the tampa bay times, patterson tells a police officer he was mislady. >> why would y'all let me vote if i wasn't able to vote? >> i'm not sure, buddy. i don't know. >> reporter: and that confusion is exactly what voting experts say shouldn't have been allowed in the first place. >> if you're going to hold this high bar and say it's against te law, make it so that the person is notified from the outset. don't allow them to go through the system and then after the fact, go, gotcha! >> reporter: critics say part of the problem is that the florida voter registration form doesn't say anything about which former felons can have their right to vote restored or which ones aren't eligible to vote. one of those arrested in august said a local dmv official told him he could register. governor desantis' office didn't return our request for comment, norah. tonight, a third of ukraine is without power after russia destroyed power stations in the last eight days. president zelenskyy says russia has thrown the country into

massive blackouts and is urging his nation to brace for a tough winter. that's something the world health organization is warning could become a spiraling humanitarian crisis. we get more now from cbs's holly williams inside ukraine. >> reporter: russia's tactics in ukraine may be changing. today its strikes targeted the power grid across the country. ukraine says 30% of its power stations have been destroyed in just over a week, causing rolling blackouts. ukraine's president, volodymyr zlenskyy, reassured his nation that the grid's getting fixed, but urged people to use as little electricity as possible. long term, power outages could be devastating for the military, the public, and everyone's morale, and that's probably the whole point. it's not the first time that ad ukine's critical infrastructure. even before the invasion in

2015, suspected russian hackers managed to switch off the lights fo nearly a quarter of a million people. the power plant manager told us it was chaotic. now as ukrainians fight off a vicious invasion, it could be much worse. this winter, they're facing terror as well as terrible cold. iran has reportedly agreed to sell more missiles and so-called suicide drones to russia. iran denies that it's arming russian forces here in ukraine, but the u.s. says iran is lying. norah. >> holly williams, thank you. there are fears tonight about the safety of an iranian athlete who hasn't been in contact with friends since she competed on sunday without wearing a hijab. the iranian embassy in south korea says 33-year-old sport climber elnaz rekabi has returned to iran after taking part in the asian championships.

while it's believed she refused to wear her head scarf in protest against iranian rules, a post appeared on her instagram today explaining that her scarf inadvertently fell off. but anti-government activists don't believe that and they tonight are concerned about her safety. well, now to an amazing story of survival. two wyoming college wrestlers are lucky to be alive tonight after they were attacked by a grizzly bear. cbs's carter evans reports. this is just one in a rash of recent bear attacks both in the u.s. and around the world. >> reporter: descending a rocky ridge on mount futago in japan, the climber hears something above him. it's a bear. [ screaming ] the cloomer deflects the attack but the bear's not done. he yells and hammers the bear with his fist as it makes another attack, continuing to scream and kick the bear until it finally runs off. the climber said it seemed like the bear attacked to protect its cub. >> if you're out in the

wilderness this time of year, fall, are you more likely to run into a bear? >> yeah. the bears are in the hyper phasia mode. >> reporter: ann ryan, says in the u.s., grizzly bears request be the most aggressive, which is exactly what attacked the college wrestling teammates. >> it was a big bear, looked scary. >> reporter: both were hospitalized after getting mauled by a grizzly over the weekend in the shoshone national forest. >> hit me on the arm and shook me around, through me. >> reporter: cummings said after he tried to pull the bear off his friend, it turned on him. >> it tackled me and chewed me up a little bit. >> sounds like they got lucky there. >> i think they got lucky. if it would have been just one guy, i think it would have all been over. >> reporter: now, experts say they aren't necessarily seeing a rise in bear attacks, but to avoid a bear encounter altogether, when you're out in

the wilderness, they say make a lot of noise, whistle, carry on a conversation with a buddy. that way you'll scare away the bears before you even see them. norah. >> what a story, carter. thank you. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. are you feeling sluggish or weighed down? metamucil's new fiber plus collagen can help. when taken daily, it supports your health, starting with your digestive system. metamucil's plant-based fiber forms a gel to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down, helps lower cholesterol and promotes healthy blood sugar levels. while its collagen peptides help support your joint structures. so, start feeling lighter and more energetic by taking metamucil every day. try metamucil fiber gummies made with a prebiotic, plant-based fiber blend that helps promote digestive health.

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well, now to a story that every parent needs to know, especially during this national school bus safety week. 17,000 children end up in the hospital from school bus accidents every year. and in the past decade, at least 64 children have died getting on and off the bus. the biggest risk for kids is what's known as the danger zone. that's the ten feet surrounding a stopped bus. cbs's meg oliver reports in depth on one school district that's trying to solve the problem. >> reporter: for driver brenda sciacia in bethlehem, pennsylvania, at each stop, students' safety is her top concern. what do you see? >> i see people cutting us off. i see people going around the bus whether the stop sign's out or not. >> reporter: passing a school bus flashing red lights is against the law in all states, and yet many drivers don't stop. now 120 buses in sciacia's

