it's thursday, may 27th, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." >> feels like this happens over and over and over again. rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat. >> breaking developments. the death toll rises overnight in a mass shooting at a california rail yard. a ninth victim has died after a gunman opened fire. what we know about the shooter. lab leak debate. president biden calls for a new investigation into the origins of covid. the main challenge to finding the truth. midwest tornadoes. severe weather hits the region, even putting some horses in danger. danger. >> come on -- captioning funded by cbs

developments in the mass shooting at a rail yard in san joseliforn. another victim died overnight bringing the death toll to nine. tonight a memorial will be held to remember those transit workers. police identified the gunman as 57-year-old samuel cassidy. he worked at the rail yard since 2012. investigators say cassidy opened fire yesterday in two different buildings during a shift change before taking his own life. laura podesta is in new york. laura, do we know anything about a motive for this attack? >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. right now we do not. investigators have not released any information about a motive. yesterday samuel cassidy's ex-wife spoke to reporters and said that he always had a temper and once told her that he wanted to kill people at work. still, she said, she never expected him to go on a shooting rampage.

a transit worker killed nine people at a california rail yard early wednesday morning. >> they're actively looking for him, and he was last seen on the third floor. >> reporter: police say 57-year-old samuel cassidy turned the gun on himself as authorities moved in. >> first teams through the door were the sheriff's office and san jose police department, and they're my true heroes. >> reporter: investigators are working to determine a motive. cassidy had worked for valley transportation authority since at least 2012. >> his temper, that was one of the biggest problems. >> reporter: cecilia nelms is cassidy's ex-wife. >> i was just in shock because i never thought he would do anything like that. >> reporter: the first shots rang out as transit workers were changing shifts ahead of the morning commute. workers and family members later waited across the street with some receiving news they were hoping not to hear. [ screams ]

>> reporter: the victims range in age from 29 to 63. this man's cousin was one of them. >> we heard he choosed the people to shot, but i don't know why they choose him. he has nothing to do with him. >> reporter: california governor newsom expressed his frustration. >> that's the damn question. what the hell's going on in the united states of america? what's the hell wrong with us? >> reporter: before the shooting, smoke billowed from cassidy's home where police suspect arson. firefighters have that fire under control. a search of the home found cans of gasoline, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and what authorities are describing as bomb-making materials. anne-marie? >> wow. laura podesta in new york. thank you so much. llo step biden hade upir investigati one explanation is the virus was passed from animal to human. but a second theory about a la

more traction. weijia jiang has more. >> reporter: president biden is pushing the intelligence community to redouble their efforts with a 90-day review to find out where covid-19 came from -- an infected animal or a lab accident in wuhan. in a carefully worded statement, mr. biden said top officials do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other. >> the intelligence community does not know exactly where, when, or how covid-19 virus was transmitted initially. >> reporter: the administration blamed the uncertainty on china's refusal to provide critical information and data collected during the early stages of the pandemic. top u.s. medical officials testified that covid-19 probably emerged from an animal but said drawing a definitive conclusion requires more investigation. >> it is most likely that this is a virus that arose naturally, but we cannot exclude the

possibility of some kind of a lab accident. >> reporter: in march, the world health organization concluded that it is extremely unlikely covid-19 was introduced in a lab. but the administration has questioned the credibility of that finding because beijing has refused to let inspectors into the wuhan lab where three researchers reportedly got so sick with covid-like symptoms they had to be hospitalized on november, 2019. a month before china disclosed any cases. now the white house is urging the w.h.o. to conduct another investigation. >> we need a completely transparent process from china. we need the w.h.o. to assist in that matter. we don't feel like we have that now. >> reporter: weijia jiang, cbs news. the senate could hold an initial vote today on whether to create a commission to investigate the deadly capitol riot. the legislation would create a ten-member commission with members selected by democratic and republican leaders.

it would issue a report with findings about the january 6th attack by the end of the year. fewer than ten republicans are expected to support the bill meaning it can be filibustered. and the reward has increased to more than $300,000 in the case of an apparent road rage shooting that left a 6-year-old boy dead. aiden leos was killed last friday morning in orange, california, as his mother was driving him to kindergarten. yesterday a memorial was held for the boy. his family says they are overwhelmed by the support of the community. >> it's very comforting. it's -- it's -- i can't find the words to tell you how much it means. i've read every comment on gofundme, thank you so much. my sister's going to need help to get through this. >> authorities are searching for a suspect driving a white vehicle. they say someone in the car fired a shot that went through the trunk and hit the little boy in the stomach.

