reports that despite falling gas prices, americans are still being squeezed by inflation. >> reporter: how low will they go? plummeting pump prices below $3 at this atlanta-area gas station thursday. >> how much are you saving with gas prices down? >> oh, i save a pretty penny, a pretty good penny. >> reporter: after reaching an all-time high of $5.02 this summer, the average cost of a gallon of gas across the country is down nearly 35%, and is cheaper than it was a year ago. >> where do you think they settle? >> well, i think below $3 could be the floor conceivably if everything goes well, the national average could drop under $3 and spend time in the upper twos. >> reporter: while plunging gas prices have given americans some relief, they are still facing inflation up 7.7% over the last year. prices for groceries, rent, and household energy all remain high. the federal reserve has raised interest rates six times this year trying to slow spending and tame soaring prices.

treasury secretary janet yellen told cbs evening news anchor norah o'donnell for sunday's "60 minutes," the battle to curb inflation isn't over yet. >> what is 2023 going to look like for the average consumer? >> so i believe inflation will be lower. i am very hopeful that the labor market will remain quite healthy so that people can feel good about their finances and their personal economic situation. >> reporter: now, compared to the summer when gas prices hit their peak, gasbuddy is estimating the average american driver is ending the month with about $80 a month more in their pocket. and if gas prices go to $3 a gallon on average, they estimate those savings will be closer to $100. >> it definitely matters for families. thank you, kris. you can see more of norah's interview with treasury secretary janet yellen this sunday on "60 minutes."

well, we have new information in the case of the 7-year-old texas girl who was allegedly abducted and killed by a fedex drive. in an affidavit obtained by cbs news, tanner horner told investigators he accidentally hit athena strand while backing up his track, but she wasn't seriously injured. he says he panicked and put her in a van where he ultimately killed her. athena's mother is speaking out tonight for the first time. madilyn gandy said horner was delivering part of her daughter's christmas present when she was abducted. >> the packages containing "you can be anything" barbies. athena was robbed of the opportunity to grow up to be anything she wanted to be. and this present ordered out of innocence and love is one she will never receive. >> heartbreaking story. the wise county sheriff says his office is seeking the death penalty. athena's funeral will be held tomorrow. the first three episodes of

the netflix docu-series "harry & meghan" debuted today. the duke and duchess of sussex are giving us an inside look at their love story and their rocky relationship with tabloids and the royal family. cbs's charlie d'agata has more tonight on the royal revelations. ♪ >> this is a great love story, and the craziest thing is that i think this love story is only just getting started. >> reporter: but the touching love story of a couple seeking happiness soon turned to more serious subjects -- allegations of racism. >> eight days after the relationship became public, i put out a statement calling out the racist undertones of articles and headlines written by the british press as well as outright racism from those articles across social media. >> reporter: the media pressure only worsened after the engagement announcement at kensington palace. >> no matter what i did, they were still going to find a way

to destroy me. >> reporter: harry accused the royal family of not doing more to protect meghan. in a lighter moment, meghan describes the culture clash of meeting the queen for the first time. >> we have medieval times, dinner and tournament. it was like that. i curtsied as though i was like -- >> reporter: prince harry made repeated references to meghan's similarities with his mother, princess diana. >> she has the same compassion. she has the same empathy. she has the same confidence. she has this warmth about her. >> reporter: while the knives were out for the british press, more bombshells may come next week when the couple reveals what drove them to quit the royal family and the country. the series begins with a statement that members of the royal family declined to comment within the series. we contacted the palace tonight, and we were advised that no palace officials or members of the royal family were approached

to comment on the content of the series.

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>> reporter: at 17, senior julie penafort could be just another kid bouncing around california's foster care system. instead, she's found hope with help. >> they're like family to me, so it's like i look up to them a lot, and they've made a big impact in my life. >> reporter: they are first star academy at ucla. this privately funded national program on 15 college campuses rec recruits, practically rescues foster care kids when they're hi u could say,egreutf a black trash bag. >> a lot of foster youths know what the black trash bag means. sometimes they only get a couple minutes to pack everything that they have in this room and take it to the next placement. >> when a case worker shows up with a black trash bag, they know it means it's time to go again. >> yes. sometimes they don't get an alert. >> reporter: nationally, roughly

half of foster kids graduate high school. 10% go to college. but first star seniors, 97% graduate high school. roughly two out of three enroll in four-year colleges. >> what is it your program is doing right? >> we are providing them positive adult role model that is going to be with them for four years. >> consistency. >> is the key word. >> i just need childhood experiences. you're taught to keep your head down and be quiet. >> reporter: isael andrade is julie's mentor. now 43, this former foster kid went to seven different middle schools. >> our stories are very similar. >> reporter: once a month for four years they've met in person, but they're constantly talking, making sure she's on track. >> it's like i see him as a brother. >> what's the biggest thing he's taught you? >> i think how to stand up for myself. >> would you at 13 recognize you at 17? >> i would not.

>> reporter: julie is applying to college now. >> whatever she does, i'm going to be proud of her. >> reporter: her first choice, ucla. for "eye on america," mark strassmann in los angeles. >> mentoring matters. well, police are chasing critical leads in the murder mystery when you really need to sleep. you reach for the really good stuff. zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. its non-habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil.

