engines! >> road rage. nascar crowd boos the first lady before the last race of the season. this is your "am: wake up call." and good morning to you. it is monday, november 21st from the time warner center in new york, i'm carol costello. an accused terrorist behind bars in new york city this morning. 27-year-old jose was a u.s. citizen who was taken into custody on saturday and arraigned late last night. he's accused of building homemade bombs and plotting to plant them in police cars and they say he planned to target u.s. troops arriving home from iraq and afghanistan. the supercommittee ending up like all the other mere mortal committees announcing they failed and the trigger about to go off to an automatic across the board budget cuts. 20 people killed as protesters returned to cairo's tahrir square and things take an ugly square just one week from elections. let's head to atlanta and get a check of today's weather. meteorologist bonnie schneider is in. good morning. >> good morning. we are looking at some wet weather for this busy week. a lot of folks getting started with their holiday travels. we do have rain across the mid-south. plenty of heavy downpours working across memphis. we'll be watching for that across much of western tennessee this morning and rain working into indiana to the north and into kentucky, southwest missouri. it's going to be a little stormy out there to get your day started. with all this rain comes flood threat. up to 3 to 5 inches between little rock and memphis. be careful for those driving on i-40, you'll face those downpours. if you're flying today, delays where we don't want them. some of the busiest airports in the country. new york, philadelphia, atlanta, washington, down through the south and out west due to fog in san francisco. we'll talk more about your travel forecast for this busy holiday week in a bit. carol? >> okay. can't say we're looking forward to it after that forecast but who knows. bonnie schneider, many thanks. just as new york begins dressing up for the holidays, the city is announcing it's foiled a serious terrorist plot. he was arraigned and denied bail late last night. investigators say he was an al qaeda sympathizer and muslim convert who planned to bomb nypd police cars, post office and u.s. returning troops. an affidavit shows he was building a homemade pipe bomb with materials he bought at home depot. mayor michael bloomberg playing a video showing the damage the bombs could have happened. >> they designated it in a way he intended to use his weapon. we wanted to show you a video about the resulting damage. >> i'm waiting for it. there it goes. the city described him as a lone wolf but police commissioner ray kelly said he was apparently infired by. he was following instruction says on how to build a bomb from al qaeda magazine called "inspire." cnn national security expert says even though he was considered a lone wolf, this is a sign that al qaeda is reeling. >> clearly this guy didn't have his act together. you know, he was -- there was an informant involved. he obviously wasn't following a tarlly sophisticated operational security. he had kind of a -- obviously, he was acquiring the makings of a bomb, but, i mean, up, there's a natural ceiling to what a lone wolf can do. you know, we saw major nadal hassan, an army officer at ft. hood, texas, kill 13 people. he was a classical lone wolf. he was also in touch with anwar al a alwaki. it's a sign al qaeda is weakening. >> mayor bloomberg also said the suspect was motivated by his own resentment of the presence of american troops in iraq and afghanistan. on the brink of failure it looks like the so-called congressional supercommittee will not be able to come up with a deal to cut more than $1 tril by wednesday. members spent the final hours pointing fingers at each other. our congressional correspondent kate baldwin has more. >> reporter: the so-called supercommittee is on the brink of failure as talks have fallen apa apart. the conversations as many members took to the sunday morning talk shows shifting from they are pushing for a deal, pushing for an agreement and hopeful they would reach it to now who should be to blame if and when the committee does fail. >> nothing new came out of this, from the democratic side, the same thing, raise taxes, pass the president's job deal. on the republican side, you had the one true breakthrough and that was this new concept of tax reform, which could generate revenue from the upper brackets for deficit reduction. >> the truth is at this point today, democrats have made some really tough decisions and come to some tough choice that we're willing to put on the line, on entitlements, spending cuts, but only if republicans are willing to cross the line on the bush tax cuts and be willing to say, revenues are to be a part of this solution. >> both sides clearly blaming the other for not being able to reach agreement of the minimum required $1.2 trillion in deficit savings over the next ten years. the talks breaking down, largely on the issue that has held up negotiations to this point. the issue of taxes. democrats insist real revenue, tax increases need to be part of any balanced approach or a balanced deal as they like to say. but republicans on the flipside are very much opposed to tax increases, unless they are part of an overall broader effort to reform the tax code that would bring down tax rates. with such little time left, it seems likely the committee has failed and the question now, barring a dramatic shift or a dramatic breakthrough, the real question is how and when does the committee make a formal announcement. many believe that announcement could come as early as today. we'll be waiting for it. two university of california davis police officers are on administrative leave after the video surfaced of cops casually pepper spraying peaceful occupy protesters in their faces at point-blank range friday night. the university says the officers were trying to clear out the occupy camp and felt trapped by protesters. the uc-davis police chief says it was one officer's decision to unload. >> this was a decision made from within that group by the officer in charge. i see pepper spray as a tool for officers to use. and like any other tool we carry and utilize, you hope and pray that it's used correctly and within policy. >> 11 people required treatment, two were hospitalized, hundreds of protesters came out calling on the school's chancellor to resign. a congressman from michigan denying allegations he molested a young relative more than 50 years ago. democrat dale kildee says family members are trying to blackmail. he was already leaving congress. he announced his retirement in july after serving 18 terms in the house. egypt erupting again this morning. protesters killing cairo's tahrir square. 20 people have been killed in flashes, hundreds of army officers firing tear gas and rubber bullets. military rulers say elections will go on in seven days but egyptians worry they have traded one tyrant for another. ben wedeman reports from cairo. >> reporter: much am changed in egypt in the last ten months but sunday in cairo was a day of deja vu. running street battles between protesters and security forces in a growing revolt against the supreme council of the armed forces which took over from hosni mubarak last february. tear gas and rocks flew fast and furious. security forces fired upon protesters with hard rubber pellets like these. this is with the police of egypt are using against us, she says. they're killing the youth of egypt, shooting them in the eyes. i tell her, we were here on january 25th. it was the same scene. what has changed? nothing has changed, she responds. we've gone backwards. the military council is garbage. mubarak is still alive and well and the people are dying. shouts this man, mubarak is running the military council and the whole country from prison. mubarak and all the corrupt businessmen around him. motorbikes rushed wounded to a makeshift field hospital, the same one that treated those injured during the uprising of mubarak. to protesters the new military rulers look an awful lot like the old one. >> on january 25th we were on this very street and we were also tear gassed. now months and months later it's november and the same thing is happening all over again. so now, of course, here you see some of the services provided by the revolutionaries, they're putting saline solutions in our eyes, giving us clean exto wipe it off. >> reporter: what has changed is the once silent people of egypt have found their voice. whoever ends up running this country will have to contend with a politicized vocal and demanding population that has learned to fight back. in a statement the government said, people have the right to protest peacefully as long as they don't commit acts to threaten egypt's stability. >> ben wedeman reporting. still to come, mcdonald's and target take action after an activist group releases disturbing video of what it says are animal being mistreated. allegations of phone hacking in london enter a new phase. we're expected to hear from witnesses and some are celebrities. details in a live report from london. then in today's money news, the link between women's heels and what they say about the economy. control pretty quickly. so i like control in the rest of my life... especially my finances. that's why i have slate, with blueprint. i can create my own plan to pay down large purchases faster... or avoid interest on everyday items. that saves me money. with slate from chase, i'm always in control. financially, anyway. get slate with blueprint and save money. call 855-get-slate today. congratulations. congratulations. today, the city of charlotte can use verizon technology to inspire businesses to conserve energy and monitor costs. making communities greener... congratulations. ... and buildings as valuable to the bottom line... whoa ! ... as the people inside them. congratulations. because when you add verizon to your company, you don't just add, you multiply. ♪ discover something new... verizon. it is 15 minutes past the hour. here's what's all new. a terror plot busted. new york city say jose pimentel planned to bomb police cruisers post offices and u.s. veterans. they say he's an al qaeda sympathizer but appears to be a lone wolf. pipe bomb and materials were found in his home. disturbing animal cruelty caught on tape. hidden cameras captured hundreds of hens crammed into small cages or swung around on ropes at facilities in iowa, minnesota and wisconsin. the they supply eggs for mcdonald's and target. they have fined four workers. money news, sending packages will cost you more. u.p.s. announcing they're boosting shipments 6%. they blame demand and investments in new technology for the increase. the new rates begin january 2nd. in sports, the university of miami bans its -- bans -- is bans its football team from bowl consideration this year. the school is still under investigation by ncaa over allegations that a former booster and convicted ponzi schemer gave cash, jewelry and even supplied prostitutes to players. the team plays its last game on friday. let's get a check on today's weather, head to atlanta, bonnie schneider is in. so, on the subject of flight delays -- >> well, so far we're okay but it's so early out there, unfortunately there's a lot of rain in the mid-south, so if you're getting in your car and you want an early start, maybe driving to memphis or little rock, you'll probably encounter wet roads. we're also looking at the threat of severe storms in texas so severe thunderstorms with lightning and heavy downpours across i-20. north and eastward memphis that's where the rain will be pretty heavy. storms moving through on our future cast there just north of dallas into oklahoma city, but heavy rain that will accumulate through wednesday. whether you're traveling on tuesday or wednesday, you'll face downpours on i-40, heading from little rock to memphis. that's where the rain is right now, also across paducah, kentucky, into louisville and we'll see that across areas of nashville as well as the system slides continually to the east. a little wet weather in the mid-south and that will impact air travel. some of the other busy airports also facing airport delays. so, an early start on your thanksgiving travel. we'll tell you more in a bit. >> bonnie, thank you. another big hit for penn state's joe paterno. the former coach announced he's battling lung cancer only a couple weeks after a sex abuse scandal rocked the school's football program. in the meantime, we're waiting to hear from a special investigative committee expected to hold a news conference in philadelphia later this morning. a report from cnn's national correspondent susan candiotti. >> reporter: for the second week in a row, game day giving penn state fans something to cheer about. but a lung cancer diagnosis for their already embattled coach is one more cross to bear. >> it's very unfortunate. and certainly not needed