Lesley Stahl's Notebook

Hi Everyone:

Not sure if you'll agree, but it feels as though the New Year's holiday was about a year ago! I've been traveling since the first for various CBS News projects. And I'm now on my way back to New York City to put the finishing touches on this Friday's 48 Hours Investigates (8 p.m. ET/PT). We're calling it "Searching for Elizabeth."

You probably remember the case of Elizabeth Smart of Salt Lake City who was kidnapped from her home seven months ago. The 14-year-old girl has never been found. This Friday, 48 Hours Investigates goes inside the police investigation, getting exclusive access and new information about the case which is still very active.

One can only imagine what Ed and Lois Smart have been going through since the kidnapping. Their courage has been an inspiration to their children. Correspondent Jane Clayson has the first interview with Elizabeth's brothers and sister.

Jane also reports new information that the kidnapping last June didn't happen the way everyone thought. We're working right up to Friday's deadline, so I can't give you too many details now. But believe me, it's definitely worth watching Friday night.

By the way, we'll be back with a special 48 Hours Investigates again next Wednesday, January 15, at 10 PM (ET/PT). "Invitation to a Murder" is a true life mystery. It's the case of Mark Winger and what really happened when an intruder attacked and killed his wife Donnah.

I also have a story on 60 Minutes this Sunday (Jan. 12). People often ask me how long it takes to put our pieces together. There is no set time. My recent interview with Al Gore was conducted at 3 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon, and on the air at 7:00 p.m. that night. Other stories can take months.

I remember telling you in November that I had just returned from Bombay, India. So this story has taken two months. It's about a university that may be the hardest school in the world to get into. It's called IIT- Indian Institute of Technology. A stunning percentage of CEOs and innovators in the American high tech industry were graduated from IIT. The government of India highly subsidizes the school and the students who go there - it costs a kid just $700 a year. But - and here's the rub - a full two-thirds of the students leave India for jobs (many of the best come here) and never return. I think you'll find the story fascinating.

So, two excellent broadcasts coming up: 60 Minutes on Sunday (Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. ET/PT) and an especially riveting 48 Hours Investigates on Friday (Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with Jane Clayson.

And keep that feedback coming to LesleyStahl@cbsnews.com.

Thanks for watching!
Lesley Stahl