Countdown To New Hampshire; Rising Tensions In The Middle East; Baby Brand Under Fire; Retailers Going High-Tech

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: It's Monday, January 22nd, 2024. This is the CBS MORNING NEWS.

Then there were two. The fight for New Hampshire heats up as Ron DeSantis drops out of the presidential race and backs Donald Trump. Now, the former president and his former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are ratcheting up the attacks on each other.

Frozen over. An icy blast of winter moving across the country's midsection while the Arctic cold finally gets ready to move out.

The tunnel of terror. The Israeli military releases video of a tunnel under Gaza where it says Hamas held about 20 hostages.

Well, good morning and good to be with you. I'm Anne-Marie Green. It's now officially a two-person race for the GOP presidential nomination after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his campaign. With just a day before the first primary in New Hampshire, Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are pulling out all the stops and stepping up attacks on one another.

CBS's Penny Kmitt joins us now from Manchester, New Hampshire. Penny, good morning.

PENNY KMITT: Anne-Marie, good morning. You know, speaking with voters out here in New Hampshire, there's a very clear divide between pro and anti- Trump Republicans. So, while Ron DeSantis did endorse Trump on his way out yesterday, Nikki Haley is still likely pretty hopeful that she's going to pick up some of his voters.

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GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS (R-Florida): It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspending his campaign yesterday, throwing his support behind former President Trump, and taking a parting shot at former GOP rival, Nikki Haley.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: We can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackage formed of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.

NIKKI HALEY (Republican Presidential Candidate): That's the sound of a two- person race.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): Yet on the campaign trail, both Haley and Trump wish DeSantis well.

DONALD TRUMP (45th President of the United States): I'd like to take time to congratulate Ron DeSantis.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): And they continue to trade barbs.

NIKKI HALEY: The majority of Americans disprove of Trump and Biden.

DONALD TRUMP: She's unelectable.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): Haley even questioned Trump's mental fitness after he appeared to confuse her with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi while discussing January 6th.

DONALD TRUMP: Nikki Haley is in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people.

NIKKI HALEY: I wasn't even anywhere near the Capitol. The reality is he was confused.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): With just one day until the nation's first primary election, multiple polls are still showing Donald Trump with a double-digit lead.

WOMAN #1: I hope that Trump wins, I believe he will.

MAN #1: More or less rooting for Nikki Haley at the moment, just because I want Trump to lose.

PENNY KMITT (voiceover): Meanwhile, Democrats are organizing a write-in campaign for President Biden, since his name will not appear on the ballot.

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PENNY KMITT (on camera): And the reason President Biden's name is not going to be on the ballot here in New Hampshire tomorrow is because the Democratic Party decided to make South Carolina the first in the nation's primary state. So, President Biden is complying with that new initiative. In Manchester, New Hampshire, I'm Penny Kmitt, CBS News.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: All right, Penny, thank you so much. Well, for all-day election coverage and real-time updates of the New Hampshire primary, download the free CBS News app anywhere you watch.

Well, Donald Trump will split his time between -- today, rather, between campaigning in New Hampshire and attending his defamation trial in New York City. Trump is expected to be in court where he may testify. A jury will decide if he has to pay additional damages for defaming E. Jean Carroll in 2019 when he denied her allegations of sexual abuse.

Turning now to the deadly winter storm that continues to grip much of the nation. There's been more than 90 weather-related deaths in the U.S. from the past week's bitter cold snow, ice, freezing rain, and high winds. This morning, much of the country is waking up with wind chills below 20 degrees. Icy roads will make for a hazardous morning commute in parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. Dangerous amounts of ice, potentially up to one half inch, are expected from western Arkansas and to southern Missouri. And throughout the day the ice threat spreads north, reaching parts of Illinois, Indiana, and southern Michigan. Temperatures are expected to warm up beginning tomorrow, though.

