For June 13, 2013, CBS

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Wind, Rain and Fire: Severe storm sweep across the eastern half of the country while three major wildfires burn out of control in Colorado, devouring homes and forcing thousands of evacuations.

JEANETTE COYNE: If you see fire, you bail. So we knocked on two neighbors' doors and we left. We didn't think twice. You just-- you don't risk it. You leave.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: The head of the National Security Agency returns to Capitol Hill today to answer more questions about the government's phone and internet surveillance program.

And Life-Saving Surgery: A ten-year-old girl is the recipient of a desperately needed lung transplant less than a week after a judge paves the way for her operation by making a controversial ruling.

JANET MURNAGHAN: If I was going to lose her, I wasn't going to lose her sitting down.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: This is the CBS MORNING NEWS for Thursday, June 13, 2013.

Good morning. Good to be with you. I'm Anne-Marie Green.

Well, this morning a potentially dangerous line of storms stretches from Iowa to Maryland. By the time all is said and done later today as the severe weather moves east, seventy-five million people in nineteen states may be affected by damaging winds, heavy rain, hail, or tornadoes. Late yesterday, at least two tornados touched down in northern Iowa. Part of a restaurant was demolished but no injuries are reported. Tornadoes were also reported in Illinois and Ohio. And though the worst of the weather was south of Chicago, the Willis Tower took a direct hit from a bolt of lightning. The weather was bad enough in Chicago to cause major travel disruptions and some power outages. The commuter rail system was temporarily shut down and over four hundred flights were canceled at the city's two main airports.

BRAD TUCKER (Flight Cancelled): You've got to take it as it goes. I mean that's part of traveling. And I guess it's-- it's Chicago's way of getting us to stay another night in this fine city.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, storm damages reported in Wisconsin and Indiana. Today an area from the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic is threatened with another bout of damaging winds and heavy rains. Meteorologist Craig Setzer of our Miami station WFOR is following the storm.

(Begin VT)

CRAIG SETZER (WFOR Meteorologist): Stormy weather early this morning will continue through much of the day today, especially across much of the eastern U.S. as a big squall line of thunderstorms continues to march its way toward the Mid-Atlantic states and the coast there. Eventually thunderstorms are going to erupt down into the Deep South. Some of those could also be severe. Few tornadoes not out of the realm of possibly, but the main threat especially in the Mid-Atlantic and possibly in the Northeast is going to be from strong straight-line thunderstorm winds that create typically massive power outages in some areas. So that's something we're going to be watching for. Dryer and calmer weather over the Upper Midwest after a day of tornadoes yesterday and some thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast especially Texas and Louisiana, and even some thunderstorms over South Florida. Hot weather unfortunately continues across the Mid-West into the Rockies where conditions are dry and wildfire con-- danger-- danger continues quite high. Southwest, sunny and very hot, highs above one hundred; and showers move into the Pacific Northwest; other than that looking pretty summery across much of the nation.

Craig Setzer for CBS News, Miami.

(End VT)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, this morning three wildfires are burning out of control in Colorado. More than a hundred homes and other buildings have already been destroyed. Hot dry weather and strong winds are fanning the flames. The Royal Gorge Fire has destroyed twenty homes and forced the evacuations of nearly a thousand prison inmates. But the worst blaze is burning near Colorado Springs, the Black Forest Fire. Some nine thousand residents have been told to evacuate. Teresa Garcia has our report.

(Begin VT)

TERESA GARCIA: The largest of Colorado wildfires--the Black Forest Fire--is living up to its name; turning this forested land black, destroying nearly one hundred homes and sending residents in the area running.

WENDY HAMMACK-SMITH (Evacuated Resident): Passports, paperwork, the computers, get any medications, get eye glasses--

TERESA GARCIA: Wendy Hammock-Smith's family has been on edge since the fire started Tuesday near Colorado Springs.

WENDY HAMMACK-SMITH: We didn't sleep much. We stayed tuned to the TV. I kept watching out my back window.

TERESA GARCIA: But the winds, gusting up to thirty miles per hour, drove the fire raging back toward more populated areas including where Wendy's family lives.

WENDY HAMMACK-SMITH: My kids are out safely. And if we come back to no house, we'll rebuild.

TERESA GARCIA: Although crews are still attacking the blaze from the sky, the flames and black smokes are edging dangerously closer to more homes. Many more neighborhoods like this one are in pre-evacuation status. And they're being told to prepare now and be ready to go.