severe storms packing torrential rain and hail spawned tornadoes in the midwest. >> here, ponies. hurry up. >> people were heard calling for them to get out of harm's way after a twister touched down in southeast nebraska. not too far away a tornado also touched down in northwest kansas. you can see it cutting through a field. there were reports of uprooted trees and some damage to homes. so coming up, mega deal. amazon buys mgm. what it could mean for the streaming landscape. and later, media blackout. why tennis champ naomi osaka will not be taking questions from reporters at the french open. this is the "cbs morning news." news." ♪ ♪

smooth driving pays off. saving is easy when you're in good hands. allstate. click or call for a quote today. [sfx: psst psst] allergies don't have to be scary. spraying flonase daily stops your body from overreacting to allergens all season long. psst! psst! all good does scrubbing feel like a workout? scrub less with dawn platinum. its superior formula breaks down and removes up to 99% of tough grease and food residue faster. so you scrub less. tackle grease wherever it shows up. scrub less. save more. with dawn. ready to shine from the inside out? try nature's bounty hair, skin and nails gummies. the number one brand to support beautiful hair, glowing skin, and healthy nails. and introducing jelly beans with two times more biotin. during photosynthesis, plants convert solar energy into chemical energy, cleaning the oxygen we breathe. and introducing jelly beans plants clean the air.

when applied to stained textiles, plant-based surfactants like the ones in seventh generation detergent trap stains at the molecular level and flush them away. plant-based detergents clean your clothes. it's just science! just... science. seventh generation. powered by plants. tackles stains. tropicana juice drinks bring delicious tropical flavors... ...to refresh all your summer fun. letting every sunny moment shine a little brighter. tropicana sip your sunshine. ♪ [ sneezing ] are your sneezes putting your friends in awkward positions? stick with zyrtec. zyrtec starts working hard at hour one... ...and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day. zyrtec. muddle no more. beloved author and illustrator eric carle has died.

his family said he died sunday at his summer studio in massachusetts. carle was responsible for "the very hungry caterpillar" and "brown bear, brown bear, what do you see?" he wrote or illustrated more than 75 books. he once said he wanted to show children that learning is both fascinating and fun. eric carle was 91 years old. howard university is honoring chadwick boseman, and veterans are getting support from a big star. those are some of the headlines on the "morning newsstand." "the washington post" reports comedian jon stewart is pushing for legislation that could help millions of veterans get health care for exposure to toxic substances during military service. stewart joined lawmakers on capitol hill yesterday. they introduced a bill that would provide health care and benefits to as many as 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxins and burn pits. stewart said that he wanted to use his experience fighting for 9/11 first responders to help veterans.

>> the only thing that hasn't happened is action. so no more excuses, and no more geez, this is the first time we're hearing about it. is comi. this is no surprise. >> exposure to the airborne toxins is linked to 23 respiratory illnesses and cancers. the "seattle times" says jeff bezos set a date for stepping down. during a shareholder meet yesterday he said that he will leave his position on july 5th. that's 27 years to the day since he started amazon in his garage. bezos will become executive chair and focus on new products and initiatives. andy jassy, chief of web services, will replace bezos as ceo. and the "associated press" says howard university named its college of fine arts after the late actor chadwick boseman. boseman graduated from howard in

2000 with a degree in directing. while studying there he helped lead a student protest against plans to merge the college of fine arts into the college of arts and sciences. his widow said that the naming of the school ensures his legacy will continue to inspire young storytellers for years to come. well, still ahead, a contest for burger lovers. heinz is searching for its first head burger artist. what the job entails. tist. what the job entails. ♪ ♪ pain? yeah. here. aspercreme with max-strength* lidocaine. works fast and lasts. keep it. you're gonna need it. kick pain with aspercreme good night syra. night, drive safe. i love you. drive safe. ok buh bye mommy. you guys ready? you sure you got everything? drive safe.

