at rocky flats. thanks for watching tonight. captioning sponsored by cbs >> dickerson: trump steers to the right. three conservatives are picked to head his national security and law enforcement teams. also tonight, the president- elect settles avoiding a federal fraud trial over trump university. the biggest counterfeit bust in happen here. >> this is just one stack of fake $20 bills. >> dickerson: and "on the road" with steve hartman. a little girl's bold question to a grumpy old man changed two lives. >> and i said, "you don't know. this is the first time for quite a while that i have been this happy." this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley.

i'm john dickerson. the trump team is taking shape and signaling a sharp conservative turn on national security issues. today, alabama senator jeff sessions was picked for attorney general, lieutenant general mike flynn for national security adviser, and kansas congressman mike pompeo as director of the c.i.a.up all three were early supporters of mr. trump and fierce critics of president obama. major garrett begins our coverage. men and women, great qualifications. >> reporter: after a week of tough headlines about a transition in disarray, vice president-elect mike pence touted the team taking shape. attorney general nominee jeff sessions was the first senator to endorse mr. trump. >> this is a movement. look at what's happening. >> reporter: sessions, 69, has served in the senate for 20 years, a hard liner on immigration, sessions also voted against the 2009 hate crimes bill and reauthorizing the

sessions' 1986 nomination to be a federal judge failed when a witness at his senate confirmation hearing testified that sessions said he thought the ku klux klan was okay, equal he "learned they smoked marijuana." and a former african american employee said sessions told them be careful what you say to white folks. sessions denied the comments, and also that he accused groups like the n.a.a.c.p. of being un- american. y they may have taken position they say consider to be adverse to the security interest of the united states. >> does that make them un- american? >> no, sir, it does not. >> does that make the positions un-american? >> no. >> reporter: mr. trump's pick for national security adviser, retired lieutenant general michael flynn, led intelligence in afghanistan and iraq after the 9/11 attacks. he then served as the head of the defense intelligence agency. >> the president of the united

>> flynn was also an early trump supporter. on twitter, flynn called fear of and frequent presence on the campaign trail. on twitter, flynn called fear of muslims rational, and in a february 2015 interview with charlie rose, criticized president obama for not using the phrase "radical islamic terrorism." >> you know, let's get off the dime and just call it like it is. >> which is, just one more time. >> islamic extremism. >> reporter: kansas congressman mike pompeo, the president- director, serves on the intelligence community and has called the end of the spy agency's enhanced interrogation program a mistake. he also wants to keep the prison in guantanamo bay, cuba open. pompeo was a co-author of a republican report critical of state department actions before the 2012 benghazi terror attacks that killed four americans, including u.s. ambassador chris stevens. in october 2015, pompeo grilled former secretary of state hillary clinton on her

have your personal e-mail address. we've established that. >> yes, that's right. >> did he have your cell phone number? >> no, but he had the 24-hour number of the state operations in the state department that can reach me 24/7. >> yes, ma'am. did he have your fax number? >> he had the fax number of the state department. >> reporter: the president-elect will meet tomorrow with 2012 g.o.p. nominee and harsh critic mitt romney. we are told the president-elect rb and likes the symbolism of party unity but we're also told a cabinet position for romney is, well, extremely unlikely. >> dickerson: major garrett for us in washington, thanks, major. so what did the democrats think of mr. trump's choices? nancy cordes is following that. >> you don't want someone, frankly, that can be a hot head at times or erratic. >> reporter: like many democrats, california's adam schiff used the word "alarming" today to describe the choice of mike flynn for national security adviser.

lieutenant general dined with vladimir putin in moscow. >> his views on russia ought to concern us all, like the president-elect, he's been an apologist for the kremlin. >> reporter: democrats were just as critical of senator jeff sessions, tapped for attorney general. the congressional black caucus called his civil rights record "appalling." luis gutierrez of illinois said, "if you have nostalgia for the days when blacks kept quiet and gays were in the closet, then senator sessions is your man." >> i think that's just false. >> reporter: william smith years. to democrats who say he has a past of making racist statements, you say? >> i say they have-- they don't know senator sessions that well. they haven't been around him. they haven't worked with him. he's a fine guy, never said anything inappropriate, and to chase something that's 30 years old i think is inappropriate. >> reporter: there was less strife over c.i.a. pick mike pompeo. democrats called the congressman bright and hard working and republicans hailed him as a

those same republicans were silent about flynn, who, unlike the other two, will not need to be confirmed by congress. in reality, democrats don't have the numbers to block any of these appointments if republicans stick together, right? >> that's right. if the republicans stick together, the president will be able to, essentially, put anyone he wants in these positions which is, if we need another illustration of just how much elections really matter. >> reporter: normally, republicans would need at least confirm these nominees, but when they controlled the senate a few years ago, democrats reduced the number of votes needed from 60 to a simple majority of 51. it was called the "nuclear option," john, and it's about to blow up in their faces. >> dickerson: nancy cordes, thanks so much, nancy. we'll have a lot more on the transition and mr. trump's meeting saturday with mitt romney when we talk to vice president-elect mike pence this sunday on "face the nation." today, the president-elect

lawsuits targeting trump university. his defunct program for aspiring real estate moguls. the controversy followed mr. trump along the campaign trail and the federal try was about to begin. instead he paid $25 million. here's anna werner. >> reporter: throughout the campaign, donald trump vowed never to reach a deal in a lawsuit brought against trump university. >> i could have settled it i think pretty easy. >> reporter: even boasting on twitter that trump university had a 98% approval rating. in infomercials he's promised quality. >> i didn't want to put my name on anything having to do with education, unless it was going to be the best. >> reporter: but some former students sued, saying they paid tens of thousands of dollars believing they would become successful in real estate but were misled. gary smith paid $35,000. >> i thought he was, like, you know, kind of top-notch guru of sorts, you know. >> reporter: cbs news found in

