>> reporter: ryan kohnke's 12-year-old niece jessalyn torres has undergone several surgeries since she was struck by brooks. what do you think this decision will mean for the healing of families like yours and other families? >> i think it's a huge step forward. i think this gives everybody an opportunity to have some sort of closure. >> reporter: kohnke says he and his family have had trouble sleeping. the kids were afraid of fast-moving cars, and have just start ds. a hearing to set darrell brooks's sentencing date is scheduled for monday. norah? >> r well, tonight we're just getting word of a massive drug bust linked to mexican cartels. 17 people are under arrest in california and washington state. federal prosecutors accuse them of being part of an interconnected drug trafficking ring and say that the amount of fentanyl seized was enough to kill 132,000 people. cbs' jonathan vigliotti has the late details.

>> reporter: photos tonight show the haul seized this week in a joint operation by the fbi, dea, and local law enforcement officials. authorities say three major cartels operating within the u.s. smuggled the drugs, including fentanyl, through mexico. >> the amount of drugs that we are talking about is huge. and those are coming across the border in cars and in trucks. >> reporter: according to u.s. attorney nick brown, federal authorities track the groups and monitor their efforts to recruit people in the seattle area to distribute the narcotics on the street. 330,000 pills of fentanyl alone were seized. former head of dea international ationsike ngerous drug c that unit states is from . other drugs because it's much more lucrative. >> reporter: just yesterday, two separate busts in arizona and oregon brought in more than 18

pounds of the drug fentanyl, which is usually disguised as more expensive drugs. it is also one of the deadliest. in 2021, colorado saw an almost 70% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses from 2020. more than 900 deaths. >> that should really scare the american public. >> and here is another scary fact. fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine. authorities believe 40% of the pills they seized this week contain lethal doses, norah. >> that is scary. jonathan vigliotti, thank you. well, here's an alarming number. 99% of pediatric beds are now full at one of the nation's top hospitals, children's national right here in washington. that is mostly because of the respiratory illness known as rsv.th

>> reporr:ith rsv until they rushed her to the emergency room. >> i was bian panicked because could tell my daughter was breathing very badly. >> reporter: the severe respiratory illness invaded nevaeh's lungs, and she was suffering. >> she is definitely a precious little angel. >> reporter: the family has been in le bonheur children's hospital in memphis since monday, where nevaeh is receiving oxygen and fluids. dr. sarah coombs works in the emergency room at children's national, where she has been treating rsv patients. are the symptoms more severe this year? >> yes. and that exactly goes to why the hospital is full and why we have so many children needing admission as opposed to being able to be seen and discharged home. >> reporter: in d.c. and 36 states, rsv cases are rising at an alarming rate as a trio of viruses -- covid, the flu and

rsv -- are filling beds to capacity. more than 72% of pediatric beds are filled nationwide. why do you think there is such a large outbreak? >> we think in part during covid we had been locked down. we were masking and we were social distancing. our immune systems didn't get the workout they're used to. >> reporter: all three viruss have common symptoms, often starting with a fever, congestion and runny nose. covid can cause a sore throat and digestive issues. rsv causes wheezing and coughing. doctors say if your child is having difficulty breathing, pulling in their chest, flared nostrils and blue around their nose and mouth, you should seek care immediately. >> it doesn't matter if it's covid or flu or rsv. if the child is running into trouble with breathing, it didn't matter what's causing that trouble with breathing, we need to see them in the emergency room. >> reporter: in texas when the tomgzs saw their 7-month-old

lethargic and not eating, they took him to the emergency room. >> don't wait. don't think it's going get better on its own. >> dr. combs told us she is concerned how early this rsv spike is happening, and that means it could be a long winter for emergency rooms. her advice for parents is remain calm, keep an eye on your child when they're sick, and try and when they're sick, and try and stick with this basic 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, nyquil severe: ♪♪ elephants. can you imagine a world without them? and yet, we're losing them. more than 90% of africa's elephants, are already gone. killed by poachers, illegal trade, and conflict. thousands of elephants are in danger of death and extinction.

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all right. there was more threatening talk today from vladimir putin. the russian president said the risk of world conflict is high as he oversaw the start of nuclear military exercises. he also repeated the ne be planning a dirty bomb attack. cbs' holly williams is following developments from kyiv.re aannul ev but this war with ukraine and anxiety that moscow could use a nuclear bomb in anger. vladimir putin watched the exercises by video link. he's openly threatened to use nuclear weapons. and today he repeated russia's accusation that ukraine could be planning to detonate a radioactive device, a so-called dirty bomb. the u.s. calls the allegation transparently false. a dirty bomb is less harmful

than a nuclear bomb but uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material, causing contamination. there are fears that russia could be laying the groundwork for a so-called false flag operation, staging an incident and then blaming ukraine, perhaps as a pretext to use a nuclear weapon. president biden warned rusa nst . >> i'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false flag operation yet. don't know. but it would be a serious, serious mistake. >> reporter: russia's military appears to be struggling in uchristine, usually losing swaths of territory. today ukraine'sefen tolds russia's exhausted and trying to force ukraine and the west to negotiate. what you're describing is sort of nuclear or radioactive blackmail. >> yes, this is a blackmail. >> reporter: the u.s. says russia's rhetoric is irresponsible but sees no reason

to change its nuclear posture. norah? >> holly williams, thank you. well, the rifle that was used in a deadly school shooting this week may have been previously removed from the killer's home. that 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. when you can't sleep... try zzzquil pure zzzs gummies. from the world's #1 sleep aid brand. its special formula helps you fall asleep naturally with an optimal dose of melatonin. so you can wake up refreshed. for better sleep, like never before. do you struggle with occasional nerve aches in your hands or feet? so you can wake up refreshed.

