11/23: CBS Evening News

" MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN ." THE WHITE HOUSE DID NOT RESPOND TO A CBS NEWS REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION. NOW, FOLLOWING HIS MORNING THANKSGIVING MESSAGES, PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE A SECOND VISIT IN AS MANY DAYS TO HIS LOCAL GOLF CLUBHERE, SPENDING ABOUT FOUR HOURS THERE. TONIGHT, THE FIRST FAMILY WILL SHARE A THANKSGIVING MEAL TOGETHER AT MAR- A- LAGO. REENA .>> Ninan: ERROL, THANK YOU. THERE IS BREAKING NEWS IN THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S INVESTIGATION OF RUSSIAN MEDDLING IN THE U. S. ELECTION AND WHETHER ANYONE IN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS INVOLVED. MAJOR GARRETT REPORTS ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MICHAEL FLYNN WILL NO LONGER DISCUSS THE CASE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS. THAT COULD INDICATE FLYNN IS COOPERATING WITH ROBERT MUELLER OR NEGOTIATING A PLEA DEAL. THIS IS THE DAY WE GIVE THANKS FOR WHAT WE HAVE. FOR MANY, IT'S ALSO A DAY TO RUSH OUT AND GET SOME MORE. THANKSGIVING HAS BECOME THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON. HERE'S MICHELLE MILLER .>> Reporter: SHOPPERS ACROSS AMERICA LINED UP EVEN BEFORE THE TURKEY WAS ON THE TABLE AND ROLLED INTO STORES -->> ANYBODY WHO WANTS TVs, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY !>> Reporter: ... THE NIGHT BEFORE BLACK FRIDAY. CHARRISE JONES IS A " USA TODAY" BUSINESS REPORTER. IS CONSUMER CONFIDENCE JUST GANG BUSTERS? WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING ?>> UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED, AND SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY THINKING THAT FOLKS ARE GOING TO HEAD TO THE STORES AND HEAD ONLINE THIS SEASON. THEY'RE THINKING SALES WILL BE UP ABOUT 6 %, AND ABOUT $ 1. 4 TRILLION IS GOING TO BE SPENT BY CONSUMERS .>> Reporter: ONLINE JUGGERNAUT AMAZON IS EXPECTED TO TAKE HALF OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON SALES GROWTH .>> WHEN WE GO ONLINE AND WE'RE DEALING WITH A RETAILER THERE, I MEAN, THEY KNOW EVERY DETAIL ABOUT OUR PAST ORDER HISTORY. THEY KNOW THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE. THEY KNOW THE THINGS WE DON'T LIKE .>> Reporter: LEE HOLMAN IS THE LEAD RETAIL ANALYST WITH I. H. L. GROUP .>> THE REALITY IS BRICKS- AND- MORTAR RETAILERS ARE STILL THE DOMINANT PART OF RETAIL .>> Reporter: BUT RETAILERS ARE FEELING THE E- PRESSURE. HOLMAN SAID RETAILERS ARE OPENING SMALLER VENUES AND CATERING TO SHOPPERS IN URBAN AREAS .>> THERE ARE RETAILERS THAT ARE PLANNING SMALLER STORES THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTIMATE, SO THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STORE ASSOCIATE AND THE CUSTOMER CAN BE ENHANCED .>> Reporter: TARGET IS PLANNING TO OPEN 130 SMALLER FORMAT STORES BY THE END OF 2019, LIKE THIS ONE IN THE HEART OF MANHATTAN'S SHOPPING DISTRICT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF SHOPPERS MAY MISS OUT ON THOSE DOORBUSTER DEALS, BUT RETAILERS KNOW THAT CONSUMERS WON'T LEAVE EMPTY- HANDED. AND, REENA, THAT MEANS MORE DOLLARS SPENT TO BOOST THE HOLIDAY BOTTOM LINE .