paul allen wants this thing flying sometime within the next five years.st tracked because nasa no longer has shuments to ferry astronauts back and forth. it will carry a rocket into orbit and the october the will carry -- and the rocket will disengage from the plane, and the rocket fuel will propel it into the lower orbit of the earth's atmosphere. but if you are going to have a plane that carries a rocket, it has to be a big plane. the stratolaunch, look at size of this thing to scale. it's almost twice the size of a 747 and it has two fuselages. here is paul allen. >> it will build an air launch system with greater safety, flexibility and cost effectiveness for cargo and manned mission. >> reporter: paul allen says his main goal is to some day get every day humans like us up into space. and he thinks they would be a lot less intimidated if they were to get into this plane and climb into the rocket than climb into a capsule. five years, 2016. we are signed up. megyn: that's incredible. with the big success you have big dreams and big thoughts. that us un

paul allen had a little adventure like this a few years ago and spent $20 million on it a few years ago and this go around, $200 million. this is the vehicle, this isn't going to go into space, this is going to be the carrier of the rocket to about 30,000 feet and from there we launch it into space. it has six jumbo jet airplane jets to get it up to that altitude and carry the rocket. $20 million. the goal here is to have the first test flight in 2015 and then first commercial flight in 2016. so, here's a run down of how it's going to work. goes to about 30,000 feet and it's going to need a couple miles of runway to take off and land. once it gets to 30,000 feet. the rocket itself will be launched. they're actually going to tilt it up and accelerate for a bit and get it at the proper trojectory. they'll launch that rocket and goes wherever you need. their motto is any orbit, any time. here's what paul allen had to say. >> by the end of this decade, stratolaunch will give tomorrow's children something to search for in the night sky and dream about. >> i love it. sir richard branson is th

. >> a hit for guys who want to build the biggest airplanes, rutten and paul allen says he's going to200 million dollars po build planes to put up stop light and this is the wright brothers, aen we need that. >> paul: could be better than nasa. this is this edition of the journal editor ral report,

paul allen, the billionaire cofounder of microsoft has a plan to build the world's largest airplane and use it to launch rocket ships into earth ice orbit. the craft will be powered by six boeing 747 engines and have a wingspan of 385 feet, which is nearly double that of a 747. >> the wingspan is greater than the length of a football field. just think about that for a second. >> in 2004, allen and his designer built spaceship one, a similar, but smaller system that became the first privately funded spacecraft to fly into outer space. allen won't say how much he plans to spend, but sighs it eventually should make money launching private satellites and carrying payloads for nasa. and back on earth and namely the north bay. we do have patchy, freezing fog in the overnight forecast. followed by another alert affecting your wednesday. pinpoint forecast as eyewitness news continues. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> evening is coming to an end on this tuesday, december 13. 61 degrees in santa cruz. now heading on outdoors to walnut creek where the temperatures dipped down into the upper 30s. after e

just think about that for a second. [ applause ] >> reporter: paul allen, billionaire cofounder of microsoft, has a plan to build the world's biggest airplane and use it to launch rockets into earth's orbit. the twin fuselage craft will be powered by six boeing 747 engines and have a wingspan of 385 feet, nearly double that of a 747. it will carry a rocket to 30,000 feet and then blast off, an easier way to get into space than climbing through the thick atmosphere close to the earth's surface. it may sound fanciful, but allen has the help of legendary aircraft designer burt rouxtan. >> i would love to be searching for other break throughs so we could have tens of thousands able to experience that view. [ cheers & applause ] >> reporter: in 2004, rouxtan and allen together build space ship 1, a similar, but much smaller system that became the first privately funded space craft to fly outside the atmosphere twice in two weeks. >> we have a long road. >> reporter: allen won't say how much he intends to spend on strato launch, but says it eventually should make money launching private satellites

