>> how is that possible. >> we will see you back here at 6 pm. ored by cbs >> ninan: the flynn firing revisited. idate after michael flynn pleads guilty to lying to the f.b.i., the president explains why he had to go. >> mr. president! >> ninan: is he worried about what flynn might tell investigators? >> no, i'm not, and what has been shown is no collusion. >> ninan: also tonight, senate republicans narrowly pass a $1.5 trillion tax bill. it benefits corporations and wealthy. what's in it for everyone else? a teenaged girl missing nearly a week is found 1200 miles from home along with a high school soccer coach. a controversial art exhibit features the work of guantanamo bay prisoners. and at stadiums across the country, fans do the wave, but not like this.

>> i would describe it as a great, big, giant hug from 70,000 people. this is the "cbs weekend news." >> ninan: good evening. i'm reena ninan. president trump today revisited the firing of his national security adviser, michael flynn. president suggests that he knew back when flynn was forced out that he had lie to the f.b.i. flynn pleaded guilty to that yesterday. he's now cooperating with special counsel robert mueller's investigation into russia's meddling in the election, and possible related crimes. in a tweet today, the president said flynn's actions during the transition were lawful and that there was nothing to hide. the president offered no explanation for flynn's subsequent lies, which were a felony. here's justice reporter paula reid. >> reporter: as the president left the white house this morning to head to new york, he made his first remarks on news that former national security adviser mike flynn had struck a deal with special counsel robert

mueller. >> no, i'm not, and what has been shown is no collusion, no collusion. there's been absolutely-- that's been absolutely no collusion, so we're very happy. >> reporter: in court yesterday, flynn admitted to lying to f.b.i. agents about the details of two phone calls he had with then-russian ambassador to the u.s. sergei kislyak, during the presidential transition. flynn nowat of admits he discussed u.s. sanctions against russia with kislyak at the direction of top transition officials. in his tweet, the president acknowledge of acknowledged for the first time that he knew flynn had lied to federal investigators before he was fired. "i had to fire general flynn because he lie to the vice president and the f.b.i." lying to the f.b.i. say felony. flynn was a loyal trump surrogate during the campaign, but he was fired as the president's national security adviser after just 24 days. at the time, the white house said he was fired for lying to vice president pence about his

communications with kislyak. pence had publicly said they did not discuss sanctions. >> they did not discuss anything having to do with the united states' decision to expel diplomats, or impose censure against russia. >> reporter: the president's tweet also suggests that he knew flynn had committed a felony when on february 14 he asked then-f.b.i. director james comey to shut down the investigation into flynn. special counsel mueller continues to investigate whether the president or anyone else potentially obstructed justice in trying to tamp down the flynn probe. today, we learned that special counsel robert mueller dismissed one of his top f.b.i. investigators after learning that he sent potentially anti-trump text messages to a colleague. reena. >> ninan: thank you very much, paula. well, it was an overnight success for senate republicans. they narrowly passed a $1.5 trillion tax plan. it benefits corporations and the wealthy, but what's in it for everyone else?

here's errol barnett. >> reporter: at a fund-raiser in new york today, president trump was boastful about the senate's passage of the g.o.p. tax bill. >> last night, we passed, in the history of the country, the largest tax cuts, and reform. >> reporter: marathon negotiations stretched overnight with vice president pence announcing the success of senate republicans just before 2:00 a.m. >> the tax cuts and jobs act as amended is passed. ( applause ) >> reporter: senate majority leader mitch mcconnell praised his party's legislative win. >> this is a great day for the country. it's been 31 years since we've done comprehensive tax reform. >> reporter: not all americans will see equal financial gains. the corporate tax cut from 35% to 20% is permanent, but individuals and families would get a temporary tack cut. it's estimated a family of four earning $75,000 annually would initially get a tax break averaging $2200, but only until

