Pelley an well begin tonight with breaking news. Late today the c. D. C. Confirmed what had been suspected, that zika virus does, in fact, cause severe birth defects. Mosquitoes in the United States are soon likely to carry and spread the virus. This map is showing you the 27 states where the particular type of mosquito thrives. Heres dr. Jon lapook. Reporter the c. D. C. Said confirmation the zika virus causes microcephaly, an underdeveloped brain at birth, is unprecedented. Its first time in history a virus transmitted by mosquito bite has been found to cause birth defects. Dr. Sonja rasmussen is with the c. D. C. What were learning is that they have a severe form of microcephaly that is oftentimes associated with other problems in the brain that can be seen on imaging on c. T. Scans or m. R. I. S that make us really concerned. Reporter the c. D. C. Says it made the determination based on mounting evce Images Released today by researchers in brazil, where the virus is widespread, show severe brain damage in babies with microcephaly. The white areas are signs of calcium. They also represent destruction, inflammation and scarring in tissues of the nervous system. The researchers said the damage was extremely severe, indicating a poor prognosis for neurological function. Obstetrician dr. Jennifer wu is with lenox hill hospital. This is not something that will go away. This is something theyll have to live with for the rest of their lives. Reporter researchers are just at the beginning of learning about the dangers of zika infection. Typically we find out about the tip of the iceberg first. Sometimes it takes years to understand the fill spectrum. Reporter todays news reinforces the c. D. C. s recommendation for pregnant women to avoid travel to areas where zika virus is spreading and for their partners to have traveled there to abstain from sex or use latex condoms. And, scott, the latest guidelines are at pelley and we want to emphasize that there have been no cases of mosquitoborne zika in the United States yet, but it is likely. Dr. Jon lapook, thank you. Russian president Vladimir Putin pitched a military brushback to the United States. Over the past two planesious his warplanes buzzed a u. S. Destroyer in the baltic sea in what the white house calls a provocation. David martin at the pentagon on whats behind it. Look at the guy to port. Look at the left one. He is on the deck. Reporter theyre coming so low and fast at first you cant make them out. On the deck. Below the bridge wing. Reporter the russian planes carried no weapons under their wing, but they were flying with the commander of the u. S. S. Donald cook described as a simulated attack, not once or twice, but 31 times over two days. It started on monday. The cook was preparing to conduct Flight Operations in the waters 75 miles off the russian enclave of kaliningrad. A pair of russian attack jets flew 20 close passes on the ship, coming as close as 1,000 yards at an altitude of 100 feet. Ignoring radio calls from the cook and forcing the ship to cancel Flight Operations. On tuesday a russian helicopter circled the cook seven times taking photographs. Then another pair of attack jets showed up and buzz the cook 11 time, this time coming within an estimated 30 feet of the ship and again ignoring attempts to contact them. This is the latest in a series of incidents over the past two years in which russian aircraft have challenged nato ships and planes. The Obama Administration is planning to lodge a diplomatic protest. White house spokesman josh earnest. We have seen a pattern on the part of the russians in undertaking these kinds of actions that they at least i think intend to be provocative. Reporter the u. S. Will file a protest, but russia will it resents American Forces operating close to russian territory and intends to push back. Scott . Pelley david martin at the pentagon. David, thank you. Well, those russian fighters may have come out of the blue, but the tension has been rising for years along the old borders of the soviet union. In 2014, russia took crimea from ukraine, which the u. S. Supports. Then the u. S. Hilt russias weak economy with economic sanctions, and the Obama Administration proved tax into the Baltic States near todays incident. In syria, russian bombed rebels at that the u. S. Supports, and recently the u. S. Staged military maneuvers in latvia. The russian Bombing Campaign in syria has turned the tide for the Syrian Regime of bashar alassad, who embroiled his country in a fiveyear civil war. Well, today assad held elections, ignoring u. S. Demands that he step down. Reporter more than 3,000 candidates vied for seats in syrias parliament, but none represented genuine opposition, so every vote was really an endorsement of president bashar alassad, who, along with his wife, made a personal appearance today to cast his ballot. This election, with its thousands of candidates, its ballot boxes and polling stations is a surreal exercise, considering that syria is very much at war and the ceasefire that had held for just over a month is now collapsing. So to say this election is flawed is an understatement. There was no voting for the millions of syrians who fled the country. Or those who live in areas controlled by opposition groups and none in the many active battle zone, some close to the center of the capital. But the fiercest fighting right opposition activists say on the weekends syrian helicopters dropped barrel bombs on a northern suburb, injuring children who live there. The Syrian Government is determined to reconquer this whole area and consolidate its hold militarily. While it uses the elections to strengthen its political hand going into a new round of peace talks in scweefa. Geneva. Most of the people who