. >> reporter: paul allen, the billionaire cofounder of microsoft, has a plan to build the world's biggestane and use it to launch rockets into earth orbit. the twin fuselage craft will be powered by six boeing 747 engines and have a wing span of 385 feet, nearly double that of a 747. it will carry a rocket to 30,000 feet and then blast off, an easier way to get into space than climbing through the thick atmosphere close to the earth's surface. it may sfound fanciful, but allen has the assistance of bert retan. >> i would be love to be out there searching for other breakthroughs so we could have hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands people able to experience that view. >> reporter: in 2004, retan and allen together built spaceship one, a similar, but much smaller system, that became the first privately funded spacecraft to fly outside the atmosphere twice in two weeks. >> we have a long road to -- >> reporter: allen won't say how much he intends to spend on stratolaunch, but says it should make money launching private satellites and carrying payloads for nasa. allen won't say how long

. >> reporter: paul allen, the billionaire cofounder of microsoft, has the a plan to build the world'splane and use it to launch rockets into earth's orbit. the twin fuselage craft will be powered by six boeing 747 engines and have a wingspan of 385 feet-- nearly double of that of a 747. it will carry a rocket to. 30,000 feet and then blast off-- an easier way to get into space than climbing there the thick atmosphere close to the earth's surface. it may sound fanciful, but allen has the help of legendary aircraft designer burt rutan. >> i would love to be able to be out there searching for other break throughs so that we can have hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands of people able to experience that view. >> reporter: in 2004, rutan and allen together built spaceship 1 a similar but much smaller system that became the first privately funded spacecraft to fly outside the atmosphere twice in two weeks. >> we have a long road. >> reporter: allen won't say how much he intends to spend on straddle launch but says it eventually should make money launching private satellites and carryi

paul allen billionaire cofounder of microsoft has a plan to build the world's largest airplane and use it to launch rocket ships into earth orbit. the craft will be powered by 6 boeing 747 engines and have a wingspan of 385 feet nearly double of that a 747. >> the wingspan of those planes is greater than the length of a football field. just think about that for a second. >> that is a little mind- boggling. in 2004, allen and his designer built a spaceshipone, similar but smaller system that became the first privately funded spacecraft to fly outside the earth's atmosphere. allen won't say how much he plans to spend on the stratolauncher but said it should eventually make money carrying payloads for nasa and launching private satellites. >>> it's a piece of the silicon valley history worth $1.6 million. that's how much the highest bidder paid for the 1976 document that was the founding partnership agreement for a company called apple computer. they have done well. the document previously belong to ronald wayne who founded the cupertino company with steve wozniak and the late steve jobs,

is like a bill gates versus paul allen's slam fests. i think somebody said that you were the bitter billionaire. so i'm reading the stuff and i finally actually read the book and i'm like, wait a second. did they read the exact same book that i just read? exactly. i think the point that i'm trying to get at is this idea that i think in the book you write critically about yourself and about what you have done in kind of the failures that you have had. just as critically as you have written about future microsoft or the relationship with bill gates and i think that is really interesting. actually that is where i want to kind of start off. you have been ubiquitous. you are on this book tour and i'm curious what a surprise to the most about how people have reacted to the book? what has been the biggest surprise? >> well i think, there've been a number of things. i think in my life i've been fortunate to be involved with so many different things. obviously involved with microsoft and will always be the signature achievement. although i have

they come from the founder of paul allen who has been using google to track sir names. he has been adding 2 5,000 new users a day and facebook has 100 million active users and a half of them log in everyday usually more than once a day. >>> well spotty random gunfire. what the city has to tell the difference between bullets and gunshots this new year's eve. >>> it left several cars severely damages, stay tuned for more. >>> and on the span we have a heavy fog advisories and the heavy fog is causing some delays. we will let you know how long you have to wait coming up. . >>> here is a look at 101 and you are looking at one hour delays because of the fog and they will last unti 3:00 this afternoon. 6:24 let's head back to the desk. >>> investigators in colorado are trying to figure out why a man intentionally ploughed into five cars in a quiet neighbor. the surveillance camera captured one of those cars. she knows it was not an accident because it made a u ton and rammed into another car. he tried to run over four people who chased him down. officers tried to track him do