try nervivenerve relief from the world's #1 selling nerve care company. nervive contains alpha lipoic acid to relieve occasional nerve aches, weakness and discomfort. try nervivenerve relief. want to wake up to smoother, brighter skin day 1? olay retinol 24 recharges my skin while i sleep. no wonder it was awarded best night cream! night mode...activated. olay. face anything. suffering from sinus congestion, especially at night? try vicks sinex night mode...activated. for instant relief that lasts up to 12 hours. vicks sinex targets congestion at the source, relieving nasal congestion and sinus pressure by reducing swelling in the sinuses. try vicks sinex. parents of the 19-year-old gunman who killed two people in a school shooting earlier this week previously worked with police to take away a gun from him. police say the shooter's mother had long been worried about his

mental health and got him treatment, including medication, therapy, and committing him to a hospital. the st. louis police chief believes the weapon taken away months ago may be the same ar-15 style rifle that he used in the attack. well, tonight there is a major recall of popular cleaner. the potential serious risks, when we come back. there's an important recall of househo tell you about. this includes pine-sol scented multipurpose cleaners and all purpose cleaners. this there is a bacteria that could affect people with compromised immune systems.

it does not include the original pine-scented pine-sol. an 80-year-old doctor is set to run his 4 (male) there are many voices in today's world. everyone is voicing their opinions about everything, and jesus is no exception to that. what if there was a clear voice telling you exactly who jesus is? (male announcer) join dr. david jeremiah as he teaches who jesus is and what that means for your life. tune in to dr. jeremiah's new series, "christ above all", on the next "turning point", right here on this station.

jim mansfield: my job was more important to me than my family, and i started drinking a lot, staying out of town. it took a toll on me. dr. charles stanley: you mhelplessly lost if you willl,, listen to what i'm about to say. jim: sitting on that couch, watching that sermon, something had happened to us.

i'm talking about the joy and love in our hearts. i want more of that. the marine corps marathon being run here in washington this weekend started in 1976 with the gel of promoting goodwill. perhaps no runner better exemplifies that spirit than the doctor you're about to meet. here is cbs' jan crawford. >> reporter: this weekend, dr. glenn gailhood will run his 45th marine corps marathon. how much have you run? >> 170 date. >> reporter: how many continents? >> seven continents. >> reporter: he saves his medals, but his true passion is saving lives in bringing medical supplies and training to the most remote corners of the world. >> we have done what we can to

help, not just heal the folk that we see immediately by cutting and sewing, but by teaching those skills such that it continues beyond us. >> reporter: his medical missions are inspired by his runs. >> the marathon is a good metaphor. it takes discipline. it takes effort and it takes a commitment. that's what health care is. >> reporter: dr. eb is 80-year-old old. >> how long do you plan to keep running marathons? >> until the next one and the next one and the next one after that. >> reporter: because crossing the finish line means it's time to start a new mission. jan crawford, maryland. that's the "overnight news." for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and remember, you can follow us online any time at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm norah o'donnell.

♪ this is cbs news as dan r mene, a new jersey democrat is under federal criminal investigation in new york. the exact details are unclear. this comes five years after senator menendez avoided conviction in corruption charges in an alleged bribery scheme. three men have been accused of supporting a plot to kidnap the governor, gretchen whitmer. the three men were found guilty for providing support for a terrorist act as members of a group the wolverine watchman. rates are up again, the highest levels sincethes cng hog

market, spooking buyers and builders. for more news, download the news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. ♪ >> announcer: this is the "cbs velopments that could potentially shake up the midterm elections in two key political battlegrounds. the ea republican senate candidate herschel walker is denying new accusations that he paid for another woman to have an abortion three decades ago. the accuser says she is afraid of retaliation and wants to remain anonymous. and in pennsylvania, there is concern tonight from democrats after the senate debate between john fetterman and mehmet oz. the race is a toss-up, and fetterman's performance last night is raising new questions about fetterman's recovery from a stroke. these races are important

because they could decide the balance of power in the senate. our latest battleground tracker shows republicans now have a slight advantage, though at least five races are toss-ups. as america decides, we have team coverage of those crucial races in georgia and pennsylvania, and we're going to begin with cbs' nikole killion. good evening, nikole. >> good evening, norah. this new claim comes as herschel walker is in a dead heat with senator raphael warnock and amid record early voting turnout in georgia. walker recently told me he was trying to move forward with his campaign. now he is defending another allegation that he says are lies. in a virtual news conference, attorney gloria allred a man wh claims herschel walker drove her to an abortion clinic in the spring of 1993 after learning she was pregnant. >> he encouraged me to have an abortion and gave me the money to do so. >> reporter: the woman described a six-year relationship with

walker while he was still married and playing in the nfl. she said she tried to get the abortion herself, but couldn't go through with it, and says he took her to a dallas area clinic the next day and waited for her while she got the procedure. >> i was so traumatized by what herschel had put me through. >> reporter: allred shared evidence from her client, including cards purporting to be from walker, as well as a photo and recording of him as proof of their relationship. >> i want to say i love you and i was thinking about you. >> reporter: the woman called gop sena nomee who is staunchly anti-abortion a hypocrite, and said she was not coming forward for political reasons. >> i do not believe that herschel is morally fit to be a u.s. senator. >> i'm done with this foolishness. >> reporter: walker played down the allegations on the campaign trail, along with south carolina's senator lindsey graham. kavanaugh department back down. he's on the court.

