viviana hurtado, abc news, washington. >>> now with a look ahead to abc 2 news at 6 tonight, i'm kelly swoope. you know, we keep getting glimmers of good economic news. but here is another example of continuing tough times. people who are relying upon to help others now need some help of their own. what you can do. >>> and meet a local doctor who is still making house calls. now a preview of what is ahead on world news at 6:30. >> tonight, as he begins his journey to his final resting place, and the public begins to pay its final respects, we will look at the life of ted kennedy, his family, his career, and the so many lives he touched that no one ever knew about on world news with charles gibson. (announcer) if you think all batteries are the same, consider this: when a tornado tore through holly, colorado, air life denver took to the air... their night-vision goggles keeping them safe on a perilous flight... and powering those precision goggles--- is the only battery air life trusts: duracell. trusted everywhere. look for new duracell ultra advanced now with even more power to protec

abc's viviana hurtado was there. >> reporter: president obama called the 16 recipients of the medal of freedom pioneers who helped transform the country through advocacy, intellectual pursuits and service. >> the recipients of the medal of freedom did not set out to win this, or any other award. they did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches. >> reporter: senator edward kennedy's daughter accepted the medal and citation for her father, who is battling brain cancer, and mourning the death of his sister eunice. others to receive the country's highest civilian honor include film store sydney poitier and cheetah rivera. in the field of academics, mathematician stephen hawking and dr. joseph medicine crow were honored. international recipients include desmond tutu. >> the voice of the oppressed, cantor of our conscience. >> reporter: some criticized mr. obama for choosing the first female president of ireland, mary robinson. while serving as commissioner of human rights, miss robinson sponsored a conference on racism that some perceived as being anti-israel. the president awarde

here's viviana hurtado. >> reporter: the administration flatly rejects that the president signaled a willingness to drop the so-called public option, from health ca reform legislation, when he said this on saturday -- >> the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it, is not the entirety of health care reform. this is just one sliver of it. one aspect of it. >> reporter: but a government-run option is a crucial aspect. and is threatening to derail this latest attempt to overhaul the health care system. in phoenix, where the president addressed the vfw national convention, and at town hall meetings across the country, the opposition has gained momentum. >> it's government control of our -- >> keep the government out of it. we're doing just fine. thank you, sir. >> reporter: supporters are just as riled up about the need for a government-run option. >> the president thinks we're going to get the votes without public option, he has another thing coming. that won't pass the house. >> reporter: new york congressman, anthony weiner said, not including the public option, could co

viviana hurtado, abc 2 news, washington. >> and studies of the swine flu vaccine will begin next week at the university of maryland. authorities say 67 young adult volunteers and 67 senior citizens will get a detailed screening and/orienttation on monday. if they give their consent, they'll get shots to test the effectiveness of the vaccine. the vaccines are set to arrive at the medical school today. we'll have a full report for you on abc 2 news at 5. >>> a former miss maryland is in trouble with the law tonight. tia shorts pleaded guilty to obstructing a police investigation in a drug case. shorts had originally been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and drug possession charges. her boyfriend, his brother, and their 67-year-old mother were also arrested in the case. she will be sentenced in november. shorts was crowned miss maryland, usa in 2004. >>> we are learning more about the gunman who killed three women and wounded nine others at a pittsburgh area health club this week. george sodini bought some handgun accessories from the same gun dealer who sold to virginia tec

viviana hurtado, abc news, washington. >> and while president obama was inside making a statement from health care reform, others were making an apparent statement about the second amendment. when a reporter asked one man why he was carrying an assault rifle, he answered because it's arizona and he can. arizona is an open carry state. so it is perfectly legal to carry an unconcealed weapon. about a dozen people carrying guns were among today's protesters in phoenix. >>> tonight there is a lot of uncertainty along the east coast, and sadness along the gulf coast. at least two storms are churning out in the atlantic, and a third, tropical storm claudette made landfall earlier this morning. claudette is blamed for at least one death in florida's panhandle. for the most part, folks are thankful it wasn't worse, even after the storm quickly gained strength. >> didn't know it was going to get this bad. >> i think everybody fared pretty well through the ordeal. >> a tropical depression named ana could bring drenching rains to haiti and the dominican republic. but the storm we're watching clos

