Priority for them. Ifill more than fifty years after writing to kill a mockingbird, the reclusive author harper lee agrees to publish a oncelost novel. This time, scouts all grown up. Woodruff plus this is americas only living barrier coral reef here in the florida keys. Woodruff reversing the decline of decimated reefs. Scientists transplant coral from the lab into the environment to confront an underwater crisis. A big coral boulder is essentially just a rock, its the material that the living tissues have deposited over dozens or a hundred years, but the only thing thats alive is that little veneer of tissue on the outside, which is essentially what we are bringing back. Woodruff those are some of the stories were covering on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by it doesnt matter what kind of weather. It doesnt matter what time of day or night. When mother natures done her worst, the only thing that matters to us, is keeping the lights on for you. Were the men and women of the International Brotherhood of electrical workers. Keeping the power on in communities like yours, all across the country. Because when bad weather strikes, well be there for you. The i. B. E. W. The power professionals. At bae systems, our pride and dedication show in everything we do; from Electronics Systems to intelligence analysis and cyber operations; from combat vehicles and weapons to the maintenance and modernization of ships, aircraft, and critical infrastructure. Knowing our work makes a difference inspires us everyday. Thats bae systems. Thats inspired work. Lincoln financial committed to helping you take charge of your life and become youre own chief life officer. And the william and flora hewlett foundation, helping people build immeasurably better lives. And with the ongoing support of these institutions 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 the brutal tactics of Islamic State radicals reached a grisly new extreme today. The group put out a video showing a captured jordanian pilot being burned alive. In washington, the visiting king of jordan rearranged his schedule to meet with president obama. Ifill the pilots father was attending a tribal meeting with other relatives in jordans capital when the video surfaced. He checked his cell phone, hung his head, and left. Then, a government spokesman confirmed the news publicly. translated we are deeply saddened and we pay our deepest respects to jordans martyr, muath alkaseasbeh. We now all know in jordan, beyond any doubt, how barbaric the Islamic State group is. Ifill the 26yearold lieutenant fell into Islamic State hands in december, after his plane crashed in syria on a bombing mission. Last week the militants threatened to kill him, unless jordan released sajida al rishawi, an iraqi woman convicted in a 2005 bombing plot. The jordanians demanded proof the pilot was still alive, which they never got. State t. V. In amman reported today that he was actually killed a month ago. The news came as King Abdullah was in washington, and officials said he was cutting the visit short. Before he left, he sent a message home. translated in these difficult moment, it is the duty of all jordanian citizens to stand united, to show the strength of this people in fighting this group. This will only give us more strength and resistance. Ifill for his part, president obama condemned the brutal killing, and the Islamic State killers. Its just one more indication of the viciousness and barbarity of this organization and it i think, will redouble the vigilance and determination on the part of a Global Coalition to make sure that they are degraded and ultimately defeated. Ifill the hostage drama has sparked protests against jordans support for the coalition. But the jordanian military vowed today to seek revenge. Ifill part of that revenge may also include the execution of the woman the Islamic State wanted released. Citing unnamed officials reuters and afp have reported that sajida alrishawi will be executed before dawn on wednesday. We take a closer look at the killing of the jordnian pilot and reaction with rod nordland of the New York Times who is on the ground in amman, and former Jordanian Foreign minister marwan muasher. Hes now Vice President for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Welcome to you both. Rod norland, we are now learning that, in fact were hearing that this jordanian pilot was killed a month ago even though negotiations were under way just until were told this week. Is there some sense now that this was nothing that was ever going to be fixed or that this was futile . Well, i think its clear that jordans position, they had to show proof of life, was informed by their belief that he was already dead and they werent going to release this terrorist, sajida alrishawi, from prison if they thought that he really was dead. That now appears to have been the case. Ifill was his family still hopeful that he was alive . They were really hopeful. They were hopeful up until a few seconds before word came that this video was out showing his death in this really horrible manner, burned to death in a cage. As it happens, my colleague was sitting with the mother and the wife of the pilot when the word came, and it was kind of an unfortunate insight into just how devastating this kind of news is to families and the loved ones of somebody this happens to. They were just completely hysterical, pulling their hair out, screaming and it just really brought it home. I was on the phone with rania when this all happened and when we saw the video, its about as despicable a thing as you can imagine. Ifill Marwan Mausher does this titfortat diplomacy, were hearing the woman will be executed, does that replace diplomacy . First of all, these are unconfirmed reports, but there is no question in