karen brown, cbs news, new york. >>> now to president obama's efforts at health care reform. two bills are emerging from the house. late yesterday a deal was reached between house leaders and conservative blue dog democrats. it has an estimated price tag of $900 bill onover ten years. fewer small businesses than first proposed would be required to health care coverage to their employees. >>> members have until the end of tomorrow to discuss the bill and make changes. then they leave for a month-long break. the second bill is coming from house republicans. that plan costs $700 billion and offers tax credits to help americans buy insurance but it would not require people or business to have or offer coverage. it's unclear what impact that would have on reducing the number of uninsured, nearly 50 million americans. it also rejects federal oversight for the health care industry. >>> americans have big doubts about the plans making their way through congress. a poll released just last night finding 31% of those questioned said the plan would help them. nearly twice as many said it

karen brown reports. >> the charges that landed a renowned black harvard professor in handcuffs have been dropped and police say it wasn't about his race but about his behavior. >> it was a circumstance where cooler heads perhaps should have prevailed but did not. and after several days hopefully now they have. >> last week, dr. henry lewis gates, junior got in to a heated dispute with officers after a witness mistook the 59- year-old for an intruder at his own home when they asked him to come outside he responded why because i'm a black man in america. police say things escalated from there and they were justified in arresting him from disorderly conduct. both the officer and gates admit the incident was inunfortunate. >> it was not professor gate's best moment or the cambridge police department's best moment. >> reporter: in the neighborhood where there's been a rash of break ins he was spotted trying to jam open his own front door. supporters say it stirs up issues of racial profiling. >> even though the charge is dropped i know for me it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. >> report

but as karen brown reports, now a new study suggests, biology may be a culprit. >> hi. how are you? >> reporter: charise majet was pregnant with her second child, when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. >> i had days where i was very depressed. it was just hard because i really wanted the baby. >> reporter: the 29-year-old's cancer was so aggressive she had to terminate her pregnancy to undergo chemo, surgery and radiation. >> i was horrified. >> reporter: a new study shows that breast and other gender- specific cancers are killing minorities at a higher rate. for the first time, doctors say it's not because of lifestyle or inferior care. >> there may be biologic differences between the cancers amongst these groups that are contributing to it. >> reporter: the study of almost 20,000 patients found that even with equal treatment, death rates were much higher for blacks with hormone-based cancers. breast cancer, 45% higher. ovarian, 61%. and prostate cancer, 21% higher. >> the study also found that in nonhormone-based cancer, like lung, colon and lymphoma, minorities actual

karen brown reports for b.j. z from the los angeles stap stap. >> we'll see you at that time michael jackson memorial service. >> oh, yes. >> reporter: they're quite possibly the hottest particular in the wormed. >> we're just happy to be a part of it and say good-bye to the king of pop. >> reporter: mann is one one of nearly 9,000 people whose names were drawn to watch what is slated to be an all-star tribute. stevie wonder, lionel richie, jennifer hudson, mariah carey. >> a lot of jealous people out there. >> reporter: police will completely seal off this area to keep people without particulars far away. they're encouraging them to stay home and watch it on tv. john kerry son's ex-wife, deb bea rowe, had vip seats and planned to attend but at the last minute changed her mind. >> are you ready to fight for your children? >> are you ready to get your butt kicked? >> there was also a legal scuffle. katherine jackson says she's reluctant to hand the keys of the kingdom over to the two men named as exec you stores b

karen brown reports from the l.a. staples center. that's where the public will say their good-byes. >> reporter: at the london arena where michael jackson was to relaunch his career, a tribute to the late king of pop led by madonna. few let's give it up to one of the greatest artists the world has ever known! >> reporter: and it seems the world can't get enough of michael jackson. fans gathered with white roses for a tribute in taiwan, and at the essence music festival in new orleans beyonce honored his memory. still, the most anticipated tribute is the official michael jackson memorial on tuesday at the los angeles staples center. more than 1.6 million people filled out this form on-line for particular but only 17,000 -- 17,500 are available. >> it's so shocking, so hurting. it's such a great loss. just wish it had been held in more a larger venue. >> reporter: even though it's a memorial, organizers are worried about ticket scalping, so each person will have to pick up their two particular and be fitted with a wrist band at a secre