school district are mounted with cameras, recording every violator's license plate. videos are forwarded to police to issue a $300 fine. >> the times that it is right now, people are more aggressive, less patient. >> reporter: in neighboring allentown, during a 47-day study in 2019, cameras on two buses recorded 205 illegal stop arm violations. nationwide, school buses are passed illegally more than 17 million times a year. >> it was a heart-stopping moment. >> reporter: in 2018, amber clark and her daughter, olivia, then in kindergarten, had a close call. >> there was a white car that had ran the stop sign, and it was barreling towards us and it doesn't look like it was slowing down. i had just enough time to scoop up my daughter and spin. the windshield grazed her backpack. >> reporter: after the terrifying incident, she successfully lobbied to have a law enacted permitting cameras on bus stop arms. how does it work? but bethlehem superintendent joseph roy, the beauty of the plan is that the cameras are

free. what do you say to the naysayers who say this is just big brother overreaching? >> yeah, iech had a couple of emails on that, and i guess my response is, i'm worried about the kids. my job is the kids, and just drive more safely. >> reporter: meg oliver, cbs news, bethlehem, pennsylvania. nascar driver bubba wallace is disciplined over his bad behavior on the racetrack. that story is next. when cold symptoms keep you up, try vicks nyquil severe. just one dose starts to relieve 9 of your worst cold and flu symptoms, to help take you from 9 to none. for max strength nighttime relief,

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in washington state, the nakia creek fire has grown to about 1,800 acres and remains just 5% contained. authorities say the fire was caused by humans and are asking for the public's help. they are looking for a white or light-colored subaru. tonight, nascar has suspended driver bubba wallace for one race following his confrontation with reigning champion kyle larson just last weekend in las vegas. wallace deliberately spun larson's car and later shoved him multiple times before arguing with an official. wallace now the first cup series driver in seven years to be suspended for an on-track incident will miss sunday's race in south florida. and we will be right back with a jurassic tale about an

airline crew and a very special passenger. when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of god, in due time he will

exalt you. hi, i'm joel osteen. i'm excited about being with you every week. i hope you'll tune in. you'll be inspired, you'll be encouraged. i'm looking forward to seeing you right here. you are fully loaded and completely equipped for the race that's been designed for you.

we end tonight with some special airline workers that went the extra mile to make sure one little boy's prized possession got the vip treatment. cbs's kris van cleave explains. >> reporter: glo jones has been checking bags at burbank, california's airport for two decades, but she'd never seen anything like this, a dinosaur the size of a small child. >> and he's scary looking but he was really adorable. >> reporter: 8-year-old rowan francois got this guy on vacation with no thought of how

to get him home. >> it's almost as big as me. i thought it was going to break the whole time. >> so you were worried about it making home? >> yeah. >> reporter: but southwest airlines baggage handler brian cisneros and his co-workers were determined that wouldn't happen. >> when i saw it, we locked eyes. >> reporter: and what he saw, a vip-rex in need of very special treatment. >> it wasn't in a box, so our concern was taking care of it. we gave it a specific cart by itself, took it to the gate, and when we loaded the dinosaur in the bin, we put it in the center bin, which is by himself. >> reporter: when it finally got home to spokane -- >> i would like to show you -- >> reporter: a reunion made possible by going the extra mile. kris van cleave, cbs news. 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 norah o'donnell.

this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. president biden plans to announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the u.s. strategic reserve in response to recent cuts from opec plus nations. with a few weeks to go before next month's midterm elections. we'll complete the release of 180 million barrels authorized by biden in march. nestle is issuing a voluntary recall of its nestle toel hose stuffed chocolate cookie dough due to the potential presence of white plastic pieces. the product was produced between june and september of this year. the nfl announced it's creating its first ever black friday game in partnership with amazon prime video. the inaugural game will kick off the day after the nfl's

traditional thanksgiving game starting in 2023. for more news, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or your connected tv. york. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." tonight, winter has come early for a majority of the country with more than 235 million americans experiencing below-normal temperatures from the upper midwest to the gulf of mexico. october snow has fallen across the midwest, including wisconsin, michigan, indiana, and even dipped as far south as kentucky with some areas seeing as much as a foot and a half, and more is on the way. in minnesota, windchills dipped below zero this morning while more than 100 million americans are under freeze and frost advisories tonight from the rockies to the northeast. the cold front will push

temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal from the central plains to the florida panhandle, and some areas will set historic lows with at least 75 records expected to be broken tomorrow. we have a lot of news to get to tonight, and cbs's omar villafranca will start us off. >> reporter: fall feels like winter in parts of the upper midwest thanks to a weather system dropping temperatures and snow. instead of falling leaves, more than a foot of snow blanketed parts of michigan, leaving a mess for work crews. >> we didn't expect this much heavy snow because along with the heavy snow, we have branches down all over. >> reporter: in the last 48 hours, ironwood and marquette, michigan, recorded more than 13 inches of snow. in indiana, thick flakes of snow peppered parking lots and roadways, making for slick driving conditions. and instead of a white christmas, the early snow had people wondering about a white halloween. >> i was hoping it would hold off until closer to, like,

snow on halloween before. >> reporter: while the temperatures may be dropping, the cost of heating homes is going up. the average cost to stay cozy indoors this winter is expected to rise more than 17%, about $200 over last year thanks in part to the rising cost of natural gas. one energy expert we talked to said home heating prices here in texas could be up as much as 30% compared to last year. here in dallas, it's weather whiplash. it was in the 90s this past weekend and now parts of north texas are under a freeze warning. norah. >> omar villafranca, thank you. this winter blast is not over yet. most of you will have to bundle up for at least the next two days. for details, let's bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channels. give us the details. good evening, mike. >> norah, good evening.mperes ly sding acrose stbig ront islin rough. temperatures well below average americanale caons could set