2025. >> millions of americans must be watching in stunned disbelief tonight. >> reporter: democratic senators, without enough votes to stop the bill, could only protest. >> they're sending around their edits as we speak. >> you can tell me what that word is? >> reporter: retiring tennessee senator bob corker, the lone republican hold-out was frustrated the bill added over $1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. >> and it just came down to the-- sort of bump-up between fiscal issues and my concern about the, you know, the long-term debt. >> reporter: the senate's bill now heads into corches, where republicans will work to reconcile it with the house version, ironing out key differences. now, president trump wants congressional republicans to get him a final tax bill to sign before christmas. this is in addition to other pending deadlines. republicans are also preparing a two-week spending bill to avoid a government shutdown before

federal funding runs out this upcoming friday. reena. >> ninan: errol barnett from the white house. thank you, errol. a florida teenager missing for nearly a week has been found. she turned up almost 1200 miles from home near syracuse, new york, along with a high school soccer coach. roxana saberi has the story. >> we are so thankful to have her back. >> reporter: nearly a week after she went missing from her home in florida, caitlyn frisina looked shaken as he reunited with her parents in central new york. >> it's been difficult. i'm glad to have my daughter back where i know i can protect her and keep her safe as a father always wants to do. >> reporter: the reunion comes less than a day after authorities found caitlyn with family friend rian rodriguez. they detained the 27-year-old after pulling his car over in the syracuse suburb parking lot. state trooper kaden kelso. >> i don't think either one of them wanted to run. >> reporter: kat caitlyn's pares

had reported their daughter missing last sunday in florida. the search continued to georgia, where caitlyn's debit card was iewldzed to withdraw $200. she was later spotted with rodriguez at gas stations in south carolina and a pawnshop in north carolina. investigators believe the two arrived in new york on tuesday, sleeping in local motels and rod reas' car. three days later, he was caught. >> his comment to us was that, "just like florida there's a lot of friendly people." that he felt syracuse was a lot like florida and that he could find some time to spend here. >> he knew rodriguez for years and helped him get a job as an assistant soccer coach at caitlyn's high school. >> it may make me a little more cautious when i'm trusting people, but we have to love and cherish people, even if that cost is getting hurt sometimes. >> reporter: rodriguez is being held on a felony charge filed in florida known as interference with child custody.

reena, he could also face federal charges because he took caitlyn across state lines. >> ninan: roxana, thank you very much. well a man who had been deported to mexico five times before killing a woman in san francisco once again faces deportation. a jury decided this week the shooting was an accident. john blackstone is following the case. >> reporter: a day after jose ines garcia zarate was found not guilty in the murder of kate steinle, he now faces deportation and potential federal prison time forviating . an amended arrest warrant, which was unsealed friday, says zarate must be returned to federal custody and transported to texas for sentencing, but it's unclear whether zarate would serve him time in the steinle case before he's turned over to the feds. he faces up to three years behind bars when he's sentenced. thursday's verdict has also rig nighted an intense national debate over immigration and sanctuary city policies, like san francisco. >> from day one, this case was

used as a means to foment hate. >> reporter: garcia zarate had been recently released from the san francisco jail when his attorneys say he accidentally shot steinle in 2015. under seasoninguary city policies, he had not been turned over to immigration authorities. president trump referenced the killing throughout his campaign. >> another victim is kate steinle, gunned down in the sanctuary city of san francisco. >> reporter: the president weighed in on the verdict on twitter friday accusing top democrats of being weak on crime and calling zarate's exoneration a complete travesty of justice. san francisco city officials have pushed back against criticism vowing to stand by their so-called sanctuary city policy. john blackstone, cbs news, san francisco. >> ninan: the death toll from what was already the deadliest terror attack in somalia's

history has risen dramatically. two truck bombs explodeed in the capital of mogadishu. officials now say 512 people were killed, and more than 60 are still missing. no one claimed responsibility but officials blamed the al qaeda-linked group shap. rush stepped down today as president of sidney academy. rush denies the allegations, but says it's best that he step aside until the issues are resolved. there was a terrible crash today on the oakland side of the bay bridge near san francisco. a truck slammed into the tollbooth killing a worker. seven people were injured, including the driver of the rented truck. he has been arrested on suspicion of d.u.i. coming up next, newt cars with the most distracting dashboard systems. and later, created in captivity-- the controversial art exhibit features the work of suspected terrorists.

driven a new car lately, you've found yourself struggling to operate a dashboard that looks like it belongs in an airplane cockpit. well, a new report says that high-tech touch screens are dangerously distracting. here's don dahler. >> reporter: joel feldman lost his 21-year-old daughter, casey, to a distracted driver in 2009. >> casey's last words were, "i want my mom." >> reporter: last year, distracted driving killed more than 3,000 people in the u.s. which do you think is more dangerous, the texting while driving or messing around with the infotainment system? >> they're both dangerous. >> reporter: jake fisher is "consumer reports'" director of auto testing.

