alaska governor is unclear about her political future. terrible toll, eight people are killed in a wrong-way crash on a new york parkway. and stormy summer, dangerous hit-and-miss storms pummelled the atlantic coast. >> it's crazy. captioning funded by cbs good morning and thanks for joining us. i'm michelle gielan. this morning folks from virginia to new england are cleaning up after a string of severe but fast-moving storms that left a trail of damage. susan roberts is in washington with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. we certainly felt it here in washington over the weekend. the storms were powerful but isolated. they made their way with damaging winds up through the coast over the weekend. >> oh, my god. i've never seen anything like this in my entire life, in this area specifically.

like a monsoon came through. >> reporter: the worst of the storms roared through late yesterday. heavy flooding, rain, hail and gusting winds that toppled trees and power lines. four people were struck by lightning in new jersey. >> i couldn't believe all the trees were down in the middle of the street and my next door neighbor has a whole tree across his house, like right across the roof, totally. >> reporter: late yesterday, the storm aggressively moved up the coast leaving up to 20,000 people in virginia and maryland without power. >> the weather was like so many snaps downed trees. >> we all ran into the basement and stayed there for about a minute or two and then realized that it had passed by. >> how did all this destruction come from one little storm? >> reporter: late saturday, a tornado touched down near buffalo, new york, leaving a four-mile wide footprint. one business was destroyed and more than a dozen homes damaged but no injuries, saturday night in washington with storms made

for a brilliant light show near the capital. and it looks like it's not over yet. the northeast expects more powerful storms throughout the week. michelle? >> all right. susan, thank you. sarah palin wakes up this morning as the ex-governor of alaska. palin officially stepped down yesterday vowing to fight fors what right and for the truth. but as bill whitaker reports, the truth about why she left the state house in juneau is unclear and so is her next move. >> people who know me and they know how much i love this state, some still are choosing not to hear why i made the decision to chart a new course to advance the state. and it should be so obvious to you.

it is because i love alaska this much, sir. >> reporter: sarah palin handed the reigns of power to lieutenant governor. >> with this decision i'll be able to fight harder for you. >> reporter: but walking out the door, one more defiant jab at the press. >> some straight talk for some, just some, in the media. because another right protected for all of us is freedom of the press. and you have such important jobs that reporting facts. and informing the electorate and exerting power to influence. you represent what could and should be a respected honest profession that could and should be a cornerstone of our democracy. democracy depends on you. ands that why -- that's why our troops are willing to die for you. so how about in honor of the american soldiers, you quit

making things up. our new governor has a very nice family, too. so leave his kids alone. >> reporter: and in hollywood -- >> hollywood needs to know, we eat, therefore, we hunt. >> reporter: but why is she stepping down? >> i have no idea what her game plan is. >> reporter: not her colleagues. >> i have no idea what her future plans are. >> reporter: as for palin, she's offering no more clarity or closure than when she announced her resignation three weeks ago. >> all i can do is ask you to trust me and know that it's no more politics as usual. >> reporter: nothing is politics as usual with sarah palin. she shot from little-known governor to one of the most popular and polarizing politicians in the country in john mccain's running mate. hailed as an asset when she first hit the national stage. >> the chance is drill, baby, drill. >> reporter: she soon was criticized as a liability. >> i'm going real great now rr

the butt of late night comics. and while the majority of americans, 53% view her negatively, she remains widely popular in the republican party. 70% have a positive opinion of her. now with a book deal, book tour in the works, and one million in political action committee coffers she's not stepping off stage supporters hope, but is setting the stage to run for president in 2012. but as a presidential bid now harder? >> it's a stigma that's been attached to her and it could be damaging in any future campaign that she decides to take on. >> reporter: whatever the now ex-governor of alaska decideses to do, you can bet it won't be politics as usual. on the cbs money watch, stocks in asia made gains. claire, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, to you, michelle. the asian marks kicked off the

