he's on his way to the hometown of it the bergdahls in hailey, idaho. what have you heard? >> reporter: we are driving to the mountains right now so you've got to forgive me if our cell phone breaks up. i've been on the phone with residents in hailey, he a as you can imagine, the community is overjoyed and he's been released from the captivity. a close family friend said when they heard that bowe bergdahl had been released, they released the balloons. there are 7 or 8,000 full-time residents there. there's a lot of balloons and yellow ribbons. those ribbons were put up in july 2009 to show solidarity with the bergdahl family and actually when i spoke to stephanie o'neil yesterday, she mentioned that the handful of years that bergdahl has been in captivity, actually, 4 years and 11 months, some of the moments have been very difficult for his supporters. she said that there were moments in the last couple of years where people in hailey believed that he may never come home. but it was the unwavering support and hope of the parents, bob and jani bergdahl, that really gave the c

people in hailey idaho are getting ready to greet their hero with open arms. the only american prison nor of war from the afghanistan conflict is free. he is at an army base receiving medical treatment. he was a released on saturday. those prisoners arrive in doha, qatar about an hour ago. these are the latest images that we are just posted to twitter by the taliban. we go to hashem algavar on the role qatar played in the negotiations between the u.s. and the taliban. >> for qatar, this was a purely humanitarian mediation. but as far as they are concerned, they are very excited they were successful. it was a very delicate mission because only a few weeks ago or a few months ago, this was an impossible mission. we don't know exactly about the arrangements made by the qataris. are they going to place them into some sort of restrictions? are they going to be able to play an active political role in the future? these are issues that the qatari government would like to talk about because it's a very, very sensitive issue. but it is a very significant move forward.

for "nightline" i'm neil karlinsky in hailey, idaho. >> our thanks to neil for that report. >>> next,p maven michelle phan shows fans how to look like lady gaga. and tonight she's showing us how she created an empire. e is jennd i quit smoking with chantix. before chantix, i tried to quit... probably about five times. it was different than the other times i tried to quit. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it's a non-nicotine pill. chantix reduced my urge to smoke. that helped me quit smoking. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. tell your doctor if you have a histo

then at some point, we imagine he and his family will be back here in hailey, idaho.is parents are set to address the media in boysee later this afternoon. we expect to hear a lot more from them about exactly how they heard the news and their feelings about the fact their son is coming home while sergeant bergdahl's friends and family are celebrating some are concern concerned. some say a prison swap could lead to more americans being kidnapped. i spoke with tara dal del who dismissed sump criticism saying pows need to know they won't be left behind. >> we set a dangerous precedent when we allow our men and women to fight these wars and then we leave them in abandonment. it's important that people know that this country knows that if you go and fight for this country, that this country will fight for you. >> sergeant bergdahl was the last remaining member of the u.s. military being held as a pow overseas but at least five american civilians are still being detained by hostile governments. alan gross has been held in cuba since 2009, kenneth bay has spent the last year

residents of his hometown of hailey, idaho have been anticipate his release for five years remaininge everybody in the wake of the controversy surrounding his capture. jam hooley has more. >> reporter: there are still no word as to when bergdahl will be back here in his hometown, people here still waiting for that. and questions are growing about his release. here? sergeant bowe bergdahl's home of hailey, idaho it's hard to find a tree without a yellow ribbon around it. >> the ribbons, signs, bumper stickers that the bracelets that i wear, we are he w we have nevd and able to breathe once he's home here in idaho, we can breathe again. >> reporter: at jane's artifacts on main street, they are giving the balloon as way. >> we want yellow balloons, plastering this town. >> reporter: for all the excitement over sergeant bergdahl's eventual return the controversy surrounding his freedom continues to grow. >> we have our boy back and we are going to let everyone else deal with the politics of it all. >> reporter: for some, those politics, whether securing sergeant bergdahl's release in exc

whole state of idaho is celebrating, but no city is happier than sergeant bergdahl's hometown of hailey, idaho. and nick valencia is on his way to his hometown right now. nick, you're on the phone with us. you've talked to a close family friend who is there waiting for him to come home. what have you heard? >> reporter: dana, we actually just got to hailey right now, and we're driving down main street. and every tree along main street has a yellow ribbon or balloons to commemorate their hometown hero, bowe bergdahl, who was just released from captivity after nearly five years. we're looking at signs right now that say "bowe is free at last" with a picture of the army sergeant. it is an emotional day here, especially for those who have committed themselves to keeping this story in the media. there was a group called bring bowe back. stephanie o'neill is one of co-. i spoke to her by phone today. she described to me the mood here and the overwhelming joy and elation that the community felt when they heard the news that bergdahl had been released from captivity. in 2009, they began to put up thes