>> the issue is once you get involved in all of those features there, you're gonna get distracted and you're gonna get consumed by it. >> reporter: infotainment systems have become so advanced, you can do everything from adjusting the lighting-- >> lighting settings ...navigating your g.p.s. and even surfing the internet while driving. safety features like lane departure warning and automatic brake category help prevent crashes caused by distractions. >> wow! >> reporter: but even setting those can take your eyes off the road. >> if i want to get into some of my safety systems-- >> reporter: you're having to spend a lot of time looking at the screen while you're driving. >> exactly right. >> reporter: with so much technology behind the wheel, joel feldman worries drivers can becoming complacent. >> they continue to drive distracted, but, like russian roulette, one day it will catch up with all of us. >> reporter: cbs news reached out to all 20 manufacturers that were reviewed in the report.

several said that they they hadn't had a chance to take a look at the report yet, but that safety is their primary concern. mercedes-benz' spfns that "it's constantly trying to balance human-machine interface while minimizing driver distractions." don dahler, cbs news, new york. >> ninan: well, coming up next, a controversial art exhibit showing off the work of current and former prisoners at guantanamo bay.

>> ninan: an art exhibit here in new york city at the john jay college of criminal justice is stirring up controversy. it features artwork by current and former guantanamo bay prisoners. they are, or were suspected terrorists. kenneth craig has the story. >> most of the works don't directly express the pain of imprisonment. >> reporter: the serene images are a far cry from life in

captivity at guantanamo bay. many are seascapes painted by accused terrorists, men who haven't actually seen the ocean for years. >> some people are angry that the art does what they think is galorifying terrorism, and i try to explain to them that that's not my goal at all. >> reporter: curator erin thompson believes the art provides insight into the effects of long-term confinement at the military prison. every artist is a current or former detainee, working with scraps of material they gathered in their cells. >> it's made out of cardboard, pieces of old t-shirts stiffened with glue. the rig signature netting from inside of the prayer caps he's given. >> reporter: this one is paint a mixture of gravel and glue. >> whether you believe these men are guilty or innocent they are a glimpse into their soles. >> reporter: michael burke's brother, captain william burke, was killed in the north tower

that day. >> i don't think we need to see their watercolors to get a better idea of what their souls are about. >> reporter: captain burke's name is inscribed on a memorial just a few floors below the art of suspected operatives. burke thinks it simply needs to be balanced with images from the 9/11 attacks. >> let's show the people 100 stories in the air with flames and smoke behind them, people tumbling through the air. >> reporter: burke calls the show an out rage, but thompson says it's simply a form of communication for men who arev no other contact with the outside world. kenneth craig, cbs news, new york. >> ninan: well, still ahead, did you buy your christmas tree yet? in some places it may actually be too late.

. >> ninan: well, if you wait too long to buy a christmas tree this year, you may end up pining for one. meg oliver now on the national christmas tree sortage.

>> reporter: 'tis the season for picking out the perfect christmas tree, but for many shoppers it's coming with a bit of sticker shock. >> it was higher than i was expect, and we paid about the same for a bigger tree last year. >> reporter: the national christmas tree association says prices are on the rise, around 5% to 10% in many states. it's being blamed on a christmas tree shortage in certain parts of the country. >> speaking to my grower, he said, "john i'm not sure if i'm going to be able to give you your entire order this year so you might want to start looking around." and then all the growers are saying, "we're shorter than usual. of. >.>> reporter: it takes 7-10 years for a christmas tree to grow and that's at the root of the problem. during the financial crisis nine years ago cask-strapped people bought fewer trees, growers went out of business or planted fewer trees. which trees are you seeing a shortage in? >> which type of trees? some of the larger trees. >> reporter: at fred christmas

trees in new jersey, owner joseph dunford says people are rushing to get a tree. >> they're telling us they are afraid they can't get a tree. >> he think he's might sell out early but can't get his hands on more. have you been able to get more trees? >> this season, no. i asked to get a few hundred more because our truck wasn't full but they don't have them. >> reporter: planters are now planting more trees but it will take time for them to reach full height which means next year's prices could be higher again. meg oliver, cbs news, clifton, new jersey. >> ninan: when we return iowa state football fans redefine the wave.

