GOOD EVENING, AND THANKS FOR JOINING US... I'M AMY AUBERT.
THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.
A CHINESE ACTIVIST IS SPENDING HIS FIRST NIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY.
AFTER NEARLY A MONTH OF TENSE DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS... HE LEFT CHINA SATURDAY AND FLEW TO THE UNITED STATES TO BEGIN STUDYING LAW.
DREW LEVINSON HAS THE LATEST FROM THE NEWARK AIRPORT IN NEW JERSEY.
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PKG:
Crowds cheered as Chen Guangcheng (chehn gwahng-chung) arrived on crutches at New York University.
(NATS CHEN TALKING) NATS OF CHEN IN NATURAL LANGUAGE
With the help of a translator he thanked the American government and others for their efforts to bring him to the United States.
(sot CHEN TRANSLATOR 202256) " I BELIEVE NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT THE ENVIRONMENT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE AS LONG AS YOU PUT YOUR HEART TO IT "
Saturday the Chinese activist got a phone call telling him to pack his bags.
Within a few hours he left a Beijing hospital and boarded a flight to the United States with his wife and two children.
(STANDUP DREW LEVINSON/NEWARK AIRPORT) Chen 's flight landed here at Newark Airport just outside of New York City Saturday evening. The trip ended a diplomatic tug of war that lasted nearly a month.
The blind activist was an outspoken critic of China's forced abortion policy .
He escaped house arrest last month and sought refuge at the American embassy in Beijing.
The U-S struck a deal to let Chen go to a local hospital to get treatment for a broken foot and to be reunited with his family.
Once there he asked to leave China and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton restarted negociations and got Chen out of the country.
(SOT CHEN TRANSLATOR 202411) " FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, I HAVE NEVER HAD A DAYS REST I CAMP=E HERE FOR SOME RECOOPERATION FOR MIND AND SPIRIT. "
Chen says he will continue to fight injustice as he lives and studies law at NYU in Manhattan.
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BEFORE CHEN LEFT CHINA... HE TOLD REPORTERS HE WAS WORRIED CHINESE AUTHORITIES WOULD RETALIATE AGAINST HIS EXTENDED FAMILY STILL LIVING IN THE AREA.
BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT... ROMAIN DALLEMAND... HELD A FORUM TODAY TO BRAINSTORM SOME CHANGES... FOR BIBB SCHOOLS.
THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS KICKED OFF ON FRIDAY.
DALLEMAND STARTED DISCUSSIONS... BY BRINGING UP SOME OF THE PROBLEMS... THAT BIBB SCHOOLS FACE.
LOCAL PASTORS AND MINISTERS GOT THE CHANCE TO SUGGEST NEW IDEAS ON COLLABORATING WITH THE DISTRICT.
ONE ATENDEE SAYS BRINGING IN PASTORS... COULD HELP FIX THE PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOLS.
Reverend Deborah Watson, Associate Pastor Faith First Methodist Church, Macon: Pastors have the opportunity to go back to our churchs and talk to the innner organizations that they can come up with some very resourceful means out of their church with their members to help combat some of the problems that our children are having.
DALLEMAND SAYS HE WANTS SEVERAL PASTORS TO GO OVER THE IDEAS WITH HIM AND HELP CREATE AN ACTION PLAN.
A CHAIN COLLISION INVOLVING ABOUT 6 BUSES.. TRAPPED A DRIVER AND INJURED MORE THAN 50 CHILDREN... WHILE THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO A SCHOOL TRIP.
THE BUSES... FROM BURKE COUNTY... WHICH IS NEAR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BORDER.. WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE SIX FLAGS AMUSEMENT PARK.
OFFICIALS SAY ONE BUS SLOWED SUDDENLY ON INTERSTATE 20... AS THEY NEARED A CONSTRUCTION SITE... CAUSING A CHAIN COLLISION WITH THE OTHER BUSES.
RESCUSERS CUT ONE DRIVER FROM THE ACCIDENT... AND FLEW HER TO AN ATLANTA HOSPITAL... SHE IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION.
LOCAL HOSPITALS TREATED OR EXAMINED MORE THAN 50 CHILDREN FOR MINOR INJURIES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN THE PEACH STATE PLAN TO JOIN A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO HELP KEEP DRIVERS SAFE.
THE CLICK IT OR TICKET PROGRAM CRACKS DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO DON'T BUCKLE UP WHILE DRIVING.
NUMBERS FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SHOW THAT OVER 22 THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN CAR CRASHES IN 20-10.. AND 51 PERCENT OF THEM WEREN'T WEARING A SEAT BELT.
OFFICIALS SAY YOUNG DRIVERS... ESPEICIALLY YOUNG MEN... ARE MORE AT RISK
THE CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF ON MONDAY AND RUNS THROUGH JUNE 3RD.
NEWT GINGRICH MAY NO LONGER BE IN THE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION... BUT HE'S STILL HITTING THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL HARD.
THIS TIME... FOR HIS FORMER RIVAL... MITT ROMNEY.
Do you like the fact that Barack Obama is proud that he is going to give you insurance on your parents until you're 26 or someone like Romney who will get you a job so you can buy insurance yourself.