herschel ain't backing down. herschel walker is going to the united states senate. >> reporter: it is the latest case to envelope walker, who recently admitted to writing a check for another woman who claimed he paid for her abortion in 2009. >> i said that's a lie. >> walker's opponent, senator warnock has tried to steer clear of commenting on some of these controversies, but tonight he issued a statement saying this is the latest example of a troubling pattern. norah? >> what a story in these final days. nikole killion, thank you. well, now let's head to pennsylvania for voter reaction to the showdown between john fetterman and mehmet oz. both senate candidates are now trying to seize momentum after their debate. we get more from cbs' robert costa in harrisburg. >> reporter: republican candidate mehmet oz hit the campaign trail today with former u.n. ambassador nikki haley, calling his opponent john fetterman soft on crime, and touting his own performance at tuesday night's face-off. >> now last night's debate focused on my desire to bring balance to washington. >> reporter: in that debate, pennsylvania voters got a live

hour-long look at fetterman, who is recovering from a stroke in may. >> i had stroke. he's never let me forget that. and i might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down, but i'm going keep coming back up. >> reporter: fetterman used a closed captioning device to help him read the moderator's questions and oz's answers. and there were moments where fetterman appeared to struggle. >> it's about supporting and helping young earners -- excuse me, young -- -- young students. >> reporter: with the race essentially tied two weeks out, the debate was a key moment for some voters, who had a mix of opinions today on fetterman's verbal difficulties. >> mr. fetterman really struggled. it was painful to watch. >> as long as he feels that he is fit to run for office, then i will trust his word. >> i don't understand how his handlers allowed him to engage in that debate. >> just because he don't speak as fast as everyone else has nothing to do with what he can

do in congress. >> reporter: fetterman was pressed by the moderators about why he has not released complete medical records. he has released a letter from his primary care doctor that says he is capable of serving. oz refrained yesterday from directly addressing fetterman's health challenges, but his allies like pennsylvania senator pat toomey have not. >> you believe the question will linger in the final days here? >> i do. i certainly do, given his performance. also, let's be honest. he is not releasing all the records. we all saw just how badly affected he still is. >> reporter: fetterman's campaign claims that since the debate ended, he has raised $2 million. but some top democrats remain concerned, including former pennsylvania governor ed rendell who told cbs news that fetterman at time seems confused, and he wants to see the candidate out vote he is reao servo it wbe a lg election t, perhaps a long election week.

robert costa, thank you so much. well, tonight we're just getting word of a massive drug bust linked to mexican cartels. 17 people are under arrest in california and washington state. federal prosecutors accuse them of being part of an interconnected drug trafficking ring and say that the amount of fentanyl seized was enough to kill 132,000 people. cbs' jonathan vigliotti has the late details. >> reporter: photo the haul seized this week in a joint operation by the fbi, dea, and local law enforcement officials. authorities say three major cartels operating within the u.s. smuggled the drugs, including fentanyl, through mexico. >> the amount of drugs that we are talking about is huge. and those are coming across the border in cars and in trucks. >> reporter: according to u.s. attorney nick brown, federal authorities track the groups and monitor their efforts to recruit people in the seattle area to distribute the narcotics on the street.330 on

were sei former head of dea international operations mike vigil. >> fentanyl is ter most ugme th united states is currently facing. the cartels are moving way from other drugs because it's much more lucrati >> reporter: just yesterday, two separate busts in arizona and oregon brought in more than 18 pounds of the drug fentanyl, which is usually disguised as more expensive drugs. it is also one of the deadliest. in 2021, colorado saw an almost 70% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses from 2020. more than 900 deaths. >> that should really scare the american public. >> and here is another scary fact. fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine. authorities believe 40% of the pills they seized this week contain lethal doses, norah.

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♪ >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." >> i'm caitlin huey-burns in washington. thanks for staying with us. as russian forces continue to lose ground in the invasion of ukraine, there is gron vladimip use a nuclear weapon trying to turn the tide of the battle. outside ukraine, the russian military has begun a major exercise called thunder. it includes test launches of nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missiles from submarines and missile silo, and nuclear cruise missiles from its strategic bombers. moscow notified the u.s. of the

drills a day before they began. but it comes as the kremlin continues to accuse ukraine of planning to set off a radioactive dirty bomb. holly williams reports from kyiv. >> russia took its allegations about a so-called dirty bomb to the u.n. security council. the u.s. has dismissed allegations of a dirty bomb as transparently false. the u.s. ambassador to the u.n. called it, quote, pure russian misinformation of the kind we've seen many times before. and ukraine suggested that russia could be laying the groundwork for a so-called false flag operation, accusing ukraine of what it actually plans to do itself. a dirty bomb is not a nuclear bomb and wld be less harmful. but by using conventional explosives to spread radioactive material, it's an effective weapon of terror. president biden was asked whether russia could be preparing to use a dirty bomb or even a nuclear weapon following