record lows come tomorrow morning and freeze warnings that go all the way down to the gulf coast including places like coastal florida, alabama, mississippi, just outside of new orleans. temperatures in the morning, 27 in paducah but below freezing in meridian, where we could be looking for some frost. and shreveport near record-setting at 34 degrees. tomorrow's high temperatures still remain on the cool side by 10 to 15 degrees, and thursday morning, more records could be set. more bone-chilling cold with many places seeing temperatures below freezing. again, a shock to the system but a warm-up comes in by the time we get to the weekend. >> that's some good news. mike bettes, thank you. it's just three weeks until election day and the battle for control of congress is coming down to the wire. in ohio, one of the closest senate races is also one of the biggest surprises with democratic congressman tim ryan trailing republican j.d. vance by just two points. cbs's robert costa traveled to ohio for our continuing series "america decides." >> if you care about the right

to choose, then you got to vote. >> reporter: with the midterms looming, inflation lingering, and democrats' momentum stalling according to some polls, president biden today made a promise on abortion rights, rallying democrats to vote. mr. biden said if the party expands their majorities, the first bill he'd send to congress across the country. >> the court got roe right nearly 50 years ago, and i believe congress should codify roe once and for all. >> reporter: in the tight ohio senate race, congressman tim ryan is counting on voters to hear that message and give him the edge over republican j.d. vance. >> are you confident abortion rights will galvanize democratic voters in ohio? >> it's going to galvanize voters. so even people where abortion isn't their top issue, they don't want the government in their bedroom or doctor's office. >> reporter: cbs polling shows abortion now does not have the same importance to some voters

as it did just a month ago. still, younger voters in ohio told us it is on their minds. do younger ohio democrats feel like abortion rights are on the ballot this fall? >> yeah, definitely. it's -- i think that the majority of americans believe that abortion care should be a choice left to individuals. >> reporter: ryan and vancd sharp exchanges over the issue in a debate last night. >> j.d. and his extreme crew, they want to have a national abortion ban. he called rape "inconvenient." like this is not a guy who's ready to protect the rights of women. >> as much as you call me an extremist, you're the extremist on this issue. i think it's totally reasonable to say you cannot abort a baby, especially for elective reasons, after 15 weeks of gestation. >> reporter: tomorrow, top trump allies will campaign with vance, illustrating how vance wants the former president's supporters to show up.

but congressman tim ryan tells cbs news he doesn't want president biden to stump for him and instead will run his own race. norah. >> robert costa, thank you very much. well, now to an amazing story of survival. two wyoming college wrestlers are lucky to be alive tonight after they were attacked by a grizzly bear. cbs's carter evans reports. this is just one in a rash of recent bear attacks both in the u.s. and around the world. >> reporter: descending a rocky ridge on mount futago in japan, above him. it's a bear. [ screaming ] the climber deflects the attack, but the bear's not done. he yells and hammers the bear with his fist as it makes another attack, continuing to scream and kick the bear until it finally runs off. the climber said it seemed like the bear attacked to protect its cub. >> if you're out in the wilderness this time of year, fall, are you more likely to run into a bear? >> yeah. the bears are in the hyperphasia

mode. they are eating 20 hours a day. >> reporter: ann bryant, executive director of the bear league, says in the u.s., grizzly bears can be the most aggressive, which is exactly what attacked college wrestling teammates kendall cummings and brady lowry in wyoming. >> it was a big bear, looked scary. >> reporter: both were hospitalized after getting mauled by a grizzly over the weekend in the shoshone national forest. >> bit me on the arm and shook me around, threw me. >> reporter: cummings teld a local news station that after he tried to pull the bear off his friend, it turned on him. >> it tackled me and chewed me up a little bit. >> sounds like they got lucky there. >> i think they got lucky. if it would have been just one guy, i think it would have all been over. >> reporter: now, experts say they aren't necessarily seeing a rise in bear attacks, but to avoid a bear encounter altogether, when you're out in the wilderness, they say make a lot of noise, whistle, carry on a conversation with a buddy. that way you'll scare away the bears before you even see them.

norah. >> what a story, carter. thank you. there's a lot more news ahead on the "cbs overnight news." do you sglcasial nerve acs in your hahe's li care co. neic ad to relieve occasional nerve aches, weakness and discomfort. try nervivenerve relief. we planned well for retirement, but i wish we had more cash. they have no idea they're sitting on a goldmine. well they don't realize that if you have a life insurance policy of $100,000 or more, you can sell all or part of it to coventry for cash. even a term policy. we've got to tell them! hey, guys! you're sitting on a goldmine! do you hear that? i don't hear anything anymore. find out if you're sitting on a goldmine. call coventry direct today at the number on your screen, or visit coventrydirect.com. welcome to my digestive system. it's pretty calm in here with align probiotic.

