>> just the way he carries himself and when he claims to be a christian and you only quote one verse out of the bible, i mean, come on. >> i think that's what a lot of people like about him, he says what he means and means what he says. i love it. >> reporter: trump today pulled an ad criticizing ted cruz and said he would only run positive ads from now on. john kasich's campaign has been doing that for weeks and described bush's efforts in south carolina of having all the joy of a texas chain saw massacre. >> thanks, major.

republican debate. that's saturday evening at 9:00 p.m. eastern time and john dickerson is the moderator. in another important story tonight, the zika virus, suspected of causing birth defects, keeps spreading. 79 cases now in the u.s. it's active in 26 countries and territories in the americas. brazil is the hardest hit. and with the olympics there this summer, hard choices have to be made. here's dr. jon lapook. >> morgan in the box and they're on the board! >> reporter: the u.s. women's soccer team started on the road to rio last night with a win in their first olympic qualifying game. the team's goalkeeper, hope solo, is raising concern about the risk of zika infection during the games. >> if the olympics were today, i want to go. fortunately, the olympics aren't today. so, we have six months. we have a little bit of time to figure things out. >> reporter: u.s. olympic committee ceo scott blackmun

olympians. he said the organization is working with the cdc and infectious disease specialists situation. but no matter the preparation, he wrote, there will always be risks with olympic competition. officials with the rio games told cbs news all rooms in the conditioned and venues inspected daily to remove standing water where mosquitos might breed. the population of the mosquito that carries zika goes down significantly in the cooler, dryer months of august and september, when the games will take place. the main worry is the suspected link between the virus and microcephaly, an unusually small head at birth. that link has been strengthened within the past day by reports both in brazil and the united states. the virus has now been found in the placenta of mothers who miscarried and the brain tissue of newborns with microcephaly

i spoke with an official from the rio olympic organizing committee today and asked, are there any thoughts of canceling or postponing the olympics or is it full steam ahead? he said, full steam ahead.

having a test event in oregon today, a six-week standoff between the fbi and armed anti-government protesters ended peacefully. the final four holdouts surrendered. one refused to go quietly, though, ranting, liberty or death. tonight weave learned that the isis terrorist group in syria and iraq has chemical weapons in its arsenal. in a rare interview for "60 minutes" we spoke to the director of the cia, john brennan. >> we have a number of incidents where isil has used chemical

>> artillery shells. >> yeah, sure. >> isis has access to chemical artillery shells? >> there are reports that isis has access to chemical precursors and munitions that they can use. >> the cia believes that isis has the ability to manufacture small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas. and the capability of exporting those chemicals to the west? >> i think there's always the potential for that. this is why it's so important to cut off the various transportation routes and smuggling routes they have used. >> are there american assets on the ground right now hunting this down? >> the u.s. intelligence is actively involved in being a part of the effort to destroy isil and to get as much insight into what they have on the ground inside of syria and iraq. >> we'll have our full interview with cia director brennan, including the threat that he says keeps him up at night.

minutes". millions have fled syria, but there are tens of thousands who can't get out. bombers and a closed turkish border. holly williams is following this. >> reporter: imagine the terror. never knowing where and when the warplanes will hit next. we can't independently verify these videos, but they appear to show the aftermath of air strikes on the town of tel rifaat this week. in the syrian regime's new offensive, which is backed by russian air power, civilians are once again paying with their blood. crossing the border into turkey, we met abdul kahrim bahloul, who runs a school in tel rifaat.

random, he told us. homes are destroyed and children's bodies lie in shreds on the ground. he told us he came to ask the turkish authorities to give refuge to children from the town. but after absorbing more than 2 million syrians, turkey is reluctant to let any more in. syrian regime forces have now nearly encircled the city of aleppo. the u.n. fears that 300,000 civilians could be cut off as they were in the town of madaya, during a siege by the regime. more than 40 starved to death. dalia al awqati that her charity, mercy corps, feeds and clothes half a million people in northern syria each month. >> it's not much. >> no, but it's essentials to keem a family alive. >> reporter: now they're racing to get food parcels to families in aleppo city, fearing more

already exhausted by a senseless war. and as if syria's war isn't complicated enough, today some american-backed rebels told us they were attacked by kurdish fighters, who were also supported by the u.s. now, the kurdish fighters say it wasn't deliberate, but, scott, this shows just how difficult it is for the u.s. to unite different faxes factions on the ground in syria. >> holly williams, thanks. so, what can the u.s. do to stop the war? for that we turn to margaret brennan. margaret? >> reporter: well, today, the u.s. is trying to broker an immediate cease-fire. secretary kerry pushed russia and iran to stop attacking civilians in aleppo and let in aid to besieged areas. vladimir putin's military has cut off supply lines to the u.s.-backed rebels, and u.s.