>> ninan: we end tonight with a heartwarming gesture in the american heartland. football fans at iowa state have redefined the wave in a very cool way. dana jacobson has the story. >> reporter: it's a sea of black and gold. >> man, i love this. >> reporter: 70,000 strong. >> this is the first football season that the new children's

hospital in iowa city is open, and it's right behind kinnick stadium. >> reporter: waving in unison, smiling up at the faces above. as the first quarter draws to a close, football fans turn to acknowledge the patients at the university's children's hospital. >> everybody wave! >> reporter: each game, dozens of kids now have the best seats in the house. 12-year-old kaden kelso was one of them. >> especially when you're in the hospital and you're sick, it makes you feel a lot better. >> reporter: mary ferentz, wife of iowa coach kirk ferentz, has taken part in the new tradition. >> i would describe it as a great, big, giant hug from 70,000 people. >> the university iowa. >> reporter: that giant hug is just the latest display of the deep ties between the team, its fans, and the children and families at the hospital. >> i think the proximity of the new hospital is just a constant reminder of what's really important, the battles that are being fought over there. >> this provided a real opportunity for our players to spend time with people that are

a little bit less fortunate. >> both lungs sound just good. >> reporter: kaden spent about a month in the hospital after doctors found and operated on a tumor on his lung. during his stay, a hometown here oh, hawkeyes wide receiver nick easley, paid him a visit. >> we just talked about football and he said, "hey, kid." and he gave me his playing gloves and he told me that i'm an inspiration. >> reporter: what did that mean to you? >> it meant a lot coming from him. he's just a really good football player, and i really like football. >> reporter: did that make some of this time here a little bit easier? >> a lot easier. >> just think about him and all the kids up here going through a lot tougher things than we are out there kind of, you know, puts? perspective on it. >> reporter: football players are often found walking the halls of the children's hospital. >> hey! there you go! >> good job! >> reporter: it's a connection that's helped them win over a few fans, like sam davidson, who at age four was already loyal to the hawkeyes' in-state rival,

iowa state. sam spent several months undergoing high-dose chemo at the hospital after brain surgery. >> he says he's a fan of both now because he likes watching you guys. >> reporter: senior akrum wadley has been spending time with the hospital's young patients since early on in his college football career. what do you remember that coaches said about the relationships you have with these kids giremember in the locker room he talked about how strong the kids are. he always reminds us there are some people that got it worse than us, and he also reminded us that we're not as strong as them. >> reporter: i talked to a couple of your players who said you remind them those kids in that hospital are stronger than they are. ( applause ) >> the thing i would say is the impact is really more on us, and that's something i always try to remind our players. like most things, it's simple yrkt, so powerful, and in these times it's nice to have something that really uniifies people fair good cause. >> ninan: and that's the cbs weekend news for this saturday. later on cbs "48 hours." i'm reena ninan in new york.

live from the cbs day area studio, this is kpix 5 news. a truck driver facing dui charges in the train reaction crash that killed a bay bridge toll taker. 13 hours later traffic is still at a standstill. the view from chopper 5 gives you a view of the impact. the tollbooth has blend -- been obliterated. it is an active investigation scene. jackie ward is at the toll plaza with the latest on the situation. >> reporter: traffic is still a mess primarily because six tolls are still closed at this hour. you can see that caltrans workers are still here trying to clean everything up.

the damage was caused by a single truck and it is the reason one woman is dead tonight.>> the amount of damage involved spread across several lanes and how badly damaged the other vehicles and the truck are , the word is shocking. >> reporter: just after 5 am a truck heading westbound on i 80 swerved across multiple lanes hitting five cars as it approached the toll plaza. the truck slammed into tollbooth number 14 horsing his trailer to split in half -- forcing is trailer to split in half and sending it several feet. the toll collector was 46-year- old stacy. she leaves behind her husband and a 10-year-old daughter. stacy had been with caltrans since march 2007. daniel burke was the truck driver. he was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and manslaughter. he remains in the hospital