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spotted near the home where four ufrd of idaho students were stabbed to death last month. investigators asked for the public's help in locating a white hyundai elantra between 2011 and 2013. the tip lines are now being directed to an fbi call center. celine dion has revealed she's battling a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome. the 54-year-old posted an emotional video on social media where she shared how sps causes uncontrollable muscle spasms, making it difficult for her to walk and even sing. dion has canceled some upcoming shows and postponed her european tour. there is no cure for sps, but there are treatments that can relieve symptoms. well, skydiving women from around the world take a leap of faith and soar to new heights, next.

(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. now, it's official. xfinity has the fastest internet and the fastest mobile service. that's right, xfinity just increased internet speeds... again! and xfinity mobile gives you can't-catch-me speeds. plus, save hundreds on internet for your first two years when you add mobile. the fastest internet, the fastest mobile service, and major savings? can't argue with the facts. get gig speed internet for $50 a month for 2 full years

when you add xfinity mobile with unlimited data. plus, get $200 back. switch today! finally tonight, skydivers are used to going above and beyond to pursue their passion. cbs's nancy chen introduces us to a group of women breaking records in honor of women who broke barriers. >> reporter: not even the sky's the limit for these women as they leap head-first at 160 miles an hour. 80 skydivers linking together midair. >> let's go up and try it again. >> reporter: skydivers from 22 countries came together over arizona to shatter the record for a jump of this kind. melanie curtis was among them. >> were you nervous at all when you were doing this? >> when wasn't i nervous? >> reporter: the effort was

organized by project 19. the skydiving group aims to inspire girls and women by honoring the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. >> it's about doing things that have never been done. it's about saying, we're not going to be small and silent. we're going to speak up. we're going to vote. >> reporter: there are 35,000 active skydivers in the u.s., but only 14% are female. >> we want people to start practicing and using this inspiration as fuel for action in their own lives. >> whether or not it involves skydiving? >> that's correct. >> reporter: women soaring with each other to new heights. nancy chen, cbs news, new york. and that is the overnight news for this friday. for some of you, the news continues, for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and of course follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm jericka duncan.

this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. the house panel investigating the january 6th attack on the u.s. capitol plans to release its final report the week of december 19th. the committee will likely make criminal referrals related to the capitol attack. former president trump was subpoenaed by the panel but has not cooperated. the house voted to repeal the u.s. military's covid vaccine mandate, passing a sweeping $858 billion national defense spending measure. gop leader kevin mccarthy called the end of the vaccine mandate a victory. president biden will judge the bill once it passes congress. and history in the making. newly minted $1 and $5 bills were signed for the first time ever by two women, treasury secretary jan el yellen and u.s.

treasurer. for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening and thank you so much for joining us. i'm jericka duncan. norah is on assignment. her interview with treasury secretary janet yellen in just a moment. but first, american brittney griner is on her way home. she was arrested for possession of cannabis oil nearly ten months ago, sentenced to nine years in prison, and sent to a penal colony in russia. her release was part of a prisoner swap for international arms dealer viktor bout. the so-called merchant of death was serving a 25-year federal prison sentence in illinois for conspiring to kill americans and for supporting terrorism.

left out of the deal was ex-marine paul whelan, imprisoned in russia since 2018 on espionage charges. we have team coverage tonight of this story and begin with cbs's margaret brennan. margaret, good evening. >> reporter: good evening to you, jericka. these final details came together within just the past 48 hours. u.s. officials feared it could all fall apart, and it wasn't until very early this morning that officials here in washington breathed a sigh of relief when brittney griner finally boarded a u.s. plane. >> i'm glad to be able to say that brittney's in good spirits. she -- she's relieved to finally be heading home. >> reporter: gathered in the oval office, president biden and brittney griner's wife, cherelle, spoke by phone with the 32-year-old basketball star once she had been handed over. >> today i'm just standing here overwhelmed with emotions. >> reporter: russian state media showed video of the swap on the tarmac at al bateern airport in abu dhabi.

griner and convicted arms dealer viktor bout walked towards one another and then headed to separate planes home. in russian video filmed days earlier, griner is seen signing what appears to be release forms. >> do you know where you're heading to? >> no. >> no? you're flying back home. >> to the u.s.? >> to the u.s. >> reporter: president biden agreed last week to free bout in order to bring griner home. it follows months of public thc intelligence, who exchanged messages between vladimir putin's kremlin and mr. biden. throughout the summer, the biden administration had tried to bring home both griner and 52-year-old paul whelan, a private corporate security contractor who had been imprisoned for four years on espionage charges. but russia refused. >> i wish that paul whelan had

been on that -- that plane too. >> reporter: secretary of state antony blinken. >> we got to the point where it was clear that there was an opportunity to bring brittney back. the choice wasn't between getting one american or the other back. it was -- the choice before us was one or none. >> reporter: whelan was also left behind in april, when the biden administration negotiated the release of marine veteran trevor reed. today, a devastated whelan spoke by phone from a russian penal colony. >> my treatment is also much different than others held for espionage at other prisons. >> reporter: meanwhile, griner is en route to brook army medical center in san antonio, where she will get an evaluation. >> today my family is whole, but as you all are aware, there's so many other families who are not whole. >> speaking of families not being whole, margaret, what's next for paul whelan's attempt to come home? >> well, jericka, secretary blinken told me this afternoon that this was just a one-for-one transaction, nothing more and nothing less.