viviana hurtado, abc news, washington. >>> the latest now on the storms out in the atlantic causing a lot of concern. claudette made landfall yesterday in florida's panhandle. she appears to be breaking up now over the south. at least one death is being blamed on that storm. anna is churning in the caribbean right now, and is expected to bring heavy rains. but the one we're keeping a close eye on has been hurricane bill. it's a little tricky to see because it's upside down, but that is bill out this the atlantic as seen by a nasa satellite. >> i could see it pretty well there. it looks big. >> right side up so we can see them really well. we'll be tracking bill. but we had some storms that blew up. >> like that. >> within a span of about 12 minutes. it went from a small storm to a massive storm with a lot of lightning, heavy rain, gusty winds, they've now calmed down. but tomorrow very good shot at the same kind of thing happening again because of all the heat and humidity being pumped up the eastern seaboard. let's take a look outside right now. your shot from harbor cam looking down

tonight family, friends and fans are remembering the man who wasn't just a political figure, abc's viviana hurtado has more. >> reporter: returning to the nation's capital one last time. this is where he lived and worked almost 50 years, on some of the most sweeping social legislation in history. this is where he's honored one final time. and this is where he'll be buried, across the river at arlington national cemetery, next to his slain brothers john and robert kennedy. earlier more good-byes in massachusetts, where his funeral mass was held. three of the four living former presidents paid their respects, president obama called him the greatest legislator of our time. >> his life work was not championed, the causes of those with wealth or power or special connections. it was to give a voice to those who were not heard. >> to the children he was dad, one to told his son after losing his leg to cancer to never give up. >> i said i'll never be able to climb up that hill. and he lifted me up in his strong arms and said something i will never forget. he said, i know you can do it. there is nothing th

with the details, here's viviana hurtado. >> reporter: we're living longer according to a governmentarly there's some things we're doing right. we're smoking less, hopefully a little more active than we used to be. we're doing more things for our health. for cancer we're getting screened and becoming more engaged with what we need to do. >> reporter: men are living to be 75 years old, women 80. doctors give credit to medical advances and patience. >> 20 years ago if i told a patient their cholesterol was too high, the first thing they might have said is what's cholesterol? today the question back is, well, do you man my good cholesterol or bad cholesterol? >> the payoff is in reduced mortality rates for half of the 15 leading causes of death. flu deaths down 8%, heart disease, and strokes down 5%, diabetes, hypertension and cancer also saw declines. women still outlive men but that gap has now narrowed to five years. >> the reason the gap is narrowing between men and women is because in fact men got the message that they should stop smoking. more men are celebrating more birthdays th

abc 2 news viviana hurtado reports. >> reporter: cash for clunkers ends on monday. dealers are gearing up for crowds this weekend. that's because car buyers are trying to cash in on the program rebate of up to $4500 if they exchange the old gas guzzlers for a new, fuel- efficient vehicle. there have been bumps along the way. >> getting approvals. getting the money, i think that's everybody's biggest gripe. >> reporter: the program jump started automotive sales with an estimated 750,000 new cars driven off the lots with claims valued at $2 billion. the glitches caused concerns for many dealers that they wouldn't be reimbursed. >> we have over 20 claims in. we've not seen any money at all yet. it's a cash flow problem that everybody's had. >> reporter: president obama is calling the program a success. he's promising dealers will be reimbursed. >> they will get their money. if we were careless about it, if we were just sending out checks where applications were incomplete and so on, first of all, we'd be breaking the law. >> reporter: the program was extended when popu

har's abc's viviana hurtado. ♪ [music] ♪ >> reporter: senator edward kennedy was honored by the army service before being laid to rest at arlington national cemetery near his slain brothers john and robert. people lined the streets of washington to bid farewell while former staffers gathered at the capitol where he worked for nearly 50 years on sweeping social legislation including the civil rights act. his family became one of the most powerful political dynasties in history. president obama called senator kennedy the greatest legislator of our time. >> was given the gift of time that his brothers were not. he used that gift to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow. >> reporter: he told his son after losing his leg to cancer to never give up. >> i said, i'll never be able to climb up that hill. and he said, i know you can do it. there is nothing that you can't do. we're gonna climb that hill together. even if it takes us all day. sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top. >> reporter: saturday's events mark the four days

