Captioning sponsored by cbs this is the cbs evening news with scott pelley. Pelley good evening. This will be a loud, potentially dangerous night in much of the country. Have a look. Thunderstorms, some severe, are possible for 195 Million People from west to east. Its a system that has brought heavy downpours this week in parts of the east, sent temperatures plummeting in the midwest and worsened the drought in the west. We have a series of reports. First, jamie yuccas of our cbs minneapolis station wcco. Reporter severe thunderstorms tore through parts of maryland, virginia, new jersey and new york this afternoon. Flash flood warnings have been posted with some areas expecting as much as 3 inches of rain. The storms ran along the eastern edge of a bubble of cold air thats dropped over the midwest. Kansas city, st. Louis and chicago usually have highs in the 80s this time of the year. This time of the afternoon, they were in the 60s and 70s, more than 15 degrees below normal. This is typically the hottest week of the year in the minneapolis area, but chris, who runs the city pool, says attendance is down 20 . Only our concession stand will have a line of 10 to 15 people for four hours straight and well have all the lounge chairs take an. Its night and day difference from the last couple of weeks. Reporter fans here at the Major League Baseball allstar game have been swapping out tshirts for sweatshirts, scott. Lows are supposed to dip into the 50s, meaning its probably weather for a tailgate than mid summer classic. Pelley the severe drought is forcing california farmers to idle hundreds of thousands of acres this year costing the state economy more than 2 billion but people all over america will pay a price and heres carter evans. Reporter nearly half of the nations vegetables, fruits and nuts are grown in californias central valley. Todays report estimates 17,000 farm jobs could be lost as more than 620 square miles of farmland will go unplanted this year. Restaurant owner leo is already seeing the results. Give me an idea of how much your food prices are going up. I would say about 25 . Tomatoes went up tremendously. If you used to buy a case of 25 pounds for about 10, today were looking at 15 to 17. Reporter hes cut staff at his restaurant to keep menu prices from rising. How long can you go before youre forced to raise prices . Were almost there, unfortunately. Reporter the u. S. Department of agriculture expects produce prices to rise by up to 5 this year, adding 500 to the average american familys grocery bill. Californians also learned today they could face tighter water restrictions, including bans on excess lawn watering, washing cars without a hose shutoff nozzle and spraying down sidewalks. Violators would be fined 500. Marty adams is with l. A. s department of water and power. This coming fall if we dont see rainfall and dont have winter storms coming in we may see a heavy hand coming from the state. Reporter in january, governor jerry brown called for californians to voluntary cut their water usage by 20 , but, scott, a new survey out today shows that, in that time, water consumption actually rose by 1 . Pelley carter, thank you. Eric fisher is chief meteorologist at wbz, our cbs station in boston. Whats next . Reporter the Stormy Weather holding on especially on the east coast. The warm humid air is holding on 95 corridor. When the air masses clash, perfect ingredients for stops. Were seeing those this afternoon and along the gulf coast as well. Heavy rain and risk of severe storms. We have been seeing that this evening. Severe thunderstorm watch from connecticut into north carolina, gusty winds. In particular, the heavy, heavy rainfall. We have been looking at locally 13 inches, perhaps more, spots of localized flooding and delays in eastern airports. There are some people with this pattern who will be happy to see the rainfall, including the southern plains. Low pressure tomorrow drifts from the four corners. The squeeze play with High Pressure brings a chance of big clusters of thunderstorms and scott 25 inches of rain in texas and oklahoma and in the midst of the drought a good thing. Pelley eric fisher, wbz, thank you, eric. Last night the head of the Veterans Benefits administration was excoriated by an investigational committee about a backlog of vets waiting for disability checks. The v. A. s credibility was called into question. Heres wyatt andrews. Pretty derogatory comments on this. Reporter distrust and bad blood have been building between the v. A. And the House Veterans Affairs committee and, last night, it boiled over. The committee chairman, republican congressman jeff miller produced a memo in which a v. A. Official in philadelphia told subordinates to ignore a Committee Investigator visiting the office unannounce. The memo scorns rileys elegance and includes a crude personal insult. And youre telling me this person is still employed even though she gave a directive to not tell an agent of this committee what was happening at the Regional Office . Reporter alison hickey, the chief of the v. A. s benefits division tried to apologize. Without question, we respect the oversight of every single one of you on this committee. Reporter hickey was at this hearing to report the v. A. s progress in reducing the backlog of veteran disability claims, a record 1. 