in other words, this isn't a diplomatic breakthrough that opens the door to other opportunities, and it also isn't clear what other cards the u.s. has left to play here to secure the release of whelan or another american, marc fogel, who has been detained on drug charges. over the course of the last few months, the u.s. has offered numerous russians who are being held here in the u.s., and the kremlin declined to take the offer. their top priority was a one-for-one swap and viktor bout himself. >> all right. margaret brennan covering the story from the very beginning, thank you. well, griner's release has some raising concerns about the notorious russian arms dealer who was part of the deal. that includes those responsible for capturing bout and bringing him to justice. cbs's jeff pegues has that part of the story tonight. >> reporter: for any white house, prisoner swaps can be complex, diplomatic maneuvers, and this swap for griner is no different. primarily because of viktor

bout, the so-called merchant of death, whose exploits packed the plot of a hollywood movie. >> free sample. help yourself, okay? >> reporter: -- and whose capture was widely celebrated by u.s. law enforcement. rob zachariasiewicz, who was on the dea team that tracked bout down, says today's prisoner swap puts other americans in danger. >> why was it a bad deal for the u.s. in your opinion? >> i think that we just encouraged false detentions and hostage-taking all over the world. i think we just sent the message out that it is good business to have an american citizen in your back pocket for that day you need a bargaining chip. >> reporter: according to a new report, the number of u.s. nationals wrongly detained has increased dramatically. in the last decade, the number has spiked 175%. the detention of americans like trevor reed, released in a prisoner swap earlier this year, and griner offers the kremlin leverage, which many anticipate vladimir putin will use as the

biden administration attempts to secure the release of paul whelan. these swaps are complicated. one former u.s. law enforcement official says that viktor bout served years in prison, is no longer a threat to the u.s. this official sees this swap as a win for the u.s. and especially brittney griner and her family. jericka. >> absolutely. jeff pegues for us tonight. thank you. well, in congress today, a historic step to protect marriage equality. the house passed bipartisan legislation cementing federal protections for same-sex and interracial couples. cbs's scott macfarlane is on capitol hill with more on this landmark vote and what it means. scott, good evening. >> reporter: jericka, 25 days till democrats lose control of the u.s. house, they've sent this bill to the president. for house speaker nancy pelosi in one of her final acts as speaker, she enrolled the bill and said its passage was necessary because of the supreme court ruling in june overturning a different right, the right to abortion.

under the bill, the feds must acknowledge, recognize any valid marriage no matter the couple's sex or race. and, jericka, this happens 26 years after congress did the opposite, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriages. >> a lot of change in that time. thank you, scott. utility crews in north carolina have restored electricity to all customers nearly a week after gunfire attacks at two electric substations. more than 45,000 duke energy customers were in the dark. the fbi is assisting in the investigation. authorities said today that a shooting last night at a south carolina power facility was not connected to the north carolina attack. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back.

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>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." i'm catherine herridge in washington. thanks for staying with us. a new law is giving workers more opportunity to report sexual harassment on the job. president biden signed the speak out act on wednesday. it allows employees to be released from certain nondisclosure agreements or ndas. our national correspondent jericka duncan spoke with former fox news anchor gretchen carlson, also a former cbs news correspondent and a former fox news contributor. jericka has followed their journey for the past three years as they led the effort to get the law passed. >> reporter: it is not unusual for companies and employers to use ndas.

they've been used here at cbs, and some companies will use them to protect trade secrets. but the problem is these ndas have also been used to cover up bad behavior, and this new law aims to help change that. >> we don't believe that there's a place for ndas to cover up bad behavior at work. >> reporter: for gretchen carlson and julie ra again ski, the speak out act is about changing a culture rooted in silence. >> so that if you are one of the millions of workers in america who signed a nondisclosure agreement on your very first day of work, you now are yo hand and say my boss or colleague has sexually harassing me. >> reporter: cbs news legal analyst ricky cleamon. >> before the speak out act, you really couldn't tell anyone about sexual assault or sexual harassment in the workplace because if you spoke out and you knew about these causes, you knew you could be sued. also, there's an atmosphere of fear about speaking out and

being the only voice that maybe you'll never work again. >> hi, everyone. i'm gretchen carlson. >> reporter: in 2016 and 2017, carlson and ra again ski came forward with sexual harassment claims against fox news. the women allege former fox news chief roger ailes sexually harassed them. ailes and his attorneys denied the accusations before he died in 2017. >> when gretchen first filed her lawsuit, i was still at fox, and i had two thoughts when that lawsuit was filed. my first thought was, oh, my god, this poor woman, we'll never see her again. my second thought, which i couldn't voice to anybody except myself was, oh, my god, so it's not just me. it's not just me. >> does the speak out act do enough? >> no. >> no. >> the speak out act only addresses harassment and assault and it's only for ndas that you sign on your first day of work up until you file a legal process. this does not address ndas for all other disenfranchised groups, any kind of racial

