there is the highest density of asian carp in the world in the illinois river. that's including their native habitats in china. >> reporter: that's frightening. >> it's astounding. >> reporter: no one is more frightened than fishermen in the great lakes where sport and commercial fishing is a $7 billion a year industry. >> it's the single largest part of our economy up here, hand's down. that's good. we lost this fishery here, you'd be looking at a ghost town around here. would be disastrous for the area. >> once they're in lake michigan, there's nothing to stop them from going to lake superior, lake erie, lake houron. the whole system will be overrun by these fish. >> reporter: they feel the carp who have no farm predators, will wipe out the salmon, perch, trout and wall eye that now dominate these waters. the carp could be a catastrophe. >> if these fish are successful in the lake, they will literally put my sport fishing business out of business. >> reporter: the risk is so real the stakes so high, that the obama administration appointed a so-called carp czar

at the time when illinois was actually a frontier. first elected in 1818, he served until 1824 when he stepped down to become the united states minister to mexico. he had the distinction of being both the governor and senator from the state of illinois. a true servant to the state, he died this 1823 when he helped treat the victims of a cholera epidemic carried back by soldiers who served during the blackhawk war. senator james shields reminded us that we are a state and a nation of immigrants. born in ireland, he became a naturalized citizen in 1840. he served in the mexican-american war under general zachary taylor, demanding a brigade in the battles of vera cruz and cherabusco and others. already one of america's leading irish americans, brigadier general shields would later command a division during the civil war, taking his men against stonewall jackson in the valley campaign of 1862. he was twice elected to the senate in 1948, first in march and then again in october. but his first election was voided on the grounds that he had

the state of illinois says we may have to pay up. why we may have to pay back taxes for the past internet purchases. ♪ my heart stops when you look at me ♪. >> and the morning show pays a visit to an internet sensation. >> illinois shoppers are going to be asked to maybe soon pay online taxes on purchases. they will tax shoppers on past online purchases that go back as far back as june 2004. starting january 1 through october 15, state officials will let you pay the sales tax you owe without a penalty. last hour, we asked viewers, what do you think of the state of illinois taxing on past online purchases? here's a shock, 98% of you said, are you kidding? >> that's another one that will probably raise their eye. fees and baggage fees aren't going anywhere. why? because they're making the airline industry billions of dollars. unite and did continental, $922 million. american $884 million. southwest collected 22 1/2 million for additional luggage. >> an online security breach at walgreens. customers could be getting spammed. somebod

. >> we are thrilled that the illinois legislature has taken this step to making illinois a state that is now more equal and more fair. >> reporter: christopher clark is an attorney for the land of legal. the oldest gay and transgender rights organization. >> civil unions are not marriage and not full equality. i do think it's a step. we still have a long way to go. but it's an important step. >> reporter: despite serious opposition of illinois headed by cardinal francis george. >> truly the legislature today imposed on the state of illinois, something the people did not want. >> reporter: the director of the thomas moore society a law firm that defends traditional marriage. >> instead because of various favors being traded back and forth by the leadership, these individuals voted against the interests of their districts. they voted to bring homosexual marriage into the state of illinois. >> reporter: illinois will then join such states as new jersey in allowing civil unions. five other states and washington, d.c. currently allow gay couples to marry outright. >> dan ponce, thank you.

biggest totals are western illinois and eastern iowa. that quad cities area seen about 4 to 6 inches of snow and just a patchy light snow expected this afternoon. still some lingering weather advisories to the west of us but the emphasis has shifted to the main event with this system. heavier snows and freezing rain and ice that's going on from kentucky eastward. and new mexico in the thick of things in terms of precipitation as well. here is our little system. this thing is streaking eastward but there is upper air energy left behind it and that's supporting this little snow area. we are up to the this evening in this animated forecast. then one of these broad low pressures that's developing and this will bring a stronger northwest wind in and re- enforce the cold to some extent the next couple of days and it's conceivable there will be lake snow on the other side of the lake but nothing on the order of what we have seen. a bigger storm out to the west. models getting excited about that toward monday here. late monday, monday night. but

