PBS NewsHour; November 8, 2011 3:00pm-4:00pm PST

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Ifill: HERMAN CAIN REJECTED SEXUAL HARASSMENT CHARGES, SAYING THE EVENTS SIMPLY DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND HE SAID HIS CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE DETERRED BY FALSE ACCUSATIONS. GOOD EVENING. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, WE HAVE EXCERPTS OF CAIN'S NEWS CONFERENCE, AND WE TALK WITH POLITICAL EDITOR DAVID CHALIAN ABOUT THE CANDIDATE'S EFFORTS TO MOVE BEYOND THE SCANDAL.

>> Ifill: THEN, RAY SUAREZ TALKS WITH FORMER UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR DAVID ALBRIGHT ABOUT A NEW REPORT ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR ARMS CAPABILITY.

>> Woodruff: MARGARET WARNER GETS AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE VIOLENT CRACKDOWN IN SYRIA FROM RAMITA NAVAI, A "FRONTLINE" CORRESPONDENT WHO SNEAKED INTO THE COUNTRY.

>> Ifill: THE SUPREME COURT HEARS ARGUMENT ON WHETHER POLICE CAN USE G.P.S. DEVICES TO TRACK SUSPECTS WITHOUT A WARRANT. WE TALK TO MARCIA COYLE.

>> Woodruff: FROM CALIFORNIA, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MONTGOMERY HAS THE STORY OF FEDERAL RAIDS ON LEGAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWERS.

>> OPEN UP. WE HAVE A WARRANT. I SAID, "I'M OPENING THE DOOR RIGHT NOW." THEY GRABBED ME, SLAMMED ME UP AGAINST THE WALL HERE, CUFFED ME.

>> Ifill: AND WE CLOSE WITH ANOTHER IN OUR "AMERICAN GRADUATE" SERIES ON THE NATION'S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT CRISIS. TONIGHT, HOW TEACHERS IN ST. LOUIS ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

>> BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T DROP OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY DROP OUT IN SECOND GRADE. THEY HANG AROUND FOR EIGHT YEARS.

>> Ifill: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S NEWSHOUR. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS. BNSF, THE ENGINE THAT CONNECTS US.

>> I MEAN, WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT SMALL BUSINESSES?

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>> Woodruff: HERMAN CAIN WENT BEFORE CAMERAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON IN PHOENIX AND DENIED ALLEGATIONS MADE BY A CHICAGO WOMAN THAT HE MADE UNWANTED SEXUAL ADVANCES TOWARD HER MORE THAN A DECADE AGO. THE WOMAN, SHARON BIALEK, LEVELED THE ACCUSATIONS YESTERDAY. SHE WAS THE FOURTH WOMAN IN RECENT DAYS TO ALLEGE CAIN HAD ACTED INAPPROPRIATELY WHEN HE WAS HEAD OF THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION IN THE LATE 1990s. WE BEGIN WITH SOME EXCERPTS OF TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE.

>> WITH RESPECT TO THE MOST RECENT ACCUSATION, I HAVE NEVER ACTED INAPPROPRIATELY WITH ANYONE, PERIOD. I SAW MS. ALLRED AND HER CLIENT YESTERDAY IN THAT NEWS CONFERENCE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. AS I SAT IN MY HOTEL ROOM WITH A COUPLE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS AS THEY GOT TO THE MICROPHONE, MY FIRST RESPONSE IN MY MIND AND REACTION WAS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THIS WOMAN IS. SECONDLY, I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE NAME AT ALL. THE TIME THAT SHE REFERENCED WAS DURING THE TIME THAT I WAS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. IT IS HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE ABOUT 150 WORKERS WORK. WE HAVE ABOUT 150 PEOPLE IN CHICAGO WHERE SHE SAID SHE WORKED FOR OUR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. I TRIED TO REMEMBER IF I RECOGNIZED HER, AND I DIDN'T. I TRIED TO REMEMBER IF I REMEMBERED THAT NAME, AND I DIDN'T. THE CHARGES AND THE ACCUSATIONS I ABSOLUTELY REJECT. THEY SIMPLY DID NOT HAPPEN. THEY SIMPLY DID NOT HAPPEN. WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW WASHINGTON OR POLITICS TO DENY ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THIS GREAT NATION. AND AS FAR AS THESE ACCUSATIONS CAUSING ME TO BACK OFF AND MAYBE WITHDRAW FROM THIS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY RACE, AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE I'M DOING THIS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE GRANDCHILDREN. I WILL NOT BE DETERED BY FALSE, ANONYMOUS, INCORRECT ACCUSATIONS.

>> MR. CAIN, NOW ANOTHER WOMAN, ONE OF THE FORMERLY ANONYMOUS WOMEN HAS COME FORWARD WHO WORKED WITH YOU AT THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, KAREN. SHE'S NOW A SPOKESPERSON IN THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT AND HAS COME FORWARD PUBLICLY. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HER AND HER ALLEGATIONS? THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO IS STILL WORKING IN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. ARE HER ALLEGATIONS NOT TRUE? IS SHE LYING ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION SINCE YOU MENTIONED THAT PARTICULAR NAME, THAT IS THE ONE THAT I RECALL THAT FILED A COMPLAINT BUT IT WAS FOUND TO BE BASELESS. LET'S SEPARATE SOMETHING. THE ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. THEY WERE FOUND BASELESS. THERE WAS NO LEGAL SETTLEMENT.

>> Woodruff: TO HELP US SORT THROUGH CAIN'S REMARKS DAVID, SO WE WATCHED A AND THE IMPACT THIS STORY IS HAVING ON HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, WE ARE JOINED BY NEWSHOUR POLITICAL EDITOR DAVID CHALIAN. I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL WOMEN WHO HAS NOW BECOME PUBLIC. SHE'S GONE PUBLIC WITH HER NAME. FIRST SHARON BIALEK ACCUSATION. SHE SAID THERE WERE SPECIFIC THINGS HE DID WRONG. HE SAYS IT NEVER HAPPENED. WHERE DOES IT GO?

>> LAST NIGHT YOU REMEMBER WE REPORTED ON HER VERY SPECIFIC, DETAILED ACCUSATIONS. AND HE SAYS NOT ONLY DID NONE OF THIS HAPPEN. HE DOESN'T EVEN... HE SAYS HE DOESN'T RECOLLECT WHO SHE IS, DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER NAME AT ALL. THIS IS A CLASSIC HE SAID/SHE AID MOMENT HERE. WHAT HERMAN CAIN NOW HAS TO BE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER DOCUMENTATION OR EVIDENCE OR CORROBORATION OF MS. BIALEK'S ACCOUNT YESTERDAY. IF THERE IS, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE RIGHT BACK BEFORE CAMERAS EXPLAINING AGAIN. BECAUSE THE WAY HE PUT IT TODAY SO COMPLETELY THAT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE EVER HAPPENED OPENS HIM UP THAT IF SOMETHING ELSE TRICKLES OUT, JUDY, HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS.

>> Woodruff: ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ANONYMOUS ACCUSERS HAS GIVEN NAME. IN THIS INSTANCE HE SAYS HE DOES REMEMBER IN THE INSTANCE WHERE HE COMPARED HER HEIGHT TO THE HEIGHT OF HIS WIFE. THERE'S SOMETHING HE'S ACKNOWLEDGING THERE.

>> HE WENT INTO DETAIL WITH YOU ABOUT THIS A WEEK AGO WHEN HE WAS ON THE NEWSHOUR. THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED AT THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AT THE TIME. HE DID NOT END... IT THE NOT END IN AN LEGAL SETTLEMENT BUT IT WAS AN ARRANGEMENT. SHE DID GET MONEY OF SOME SORT WHEN SHE LEFT THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. BUT HE CLAIMS THAT THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION LOOKED INTO ALL OF HER CHARGES AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS BASELESS. WHAT YOU WILL SEE HAPPEN NOW IS THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL, REPORTERS WILL BE LOOKING INTO THIS. THERE WILL BE CALLS ON HERMAN CAIN TO ASK THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION TO RELEASE THE DETAILS OF THAT INVESTIGATION THAT HE SAYS DETERMINED THAT THE WOMAN'S CLAIMS WERE BASELESS.