strengthens both isis and assad and it leaves the u.s. with little leverage in a war president obama has resisted getting involved in for five years now. >> margaret brennan at the white house, thank you. today cleveland mayor frank jackson apologized to the family of tamir rice after the city billed his estate $500 for ambulance services. the city also tore up the bill. in 2014 a cleveland cop shot rice who was 12. he was holding a gun that turned out to be a toy. he died the next day at the hospital. the officer was not charged. in a big development today, scientists have announced what may be among the greatest discoveries in the history of physics. they believe they found gravity waves predicted by einstein but never observed. two huge antennas, one in washington state, the other in

wave last september. this confirms einstein was right when he described the universe as like a fabric, woven from the three dimensions, plus time. what what physicist call space time. the gravity wave was set off sending a ripple through the fabric. the effect is so tiny, one scientist estimated the ripple consisted the entire milky way galaxy about the width of a thumb, observing that the fabric of the universe stretches and compresses may open an entirely new understanding of nature. coming up next -- how explosions like this are improving airport security. and a scoop by a newspaper "cbs overnight news" will be right back. and take a big smell. they smell really fresh these sheets 7 days ago.

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the tsa is looking for a more professional and effective force of airport screeners. kris van cleave is in glenco, georgia, tonight at the tsa's new training academy. >> reporter: seeing the power of even a small explosive made the threat real for nearly 200 soon-to-be airport screeners. >> two, one.

here in georgia designed to address troubling security gaps within the transportation security administration. a damning report by homeland securities inspector general last summer found screeners failed to detect 6 of 70 suspicious items brought through airport check points. peter neffenger became the tsa administrator last july. >> what the inspector general reports show us you can never take your eye off the mission. >> reporter: shawn weeks-freeman is one of the academy instructors. she was a flight attendant on pan-am flight 330 standing where a bomb explode, where the 737 prepared to land in honolulu. one was killed, more than a dozen injured. >> when i talk to my class, i tell them, you're not here by accident. and i wasn't saved at that moment by accident because that threat in 1982 is today's threat still. >> reporter: the academy marks

transportation security officers will have standardized training. previously new hires were largely trained on the job at their home airport. the i.g., if they're going through check points today with one of their teams trying to bring things that should be flagged, will those thipgs be caught? >> i think we'll catch them today. >> reporter: all of them? >> i don't know. i sure hope we catch all of them. >> reporter: the students will work a >> reporter: all of them? i sure hope we catch all of them.

a small catholic university in maryland is in turmoil after

wanted to weed out struggling students quickly to improve the school's standing. some professors had been sent packing. here's chip reid. >> reporter: ed egan was a professor at mt. st. mary's university in maryland. what would you normally be doing on a day like this? >> i'd be on campus. today i'd be teaching my class on the first amendment. >> reporter: but on monday he was fired in a letter a school official said he is persona non grata and not welcome to visit the university's campus because he violated his duty of loyalty to the school. it all began last month when the student newspaper reported that the school president simon newman wanted professors to identify struggling students in the first few weeks of school so they could be encouraged to drop out. some faculty members resisted and the school paper reported that newman told them, this is hard for you because you think of the students as cuddly bunnies but you can't.

bunnies. put a glock to their heads. many students and faculty were outraged. >> it's not just the words, but it's the plan that the words described. >> reporter: what's wrong with the plan? >> weeding out students because we think they might not do well in order to make the numbers look better. that's not mt. st. mary's. >> reporter: egan was the faculty adviser to the school paper and says he's being punished for accurate but embarrassing reporting by the students. you did not tell them what to write? >> i did not. >> reporter: in any way? >> no. anybody on campus who knows the students, knows that nobody would manipulate these students. >> reporter: they can't be manipulated? >> they are independent, strong, bright people. >> reporter: a petition protesting the firing of egan and another professor has been signed by about 7500 professors across the country, and, scott, the university declined our repeated requests for an interview.

saying the two professors had violated the code of conduct. >> chip reid, thanks, chip. in a moment, how a mother's words can turn a child's pain

our final story tonight is child, whose joy mere words cannot describe. here's elaine quijano. could create things out of snow and ice. >> reporter: 4-year-old mattie zapata can't get enough of her bookings on tape. >> anna was delighted.