its accusations about ukraine. "i'm not guaranteeing you it's a false flag operation," he said, "but it would be a serious, serious mistake." ukraine has asked the u.n. to inspect two sites here that russia claims are involved, though once again it hasn't given us any evidence of that. >> holly williams in the ukrainian capital. the united states and its nato allies are conducting military drills of their own not far from ukraine. chris livesay went aboard a u.s. navy warship and got an exclusive look at the show of force in the mediterranean sea. >> reporter: we fly at dawn from the southern coast of italy to join the uss george h.w. bush aircraft carrier, a floating mountain of muscle flexing with more than 80 allied aircraft in international waters for nato training. all set against the backdrop of vladimir putin's repeated threats to fire nuclear weapons.

the secretary general of nato has come aboard with a warning. >> there will be severe consequences. it will be absolutely wrong if i went into the exact way we will react. but russia knows there will be severe consequences, and we are vigilant and ready to react if something bad happens. >> reporter: that something bad could be a dirty bomb, an explosive loaded with radioactive material. russia now claims that ukraine wants to use one on the battlefield. is russia laying the groundwork for a potential false flag attack of its own? >> we have seen before that russia has accused others for doing what they intend to do themselves. so therefore we are sending a strong message to moscow that they should not try to use a false pretext as an excuse for escalation of the war in ukraine. >> reporter: for now, nato says

its best weapon is overwhelming deterrents with a heart-thumping display of firepower from fighter jets and helicopters to unparalleled surveillance with tensions in the region at a fever pitch. this may only be combat training, but if called upon, these fighters say they're ready to strike. butfendhe allian vero provokey insist. you're the secretary general of nato aboard a u.s. aircraft carrier. are you poking the bear? >> we don't seek conflict with russia. but, of course, when we see more threats, when we see a more dangerous worrell, it's even more important that we send a clear message to any potential adversary that we are ready to defend all allies because that's the best way to prevent an attack and preserve peace. >> reporter: and these aren't nato's only exercises in the region. it's currently conducting

nuclear weapons training elsewhere in europe. now these are yearly events, but given the backdrop of the war in ukraine, and now the fears of a dirty bomb, nato says its focus has never been sharper. >> that's chris livesay reporting. since russia launched the invasion of ukraine, the pentagon has sent another 20,000 u.s. troops to europe that makes 100,000 in all. many are in romania, near the border of ukraine. charlie d'agata is with the troops. >> reporter: romania is now home to the 101st airborne division. it's the first time it's been headquarter heard in europe in nearly 80 years. this is some of the equipment they brought from home, a 777 howitzer, ready to roll at any minute. they're specifically trained to deploy on any battlefield in the world within hours. >> go, go, go, go! >> reporter: ready to fight. the reason one of america's most elite air assault divisions has

been sent right here, right now brigadier general john lubis and colonel aidan member of a combat team on board a black hawk helicopter. from the start of the war, russia advanced from crimea along the black sea to kherson, aiming to capture port cities like mykolaiv in odesa to land lock ukraine. we're right about here. >> we're ready to defend every inch of nato soil. >> why is it necessary to have the 101st here? >> we bring a unique capability. we're a light infantry force, but we bring the capability. >> reporter: we skirt along the black sea coast as we head further north. >> we're roughly 20 miles away from snake island, the contentious island that's been fought over between the ukrainians and the russians,

currently under ukrainian control. >> reporter: at a forward operating site, we watched as u.s. soldiers and romanian troops pounded targets in a joint ground and air assault. the tank rounds and artillery fire are real. so is the enemy. meant to recreate the fight against russian forces in ukraine. a message to russia and nato allies alike, we're here. >> the real meaning for me to have the american troops here is like if you were to have allies in normandy before any enemy was there. >> reporter: in all, roughly 4700 soldiers of the 101st screaming eagles from fort campbell, kentucky have been deployed to reinforce nato's eastern flank. you've had an opportunity to watch, observe and possibly study the russians. what do you think of them sofa >>o we're closely watching

them. so we're build objectives to practice against that replicate exactly what's going on in ukraine. we're the closest american unit to the fighting in ukraine. >> reporter: and what does that feel like? what does that mean? >> it keeps us on our toes, right. >> reporter: ready to fight tonight is a message that we've heard repeatedly. it's not just about defending nato territory. but if the fight escalates and nato partners are under threat, they're fully prepared to cross over into ukrainian territory if ordered to do so. >> charlie d'agata with the 101st airborne in romania. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. want to wake up to smoother, brighter skin day 1? olay retinol 24 recharges my skin while i sleep. no wonder it was awarded best night cream! night mode...activated. olay. face anything.

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do you struggle with occasional nerve aches in your hands or feet? try nervivenerve relief from the world's #1 selling nerve care company. nervive contains alpha lipoic acid totry nervivenerve relief. the midterm elections are less than two weeks away, and a lot of voters are having their opinion shaped and their votes influenced by talk radio. jim axelrod has been listening. >> trump won, okay? and biden is illegitimate, and you're just going to have to live with it, okay. >> reporter: across the america, the message is loud and clear. >> teachers in florida are facing the religious tyranny of ron desantis, this christian terrorist. >> reporter: 35 years after the talk radio revolution, on the air is still often an exercise in off the rails.

