American Morning
Police in South Dakota out lesbian Air Force staff sergeant
(CNN) – She kept a secret for nine years. Jene Newsome didn't tell anyone in the Air Force she was a lesbian. Then, just as momentum was building to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Newsome was outed by a third party.
Her local police department in South Dakota outed her after they saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home. Now discharged from the Air Force, Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed a complaint against the Rapid City Police Department, saying the officers violated her privacy.
Meanwhile, the police department maintains they were following routine procedure. Jene Newsome joined us on Wednesday's American Morning via Skype to share her story.
Detroit: Save our schools
(CNN) – In Detroit, an S.O.S. – Save Our Schools. Officials are rolling out a $1 billion plan that would shut down 45 public schools, consolidating some and demolishing others.
They're trying to fix three growing problems: a huge drop in enrollment, a massive debt and some of the highest dropout rates in the country. But it's not all bad news in the city's classrooms. Our Allan Chernoff went to Detroit to look at a group of schools that are getting things right.
Is Toyota hiding crash data?
(CNN) – Did you realize your car comes equipped with a "black box," like the ones that are installed in aircraft?
Most cars have one. They're called EDRs and they record all kinds of data in the final seconds before a crash. In the case of Toyota models, it seems that data is very difficult to download. Our Deb Feyerick has the report.
Health care debate erupts into 'March Madness'
(CNN) – The battle over health care reform in Washington is erupting over the possibility a bill could be passed without a direct vote. The uproar is coming from the House, where Democrats may vote on a rule that would deem the Senate's version of the bill to be passed.
Both sides of the aisle are playing hardball politics. Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski used a basketball metaphor to voice her opposition, saying Congress is giving new meaning to March Madness. Our Jim Acosta reports on the war of words breaking out on Capitol Hill.
Read more: House Dems weigh controversial rule in health care vote
Chamber of Commerce lobbies against health care bill
By Carol Costello and Bob Ruff, CNN
(CNN) – Once upon a time, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its many local chapters went about the business of championing free enterprise and the advancement of commerce throughout the nation.
They still do all of that, but nearly 90 years after its birth, the Chamber of 2010 is not your grandfather’s or even your father’s Chamber.
Today, the nation’s largest business association is a key player in the crafting of legislation, as well as the electing of candidates for public office.
A perfect example: the health care debate. Turn on cable TV for any amount of time and you’re likely to see more than once this Chamber advertisement urging Congress to vote down the Democratic plan.
Bruce Josten, executive vice president of the Chamber, told us the president’s plan “is not going to work” and that “when you’re trying to restructure fundamentally between a sixth and a fifth of the economy all at once, you are going to have unintended consequences.“
The Chamber’s health care message, says Evan Tracey of the Campaign Media Advisory Group, made its way into $42 million worth of TV ads last year. So far this year, the Chamber’s TV ad total is $3 million and growing.
And that’s not all.
Building Up America: Keeping young workers at home
(CNN) – This week in our ongoing series "Building Up America," our Tom Foreman is finding some real success stories in the great state of Alabama. The latest is a small business in Montgomery that is growing and keeping its young, talented workforce in place.
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