. >> reporter: on this central illinois farm, the harvest is over and corn is in storage for winter. but, this land is still making money. >> this farm here is over 300 acres... >> reporter: suburban chicago real estate broker doug hirsh owns the farm and 44 others in illinois and indiana. >> we thought it would be a great inflation hedge. it's conservative. >> reporter: hirsh and his father-in-law began buying farmland three years ago and leasing it to farmers. last january, he and 15 investors started a fund that now owns 1,400 acres of prime farmland. hirsh says, so far, the dough farms opportunity fund is up roughly 17%. >> farmland. is always going to be there. it's a hard asset and it provides a return you know renting to your farmer. and, all of the land is 100% occupied. it's not like an office building, which you have 50%. >> reporter: scorching global demand for grain and sky-high grain prices are fueling farmland values in rural america. except for a slight correction last year, land prices have been on a tear. and, agriculture economist dan basse sees no end in sight. >>

i thank the senator from illinois. a senator: mr. president? mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from colorado. mr. udall: thank you, mr. president. unanimous consent saoubg that the full text of my -- i ask unanimous consent that the full text of my remarks be included in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. udall: i've spoken many times about the repeal of don't ask, don't tell and how it will improve our national security but i would like to make a few additional short points today before we take this important vote at 10:30. repealing this law is not about scoring political points or catering to a special interest group. rather it's about doing the right thing for our national security, especially during a time of two wars. instead of turning around qualified interpreters, mechanics, infantry men and others, we need every able-bodied man and woman who is willing to fight for our country. an exhaustive study by the pentagon revealed what numerous reports have shown, that don't ask, don't tell can be repealed without harmf

the gentlelady from illinois. mrs. biggert: thank you, madam speaker. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so order. mrs. biggert: today i rise in support of house resolution 1687 expressing support of the house of representatives for the goals and ideals of national runaway prevention month. studies suggest that nearly three million children are living on the street each year. many of these individuals come from every social and economic background have been kicked out of their home, separated if their parents or physically abused. worse, they find it increasingly difficult or even impossible to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities to develop into safe, healthy, productive adults. that's why it's so important we pass this resolution today to raise awareness of the plight of runaway youth and increase public understanding of the role individual americans can play in helping to prevent youth from running away from home. as co-chair of the missing and exploited chi

the illinois state police investigating the death, autopsy expected some time tomorrow. there were earlier reports that it was a suicide. but the state police have refused to speculate. >> at this point in the investigation, the illinois state police is conducting an investigative canvas of mayor's community and the scene to include a century of the property. >> mayor davlin was to appear in court today where some money is unaccounted for. he also owed nearly $90,000 in unpaid income taxes and liens were filed against his home. >>> it started early this morning and it's going or at this hour hop rahm emanuel answering questions over his being a legal resident to illinois, chicago. >> reporter: long and truly surreal day. this wrapped up just about ten minutes ago. you've heard the expression cool as a cucumber. that was rahm emanuel today during nearly 12 hours of aggressive sometimes insulting questioning by lawyers and political activists and emanuel's opponents looking for a got you time that never came. >> one more question. >> can i seep it? can i touch it? >> repor

the senator from illinois, who i respect, thank you for your forbearance. with that, i yield the floor. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire. mrs. shaheen: i'm pleased to be here on the floor to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to talk about the need for us to deal with our deficits and our debt in this country. i made the decision to vote for the tax cut package that we're going to be voting on this evening. i did that with some -- some sense of ambiguity because it doesn't adequately put in place a plan to address our debt in this country. and all the economists, however, that i've spoken to have indicated that this is important for us as we're looking at continuing to stimulate our economy and provide the relief that middle-class families and small businesses need. so despite the fact that there are things in it that i don't like, i'm going to support it. but i would feel a lot better about it if it contained language that all of us have talked about that says as part of doing this, once we get th