discrimination, age, disability, lgbtq+, gender. this does not address that at all. >> reporter: carlson and ra again ski also are not protected under the new law. that's because they signed ndas during settlements with ailes and fox news. >> what would change if you were able to talk about what happened to you? >> we can't even tell you that because we can't tell you what we know, and we can't tell you what we would talk about if we could. a lot of things would change, but what those things are, we can't tell you. >> reporter: in 2016, fox news publicly apologized to carlson. her settlement was for a reported $20 million. >> an article written in "time" magazine in 2016, gretchen had the headline" how gretchen carlson's $20 million settlement is a rip-off." is there any amount of money worth someone's silence, ever? >> i think we would answer that question now no. >> no. no. we wish that we had our voices.

but at the time, that was just the way the system worked, and that's why we're trying to dismantle it. >> reporter: carlson and ra again ski say knowing what they know today, they would have not signed those nondisclosure agreements. consumer advocates are sounding the alarm about apple's airtags. two women have filed a class action lawsuit against the company. they claim their ex-partners used the small tracking device to stalk them. cbs's lilia luciano spoke with one of the plaintiffs. >> there were definitely lots of times where i didn't sleep well. there has been a lot of therapy since then. >> reporter: after a relationship ends, laura hughes says her ex-boyfriend used an apple airtag to track her every move. >> i got the alert that said an airtag was moving with me. >> how did you finally find it? >> i just literally dug around the outside edges of my car and

eventually found it in the wheel well. >> reporter: this quarter-sized device is designed to track your wallet, your luggage, or your keys, but it can also track you. here's how it works. this airtag is sending a bluetooth signal to the iphones of every stranger around me. that data then goes to the icloud, where the person tracking the device can see your every move. why it's so effective, well, no matter where you are, you're never far away from an iphone. the proposed class action lawsuit accuses apple of negligence and seeks damages awell as an order to stop apple from releasing what they call an unreasonably dangerous product into market. apple said it is not going to comment onion going lit gaegs, but in february, the company listed a number of safety measures to address unwanted tracking, adding, we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products. albert foxconn is a surveillance technology expert. >> i'd much rather spend another minute looking for my keys than

live in a world where every movement is tracked. you can try to make improvements around the edges, but as long as you're selling a cheep, ubiquitous tracking device, people are going to misuse it. >> what do you want apple to do? >> i want apple to make their devices safer or remove the product from the market. >> reporter: lauren found the device in her case because she has an iphone and it alerted her. but people who don't have iphones have to download an app and check it to know whether they're being tracked. apple suggests if you fear for your safety, contact law enforcement. airlines have been downsizing their seats for years, and that led the faa to set new standards to ensure passengers can evacuate a plane in 90 seconds or less. but that testing has been widely criticized. now a u.s. senator is looking to make changes. cbs's kris van cleave reports. >> reporter: in a simulated cabin that can be filled with soke and plunged into darkness, the faa tested the safe size of airline seats and how passengers

can get out in 90 seconds or less. while the volunteer passengers in the simulated evacuations had varying seat sizes, they did not have to deal with real-life obstacles like smoke, the dark, or even luggage, and they were in groups of 60, nowhere near a full plane load. in 2019, the faa explained dr. >> we're going to try to minimize the variables to the ones that are important for this particular test. >> reporter: airplane seat width is already down as much as four inches over the last 30 years to as little as 16 inches wide, and seat pitch, the distance between rows, has shrunk from about 35 inches to 31 and, in some cases, as little as 28 inches, allowing airlines to add more seats. the faa found seat size and spacing did not adversely affect the success of emergency evacuations. but because all participants were able-bodied adults under 60, then-faa administrator steve dixon acknowledged the results are useful but not necessarily definitive. >> airlines added seats to

increase revenue and pack more people into smaller spaces, and it's going to have an effect when there's an evacuation. >> reporter: miracle on the hudson pilot captain sully sullenberger. >> on our flight, it took over three minutes to evacuate everyone, partly because the airplane was filling up rapidly with water from back to front, but also because it was realigned and we had a full aircraft. >> reporter: six democratic senators recently urged the faa to reconsider its findings, saying not accurately reflecting the flying public is one of its most glaring flaws. >> do you think you could get off an airplane in 90 seconds? >> not in the normal conditions that i normally travel in. >> reporter: today senator tammy duckworth, who lost both legs while serving in iraq, is now proposing legislation requiring a new faa seat size study looking at how real-life conditions, including children, seniors, and the disabled, as well as the presence of carry-on bags impacted evacuation times. >> when you're testing with not real-world conditions, then that gets me worried. airlines are traveling now with

just about every seat filled. you can't just practice evacuating an aircraft that is only 30% full because that's not the way commercial aviation looks today. >> reporter: captain sullenberger, aviation worker unions, and veterans groups all support this proposed legislation. the faa says it is continuing to go through those thousands of public comments, but that it followed guidelines in its testing that were laid out by congress. the airlines say safety is their top priority, and they will continue to work with the faa. the "cbs o 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. [♪♪] metamucil's psyllium fiber also comes in easy-to-take capsules.

