Tracing family trees to catch killers
Steve Kroft reports on how a new tool that uses a mixture of DNA analysis and family genealogy has been helping law enforcement crack cold cases.
Genealogy
Cracking the code: Using genetic genealogy to unmask serial criminals
Barbara Rae-Venter never anticipated that her genealogy hobby would lead to the capture of one of California's most notorious criminals, the Golden State Killer. Her pioneering use of genetic genealogy has since helped solve numerous cold cases.
Could your DNA help solve a cold case?
Genetic genealogy, a new frontier in criminology, uses DNA to crack cold cases. Would you have a problem if yours were used?
How Parabon NanoLabs got into genetic genealogy
Paula Armentrout, vice president of Parabon NanoLabs, talks about leading a project at the company which turned out to be her entry to the world of genetic genealogy and CeCe Moore.
Deciding if a DNA sample is viable
Paula and Steve Armentrout explain how Parabon determines the viability of forensic DNA from the crime labs and how they turn that biology into bits.
Honoring a Civil War veteran who was lost to history
Researching her family history, Cheryl Wills found she was related to a former slave who served in the Civil War with the United States Colored Troops, which led her to a distant relative, a former plantation, and ultimately to Private Sandy Wills' remains.
Genealogist remembered for work uncovering Black Americans' family histories
Frazine Taylor spent decades as an archivist, helping to piece together families histories often shattered by systemic racism.
Genealogist traced thousands of family trees
Genealogist Frazine Taylor of Montgomery, Alabama, made it her life's work to help African American families piece together their history, sifting through records where humans are identified only by numbers, names are misspelled and racially segregated records leave holes in family trees. James Brown pays tribute to her extraordinary accomplishments.
A Dream Delivered
In this documentary, we follow the incredible story of an African American family who embarks on a journey of discovery after a lost letter from a formerly enslaved ancestor is unearthed. THIS DOCUMENTARY IS PAID FOR BY ANCESTRY.
African-American family's lineage traced to 1789
The Blackwell's Kinfolk Family Tree is the largest in the collections of the Library of Congress, and counts tennis great Arthur Ashe among its descendants. The Virginia family traces its genealogical history all the way back to its first African ancestor in 1789. Nikole Killion has more.
A Killer in the Family Tree
When a woman uploads her DNA to a genealogy website, authorities show up at her door. Is there a double murderer in her family tree? "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports.
Sneak peek: A Killer in the Family Tree
When a woman uploads her DNA to a genealogy website, authorities show up at her door. Is there a double murderer in her family tree? "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty reports Saturday, Jan. 21 at 9/8c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
California man convicted of 1980s rape-murders of two women
Investigators used genealogy websites to help them solve the cases. Prosecutors called Horace Van Vaultz Jr. a sexually motivated serial killer.
Live
Iran's ability to threaten Strait of Hormuz is "degraded," CENTCOM says
The Iran war reached the three-week mark as about 2,200 more U.S. Marines and three more warships are headed toward the region, two U.S. officials said.
Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel, dies at 81
Robert Mueller served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 and led the investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump threatens to use ICE for airport security amid worsening delays
Wait times aren't expected to improve until government funding is restored and TSA officers receive paychecks.
Exclusive
Trump is strategizing means to seize Iran's nuclear stockpiles, sources say
The Trump administration has been strategizing methods and options to secure or extract Iran's nuclear materials, according to multiple sources, as the military campaign against Tehran enters a more uncertain phase.
Senate blocks voting bill's amendment on trans athletes during weekend session
Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader legislation.
More than 230 rescued amid severe floods in Hawaii; more rain expected
More than 5,500 people were under evacuation orders as severe rain pounded Hawaii on Friday. More rain is expected Saturday.
BTS kicks off global tour with South Korea concert
Local reports estimate that roughly 40,000 people gathered across central Seoul to watch K-pop band BTS reunite.
DOJ seeks to drop case against ex-police officers charged in Breonna Taylor's death
Two former Louisville police officers were facing civil rights charges in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor.
More parents are refusing routine newborn preventative care, study finds
Doctors fear that skepticism, fueled by anti-science sentiment and mistrust, is extending beyond vaccines to other proven, routine care.
U.S.
More U.S.
Senate blocks voting bill's amendment on trans athletes during weekend session
Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader legislation.
Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel, dies at 81
Robert Mueller served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 and led the investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
The West's historic snow drought could bring water shortages, wildfires
The western United States experienced a severe snow drought this year, threatening the region's water supply and potentially setting the stage for its wildfire season.
NCAA accuses DraftKings of "March Madness" trademark infringement
DraftKings pushed back on the accusation, saying in a statement that it is not engaging in trademark infringement.
Trump threatens to use ICE for airport security amid worsening delays
Wait times aren't expected to improve until government funding is restored and TSA officers receive paychecks.
MoneyWatch
More MoneyWatch
Jury finds Elon Musk liable for misleading investors during Twitter purchase
A jury has found Elon Musk liable for misleading investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company.
CBS News Radio to shut down after nearly a century of broadcasting
CBS News announced Friday that CBS News Radio will be shutting down this spring after nearly 100 years of broadcasting, citing "challenging economic realities."
Getting ready to fly? Here are 3 ways to track TSA wait times.
Security lines are stretching up to 2 hours at some airports amid TSA staffing shortages. Here's how to check wait times before you leave.
Are the Trump administration's efforts to lower oil and gas prices working?
With gas closing in on $4 a gallon, the Trump administration is pulling multiple levers to tame energy prices. The results have been mixed.
Nearly 90,000 bottles of children's ibuprofen recalled across the U.S.
A pharmaceutical company issued the recall after receiving complaints of "gel-like mass and black particles" in the product, the FDA said.
Politics
More Politics
Senate blocks voting bill's amendment on trans athletes during weekend session
Democrats are expected to eventually block the broader legislation.
Robert Mueller, former FBI director and special counsel, dies at 81
Robert Mueller served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 and led the investigation into allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump threatens to use ICE for airport security amid worsening delays
Wait times aren't expected to improve until government funding is restored and TSA officers receive paychecks.
Exclusive
Trump is strategizing means to seize Iran's nuclear stockpiles, sources say
The Trump administration has been strategizing methods and options to secure or extract Iran's nuclear materials, according to multiple sources, as the military campaign against Tehran enters a more uncertain phase.
Colombian President Petro caught up in narcotics trafficking probes, sources say
The separate narco-trafficking investigations, based out of New York's Southern and Eastern districts, didn't set out to target Petro, but his name has come up during the course of the probes, one source said.
HealthWatch
More HealthWatch
More parents are refusing routine newborn preventative care, study finds
Doctors fear that skepticism, fueled by anti-science sentiment and mistrust, is extending beyond vaccines to other proven, routine care.
Complex procedure saves officer with chest pain, heart condition
Transit Officer Paul DeGeorge thought his son was lying on him. Then he realized something much scarier was happening.
Judge blocks parts of RFK Jr.'s vaccine agenda, including revised schedule
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
Changes in organ donor status can fall through cracks in the system
Patchwork state policies and limited federal oversight have led to a fragmented system for tracking organ donor status.
A dad's colon cancer spread to lungs. He says what happened next was a miracle.
Spencer Laird was diagnosed with colon cancer at 26. At 30, he was told it had returned and spread to his lungs, with one tumor the size of a golf ball.
World
More World
2 skiers killed, 5 hurt in northern Italy avalanche
A total of 25 skiers were on the mountainside where the avalanche occurred, but most had escaped.
BTS kicks off global tour with South Korea concert
Local reports estimate that roughly 40,000 people gathered across central Seoul to watch K-pop band BTS reunite.
Exclusive
Trump is strategizing means to seize Iran's nuclear stockpiles, sources say
The Trump administration has been strategizing methods and options to secure or extract Iran's nuclear materials, according to multiple sources, as the military campaign against Tehran enters a more uncertain phase.
Trump administration temporarily lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea
The U.S. Treasury has authorized the purchase of Iranian oil that's already at sea, exempting buyers from the tight sanctions that have restricted Iran's oil industry for years, as the Trump administration grapples with high oil prices.
Transcript: Namazi, Shargi, Carstens, on "Face the Nation," March 22, 2026
Transcript: Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi, Roger Carstens, Neda Sharghi on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," March 22, 2026
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Sneak preview of Propstore's latest auction
"CBS Saturday Morning" gets a sneak peek of Propstore's offerings for next week's live auction of more than 1,000 items from some of Hollywood's most iconic films.
Breaking down how Spotify pays musicians
Streaming platforms changed the way people purchase and listen to music, but they've also changed how artists get paid for their work. "CBS Saturday Morning" visits the Spotify offices to learn about how some artists are earning big bucks on the platform, and how some are still struggling.
BTS kicks off global tour with South Korea concert
Local reports estimate that roughly 40,000 people gathered across central Seoul to watch K-pop band BTS reunite.
Buffalo Traffic Jam performs "Hanging On Hope"
Best friends Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross formed Buffalo Traffic Jam as students at Montana State University. Dorm room jam sessions progressed into a sold-out worldwide tour as the duo garnered acclaim for their stripped-down sound and heartfelt lyrics. Here is Buffalo Traffic Jam performing "Hanging On Hope."
