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November 12, 2009
Evening Buzz: Hasan Warning Signs Missed?
Posted: 09:37 PM ET
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Maj. Nidal Hasan, 39, an Army psychiatrist and the sole suspect, was wounded in the November 5 shooting.
Maj. Nidal Hasan, 39, an Army psychiatrist and the sole suspect, was wounded in the November 5 shooting.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Tonight on 360°, We’re digging deeper into the Fort Hood massacre. Suspected gunman Major Nadil Hasan was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder.  Were the warning signs missed?

Over the last two years Maj. Hasan's superiors were reportedly worried he might be psychotic. Why didn't they take action? Instead he was recently promoted to the rank of Major. Some who knew him say political correctness played a role. Brian Todd reports on the new developments.

Also tonight, a priest's secret revealed. For years he's kept hidden the truth he fathered a son. The child's mother says church officials agreed to pay child support if she kept quiet. But when he got sick, she claims they largely abandoned them.

And, we have a special treat for you tonight. Oscar the Grouch of 'Sesame Street' fame will stop by to take part in tonight's shot.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10pm E.T. See you then!

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Morning Buzz: A priest’s secret son?
Posted: 10:44 AM ET
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Father Henry Willenborg holding his son on a family vacation.
Father Henry Willenborg holding his son on a family vacation.

Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

Twenty-two-year-old Nathan Halbach is dying of brain cancer and may only have weeks to live. The priest who celebrated Nathan’s baptism is still around, but he won’t be presiding over Halbach’s funeral. That priest is Nathan’s dad.

It turns out Father Henry Willenborg really is a father, but a secret one. When his son, Nathan, was born he wasn’t ready to leave the priesthood so a confidential agreement was drawn up between him, the mother and the Franciscan Order of the Catholic Church. The Church would financially support Nathan and his mother and everyone would keep quiet.

But nobody anticipated that Nathan would become ill and would need so much medical support. His mother talks to Gary Tuchman about the arrangement made more than 20 years ago. So did the Church cover up the fact that a priest fathered a son? Don’t miss this special report tonight.

President Obama heads to Asia today, after rejecting all of the options for a new strategy in Afghanistan that were presented to him by his national-security team yesterday. He says there needs to be an exit strategy, that the U.S. troop commitment cannot be open-ended and that he wants to see revisions to the current options on the table.

We also learned of reports last night that the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, expressed deep reservations about sending troops to the region given what he referred to as corruption in the country. This comes in opposition to the recommendation from Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander on the ground. So that means two top U.S. representatives in the region have conflicting points of view. What message does that send about the strategy?

The Obama Administration expects to announces rules for the 'Race to the Top' competition, wherein winners will claim a share of $4 billion in funding set aside for education under the federal stimulus. Will this be the real reform that American schoolchildren need?

A new federal study shows that nearly one-third of states lowered their academic proficiency standards in recent years – a move that helps schools stay immune from sanctions under the No Child Left Behind law. But lowering standards also confuses parents about how childrens' achievement compares with students in other states and countries. The Department of Education study found that 15 states lowered their proficiency standards at the middle school level in basic subjects from 2005 to 2007. Three states in particular – Maine, Oklahoma and Wyoming – lowered standards in both math and reading at the fourth and eighth grade levels. Were schools allowed to lower standards? And why? Randi Kaye is keeping them honest tonight.

Today is Charles Manson’s 74th birthday. Ted Rowlands speaks to two people who serve as Manson’s conduits to the outside world. They even moved to Corcoran, Calif. to be near him. They share recordings of their phone calls with Manson and paint a picture of a man who’s spent nearly four decades behind bars for one of the most notorious crimes in U.S. history.

The CDC is expected to release new numbers on the number of people who have died from H1N1 since April. It's the first time they're counting deaths with complications related to the virus.  It's expected to be quite a lot higher than originally estimated. Does this mean H1N1 is more lethal than we thought? Or is this just an accounting change?