>> Ninan: SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY. MICHELLE MILLER, THANK YOU. ON CAPITOL HILL, TWO PROMINENT DEMOCRATS ARE FACING NEW ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL WRONGDOING, AND A REPUBLICAN FROM TEXAS IS SUGGESTING THAT HE IS A VICTIM OF REVENGE PORN. HERE'S CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT NANCY CORDES .>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN JOE BARTON SAYS A NUDE SELFIE OF HIM AND EXPLICIT TEXTS POSTED ONLINE ARE EVIDENCE OF A " POTENTIAL CRIME AGAINST" HIM. BARTON SAYS A WOMAN HE DATED ADMITTED " WE HAD A CONSENSUAL RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I ENDED THAT RELATIONSHIP, SHE THREATENED TO PUBLICLY SHARE MY PRIVATE PHOTOGRAPHS IN RETALIATION .">> LET'S DO BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE .>> Reporter: BARTON IS 68, A 17- TERM CONGRESSMAN, AND TWICE DIVORCED. IN A SECRETLY RECORDED 2015 PHONE CALL, BARTON CONFRONTED THE WOMAN AFTER SHE SHARED THE SENSITIVE MATERIAL WITH OTHER WOMEN HE HAD DATED. SHE RECENTLY PLAYED THAT RECORDING FOR " WASHINGTON POST ." BARTON HAS NOT BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING. THE SAME CANNOT BE SAID OF MICHIGAN'S JOHN CONYERS, THE LONGEST SERVING HOUSE DEMOCRAT .>> CONGRESSMAN CONYERS WERE VERY VERBALLY ABUSIVE TO ME .>> Reporter: SLOAN, A PROMINENT D. C. ATTORNEY WHO WORKED FOR CONYERS IN THE 90s, SAYS HE WAS VERBALLY ABUSIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM HER WORK TO HER CLOTHES .>> HE ALSO ONCE HAD ME COME UP TO HIS OFFICE WHEN HE WAS WALK AROUND IN HIS UNDERWEAR .>> Reporter: CONYERS IS ALREADY FACING AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGEDLY MAKING REPEATED SEXUAL ADVANCES ON TWO STAFFERS. ONE SAYS SHE WAS FIRED WHEN SHE REJECTED HIM. HIS OFFICE SETTLED WITH HER FOR $ 27, 000. CONYERS HAS DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS. AND THE NUMBER OF ACCUSERS AGAINST MINNESOTA SENATOR AL FRANKEN HAS GROWN TO FOUR AFTER TWO WOMEN TOLD THE HUFFINGTON POST THAT HE GROPED THEIR BUTTOCKS AT MINNESOTA CAMPAIGN EVENTS IN 2007 AND 2008. FRANKEN TOLD THE HUFFINGTON POST, " IT'S DIFFICULT TO RESPOND TO ANONYMOUS ACCUSERS, AND I DON'T REMEMBER THOSE CAMPAIGN EVENTS ." BOTH FRANKEN AND CONYERS SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF STEPPING DOWN, BUT SEVERAL DEMOCRATS ARE URGING CONYERS TO AT LEAST RELINQUISH HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHILE THE ETHICS INVESTIGATION RUNS ITS COURSE, REENA .>> Ninan: NANCY CORDES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, NANCY. WELL, INVESTIGATORS HAVE DETERMINED THE GUNMAN IN THE LAS VEGAS MASSACRE FIRED MORE THAN 1100 ROUNDS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF. 58 WERE KILLED, AND MORE THAN 500 WOUNDED IN THE OCTOBER 1 ATTACK ON A CONCERT. 200 OF THE SHOTS WERE FIRED INSIDE THE GUNMAN'S HOTEL ROOM AND IN THE HALLWAY. ANOTHER 4, 000 ROUNDS OF AMMO WERE FOUND IN THE ROOM. ANOTHER POSSIBLE CLUE HAS SURFACED IN THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING ARGENTINE SUBMARINE. A BURST OF SOUND WAS DETECTED NEAR THE SUB'S LAST KNOWN LOCATION. AUTHORITIES SAY IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION. THE " SAN JUAN" DISAPPEARED EIGHT DAYS AGO WITH 44 CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD. IT CAN REMAIN SUBMERGED UP TO 10 DAYS BEFORE THE OXYGEN RUNS OUT. A. A. A. ESTIMATES MORE THAN 45 MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE ON THE ROADS THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE POLICE ARE LOOKING NOT ONLY FOR DRUNKEN DRIVERS, BUT ALSO DISTRACTED DRIVERS. KRIS VAN CLEAVE SHOWS US THE UNIQUE CRACKDOWN IN WASHINGTON STATE .