Southern freeze
Crews in Atlanta began preparing roads last night, as the city braced for the snow and sleet that’s already brought dangerous and icy conditions to much of the country. CBS News correspondent Anna Werner reports the freeze has caused hundreds of accidents.
VA Secretary sorry
Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald apologized yesterday for misstating that he had served in the military’s special forces. McDonald made the erroneous claim while speaking to a homeless veteran during a segment that aired last month on the “CBS Evening News.”
Unwanted prescriptions
Last April, John Picard got a call from a telemarketer about an alternative treatment for pain. The person on the phone asked Picard if he ever has pain and if he needs any medication. Picard gave the caller permission to speak to his doctor but did not authorize them to seek a prescription – which is why Picard and his wife, Meryl, were surprised when jars of prescription creams and gels showed up three months later. Their insurance had been billed. The tab came to $18,680 and change, according to the Picards. Find out what happens as CBS News correspondent Jim Axelrod follows the trail of the prescriptions.
Flight to nowhere
There are new questions about the “Essential Air Service” program that began in 1978. It’s designed to ensure commercial flights travel to small and remote communities, but in many cases, the planes are virtually empty. CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave reports on why some lawmakers believe the program is anything but essential.
Poorly paid
The fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. is also among the lowest paid. The aging of America’s baby boomers has led to a surge in demand for home care workers to look after the nation’s elderly, as well as the disabled and chronically ill. Home health aides do everything from checking a client’s vital signs and administering medications to looking after people’s dietary needs and even operating life-sustaining equipment, such as ventilators. CBS News MoneyWatch reports the work is as essential as it is poorly paid.
Under paid
During Sunday night’s Academy Awards, best supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette took the opportunity of her victory speech to raise awareness of gender inequality. “It is our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America,” she said. Arquette has a point. Jericka Duncan reports, according to the Census Bureau, for every dollar a man makes, a woman earns just 78 cents for doing the same job.
Pregnant photojournalist
Pulitzer-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario risked her life to cover nearly every recent war. She made headlines most recently for her New York Times piece, “What can a pregnant photojournalist cover? Everything.” “CBS This Morning “co-host Norah O’Donnell reports it’s an adaptation of her new book, “It’s What I Do,” in which Addario shares her journey covering chaos and suffering, and finding love in the middle of it all.