is her mother, mandi balderas, locked in a prison four hours away. >> i told her how i missed her. >> even though i'm not there physically, i know she's listening to my voice, spending time with me. >> reporter: each month while balderas and other selected inmates choose a story to record and then mail it home. it's called storybook project, and it runs in six women's prisons across texas. >> it was a sunny afternoon at the end of may. >> this story begins within the walls of a castle. >> we weren't scared as long as we were together. >> reporter: 64% of incarcerated women nationwide lived with their children before prison. storybook tries to ease the pain of separation. >> if you put your hand in mine, you'll feel my love powers. love you. >> reporter: mattie was 18 months old when her mother went to prison for a dwi crash that killed the other driver, a crime of manslaughter that victimized her daughter, too. >> i cry for mommy.

>> because i miss her. >> if it wasn't for the books, she wouldn't be able to have the bond that we have now. i know that means something to her and i know it means something to me. >> reporter: but the fact is, you got behind the wheel of a car when you had alcohol in your system and a person is dead because of that. didn't you forfeit your right to do things like this when you made that decision? >> yes, i made a decision. but it's not about the decision anymore. it's about how we handle the circumstances. that's how i'm choosing to handle the circumstances, by helping my kids the best i can from where i'm at. >> hey, mattie, it's me, mommy. >> reporter: balderas has four years left of an eight-year sentence. when she finally re-unites with her family, she hopes her children won't mistake her voice for a stranger's. >> you are my sunshine, my only sunshine -- >> reporter: elaine quijano, cbs news, columbus, texas. >> i love you always, mommy.

news for this friday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back with us later for the morning news and for "cbs this morning." from the broadcast center in new york city, i'm scott pelley. this is the "cbs overnight news." hello and welcome to the the federal government is warning of possible shortages of test kits for zika virus. the tests are designed to let pregnant women know if they've been infected by the virus that can cause severe birth defects. the cdc is hipping more than 60,000 test kits, but admits around. the virus is mostly spread by mosquitos. people who live in southern states are especially

and the cdc is warning of a possible widespread outbreak in puerto rico. women who are thinking about getting pregnant are to avoid traveling to latin america, especially brazil. brazil is hosting the summer olympics and that puts america's female athletes in a bind. >> morgan in the box with that shot and they're on the board! >> reporter: world class female athletes, including members of the u.s. women's soccer team are this summer's olympics in rio de janeiro. earlier this week star player alex morgan called the virus a very scary thing and goalie hope solo went even further, saying it's possible she might skip the games. >> all i can do is speak for myself. if the olympics were today, i wouldn't go. we have six months. we have a little time to figure things out. >> our goal really is to protect pregnant women. >> reporter: the cdc says it's working nonstop to gain control over the rapidly spreading

suspected ties between the virus and the birth defect microcephaly appear to be strengthening. on wednesday the cdc reported that zika was found in the brain tissue of two brazilian babies who died from microcephaly less than 24 hours after birth. >> the strongest evidence today that zika is the cause of microcephaly but it's still not definitive. >> reporter: the new england journal of medicine cited a separate case from october. according to the report, a 25-year-old woman living in slovenia chose to have an abortion after learning the child she was carrying had severe developmental abnormalities. an autopsy later revealed the fetus had microcephaly. the woman who had been living in northern brazil showed zika symptoms during her pregnancy. officials say the virus is aedes aegypti, which transmits the disease, is difficult to

>> its eggs can be drought-resistant and can persist for some time. and it can bite four or five people in the course of one blood meal, meaning it can >> reporter: according to the cdc, a zika vaccine could be available by the end of 2017. meanwhile, a group called catholics for choice is asking pope francis not to condemn contraception or abortion in an attempt to help women protect themselves from the virus. the department of homeland security is taking steps to ensure airport screeners are properly trained. for the first time the transportation security administration will start training all screeners at one centralized academy, sort of a tsa boot camp. kris van cleave reports from the federal law enforcement training centers in glenco, georgia. >> reporter: this checkpoint is the centerpiece of the new tsa academy and the two-week training course. this grows out of a top to bottom review done by the agency