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>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm catherine herridge in washington. thanks for staying with us. with the holidays approaching, the labor market here in the u.s. remains extremely tight, and that could be challenging for retailers looking to hire temporary workers for the season of giving. the unemployment rate in september stood at 3.5%, the lowest it's been since the start of the covid-19 pandemic, and matching lows from the late '60s. in typical years, more than half a million americans look for extra work during this time of year. nancy chen has our report. >> reporter: it's already the most wonderful time of year.

that is, to find work for the holidays. >> we're finding that people want some extra money, especially during the holiday season. >> reporter: after struggling to fill shifts the past two years, jason mabel, who heads east coast operations for clothing retailer splendid, kicked off holiday hiring earlier than ever, in september. >> this is the time where maybe a teacher might have off during a few wghe holiday season, and they want to come in and pick up some shifts. >> reporter: and with holiday costs expected to increase this year by 6%, people are lookin for ways to keep up. >> given inflation and a looming possible recession, are there more people who are coming off the sidelines to seek those seasonal jobs? > it's definitely a driver. people are looking for cash, and so those bonuses and higher starting pay points are very, very attractive to them. >> reporter: julia pollack is the chief economist for zip recruiter and says even as the labor market begins to cool, it's still sizzling.

companies are coming out with big incentives, including higher wages. amazon just announced sign-on bonuses going up to $3,000, with potential opportunities for full-time jobs. >> this is a good time to be a job seeker? >> this is the best job seeker's market of all time. employers are still having to make very attractive offers, and job seekers are still in the driver's seat. >> reporter: but as consumers jump start holiday shopping earlier to stretch their budgets and plan to spend less than usual, major retailers are divided on how they're hiring. while amazon and target are aiming for roughly the same holiday hires as 2021, walmart, the nation's largest retailer, announced it's bringing on only about a quarter of last year's figure. macy's is also pulling back, taking on about half as many seasonal workers as last year. you can even see around us right now all the people. we're seeing higher foot traffic. people are getting out there earlier, and they're also looking for jabs. >> reporter: danielle davita

oversees 80 shops centers nationwide. we met her in paramus, new jersey, which sees the most retail sales in the country. but predicting hiring targets can still be difficult. >> you overhire, and then that cuts into your profit margin. you underhire and you don't have enough people and people walk away. how difficult is it to get that fine line just right? >> this year it scales up based on the fact that the expectation is there may be more people in stores. so that is the relative uptick. there are a lot of people out there who are looking and returning to the workforce, and that's something that we're working to facilitate. >> reporter: the hiring blitz last year meant some businesses started the season with a higher head count than usual since a lot of temp workers ended up staying on. still industry analysts say if you're looking for a seasonal job, now is the time since it will look a lot different even a month from now. nancy chen, cbs news, new york. then are those who are not looking for a temporary job but full-time work and a career.

a growing number are turning away from college and heading to trade schools. here's ted koppel. >> you and i are sitting on and next to the most used piece of equipment. >> i think some of the biggest decisions was made on one of these. >> reporter: that's julius wright sitting on the other toilet seat. he's a master plumber and an instructor. >> prepare for the worst and if you walk out on the best, you're good. >> reporter: at the training facility for the plumbers and gas fitters union, local 5 in lanham, maryland. >> it's just you and a snake. >> reporter: here, young men and women go through a five-year apprenticeship, learning the trade before they can call themselves licensed plumbers. >> i was one of those kids that knew i wasn't going to college. it's crazy because of the fivier apprenticeship and college is four years. >> reporter: yeah, i mean it's not easy. you come here, but -- >> here you don't have loans that you have to pay back.

>> you're getting paid. >> you're getting paid to learn a trade. >> reporter: learning here and assisting a licensed plumber on the job, an apprentice can make up to $77,000 a year. even so, says brandon mcgrau ski, the work carries a certain stigma. >> growing up, my parents would see something like that and say, oh, go to school so you don't end up like them. well, great pay, great benefits. i'm not doing bad. but normal people still look down on us. >> why do you say normal people? >> the regular, everyday people, the people that work 9:00 to 5:00 in an officement we get dirty, smelly. it's just what we do. >> the division is partly a function of people thinking that because the work is dirty, it must be stupid. if people never attempted skilled manual work, they may not understand just how intellectually rich and engaging it can be and demanding. >> reporter: to describe matthew

crawford as a mechanic with a ph.d. in philosophy is a little glib, but it's also true. >> i was the director of a think tank and i quit that job to open a motorcycle repair shop. >> because? >> well, the think tank work, essentially we started with a set of conclusions, the ones that our donors wanted, and then worked backward to a set of premises that could get us to the conclusions whereas if you're trying to figure out why a bike doesn't start and run right, you can't weasel your way out of it not starting and running right. >> reporter: and crawford reminds us there are 43 million americans carrying a student loan debt averaging somewhere north of $37,000. the trades, meanwhile, provide more than just a good living. >> what distinguishes the skilled trades, i think, is that you're always using your own judgment. the physical circumstances in

which a plumber does work or an electrician, that you're never smply following a set of instructions. you always have to get a handle on some novel situation and diagnose it. >> we do work with our hands a lot, but a lot of it's up here, and people don't really appreciate that. people think it's simple to fix a toilet, and they think it's simple to weld pipe. >> reporter: that's local 5 apprentice jack tees. >> a guy i work with says art without an audience. >> i like that. art woud an audience. >> i say that all the time. artwork without an audience. >> what do you think is causing the divisions in this country today? >> ignorance. >> reporter: tarea, call him "t," smalls, is business manager of local 5. >> that stigma, that myth, that people that are in trades did trades because they couldn't do anything else, not understanding that the guy that engineered the highways is a trade guy.

