Deadline extended
Japan said it was putting its trust in Jordan to help gain the release of a Japanese journalist held by ISIS militants, after the latest message purportedly from his captors extended until sundown today in the Middle East the deadline for the Jordanians to release an Iraqi prisoner. CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata reports the message, read in English by a voice the Japanese government said was likely that of hostage Kenji Goto, was released online late yesterday.
More snow
Forecasters have their eyes on two and perhaps three weather systems that may bring significant additional snow to New England in coming days, just as it continues to dig out from this week’s blizzard. Along the Massachusetts coast, the combination of high winds, heavy snow and blowing sea water left towns an icy mess, reports CBS News correspondent Anna Werner. The devastation is clear: downed power lines, collapsed roofs, and blown-out windows.
Super security
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says there is no “specific credible threat” against Super Bowl XLIX, but law enforcement isn’t taking any chances with more than 100,000 people going to Arizona for the big game. CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford reports on the extraordinary security.
Sororities warned
Though the University of Virginia lifted a suspension on Greek life events following the now-discredited Rolling Stone article detailing an alleged gang rape at a fraternity house, CBS News correspondent Julianna Goldman reports 16 sororities at the school have been told, for their safety, to avoid some big fraternity parties planned for the weekend.
Bare-headed
First Lady Michelle Obama got a very public thumbs up from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Twitter for not wearing a headscarf this week when she and President Obama visited Saudi Arabia for a condolence visit following the death of King Abdullah. As it turns out, for a female American official to skip a headscarf is less controversial than Cruz thought.
Nobel for kids
As CBS News Correspondent Seth Doane walked with newly minted Nobel Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi, kids ran to greet him. Satyarthi recently met with President Obama, but getting a greeting from the children is all the rewardSatyarthi needs for freeing them from a life of slavery.
Banking blacklist
On Wednesday, New York’s attorney general announced a deal with Citigroup to change how the bank uses data. The result will be to make checking accounts more accessible in an attempt to reduce the growing ranks of the “unbanked.” It’s the second such deal made in New York — the first was with Capital One — and it won praise from consumer advocacy groups, which have long complained that lower-income consumers were forced to pay onerous fees for services such as checking cashing because they couldn’t open checking accounts.
Measles
As the measles outbreak spreads, some parents are rushing to get their kids vaccinated. CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy spoke to one California family whose 6-year-old is now in remission from leukemia and wants schools to ban kidswho aren’t vaccinated, for good reason.
Electronic cigarettes
To advocates of electronic cigarettes, the burgeoning industry is the antidote to Big Tobacco. But public health officials and lawmakers believe the sale of e-cigarettes could encourage a new generation of smokers. But new research helps define whathealth risks there might be.
Raw pet food
More and more pet owners are ditching the packaged dry and wet foods and putting their furry family members on raw-food diets. Raw pet food is a fast-growing slice of the pet food market. However, many veterinarians discourage the practice and say it raises serious health concerns.