heherere's viviana hurtado. >> reporter: the ainistratioion flat rejec that the esident signaled a willingness to drop the -called pupublic optition, from health care refo legislation, when he saiaid t t >> the pubublic option, whetethe have it or we don't hav it, i i not the entirety of health care reform. this is just one sliver of it. onaspect of it.. >> reporter: b b a governrnment-runun option is a crucia aspect. and is t threatening to dederai this latest attempt t to overha the healtlth care st.. in phoix, where the psident adessed the e vfw natnal conventition, and atown hall meetings across the cotry, the opposition has gained momomentu. it's's government control of our -- >> k keep the government out of it. we're doing justine. thank you, sirir. >> reporter: supportrters are jt as r riled up aboutut the need a governnt-run option >> the preresident thinks we're goingg to getet the votes witho publblic o optption, he has ano thing coming. at wonon't pass t thehouse. congressman,n, anthony weiner said,, not including the public opti, coulcost v votesn thehe house, whihichch could mean

viviana hurtado has more from washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. members of the senate finance committee to push for health care reform, something he did yesterday while in the heartland. the president plugged his stimulus plan will he unveiled grants for almost $2.5 million. the money will go to build electric vehicles ansays mr. obama will create tens of thousands of jobs. >> i don't want to have to import a hybrid truck. i want to build a hybrid truck here. i don't want to have to import a windmill from from someplace else. >> reporter: the president was in elk hart county, indiana. 17% unemployment here is almost twice the national average. mr. obama needs americans like the ones here to buy into his economic policies and then his proposal to reform the health care system. >> i promise you we will pass reform by the end of this year because the american people need it. the american people need some relief. >> reporter: but as lawmakers head home for their summer break, they're expected to hear from constituents. some are anxious about the impac

viviana hurtado reports compromise could be in the air. >> reporter: while speaking about veterans issues at the vfw national convention in phoenix, the president took time to mention his proposed plans to overhaul the health care system. >> since there has been so much misinformation about health care reform, let me say this. one thing the reform won't change is veteran's health care. no one is going to take away your benefits that is the plain and simple truth. >> reporter: one thing on the table is the hotly debated public option. many democrats say it will provide coverage for millions of uninsured americans like also reins in cost. >> the public option. to create competition for the first time in a long time. >> reporter: but on the sunday talk shows, the administration and white house allies hinted they may drop this provision if it's the only way to pass the health care bill. this meeting at a town hall meeting in colorado, the president himself insisted no compromise. >> the public option, whether we have it or we don't have it is not the entirety of health care reform. this is ju

. >> viviana hurtado has more. >> e white house insists they have been consistent when it comes to health care reform. >> the president prefers the public option as a way of doing that. if others have ias, we're open to those ideas. >> some are furious the president is open to abandoning the public option. >> we continue to support the public auction. it will help lower costs and give consumers more costs, and keep private insurers on this. >> some say the attention of the shift of the government auction is better than the anger at public meetings across the country. >> outside washington, lawmakers of finding the temperature is still high. >> do you really think thoughtful conversation and it advances your argument? >>> president obama will participate in a conference call with religious leaders who want to make sure abortion does not interfere with this reform. >> still to come, more controversy over a shot. some doctors say it could prevent cervical cancer. will tell you about the reported side effects. >> it is the off-season for virginia lawmakers, but they will beat in richmond toda

viviana hurtado joins this morning from washington. viviana. >> reporter: good morning, jeremy and vinita. the country got the bill for the government's efforts to fight the financial crisis and it's created a backlash over taxes and spending. the annual federal deficit hitting a record $1.27 trillion was bad news for the president's effort to overhaul the health care system. mr. obama has repeatedly promised this: >> first of all, i said i won't sign a bill that adds to the decit or the national debt, okay? so this will have to be paid for. >> reporter: but across the country amicans are skeptical. in the most recent abc news/"washington post" poll, 49% disapprove of the president's national deficit, disapproval they're showing to members of congress at town hall meetings. >> the initial cost is over $1 trillion for a down payment. who is going to pay for this bill? my children and my grandchildren are going to pay for this bill. >> social security is bankrupt, medicare is bankrupt, the post office is bankrupt. how am i as a proud amer

viviana hurtado has more. >> reporter: officials say this is a wake-up call for communities that stillould be one of the most dangerous flu seasons. a report by a presidential panel of the nation's top scientist scenario. up to half of americans get the virus, two million are hospitalized, 90,000 die, mainly children and young adults. accurately predict about what's going to happen next is we need to expect the unpredictable. >> one thing that could ease fears and contain the virus is a vaccine. but it not expected to be delivered until mid october, which could be when it's at its peak. the vaccine is still being tested, which has some public health experts uneasy. >> trying to rush in with an unknown -- with an untested quantity of vaccine doesn't appeal to me at all. >> reporter: beginning next week the number of new cases of the virus is expect expected to multiply. that's due in part to the start of the academic year. schools are petri dishes for infections, including the swine flu. in texas, officials closed school last week for more it and -- than a week. students are now bringin