he proficient cy on equipment like this. the new training academy aims to change that. an explosive lesson on the dangers these soon-to-be airport screeners will be asked to help prevent. >> this is a explosive -- >> reporter: the nearly 200 students assembled are some of the first to go through the new tsa training academy. >> it's controlled chaos. it's a very difficult job. >> reporter: among those, 19-year-old yasmin. >> it's a challenge but it's a rewarding challenge. >> reporter: this is the first time since the agency's creation after 9/11 that the tsa has centralized training of newly hired screeners, who make between $31,000 and $45,000 a year. previously they were trained largely on the job at the airport where they work. >> do you see anything in that bag? >> reporter: the academy opened in january as the tsa tries to recovery from a series of high-profile embarrassments,

allegedly groping a passenger in denver. and in a test where they failed to catch 67 out of 70 tests. peter neffenger took over as administrator following that report. >> i tried to refocus on the mission. i said, what a screener's job is to ensure something that doesn't get past the checkpoint doesn't get past. >> reporter: will you catch -- >> i hope so. >> reporter: all of them? >> i sure hope we catch all of them. my test shows we have dramatic dramatically improved. >> reporter: can you show us your finding? >> i won't publicly because this goes to -- >> reporter: i'm talking about the vast majority? the majority? >> majority. >> reporter: for shawn weeks-freeman, the success of the screeners trained here this year is personal. she was a flight attendant on pan-am in august of 1982 and a few rows away when a bomb went off on board. a 16-year-old passenger died. more than a dozen others were hurt. >> when i talk to my class, i tell them, you're not here by accident.

moment by accident. because that threat in 1982 is today's threat still. royal crib caribbean's "anthem of the sea" is undergoing repairs and inspection at a dock in new jersey. the ship sailed into a massive storm last week on its way to florida and had to limp back to port. passengers describe a terrifying trip and there are calls for a federal investigation into why the ship set sail in the first place. reporting from cape liberty. >> reporter: ths gives you some idea of the enormity of the ship. look at the size of this thing. that also tells you something about the size of the storm that it ran into that tossed it around like a paper cup. last night passengers streamed off, some were cheering, some were kissing the ground. who can blame them when you think about what they went through. beaten, battered but home, royal caribbean's "anthem of the seas"

new jersey, last night. >> free at last, free at last! >> reporter: putting an end to the terrifying trip. but as some of the 4500 passengers poured out of the storm-damaged cruise line -- >> awful experience. awful. >> reporter: -- frustrations boiled over. >> we thought we were all going to die. >> the worst part was the fear and the lies because we were told over and over we were in good shape. >> the reality is we shouldn't have set sail. >> we were trapped in a room for 17 hours. like on a roller coaster you can't get off of and you weren't strapped in. >> reporter: royal caribbean is facing criticism for going forward with the trip, despite the forecast. a senior vice president with the cruise line says the strength of the storm caught them offguard. would you say the captain ultimately made a mistake in deciding to go ahead with this voyage? >> if we knew that winds of 125-mile-an-hour sustained were going to be in that area, we never would have gone.

>> reporter: but after reviewing weather reports for the area, a former cruise line captain told us the ship never should have set sail. >> there really was absolutely no way that ship was going to avoid that storm. it's a miracle that the damage and injuries were as minimal as they were. this could have been an absolute catastrophe. the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. finish jet-dry with five power actions that dry dishes and prevent spots and film, so all that's left is the shine. for better results, use finish jet-dry. in a world that's trying to turn you into someone new... ...one hair color wants to help you keep on being you. nice'n easy. natural-looking color... ...that even in sunlight, doesn't look like hair color... it just looks like you. v nice'n easy: colorv

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and enjoy living well. the mars reconnaissance orbiter is capturing dramatic new scenes from 200 miles above the red planet. you can see craters, icy polar dunes and even a possible landing site for a future mission. nasa's next project is called mars 2020. jan craford was allowed in the assembly room of the mars 2020 at the jet propulsion laboratory in pasadena, california. >> reporter: everyone that goes in this room has to be suited up because they can't risk any contamination to this

four years with an unmanned rover that's going to explore the surface. and this is all part of nasa's plan to send humans to mars in the next 20 to 30 years. this is what you have to do when you go into a room with a spacecraft headed for mars. wow. that is going to be on the surface of mars? that? >> absolutely. >> lift-off of the atlas 5 with curiosity. >> reporter: it's 200 million miles away, a speck in the sky. and in just four years, this spacecraft will blast off for an unmanned mission to the red planet. it's a crucial step toward nasa's goal of some day sending humans to mars. so everyone that works on this has to wear these suits. nasa agreed to let us go inside the clean room, where even engineers working on the spacecraft have to be covered

