captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: a new congress with old problems. 94 freshmense and senate members were sworn in today as the most diverse legislature in american history opened for business. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: employers added 155,000 new jobs in december, while the nation's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.8%. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we have the latest on the final 2012 jobs report, and get a picture of the economic forecast in different regions of the country. >> woodruff: then, we talk to npr reporter deborah amos about the devastation in syria as the death toll in the two-year civil war climbs to over 60,000. >> brown: special correspondent john tulenko examines ohio's retention rule for schools-- finish third grade being able to read or be held back. >> up until third grade you're learning to read, after third grade you're

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: in the final news conference of his first term, president obama said he will not negotiate with congressional republicans on raising the nation's debt ceiling. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight, we'll examine what the president said about tackling the government deficit and reducing gun violence. >> brown: then, we turn to the west african nation of mali, where french troops have launched air strikes on islamic militants. three jihaddist groups now deemed a clear and present danger to the capital and beyond, a threat to africa and europe. >> woodruff: margaret warner has the story of the suicide of a young internet wizard who was facing federal charges for hacking and distributing online data he thought should be made public. >> brown: ray suarez updates the changes in cuba, where travel restrictions r

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: president obama filled out his second termnal security team today, tapping former republican senator chuck hagel for the top job at the defense department and counterterrorism adviser john brennan to run the c.i.a. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight, we have more on the nominations and the vigorous debate about the president's picks. >> ifill: then margaret warner has the latest on an $8.5 billion settlement against ten major banks over foreclosure abuses. >> woodruff: ray suarez breaks down a new report detailing health care spending since the passing of the affordable care act. >> ifill: and we continue our series of conversations with newly elected members of congress. tonight: texas republican senator ted cruz, a vocal opponent of the eleventh-hour fiscal cliff deal.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: in a move to cut down on gun violence in the united states, president obama will announce an initiative tomorrow to include restrictions on guns and ammunition. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we get the latest on the administration proposals and on measures being discussed in several state legislatures. >> woodruff: plus we have two separate interviews about the gun debate, with delaware governor jack markell and national rifle association president david keene. >> brown: then, spencer michels asks california governor jerry brown if his fiscal turnaround-- from a $27 billion deficit to a balanced budget-- offers a lesson for the nation. . >> you have to make tough choices. you have to live within your means. that means you have to not do everything you want to but you also have to raise more

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: a new congress with old problems. 94 freshmen house and senate members were sworn in today as the most diverse legislature in american history opened for business. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we profile this new congress with its record number of women and minorities and look at the hurdles ahead. >> brown: then, the cliffhanger and the cliffs to come. maya macguineas, robert reich, and douglas holtz-eakin debate the deal struck by congress and the white house. >> woodruff: margaret warner has the latest from india where the suspects in a new delhi gang- rape were officially charged with murder, rape, and kidnapping today. >> brown: the crisis beneath the streets. miles o'brien reports on a growing threat to the country's infrastructure-- aging sewer systems. >> in detroit, there are 3,500 miles of sewer lines, some of them dating back to the mid 19th century, the crumbling pipes offer a glimpse at a huge national engineering challenge that is largely unseen and

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: the first working day of president obama'second term began with an inter-faith prayer service at washington's national cathedral. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, what's ahead for the next four years? we explore the vision and the agenda laid out in the president's inaugural address. >> brown: then, from tel aviv, margaret warner reports on the israeli elections, as prime minister benjamin netanyahu's party was on track to stay in power by a narrow margin. netanyahu tries to put together, it's sure to include new faces and new agendas that will influence the country. >> ifill: we examine a new study on concussions, showing the impact of hard hits on the brains of living but retired n.f.l. players. >> i go through stages where i think how come i can't remember that and i always wondered are these age-related or are they conclusion related?

what c captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> my fellow americans, we are made for thist and we will seize it so long as we seize it together. >> ifill: president obama called for unity and equality in his second inaugural address, delivered today on the west front of the capitol. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. we devote tonight's newshour to the 57th inauguration. with full coverage of the pageantry, the ceremonial swearing-in, the speech, the parade, and more. >> ifill: ray suarez reports on the sights and sounds from the nation's mall, where hundreds of thousands of people from around the country and the world gathered to witness today's events. >> we don't think we'll have one like this president in my lifetime. we're just delighted to be a part of this. >> brown: mark shields and david brooks offer analysis. >> ifill: on this day that coincides with the martin luther king, jr., holiday, we get perspective from presidential historians richard norton smith, nn

>> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, l captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions eight senators unveiled an immigration reform plan that will offer a pass to citizenship for 11 million people living in the u.s. illegally. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy wood rough. on the newshour tonight, we explore the details and the politics with two senators who helped craft the proposal. illinois democrat dick durbin and arizona republican jeff flake. >> ifill: then we turn to conflicts in three places around the world beginning with a renewed wave of unrest in egypt that's left more than 50 people dead. >> woodruff: from israel margaret warner reports on fears of islamic militants and chemical weapons just over the border. >> warner: with conflict raging inside syria, israel's taking no chances. it's now fortifying the security barrier behind me to guard against any dangers that may arise. >> ifill: and from mali, lindsay hilsum has a story of celebration as french and local forces push north to capture two key towns.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: on the anniversary of a mass shootingizona, and in the aftermath of the newtown school massacre, anti- gun advocates today ramped up their campaign. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we look at the drumbeat for action, and get an update on the second day of hearings for the suspect in the colorado theater shootings. >> woodruff: then we examine the investigation into the 9/11 attacks on the u.s. consulate in benghazi, libya, when four americans were killed, as the sole suspect in custody is released. >> ifill: spencer michels reports on the boom in online teaching and its impact on traditional liberal arts education.

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: many hostages have been freed in algeria, but confusion continues over the number killed and the state of the standoff with islamic militants. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the newshour tonight, we have the latest on the efforts to secure the remaining captives, and itn's lindsey hilsum looks at the intensifying conflict in neighboring mali. >> malian soldiers say they have to chance of con froningt the jihadies and the people i have been seeing today are just terrified >> brown: then, we have two takes on monday's presidential inauguration. first, a look at the massive preparations underway for the grand ceremony. >> he'll walk down the hall, and then he'll go outside, and when he opens those doors, he'll see hundreds of thousands of people cheering at him. it will be a sight that is awesome. >> suarez: and inaugural poet richard blanco discusses what it means to be a part of such a momentous occasion. >> brown: we have more on the

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> my fellow americans, we are made for this moment and we will seize it so long as we seize it together. >> ifill: president obama called for unity and equality in his second inaugural address, delivered today on the west front of the capitol. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. we devote tonight's newshour to the 57th inauguration. with full coverage of the pageantry, the ceremonial swearing-in, the speech, the parade, and more. >> ifill: ray suarez reports on the sights and sounds from the nation's mall, where hundreds of thousands of people from around the country and the world gathered to witness today's events. >> we don't think we'll have one like this president in my lifetime. we're just delighted to be a part of this. >> brown: mark shields and david brooks offer analysis. >> ifill: on this day that coincides with the martin luther king, jr., holiday, we get perspective from presidential historians richard norton smith, annette gordon reed, and beverly gage. >> brown: and we close with the words of a

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: the president's pick to be the next secretary of defense, former senator chuck hagel, defended his record today and said america must engage-- not retreat-- in the world. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we excerpt today's confirmation hearing, as republicans sparred with the former vietnam combat veteran about the war in iraq and more. >> brown: then, we have two stories from the middle east, beginning with a dramatic late- night rescue of syrian refugees, fleeing across the border to jordan. >> woodruff: and a margaret warner report about the threat a nuclear-armed iran poses to israel. >> if they accumulate enough uranium which is close to weapons grade, enough uranium which enables them to detonate one nuclear device: to me is clearly a redline. >> brown: former vice president al gore joins us to talk about his new book as well as money politics and the future of democracy. >> the congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permiss

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: a federal court ruled president obama's appointments to the national labor relations board made during a congressional recess were unconstitutional. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> sreenivasan: and i'm hari sreenivasan. on the newshour tonight, we get the latest on the decision and the reaction from the white house. >> brown: then, we hear from two of our newshour colleagues on the road: margaret warner reports from jerusalem on moves in israel to form a new coalition government. >> sreenivasan: and ray suarez updates the high-powered meetings of heads of state, business leaders, and others at the world economic forum in davos, switzerland. >> brown: from mali, lindsey hilsum looks at tensions caused by government troops as they advance into islamist territory. >> sreenivasan: spencer michels has a story about trash and one city's crusade to eliminate all of it. >> reporter: san francisco boasts that it recycles 80% of all garbage, and is aiming for zero waste. but some skeptics don't believe it. >> brown: plus, mark sh