2 million claims. But just before that, claims processor kristen testified some of the claims reporting had been falsified, said she found 96 boxes of documents mailed in by veterans which were to be filed but marked to be shredded. Miller accused the v. A. Of deception. There is not a corner of v. A. Leadership that will not cut or a statistic they will not manipulate to lay claim to a hollow victory. Reporter this time hickey pushed back saying her Progress Report was accurate. I want every veteran in this country and all of you to believe us when we say were making good decisions not because of us but because we care so much about those veterans. Insiders believe the v. A. Is making some progress with the claims backlog but another Major Investigation is looking at how the v. A. Handles the claims data. Scott when the v. A. s assistant Inspector General was asked last night if she trusted the v. A. s figures, she said no. Pelley wyatt andrews, in the Washington News room, thank you. Today a federal Appeals Court ruled the university of texas may continue to use race as a factor in admissions. The panel ruled against abigail fisher, a white student, who sued after being denied admission. The case went all the way to the u. S. Supreme court last year but the justices sent it back to the Appeals Court which made this decision today. The battle over illegal immigration shifted today to oracle, asterisk a, north of oracle, arizona, north of tucson. 40 immigrant children are to be housed there. Protesters for and against squared off. In washington, two lawmakers from texas introduce add bill aimed at stopping Central Americans from sending their children to the u. S. Border. Nancy cordes is at the capitol tonight for us. What would this bill do . Reporter well, scott, it would call for unaccompanied minors who come from Central America to be treated more like minors who come from mexico. Once across the border, they could see a judge within seven days and if the judge determines they dont have a legal case to be here they arent, for example, victims of Human Trafficking then they would be sent home right away. The bill was introduced by republican john cornyn and democrat Henry Cuellar but so far it is getting support from the right. Many democrats arguing seven days is not enough time for these children to make the case they belong here when they dont speak the language and often dont have legal representation. In fact, i asked the leader of the Senate Harry Reid how he feels about the plan this afternoon, he says he doesnt support it which is troubling sign for the legislation. Pelley an Interesting Development this afternoon, one of the immigrations visible activists jose antonio was detained in texas. Hes a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. What can you tell us . Vargas had done to mcallen for a vigil and press conference and when he went to the airport to go home he didnt have a valid u. S. Visa and he was detained by customs and border patrol. Mcallen is so close to the border that all of the roads and airports out of the city have customs checkpoints and vargas brought to the u. S. From the philippines when he was 12 says he wasnt aware of that when he went there. Critics are calling it a publicity stunt. We learned a short time ago he has been released by federal authorities. Pelley and waiting for a detention hearing at a later time. Nancy, thank you very much. Israel is reporting its first death today in the weeklong, lopsided battle with palestinians in gaza. 15 israelis have been wounded by unguided rockets fired by islamic militants. Israels air campaign has killed 194 palestinians, mostly civilians, and wounded more than 1,400. The 32mile gaza strip began in 1948 as a homeland for palestinians displaced by the creation of israel. Early today, israel started a ceasefire but gaza kept shooting and Holly Williams is there. Reporter as usual, in this decadeslong conflict, both sides blame each other for the failure of the cease fire. Were not going to fail. Reporter this is a spokesman for hamas, the militant group that controls the gaza strip. He told us there will be no cease fire until israel ends its air strikes. Why does israel have to stop fighting first . Why is it up to them . Because they began the war warfare. Reporter militants say stopping the air strikes are just the beginning. They will only agree to a ceasefire that ends a blockade imposed by israel seven years ago which sealed off gaza and deprived palestinians here of necessities like fuel and cement. Israel says the purpose is attacked by militants but is hurting palestinians because the economy is in tatters. At the taxi station in gaza city today, there were plenty of drivers but no work. Jamal told us he earned a tenth of what he made before the blockade, cant pay for his sons education and struggles to put food on the table. We want a ceasefire but it has to be a real cease fire, he told us. We want the blockade removed, the borders opened and we want to be able to earn a living. After israel