the guy that engineered the i.t. services that get you your internet is a trade-based guy. >> in the old days, a union man was a democrat always. >> yeah. >> through and through. >> yeah. >> not anymore? >> no, not anymore. >> because? >> you put trust in politicians, they'll break your heart, you know? >> at the union level, i think they always say to vote democrat, but if you talk to people out in the field, most of them are very conservative in their values. >> you come to work, as long as we're getting work done, you can believe whatever you want. >> reporter: a lot of the divisions in america today seem rooted in the perception that some white collar workers and many college graduates about themselves rele theades people utilities functioning. >> that illusion contributes to the contempt that many people feel for the working class. so to my mind, a lot of that division in the country is

facilitated by a lack of acquaintance with the kind of work that others are doing for those of us who are free of it ourselves. >> do you mind my asking what you take home in a year? >> over 100 grand. over $100,000. >> reporter: it's a modest answer. julius makes way over $100,000. >> you got a house? >> yeah. i have two houses. i have two houses. >> why do you think people still have such a strange outlook toward the working man and woman? >> man, if i could answer that, i feel my opinion is people need to have a certain status or feel they're in a certain class group over someone else. >> and you think going to college gives people that sense of "i'm a little better than you are"? >> yi, because i'm educated. they don't think we're educated. what the pandemic taught us is

that we're essential. when they were locked in their house and this doesn't work, who do you call? the uneducated plumber, right? so then who's winning? the college or the trade? the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. [sfx: stomach gurgling] it's nothing... sounds like something. ♪ when you have nausea, heartburn, indigestion, ♪ ♪ upset stomach, diarrhea. ♪ pepto bismol coats and soothes for fast relief... when you need it most.

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it goes on clear. no mess. just soothing comfort. try vicks vapostick. that tlueasonou be onheost seve, and they're urging people to get the flu shot and not delay. here's dr. jon lapook. >> reporter: for years, jeri stewart did not get a flu shot. >> my mother always hounded me to get them done. >> reporter: now the 54-year-old breast cancer survivor doesn't want to gamble with her health. she got her flu shot last week. >> you know what? let's just get everything that we can to ensure that i don't get sick. >> reporter: today, the cdc urged everyone 6 months and older to do the same. >> the flu vaccination. >> reporter: experts are worried about a false sense of security after two milder flu seasons due to covid precautions.

australia, which experiences winter ahead of the u.s., just had its worst flu season in five years. what's your sense about this coming flu season? >> i don't want to be alarmist, but i am concerned. we know that it's going to be a strain of flu that tendsmovere >> rorter.michl i an infectious disease expert at nyu langone health. >> for those ages greater than 65, there's a specific formulations of vaccines that you should get, and it dramatically reduces the likelihood of hospitalization and death. >> reporter: less than half of u.s. adults plan to get a flu shot this year, and just a third feel safe getting a flu shot and covid vaccine at the same time. stewart opted for both the flu shot and the bivalent covid booster, which the cdc says can be safely given together. >> if it's something that's going to help lessen symptoms, then every little bit helps. >> reporter: flu season typically starts in october, peaks december through february, and can last into the spring. like covid vaccines, the flu

shot may not stop you from getting infected, but the cdc says it can significantly lower the risk of hospitalization and death. >> that was

hearing aids are now available over the counter to adults with mild to moderate hearing loss, but what about children? astrid martinez reports. >> reporter: new parents are anxious to know if all of their baby's senses are functioning as expected. >> our audiologist in new york city told us she was a hearing child and she would be great and go enjoy your baby. >> reporter: but shortly after lila's 1st birthday, her mom, dana, realized her daughter's communication was not progressing. she took lila to a new doctor. >> she did a neurological hearing test that should have taken like 20 minutes, and they took an hour and a half with her. and when they came out, they told us that she was profoundly deaf. she was born deaf. >> reporter: lila got cook lee ar implants at 20 months old.

she even calls them her superpower that she can turn on and off. >> i don't have to hear thunder or lightning, and maybe like a scary movie, when something scary happens, i'm like, nope. not happening. >> reporter: but lila did start to question why others didn't have what she wears on her ears. there wasn't a doll that looked like lila, that represented lila, that maybe she could connect with. >> reporter: dana customized several dolls to where cook lee ar implants as presents for her daughter. the gift was a huge hit. >> it was also nice when she had friends over to see the friends would play with the doll and just to see that, you know, representation matters. >> reporter: in may, mattel released a barbie with hearing aids. right away, the family raised $4,000 to purchase hundreds of dolls for deaf children in underprivileged homes. >> i like the hearing aid, the pink one. >> reporter: so that other deaf children can also grow up with dolls that represent them. astrid martinez, cbs news, new

york. and that's the overnight news for this wednesday. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm catherine herridge. this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. president biden plans to announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the u.s. strategic reserve in response to recent cuts from opec plus nations. with a few weeks to go before the next month's midterm elections. it will complete the release of 180 million barrels authorized by biden in march. nestle is issuing a voluntary recall of its nestle toel house stuffed chocolate cookie dough with fudge filling products due to the potential presence of white plastic pieces. the product was produced between june and september of this year. the nfl announced it's creating its first ever black friday game in partnership with amazon prime video. the inaugural game will kick off the day after the nfl's

traditional thanksgiving game starting in 2023. for more news, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or your conne tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. the early winter freeze for more than 200 million americans. the bitterly cold temperatures and the states that got more than a foot of snow in october. whiteout conditions on highways. the midwest buried with snow. the cold blast gripping the country from texas to boston. america decides. three weeks until the midterms. president biden vows to push an abortion rights bill if democrats win. >> i believe congress should codify roe once and for all. >> cbs's robert costa is in the battleground of ohio. russia targets ukraine's power grid. cbs's holly williams reports tonight on the warning of a long winter ahead as a third of ukraine is without power.

protecting your family. the dangers tonight for kids riding the school bus. cbs's meg oliver shows us what one district is doing to prevent close calls like this. and gruesome grizzly attack. how these two college wrestlers broke free from the jaws of a bear while out antler hunting. >> tackled me and chewed me up a little bit. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." tonight, winter has come early for a majority of the country with more than 235 million americans experiencing below-normal temperatures from the upper midwest to the gulf of mexico. october snow has fallen across the midwest, including wisconsin, michigan, indiana, and even dipped as far south as kentucky with some areas seeing as much as a foot and a half, and more is on the way.

in minnesota, windchills dipped below zero this morning while more than 100 million americans are under freeze and frost advisories tonight from the rockies to the northeast. the cold front will push temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal from the central plains to the florida panhandle, and some areas will set historic lows with at least 75 records expected to be broken tomorrow. so we have a lot of news to get to tonight. cbs's omar villafranca will start us off. >> reporter: fall feels like winter in parts of the upper midwest thanks to a weather system dropping temperatures and snow. instead of falling leaves, more than a foot of snow blanketed parts of michigan, leaving a mess for work crews. >> we didn't expect this much heavy snow because along with the heavy snow, we have branches down all over. >> reporter: in the last 48 hours, ironwood and marquette, michigan, recorded more than 13 inches of snow. in indiana, thick flakes of snow peppered parking lots and roadways, making for slick ivg nditions.

christmas, the early snow d people wondering about a white thvi.hopinit would hold off unt but, hey, you know, we've seen snow on halloween before. >> reporter: while the temperatures may be dropping, the cost of heating homes is going up. the average cost to stay cozy indoors this winter is expected to rise more than 17%, about $200 over last year thanks in part to the rising cost of natural gas. one energy expert we talked to said home heating prices here in texas could be up as much as 30% compared to last year. here in dallas, it's weather whiplash. it was in the 90s this past weekend, and now parts of north texas are under a freeze warning. norah. >> omar villafranca, thank you. this winter blast is not over yet. most of you will have to bundle up for at least the next two days. for details, let's bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channels. give us the details. good evening, mike. >> norah, good evening.

the record cold temperatures really spreading across the east. big cold front is sliding through. temperatures well below average for hundreds of millions of americans. all these locations could set record lows come tomorrow morning and freeze warnings that go all the way down to the gulf coast including places like coastal florida, alabama, mississippi, just outside of new orleans. temperatures in the morning, 27 in paducah but below freezing in meridian, where we could be looking for some frost. and shreveport near record-setting at 34 degrees. tomorrow's high temperatures still remain on the cool side by 10 to 15 degrees, and thursday morning, more records could be set. more bone-chilling cold with many places seeing temperatures below freezing. again, a shock to the system but a warm-up comes in by the time we get to the weekend. >> that's some good news. mike bettes, thank you. it's just three weeks until election day and the battle for control of congress is coming down to the wire. in ohio, one of the closest senate races is also one of the biggest surprises with

democratic congressman tim ryan trailing republican j.d. vance by just two points. cbs's robert costa traveled to ohio for our continuing series "america decides." >> if you care about the right to choose, then you got to vote. >> reporter: with the midterms looming, inflation lingering, and democrats' momentum stalling according to some polls, president biden today made a promise on abortion rights, rallying democrats to vote. mr. biden said if the party expands their majorities, the first bill he'd send to congress would make abortion rights legal across the country. >> the court got roe right nearly 50 years ago, and i believe congress should codify roe once and for all. >> reporter: in the tight ohio senate race, congressman tim ryan is counting on voters to hear that message and give him the edge over republican j.d. vance. >> are you confident abortion rights will galvanize democratic voters in ohio? >> it's going to galvanize voters. so even people where abortion isn't their top issue, they

don't want the government in their bedroom or doctor's office. >> reporter: cbs polling shows abortion now does not have the same importance to some voters as it did just a month ago. still, younger voters in ohio told us it is on their minds. >> do younger ohio democrats feel like abortion rights are on the ballot this fall? >> yeah, definitely. it's -- i think that the majority of americans believe that abortion care should be a choice left to individuals. >> reporter: ryan and vance had sharp exchanges over the issue in a debate last night. >> j.d. and his extreme crew, they want to have a national abortion ban. he called rape "inconvenient." like this is not a guy who's ready to protect the rights of women. >> as much as you call me an extremist, you're the extremist on this issue. i think it's totally reasonable to say you cannot abort a baby, especially for elective reasons, after 15 weeks of gestation.

>> reporter: tomorrow, top trump allies will campaign with vance, illustrating how vance wants the former president's supporters to show up. but congressman tim ryan tells cbs news he doesn't want president biden to stump for him and instead will run his own race. norah. >> robert costa, thank you very much. two people were killed today when their twin-engine plane crashed into a car dealership in marietta, ohio. they were scheduled to land sto virginia. no one at the dealership was the lot and the building were damaged. the cause of the crash is now under investigation. well, tonight there is justice for kristin smart, who vanished from a california university campus 26 years ago. a jury today found paul flores guilty of murdering smart after attempting to rape her in his dorm room. her remains have never been found. flores, now 45, had long been a suspect but wasn't arrested

until last year. a separate jury today found his father not guilty of helping to hide the crime. the "cbs overnight news" will b right back.