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a new documentary series about prince harry and meghan markle has been on netflix. it portrays the couple as they would like the world to see them nearly three years after they broke away from the royal family and moved here to the u.s. cbs's holly williams reports from buckingham palace. >> reporter: with revealing home videos -- harry and meghan's netflix series tells an unlikely love story. >> just so refreshingly fun, and that was the thing. we were like childlike together. >> reporter: some will say it's a high-end reality show. >> i don't know what to say anymore. my face was everywhere. >> reporter: but it's also a searing critique of the uk's tabloid media and its relationship with the royal

family. we even hear from meghan's mother for the first time. >> and the last five years has been challenging. >> very good. enjoy it. >> reporter: and pul from harry's childhood of dealing with intrusive paparazzi. >> where we had to be forced into smiling and answering qusos p p pack. >> reporter: sarah hughson is a royal commentator who says some in the uk will call the pair hypocrites. >> i mean they've been compared to the kardashians by some in the media here because they have effectively done an at-home with harry, meghan, and archie. >> reporter: harry and meghan are deeply unpopular in the uk according to polls. their claims of racism have been disparaged here. but recent revelations have bolstered their version of events, including the former head of counterterrorism

policing in england, who told britain's channel 4 that meghan faced credible threats from far-right extremists. >> from what i know, you would feel under threat all of the time. >> reporter: on the other side of the atlantic this week, at a glittering reception in new york, the couple was treated very differently. >> i actually thought we were just going ton date night. >> reporter: like megawatt movie stars. at the time of the late queen's funeral in september, there were signs the couple could be mending bridges with the rest of the royal family. >> i want also to express my love for harry and meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas. >> i really think that was wishful thinking. >> they don't attack senior members of the royal family. do you think that's strategic? >> they don't attack them yet. >> reporter: houston told us the palace wants to simply ride this out without commenting but believes it's possible they'll respond if in the secondary parts of this series, which will

be released next week, harry and meghan point the finger directly at senior members of the royal family in particular, 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 may be as low as the prodigal, but you are not hopelessly, helplessly lost if you will 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.

typing queries into google gives the tech giant a unique perspective into what people are thinking. cbs's elise preston has a look at the top google searches of 2022. >> reporter: the top trending google search in 2022 can be summed up in a word -- yes, we're talking about the widely popular game wordle, which gives players six chances to guess the word of the day. >> i feel like it popped up out of nowhere and everyone was obsessed within a day or two. >> totally. it became one of those viral games. lots of questions about how to play, but also some searches that make me think people might be cheating. >> reporter: google's sarah armstrong says the second top trending search was election results as people lookedwi os lost rounded out the

quelabeth, betty white, an sage >> i've never struck a woman in my life. >> reporter: in google's people category, thanks to the zep v. heard defamation trial, actor johnny depp took the top spot, with ex-wife amber heard occupying number three. will smith was the second most searched person. he went viral after slapping chris rock at the oscars. >> good morning, aviators. >> reporter: tom cruz's top gun maverick landed in google's number three spot for most searched movies. >> jane? >> reporter: thor, love and thunder was second. the animated film encanto on top. covid queries are still coming, including pcr tests near me. but a lot of people are thinking about fuel costs. >> this year, gas prices near me made the very top of the near me list. those gas prices skyrocketed this year. >> reporter: americans were also looking for ways to lend a hand. the phrase "how to help" hit an

all-time high in 2022. elise preston, cbs news, new york. and that's the overnight news for this friday. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm catherine herridge. . i'm dan lima e hoe panel investigating the january 6th attack on the u.s. capitol plans to release its final report the week of december 19th. the committee will likely make criminal referrals related to the capitol attack. former president trump was subpoenaed by the panel but has not cooperated. the house voted to repeal the u.s. military's covid vaccine mandate, pase, passing sweeping $858 billion national defense spending measure. gop leader kevin mccarthy called the end of the vaccine mandate a victory. president biden will judge the bill once it passes congress. and history in the making. newly minted $1 and $5 bills were signed for the first time ever by two women, treasury secretary janet yellen and u.s. treasurer marilynn malerba. will appear on bills that will

go into circulation next year. for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan lieberman, cbs news, new york. tonight, brittney griner is on her way home, freed after nearly ten months in a russian prison. the prisoner swap on a tarmac. the wnba star with a noticeably shorter haircut is released as the so-called russian merchant of death walks free. tonight, the new details about how the deal was made and why it did not include marine veteran paul whelan. protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. the house passes a monumental bill. more on what it means and why this could be nancy pelosi's final act as speaker. how low will gas prices go and when? tonight, there's relief at the pump, but americans are still paying more for groceries. our norah o'donnell sits down with treasury secretary janet

yellen. >> what is 2023 going to look like for the average consumer? >> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." good evening and thank you so much for joining us. i'm jericka duncan. norah is on assignment. her interview with treasury secretary janet yellen in just a moment. but first, american brittney griner is on her way home. she was arrested for possession of cannabis oil nearly ten months ago, sentenced to nine years in prison, and sent to a penal colony in russia. her release was part of a prisoner swap for international arms dealer viktor bout. the so-called merchant of death was serving a 25-year federal prison sentence in illinois for conspiring to kill americans and for supporting terrorism. left out of the deal was ex-marine paul whelan, imprisoned in russia since 2018