>> you know that guy had that super white hair. he looked like a character on "o "ozark". >> the guy is turning into a dictator, right in front of your eyes. >> reporter: brian rosenwalt is an industry expert. in 2022's america, what's the nature of talk radio? is it any different than it's been the last two or three decades? >> if anything, jim, i think it's more extreme. >> reporter: following the repeal of the fairness doctrine in 1987, broadcasters were no longer required to present both sides of controversial political issues. >> there is simply no way joe biden was legitimately elected president. >> reporter: which ushered ed r limbaugh's style. >> and i think over that long span, it has unquestionably divided americans. it has unquestionably hardened

our politics. >> if democrats can't rob you, the next best thing is to convince you that you are being r robbed. >> reporter: and how is that good for america? >> it's not. it's bad for america. we're facing a cultural crisis in america. >> reporter: michael is the publisher of "talkers magazine," the liberal bible. >> if we could have on the liberal side what we served and nation would be better served. >> reporter: it's not that liberals haven't mounted a counterattack. they just chose ooh different battlefield. >> why is there not a liberal rusch? rush limbaugh? >> i think they've gone into other areas. he happened to colonize late night comedy. stephen colbert, jimmy kimmel, most of the late night comics lean left at this point. >> reporter: which is why after more than three decades after rush limbaugh leaned to the right, liberals remain outgunned. on the list of top ten most

popular talk radio hosts, all ten are conservative. while the vitriol flows in both directions these days on commercial radio, the one part of the dial that i liberal turf -- >> this is all things considered. >> reporter: public radio attracts big numbers. though it's relatively restrained compared to the intense competition for listeners on commercial radio that's creating ever more extreme approaches to attracting listeners. >> crt, bathrooms that anybody can use. >> reporter: if you're hoping for any change in this dynamic, don't. talk radio is now a mature business with those running it less willing to gamble on something like nuance. >> i think right now it's have a take and don't eesu to matter m than red and blue in our divided america is green. what is the mission of talk radio? is it to generate light or heat?

>> the mission of talk radio is to generate ratings and when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of god, in due time he will exalt you. hi, i'm joel osteen. y et pe'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

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visitors to the paris motor show gasped when so-called eco warriors glued themselves to several vintage ferraris. the cars weren't badly damage, and police made 11 arrests. the protest didn't dim the shine of the show, which focused on a new age of electric vehicles. ian lee reports. >> reporter: with flash and flair, the future of driving is on display. from what will hit the roads soon to the maybe some day. at this year's paris motor show, tomorrow's cars are electric. summed up in a few words -- >> the world as you say is changing rapidly. >> reporter: to stay ahead of the competition, automakers are driving more battery powered cars into the mainstream, like the new jeep avenger, a fully electric suv. steering the industry to a

greener road is an eu regulation requiring all new vehicles to be emissions-free by 2035. french president emmanuel macron praised the shift after jumping behind the wheel, saying how it's helping the country achieve its climate goals. but electric cars can be expensive. so french company renault designed one for sharing. >> for most people, it's easier to manage a budget if you just used the mobility means at the time you need for the specific needs you have at that period of time. >> reporter: but it's not all about electrfying the future. some companies are switching to a different kind of gas. newcomer sees hydrogen powering autos, one more option on the road to tomorrow. ian lee, cbs news, london. >> and that's the "overnight news" for this thursday. for some of you, the news continues. and for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and follow us any time online at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm caitlin huey-burns.

♪ this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. sources tell cbs news u.s. senator bob menendez, a new jersey democrat is under federal criminal investigation in new york. the exact details are unclear. this comes five years after senator menendez avoided conviction in corruption charges in an alleged bribery scheme. three men have been accused convicted of supporting a plot to kidnap michigan's governor, gretchen whitmer. the plot came into focus in the summer of 2020. the three men were found guilty for providing support for a terrorist attack as members of the paramilitary group the wolverine watchmen. mortgage rates are up again this week surpassing 7% for a mortgage, the highest level since 2001.

the spark is cooling the housing market, spooking buyers and builders. for more news, download the news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. ♪ tonight, the breaking news and bombshell allegations that could affect control of the u.s. senate, with the midterms now less than two weeks away. football star turned senate hopeful herschel walker now facing accusations from a second woman. she says the anti-abortion rights candidate drove her to a clinic and paid for an abortion. and in pennsylvania -- >> good evening, candidates. >> voters react to john fetterman and dr. oz's only debate, as observers worry about the stroke survivor's performance. >> mr. fetterman really struggled. it was painful to watch. breaking news. the massive drug bust. hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills. more than a thousand pounds of meth, plus cocaine and heroin

taken off the streets. tonight, how many lives may have been saved. children's hospitals overwhelmed. pediatric beds at capacity as the country sees a dramatic rise in rsv. we speak with an emergency room doctor. how concerned are you about a long winter of illness? >> i'm concerned. and putin watches his troops' nuclear drills. cbs' holly williams gets reaction from inside ukraine. ♪ >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." >> tonight, there are major developments that could potentially shake up the midterm elections in two key political battlegrounds. the breaking news from georgia. republican senate candidate herschel walker is denying new accusations that he paid for another woman to have an abortion three decades ago. the accuser says she is afraid of retaliation and wants to remain anonymous.

