newshour correspondent spencer michels has this report. >> reporter: to ex employers our galaxy to find the extent of life beyond the earth. it was a daunting and expensive challenge. this week and $600 million later, at a conference of his piers in mountainview, being called the goldie locks planet is just right, orbiting its star at a proper distance to have water necessary for life. the temperature averages about 72 degrees. 600 light years away, it orbits its own sun every 290 days. they found it using the kepler telescope launched three years ago. he call it is a giant camcorder designed specifically to look for planets where life might be possible and at the stars they orbit, 150,000 of them, much like our own sun. >> the mission was designed to do this job. it has no other purpose. >> reporter: i talked with him at nasa's ames facility about how kepler can detect a planet. >> does something move across the planet? just a little bit, it's a small planet, maybe like earth. focused on one part of stars near the milky way, it takes a photo every six seconds. >> reporter: scientists h

"newshour" correspondent spencer michels has the story. it's part of our "american graduate" series: an 18-month project with other public media partners to examine causes of and solutions to the high school dropout problem. >> so this was a weapon to attack usually a castle. >> reporter: in an after school class at frick middle school in oakland, california, 20 girls are trying to figure out how to build a catapult out of tongue- depressors and rubber bands. >> so you need to figure out how to stop it there. >> reporter: among them is 13 year old ebony green, an eighth grader who decided to sign up for this extra science class to improve her academic record and her chances of finishing school and going to college. >> try again. >> reporter: ebony is one of 600 middle school and high school girls in oakland and nearby cities enrolled in a program called techbridge, which tries to inspire them to enter fields traditionally dominated by white or asian males. at the same time, it keeps kids at risk of dropping out interested in school. techbr

"newshour" correspondent spencer michels has the story. it's part of our "american graduate" series: an 18-month project with other public media partners to examine causes of and solutions to the high school dropout problem. >> so this was a weapon to attack usually a castle. >> reporter: in an after school class at frick middle school in oakland, california, 20 girls are trying to figure out how to build a catapult out of tongue- depressors and rubber bands. >> so you need to figure out how to stop it there. >> reporter: among them is 13 year old ebony green, an eighth grader who decided to sign up for this extra science class to improve her academic record and her chances of finishing school and going to college. >> try again. >> reporter: ebony is one of 600 middle school and high school girls in oakland and nearby cities enrolled in a program called techbridge, which tries to inspire them to enter fields traditionally dominated by white or asian males. at the same time, it keeps kids at risk of dropping out interested in school. techbr

newshour correspondent spencer michels has the story. >> reporter: more than 20 years ago, space scientistliam borucki dreamed up a plan to explore our galaxy to find the extent of life, if there is any beyond the earth. it was a daunting and expensive challenge. this week and $600 million later at a conference of his peers in mountain view, california, borucki and nasa announced they had found the first planet in the habitable zone. that means, what's being called the "goldilocks" planet, is just right, orbiting its star at the proper distance to have water, necessary for life. similar to earth, though bigger, scientists say the temperature averages about 72 degrees. 600 light years away, it orbits its own sun every 290 days. borucki and his team found it using the kepler space telescope, which was launched three years ago and remains in orbit around the sun. he calls it a giant camcorder, which was designed specifically to look for planets where life might be possible, and at the stars they orbit-- 150,000 of them, like our own sun. >> the mission was designed to do this job. it has no o

>> sreenivasan: spencer michels examines the pressure on governor jerry brown as the state faces automatic spending cuts to close a $3.7 billion gap. on our global health page, we look at how food shortages in north korea are hurting the most vulnerable population: children. all that and more is on our web site, newshour.pbs.org. gwen? >> ifill: and that's the newshour for tonight. on wednesday, we'll look at supreme court arguments over who owns montana's rivers. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. we'll see you online, and again here tomorrow evening. thank you, and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> computing surrounds us. sometimes it's obvious and sometimes it's very surprising where you find it. soon, computing intelligence in unexpected places will change our lives in truly profound ways. technology can provide customized experiences, tailored to individual consumer preferences, igniting a world of possibilities from the inside out. sponsoring tomorrow, starts today. >> and by bnsf railway. >> and by the bill and melinda gates fou

we are going to go now live to an event in spencer, iowa, being held by michele bachmann. thanks for joining us today on this saturday, december 17, edition of the "washington journal." >> c-span is live in spencer, iowa, today in the northwestern part of the state where the republican presidential candidate michele bachmann is meeting with voters in this meeting room at a deli there. we should also here later today from texas governor rick perry. he is also in spencer, and you will be able to watch coverage of his campaign live at noon eastern time. later, rick santorum is holding a town hall in cairo. we hope to bring that to you later today as well. lots of candidates spending time in iowa before the caucuses are held january 3. just to let you know, in the senate today, for your votes are being taken up here the two- month extension of the social security payroll tax cut has passed the senate. that will go to the house possibly as soon as monday, and they will also be dealing with the government spending bill, a disaster aid bill, and a fourth bill to pay for that aid.