on espionage charges. we have team coverage tonight of this story and begin with cbs's margaret brennan. margaret, good evening. >> reporter: and good evening to you, jericka. these final details came together within just the past 48 hours. u.s. officials feared it could all fall apart, and it wasn't until very early this morning that officials here in washington breathed a sigh of relief when brittney griner finally boarded a u.s. plane. >> i'm glad to be able to say that brittney's in good spirits. she -- she's relieved to finally be heading home. >> reporter: gathered in the oval office, president biden and brittney griner's wife, cherelle, spoke by phone with the 32-year-old basketball star once she had been handed over. >> today i'm just standing here overwhelmed with emotions. >> reporter: russian state media showed video of the swap on the tarmac at al bateern airport in abu dhabi. griner and convicted arms dealer viktor bout walked towards one another and then headed to separate planes home.

in russian video filmed days earlier, griner is seen signing what appears to be release forms. >> do you know where you're heading to? >> no. >> no? you're flying back home. >> to the u.s.? >> to the u.s. >> reporter: president biden agreed last week to free bout in order to bring griner home. it follows months of public pressure from griner's fellow athletes and quiet contact between the cia and russian intelligence, who exchanged messages between vladimir putin's kremlin and mr. biden. throughout the summer, the biden administration had tried to bring home both griner and 52-year-old paul whelan, a private corporate security contractor who had been imprisoned for four years on espionage charges. but russia refused. >> i wish that paul whelan had been on that -- that plane too. >> reporter: secretary of state antony blinken. >> we got to the point where it was clear that there was an opportunity to bring brittney

back. the choice wasn't between getting one american or the other back. it was -- the choice before us was one or none. >> reporter: whelan was also left behind in april, when the biden administration negotiated the release of marine veteran trevor reed. today, a devastated whelan spoke by phone from a russian penal colony. >> my treatment is also much different than others held for espionage at other prisons. >> reporter: meanwhile, griner is en route to brook army medical center in san antonio, where she will get an evaluation. >> today my family is whole, but as you all are aware, there's so many other families who are not whole. >> speaking of families not being whole, margaret, what's next for paul whelan's attempt to come home? >> well, jericka, secretary blinken told me this afternoon that this was just a one-for-one transaction, nothing more and nothing less. in other words, this isn't a diplomatic breakthrough that opens the door to other opportunities, and it also isn't clear what other cards the u.s.

has left to play here to secure the release of whelan or another american, marc fogel, who has been detained on drug charges. over the course of the last few months, the u.s. has offered numerous russians who are being held here in the u.s., and the kremlin declined to take the offer. their top priority was a one-for-one swap and viktor bout himself. >> all right. margaret brennan covering the story from the very beginning, thank you. well, griner's release has some raising concerns about the notorious russian arms dealer who was part of the deal. that includes those responsible for capturing bout and bringing him to justice. cbs's jeff pegues has that part of the story tonight. >> reporter: for any white house, prisoner swaps can be complex, diplomatic maneuvers, and this swap for griner is no different. primarily because of viktor bout, the so-called merchant of death, whose exploits packed the plot of a hollywood movie. >> free sample. help yourself, okay?

>> reporter: -- and whose capture was widely celebrated by u.s. law enforcement. rob zachariasiewicz, who was on the dea team that tracked bout down, says today's prisoner swap puts other americans in danger. >> why was it a bad deal for the u.s. in your opinion? >> i think that we just encouraged false detentions and hostage-taking all over the world. i think we just sent the message out that it is good business to have an american citizen in your back pocket for that day you need a bargaining chip. >> reporter: according to a new report, the number of u.s. nationals wrongly detained has increased dramatically. in the last decade, the number has spiked 175%. the detention of americans like trevor reed, released in a prisoner swap earlier this year, and griner offers the kremlin leverage, which many anticipate vladimir putin will use as the biden administration attempts to secure the release of paul whelan. these swaps are complicated. one former u.s. law enforcement

official says that viktor bout served years in prison, is no longer a threat to the u.s. this official sees this swap as a win for the u.s. and especially brittney griner and her family. jericka. >> absolutely. jeff pegues for us tonight. thank you. in congress today, a historic step to protect marriage equality. the house passed bipartisan legislation cementing federal protections for same-sex and interracial couples. cbs's scott macfarlane is on capitol hill with more on this landmark vote and what it means. scott, good evening. >> reporter: jericka, 25 days till democrats lose control of the u.s. house, they've sent this bill to the president. for house speaker nancy pelosi in one of her final acts as speaker, she enrolled the bill and said its passage was necessary because of the supreme court ruling in june overturning a different right, the right to abortion. under the bill, the feds must acknowledge, recognize any valid marriage no matter the couple's sex or race. and, jericka, this happens 26

years after congress did the opposite, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriages. >> a lot of change n that time.