>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." well, from ohio to florida where there is outrage tonight over newly released body cam footage showing the arrests of several people accused of voter fraud. a 2018 state constitutional amendment restored the right to vote for many ex-felons, but confusion remains over the law four years later. here's cbs's ed o'keefe. >> reporter: in footage obtained by cbs news, on august 18th, police showed up at the tampa home of tony patterson, a registered sex offender who was told he was under arrest for voter fraud. >> voter fraud? what is voter fraud?

>> voting when you're not supposed to, sir. >> reporter: that same day, ramona oliver, who served 18 years on a second-degree murder charge, was arrested for voting illegally in 2020 even though she'd received a voter i.d. card from the state. >> i voted, but i ain't committing no fraud. i was headed to work when y'all stopped me. >> reporter: patterson, oliver, and 18 others were accused of violating a 2018 state law that allows most former felons to vote after they complete their sentences, but not those convicted of murder or felony sex offenses, as patterson and oliver were. they now face five years in prison. florida republican governor ron desantis touted the arrests that same day. >> they did not get their rights restored, and yet they went ahead and voted anyways. that is against the law, and now they're going to pay the price for it. >> reporter: the arrests were made following investigations by a controversial state police force established by the governor to investigate voter fraud. in the videos first obtained by the "tampa bay times," patterson

tells a police officer he was misled. >> why would y'all let me vote if i wasn't able to vote? >> i'm not sure, buddy. i don't know. >> reporter: and that confusion is exactly what voting experts say shouldn't have been allowed in the first place. >> if you're going to hold this high bar and say it's against the law, make it so that the pe don't allow them to go through the system and then after the fact, go, gotcha! >> reporter: critics say part of the problem is that the florida voter registration form doesn't say anything about which former felons can have their right to vote restored or which ones aren't eligible to vote. one of those arrested in august said a local dmv official told him he could register. governor desantis' office didn't return our request for comment, norah. >> ed o'keefe, thank you very much. tonight, a third of ukraine is without power after russia destroyed power stations in the last eight days. president zelenskyy says russia has thrown the country into massive blackouts and is urging

his nation to brace for a tough winter. that's something the world health organization is warning could become a spiraling humanitarian crisis. we get more now from cbs's holly williams inside ukraine. >> reporter: russia's tactics in ukraine may be changing. today its strikes targeted the power grid across the country.r stations have been destroyed in just over a week, causing rolling blackouts. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelenskyy, reassured his nation that the grid's getting fixed, but urged people to use as little electricity as possible. long term, power outages could be devastating for the military, the public, and everyone's morale, and that's probably the whole point. it's not the first time that russia's attacked ukraine's critical infrastructure. even before the invasion in

2015, suspected russian hackers managed to switch off the lights for nearly a quarter of a million people. the power plant manager told us it was chaotic. now as ukrainians fight off a vicious invasion, it could be much worse. this winter, they're facing terror as well as terrible cold. iran has reportedly agreed to sell more missiles and so-called suicide drones to russia. iran denies that it's arming russian forces here in ukraine, but the u.s. says iran is lying. norah. >> holly williams, thank you. there are fears tonight about the safety of an iranian athlete who hasn't been in contact with friends since she competed on sunday without wearing a hijab. the iranian embassy in south korea says 33-year-old sport climber elnaz rekabi has returned to iran after taking part in the asian championships. while it's believed she refused

to wear her head scarf in protest against iranian rules, a post appeared on her instagram today explaining that her scarf inadvertently fell off. but anti-government activists don't believe that, and they tonight are concerned about her safety. well, now to an amazing story of survival. two wyoming college wrestlers are lucky to be alive tonight after they were attacked by a grizzly bear. cbs's carter evans reports. this is just one in a rash of recent bear attacks both in the u.s. and around the world. >> reporter: descending a rocky ridge on mount futago in japan, the climber hears something above him. it's a bear. [ screaming ] the climber deflects the attack, but the bear's not done. he yells and hammers the bear with his fist as it makes another attack, continuing to scream and kick the bear until it finally runs off. the climber said it seemed like the bear attacked to protect its cub. >> if you're out in the wilderness this time of year,

fall, are you more likely to run into a bear? >> yeah. the bears are in the hyperphasia mode. they're eating 20 hours a day. >> reporter: ann bryant, executive director of the bear league, says in the u.s., grizzly bears can be the most aggressive, which is exactly what attacked college wrestling teammates kendall cummings and brady lowry in wyoming. >> it was a big bear, looked scary. >> reporter: both were hospitalized after getting mauled by a grizzly over the weekend in the shoshone national forest. >> bit me on the arm and shook me around, threw me. >> reporter: cummings told a local news station that after he tried to pull the bear off his friend, it turned on him. >> it tackled me and chewed me up a little bit. >> sounds like they got lucky there. >> i think they got lucky. if it would have been just one guy, i think it would have all been over. >> reporter: now, experts say they aren't necessarily seeing a rise in bear attacks, but to avoid a bear encounter altogether, when you're out in the wilderness, they say make a lot of noise, whistle, carry on

a conversation with a buddy. that way you'll scare away the bears before you even see them. norah. >> what a story, carter. thank you. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. one prilosec otc each morning blocks heartburn all day and all night. prilosec otc reduces excess acid for 24 hours, blocking heartburn before it starts. one pill a day. 24 hours. zero heartburn. (woman) oh. oh! hi there. you're jonathan, right? the 995 plan! blocking heartburn before it starts. yes, from colonial penn. your 995 plan fits my budget just right. excuse me? aren't you jonathan from tv, that 995 plan? yes, from colonial penn. i love your lifetime rate lock.

