Mysterious origin of the "tree of life" revealed
The trees have been called both "grotesque" and "one of the most charismatic species on our planet" – and now we know where they came from.
Tree of Life
Note to Self: Rabbi Jeffrey Myers
In a special edition of "Note to Self," "CBS Mornings" hears from Rabbi Jeffrey Myers five years after a gunman opened fire on Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue during Sabbath services, killing 11 people. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Myers was in the building that morning, where he helped congregants shelter and evacuate. Now, he's taking a look back at the tragic day, and he's looking ahead, to his community's future.
FBI monitoring potential hate crimes as 5-year commemoration of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting approaches
KDKA's John Shumway has the perspective of the people who work daily to prevent hate-related violence here in Pittsburgh.
Man pleads guilty to threatening jurors in synagogue shooting trial
According to an affidavit, Hardy Carroll Lloyd wrote threatening posts on social media and websites and also sent emails to the jury and witnesses during the trial.
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter gets death sentence
A jury recommended the death sentence for the man who killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. Shanelle Kaul reports.
Death penalty for Tree of Life shooter
A jury has unanimously recommended the death sentence for the gunman who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018. Robert Bowers was convicted in June of 63 counts related to the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, believed to be the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Jury deciding Tree of Life gunman's sentence
A federal jury in Pittsburgh is deciding whether the gunman who killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in 2018 will be put to death. In June, Robert Bowers was convicted of 63 criminal counts related to the shooting, the deadliest antisemitic attack in American history. CBS News Pittsburgh investigative reporter Andy Sheehan has the latest.
Synagogue shooter eligible for death penalty
A federal jury in the trial of the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter has decided he is eligible for the death penalty. The panel reached a decision in less than two hours. Prosecutors say Robert Bowers acted "out of pure hate" when he killed 11 people in October of 2018. Reporter Andy Sheehan has more.
Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter found eligible for death penalty
The jury agreed with prosecutors that Robert Bowers had formed the requisite legal intent to kill.
Pittsburgh shooter could face death penalty
A jury on Friday found 50-year-old truck driver Robert Bowers guilty on all counts in the 2018 shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 worshipers and left seven people wounded. Bowers had a history of spewing antisemitic hatred and his attorneys admitted during trial that he was responsible for the massacre. CBS News Pittsburgh reporter Meghan Schiller reports from outside the courthouse.
Pittsburgh synagogue gunman convicted
Robert Bowers was found guilty of all counts in the 2018 massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people and injured seven others. The trial will take a one-week break before moving to the sentencing phase, where the jury will decide whether Bowers should get the death penalty.
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter found guilty in Tree of Life attack
Defense attorneys admitted during trial that he was responsible for the massacre that killed 11 people and wounded 7.
Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial underway
A second day of jury selection is underway in the federal hate crime case against the man charged in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Robert Bowers is accused of killing 11 and wounding two others at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. CBS News legal contributor and Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson discusses the case.
Death penalty trial begins in 2018 killing of 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue
The families of those killed were divided over whether the government should pursue the death penalty, but most were in favor.
Antisemitism uptick 4 years after synagogue attack
The Jewish community in Pittsburgh came together to honor the memory of those who were murdered four years ago at the Tree of Life Synagogue. The ceremony comes as antisemitism is on the rise nationwide and as fallout from Kanye West's antisemitic comments continues. Elise Preston has the details.
4 years since Tree of Life synagogue attack
A commemoration ceremony is taking place in Pittsburgh to mark four years since the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue where 11 people were killed. The anniversary comes as antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have hit an all-time high — including hateful remarks from superstar Kanye West. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn reports.
New book details life after synagogue shooting
Over the last three years, the Jewish community in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh has come to rely on hope. In October of 2018, 11 Jews were murdered while worshipping in a local synagogue. The horrific attack is the subject of a new book, “Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and the Soul of a Neighborhood.” Author Mark Oppenheimer spoke to Dana Jacobson about how the entire community rallied, illuminating the idea of hope, to overcome the darkness of hate.
3 years since Tree of Life synagogue massacre
Three years ago today, a gunman armed with an assault rifle and multiple handguns opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. It is considered the deadliest antisemetic attack to take place on U.S. soil. Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, who survived the massacre, joins CBSN to discuss that devastating day and how the community has come together.