ok so microsoft co-founder paul allen who is also a philanthropist is basically planning a giant airplane that can in mid-flight launch a rocket and carry the cargo and the humans into orbit. using engines from six boeing seven forty seven's. basically if you can just be flying and suddenly say like oh i think an asteroid today we've got a good. girl you know nothing so that's scary to say ok mom would think about it the first time we're going to use we have no way to get a human being into space right now we have no way to do that in the private sector making up for it i think it's a tragedy that our generation has no good success stories we have two disasters from our childhood in the challenger explosion in the columbia explosion and our later years but i'm personally i believe that we are on our way to our success story because we have businesses in space travel which wonderful brings a lot more money to go and get all serious about it i think that is really really like in the movie. i think it quickly reminds me of seeing on girl the twenty first century i had. all as with any kind i

gene works chairmen paul allen, james miley, david hartley and the author of black hawk down talking about his new book and venture capital legend bill draper bid to leading experts of the world talking with timbales and it is quite a lineup we feel very privileged to have had every single one of these people on our stage in the last 12 months the rear looking forward to kicking off season to in january. keep an eye on your mailbox and museum newsletter real talk more to come. now on to our program. january 15, 2008 steve jobs was on stage and san francisco making a legendary presentation. but amazon kindle comes up and he said this will go nowhere being uncharacteristically blunt. [laughter] because americans have stopped reading. it does not matter how good or how bad the product but people to read any more 40% of the people in the united states read one book or less last year the whole concept is flawed. it is true there on the reading one book this year we know which book it is. [laughter] [applause] despite the late arrival shortly after his tragic death it went immediately to n

. >> a hit for guys who want to build the biggest airplanes, rutten and paul allen says he's going to up 200 million dollars po build planes to put up stop light and this is the wright brothers, aen we need that. >> paul: could be better than nasa. this is this edition of the journal editor ral report, thanks to my panel and i'm paul gigot. we hope to see you right here next week. . >> on fox news watch. >> i hope i am the tim tebow of the iowa caucuses. >> and the spy drone brought down and he says pretty please? you've got to be kidding. >> i'm a serious candidate for the president of the united states. >> anybody up here could probably beat obama. >> i'm concerned about not appearing to be zany. >> a last chance to win over voters before the iowa caucuses. how did the political press respond and who is their pick to win. the g.o.p. contest has been making news for months. new political polls revealing new poll leaders and unleashing a flurry of media attacks. has coverage of the candidate helped or hurt their efforts. >> hello-- >> president obama doing his best to attack more pres

is like a bill gates versus paul allen's slam fests. i think somebody said that you were the bitter billionaire. so i'm reading the stuff and i finally actually read the book and i'm like, wait a second. did they read the exact same book that i just read? exactly. i think the point that i'm trying to get at is this idea that i think in the book you write critically about yourself and about what you have done in kind of the failures that you have had. just as critically as you have written about future microsoft or the relationship with bill gates and i think that is really interesting. actually that is where i want to kind of start off. you have been ubiquitous. you are on this book tour and i'm curious what a surprise to the most about how people have reacted to the book? what has been the biggest surprise? >> well i think, there've been a number of things. i think in my life i've been fortunate to be involved with so many different things. obviously involved with microsoft and will always be the signature achievement. although i have

jon: this is something you have designed in conjunction with paul allen, the microsoft cofounder, ate charging what, $65 million a seat to fly any u.s. astronauts to the space station? is this a possibility? >> that's what they charge u.s. astronauts, yes. they charged as little as 20 or 25 million when the russian program was starving and when some civilians wanted to buy it but, yeah that's what america is paying now in order to visit our space station. we have to pay that. i want to point out, you mentioned i designed it. i have worked on this for 20 years. 1991 laying out the first monster launcher for orbital access. and often, off and on for different customers, for research i've done a preliminary design work on it but, i'm retired now. i retired in april. jon: right. >> so while i got it started the new airplane and the detailed design being done is being done by the young designers that scale composite. jon: well, it looks like a fascinating thing. we hope you get it built and flying. if you do i would love to come along for a ride. burt rutan. >> well, you need to show a gr

. >>> tesla ceo is joining aerospace pioneer and paul allen to bill the world's largest plane.ke fuselages of two 747's put them on one wing with six, 747 engines to carry a space ship to 40,000 feet. that's where it will detach, a rocket will fire, sending it into space. the first test launch is expected in 2015. >>> check this out, robot is getting a lot of attention in china. some cannot believe their eyes as they walk by this human-looking robot at an exhibition. the male robot appears to be greeting guests. he can talk, flutter his eyelids and react just like a person. the robot is among the latest technology on exhibit at the science and technology museum. they got to get that for its a small world. >> they gotta teach him to pick up the check. the most important thing >>> changing your cell phone number turned out to be a life altering experience for a los angeles couple. bob became bombarded with calls from celebrities when he got a new number that used to belong to a comic actor. he and his girlfriend got invitations via text message from paris hilton. >> it said hey h

is like a bill gates versus paul allen's slam fests.i think somebody said that you were the bitter billionaire. so i'm reading the stuff and i finally actually read the book and i'm like, wait a second. did they read the exact same book that i just read? exactly. i think the point that i'm trying to get at is this idea that i think in the book you write critically about yourself and about what you have done in kind of the failures that you have had. just as critically as you have written about future microsoft or the relationship with bill gates and i think that is really interesting. actually that is where i want to kind of start off. you have been ubiquitous. you are on this book tour and i'm curious what a surprise to the most about how people have reacted to the book? what has been the biggest surprise? >> well i think, there've been a number of things. i think in my life i've been fortunate to be involved with so many different things. obviously involved with microsoft and will always be the signature achievement. although i have h

microsoft co-founder paul allen and the aerospace pioneer burt rutan announced that building a giantpeople and cargo intoor bit. they claim the jet will have a wing span longer than a football field and carry a space capsule with its own booster rocket. good time. updating some of fox top stories tonight. federal regulators are now recommending a ban, a total ban on all use of cell phones in any way while driving except in emergencies. that's after a government panel found they are just too distracting. up to each state to enact the ban because the fed don't have authority over that voted to extend the payroll tax cut the bill also includes a oil pipeline provision that the white house has threatened to veto. now it moves to the senate where it is dead on arrival. and on this day in 1918 the president then woodrow wilson stepped off a boat in france and became the first sitting commander and chief ever to set foot in europe. after the end of world war i. a war which had killed tens of millions of people. the victorious english and french wanted the germans to pay for all the destruct

paul allen founder of microsoft has a plan to build the world's largest airplane. he wants to use it to launch rocket ships into earth orbit. the twin fuselage craft will be powered by six boeing 747 engines and have a wingspan nearly double that of a 747. >> the wingspan of those planes is greater than the length of a football field. just think about that for a second. >> sheesh. that's mind-boggling. allen won't say how much he plans to spend. but he says it eventually should make money by launching private satellites and carrying payloads for nasa. hope it does make money. >>> the future of the bay bridge may soon be a little brighter. >> in a big way. it's part of a plan to turning the span into an enormous light sculpture. artist leo villareal -- did i say that right? -- has proposed installing 25,000 l.e.d. lights to the western span support cables. the bulbs there will then flicker to mimic the motions of the san francisco bay. still needs caltrans approval though and $7 million in private donations. but it would be quite a sight. >> a lot of lights. >>> it

paul allen, jane, the expert in gaming around the world with npr's laura sidel. james miley, david heartily of the british computing society and protege of mark wilks. author of black hawk down, talking about his other book, first digital world war, digital legend and david irishman, and two of the leading ai experts in the world. this is quite a lineup. we feel very, very privileged to have had every one of these people on our stage in 12 # months and looking forward to kicking often season two in january. watch your e-mail and museum news letter because we'll be talking about the lecture series to come. now on 20 the program. january 15th, 2008, steve jobs was on stage in san fransisco making one of his legendary presentations. the kindle e-reader comes up, and jobs said this will go nowhere being uncharacteristically blunt. [laughter] he said it would go nowhere because americans stopped reading. it doesn't matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is people don't read anymore. 40% of the people in the united states read one book or less last year. the c

. >> meantime, microsoft co-founder paul allen, what is he going to do with the money? into the space race. >> yes, he is leading an effort to build the largest plane to launch cargo and astronauts into space. the aircraft would have wings longer than a football field. yes, a football field, to carry a rocket high into the a atmosphere and then to drop it avoiding therefore the need for a launch pad and also to avoid the huge expense of rocket fuel. now, they are joining heads with other big tech big wigs with deep pockets from the silicon valley who grew up on "star trek" chris, and therefore they want to fill the void that has been created with the retirement of nasa's space shuttle. good luck to them. >> thank you, mandy drury. >> you are welcome. >>> if you are married, you may soon be in the miminority, and new poll from the pew i.n.s. toout said that marriage has dropped 9% from 2009 to 2010 alone. what is going on? well, researchers say it could be the economy or a cultural shift. elieve coughs, sneezing, aches, fevers. tylenol: and i relieve nasal congestion. ny

microsoft co-founder paul allen designing a plain with the wingspan of a football field.the next thing to get in space. look at the size of this thing hanging out of this hangar. i want to bring in skwro*pl jones a former astronaut and a fox news contributor. he wrote the book, an astronaut's memoir. i think this thing is so cool. is it possible? >> it's certainly possible. it builds on the concept of air launching rockets. it becomes the first stage of the rocket and it's reusable. it lowers the cost of getting into orbit. you can travel and are not limited by bad weather, for example. bill: you liftoff from a regular airport and you would wary a rocket on board. >> that's right. bill: once you reach a certain altitude you launch the rocket. >> you go about six miles up, up above all the bad weather. you can fly closure to the equator where you get more push from the earth's rotation. bill: the company's moth tee is any orbit, any time. i love the motto. you're a space guy. is this the future for space travel as you see it? >> it's terrific that the commercial sector is

and microsoft co-founder paul allen's book, idea man. later it better fee on steve jobs. every weekend here. coming up on c-span book tv a discussion of civil war in the west african country of liberia. the book is my the -- c-span2. then a book on general westmoreland and his book -- role in the vietnam war. >> with the iowa caucus tuesday january 3rd c-span cameras are following events throughout the state and every morning live political message taking your calls on our washington journal program. you can also stay up-to-date with that the campaign 2012 website with new features. bile information and videos from campaign stops. candid it's on the issues lets you see what the candidates have said on issues important to you and at social media buzz read with the candid it's political reporters and people like you are saying on sites like facebook and twitter. >> next, leymah gbowee on her memoir about the co-founder of the women's peace movement in liberia. her organization is credited with helping to end the second liberian civil war in 2003 and removing charles taylor

then paul allen's book, "idea man." later, walther isakson's book on steve job cans.tter all at c-span.org/campaign 2012. >> our campaign coverage continues today. we'll join the jan nicholson radio show in iowa, he'll talk to michele bachmann and ron paul. that's live at 10 a.m. eastern on c-span. later, an event with texas governor rick perry at a coffee company in in cedar rapids, ray, also on c-span. >>> next, a hearing on homeless children and housing assistance programs. we'll hear testimony from current and former homeless children as well as housing and homeless services government officials. this house financial services subcommittee hearing is about two hours and 35 minutes. [inaudible conversations] >> the subcommittee on insurance, housing and community opportunity will come to order. we are having a hearing today entitled the homeless children and youth act of 2011 proposal to promote economic independence for homeless children and youth. i'd like to welcome you all here today and, first of all, i'd like to thank the judiciary committee for allowing us to

paul allen announced he's starting a company there's that going to build a giant plane to launch rockets into space for satellites, cargo, and eventually tourism. the project puts allen in competition with british billionaire richard branson and amazon founder who are working on their own commercial space enterprises. and of course, huntsville, alabama, willie, has long been the space central in the south. >> it sure has. i'm going to wait until they work out the kinks on the rich guy airlines, second generation of those flights, i think. let's go down to d.c. for some politico with mike allen with a look at the morning playbook. good morning. >> good early morning, willie. >> it is awfully early out here. the obama campaign, jim messina laying ining out the path to vi. how are they going to do it? >> well, willie, this was fascinating, at the dnc yesterday, they brought in reporters and showed color maps of different ways obama could win. and the reason they did this unusual behind the curtain tour was to convince people that the loss of any one state is not a disaster. he put up five m

