first time in 68 years i've protested. >> reform rocket. the debate over health care reform boils over. afghanistan assault. hundreds of american marines move on a taliban stronghold. jewel heist. two bandits pull off one of the biggest robberies in british history. this is the cbs "morning news" for wednesday, august 12th, 2009. captioning funded by cbs grngs, good morning, thanks

for joining us. as congress prepares for a debate on the health care crisis, outside the debate has grown bitter. inside, the president urged his critics to listen. >> not these wild representations that bear no resemblance to anything that's been proposed. >> lawmakers across the country are facing outraged, freightened citizens. long-time senator arlen specter said there is more anger in america today than any time he can remember. >> reporter: as we can see, these crowds are becoming hostile, shouting questions and becoming very angry at thul town hall meetings. yesterday and today, the president is expected to say that the scariest outcome of all would be failing to fix the current system. the passionate debate over

health care reform is growing more heated by the day. >> anyone that reads through this bill should be scared. >> there's no need for the government to take over. no constitutional authority for the government to take over. >> reporter: it's those sentiments democratic lawmakers are out to change at town hall meetings. pennsylvania senator arlen specter will be one of the many who will brave the crowds today despite getting his own taste of the fierce debate ffds. >> you want to be let out of here, you're welcome to go. >> reporter: the intensity of the recent meetings caught some democrats by surprise. that isn't stopping them from trying to put rumors about the plan to rest. >> the idea is that you're not going to see your premiums doubled in ten years. >> reporter: president obama insists overhauling the health care system is critical to economic recovery. some americans aren't convinced. >> he also inherited a crack in the liberty bell. i don't want that fixed either. i do not want health care fixed. >> reporter: the u.s. chamber of

commerce will join the fight against the president's plan later today with a series of ads airing in roughly 20 states. the multi-million dollar xan is said to be one of the largest attacks against the president's proposal yet. the president is hammering home a few points. that the health care overhaul won't force anyone to give up the health care benefits they like. he is saying he will not give up on his pledge not to raise taxes on people making under $250,000 a year. >> this morning, american marines and afghan forces are battling for control over a taliban stronghold in southern afghanistan. operation eastern resolve 2 is designed to secure helmand province before next week's presidential election. some 400 marines are involved. the assault included helicopters and snipers.

the marines are facing heavy small arms fire and mortar and rocket attacks. bernard madoff's reported man pleaded guilty to conspiracy, security fraud and other charges. he appeared in federal court in new york yesterday. madoff customers describe him as the man they dealt with. he worked secretly with the fbi for months. despite his plea bargain, he faces up to 125 years in prison. >> british police are on the hunt for two armed rob who are got away with $65 million in loot from a high-end london jewelry store. newly released video shows the climax from last week's robbery as thieves fled, guns blazing. a security camera inside the store shows the two well-dressed thieves entering. they escaped with dozens of rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and watches. luckily no one was hurt. on the money watch, stock markets in asia retreated this

morning. claire leka is here with details. >> good morning to you, michelle. the nikkei slumped nearly 1.5%. hong kong stocks slid 3%. wall street starts with its biggest loss in five weeks as investors worry that the markets' steep gains in the past month could unravel if the economy doesn't show more signs of strengthening. the dow jones starts the day down 96 points. the tech heavy nasdaq fell 22. the federal reserve wraps up its two-day meeting on interest rates with an announcement this afternoon. the central bank is expected to hold rates steady, as historic lows near zero. investors will be closely watching its statement. the bankers are expected to say that the economy is picking up but they remain cautious about the outlook. to a remedy for the ailing economy that's having an impact. so many people have taken advantage of the cash for

clunkers program that the advantage fuel efficiency for new vehicles in july climbed above 22 miles a gallon. impressive maybe until you hear this. at the official unveiling yesterday, general motors said the new chevy volt can get a whopping 230 miles a gallon. and gm hopes that will bring a surge of sales for the first ever hybrid that will plug right into the wall. those triple-digit fuel economy numbers will come at a price. 40,000 bucks for the volt when it hits the showrooms late next year, even with a $7,500 tax credit buyers will get. that's 10 to 15 grand more than the prius or insight. a time when credit card companies are hiking fees, discover and american express plan to stop charging them when consumers spend past their limits. the move comes six months before