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: a new study shows most teenagers who think about, or attempt, suicide have already had some mental health treatment. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we get the latest on the findings coming in the largest study ever of suicidal behavior among adolescents. >> ifill: then, we turn to today's arguments at the supreme court over whether police need warrants to order blood tests for suspected drunk drivers. >> brown: should the number of u.s. troops in afghanistan fall to zero by the end of next year? judy woodruff gets two views of that option-- one the obama administration says it may consider. >> ifill: ray suarez has the story of playful robots given a very serious mission: helping people with special needs from elderly adults to autistic children. >> this kind of a tool might be an interesting way to bridge the gap, pull ch

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: president obama pushed today for an overhaul of immigration laws, and endorsed the bipartisan plan announced by a group of senators yesterday. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we get two views of the immigration debate and the potential political hurdles ahead. >> woodruff: then, kwame holman reports on the budget crisis facing former senator chuck hagel if he's confirmed as the next secretary of defense. >> when he takes office, the first challenge he has is he'll be in the middle of the sequester fight meaning an automatic across-the-board cut for the defense budget and every other federal budget that is supposed to happen march 1. >> ifill: and we look at the big money groups supporting and attacking hagel's nomination. >> woodruff: we have two takes on the war in mali, an on-the- ground report from the newly liberated town of gao... >> ifill: ...and an update on the destruction of ancient manuscripts in the fabled city of timbuktu. >> woodruff: and we close with the stor

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: the president's pick to be the next secretary of defense, former senator chuck hagel, defended his record today and said america must engage-- not retreat-- in the world. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we excerpt today's confirmation hearing, as republicans sparred with the former vietnam combat veteran about the war in iraq and more. >> brown: then, we have two stories from the middle east, beginning with a dramatic late- night rescue of syrian refugees, fleeing across the border to jordan. >> woodruff: and a margaret warner report about the threat a nuclear-armed iran poses to israel. >> if they accumulate enough uranium which is close to weapons grade, enough uranium which enables them to detonate one nuclear device: to me is clearly a redline. >> brown: former vice president al gore joins us to talk about his new book as well as money, politics and the future of democracy. >> the congress is virtually incapable of passing any reforms unless they first get permis

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: former congresswoman gabrielle giffords-- herself wounded by a gunman-- made a dramatic appeal today for more restrictions on gun ownership. >> too many children are dying, too many children, we must do something. >> ifill: good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we excerpt giffords' testimony and that of a national rifle association executive at the first formal congressional hearing on gun violence since the massacre in newtown, connecticut. >> proposing more gun control laws, while failing to enforce the thousands we already have, is not a serious solution to reducing crime. >> ifill: then, we assess the state of the economic recovery, as key indicators show trends both up and down. >> brown: from jerusalem, margaret warner has the latest on the attack by israeli warplanes inside syria. >> ifill: judy woodruff talks with newly elected senator ta baldwin, a democrat from wisconsin. >> brown: we examine how some

. >> bbc captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: joined by children and families of those killed in the newtown massacre, president obama today unveiled the most ambitious effort to stem gun violence in at least two decades. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we detail the president's proposals, including bans on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and offer some perspective in a wide- ranging roundtable discussion. >> brown: then, margaret warner talks with retired u.s. general stanley mcchrystal about his command of the war in afghanistan and his new book "my share of the task." >> the afghan people are terrified. they're scared they're going to have their allies leave, their government is weak and that there's a chance they will slide back into not just taliban control but potentially civil war. >> suarez: on tonight's daily download, we look back at the 2012 election and ahead to the

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: president obama today named white house chief of staff jack lew as his next secretary of the treasury. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we have more on the man and the economic agenda he has been tapped to spearhead for the next four years. >> brown: then, ray suarez gets an update on a series of bombings that killed more than 100 people in two pakistani cities today. >> woodruff: margaret warner looks into new federal guidelines for mortgage lending aimed at protecting both consumers and lenders. >> brown: we look at the tense political situation in venezuela, after the national assembly delayed the inauguration of cancer-stricken president hugo chavez. >> this is essentially a power play. behind that secrecy there is nothing but an attempt to ensure the continuity of the regime regardless of president chavez's presence. >> woodruff: and with five oscar nominations, we examine the controversy surrounding one of the most talked about new films yet to see a natio

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: in the final news conference of his first term, president obama said he will not negotiate with congressional republicans on raising the nation's debt ceiling. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight, we'll examine what the president said about tackling the government deficit and reducing gun violence. >> brown: then, we turn to the west african nation of mali, where french troops have launched air strikes on islamic militants. three jihaddist groups now deemed a clear and present danger to the capital and beyond, a threat to africa and europe. >> woodruff: margaret warner has the story of the suicide of a young internet wizard who was facing federal charges for hacking and distributing online data he thought should be made public. >> brown: ray suarez updates the changes in cuba, where travel restrictions were eased today for citizens hoping to come and go. >> it is still one of the most repressive places in terms of its human rights record but we welcome any liberalizatio

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: former congresswoman gabrielle giffords-- herself wounded by a gunman-- made a dramatic appeal today for more restrictions on gun ownership. >> too many children are dying, too many children, we must do something. >> ifill: good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we excerpt giffords' testimony and that of a national rifle association executive at the first formal congressional hearing on gun violence since the massacre in newtown, connecticut. >> proposing more gun control laws, while failing to enforce the thousands we already have, is not a serious solution to reducing crime. >> ifill: then, we assess the state of the economic recovery, as key indicators show trends both up and down. >> brown: from jerusalem, margaret warner has the latest on the attack by israeli warplanes inside syria. >> ifill: judy woodruff talks with newly elected senator tammy baldwin, a democrat from wisconsin. >> brown: we examine how some schools are translating lessons into real world applications

reti cong ond sosp captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: many hostages have been freed in algeria, but confusion continues over the number killed and the state of the standoff with islamic militants. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the newshour tonight, we have the latest on the efforts to secure the remaining captives, and itn's lindsey hilsum looks at the intensifying conflict in neighboring mali. >> malian soldiers say they have to chance of con froningt the jihadies and the people i have been seeing today are just terrified >> brown: then, we have two takes on monday's presidential inauguration. first, a look at the massive preparations underway for the grand ceremony. >> he'll walk down the hall, and then he'll go outside, and when he opens those doors, he'll see hundreds of thousands of people cheering at him. it will be a sight that is awesome. >> suarez: and inaugural poet richard blanco discusses what it means to be a part of such a momentous occasion. >> brown: we have more on the fallout after lance armstrong's admissi

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: president obama and afghan president karzai nounced today that u.s. troops in afghanistan would shift away from a combat role this spring. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we look at the changing u.s.-afghanistan relationship after 11 years of war against al qaeda and the taliban with an endgame in sight. >> woodruff: then, margaret warner looks into the faa's decision to review boeing's troubled 787 dreamliner. >> brown: ray suarez talks with "washington post" reporter cecilia kang, who walks us through the high-tech offerings at this year's consumer electronics show. >> samsung came up with a very interesting 5.5 inch flexible screen that kind of makes you imagine all kinds of possibilities >> woodruff: plus mark shields and david brooks analyze the week's news. that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> and by bnsf railway. >> support also comes from carnegie corporation of new york, a foundation creat

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: congress stepped back from the brink of financial turmoil, at least for now, after the house passed a tax plan late last night and sent it to president obama. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight, we look at how the vote came about and sort through some of the political consequences as a result of what's in the bill and what's not. >> brown: then, new killings in pakistan, we look at the uptick in violence against aid workers and women teachers with "washington post" foreign affairs reporter pam constable. >> woodruff: paul solman takes us inside a company that turns a profit by employing an unusual workforce. >> a massachusetts manufacturing firm founded in 1932 where the median age is 74 and rosa finnegan over there, is 100. >> brown: and ray suarez talks with journalist and author claudia kolker about what she calls "the immigrant advantage." >> i began to ask foreign-born people what i call the question: what's the smartest thing that people did in your home coun

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: the algerian government launched an assault on a gas plant to free hostages including some americans, taken by islamic militants. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we get the latest on the conflicting reports about how many died or escaped in the raid and on the escalating tensions in nearby mali. >> brown: then, we turn again to the debate over gun laws and examine proposals to identify and treat those with mental illnesses. >> suarez: we update the case against army private bradley manning, accused of leaking thousands of classified military documents online. >> that has are messages that came out from bin laden asking for specific documents that were released. specifically documents regarding it will war logs of iraq and afghanistan. >> brown: from india, fred de sam lazaro has the story of an unlikely solution to massive black-outs and power-grid problems, using the by-product of a staple. >> the newly electrified homes stand out in the dark-with children clustered ar

