jeff miller. >> good afternoon. i am with the center for biological diversity. we focus on protecting and recovering endangered species. we have a strong interest in the critically imperiled snake. sharp park represents one of the best recovery opportunities for this species. we can recover significant habitat for it. even if you do not care about snakes or endangered species act violations, there are a couple of things we can all agree are important. two things i think you will care about are the city's reputation and the budget. the sharp park issue has been a shameful episode in the environmental legacy. san francisco's leadership on the environment is at risk. the plan put forward by the parks department we see as a deliberate extinction plan. it would be big endangered species. it would restrict any real restoration of the area. everyone knows it is harming other golf courses. they are asking for millions of dollars in very expensive infrastructure to maintain this golf course. the fish and wildlife service has made it clear to the city that you have ongoin

we had republican chair of the veterans committee jeff miller on stage with patty murray.he senate leader from the democrats. on stage together. they issued a joint press release about this bill. we've been fighting for this bill going back five years, urgent tax cuts, expand the gi bill for veterans. it's a critical bill and eventually went through unanimously, but it took a long time. and it was a hard fight. it will be -- right now it's the only jobs bill that went through and the only portion of the president's jobs package that's gone through and might be one of the only things they get done all year. it's significant and provides us headway but shows the power of veterans. we're uniting, mobilizing and have the american people behind us. if folks are looking in the coming years for place to cut, stay away from the va. we're going to fight hard and we're good at fighting. >> the case joe biden was making about all the reasons to hire veterans, also the reasons to watch how veterans get stuff done in washington. because you guys are good at it. >> we're trying. it's a

michael miller turned himself in on thursday, the victim, 48- year-old jeff patterson was found dead from blunt force trauma on monday. deputies initially arrested a man who was released on monday, a second man was arrested but released without charges. >>> and a registered sex offender accused of kidnapping and raping a woman in oakley now is behind bars. steven clark was arrested around midnight at the cathedral hill neighborhood. the contra costa sheriff's department says he became friends with a woman on saturday, and then kidnapped her and raped her at his home. he had previously been convicted of raping another woman in texas. >>> and san jose police arresting a woman regarding theft. they say that 28-year-old sandy velazquez claimed to be a friend, and now faces six counts of felony grand theft. >> and more than six hundred kids, parents and one toy room. this week, berkeley started to hand out toys as to give aways. some were anxious to be first in line. >> reporter: they lined up before dawn, in coats and blankets, parents and grand parents waited for hours so the kids could

miller, cbs news, houma, louisiana. >> glor: that's the "cbs evening news" tonight. for scott pelley, i'm jeffr: , good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org >>> now, "entertainment tonight," the most watched entertainment newsmagazine in the world. >>> arnold and maria back together for christmas. are the whispers of a reconciliation even possible as we look back at their past christmases in happier times. >>> then -- >> we're counting down hollywood's top ten fashionistas. from j. lo's daring decisions to gwyneth's sfigs case. >> i'm wearing michael kors. >> angelina, beyonce, rihanna. >> the fashion divas every designer wants to

miller, cbs news, houma, louisiana. >> glor: that's the "cbs evening news" tonight. for scott pelley, i'm jeffr: , good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org >>> this is 9news now. >>> tonight, some good news and some bad news for our economy. consumer confidence is now at an 8 month high and close to its highest point since the recession. the story is not so good for our housing market. home prices in 19 of 20 major u.s. cities fell for the second straight month and that reverses five months of increases. by all indications, the holiday shopping season was fairly strong. up 4% as compared to last year. so, in light of today's mixed bag of economic news, surae chin asked experts whether this recession is over. >> even though we are making six figures, you can't afford a house or groceries, it's silly. >> every parking lot is full, but

miller goes to town on montel williams and pot shops. >> montel is going to have the boutique store, the mom and pop shop and willie will have my name's jeffd, coach... and i quit smoking with chantix. knowing that i could smoke during the first week was really important to me. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. chantix reduced my urge to smoke -- and personally that's what i knew i needed. [ male announcer ] 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 taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other 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 youevelop these, stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, tell your doctor if you have new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if y

miller. it's in the stars! >> jarvis is blushing. thank you, susan. >>> still ahead, a che ♪ >>> welcome back to "the early show," everyone. last friday of 2011. i'm jeffy. >> happy new year. ring it in. >> it's time to spice unfortunate your life and your cooking are the new year. coming up we will meet the so-called spice king. he creates new blends of seasoning for some of the world's best dishes and very interesting story and show us how to add big flavor to main dishes and cocktails and it's not that complicated. >> a story from my hometown of minneapolis. a woman who suffered one of the greatest losses a mother can have. it was the murder of her son, but after many years, she was able to heal and forgive with help from an unlikely neighbor. we will have her story. >> jennifer egan a great year. her novel won the pulitzer prize "a visit from the goon squad." and we are pleased to have her here in the studio this morning. your book came out last year but won a pulitzer prize this year. a lot more people read it, including myself. one of the reasons we have you here is a lot of people reflecting back. goon qusquad is a reflective bo. >> it's a work

jeff glor. >> good morning. >>> rod blagojevich is paying a very high price for corruption. is it too high? in chicago wednesday, a judge sentenced the former ill loy governor to 14 years in prison and michelle millerthe once flamboyant fallen governor described to reporters in 50 seconds and no more what is next for him and his family. >> this is a time for me to be strong for my children, be strong for patty and this is also a time for pam patty and me to get home so we can explain to our kids, our babies annie and amy, what happened and what all this means and where we are going from here. >> the sentence sends a strong message the public has had enough and judges have had enough. this needs to stop. >> reporter: the democrat was convicted on 18 counts of corruption, largely due to profanity-laced wiretaps that caught him offering political favors in return for financial gain. >> i've got this thing and it's [ bleep ] golden. >> reporter: the most notorious reporting seemed to implicate blagojevich. he appointed roland burris, the unknown former attorney general to the seat. actions defense claim were nothing more than political jockeying because no money had been exchanged. then blagojevich lau