suffered its first death during this escalation today, Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand the israeli offensive. But here in gaza, hamas military wing has been making through threats warning attacks will increase in fe fer rossty d intensity. Pelley holly, thank you. 22 killed in moscow and 200 hurt in a subway derailment. Some passengers were trapped 12 hours. The cause is not known but russia says it wasnt terrorism. There is a way that you can take pictures using only your mind. And they rolled the dice and put hotels on boardwalk, when the cbs evening news continues. Pelley taking pictures has never been easier. Just point and shoot. But today Elizabeth Palmer brought us a new way. No hands. Its all in the minds eye. What we have here is this is the eeg device. This is what actually reads the signals from your brain. Reporter the basic hardware for mind control turns out to be a headset that costs 80, some software and a pair of google glasses. With this, i should be able to take a picture just by thinking. I feel like im taking an exam. Yeah, it does get a little daunting when you put it on. Reporter ben aldred and chloe kirton work for a London SoftwareCompany Called this place. They were intrigued by the camera in google glass that is activated by touch or voice. They wondered could it be triggered by brain power alone . It reads your brain waves and are high for youre concentrating and lower if youre relaxing. Reporter in the companys video a woman looks at some graffiti through google glass. As she concentrates on an idea, a white line moves to the top of the image and she actually triggers the camera with her brain waves. Science has known all about these waves since the electroencephalograph or eeg was invented in the 1920s. But its only recently that researchers have harnessed them to control prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and even computer games. The side slips under the device and this side slips over. Reporter okay. Now it was my turn to demonstrate mind over matter. I see you. Concentrate. Reporter i think ill try and take a picture of our cameraman. All right. Reporter okay. So i faced him and started thinking, hard, and even harder. Until. click yes the team believes this software can change lives and theyre made it public so developers around the world can brainstorm with them. Elizabeth palmer, cbs news, london. Pelley well be right back. This is mike. His long race day starts with back pain. And a choice. Take 4 advil in a day which is 2 aleve. For all day relief. Start your engines im dave and i have copd. Im kate and i have copd, but i dont want my breathing problems to get in the way my volunteering. Thats why i asked my doctor about breo. Oncedaily breo ellipta helps increase airflow from the lungs for a full 24 hours. And breo helps reduce symptom flareups that last several days and require oral steroids, antibiotics, or hospital stay. Breo is not for asthma. Breo contains a type of medicine that increases risk of death in people with asthma. It is not known if this risk is increased in copd. Breo wont replace rescue inhalers for sudden copd symptoms and should not be used more than once a day. Breo may increase your risk of pneumonia, thrush, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking breo. Ask your doctor about breo for copd. First prescription free at mybreo. Com to help protect your eye health as you age. Would you take it . Well, there is. [ male announcer ] its called ocuvite. A vitamin totally dedicated to your eyes, from the eye care experts at bausch lomb. As you age, eyes can lose vital nutrients. Ocuvite helps replenish key eye nutrients. Ocuvite has a unique formula not found in your multivitamin to help protect your eye health. Now thats a pill worth taking. [ male announcer ] ocuvite. Help protect your eye health. Pelley Atlantic City is known for its monopoly on casino gambling in new jersey and through the street names it lent to the game monopoly but ac is losing the real life game. The trump plaza casino told employees its shutting down in september. Michelle miller said trump is the latest player on the boardwalk to fold. First the atlantic club, then in june ceasars entertainment announced its shutting the show boat. Then the two year mega is a seeno which never turned a profit is filing for bankruptcy. Now the trump plaza. Together those casinos make up more than 6,000 jobs, 20 of the workforce. Melanie gillespie is a cocktail waitress at the show boat for 18 years. Shes already been warned she could be laid off by the end of august. If that happens, what do you do . Well, i have the do something. I have a daughter to raise and, you know, we need Health Benefits so im willing to do whatever i have to to make sure my family stays afloat. Reporter don guardian is Atlantic Citys mayor. Over the course of seven months you lose 3,000plus jobs. 3,000 jobs and well only replace them with 600 or 700 jobs in the next year. Reporter devastating. Very hurtful. People in it have really suffered. Reporter when legalized in 197 , gambling was supposed to reclaim the allure of new jerseys boardwalk empire. Competition from Online Gaming and outofstate casinos like new yorks empire city hurt drank city bottom line. 35 casinos are within driving distance of new jersey. Atlantic citys revenue has plunged from 5. 