Darwin's early notebooks on evolution feared "stolen" from Cambridge
The notebooks, missing since 2001 and worth millions, contain Darwin's "Tree of Life" sketch and notes on his then-revolutionary thoughts on the natural world.
Hate crime murders reached record high
Hate crime murders in the U.S. reached a 27-year high in 2018, according to data released Tuesday by the FBI. Twenty-four people were killed in incidents classified as hate crimes, which includes the 11 worshipers slain last year at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, the deadliest anti-Semitic crime in U.S. history.
Tree of Life Synagogue to reopen as "symbol against hatred"
Pittsburgh synagogue is the site of a 2018 mass shooting where 11 people were fatally shot.
Pittsburgh newspaper donates Pulitzer Prize money to synagogue
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has donated its $15,000 Pulitzer Prize winnings to the Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation, where 11 people were shot and killed last October
Pittsburgh approves gun restrictions months after synagogue shooting
Pro-gun advocates have already vowed to take legal action against the new gun control measures
Trump celebrates Hanukkah at the White House
In his first of two Hanukkah events, President Trump remembered the life of former President George H.W. Bush, calling him a wonderful man. He went on to condemn anti-Semitism, specifically mentioning the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Watch his remarks here.
Carolina Panthers bring flowers to Tree of Life before Steelers game
#StrongerThanHate: A message from the Carolina Panthers football team ahead of Thursday's game
House taking key vote on Trump's budget bill as GOP holdouts continue to balk
House Republican leaders are scrambling to shore up support for the president's massive domestic policy bill amid pushback to the Senate's changes.
Sean "Diddy" Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charges
The verdict in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial comes after the high-profile proceedings started in May.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleges "psychological torture" at Salvadoran prison
Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he faced "psychological torture" in a prison in El Salvador, following his mistaken deportation to the U.S.
Sean "Diddy" Combs to remain detained ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty of prostitution-related charges, but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Bryan Kohberger pleads guilty to murder in stabbings of 4 Idaho students
Bryan Kohberger admitted to the slayings, then entered a formal guilty plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid the death penalty.
Widow of officer who died by suicide after Jan. 6 reacts to $500,000 verdict
A jury last week ordered a Jan. 6 Capitol insurrectionist to pay the widow of a D.C. officer $500,000, finding that he had assaulted the officer during the Capitol riot.
North Texas Palestinian woman freed after nearly five months in ICE custody
Ward Sakeik, a Palestinian woman married to a U.S. citizen, was nearly deported twice despite a pending green card application.
Sean "Diddy" Combs drops to his knees, prays after verdict is read
CBS News New York's Alice Gainer describes what it was like in the courtroom as the Sean "Diddy" Combs verdict was read.
Layoffs across the U.S. reach highest level since 2020. Here's why.
Companies have reported more than 744,000 job cuts this year — the highest figure since the first six months of 2020, according to an outplacement firm.
U.S.
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FAA says part of Delta wing flap found on Raleigh driveway
The FAA confirmed that the part found in the driveway of a Raleigh, North Carolina, home was a piece of a wing flap that belonged to Delta Flight No. 3247, a Boeing 737-900.
Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media company files for bankruptcy, sues partner
The multiplatform network owned by the once popular talk show host is facing financial struggles for which it finds its partner, Trinity Broadcasting Network, at fault.
Sean "Diddy" Combs to remain detained ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty of two prostitution-related charges, but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Judge blocks Trump's plan to limit access to asylum at southern border
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled in favor of a group of migrants seeking asylum and three immigrants' rights groups.
Killer bees prompt response in Alabama as swarms spotted nationwide
Alabama beekeepers recently trapped a swarm of killer bees, prompting state officials to respond in hopes of controlling the notoriously aggressive insects.
MoneyWatch
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Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media company files for bankruptcy, sues partner
The multiplatform network owned by the once popular talk show host is facing financial struggles for which it finds its partner, Trinity Broadcasting Network, at fault.
Layoffs across the U.S. reach highest level since 2020. Here's why.
Companies have reported more than 744,000 job cuts this year — the highest figure since the first six months of 2020, according to an outplacement firm.
Trump announces U.S. has reached trade deal with Vietnam
President Trump announced the outline of a trade agreement with Vietnam Wednesday on Truth Social.
Trump admin. freezes billions in funding for after-school and summer programs
The Trump administration is withholding over $6 billion in funding for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction and more.