>> it needs to be clean in order to work properly and it's going to mars, we can't have earth stuff going there. we don't want to contaminate mars. >> reporter: for generations, mars has been a source of fascination. >> we can be on mars within 24 hours. >> reporter: a favorite of hollywood. >> 4.5 billion years, nobody here, and now me. >> reporter: but here at the jet propulsion laboratory, it's no longer science fiction but cutting-edge science. this piece of metal will be a sophisticated landing system for mars 2020. what all gets put on this? >> the most important part that gets put on is the propulsion system, our rockets. >> reporter: the propulsion system? >> yeah, the rockets. >> reporter: yeah, that's pretty important. this animation shows how it will slow down the spacecraft. and gently drop an suv-sized rover onto the surface of the planet.

>> reporter: nasa used the same technique in 2012 to land the curiosity rover. >> we're at 150 meters per second. >> curiosity is the first rover to really confirm that mars was a habitable place. >> reporter: steven lee is the deputy project manager for curiosity. this is a replica here at the mars yard. >> curiosity really is the parent of mars 2020. >> reporter: so, this is like the mom and daddy. >> the mom and daddy, exactly. >> reporter: the next generation rover will be loaded with a lot more technology. like higher resolution cameras and an advanced robotic arm and drill. >> this is the rock room. >> reporter: which deputy manager says will help search for signs of martian life. >> we're actually going to drill cores and make small samples of martian rock that we'll leave on the surface. we hope future missions will get those samples, bring it back to earth so earth scientists can study those samples.

mars. >> we've never brought anything back from the surface of mars. >> reporter: and for the first time, nasa will test systems that future astronauts would use to survive their journey. in this room, what you're doing, could determine whether or not humans make it to mars in the near future. >> using this technology, that's absolutely true. and -- >> reporter: that's a lot of pressure. >> it is. we try not to think about it. >> reporter: engineer jim lewis and his team are working on how to turn the martian atmosphere into at months fewer, for astronauts to breathe and use as pressure. >> reporter: this experiment is critical because astronauts couldn't bring enough oxygen from earth to last for what will be a three-year mission. >> if you want to go to mars as a human or if you want to launch a rocket from mars to bring a to do that. if i could fly >> reporter: all making this upcoming mission a giant leap

space. and down below >> reporter: do you think that some day humans will be on mars? >> oh, without question. >> reporter: without question? >> absolutely. >> eventually we'll be able to overcome all the challenges that are ahead of us. >> reporter: that seems crazy. it seems like a movie. >> crazy but certainly a wonderful goal. >> reporter: a goal generations in the making. now closer than ever. do you ever think, like, that is 200 million miles away? >> it's sometimes just amazing to imagine that we've built such a large system, so much complexity that's so capable and we send it on a rocket. when you go out in the morning and you look and it's a point of light in the sky. >> reporter: now for all those kids out there who are going out at night and seeing that point of light in the sky, they could be the first humans to step foot on mars. and this spacecraft carrying that rover for all that important research will pave the way to get them there. >> the "cbs overnight news" will

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some of the biggest acts in music will gather in los angeles tomorrow to honor four-time grammy winner lionel richie. he's being honored as a 2016 music cares person the year for his remarkable career. michelle miller got to spend some time with him.

honor him, chris stapleton, rihanna, and so many more. it's expected to raise millions for charity. it's a huge honor for richie, and i got to spend an afternoon with him singing some of those time-honored songs. i can tell you at 66 he's morning's just a moment away and i without you once again >> i don't even dare jump in. >> reporter: he's responsible for some of the most iconic songs of the past five decades. you're once twice three times a lady >> sing it now! >> reporter: let's just say, it's hard not to sing along with lionel richie. yes you're once everybody!

>> the best thing that ever happens, the music stayed around. the music stuck. we're talking about the third generation of folks are now sitting in the audience. >> reporter: and you've been going now, okay, i don't want to date you here -- >> no, no, 230 years, i know. since '73. >> reporter: born and raised in tuskegee, alabama, richie led the commadores to the top of the charts in the 1960s. she's a brick house >> reporter: he went solo in 1982 and became a superstar. say you say me >> reporter: dominating popular music with 13 consecutive top ten hits, including five number ones. oh what a feeling when we're dancing on the ceiling all night long all night >> reporter: richie had no formal music training. he says he just somehow knew how