>> Woodruff: WHAT EFFECT IS ALL THIS HAVING ON HIS CANDIDACY?

>> TWO BIG EFFECTS. IT'S BLOTING OUT EVERYTHING ELSE. THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION RACE RIGHT NOW. MITT ROMNEY PUT OUT A PLAN ABOUT TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE EYE LAN NUCLEAR THREAT. NOBODY WILL COVER THAT. THIS IS THE ENTIRE STORY. HE CAN'T, HERMAN CAIN CAN'T GET HIS WAY BACK ON MESSAGE TO WHAT HE WANTS TO BE TALKING ABOUT NO MATTER HOW HARD HE TRIES. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE POLLING NUMBERS COME OUT THAT HIS PERSONAL FAVORABILITY IS TAKING A BIT OF A HIT HERE. A NEW GALLUP POLL HE HAD THE HIGHEST POSITIVE INTENSITY SCORE OF ANY CANDIDATE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH 34 POINTS. THAT IS DROPPING. IF GALLUP SEPARATED THE NUMBERS TO SEE HOW MUCH DID IT DROP BEFORE THE ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE AND AFTER, IT IS DROPPING PRECIPITOUSLY AFTER THESE ACCUSATIONS HAVE COME INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. HIS PERSONAL FAVORABILITY IS TAKING A HIT EVEN THOUGH IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF SUPPORT HE STILL IS REMAINING COMPETITIVE AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK WITH MITT ROMNEY.

>> Woodruff: WE'LL SEE WHERE ANY GO AFTER TODAY'S NEWS CONFERENCE. DAVID CHALIAN, THANK YOU.

>> Ifill: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR, IRAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT; THE VIEW FROM INSIDE SYRIA; SUPREME COURT ARGUMENTS ABOUT G.P.S. DEVICES; RAIDS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA FARMS; AND THE DROPOUT PROBLEM IN ST. LOUIS. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY, HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: PENN STATE FOOTBALL COACH JOE PATERNO CAME UNDER GROWING PRESSURE TODAY AMID CHARGES THAT A FORMER TOP ASSISTANT SEXUALLY ABUSED BOYS FOR YEARS. A NUMBER OF REPORTS SUGGESTED PATERNO MIGHT BE FORCED OUT AFTER 46 SEASONS. THE COACH LEFT HIS HOUSE IN STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA, FOR PRACTICE, BUT DID NOT HOLD HIS WEEKLY NEWS CONFERENCE. UNIVERSITY STATE ADMINISTRATORS CANCELED IT. THE EUROPEAN DEBT CRISIS HAS CLAIMED ANOTHER NATIONAL LEADER. ITALY'S PRIME MINISTER, SILVIO BERLUSCONI, LOST HIS MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT TODAY IN A BUDGET VOTE. HE THEN PROMISED TO RESIGN AFTER ECONOMIC REFORMS PASS. WE HAVE A REPORT FROM KHRISHNAN GURU-MURTHY OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS ON THE DAY'S DEVELOPMENTS IN ROME.

>> Reporter: SHE'S THE SCOURGE OF BERLUSCONI'S M.P.s, BUT SHE HAS HAD ENOUGH. FOR HER AT LEAST RESIGNATION IS THE KIND OPTION. LOTS OF PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE NOW EMBARRASSED BY HIM. HE SHOULD GO.

>> WE ARE NOT EMBARRASSED BY BERLUSCONI. HE'S NOT A BAD MAN.

>> Reporter: BUT HE'S LOSING ALLIES BY THE HOUR. EVEN KEY COALITION PARTNER OF THE NORTHERN LEAGUE SAID ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND CALLED ON HIM TO GO. AND WHEN THE VOTE CAME, BERLUSCONI HAD LOST HIS MAJORITY. ITALY'S PUBLIC ACCOUNTS WERE PASSED, BUT ONLY DUE TO MASSIVE ABSTENTIONS. I ASK YOU, MR. PRIME MINISTER, SAID ITALY'S OPPOSITION LEADER, WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO FINALLY TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE SITUATION AND RESIGN. BERLUSCONI STUDIED THE NUMBERS WITH NOTES PERHAPS SUGGESTING HIS OPTIONS LISTING CONFIDENCE VOTES. I RESIGN. EVERY DAY THIS DRAGS ON THOUGH, ITALY'S DEBT SITUATION GETS WORSE AS THE MONEY MARKETS DEMAND NEARLY 7% ON ITALIAN GOVERNMENT BONDS. THAT JUST ADDS TO THE PAIN AHEAD IN SPENDING CUTS AND TAX RISES. TONIGHT THE CURTAINS SEEM TO BE FALLING ON BERLUSCONI. EXACTLY WHAT FOLLOWS FOR ITALY THOUGH IS STILL UNCLEAR.

>> Sreenivasan: THE NEWS FROM ITALY GAVE WALL STREET A BOOST. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE RALLIED LATE TO GAIN 101 POINTS, AND CLOSE AT 12,170. THE NASDAQ ROSE 32 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2727.

>> Sreenivasan: THE AIR FORCE TODAY REPORTED "GROSS MISMANAGEMENT" AT THE SERVICE MORTUARY THAT RECEIVES AMERICA'S WAR DEAD. A YEAR-LONG INVESTIGATION FOUND WORKERS AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE LOST BODY PARTS AT LEAST TWICE IN 2009. THE AIR FORCE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND NO VIOLATIONS OF LAW, BUT GENERAL NORTON SCHWARTZ, THE AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF, SAID THREE SENIOR OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN DISCIPLINED.

>> I THINK THAT PERHAPS THE BEST MANIFESTATION OF HOW SERIOUSLY WE TOOK THIS WAS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, IS FIXING ACCOUNTABILITY, IS ACTING PROMPTLY TO CORRECT EFFICIENCIES. AND IMPORTANTLY IMPROVING PROCESSES.

>> Sreenivasan: A SEPARATE INDEPENDENT AGENCY, THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, SUBMITTED ITS OWN REPORT. IT DISAGREED THAT NO LAWS WERE BROKEN, AND IT SAID SOME OF THE AIR FORCE CONCLUSIONS "DO NOT APPEAR REASONABLE." A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT IN WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS UPHELD THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL. THE RULING ISSUED TODAY SAID CONGRESS WAS WITHIN ITS RIGHTS TO MANDATE THAT AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, OR PAY A PENALTY. SIMILAR CHALLENGES HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE FEDERAL COURTS. THE U.S. SUPREME COURT COULD DECIDE ON THURSDAY WHETHER TO HEAR THOSE CASES. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER VOICED REGRET TODAY ABOUT OPERATION FAST AND FURIOUS, THE ILL-FATED ATTEMPT TO TARGET GUN RUNNING INTO MEXICO. OFFICIALS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY LOST TRACK OF SOME 1,400 WEAPONS, AND SOME ENDED UP WITH MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS. HOLDER HAD INITIALLY DENIED REPUBLICAN CHARGES THAT THERE WERE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. TODAY HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE OPERATION WAS FLAWED IN CONCEPT AND EXECUTION.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL FEEL THE EFFECTS FOR YEARS TO COME. AS GUNS THAT WERE LOST DURING THIS OPERATION CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AT CRIME SCENES BOTH HERE AND IN MEXICO. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. AND IT MUST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS REPLACED THREE OFFICIALS WHO PLAYED KEY ROLES IN "FAST AND FURIOUS." THE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL IS STILL INVESTIGATING. EVERYTHING FROM ABORTION TO UNION RIGHTS WAS ON THE BALLOT IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS TODAY. IN OHIO, VOTERS DECIDED WHETHER TO REPEAL A NEW LAW THAT LIMITS BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. AND IN MISSISSIPPI, VOTERS CONSIDERED A MEASURE DECLARING LIFE BEGINS AT FERTILIZATION. IF IT PASSES, IT COULD TRIGGER A NEW ABORTION CHALLENGE. TWO STATES WERE CHOOSING GOVERNORS AS WELL. AN ASTEROID THE SIZE OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER HAD A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH EARTH THIS EVENING. ASTRONOMERS ESTIMATED IT CAME WITHIN 202,000 MILES. THE LAST TIME A LARGE ASTEROID GOT THAT CLOSE TO THE PLANET WAS IN 1976. THIS NASA ANIMATION SHOWED THE PATH THE ASTEROID TOOK AS IT NEARED EARTH. SCIENTISTS ANALYZED IMAGES TAKEN FROM RADIO TELESCOPES, BUT THEY RULED OUT ANY CHANCE THAT THE SPACE ROCK WOULD DO DAMAGE.

>> WE KNOW THIS IS A MISS. WE KNOW THE ORBIT QUITE WELL. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTION THAT WILL AFFECT ANYTHING ON THE EARTH'S SURFACE. IT'S JUST TOO SMALL AN OBJECT GOING BY TOO QUICKLY FOR THERE TO BE ANY EFFECT NOTICED AT THE EARTH'S SURFACE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE NEXT TIME A LARGE ASTEROID PASSES THIS CLOSE TO EARTH WON'T COME UNTIL 2028. FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION JOE FRAZIER DIED OF LIVER CANCER LAST NIGHT, AT THE AGE OF 67. THE MAN KNOWN AS "SMOKIN' JOE" WAS ONE OF BOXING'S GREATS, AND HIS RIVALRY WITH MUHAMMAD ALI BECAME LEGENDARY. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, MARCH 8, 1971. UNDEFEATED HEAVYWEIGHTS JOE FRAZIER AND MUHAMMAD ALI GEARED UP FOR THEIR FIRST MATCH AGAINST EACH OTHER, DUBBED THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY.

>> I'M COOL, MAN. YEAH! I'M READY FOR THIS ONE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE FIGHT LIVED UP TO ITS BILLING. FRASER CAUGHT ALI WITH HIS POWERFUL LEFT HOOK AND BECAME THE FIRST MAN TO BEAT THE CHAMPION. THE TWO MEN FOUGHT TWICE MORE. ALI WON BOTH TIMES, ONCE IN 1974 AND AGAIN IN OCTOBER 1975 FOR THE THRILLER IN MANILA. THAT FIGHT IN THE PHILIPPINES WAS WIDELY REGARDED AS A BOXING EPIC. IT ENDED WITH A BLOODY AND SWOLLEN FRASER WHOSE TRAINER KEPT HIM FROM RETURNING FOR A 15th ROUND. BORN TO A SOUTH CAROLINA SHARECROPPER IN 1944, FRASER BEGAN TRAINING AS A BOXER AFTER MOVING TO PHILADELPHIA IN HIS TEENS. HE WON A GOLDEN GLOVE CHAMPIONSHIP AND A GOLD MEDAL IN THE 1964 TOKYO OLYMPICS. HE TURNED PRO IN 1965 WINNING HIS FIRST 11 FIGHTS WITH KNOCKOUTS. STILL FRASER'S CAREER WOULD ALWAYS BE DEFINED IN RELATION TO ALI. THE MAN WAS A FIERCE OPPONENT OUTSIDE THE ARENA AS WELL. ALI WAS A BLACK POWER ADVOCATE AND OFTEN TAUNTED FRASER WITH SLURS. BUT OVER THE YEARS THE TENSION BETWEEN THEM EVENTUALLY CALMED. ALI, WHO NOW SUFFERS FROM PARKINSON'S DISEASE, PRAISED HIS RIVAL TODAY. IN A STATEMENT HE SAID, "THE WORLD HAS LOST A GREAT CHAMPION. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER JOE WITH RESPECT AND ADMIRATION." JOE FRAZIER IS SURVIVED BY 11 CHILDREN, TWO OF WHOM ARE ALSO BOXERS.

>> Sreenivasan: THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JUDY.

>> Woodruff: AND TO A NEW REPORT ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM. RAY SUAREZ HAS OUR STORY.

>> Suarez: THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HAS BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO MONITOR THE IRANIAN PROGRAM AND TO DETERMINE IF IT IS TRYING TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. TODAY THE AGENCY'S LATEST REPORT BECAME PUBLIC. AND TO WALK US THROUGH IT IS DAVID ALBRIGHT, A PHYSICIST AND FORMER U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR. HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY. DAVID, FROM THIS REPORT AND THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE I.A.E.A., DO YOU CONCLUDE THAT IRAN'S BEEN DESIGNING A BOMB AND MAY STILL BE WORKING ON ONE?

>> IT LAYS OUT QUITE A BIT OF EVIDENCE THAT PRIOR TO 2004 IRAN HAD PUT TOGETHER A WELL STRUCTURED NUCLEAR WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM. THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY BUILDING THE WEAPON ITSELF. ANOTHER, IN FACT, EVEN MORE COMPONENT IS MAKING THE ENRICHED URANIUM, THE WEAPON GRADE URANIUM. THAT'S NOT DISCUSSED VERY MUCH IN THIS REPORT AT ALL. BUT THE WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM PRIOR TO 2004 WAS QUITE ROBUST AND MOVING FORWARD. IT ACTUALLY WHEN IT ENDED OR WAS STOPPED, I SHOULD SAY, IT WAS HALTED ABRUPTLY, THEY WERE WORKING ON A WAR HEAD DESIGN THAT WAS ABOUT A HALF METER ACROSS WHICH FOR A FIRST EFFORT IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT. AND THE REPORT MAKES CLEAR THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT FOREIGN ASSISTANCE.

>> Suarez: THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR WHAT IT CALLS WEAPONS-ONLY RESEARCH. IT NAMES A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT COULD ONLY BE USED IN A WEAPON. DOES THIS PUT TO FLY, PUT AN END TO IRAN'S CONTENTION THAT IT WAS ONLY WORKING ON A PEACEFUL PROGRAM FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY?

>> IT SHOULD. I MEAN, IRAN SHOULD COME CLEAN. IT SAYS IT ONLY WANTS CIVIL NUCLEAR POWER. I MEAN THE WAY OUT OF THIS WHOLE CONFLICT WITH IRAN IS IF IRAN COMES CLEAN ABOUT THESE PAST NUCLEAR WEAPONIZATION ACTIVITIES. A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES CAN IRAN CAN BE SETTLED IF IT'S WILLING TO COME CLEAN. SO FAR IT'S ABSOLUTELY REFUSED. SO FAR THE COMMENTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THEIR LACK OF COOPERATION AND ACCUSATIONS THAT THESE ARE FORGEREES, IT IS JUST A STOOGE OF THE UNITED STATES WHICH IS WHAT PRESIDENT AHMADINEJAD SAID YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE. SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED. BUT IT HAS PUT THE REPORT ON THE TABLE. NOW IT'S UP FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO START TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE FRANKLY IT'S QUITE A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF A NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY, THE CASE WAS LAID OUT FOR IT TODAY.

>> Suarez: THE AGENCY SAYS FLAT OUT THAT IRAN HAS FAILED TO MEET ITS REPORTING OBLIGATION. BUT ALSO TELLS AN INTERESTING STORY ABOUT ONE PERIOD BETWEEN '03 AND '06 WHEN IRAN APPEARED TO COOPERATE. ALLOW INSPECTORS IN, ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE A LOOK AT. AND THEN AN ABRUPT CHANGE FROM '07 TO 2010. DOES THAT REPRESENT A CHANGE OF POLICY IN IRAN? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE OF WITHIN INSIDE THE RULING CIRCLES THERE ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THIS?

>> WELL, THE BACKGROUND IS THIS A WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM THAT WAS ABRUPTLY ENDED IN '03 BECAUSE OF INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE. PRESSURE ON IRAN DOES WORK. WHAT WAS VISIBLE AT THE TIME WAS IRAN SHUTTING DOWN AND WE CALLED IT SUSPENDING ITS URANIUM ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AND AGREEING TO ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS AND WAS VERY COOPERATIVE. AS PART OF THAT, THEY MADE A DECISION TO HIDE THE NUCLEAR WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM, TOkOÑq/tN WAY AND TRY TO MAKE IT GO AWAY SO THE INSPECTORS COULDN'T FIND IT. UNFORTUNATELY THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WERE PARTñfo9Nçió?nxGz TS DID NOT BEAR FRUIT. YOU CAN BLAME ALL KINDS OF SIDES IN THAT. BUT THEY DIDN'T BEAR FRUIT. IRAN BROKE WITH THE SUSPENSION. I THINK MOST COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE THOUGHT THAT IRAN'S WEAPONIZATION PROGRAM ALSO RESTARTED ALBEIT AS A SMALLER LEVEL. THE UNITED STATES TOOK THE POSITION THAT IT HAD NOT RESTARTED. THE I.A.TAKES THE POSITION THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT DID RESTART.

>> Suarez: YOU'VE BEEN A WEAPONS INSPECTOR. WHEN A REPORT SAYS AS A RESULT OF IRAN'S LACK OF COOPERATION, THE AGENCY IS UNABLE TO VERIFY AND REPORT ON THESE MATTERS. IN INSPECTOR-SPEAK THAT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS CHARGE, ISN'T IT?

>> IN A SENSE IT NEEDS DIRECTION AND HELP FROM ITS BOARD OF GOVERNORS. THE NATIONS THAT RUN THE I.A.E.A. AND THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO. IT CANNOT GET ANY MORE COOPERATION FROM IRAN. I THINK THE TIME HAS COME THAT THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS PROBABLY NEEDS TO PASS A RESOLUTION CALLING ON IRAN TO COOPERATE WITH THE I.A.E.A. AND GIVE THEM SOME TIME TO COOPERATE AND PROBABLY IF THEY DON'T, THIS WOULD THEN BE REFERRED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

>> Suarez: QUICKLY BEFORE WE GO, IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW, TODAY, LATE IN 2011, WHAT THE STATE OF PLAY IS IN THESE VARIOUS IRANIAN PLANTS?

>> THEIR ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ISN'T WORKING VERY WELL. THE REPORT TODAY SHOWS THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THEY'RE MORE SLOWLY DEPLOYING THE ADVANCED CENTRIFUGES THAN IRAN HAD INTENDED. THE ABILITY TO MAKE WEAPON-GRADE URANIUM IS NOT GOING SO WELL IN IRAN. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS IRAN MADE ON WEAPONIZATION? BUT THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO BUILD A RELIABLE WAR HEAD TO PUT ON A BALLISTIC MISSILE, THAT THEY DID NOT FINISH THAT WORK IN 2003 AND IT REMAINS UNFINISHED TODAY.

>> Suarez: DAVID ALBRIGHT, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ifill: NEXT, THE VIOLENCE IN SYRIA, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT OF BASHAR AL ASSAD HAS STEPPED UP ITS DEADLY CRACKDOWN, ONE WEEK AFTER AGREEING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DISSIDENTS. MORE THAN 3,500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED OVER THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, 60 OF THEM IN ONLY THE LAST FEW DAYS IN THE CITY OF HOMS. MARGARET WARNER HAS MORE.

>> Warner: ONLY RARELY HAVE FOREIGN JOURNALISTS BEEN ABLE TO REPORT FROM SYRIA SINCE THE UPRISING BEGAN. BUT INDEPENDENT BRITISH-IRANIAN JOURNALIST RAMITA ENTERED THE COUNTRY IN DEPARTMENT WITH FREE LANCE PRODUCER. TONIGHT OUR PARTNERS ARE FRONT LINE WITH AIRING THEIR CLANDESTINELY TAPED DOCUMENTARY ON PBS. IN THIS EXCERPT, SHE IS HOMED UP IN AN ACTIVIST SAFE HOUSE IN THE TOWN OF MEDIYA.

>> ONE MORNING HE TRIED TO FIND OUT THE LATEST NEWS ON THE MILITIA AND ARMY. CHECKING IN WITH ALL THE OTHER COORDINATORS AROUND SYRIA TO FIND OUT WHAT THE NEWS IS.

>> Reporter: ACTIVISTS FROM OUTSIDE TOWN HAD POSTED FOOTAGE OF THE ARMED FORCES ENTERING THE TOWN.

>> NOW YOU CAN SEE THE WHITE PICK-UP TRUCK FILLED WITH, IT LOOKS LIKE, ARMED MEN. HE SAID THAT THAT'S SYRIA'S MILITIA.

>> Reporter: THESE MILITIA GANGS, LOCALLY CALLED SHABIYA, ARE ASSAD LOYALISTS. THE OPPOSITION ACCUSES THEM OF TERRORIZING THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THREE HOURS LATER HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A LOOKOUT. THEY CONFIRMED THE THE SHBIHA WERE CONDUCTING VIOLENT HOUSE-TO -HOUSE SEARCHES. THE LOOKOUT WARNS THEY WERE KICKING DOWN DOORS ON OUR STREET.

>> Reporter: THESE MEN ALL HEAD TO THE ATTIC. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO HIDE BUT TO HAVE MY PASSPORT READY TO SHOW THAT I WASN'T SYRIAN. WE HID OUR CAMERA BUT USED A CELL PHONE TO FILM. I COULD HEAR THE SCREAMS FROM NEXT DOOR AS THE MILITIA RAIDED THE HOUSE. A MOTHER WAS PLEADING WITH THEM NOT TO TAKE HER SON.

>> Warner: SHE JOINS US NOW. WELCOME. THIS IS QUITE A POWERFUL PIECE. TELL ME, HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET INTO SYRIA AND MOVE AROUND THE WAY YOU DID?

>> WE WERE REALLY LUCKY IN THAT WE GOT TOURIST VISAS WE FLEW INTO DAMASCUS POSING AS A COUPLE ON HOLIDAY. WE WERE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO TAKE IN LOTS OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT. WE HAD ONE CAMERA ABOUT THAT BIG THAT LOOKED LIKE A HOME VIDEO CAMERA, THE KIND THAT TOURISTS HAVE.

>> Warner: IT APPEARS THAT YOU PLUGGED RIGHT INTO SOME SORT OF AN ACTIVIST NETWORK THAT HELPED YOU MOVE AROUND. EXPLAIN ALL THAT.

>> WE WERE EFFECTIVELY EMBEDDED WITH THE ACTIVISTS. IT'S A BIG NETWORK. IT SPREADS RIGHT ACROSS THE WHOLE COUNTRY. AND WE REALLY COULDN'T HAVE MADE THIS FILM WITHOUT THEIR HELP. EVERYWHERE WE WENT, THEY... WE TOOK OUR LEAD FROM THEM. THEY WOULD HELP US GET TO PLACES. THEY KEPT US SAFE.

>> Warner: THEY HAD QUITE A LOOKOUT SYSTEM. YOU REFER TO IT IN THAT LITTLE CLIP.

>> YES. IF WE WERE TRAVELING INTO TOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'D TRAVEL IN A CONVOY. THERE WOULD BE LOOKOUTS OUT AHEAD. THEY WOULD BE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER BY WALKIE-TALKIES, TWO-WAY RADIOS JUST IN CASE WE CAME TO AN ARMY CHECK POINT SO THE CARS AT THE BACK COULD ALL TURN AROUND. IT'S A SOPHISTICATED OPERATION.

>> Warner: I WAS REMINDED AGAIN JUST REWATCHING THAT CLIP THAT THEY REALLY TOOK A RISK DOING THIS WITH YOU. FOR INSTANCE, WHEN YOU FILM PEOPLE TALKING, YOU'RE FILMING THEM HERE BELOW BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SECRET POLICE COULD FIGURE OUT WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE. WHY... DID THEY TELL YOU WHY THEY DID THIS, WHY THEY GAVE YOU THIS ACCESS? WHY THEY REALLY FACILITATED THIS?

>> WELL, WE TOOK THEIR SAFETY REALLY SERIOUSLY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE WE ACTUALLY FLEW INTO SYRIA. IT'S A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. WE REALLY NEEDED TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE SAFE. WE CHANGED THE VOICES IN THE FILM, ALTERED VOICES. BUT THEY ARE DESPERATE TO GET THIS STORY OUT. THEY ARE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES. THEY DO THAT EVERY TIME THEY GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND PROTEST. AS YOU KNOW, THE SECURITY FORCES FIRE INDISCRIMINATELY AT THESE PROTESTS. THEY SAID TO US, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T GET THE STORY OUT, THE WHOLE WORLD WILL FORGET IT US. WE'LL BE FORGOTTEN.

>> Warner: AND THE SECRET HOSPITALS. TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST UPSETTING AND DEPRESSING PARTS OF THE STORY WE COVERED ACTUALLY. WE REALLY REALIZED THAT YOU'RE NOT SAFE ANYWHERE IF YOU'RE A PROTESTOR, NOT EVEN IN HOSPITAL. A DOCTOR TOLD US HE HAD SEEN WITH HIS OWN EYES DOZENS OF INJURED PROTESTORS DRAGGED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL BEDS BY THE SECURITY FORCES WHO RAID HOSPITALS LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO HAD BEEN AT A PROTEST. AND THIS DOCTOR SAID IT'S A REALLY FAMILIAR PATTERN THAT HE SAW. A PROTESTOR WOULD BE DRAGGED OUT OF HIS BED EVEN IF THEY HAVE SUPERFICIAL INJURIES. A FEW WEEKS LATER THEIR DEAD BODY WOULD BE DELIVERED TO THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Warner: SO YOU WENT TO MAKESHIFT CLINICS? IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE DON'T GO TO THE REAL HOSPITALS ANYMORE.

>> EXACTLY. PEOPLE ARE TOO SCARED. SO THEY GO TO THEY CALL THEM SECRET HOSPITALS. THEY'RE USUALLY IN PEOPLE'S BACK ROOMS, IN SAFE HOUSES, AND THEY'RE KEPT HIDDEN THERE. FEAR OF RAPE, OF BEING CAUGHT. AND THE DOCTOR WHAT WE SPOKE TO WAS TERRIFIED TREATING THESE PATIENTS. HE SAID OVER TEN OF HIS COLLEAGUES WERE IN PRISON SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY TREATED INJURED PROTESTORS.

>> Warner: SINCE YOU LEFT THE MILITARY AND THE SECURITY FORCES ARE ASSAULTING HOMES. THEY'RE DOING THIS HOUSE TO HOUSE JUST AS YOU SEE IN YOUR FILM. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM... I KNOW YOU STILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THESE ACTIVISTS. IS THIS CRACKDOWN MORE INTENSE THAN IT WAS EVEN A MONTH OR TWO AGO?

>> IN HOMS IT'S EXTREMELY INTENSE BECAUSE THEY'RE SHELLING THE CITY. SO IT FOOELS LIKE A WAR ZONE. AND PART OF SYRIA FELT LIKE A WAR ZONE WHEN WE WERE THERE AND THERE WAS NO SHELLING IN THE TOWN. AT THE MOMENT THE SITUATION IS REALLY BAD. PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED. THE ECONOMY IN THESE TOWNS HAVE GROUND TO A STANDSTILL. PEOPLE ARE JUST COWERING IN THEIR HOMES.

>> Warner: YOU GOT TO KNOW SOME OF THESE ACTIVISTS WELL. DO YOU SENSE... AND I KNOW I'M ASKING FOR A JUDGMENT HERE. BUT DID THEY HAVE THE WILL AND ALSO THE MEANS TO WITHSTAND THIS KIND OF CRACKDOWN, THIS KIND OF ASSAULT?

>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MEANS. THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THE MEANS. THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THIS UPRISING IS GOING TO TAKE A BLOODY TURN BECAUSE THE ACTIVISTS I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO HAVE SAID THAT THEY WANT TO ARM THEMSELVES. THEY SAY THEY THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY CAN SURVIVE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A REAL SHIFT IN WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Warner: A REALLY FINE PIECE OF WORK. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Woodruff: NOW WE TURN TO THE HIGH-PROFILE CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TODAY WHERE THE JUSTICES QUESTIONED IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN TRACK A SUSPECT USING A GPS DEVICE WITHOUT A WARRANT. AT THE HEART OF THE CASE IS AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED PRIVACY IN TODAY'S HIGH-TECH WORLD OF REAL-0TIME SURVEILLANCE. HERE NOW TO BRING US THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S ORAL ARGUMENTS IS MARCIA COYLE OF THE "NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL." WELCOME BACK, MARCIA.

>> THANKS, JUDY.

>> Woodruff: TELL US FIRST THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

>> OKAY. THE POLICE AND THE F.B.I. ATTACHED A G.P.S. TRACKING DEVICE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF ANTOINE JONES'S CAR. JONES WAS A SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WARRANT. THEY MONITORED THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR 24 HOURS PER DAY FOR 28 DAYS. SOME OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED WAS USED TO CONVICT HIM OF CONSPIRACY TO DEAL DRUGS. A FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT LATER REVERSED HIS CONVICTION FINDING THAT THE USE OF THE G.P.S. DEVICE WITHOUT A WARRANT VIOLATED THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.

>> Woodruff: WHAT IS THEN THE QUESTION BEFORE THE JUSTICES?

>> JUDY, AS YOU KNOW, THE FOURTH AMENDMENT PROTECTS US FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID IN DETERMINING WHETHER A SEARCH OR SEIZURE WAS UNREASONABLE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY. WAS THAT EXPECTATION REASONABLE IN ITSELF? SO THE QUESTION HERE IS,... WAS THERE A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY ON THE PART OF JONES THAT THE POLICE COULD NOT USE THE G.P.S. TRACKING DEVICE.

>> Woodruff: HOW IS NEW TECHNOLOGY-- GAPS... G.P.S. HAS BEEN AND FOR A WHILE. IT'S NOT ONE OF THE NEWEST OF THE NEW-- BUT HOW IS NEW TECHNOLOGY PLAYING INTO THIS?

>> THE COURT ACTUALLY FACED THE NEW TECHNOLOGY A BIT LAST YEAR WHEN IT TOOK UP A CASE INVOLVING TEXT MESSAGES ON A PAGER. THE LOWER COURTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH POLICE USE OF INFORMATION FROM CELL PHONES, SMART PHONES, COMPUTERS. IT'S A VERY UNSETTLED AREA OF THE LAW. THE G.P.S. TRACKING DEVICE HAS TROUBLED LOWER COURTS AS WELL. SO LOWER COURTS IN PARTICULAR AND POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE FROM THE SUPREME COURT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.

>> Woodruff: IT SOUNDS LIKE TODAY FROM WHAT I READ THE JUSTICES WERE ASKING A LOT OF QUESTION.

>> VERY ACTIVE ARGUMENT. IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT THAT BROUGHT THE APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT SINCE THEY LOST BELOW. DEPUTY SOLICITOR GENERAL MICHAEL DREBEN REPRESENTING THE GOVERNMENT TOLD THE JUSTICES THAT EARLIER SUPREME COURT CASES HAVE SAID THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY WHEN YOU TRAVEL ON PUBLIC ROADS. THE G.P.S. DEVICE, HE SAID, EXPOSED NOTHING THAT WASN'T ALREADY EXPOSED TO ANYONE WHO CARED TO LOOK AT THIS CAR. HE ALSO SAID IT WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN IF THE POLICE HAD ASSIGNED TEN AGENTS TO TAIL JONES'S CAR FOR 24 HOURS A DAY FOR A MONTH.

>> Woodruff: HOW DID THE JUSTICES RESPONSE TO THIS LINE....

>> A NUMBER OF THE JUSTICES SEEMED VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH HOW FAR THE GOLF'S ARGUMENT WENT. JUSTICE BREYER, FOR EXAMPLE, SAID IF YOU WIN YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO MONITOR THE MOVEMENTS OF EVERY CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES. THAT SUGGESTS SORT OF AN ORWELLIAN 1984 SCENARIO. SO HE PRESSED AND SO DID THE OTHER JUSTICES PRESS THE GOVERNMENT ON WHAT PROTECTION IS THERE HERE FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING? AND MR. DREDEN SAID THERE ARE OTHER CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES THAT CAN COME INTO PLAY IF THERE ARE ABUSES OR IF THE COURT IS AFRAID THAT SOMETHING IS CHILLED HERE. THERE'S THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THERE'S EQUAL PROTECTION. BUT HE SAID WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MONITORING EVERY CITIZEN. THIS IS A CASE WHERE POLICE WERE MONITORING A SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER.

>> Woodruff: IT ALMOST SOUNDED AS IF FROM WHAT I WAS READING THAT WHEN THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF CAME BEFORE... FOR THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN CONVICTED CAME BEFORE THE JUSTICE THEY WERE ALMOST HELPING HIS ATTORNEY MAKE HIS ARGUMENT.

>> I THINK THEY ACTUALLY GAVE HIM AN EQUALLY HARD TIME IN SOME RESPECTS. THE LAWYER REPRESENTING MR. JONES DISAGREES WITH THE GOVERNMENT. HE SAID NO ONE EXPECTS THE GOVERNMENT TO SURREPTITIOUSLY WITHOUT A WARN ATTACH A TRACKING DEVICE TO YOUR CAR AND MONITOR YOU. JUSTICE GINSBURG SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW,lO÷ MANY CITIES HAVE CAMERAS ATTACHED TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS. THEY MONITOR THE MOVEMENT OF CARS TO LOOK FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. BUT THE ATTORNEY INSISTED THAT WHAT'S DIFFERENT HERE IS THIS IS A PHYSICAL INVASION OF PROPERTY. IT'S A GREATER INTRUSION ON YOUR PRIVACY THAN CAMERAS OR VIDEO OBSERVATION.

>> Woodruff: FINALLY, MARCIA, THE SENSE IS WHAT? THAT THE JUSTICES COULD DRAW A LINE, PRIVACY, HIGH TECH DEVICE, THAT THEY COULD CHOOSE TO DRAW THAT NARROWLY, BROADLY?

>> THEY COULD. THERE IS A NARROW WAY TO RESOLVE THE CASE. AND THAT IS JUST TO LOOK AT THE ATTACHMENT OF THE G.P.S. DEVICE. WAS THAT A SEIZURE? AND NOT DEAL WITH THE MORE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF SEARCH AND REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF PRIVACY IN THE WORLD TODAY. I THOUGHT JUSTICE ALITO HAD A REALLY... REALLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN HE SAID BEFORE THE INTERNET AGE, MUCH OF OUR PRIVACY RESULTED FROM DIFFICULTY IN TRAVELING AND GATHERING INFORMATION. BUT WITH COMPUTERS YOU CAN NOW AMASS A HUGE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION. HE SAID SO WHAT NOW? IS EVERYTHING FAIR GAME? OR WHERE ARE THE LIMBS? THAT'S WHAT THE JUSTICES HAVE TO JUGGLE. IS THERE A LIMIT? IS THERE A LINE TO DRAW?

>> Woodruff: FASCINATING. MARCIA COYLE, THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE, JUDY.

>> Ifill: IN 16 STATES, MARIJUANA USE IS LEGAL FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. BUT AUTHORITIES SAY STATE LAWS DO NOT PROTECT GROWERS FROM FEDERAL PROSECUTION. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MONTGOMERY OF KQED-SAN FRANCISCO LOOKS AT HOW THAT CONFLICT IS PLAYING OUT IN ONE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY. HIS STORY IS PART OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION BY THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, "FRONTLINE," AND KQED.

>> Reporter: MATTHEW COHEN CULTIVATES MEDICINAL MARIJUANA ON A TEN-ACRE FARM SET AMID VINEYARDS IN CALIFORNIA. FOR THE PAST YEAR HE'S BEEN OPERATING LEGALLY AT LEAST IN THE EYES OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. HIS MARIJUANA PLANTS ARE PROTECTED BY THESE TAGS.

>> THIS ONE IS UP SIDEDOWN.

>> Reporter: THIS PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN CALIFORNIA AND HAS ALLOWED COHEN'S NONPROFIT COOPERATIVE TO EXPAND AROUND THE STATE.

>> WE'RE ABOUT 1700 MEMBERS NOW.

>> Reporter: A COUNTY ORDINANCE ALLOWS COHEN TO LEGALLY GROW UP TO 99 PLANTS, PROVIDED HE SUBMITS TO INSPECTIONS BY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND COMPLYS WITH STATE LAW. IT'S ENOUGH MARIJUANA TO KEEP HIS CO-OP MEMBERS SUPPLIED FOR MANY MONTHS.

>> WE WEREN'T JUST GETTING READY TO START HARVESTING. WE FIGURED WE WERE COMPLIANT WITH STATE LAW AND COMPLIANT WITH LOCAL REGULATIONS AND THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS INTERESTED IN.

>> Reporter: BUT COHEN WAS WRONG. ON OCTOBER 13, HEAVILY ARMED FEDERAL AGENTS STORMED HIS COMPOUND.

>> DOGS STARTED BARKING. I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW FOUR OR FIVE, YOU KNOW, FEDERAL AGENT VEHICLES. YOU COULD TELL WITH THE BLACKED-OUT WINDOWS, COME CRUISING IN HERE. EVERYBODY HOPPED OUT OF THE CAR VERY QUICKLY. I TOLD MY WIFE WE'RE BEING RAIDED. OPEN UP. FEDERAL AGENTS. WE HAVE A WARRANT. I SAID I'M OPENING THE DOOR RIGHT NOW. I OPENED THE DOOR TO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THE BATTERING RAM READY TO GO THROUGH THE DOOR. THEY GRABBED ME, SLAMMED ME UP AGAINST THE WALL HERE. CUFFED ME.

>> Reporter: AS THE AGENTS SEARCHED OTHER BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY, COHEN'S STATE-OF-THE-ART SECURITY SYSTEM RECORDED THEIR MOVES.

>> THERE'S A MACHINE GUN RIGHT THERE.

>> Reporter: UNDER THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT MARIJUANA REMAINS ILLEGAL IN THE EYES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND DRUG AGENTS ARE STEPPING UP RAID ACROSS THE STATE TO CURTAIL CALIFORNIA'S POT INDUSTRY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THEY TORE THROUGH ALL OUR CAMPING STUFF. THESE ARE JUST, THIS IS RECYCLING THAT THEY WENT THROUGH.

>> Reporter: BEFORE THE AGENTS DISCOVERED MOST OF COHEN'S SURVEILLANCE GEAR CAMERAS CAUGHT THEM SEARCHING THROUGH HIS BUSINESS FILES, METICULOUS RECORD KEEPING IS REQUIRED BY COUNTY LAW BUT THERE'S A TWIST. THE SAME DOCUMENTS THAT ALLOW COHEN TO OPERATE LEGALLY CAN BE USED AGAINST HIM AS EVIDENCE IN A FEDERAL CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE RAID WAS UNDERWAY THAT THE SHERIFF LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE FARMERS IN HIS INSPECTION PROGRAM WAS THE TARGET.

>> THAT AFTERNOON AFTER I ASSUMED THAT EVERYTHING HAD CLEARED, I CALLED. I ASKED HIM HOW HE WAS TREATED. HE SAID HE WAS TREATED FAIR. HE SAID HE WASN'T ARRESTED. HE SAID THAT THEY CUT DOWN MARIJUANA PLANTS. 99. I BELIEVE THAT'S THEIR RECORDS SHOW ALSO. I ASSURED HIM THAT IN MY OPINION, AS FAR AS LOCAL AND STATE LAWS WERE CONCERNED, HE WAS ABIDING BY THOSE LAWS.

>> Reporter: DAYS BEFORE THE RAID ON COHEN'S FARM, CALIFORNIA'S FOUR U.S. ATTORNEYS ANNOUNCED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE STATE'S MARIJUANA INDUSTRY.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE MAKING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY IS TO TRY TO PUT TO REST THE NOTION THAT LARGE MARIJUANA BUSINESSES CAN SHELTER THEMSELVES UNDER STATE LAW AND OPERATE WITHOUT FEAR OF FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT.

>> Reporter: TARGETS ALSO INCLUDE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO LEASE LAND TO GROWERS AND DISTRIBUTORS. EVEN NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES THAT CARRY ADS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA ARE UNDER SCRUTINY.

