marcy gonzales with more now.was wuchbt world's best selling and best known authors just 66 years old when he passed away yesterday in a baltimore hospital. leaving behind intense story lines and characters like cia act jack ryan, jumping from pages of the novels to big screen success. >> the hunt for red october pro claimed him on the "new york times" bestseller list in 1985. propelled there after ronald reagan sedz sez he couldn't put the book down. clancy started as an insurance salesman but had a great love for the military telling about his ability to write about u.s. intelligence with detail and accuracy. >> where do you get that information? >> it's all out in the open. i call it connect the dots this, is true this, is true. there has to be something in between the two that is also true. just connect the dots. >> military insight brought him respect of other high-ranking fans. colin powell says he lost a dear friend today. adding his favorite novel was "clear and present danger". it, along with "patriot gam

marcy gonzales abc news, new york. >> still no word onç exactlyxd what caused the death of best sellingthor tom clans yeechl he became one of the literary world's best known authors writing a series of complex military thriller novels. his debut book "the hunt for red october" considered one of the best genre novels ever written. some were adapted as hollywood blockbusters. his career as a writer almost neverç happened. he studied english in college later says he wasn't smart enough for the science. clancy died this morning in baltimore. he was 66. k at them with we co back in our day, that u-verse wireless receiver. we couldn't just move the tv wherever we wanted. yeah, our birthday entertainment was a mathemagician. because if there's anything that improves magic, it's math. the only thing he taught us was how to subtract kids from a party. ♪ let's get some cake in you. i could go for some cake. [ male announcer ] switch and add a wireless receiver. get u-verse tv for $19 a month for 2 years with qualifying bundles. rethink possible. >>> apple may unveil a new ipad. >> and a small ga

marcy gonzales, abc news, new york. >> house and senate negotiators began crafting a compromise foreign bill that would include cuts to the food stamp programs. on friday, a family of four receiving food stamps will receive $36 less per month. food stamps now cost $80 combrinl a year. house farm bill cutting food stamps and change eligibility and work requirements the senate bill cutting a tenth of the aamount. >>> a major step in the senate that would prohibit discrime nating on sexual identity. joe mansion announced he will now support the legislation the bill has 59 confirmed supporters. on monday, majority leader reid announced he'd bring a bill to the vote before thanksgiving. >> disturbing united nations reports saying the large number under aged girls giving birth is a major problem in developing countries world wide, one in five girls gives birth before turning 18 and a quarter give birth before age 15. the highest pregnancy rates in subis a har harin -- sub-saharan africa. >> community activists want to see high school coaches fired for disguises worn for to a halloween party.

marcy gonzales, abc news, new york >>> maryland attorney general says he should have investigated whether there was under aged drinking going nona high school graduation party after a photo surfaced showing him at that event. it occurred? n.june in, delaware. douglas ganzer stopped by to tell his son what time they hadded to leechlt the photo shows him in a group of teens three dance on a table top. >> now, you know, you i should have assumed they were drinking and talked about what they thought was appropriate. i wasn't there to make sure they were drinking or nochlt that wasn't why i was there. >> he is a candidate for governor and says he considers himself a good parent >>> up next at 4:00 halloween costumes lighting up online >> and later, daily aspirin and health benefits but some say the risks may outweigh benefits >> our forecast for the weekend is a work of art in itself. i'll have that coming up >>> take a look at traffic this is mcarthur maze, you can see drivers making their way east, it's slow going. perhaps just a bit easier for drivers on the right side of the screen heading

marcy gonzales with more now. >> reporter: students returning to school today.the scene where a beloved math teacher was murdered this week. the grief, evident everywhere. >> we can get through but it's not going to be the same. >> painted on cars and displayed at the entrance of the school, one of her favorite sayings. being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. that is how she is remembered a good person that stayed late to help, including one student says, on the day she was killed, eaching out to the 14-year-old charged in her death. >> he wasn't participating in place for a couple weeks. he's just been quiet. extra quiet. yes. yes. >> reporter: law enforcement tells abc news after school, he followed her in the womens' bathroom, killing wher a box cutter putting her body in a recycling bin and moving her to the woods the whole time, wearing a hat and gloves then, sources say he changed clothes and twoent a movie theater arrested hours later pleading not guilty. students are still struggling with cope with the crime today. >> it haunts me. i

marcy gonzales, abc news, new york. >>> nation's top intelligence officials went before congress to defend a massive spying program. the house intill jens committee examining accusations the phone calls were monitored. thee tails from documents revealed by former nsa contractor edward snowden. james clapper promised to prove the government has been acting appropriately. >> we know the public wants to know whether the government can be trusted to use this appropriately. we believe we have been lawful. >> democratic senator dianne feinstein says she will launch a review of the gathering. bipartisan legislation would scale back massive sweep of phone records. >>> an apology from the head of medicare. she faced harsh questioning from lawmakers. medicare chief says the problems can be fixed and the site would soon work as promised. there are wide spread reports people unable to log on or purchase coverage. texas republican kevin brady asked for a guarantee no american would excombreerns a gap in coverage. >> we have a system working. we're going to improve the speed of the system. >> excuse me?