illinois, iowa, louisiana, massachusetts, michigan, missouri, new jersey, new york, ohio and pennsylvania all lose seats. while arizona, florida, georgia, nevada, south carolina, utah, washington and texas win. texas, alone, picks up four seats. the population growth in the south and west traditionally republican strongholds could be a win for republicans. >> if this count were applied to the 2008 presidential race, president obama would have won with six fewer electoral college votes so he has a higher hurdle to clear in 2012. >> reporter: now states will redraw congressional districts and republicans appear to have an advantage. the country has been counting the population since 1790 when george washington was president and 3.9 million people lived in the 13 original colonies. in 1940, fdr was president with 132 million people living in 48 states. by 1960, with eisenhower in the white house, baby-boomers had surged the population to 179 million. when reagan was elected in 1980, there were 226 million of us. 281 million by 2000. and 308 million today, bigger than ever but the slowest gro

. >> reporter: and nowhere has the reckoning been as bad as it-- as it is in illinois, the state that spends twice as much as it collects in taxes and is unable to pay its bills. >> this is the state of affairs in illinois. it's to the pretty. >> reporter: dan heinz is the controller of the state of illinois, its paymaster. he currently has about $5 billion in outstanding bills in his office and not enough money in the state's coffers to pay them. he says they are six months behind. how many people do you have clamouring for money? >> it's fair to say that there are tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people waiting to be paid by the state. >> reporter: so how are these people getting by if they are not getting paid by the state? >> that's the tragedy. people borrow money. they borrow in order to get by until the state pays them. >> reporter: they are subsidizing the state, they are giving the state a float. >> exactly. >> reporter: and who dow owe that money to? >> pretty much anybody who has any interaction with state government we owe money to. >> reporter: that would

biggert from illinois. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from illinois is recognized. mrs. biggert: thank you. and i thank the gentlelady for yielding and, madam speaker, i rise today as the republican co-sponsor of the house version of this legislation, h.r. 2930, which was first introduced during the 110th congress, and i urge my colleagues to support today's bill, senate 118, the section 202 supportive housing for the elderly act. i'd also like to thank chairman frank and ranking members bachus and capito. and i'd like to thank our senator counterpart, senator kohl. the section 202 program is the only federal housing program that directs housing assistance to low-income seniors. it's already been stressed but it can't be stressed enough. it has not been reformed in over a decade and a half. the reform offered in today's bill will help increase the number of units available to our seniors, a population that is increasing greatly in numbers as the baby boomer generation retires. in short, the bill will allow a variety of funding sources to be pooled together with section 2

the illinois state police are investigating. dablan was supposed to appear in court this morning in a pending estate case involving his late cousin. in october the state journal register in springfield reported dablan owed federal government nearly $90,000 in unpaid taxes and liens were filed against his home. the mayor blamed the problem over a dispute with the irs. >>> two men are charged with kidnapping a man who was found dead in chicago's humboldt park neighborhood. 45-year-old francisco faivela was taken from his home at cermak and keeler saturday afternoon. he was rehabbing a building at the time. his body was discovered inside a vehicle in the garage at thomas and springfield last night. police say he had been badly beaten. two men are now in custody. 38-year-old darnell stokes and 34-year-old keith watts. stokes and watts are charged with aggravated kidnapping and unlawful aggravated restraint. watts is charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. this very not been charged with the murder. >>> a court hearing i

and across illinois. we'll get sleet and snow and plunge of cold air down the lake and gets trapped by the block. see that cool air. that's supposed to develop and then the lobes of support for showers will rotate around it into next week. we get trapped in the chilly air. nothing cold just persistent. 29 is the high. and then 33 on thursday and a day and increasing clouds and flurries later. friday is precipitation free and mostly sunny. then it clouds over and flyerries could build. that's what we have been watching. month a big, big deal but you know any time you lay down the first snow that looks exciting. we'll follow that. >> thank you have a great night. >>> and visitation for a slain police officer and a mother and her daughters murdered on the south side. >>> kids get ready for downtown some of the photos of the day. >> reporter: a display by the police department, hundreds are here in sort of the -- in support of the family of officer michael flisk. >> they are investigating a man on the murders