SPORTING A ROMNEY STICKER... GINGRICH SPOKE TO A CROWD AT THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION IN COLUMBUS.
THE FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CONTINUED TO ATTACK PRESIDENT OBAMA .
HE THANKED THE CROWD FOR THEIR ROLE IN HIS VICTORY IN THE GEORGIA PRIMARY... AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY NOW HAVE QUOTE... AN OBLIGATION TO DEFEAT OBAMA.
HELPING GREECE WITH IT'S FINANCIAL WOES... AND PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON IRAN WERE ON THE TOP OF A TO DO LIST FOR THE LEADERS OF THE 8 ECONOMIC POWERS... WHO GATHERED AT CAMP DAVID TODAY.
DANIELLE NOTTINGHAM HAS THE LATEST.
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((roll pkg))
President Obama headed to the NATO conference in Chicago, leaving behind a G8 summit that called for support to keep Greece part of the Eurozone.
((nat pop))
The Greek financial melt down lead to the government there calling for drastic budget cuts... the Greek people voted those leaders out of office... putting in doubt the Greek bailout deal.. and the possibility of being kicked out of the Eurozone.
((sot))
POTUS 18:08:37
"We agreed on the importance of a strong and cohesive Eurozone. And affirmed out interest in Greece staying in the Eurozone, while respecting its commitments."
((vo))
The statement was move away from German Chanellor Angela Merkel's call for strong cost cutting measures by the Greeks before offering assistance.
.. and support for job growth policies of President Obama and newly elected French President Francoise Hollande.
((on cam bridge))
Danielle Nottingham/ CBS News
The leaders also focused on Iran, and the sanctions that go into effect this summer. And what they will do to world oil prices.
((vo))
To send a message to world markets, the leaders hinted that they would release oil from strategic reserves to help ease the price shock.
((sot))
Potus
"Together we stand ready to call upon the International Energy Agency to take action to make sure that the market remains fully and timely supplied."
((vo))
The European leaders will meet in Brussels next month to discuss a final plan for job growth in the Eurozone.
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THIS WEEKEND'S SUMMITS, MARKS THE LARGEST GATHERING OF WORLD LEADERS EVER AT CAMP DAVID.
ABOUT 20 PEOPLE CAME OUT TO WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK TO LEARN HOW TO RESPOND IN CASE AN EMERGENCY HITS.
THE TWO COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS... OR CERT TEAMS... HAD TO GO THROUGH FIVE CASE SCENERIOS INCLUDING PUTTING OUT A SMALL FIRE... RESCUING A VICTIM TRAPPED UNDER WOOD... AND ASSESS VICTIMS' WOUNDS AND DETERMINE WHICH VICTIMS GET TREATED FIRST AND HOW TO DO IT.
THE MACON-BIBB COUNTY EMERGENCY AGENCY TESTED THE SKILLS OF PARTICIPANTS ON HOW WELL THEY RESPONSED TO THE CRISIS.
Joe Sledge "It teaches us how to deal with natural disaster so you can take care of yourself and your neighbors"
Carlyn Felton "the community is important and if you had an event where people were in need of help, I would like to be a person that could help and not be apart of the problem"
TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN GET CERTIFIED... CONTACT THE MACON-BIBB EMERGENCY AGENCY AT 478-751-7214.
AGAIN THAT NUMBER 478-751-7214.
HUNDREDS CAME OUT TO WARNER ROBINS TODAY... READY TO TAKE A SWING... FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
KIDS CAME OUT... LACED UP... GLOVES READY... AND GEARED UP TO SMACK A HOMERUN.
THE WARNER ROBINS CHALLENGER LEAGUE GIVES KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS... A CHANCE TO BE A TEAM PLAYER... ON A LOCAL BASEBALL TEAM.
SIX TEAMS CAME OUT READY TO WIN IT ALL EARLIER TODAY.
THE COMPETITION AIMED TO RAISED MONEY SO THE LEAGUE CAN EVENTUALLY HAVE A FIELD OF THEIR OWN.
Terrence Freeman, Warner Robins "For a parent with a child with special needs its very important and it makes me proud to see him out here to show off his athletic ability especially with these kids who may not have an opportunity to participate in sports later on as they grow up it's very important to see them out here."
KIDS AGES 4 TO 21 TOOK PART IN THE COMPETITION.
IT KICKED OFF TODAY AT 10 A-M... AND THE CLOSING CEREMONY WRAPPED UP AFTER 2.
CAR LOVER'S FROM ALL OVER ROLLED INTO PEACH COUNTY TO CHECK OUT SOME HISTORIC CARS AND TO MEET SOME RACE CAR DRIVERS FROM THE PAST.
Nats of Monster Truck Car (4 seconds)
MONSTER TRUCK RIDES WERE A HUGE HIT AT TODAY'S EVENT.
THE JEFF SMITH CHEVROLET MIDDLE GEORGIA RACERS REUNION WAS HELD AT THE BYRON RACE TRACK.
MANY DRIVERS WHO USE TO RACE ON THE TRACK WERE IN ATTENDANCE SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS.
AROUND 200 CLASSIC AND VINTAGE CARS WERE ON DISPLAY FOR GUESTS TO ENJOY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
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JOIN US AT SEVENA-M FOR WEEKEND MORNIN.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYONE.