American Morning
Clinton makes women's rights a priority at State Dept.
(CNN) – During the 2008 presidential election campaign, then-Senator Hillary Clinton almost shattered the nation's ultimate glass ceiling. After her defeat, she thanked her supporters for putting 18 million cracks into that ceiling.
Now, as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton is bringing new power and prestige to her fight for women's rights. Our Jill Dougherty reports on Sec. Clinton's push for women's rights at the State Department.
Study: Pregnant women in peril
(CNN) – Amnesty International has headlined its new study on the state of health care in America for pregnant women, "Deadly Delivery."
Here's why: hundreds of women will die from pregnancy-related complications this year. And half of those deaths are believed to be preventable. Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has the report.
Are we wiring the wrong America?
(CNN) – Communities across America are in a fierce competition right now. The prize: high speed Internet.
Last year's federal stimulus package set aside $7.2 billion for broadband access. The government is now getting ready to choose who gets the second and final wave of the grants.
But not without major criticism from House Republicans. They're crying foul, saying money for broadband is not going to the areas that need it most. Our Mary Snow spoke to some who feel like they were left in the lurch.
Paula Deen's recipe for success
(CNN) – Our Christine Romans sat down with cooking maven Paul Deen to talk about getting ahead in a rough economy.
Testing for toxic air
By Allan Chernoff, CNN
(CNN) – Could the air on board your next flight be toxic?
Cabin ventilation air comes through the engine. So, if there's an oil leak, engine oil mist – containing neurotoxins – can seep into the aircraft. Though relatively rare, it has happened on commercial flights, triggering neurological symptoms like severe headaches, tremors, and dizziness in crew members and passengers.
CNN recently tested the air on board a transcontinental flight. (We're not going to mention the airline because this is an issue affecting all airlines.)
Toxicologist Chris van Netten of the University of British Columbia, who has studied air quality on board planes for years, provided CNN with two portable air monitors. They use small fans to blow air through a filter which can capture contaminants.
On board, I don't sense anything unusual about the air in the cabin, aside from the typical airplane dryness. Once the plane is at cruising altitude I turn on the monitors, which run for about 90-minutes on battery power.
If there are toxins in the air, they should leave residue on surfaces of the cabin. So, wearing a plastic glove, I wipe the cabin wall and tray table back with sterile alcohol swabs which I then store in plastic zip-lock bags.
Shortly after our flight, I’m in a laboratory at The University of British Columbia, presenting the samples to Professor Van Netten, who places our air filters and alcohol swabs into test tubes. His research associate, Tim Ma, adds solvent to extract whatever chemicals the filters and swabs captured. The scientists also analyze strands of producer Laura Dolan's hair to see if it collected toxins from her seat back cushion.
CNN Heroes: Building free homes for wounded vets
By Kathleen Toner, CNN
Houston, Texas (CNN) - Alexander Reyes' boyhood dream of a military career ended when he was hit by an improvised explosive device during a patrol two years ago in Baghdad.
"Laying in that hospital bed ... sometimes I felt I'd rather [have] died," Reyes said. "My life came to a complete halt."
Reyes sustained severe blast injuries that led to his medical discharge; he's on 100 percent medical disability. Like many soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, Reyes, now 24, found the transition to civilian life difficult.
But he and a handful of other injured veterans are getting help from what may seem an unlikely source: a custom home builder in Houston, Texas.
Dan Wallrath recently presented Reyes and his wife with an unexpected gift: a home built especially for them, mortgage-free.
"Thank you. That's all I can say," Elizabeth Reyes said, sobbing and clutching her stunned husband's arm as Wallrath surprised them with the house.
For Wallrath, giving wounded veterans a place to call home is his way of saying thanks. Since 2005, his organization has built four houses. Five more are under construction, and he's expanding his idea into a national campaign called Operation Finally Home. FULL STORY
Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2010 CNN Heroes
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