And a certain Street is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week. We won't give it away but just know that Anderson will be visited by a very special guest tonight to honor this  occasion.

What else are you following today? Let us know and see you at 10 p.m. ET.

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More about: Eliza Browning •  The Buzz
November 11, 2009
Evening Buzz: Suspected Fake Marine Busted
Posted: 06:05 PM ET
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Steven Burton will make his initial court appearance in federal court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Steven Burton will make his initial court appearance in federal court at 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

On this Veterans Day, and every day, we honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. What we don't celebrate are military impostors. These fake heroes who say they’ve been to war, but who have never seen a single day of combat.

Tonight on 360°, Randi Kaye has the story of one man accused of stolen valor. The FBI says 39-year-old Steven Burton is a fraud, not a Marine.

According to investigators, Burton is actually a California bank employee who masqueraded as a war veteran, even wearing several medals – bogus medals. Though, not just any medals but some the highest military honors – a Purple Heart, given to those wounded or killed in action and the Navy Cross, the highest medal the U.S. Navy can award.

Tonight Randi will tell you who turned Burton into the FBI. It's a remarkable story.

We're also tracking breaking developments on the war in Afghanistan. A former top general is warning the Pres. Obama to think twice about sending more troops into the war zone. The commander-in-chief met with his security team again today to talk over options in Afghanistan. We'll have the latest.

Do you think the U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan? Sound off below.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

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Morning Buzz: Injured eyewitnesses
Posted: 10:30 AM ET
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Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

President Obama spoke at yesterday’s memorial service for the victims of last week’s mass shooting at Fort Hood. Thirteen people were killed in the attack and 42 people were wounded. Dr. Sanjay Gupta visits the injured eyewitnesses who are currently being treated at Darnall Army Medical Center. These injured soldiers recreate the scene of the last Thursday’s sniper-style shootings and what they remember from the attack. Dr. Gupta examines their wounds and what they can expect on their road to recovery.

Drew Griffin is following the investigation into the Fort Hood shooting and the motives behind the attack. Media reports say that an hour before yesterday’s memorial service for the victims, four FBI agents showed up at the Killeen mosque, where the suspected shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan prayed, to search a trash bin outside. The FBI would not comment on what the agents were looking for at the mosque but motivation remains the focus. Drew will keep us posted on the latest developments tonight.

Today is Veteran’s Day – a day typically filled with saluting, speeches and a moment to reflect on the Americans who have served our country. But how well are we caring for veterans? The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. According to a study released by the Harvard Medical School, 2,266 veterans under the age of 65 died last year as a result of not having health insurance. Researchers emphasize the figure could be more than 14 times the number of deaths suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan last year.

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November 10, 2009
Evening Buzz: Fort Hood Suspect: Terrorist or 'Lone Wolf'?
Posted: 06:45 PM ET
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A memorial to the victims was erected at the apartment complex where suspect Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan lived.
A memorial to the victims was erected at the apartment complex where suspect Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan lived.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Investigators in the Fort Hood shooting spree are looking at the possibility that the alleged gunman, Maj. Nidal Hasan, was a lone wolf with no terror connections.

Tonight on 360°, Drew Griffin will look at that angle of the story.

Terrorism experts have told Drew that if Hasan was a jihadist following orders to kill U.S. troops he would never have been seen at a convenience store near Fort Hood many mornings in traditional Muslim clothing or praying at a local mosque day after day.

Federal sources familiar with the investigation have told Drew that had Maj. Hasan been a classic terrorist, like the 9/11 hijackers or the London subway bombers, he would have hidden his religion and blended in – guidance that's part of the al Qaeda terrorist handbook.

Do you think Hasan is a terrorist? Share your thoughts below.

Pres. Obama traveled to Fort Hood today for a memorial service for the victims of Thursday's  attack.

"It may be hard to comprehend the twisted logic that led to this tragedy.  But this much we do know – no faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor. And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice – in this world, and the next," Pres. Obama said.

Also on our radar is the scheduled execution at 9 p.m. ET of D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad. This afternoon, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine denied a last-minute clemency request for Muhammad. The attorney for the convicted killer has said his client will die with dignity and with no regrets.

Muhammad and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, were convicted of the October 2002 killing spree that left 10 people dead and terrorized residents of the nation's capital and surrounding suburbs.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve will join Anderson tonight to talk about her one hour face-to-face meeting with Muhammad in January 2004 after he was convicted of the killings. We'll also look back on the 3-week shooting spree and hear from survivors and first responders.

Tonight we also have incredible video from Boston where a drunk woman survived falling into the path of a subway train.  The train driver is being hailed a "hero." On 360°, she recalls the terrifying moments she was able to stop the train, within inches of the drunk woman.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

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More about: Maureen Miller •  The Buzz
Morning Buzz: Fort Hood Memorial
Posted: 10:45 AM ET
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Army Spc. Ryan Hill and daughter, Emma, 3, light a candle Saturday near the main gate of Fort Hood in Texas.
Army Spc. Ryan Hill and daughter, Emma, 3, light a candle Saturday near the main gate of Fort Hood in Texas.

Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

A memorial service for the 13 victims of last week’s shooting at Fort Hood will be held this afternoon at 2 p.m. ET. President Obama and the First Lady will attend the service and the President is expected to meet with the families of those who were killed. The service will be live on CNN starting at 1:30 p.m. ET and it will also be streamed on CNN.com/live.

Last night we learned that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the army psychiatrist accused of perpetrating the killings at Fort Hood apparently told senior Army physicians more than a year ago that Muslim soldiers should be allowed to be released as conscientious objectors instead of fighting in wars against other Muslims. He also was known for speaking out about Islam, suicide bombers and threats the military could encounter from Muslims conflicted about fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Were these red flags? Could these have been missed opportunities for officials to intervene? And although investigators believe Hasan acted alone, his communications were flagged by U.S. intelligence agency in late 2008, according to the FBI. Drew Griffin will have the latest developments for us tonight.

Keep reading

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November 9, 2009
Evening Buzz: Fort Hood Suspect – Terror Ties?
Posted: 06:13 PM ET
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Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the suspect in last week's Fort Hood mass shooting.
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the suspect in last week's Fort Hood mass shooting.

Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

We have new developments in the Fort Hood massacre. Tonight on 360° you'll get new insight on the alleged gunman, Maj.  Nidal Hasan.

We've learned Hasan may have first heard radical anti-American views at a Washington suburban mosque.

It's the same mosque where a former imam, Anwar al-Awlaki, was the subject of several federal investigations going back to the late 1990s, but he was never charged.

al-Awlaki was also mentioned in the 9/11 Commission Report for having close ties to two of the 9/11 hijackers. The report shows it's unclear if al-Awlaki knew the two were terrorists.

al-Awlaki now lives in Yemen, where he's praising the Fort Hood attacks on his web site. He writes of Hasan:

"He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an Army that is fighting against his own people."

Today the current imam at the mosque talked with CNN and denied any possible connections between al-Awlaki, the 9/11 hijackers and Maj. Nidal Hasan. The current imam is also shocked about the Fort Hood shootings.

"I couldn't believe he (Nidal Hasan) could have done this," Sheikh Shaker Elsayed of Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center said.

We're also tracking developments in the investigation in Texas. We've learned that's where authorities are trying to track down the six people Nidal Hasan had dinner with the night before the shootings.

Tonight we also take you back to the terror that gripped the Washington area in October 2002. You'll hear new interviews with the first responders in the DC-area sniper case. The convicted mastermind of the attacks, John Allen Muhammed, is scheduled to die by lethal injection tomorrow night in Virginia. Today the Supreme Court refused to block the execution. A little more than seven years ago, Muhammed and his teenage accomplice, John Lee Malvo, murdered ten random people and left millions living in fear that they would also be targeted.