in los angeles, karen brown, wjz, eyewitness news.ollowing today's memorial, jackson's casket was led vought the arena. his family has not yet said where he will be buried. >> as millions of people around the world gathered in front of their television sets a special screening was held here. the enoch pratt free library simulcast the memorial. >> what everyone sees on the screen and entertainer -- entertainment world, he was a human being. >> feels weird without him around. >> the library says part of the reason it decided to simulcast is because of an increase in interest from its patrons on all things michael jackson. all of his cd's and books have been checked out. meanwhile? estimate that today's service will set viewership records on both tv and internet streaming. >>> stay with eyewitness news for complete coverage as the world remembers michael jackson. you'll see more from today's memorial including individual clips from the speeches and performances, and for more on john kerry son's life go to our website, wjz.com. >>> major

in los angeles, karen brown, wjz eyewitness news. >> and we are one of those networks. wjz will bring you complete coverage of the meme i don't recall next tuesday. katie couric will be live in california leading our coverage. for additional news on the michael jackson death investigation and updates log on to wjz.com. >>> a lot more news coming up on wjz eyewitness news, including a small town on lockdown. some south carolina residents are living in fear, a serial killer on the loose. a vacation nightmare. a deadly accident involving the monorail. how it's supposed to be the happiest place on earth. >> i grabbed a pistol with my hand, and he shot me in the face. >> you've got to hear this man's incredible story after surviving an up-close encounter with an armed robber. >> reporter: there's a new tool to help keep you prepared in case of a hurricane. i'm tim williams with more on nasa's new introduction into space. >>> i'm meteorologist bernadette woods. as we wrap up our holiday weekend, we'll let you know what to expect coming up in your first warning forecast when e

karen brown, cbs news, new york. >> mitchell: coming up on tonight's "cbs evening news", this couple has health insurance, but doctor bill wiped out wiped out their savingsth anyway. blocked artery, another heart attack could be lurking, waiting to strike. a heart attack caused by a clot, one that could be fatal. but plavix helps save lives. plavix, taken with other heart medicines goes beyond what other heart medicines do alone to provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke and even death by helping to keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. ask your doctor about plavix, protection that helps save lives. (female announcer) if you have stomach ulcer or other condition that causes bleeding, you should not use plavix. when taking plavix alone or with some other medicines including aspirin, the risk of bleeding may increase so tell your doctor before planning surgery. and always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin or other medicines with plavix, especially if you've had a stroke. if you develop fever or unexplained weakness or confusion, tell y

as karen brown reports for wjz, a new study now suggests biology may be the culprit. >> hi. how are you? >> reporter: charise was pregnant with her second child when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. >> i had days where i was very depressed. it was hard because of the baby. >> reporter: the 29-year-old's cancer was so aggressive, she had to terminate her pregnancy to undergo chemo, surgery and radiation. >> i was horrified. >> reporter: a new study shows that other breast and gender- specific cancers are killing minorities at a higher rate. for the first time, doctors say it's not because of lifestyle or inferior care. >> there may be biological differences between the cancers of these groups that may be contributing. >> reporter: the study of almost 20,000 patients found that with equal treatment, death rates were much higher for blacks with hormone-based cancers. ovarian, 61%. and prostate cancer, 21% higher. >> reporter: the study also found that in nonhormone-based cancers, like lung, lymphoma, they had the same survival rate. >> it makes us wonder what the r

karen brown, wjz eyewitness news. >> cronkite will be buried in missouri next to his wife. a separate public memorial will be held in a few weeks at new york's lincoln center. >>> today, family and friends of private first class bo brigdiagonal held a-- brigdoll held a vigil. tonight, president obama says the military is doing everything it can to rescue broogdoll. >>> it has been two weeks since a massive grave-digging was uncovered. ministers, priests and rabbis traveled to the cemetery to reconsecrate what was once sacred ground. they gathered together in prayer to bless the grave sites as investigators gathered together at the scene. four workers are accused of digging up hundreds of bodies to resell the burial plots. >>> the national rifle association is warning senators that it will consider their votes on supreme court nominee sonia sotomayor as part of its influential annual ratings of senators. they say the high court nominee has a hostile view of the second amendment, the right to bear and keep arms. it is opposing her nomination, although her confirmation in earl

