Evening News Online, 01.05.12

General Keith Alexander said the NSA's surveillance programs have helped stop more than 50 potential strikes since the 9/11 attacks. At least 10 of them involved homeland-based threats. Bob Orr reports; and, in a pilot program in Tucson, Ariz., aerospace and defense contractor Raytheon is spending $100 million in hopes of inspiring future engineers and technology professionals. Anthony Mason reports.

An Arizona law required residents to show proof of citizenship when they registered to vote. The state said it was to combat fraud, but the Supreme Court ruled Monday that Arizona was asking too much. Jan Crawford reports; and, Jack and Jasinda Wilder and their five children were deep in a financial crisis. In desperation, the couple self-published a series of novels and in a year, the rookie authors had sold more than a million e-books. Anthony Mason reports.

Clashes between police and anti-government protesters continue to escalate in Turkey as supporters of the prime minister stage a counter-protest; and, tens of thousands of Harley Davidson motorcycle owners trekked to Vatican City to mark the machine's 110th anniversary with a blessing from Pope Francis.

The most destructive wildfire in Colorado history continues to burn, but firefighters are finally starting to gain the upper hand as it's said to be 45 percent contained so far; and Dylan Mahalingam was moved by the images of poverty he saw on a family trip to India when he was just nine-years-old. He decided he wanted to do something about it and has been doing so ever since.

The worst wildfire in Colorado history has destroyed nearly 400 homes, but a break in the weather has aided the firefighters battling to contain the blaze; and, The U.S. will send military aid to the Syrian rebels fighting the dictatorship of Bashar al Assad, but how much aid will they need to make a difference?

The White House announced the U.S. will send military supplies to Syrian rebels after U.S. intelligence concluded that Bashar al Assad's forces used chemical weapons; and, the wind and the heat still have the upper hand in the Colorado wildfire, forcing tens of thousands of people have been asked to evacuate.

Much of Colorado has been under a red flag fire warning for days. There's been almost no rain in a month, and the fires are spreading so quickly that officials can't guarantee everyone got out. Kelly Werthmann reports; Also, a judge allowed 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan to be placed on the adult waiting list for a lung transplant, increasing her odds for potential life-saving surgery. Sarah underwent the procedure Wednesday. Dr. Jon LaPook has more.

The Justice Department continues to work toward possible charges against Edward Snowden that could include computer crimes and disclosure of classified information. Snowden has not been seen since he checked out of Hong Kong's Mira Hotel. Bob Orr reports; Also, in the 1960s, American women were ready, willing and able to go into space, but government officials kept them grounded. Michelle Miller shares the story of Wally Funk, who still dreams of the flight she never got to take.

Edward Snowden justified leaking the documents by painting a bleak picture of what could happen if U.S. intelligence agencies continued to collect and store the communications of Americans; Also, Carter Evans speaks with some of the survivors; And, one woman left the world of stocks and bonds to pursue medals as a cycling pro. She talks to Ben Tracy about her new love of cycling and her dreams of making the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

Edward Snowden, 29, gave interviews to The Guardian and The Washington Post say he is the whistleblower in what has been called the biggest intelligence leak in the history of the National Security Agency; and, Rodrigo Guzman, 10, was deported when his family's tourist visa was found to be expired. Since then, his fourth grade classmates are rallying to bring him back.

Battling a lung infection, former South African President Nelson Mandela was rushed to the hospital in the early morning hours after his condition significantly deteriorated; and the Pentagon is becoming increasingly worried about relying on military components that are made in China.

PRISM is a secret government program that allows the National Security Agency to tap into the data banks of internet companies in search of foreign terrorists; Also, a gunman opened fire on the campus of Santa Monica College Friday afternoon; And, as part of our continuing series "On The Road," Steve Hartman meets 24-year-old Luke Bielawski, who is teeing off shot after shot toward the eastern horizon.