And turning now to the rising tensions in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is rejecting a deal with Hamas that would free the hostages in exchange for ending the war with a terror group staying in power. Israel resumed heavy airstrikes in the southern Gaza City of Khan Younis with explosions lighting up the sky. Israel announced the death of another hostage, 19-year-old, Sergeant Shea Levinson. The military now says he was killed and his body was taken to Gaza on October 7th.

A U.S. military base in western Iraq was attacked with multiple missiles fired by Iranian-backed rebels from inside Iraq over the weekend. Several military personnel were injured. And Iran is vowing to fight back against Israel after a missile strike killed five Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards in Damascus. Naomi Ruchim is joining us now from New York with more on the spreading conflict. Naomi, good morning.

NAOMI RUCHIM: Anne-Marie, good morning. The war is widening today showing signs that this is truly now a regional conflict putting the United States in a tough position. As the death toll rises in Gaza, at least 100 hostages are still believed to be in captivity there and bringing them home alive may be the greatest challenge of all.

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NAOMI RUCHIM (voiceover): The families of those killed during the massacre at the Supernova music festival in Israel on October 7th gathered at the site to plant trees over the weekend honoring their loved ones.

WOMAN #2: We are here to show the world that we are here to stay. As the tree that developed its roots in the soil, we are here to stay.

NAOMI RUCHIM (voiceover): It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu adamantly rebuffed terms from Hamas that involve releasing hostages in exchange for Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza. The Israeli army has released more footage of what it describes as a tunnel where about 20 hostages were held by Hamas. About 100 hostages are still in captivity in Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry says 25,000 people have now died in Gaza since the war began with large sectors of the population forced to leave their homes. On the West Bank, Palestinian officials say a 17-year-old Palestinian-American was shot and killed by Israeli troops Friday. Loved ones gathered over the weekend to remember him in Louisiana, where he was raised.

MAN #2: He was outgoing, goofy, funny, great heart, bright kid, bright future.

NAOMI RUCHIM (voiceover): This as the war shows no signs of letting up, despite mounting pressure from the international community to end the fighting.

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NAOMI RUCHIM: Israeli leadership now appears divided on how to secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, with some in the war cabinet casting doubt on Israel's current strategy. Military higher-ups there expect the war to continue for several more months. Anne-Marie.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Naomi Ruchim, thank you so much. Well, after a massive 10-day search, the U.S. military says two missing Navy SEALs are now considered dead. It happened off the coast of Somalia, and while the military says the two were trying to board a boat carrying Iranian-made weapons. Officials say, they seized those weapons being sent to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Federal Aviation Administration is calling on airlines to check door plugs on a second Boeing airplane model. The agency is recommending operators to visually inspect 737-900ER jets. They have the same design as the MAX-9s. That fleet was grounded earlier this month after a door panel on an Alaska Airline plane blew off shortly after takeoff.

Coming up, headline heist. Why a Colorado man is accused of stealing hundreds of local newspapers. And later, the Kansas City Chiefs pulled out a win in Buffalo. The highlights from this weekend's divisional round games.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Nearly two dozen skiers and snowboarders had to be rescued in single-digit temperatures in Vermont. Police say 21 people, including six juveniles, became lost in the backcountry in Killington, Saturday. Officials say search and rescue teams hiked, snowshoed, and skied five miles to bring the group back to safety.

Local newspapers stolen in Colorado and fallout in the Georgia case against Donald Trump. Those are some of the headlines on the "MORNING NEWSSTAND."

The Washington Post reports allegations of a romantic relationship between the district attorney and the lead prosecutor in the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump have likely damaged the case. Friends and supporters of Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis say the accusations threaten to undermine public confidence in the case against former president and others. Willis has not denied or directly addressed the allegations, neither has prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The Denver Post says nearly all the copies of a small-town Colorado newspaper were stolen from newspaper racks on the same day it published allegations of a rape at the police chief's house. Publishers of the Ouray County Plaindealer say someone stole more than 200 copies of the paper last Thursday. The paper had published a story about an alleged rape involving the family of the police chief. The sheriff's office said the suspect is not a member or relative of local law enforcement and not associated with the defendants.

