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tv   NBC Nightly News  NBC  November 15, 2010 7:00pm-7:30pm EST

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he inad vert enly gave mitch mcconnell a promotion earlier. > on our broadcast tonight, touchy subject. why more and more americans are saying they've had it with airline security that invades their privacy. above and beyond. on the eve of receiving the nation's highest military honor, a young man from iowa says it doesn't belong to him. perfect together. who thght combining fish and lettuce was a good idea? turns out it happens to be in the farming business. and getting personal. our exclusive conversation with prince charles about the pressure of raising two sons. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television
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good evening. there is something about the current state of airline security that has set people off at a lot of major airports right w. travelers have a choice of a full body scan that shows everything to a screener or a full-on pat-down designed to feel everything. as we approach the christmas anniversary of the attempt to blow up an airliner using a bomb embedded in underwear, t feds say they have to check everybody carefully. that includes a lot of once personal space. some travelers have decided it's too much. too much government, too much intrusion and theihero is a passenger who picked a fight with the tsa and posted the video on the web. weant to begin with nbc's tom costello at reagan national airport here in washington. tom, good evening. >> reporter: hi, brian. the tsa screens 2 million passengers every day. now a small number of passengers is talking about boycotting the
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tsa's latest screening metds just as the anksgiving rush draws near. when john tyner hit record at 6:00 a.m. turday with his cell phone camera face up and the x-ray machine at san diego's airport, he was anticipating a showdown with the tsa. having refed a full body iming scan, he would have to go through the new tsa pat-down. >> also we're going to be doing a groin check. that means we're going to place my hand on your hip and the other hand on your inner thigh, slowly go up and slide down. >> okay. >> we're going to do that two times in the front and back. >> reporter: tyner said no. >> we can do that out here. but if you touch my junk, i'm going to have you arrested. >> reporter: after he posted a video on his blog, one supporter wrote, civil rights icon rosa parks would be proud. >> i don't want some random stranger looking at my naked dy. my traveling about the country by plane doesn't seem to wrant that to me. >> reporter: his rant has truck a populist cord, though.
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he also thinksovernment should be out of the business of aviation security. since 9/11, the tsa strategies have evolved to respond to the failed shoe and underwear bombing attempts. and the traveling public is divided on the security versus privacy debate. from dallas -- >> if it protects everybody, i don't care. >> reporter: to newark. >> when it comes to airport with no clothes on at all. >> reporter: to l.a. >> i think the entire process is innovative. >> the tsa has simply gone too far. they're make 100% of t flying public feel like terrorists and their fourth amendment rights are being violated. >> reporter: one common concern, the full body scanners. while the fda insists they pose a minimal radiation risk, unions representing us airways and american are urging their pilots to avoid them. today, the homeland security chief suggested the tsa is open to change. >> if there are adjustments we need to make to these procedures as we move forward, we have an open ear. we will listen. >> reporter: critics complain the tsa often seems to lack
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common sense, selecting the elderly, even teenagers for pat-downs. but the tsa chief says the approach must be across the board. >> so it's hard to say this pers is a terrorist, this person is not a terrorist. again, everybody on that flight wants to make sure that everybody else has been properly screened. >> reporter: you saw ke henny there enter vud, she's with a passenr rights group. she's calling for a boycott of tsa methods over the thanksgiving rush that could mess things up. in addition, the tsa has launched an investigation into the tyner episode. he could face an $11,000 charge for probing a tsa checkpoint and then backing out. brian? >> tom costello starting us off. tom, thanks. we should point out that while most americans have been good and accepting about the new security rules, considering it just an added cost of flying, if you have an airport security experience thayou want to share, do so on our website, nightly.msnbc.com. congress returned back here
