Snarl Bear International barriers that much and more on cbs this Morning Saturday saturday, july 20th, 2013. Captioning funded by cbs hello, everyone. Welcome to cbs this Morning Saturday. Lots of news. In addition weve got great tips for you. One of the worlds most influential and creative chefs is here. Heres how he went from jewelry design tore running one of the most famous kitchens in the country. And here with songs from the latest album heartthrob. But we begin with a remarkable moment at the white house, having waited nearly a week after the shooting death of George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin, president obama speaks out. Jeff pegues has more. Reporter good morning, vinita. It was one of those occasions where the president weighs on race one of the topics hes been criticized about not talking about enough. Trayvon martin could have been me 35 years ago. Reporter in a surprise appearance in the White House Briefing room, nearly a week after a jury found George Zimmerman not guilty, president obama weighed on the verdict. I think its important to realize that america is looking at this as a set of experiences and history that doesnt go away. Reporter six jurors acquitted George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The verdict drew criticism from africanamerican leaders and prompted protests in some cities. There are very few africanamerican men who doesnt have the experience of being followed shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few africanamerican men who havent had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me, at least before i was a senator. Reporter while the president waited to tackle the issue of race attorney general eric holder didnt hold back. Addressing the naacp on tuesday, he talked about how this issue hit close to home. Trayvons death last spring caused knee sit down to have a conversation with my own 15yearold son. Like my dad did with me. As a father who loves his son and who is more knowing in the ways of the world, i had to do this to protect my boy. Reporter in a statement on friday, trayvons parents applauded the president. And said they were grateful he took the time to speak about their son. Zimmermans defense team also released a statement. Quote, while we acknowledge the racial context of the case we hope that the president was not suggesting that this case fit the pattern of Racial Disparity. Because we strongly contend it does not. The president asked that the public respect the jurys decision but he as called for a closer investigation of the stand your ground laws. For a closer look at this significance, were joined by douglas brinkley. He joins us from poughkeepsie new york. Doug good morning to you. Good morning. Its significant for a president to make remarks like this. Could we call it historic . It certainly was historic. You have the first africanamerican president weighing in on a case that took part in florida. I think it elevated Trayvon Martins story to the annals of history. In many ways this president has been a constant grief counselor. We flash back to newtown or tucson or aurora he always seems to be hand holding. At this particular moment he used the term black folk he was speaking to the rest of america how it is seen in florida. This was a speech in that he got very personal and said this could have been me 35 years ago. Theres some talk is he choosing sides . Youre a historian, how will history remember the speech . Well i think he split it down the middle in the sense that he kind of let the judge and the jury off the hook from getting any heat. I think the aim now is on the florida law, and, you know this notion that you can carry a weapon around like this and stand your ground. So you may see in the upcoming midterm elections, democrats of saying no more stand your ground laws. Weve got to get rid of this. This is a pro of Governor Scott of florida. Its a product of right wing extremism. So this is a political statement at the very end of the line. It comes at you as a personal sentiment. And barack obama had to comment on this. Imagine what history would say if he did stay quiet. There was a drumbeat for him to come out. I think you will see larger numbers at the digital 100 going around america because its not that president ial opinion talk about this to say that any other predecessor to talk about race in america doug people are waiting for him to to come forward, more so than say, president clinton or president bush even president reagan you know i spent a little time with president obama talking about history. And he wants to make sure that he does the right thing for the africanamerican community. Meaning when he gets criticized by Jesse Jackson or somebody it stings particularly strongly for this president. But hes been able to keep about 85 of the africanamerican population. Its a group struggling in the economy. Theyre behind their man barack obama because he knows how to talk to that community at the right moment. That speech was first and foremost i think aimed at keeps his base happy. Look, this is a man speaking from the heart. He just really is bothered by Trayvon Martin. I think we have to feel its emotional for all americans, particularly, for all americans, that verdict in florida. Thank you for your comments. During his remark the president sha the nation shouldaid that we should evaluate the way we protect our neighborhoods. And now to the extreme and persistent heat wave in much of the eastern United States. And the storms now moving in behind it. For the past week millions of americans have sweltered under a blanket of heat and humidity all the way from the western great lakes to the northeast. Its really been unbearable. Amtrak in fact had to slow some of its trains because heat expanded the rails threatening the stability of the track. Gushing fire hydrants provided the only relief available to overheated kids in chicago. And coney island the big apple, set a record for electricity usage as folks cranked up the a. C. But things may be changing. Lets get more on the heat wave and what is coming in next in meteorologist jeff ghirardelli. Jeff, it can only get better. You and millions of americans feeling some relief. And certainly more tomorrow. Its been oppressive heat wave. Tomorrow, day seven of temperatures 90plus and heat indices. Feels like temperatures 100 to 115. One more day of oppressive heat from philadelphia, to boston to washington, d. C. Where heat warnings are in effect. Temperatures will exceed 90 degrees along that i90 corridor. Its going to stay hot for the next few days in the plain states but look at the relief. Some relief temperatures drop to get 80s. Those will move to the northeast during the date tomorrow. Speaking of moving to the east, the strong line of showers and thunderstorms moving into ohio and pennsylvania right now. Thats going to cool it off later on today, but with the cool weather there is a threat of Severe Weather from columbus to new york city late in the day to boston. Were probably going to see strong gusty winds and the potential for hail. When all said and done tomorrow, instead of temperatures in the 100s, it will be near the 80s. Jeff, thank you. Thunderstorms hit las vegas friday creating flash flooding and trapping tourists inside of casinos. Wildfires are burning across several western states this morning, one of the biggest is in the San Jacinto Mountains near palm springs, california, spreading to 32,000 square miles. The town of idyllwild is in serious danger. That is where Teresa Garcia is. Reporter good morning to you as well. This town has been evacuated for four days now. Now another 700 year homes are ready to go too. This mountain fire has continued to spread albeit slowly in the days past, thats because of a change in the weather. Weve got slightly cooler temperatures, also a touch of rain and that could bring some relief. Day five of this explosive blaze brought some relief to the firefighters ton the line. Humidity we are hoping that brings cooler temperatures so its not so dry and not a tinderbox ready to go. Reporter some mountain communities were reopened while others were put on alert for possible new orders to go. First thoughts are, you dont think its going to be that bad. All of a sudden, the wind changes. Reporter 29 aircraft are battling the flames and for most of them this is home. Aerial hazard with power lines along the highways. Reporter the gardner cattle ranch saved by firefighters in the early hours of the blaze is now the helicopter staging area. We tell them if were not here, open the gates and start spreading out. Because they need a place to land. Its private. And is this off the road and close enough to the command center. Thank you very, very much. Thank you are you kidding me. Reporter the gardner family opened its land shortly after the fire started on monday. And like the flames the air traffic has only grown since then. Its like its choreographed, which it is. They go in they give they go up, they drop. They land. They refuel. They go, they dip. Most of it is accessible by aircraft. Theyre basically whats saving a lot of the areas and communities from just being inundated completely. The fire is still only 15 contained. And for now, the crews are holding the flames to a line that is just a couple miles outside of this mountain town. I can tell you, along with the cooler temperatures the problem is we could start to get the threat of isolated thunderstorms and with them erratic wednesdays which is certainly what firefighters are. Mike vinita. One year ago today, shortly after midnight a gunman entered a packed Movie Theater in aurora and started shooting. In less than ten minutes, a dozen people were dead or dying and dozens more wounded. On friday the attack on Newtown Elementary School observed a moment of silence for gun laws. And nearby voiced their opinion for that. Our opinion on firearms and personal freedom, citizens would hav tool the at their defense. Joining us now from denver is a survivor of the shooting and an antigun activist. Steven barton. Good morning to you. Good morning. You suffered a lot of injuries. Its remarkable to see that you dont have any facial injuries. More than two dozen pellets. What do you remember from that night in the theater . I visually remember the whole night. Most in particular the screaming, the chaos, the smoke, just holding my neck and feeling the blood rush out of me. Your life and everybodys life connected to this tragedy has changed so dramatically. Lets start at the beginning here. What brought you to colorado in the first place . It was kind of by chance that you ended up in this particular theater, right . Thats right. Im originally from connecticut. Right next to newtown, actually. And i was in the middle of a Cross Country bike trip with my best friend. We were visiting someone we knew in aurora innocently decided to take her out to the movies. Thats when our lives were turned upside down. All three of you, the other people you were hit, you were all in this Movie Theater . Just the friend we were visiting. Thankfully the friend i was traveling with he was not hit. Your life has so dramatically changed. In fact for you its become empowering, hasnt it . Oh absolutely. When i was recovering from my wounds, i started reading more. And learning more about gun violence. And kind of the more i learned, you know, the fact that thousands of people every single year in this country, are murdered with guns. And that there are loopholes in our laws that allow guns to get in the hands of criminals. The more i learned about these horrifying facts, the more compelled i felt to get involved and seek it out, about gun violence and how we can