And the Chicago Tribune says fans of a rodent-shaped crater known as the Rat Hole came to its rescue after someone filled it in. A hole resembling the outline of a rat in the sidewalk of a Chicago neighborhood recently became a tourist attraction after a social media post went viral. Well, last week someone noticed the indentation had been filled in with a concrete slurry. On Friday, neighbors dug the hole back out and set up a small shrine.

Still to come, company apology. The CEO of a baby clothing company speaks out after denying the employees request to work remotely.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country.

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(Video Clip from Mean Girls Movie)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: "Mean Girls" is once again on top of the box office for the second week in a row. The Paramount Pictures musical took in $11.7 million this weekend. It was a quiet weekend in the movie theaters. The top 10 films accounted for only about $51 million. Paramount Pictures, like CBS, is part of Paramount Global.

And McDonald's is bringing back a sweet treat in a baby clothing company coming under fire. Here's Carissa Lawson with today's "MONEY WATCH."

CARISSA LAWSON: Wall Street is celebrating after two of the three major indexes hit record highs on Friday. The Dow soared 395 points. The NASDAQ followed with a 255-point jump. And the S&P 500 rose nearly 59.

Customers are threatening to boycott baby clothing brand, Kite Baby, after an employee says the company turned down her request to work remotely from the hospital while she cared for her adopted premature baby and then fired her. The story generated a social media firestorm and Kite Baby's CEO has now issued two video apologies saying she's the one who made the "terrible decision" and the company is now working to change its parental leave policy as a result.

Macy's rejected a $5.8 billion takeover bid. Ark House Management and Brigade Capital Management made the unsolicited offer to take the department store chain private, but Macy's announced yesterday it turned down the bid because it couldn't see how Ark House and Brigade could finance the deal. The offer comes amid Macy's plans to cut some 2,300 jobs starting on Friday.

Leave room for dessert with your next McDonald's order. The fast food chain is reintroducing the fan favorite strawberry and cream pie. McDonald's first introduced a dessert in 2012 before it quietly disappeared from menus. It will only be available at participating stores for a limited time.

That's your CBS "MONEY WATCH" report for this Monday morning. I'm Carissa Lawson, CBS News, New York.

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, the race to the Super Bowl is down to the final four teams after this weekend's playoff action. Travis Kelce got two touchdown passes as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills last night, 27 to 24. The defending Super Bowl champion, Chiefs, will play in their sixth straight AFC Championship game next Sunday.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift was at the game in Buffalo to cheer on her boyfriend, Kelce, after one of his touchdowns, he made a heart gesture with his hands toward the suite where Swift was sitting. The stadium even served Taylor Swift themed food including bad blood waffle fries and karma quesadillas.

In yesterday's other playoff game, the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31 to 23. They'll play in the NFC Championship for the first time in 32 years next weekend. The Lions will face the San Francisco 49ers who came from behind to defeat the Green Bay Packers Saturday, 24 to 21. It's the 49ers' third straight NFC Championship game.

And rounding out the final four, the Baltimore Ravens pulled away in the second half to defeat the Houston Texans, 34 to 10. The Ravens will face the Chiefs in the AFC Championship next Sunday.

And for the first time in 33 years, an amateur has won the PGA Tour. Reigning U.S. amateur champion, Nick Dunlap, made a six-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory yesterday at the American Express in California. Since the 20-year-old University of Alabama sophomore is an amateur, the $1.5 million first place prize goes to the runner-up.