>> YOU HAD YOUR PHONE OUT .>> Reporter: NEAR SEATTLE, WASHINGTON STATE TROOPER RICK JOHNSON IS WATCHING FOR DRIVERS USING OR EVEN JUST HOLDING THEIR PHONES. THIS DRIVER WAS ON HERS WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY .>> NOW, OBVIOUSLY, HER ATTENTION WAS NOT ON THE TWO POLICE CARS, YOU KNOW. YOU CAN TELL THAT WE'RE POLICE CARS .>> Reporter: WASHINGTON IS ONE OF 15 STATES IN D. C. WHERE DRIVERS CAN BE PULLED OVER FOR USING A HANDHELD PHONE .>> I LITERALLY JUST BROKE UP WITH MY GIRLFRIEND .>> Reporter: BUT WASHINGTON WENT FURTHER, INCREASING FINES AND BECOMING THE FIRST STATE TO CALL THE BEHAVIOR WHAT SAFETY VACATION ARGUE IT TRULY IS-- DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ELECTRONICS, OR D. U. I .- E .>> WE'VE REDUCED DRUNK DRIVING. WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE DRUNK ELECTRONIC DRIVING AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS .>> Reporter: GOVERNOR JAY INSLEE. IS PART OF THAT THEN IS TRYING TO CREATE A STIGMA WITH TEXTING AND DRIVING, WITH BEING ON YOUR CELL PHONE .>> ONE OF THE SUCCESSFUL THINGS, WHY WE REDUCED DRUNK DRIVING IT HAS BECOME A GREAT STIGMA, SO WE NEED TO CREATE THAT SAME SOCIAL EXPECTATION .>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ?>> THE KISSES. CODY ALWAYS KISSED .>> HER SON, CODY, WAS WORKING ON A ROAD CONSTRUCTION CREW OUTSIDE SEATTLE. THE DRIVER OF THIS JEEP TOLD POLICE HE WAS LOOKING AT HIS PHONE AND SLAMMED INTO THE 23- YEAR- OLD. CODY SPENT MONTHS IN THE HOSPITAL, THEN HAD A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK .>> SO WE HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO SHUT THE MACHINES OFF AND END OUR SON'S LIFE. AND ALL BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAD TO PICK UP A CELL PHONE AND LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT MADE A NOISE .>> Reporter: THE BILL WAS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. CRITICS COMPLAINED THAT BEING ABLE TO PULL SOMEONE OVER SIMPLY FOR HOLDING THEIR CELL PHONE WAS A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE. THE WARNING PERIOD ENDS IN JANUARY, AND THEN THOSE INCREASED FINES BECOME A REALITY FOR DRIVERS. KRIS VAN CLEAVE, CBS NEWS, SEATTLE .>> Ninan: THREE AMERICAN SAILORS ARE MISSING HALF A WORLD FROM HOME. THEY WERE ON A NAVY TRANSPORT PLANE THAT CRASHED IN THE PACIFIC WEDNESDAY, NEARLY 600 MILES SOUTHEAST OF OKINAWA. THE NAVY HAS NOTIFIED THEIR FAMILIES, BUT IT'S WITHHOLDING THEIR IDENTITIES AS THE SEARCH WIDENS. EIGHT OTHERS WERE RESCUED. SO IF YOU'RE TOPPING OFF YOUR HOLIDAY DINNER WITH COFFEE, YOU MAY FIND THIS INTERESTING. BRITISH SCIENTISTS SAY THIS WEEK THAT THREE TO FOUR CUPS A DAY ARE LIKELY DOING GOOD FOR YOU, MORE GOOD THAN HARM. THEY SAY COFFEE IS LINKED TO A LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND PREMATURE DEATH. BUT SOME COFFEE CROPS ARE BEING THREATENED NOW BY CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT. MARK PHILLIPS HAS TONIGHT'S " CLIMATE DIARIES .">> Reporter: TO MANY, IT'S THE OTHER DARK LIQUID THAT POWERS THE WORLD-- COFFEE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE BEING DONE TO THE PLANET BY THE PRIMARY DARK LIQUID-- OIL, ALONG WITH OTHER FOSSIL FUELS-- COFFEE IS IN TROUBLE, AND SO ARE THE FARMERS WHO GROW IT. IS THIS A GOOD HARVEST YEAR OR NOT SO GOOD ?