the 28-year-old from hailey, idaho is described being in good condition and able to walk. he was handed over to american special forces today in an operation that was described as non-violent. david martin picks up the story. >> reporter: the tense handover took place in eastern afghanistan on the pakistani border with u.s. helicopter gun ships and surveillance drones hovering overhead. once on board in an american helicopter, he wrote out a two letter question to make himself understood over the din of the rotor blades. "s.f.?" meaning, species forces. "yes," one of the operators shouted in his ear. "we've been looking for you for a long time." realizing he was free at least, bergdahl broke down crying. at the same time, officials at guantanamo bay in cuba began the process releasing five afghan taliban promisers to the government of qatar. a persian gulf state which served as an intermediary state between the on again, off again, negotiations with the taliban. all five prisoners were considered too dangerous to release but could not be put on trial because of a lack of d

here in sergeant boe bergdahl's hometown of the hailey, idaho it's hard to find a tree without a yellown. >> the ribbons, bumper sticksers and bracelets, we have never stopped. and we are eighth to breathe once he's home here in idaho, we can breathe again. >> reporter: at jane's artifacts on main street. they are giving the balloons away. >> we want yellow balloons, plastering this town. >> reporter: for all of the excitement over sergeant bergdahl's eventual return hering the controversy surrounding his freedom continues to grow. >> we have our boy back and we are going to let everyone else deal with the politics of it all. >> reporter: for some those politics whether securing sergeant burling call's release in exchange for five taliban leaders came at too big of a prize. >> gave the dal pan their starting team back. they guys killed thousands of people and responsible for that, back in to home confinement which could lead to them being back on the battlefield. >> reporter: as the debate over the swap comes under scrutiny, so are the event surrounding bergdahl's capture in afghanistan

george howell is joining us live from hailey, idaho. george, this was supposed to be a big festive, warm, event welcoming him home. what happened? >> reporter: well, wolf, you're right, there was a lot of excitement about this event here in hailey, idaho, to see bowe bergdahl return here, but as you mentioned, it did come down to a matter of public safety, first by the organizers, organizers who would have to foot the bill to cover the extra security, to watch over, to keep order with all of the people that could come to town. that was also the city's concern. you know this is a city of 8,000 people and you know, the police chief told me an hour ago he was worried, heard word that some 2,000, 3,000 protesters from texas, california, could be part of the mix here, and there could be many, many more. protesters and supports, just too big for the city. they don't have the infrastructure to support it. and i spoke with the police chief earlier, also the county commissioner, about what happens when bowe bergdahl does return here to hailey. t

in hailey idaho, plans for a celebration were cancelled. the official reason, the town doesn't have the infrastructure to handle the huge crowds expected when bowe bergdahl eventually returns home. >>> and another alleged taliban hostage situation in afghanistan. these videos show kaitlin coleman with her canadian husband. they plead for help, asking president obama to work to free them and their child. coleman's familiarsed the video today. they decided to go public in light of bowe bergdahl's release. and an american in egypt - mohammed subtlon was smuggled out of the cairo prison. he was arrested and recorded video in january after starting a hunger strike. john terrett reports. >> is my life not worth anything to you. has the life of american citizens become worseless. is it because my name is mohammad. >> mohammad sultan's blunt message to president obama, smuggled out of the the toura prison has gone viral. the 26-year-old has been held since august for allegedly using his cell phone feed for filming those angry at arming mohamed murs

that made a black eye for idaho and definitely the city of hailey.ut. >> please reserve judgment until due process is held. >> people are mad at our town and all we did was support someone who grew up here and we knew the best of him. he wasn't bad here. >> he served the united states with honor and distinction. >> susan rice said that he served with honor and distinction. do you think he did? >> that's not for me to judge. he went in the wrong service. he was more a peace corps is what he should have been in instead of an army. >> probably the best thing right now is not to have him as a hero. is he not. >> do you think bowe bergdahl is a traitor. >> i absolutely reject that characterization. i don't know honestly how anybody can describe that young man as a traitor. >> what do you think his biggest challenge is going to be vets that are really upset about it. >> personally, i think he's a deserter. it upset me. it's ridiculous. they should have left him there. >> down why people are upset? >> oh, yeah, because you're ignore rant. he was there five

the couple holding regular rallies in hailey, idaho. and tying yellow ribbons. abc's neal karlinsky is in this town. good morning, neal. >> reporter: what a difference here in the last 24 hours, you can see the "bowe's free at last" signs. gone up alongside all the yellow ribbons. here in bowe bergdahl's hometown, they never gave up hope. in tiny hailey, idaho, at this coffee shop where bowe bergdahl used to work, friends marked every day of his five-year captivity were overwhelmed. >> it's a big thing to absorb. i'm thrilled. i'm thrilled. >> reporter: bergdahl's parents flown to washington for memorial day and were still there to stand alongside president obama and give thanks saturday. >> their son bowe is coming home. >> we just can't communicate the words this morning when we heard from the president. >> reporter: bob bergdahl's beard, just one piece of a complicated strategy to reach his son's captors. teaching himself his language, their culture. even keeping his watch set to afghanistan time. in a video he released on youtube in 2011, he addressed the ta