illinois street is on the west. you can notice there is some future development sites directly west of the crane coffee park area. this is just an aerial photograph looking at the future crane c omp ve park site . the ship repair area is to the left of the screen. illinois street and third street to the right. the park would be generally an extension of 19th street generally to the norton to mariposa street. >> as i mentioned before, a significant amount of planning has occurred. in looking at crane cove park, it was looked at as a part of the port's land use plan. it was identified in the central waterfront plan. it was prioritized as a part of the 2008 general bond obligation planning. it was also identified in the pier 70 master plan. as a part of all that planning, we have begun the blue green way planning process, which has identified a number of considerations to be thoughts of in the development of the plan for crane cove park. building on the work that has been done, here is a list of design considerations.

>> this is in antioch, illinois, which is on lake marie. a place where i spent little time in my youth. sort of a summer vacation kind of photo. it's two friends just sitting out on the dock with that sun. you can feel it on their back. think that's another one of those chicago season photos that really defines summer in the city. >> out there on the chain of lakes. >> yeah. >> we will put another one up now. this looks like -- this is a viaduct somewhere in chicago. >> that's on the north side. i know the one. that's just one of those moments where our photographer was sent out to shoot a story on some mayhem, two people were abducted in that area and when he saw this viaduct with the person passing through, it just made a beautiful image. those are the pictures that don't always make print but we had a great collection. >> these photographers have such vision. this might be my favorite here right here and i know this one. it's an aerial shot of a train snaking its way through a semi rule rural area. >> it's down in the south of the city.

your live illinois lottery drawing the next.

en el condado en illinois y vemos una distribuciÓn distinta, tenemos con un 77 % de origen mexicano seguidos por puertorriqueÑos. y ahora nos movemos al sur del paÍs y nuevamente a nivel del condado de miami y vemos que alrededor de un 50 % de la poblaciÓn son de origen cubano seguidos por sudamericanos y centroamericanos. >> han visto muchos cambios entre la encuesta que hicieron hace 5 aÑos y la de ahora. >> como te expliquÉ como esto es un estimado promedio no podemos hacer... 2005, 2006, 2007. sino que se realizan estimados y se hace uno en conjunto un promedio. y asÍ sucesivamente pero no se

we should keep that money in illinois. it's costing us jobs and economic opportunity. >> reporter: the rickets family sought to use the growth and local amusement taxes on cubs tickets to pay back bonds to renovate wrigley field. only 51% disapproved and 36 approved. a spokesman says the cubs are exploring new plans. both cubs sporters and casino supporters say their goal is to create jobs in a difficult economy. it's no sure bet that lawmakers will play ball next year. >> you can find more information autarchic at chicagotribune,.com. >>> you may have noticed it was a little less freezing today. don't get used to that. >> oh, okay. [ female announcer ] this is a strawberry pop tart... and this is a warm, fresh baked strawberry toaster strudel. we asked kids what they want... and we got a clear answer. the one kids want to eat. [ kids ] oooooooooooooh. toaster strudel. layers of brownie and caramel, dipped in chocolate ready to eat sweet moments new from pillsbury. in the refrigerated section early the next morning, they'r

host: bob from illinois. in "the chicago -- chicago trib- that is one of many stories talking about the census this morning. in "the new york times" -- population continuing to shift from the midwest and northeast. they write that the census bureau has rearranged the country's political map on tuesday, giving more congressional seats to the south and west. we are talking about how things are in your community. how has your community changed in the last 10 years? richmond, va., deborah, go ahead. caller: good morning. happy holidays to you. host: how has your community changed in the last 10 years? caller: for one thing, the word minority has a different meaning now. i hope they noticed when they took the survey, minority is for white people, as far as i can see. host: in "the richmond times dispatch -" -- host: next up is john in st. petersburg, florida. you are on the "washington journal." john? caller: yes, good morning. am i on the air? host: john, how has your community changed in the last 10 years? calle