and in pennsylvania, there is concern tonight from democrats after the senate debate between john fetterman and mehmet oz. the race is a toss-up, and fetterman's performance last night is raising new questions about fetterman's recovery from a stroke. these races are important because they could decide the balance of power in the senate. our latest battleground tracker shows republicans now have a slight advantage, though at least five races are toss-ups. as america decides, we have team coverage of those crucial races in georgia and pennsylvania, and we're going to begin with cbs' nikole killion. good evening, nikole. >> good evening, norah. this new claim comes as herschel walker is in a dead heat with democratic senator raphael warnock and amid record early voting turnout in georgia. walker recently told me he was trying to move forward with his campaign. now he is defending another allegation that he says are lies. in a virtual news conference, attorney gloria allred introduced jane doe, concealing the identity of a woman who claims herschel walker drove her

to an abortion clinic in the spring of 1993 after learning she was pregnant. >> he encouraged me to have an abortion and gave me the money to do so. >> reporter: the woman described a six-year relationship with walker while he was still married and playing in the nfl. she said she tried to get the abortion herself, but couldn't go through with it, and says he took her to a dallas area clinic the next day and waited for her while she got the procedure. >> i was so traumatized by what herschel had put me through. >> reporter: allred shared evidence from her client, including cards purporting to be from walker, as well as a photo and recording of him as proof of their relationship. >> i want to say i love you and i was thinking about you. >> rter: tan called the gop senate nominee who is staunchly anti-abortion a hypocrite, and said she was not coming forward for political reasons. >> i do not believe that herschel is morally fit to be a u.s. senator.

>> i'm done with this foolishness. >> reporter: walker played down the allegations on the campaign trail, along with south carolina's senator lindsey graham. >> kavanaugh didn't back down. he's on the court. herschel ain't backing down. herschel walker is going to the united states senate. >> reporter: it is the latest case to envelope walker, who recently admitted to writing a check for another woman who claimed he paid for her abortion in 2009. >> i said that's a lie. >> walker's opponent, senator warnock has tried to steer clear of commenting on some of these controversy, but tonight he issued a statement, saying this is the latest example of a troubling pattern. norah? >> what a story in these final days. nikole killion, thank you. well, now let's head to pennsylvania for voter reaction to the showdown between john fetterman and mehmet oz. both senate candidates are now trying to seize momentum after their debate. we get more from cbs' robert costa in harrisburg. >> reporter: republican candidate mehmet oz hit the campaign trail today with former

u.n. ambassador nikki haley, calling his opponent john fetterman soft on crime, and touting his own performance at tuesday night's face-off. >> now last night's debate focused on my desire to bring balance to washington. >> reporter: in that debate, pennsylvania voters got a live hour-long look at fetterman, who is recovering from a stroke in may. >> i had a stroke. he's never let me forget that. and i might miss some words during this debate, mush two words together, but it knocked me down, but i'm going keep coming back up. >> reporter: fetterman used a closed captioning device to help him read the moderator's questions and oz's answers. and there were moments where fetterman appeared to struggle. >> it's about supporting and helping young earners -- excuse me, young -- -- young students. >> reporter: with the race essentially tied two weeks out, the debate was a key moment for some voters, who had a mix of opinions today on fetterman's verbal difficulties. >> mr. fetterman really struggled.

it was painful to watch. >> as long as he feels that he is fit to run for office, then i will trust his word. >> i don't understand how his handlers allowed him to engage in that debate. >> just because he don't speak as fast as everyone else has nothing to do with what he can do in congress. >> reporter: fetterman was pressed by the moderators about why he has not released complete medical records. he has released a letter from his primary care doctor that says he is capable of serving. oz refrained yesterday from directly addressing fetterman's health challenges, but his allies like pennsylvania senator pat toomey have not. >> you believe the question will linger in the final days here? >> i do. i certainly do, given his performance. also, let's be honest. he is not releasing all the records. we all saw just how badly affected he still is. >> reporter: fetterman's campaign claims that since the debate ended, he has raised $2 million. but some top democrats remain concerned, including former

pennsylvania governor ed rendell who told cbs news that fetterman at time seems confused, and he wants to see the candidate out on the trail a lot to show voters he is ready to serve. norah? >> wow. there is so much at stake. it will be a long election night, perhaps a long election week. robert costa, thank you so much. today the u.s. imposed new sanctions against iranian officials who have cracked down on protests there. despite that crackdown today, demonstrators marked 40 days since mahsa amini died in police custody. there were rallies in tehran and fot wearing a head e site. scarf properly. iranian police say she died of a heart attack. her family insists she was beaten. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back.

♪ >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." >> well, a jury in wisconsin reached a guilty verdict today for a man who plowed his suv through a christmas parade last year. darrell brooks now faces six consecutive life sentences, one for each life that he took. dozens more were injured. the conviction brings an end to a chaotic trial where the killer acted as his own attorney with bizarre courtroom behavior. cbs' roxana saberi reports it was an emotional day at the courthouse. we want to warn you, the video of the attack is hard to watch. >> we the jury find the defendant darrell e. brooks guilty. >> reporter: darrell brooks sat silently with his head bowed as the judge read the verdict.

>> guilty. >> reporter: guilty on all 76 criminal accounts. >> guilty of first degree intentional homicide. >> reporter: six counts, one for each of the six men, women, and child he killed after he drove his suv into a christmas parade in waukesha last november. more than 60 others were >> mr. brooks, you're interrupting me. >> reporter: during the trial, brooks represented himself. >> your life is not on the line. mine is. >> reporter: at times clashing with the judge and even stripping off his prison guard. >> we had videograph evidence of his behavior all up and down >> repter:odayith victims' families by her side, district attorney sue opper said they're satisfied the jury held brooks accountable after just three hours of deliberations. what do you think about the length of time that the jury took to deliberate? >> we think the verdict was fair. the timing was spot-on. >> the medical stuff isn't over.

>> reporter: ryan kohnke's 12-year-old niece jessalyn torres has undergone several surgeries since she was struck what do you think this decision will mean for the healing of families like yours and other families? >> i think it's a huge step forward. i think this gives everybody an opportunity to have some sort of closure. >> reporter: kohnke says he and his family have had trouble sleeping. the kids were afraid of fast-moving cars and have just started venturing back into crowds. a hearing to set darrell brooks' sentencing date is scheduled for monday. norah? >> roxana saberi, thank you. well, tonight we're just getting word of a massive drug bust linked to mexican cartels. 17 people are under arrest in federal osutors cuse them state. inonct drug trafficking and say that the o ki 132,0eople.on vigliotti ha

rtos nit showthe ha seized thi joopion by tbi, dea, and local law enforcement officials. authorities say three major cartels operating within the u.s. smuggled the drugs, including fentanyl, through mexico. >> the amount of drugs that we are talking about is huge. and those are coming across the border in cars and in trucks. >> reporter: according to u.s. attorney nick brown, federal authorities track the groups and monitor their efforts to recruit people in the seattle area to distribute the narcotics on the street. 330,000 pills of fentanyl alone were seized. former head of dea international operations mike vigil. >> fentanyl is the most dangerous drug that the united states is currently facing. the cartels are moving way from other drugs because it's much more lucrative. >> reporter: just yesterday, two separate busts in arizona and oregon brought in more than 18 pounds of the drug fentanyl, which is usually disguised as

more expensive drugs. it is also one of the deadliest. in 2021, colorado saw an almost 70% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses from 2020. more than 900 deaths. >> that should really scare the american public. >> and here is another scary fact. fentanyl is 100 times stronger than morphine. authorities believe 40% of the pills they seized this week contain lethal doses, norah. >> that is scary. jonathan vigliotti, thank you. well, here's an alarming number. 99% of pediatric beds are now full at one of the nation's top hospitals, children's national right here in washington. that is mostly because of the respiratory illness known as rsv. that has been surging throughout the country. well, today we visited the hospital and learned some important information on what parents need to know. >> reporter: noah and bailey

wendell didn't know their 2-month-old was sick with rsv until they rushed her to the emergency room. >> i was panicked because i could tell my daughter was breathing very badly. >> reporter: the severe respiratory illness invaded nevaeh's lungs, and she was suffering. >> she is definitely a precious little angel. >> reporter: the family has been in le bonheur children's hospital in memphis since sunday, where nevaeh is receiving oxygen and fluids. dr. sarah coombs works in the emergency room at children's are sympto more severe been this year? >> yes. and that exactly goes to why the hospital is full and why we have so many children needing admission as opposed to being able to be seen and discharged home. >> reporter: in d.c. and 36 states, rsv cases are rising at an alarming rate as a trio of viruses -- covid, the flu and rsv -- are filling beds to capacity.

more than 70% of pediatric beds are occupied nationwide. why do you think there is such a large outbreak? >> we think in part during covid we had been locked down. we were masking and we were social distancing. our immune systems didn't get the workout they're used to getting. >> reporter: all three viruss have common symptoms, often starting with a fever, congestion and runny nose. covid can cause a sore throat and digestive issues. rsv causes wheezing and coughing. doctors say if your child is having difficulty breathing, pulling in their chest, flared nostrils and blue around their nose and mouth, you should seek care immediately. >> it doesn't matter if it's covid or flu or rsv. if the child is running into trouble with breathing, it didn't matter what's causing that trouble with breathing, we need to see them in the emergency room. >> reporter: in texas when the thompsons saw their 7-month-old lethargic and not eating, they took him to the emergency room.

>> don't wait. don't think it's going get better on its own. >> dr. coombs told us she is concerned how early this rsv spike is happening, and that means it could be a long winter for emergency rooms. her advice for parents is remain calm, keep an eye on your child when they're sick, and try and stick with this basic stick with this basic preventive measures like want to wake up to smoother, brighter skin day 1? olay retinol 24 recharges my skin while i sleep. no wonder it was awarded best night cream! night mode...activated. olay. face anything. (woman) oh. oh! hi there. you're jonathan, right? the 995 plan! night mode...activated. 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. that's what sold me. she thinks you're jonathan, with the 995 plan.