>> announcer: this is the "cbs overnight news." well, in congress today, a historic step to protect marriage equality. the house passed bipartisan legislation cementing federal protections for same-sex and interracial couples. cbs's scott macfarlane is on capitol hill with more on this landmark vote and what it means. scott, good evening. >> reporter: jericka, 25 days till democrats lose control of the u.s. house, they've sent this bill to the president. for house speaker nancy pelosi in one of her final acts as speaker, she enrolled the bill and said its passage was necessary because of the supreme court ruling in june overturning a different right, the right to abortion. under the bill, the feds must

acknowledge, recognize any valid marriage no matter the couple's sex or race. and, jericka, this happens 26 years after congress did the opposite, prohibiting federal recognition of same-sex marriages. >> a lot of change in that time. thank you, scott. utility crews in north carolina have restored electricity to all customers nearly a week after gunfire attacks at two electric substations. more than 45,000 duke energy customers were in the dark. the fbi is assisting in the investigation. authorities said today that a shooting last night at a south carolina power facility was not connected to the north carolina attack. well, turning now to your money, as americans are seeing some relief at the pump, gas prices continue to drop. they're now lower than they were one year ago. the national average is $3.33 per gallon compared to $3.34 this time last year. well, in tonight's "money watch," cbs's kris van cleave reports that despite falling gas

prices, americans are still being squeezed by inflation. >> reporter: how low will they go? plummeting pump prices below $3 at this atlanta-area gas station thursday. >> how much are you saving with gas prices down? >> oh, i save a pretty penny, a pretty good penny. >> reporter: after reaching an all-time high of $5.02 this summer, the average cost of a gallon of gas across the country is down nearly 35%, and is cheaper than it was a year ago. >> where do you think they settle? >> well, i think below $3 could be the floor conceivably. if everything goes well, the national average could drop under $3 and spend time in the upper twos. >> reporter: while plunging gas prices have given americans some relief, they are still facing stubbornly high inflation, up 7.7% over the last year. prices for groceries, rent, and household energy all remain high. the federal reserve has raised interest rates six times this year trying to slow spending and

tame soaring prices. treasury secretary janet yellen told cbs evening news anchor norah o'donnell for sunday's "60 minutes," the battle to curb inflation isover y. >> what is like for the average consumer? >> so i believe inflation will be lower. i am very hopeful that the labor market will remain quite healthy so that people can feel good about their finances and their personal economic situation. >> reporter: now, compared to the summer when gas prices hit their peak, gasbuddy is estimating the average american driver sending the month without about $80 more a month in their pockets. and if gas prices go to $3 a gallon on average, they estimate those savings will be closer to $100. jericka. >> it definitely matters for families. thank you, kris. you can see more of norah's interview with treasury secretary janet yellen this sunday on "60 minutes."

well, we have new information in the case of the 7-year-old texas girl who was allegedly abducted and killed by a fedex driver. in an affidavit obtained by cbs news, tanner horner told investigators he accidentally hit athena strand while backing up his truck, but she wasn't seriously injured. he says he panicked and put her in a van where he ultimately ou tonight for the first time. madilyn gandy said horner was delivering part of her daughter's christmas present when she was abducted. >> the packages containing "you can be anything" barbies. athena was robbed of the opportunity to grow up to be anything she wanted to be. and this present ordered out of innocence and love is one she will never receive. >> heartbreaking story. the wise county sheriff says his office is seeking the death penalty. athena's funeral will be held tomorrow. the first three episodes of the netflix docu-series "harry &

meghan" debuted today. the duke and duchess of sussex are giving us an inside look at their love story and their rocky relationship with tabloids and the royal family. cbs's charlie d'agata has more tonight on the royal revelations. ♪ >> this is a great love story, ad the craziest thing is that i think this love story is only just getting started. >> reporter: but the touching love story of a couple seeking happiness soon turned to more serious subjects -- allegations of racism. >> eight days after the relationship became public, i put out a statement calling out the racist undertones of articles and headlines written by the british press as well as outright racism from those articles across social media. >> reporter: the media pressure only worsened after the engagement announcement at kensington palace. >> no matter what i did, they were still going to find a way

to destroy me. >> reporter: harry accused the royal family of not doing more to protect meghan. in a lighter moment, meghan describes the culture clash of meeting the queen for the first time. >> we have medieval times, dinner and tournament. it was like that. like i curtsied as though i was like -- >> reporter: prince harry made repeated references to meghan's similarities with his mother, princess diana. >> she has the same compassion. she has the same empathy. she has the same confidence. she has this warmth about her. >> reporter: while the knives were out for the british press, more bombshells may come next week when the couple reveals what drove them to quit the royal family and the country. the series begins with a statement that members of the royal family declined to comment within the series. we contacted the palace tonight, and we were advised that no palace officials or members of the royal family were approached to comment on the content of the series. jericka.

the "cbs overnight news" will b

when you really need to sleep. you reach for the really good stuff. zzzquil ultra helps you sleep better and longer when you need it most. its non-habit forming and powered by the makers of nyquil. back here at home, there are approximately 400,000 children in the nation's foster care system. many of them face enormous challenges once they age out. well, in tonight's "eye on america," cbs's mark strassmann takes a look at how one program is fostering hope by giving young people the skills they need to succeed.