Up next, another health scare for the Royal Family. The new cancer battle for the Duchess of York.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Mary Weiss, the lead singer and founding member of the 1960s group the Shangri-Las, has died. The girl group, made up of two sets of sisters, who met in school in Queens in New York. They rose to fame with such hits as "Leader of the Pack", but the group split a few years later. Mary Weiss was 75.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, revealing that she is once again battling cancer. Ferguson, who was treated for breast cancer last summer, says she now has been diagnosed with a dangerous form of skin cancer. The 64-year-old is the former wife of Prince Andrew. She is said to be in good spirits as she undergoes treatment in London.

And the NYPD arrested a man outside of Taylor Swift's Manhattan townhouse this weekend after neighbors said he was trying to break into the building. The man was taken into custody and charged with an unrelated 2017 warrant for allegedly failing to answer a summons.

Well, coming up on "CBS MORNINGS," country singing songwriter Brittney Spencer talks with Anthony Mason about her debut album My Stupid Life.

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ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Our top stories this morning, rather. Voters head to the polls in New Hampshire tomorrow for the nation's first primary. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination yesterday and endorsed Donald Trump. The former president and his one remaining GOP rival, Nikki Haley, stepped up their attacks on each other.

And there's been more than 90 weather-related deaths in the US from the winter storms this past week. This morning, much of the country is waking up to wind chills below 20 degrees. Icy roads will make for a hazardous morning commute in parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. The ice threat, rather, then spreads north to parts of Illinois, Indiana, and southern Michigan.

Brick and mortar stores are going high tech, incorporating robotics and artificial intelligence to speed up the buying process. Bradley Blackburn got a look at some cutting-edge tools and the changes coming for customers and employees.

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BRADLEY BLACKBURN (voiceover): At the National Retail Federation's Expo in New York, the hall is packed with gadgets and gizmos changing the way companies do business. There are robots that can cook and some that look a lot like humans. This is Apollo, a humanoid robot designed to work autonomously in warehouses and factories. And unlike a human, Apollo can work almost non-stop.

BARRY PHILLIPS (Apptronik): Four hour per battery pack and then you just swap out the battery pack. So we target this seven days a week, 22 hours a day.

BRADLEY BLACKBURN (voiceover): At the grocery store shelves are getting a high-tech upgrade.

MAN #3: You're telling me my grocery store is going to look like Times Square.

BARRY BATES (Lenovo): It could.

BRADLEY BLACKBURN: Barry Bates with Lenovo showed us this display already in use in some U.S. stores. Prices can be changed in an instant, and the camera uses AI to collect demographics and learn about customers.

BARRY BATES: How long do I linger, and do I actually buy? So, it's capturing that information for future reference.

BRADLEY BLACKBURN (voiceover): This drive-through being tested can detect customers who've opted into a loyalty program and shift the menu display based on their ordering history to emphasize items they may like.

And a convenience store may soon look like a giant ATM. Startup 1MRobotics, backed by Microsoft, squeezes a whole store's inventory into a few hundred square feet. A kiosk takes your order, and it brings the shelves to you. No clerk needed.

That was fast.

GONEN GERSHUNI (1MRobotics): So, yes, it's nine seconds speaking time per item.

BRADLEY BLACKBURN (voiceover): It's also designed to prevent shoplifting. Products are released only to paying customers.

MAN #4: This prevents that altogether by having everything tucked away behind the walls of the machine while allowing the customer to get that seamless, frictionless purchasing journey.

BRADLEY BLACKBURN (voiceover): Technology helping business that could be in store in more stores soon. Bradley Blackburn, CBS News, New York.

(End VT)

ANNE-MARIE GREEN: Well, coming up on "CBS MORNINGS", country singer- songwriter Brittney Spencer talks with Anthony Mason about her debut album, "My Stupid Life".

Plus, Ibram X. Kendi joins us in the Times Square studio to discuss his latest work, an adaptation of the book, "Barracoon."

That's the CBS MORNING NEWS for this Monday. You can catch me on CBS streaming throughout the morning for all your latest news. I'm Anne-Marie Green. Have a great day.

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