in hailey, idaho bergdahl's recovery is as complicated as it gets.hat is not true for former platoon mates. he says bowe bergdahl desserted during a time of war and his fellow americans lost their lives searching for him. nathan bradley, another member of bergdahl's battalion shares a similar sentiment in a column he wrote in which he listed names of five men whose deaths he says will forever be tied to bergdahl's capture and subsequent hunt adding i believe that bergdahl deserves sympathy but he has much to answer for, some of which is far more damming than having walked off. none of it had to happen. therefore, while i'm pleased that he is safe i believe there is an explanation due. so as i said, it is complicated. joining me now is hailey, idaho police chief, jeff gunter, a family friend of the bergdahls. i want to start with that question. for your community obviously there is tremendous relief. but are you guys, also, grappling with questions that you must be hearing about this young man who is part of your community? >> i'm not prepared to answ

and there was a statement from the people in his hometown of hailey, idaho, talking about the american tradition of due process and letting it. so there should be a process and bowe should speak about what happened. if he left that base, he made a terrible mistake, and i guarantee you, i know from my own captivity he regret was he did. he had five horrible years with the taliban and the soldiers died looking for him will haunt him for the rest of his life. so, you nknow, he is not taking this lightly and this is not lightly the impact on him either. so it is, i feel that we need more time and more facts. >> and the administration, lynn, and let me get your take on this, because they are walking the line. you had the pictures of the president and the bowe bergdahl's parents and their understandably emotional news conference, and now you have all of this pushback. and word of an inquiry, and did the administration anticipate this? >> well, if they did not, they should have, chris, because this is just the kind of situation that the intersection of diplomatic negotiation and the release o

to seeing what the outcome of all of this is going to be. >> and janet shamlian joining us from hailey, idaholease was issued by the city of hailey for them saying, hey, don't judge this guy, and they were being swamped with e-mails and tweets that they should not be holding this celebration for bowe when he returns home. their thought is that this is a member of our community who has been missing five years and if it was your child, and the conditions under which he released would not matter to you, and you would want your child home and so just some time that he is released and coming home here. and if you talk to the people around town, there is some frustration that this criticism is coming their way. they want to enjoy the moment. they are planning a big homecoming for the 28th of june. they don't know whether bowe will be here or not, but it is a celebration nonetheless, and they are trying to enjoy the moment aside from the con troe vver si. chris, back to you. >> and janet shamlian, thank you, and amazing scene behind you and i can see it. thank you for your time. that it is for this

i mean, that really is the sentiment you get here in hailey, idaho. people are staying out of the politics of it. they're just ready to see bowe bergdahl return home. christine, john? >> thanks to george howell for that report. those people do want to see him home. no time frame, though, yet on when that might happen. >>> happening today, we're set to hear new details of general motors' internal probe into its delayed recall of ignition switches, now linked to at least 13 deaths. former prosecutor anton veloukis has been poring over the books and procedures trying to figure out what went wrong and why the company waited more than a decade before issuing a recall. among those eager to hear the result, ken and beth melton. their daughter, brooke, died in a car crash. they are family says it was the result of a faulty ignition switch on her 2005 chevy cobalt. they settled initial claims against the company but asked to reopen the case, saying gm hid evidence from them. >> they're playing with numbers, that they don't count brooke's death, and she's dead

in bergdahl's hometown of hailey, idaho, community members have canceled the celebration of his releasever public safety concerns. in recent days, angry phone calls and e-mails poured into hailey city hall and local organizations over the town support for the soldier. bergdahl was captured by the taliban in 2009 shortly after he left his military outpost in afghanistan. he was held by the taliban or five years. some of his fellow soldiers have described bergdahl as a deserter. they've also claimed at least six soldiers died was searching for him. on wednesday, defense secretary chuck hagel rejected that claim. , i dosergeant bergdahl not know of specific circumstances or details of u.s. soldiers dying as a result of efforts to find and rescue sergeant bergdahl. i am not aware of the specific details or any facts regarding that issue. >> on capitol hill, for top intelligence and military officials held an unusual closed-door briefing for the entire senate on wednesday to discuss why the white house decided to move ahead with the prisoner swap without notifying congress. senators were sho

jim sciutto joins me from bergdahl's hometown, hailey, idaho. since then, jim, you have heard new details, what are you hearing? >> we're learning about traumatizing experiences, once that he attempted to escape more than once. and because of those escape attempts he was kept for a period of time in a box or cage without any sunlight. and that he was physically abused. during the vietnam war, vietnam veterans were often held with other soldiers. and he endured five years of this entirely by himself. so you could imagine the physical and the psychological issues. >> hearing reports, again, i think all the reports have to be taken with a grain of salt depending on who the sources are. but he may have attempted to get along with his captors. >> that is right, we're hearing from the taliban spokesperson that he played soccer at times with his captors, and other forms of communication. he was allowed to choose his menu on some occasions. now is that incriminating, necessarily? well, when you utilize this as a survival tactic, i have been told this be

policy not to negotiate with terrorists, but hailey, idaho is celebrating that their native son is coming home. >> whatever controversy there might be, the community feels his return is the highlight and most important thing. >>> an annual fund-raiser that raises millions for san francisco glad foundation is under way. the minimum bid starts at $25,000 on ebay. the annual auction is in its 15th year and has raised nearly $16 million for glide. >>> still ahead on abc 7 news at 9:00, the new report finds the nsa is building a network to track people's faces on surveillance video. >>> plus republicans will pick their candidate to run against jerry brown in the fall. >>> the government has a new plan to cut air pollution by a their in the u.s. a look at how the epa plans to make it happen. >>> in the weather center, we had a beautiful day. i'll have your neighborhood temperatures coming up zblx and. >>> and dish customers can now watch abc 7 news on line or on tablets. click on the watch abc logo to click on the watch abc logo to find out how to access i ithe part of us that a littwants to pl

hailey idaho, a place where a quiet morning can be disrunned by sheep ranchers moving sheep through the streets is draped with yellow ribbon, as it has for five years. new signs fill the main street and people are willing to set aside the controversy surrounding bowe bergdahl's capture and release. >> i'm glad he's released and we have to continue to fight the terrorism. >> reporter: members of the p.o.w./mia community supported the family and say a bergdahl rally and concert planned for june will be huge, whether the soldier is here or not. >> we could have thousands and thousands of motorcycle resist. it would not surprise me. i'm counting on it. >> the remarkable local support, comfort for parents hurting and waiting to see their son. >> bowe, i love you. i'm your father. [ speaking foreign language ] i have written to you over and over. [ speaking foreign language ] can't you speak english still, i would write him. but now i hope that when you hear this, and when you are ready to hear this, and when you see this, i hope your english is coming back, and i want you to know that i love

he was home schooled here in hailey, idaho.ahl loved to read and was fascinated with learning about the world beyond these mountains. >> i guess you could call him a seeker. he loved meeting people that were doing the same things, he would go on fishing boats in alaska, he met people on their sailboat and rode his bicycle from here to california and back. >> reporter: bergdahl accomplished a lot before the age of 23. you see him here on a high seas adventure. he spent three months on that boat with his buddy dylan fulmer. >> he is strong as an ox. >> reporter: friends say he was interested in joining the french foreign legion and talked to a missionary friend in uganda about going to africa to seek self-defense tactics. sherry horton was his teacher. >> bowe was really good. he always wanted to expand his knowledge and learn about new and different things, like ballet. >> reporter: in 2008, bowe bergdahl decided to enlist in the army, a move that surprised his parents, though they were ultimately supportive. bergdahl was sold o

instead, hailey, idaho, turns a apprehensive. w the backlash is getting ugly and taking aim at hailey. >> reporter: this moment was supposed to be an emotional triumph for bergdahl's hometown of halley, idaho. >> it is extreme sadness that we're not allowed or not able to have this event for bowe. to welcome him back to the community. this was something to honor him and we can't do that now, not at this time. >> reporter: o'neal and her family were supposed to celebrate the area where he played as a child. last year on the fourth anniversary of bergdahl's capture, o'neal organized the support. his family was overwhelmed. >> it is my privilege to know bowe more than anyone else, as a father and man i will defend his character until the day i die. >> reporter: o'neal says the town of hailey was flooded with more than 3,000 requests for protester permits for the celebration as well as nasty threats or e-mails. the event was cancelled because of security concerns and bowe bergdahl's parents are remaining out of sight. and how were his

the community of hailey, idaho, had planned a welcome home event for bergdahl. but rising anger over the prisoner trade that secured his release, and lingering questions about his possible desertion, threatened to turn the celebration into a media circus. community leaders decided, the small town simply couldn't handle the influx of press and protests... so the celebration was cancelled. an elementary school in barrington is warning parents about a dangerous "hanging game." tonya francisco is *live at countryside elementary school in barrington with more. >> the two second graders recently caught playing this game it's the last day of school which is why officials wanted to warn parents about this dangerous game. not only are the warning parents, they're also removed all bookhooks in the bathrooms. the game is played by hanging from your shirt collar and twisting around cutting off your air supply giving you a high. most of the kids playing this game had been older and some have been killed or seriously injured. to fellow students saw the second grade boys doing

those really are the headlines coming out of hailey, idaho.just ready to welcome home a son, a hometown son. >> is there anger that he's now being depicted by some, someone who deserted his own base? >> reporter: you know, people know about the questions that are out there. people know that there's a lot of animosity and there are members of his platoon who are saying he was a deserter. they're staying away from that, simply focusing on the person that they know. wolf, it's really very personal here. people who knew bowe bergdahl, they're basically saying they want him to come back home, they want to hear what he has to say about it. >> all right, george. we'll stay in close touch with you and see what happens in haliey, idaho. be sure to swroin us tomorrow here in "the situation room." certainly watch us live or dvr so you won't miss a moment. that's it for me. thanks very much for watching. i'm wolf blitzer in "the situation room." now let's step into the "crossfire" with stephanie cutter and newt gingrich. >>> wolf, an astonishing new video

posted on youtube. >> it's passed time for bowe and the others to come home. >> reporter: today, in hailey, idaho, fresh-colored ribbons replaced the old ones. the posters demanding his return now covered with new ones. to welcome bowe bergdahl home. later today, we'll hear more from bergdahl's parents. they're flying home to idaho this afternoon to address reporters. at that time, we hope to learn more about when they finally expect to reunited with their son. george? >> lots of questions ahead. >>> let's bring those questions to susan rice. thank you for joining us this morning. let's begin how bowe bergdahl is doing right now. we know that he's landed in germany. what more can you tell us about his health? >> george, this is a joyous day, the fact that he's safely in american hands and will be reunited with his family and his community, is incredible. he's now at a hospital in germany, he's going through all of the requiz sits evaluations and care, and he's said to be walking and in good, physical condition. we look forward to the days to come in which we'll have an even better sense of how he

cnn's ed lavandera is in hailey, idaho this morning. lisa, tell us about this meeting. how contentious do you expect it to be? >> this definitely could be highly contentious as this classified as behind closed doors so we won't know what's said inside. i will tell you this. this is the first chance that house members will have to get this information since it was announced. the house was out of session all last week and a full week of house members to get their blood boiling and to hear from some of their constituents about this. also, carol, it's being held in visitor center auditorium which is a very large space. they are planning for a crowd tonight. the question will be do the house members believe that the white house has a political agenda here or do they think they're getting straight information today? that will tell us whether it's contentious or not. they have a lot of questions. talking to sources today, a lot of republicans and democrats feel they're getting a few different stories from the white house over the past couple days especially over why it was nec

ed lavandera is "outfront" in hailey, idaho, where bergdahl's parents live. >> i'm father of captured. soldier o. robert bergdahl. >> reporter: bob bergdahl released this video three years ago. it was the first time he had spoken publicly about his son's capture. >> strangely to some, we must also thank those who have cared for our son for almost two years. >> reporter: bergdahl use as veiled reference to the controversial issue of detainees in guantanamo bay to connect with his son's captors. >> no family in the united states understands the detainee issue like ours. our son's safe return will only heighten public awareness of this. that said, our son is being exploited. it's past time for bowe and the others to come home. >> reporter: but sergeant bowe bergdahl is coming home to a firestorm of criticism, and his father is also being criticized for a tweet he allegedly sent to a taliban spokesman which read "i am still working to free all guantanamo prisoners. god will repay for the death of every afghan child." the bergdahl family has declined to comment on the tweet, and it was del

meanwhile, in bergdahl's hometown of hailey, idaho, citizens have been hoping and praying for the army sergeant's return. town officials today canceled a rally celebrating bergdahl's release, as critics attack the 28-year-old army sergeant as a deserter and a traitor. town officials have been deluged with angry calls concerning bergdahl, who is recovering in a army hospital in german after five years in enemy captivity. a man who has yet to tell his side of the story. bowe bergdahl may have walked away from his post with the intent to desert, as his critics charge. we don't know all the facts yet. there's a whole complicated set of issues around his capture and the decision to exchange him for five taliban fighters who had been held at guantanamo bay, shown here in amateur video that reportedly shows their homecoming or at least release back to qatar. but the reality is divorced from the insanity of the backlash of the decision to bring bowe bergdahl home. on twitter today, an amazing spectacle as blogger matt binder documented multiple examples of just regular rank and file conservati

nick valencia is on the road in hailey, idaho, today. nick, tell me what's happening there. >> reporter: this community is overjoyed. i think that's the understatement of the year, randi. when i came here, when i first got here, our crew drove down main street. and you could see yellow ribbons on every single tree lining main street. signs in every window of the local businesses here. just so happy, mission accomplished, read one of those signs. we're in front of zaney's coffee house where sergeant bowe bergdahl worked two years on and off between his big outdoor trips. i want to bring in sue martin. sue was bergdahl's boss and also close friend of him and the family. sue, what's this day like for you? >> it's a wonderful day. as well as yesterday. they're all good days from here on out. >> reporter: were you when you heard the news? >> i was traveling to take my grandkids fishing, two of my grandkids fishing for the first time. and i got a call from my daughter. she said you might want to turn around and come home and hear the good news

. >> reporter: in hailey, idaho, his hometown, the entire community was overjoyed. >> he has touched so many lives and i think he has a lot to come home to and a lot of people grateful for him. >> but he's still got a long way to go from afghanistan he's to germany for a full physical exam and to san antonio for a psychological exam to help him adjust back into society and his new found freedom. but many here at the pentagon are also eager to talk to beau when they get the chance because they want to know just why did he walk away from his secure military out post in afghanistan five years ago, lester? >> jim, starting us off as joyous as the news of sergeant bergdahl has some wondering. christian welker is looking into that and has some reaction. >> reporter: it's been a long-standing government policy, the u.s. doesn't negotiate with terrorists. >> america will never make concessions to terrorists. >> no nation can negotiate with terrorists. >> reporter: news the obama administration secured the release of sergeant bergdahl for five afghan prisoners has drown sharp criticism. mike

. >> reporter: support that never wavered in bergdahl's home of hail hailey, idaho, signs of a promise never to forget a missing soldier, a soldier that is finally now on his way home. >>> working to prevent another deadly rampage like the one in santa barbara, some california lawmakers are pushing some new legislation. state assemblywoman nancy skinner along with two others or calling for a gun restraining order. it would prevent people from buying or possessing firearms. >>> a new push this weekend to get guns off the streets in southern california. los angeles mayor eric garcetti and the los angeles p.d. hosted a gun buyback program today. organizers offered grocery gift cards in exchange for the weapons. they handed out $200 cards for assault weapons and $100 cards for handguns and rifles. people were able to turn in their firearms, no questions asked. according to police, nearly 12,000 guns have been collected since the buyback program began in 2009. >>> coming up next at 5:00, flying higher than special jets. new drones deployed by the u.s. military. we'll have more on their surv

. >> reporter: public anger over the controversy has reached bergdahl's hometown hailey, idaho where preparations are under way for a joyous homecoming later this month. >> he'll be a celebrity when he gets back. >> reporter: but the chamber of commerce president is being bombarded by what she says is hate calls and people cancelling their vacation reservations. >> i just find that shocking. you know, we're americans. and we need to act like americans and to me that's unamerican. >> reporter: as for any investigation defense officials tell us it's highly unlikely that bergdahl would be subjected to any questioning until he's fully recovered from his five years in captivity, ann. >> jim, thank you so much. >>> turning now to a warning from the national weather service about a huge outbreak of severe weather. 35 million americans are in the high-risk zones and tonight already there are reports of 100 mile-per-hour wind gusts and baseball size hail moving through parts of the midwest. jim cantore is monitoring all of this for us. jim, good evening. >> good evening. we have a long night

george howell is in hailey, idaho, population 8,000.ice chief to get some answers. george? >> reporter: well, john, you mentioned it right there. this town of some 8,000 people, they were prepared to handle about 4,500 people to come to an event here. but what we've learned now is that there were concerns by the city certainly that the event could bring in more people than that and that the city wouldn't have the infrastructure to support so many people. but we are learning new information, here joined with the police chief. if you could talk to us about the fact that you told me the organizers actually came to the city to cancel that event. >> yes, they came to my office about 10:00 saying with the national coverage that this event's got, they're expecting the event could double, if not triple, in size. and there had been additional cause to put that event that they weren't prepared for, and there's some security concerns because of the larger amount of the people. there was a decision made that we agreed with them, canceling the event

but here in his hometown of hailey, idaho, plans to honor the soldier have been canceled. r wanting to cancel the celebration over public safety concerns. hailey held a peaceful bring bowe back rally last year. the city worries the controversy surrounding this year's homecoming celebration could attract a crowd eight times that size. >> we don't think we have time to put in place an event of that size between now and june 28. >> reporter: the decision comes after hundreds of angry e-mails and calls poured in to city hall attackingberg bergdahl and accusing him of being a deserter. >> he is considered awol and is a traitor to this country. >> i was close to tears. >> reporter: dayle ohlau was helping plan the rally. >> it's so sad others across our country have dictate that had weigh can't have this celebration because it's not safe. >> reporter: you feel like it could have gotten violent? >> i do. >> reporter: she worries bowe may have left one hostile environment only to soon enter another. after all the backlash you now wouldn't even want bowe to be at the celebration? >>