and there is shocking news out of springfield, illinois. police responding to a 911 call earlier this morning found the city's mayor shot to death in his own home. reports say the gunshot wound was self inflicted, but state investigators have yet to confirm this. at the time of his death, he owed the federal government gr 90,000 in unpaid income tax. several liens were filed against his home. >>> and dozens of passengers on the nightmare cruise in the mediterranean are tending to this their injuries today after the ship finally docked safely. it was rocked by 30-foot waves and hurricane-forced winds as passengers were tossed around the ship, they say like rag dolls. royal caribbean offer ad full refund for the ordeal after mass protests from the passengers. reporter john ray is with our british news partner itn. he is live from malta. what else are these passengers saying now that they're on safe ground? >> well, a lot of them are retelling terrifying tells. you can see them behind me. imagine waves so high they were crashing on the tenth f

among those attending that meeting is illinois senator dick durbin. he joins us tonight from capitol hill. good to have you back on this program, sir. >> nice to be with you. tavis: your take away from the meeting? >> it was a good meeting. for those of us who've been lucky enough to be in meetings like this, it was extraordinary. we had a formal meeting in the roosevelt room and the white house. it had all the principles involved and leaders from the administration as well as from congress with our staff. then after that, the president said, i would like to ask the members of congress to join me and the vice-president in a small room. and we went off to the small dining room off the oval office, a close setting where the conversation continued. it was an effort by the president to reach out in a very personal way to the leadership in congress and to engage all of us in trying to work together. tavis: breaking bread is one thing, passing bills as another. if one believes what one reads, one gets the sense republicans are interested in blocking as a be

marine who can no longer decorate his own home, no better gift. >> thank you. >> reporter: back in illinois, jacqueline learned the angel who nominated her was her own husband. >> i wanted to do it to have something to brighten your holidays. >> three, two, one. >> reporter: a tribute to an often silent sacrifice. >> i just wish he could see it. >> reporter: lighting up christmas for the heroes at home. >> thank you. >> you guys are so welcome. >> thank you for your time. >> merry christmas to you. >> reporter: janet shamlian, nbc news, highland, illinois. >> and you can find much more on this week's holiday "making a difference" on our new website, or get it, of course, by going to nightly.msnbc.com. >>> that's our broadcast for this thursday night. thank you for being with us. i'm carl quintanilla in for brian williams. we'll look for you back here tomorrow evening. good night. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com . >>> these are do not end up in a sewer collection system unless they are put there. >>> a deliberate attack or an act of negligence. either way there's a big clean up of a st

northern illinois has gotten an inch or two. chicago, it's been just to your south. and minneapolis, you've been spared too. this whole mess is making its way toward looks like north carolina and virginia are going to see the snow as we go throughout the day. here's a look at the radar. again, light freezing rain is in the pink. lexington, louisville is the worst of it. three to six inches is possible through west virginia and portions of virginia and we'll have to watch for snow later on today. otherwise the weather pattern pretty quiet in the deep south. that's a look at your thursday forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. well, you can see how messy this treacherous pattern is. today, much warmer. no problems at all for your morning commute. nashville, you're warm enough. you're only going to have to deal with some rain showers. lynn, even our nation's capitol can expect an inch or two of snow today. >> thanks so much. >>> grinches take hold on wall street, beer is booming and the world's most expensive christmas tree. your early morning b

is in western illinois. this is a seat to pack as many democrats as possible into the district by having it based on that border that had a political -- that had a little tentacles that stretched out to other parts of the state. that district was not even successful for democrats in preserving their hold on it in 2010. the republican pizza shop owner one that 17th district. democrats might say if they did not elect them in 2010, why should we even bother? or create one seed that is very favorable for them, rather than merging two into one. keep in mind, the chicago district would have to expand as well. it is not just as simple as eliminating one seat in one part of the state. you could see chicago districts which have inner-city populations move out into the suburbs. it is possible these districts could become more suburban, and some of the members of congress there will have to shift their priorities in a district that looks a lot different than it did in the last decade. host: the overall population rank

the gentleman from illinois. mr. costello: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. costello: mr. speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 6473, the airport and airway extension act of 2010 part 4. i want to thank chairman oberstar of the committee on transportation for bringing this bill to the floor today. at the end of september we passed the f.a.a. extension that will expire on december 31. h.r. 6473 is a clean three-month extension that runs through the end of march. however i am hopeful we still can pass a long-term f.a.a. re-authorization bill before the 111th congress adjourns. there are many important provisions in the f.a.a. re-authorization bill such as binding arbitration for the air traffic controllers, addressing the consolidation and realignment of f.a.a. facilities, and making investments to accelerate next again. in addition the bill will create thousands of jobs at a time when our economy continues to struggle and too many americans