turned out to vote today, scott, do support president assad, either because they have done all along or because they believe that after five years of war, he is better than any of the alternatives. Pelley Elizabeth Palmer in damascus. Thank you, liz. Weve been telling you about lawmakers in state after state passing bills to protect people who site religious beliefs for refusing to serve or employ gay or transgender people. We wondered why so many of these laws, including someha surfacing right now. Well, Dean Reynolds found out. Being transis not a Crime Reporter demonstrators against the socalled bathroom bills were out in force in south carolina. Their chants echoing those in other states claiming legislators have enacted laws allowing bigotry. The conservative group that has helped author many of those legislation, was working on its orlandoarea office on new ways to uphold what it says is really at stake. Its only about being free to pursue your faith. We have no interest in discriminating against anyone. Reporter Matthew Staver has talked to attorneys in 50 states, drafting bills, advising lawmakers and defending clients in what they believe to be the great cultural clash of our time. You are a strong people. Reporter we first county clerk kim davis, who said it was against her religion to hand out marriage licenses to samesex couples. Lately Liberty Council has been helping to draft legislation for conservative lawmakers in at least 20 states. Theres certainly a threat of information that is similar and the same. They all have the same intent, and this is to protect religious freedom. Reporter but opponents say libertys handiwork protects those who for religious reasons decline to employ or serve gays, lesbians or transgender people. Their bills began cropping up in state legislatures soon after the Supreme Court legalized samesex marriage last year. An objective observer could conclude that you want to push back against that ruling. Well, i certainly want the push back against the ruling. It was a wrong ruling. It has no basis in the constitution. Reporter and hes unfazed by Corporate Threats to pull out of states in protest against his work. Theyre not going to follow through. Reporter so its a bluff . Its a bluff. Reporter but now comes word that ringo starr is the latest entertainer to cancel a concert in North Carolina in protest. Scott, the beatles old drummer said hes sorry to disappoint his fan, but we need the take a stand against this hatred. Pelley Dean Reynolds on the story for us tonight. Dean, thank you. Now, in the president ial campaign today, republican frontrunner donald trump hired veteran g. O. P. Strategist rick wiley to be his new National Political director. Trump is adding professionals to his team because hes being outmaneuvered for delegates. Trump complained last night the system is rigged. G. O. P. Caianeince priebus responded, the rules are the les. Six days before the primary in new york, democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton picked up the endorsement of the new york daily news. Leading Bernie Sanders by ten points. Sanders got his first endorsement from a senate colleague, jeff merkley of oregon. Tonight we are continuing our investigation into the epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction. Ground zero is West Virginia where doctors write 138 prescriptions for every 100 people. Seven doctors have lost their licenses since january. 15 more are being investigated. One of them sat down to explain his practice to jim axelrod. Reporter doctor, how are you . Meet dr. Michael kostenko. Hes written more than 30,000 prescriptions for oxycodone in the last two years. How many patients do you have . At any given time, were 800 to 1,000 active patients. Reporter what percentage of your patients get prescriptions for oxycodone . Reporter according to court document, dr. Kostenko is one of West Virginias top ten prescribers of painkillers. Did you write 325 prescriptions the first week of january for more than 19,000 oxycodone pills possibly. Reporter you dont know how many prescriptions you wrote . I dont. It may well be. Reporter operating at the end of this narrow, unpaved potholefilled, twomile logging road you know, sometimes its hard to keep your eyes open. Reporter dr. Kostenko host Group Sessions at his country clinic, where as seen in videos he posts on youtube, he explains his approach to treating disease and pain through changes in diet and behavior. And the bacteria and fungus particles will get into the lymph areas. Reporter after filling out a medical assessment, patient pays 120 cash. At the end of the class, theyre then handed their prescription for pain meds. There are hardly ever private exams. Theres very little that we need to do in private in our office. Reporter you dont need to conduct a conversation confidential about my use of pain medication . That wouldnt occur in private . Um, everyones on the same pain medication. Reporter in the last two years, three of dr. Kostenkos patients have died after overdosing on a cocktail of pills, including oxycodone prescribed by kostenko along with pills prescribed by other physicians. Are you in contact with their primary care physicians to coordinate care . No. Reporter dont you have an obligation to talk to the other doctors, to make sure that cocktail isnt fatal . If the conversation would be productive, absolutely. Reporter well, the patient conversation be any less productive than what happened . There should be better communication between all physicians dealing with these drugs. There just is not. Reporter the state has suspended dr. Kostenkos license while they investigate the deaths and decide whether to revoke his license. Robert knittle is the president of the