>> so, i don't know why i know how to play that. it's just that i can play that. >> and so, trying to explain it to you is harder than trying to -- than just playing, because there's no real -- >> reporter: you can't stop just there. come on -- >> but you got to know that -- about a half mile or so where you're going where you're going maybe once or twice time after time we tried to hold on to what we got but

and i don't mind about the things you're going to >> reporter: of his many hits, this may be richie's most famous line. hello is it me you're looking for >> reporter: of course, when adele released her new single, the similarity was hard not to hear. hello it's me >> reporter: the internet didn't waste any time spoofing the two hit songs. hello hello is it me you're looking for >> reporter: let's talk about "hello." who owns it, you or adele? >> well, i was here first. no, no, listen. first of all, there's only so many ways you can say hello. you know, so -- so many people call me, rich, the girl stole

the girl stole your word. i said, no, i don't own hello. hello >> reporter: there are one-hit wonders. people who are hot and blazing and are gone in a minute. >> yeah. it's not an easy business. ego is the first part that kills you. and then the second part of it is just the fact that -- the stress. it's the stress. because can you outdo your last show? i bet you can't do that again. >> reporter: so, how did you do it? >> i did it again, but it's -- >> reporter: but how did you deal with the stress? >> i kept going back to the alabama. we weren't keeping up with the joneses in alabama. we were just keeping up with the comodores. it was never that hanging at the club, here's the drug scene. my grandmother, she said, now, you have to promise me one thing. i don't want you drinking any of that dope. don't drink any of that dope. i just said, grand marks i promise you, i won't -- >> reporter: i won't drink it. >> -- i won't drink any dope. i promise you. >> reporter: instead, richie was focused on making music and

>> as i started gaining a bit of success, then it was even more apparent that, you know, how do i give a voice to the voiceless? >> reporter: he did just that when he and michael jackson sat down to write "we are the world." there comes a time when we heed a certain call >> reporter: the remarkable collaboration raised more than $60 million for humanitarian aid in africa. we are the world we are the children we are the ones that make a brighter day so let's start giving >> reporter: this year music cares is paying tribute to richie for both his musical contributions and decades of charitable work. >> i said, i'll receive this award if it doesn't mean good-bye because, as far as i'm concerned, i'm just getting started now. all night long all night

richie puts on a great show and his residency at planet hollywood in vegas begins in april. in addition to music cares tribute, big stars will be

yes you're the hunt continues in the florida everglades for those giant burmese pythons. it's a month-long harvest aimed at bringing down the population. mark strassmann is there. >> reporter: in the florida everglades, this is basking season for burmese pythons, when the cold-blooded snakes seek out the warmth of the sun. >> there's a lot of native plants we should be aware of. >> reporter: tom rahill's team is hunting for snakes. burmese pythons are an invasive

tom, one of rahhill's team. it's a challenge, though, isn't it? >> it is a challenge. >> reporter: burmese pythons average about eight feet and camouflage themselves in more than 1 million acres of swamp and sawgrass here. rahill is known as the snake whisperer. >> i've got over 300 captured personally. >> reporter: he tracked down his first burmese in 2008 and was hooked. >> you go into an alpha predator mind set. if you don't have an alpha predator mind set, you could get hurt, conceivably. >> reporter: first, they bite. >> hundreds of sharp, razor-sharp teeth, you just have to breathe deep and just let it release on its own. if you pull away from a python when it bites you, your arm is going to be shredded. >> reporter: and big burmese can also coil and crush you. >> i had ahold of a 17-foot python a number of years back. totally ecstatic. whoa! this is great. i had a hold of it like i was a feather on a freight train.

swallow a deer. in this photo, the alligator inside the python's stomach was so big, the snam actually exploded. snakes in the everglades. a female can lay up to 100 eggs. >> there could be tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of snakes, we just don't know. >> reporter: somers worked for the florida conservation company. burmese into the wild when their snakes grew too big. >> they don't have any natural predators in the state of florida. they're not supposed to be here. >> reporter: for help removing them, florida's fish and wildlife officials started the python challenge. top prize, $5,000. rahill is competing with his team of volunteers called the swamp these hunters grab a burmese by the neck, behind the jaw, and let it wear itself out, and then drop it into this bag. they can deliver it dead or

mark strassmann in the florida everglades. that's the "overnight news" for this friday. for some of you, the news continues. for others, check back a little later for the morning news and "cbs this morning." from the broadcast center here in new york city. captioning funded by cbs it's friday, february 12th, 2016. this is the "cbs morning news." campaign 2016 democrats take center stage in another debate, but the republicans snag a few headlines of their own and a few young fans. polar plunge. the lowest temperatures of the winter are heading to the