2 billion in 2006 to 2. 9 billion last year. The mayor says the key to a comeback is diversity, providing more Entertainment Options than gambling. Las vegas did that a decade ago. Now gaming accounts for less than half of the overall tourism dollars. Michelle miller, cbs news, Atlantic City. Pelley in a moment, batman unmasked. man when i cant go, its like bricks piling up. I wish i could find some relief. announcer ask your doctor about linzess a oncedaily capsule for adults with ibs with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. Linzess is thought to help calm painsensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. It helps you proactively manage your symptoms. Do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. It may harm them. Dont take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. Get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools the most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. If its severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. Other side effects include gas, stomacharea pain and swelling. Bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. One of our favorite things to do is going to the dog park together. Sometimes my copd makes it hard to breathe. So my doctor prescribed symbicort. It helps significantly improve my lung function starting within five minutes. Symbicort doesnt replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. With symbicort, today im breathing better. Come on, boy [ female announcer ] symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It should not be taken more than twice a day. Symbicort contains formoterol. Medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. Symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. [ man ] now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. And that makes a difference in my breathing. Today, im hanging out with my best friend. Talk to your doctor about symbicort. I got my first prescription free. Call or go online to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. Pelley as we mentioned earlier, baseballs allstar game is being played this evening in chile, minneapolis. Well end tonight with a former player who never made it to the majors but wound up playing a bigger role in the game than he can have ever imagined. Heres vanita nair. Reporter pete tucci has a batting cage attached to his office. This is where hes always felt the most comfortable. Yeah reporter 11 years ago, he was a power hitting in the minor League Playing for the toronto bluejays organization with you a broken bone in his hand forced him to quit. Amy tucci is his wife. Hes a fish out of water. Without baseball in his life, he was miserable. Reporter she bought him a lathe to cheer him up, a woodworking machine she read about online. I said what makes you think i can make a baseball bat . Reporter for the first time in the garage, with no experience, with the machine and tools, was it a nightmare . Took me a long time to figure out but after the first one, i was hooked. Reporter is this how a bat gets made . This is how it gets shipped off. Reporter he will produce 20,000 this year. Each costs between 80 and 150 and custom cut to mirror a players proporgeses. 1,000 different models. Reporter amy paints each one and applies the logo she designed. Had you ever painted before . No, never. Reporter once he saw your work, though i think i cooked my own goose because, now, i actually love it. Reporter the dominant competition, louisville slugger, makes close to 3 million bats a year, but this year 161 pro players are buying from tucci. Last night, Colorado Rockies short stock used his in a home run derby. Houston astro jose will be playing with one in tonights allstar game. Im doing what i feel i should in my entire life of baseball. Land med here and this is what its all about. Reporter tucci feels like hes taking a turn at bat. Vanita nair, cbs news, new york. Pelley thats the cbs news evening news for tonight. For us at cbs and around the world, good night. Captioning sponsored by cbs bldges captioned by Media Access Group at wgbh access. Wgbh. Org good afternoon im cbs3 meteorologist kathy orr. Through this evening, were going to be seeing this line of showers and thunderstorms move up along the east coast along our bar your owe lined in south jersey and another batch of rain over the philadelphia area nothing severe right now but severe thunderstorm watch continuing until 9 00 oclock tonight. There are flooding concerns as heavy rain is falling through trenton, philadelphia and wilmington. Highlighted in yellow and also orange. As you head down the shore through cape may county, atlantic county, even to places like southern Burlington County and ocean county we have a Flash Flood Warning in effect for heavy rainfall len. Just in the past 15 minutes, our software has been able to count the lightning strikes. 800 in the past 15 minutes with these particular storms and theyll continue to move off toward the northeast. As we zoom into the shore, one