>> IT IS NOT SO GOOD .>> Reporter: UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN UGANDA, COFFEE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY GROW. ANTHONY AND VINCENT KHABALA'S FAMILY HAVE BEEN GROWING IT ON THEIR FARM, ABOUT 4, 000 FEET UP THE SLOPES OF MOUNT ELGON, FOR GENERATIONS. LATELY, THOUGH, THEY'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE. IT TURNS OUT, COFFEE IS AS FUSSY AS THE PEOPLE WHO DRINK IT. IT LIKES THE RIGHT ALTITUDE, THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE, AND THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF RAIN AND SUNSHINE IN THE RIGHT ORDER. IT'S THE GOLDILOCKS OF CROPS THAT LIKES THINGS JUST RIGHT .>> NOT ENOUGH RAIN. TOO MUCH SUNSHINE, BAD FRUIT .>> YES. TOO MUCH SUNSHINE PRODUCES BAD FRUITS .>> Reporter: ANOTHER FARMER, ANOTHER FARM, ANOTHER PROBLEM. THIS FINE WHITE POWDER IS PRODUCED BY THE STEM BORER BEETLE WHICH SAM MASSA SAYS IS JUST ONE OF THE PESTS AND DISEASES WHICH HAVE COME UP FROM THE VALLEYS AS THE WEATHER HAS WARMED .>> TEN YEARS BACK IT WAS NOT HERE. MOST OF THE FARMS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED COMPLETELY BY THIS .>> Reporter: COFFEE YIELDS HAVE BEEN DROPPING, AND PRICES ARE UP BY AS MUCH AS 30 % IN SOME AREAS SINCE 2015. MORE THAN JUST A CONSUMER'S MORNING PICK- ME- UP IS THREATENED. THE FARMERS ARE CAFFEINE DEPENDENT FOR ANOTHER REASON-- FROM PICKING THE BERRIES, TO PROCESSING THEM, TO DRYING AND SORTING THE BEANS AND GETTING THEM TO MARKET, THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS WHERE EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY CONTRIBUTES AND WHERE THE CASH FROM SELLING THE COFFEE PROVIDES THE ONLY INCOME TO PAY FOR SCHOOLS FOR THE KIDS AND FOR MEDICAL CARE. THERE'S ACTUALLY AN IMBALANCE IN THE COFFEE WORLD. THE RETAIL IS CONTROLLED BY THE BIG BRAND, THE BIG DISTRIBUTORS. BUT THE PRODUCTION COMES FROM LITTLE FAMILY, ALMOST VEGETABLE- SIZED PATCH FARMS LIKE THIS. IF PRODUCTION FAILS HERE, THE BIG BOYS CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THESE PEOPLE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CONSUME COFFEE, IT'S ABOUT A DRINK. FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PRODUCE IT AND DEPEND ON IT, IT'S ABOUT LIFE. MARK PHILLIPS, CBS NEWS, ON MOUNT ELGON, UGANDA .>> Ninan: COMING UP NEXT ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS, POLICE OFFICER WITH PLENTY OF BLESSINGS TO COUNT .>> Ninan: ABOUT 3. 5 MILLION PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE IN NEW YORK. AMONG THE NEW BALLOONS, A FRESH- FACED GRINCH AND OLAF FROM " FROZEN ." THE N. Y. P. D. WAS OUT IN FULL FORCE, TOO. SNIPERS WATCHED FROM ROOFTOPS. IT ALL WENT SMOOTHLY, EXCEPT FOR THE LARGE CANDY CANE BALLOON THAT BLEW INTO A TREE AND POPPED. THE ASTRONAUTS ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION HAD A THANKSGIVING FEAST ABOUT 250 MILES ABOVE EARTH. A MULTI- COURSE MEAL WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS SERVED IN WHAT APPEAR TO BE LITTLE PLASTIC POUCHES .>> JOE, I THINK, HAS SOME TURKEY .>> GOTTA HAVE SOME TURKEY .>> PAOLO, CORN BREAD DRESSING. AND SABO HAS THE CANDIED YAMS .