TERRY MAKETA (El Paso County, County Sheriff): There are still quite volatile, and I'll tell you we are throwing everything at this we possibly can.

TERESA GARCIA: Jeanette Coyne lost her home to the fire. She didn't hesitate to evacuate when the flames moved in.

JEANETTE COYNE (Witness): If you see fire, you bail. So we knocked on two neighbors' doors and we left. We didn't think twice. You just-- you don't risk it. You leave.

TERESA GARCIA: This is just one of several fires burning in Colorado and in other western states. There are so many, the Defense Department mobilized two of its cargo planes to help fight the blazes.

Teresa Garcia, CBS News, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

(End VT)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, Congress is getting more information about the secret National Security Agency surveillance programs that were revealed last week by a former contractor Edward Snowden. The director of the NSA holds a closed-door briefing of the Senate Intelligence Committee today as lawmakers want to know more about the scope of the agency's spying programs. Susan McGinnis is in Washington with more. Susan, good morning.

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Anne-Marie, good morning. General Keith Alexander appeared here on Capitol Hill yesterday as well, and he defended the NSA surveillance programs although he admits the American public needs to know more about how they operate. Meanwhile, the man behind revealing the existence of these programs is promising to fight extradition back to the U.S.

(Begin VT)

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Army General Keith Alexander made his first public appearance since the details of the NSA's spying programs were revealed last week. He was here to discuss cyber security, but ended up answering questions about his agency's phone and internet surveillance practices.

GENERAL KEITH ALEXANDER (National Security Agency Director): If you want to get that content, you'd have to get a court order.

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Alexander said the NSA's practice of collecting U.S. phone record and monitoring internet usage outside the U.S. has helped foil dozens of terror plots. But he said worried Americans need to know more about how the programs operate.

GENERAL KEITH ALEXANDER: I want the American people to know that we're trying to be transparent here, protect civil liberties and privacy but also the security of the country.

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Some lawmakers say they want parts of the programs declassified in order to help them explain to their constituents what information is being collected and how it is used.

SENATOR MIKE JOHANNS (R-Nebraska): I just think we've got to get some information out to the public because right now we're all getting bombarded with questions.

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Meanwhile, Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked details of the program to the press, revealed another secret. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Snowden said the U.S. has engaged in major computer hacking operations against China and Hong Kong. Snowden who is staying in Hong Kong also said he will fight American law enforcement efforts to have him sent back to the U.S. to face criminal charges. "I would rather stay and fight the United States governments in the courts," Snowden said, "My intention is to ask the courts and people of Hong Kong to decide my fate." And New York Congressman Peter King, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, says he wants to see the journalist who published Snowden's story prosecuted as well.

REPRESENTATIVE PETER KING (R-New York, Fox News): When you have someone who's disclosed secrets like this and threatens to release more, then that to me, yes, there has to be legal aid-- legal action should be taken against him. This is a very unusual case with life-and-death implications for Americans.

(End VT)

SUSAN MCGINNIS: Now, that journalist, Glenn Greenwald of the Guardian, told MSNBC he never suggested that he has the names of CIA covert agents and never threatened to expose them. Anne-Marie.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Susan McGinnis in Washington. Thank you, Susan.

Former South African Nelson Mandela has started to respond to treatment for a lung infection. Mandela is ninety-four years old and has been hospitalized in Pretoria since Saturday. South African President Jacob Zuma says Mandela has suffered through a, quote, "Difficult last few days." This is the fourth time Mandela has been hospitalized in the past seven months.

On the CBS MoneyWatch now. Foreclosure rates jump; and get ready for less leg room on your next flight. Joya Dass is here in New York with that and more. Good morning, Joya,

JOYA DASS: Anne-Marie, good morning to you. Asian markets saw big losses on continued worries about the surging yen. And Tokyo's Nikkei index plummeted more than six percent. The Hang Seng lost more than two percent.

And morning rally on Wall Street pretty much ended with an afternoon nose- dived as investor prepare for when the Fed and other central banks eventually cut back stimulus programs. The Dow tumbled a hundred and twenty-six points while the NASDAQ shed thirty-six.

Foreclosures jumped eleven percent last month and lenders are starting proceedings on many more. RealtyTrac discovered an increase in thirty-three states. They'll compare to the same month last year. Home repossessions fell twenty-nine percent. Foreclosure proceedings also rose four percent in May but still a third fewer than May 2012.