>> THE FOLKS WHO SAY THEY'RE OUT THERE AND HERE I AM AND I DARE YOU, THEY MAKE THEMSELVES PRIME TARRING HES BY THEIR AUDACITY AND BY THE SIZE OF THEIR OPERATION.

>> Reporter: JOSEPH SERVED AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY UNDER FOUR PRESIDENTS. HE SAYS ADVERTISING IS JUST ONE INDICATION THAT MOST MEDICAL MARIJUANA OUTFITS IN CALIFORNIA ARE LEGITIMATE TARRING HES FOR THE FED.

>> I THINK THAT THE U.S. ATTORNEYS WOULD PROBABLY AGREE THAT ABOUT 96 TO 97% OF ALL OF THE OPERATORS, ALL OF THE DISPENSARYS CERTAINLY IN THE STATE WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE GUIDELINES BECAUSE THEY WERE COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE NOT LIMITING THEMSELVES TO PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION. AS SOON AS YOU START CROSSING THE COUNTY LINES AND START PACKAGING IT IN SORT OF SUGGESTING THAT YOUR CLIENT BASE OR YOUR PATIENTS OR YOUR MEMBERS REALLY ARE ALL OVER THE STATE, YOU'RE BASICALLY IN A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE FOR PROFIT.

>> Reporter: THE CRACKDOWN TRIGGERED PROTESTS AND A LAWSUIT FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS. THEY ACCUSE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OF BACKTRACKING ON WHAT THEY SAY WERE EARLIER PROMISES TO LEAVE STATES ALONE WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. IN THE COUNTY, OFFICIALS WORRY THAT THE RAID ON MATT COHEN'S FARM UNDERCUTS THEIR EFFORT TO STRICTLY REGULATE MARIJUANA GROWING.

>> PEOPLE ARE REALLY WONDERING WHAT IS BEHIND THIS, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. AM I PERSONALLY AT RISK? WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN POSSIBLY DO TO BE AS LEGAL AS THEY COULD WITH LOCAL AND STATE LAW, ADHERING STRICTLY TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LINE. SO IF THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE GOING TO RAID HIM, THEN NO ONE IS SAFE.

>> COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOHN MACOUN DIDN'T START OUT AS A MEDICAL MARIJUANA ADVOCATE. IN FACT HE SUPPORTED BANS ON OUTDOOR GROWING BUT HE SAYS THE COUNTY'S MODEST PERMITTING PROGRAM HAS HELPED BRING ORDER OUT OF CHAOS.

>> BY BRINGING THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA ABOVE GROUND INTO A STRICTLY REGULATED PROGRAM WHERE IT'S INSPECTED BY THE SHERIFF, ARGUABLY TREMENDOUSLY INCREASES PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. THE RAID, IF IT HAS THE IMPACT OF DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND BACK UNDERGROUND, WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.

>> HERE'S WHAT'S LEFT. RIGHT THERE.

>> IT CERTAINLY SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER THAT COLLECTIVES AND CO-OPS OPERATE UNDERGROUND UNREGULATED. IT'S APPALLING TO ME THAT ILLEGAL FARMS ARE EXISTING ALL AROUND THIS COUNTY AND THEY'RE GOING TO COME AFTER US.

>> Reporter: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES TO TARGET LARGE-SCALE ILLEGAL POT FARMS. THEY'RE USING FEES COLLECTED FROM PERMITTED GROWERS TO HELP PAY FOR RAIDS AND OFFICER TRAINING. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE ORDINANCE. WHILE THE FEDS HAVE YET TO DIRECTLY CHALLENGE THE PROGRAM IN COURT, THE RECENT RAIDS LEAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SQUEEZED BETWEEN LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW.

>> IF THE COUNTY ORDINANCE IS IN VILGSES OF FEDERAL LAW I WANT TO BE TOLD THAT BY THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE LAND. BUT IF IT'S NOT IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW I WANT TO BE TOLD THAT TOO.

>> LOOK, WE HAVE CONSEQUENCES. THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE WAY OF OUR DOING IT OR YOU'RE HALF-HEARTEDLY COOPERATING WITH US OR YOU'RE INDIFFERENT TO IT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE FEDERAL MANDATES. WE WILL FOLLOW THOSE LAWS.

>> Reporter: HE SAYS FEDERAL PROSECUTORS IN 15 OTHER STATES AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHICH ALSO HAVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS WILL BE FOLLOWING THE CRACKDOWN IN CALIFORNIA CLOSELY.

>> Ifill: AND FINALLY TONIGHT, WE TURN TO OUR ONGOING SERIES ON THE HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT PROBLEM. OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, THE NEWSHOUR IS JOINING WITH OTHER PUBLIC MEDIA TO EXAMINE CONSEQUENCES AND SOLUTIONS. THE SERIES IS CALLED THE AMERICAN GRADUATE PROJECT. LAST NIGHT, WE INVITED MORE THAN 100 TEACHERS TO A TOWN HALL AT NINE NEWS NETWORK, OUR PBS STATION IN ST. LOUIS, TO TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN THE CLASSROOM. HERE'S A SMALL SAMPLE.

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR STUDENTS DIFFERENTLY NOW. CLASSICAL OR TRADITIONAL EDUCATION IS DEAD. IT'S FAILING OUR STUDENTS.

>> IF YOU TAUGHT CONCENTRATED PHONICS TO EVERYONE IN FIRST GRADE THEY'RE DYING TO READ. THEY WOULD STAND ON THEIR HEADS. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T DROP OUT IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEY DROP OUT IN SECOND GRADE, AND THEY HANG AROUND FOR EIGHT YEARS.

>> Reporter: THESE CHILDREN ARE COMING FROM HOMES WHERE NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS POSITIVE. NO ONE IS EDUCATED. WE HAVE A CYCLE OF IGNORANCE. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR GENERATIONS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ.

>> SO IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOUR FOCUS IS ON THE TEACHERS A MUCH AS THE STUDENTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THAT EXPERIENCE AND STORIES WOULD TELL US THAT YOU CAN TAKE AN EXTRAORDINARY TEACHER WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO GETTING TO KNOW THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY SERVE AND PLACE THEM JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE AND WITH THE PROPER SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRAINING, THEY CAN SHOW GREAT ACADEMIC GAINS IN THEIR STUDENTS AND AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

>> I THINK TEACHERS PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE EDUCATION OF KIDS. BUT I THINK TEACHERS GET A BAD RAP IN THE NEWS. THE TEACHERS THAT I WORK WITH AT METRO HIGH SCHOOL AND AT ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO EDUCATE THESE KIDS. I THINK THE PARENTS HAVE TO EDUCATE THEIR KIDS.

>> Ifill: IN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER, WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR SCHOOL IS HIGH, MEDIUM OR LOW? 21% OF YOU SAID HIGH. 24% SAID MEDIUM. 55% SAID LOW. OUCH. WAS THAT YOUR SENSE THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS?

>> WELL I THINK THERE ISN'T. AND CERTAINLY WE CAN INFLUENCE BOTH THE KIDS AND THE COMMUNITY IF WE'RE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY. AND IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY, WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON INSTEAD IS, CAN YOU ANSWER A MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST INSTEAD OF HOW DO WE MAKE YOU LOVE EDUCATION? HOW DO WE GET YOU TO FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO YOU? IF WE DON'T DO THAT, THE REST OF THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME.

>> Ifill: THROUGHOUT OUR HOUR- LONG CONVERSATION

>> Ifill: THROUGHOUT OUR HOUR LONG CONVERSATION, THOSE ST. LOUIS TEACHERS REPEATEDLY TOUCHED ON CONCERNS THAT RESONATE NATIONALLY. JOHN BRIDGELAND HAS WRITTEN WIDELY ABOUT IT, AND HIS ORGANIZATION, CIVIC ENTERPRISES, IS A PARTNER IN THE AMERICAN GRADUATE PROJECT. HE JOINS US NOW. A SENSE OF THE SCOPE, THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS PROBLEM.

