a dozen fires are burning across five states. but in colorado, there is progress to report in the battle against the huge waldo canyon fire, now in its second week. here's anna werner. >> reporter: hines of cars lined up sunday as some residents were allowinged baing into neighborhoods badly damaged by the fire

for the first time. doug gibson can't move back into his house yet. but it is still standing. >> you were lucky. >> very. >> reporter: when did you learn that? >> probably after i saw the denver post's pictures and i could actually see our house. but our neighbors house next to me was burned down. but many of the other homes that are close by were still in perspect-- perfect shape. >> reporter: others found their homes in ashes. the intense flames obliterating almost 350 homes. and though the fire is 45 percent contained and hasn't spread in three days, danger remains. fire officials tell cbs news conditions now are similar to use when the fire raged out of control. that's the reason roughly 10,000 people remain evacuated. down from 30,000 at the height of the fire. >> he's happy to be home. >> reporter: some who have returned home found property missing. linda burton's car was stolen from in front of the

house she was forced to evacuate. >> it's almost as bad as the house being burned down because you feel violated that there are people out there that prey upon victims and people that are already suffering. >> reporter: the fire has killed two people and fighting it has cost nearly $9 million to date. the source of the fire is still unknown. only this weekend has it become safe enough for investigators to go into look for a cost. colorado alone has seen nearly a dozen fires in recent weeks. and with four other western states battling large blazes, the 2012 fire season seems destined to be a busy one. anna warner, cbs news, colorado springs, colorado. >> jeff: the extreme drought is dimming fourth of july firework festivities in colorado and at least seven other states. colorado has cancelled nine public firework displays and banned private firework purchases. it is election day in mexico today. faced with a sluggish economy and a bloody war with drug cartels, voters

say they want change on their next president. and it appears they are going back in time to achieve that. in mexico city, here's bill whitaker. >> reporter: if the last polls are correct, you could be looking at the next president of mexico. enrique pena nieto, the youthful candidate with the movie star looks and soap opera star wife is the fresh face of the old guard. the pri which controlled mexico with an iron fist for most of the 209th century. the auto grat-- autocratic party was booted out of power in 2,000 by the conservative national action party which hopes to hold on to the presidency with economist josefina vazquez mota. she could be mexico's first woman president. running third, andres manuel lopez obrador of the left-leaning democratic revolution party, the favorite of students and workers, who can't believe the country is poised to hand power back to the former ruling party with its legacy of corruption and

repression. >> i think it's going to be like a dark, dark years to come, you know. i wouldn't like for him to women because we've been dealing with that for 70 years. >> reporter: but in the 12 years the pri has been out of power, mexico has grown weary of this. the war on mexico's drug cartel, the signature policy of outgoing president felipe calderon has left more than 50,000 people dead in a country worried about its future. >> a mood captured by this video gone viral with kids asking adults for a better future. 11-year-old ignacio and paulina are in the video. >> paulina told me she wants a future without corruption and murder. a country where kids run and play and not in fear. >> the pri says it has changed its years out of power and pena nieto says he represents the new pri

dedicated to democracy, transparency, stability. a weary nation seems willing to give the old guard a new chance. bill whitaker, cbs news, mexico city. >> jeff: still to come on tonight's "cbs evening news." does san jose know the way? the fight over pensions in strapped cities across the country.

>> jeff: as the fourth of july holiday approaches gas prices continue sink. the average price of 3.33 a gallon is down 9 cents in just the past week and perhaps helped by those prices aaa predicts holiday travel will spike sharply this year. more than 42 million americans will venture more than 50 miles from home. the highest number since 2007 before the recession. still feeling the pain of the recession, a growing number of cities are cutting the pay and pensions of public employees. but there can be a backlash. priya clemens in san jose has a case in point. >> how are you feeling about leaving?