karen brown reports on how the process works. >> reporter: today, mike jones isn't just a grandfather. >> i feel great. >> he's one of the first heart failure patients to ever have adult cardiac stem cells infused into his heart. doctors hope his own cells will heal his damaged tissue. >> it just made sense to use the body to regenerate itself. >> reporter: the 66-year-old volunteered for the trial procedure, after two heart attacks left him with severe congestive heart failure. back in march, doctors at jewish hospital in louisville, kentucky, did surgery to harvest heart stem cells. >> we were able to harvest these cells and show that they can make new tissue. >> reporter: over three months, researchers grew a million cardiac stem cells from his tissue. just last week, doctors used a catheter in his leg to infuse them back into his heart. and hopes they'll regenerate heart muscle. >> reporter: doctors say 6 million americans have congestive heart failure, with 700,000 new cases every year. they believe that if this infusion process works, it will greatly increase survival rate. >> i

as karen brown reports, more arrests are closer as police get closer to determining a motive for the. >> reporter: ashley marker was overcome with emotion, as police announced that they have the seven people responsible for her parents' murder. >> we have found them. they are in custody. >> reporter: the alleged ring leader, leonard gonzalez junior, made his first appearance in court. charged with murdering melanie and bill billings, known for adopting special needs children. police say the 35-year-old local martial arts instructor organized a group that included maintenance workers and day laborers. at least one had worked at the billings' home. some had prior military experience. almost all had criminal background. and one unidentified suspect is just 16 years old. >> the individuals we have arrested for this crime are involved with other areas, and other crimes. >> reporter: the couple was shot to death last thursday, and police say the motive was a well-planned home invasion robbery. it was caught on the family's surveillance cameras, installed to keep an eye on the kids. a safe

karen brown, cbs news, new york. >> at today's town hall meeting, president obama said the country's medicare trust fund will run out of money e edhasystem uler . re>> > ulhamo >>> no more free rkpag inat bwi. they will charge $2 for the first half hour of parking. itd lepiop to ckloalped lepi passengers or get their baenssgs or gerstheir bags in t. rp llcepha one lot is now available for drivers who are waiting for someone to arrive. >>> the space shuttle "endeavour" is making preparations to come home after one and a half weeks together. two teams of astronauts said their goodbyes in outer space, hatches were sealed and the orbiter pulled away from the iss. the shuttle is scheduled to return to the kennedy center on friday. >>> soupy, soupy, soupy. >> you guys were talking about soupy. that's a good word to describe it. when you haven't had this kind of weather for most of the summer, even though this is normal, when you step outside, walk act like, this isn't -- you act like this isn't supposed to be here. >> i mean, even today early it was humidity. >> it's all relative if you ar

karen brown, cbs news, new york. >> over 6 million americans suffer from congestive heart failure. >>warm and sunny friday. is there a chance of more storms? here's a live look outside, as the friday rush begins. now, let's find out how it will all begin. meteorologist tim williams has a look at the updated numbers from first warning weather. by the way, the rush hour has already started. >> hopefully your air conditioner was, -- was working while you're sitting in it. first warning live doppler radar shows. there is definitely a chance. but we have a front moving through. and while we do not have really, much out there right now, there's still a chance. but we're losing the heat of the day now. the later we get into this afternoon, the clearer this scan gets, well, we're starting to fizzle out with these showers. 85 degrees now. and your saturday looks like this. we're looking at hot temperatures moving on into the region. and those temperatures will be with us right on through sunday, before we start to see any little bit of a break. we'll have a complete update coming up in a few m

