Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Pelley good evening. This is a developing situation but one highranking source in the u. S. Government is telling us at this hour that four americans have been freed, one of them injured, after an airborne military assault on terrorists in algeria. We want to empsiels assault is still ongoing and the information is fluid. The americans were taken hostage yesterday, along with dozens of others, at a plant in a remote oil and gas field near the libyan border. A group that claims to be affiliated with al qaeda seizedly the plant. They said it was in retaliation for the French Military attacks on islamic extremists in nearby mali. The situation is not entirely clear. We do not have definitive information on the number of00s or casualties. Algerian Authorities Say tonight a number of hostage hostages and terrorists have been killed. Traveling in london, defense secretary leon panetta said either seven or eight americans were taken in the original terrorist attack. Mark phillips picks up the story. Reporter early today, what had been a hostagetake standoff at a massive natural gas plant in the algerian desert turned violent and bloody. Algerian troops had surrounded the plant after a number of Foreign Workers some reports say more than 40 were taken hostage by an Islamic Group calling itself the mass brigade, and claiming ties to al qaeda. Security sources told us that when the prisoners were moved within the compound, algerian hipgunships opened fire. One irish hostage, steven mcfaul, recounted the ordeal to an arabic tv channel as it was happening. Reporter steven mcfauls family were celebrating tonight. He along with an unknown number of other hostages managed to escape. His son, dillon, was overjoyed. I feel over the moon. Im just really excited. I just cant wait for him to get home. Reporter at least one american, marx cobb, who had hidden in a meeting room, is known to have gotten out of the gas plant as well. The algerians say their operation is now over. Early reports, unconfirmed, say as many as 30 humans, algerians and foreigners, may have been killed, and families in at least nine countries, including the United States, are waiting to learn who lived and who died. Pelley mark, theres a lot of hostage taking in this region for ransom. Is there any indication whether thats what this is, banditry, or whether it actually is terrorism. Well, the mass brigade and other groups are known to be operating in that area for some time, and they have a history of hostage taking and ransom demands and smuggling to fund their activities. But with the french intervention under way in mali next door, this incident may be too close, both in time and distance, to be a coincidence. Pelley mark, thanks very much. The last time americans were killed by terrorists was also in north africa last september. Four died, including the u. S. Ambassador, in the attack on the u. S. Consulate in benghazi, libya. Now, u. S. Forces are about to go to the aid of the french in mali, and david martin has the latebreaking developments. Reporter the u. S. Has agreed to airlift a battalion of french troops and tanks into mali, part of a military intervention which has stirred up a hornets nest of the Al Qaedalinked groups in north africa. According to u. S. Intelligence, these groups are likely to strike western targets again. Rudolph attallah is the pentagons former head of counterterrorism for africa. Do you expect more terrorist attacks . Yes. These guys are savvy. They are theyve been prepared for a fight, like i said, for a long time, and theyre not going to take it lying down. They are going to they are going to show that they are capable of of putting some pain against the west. Reporter the attack on the gas complex in algeria was carried out by a group whose leader had warned france against intervening in mali. Other leaders operating under the umbrella of a grouped call al qaeda in the magreb, have dared the u. S. To intervene. One of the islamists was taunting the United States essentially saying, we want the United States to be involved in this fight. Like the french. Its like, more like, bring it opinion were ready for you. So were prepared to go after you. Reporter with u. S. Backing, the french launched airstrikes and began sending in troops last week when it appeared radical Islamic Groups, which already controlled the northern half of mali, were on the verge of breaking through government defenses across the narrow waist of the country, and advancing on the it capital. Frances defense minister said the operation was designed to prevent mali from becoming a terrorist state within range of europe. Even if france succeeds in stopping the advance, radical Islamic Groups will still control northern mali, an area the size of france itself. Defense secretary panetta has said there are no plans to put u. S. Troops into mali, but that could change if terrorists there start killing americans. Pelley david, thank you. In our new poll out tonight, an overwhelming number of americans approve of the president s call for universal background checks for gun buyers. The cbs News New York times poll shows background checks on all potential gun buyers are favored by 92 . A ban on highcapacity magazines is favored by 63 . A national ban on semiautomatic weapons is favored by a slim majority of 53 . Thats interesting, because our Research Department found that 65 of all of the guns sold in america are semiautomatics. We asked, also, whether the gun laws should be more strict. 54 said yes. 9 said less strict. And 34 think the laws should remain the same. When we asked the publics opinion of the National Rifle association, the response broke down in nearly thirds. 