>> Ninan: THEY ALSO HAD APPLE CIDER AND A CRANAPPLE DESSERT. THREE OF THE SIX CREW MEMBERS ARE AMERICANS. A SCOOP OF ICE CREAM IS ON THE MENU TONIGHT FOR THE NATION'S TOP DOG. THIS CUTE LITTLE GUY NAMED NEWTON BEAT OUT 2, 000 OTHERS TO WIN BEST IN THE SHOW AT THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW. NEWTON IS A BRUSSELS GRIFFITH. THEY'RE SMART AND AFFECTIONATE LAP DOGS. NEWTON TOOK HIS VICTORY IN STRIDE. A MILITARY VETERAN HAS GONE FROM HOMELESSNESS TO SERVING THE PUBLIC. HIS REMARKABLE STORY IS NEXT .>> Ninan: ON THIS HOLIDAY THAT'S CENTERED AROUND THE HOME, WE END WITH A YOUNG MAN WHO NOT VERY LONG AGO DIDN'T HAVE A HOME. NOW 26, HE'S A ROOKIE COP WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE AND AN INSPIRING STORY TOLD TONIGHT BY JOHN BLACKSTONE .>> Reporter: THE RIGOROUS TRAINING AT THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL ACADEMY INCLUDES A CEREMONY, POLISHING A MEMORIAL TO OFFICERS KILLED ON DUTY .>> PUTS IT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE SIGNING UP FOR EVEN BEFORE YOU EVEN GRADUATE .>> Reporter: OFFICER EDWIN LOPEZ STILL CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE HE DID GRADUATE .>> SOMETIMES I WAKE UP AND I'M LIKE, " OH, MY GOODNESS! I'M AN OFFICER .">> Reporter: LONG BEFORE HE COULD GET INTO A PATROL CAR, LOPEZ HAD TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK AND LIE DETECTOR TEST WHICH HAD HIM PARTICULARLY WORRIED. A HIGHWAY PATROL WANTS TO KNOW EVERYWHERE CANDIDATES HAVE EVER LIVED. THIS WAS HOME SOMETIMES .>> YES, YES .>> Reporter: HE WAS RELUCTANT TO ADMIT HE WAS HOMELESS FOR NEARLY A YEAR LIVING IN THIS SACRAMENTO PARK. IT'S EMBARRASSING TO TELL PEOPLE YOU'RE HOMELESS .>> YEAH, IT CAN BE, YEAH .>> Reporter: AFTER SERVING IN THE ARMY, LOPEZ WORKED IN A TIRE STORE BUT LOST HIS JOB WHEN IT CLOSED .>> I WAS ONE PAYCHECK AWAY AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. I LOST MY APARTMENT. SOON AFTER, THAT I LOST MY CAR, AND THEN FROM THERE, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLACE TO REALLY GO .>> Reporter: SOON, HE WAS SCROUNGING FOR FOOD .>> YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MUCH FOOD PEOPLE THROW AWAY YOU KNOW .>> Reporter: AND YOU WOULD EAT THAT ?>> OH, YEAH, YEAH. IF IT WAS IN-- IN IT WAS IN THE DUMPSTER AND IT WASN'T MOLDED OR SOMETHING LIKE, THAT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME .>> Reporter: LOPEZ WAS STILL SERVING IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. THAT PAID HIM $ 150 A MONTH, OF WHICH HE SPENT $ 50 KEEPING HIS CELL PHONE GOING SO HE COULD LOOK FOR WORK .>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT, LIKE, I'M GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OF THIS. AND WHEN I GET OUT OF IT, I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I LEARNED SOMETHING FROM IT, RATHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, ROLLED OVER AND TOOK IT AND JUST WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO SAVE ME .>> Reporter: THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL DECIDED HIS EXPERIENCE ON THE STREETS COULD BE AN ASSET FOR AN OFFICER. NOW OFFICER EDWIN LOPEZ HAS A UNIFORM, A FIANCE, AND A HOME, AND HE'S THANKFUL FOR ALL OF IT .>> THIS IS MY BABY .>> Reporter: JOHN BLACKSTONE, CBS NEWS, SACRAMENTO .>> Ninan: AND ON THAT NOTE OF GRATITUDE FROM OUR CBS FAMILY TO YOURS, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. FOR ANTHONY MASON, I'M REENA REENA NINAN IN NEW YORK. THANKS FOR WATCHING.