Its relied on as a measure of progress, but does it paint an accurate picture . One synthetic number that purports to describe lived reality with an average, has to make choices about what you include, what do you add, what do you exclude, because you cant include everything. Those are just some of the stories were covering on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by ive been around long enough to recognize the people who are out there owning it. The ones getting involved, staying engaged. They are not afraid to question the path theyre on. Because the one question they never want to ask is, how did i end up here . I started schwab with those people. People who want to take ownership of their investments, like they do in every other aspect of their lives. Supported by the john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation. Committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. More information at macfound. Org 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. Ifill a sitting member of congress, new york representative michael grimm, was arrested today on a range of federal charges. The twoterm republican pleaded not guilty to a 20count indictment, including mail fraud, wire fraud and tax fraud. It alleges he underreported and concealed wages for workers at a manhattan restaurant. Grimm is a former fbi agent whos also under investigation for Campaign Finance violations. Suicide bombers killed at least 50 people across iraq today, ahead of wednesdays parliamentary elections. The worst attack came at a kurdish rally 100 miles northeast of baghdad. 30 people died there. Other attackers hit polling stations where soldiers and Security Forces began casting ballots. Prisoners and hospital workers also voted today. The National Elections are the first in iraq since us troops withdrew in 2011. Hundreds more islamists have been sentenced to death in egypt, in the latest mass trial of Muslim Brotherhood supporters. A court in cairo imposed the penalty today in a case stemming from violent riots last august. Jonathan miller of independent Television News reports. Reporter the egyptian judiciary on trial today as a notorious hanging judge broke his own grim record, recommending that 688 men be sentenced to death in a trial that lasted ten minutes. Said youssef today also upheld the Death Penalty on 37 of the 529 he condemned last month. The remainder commuted to 25 years in jail. Distress among relatives outside the cairo courtroom this morning. You can hear others screaming as this mother talks of her son. I swear to god he did nothing. The officer came and arrested him when he was asleep in bed. Reporter among others sentenced to hang, the 70 year old spiritual guide of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, mohamed badie, on charges of inciting violence. Lawyers and human Rights Groups today condemned the trial. Not fair, they said. No due process. The right to a defense was breached. In a normal case with a defendant that killed someone it would take one or two years. But here it was wrapped up in one session. Take stosk what has been happening in egypt. Less than a year ago Mohammed Morsi was president. Today he is in jail. 2500 of his supporters are dead. The movement designated a terrorist organization. By this time next month, general asisi, the ex military intelligence chief under the dictator hosni mubarak, is expected to have easily won president ial elections. Back to the future. Today sixth of april democratic activist group which spearheaded the revolt against mubarak three years ago was outlawed. Its two leaders are already in jail. All but 68 of those sentenced today were tried in absentia. The judges decision will now be appealed to egypts top islamic official, the grand mufti. In the Central African republic theres word that muslim rebels shot up a hospital over the weekend, killing at least 16 people. Three were local workers with doctors without borders. It happened in a town in the remote, northwestern section of the country, near the border with chad. The rebels have regrouped in that region after being driven from the capital city of bangui. President obama is praising and defending a 10year agreement with the philippines, allowing us forces greater access to military bases. The pact was signed as he arrived in manila to meet with president benigno aquino. The news also sparked protests by hundreds of filipino activists, opposed to any renewed us military presence. They burned effigies of both leaders. Mr. Obama maintained the move will be good for the region. I want to be very clear the United States is not trying to reclaim old bases or build new bases. At the invitation of the philippines, American Service members will rotate through filipino facilities, will train and exercise more together so were prepared for a range of challenges including humanitarian crises and natural disafter theres. Ifill its aimed at countering aggressive chinese moves in the region. Its been five weeks since the Washington State mudslide, and today, authorities officially ended the active search for bodies. The death toll in the shattered community of oso remains at 41. Two people are still listed as missing. A Forensic Team began schorg a tiny church in madrid today hunting remains of spains greatest writer who died in obscurity in 1616 years after his classic novel about the he can sec trick night don quee haute yeah. On wall street today, the Dow Jones Industrial average gained 87 points to close at 16,448. The nasdaq fell a point to close at 4074. And the sandp 500 was up 6 to finish at 1869. Still to come on the newshour. The south braces for more twisters after a night of destruction; white house adviser tony blinken discusses the new u. S. Sanctions against moscow; plus charges of racism against an nba owner. Searching for new ways to measure the nations and fresh evidence that High School Graduation rates are on the rise. Severe storms lined up again this afternoon across the south, and a tornado damaged some homes in tupelo, mississippi, but there were no initial reports of injuries. Thats after at least 16 people were killed in three states on sunday, 14 of them in arkansas. Oh wow, guys. Woodruff the sky over mayflower, arkansas, went from light to dark in an instant last evening. These Storm Chasers got too close for comfort to a half milewide tornado. My ears are popping, were in it right now, were in the tornado woodruff from there, the twister moved down the road to nearby vilonia, north of little rock. As i was driving back i saw nothing but black, it was huge and i saw the rotation. Woodruff the tornado touched down offandon for almost 80 miles, leaving destruction along an already wellbeaten path. Three years and two days ago we were hit by an ef2 tornado, practically the same path, in fact this ran right along the side where the other one came, cut about 6 1 2 miles long woodruff this morning, in the light of day, the scope of destruction came fully into view. Metal wrapped around tree limbs that had been hacked off in the high winds; homes left with no rooftops; cars twisted and bent; and amid all this, rescue teams, searching the wreckage for survivors. Weve got people and dogs going through the rubble and trying to find whoever we can and whatever we can. Woodruff the National Guard and the federal Emergency Management agency were on the ground to assist, and president obama pledged more federal help. Governor mike beebe sized things up after getting a firsthand look. Weve obviously got a lot of experience with tornados. Any tornado is bad, particularly if its a direct hit on something but looking at the damage this may be one of the strongest that weve seen. Woodruff in fact, forecasters said the arkansas tornado was likely the strongest anywhere in the country this year. Another twister tore through quawpaw, oklahoma and killed one person. This man said there was no warning. No sirens or anything went off there, and i felt the house shake a little bit, and i heard wind like you would not believe. So i got up off my chair and looked out my front window and about the time there we saw the twisting action right here, all this devastation here coming up. Woodruff the fatalities from these storms mark the first of the 2014 tornado season. Woodruff as we said, governor beebe visited the affected sites today. He joined us from little rock a short time ago. Governor mike beebe thank you very much for talking with us. First of all were so sorry for the loss of life. Well, thank you, judy. Its a tragedy any time you see these disasters, but i assume you have seen a number of pictures of the damage. And basically its a surprise that we dont lose more lives. I think its a credit to a lot of folks, including the news media wroacts, the Weather Service that broadcasts the warnings as well as sirens and people being more alert and more aware. Woodruff based on what you were able to see today, how bad was this storm . Weve seen storms that covered more area, weve seen storms with greater coverage in terms of destruction, but in the areas where this particular tornado hit, i dont know that ive ever seen anything that was as strong. We saw steel beams that were twisted and torn. In one area, we saw a steal beam anchored in cement as an anchor for the building and the cement and the anchor, all of it, was actually pulled out from the ground and twisted. The devastation in terms of the violence of this tornado probably is as bad as ive seen. Woodruff you mentioned the advance warning people had. What would people have had to do in the worst hit sections understood to in order to stay safe . Well, those that had the safe rooms, and in one community this was the second time that community was hit. So that community was more attuned to safety precautions, and a lot of them have safety rooms. There were also safe shelters you could get to with sufficient warning. And absent that, the intear portions of their interior portions of their homement we heard a man with three daughters and they got in the bathtub and the entire house was in shambles, nothing standing in the house and they all sure viefd because the bathtub was picked up and turned over. It was sufficient protection that they only had minor scratches. On the other hand we had a situation where a lady built an actual tornado structure safe room in the home. The home was gone, the only thing left standing was the safe room but she perished. The reason apparently was that some debris hit the door to that safe room and came on in. Woodruff are people getting the help they need from local, state and federal agencies . Yes, yes. Were resilient people. I think most states. I like to brag but i suspect most states follow the same pattern. Neighbors and friends and volunteers and loam Law Enforcement as well as state agencies, state police, the various state agencies that have heavy equipment that can move debris out of the way, certainly the National Guard, and all the other agencies such as forestry and Highway Department and certainly game and fish and parks and tourism. They all band together, they are well coordinated and on the second base very, very quickly. In this on the scene very, very quickly. In this case it happened during the nighttime hours and it was difficult to see, so they all worked together to try to first clear the way so that