38 have a favorable opinion. The Movie Theater where one of the worst gun massacres took place, reopens tonight, with a private ceremony for victims and their families. Last july, a gunman killed 12 and injured 70 in auror acolorado, using the same kind of weapon and ammunition magazine the president wants to ban. We wondered what folks in colorado are saying about the gun debate, and so we sent ana werner to find out. It. Reporter jean assam knows about gun violence. The whole hallway was filled with this sense of evil, and it was very intimidating. It would intimidate anybody. Reporter in 2007, assam, a Trained Police officer, was volunteering as a Security Officer in inside this Colorado Springs church when a man with a semiautomatic rifle murdered two people. Assam stopped the rampage when she shot the attack wer a concealed gun she carried on her hip. I knew what to do and i had the confidence you know, i had the training. I was armed and i was present. Freedom. Reporter like many in colorado, shes conflicted when its to stricter gun laws. I see very clearly both sides of this debate. I see where theyre coming from, and both of their views make sense to me. Reporter this is a state that suffered two mass shootings, columbine, and aurora, but many who live here are hunteres, including governor john hickenlooper. We are a fully split state. Were almost exactly onethird democrat, onethird republican, onethird independent. And there are strong points of resistance to going you know, if youre going to try and do a ban or really serious restrictions on peoples access to firearms, its colorado. Its the west. And we are a Diverse Community within the west. Reporter there is no waiting period for gun purchases in colorado, and anyone over 21 can apply for a concealed weapons permit. Hickenlooper supports expanding background checks in colorado to private gun sales but has doubts about a proposed state ban of highcapacity ammunition magazines. Of course, the devils in the details. Is that 10 rounds or 30 rounds . And thats where the thats where the robust discussion is going to come in. Reporter well, the shooting here in aurora has prompted the governor, scott, to propose an overhaul of the States Mental Health system, an area he says has been neglectd here in colorado. Pelley anne athank you. Yesterday the president ordered the centers for Disease Control to Begin Research on the causes of gun violence. That was something that congress specifically prevented the c. D. C. From doing. Mark strassman has more on that. There is absolutely no question, these are preventible deaths. Reporter there Mark Rosenberg used to oversee research into gun exprieness prevention at the centers for Disease Control. In 1996, the nra successfully lobbied congress to put this restriction into the cdcs budget. None of the funds made available may be used to advocate or promote gun control. These were shots fired across the bow, and they terrorized the people at cdc. They terrorized researchers who said, whoa this is scary. I dont want my funding jeopardized. Reporter the nra was infuriated with a 1993 study sponsor bide the cdc, that concluded having a gun at home offered little protection but increased almost threefold the risk of one Family Member shooting another. Cdc spunding into Gun Violence Research has been plummeted 96 since 1996 to just 100,000 of last years 5. 6 billion cdc budget. Is gun violence a legitimate Public Health issue . Absolutely not. Reporter bob barr, a former georgia congressman, sits on the board of the nra. The issue of firearm violence is handled and ought to be handled as a Law Enforcement matter. We dont need the government involved in this. It is all about the big c. Control. Reporter scott, the next step is up to congress whether to approve president obamas request for 10 million to study this issue of gun violence. Pelley thank you, mark. Chicago has been plagued by gun violence, and now the mayor there, rahm emanuel, is putting financial pressure on gun makers. He talked to Dean Reynolds today. Ive asked all our pensions, city pensions, to review all their investments and make sure we have no investments in any gun manufacturers for assault weapons. Reporter and sellers . Yes, but going specifically at the manufacturers, and then divest those funds if they do. Ill be also spiking to this weekend to the conference of mayors and asking other mayors to step up and do what the city of chicago is doing as it relates to their Pension Funds as well. Everybody sought pictures at newtown, and i think were at a point that were now mobilized as a country to actually not take the status quo any more. Pelley and just yesterday, a 17yearold boy was shot to Death Outside a gym at Chicago State University after a basketball game. That is 22 homicides in chicago already this month. There were more than 500 all of last year. A heartbreaking story turns out to be false. It who exposed the manti teo hoax . The government has done something it hasnt done in three decades to fix the problems with the 787. And theres Something Different about the first lady. Well show you when the cbs evening news continues. When i was ready, not my joints. Woman ] p [ female announcer ] could your i want become i can . Talk to your doctor. Orencia reduces many ra symptoms like pain, morning stiffness and progression of joint damage. Its helped new ra patients and those not helped enough by other treatments. Do not take orencia with another biologic medicine for ra due to an increased risk of serious infection. Serious side effects can occur including fatal infections. Cases of lymphoma and lung cancer have been reported. Tell your doctor if you are prone to or have any infection like an open sore or the flu or a history of copd, a chronic lung disease. Orencia may worsen your copd. Heres information you need to know. Orencia is available in two forms, infusion and also selfinjection. Talk to your doctor to see if orencia is right for you. And see if you can change i want to oh, yes i can weve decided to were all having such a great year in the gulf, put aside our rivalry. cause all our states are great. And now is when the gulf gets even better. The beaches and waters couldnt be more beautiful. Take a boat ride or just lay in the sun. Enjoy the wildlife and natural beauty. And dont forget our amazing seafood. So come to the gulf, youll have a great time. Especially in alabama. You mean mississippi. Thats florida. Say louisiana or theres no dessert. Brought to you by bp and all of us who call the gulf home. Helps provide many with, day and night relief of heartburn symptoms caused by acid reflux disease. There is risk of bone fracture, and low magnesium levels. Side effects may include headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Call your doctor right away if you have persistent diarrhea. Other serious stomach conditions may exist. Dont take nexium if you take clopidogrel. Ask your doctor if nexium, the purple pill, is right for you. Find out how to save on nexium at purplepill. Com. Pelley youd be hard pressed to find a College Football player who had a better reputation than manti teo, the linebacker for notre dame, who came in second for the heisman trophy. He came in second for the heisman and played great football while overcoming a personal tragedy, or so we thought. We asked Dean Reynolds to sort fact from fiction. Has not had a great gentleman. Reporter critics will say the the notre dame allamerican played for the National Championship as if he had something other than football on his mind. And maybe he did. Unable to wrap him up and bring down. Reporter manti teo had been riding a wave of sympathy and celebrity all season long due to the melodramatic tale of his College Girlfriend from stanford. At ao described her as a victim of not only a car accident but also leukemia, who supposedly died last september, ending a long dance, mostly online romance, where the linebacker. In october, he lovingly recalled her on espn. The most beautiful girl ive ever met, not because of her physical beauty but the beauty of her, of her character. Reporter but it turns out the girl, named lennay kekua, never existed. As jack dickey, a writer for the sports blog deadspin, discovered. Well, okay, 22yearold stanford grad gets in a nearfatal car accident, contracts leukemia and thenidize. Thats a big tragedy. Thats going to be written up somewhere. It wasnt. There was no death notice. No obituary, no announcement of her funeral. Reporter december 6, at ao allegedly learned nay phone call from somebody that his girlfriend was a concoction with a fake twitter account. He didnt alert notre dame to what he called a hoax for 20 more days, and the university didnt go public until deadspin published its story on wednesday. But by remaining silent, notre dame left unchallenged numerous reports about at aos supposedly tragic love story in the runup to the b. C. S. Championship game on january 7. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick acknowledged the school does not encourage teeo to set the record straight before the game, preferg he stay focused on the contest. This was a very elaborate, very sophisticated hoax, perpetrated for reasons we cant fully understand, but had a certain cruelty at its core. Reporter on wednesday night, at ao released a statement calling the episode incredibly embarrassing, a painful and humiliating six joke. But on at least two occasions after he says he learned of the hoax, manti teo spoke with reporters about his girlfriend and said she had died from leukemia. Scott, its all still very confusing. Pelley Dean Reynolds in south bend, indiana, dean, thanks very much. Tonight, all of boeings new 787 dreamliners are grounded. Airlines and governments all over the world made the call following the lead of the United States. Batteries on the 787s have caught fire twice in two weeks. The planes wont fly again until boeing with prove that theyre safe. The housing recovery is gaining altitude. Who is shelling out big bucks for houses next . Its a new day. If your a man with low testosterone, you should know that axiron is here. The only underarm treatment for low t. Thats right, the one you apply to the underarm. Axiron is not for use in women or anyone younger than 18. Axiron can transfer to others through direct contact. Women, especially those who are or who may become pregnant, and children should avoid contact where axiron is applied as unexpected signs of puberty in children or changes in body hair or increased acne in women may occur. Report these signs and symptoms to your doctor if they occur. Tell your doctor about all medical conditions and medications. Do not use if you have prostate or breast cancer. Serious side effects could include increased risk of prostate cancer; worsening prostate symptoms; decreased sperm count; ankle, feet, or body swelling; enlarged or painful breasts; problems breathing while sleeping; and blood clots in the legs. Common side effects include skin redness or irritation where applied, increased red blood cell count, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and increase in psa. See your doctor, and for a 30day free trial, go to axiron. Com. But with advair, im breathing better. So now i can be in the scene. Advair is clinically proven to help significantly improve lung function. Unlike most copd medications, advair contains both an antiinflammatory and a longacting bronchodilator working together to help improve your lung function all day. Advair wont replace fastacting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than twice a day. People with copd taking advair may have a higher chance of pneumonia. Advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking advair. If youre still having diffi