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions eight senators unveiled an immigration reform plan that will offer a pass to citizenship for 11 million people living in the u.s. illegally. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy wood rough. on the newshour tonight, we explore the details and the politics with two senators who helped craft the proposal. illinois democrat dick durbin and arizona republican jeff flake. >> ifill: then we turn to conflicts in three places around the world beginning with a renewed wave of unrest in egypt that's left more than 50 people dead. >> woodruff: from israel margaret warner reports on fears of islamic militants and chemical weapons just overr thee border. >> warner: with conflict raging inside syria, israel's taking no chances. it's now fortifying the security barrier behind me to guard against any dangers that may arise. >> ifill: and from mali, lindsay hilsum has a story of celebration as french and local forces push north to capture two key towns. >> reporter: look at these people. just thrilled because they can dance. they can

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: president obama pushed today for an overhaul of immigration laws, and endorsed the bipartisan plan announced by a group of senators yesterday. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we get two views of the immigration debate and the potential political hurdles ahead. >> woodruff: then, kwame holman reports on the budget crisis facing former senator chuck hagel if he's confirmed as the next secretary of defense. >> when he takes office, the first challenge he has is he'll be in the middle of the sequester fight meaning an automatic across-the-board cut for the defense budget and every other federal budget that is supposed to happen march 1. >> ifill: and we look at the big money groups supporting and attacking hagel's nomination. >> woodruff: we have two takes onhe war in mali, an on-the- ground report from the newly liberated town of gao... >> ifill: ...and an update on the destruction of ancient manuscripts in the fabled city of timbuktu. >> woodruff: and we close with the story

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: defense secretary leon panetta said lifting the ban on women serving in combat will make the u.s. military stronger. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we examine the historic move, which opens more than 200,000 jobs to women. >> ifill: then, we turn to u.s. foreign policy, as confirmation hearings begin for secretary of state nominee john kerry, two former national security advisers stephen hadley and zbigniew brzezinski weigh in. >> brown: paul solman looks at china's fast growing economy and asks, is it headed for a crash? >> wages are rising for the burgeoning middle class, but for hardscrabble factory workers: mounting protests against unlivable wages and working conditions. >> ifill: and vice president joe biden hangs out with hari sreenivasan on google plus to talk about gun violence. >> make your voices heard. this town listens when people rise up and speak. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." >> major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided b

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: president obama filled out his second term national security team today, tapping former republican senator chuck hagel for the top job at the defense department and counterterrorism adviser john brennan to run the c.i.a. good evening. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight, we have more on the nominations and the vigorous debate about the president's picks. >> ifill: then margaret warner has the latest on an $8.5 billion settlement against ten major banks over foreclosure abuses. >> woodruff: ray suarez breaks down a new report detailing health care spending since the passing of the affordable care act. >> ifill: and we continue our series of conversations with newly elected members of congress. tonight: texas republican senator ted cruz, a vocal opponent of the eleventh-hour fiscal cliff deal. >> i would have voted against it because i think it was a lousy deal. it wasn't a serious response to the grave fiscal and economic problems facing this country. >> major funding for the pbs newshour

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: on the anniversary of a mass shooting in arizona, and in the aftermath of the newtown school massacre, anti- gun advocates today ramped up their campaign. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we look at the drumbeat for action, and get an update on the second day of hearings for the suspect in th colorado eater shootings. >> woodruff: then we examine the investigation into the 9/11 attacks on the u.s. consulate in benghazi, libya, when four americans were killed, as the sole suspect in custody is released. >> ifill: spencer michels reports on the boom in online teaching and its impact on traditional liberal arts education. . >> woodruff: ray suarez looks into china's current crackdown on the internet and on its own news media, which is drawing protests. >> ifill: and we remember pulitzer prize-winning journalist richard ben cramer, whose work spanned presidential politics and the lives of superstar athletes. that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. >> major funding for the

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: former congresswoman gabrielle giffords-- herself wounded by a gunman-- made a dramatic appeal today for more restrictions on gun ownership. >> too many children are dying too many children, we must do something. >> ifill: good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we excerpt giffords' testimony and that of a national rifle association executive at the first formal congressional hearing on gun violence since the massacre in newtown, connecticut. >> proposing more gun control laws, while failing to enforce the thousands we already have, is not a serious solution to reducing crime. >> ifill: then, we assess the state of the economic recovery, as key indicators show trends both up and down. >> brown: from jerusalem, margaret warner has the latest on the attack by israeli warplanes inside syria. >> ifill: judy woodruff talks with newly elected senator tammy baldwin, a democrat from wisconsin. >> brown: we examine how some schools are translating lessons into real world applications