Buffalo Traffic Jam performs "Forgot Your Roots"
Best friends Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross formed Buffalo Traffic Jam as students at Montana State University. Dorm room jam sessions progressed into a sold-out worldwide tour as the duo garnered acclaim for their stripped-down sound and heartfelt lyrics. Here is Buffalo Traffic Jam performing "Forgot Your Roots."
Technology
More Technology
Jury finds Elon Musk liable for misleading investors during Twitter purchase
A jury has found Elon Musk liable for misleading investors by deliberately driving down Twitter's stock price in the tumultuous months leading up to his 2022 acquisition of the social media company.
White House unveils AI framework for Congress
The White House unveiled a national framework for how it wants Congress to address concerns about artificial intelligence. Technology journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss the outline and AI concerns.
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Risks of excessive screen time for adults
More than 80% of adults say they go online at least several times per day and research indicates that even adults' fully-formed brains can suffer negative consequences from excessive screen time. Dr. Sue Varma breaks down risks, tips to reduce your screen time and why adults are spending more time on screens.
Science
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Discovery of 1949 whale recording could unlock mysteries of ocean
The song is that of a humpback whale and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, researchers said.
Sea levels higher than thought due to "methodological blind spot," study says
A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
NASA announces major overhaul of Artemis moon program "to take down risk"
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
What scientists will be looking for when government UFO files are released
Documents might help scientists shed light on unexplained phenomena and government secrets, experts said.
In a first, shark seen on camera in Antarctica waters, surprising researchers
A large shark was caught on camera for the first time in Antarctica's waters, surprising researchers. "There's a general rule of thumb that you don't get sharks in Antarctica," one said.
Crime
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Wife of Joseph Duggar charged with child endangerment after his arrest
Kendra Duggar was charged with multiple misdemeanors a day after husband Joseph Duggar's arrest.
5 more defendants plead guilty in Feeding Our Future fraud scheme
Five people who were charged in connection to the Feeding Our Future scheme pleaded guilty to wire fraud this week.
See police bodycam video of Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest on Long Island
Bodycam video footage of Justin Timberlake's June 2024 DWI arrest on Long Island was released to the media Friday.
Justice Department subpoenas James Comey
Federal prosecutors in Miami subpoenaed former FBI Director James Comey as part of a probe into Obama-era intelligence officials, two sources familiar with the investigation tell CBS News. Jake Rosen reports.
"American Nightmare" survivor Denise Huskins' new discovery exposes victim privacy loophole in California law
The failure to protect explicit case evidence in Denise Huskins' kidnapping and sexual assault case is driving reform at the State Capitol. New developments exposed a little-known gap in state law that could expose videos of sexual assault victims.
Space
More Space
Space
Eileen Collins on breaking barriers in space
Retired NASA astronaut and Air Force Col. Eileen Collins joins "CBS Saturday Morning" to discuss her groundbreaking journey to become the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission.
Repaired moon rocket heads back to launch pad for April 1 blastoff
After a trip back out to the launch pad, NASA's Artemis II rocket will be readied for a historic flight to the moon.
Video shows meteor streaking across the sky
A meteoroid was spotted streaking across the sky in 10 states. In some areas, there was also a loud boom, similar to an explosion. NASA says the meteor, which was traveling 45,000 mph in the sky, fragmented - causing the bright fireball and loud boom.
7-ton meteor identified as likely cause of boom heard across Ohio
Some residents immediately feared the sound was an explosion, according to CBS affiliate WOIO, but weather service officials say it appears to have been a meteor.
Bill Nye on going from Boeing to science guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy sits down with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett to talk about his life and career.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
Latest CBS News Videos
More Latest CBS News Videos
Latest CBS News Videos
The Dish: Danny's
Dan Abrams' newest venture Danny's offers patrons a quintessential New York City dining experience. The menu by executive chef Ed Tinoco spotlights fun twists on American classics.
Sneak preview of Propstore's latest auction
"CBS Saturday Morning" gets a sneak peek of Propstore's offerings for next week's live auction of more than 1,000 items from some of Hollywood's most iconic films.
Eileen Collins on breaking barriers in space
Retired NASA astronaut and Air Force Col. Eileen Collins joins "CBS Saturday Morning" to discuss her groundbreaking journey to become the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission.
Breaking down how Spotify pays musicians
Streaming platforms changed the way people purchase and listen to music, but they've also changed how artists get paid for their work. "CBS Saturday Morning" visits the Spotify offices to learn about how some artists are earning big bucks on the platform, and how some are still struggling.
Buffalo Traffic Jam performs "Hanging On Hope"
Best friends Frankie Cassidy and Nathan Ross formed Buffalo Traffic Jam as students at Montana State University. Dorm room jam sessions progressed into a sold-out worldwide tour as the duo garnered acclaim for their stripped-down sound and heartfelt lyrics. Here is Buffalo Traffic Jam performing "Hanging On Hope."