Tesla's sales tumble amid Musk backlash and mounting competition
Tesla second-quarter sales slid more than 13%, but saw stronger-than-expected demand for Models 3 and Y vehicles.
Politics
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia alleges "psychological torture" at Salvadoran prison
Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he faced "psychological torture" in a prison in El Salvador, following his mistaken deportation to the U.S.
Widow of officer who died by suicide after Jan. 6 reacts to $500,000 verdict
A jury last week ordered a Jan. 6 Capitol insurrectionist to pay the widow of a D.C. officer $500,000, finding that he had assaulted the officer during the Capitol riot.
Trump, first lady to meet with freed hostage Edan Alexander in Oval Office
The White House said the president and first lady "greatly look forward" to welcoming Edan Alexander and his family.
Judge blocks Trump's plan to limit access to asylum at southern border
U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ruled in favor of a group of migrants seeking asylum and three immigrants' rights groups.
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire members of consumer safety panel
Three members of the Consumer Product Safety Commission were fired by President Trump in May.
HealthWatch
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Former NFL player Corey Parchman addresses male infertility in new book
In his book, "IVF Playbook for Men," Corey Parchman shares how stigma and lack of resources left him feeling isolated.
Certain type of hormone therapy increases breast cancer risk, study finds
The study, published Tuesday in The Lancet Oncology, focused on women under 55 with and without a uterus. CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder breaks it down.
Federal judge blocks mass layoffs and reorganization plans at HHS
A federal judge in Rhode Island has blocked the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing mass layoffs and overhauling some of its sub-agencies.
Is dairy disturbing your dreams? Here's what a study found out.
In the study, published Monday in journal Frontiers in Psychology, 40.2% of participants reported certain eating habits affected their sleep.
Nearly 150,000 pounds of bologna recalled over undeclared "source materials"
The bologna products, from Gaiser's European Style Provisions Inc., were distributed to wholesale and retail locations nationwide.
World
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Princess Kate speaks of "roller coaster" cancer recovery
Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited a cancer support center on Wednesday and spoke about her experience with cancer recovery.
Trump, first lady to meet with freed hostage Edan Alexander in Oval Office
The White House said the president and first lady "greatly look forward" to welcoming Edan Alexander and his family.
6 people accused of witchcraft killed, 2 burned alive, official says
The official and witnesses said the incident happened after accusations made by members of the ruling party's powerful youth movement.
Trump announces U.S. has reached trade deal with Vietnam
President Trump announced the outline of a trade agreement with Vietnam Wednesday on Truth Social.
New expedition will seek to locate Amelia Earhart's lost plane
An expedition to a remote and tiny island this fall will attempt to locate Amelia Earhart's plane in the Pacific Ocean.
Entertainment
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Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media company files for bankruptcy, sues partner
The multiplatform network owned by the once popular talk show host is facing financial struggles for which it finds its partner, Trinity Broadcasting Network, at fault.
Sean "Diddy" Combs to remain detained ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty of two prostitution-related charges, but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Sean "Diddy" Combs drops to his knees, prays after verdict is read
CBS News New York's Alice Gainer describes what it was like in the courtroom as the Sean "Diddy" Combs verdict was read.
Sean "Diddy" Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charges
The verdict in the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial comes after the high-profile proceedings started in May.
Red Panda released from hospital after fall at Fever-Lynx game
The performer known as Red Panda fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during halftime of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx.
Technology
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Technology
Amazon warehouses using more robot labor
Amazon could soon have more robots than humans working at its warehouses, according to The Wall Street Journal. Technology journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss.
Four-day workweek advocates lean into AI
Advocates of the four-day workweek are using artificial intelligence as a way to achieve their goal of shortening the workweek without pay cuts. Roger Kirkness, CEO of Convictional, joins to discuss how implementing a four-day workweek has impacted his employees.
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.
Microsoft's new AI health tool
Microsoft says its new artificial intelligence tool can diagnose patients four times more accurately than human doctors for a fraction of the cost. Will Knight, senior writer for Wired, joined CBS News to discuss.
Tinder pilots facial recognition safety feature in California
Tinder is now requiring California users to verify their profiles using a facial recognition feature called "Face Check."