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: the algerian government launched an assault on a gas plant to free hostages, including some americans, taken by islamic militants. good evening, i'm jeffrey brown. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we get the latest on the conflicting reports about how many died or escaped in the raid and on the escalating tensions in nearby mali. >> brown: then, we turn again to the debate over gun laws and examine proposals to identify and treat those with mental illnesses. >> suarez: we update the case against army private bradley manning, accused of leaking thousands of classified military documes onne. >> that has are messages that came out from bin laden asking for specific documents that were released. specifically documents regarding it will war logs of iraq and afghanistan. >> brown: from india, fred de sam lazaro has the story of an unlikely solution to massive black-outs and power-grid problems, using the by-product of a staple. >> the newly electrified homes stand out in the dark-with children clustered aroun

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: a new study shows most teenagers who think about, or attempt, suicide have already had some mental health treatment. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we get the latest on the findings coming in the largest study ever of suicidal behavior among adolescents. >> ifill: then, we turn to today's arguments at the supreme court over whether police need warrants to order blood tests for suspected drunk drivers. >> brown: should the number of u.s. troops in afghanistan fall to zero by the end of next year? judy woodruff gets two views of that option-- one the obama administration says it may consider. >> ifill: ray suarez has the story of playful robots given a very serious mission: helping people with special needs from elderly adults to autistic children. >> this kind of a tool might be an interesting way to bridge the gap, pull the child, if you will, from the world of objects and the focus on objects over to the world of humans. >> brown: we update the outbreak of the flu, as

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: an occasionally defiant hillary clinton today took responsibility for missteps that led to the deadly attack on a u.s. consulate in libya and said she's bolstered embassy security around the world since then. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we offer extended excerpts from today's hearings, where members of congress grilled the secretary of state about what happened during the benghazi raid and who was responsible. >> the fact is we have four dead americans. >> i understand. >> it was becauseave protest or because of guys out for a walk one night and decided to go kill some americans? what difference at this point does it maix? >> ifill: plus, how has the turmoil in north africa overall affected u.s. foreign policy? we get some answers. >> brown: then, two military stories. we get the latest on defense secretary leon panetta's decision to lift the ban on women serving in combat. >> ifill: and we explore the pros and cons of drone warfare and examine the technology beh

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> ifill: defense secretary leon panetta said lifting the ban on women serving in combat will make the u.s. military stronger. good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we examine the historic move, which opens more than 200,000 jobs to women. >> ifill: then, we turn to u.s. foreign policy, as confirmation hearings begin for secretary of state nominee john kerry, two former national security advisers stephen hadley and zbigniew brzezinski weigh in. >> brown: paul solman looks at china's fast growing economy and asks, is it headed for a crash? >> wages are rising for the burgeoning middle class, but for hardscrabble factory workers: mounting protests against unlivable wages and working conditions. >> ifill: and vice president joe biden hangs out with hari sreenivasan on google plus to talk about gun violence. >> make your voices heard. this town listens when people rise up and speak. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour."

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> brown: a federal court ruled president obama's appointments to the national labor relations board made during a congressional recess were unconstitutional. good evening. i'm jeffrey brown. >> sreenivasan: and i'm hari sreenivasan. on the newshour tonight, we get the latest on the decision and the reaction from the white house. >> brown: then, we hear from two of our newshour colleagues on the road: margaret warner reports from jerusalem on moves in israel to form a new coalition government. >> sreenivasan: and ray suarez updates the high-powered meetings of heads of state, business leaders, and others at the world economic forum in davos, switzerland. >> brown: from mali, lindsey hilsum looks at tensions caused by government troops as they advance into islamist territory. >> sreenivasan: spencer michels has a story about trash and one city's crusade to eliminate all of it. >> reporter: san francisco boasts that it recycles 80% of all garbage, and is aiming for zero waste. but some skeptics don't believe it. >> brown: plus, mark sh

captioning sponsored by macneil/lehrer productions >> woodruff: president obama pushed today for an overhaul of immigration laws, and endorsed the bipartisan plan announced by a group of senators yesterday. good evening. i'm judy woodruff. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we get two views of the immigration debate and the potential political hurdles ahead. >> woodruff: then, kwame holman reports on the budget crisis facing former senator chuck hagel if he's confirmed as the next secretary of defense. >> when he takes office, the first challenge he has is he'll be in the middle of the sequester fight meaning an automatic across-the-board cut for the defense budget and every other federal budget that is supposed to happen march 1. >> ifill: and we look at the big money groups supporting and attacking hagel's nomination. >> woodruff: we have two takes on the war in mali, an on-the- ground report from the newly liberated town of gao... >> ifill: ...and an update on the destruction of ancient manuscripts in the fabled city of timbuktu. >> woodruff: and we close with the stor