>> very sad. i mean it's a very, very tough decision. >> reporter: after 15 years as a motorcycle cop in san jose, sergeant ed conover says he just can't afford to keep patrolling the streets of silicon valley. >> i live in san jose, i own a home in san jose but if i take another 20, 25% pay cut i lose my house. it's done, i'm gone. >> reporter: he's decided to look for a new job in a new city, potentially joining an exodus of other police officers leaving san jose. fallout from a vote in june to reform pension pay. mayor chuck reed spearheaded the tough ballot measure which requires workers pay more now into their pension plans and abandon some benefits already promised. to do people like new the city. >> some people do. some people don't. i don't know what the percentage is. >> reporter: mayor reed says the cuts were the only way to avoid going down the path of california cities like vallejo and more recently stockton which both declared bankruptcy. >> we just couldn't wait and

hope that things turned out for the best. because they were not going to turn out well. >> reporter: san jose cut salaries 10% across-the-board. slashed 2,000 jobs and left libraries and a police station empty and unstaffed. reid say-- reed says it wasn't enough. pensions cost the city more than half its entire payroll and 21% of its again fund budget. other cities with big pension obligations like philadelphia with 28% of its budget and los angeles with 32% are also worried. >> when mayor reed won 70% of the vote to cut retirement may, it seemed san jose might have an answer. >> what we did does demonstrate that if you take this problem to the voters will you have strong public support. >> but the solution here provoked a court fight and has left bitterness between the city and its workers says san jose state professor larry gerston. >> the city has prevailed. and it's been ugly. and as a result the city may be in a better place today financially but there are a

lot of wounds to be licking. >> i felt like i have been letdown. i fell like i have been betrayed. >> reporter: litigation could take years. but the mayor says unless there is a restraining order he will push ahead to make changes now. priya clemens, cbs news, san jose. >> jeff: ahead, health care for seniors that seems to, without despite dwindling resources. that story is next.

>> jeff: tea party supporters wrapped up their second annual we the people convention in columbus, ohio last night. and given thursday's supreme court decision and november's presidential election, there was no lack of material up for

discussion. one tea party convention sponsor called it the most crucial election in the history of our lives. still enthusiasm for the presumptive republican nominee in columbus remains mixed. kelly sanders is a nurse and registered independent. >> i believe that i do, i am being forced to vote for the lesser of the two evils which would be mitt romney. >> jeff: retiree edward vincent expressed similar reservations. >> he was a career politician. and some of his stuff that he did in the past was not conservative enough. >> jeff: but peter vessnes of minnesota believes the health care ruling may help his group coalesce. >> i believe governor romney's support will increase among the grass roots people. tea party or not. simply because there is a lot of very vocal emotional opposition to the idea of federally mandated and

federally controlled health care. >> jeff: the supreme court ruling did motivate the voters. in the 24 hours after the ruling the campaign said it took in 4.6 million dollars. controlling health-care cost one way or another is one key to reduce the federal deficit. and while republicans and democrats continue debating the big picture, there are smaller programs right now trying to make a difference. here's terrell brown. >> she can barely walk, osteoporosis has left her wheelchair bound, unemployed and for years depressed. >> where would you be if it weren't for this. >> six feet down. i would be dead. >> reporter: at 65 barrett feared she would have to live in a nursing home. instead she joined a program of all inclusive care for the elderly, or pace which allows her to live at home and get care and company. >> it hurts. >> reporter: barrett receives coordinated care from a team of doctors,

nurses and social workers. and activities from yoga, to music. pace is funded by the states through medicaid and by the federal government through medicare. but with billions in cuts looming to both programs, some see pace as the new health care model. >> i think this program is a very strong alternative to nursing home-based care. >> joe heally heads new york health system which has 300 patients, the biggest pace program in the country with. nursing home costs averaging nearly 90,000 a year for each patient, the number of pace programs at 60,000 a year has doubled in the last five years from 42 to 89. >> the pace programs are a terrific idea. it currently provides benefits though for only about 20,000 people so it's very small. it's very limited. and it has its issues.

>> reporter: one of those issues according to howard glekman of the urban institute is that many states don't have enough money even for the pace program. >> new york is a relatively generous state. other states provide very, very small benefits. >> reporter: but for edith barrett, pace is priceless. >> it is the greatest joy for me that i have my own bed. >> reporter: bar set one of a huge wave of 70 million baby boomers who will require some kind of personal care over the next 20 years, putting in even greater strain on health-care costs. terrell brown, cbs news, new york. >> jeff: we'll be right back.