karen brown reports for wjz, a new study now suggests biology may be the culprit. >>> hi. how are you? >> charise majet was pregiant with her -- pregnant with her second child when she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. >> i had days when i was very depressed. it was hard because i really wanted the baby. >> the 29-year-old's cancer was so aggressive, she had to terminate her pregnancy to undergo chemo, surgery, and radiation. >> i was horrified. >> reporter: a new study shows that breast and other gender- specific cancers are killing minorities at a higher rate. for the first time, doctors say it's not because of lifestyle or inferior care. >> there may be bilogic differences between the cancers among these groups that may be contributing to it. >> reporter: the study found that even with equal treatment, death rates were much higher for blacks. breast cancer, 45% higher. ovarian, 61%. and prostate cancer, 21% higher. >> reporter: the study also found that in nonhormone based cancers, like lung, colon and lymphoma, minorities actually had the same survival rate. >>

as karen brown reports, new technology is making that surgery more precise.ing patients to recover much faster. >> reporter: 38-year-old wendy cirillo was stunned to find out she had a cancerous tumor growing on her kidney. >> you know, i have three kids. that's all i was thinking about. that they needed me and i needed them. >> luckily, the cancer was caught early. >> reporter: dr. pelacy is going to remove the two-inch tumor with a device that looked something like a video game. >> his hands and feet operate three robotic arms. doctors made three half-inch incisions. >> really working on a space that is really two-by-two inches. >> reporter: a magnified three- dimentional -- dimensional view gives them depth perception. >> can do wrist-type movements as if you had your hand in there. >> reporter: the tumor will be cut off and taken out in pieces. >> reporter: the traditional surgery requires a foot-long incision. and patients need a week in the hospital to recover. this new approach, allows them to go home after just two days. >> reporter: the surgery remov

karen brown, cbs news, los angeles. >> wjz will bring you complete coverage of the memorial service forichael jackson tomorrow. katie couric will anchor it live from california starting around 1:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. remember wjz is always on for additional news on the michael jackson story, go to wjz.com. >>> there is breaking news, a building fire in south baltimore, captain mike perry has the latest. >> reporter: this is in south baltimore, actually going to be between russell street and 395 southbound of m&t bank stadium. firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the vacant warehouse. now, they had ladder pipes and a lot of firefighters, you can see down there, putting copious amounts of water on it. they were able to get the fire knocked down. it is not clear at this point how the fire started. fire investigators have been called to the scene. back to you. >> thank you very much. >>> marylanders are reluctantly getting into the workweek after a great holiday weekend but this week's weather couldn't look much nicer. we are looking live right n

karen brown , 9news now and wusa9.com. >>> president obama also launched a series of 30-second t.v. ads in an attempt to get americans to reach out and try to convince moderate members of congress to get on board with the health care reform plan. >>> federal transportation officials just announced a major step forward in national railroad safety and it comes in the wake of last month's deadly metro train collision. digital correspondent scott broom has the story. metro's red line shut down again today while investigators used equipment to document the blind curve at the site of the deadly metro collision june 22nd. investigators want to know what the operator of the oncoming train may have seen and when she saw it. as the investigation continues to focus on possible faulty electronic sensors in the track that may not have detected a train sitting on the blind spot there was a major announcement issued. the agency will create rules to require all railroads to use so- called positive train controls. electronic systems that automatically detect trouble and stop a train barreling down t

. >> reporter: karen brown, thank you so much for reporting live om new york. >>> walter cronkite died at his new york city home at the age of 92 and you can watch live coofra geth e funeral by going to our website at wusa9.com. and it begins at 2:00 this afternoon. >>> coming up next, kim and the forecast. >>> oh, j.c., i have found a cutie pie up for adoption. yep, the weather segment is next and then we will introduce you to this little bunny rabbit that needs a loving home. don't change that dial. you are watching 9 news now. toa @ >>> the university of maryland school of medicine will be a leader in fighting the h1n1 flu. the baltimore school is among several selected for human trials of a possible vaccine. up to 1,000 people will take part nationwide. the trial will evaluate two different strength of the vaccine. >>> that's a good thing. >> got to find a way to combat that. how are you doing? i'm well. counting down the days until i'm not a sing woman anymore. >> i know. >> nervous. i'm hoping the weather cooperates. and also for today a lot of you have rung me up on the weather