my mind that there is a state of anger and shock today among all jordanians and there will probably be a public demand to execute this woman and three others also that are in jordanian prisons, but let me point out that these are people who have already been condemned and sentenced to death, so they were awaiting execution for many, many years. And whether because whether they retaliate this way remains to be seen but i think it will fall under pressure to do so. Ifill is jordan between a rock and hard place . Its part of the coalition and taking in so many refugees, and at the same time so many recruits for isil are coming from jordan. Well jordan has been in a tough position. The king has made it clear that he regards this war not just as a military war against isis but also a cultural war, a war of values, if you want, to determine who speaks on behalf of islam. And i think that there are some people in jordan who did not take that message and really you know it is estimated that maybe between 2,000 to 5,000 people are idealogically attached to isis. I think this message will resonate more particularly after the horrible, horrible way in which the pilot was killed. Ifill it is horrible, and rod norland, i wonder whether this nervousness, this unhappiness that sajida alrishawi is resonating now on the streets in amman where you are tonight. A week ago people were saying, and we were reporting actually that a lot of jordanians thought this shouldnt be their war, they shouldnt be a part of it. Theres been a huge change in attitude, even before this awful video of his murder came out. Even before that jordanians were really rallying around the flag and turning against isis and its tactics. I think if they thought this video was going to turn jordanians away from joining in the coalition, i think they badly misjudged the mood. I think well see even more support for jordans role. Ifill do you agree with Marwan Mausher then that the mood has been misjudged because of the cultural war thats under way and the ideological one rather than anything having to do with islam . Yeah, i think thats probably true. At the same time, though, there has been, you know, a kind of underground here of supporters for isis, especially young men system of them fairly vocal. I think youll be hardpressed tomorrow to find anybody speaking out on behalf of isis, the Islamic State anymore here, and there will be a real kind of reckoning to come. Ifill Marwan Mausher, why the increase in bar barbarity, to use president obamas words . We werent immune to beheadings but this seems to be a step beyond, several steps beyond. I see it as a sign of weakness. When you kill someone in such a violent manner it proves youre not able to get results by other means. Whatever the case, this is clearly a group that does not belong to humanity with which no compromise is possible. How do you stop them from doing this . You stop them first militarily, but also culturally. I think we need a cultural war of values to address the very grievances that, you know, a lot of people have and are frustrated enough to move them to join such barbaric groups. And it is a war that, you know the region has to take for itself. They need to be fought militarily, but the underlying causes of frustration and marginalization have also to be addressed. I hope that is going to be the case. The king, as i said, made it very clear that this is a cultural war that the region needs to make it clear that islam, you know, has no place in it for such groups. Ifill and would you say, rod norland, that tonight jordan is a nation in mourning . Yes i think thats safe to say. Schools will be closed tomorrow, probably businesses and government, as well. And i think well see a huge reaction here to whats happened tonight . Ifill rod norland of the New York Times in amman for us tonight and Marwan Mausher the former foreign minister for jordan, thank you very much. Thank you. Woodruff there was major news on the financial front, as well. Standard and poors settled federal allegations that it deliberately hyped risky Mortgage Securities before the 2008 meltdown. The Credit Rating agency agreed to pay almost 1. 4 billion, and admitted it knew many of the investments were likely to collapse. Well detail the implications of this deal, after the news summary. Ifill wall street tops the days other news. Energy stocks led the market sharply higher, as oil prices surged back above 53 a barrel. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 305 points, to close well over 17,600. The nasdaq rose 41 on the day and the standard and poors index added 29. Woodruff the president S Health Care law was back before the house of representatives today, and the result was the same. By 239 to 186, republicans pushed through a measure to strike the statute from the books. Woodruff the vote on h. R. 596 represented the 56th time that House Republicans have tried to repeal the Affordable Care act. Republican steve king of iowa said its about making clear where everyone stands. Every republican up until this point has voted to repeal obamacare. Every member of the house with the exception of those that were sworn in for the first time for this congress has had that chance. Now we give everyone that chance. Woodruff Michigan RepublicanJohn Moolenaar is one of those newly swornin members. Its time to permanently repeal the excessive spending, the economic pain and the continuing uncertainty caused by this law and replace it with patient centered alternatives with lower premiums that allow individuals to choose the coverage they want. Woodruff but democrats said the exercise is pointless since the president has vowed a veto. House minority leader nancy pelosi. Theyre baying at the moon. Something that is not going to work and instead of proposing any