>> jeff: gunmen in kenya today attacked two christian churches in a town near the somali border. at least 15 people were killed and 40 others hurt. there was no immediate claim of responsibility but locals are blaming a radical islamic group from some allia. in afghanistan a man in a

police uniform fired on nato soldiers today killing three of them. problems and challenges continue for both the afghan police force and the army as the u.s. prepares to leave. training them has not been easy. with an update, here's john bentley. >> reporter: while u.s. marines stand back to observe, afghan national army officers instruct new recruits in marksmanship. there is also little input from the marines while an afghan lieutenant outlines a mocked ambush. and that's part of the plan. u.s. marines in the green truck play the part of taliban insurgents. the ana executes an ambush, pinning the insurgents between two lines of fire. marine general mark gurganus admits the afghan troops still have a lot to learn. >> it's always difficult to start with, i mean, because you're starting with a pretty small baseline of expertise. >> reporter: the afghan soldiers say they are still reliant on u.s. forces.

>> if the marines provide us with better equipment and training says lieutenant asadullah rahim then we will be able to defend our country. it's not just weapons and tactics the afghans need. the afghan forces face huge challenges in leadership, logistics and supplies. >> the biggest challenge is tries to train at the same time you are trying to build an army, at the same time you're trying to fight a counterinsurgency. >> pulling soldiers off the battlefield to learn from other afghans instead of u.s. forces is a crucial step in their development a tord-- according to general gurganus. but the most difficult problem the army faces has nothing to do with guns or tanks. it's illiteracy. 86% of the afghan army can't read or write. teaching soldiers those basic skills may mean the difference between success and failure. because in two years, the afghan national army will be on its own. john bentley, cbs news, helmand, afghanistan.

>> swimmers and surfers on cape cod have been warned, a great white shark was spotted yesterday about 100 yards off the shore of chatham. the shark is believed to have been attracted to the area by an a bundance of seals. up next, an american chef living in japan offering comfort through cooking. that story is next.

>> japan today restarted its first nuclear power plant since last year's massive earthquake an tsunami. all 50 nuclear plants in the country were closed down for safety checks after the meltdown at fukushima. hundreds of people near the plant that's reopening in central japan protested that move. the earthquake and tsunami was a disaster for the country but especially the region around the fukushima plant in northern japan. including for its local foods. so how does a celebrity chef from the u.s. help? in tokyo, here's luzy kraft.

>> reporter: japan's disaster zone is known as the tohoku, it means northeast, the new england of japan tohoku is famed for ingredients like scallops and sea vegetables, products damaged by the tsunami or radiation fears. >> you don't want to add the soy sauce or any other seasoning until things are tender. enter celebrity chef lized beth andoh passionate about foods. so devoted is she is rushing to save the endangered cuisine of tohoku with a new cookbook. >> the title i gave to the book, kibo means hope. and i decided it was brimming with hope because that really better describes the "sense and sensibility" of people moving forward. >> tohoku cuisine reflects life in a rugged chilly climb ant using simple ingredients. >> tofu dish that use dried fruit and nuts and tofu and it is just beyond wonderful. >> we think of it as bland and boring. >> her ens not. >> andor has been teaching

its world how to slice bamboo and sear pine nut force 40 years. >> this isrights that has been cooked with that flavorful liquid that was extracted from all of our vegetables. japan's staple food, rice was the first food eaten by survivors and has a special residence now. >> i think it's true of pretty much anybody who is ever, unfortunately, been in a disaster, you just really wanting to know what is dependable, brings back good feelings about what happened before and it gives you courage to move forward. >> reporter: the color -- >> the colors of red and white are the colors of felicity or happy innocence japan. >> for this new yorker, hope is where the hearth is. lucy kraft, cbs news, tokyo. >> that is the "cbs evening news" tonight. later on cbs, "60 minutes." i'm jeff glor. cbs news in new york. scott pelley will be here tomorrow. good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org

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