>> GWEN, MORE THAN A MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY FAIL TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL EVERY YEAR. WITH HUGE COSTS TO THEMSELVES, SOCIETY AND THE ECONOMY. JUST FOR CONTEXT, THE YOUNG PERSON WHO DROPS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL WILL EARN A MILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN A COLLEGE GRADUATE OVER HIS OR HER LIFETIME. BUT THE COST TO OUR ECONOMY MUST PROMPT ACTION. IF WE WERE TO CUT THE DROPOUT RATE IN HALF WE WOULD SAVE OUR ECONOMY $45 BILLION EVERY YEAR. AS A RESULT OF PRODUCTIVE WORK FORCE, INCREASED REVENUES AND A DECREASE IN SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE INCARCERATION COSTS, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> Ifill: I WAS STRUCK BY THE TEACHER WHO SAID LAST NIGHT THIS REALLY BEGINS IN SECOND GRADE. THEY JUST HANG AROUND UNTIL THE 8th GRADE OR EIGHT MORE YEARS BEFORE THEY DROP OUT.

>> I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE MORE POWERFUL STATEMENTS.

>> EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WENT, HMMMM.

>> HAPPENS TO BE TRUE. WHEN WE SURVEYED TEACHERS THEY SAID AGAIN AND AGAIN WE COULD IDENTIFY YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE ON A TRACK TO DROP OUT. THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT YOU CAN PREDICT WITH GREAT CERTAINTY BASED ON A STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR AND COURSE PERFORMANCE IN READING AND MATH AS EARLY AS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CERTAINLY BY MIDDLE SCHOOL. IF THAT'S TRUE, WE CAN PUT IN PLACE EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN SCHOOLS AND GIVE DATA TO TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS AND PARENTS TO HELP KEEP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ON TRACK.

>> Ifill: I WAS ALSO INTERESTED IN THE TEACHER AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR EXCERPT WHO SAID THAT CLASSICAL TRADITIONAL EDUCATION IS DEAD. SEVERAL OTHER TEACHERS SAID WE SHOULD GO TO WHERE THEY ARE NOT BRING THEM TO WHERE WE ARE BY TESTING OR OTHER METHODS.

>> IT'S SO INTERESTING. WE DISCOVERED KNOW AFTER YEARS OF RESEARCH, NO ONE HAD EVER TALKED TO THE CUSTOMER, TO THE DROPOUTS THEMSELVES SO WE DID A SURVEY AND WE DISCOVERED THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE A CONNECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY WANTED TO BE, WHAT THEY SAW IN THE REAL WORLD AND WHAT THEY WERE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM. WE KNOW THAT OUR TRADITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FAILING A MILLION KIDS A YEAR. IF THAT'S TRUE, WE HAVE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM. WE NEED TO BE MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT ABOUT PROVIDING MULTIPLE PATHWAYS OF EDUCATION.

>> Ifill: THE ELEPHANT IN THAT ROOM LAST NIGHT WITH 100-PLUS TEACHERS IS THE FACT THAT TEACHERS ARE OFTEN THE ONES WHO ARE BLAMED FOR THIS. WE HAVE TO FIX TEACHERS AND FIX TEACHERS BY TESTING THEM MORE RIGOROUSLY. HOW MUCH IS THAT TRUE?

>> WELL WE DO KNOW THAT A KNOWLEDGEABLE ENGAGED TEACHER IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN BOOSTING STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T EXPECT TEACHERS TO BE PARENTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS A AND TEACH. WE KNOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM SOME OF THEM ARE NOT ABLE TO READ AT THE FOURTH GRADE LEVEL WHILE OTHERS ARE READY FOR A.P.COURSES SO I THINK TEACHERS CAN'T DO IT ALONE. WE NEED TO SURROUND TEACHERS WITH SUPPORTIVE PARENTS FROM COMMUNITIES, COUNSELORS AND OTHERS WHO CAN HELP STUDENTS STAY ON TRACK.

>> Ifill: ARE ANY BEST PRACTICES OUT THERE? THERE ARE SOME CITIES, SOME URBAN AREAS IN PARTICULAR WHERE THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THEIR GRADUATION RATES RISE IN RECENT YEARS. WHAT ARE THEY DOING RIGHT?

>> THIS IS NOT ALWAYS DEPRESSING NEWS. WE'VE SEEN INCREASES ACROSS 29 STATES. THE STATE OF TENNESSEE SAID WE NEED 269,000 COLLEGE DEGREE HOLDERS BY 2025. WE HAVE A SKILLS GAP IN THE STATE OF TEN CITY. ... TENNESSEE. THEY FOCUSED LIKE A LASER ON THE FIVE URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY DROPPING OUT THE MOST STUDENTS. THEY PROVIDED SUPPORT THROUGH EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THEY DOUBLED THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS IN A LOT OF THESE SCHOOLS. THEY WERE EFFECTIVE IN USING DATA TO TARGET THE 10 TO 15% OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SORT OF THE GATHERING STORM OF TROUBLE WHO NEED THE MOST SUPPORT.

>> Ifill: DOES IT SEEM LIKE WE'RE MOVING PAST THE BLAME AND MOVING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS.

>> THERE'S A MARSHAL PLAN THAT HAS A GOAL OF 90% HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES BY THE CLASS OF 2020 TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN FOURTH GRADE TODAY AND THEN BEING DRIVEN BY GOOD RESEARCH BUT AN APPROACH THAT NOT ONLY INVOLVES SCHOOLS BUT COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS LEADERS AND HELPING TO TACKLE IT.

>> Ifill: JOHN BRIDGELAND CEO OF CIVIC ENTERPRISES WE'LL BE TALKING TO YOU A LOT ABOUT THIS OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> NICE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Woodruff: TOMORROW NIGHT, WE LOOK AT PARENTS AND EDUCATORS FACING TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE IN ANDERSON, INDIANA. "AMERICAN GRADUATE" IS A PUBLIC MEDIA INITIATIVE FUNDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

>> Ifill: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. HERMAN CAIN DENIED AGAIN THAT HE EVER SEXUALLY HARASSED ANYONE, AND HE ASSAILED A CHICAGO WOMAN WHO'S PUBLICLY ACCUSED HIM. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE U.N. NUCLEAR AGENCY REPORTED IRAN IS CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AND AN AIR FORCE INVESTIGATION FOUND BODY PARTS WERE LOST AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE, WHERE THE REMAINS OF AMERICA'S WAR DEAD ARE RECEIVED. ONLINE, YOU CAN GET A LOOK IN ADVANCE AT STORIES COMING UP FROM OUR HEALTH UNIT. HARI SREENIVASAN HAS THE DETAILS. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: WE REPORT ON EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BASIC DENTAL CARE IN REMOTE REGIONS OF ALASKA. THERE'S MORE FROM THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND KQED ON THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA. THAT'S ON THE RUNDOWN BLOG. PLUS PAUL SOLMAN REFLECTS ON THE DEBT CRISIS GRIPPING GREECE AND THE FEAR OF SO-CALLED CONTAGION IN THE EURO ZONE. FIND THAT ON OUR MAKING SENSE PAGE. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org. GWEN?

>> Ifill: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S ELECTIONS, INCLUDING A UNION BARGAINING INITIATIVE IN OHIO, AND AN ABORTION RIGHTS MEASURE IN MISSISSIPPI. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> COMPUTING SURROUNDS US. SOMETIMES IT'S OBVIOUS AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY SURPRISING WHERE YOU FIND IT. SOON, COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES IN TRULY PROFOUND WAYS. TECHNOLOGY CAN PROVIDE CUSTOMIZED EXPERIENCES, TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER PREFERENCES, IGNITING A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES FROM THE INSIDE OUT. SPONSORING TOMORROW STARTS TODAY.

>> AND BY BNSF RAILWAY.

>> CHEVRON.

>> AND THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

>> THIS IS "BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA." FUNDING FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FREEMAN FOUNDATION OF NEW YORK, STOWE, VERMONT, AND HONOLULU. NEWMAN'S OWN FOUNDATION. SHELL. AND UNION BANK.

>> UNION BANK HAS PUT ITS FINANCIAL STRENGTH TO WORK FOR A WIDE RANGE OF COMPANIES, FROM SMALL BUSINESSES TO MAJOR CORPORATIONS. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

>> AND NOW, "BBC WORLD NEWS AMERICA."