Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20151216 : vimarsana.com

Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by and by bnsf railway. Lincoln financial committed to helping you take charge of your life and become youre own chief life officer. And with the ongoing support of these institutions 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 Public Schools across los angeles went dark today shuttered by the fear of a terror strike. It came in the form of an email that warned of mass violence. The threat brought the Los Angeles Unified School district covering 600 square miles to a halt. All 1,200 schools were shut down before classes started for the day. Many of the 640,000 students were forced to turn around and head home. And superintendent Ramon Cortines hastily convened a News Conference. I think it is important that i take the precaution based on what has happened recently and in the past. Ifill cortines was referring to the rampage two weeks ago in nearby San Bernardino, where a married couple syed farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people at a holiday party. As l. A. Police fanned out and began checking schools today, officials said the emailed threat came from germany and mentioned everything from guns to bombs to nerve gas. For many parents, it was unnerving. Well its real, watching from what happened in San Bernardino, thats pretty close to home. Now this one here, even closer, its pretty scary. Confusion, chaos, nervousness. Youre not really certain whats going on, whats entailed behind it. There are a lot of different emotions behind that. Ifill meanwhile, officials in new york city said they received a similar, if not the same, message. They discounted it as a hoax, possibly based on a tv show. We believe the email originated overseas. The language in the email would lead us to believe this is not a jihadist intiative, for example, that allah was not spelled with a capital a. That would be incredible to think that any jihadist would not spell allah with a capital a. I think the initiator, instigator of the threat, may be a homeland fan, basically watching homeland episodes, it mirrors a lot of recent episodes on homeland. Ifill moreover, mayor bill deblasio argued its vital to keep schools open and not overreact. Its very important to realize there are people who want us to fundamentally change our lifestyle and our values and we will never give in to that. Ifill as the hours ticked by, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti pushed back at criticism it was wrong to close l. A. Schools. We will continue to hope that this is nothing, but as a parent and as a mayor, i am here to support this School District to look at this and make sure. Ifill the search and the investigation continued into the evening, assisted by the f. B. I. The white house said it would not second guess the decision in los angeles, but a leading democratic congressman from the area, adam schiff, said it now appears the threat was, indeed, a hoax. In the days other news, the United Nations Nuclear Agency formally ended a decadelong probe into Irans Nuclear program. Inspectors found tehran had worked on a range of activities related to developing a nuclear weapon. But in vienna, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said theres no sign the work has continued. The agency has no credible indications of activities in iran relevant to the development of a Nuclear Explosive devices after 2009. Nor has the agency found any credible indications of the diversion of Nuclear Material in connection with the possible military dimensions to Irans Nuclear program. Ifill the end of the investigation clears the way for implementing a july deal that the u. S. And other powers reached with iran. It calls for curbing the Nuclear Program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Human rights activists in nigeria are accusing the countrys military of carrying out a massacre of hundreds of shiite muslims. They say it happened over the weekend in the city of zaria. The army says the shiites attacked a military convoy. Protests over the incident broke out today in another city. A shiite Spokesman Says police fired on the crowd and killed at least three people. Defense secretary ash carter called for the rest of the world today to ramp up military efforts against the Islamic State group. Carter spoke to u. S. And other troops stationed in southern turkey. Theyre taking part in the air campaign against isis target iraq and syria. We really are looking for the rest of the world to step up. America is stepping up, we need our allies and partners around the world to step up and do more, and thats true in europe, its true in the gulf, its true by europe, i mean all of nato, including turkey. Ifill carter also called for turkey to seal off the rest of its border against isis smuggling. And, turkey today joined a new, 34nation Islamic Military Alliance battling terrorism. Its led by saudi arabia, but does not include iran, iraq or syria. In yemen, a weeklong ceasefire took effect today between shiite rebels and Government Forces backed by the saudis and other arab states. Even so, Security Officials said shelling and ground clashes continued in places. The truce was timed to coincide with