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to washington today for a lame duck session that will finish off some high-stakes business and we'll have more on that in just a moment. but first the high drama from one of the most nior members of congress. new york's charles rangel, a veteran democrat, facing a trial of his peers for ethics violations. our own kelly o'donnell has the story tonight from the capital. kelly, goodevening. >> reporter: hi, brian. it's been years since the house put a member of congress on trial like this. charlie rangel cims he's being treated unfairly by a jury of four democrats and four republicans and he didn't stick around for long. >> the committee counsel is present. are you represented by counsel today or are you representing yourself? >> reporter: new york's charlie rangel stood alone. >> 50 years of public service is on the line. >> reporr: facing 13 counts of ethics rule violations. >> i am entitled to a lawyer during this proceeding. >> reporter: with his well-honed
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stage presce, he pleaded for a delay. >> and all i'm asking for is time to get counsel. you denied it before, and you are denying it now. >> reporter: rangel and his legal team split weeks ago. but he did not hire anyo else, claiming he can't afford it. afr spending $2 million on his defense. >> we are prepared to proceed today. >> reporter: adding to the drama, ranl walked out. the ethic' committee lawyer, acting like a prosecutor, offered 550 exhibits and laid out the case. >> the respondent repeatedly did not get his financial disclosure statements and tax filings correct. >> rorter: among the allegations, failure to pay taxes on rental income on a caribbean vacation villa, improperly using h office and staff to raise millions for a college center in his name. getting special deals on rent controlled new york city apartments. after he left the hearing, his
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words were used against him. >> there has to be a penalty for grabbing the wrong stationery. >> reporter: but the hearing's prosecutor actually did support one of rangel's claims. that he made mistakes but did not enrich himself. >> do you see any evidence of personal financial benefit or corruption? >> i see no evidence of corruption. >> reporter: there are no criminal charges in any of this. rangel's case could be resolved with something like a formal reprimand by his colleagues, if it comes to that. of course, the political embarrassment. brian? >> kelly o'donnell up on the hill for us here in washington tonight. thanks. again, this new congress starts work in january. that's what mas the current congress a so-called lame duck congress. but if they want to, they've got a lot of work to do, beginning withaxes. our chief white house correspondent chk todd with us in the studio. good evening. >> look, the president just back from his longest overseas trip of his presidency, it's a
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different washington he's returning to and he's now dealing with two congresses, the democratic one that's trying to leave, and the republican one that's coming in. it's transition time in washington. new members of congress reportinin like new stents at college. >> congratulate him on his re-election. >> reporter: and old members of congress coming back to wrap up unfinished business. first up, what to do about bush era tax rates scheduled to expire at the end of the year. if congress does nothing, rates will go up. for those making less than $250,000, the tax rate could be as high as 31%. for those making more than that, some rates would hit almost 40%. the white house and members of both parties signalea coromise is imminent. >> we are eager to sit down and taug about how to move forward. >> if that's all we can get out of the president, he is the president. so we'll work wi him othat. >> reporter: senator charles schumer suggested raising the taxes on the highest earners, raising the threshold to $1
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million instead of $250,000. >> the millionaires and billionaires won't get a tax cut. >> reporter: some democrats are concerned humer's plan redefines middle class as anyone not making a million dollars or more, and that could make lawmakers seem out of touch. ttom line, everyone expects a quick compromise that extends the tax rates for at least one year. >> we will have gridlock, but in the near term, the public wants the parties to play nicely. >> reporter: the tea party effect is being felt. republican senate leader mitch mcconnell reversing his position, said he now supports banning congressional earmarks. the practice oa lawmaker setting aside federal dollars for pet projects back home. >> i'm not wild turning over more spending authority to the executive branch. but i've come to share the view of most americans that our nation is at a crossroads. >> reporter: this was a very reluctant move by mitch mcconnell. part of it is he didn't want to start off with a divided republican caucus. he would rather see the democrats look divided at this point in time.