>> reporter: at 17, senior julie penafort could be just another kid bouncing around california's foster care system. instead, she's found hope with help. >> they're like family to me, so it's like i look up to them a lot, and they've made a big impact in my life. >> reporter: "they" are first star academy at ucla. this privately funded national program on 15 college campuses recruits, practically rescues foster care kids when they're high school freshmen. it teaches them life skills and, you could say, improbably pulls college dreams out of a black trash bag. >> a lot of foster youth know what the black trash bag means. sometimes they only get a couple minutes to pack everything that they have in this room and take it to the next placement. >> when a case worker shows up with a black trash bag, they know it means it's time to go again. >> yes. sometimes they don't get an alert. >> reporter: nationally, roughly half of foster kids graduate

high school. 10% go to college. but first star seniors, 97% graduate high school. roughly 2 out of 3 enroll in four-year colleges. >> what is it your program is doing right? >> we are providing them a positive adult role model that is going to be with them for four years. >> consistency? >> is the key word. >> i just think childhood experiences you're taught to keep your head down, be quiet, stay out of trouble, not get yelled at. >> reporter: isael andrade is julie's mentor. now 23, this former foster kid went to seven different middle schools. >> our stories are very similar. >> reporter: once a month for four years, they've met in person. but they're constantly talking, making sure she's on track. >> it's like i see him as a brother. >> what's the biggest thing he's taught you? >> i think how to stand up for myself. >> would you at 13 recognize you at 17? >> no, i would not.

>> reporter: julie is applying to college now. >> whatever she does, i'm going to be proud of her. >> reporter: her first choice, ucla. for "eye on america," mark strassmann in los angeles. >> mentoring matters. well, police are chasing critical leads in the murder mystery in idaho. more on the stabbing deaths of more on the stabbing deaths of four col we all need fiber for our digestive health, but less than 10% of us get enough each day. good thing metamucil gummies are an easy way to get prebiotic, plant-based fiber. with the same amount of fiber as 2 cups of broccoli. metamucil gummies the easy way to get your daily fiber. listen, i'm done settling. because this is my secret. metamucil gummies i put it on once, no more touch ups! secret had ph balancing minerals; and it helps eliminate odor, instead of just masking it.

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were stabbed to death last month. investigators asked for the public's help in locating a white hyundai elantra between 2011 and 2013. the tip lines are now being directed to an fbi call center. celine dion has revealed she's battling a rare neurological disorder called stiff person syndrome. the 54-year-old posted an emotional video on social media where she shared how sps causes uncontrollable muscle spasms, making it difficult for her to walk and even sing. dion has canceled some upcoming shows and postponed her european tour. there is no cure for sps, but there are treatments that can relieve symptoms. well, skydiving women from around the world take a leap of faith and soar to new heights, next.

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finally tonight, skydivers are used to going above and beyond to pursue their passion. cbs's nancy chen introduces us to a group of women breaking records in honor of women who broke barriers. >> reporter: not even the sky's the limit for these women as they leap head-first at 160 miles an hour. 80 skydivers linking together midair. >> let's go up and try it again. >> reporter: skydivers from 22 countries came together over arizona to shatter the record for a jump of this kind. melanie curtis was among them. >> were you nervous at all when you were doing this? >> when wasn't i nervous? >> reporter: the effort was organized by project 19.

the skydiving group aims to inspire girls and women by honoring the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote. >> it's about doing things that have never been done. it's about saying, we're not going to be small and silent. we're going to speak up. we're going to vote. >> reporter: there are 35,000 active skydivers in the u.s., but only 14% are female. >> we want people to start practicing and using this inspiration as fuel for action in their own lives. >> whether or not it involves skydiving? >> that's correct. >> reporter: women soaring with each other to new heights. nancy chen, cbs news, new york. and that is the overnight news for this friday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back later for "cbs mornings." and of course follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com. reporting from the nation's capital, i'm jericka duncan.

this is cbs news flash. i'm dan lieberman in new york. the house panel investigating the january 6th attack on the u.s. capitol plans to release its final report the week of december 19th. the committee will likely make criminal referrals related to the capitol attack. former president trump was subpoenaed by the panel but has not cooperated. the house voted to repeal the u.s. military's covid vaccine mandate, passing a sweeping $858 billion national defense spending measure. gop leader kevin mccarthy called the end of the vaccine mandate a victory. president biden will judge the bill once it passes congress. and history in the making. newly minted $1 and $5 bills were signed for the first time ever by two women. treasury secretary janet yellen and u.s. treasurer lynn malerba will appear on bills that will go into circulation next year.

for more, download the cbs news app on your cell phone or connected tv. i'm dan li it's friday, december 9th, 2022. this is the "cbs morning news." homecoming. brittney griner set to arrive in texas today after a prisoner swap with russia. where sh > new develoents in the murders of four idaho college police jreody cam footage the night of the quadruple homicide. what it could mean for the investigation. pain at the pump easing? still some americans are struggling to save cash. we'll show you why. well, good morning, and good to be with you. i'm anne-marie green. wnba star brittney griner will soon be reunited with her family and friends in the u.s. after spending nearly ten months in a russian prison on drug charges. she was released yesterday after a prisoner swap with russia.