which we would be welcome to hear good suggestions they may have to improve the Affordable Care act, theyre baying at the moon 56 times. Woodruff at the white house, the president dismissed the house vote, as he met with americans who say theyve benefited from the law. In every respect working not just as intended but better than intended and so the notion well play politics with lives of folks who are working hard every single day trying to make ends meet, trying to look after their families makes absolutely no sense. Woodruff the bill goes to the senate now, but republicans wont have the votes it would take to override a veto. A group of Republican Committee chairmen now say theyre working on their own plan to replace the Affordable Care act. They expect to release it on thursday. Ifill new england bundled up today as frigid cold moved in, on the heels of the latest winter storm. In some places, wind chills hit 20below, prompting flash freeze warnings. In the boston area, crews braved the cold to move another 18 inches of snow, after more than two feet fell last week. Mayor marty walsh said together the two storms made history. Weve set a record in the seven day period in the city of boston. We received over 40. 1 inches of snow. Weve broken the old record and were looking at a possible another six inches of snow on thursday. Ifill the snow forced the city to put off its super bowl victory parade for the new england patriots, until tomorrow. Woodruff new research out today portrays an evergrowing college gap between the haves and havenots. Two advocacy groups for Higher Education reported that in 2013, some 77 of students from wealthier families received bachelor degrees. Thats compared to only 9 of those from the lowest income bracket. The difference is more than double what it was in 1970. Ifill fidel castro has been seen for the first time in five months. Cuban state media released nearly two dozen new photos today. They show the former president now 88 years old, meeting with a student leader. The student says it happened january 23rd, and they discussed everything from castros exercise routines to international politics. The ailing castro stepped down as president in 2006. Woodruff and britain moved today to become the first country to allow socalled threeparent babies. The cuttingedge fertility method uses genetic material from three people. Its designed to prevent inherited diseases caused by defective mitochondria, the energyproducing bodies in cells. Rachel younger of independent television news, reports. Reporter jessica is just 13 months old, but for her todays vote comes too late. Science cant keep her alive, but it might just mean her parents now get to introduce their daughter to a little brother or sister who wont have to suffer like she has. She struggles with swallowing. She struggle with her muscle tone, as well. So as you can see, shes very floppy. She cant hold her head up. She doesnt have the energy up to do that. Reporter scientists in newcastle havent managed to cure mitochondrial disease like jessicas, but they have worked out a way to prevent it before an embryo is even formed. It involves a healthy egg being taken from a donor. Doctors will then remove the nucleus containing her d. N. A. And replace it with the mothers but without the 40 mitochondria genes. The newly repaired egg is then fertilized and implanted into the mothers womb, but its unchartered territory that has to be approved first by m. P. S in the commons. Once we amove this procedure, where does it lead . The answer has to be that we stop here. This answer has to be that we say this is a red line in our country as in every other country in the world that we will not cross. We cant guarantee that it will work but the people most involved think that it will work, and all the Scientific Advisory bodies in this country think that it will work. We should take note of what they say. Reporter in the end, most of them did. The ayes to the right, 382. The noes to the left, 128. Reporter that means up in newcastle the work goes on, toward a world first that could change the lives of thousands. Ifill the proposal still needs approval in the house of lords. Woodruff the proposal still needs approval in the house of lords. Woodruff still to come on the newshour standard and poors pays for its role in the mortgage crisis; herbal supplements whats real and whats fake . Using education to break cycles of poverty in rural West Virginia; harper lee announces a follow up to to kill a mockingbird, 50 years later; and protecting the oceans fragile coral reefs. Woodruff more than six years after the financial crisis hit the economy with full force, the government finally closed one of its major cases against a key player. The justice departments settlement with Standard Poors centered on Credit Ratings the Company Awarded during the leadup to the housing bust. Some observers and experts have long argued that rosy ratings of troubled Mortgage Securities helped inflate the market. For its part, s p did not admit to criminal wrongdoing in the settlement. But at a press conference attorney general eric holder laid out part of what the company conceded. On more than one occasion the companys leadership ignored senior analysts who warned that the company had given top ratings to Financial Products that were failing to perform as advertised. As s p admits under this settlement, Company Executives complained that the company declined to downgrade underperforming assets because it was worried that doing so would hurt the companys business. Now, while the strategy may have helped s p avoid disappointing its clients, it did major harm, major harm to the larger economy, contributing to the worst financial crisis since the great woodruff the settlement included attorneys general from 19