viviana hurtado has more this morning. good morning. >> reporter: good morning.vited to have lunch with the president, who will likely lobby them to renew the program with, which is running out of funds. he's expected to argue it's going to help the american consumer, the environment and the ailing all the owe industry. the cash for clunkers program is credited with accelerating auto sales, especially ford's when compared with one year ago. 158,000 new cars and trucks drove off car lots last month. that's good news for detroit, the batrd capital of the u.s. auto industry. >> it's been really crowded. we've had customers waiting and had a full showroom. >> reporter: those with good gas mileage were the main hook of program. sales of the fusion up 66%, the escape up 94% and focus up 4%. >> they traded for something like the ford focus. >> reporter: chrysler, which emerged from bankruptcy recallier this year, said it also got a boost from cash for clunkers. a few months ago they had a 100 day supply. in some places it's down to just 40 days, which is a low for indus

viviana hurtado joins us from washington. >> reporter: good morning.resident issued a statement after the vote. he thanked senators forextending the cash for clunkers program he said at a benefit to the economy and the environment. >> the bill is passed. >> reporter: the senate voted to extend the cash for clunkers program until labor day. democratic lawmakers praised this stimulus program. >> this program is helping to put life back in our economy, helping to save and create jobs and really get our automobile sector moving forward again. >> reporter: other winners besides the ailing auto industry include car buyers who on average got double what their clunkers were worth. the web site also reports prior to the program 39% of new car sales involved a trade-in vehicle. after 51% were trade-ins. before the program 9% of exchanged vehicles would qualify as clunkers. after, 39% qualified. but the program hasn't been glitch free. some dealers worried they'd be on t out of money asked cust return cars. >> i blame the bureaucracy. it seemed like a relatively

viviana hurtado reports. >> reporter: the race is on for a vaccine at the same time local school officialsg to contain the swine flu. in some parts of the country, classes have started and schools are scrambling to prevent an outbreak of the swine flu or h1n1 virus. >> we don't want our students coughing into their hands. we prefer they cough into a tissue or their elbow. when you shake hands and you're coughing, you're going to spread germs. >> reporter: the federal government is discouraging the kind of school closures that took place last spring that have local officials applying federal guidelines that stress personal hygiene and keeping surfaces clan to prevent an outbreak. >> we're going to keep checking every little fever we have, we're going to have to test and make sure we don't have the swine flu on our hands. >> reporter: while schools are on alert, the race for a vaccine is on. from seattle to baltimore, volunteers are participating in clinical trials. >> i figure it's a great opportunity to be able to contribute to something that's going to help the rest of the nation. i'm exc

viviana hurtado joins us from washington. >> reporter: good morning.ion was if the president was going to walk into a lion's den of rowdy behavior. he didn't. instead he heard support for his plan and criticism. outside a familiar scene at a town hall meeting about health care reform. but inside the portsmouth high school gym where president obama pushed health care reform, even the skeptics were friendly. president obama accused his opponents of scaring and misleading americans about his reform proposal. >> where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations. >> reporter: he focused his message on reforms that are popular among americans who already have health care insurance. that includes ending the practice of denying coverage to americans with preexisting conditions and preventingin surers from dropping people if they get sick. if the tone of the president's town hall was tempered, across the country fireworks at meetings organized by lawmakers who were explaining the proposed health care reform to the

viviana hurtado joins us from more. >> reporter: good morning.latest economic indicators seem to show that the economy is headed toward recovery but some economists say not so fast. some important indicators suggest the ailing economy is on the mend. in the second quarter the economy shrank by 1%. that's slightly less than the 1.5% analysts predicted. a labor department report shows the number of workers filing new jobless benefits claims fell by 10,000 to 570,000. >> i don't think by any stretch we're out of the woods. i think the data are consistently saying that the worst is behind us but the worst was really, really bad. >> reporter: but the prospects of a strong economic recovery are being tempered by continuing troubling signs. unemployment is expected to inch up reaching double digits by the end of year >> economists are telling us it's going to take quite some time before we see an improvement there. >> reporter: consumer confidence has shown slight improvement but people continue to hold on to their car. then there are the banks. the fdi