tonight karen brown reports on what happened today. >> reporter: lucky michael jackson fans are getting outfitted for his public memorial. >> i will wristband you now. they are waterproof. >> they've been driving by the carload to dodgers stadium to pick up the wristbands for tuesday's service. >> i've never won anything in my life and i've won these tickets. >> more than a million and a half fans registered for a chance to attend. this is one of 8750 names randomly chosen. >> i think it's going to be a phenomenal experience. >> los angeles police are urging those without a ticket to watch the service from home. all five television networks will broadcast the memorial at a monumental effort is under way at the staples center to accommodate all the media. in court, it's just begun over jackson's estate. >> we have no reason to believe this is going to turn into a nasty fight. >> jackson's mother filed to oversee her son's estate but today a judge ruled the singers long time attorney and family friend should be in charge as jackson laid out in his will. over the weekend, cameras caught up

people who are doing great things in the commune and today i'd like for you to meet my new friend, karen brown and she is the founder of the feelings friends program. this is so important to you. what is a feeling friends project do? >> it teaches children and adults how to express their feelings appropriately. we give children a feelings vocabulary. so often growing up we didn't know how to say what we were feeling but these characters give children and us a chance to learn how to eck press their feelings appropriately and manage those feelings. >> and you go to schools and community groups and churches. >> professional organizations. it is not just for children. my friend angie the angry tiger says. >> i love her. >> you love her. >> we don't know how to express anger so she says no hitting, pushing biting, even when i'm angry there is never any fighting. >> who's this you are loving. >> this is worry the sea worm. worry doesn't know what to do when he's afraid. we teach children to make a worry box and put them in a worry box and we give strategies for children to deal with the feelings. >>

karen brown, wjz eyewitness news. >> reporter: at the time, the couple was caring for 12 children, all with developmental disabilities. >>> let me out of jail. that was the plea of the wife of famed boxer arturo gotti. >> reporter: gotti's wife, amanda rodriguez is still being held in a brazil jail. she is the sole suspect in the murder, after police say she strangled her husband with her purse strap while he slept. now, her lawyers argue it isn't fair to hold her while police are investigating. rodriguez insists she didn't do it. and says she woke up after a night of partying only to find him dead. >> the couple have a 10-month- old son. it is not clear if he was in the apartment at the time. and he is now being cared for by family. >>> a group of children accepts the apology of a swim club that turned them away. but as elizabeth hurr reports for wjz, some of the children will not forget this incident. >> reporter: the delaware valley gymnastics academy brought out all of the toys and about a dozen coaches to accommodate these last-minute guests. >> we're just going to let them enjoy

karen brown has more from los angeles with the latest developments. >> i have the bling. >> the bling. [ laughter ] >> reporter: lucky fans are getting ousted before the memorial. >> i will wristband you now. >> this he have been driving to dodger stadium to pick up the tickets and wristbands for the service. >> i never worn anything in my -- won anything. i won this. for real. >> reporter: more than a million and a half fans registered to attend the service. and zach whitney was one of the names chosen. >> it will be a wonderful experience and great tribute to a wonderful man. >> reporter: los angeles police are urging those without ticket to watch the service from home. all five networks will broadcast the memorial. a effort is underway here to accommodate the media. in court, wrangling has started over jackson's estate. >> woo very no reason to believe this will turn into a nasty fight. >> his mother filed to oversee the estate but the singer's long-time attorney and family friend should be in charge as jackson laid out in the will. >> do not touch me. >> over the weekend cameras c