Science
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Billions of flies to be dumped from planes to fight flesh-eating screwworms
The move is part of the government's plans for protecting the U.S. from the New World screwworm fly, which could devastate its beef industry and even kill household pets.
Key data used in hurricane forecasting will be cut by end of July, NOAA says
A satellite program that has historically been a key source of weather forecasting data will be discontinued no later than July 31, according to a message posted by NOAA.
Scanning the heavens at the Vatican Observatory
Perched in the hills outside Rome sits the Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the centuries-old lakeside summer home for popes, which is also home to the Vatican Observatory, established in 1891 to help bridge the chasm between religion and science. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with scientists and students for whom the Church's observations of the heavens are a means to unite people beyond faith.
Ancient city possibly ruled by females over 9,000 years ago, researchers say
Researchers said their findings suggest husbands relocated to the wife's household upon marriage – suggesting a female dominance.
These may be the oldest rocks on Earth
Scientists have identified what could be the oldest rocks on Earth from a rock formation in Canada.
Crime
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Crime
No motive uncovered in Kohberger hearing
The man charged in the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students admitted to the crimes and formally pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday. CBS News reporter Andres Gutierrez has more.
Why was Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail?
A judge has denied music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs' release on bail ahead of his sentencing. The decision comes after a jury handed down a split verdict in Combs' sex trafficking trial that started back in May. Celebrity lawyer Chris Melcher and CBS News' Katrina Kaufman have more.
"Diddy" lawyers speak out after verdict
Lawyers for Sean "Diddy" Combs spoke Wednesday after a mixed verdict and denied bail in his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York.
Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail and will remain detained ahead of his sentencing on prostitution charges. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson and CBS News correspondents Elaine Quijano and Jericka Duncan join "The Takeout" with analysis.
Sean "Diddy" Combs to remain detained ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty of two prostitution-related charges, but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Space
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First close-up of "cotton candy" nebula captured by world's largest telescope
A new observatory in Chile has produced a stunningly detailed image of a nebula resembling cotton candy, using the largest telescope in the world.
Blue Origin rockets 6 astrotourists on sub-orbital flight to space
Running a week late because of weather, it was clear sailing Sunday for Blue Origin's 13th passenger flight.
Fireball seen as meteorite streaks through sky over Georgia and South Carolina
The American Meteor Society said it received more than 160 reports of a fireball sighting from observers in Georgia and South Carolina.
James Webb telescope captures images of possible newly discovered exoplanet
The exoplanet, a planet beyond our solar system, has been dubbed TWA 7b after NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured evidence of it.
Webb Telescope captures images of exoplanet
NASA's James Webb Telescope has captured unprecedented pictures of a newly discovered exoplanet, a planet that is outside our solar system.
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
Summer music heats up 2025
Live performances are in full swing this summer. Scroll through our concert gallery, featuring pictures by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
"No Kings": Protesters across country march against Trump, Musk
Protests against the Trump administration took place across the U.S. Saturday. The demonstrations were held to mark the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.
Evidence in the Suzanne Morphew case
Bizarre clues and evidence in the investigation into the Colorado mother's disappearance include a spy pen, plastic needle cap, and a chipmunk alibi.
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Sean Diddy Combs: The Verdict
A jury convicted Sean “Diddy” Combs on prostitution-related counts, but acquitted him of the more severe charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking on Wednesday, following a 7-week trial. CBS News examines the high-profile federal trial in New York, the explosive testimonies, and what led to Comb’s arrest and federal charges in the one-hour special, "Sean Diddy Combs: The Verdict," hosted by Jericka Duncan.
Plane part found in North Carolina driveway
Police in North Carolina are investigating after a Raleigh resident discovered a part of a plane in their driveway. The FAA told CBS News that the debris was from a Delta aircraft that landed Tuesday night at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
7 missing after fireworks warehouse explosion
Seven people are still missing after an explosion went off at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California on Tuesday night. CBS News Sacramento's Kayla Mueller reports.
Stark findings on recent droughts
Over the past two years, Earth has endured some of the most widespread and destructive droughts ever recorded, according to a new analysis by the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center and the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification. Mark Svoboda, director and professor at the center, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
Widow of fallen Jan. 6 officer wins civil trial
Erin Smith, the widow of a fallen Jan. 6 police officer, spoke exclusively with CBS News after winning a civil trial against the rioter who beat her husband during the 2021 Capitol attack. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports.