. >>> all systems go as gabby giffords works at rehab, her husband has made a big decision about his day job. >>> and some of what we witnessed during this extraordinary week. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening back home in new york tonight. and tonight the cairo we left behind seems very different. then, again, every day in this 11-day drama has been very different. the protesters called today the day of departure, meaning president mubarak's departure, but that was wishful thinking on their part, as he is still in place tonight. there was some violence today, but it was more peaceful and a lot of the protesters took part in friday prayers. the strange thing was those mubarak supporters, the thugs, the street gangs, seemed to disappear today just as suddenly as they first appeared earlier this week in such awful fashion when we saw those ugly scenes of violence with egyptians attacking fellow egyptians. so what did today mean and where are we headed possibly after this eventful week? our chief foreign correspondent, richard engl

. >> reporter: therapists are now using simple songs to help gabby giffords get her speech back. she's now mouthing the words to "twinkle, twinkle little star" and "happy birthday," and while turning the simple songs might sound simple, doctors at the hospital today told us that's not so, that the part of the brain that controls singing child close is not the same that's used in speech. >> it's not automatic behavior but the actual behavior that demonstrates their ability to follow instructions, to be able to recover from their memory bank the words to the song and the melody of the song. >> reporter: also today the congresswoman's office spoke of that other telling moment, the moment a therapist placed three cards on a table, one an image of president george washington, another of president george w. bush, a third of president obama and when the therapist picked up one of the cards, gabby giffords said, george bush. today doctors told us it's a sign not only of speech recovery but of cognitive recovery too. >> cognitive recovery and speech recovery are two separate processes. so

news tonight about some big strides for congresswoman gabby giffords in her recovery. >>> diet soda is in the news tonight, specifically about a possible health risk to those who drink it. >>> and going to bat for one of his players. a coach's extraordinary sacrifice that may have saved a young man's life. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. over the past 24 hours, we've seen some of the biggest crowds ever in that main square in cairo. tonight we're seeing something else. this people's revolt is spreading to other fronts in ways that will further pressure egyptian authorities, and more pressure is being applied from the outside now on a regime that is still there, still in place and in charge. again tonight to cairo we go and our chief foreign correspondent richard engel. richard, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. a new group of egyptians joined this movement today, government workers. a threat to a regime desperate to keep the economy going. the revolt is spreading to where egypt could feel it most, its workforce. f

station. >>> mark kelly received a special online message from his wife, wounded congresswoman, gabby giffords. a giffords staffer tweeted to kelly. giffords thanked the rehab center where she is recovering, with a special birthday cake for her husband, which she posted on facebook. >>> there's a new home movie showing president kennedy the night before he was killed. it captures the first couple at an event in houston. the first lady spoke to the latin-american citizens group, in spanish, without notes. you can watch the film on the museum that collects artifacts related to the kennedy assassination. >>> rush limbaugh is taking a swipe at the first lady's campaign of healthier eating. he attacked mrs. obama for eating short ribs during a visit to a restaurant in colorado. he says eating that shows the first lady is a hypocrite. she does not match up with the images of women on the "sports illustrated" swimsuit cover. >>> now, some sports in the apparent of long nba drama. it seems denver nuggets star carmelo anthony, will be traded today to the new york knicks. rumors of anthony's move has be

for more on gabby giffords' rehab facility, there's more material available on our website, nightly.msnbc.com> well, it's official, several eastern states were lit up by a rare broad daylight meteor this past monday. just after 12:00 noon it streaked across the skies of pennsylvania and new jersey and headed right for the atlantic ocean. it was estimated to be the size of a car. police departments got phone calls about a bright object, even brighter than the noontime sky, rare but not unheard of. >>> lance armstrong said today he's retiring from cycling for good. says he really means it this time. armstrong is 39 years old, he's got five children, seven victories in the tour de france. he's survived cancer and now he's the subject of a federal doping investigation, though he says that has nothing to do with this retirement decision. it's been, he said today, an excellent ride. >>> a victory for consumers everywhere. here's a story for every person who's taken out a credit card at the cash register and been asked for your zip code. have you ever wondered why they ask? why in order to buy a pac

martin, thanks. >>> in this country, congresswoman gabby giffords continues her remarkable recovery just over a month after a grievous gunshot wound to the head. we know this, thanks to an exclusive interview with her husband, the shuttle astronaut, mark kelly. giffords, now in houston at a rehab facility, is talking again, reportedly even singing a few words, a part of her daily speech therapy. >> we do communicate. i talk to her in the morning when i'm there and i talk to her in the evening. you ask her a question and she'll answer it. so, i mean, the communication is getting better every single day. >> so actual if not complete sentences, chains of words, enough so that you are having what you would define as a conversation? >> yes. i mean she can -- i can ask her questions. she can answer them. and, you know, the communication is coming back very quickly. >> this is stunning news that you two are having what have to be called conversations. and by no means do i want to pry into your relationship, but give me an example of a sentence. >> she'll put together some small sentences with r

new york governor to call for a special election to fill that vacant seat. >>> congresswoman gabby giffordsrogress one month after being shot in the head. giffords is now able to speak. in fact, she asked for a piece of toast at breakfast. doctors say the request was significant because it was used in the correct context, and that could indicate her brain is working at a higher level. >>> under pressure from tea party members, republican lawmakers are now looking to slash even more government spending. >> they have already proposed getting rid of 60 federal programs and cutting back hundreds of others. jonathan karl has more from capitol hill. good morning. >> reporter: as you know, republicans in the house unveiled $58 billion in spending cuts just last week. but abc news has learned they are now going to come forward with twice that, $100 billion in spending cuts to be done over the next seven months, until the fiscal year ends on october 1st. i'm told this is happening because of intense pressure from tea party conservatives, especially the freshman class. they looked at spending cuts an

you mentioned gabby giffords. we have the story that if she runs, if she is up for it in she runs, it is hers for the taking. the amount of goodwill out there for her right now is so exceptional, it is tough to challenge gabby giffords from either side if she chooses to run. guest: there is a long way to go before that. we do not really know her health prognosis at this point. very optimistic reports about her recovery, but let's remember she was shot in the head and we do not know exactly how that will play out. where she will end up medically, the thinking was that she should run for her house seat again in the tucson area. it puts a freeze on all the other candidates. on the republican side in arizona, there were seven or eight viable candidates, three or four members of congress, others who could jump in, others waiting in see. in virginia, the most we hear about is the former democratic governor. he is the democratic national committee chairman. if he had not become dna -- dnc chairman, he might have a better

. >> the husband of gabby gifford gave the closing prayer. he didn't go into details but did say she is improving every day, this after being shot in the head during a mass shooting outside a tucson shopping center last month. six other people were killed in that attack. the astronaut said he had never been a believer in faith until just recently after his wife was shot. >> that this event, horrible and tragic was not merely random; that maybe something good can come from all this. maybe it's our responsibility, maybe it's your responsibility to see that something does. >> also during today's breakfast one of the rescued chilean miners talked about his two-month ordeal underground last october. >> a message on clean energy technology. technology. a pickup truck plunges into an never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. 60 miles in 3 days-- i can do that. 60 miles compared to what a cancer patient goes through is a walk in the park. from the moment i registered, people started immediately supporting me. we had an outpour

gabby giffords finding words and music. what singing says about the wound in her brain. >>> flash point iran, tens of thousands try to protest. riot police charge in with tear gas. >>> risks and recalls. hips, knees replaced with devices never tested on humans. dr. richard besser with a big warning tonight. >>> and vip. new york's annual celebrity scene. how does a hotel cater to 1,000 dogs?

. >>> the april shuttle mission is a go for mark kelly, the husband of gabby giffords. announced he will command the final flight. mark barger has more on the position. >> reporter: the decision was his to make and today, he confirmed he will lead the april mission of the space shuttle "endeavour." >> i feel i made the right decision not only for me, but for my family, crew members and wife. >> reporter: the shooting that left his wife near death last month put his role in doubt. kelly has been at his wife's side throughout her recovery, but his decision to leave came down to basics. >> i know her very well and she would be very comfortable with the decision that i made. >> reporter: giffords' recovery continues in houston where kelly will resume his training. meanwhile, at the tucson hospital where giffords' recovery began, workers today dismantled a work shift memorial in the congresswoman's honor. had kelly stepped down from the mission, nasa was ready with a back-up commander, but the decision became less agonizing as her condition continues to improved. >> things f

nasa released some video of mark kelly, husband of arizona congresswoman gabby giffords, training foroming shuttle mission to space. as we reported last week, he decided to return to his day job, return to space, in a few weeks on the shuttle while his wife continues her recovery from the attack in tucson. >>> former president reagan's 100th birthday celebrated yesterday. the main event the reopening of his presidential library in simi valley, california, after a major makeover. former first lady nancy reagan in signature red did the honors and welcomed everybody. there were speeches, music from the beach boys, all capped off by a giant birthday cake with, what else, a 50-pound chocolate eagle atop it. >>> the super bowl ad when we come back that was meant to sell cars, but along the way reminded us what's great about a great american city. >>> here's the definition of a football town. green bay, wisconsin, today closed schools early so the kids could watch the super bowl champion packers come home fresh from their big win over the pittsburgh steelers. while steeler nation is still sm

story we've been following for weeks here, an update on the condition of arizona congresswoman gabby giffords. her husband, the astronaut, mark kelly, put out on his twitter account today, quote, today was a huge day for gg. lots of progress. we have no more specifics, but we'll hope that means just that, the very best, as she continues to recover from that gunshot wound. we'll take another break here in cairo. we'll return with one of the true dramas playing out during this eroding situation here in egypt today. >>> relief for a family call the up in a health care showdown. why their sick child was forced to stay in the hospital. >>> and the empire strikes back. leasheunew n technology setting up a tablet war. >>> finally here tonight, we heard from a viewer of ours today, contacted us because he said his mother is trapped in her apartment here and is in trouble. her name, mary thornberry. originally from ft. worth, texas. she moved here years ago to study ancient egyptian history. 76 years old. has an apartment on the square. normally terrific real estate, except when it's been turned over

national prayer breakfast featured a special guest, captain mark kelly, husband of congresswoman gabby giffordso continues to recover from a gunshot wound. captain kelly, of course, an astronaut, active duty navy. he delivered the closing prayer and said he hoped some good would come out of his wife's ordeal. the president for his part spoke in unusually personal terms about his own faith. he made reference to the opinion polls and the false reports over the years that he's somehow not a christian. >> my christian faith then has been a sustaining force for me over these last few years. all the more so when michelle and i hear our faith questioned from time to time. we are reminded that ultimately what matters is not what other people say about us, but whether we're being true to our conscience and true to our god. >> the president went on to say his most frequent and serious prayer is for the ability to r help those who are struggling. another break, we'll be right back with an update on the crisis ongoing in egypt. >>> let's go back to richard engle for an update. richard, we've got protests .

. >>> gabby giffords ront continues to make remarka pr progress, one month after being shot. has started to speak. she asked for a piece of toast recently. doctors say it is significant. she was shot in the left side of her brain, the side that controls language. >>> lindsay lohan is a free woman this morning, at least for now. the actress leased onreleased o $40,000 bail after pleading not guilty to grand theft. she is charged with stealing a $2,500 necklace from a jewelry store in southern california. yesterday, the judge in the case gave her a stern warning. >> you're no different than anyone else. so, please, don't push your luck. do you understand what i'm telling you? >> yes, sir. >> lohan is already on probation for drunk driving. and this latest charge could lead to significant time behind bars. >>> santa clarita, california, a supreme court guard was struck and killed outside the set of the hit cbs show quality ncis." police say a van that hit him had just dropped off passengers. the driver apparently blacked out and lost control of the van. >>> some alarming numbers

gabby giffords is okay could walk into that seat for them but i think the democrats have about 22 seats up, john, republicans got about 10, and what the democrats feel they have been in power for a while, they've had the chairmanships and they're looking down the road and seeing we're never going to be chairmen again. if we're going to get out, let's get going now. >> what about in egypt? was that an anti-incumbency situation? >> that's really -- >> you think it's a move? >> you know, i don't know. [everyone talking at once] >> it's fund-raising. didn't raise enough money for his campaign. [everyone talking at once] >> how much money does mubarak have? >> i don't think anybody knows. but the most reasonablable number i've seen is about $2 billion? >> really? that high? >> oh, no, numbers way higher than that. >> did he have a lavish lifestyle? >> no, he did not. >> home in sharm el-sheikh. >> yes, but -- >> not impressed by somebody having two billion dollars. >> shall we get back to the senate question? yeah. i think that 2012 is going to be not a pretty picture for democrats, especial

. >>> mark kelly, the husband of wounded arizona congresswoman, gabby giffords, will speak on her behalfional prayer breakfast in washington. >>> 2 countdown preorders begier. preorders begin for the verizon iphone. only existing verizon subscribers can claim one today. it goes on sale for everyone else next thursday. >>> and millions ofations around the world are welcoming the year of the rabbit. celebrations today mark the beginning of the new lunar year. >>> for everyone, your local news is next. >> aeroeneveryone else, "america this morning" continues after this. decisions, decisions. which beneful prepared meal tonight? roasted chicken recipe? okay, savory rice and lamb stew. [ barks ] you're right. tonight is a beef stew kind of night. you've made another fine choice. look at those beefy chunks all packed with protein, the real vitamin-rich vegetables, the wholesome grains. and you think you're getting spoiled. it's so good for you too. [ announcer ] beneful prepared meals. another healthful, flavorful beneful. just joined? we want a healthier lifestle. for us? it's for eople who w

kelly left the training to be by his wife's side, congresswoman gabby giffords, as she recovers from>> for some of you, your local news is next. >> for everyone else, "america this morning" will be right back. "i love you." - that's not on there. - the new charmed memories collection at kay jewelers. is hand-crafted in italy, and with hundreds of charms the possibilities are endless. create your own memories with charmed memories, one more reason kay [ male announcer ] it's morning... and quaker loves morning. ♪ because when you start your day with the power of oatmeal it's good for your heart. it gives you energy. and it can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary day. ♪ quaker oatmeal is more than breakfast. it's a superfood. ♪ now the healing power of touch just got more powerful. introducing precise from the makers of tylenol. precise pain relieving heat patch activates sensory receptors. it helps block pain signals for deep penetrating relief you can feel precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol. but the nicoderm cq patch gradually steps you

and obviously gabby giffords is somebody who had wanted that seat and still could perhaps run for it.f that doesn't occur, democratic leaders really would like janet napolitano. chris: a lot of udalls around. anne kornblut. >> the white house was -- the white house has to figure out what to do about china and some would like to see gary locke leave the commerce department and he speaks chinese. chris: so his background is chinese. >> yeah. he could do that job. not sure if he would do it. moved his name once but he's in the mix. chris: david david. -- david ignatius. >> c.i.a. officers are worried about the implications of the pack substance -- pakistanis holding someone with diplomatic credentials in jail in lahor when under every international rule they should be releasing him and they fear this makes every one of them vulnerable everywhere they travel. chris: what are they trying to get out of him? >> the problem is that that are all afraid to release him. it's a political battle in pakistan. this man was caught. he shot and killed two people who were tailing him. whether they were

. >> it was just over a month ago, a bullet tore through gabby giffords' brain. since then, she's been moved from a tucson intensive care unit to a houston rehabilitation center. her husband, astronaut mark kelly, by her side every step of the way. in a facebook posting tuesday he wrote, the doctors say she is recovering at lightning speed considering her injury. but they aren't kidding when they say this is a marathon process. there are encouraging signs every day. experts say this latest sign is the most encouraging so far. >> the fact that she's able to talk really tells us that a very complex, perhaps the most complex, function in the brain is starting to come back on line. >> the investigation into the attack that wounded giffords is winding down. local law enforcement officials say the case has been turned over to the fbi. 22-year-old jared loughner is accused of killing six people and wounding 13 others. >>> at least five deaths are being blamed on a powerful snowstorm that struck the nation's midsection. up to two feet of snow fell on parts of oklahoma an

and when the therapist picked up one of the cards, gabby giffords said, george bush.he inability to think clearly may become more evident because now the person is speaking, but the person may not make sense. >> reporter: but in gabby giffords' case, she is making sense, a few words at a time. even speaking to her brother-in-law in space telling him, hi, i'm good. and her office said the congresswoman continues to be briefed just as she'd always been. all last week on egypt. convinced that while she can't speak in full sentences, she can understand what's being said. and her mother is ecstatic. "the new york times" reporting in an e-mail sent by giffords' mother about gabby winning a game of tic-tac-toe against one of the nurses, adding that she's gone from being kind of a limp noodle to someone that is alert and sits up straight with good posture. music, the newest tool doctors are using to help congresswoman gabby giffords, pointing out singing controlled by the right side of your brain, speech on the left. though not completely interwoven the brain is connected, ho

congresswoman gabby giffords' husband, astronaut mark kelly, makes the decision to leave the hospital and head back to space. >>> and, our "person of the week." all of us, together, trying to find a way to care for our aging parents with dignity and love. >>> good evening. what a difference tonight in the pressure-cooker of cairo, egypt. tension and violence gave way to celebration today. you'll remember yesterday, these were the scenes we were showing you of bloody clashes, anger and pain. but today, take a look. a sea of peaceful protesters confidently back in control of the square, chanting against president mubarak and wearing their bruises and bandages like badges of victory. so, where are the dangerous thugs from yesterday, and has the threat of chaos throughout the middle east diminished? christiane amanpour, who led the way with the exclusive interview with president mubarak last night, is still in cairo with our david muir. and christiane, tell us, first, how did the change on the streets happen? >> reporter: well, it seems that all that transpired over the last 48 hours real

members and what you're going to see is a union leader wind up with a bullet in the head the way gabby giffords did well i certainly hope novel will see how far this plane goes in wisconsin and other states that identify and i thank you both for being here tonight thank you very much now still to come on tonight's show we have shelling to tell and then two hundred and seven days locked inside of a capsule it's a great trip to mars and that experiment taking place in russia is the return. i. please if. we. feel. are. going. to. sell lots of. we'll wear uniforms that will damage the black. but very little damming the white. and they are the key to our problems are all right. all right guys it's time for show and tell now last time we spoke about c pac and the changes that we've seen this year one of the most notable being the growing presence of libertarians of the conference which has some people up in arms so we asked if you thought that libertarians are true conservatives and here's what some you had to say melanie seale sounded off on facebook saying i consider myself a libertarian conservati

. >>> and new this hour, what doctors are not telling wounded congresswoman, gabby giffords. >>> the green on the map means rain -- means rain. >>> the strong winds knocked down some big trees. we'll take a new look at the overnight storm damage. the second hour of "mornings on 2" begins right now. >>> welcome back. i'm tori campbell. >> good morning. i'm dave clark. it's wednesday, february 16th. >>> we're getting a mix of rain and there's some stun. let's check in with steve with the forecast. >> all right, tori and dave, yes, that's correct. we do have some breaks in the clouds and we have some partly to mostly cloudy skies. colder air is beginning to work its way in. we have had scattered showers and they will pick up late he on. the front came last night. a lot of snow up in shasta/lassen, truckee. we're kind of in between. there is a little bit of a break. these little speckles. watch these -- they don't look like much now. they will later on, especially when they come in late morning, early afternoon. so the possibility of thundershowers and hail. >> right now traffic is going

you mentioned gabby giffords.e have the story that if she runs, if she is up for it in she runs, it is hers for the taking. the amount of goodwill out there for her right now is so exceptional, it is tough to challenge gabby giffords from either side if she chooses to run. guest: there is a long way to go before that. we do not really know her health prognosis at this point. very optimistic reports about her recovery, but let's remember she was shot in the head and we do not know exactly how that will play out. where she will end up medically, the thinking was that she should run for her house seat again in the tucson area. it puts a freeze on all the other candidates. on the republican side in arizona, there were seven or eight viable candidates, three or four members of congress, others who could jump in, others waiting in see. in virginia, the most we hear about is the former democratic governor. he is the democratic national committee chairman. if he had not become dna -- dnc chairman, he might have a better s

his wife, gabby giffords, continues her recovery.ike ""desperate housewives" "or "gossip girls" you owe a big thanks to the show that started it all, "dallas." >> without that first prime time soap opera, well, where would our world be today? now, it's making a come back. the bbc has more. ♪ >> reporter: for 13 years one of the most familiar sights and sounds on television -- it was one of the definitive shows of the 1980s. viewers engrossed by bobby ewing family struggles, sue ellen's struggle with alcohol and j.r.'s devious double-crossing. although it came off the air in 1991 its popularity has endured. something recognized by its stars at a special reunion in 2008. >> hello, bbc. >> how does it feel 30 years on? >> lucky. >> we mustn't get too carried away with it, but it is a nice indication that we were a part of television history. >> please give it up for larry hagman. >> reporter: viewers fascination with the series, fascination that peaked with the culmination of who shot j.r. story line. >> the secret of who done it is con

kelly's wife gabby giffords, is still recovering from the shooting in tucson.ws space consultant bill harwood at the kennedy space center this morning. bill, good morning to you. clearly, mark kelly has been through a lot. how does this all now affect his preparation? >> well, it's going to be interesting to track this. you know the shuttle flight, especially as a commander, is very intense. his crew starts next week what they call integrative training where they start running through mission processes and procedures with the entire mission control team. it gets very intense. i think in this case because his wife is recovering in houston, he will be able to see her as he does his training. that adds a little bit of a factor in his favor, but i think it's going to be a challenge, no question about it. >> clearly also earnings has done this many times before, bill, so nasa feels comfortable with that right? >> they really do. he is a very accomplished flyer. he flue 39 combat missions in the middle east. he is a veteran of carrier landings. hundreds of them. thre

he is, of course, married to congresswoman gabby giffords. be attending the national prayer breakfast in washington. >>> and preordering begins today for verizon's version of the iphone. the cheapest model costs $200. >>> finally this half hour, apple's ipad has changed a lot of how people do just about everything these days, but can it actually change forever how we read the newspaper? >> rupert murdoch certainly hopes so with the launch of the first ever ipad-only newspaper. we are a closer look at "the daily". the bbc's rory cellan jones has a look. >> reporter: he's the man who broke the print unions and brought satellite tv to britain. now rupert murdoch has embarked on what could be an even riskier venture. >> ladies and gentlemen, "the daily." [ applause ] >> reporter: it's a newspaper only available for now on apple's ipad. "the dale" is a mixture of series serious news, celebrity gossip and high-tech tricks aimed at american readers willing to pay 99 cents a week, about 60 pence, to download it each day. >> no paper, no multimillion

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caller: we just went for all of this with gabby giffords. one bill she was offering before she got shot was to introduce a bill for all politicians to take a 10% pay cut to show the people they were willing to take a cut as well. i have been asking and asking our republican governor and several leaders here if they would be willing to take pay cuts. i have made numerous phone calls to our republican governor and have never gotten a reply until i flooded the line. i got a call back yesterday and what their response was that the governor does not and has not taken a pay cut, however personally she donates 2.75% to a charity each year. the employees take demanded furlough day off each year. i truly think that maybe if they had to take a pay cut when we you are having our services taken away, maybe they would use a little different understanding of where they have to cut. i am on social security disability. i do not have a lot of money. i am terminally ill. do these people not realize that if i collapse and i have to call 911 and go to a hospita

it was actually exactly four weeks ago today that the congresswoman gabby giffords was shot in the head in that rampage in tucson that killed six people. her recovery, as we all know, has been remarkable. and now, her husband, the astronaut, has made a very tough decision about going back into space. and our bob woodruff is live, this morning, at the johnson space center in houston, with the story. bob, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, dan. yeah. this has been a much faster recovery, in his mind, certainly for his wife, gabby. and he said beginning, four weeks ago, as you said, he really thought she was going to be in icu, probably months, as opposed to weeks. just two weeks going into rehabilitation. and he never thought he would go back and fly again on the shuttle mission. but now, he is. and he really thinks that she is backing him up. for four weeks, he's been the steadfast rock by gabrielle giffords' side. >> my first priority is her. she needs me to be by her side. >> reporter: but now, mark kelly resumes another mission. he hopes that she will be the one by his side. >>

congresswoman, i would like to see that next year it is our sincere wish that your friend, gabbie giffordse sitting there in your place. [applause] six lives were taken on january 8th and tucson, and we grieve and have grieved for all of them. yet with so many congressional staff members here in our midst, it is with you that we remember gabe zimmerman and salute what he represented and that you try to live up to every day. [applause] 92 years ago a group of pioneering women journalists formed the women's national press club in an expression of solidarity to establish their own voice in otherwise male-dominated business. we are proud heirers of that legacy to carry out the original women's national goal of equality, scholarship and excellence in journalism. in keeping with that mission, the proceeds of tonight's dinner go to the foundation's charitable projects including collecting oral history of women pioneers and journalism and a successful internship program that includes "the new york times," the associated press, doud -- del jones newswire, the houston chronicle and "the los angeles

he was at the safeway in tucson to talk with gabbie giffords about this very issue. about judicial vacancies in arizona. and his death has resulted in arizona now being added to the list of judicial emergencies. this vacancy crisis is obviously not a partisan issue. it's an issue about the integrity of our courts in the administration of justice for the american people. on the heels of justice anthony kennedy calling attention to this problem, a group of ninth circuit judges led by chief judge alec cainski urged the senators strongly to fill the vacancy and chief justice roberts highlighted this crisis in his year end state of the judiciary report. so what can can be done about this? well, today we are extremely lucky to be able to hear from someone who is so well suited to answer that question. white house counsel bob bauer will share his views on the nomination process so what he sees as the likely development in the coming year. bob was named white house counsel in november 2009. he was formerly a partner and chair of its political law group. bob was president oba

. >> gabgy giffords is recover -- gabby giffords is recovering at a hospital in in texas. >>> currently, the state -- is spending almost $6 million a year to maintain and store medical equipment kept for use. during an assembly budget hearing, lawmakers discussed what to do with the supplies. >>> we're now getting some new totals of -- new totals of what meg whitman and jerry brown spent on their campaigns. it shows whitman spent $1785 145 of that was her own money. jerry brown spent 46 million. >>> if you are one of the people out there who just watch the super bowl for for the commercials, this is one of four advertisements. >> okay. blow them out and all of your wishes will come true. >> this is one of five detoe re- - dorito ads. you can catch this on ktvu channel 2 when the packer take on the steelers. coverage starts on sunday with a pregame show at 9:00 a.m. the game itself kicks off at 3:0 in the afternoon. after eating all of that super bowl food. you might want to hit the jim. researchers found a year of aerobic exercise can increase a part of the brain that's key to memory. t

. >>> an incredible development involving gabby giffords. >>> and oakland's mayor makes a smart announcementmakes a big, smart announcement. it's about her paycheck. gids. >>> this is just in. politico is reporting that congresswoman gabrielle giffords has started speaking again just one month after she was shot in the head. it's the first report of giffords speaking since she was seriously injured when the gunman opened fire at the community event the congresswoman was hosting in tucson. this is considered a major step forward in her rehabilitation. six people were killed in the rampage. the congresswoman is recovering the at -- recovering at a rehabilitation clinic houston. >>> let's bring you up to date on some. other top stories we're following for you right now -- the mount diablo school district, the school board vote -- voted to close down holbrook elementary and glenbrook. the school board president proposed sending westwood kids to help spread the students around. there is a major new development in the fatal police shooting of an aun recall -- unarmed man in oakland last november.

congresswoman, i would like to see that next year it is our sincere wish that your friend, gabbie giffords, will be sitting there in your place. [applause] six lives were taken on january 8th and tucson, and we grieve and have grieved for all of them. yet with so many congressional staff members here in our midst, it is with you that we remember gabe zimmerman and salute what he represented and that you try to live up to every day. [applause] 92 years ago a group of pioneering women journalists formed the women's national press club in an expression of solidarity to establish their own voice in otherwise male-dominated business. we are proud heirers of that legacy to carry out the original women's national goal of equality, scholarship and excellence in journalism. in keeping with that mission, the proceeds of tonight's dinner go to the foundation's charitable projects including collecting oral history of women pioneers and journalism and a successful internship program that includes "the new york times," the associated press, doud -- del jones newswire, the houston chronicle and "the los

killed while attending a local event sponsored by the gentlewoman, our colleague from arizona, gabby giffords. judge roll attended the event in the course of his duties to thank congresswoman giffords for sending a letter to the chief judge of the ninth circuit court of appeals requesting that he declare judge roll's federal district a judicial emergency because it is besieged with a high number of immigration and drug cases. judge roll also worked closely with congresswoman giffords to justify the federal officials the need for construction of the yuma, arizona, u.s. courthouse to add jude cailt the growing backlog of these cases. madam speaker, given judge roll's extraordinary service to his country, it is so fitting and proper that we honor his memory by designating that very same courthouse, the u.s. courthouse now under construction in yuma, arizona, as the john m. roll united states courthouse. this action today, madam speaker, will clear the bill for the president and hopefully provide a small comfort to judge roll's wife, his three children, and his five grandchildren in honor of his

you mentioned gabby giffords. we have the story that if she runs, if she is up for it in she runs, it is hers for the taking. the amount of goodwill out there for her right now is so exceptional, it is tough to challenge gabby giffords from either side if she chooses to run. guest: there is a long way to go before that. we do not really know her health prognosis at this point. very optimistic reports about her recovery, but let's remember she was shot in the head and we do not know exactly how that will play out. where she will end up medically, the thinking was that she should run for her house seat again in the tucson area. it puts a freeze on all the other candidates. on the republican side in arizona, there were seven or eight viable candidates, three or four members of congress, others who could jump in, others waiting in see. in virginia, the most we hear about is the former democratic governor. he is the democratic national committee chairman. if he had not become dna -- dnc chairman, he might have a better

. -- for mark's wife, gabby giffords, for many days now. we are here for you for the long haul. use] even as we pray for gabby in the aftermath of a tragedy here at home, we are also mindful of the violence that we are now seeing in the middle east and we pray that the violence in egypt will anend and the rights and aspirations of the egyptian people will be realized. that a new day will dawn over egypt and throughout the world. for almost 60 years, going back to president eisenhower, this gathering has been attended by our present. it is a tradition that i am proud to uphold, not only as a fellow believer, but as an elected leader whose entry into public service was actually through the church. this may come as a surprise. as some of you know, i did not come from a particularly religious family. my father, who i barely knew, i only met once for a month in my entire life, was said to be a nonbeliever throughout his life. my mother, whose parents were baptist and methodist, grew up with a certain skepticism about organized religion. and she usually only took me to church on easter

he has been on leave since last month when his wife, congresswoman gabby giffords was shot in tucson. kids don't see -- >> nope, they don't. >> reporter: they just see him as a regular student. >> he's just a regular third grade student that they're glad to have back in their classroom. >> reporter: he's expected to make a full recovery. his mother says he's learned more in four months about life, death and love than most people learn their entire lives. steve osunsami, abc news. stone mountain, georgia. >> his parents say his days begin with skin stretching exercises that can be two to three hours. >> amazing spirit considering all that he's been through, wow.c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c c

giffords that you snow? >> yeah, it sounded like gabby. i mean, it was -- you know, one simple word. but she knew what chef wanted and she asked for it and it was really -- it was really just -- you know, it filled my heart to be able to see her be able to ask for something that she wanted and she wasn't the first word she's said other things, but it's just, you know, another step in her progress. >> did it seem, too, that it brought her something when she recognized that her word was there, it was recognized and, in fact, she was going to get what she asked for? >> you know, i don't want to make more out of it than it was. it's progress. she was able to, you know, express that there was something that she wanted and asked for it and she's, again, just working very hard and in the month since i was there, because i was there with her on a couple of different days, you know, during the week of the tragedy, her progress from a month ago is just amazing. she you know, it gives us all the confidence that we had to start with, but, you know, they are confident she is going to come back an