a new law clamps down on such fees. a small black bear walked through the front door of mark richard fine's outer wear store last night. the owner thinks the bear was chased into the store by people trying to take pictures of it. the bear browseded through store aisles and posed in the store wind. he left without damaging anything in the store. michelle, that's a relief. >> outer wear store, nonetheless. just ahead on the "morning news," fierce flooding in taiwan. plus, recovering the last two bodies from that deadly mid-air collision over the hudson river. first, katie couric has a preview of tonight's cbs evening news. >> a million people are hospitalized for heart failure every year. 1 in 4 are readmitted within 30

days. one hospital has a program that could help fix that nationwide, saving lives and money. tonight only on the cbs evening news. have you sthis chair? or these curtains? you've gotta wash this whole room! are you kidding? wash it?! let's wash it with febreze! whoa! [ sniffs ] hey mrs. weber. [ sniffs ] it smells nice in here. i like to keep things fresh. [ male announcer ] for all the things that you can't wash, wash it with febreze. febreze now comes in two fresh new scents -- downy april fresh and gain apple mango tango. that sticks to your teeth so well, you can even drink water with it on. crest whitestrips advanced seal. get a dramatically whiter smile while you do just about anything. satisfaction guaranteed.

in taiwan this morning, the search for typhoon victims is being hampered by continued severe flooding. a rescue worker had to be rescued himself after his inflatable boat overturned. searchers finally reached a remote village buried by a mud slide but found little alive kept a shivering kitten. 700 survivors were found elsewhere. nrchl >> in iraq, the death toll from five days stands at 123. yesterday, three explosions in a crowded market killed at least eight. in new york, investigators will get a close look today at what's left of the light plane involved in last weekend's crash over the hudson river. the aircraft's remains were recovered yesterday along with the bodies of the last two

victims. nine people died in the crash, three in the plane, six in the sight-seeing helicopter. in the busy hudson corridor, pilots at low altitude are out of contact. >> they'll be looking at the management of this space, we're here. we don't want to see an accident like this happen again. >> neither aircraft carried a black box flight recorder. in northern california, police are hunting for a man suspected of killing two people at a highway bridge toll plaza with a shotgun. the killer pulled up to a booth in a van yesterday and killed the toll collector, a woman, then shot a man sitting in a nearby pickup truck. police suspect the motive was a domestic dispute that led to a particularly ugly crime. >> the best way to describe the scene is horrific. for someone to be shot with a shotgun at close range. it's a very gruesome sight. >> the suspect is identified as

46-year-old nathaniel burris. he was said to be dating the woman. in medical news, a new study shows a medication in common use for more than 100 years, aspirin, may help colon cancer patients survive the disease. this year alone nearly 50,000 americans are expected to die from colorectal cancer. >> reporter: eight months ago, cindy martinez got a big shock, a diagnosis of colon cancer apt 46 years old. >> i was in denial, had a healthy lifestyle, extremely active. >> reporter: after surgery, she is in remission. >> i have a less than 10% chance of recurrence. i'm grateful for every day of my life. >> reporter: a new study finds something as simple as aspirin could help people diagnosed colon cancer survive longer. >> it's the first major study that demonstrates by taking what's available over the counter can help to reduce colon

cancer-related death. >> reporter: the study looked at more than 1,200 people with colon cancer. people who aspirin had a 30% lower risk of dying from colon cancer in 11 years after diagnosis. the aspirin benefit was primarily seen in patients with tumors that expressed an enzyme. >> a high percentage of colon cancer patients express this enzyme. >> reporter: this doctor says based on the latest research he would suggest aspirin therapy to colon cancer patients. something cindy is very open to. >> i would definitely be proactive in taking that. >> reporter: it's a simple painless step that could add years to her life. cbs news, los angeles. >> straight ahead, your wednesday morning weather. in sports, the tigers and the red sox battle over balls at fenway park. imodium multi-symptom relief

combines two powerful medicines for fast relief of your diarrhea symptoms, so you can get back out there. imodium. get back out there. you've gotta wash this whole room! are you kidding? wash it?! let's wash it with febreze! whoa! [ sniffs ] [ male announcer ] for all the things that you can't wash, wash it with febreze. here's a look at the weather in some cities around the country. new york, afternoon storms, 85. miami, 94. chicago, sunny and 82. denver, 91. los angeles, sunny and pleasant at 74. time for a check on the national forecast. the latest satellite picture shows skies are mainly gray over

