recovery. conflicting reports about who is really in charge. president obama keeps a close eye on this north african ally and a key partner in the fight against terrorism. the waters receding. we have the recovery efforts under way. it's early and we are on it. from cnn center, this is "cnn saturday morning." it's january 15th. good morning to you. i'm martin savidge, good morning to you. we are going to start in tucson, arizona. today, it's the backdrop for the attack as it reopened. i'm talking the safeway grocery store. repairs have been made and in an hour, they will reopen the store. there's going to be a moment of silence to remember those killed and wounded in the shooting. federal judge john roll was killed in the shooting. he was laid to rest yesterday. mourners packed a church to say their good-byes. he grew up in tucson. sandra day o'connor was among the mourners. three of his grandchildren spoke at the service. christina green was laid to rest yesterday. some of her organs were donated to a little girl in boston. he and his wife would like to meet her some day to give her a big hug. among those wounded in the shooting were congresswoman gabby giffords and two of her aides. she is progressing as well as can be hoped. barbara was released friday and simon on thursday. here is a picture of pam simon with president obama during the visit on wednesday. they sat down to talk to her tabt tragedy. >> do you remember when the shot was fired? >> it happened within a matter of seconds. my feeling was he was whirling. his back was to me. i saw the congresswoman go down. i saw ron go down. then i think i must have been one of the next people hit because from that point on, i was laying on the ground. >> did you ever actually see the gunman's face? >> no, i did not. >> what was that moment like for you when you knew you had been shot? >> it took a few seconds to actually -- for the reality. i think i was on the ground before i thought this is actually happening. >> were your scared? >> did you understand what happened? >> i don't remember the emotion of fear at all. i just remembered kind of survival instincts kicking in. i laid very still and played dead. i didn't know if he was still around. >> pam simon was shot twice, once in the wrist, once in the chest. that bullet traveled through her body and is lodged in her thigh. turmoil in tunisia this morning. a fire in the jail at resort town of monster. there are remors the military may take control of the government after the president flew out of the country in the face of growing civil unrest. ben is in tunis, the capital. he joins us by telephone. what are you seeing in the streets? any demonstrations today? >> caller: no, no demonstrations today. the army is firmly in control. i saw troops driving up awhile ago. they are putting up barbed wire. they are not allowing people to mill around the area. they are keeping free of civilians. it appears what the army is trying to do is impose control. it's proving to be a difficult task. we are getting reports that several prisons around the country have been on fire. dozens of deaths in the the fires and of inmates escaping. i'm watching tunisian television. disorder, looting, lawlessness and gangs roaming the streets. parts of the country are descending into chaos. the civilians and civilian leaders said they are going to form a government. there will be elections within two months. i think increasingly, the concern is that nobody is in control at the moment. martin. >> what are you hearing about how this has spread. how has social media played a part? >> caller: it's difficult to say how much of a role it's played. there were strict controls. for instance you could not access through the normal internet in tunisia. by and large, the locomotive behind the protest, which didn't have a clear leader was simply growing discontent with deteriorating economic conditions with official corruption. people i spoke to on the streets complained that they spent years going to university to get degrees but they could never find work. so, social media played a role, but i think the real role has to be put down to just discontent with a difficult situation. martin. >> for those of us in the united states, tunisia -- >> caller: they did assist the united states in many ways in the so-called war on terror. i think the prime american concern at the moment is that the situation slips out of the control of the government of the military of the police and you could have a prolonged period of chaos here. obviously, this is in a country that until recently was a beacon of pro-western thortarian stability. the worry is this country, which was so stable before could become a scene of chaos. martin. >> a revolution is under way. ben, we'll stay in touch. thank you very much. here is a name to remember. reince priebus. he left twill be in charge of t2 election. ruffling feathers with harsh words against the naacp. he's getting criticism for rejecting an invitation to a martin luther king, jr. day event. here is the governor. >> they invited me to go to the state prison to meet black prisoners. i told them i would go, i would be more than happy to go, but i would meet all prisoners. that wasn't acceptable to them. tough luck. >> what about them saying this is a pattern. >> tell them to kiss my butt. >> a massive panicked pilgrim. they were attending a religious festival that attracts millions of visitors. a truck overturned into a group of people along a narrow stretch near the temple. clean up has started in brisbane australia. floods forced thousands of people from their homes. they were the latest hit in an area of northeastern australia. at least 16 people have, excuse me, died in the floods. more than 50 are still missing. think your kids are too young to be taking drugs? one new jersey school district is taking no chances using a drug testing plan meant for high schoolers to test even sooner. we'll tell you all about it. we're going to tell you about the possibility of flooding in parts of the pacific northwest and improving weather here back east. more can be expected from florida up to new york. more on that coming up in a few moments. you are watching "cnn saturday morning." in phillips' colon health defended against the bad gas, diarrhea and constipation. ...and? it helped balance her colon. oh, now that's the best part. i love your work. [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. including your skin. [ female announcer ] now aveeno reinvents positively ageless. with shiitake complex, it's shown to visibly transform skin, helping repair the look of past damage and prevent future damage. positively ageless. only from aveeno. there are two kinds of heroes. heroes who travel thousands of miles to face the unknown... and those who stay behind to do the same. for every warrior who charges into the fight... is another who fights to keep moving forward until their return. military lives are different. at usaa we've been there. we understand. that's why our commitment to serve military, veterans and their families is without equal. usaa. for insurance, banking, investments, retirement and advice... we know what it means to serve. let us serve you. it's 11 minutes past the hour. time for a check of the weather, reynolds wolf joins us. >> walked in just in time and didn't trip that time. it can be a doozy. the weather in the pacific northwest can be a doozy. flooding is going to be a threat in washington state and oregon. you can see the moisture from the pacific. over the last couple months, much of the focus in terms of wet weather is in terms of central california. all that's changing is we have an area of high pressure sitting over california. it's like a blocking pattern, if you will. it's sending it to the north. we have a bit of a ridge occurring in parts of the northwest. plenty of rainfall. it's going to mean a bit of a warm up. the combination of rain and warmer temperatures means we might see snow melt in spots, especially in the high cascades. that could spawn flooding in places. rain is in the picture for the northwest. 56 degrees in seattle. dry conditions. 75. 49 dallas. rain in minneapolis. a chance of scattered snow showers. a chance of snow back toward parts of the great lakes. minneapolis, 15. new york with plenty of sunshine. the pacific northwest doesn't look like much at the time being. just scattered showers. we have watches and warnings are in effect. we are going to show you the places affected. the temperatures, again, well above the freezing point in seattle with 49. 44 in olympia. yakima, 46 at this hour. higher in parts of the cascades, four to five inches of rain as we make our way through the weekend. in terms of travel troubles, take a look at this. new york metro, all the major airports could have a half hour to hour delay. cleveland, detroit and chicago, mainly due to the low clouds. huge delays at dfw, love field anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour delay. get patient if you are out there traveling. martin, you are up to speed. >> thank you, we'll check back with you in a while. how young is too young to test for drugs? they want to test kids before they get to high school and what they want to do with those who test positive. [ male announcer ] how about we open up a whole can of getting it done? and get this year's colors up on the wall...this year. let's get better prices... and better paint. let's break out the drop cloths, rollers, brushes, and tape. let's start small. then go big. no matter what the budget. and when we're done, let's take a bow. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. we've made a special buy on glidden paint -- starting at just $12.97, for just four days. and more. if you replace 3 tablespoons of sugar a day with splenda® you'll save 100 calories a day. that could help you lose up to 10 pounds in a year. that's how splenda® is sweet...and more. we have all heard of high schools and random drug testing. in one new jersey school, they are planning to test younger. we have more. >> reporter: the school board in new jersey implemented random drug testing for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. many are questioning, are they too young? >> what happens when you multiply? >> a lesson in math is what you might expect in sixth grade. for these kids, learning life lessons come early for most kids in their state. they want to test middle schoolers for drugs and alcohol, something usually reserved for high school students. >> when parents call, it's very general. >> reporter: this principal says she gets calls about weekend parties involving marijuana and alcohol in this small community. she can't pinpoint the drugs, but there are realities that can't be ignored. a drug best in a nearby town for teachers selling prescription drugs. she hopes it will serve as a deterrent to keeping middle schoolers away from drugs and alcohol. >> i'm hoping they will say no because they may be tested on monday. i look at it as a way they can say no to their peers. >> in order to conduct testing, both parents and kids have to agree to participate. we spoke with several parents red dou sign up. >> i think it's great. >> reporter: why? >> because the kids you don't know what they are doing. regular drugs that kids are not as open to come home and tell their parents. >> reporter: others question the need to expose kids this young to random tests saying it can backfire. >> what's the message being sent to them? there's a question about the integrity of every kid. >> reporter: aclu has been critical of the drug tests saying they are not a good civics lesson. schools involved say they do. in this program, if students fail the drug test, they won't be punished. school officials say they are offered counseling. >> wow. 2011 has barely begun and folks are focusing on the 2012 presidential elections. interesting poll numbers out about who is leading the pack in the race to become the next president of the united states. when we come back, details on how president obama stacks up against potential gop candidates. ♪ could that have also inspired its 556 horsepower supercharged engine? ♪ the all-new cadillac cts-v coupe. we don't just make luxury cars, we make cadillacs. that's why there's lubriderm® daily moisture. it contains the same nutrients naturally found in healthy skin. skin absorbs it better and it lasts for 24 hours. later gator. lubriderm. your moisture matched. this way, everyone will know about all our great discounts. safe driver, online, homeowner's -- more discounts than ever before. and they still get great service. ♪ ow! [ disco music plays ] ♪ whoa, yeah is it just me, or is it getting funky in here, huh? get your groove on, y'all! catch you on the flip side! i'd tell him the sign's not finished, but it would just break his funky little heart. more discounts, more ways to save. now, that's progressive. call or click today. you can make a big difference. did you know that by march 1st, more than $50 million can be earned by schools just like yours! buy participating products now, to earn your school's share of more than $50 million! australia could get hit with more damaging rains on top of an already saturated landscape. 16 people died in weeks of flooding despite the threat of more rain. the city of brisbane and surrounding areas trying to clean up after the devastating disaster. we have more. >> reporter: cleaning up brisbane is proceeding at a rapid pace. houses are stripped of their contents. roads were covered in thick mud and have been cleared and reopened. all of this work is taking place with the help of an army of volunteers, literally thousands of people from thousands of areas not hit by the floods. they are into the worst hit suburbs to help with the clean up. >> not just the people who have come to clean the place out, but people coming down and bringing drinks and food for the volunteers. to see the community rally is fantastic. >> you can do something to contribute. a lot of people might donate funds, but there's nothing like getting in and helping out real people and seeing them firsthand. >> there are so many volunteers, in some cases, it's proving hard to find enough work for them all to do. the goal is to get the city reasonably clean and functioning by the start of the working week. roads cleared and reopened. electricity restored and houses stripped of damp goods before they start to smell. it's only the first step in a very long-term recovery. phil black, cnn, brisbane australia. cnn is your home for politics. the head of the wisconsin gop is now in charge of helping the republicans capture the white house in 2012. his name is reince priebus. >> you all are the board of directors. while i may be the ceo, we must all remember that each of us, every one of us, is still an employee to republican voters. it's our job to fulfill the mission of the rnc and we are going to start by putting a solid business plan in place to operate effectively and efficiently. to begin to restore the faith of our donors. we will work to develop a new line of communication with state parties, the new speaker of the house, john boehner, senate republican leader, mitch mcconnell and newly elected republicans across the nation. with this new focus leadership, the rnc will move forward by restructuring our financial operation, reviewing plans of action and hiring top-notch staff. i understand the challenges that lie ahead of us go well past raising funds. we must know how to spend these funds effectively -- >> tea party members will have a chance to check in on their senators later this month. the tea party caucus is scheduled for january 27th. jim demint, mike lee and rand paul said they will be there. they were all elected with the backing of tea party supporters. a new poll shows president barack obama running the table in 2012 against a host of republican challengers. in a match up against sarah palin, the newest poll that has president winning by 26 points. 56% to 30%. he also beats mike huckabee and mitt romney. in december, romney was winning by 2%. now president obama beats romney by 13. if you want more politics, if you just can't get enough, go to our website and check it out right there as you look at it right now. it's a big weekend for football. will the weather hold up? reynolds wolf joins us for those details. the tucson store where the tragedy unfolded prepares to reopen. we'll take a look at gun control in arizona. is enjoying it together. and right now, a complete seafood dinner for two is just $29.99 at red lobster. you both get a fresh salad and irresistible cheddar bay biscuits. two entrees, from a menu of classic favorites and new creations. and your choice of either an appetizer or a dessert to share. your favorite seafood with your favorite person, just $29.99. for a limited time at red lobster. youi switched to a completeyour tomultivitamin with more.50,. only one a day women's 50+ advantage has gingko for memory and concentration plus support for bone and breast health. a great addition to my routine. 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[ male announcer ] stop the uh-oh fast with kao. it is 28 minutes past the hour. good saturday morning to you. i'm martin savidge. thanks for starting your day with us. checking top stories, the change in leadership in tunisia. the government fled yesterday. they are reporting several prisons around the country are on fire. we are watching this one for you. president obama and former president clinton are remembering diplomat richard holbrooke yesterday. he died while trying to repair a tear in his aorta. >> ron reagan says his father may have been showing signs of alzheimers in his first term. he had the first shivers of concern three years into his presidency. he disclosed he had alzheimers in 1994, three years after leaving office. there's going to be a grocery store opening that will mean a lot to the people of tucson, arizona. it's actually a re-opening. the safeway store will pay tribute to the 19 people shot outside the store one week ago. a wreath is going to be laid at the sight in honor of the victims. there's also going to be a moment of silence. we'll take you there live, when that happens. a lot of people are talking about gun control in the aftermath of the shooting. we have seen gun sales spike since the event. what about in arizona? how are people feeling about guns there now? we asked around. [ gunfire ] >> reporter: at this firing range in tucson, arizona, nearly every lane is full. with couples and firearms enthusiasts like jim who says he's proud to live in a state where he can carry a concealed weapon on his person and in his vehicle with no permit at all. >> we are citizens, not subjects. that's the bottom line. >> reporter: the law is called constitutional carry. it's a new law that passed last year. >> i think we are the tombstone of the united states of america. >> reporter: after the massacre, they say things are out of control. he signed a legislation that allows students 21 and over to carry guns on campus. >> i have never been a propro innocent of carrying guns. that's almost where we are. >> reporter: this 24-year-old says he carries a concealed weapon to feel safe. so, this is something you carry with you where? the store? >> everywhere i go. >> reporter: last saturday was no different. he had his firearm in his jacket when he went to buy cigarettes. >> i heard the shots from inside the building. when i turned, i saw another gentleman lifting the firearm up like this. he brings it around his side. that, to me, you know, he was standing, he was holding a gun. >> reporter: joe saw victims in pools of blood. he had to make a split decisio