. >>> in bowe bergdahl's hometown, hailey, idaho, many say his release was an answer to their prayers. his friend and former roommate, shelly horton, tells anderson cooper everyone there is excited that bergdahl is finally heading home. >> about 11:00, 11:30 on saturday, the phone just started going crazy. and i picked it up, and one of my friends said, i just heard the craziest news on the radio, that bowe's been released. and of course, before i got super excited, because there's been so many talks and so many rumors about the talks and everything, i did call his family to confirm. and his mom answered the phone just super over-the-top excited. she was crying, and all she could get out for the first little bit was "it's true, it's true." so, it was, after that, kind of all sank in, and my whole house went crazy. and then everybody started kind of piling out of their houses and into town so that we could all kind of talk and celebrate. >> the town is planning a larger celebration at the end of the month, renaming the annual bring bowe back event to reflect his release. it will now be

the 28-year-old from hailey, idaho has been held as a prisoner of war since june 30, 2009. >> he wasn'torgotten by his country because the united states of america does not ever leave our men and women in uniform behind. >> reporter: bergdahl's recovery followed years of negotiations between the u.s. and the taliban. the government of quatar serving as a go between. they will take custody of five afghan detainees held at guantanamo bay prison in exchange for bergdahl. the soldier appeared to be in good condition when recovered. he is undergoing medical exams in afghanistan and europe before returning to the u.s. once bergdahl was on board a u.s. military helicopter, he wrote sf asking if he was with special operations forces. one of them said yes adding we have been looking for you for a long time prompting bergdahl to break down crying. wendy jilette for cbs news. >> and after medical checkups, bergdahl will be flown to a u.s. army hospital in germany and undergo psychological tests and debriefings about his five years in captivity. >>> one of the most popular golfers in the world is u

. >> reporter: support that never wavered in his hometown of hailey, idaho, where throughout the time of his captivity and on this special day, yellow ribbons and posters, signs of a promise never to forget their missing soldier, a soldier that is now finally on his way home. >>> new at 6:00, golfer phil mickelson is responding to insider trading allegations regarding clorox. "the wall street journal" is reporting the fbi is looking into whether mickelson illegally traded clorox stock. officials believe the two received that insider information from carl icahn about clorox. two fbi agents approached mickelson after the memorial tournament on thursday to discuss the investigation. >> i have done absolutely nothing wrong. and that's why i've been fully cooperating with the fbi agents. and i'm happy to do so in the future, too, until this gets resolved. >> the investigation reportedly started three years ago after icahn accumulated a stake in clorox. >>> now to your microclimate forecast. beautiful day around the bay area. well, for most of the bay area. here's a live look at alcatraz. t

. >> reporter: public anger over the controversy has reached bergdahl's hometown hailey, idaho, where preparations are under way for a celebration this thont month. but the chamber of commerce president is being bombarded by what she says are hate calls. and people canceling their vacation reservations. >> i just find that shocking. you know, we're americans. we need to act like americans. and to me that's un-american. >> we want to bring in now chief foreign correspondent richard engel who is live for us in landstuhl, germany. we know about early reports about bergdahl's treatment through the videos and something was of concern to american officials, in fact the most recent official they thought the health of bergdahl looked diminished. what have we learned about how the treatment is going for him in landstuhl or have they released any information yet? >> reporter: frankly they haven't released much information at all. there's been a few statements. they've been fairly vague saying that bergdahl's health is stable, that he's being treated, that he's been given some psychological coun

meanwhile, back at his hometown hailey, idaho, some say they are stunned by the backlash against bergdahl, amidst allegations he may be a deserter for walking off his base, something defense officials are investigating. >> it's been very shocking, i think, how vicious the attacks have been. >> reporter: the fbi says it is investigating reports of death threats against the bergdahl family. >> we are aware of the threats to the bergdahl family, and we are working with our local law enforcement partners to investigate. as always, we take these types of threats very seriously. >> reporter: in washington, there was more bipartisan anger that lawmakers weren't notified before the five taliban detainees were released from guantanamo. >> it's hard to be comfortable when you really haven't been briefed on the intricacies of carrying out this agreement. >> reporter: the republican chairman of the house op;bg intelligence committee says he believes at least three of the released taliban will ultimately return to the battlefield after they leave qatar in a year. >> we have made a serious, serious geo

bigad shaban, cbs news, hailey, idaho. >>> president obama agreed with the swap that freed bergdahl but this morning mr. obama is focusing on ukraine. in warsaw he met with ukraine's newly elected president petro poroshenko. yesterday the president pledged $1 billion to boost military deployments in europe. >>> and overnight a severe weather system moved across the mississippi valley and high plains. this morning there are flood, thunderstorm, and high wind watches and warnings posted in missouri, illinois, iowa, kansas, and nebraska. heavy rain, hail, and high winds are expected. through the day yesterday heavy rain and flooding hit the omaha, nebraska, area. dozens of residents were evacuated from low lying homes that got swamped. the low line involves a series of storms called a training, but some of the most severe weather damage was caused by baseball-sized hail. the hail tore through homes and shattered dozens of car windows. extensive damage was reported in nebraska and iowa. a dozen people reported minor injuries after being struck by the large hail. eric fisher of our boston st