u. N. Brokered peace talks in geneva. A special u. N. Envoy urged both sides to end the war. translated today, you are the Decision Makers and before you lies a historic responsibility. Are you going to abandon yemen and its people and lead the country into further violence and slaughter . Or are you going to put yemen first, awaken your humanitarian and patriotic consciences, and ensure the people of yemen can live the dignified life they deserve . You are writing the history of modern yemen and you alone have the power to overturn the situation. Ifill the World Health Organization says the warring factions have promised to allow unconditional movement of supplies and medical teams during the ceasefire. Secretary of state john kerry reports progress on plans for syrian peace talks this week. Kerry met with russian president Vladimir Putin in moscow today and said they found Common Ground on which Syrian Opposition groups to include in the talks. Russia backs the syrian government, while the u. S. Supports moderate rebels. Back in this country, congressional negotiators worked to finish sweeping tax and spending bills to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. If they agree, the trillion dollar package would also lift a 40yearold ban on u. S. Oil exports, as republicans want. And, it would renew tax credits for producers of Renewable Energy, something democrats have asked for. The republican governor of texas has ordered National Guard troops to remain at the states border with mexico. Their mission was supposed to end this month, but Governor Greg Abbott says more than 10,000 children crossed into the u. S. In october and november without parents. Thats double the number from a year ago. And wall street gained ground for a second day. The Dow Jones Industrial average was up 156 points to close near 17,525. The nasdaq rose 43 points, and the s p 500 added 21. Still to come on the newshour, a new focus on terrorism as the g. O. P. Debates; baltimores freddie gray case in the hands of the jury; a congressional crackdown on financial advisors, and much more. Ifill tonight marks the fifth time republican candidates will face off on the debate stage, but it will be the first time theyve met since the attacks in paris and San Bernardino. Political director Lisa Desjardins reports. Reporter National Security. Its now the dominant theme for 2016. In speech after speech. We dont feel safe anymore. Reporter . From one News Conference to the next. We are, today, in a time of war. Reporter . And again and again in tv appearances. Theyre afraid of what theyre reading in the press. Reporter the attacks on paris and San Bernardino have fueled the new urgency. A new nbc news wall street journal poll lists National Security as the clear numberone priority of all voters 40 chose it. But the number was even greater for Republican Voters 58 said terror is their top priority. The candidates have been quick to react, and a campaign that was focused on outsiders is now highlighting the experience of some establishment candidates, and putting those with less Foreign Policy background on their heels. Former frontrunner ben carson starting losing support after one of his advisers told the New York Times the neurosurgeon has a weak grasp on Foreign Policy. Then today carson trying to regain momentum released a plan to protect america. But look at point number seven a call to investigate the council on americanislamic relations known as cair as a supporter of terrorism. The group, a leading advocate for american muslims, fired back in a statement, calling carsons remarks islamophobia. With carson struggling, senators ted cruz and marco rubio, more steeped in security policy, are gaining with conservatives. One sits on the senates judiciary and Armed Services committees, the other on the Foreign Relations and intelligence panels. Now, the two are turning their fire on each other. Cruz, whos surging in the polls, has tried to cast rubio as authoritarian. I think, when it comes to Foreign Policy, he wants as much power in washington as possible. And he has agreed with john mccain, and lindsey graham, and for that matter, with Hillary Clinton and barack obama, that we should keep sticking our nose in foreign entanglements where the results of their policies has made america less safe. Reporter rubio, in turn, has cast cruz as bad for the military. Given the choice between neoisolationism or the defense of our country, hes chosen neoisolationism. Whether its weakening our intelligencegathering capabilities, or voting against the defense bills, or voting against a budget that substantially reduces our defense spending these are facts. Reporter while they duke it out, new Jersey Governor Chris Christie is also on the rise, stressing his time as a federal prosecutor. And i was, you know, in charge of having to make many of those decisions in my office in my seven years as u. S. Attorney. Reporter the new security focus, of course, also sparked Donald Trumps call to block muslims from entering the country, and that prompted new criticism from some of his opponents, like Ohio Governor john kasich. Look. People dont buy this. Reporter . And former Florida Governor jeb bush. Theres no evidence hes serious about any policy proposal hes laid out. Reporter