much of the east. the midwest and great plains are waking to clear skies. skies cloudy over the northwest after yesterday's much-needed rain. later today, thunderstorms across the east. a gorgeous day across the great lakes and midwest. the plains will be baking with temperatures in the mid-90s. bright and sunny from the rockies to the california coastline. sport begins with a flare-up at fenway pork. kevin youkilis was the fifth player hit by a pitch in the two games with detroit. he said that's enough. he and the pitcher were tossed out after this brawl. the red sox beat the tigers 7-5. in seattle, fisher gave the white sox one hit in his first career start for the mariners. reliever davidardma gave up a three-run homer. don baker drove in two runs

with this seventh-inning double. in the 11th, dan uggla's bases loaded single gave the mar lines a 9-8 win. a twist in the extortion case involving louisville basketball coach rick pitino. the courier journal of louisville told police he had consensual sex with a woman accuseded of extorting him. he gave her $3,000 for an abortion. and health care under fire. hundreds pack a town hall meeting in san diego. hat i need to control my diabetes, to stay healthy - and get on with my life. it comes from liberty medical. and now, it's not only where i get my diabetes testing supplies - but it's where i get my

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on the cbs "morning news," here's a look at today's weather. thunderstorms will be scattered along much of the east coast.

a beautiful day around the great lakes and midwest. it will be dry and hot across the plains. here's another look at this morning's top stories. 400 american marines stormed the taliban-held town in southern afghanistan facing heavy fire. the marines, along with afghan troops, hope to secure the region before next week's presidential election. and the anger over president obama's health care reform proposal is boiling over. lawmakers face hostile, yearing crowds at numerous town hall meetings across the country. in new hampshire, the president urged americans not to listen to misleading scare tactics. >> for all the scare tactics out there, what is truly risky is if we do nothing. >> people packed the town hall on health care in san diego yesterday. richard allen of our san diego station reports. >> reporter: hundreds of san diegons filled these sidewalks hoping to get into a local town

counsel meeting where a local representative fielded questions on president obama's health care plan. it's a debate that stirred passion and raised tempers. outside hill crest town counsel's meeting tuesday, the national debate over health care reform becomes local and contentious. >> anyone that reads through this bill should be scared. >> there's no need for the government to take over. no constitutional authority for the government to take over. >> reporter: inside the meeting democratic congresswoman susan davis fields questions and tries to put rumors to rest. >> some of the information is not necessarily true. >> reporter: false rumors that the plan is setting up death panels to decide whether seniors get treatment. she said veterans' benefits and medicare would not be cut. >> mistake plans would no longer have the ability to drop you if you or a family member develop a

condition. >> reporter: another concern, the cost. >> what's my premium going to be? >> without knowing your situation, obviously i can't judge that. but the idea is that you're not going to see your premiums doubled in ten years. >> reporter: davis said the government would offer a website comparing all variable health insurance options, public and private. >> because this will give consumers the opportunity to easily compare plans, a new competition will drive down premium costs for americans. >> reporter: some americans are just not sold. >> they're promising butterflies and rainbows and free care and the best care for everybody. that's just a lie. government has never done anything right. >> reporter: another concern, especially among those who already pay for private insurance, whether they'll end up paying more in federal taxes for this overhaul. earlier tuesday, president obama reiterated his election promise not to raise taxes on those

earning less than $250,000 a year. >> coming up this morning on the "morning news," pennsylvania senator arlen specter on the health care town hall meetings. i'm michelle gielan and this is the cbs "morning news." bicycle, i've missed you. gathering dust, as pollen floats through the air. but with the strength of zyrtec ® , the fastest, 24-hour allergy relief, i promise not to wait as long to go for our ride. with zyrtec ® i can love the air ™ .

4 minutes before 5:00. it is still humid but concerning the past two mornings, it is a whole lot more comfortable. look at first warning doppler, no shower activity in the area, but i will tell you this, i start popping this out, and what you are going to see is some moisture in the mid atlantic and i go out even further, you see a good slug of moisture to the south. i am going to see a mixture of clouds and sun through the afternoon, temperatures back into the upper 80s. thank you. in the news, caught in cross fire a bullet goes through the

woman's front window and strikes her. senator cardin targeted by opponents, a one on one interview and his response coming up. get ready, the boss is coming to town. more new, first warning weather and first traffic of the morning in a few minutes.

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this is wjz, wjz dt and wjz.com, baltimore. good morning, maryland. now, don scott, breaking news with mary bubala. it is wjz, maryland's news station. hello again. in 20 seconds it will be 5:00. it is wednesday morning not a bad start as marty pointed out. it is a little humid out there