new week in rally mode. jumping 1.5%. hong kong stocks shot up 1.3%. major hurdles in the bull's path on wall street and it's the biggest week for corporate earnings yet and also a slew of market moving economic reports ahead on housing, manufacturing and consumer confidence and economic growth. the dow average starts the day up 24 points. the tek-heavy nasdaq begins down (m stocks have staged an explosive 11% rally in two weeks after 77% of companies that have already reported earnings have had better than expected profits. but analysts say those improvements come mainly as a result of cutting costs, which means cutting jobs. dow component verizon rolls out its quarterly profits this morning and we get new-home sales numbers which are projected to rise to a four-month high in june. federal reserve chairman, ben bernanke defended the billions

of dollars in bailouts last night at a town hall meeting in kansas city where he answered angry questions from the public. he said he had to, quote, hold my nose over last year's bailout of big financial companies but argued the action had to be taken to avoid a second great depression. bernanke's comments will air on pbs this week. and the hard rock hotel is expanding in sin city. a new 490-room tower opens in las vegas this week even as hotels are struggling to fill existing rooms in the recession. the average room rate in las vegas for the first five months of 2009 was $97.23, already 27% below the same period last year. that's according to the las vegas convention and visitors authority. and 10,000 new rooms are coming to vegas this year. a big gamble that analysts say will be hard for the properties to win. michelle? >> that's an interesting business decision.

claire, thanks. and just ahead on "the morning news" a deadly wrong-way crash in new york. and a scary spinout. a hydroplane loses control during a race. first, katie couric has a preview of tonight's ""cbs evening news."" ten years ago colombia was in collapse. now, a dramatic turn around is under way. crime and kidnapping is down and law and order is being restored. we'll go inside the colombian jungle with a look at the success story tonight on the "cbs evening news." can i get it back? (announcer) ask your doctor how to help treat osteoporosis with once-a-month actonel. actonel is clinically proven to help reverse bone loss and can help increase bone strength to help prevent fractures. so you can get back some of what you lost. do not take actonel if you have low blood calcium, severe kidney disease, or cannot sit or stand for 30 minutes.

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in washington state, a hydroplane boat went airborne during a race on the colombia river. j michael kelli's boat did some backflips and landed cockpit down. kelli was able to open the escape hatch and get out. he was not injured but the boat too damaged to keep racing. a mini van going the wrong

way caused a tragic accident that killed eight people. the minivan crashed head-on into a suv on a highway north of new york city killing four adults and four children. mary of our new york station has more. >> i've been in the business a long time and this is probably the worst case that i've seen. >> reporter: this charred wreckage is all that's left of the minivan traveling the wrong way in the northbound lane of the parkway. it slammed into a suv, hit a third vehicle and rolled down an embank. and burst into flames. >> i set up triage and this vehicle was completely engulfed with a woman that was burning. several people were ejected, most of them children. and we prioritized and we were able to save one young child's life. >> reporter: the woman driving the van, her daughter and three nieces died. the young girls ranged in age from 2 to 9. the woman's 5-year-old son is

the sole survivor. three men were also killed. >> we do not know why the vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes. >> reporter: a third vehicle carrying two adults was also involved in the accident. the two survived with just minor injuries. cbs news, new york. and "endeavour" astronauts are gearing up for the fifth and final spacewalk of the mission. the crew on the international space station got its sunny side wake-up call this morning. today's spacewalk will focus on rewiring a space station gyroscope and installing tv cameras on the porch of japan's space station lab and they will head home tomorrow. straight ahead, your monday morning weather. and in sports, the phillies make a number of withdrawals from citizens banks parks.

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parts of the east coast will hear thunder and more thunderstorms can be expected from the southern plains to the central rockies and near record-breaking heat will scorch the northwest. in sports, philadelphia's hot streak comes. the phillies had four two-run homers in their slugger-friendly ballpark to beat the cardinals, 9-2. philadelphia's 17th win in 20 games as they pull away in the national league east. at the other end of the division, 27 games behind the phillies, washington's austin drove in the winning run with a two-out single to give the nationals a 3-2 win over san diego. ricky henderson and jim rice are now in baseball's hall of fame. they were inducted at cooperstown yesterday. henderson, the stolen base king was elected in his first year of eligibility of a 25-year career. jim rice had to wait for his final year and he says all that matters is that he made it. in auto race, this could be

one of the most expensive tickets in history. a win in the 400 in indianapolis yesterday and he was penalized for speeding during a pit stop. jimmie johnson goes on to finish and montoya finished at 11. a paycheck difference? $254,000. and lance armstrong's comeback attempt fell short. alberto contador won the tour de france finishing ahead by four minutes. armstrong who won seven times before retires three and a half years ago finished third. the second oldest player to mount the tour de france podium. when we return, another look at this morning's top stories and more from sarah palin's farewell. here, it is impossible to lose your way. wherever the road may lead you, we have that steady, great north star to guide us home.