board of directors. Is it hard to get a doctors license suspended or revoked . It is. With prescription drugs, physicians can bribe them. Theyre legal. Its not like cocaine or heroin. Reporter did she get eight prescriptions dr. Kostenko didnt seem to help his case when discussing one of those cases with us, a woman being medicated by another physician, a doctor who kostenko never consulted with. Do you bare any responsibility for that death . Yes, i do. Reporter as he explains the hospital where the patient was being treated had reached out to him. He tells us he didnt know how bad her condition was. New investigations have been opened into two other Overdose Deaths of patients of dr. Kostenko. Christa jim, thank you. Higher speed limits are killing thousands, and a chip in the brain gives a paralyzed man the use of his hands. When the cbs evening news continues. But that is changing. At temenos, with the microsoft cloud, we can enable a banker to travel to the most remote locations with nothing but a phone and a tablet. Everywhere where theres a phone, you have a bank. Now a person is able to start a business, and employ somebody for the first time. The microsoft cloud helped us to bring banking to ten Million People in just two years. Its transforming our world. The 1 selling i hope you like it spicy get complete protection with the purple pill. The leader in frequent heartburn. Thats nexium level protection. If youthen youll know howouth, uncomfortable it can be. But did you know that the lack of saliva can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath . Well, there is biotene, specially formulated with moisturizers and lubricants. 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Reporter Montgomery CountyMaryland Police captain Thomas Didone sees the danger of speed daily. Speed determines whether a crash is an injury or a property damage. The faster someone is going, the more likely that someone is going to get hurt. Reporter but for didone, his 15yearold son ryan died in a crash where the driver was going at least 20 miles over the limit. If he had been going the speed limit, theres not a doubt in my mind every kid would have been home safe. Reporter but speed limits across the country have been going up since the federal government repealed the mandatory maximum of 55 in 1995. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found those increases have caused at least 33,000 deaths over a 20year period, with every five miles the speed limit rose, deaths grew by 4 . On freeways it jumped 8 . Charles farmer authored the study. For this few minutes that youre saving by going faster, youre increasing your risk quite a bit. There are people dying out there. Reporter but the National MotoristsAssociation Says speed limits work best when approximating the natural flow of traffic, which may be higher than the posted limit. Fatality rates overall have dropped to the point where the lowest on record. As states have continually been raising speed limits, their safety statistics have actually gotten better. Reporter researchers estimate 1,900 people lost their lives in 2013 because of the higher speed limits. Thats almost as many lives as were saved by frontal air bags that year. Scott, seven states have speed limits of 80mph or higher. In parts of texas that limit is 85. Pelley kris van cleave. Thank you, kris. Well be right back. Or where youre from. City. Country. Were just everyday people fighting high blood sugar. I am everyday people, yea, yea. Farxiga may help in that fight every day. Along with diet and exercise, farxiga helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. One pill a day helps lower your a1c. 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Its time for dodger baseball. Reporter over nearly seven decades, vin scully has called some of baseballs most famous moments. Including hank aarons historic home run. It is gone reporter that broke babe ruths record. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the deep south. Reporter and sandy koufaxs pitching jam. Swung on and missed. A perfect game. Reporter now 88 years old, scully has called every dodgers season since 1950, when the team was still dodging trolleys in brooklyn. Jackie robinson was in his prime and harry truman was in the white house. Hes called more than 9,000 games. He hit another one. Michaels. Hes remarkable in so many ways. How many people can you say in their late 80s are at the top of their game . Reporter earlier this week the road leading to Dodger Stadium was renamed vin scully avenue. Someone asked me the other day, what will you miss the most when you leave the job. And i thought a moment, and i said, the roar of the crowd. Thats what im going to miss the most. Reporter these days those cheers are for scully. Maybe on the final day of my final broadcast ill somehow come up with the magic words that you deserve. As for now, i have only two magic words thank you. Reporter no, say scullys fans, thank you. Carter evan, cbs news, los angeles. Pelley thats the cbs evening news for tonight. For all of us at cbs right now an explosive hearing on capitol hill metro makes its case for more federal funding but not without some heated exchanges. The campaign trail winds through maryland with a former president and republican hoping to be one. And Atlanta Braves baseball player is accused of assaulting a woman in arlington, virginia. Thanks for joining us. Im bruce john johnson. Im jan jeffcoat. The braves are playing the national but outfielder Hector Olivera spent the day in jail. The team put him on paid leave after a woman said things took an ugly turn in a hotel room last night. Mola lenghi reports from the courthouse where the baseball was just released. Mola. Reporter jan, olivera left