rescue and Emergency Responders could get into the areas, and then secondly be able to do the search and rescue. Woodruff finally governor we know there are more tornadoes reported today, that touched today in the southeast. More warnings posted for tomorrow. What sort of preparations are in place moving forward . Well, of course, the good news for us is that most of this bad weather pattern has passed east of us. Bad news is, as you pointed out its going to hit other states. Our sister states east of us have suffered significant tornadic activity. What they need to do is the same thing that they always know how to do and the same thing we do, monitor the weather, Pay Attention to the warnings, take shelter when they tell you to. Dont try to be something you are not in terms of riding out a storm. Take it seriously and move to places of safety when at all possible. Woodruff good warning for everyone to keep in mind in the path of these storms. Governor mike beebe of arkansas, we thank you. You are more than welcome. Ifill tensions in Eastern Ukraine spilled over into more violence today. As the Obama Administration announced additional sanctions on russian leaders and companies with close ties to president putin. Lindsey hilsum of independent Television News has this report. Reporter tonight those who support ukraine held a march in the eastern town of donetsk, protected, supposedly, by the police. But prorussian thugs soon disrupted the rally, beating up demonstrators with batons and stones, several were injured, and the demonstrators forced to flee. Those agitating in favor of russia deny theyre doing moscows bidding but the Us Government sees president putins hand and today imposed further sanctions on some of the russian leaders closest friends. 17 companies are sanctioned including some controlled by Putin Associates gennady timchenko, a billionaire; and arkady rotenberg, his judo d friend. Amongst the seven individuals sanctioned are dmitry kozak, deputy Prime Minister of the russian federation; igor sechin, the president of rosneft, the Worlds Largest traded oil company. Sechin, one of president putins closets advisors, is sanctioned as an individual but its hard to separate the man from the company, rosneft. Here he is a year ago with the head of b. P. , bob dudley. Ladies and gentlemen, its great for me to welcome Igor Ivanovich here at b. P. Today. I think this is the beginning today of a Great Partnership between b. P. And rosneft. Reporter b. P. Has a 20 stake in rosneft, to which it said today it remained committed. Rosneft said the sanctions wouldnt affect cooperation with its partners, but the Company Share price dropped as did its Credit Rating. In the city of kharkiv today, the deputy mayor was shot in the back, as ukraine grows more lawless the e. U. Is to announce further sanctions on russia tomorrow. Europe is one step behind the u. S. , because of its closer economic ties to russia, but theyre trying to give an impression of unity. Earlier today there was another town to join the republic as prorussian demonstrators took over the local administration building. Western sanctions may be hurting some russian individuals, but theres no sign that they are deterring president putin from continuing to stir it up in ukraine. Ifill now for more we turn to White House DeputyNational Security advisor tony blinken. Welcome. Is the goal here to isolate russia economically, or politcally or both . The goal is to impose a clear hois on president putin. Either choose a diplomatic path to resolve this crisis in ukraine or face increased pressure on the russian economy. Weve seen significant impacts from the pressure weve exerted to date. Financial markets down 22 . Ruble at all time lows. Investment drying up, capital flight, downgraded Credit Ratings. If president putin wants to continue to deliver growth for the people, which is essentially to their support he has to make that head choice. Ifill part of it is to sanction government officials. What is the point of that . We have designated government officials before and significantly we have two individuals at the very heart of the russian economy and of the support system for president putin. Mr. Session and and another. He controls the Largest Energy company in the world. That was not designated itself. Weve seen an impact on the company itself. Its Credit Rating was dropped to near junk status. And we have seen its stock price take a dive as well. Its having a clear impact and forcing a clear choice. Ifill why sanction individuals and not the company if what you are after is the company . Were looking to do this in a deliberate way, to do it in coordination with our European Partners. Because when we act together the impact is greater and stronger. So the president has been extremely focused on making sure that we have the europeans with us. While he was in asia he convened a Conference Call with the senior European Partners on friday. When it became clear that unfortunately russia was not living up to the commitments made in geefa. There was an agreement made to have the g7 pronounce itself on the need for additional pressure and following through today. Ifill if you were to sanction the companies themselves, would that have an Immediate Impact on sate u. S. Partners. Exxon mobile is in partnership with them . What were focused on is making sure we maximize the pressure were exerted on russia and minimize the impact here in the United States and in europe. Thats why weve done it in such a deliberate and careful fashion. That is the result to date. Ifill i couldnt tell whether it was the answer to my question or not. You are saying the stepbystep process is in part to i