the first september on wednesday which is the day a home coming celebration was cancelled in hailey idaho. >> a leading candidate to replace vet transaffairs secretary eric shinseki has withdrawn his name. dallas cosgrove, ceo of the cleveland clinic and he says he wants to keep doing that job. white house officials approached him after he -- he says he is honored to be considered but he wants to honor the commitment he made to the cleveland clinic. >> so, not every anniversary is really worth celebrating. 25 years ago this weekend, the u.s. government raided itself. paul beban tells us what happened that day in colorado at the rocky slats nuclear weapons plant. >> this is rocky flats today, more than 6,000 acres of wide-open, empty space ju just northwest of denver, but from 1952 to 1989, rocky flats was a massive department of energy factory. the top secret core of america's nuclear weapons program cranking out thousands of plutonium triggers for the country's cold war arsenal. jack weaver worked at rock arey flats for 41 years. on june 6th, 1989, he was a plutonium production manager.

supporters in his hometown are planning a huge celebration along the streets of hailey, idaho. also, at a local coffee house there, welcome home signs simply cover the walls. as we mentioned, bergdahl is still in germany this morning getting medical care there. we don't know exactly when he'll be returning back to the states. >>> new at 11:00, russia wants an emergency meeting of the u.n. security council to call for an immediate cease-fire in ukraine. this comes as ukrainian forces are making significant progress against pro-russian forces. the meeting is scheduled for less than two hours from now. the council expected to introduce a resolution, and call for negotiations to end the violence. for weeks, eastern ukraine has been the scene of deadly clashes between government troops and pro-russian insurgents. >>> new developments this morning in the search for madeleine mccann. they're searching an area of the resort where the young girl was last seen seven years ago. here's the latest. >> reporter: searching for madeleine mccann seven years later, detectives sealed off a field,

. >> he says when bergdahl comes home to hailey, idaho, it won't be easy to leave behind his trauma ofner. even his simple everyday chores may be a challenge. >> elation of being home and free and tasting my first salad, first cold beer, holding my children in my arms, you are filled with love and three months later, every night for six months i would just see images of death. >> reporter: bergdahl was held for more than five years, taken to the remote mountains of eastern afghanistan, a landscape that bowe's father pointed out looks similar to his hometown of hailey, idaho, and that may help make what the military calls a soft landing back home. >> reporter: video obtained by "the guardian newspaper" shows bowe's father in a tent in the woods where bowe used to hike. he said his son could find solitude here. >> we set this up for him. hoping he could get home. >> reporter: there is no timetable for his recovery. he may be physically free but the mental side will take longer. neal karlinsky, abc news, hailey, idaho. >>> the fbi disrupted two global schemes by a band of hackers who have

abc's neal karlinsky is in their hometown, hailey, idaho. good morning, neal. >> reporter: robin, good morning. the participants were very emotional in the pres conference. they made clear that bringing bowe home physically and especially mentally may be a very long process. >> you are free, freedom is yours. i will see you soon, my beloved son. i love you, bowe. >> reporter: bowe bergdahl's mother addressing her son through tv cameras after five years of waiting, bergdahl's parents say they have chosen to wait some more, holding off on any contact with their son as part of his careful integration back to normal life. >> bring me home. >> we haven't talked to bowe yet. bowe has been gone so long that it's going to be very difficult to come back. >> reporter: bob bergdahl showing the beard he refused to shave until his son's release. after so much time alone with the taliban, they say bowe is physically weakened and having trouble speaking english. >> i want you to know that i love you. i'm proud of you. i'm so proud of your character. i'm so

maurice, city of hailey plans on holding a celebration later this month. >> dubois: bigad shaban in hailey, idaho, thank you. there is a nationwide manhunt tonight for a san francisco man suspected of possessing explosive materials. 42-year-old ryan chamberlain is described as a political and media consultant. john blackstone on why the f.b.i. is so concerned about him. >> reporter: the manhunt for ryan chamberlain began as a hazardous materials team searched his san francisco apartment. along with some two dozen federal agents, local police and firefighters. sources say investigators found no working bombs in the apartment but gathered explosive materials now being studied in an f.b.i. lab. chamberlain's friends and associates received an on-line message this morning. its source can't be verified but it claims to be from chamberlain and says, "so much was broken from this past year and a half. i guess it was just insurmountable and the time's up." >> i had no idea that he was struggling with these demons. >> reporter: alex clemens a san francisco political consultant knows chamberlain and briefl