butter prevent the sort of tragedies that i had to bear with other people. Given what youve been through, its easy to see how youve become an activist steven. Im curious you mentioned that bike ride. What are the plans for that . Will you be continuing it . We really hope so. Our plans are up in the air. At the end of this summer, we really planned to. It was a lifechanging experience all on its own. We met such amazing people. And really saw the best that our country had to offer, you know before we ended up seeing the worst our country has to offer in that theater. Steven barton thanks for taking the time with this morning. Our thoughts are with those recovering still one year later. Thanks so much. Thank you. An investigation is under way into the death of a woman on a roller coaster at six flags over texas Amusement Park near dallas. Park officials have not confirmed the details, but eyewitnesses say the woman fell yesterday from the ride known as the texas giant. Also yesterday, a boat in the shoot the rapids water ride flipped over at the cedar point Amusement Park in sandusky ohio. Seven people were injured. Officials in San Francisco have confirmed that one of the victims of the Asiana Airlines crash was struck and killed by a fire truck responding to the scene. They say the 16yearold girl a student from china, survived the crash and ended up on the tarmac. But firefighters may not have noticed her because she was covered in firefighting foam. More than 300 survived. In boston the last of the boston strangle murder cases has been solved. Officials say dna has confirmed that he killed Mary Sullivan in 1964 and responsible for the deaths of ten other women in the 60s. At one point, disalvo admitted to the murders but later recanted. In michigan a state judge has ruled that the city of detroits bankruptcy filing violates the states constitution. The states attorney general is set to challenge that ruling before a federal judge next week. As of now, its the largest municipality in the country to declare bankruptcy but as Mark Strassmann reports its the people detroit that have the most to lose in this showdown. Reporter detroit has an 18 billion debt and residents still dont know whether the city has hit bottom. David sole retired last january, hes worried pensioners like him will get trampled in bankruptcy court. Your retirement is on the line. My survival is on the line. Reporter detroit owes creditors money that it doesnt have. The motor city is running on fumes. 60 of its residents have left since the 1950s and its unemployment is 16 . Michigan governor rick snyder. This is the time to say enough is enough in terms of the downward trend of detroit. 700,000 people of detroit deserve a better answer. Reporter theyre offering a deal to get big banks to accept 75 of what theyre ode. But Municipal Bond owners could end up with pennies on the dollars. And city workers owed 9 billion opposed this bankruptcy the most. Youve been picketing and protesting. Thats not how you planned to spend your retirement . You decide whats important and do what needs to be done. Reporter a federal judge has a prove along with scores of creditors for cbs this Morning SaturdayMark Strassmann detroit. This week House Republicans voted for the 38th time to repeal or downsize president obamas health care law. Obama care is bad for america. Were going to do everything we can to make sure that it never happens. You know Washington Post columnist dana milbank noted what congressman john dingell said during the debate at one point when he said einsteins definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result. If obama care was workable why did the president announce that he wasnt going to enforce the employer mandate . Why did the white house decide that well, were not going to verify peoples income when they come to the exchanges . Why . Because they cant. You can, of course see all of bob schieffers interview with Speaker Boehner on face the nation. Israel has agreed to a longstanding palestinian demand to denounce peace talks there. Secretary of state kerry said friday that the two have laid its groundwork to resume talks as early as next week after a threeyear stalemate. He said the deal to revise peace talks is not final and requires more diplomacy. Well perhaps, youve been wondering why hasnt the royal baby arrived yet . I know you have. You have lots of company. The world media is wondering, too. One who is watching even more closely than most is royal commentator ryoya mika. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning. I know its hot. Theres a lost people camped tout see whats happening. What can you tell us about the situation right now . Reporter well frankly, much cooler conditions today than the last two weeks, everyone has been camped outside. At the moment everyone is still waiting. We believe william and kate have moved from the family home in buckingshire up to the palace overnight. We believe shes knew anytime now. Really, the waiting goes on. We hope to hear something the next few days. And it goes on and on. Whats kates family saying about the pregnancy . Everything she says everyone hangs on to their every single word, right, ryoya . Reporter youre right. Theyve been a you have mummers mummerings from them. We havent had much talk about the baby. Everyone is camping out at the house in bucklebury. And quite patient too. Thank you very much. You eyes on that baby. Whole world. Well it is about 22 minutes after the hour. And now heres a look at the weather for your weekend. Coming up say it aint so Major League Baseball gets ready to lower the boom on a dozen top players for performanceenhancing drugs. And later, vacation alert. The best state and National Parks you may not know about. Youre watching cbs this Morning Saturday. Coming up the ongoing fallout from acquittal of George Zimmerman. H