then republican presidential candidate michele bachmann greets voters in spencer, iowa. just a little over two weeks before the january 3rd iowa caucus. then a live discussion on whether turkey's form of government can be a model for emerging democracies in the new middle east. >> this week on "the communicators," the ceo of the national association of broadcasters, former senator gordon smith, on the sale of broadcast spectrum and the future of broadcast television and radio in a marketplace where internet media are rapidly gaining ground. >> host: gordon smith, president and ceo of the national association of broadcasters, this week in congress they are voting on payroll extension and budget issues, and included in there is potential spectrum sale. >> guest: correct. >> host: in the house bill and potentially then in the senate bill. what are your thoughts about what is contained in that legislation? >> guest: well, i, first, would simply say and i've told my member broadcasters that in the fullness of what they're debating, we're a footnote. but we happen to be a foot

coverage of republican presidential candidate michele bachmann in spencer, iowa. >> this morning on "washington journal," marilyn werber serafini and later kevin mccormally.♪ host: in the headlines this morning, senators make last- minute deal. bill would extend tax cuts and jobless benefits. obama would decide soon on pipeline. one of the lead stories in the "atlanta journal constitution", vote expected on tax it stunt -- tax cut extension. in the arizona daily star, senate leaders also agreed to extend jobless benefits. vote set for today. the senate is expected in that 9:00 a.m. this morning to vote on a tax cut extension and that is what we will be talking about for the first 45 minutes of this edition of the "washington journal." good morning. today is saturday, december 17. they will be voting on a tax-cut deal today. if you want to get involved in the conversation regarding that vote, give us a call. the numbers are on the screen. if you're calling from outside the u.s. this morning, and electronically, a couple of ways to do that. you can send us an e-mail, journal@c-span.org.

michelle williams who earned a s.a.g. nomination and joins viola davis and meryl streep, and tilda swinton, and glen close for albert knobbs. janet mcteer nominated in supporting category and joins chastain and spencernnie's fellow. >> i'm glad he is single. i am going to climb that like a tree. >> she was so funny in "bridesmaid." >> i laughed out loud. >> funny. it was great too. s.a.g. awards will air on january 29th. a few weeks from now. the oscars of course here on abc. the 26th of february. >> fun to catch up on all the movies before oscar time. i try to watch everything. so i have a say in the voting. >> an informed >>> this morning on "world news now" -- final chapter in the iraq war. the u.s. troops who are still in baghdad will be given a final farewell today. >> it is the ceremonial end of a long-fought battle that involved more than a million servicemen and women who served our country there. it is thursday, december 15th. >>> good morning, i'm sunny hostin. >> i'm rob nelson. good morning, everybody. >> as american troops leave iraq there are violent hot spots in the oil producing areas. with all the american know-how, equipment, and intelligence leaving how will iraq keep the peace? t

michele bachmann on january 3. how are you? it is good to see you. you are alice? do you live here in spencer? you are a life long spencer president? you have your purple on. i know where that is. i know exactly where that is. that is in my district. >> ok. very good. i have been there about 50 years. >> i guess that qualifies. you and i are just the opposite. i was born and raised in iowa and moved to minnesota. hi, you guys. thanks again for coming out. thank you. thanks again for coming out. thank you so much. january 3. hi. we are so happy to come. it is a beautiful hy-vee. what is your name? hi, dave. it is good to see you. thank you for coming out. what is your name? >> veronica. >> hello, veronica. it is nice to meet you. are you still in school? "yes. my brother just turned 18. he can vote now. >> that is right. you tell him january 3,, on out. -- come on out. >> what are your views on nutrition in schools? >> i am all for it. [laughter] >> they need to make better choices 24 hours a day. >> it really begins in the home with the parents making sure the kids get the right things to eat.

michelle on january 3rd.ded how are you?le >> good. >> good to meet you. >> my name's alice.anua >> you're alice, and do you live here in spencer? do y do. >> you bet. >> do you? you're lifelong -- >> i'm a minnesotan. >> from where?pr >> buffalo lake, minnesota. >> i know where that is. i know exactly where it is. that is in my district.ctly >> okay, very good. >> i love it. >> i've been in iowa, though, about 50 years. >> i guess that qualifies -- i e call it home. >> yeah, that --if >> iie was born and raised in ia and moved up to minnesota. rai >> good deal.to keep going. okay. hi, you guys. thanks again for coming out. thank you. thanks again for cg >> thanks again for coming out. january 3rd. in hi. we are so happy to come. it is a beautiful hy-vee. what is your name? hi, dave. it is good to see you. thank you for coming out. what is your name? >> veronica. >> hello, veronica. it is nice to meet you. are you still in school? "yes. my brother just turned 18. he can vote now. >> that is right. you tell him january 3,, on out. -- come on out. >> what are your views on nutrition in schools? >> i am all for it. [laughter] >> th