. >> bill: in the is it legal segment tonight, 29-year-old teacher who taught matt in berkeley illinois suing a school district because they denied her unpaid leave to travel to mecca, saudi arabia. guess who is aiding her in her case can you say attorney general eric holder. she asked for three weeks leave to travel to mecca. the school district said no. that was too much time away from her students. here now attorneys and fox news analyst kimberly guilfoyle and lis wiehl. why is holder and the justice department involved in the first place. this is the first time the justice department is involved in a case like this. >> bill: ever? >> ever. because the civil rights department set up a separate division to go through these sort of cases to see whether or not the department should get involved. title 7 no discrimination. >> bill: first time under the new civil rights division. >> one has to wonder if it isn't something to do with the black panther remember that they never prosecuted the black panther. >> bill: i used to teach high school as you ladies know. can i imagine walking into t

. >> and the illinois -- an illinois bus driver is out of a incident with a >> florida high-school basketball player suspended after he throws a refereed to the ground and it was caught on tape. it happened monday night during a match up between to sort high school. he could potentially face criminal charges. the athletic association plans to administer their own punishment. in illinois bus driver is out of a job after the showed up on youtube. after mass transit officials saw the video, the bus driver resigned. there is no word out the snowman got onto the street. >> of mail man arrested for delivering the mail naked. the bizarre crime happened during the -- near biloxi, wisconsin. -- near milwaukee, cause wisconsin. police did not see the humor. a postal worker was ticketed for lewd behavior. he is on unpaid leave from the post office. i do not know what he thought people would think that is funny. >> who knows? still to come, if you are getting last-minute shopping done, we have all morning that will save you money, especially if you're in the market for electronics. >> they actually have

he promises he'll put illinois back to work. alexi is a progressive democrat who says he'll cut taxes for the middle class. you guys focused? [ laughter ] all right. that should be enough to help you make an informed decision. you guys ready to vote? you ready? let's release the puppies. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ we've got two for alexi. oh, it looks like mark kirk. mark kirk is the winner, everybody. we have a decision. [ applause ] hey, everybody. i'll give you more. we'll get back down there. we have our results. the puppies have predicted that mark kirk will win the illinois senate race by a score of 3-2. good job. thanks again to the "late night" puppies. we'll be right back with a brand-new "head swap." so stick around! ♪ [ cheers and applause ] what could possibly hold together all the natural energy found in peanuts? caramel works. payday. crunchy roasted peanuts and soft chewy caramel come together to give you sweet energy. payday. the sweet taste of energy. business plan in two hours. yeah, we need everybody on thi

and as the storm moves eastward, winter weather warnings have been issued for parts of illinois. all this, with winter's official start still nine days away. francesco, nbc news. >>> elsewhere, flooding remains a serious concern in the pacific northwest this morning where record rainfall has triggered mudslides along some western washington rivers. flood watches and warnings sent several residents rushing to get sandbags in place yesterday, while hundreds of others were told to consider evacuating. no injuries were reported but scores of homes were flooded as rivers rose. the national weather service says the water in some places could go as high as 22 feet before it starts to fall later today. >>> and now here's a look at some other stories making news "early today" in america. in washington, d.c., the president and his family spent the evening spreading the holiday spirit. they were greeted by a group of tiny elves at a fund-raiser at the national building museum. one got into a little mischief but it wasn't anything that the first lady couldn't handle. the family was there hel