. >> you sound at this level, you and ron paul r. allen the same page. >> on economics, we are. n paul would legalize heroin and cocaine. i would not. i would not legalize drugs. i believe strongly in marriage between one man and one woman. ron paul would not have a federal protection for marriages of one man and one woman. i believe in the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. ron paul would not overturn roe v. wade. there's the issue of foreign policy. in my estimation, the senate intelligence committee, while the economy is the number-one issue, and probably more worried right now about our the vulnerability to foreign aggressors than any time in the last 40 years. we cannot have someone as our commander-in-chief someone unwilling to take on the foreign aggressors. >> the lit a you just mentioned could easily be made. -- the litany you just mentioned, could easily be made. he spends a whole chapter saying roe v. wade not only is not a lot the land, but we do not have to go through a constitutional amendment to overturn a bad law and even suggests ways it

ron paul was the only candidate who did not make an appearance. george allen and tim cane in a dead heat leading to next year's senate race. they are viking for the seat being investigated by jim west. is there a clear winner in this contest? >> they both stood their ground on taxes, the nation's rising debt and who can better fix the economy. they also disagreed strongly on a personhood law which says life begins at conception and whether it would make contraception illegal. >> is former senator george allen politically disastrous mikaka incident still relevant in this campaign? tim cane says yes. >> when he's singled out as a young man in this crowd and looked at him and said welcome to america, welcome to the real virginia, there was no mistake about what those words meant. >> it was a mistake. i never should have singled out that young man. he was doing his job. >> he stressed his concern for working families and rising debt, blaming the obama administration. he criticized cane for his allegiance to obama and seeking the chair of the democratic national co

paul steinhauser. >>> right now we go to natalie allen in the newsroom. natalie? >> thank you so much, candy.ve a look at the day's top stories ahead. including good news for verizon customers. first, a look at the new year's celebrations. sydney, australia. and hong kong is 13 hours ahead of the u.s. and in vatican city, the pope gave thanks. [ child ] it's so cool! you can put a force field on him and be invisible! [ child 2 ] i call first player. no. i already called it. [ dad ] nobody's playing anything until after we get our homework done. thank you. hello? test drive's not over yet. [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. [ louder ] hello? but we still need your signature. right now during sign then drive, it's never been easier to get the all-new passat, the 2012 motor trend car of the year, for practically just your signature. that's the power of german engineering. visit vwdealer.com. that's the power of german engineering. what is it about taking a first step that we find so compelling? is it because taking a step represents hope? or triumph? at genworth, we believe in taking sma

paul steinhauser. >>> right now we go to natalie allen in the newsroom. natalie? >> thank you so much, candy.at the day's top stories ahead. including good news for verizon customers. first, a look at the new year's celebrations. sydney, australia. and hong kong is 13 hours ahead of the u.s. and in vatican city, the pope gave thanks. [ child ] it's so cool! you can put a force field on him and be invisible! [ child 2 ] i call first player. no. i already called it. [ dad ] nobody's playing anything until after we get our homework done. thank you. hello? test drive's not over yet. [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. [ louder ] hello? but we still need your signature. right now during sign then drive, it's never been easier to get the all-new passat, the 2012 motor trend car of the year, for practically just your signature. that's the power of german engineering. visit vwdealer.com. that's the power of german engineering. what is it about taking a first step that we find so compelling? is it because taking a step represents hope? or triumph? at genworth, we believe in taking small steps e

paul ryan. he swung his caucus around a brave and bold budget. unlike many of his critics, he is civil, responsible and honest. >> another surprise, john. allen west who came in as a tea party favorite and has proved to be, over time, an independent thinker, believe it or not, who outraged other tea partyers by supported raising the debt ceiling. i think he is a rising talent. >> what does he do for a living? >> he is a congressman -- well, he is a former army colonel. an iraq war veteran. republican from florida. caused quite a ruckus against the democrat party chairman. >> best politician of 2011 as noted here, new jersey republican governor chris christie. christie didn't want to run for the presidency. he says i am duty bound to new jerseyans. it's hard for a politician to put ego aside. best politicians. after all, you were in a sense a politician. you ran for the presidency two or three times? >> very successfully. >> what was the name of that party? >> it was the reformed party. we can't find it, john. >> it's in the canal. next category, worst politician. >> i think dominique strauss- kahn, the future president of france. what were yo