we all say it; chevy can help you do it. with chevy safety assist standard on the new equinox and trailblazer part of the chevy family of suvs. drive safe. if you have moderate to severe psoriasis, little things can become your big moment. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ♪ ♪ otezla. show more of you. do you struggle with occasional nerve aches,

♪ ♪ weakness or discomfort in your hands or feet? introducing nervive nerve relief from the world's number 1 selling nerve care company. as we age, natural changes to our nerves occur which can lead to occasional discomfort. nervive contains b complex vitamins that nourish nerves, build nerve insulation and enhance nerve communication. and, alpha-lipoic acid, which relieves occasional nerve aches, weakness and discomfort. live your life with less nerve discomfort with nervive nerve relief. here's a look at the forecast in some cities around the country. ♪ i love springtime. crisp air, fresh start. out with the old, in -- >> i'm going to stop you there. i'll be honest, i didn't get any spring cleaning done last night. >> what about our pact?

>> well, the rumors are true. actress emily wickersham who plays ellie bishop on the hit show "ncis" is leaving. she's been on the tv drama for close to eight years. she confirmed she's departing in an instagram post after the finale aired. in the caption she said that she's hanging up her hat and jacket and thanked the crew and cast. on the cbs "money watch" now, disneyland is welcoming more visitors, and heinz is searching for a burger masterpiece. elise preston is in new york with those stories and more. good morning, elise. >> reporter: good morning, anne-marie. well, stock futures are indicating a lower open after all three major indices ended the trading day slightly higher. investors once again temporarily set aside concerns over rising inflation. the dow added ten points, the nasdaq gained 80 points, and the s&p 500 was up 7 points. amazon is rolling out the red carpet for its latest deal. the world's largest e-commerce

company is buying the movie and tv studio mgm for more than $8 billion. that means amazon is snapping up the library of more than 4,000 movies and storied franchises including "james bond" and "rocky." this comes as competition ramps up among streaming services including netflix and hbo max where hit shows are key to driving consumers to subscribe. the deal is subject to regulatory approval. disneyland fans across the nation, dust off those mickey ears. starting june 15th, the california park is allowing out-of-state residents to visit. guests need to have a ticket and a reservation to enter. now disney said the state of california strongly recommends but does not require that people be fully vaccinated or get a negative covid test before visiting. masks will be required at the park. disneyland opened in late april but only to residents in the state. and if you love burgers, heinz has a job for you. the company is looking for a head burger artist.

the winner and a friend will travel on three two-day trips to taste different burgers in the u.s. the grand prize is also topped wi $25,000, a lifetime suppl ofeinz condiments, and a chance to consult on future condiment innovations. to enter, build your best burger creation and submit it to heinz on line. you have until july 19th. anne-marie? >> sounds delicious. elise preston in new york. thank you so much, elise. all right. up next, a "friends" shocker. genealogy researchers say two stars from the hit tv series are actually distant cousins. actually distant cousins. try our new scented oils for freshness that lasts.

crafted to give you amazingly natural smelling fragrances, day after day... ...for up to 60 days. give us one plug for freshness that lasts. if you have obstructive sleep apnea and you're often tired during the day, you could be missing out on angp yo awa f. once daily sunosi improves wakefulness in adults with excessive daytime sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea. su sunosi does not treat the cause of osa or take the place of your cpap. continue to use any treatments or devices as prescribed by your doctor. don't take sunosi if you've taken an maoi in the last 14 days. sunosi may increase blood pressure and heart rate, which can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure. sunosi can cause symptoms such as anxiety, problems sleeping, irritability, and agitation. other common side effects include headache, nausea, and decreased appetite. tell your doctor if you develop any of these, as your dose may need to be adjusted or stopped.

amazing things happen during the day. sunosi can help you stay awake for whatever amazes you. visit sunosi.com and talk to your doctor about sunosi today.

here's a look at the forecast in some cities around the country. ♪ we are excited to announce the first winner -- from silverton, congratulations. >> a woman from a suburb of cincinnati is the first winner of ohio's $1 million vaccine incentive prize. earlier this month the governor announced the program to try and boost the state's lagging vaccination rates. it's open to residents who have received at least one dose. almost three million adults have signed up.