And don't miss part two of Anderson's interview with Oprah Winfrey. Plus, we're taking your questions on health care reform. Text them to AC360 or 22360.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then!

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Morning Buzz: The DC sniper saga
Posted: 10:18 AM ET
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John Allen Muhammad was convicted in an October 2002 sniper-style shooting.
John Allen Muhammad was convicted in an October 2002 sniper-style shooting.

Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

John Allen Muhammad and a teenage accomplice terrorized the nation’s capital for three weeks in October 2002 and were responsible for the sniper-style killings of 10 people in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Muhammad, 48, was recently transferred to death row in rural southern Virginia and is scheduled to be executed tomorrow. Lawyers for the convicted Beltway sniper asked the Supreme Court to block the execution, but there was no indication when the court would rule. A clemency request has already been filed with Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine’s office.

Tonight we’re doing a special report on the timeline of the terrifying story. We’re weaving together original footage of the attacks and interviews with people who lived in the area. The report includes the critical breaks and mistakes in the difficult investigation that lacked a traceable pattern and motive but eventually led to the arrest and conviction of the snipers.

Keep reading

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November 6, 2009
Evening Buzz: Search for Answers at Fort Hood
Posted: 06:52 PM ET
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Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

We're learning new, exclusive details on the massacre at Fort Hood.

Tonight, you'll hear from Sgt. Mark Todd, an Army civilian police officer who along with his partner, Sgt. Kimberly Munley, shot the alleged gunman – Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan.

Maj. Hasan, an Army medic survived his gunshot wounds. But 12 of his alleged victims died.

Sgt. Todd will tell you what happened at Fort Hood's Soldier Readiness Center yesterday when Maj. Hasan allegedly opened fire.

We also heard today from neighbors of Maj. Hasan, who said he cleanned out his apartment the morning of the shootings.  Several neighbors said he gave them copies of the Quran.

The neighbors thought Maj. Hasan was moving out because the Army was shipping him overseas for war duty.

We also talked with a former classmate of Maj. Hasan's at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He said they took an environmental health class together. The former classmate said Hasan wrote about his opposition to the war on terror, while other students in class focused on such topics as mold in homes and dry cleaning.

We're keeping them honest. Tonight, we'll look at how Hasan's alleged hate for the war on terror may have gone unnoticed by some Army officials. After all, according to reports, Hasan was promoted to the rank of Major in May. Though, investigators said Hasan received a poor performance review at Walter Reed Medical Center and was transferred to Fort Hood.

Join us for this story and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET.

More about: Maureen Miller •  The Buzz
Morning Buzz: Picture emerges of Nidal Malik Hasan
Posted: 10:14 AM ET
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Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist at Fort Hood, was taken into custody, ending the shooting rampage.
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist at Fort Hood, was taken into custody, ending the shooting rampage.

Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

We’re learning this morning that the suspect in yesterday’s deadly shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, is in stable condition, according to the hospital commander at the base. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, a psychiatrist practicing at Darnali Army Medical Center at Fort Hood was shot multiple times and taken into custody after a shooting rampage yesterday afternoon. Hasan opened fire at the military processing center early in the afternoon, killing one civilian and 12 soldiers.

We’re digging deeper today on Hasan’s past. He is a 39-year-old graduate of Virginia Tech and a psychiatrist licensed in Virginia who was practicing at Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood. Previously, he worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. President Obama is expected to visit Walter Reed this afternoon and could meet with some of the same patients seen by Major Hasan.

An owner of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Fort Hood said Hasan - whom he refers to as "Major Nidal" - came in for coffee and hash browns most mornings, including the morning of the shootings. Surveillance video from the store shows a man who, according to the store owner is Hasan, at the cashier's counter at about 6:20 a.m. Thursday - about seven hours before the mass shooting - carrying a beverage and dressed in traditional Arab garb.

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