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the white house not just on tax cuts are they worried about in this lame duck congress, they're concerned about getting this new nuclear arms treaty withussia ratified. they don't think they can get it ratified with the incoming senate, they have to do it with this one. >> talk abt big ticket items awaiting. chuck, thanks. tomorrow at the white house, president obama will award the nation's highest military honor, the medal of honor, to arm staff sergeant salvatore junta. this is the first time since the vietnam war a living recipient will receive the medal for his actions for a war still being fought on foreign soil. staff sergeant junta will be recognized for his actions in battle in afghanistan. for running into the path of withering fire above and beyond the call of duty to rescue another soldier who was mortally wounded. when we met up with him at the white house today, as he has before, the sergeant insisted
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his medal belongs to others, especially his two comrades who did not survive that day. there's a huge "why me" component to this coration. and sometimes the answer is, staff sergeant, because it had to be someone, and you did your job that day. i know everyone elseid too. but you did your job that day. that's got to be enough for you. >> it is. people can tell me whatever they want, i'll listen. but there's so many other people, not even the ones that are here that n watch it on tv or be there and share that with me and touch my life directly. that night, specialist dozer, sergeant joshua brennan, both of them gave everything. every single tomorw they'll ever have they gave for their country that night. and now people want to shake my hand and congratulate me and tell me how proud of me they are. i know a lot braver people than me. and i know a lot stronger people
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than me and i've served with a lot of them. i'm just one of many. i'm mediocre at best. i'm just a middleman here in is whole scheme of things. >> after receiving the medal from president obama storm, staff sergeant just about aye will become the 87th living resip yemts of the medal of honor. the last seven recipies from the wars in iraq and afghanistan were killed in action. a horrifying scene in china tonight. a high rise apartment building just went up in flames in the center of shanghai. the building was home to more than 150 families. so far, at least 42 people are dead. 90 injured. many still unaccounted for. the fire raged for hours. firefighters could not get water to the upper floors on the fire at first. then they did from adjacent buildings and towers. by the time they did, it was too
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late. noord on the cause. the building was undergoing renovation. we have an important note on women's health tonight. new results from the long-running women's health study at boston's brighaman women's hospital. it showed job stress taking a major toll on women's hearts. women who reported having a stressful job had an 8 increased risk of heart attack, compared to women with less stressful jobs. for these women and others, doctors continue to recommend exercise, relaxation techniques like yoga and limiting contact with work in your off hours, if you can. when our broadcast continues in moment, why se insist this could be a future way of feeding a hungry world. and later, my conversation with one of the world's most famous men, who also happens to be a father of two sons. tonight, prince charles talks about william and harry. about william and harry. there's the life you live... and the life youant to live. fortunately there's enbrel, the #1 most doctor-prescribed biologic medicine for ra.
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we're back as promised to begin a new series this week, taking a lk at our planet. all part of green work on the networks of nbuniversal. specificallyonight, the twin problems of needing to feed a growing population while treadi lightly on the environment at the same time. there is one way now being promoted to do both. we get our report tonight from milwaukee. here's our chief environmental affairs correspondent anne ompson. >> reporter: dinner rush in milwaukee. tonight's special, talapia, caught in this century old warehouse. the product of an even older technology called aquaponics. now solving a modern problem. >> with our system we're trying to get to scale, we can provide safe trail year round. >> reporter: josh runs sweet ter organics.