at the end of what we've been dealing with. >> reporter: outside joe paterno's home, a quiet day, visitors and strangers stopping by. someone leaves an inspirational by by billy graham, one woman drops off comfort food, sharing a smile and a hug. this couple takes snapshots after driving 100 miles from home to pay their respects. >> for all he did for the university, you know, i really looked up to him. still think a heck of a lot of him. i think he did good. he just made a mistake. >> reporter: this woman is a cancer survivor. >> it's so sad because all he had brought to the university. and as far as his health, i just wish that, you know, he could go into it with a positive mind. >> reporter: there isn't much positive news these days. jerry sandusky's accusations may have dealt a fatal blow to the second mile charity he founded. because donations are drying up, the charity announced friday the program that's helped thousands of underprivileged kids might have to shut its doors. sandusky is charged with recruiting his alleged victims from the second mile. he denies he harmed anyone. this weekend someone broke a second window at san dwrufk's home. investigations are mounting. the ncaa ordering penn state to answer pointed questions about its oversight and policies in handling sex abuse allegations. the federal department of education wants to know how the university reports sex assault crimes. results could impact student aid. so many investigations, so many questions, so few answers. but some might come by december 16th when penn state must respond to the ncaa. >> susan candiotti reporting. we're finding out more about the officer caught on camera shooting pepper spray at a group of college students. plus, what do shoes say about the economy? shoes! a group of researchers say they have established a link between high heels and the economic climate. find out what they are predicting for the u.s. economy next. 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[ louder ] hello? but we still need your signature. right now during sign then drive it's never been easier to get the all-new passat, the 2012 motor trend car of the year, for practically just your signature. that's the power of german engineering. visit vwdealer.com. stocks ended mixed on friday after a shaky week. the dow finished up with a small gain of 25 points. the s&p 500 and nasdaq both closed down but three indexes closed at their worst levels in nearly two months. they remain nervous about debt talks overseas and here in washington. it's all about the u.s. debt deadline, jobs, italy and spain this week. right now overseas all the markets, as i say, all markets are down as are dow futures. we're joined live from london with our money headlines. this supercommittee in the united states, if somebody comes out and says, we failed, what will this do to stocks? >> yeah, obviously we saw all the wrangling back in august, didn't we, over exactly what to do about the debt ceiling in the united states, and it seems as though we've come back to square one, at least that's how investors here in europe are viewing this situation. and it really is affecting the markets. as you saw, asia closing down on the day and markets here in europe down to the tune of in excess of 2%. u.s. futures are poised to open, roughly speaking, about 1%, if not more, lower, when they start trading later today on the latest indications we're seeing from the futures. so, there's a lot of concerning about the debt lock and stalemate surrounding the super committee and that impending deadline when it comes to cutting the u.s. deficit but we should mention that political politics as well as is affecting the markets here in europe, too, because we have a new government in spain which is center right government and a government that says it's going to be doing plenty of deficit cutting itself. the jury is out on what they could be cutting first. those are things moving the markets at the moment, including a statement by a chinese vice premier saying to the world's economy, brace yourselves because we're in for a recession now. >> so, in the end, this means that women won't be wearing high heels much longer? i say that only because we're going to talk about this new study that supposedly the height of a woman's heels is an economic indicator. >> yeah, this is really interesting, carol. this is a study conducted by those computer buffs at ibm. it had been devising software, and it came to the conclusion broadly speaking when the economy sinks and economy goes down, heel heights go in the opposite direction, soar to the stratosphere. it has evidence for previous trends. in the 1920s it says low heeled flapper shoes eventually gave way to much higher heels for the great depression and then we saw a similar situation when relatively benign economic times of the 1960s gave way to enormous platform heels in the 1970s following the oil shock. so ibm is saying, brace yourselves, eventually heel highs will come back down. i bought a barometer of my own. this is the kind of thing i wear on my business shows today. for the moment, that's not going anywhere any time soon. >> no way. this is mine. so, mine's an indicator of the economy is going down. put you're the business gal. thanks so much. coming up at 5:30 eastern time, detective describe him as a lone wolf, young man accused of plotting to detonate pipe bombs around new york city. a michigan congressman claims he's being blackmailed after sexual assaults claims. did you see this? two cops on leave after blasting peaceful protesters with pepper spray on the campus of uc-davis. students saying the failure goes all the way to the top. this is your "am: wake-up call." good morning to you. this is your "am: wake-up call" for monday. happy monday, november 21st. i'm carol costello. here are this morning's top stories. a new york. joe pimentel was aarraigned. he was accused of plotting to bomb nypd police cars and post offices and u.s. ret rans returning from iraq and afghanistan. they call him a lone wolf and an al qaeda sympathizer. members of the supercommittee appeared to come up short. six democrats and six republicans were tasked with coming up with a deal to reduce a $1.2 trillion deficit. now it appears they're simply working on the best way to say they failed without a deal. automatic across the board spending cuts will go into effect in 2013. protesters and security forces are clashing for a third day in cairo's tahrir square. hundreds of army officers and police fir