buckshot smith-- still on the beat at 91 years old. you won't want to miss this one. >> this is the "cbs evening news" with norah o'donnell, reporting from the nation's capital. >> o'donnell: good evening, and thank you for joining us. we are going to begin with some new warnings and some signs of progress in the fight against coronavirus. just hours before texas will fully reopen its businesses and end its statewide mask mandate, tonight there are concerns one variant of the virus is spreading rapidly in that state. houston's health department says new tests of the waste water water shows ongoing and uncontrolled community spread of the u.k. variant. that news come as more states are joining texas loosening restrictions as the rate of new infections continues to decline nationwide. tonight, the number of hospitalizations for the virus have dropped, too, down to a level not seen since october. and as we come on the air, more than 32 million americans have now been fully vaccinated, as states expand who is eligible to get a shot. meanti

buckshot smith is the oldest police officer in the state.s a little slower now, but he still walks the beat of his home town four days a week. >> how y'all doing? >> reporter: what makes you a good police officer, even at 91? >> this badge and gun don't make you a police officer. >> hello, mr. buckshot. >> you got to respect people. >> reporter: he earned his popularity by working more than four decades for the washta county sheriff. that's him in the photo holding the shotgun. after 46 years as a deputy, he retired, for only five months. >> i don't hunt, i don't fish. >> reporter: so, in his 80s, he became a rookie camden cop. he carries a firearm-- ( gun shot ) but he doesn't have to use it. >> he knows your momma and he knew your grandmother. so he has the authority to speak into our lives. >> reporter: how many people do you think you've arrested in your career? >> oh, i've taken more people home than i arrested, taken to jail. >> reporter: officer smith says he'll retire when the good lord tells him to. until then, buckshot plans to kee

lc buckshot smith is the oldest police officer in the state, he moves a little slower now, but he still week. what makes you a good police officer even at 91? >> this badge and gun don't make you a police officer. >> hello, mr. buckshot. >> you got to respect apeople. >> reporter: he earned his popularity by working for four decades. that is him holding the shot gun after 46 years as a deputy, he retired for only five months. >> i don't hunt. i don't fish. >> reporter: so in his 80s, he became a rookie camden cop. he carries a firearm but he doesn't have to use it. >> he knew your mother and grandmother, he the authority to speak in to our lives. >> reporter: how many do you think you arrested in your career? >> oh, i have taken more people home than i arrested. taken to jail. >> reporter: officer smith said he will retire when the good lord tells him to. until then, buckshot keeps to keep rolling and patrolling. cbs news, camden, arkansas. >> the "cbs overnight news" will be right back. >>> and that is the "cbs overnight news" for this wednesday. for some of you the news continues. for

. ♪ >> o'donnell: onorcbs evening news, we'll meet officer buckshot smith, how is that for a nicknameire from the police force. just a reminder if you can't watch us live set your dvr to watch us later. that is tonight's edition of the cbs evening news. it was a good show, right? i'm norah o'donnell in the nation's capitol. see you right back h snet ♪ >>> this is the "cbs overnight news." >>> i'm chip reid in washington thanks for staying with us. it's been nearly year now since first coronavirus lockdowns and stay stay-at-home orders were issued. about 30 million americans have been infected and more than 525,000 have died. although vaccines are helping the u.s. turn the corner in the battle against covid-19, the gin of the virus remain-s a mystery. we w ramy inocencio went looking for the origin. >> reporter: bats across asia are believed to be luck wilucky. and china's bat man said that if there's one point most experts agree on. >> the -- variirus came from ba. >> reporter: a 96% genetic match was found here in a copper mine, in this hazy, rolling countryside of china's southwest

. ♪ >> o'donnell: on tomorrow's "cbs evening news," we'll meet officer buckshot smith-- how is that for no plans to retire from the police force. just a reminder if you can't watch us live set your dvr so that you can watch us later. that is tonight's edition of the "cbs evening news." it was a good show, right? i'm norah o'donnell in the nation's capitol. see you right back here tomorrow. >>> right now at seven, scattered showers and parts of the bay area but more widespread and heavy rain is in store tomorrow and wednesday. >> they almost look like he was sobbing a couple of times. >>> the sentence just handed down from one of the deadliest buyers in bay area history. >>> certain san francisco students have a new timeline to head back to class but what about everyone else? we push for some answers. >> parents are frustrated that it has taken so long, and there is still a lot of questions about which schools. >>> right now, we are tracking rain tonight, locations all over the bay area could get hit by pop up