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growing fish with plants together. it starts with the fish. they're nutrient rich waist wastfeeds the plants. and the plants filter the water for the fish. it's a closed loop system that shortens growing time, for fish and vegetaes like lettuce. >> it takes us about 35 ys. >> repter: a conventionally? >> probably about 45, 50 days. >> reporter: the are no chemicals used here. d it requires 80% less water than traditional farming. the people have figured out how to grow a lot of food with lile cost to the environment. that's an idea that could have a big impact on another problem, how to get fresh, affordable food to places that don't have it. more than 23 million americans don't have easy access to grocery stores with fresh food. a problem aquaponics won't solve tomorrow. >> it's about 20 years out from being an important part of the food system, both because of the business models that have to emerge and because the young people have to be trained and ak
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my kated into those business models. >> reporter: so they're deveping the next generation of farmer. what do you hope all these kids take away from this experience? >> that they can do something about where we're at. the situation, this crisis we're under. >> reporter: it's taking fresh to new levels. >> to take something down the street that was alive within the last 15 minutes of my orring it, it's going to taste ridiculously fresh. >> reporter: a healthy option for people and the pnet. anne thompson, nbc news, milwaukee. when we come back here tonight, getting a word in. some new entries in our global lexicon. global lexicon. [ female announcer ] this is not a prescription. this is norma. who's inundated with all the information coming at her
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they're out with the big ones from 2010 thus far, and they include the vuvuzala. or that's something close to it. the inexpensive and deafening plastic horns that almost drowned out this year's soccer world cup. also making the list for all the wrong reasons, spill cam, which brought us live pictures of that darkly deessing and relentless biowing plume of oil off louisiana for much of the summer. snowmagedden is on the list. also known as snowpocolypse. finally, sarah palin's on the board with refudiate her unique amalgam of refute and repudiate. the founder of facebook toy announced a new electronic counication that combines e-mail, live chat and texting. he said it's based on the belief that a generation raised on texting finds e-mail formal and cumbersome, though he
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insists this isn't an e-mail killer. nonetheless, one analyst, giv facebook's popularity and succes said e-mail providers should indeed be worried about today's announcement. when we come back here tonight,art of our rare conversation with a parent who just happens to be the prince of wales and the stress of being a parent with two sons in the military. prince of wales and the stress of being a parent with two sons in the military. an everyday moment can turn romantic anytime. and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day, so you can be ready anytime the moment's right. ♪ tell your doctor about your medical condition and all medications, and ask if you're healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe dr in blood pressure. [ man ] don't drink alcol in excess with cialis.
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finally tonight, we have a t of a preview of a special program we're airing this coming friday night on nbc. prince charles, the prince of wales and the man who will be the next king of england, as they say, recently granted us a rare interview and rare access to his private life. we tveled about as far as you can go in the united kingdom to the far north of scotland, the castle of may, the summer home of the grandmother of the queen mum, the home he has now helped to restore. what you're about to see tonight, i asked the prince about the pressures of having both sons, including an heir to the throne, in the british military. both in helicopter units and one of them, prince harry, having already served in afghanistan.
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sounds like the raf. could that be one of your sons buzzing us? >> no, no, not yet. no, that one isn'ti don't think. my sons shouldn't be here day, i don't think. >> both william and harry are militaryelicopter pilots. william is with a search and rescue wing of the royal air force. harry is traing on army gunships and we spoke to him shortly before his first tour in afghanistan. >> the closer it gets, the more i think about it. william and i have sat down d had a little time to talk about it. i still sort of need to talk to my father about it. >> their father, of course, worries about both of them. for many years you raised two children as a single parent and you have both children in the military, which must wear on you. >> it certainly did obviously when harry went down to afghanistan. but he was terriy keen to do so, and itas very difficult for william, my eldest, not to
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go. but i did say to him, when i was in the navy for five years, in the early 1970s, i had the same problem, they wouldn't send me anywhere. but yes, when harry was out there, i worried the whole damn time. i can understand profoundly what it is that other families are going through, just how agonizing it is, day in and day out worrying abouthat is happening to your loved one. in many ways it's easier for those who are out there, it's much worse for those left behind, because they're getting on with their job. but at that age, you're determined to go where the action is. >> and you can see our interview with prince charles this friday on a special hour-long "dateline" called "the man who will be king." that's friy night at 9:00, 8:00 central. foowed by his own documentary on the environment here on nbc. for us, for now, that's our broadcast. for this monday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm bel reporting
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i'm brian williams reporting tonight from our nbc news washington bureau. we hope to see you tomorrow evening back home in new york. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com ♪ my country ♪ 'tis of thee ♪ sweet land ♪ of liberty ♪ of thee i sing [ laughs ] ♪ oh, land ♪ where my fatrs died