karen brown, wjz eyewitness news. >>> the couple was carrying for 12 children.ad developmental disabilities. >>> a michigan mother doles out an unusual punishment after her son and nephews are caught at school. she made the boys, who are ages 8 and 14, wear a sign saying what they had done. >> i was embarrassed. so i want them to feel the same embarrassment that i felt. i just wanted something more, you know, more extensive but not hurtful. >> reporter: they aren't done with mom's justice just yet. they will be raising money with a car wash in order to repay the school for the damage they caused. >>> check in with eyewitness news at 6:00 for all of the news stories coming up. >>> feeling the burn. not from the sun, but a massive invasion of jellyfish. >>> new at 6:00, why the number is up dramatically. and -- >>> i'm mary bubala. a place you would think is influenced by a gang. but all of that changed with the death of a 4-year-old. >>> check in for these stories new at 6:00. but now it's back to kai. >>> it's the test many high school students dread taking, the

karen brown, wjz eyewitness news. >> reporter: cronkite will be buried in missouri next to his wife. separate public memorial will be held in a few weeks at new york's lincoln center. >> reporter: president obama is not giving up. today, he takes his message of healthcare reform straight to the american people to convince american people that his plan will work. the president held a town hall meeting in cleveland where he took questions from the public. it's another effort to make his voice heard above the battle going on in congress. both republicans and democrats have expressed criticism of the plan, calling it too expensive. >> house democratic bill increases the deficit by nearly a quarter trillion dollars. increases taxes on employers. and i don't know why we want to do that during one of the worst recessions in decades. >> reporter: president obama has told congress that he wants the final healthcare reform bill on his desk before their august recess. but today, leading senate democrats said they have already abandoned plans to vote before then. saying they need more time to co

karen brown has that story from manhattan. >> reporter: family and friends of the legendary legendary walter cronkite came to celebrate. some of the biggest names in television news were there including his two successors. katie couric and dan rather. andy rooney was the first to remember the television news pioneer and couldn't finish what he had planned to say. >> i just feel so terrible about walter's death that i can hardly say anything. he has been such a good friend over the years. please excuse me. >> reporter: his family planned every detail of the traditional service. and while he was considered the most trusted man in america to his oldest son chip he was dad. >> i loved my dad. i loved him coming home for dinner so we could talk about that night's program. i loved riding my bike to meet him in the summer when he drove home to the country house. >> reporter: the walter cronkite family has been deeply connected to this same church. his wife's funeral was held back here in 1995. his passion for sailing. he loved new orleans jazz. the family whose when the saints go marching in

karen brown, cbs news. >> that couple owned several local businesses, including a finance company and a used car dealership. they had 17 children, 13 of them adopted. >> two members of the virginia national guard was accused of distributing video of female soldiers taking showers. specialist matthew belong to a military police unit based in manassas, virginia. the alleged incident took place in new jersey before the unit was deployed to iraq last year. those soldiers face up to 18 years in prison. >> bernard madoff is on the move. a federal bureau of prison spokesperson said he is now at the federal prison in buttner, north carolina. he was transferred there from an atlanta prison this morning. he was sentenced to 150 years in prison for bilking thousands of investors out of billions of dollars. >>> a las vegas landmark has been tagged and the search is on for vandals who scribbled red marker on the famous sign that greets visitors. back on may 1, that sign was entered into the national register of historic places. >>> the best small town to live in in the united states is lewisville,

karen, back to you. . >> get this. someone has been drawing gawkers on the north carolina coast. >> he is about 4 or 5 feet long. brown. not very big. i mean, about the size of me. >> an alvate with body surfing waves at the beach. but if you have a vacation planned there. do not worry. the police arrested the gator and held it until wildlife officials came to get it. >> you are watching a man save a 3-year-old girl's life. the girl was in an suv with her grandmother, when the vehicle rolled over. >> it was funny, when i pulled her out of the car, dragged her into my car, and she said that was really scary, and i was thinking, you have no idea. >> the girl suffered bruised ribs and bloody nose but fine, thanks to don mcdonald's, grandma is fine too. >> like six-years-old, diana dreams of being treated like a princess, but she has terminal brain cancer and six months to live. the kids wish network took her by horse carriage to a local wal-mart to a $1500 shopping spree spree. at least for a day her dreams came true. >> patrice harris, fox 45 news "late edition". . >> still ahead on the "late edition". . >> the final da