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all right. there was more threatening talk today from vladimir putin. the russian president said the risk of world conflict is high as he oversaw the start of nuclear military exercises. he also repeated the unfounded claim that ukraine may be planning a dirty bomb attack. cbs' holly williams is following developments from kyiv. >> reporter: these russian nuclear drills are an annual event. but this year they come during a vicious war with ukraine and anxiety that moscow could use a nuclear bomb in anger. vladimir putin watched the idk. thated te and today he repeated russia's accusation that ukraine could be planning to detonate a radioactive device, a so-called dirty bomb. the u.s. calls the allegation transparently false. a dirty bomb is less harmful than a nuclear bomb but uses

conventional explosives to spread radioactive material, causing contamination. there are fears that russia could be laying the groundwork for a so-called false flag operation, staging an incident and then blaming ukraine, perhaps as a pretext to use a nuclear weapon. president biden warned russia against it. >> i'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false flag operation yet. don't know. but it would be a serious, serious mistake. >> reporter: russia's military appears to be struggling in ukraine, usually losing swaths of territory. today ukraine's defense minister told us russia's exhausted and wenegoate. what you're describing is sort of nuclear or radioactive blackmail. >> yes, this is a blacl. >> reporter: the u.s. says russia's rhetoric is irresponsible but sees no reason to change its nuclear posture.

norah? >> holly williams, thank you. well, the rifle that was used in a deadly school shooting this week may have been previously removed from the killer's home. that story when we return. ah, these bills are crazy. she has no idea she's sitting on a goldmine. well she doesn't know that if she owns a life insurance policy of $100,000 or more she can sell all or part of it to coventry for cash. even a term policy. even a term policy? even a term policy! find out if you're sitting on a goldmine. call coventry direct today at the number on your screen, or visit coventrydirect.com. when you can't sleep... try zzzquil pure zzzs gummies. from the world's #1 sleep aid brand. its special formula helps you fall asleep naturally with an optimal dose of melatonin. so you can wake up refreshed. n before. naturally with an optimal dose of melatonin. what happens to your body language when you use dove dry spray?

[laughing] it shows. try dove dry spray. our weightless formula with 1/4 moisturizers is effective and kind to skin. leaving you feeling instantly dry and confident. suffering from sinus congestion, especially at night? try vicks sinex 1/4 moisturizers is effective and kind to skin. for instant relief that lasts up to 12 hours. vicks sinex targets congestion at the source, relieving nasal congestion and sinus pressure by reducing swelling in the sinuses. try vicks sinex. 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. we learned today that the parents of the 19-year-old gunman who killed two people in a school shooting earlier this week previously worked with police to take away a gun from him. say thenahealth and got him treatment, including medication,

therapy, and committing him to a hospital. the stlopoce chief believes the weapon taken away months ago may be the same ar-15 style rifle that he used in the attack.ghthere is a major recall of popular household cleaners. the potential serious risks, when we come back. there's an important recall of household cleaners to tell you about. this includes pine-sol scented multipurpose cleaners and all purpose cleaners. the products could contain bacteria that could cause serious illness in people with compromised immune systems. we also want to point out the

recall does not include the original pine-scented pine-sol. an 80-year-old doctor is set to run his 45th marine corps marathon this weekend. we can't wai to introduce you

the marine corps marathon being run here in washington this weekend started in 1976 with the goal of promoting goodwill. perhaps no runner better exemplifies that spirit than the doctor you're about to meet. here is cbs' jan crawford. >> reporter: this weekend, dr. glenn geelhoed will run his 45th marine corps marathon. he's only missed it twice, but he is up for almost any race. so how many marathons have you run? cing. >> rter: how many contin? >> sevontines. >> reporter: he saves his medals, but his true passion is saving lives with his nonprofit mission to heal in bringing medical supplies and training to the most remote corners of the world.

>> we have done what we can to help, not just heal the folk that we see immediately by cutting and sewing, but by teaching those skills such that it continues beyond us. >> reporter: his medical missions are inspired by his runs. >> the marathon is a good metaphor. it takes discipline. it takes effort and it takes a commitment. that's what health care is. >> reporter: dr. geelhoed is 80 years old. how much longer do you plan to keep doing missions and running marathons? >> until the next one and the next one and the next one after that. >> reporter: because crossing the finish line means it's time to start a new mission. jan crawford, cbs news, derwood, maryland. >> and that's the "overnight news" for this thursday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and remember, you can follow us online any time 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. sources tell cbs news u.s. senator bob menendez, a new jersey democrat is under federal criminal investigation in new york. the exact details are unclear. this comes five years after senator menendez avoided conviction in corruption charges in an alleged bribery scheme. three men have been accused convicted of supporting a plot to kidnap michigan's governor gretchen whitmer. the three men were found guilty for providing support for a terrorist act as members of a paramilitary group tol watchmen. mortgage rates are up again this week,ssing7% for aearortga lels

the spark is cooling the housing market, spooking buyers and builders. for more news, download the news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. it's thursday, october 27th, 2022. this is the "cbs morning news." >> i'm done with this foolishness. i've told people this is a lie, and i'm not going to entertain. >> herschel walker fires back. the georgia senate candidate denies that he paid for a second woman's abortion. hear from the accuser. guilty on 76 counts. a jury convicts a man who drove through a christmas parade last year in wisconsin. how one family remains emotionally scarred from that devastating day. massive fentanyl bust. more than 300,000 pills are seized from drug cartels operating in the u.s. we'll tell you where they were headed.