American Airlines is cramming even more seats into two-thirds of its fleet. That could mean less leg room for already cramped flyers. The Airline says that its Boeing 737 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 planes will be outfitted with more seats to accommodate they demands. But a VP at American says just how many more seats hasn't yet been decided.

And the Carnival Triumph is ready to resume duty after more than one hundred million in repairs and upgrades. In February, an engine room fire left it drifting in the Gulf of Mexico forcing its passengers to endure days without electricity or working toilets. The Triumph set sail today from Galveston on a three-day cruise and another four-day trip on Monday. And, Anne-Marie, both apparently, believe it or not are completely sold out.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, Joya, you know, a lot of people that were on that "trip from hell" actually got free trips as compensation. I wonder if any of them took advantage.

JOYA DASS: Well, if you take a look at Carnival's stock prices at thirty- nine when the incident happened is down thirty-two. So some place, somewhere, someone's not so happy about it.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Indeed. Joya Dass here in New York. Thank you, Joya.

Well, coming up on the MORNING NEWS, a Pennsylvania girl gets a life-saving lung transplant. Thanks to a court order.

Plus, high-rise drama. Window washers get stuck forty-four stories up.

This is the CBS MORNING NEWS.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: A sky-high scare for two window washers here in New York City. The two were left dangling after their metal scaffold buckled near the top of the six-hundred-foot tall HARS building yesterday. It took about ninety minutes before New York's bravest were able to bring them to safety by cutting through the glass windows on the skyscraper's forty-fourth floor.

A ten-year-old Pennsylvania girl is recovering this morning after undergoing a lung transplant yesterday. The transplant was made possible by a court ruling and now doctors are keeping a watchful eye for any sign of trouble. Vinita Nair is outside the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Vinita, good morning.

VINITA NAIR: Good morning to you, Anne-Marie. That's right. Doctors say Sarah Murnaghan underwent a six-hour surgery here at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. And because this was a double lung transplant, they had to open up her entire chest. The good news, though, doctors say they had no problem reshaping and resizing those adult lungs to fit into her ten-year-old body.

(Begin VT)

VINITA NAIR: Ten-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is in recovery this morning, following a successful transplant of two adult lungs into her tiny body.

SHARON RUDDOCK (Sarah's Aunt): Wow. What a night.

VINITA NAIR: Doctors will be watching her closely for any signs of rejection or infection. She could get off the machine that's helping her breathe as early as tomorrow.

SHARON RUDDOCK: We expect her to be, you know, doing some things within the next couple of days and taking her first breath, so we can't wait for that.

VINITA NAIR: The transplant was just the first step in the process.

SHARON RUDDOCK: Her lungs were in such bad shape the recovery is going to be harder for her than if she gotten the transplants six month ago. So we do have a much harder road than you would see in most situations.

VINITA NAIR: Sarah Murnaghan's surgery was only possible because her family went to court to battle for her life.

SHARON RUDDOCK: Without being able to get adult lungs, we would have lost her.

VINITA NAIR: The Murnaghans sued to change of rule that children under twelve have to wait at the back of the list for adult lungs. Last week, a federal judge ruled in their favor. Sarah moved from number four hundred and forty-one on the list to number one, and her new lungs arrived yesterday.

JANET MURNAGHAN (Sarah's Mother): They would have been offered to hundreds of people first and they're, you know, in excellent condition, and they would never have come down to Sarah.

VINITA NAIR: But some say the court set a dangerous precedent.

DR. SCOTT HALPERN (University of Pennsylvania Bioethics): Well, I don't think people want judges making medical decisions anymore than they want doctors deciding Supreme Court cases.

VINITA NAIR: Some experts believe children are more likely to reject adult lung transplants than people over twelve. But the Murnaghan family hopes they continue to beat the odds.

(End VT)

VINITA NAIR: Despite all of the national attention that this case received, the Murnaghan family says they received these lungs through the normal process of donations, Anne-Marie. In other words, it was not a result of all of they're public appeals. Anne-Marie.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, we hope she gets better soon. Thank you very much. Vinita Nair in Philadelphia.

Well, straight ahead, kidnapping case. The man accused of holding captive three women for a decade enters a plea in court.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died last night in a crash at a dirt raceway in southern New Jersey. Rescuers cut apart the thirty-seven- year-old's race car to get him out after he slammed into a wall at the Bridgeport Speedway. That's not too far from Philadelphia. The two-time winner of the NASCAR Nationwide Series died from his injuries last night. Leffler is survived by his son Charlie Dean.