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well, now to a story that every parent needs to know, especially during this national school bus safety week. 17,000 children end up in the hospital from school bus accidents every year. and in the past decade, at least 64 children have died getting on and off the bus. the biggest risk for kids is what's known as the danger zone. that's the ten feet surrounding a stopped bus. cbs's meg oliver reports in depth on one school district that's trying to solve the problem. >> reporter: for driver brenda sciacia in bethlehem, pennsylvania, at each stop, students' safety is her top concern. >> what do you see? >> i see people cutting us off. i see people going around the bus whether the stop sign's out or not. >> reporter: passing a school bus flashing red lights is against the law in all states, and yet many drivers don't stop. now 120 buses in sciacia's school district are mounted with cameras, recording every

violator's license plate. videos are forwarded to police to issue a $300 fine. >> the times that it is right now, people are more aggressive, less patient. >> reporter: in neighboring allentown, during a 47-day study in 2019, cameras on two buses recorded 205 illegal stop arm violations. nationwide, school buses are passed illegally more than 17 million times a year. >> it was a heart-stopping moment. >> reporter: in 2018, amber clark and her daughter, olivia, then in kindergarten, had a close call. >> there was a white car that had ran the stop sign, and it was barreling towards us and it didn't look like it was slowing down. i had just enough time to scoop up my daughter and spin. the windshield grazed her backpack. >> reporter: after the terrifying incident, she successfully lobbied to have a law enacted permitting cameras on bus stop arms. >> how does it work? >> reporter: for bethlehem

superintendent joseph roy, the beauty of the plan is that the cameras are free. >> what do you say to the naysayers who say this is just big brother overreaching? >> yeah, i've had a couple of emails on that, and i guess my response is, i'm worried about the kids. my job is the kids, and just drive more safely. >> reporter: meg oliver, cbs news, bethlehem, pennsylvania. nascar driver bubba wallace is disciplined over his bad behavior on the racetrack. that story is next. vicks vapostick. strong soothing... vapors. help comfort your loved ones. for chest, neck, and back. it goes on clear. no mess. just soothing comfort. try vicks vapostick.

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pepto bismol coats and soothes for fast relief... when you need it most. in washington state, the nakia creek fire has grown to about 1,800 acres and remains just 5% contained. authorities say the fire was caused by humans and are asking for the public's help. they are looking for a white or light-colored subaru along with two men and two women seen within the car. tonight, nascar has suspended driver bubba wallace for one race following his confrontation with reigning champion kyle larson just last weekend in las vegas. wallace deliberately spun larson's car and later shoved him multiple times before arguing with an official. wallace, now the first cup series driver in seven years to be suspended for an on-track incident, will miss sunday's race in south florida. and we will be right back with a jurassic tale about an airline crew and a very special passenger.

we end tonight with some special airline workers that went the extra mile to make sure one little boy's prized possession got the vip treatment. cbs's kris van cleave explains. >> reporter: glo jones has been checking bags at burbank, california's airport for two decades, but she'd never seen anything like this, a dinosaur the size of a small child. >> and he's scary looking but he was really adorable. >> reporter: 8-year-old rowan francois got this guy on vacation with no thought of how to get him home.

>> it's almost as big as me. i thought it was going to break the whole time. >> so you were worried about it making home? >> yeah. >> reporter: but southwest airlines baggage handler brian cisneros and his co-workers were determined that wouldn't happen. >> when i saw it, we locked >> repor and what he saw, a en concern was taking care of it. we gave it a specific cart by itself, took it to the gate, and when we loaded the dinosaur in the bin, we put it in the center bin, which is by himself. >> reporter: and when it finally got home to spokane, a reunion made possible by going the extra mile. kris van cleave, cbs news. 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 norah o'donnell.

this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. president biden plans to announce the release of 15 million barrels of oil from the u.s. strategic reserve in response to recent cuts from at weeks to go before next month's midterm elections. it will complete the release of 180 million barrels authorized by biden in march. nestle ile is issuing a voluntary recall of its nestle tollhouse stuffed chocolate cookdy dough with fudge filling products due to the potential presence of white plastic pieces. the product was produced between june and september of this year. the nfl announced it's creating its first ever black friday game in partnership with amazon prime video. the inaugural game will kick off the day after the nfl's traditional thanksgiving game

starting in 2023. for more news, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or your connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. it's wednesday, october 19th, 2022. this is the "cbs morning news." russian bombardment. air strikes target energy and water supplies across ukraine. the dire warnings ahead of the winter months. cold snap. millions of americans are facing possible record-breaking freezing tra why warming home could yore thr ntrorscr poce bodcameraideo shows str fru the nfusov to vote for ex-felons. well, good morning, and good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. this morning hundreds of thousands of ukrainians are