on the "cbs morning news"

here's a look at today's weather. thunderstorms will develop over the southern plains and rockies. the northwest bakes near record heat. it will be a beautiful day throughout the midwest. here's another look at this morning's top stories. violent storms moved up the atlantic coast to new hampshire. strong winds and pounding rain damaged homes and knocked down trees and powerlines. a tornado hit outside buffalo, new york. and stock markets in asia continue their upward movement this morning, here in the u.s. the wall street has a rally. french president nicolas sarkozy is expected to be released from the hospital after a health scare. he collapsed yesterday after jogging in hot weather. his office released a statement saying he had to interrupt his run to lie down but denied he lost consciousness. and sarah palin officially stepped down yesterday. but the questions remain. what is the former

vice-presidential candidate up to next? matthew sullivan of our anchorage station reports. >> reporter: hi from fairbanks. no official count on how many thousands of people actually showed up for this event. but with the nation watching, this audience was in the millions. governor palin answered those who she says, still don't believe her. why she left her job early. >> and it should be so obvious to you. i felt it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics as usual, lame duck session in one's last year in office. how does that benefit you? with this decision now, i will be able to fight even harder for you fors what right and for truth.

and i have never felt that you need a title to do that. so as we all move forward together, let's vow to keep championing alaska, to advocate responsible development. and smaller government and freedom. >> reporter: former governor palin insisted she had no hidden agenda for leaving her job a year and a half early. >> i promised to steadfastly and doggedly guard the interest of this great state like that grisly guards her cubs. as a mother naturally guards her own. and i will keep that vow wherever the road may lead. >> reporter: her 20-minute farewell address focused on what she called accomplishments. >> i resisted the stimulus package and we have championed earmark reform, slashing earmark requests by 85% to break the cycle of dependency on a stiefling, unsustainable federal agenda. >> reporter: even though palin

said this type of talk has nothing to do with national ambitions it's clear that many would like to see her head in that direction. in that spirit, parnell says he'll carry the torch. she ended her speech by a line from her inauguration. she said alaska should look north with help to plan the future. as for her future, palin does not say but as many others speculate it's for a presidential run in 2012. in fairbanks, alaska, cbs news. this morning we'll have more on sarah palin and speak with political commentator and former bush speech writer. i'm michelle gielan and this is the "cbs morning news." diabetics on medicare! i'm a diabetic and i want you to know over 230,000 u.s. doctors have authorized their patients to receive their diabetic supplies through liberty medical. and that begins with the one touch®ultra2 meter.

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hello, again, four minutes before 5:00 on a monday morning and humid stay dart. meteorologist tim williams in for marty bass in the first warning weather center.

tim. >> good morning, everyone, don. riding the wake of a turbulent evening and quote night for many of news carroll county and baltimore city just north of the beltway. look at the radar. a decent amount of shower activity much of it to the east of the the city and down south right across the bay as a front continues to push on through. showers will be the case off and on through the day. some of them could be gusty much like yesterday. the forecast, 88 degrees. partly sunny and warm. pretty humid with a p.m. thunderstorm possible. your complete first warning forecast coming up in just a few moments, don. an eve of destruction. storms swept across the area causing damage and leaving thousands in the dark, the latest on the cleanup effort. a deadly turn, two cars collide on a busy roadway killing one person. police want to find out what role speed played. who could use an ego boost.

the perdue compliment guides are bringing good news here to baltimore. the first weather and traffic report of the new

good morning, maryland. now don scott, marty bass, breaking news with mary bubala, your first warning weather, and wjz traffic control with sharon gibala. it's wjz, maryland's news station. >> in 10 seconds, it will be 5:00. it will be a warm and muggy monday morning day and week start. sharon will have your traffic after tim's first warning weather. >> good morning, everyone. coming off of a stormy night for many areas and very calm for others. it has been very sticky and going to remain very humid for the next few d