four more winners will be announced in the next four weeks. vaccinated children between 12 and 17 can win a college scholarship. history at the white house press briefing yesterday. principal deputy press secretary karine jean pierre became the first openly gay woman to deliver the daily press briefing. she's also the second black woman in history to lead the briefing and the first in 30 years. >> i appreciate the historic nature. i really do. but i -- i believe that being behind this podium, being in this room, being in this building is not about one person. it's about, you know, what we do on behalf of the american people. >> jean pierre had briefed reporters before on air force one. this was her first time behind the lectern for a television briefing. and tennis star naomi osaka is doing just the opposite --

she says she is not going to speak to the media during the french open. yesterday the four-time grand slam champion tweeted she's doing it to preserve her mental health. she compared the questioning of athletes after a loss to kicking a person while they're down. osaka said that she hopes the money she expects to be fined will go toward a mental health charity. matthew perry and courteney cox are more than just friends. researchers at the website my heritage discovered the stars of the legendary sitcom "friends" are 11th cousins in real life. they share distant relatives, a married couple who lived in england about 500 years ago. the cast reunited for a special show which premieres on hbo max today. and coming up only on "cbs this morning," reggie watts, band leader for "the late, late show with james corden" talks about his career and new app. i'm anne-marie green. this is the "cbs morning news." . i'm anne-marie green. this is the "cbs morning news."

♪ you've got the looks ♪ ♪ let's make lots of money ♪ ♪ you've got the brawn ♪ ♪ i've got the brains... ♪ with allstate, drivers who switched saved over $700 click or call to switch need better sleep? try nature's bounty sleep 3 a unique tri layer supplement, that calms you helps you fall a sleep faster and stay a sleep longer. great sleep comes naturally with sleep 3 only from nature's bounty tropicana juice drinks bring delicious tropical flavors... and stay a sleep longer. great sleep comes naturally ...to refresh all your summer fun. letting every sunny moment shine a little brighter. tropicana sip your sunshine. we do it every night. like clockwork.

do it! run your dishwasher with cascade platinum. and save water. did you know certified dishwashers... ...use less than four gallons per cycle, while a running sink uses that, every two minutes. so, do it with cascade. the surprising way to save water.

our top stories this morning -- a memorial will be held tonight for the victims of a mass shooting at a rail yard in san jose, california. another person died overnight raising the death toll to nine. authorities say samuel cassidy

opened fire yesterday afternoon before turning the gun on himself. a motive has not been released. and president biden is ordering the intelligence community to redouble their efforts at investigating the origins of covid and report back to him in 90 days. the administration is blaming china for not providing key information during the early stages of the pandemic. after 14 months of masks and zoom meetings, vaccinated people are ready to mingle again. and that has americans wanting to look their best. michael george explains. >> reporter: tanya miranda is the manager at top line cosmetics and fashion, and she says customers are coming back. >> people are buying clothes, and they're buying make-up. >> reporter: with more americans vaccinated and mask mandates dropping, people are socializing again. lipstick sales are on the rise along with other beauty products, and customers are heading to major retailers to buy clothes. >> we're seeing people are returning to the stores. there's an excitement.

there's an enthusiasm. >> reporter: debra wineswick says clothing and clothing accessory stores saw sales skyrocket 711% in april compared to last year. have to say i've n seen thn my retail career >> i'll be needing to buy new clothes -- >> reporter: amanda has been working at home and is preparing for a return to the office. >> i'm getting my eyebrows done, european wax down the road, just rejoined the gym over here. >> reporter: people are also dressing up for special occasions including weddings, engagement parties, and graduations. >> getting out, buying new clothes. i haven't done anything in it's like time stopped. >> reporter: sal says he's not just spending money on new clothes. >> going to the gym three times a week trying to lose the covid-19. >> reporter: experts believe the demand for clothes and other related products will continue now that life is looking closer to normal. michael george, cbs news, new york. coming up on "cbs this

morning," miami mayor francis suarez tells us about his mission to transform the city into the next great tech capital. plus, retired nasa astronaut peggy whitson talks about why she is returning to space. only on "cbs this morning," reggie watts, band leader for "the late, late show with james called whatsapp. that's the "cbs morning news" for this thursday. thanks for watching. i'm anne-marie green. have a great day. ♪ thursday. thanks for watching. i'm anne-marie green. have a great day. ♪