commander mark kelly, gabby giffords' husband has said that gabby thought of gabe as a younger brotherstood for. and he would drive her around, when she was going to her events. and he loved having those conversations and getting to spend time with her. >> it's so great that you can tap into the positive things that you remember about him. he still brings a smile to your face. and i get i'm heartened to hear that you're not even angry at jared loughner? >> i'm not. what i feel is just overwhelming sadness for me and for family and for the whole world to just lose someone so beautiful and in such a short, unnecessary time. i believe, as you know, jared was stopped when he ran out of bullets. and i believe if -- even if other people could have been saved that day and absolutely more people could not have had the injuries that they had to sustain. >> and i hope you found some comfort in the fact that from fresno bomber to the first lady to people all over the country reached out and. >> yes, everyone has appreciated it. >> yes, everyone has appreciated never in my lifetime did i think i c

. >> we have been praying for mark's wife, gabby giffords, for many days now, but i want gabby and mark family to know that we are with them for the long haul. and god is with them for the long haul. >> kelly told the audience that his wife is getting a little bit better each day and he made a request. >> and please, please, please continue to keep gabby's thoughts and prayers in your heart. it is really helping. thank you. >> that was mark kelly. >> finally happy new year. the beginning of the chinese lunar new year, the year of the rabbit. they're celebrating in hong kong with a big parade including one group of kids dressed up as, yes, rabbits. according to the chinese zodiac people born in the year of the rabbit are curious, calm, stylish, and passionate. at six minutes past the hour, that must mean marysol castro was born in the year of the rabbit. >> very nice. very nice, jeff. good morning, everyone. a lot of the country feeling the cold. new york is no exception. it is currently 25 degrees. doesn't it feel like 14? a little colder than that, as it's expected to go to 30. i'm not

as congresswoman gabby giffords continues to recover from the shooting in tucson, her astronaut husband is getting ready for his next trip to space in april 37 tom costello has more on the decision and the mission. >> she's doing very, very well. >> reporter: wearing a blue wrist bond that reads peace, love and gabby, mark kelly said their families were unanimous. it's time for him to return to space. >> i know her very well and she would be very comfortable with the decision that i made. >> reporter: kelly declined to describe his conversations with giffords or her condition saying only she spends eight hours a day in rehab. but with her recover ary surprising even her doctors, kelly last week asked nasa for per notion rejoin his crew and prepare for their april mission. after some simulator and cockpit time this week, nasa agreed. >> it is the best thing for our mission to have mark be the commander. >> reporter: on the orbiting space station, mark's twin brother, scott kelly. >> i think my brother is doing about as well as anyone could expect in this type of a situation. >> reporter:

. >>> we're going to turn now, to gabby giffords.laughing at jokes, recognizing her visitors. and even told her husband she was feeling better. and now, a relative of the youngest victim in the tucson shootings is breaking his silence. baseball's legend, dallas green, the grandfather of christina-taylor green, fought back tears at the philadelphia phillies spring training camp on wednesday, when he spoke about the granddaughter he calls princess. matt gutman has more. >> reporter: dallas green stands at 6'5". a hulking man who dominated baseball as a right-hander and as a manager. but every man has his breaking point. >> i'm supposed to be a tough sucker. and i'm not very tough when it comes to this. >> reporter: his granddaughter, christina-taylor green, is one of six killed, as jared lee loughner opened fire on a gathering of constituents. >> i'm lawful to have my guns. i don't have a glock or whatever it is. and i don't have a magazine with 33 bullets in it. i guess i never thought about it, until this happened. and what reason is

he was at the safeway in tucson to talk with gabby giffords about this very issue. about judicial vacancies in arizona. and his death has resulted in arizona now being added to the list of judicial emergencies. this vacancy crisis is obviously not a part -- a partisan issue. it is an issue about the integrity of our court and the administration of justice for the american people. on the heels of justice anthony kennedy calling attention to this problem, a group of nine circuit judges led by chief judge alex kosinski, a reagan appointee, wrote to senators reid and mcconnell, asking them to fill the vacancies. so what can be done about this? today we are extremely lucky to be able to hear from someone who is so well suited to answer that question. white house counsel paul bauer will share his view on the nomination process and what he sees as the likely development in the coming years. bob was named white house counsel in november 2009. it was formerly a partner of the law firm and chair of its political law group. he was president obama's personal attorney. he also s