U.S.

This Morning from CBS News: Dec. 17, 2014

By Dan Woo

December 17, 2014 / 7:45 AM EST / CBS News

Inside Taliban massacre

The first video as emerged from inside the school in Pakistan where Taliban gunmen massacred more than a hundred children yesterday. Witnesses say some of the female teachers were burned alive. Even Taliban militants in neighboring Afghanistan called yesterday's attack "un-Islamic."

Drug compounding arrests

Federal agents have arrested some of the 14 individuals who have been indicted in connection with the 2012 outbreak of fungal meningitis traced back to the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts. Two owners of NECC were among those arrested, reports CBS Boston. The outbreak led to the deaths of 64 people, and hundreds of others were infected.

Persistent threat

As the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) continues to refine its methods of forecasting and preventing terrorist attacks in a post-9/11 world, the outgoing head of the agency says there remains "a persistent threat" from those who not only "have the means of committing an aviation attack" but "the intent to do that."

Gas money

Paul Graham, the manager of a plant that makes three GM models, told CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorques it's hard to predict if the drop in oil prices will make it busier for him -- but it can't hurt. We visited a GM plant in Arlington, Texas, where deliveries to dealerships are up 75 percent over last year.

Still too high

Despite the recent drop in the price of gas, 45 percent of Americans still think the price is too high - but that is far below the 92 percent who thought so in 2012. Forty-nine percent now think the price is about right, according to a new CBS News poll. Sixty-three percent of Americans say lower gas prices have not had any effect on their financial situation, but for a third, the price drop has been beneficial.

Path through Republicans

Jeb Bush has staked out positions on the Common Core educational standards and on immigration that starkly differ from the positions many of his potential GOP opponents have taken. So as he actively explores the possibility of a White House bid, that exploration will involve mapping out a viable path through the Republican primary process.

Video uncovers lies

A routine traffic stop that turned deadly for Charles Eimers in Key West, Florida is under review again after new video evidence highlighted inconsistencies in police officers' accounts of what happened. CBS News correspondent Elaine Quijano reports on why the victim's family thinks the death was more than an accident.

Fighting fraud

One reason credit card and other kinds of online fraud are booming is that it's hard to get caught, especially with hackers operating abroad and using technology to mask their activities. The U.S. Secret Service has been protecting consumers from credit card fraud for more than 30 years. The agency's main targets today are cyber thieves who are selling your data, known as dumps, in online forums serving as cyber clearinghouses for data and tools for hackers.

Nintendonitis

In a study released yesterday, a group of doctors from the Netherlands outlined 38 papers that reported cases of Nintendo-related injuries documented in medical literature. They performed a search that included various generations of the system and, of course, Game Boy. The injuries they found ranged "from mild to life threatening," they wrote -- and gave rise to a new set of vocabulary.

Rockette workout

The Radio City Rockettes are known the world over for their envy-inducing high kicks and hot legs. While many exercise studios offer popular barre classes that promise to help us develop a dancer's body, just how much work does it really take to get into Rockette shape? CBS News spoke with veteran Rockette Christina Cichra about what's involved in this incredibly demanding role. Cichra explained that she had to beat out 500 to 600 hopefuls in a two-day audition process to score her place in the company.

Christmas truce

Nearly 100 years to the day, men dressed as German and British soldiers gathered in Ploegsteert , Belgium to reenact one of the most storied episodes of World War I. It took place on Christmas Day 1914, when men from opposing armies briefly stopped trying to kill each other and met to exchange Christmas greetings and even, the story goes, to play soccer. Now, on the anniversary, soccer balls are appearing all over the place.

Film for the ages

The Dude will continue to abide, and the emotional journeys of World War II soldiers, truant kids, and a mother-to-be cornered by Satanists will continue to move, delight and horrify audiences for generations to come, thanks to the preservation efforts of the Library of Congress.

Stage to screen

On screen, Bradley Cooper stars in the new movie "American Sniper." On stage, he's the lead in a revival of "The Elephant Man." Cooper talks to "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose about his two projects and how "American Sniper" was his most challenging film yet.