paul, 2.9 million by perry, and another 1.3 million from a perry superpack. >> i think iowa is more important this year than it is in past years. >> reporter: american university professor allen lickman said with romney leading in new hampshire, iowa's first caucus could be some candidates last chance. >> and still, you know, five, six candidates, all of whom have dreams that lightning could strike and they could somehow be the nominee, but they realize that this is not like in new hampshire, so it's got to strike out there on the great plains in iowa. >> reporter: and without a strong national front-run every, the campaigns are betting the big dollars are spending on ads to pay off in big numbers at the iowa polls. and despite all of the money that they spent, one candidate decided to avoid iowa altogether. john huntsman has not been campaigning or airing any ads in the hawkeye state but is focusing on new hampshire. he won't have to wait long to catch up with his fellow candidates, shawn. the new hampshire primary is one week after iowa's voting on tuesday. >> tom fitzgerald, thank you very much. >>> >>> it's no secret parking enforcement in the district of columbia is aggr

. >> paul steinhauser for us in iowa, thanks so much. >>> thank you for watching. it's natalie allenr randi kaye. now more cnn newsroom with asha sesay. >> thanks, natalie. let's catch you up on everything making the news this hour. rapid fire. let's go. one week from tomorrow, americans will cast their first votes in the 2012 presidential race. that's when iowa holds its caucuses. polls show no clear winner the republican race. three candidates in a dead heat, newt gingrich, ron paul and mitt romney. the american research group shows paul at 21%, romney at 20%. as you see, gingrich at 19%. the other candidates are all in single digits. >>> a medical helicopter carrying three people crashed in florida this morning. the mayo clinic confirms two of its employees were on the helicopter headed to the university of florida in gainesville to harvest organs. the faa say it is chopper went down east of gainesville. there's no word yet on whether anyone survived the crash. >>> a christmas gathering near dallas ends in a massacre. police in grapevine, texas, say seven family members were shot

allen gross's wife. >> one of the men at the center of the robocall controversy takes the stand in his own defense. i'm derek valcourt. coming up, i'll tell you what paul schurick had to say on the stand. >>> the ravens make an announcement. >>> will the weather cooperate for your weekend plans? stick around for your updated first warning forecast. >> wjz eyewitness news at 6:00 starts now. >>> political pawn. allen gross, sentenced to prison in cuba after being branded a spy. >> tonight, his wife speaks out and new efforts to free the maryland man. >> hello, everyone. i'm vic carter. >> and i'm denise de -- mary bubala in for denise tonight. >> just hours ago, they made a plea. but this internal power struggle on the island means >>s future is far from certain.

paul. it is not some of the other ones. it is not my representative. it is one allen west. all the people down south are not the racist homophones that we are made out to be. west is a champion. he is a 1 and under -- is a 100% black man. he is the best. i wish he was the president. i would feel a lot safer. host: more regarding the war in iraq. from "the houston chronicle" -- that is the lead story in this morning's "houston chronicle." next is ray on our line for democrats, calling from laurel, maryland. caller: good morning. mcfadden, born in 1876, died 1936, 10 years as head of the banking committee in congress. he was a congressman from pennsylvania. he was there when the federal reserve was enacted. one of his quotes, "the federal reserve banks or one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever seen -- abanks are one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever seen." he knew what was going on with the international bankers, the zero who was running the federal reserve. they put him out of congress because he would not stop trying to warn people about t

paul steinhauser. don't sleep in the next five days, the polls could change again. that's it for me today, i'm natalie allenhing. newsroom continues right now with isha sesay. >>> let's catch you up on everything making news this hour, rapid fire. let's go. the obama administration is digging in its heels vowing to do what it must to keep the strait of hormuz open. iran isn't backing down either, saying it will do what it sees fit for its defense. earlier this week, iran's vice president threatened to block the straight if sanctions are imposed on crude oil exports. two people were killed in a massive pileup on i-10 in new orleans earlier today. at least 22 others were taken to the hospital. some 40 cars and trucks were involved in the crash which occurred in thick fog. for the second day in a row, we are reporting on a gruesome murder of an american traveling in mexico. the body of 18-year-old alex maron was found charred in the back of a car. friends are reacting. >> daniela remembers her cousin as a full of life 18-year-old with an easy smile. >> always smiling, happy. he enjoyed life. >> the high school