And the Ohio man accused of holding three women captive for more than ten years has pleaded not guilty. Ariel Castro pleaded not guilty to one hundred and thirty-nine counts of rape and one hundred and seventy-seven counts of kidnapping. He is also charged with aggravated murder, for causing the termination of one woman's pregnancy. Castro may face the death penalty.

New Census data shows just how much the face of the nation is changing. For the first time ever, racial and ethnic minorities now comprise about half of all Americans younger than five. The data shows white children under the age of five make up a very slim majority of 50.1 percent. It also shows the nation's non-white population increase to thirty-seven percent of the U.S. or one hundred and sixteen million people.

When we return, eighteen hundred miles to home. How a pitch made it form Kansas City to California in a split second.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: In sports, game one of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals goes through the night and into the early morning hours. The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins meeting for the first time ever in the finals. Boston squanders a two-goal lead in the third period. Chicago's Johnny Oduya tying things up with less than eight minutes left. Both teams getting chances in overtime, but neither could score until the third extra period. Chicago's Andrew Shaw deflects a shot into the Boston net, and the Blackhawks take game one 4-3.

And a thirteen-year-old boy fired a ceremonial first pitch eighteen hundred miles last night. Nick LeGrande wound up near his home in Kansas City; and with the help of motion sensor technology and a Google-created robot, the pitch crossed home plate at the A's-Yankees game in Oakland. Nick, who is suffering from a rare blood disease, was told by doctors he wouldn't be able to play baseball this year.

NICK LEGRANDE (Threw Out First Pitch): Baseball is like a passion to me and I just really love it.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, the setup and pitch were a surprise for Nick. He will get the ball when the A's visit the Kansas City Royals this season.

Coming up after your local news on CBS THIS MORNING, actor Ethan Hawke.

I'm Anne-Marie Green. This is the CBS MORNING NEWS.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

CHLOE MCCARDEL: Thank you. Bye.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: An Australian woman has given up her attempt to be the first to swim from Cuba to Florida nonstop without a shark cage. Twenty- eight-year-old Chloe McCardel set out from Havana yesterday morning, but eleven hours later she ended her swim after being stung by jellyfish all over her body. The one hundred-mile swim was supposed to take sixty hours.

A bill to overhaul the way sexual assault cases in the military are prosecuted was rejected by a Senate Committee Wednesday. The aim of the legislation was to cut down on the growing problem of sexual assaults in the ranks. Nancy Cordes reports.

(Begin VT)

NANCY CORDES (CBS News Congressional Correspondent): New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's victory was a brief one. On Tuesday, her plan to tackle military sexual assaults passed a subcommittee with bipartisan support. The proposal would have taken decisions about prosecuting sexual misconduct away from military commanders and place them in the hands of experienced military lawyers.

SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-New York): Many women who are brutally raped and assaulted in the military, they just don't believe there's a possibility of justice. They don't think the chain of command can be objective.

NANCY CORDES: But on Wednesday her fellow Democrat, Carl Levin, used his power as chair of the Armed Services Committee to replace Gillibrand's plan with his own. His version would leave commanders in charge of sexual assault cases but with more oversight from the military's top brass, an approach favored by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.

CHUCK HAGEL (Secretary of Defense): We need to change some things. We can do things much better. We'll have to. But I-- I think-- I-- I think we've got to be very careful when we talk about taking the command structure out of this process.

NANCY CORDES: But for Gillibrand and her twenty-seven co-sponsors, that command structure is contributing to the problem, an estimated twenty-six thousand unwanted sexual contacts just in the past year. California Democrat Barbara Boxer.

SENATOR BARBARA BOXER (D-California): My God, we've seen the people who are in charge of these units actually commit sexual assaults themselves. What more do we need? This is the moment.

NANCY CORDES: This is not an issue that simply separates the women from the men. There were several female senators who backed Levin's plan. One of them, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, argued that victims will be less likely to face retaliation if their case is moved forward by their own unit commander and not by a lawyer who is outside the chain of command.

Nancy Cordes, CBS News, Capitol Hill.

(End VT)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, coming up after your local news on CBS THIS MORNING, we will go to Hong Kong for the latest on Edward Snowden, who says he'll fight any extradition attempts in the case of the surveillance program leaks. Plus more on the alleged misconduct at the State Department. We will hear from John Dickerson. And we'll tell you about new efforts launched today to protect your Smartphone from theft.

That's the CBS MORNING NEWS for this Thursday. Thanks for watching. I'm Anne-Marie Green. Have a great day.

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