. >>> a dramatic rescue was caught on videotape in illinois today. two deer were trapped on an ice floe in the mississippi river a quarter mile from shore. the surprised hero was a local helicopter pilot who was frustrated when the illinois department of resources said it could not help. at his own expense, and his own risk, we might add, he hovered close enough to blow one deer across the ice to the shore. the other deer couldn't move on its own, so he and another person dragged the deer to safety. >> oh, poor little thing. excuse me? [ female announcer ] it's the thought that counts. and the gift. safeway. ingredients for life. and the gift. our points from chase sapphire preferred are worth 25% more on travel. we're like forget florida, we're going on a safari. so we're on the serengeti, and seth finds a really big bone. we're talking huge. they dig it up, put it in the natural history museum and we get to name it. sethasauraus. really. your points from chase sapphire preferred are worth 25% more on travel? means better vacations. that's incredibl

champagne, illinois, and dubuque, iowa, each got eight inches of snow. at a college football game in cincinnati, the school's mascot was arrested, accused of encouraging fans to throw snowballs at a touchdown-scoring pitt player. winter storm warnings and snow emergencies remain in effect throughout the night, mainly coup to a phenomenon called snow burst. that's when the lake effect can cause snowfall to happen very rapidly, and in this case, two to four inches over a short time. and that's what makes this kind of storm more dangerous. jeff. >> glor: cynthia bowers in cold but still festive chicago tonight. thank you. in the middle east, israel is trying dep desperately to contan the dead least forest fire it has ever experienced. help is arriving from around the world. the all-out international effort includes crews and equipment from the united states and 15 other countries including russia, greece, and great britain, joining israel's 1400 firefighters, trying to put out the largest fire in israeli history. still, the three-day blaze continues to rang

they are california, texas, new york, florida, and illinois. and you see there population counts there in the graphic. the identities of the five least populous states vary all little less over the decades. if we look for example at alaska, i note that it grew from 64,000 as a territory in 1910 to 627,000 in the year 2000. it has always been among the least of the populous states. we note that delaware and vermont on the east coast are also consistently among the least populous states. today, according to the 2010 census, the least populous states include wyoming, vermont, north dakota, alaska, and south dakota. i have been talking about the size of populations, so let's turn to percentage change, the rate of growth of populations over the decade. between 1920-1930, michigan grew at a rate of 32%, reflecting the growing manufacturing sector in the state. between 1950 and 1960, florida grew at a fast rate of 78.7%, reflecting a larger migrations from the york and other northern states, the prevalence of air conditioning, and economic conditions

a family in joliet, illinois, is determined to do something about that. national correspondent dean reynolds has their story in tonight's "american spirit." >> reporter: in a quiet subdivision on an unassuming street, there's a house that is very much a home. how many kids? >> 13. >> reporter: 13 kids. it's not just the size of carolyn and kyle tweetmyer's brood, it's the makeup to their seven kids they've added six more, all adopted from ethiopia. >> it's such a miracle if you think about the fact our family is built from across the world. >> reporter: but it's not just the makeup. it's also the medical history. one of their ethiopian children has aids, a second is hiv positive. >> if your child had some terrible disease, would you not do everything you can for them? >> reporter: originally the tweetmyers were looking to adopt one special needs child but soon found in ethiopia aids had wiped out entire families, so when they adopted sam, with hiv, they adopted his brother and sister, too. then unable to forget a little girl at the orphanage, they returne

the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i want to thank my colleague from new york, my colleague from missouri who was here momentarily and all those who come to the floor to talk. i assume my colleagues are aware of the fact that all across america, there have been cable tv subscribers who have been caution in and asking for a refund because when they turned on c-span for coverage of the senate, they found an empty chamber and nothing going on, and now we at least give them a little activity on the senate floor. but unfortunately, that activity is really not going to lead to anything meaningful. the senator from new york even offers an idea, a legislative idea, it doesn't seem to be greeted with any kind of applause on the other side or any kind of counteroffer of any kind of conciliatory magnitude. i was at the meeting that the senator from tennessee talked about yesterday, and it was an historic meeting with the president and senator kyl, senator mcconnell, senator reid and myself, the president, the leaders of t