so far, though, the National Security debate has seemed to boost, not bruise the republican frontrunner. We have to get smart. We have to get tough. We have to be vigilant. We have to be vigilant. We have no choice. Reporter meantime, democrats are trying not to let republicans take ownership of the issue. In minneapolis today, Hillary Clinton outlined her plan for fighting terrorism in the u. S. The threat we face is daunting, but america has overcome big challenges many times before. Throughout our h history, weve stared into the face of evil and refused to blink. Reporter and tellingly, all of the candidates running for president now stress that theyre running to be commanderinchief as well. For the pbs newshour, im Lisa Desjardins. Ifill baltimore residents and officials are anxiously awaiting a verdict in the first trial in the death of freddie gray. It has exposed deep cracks in the citys criminal justice system, Race Relations and economic divide. The case has its roots in the april arrest of 25yearold freddie gray, and his death a week later. After Police Detained him on a North Baltimore street, gray was handcuffed and loaded into a police van. Either then, or during the subsequent, multiple stop, 45minute ride, he suffered what would become a fatal spinal injury. Everyday we will fight for freddie gray. Ifill grays death galvanized large protests and neighborhood unrest, despite appeals for calm by his mother and community leaders. I want you all to get justice for my son, but dont do it like this here. Dont tear up the whole city, man. Just for him . Its wrong. Ifill eventually, thousands of National Guard troops were called in to stabilize the city and enforce a weeklong curfew. States attorney Marilyn Mosby charged Six Police Officers in may, accusing them of failing to do anything to prevent grays death. At no point was he secured by the seatbelt while the wagon contrary to a b. D. P. General order. Despite mr. Grays seriously deteriorating medical condition, no medical assistance was rendered or summoned for mr. Gray at that time by any officer. Ifill officer William Porter, the first of the six to go to court, stands accused of manslaughter, assault, Reckless Endangerment and misconduct. During his twoweek trial, prosecutors blamed him for failing to buckle gray into a seat belt, and for not calling for an ambulance. They told the jury of seven women and five men, that porters inaction effectively turned the police van into a casket on wheels. In his own defense, porter said when he checked, gray did not seem injured, and his lawyers argued the vehicles driver not porter was supposed to ensure gray was belted in. Now, police are braced for potential trouble after a verdict, and the head of the citys Public Schools has issued a letter to the Community Warning students that this morning, the defense asked for a mistrial, citing those warnings. The jury has gone home now after a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict. Juliet linderman covers baltimore for the asspcoated press. She has been at the trial, and she joins me now. Of course, we have to talk first about this deadlock. What do we know about it, juliet . So the jury went home for the day around 5 30, and they had been deliberating for two days, this was the second day. They had been deliberating for about nine hours when they sent the judge a note saying they were deadlocked. Its unclear on what charges they deadlocked or how many jurors are disagreeing, but the judge did send them back into the jury room and said they should continue deliberations. So they will continue to fore tomorrow morning. Ifill has the jury sent out any other queries about what it is theyre curious about, that they could reach a deadlock quickly after only two days of deliberation. Sure. Well, they did request transcripts of William Porters testimony that he gave to investigators. They also wanted the police transmission tapes. The judge denied request for transcripts but the jurors will be able to view those tapes. The jurors have also asked for clarification on certain terms, particularly in regards to the misconduct in office charge. They wanted clarification on, you know, what an evil motive might mean, so theres a chance that they are mulling over that charge, but beyond that, would be speculative. We really dont know what theyre doing so far. Ifill what does an evil motive mean in this legal case . There are four charges William Porter faces Reckless Endangerment, which is basically a wanton disregard for human life, that William Porters inaction caused risk of injury or death. So the manslaughter charge stems from freddie grays death and the assault charge stems from his injuries. Misconduct in office is a little more complicated because jurors will have to determine whether William Porter acted in a corrupt manner and whether he, you know, failed in his duty as an officer, knowingly failed in that duty. So its a bit more complicated and jurors are probably really considering that charge very carefully,. Ifill i gather there has been no lack of drama in the courtroom including putting down of a set belt on the table to demonstrate to jurors. Tell me about that. Ifill absolutely. The prosecutor did dangle the bloody set belt in Front Seat Belt in front of j