"some consumers had showed up who were homeless and could not afford the seminars," but she said trump representatives told them, "it's okay. just max out your credit card." his lawyers had also said many students who attended the program over the existence gave it a thumbs-up, and those who failed had themselves to blame. but today, the students' attorney, patrick coughlin, declared victory for most. >> we have the majority of the student, 7,000-some-plus students that will receive at least. 50% or maybe up to 100% of a return. >> reporter: now, mr. trump's attorney said in a statement, "while we have no doubt that trump university would have prevailed at trial based on the merit of the case," john, they said resolving the case lets the president-elect focus on the important issues facing the country. >> dickerson: anna werner. thanks so much, anna. as major garrett reported, jeff sessions can be expected to tack a hard line on immigration if

to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities that refuse to arrest immigrants living in this country illegally. ben tracy reports a showdown is brewing. >> reporter: students across the country are taking a stand for undocumented immigrants. >> sanctuary cities-- >> reporter: during the campaign, donald trump promised to go after so-called sanctuary cities that he says give the undocumented a free pass. trump often mentioned the killing of 32-year-old kathryn illegal immigrant who had been deported five times was accused of her murder. >> we will cancel all federal funding for sanctuary cities. >> reporter: there are more than 300 u.s. cities and counties that limit their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. several mayors, all democrats, plan to defy president-elect trump. chicago's rahm emanuel: >> it always will be a sanctuary city.

blasio: >> we are not going to sacrifice a half million people who live amongst us. >> reporter: los angeles police chief charlie beck recently made headlines when he said it's not his department's job to help deport people if your job is to enforce the law, why would you not cooperate with efforts to remove people who are here illegally? >> it is not the primary jf civil or federal laws. i think it would break down the connections that we have with immigrant communities. >> reporter: sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate could lose billions of dollars in federal funding. washington, d.c. mayor muriel bowser could lose 20% of her budget. >> his immigration stance could really make his new home town less safe. >> reporter: the police chief here in los angeles says that if his officers become an immigration force, they will lose the trust of immigrant communities, and, john, the fear

reporting crimes or cooperating with investigations. >> dickerson: ben tracy for us in los angeles. thanks, ben. today, syria's civil war took yet another ominous turn. air strikes by the syrian military, backed by russia, knocked out the last remaining hospitals in eastern aleppo. rebel forces are trying to hold on in the face of constant attacks by the assad regime. thousands of civilians are trapped in the city. after the michigan, the governor put together a team to address lead exposure in children. don dahler tells us the board's new plan calls for testing infants and toddlers not just in flint but across the entire state. >> reporter: nikia wakes' son, jaylon, has been having trouble in school lately. in 2015, he tested positive for elevated levels of lead. now, the seven-year-old is not only struggling with his school work, he has anger issues.

changes. last year, he was suspended from school over 50 times. >> all right, sweetie. >> reporter: researchers say lead exposure can cause cognitive and behavioral problems. to prevent those sorts of things from happening to other michigan families, the board established by governor rick snyder last may made 100 recommendations. among them, universal blood testing of children in 9-12 months and again at 24-36 months. and because most lead poisoning comes from old lead paint, the inspections of rental houses and homes built before 1978, when lead paint was outlawed. michigan representative sheldon neeley: >> if you knock on any door inside the city of flint and ask that family has anything changed changed with them, with all of the eyes on this particular community, they would say, no, i'm still drinking bottled water. >> reporter: if those recommendations are put into place, would you still trust the system? >> no, i've lost all trust in the system. >> reporter: do you sense a lot

and it's like people are giving up in flint. and they call this pure michigan, and we've been pure poisoned. >> reporter: flint still receives its water from detroit. today, the e.p.a. announced new steps the city must take before it can switch to a different source. john, that includes three months of testing. >> dickerson: don dahler for us tonight. thanks so much, don. next on the "cbs evening news," all the u.s. cash in this warehouse is fake-- in foreign land. we'll take you though there. and later, "on the road," he had thought he had nothing to live for. a trip to the grocery store, of all places, changed that. "exercise more." i know that. "try laxatives..." i know. believe me. it's like i've. tried. everything!

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>> reporter: it was the largest counterfeit raid in the history at the secret service. overnight tuesday, secret service agents seized an estimated $30 million in fake cash, piled in houses and apartment buildings in lima. the bills were hauled away in trucks to warehouses where they're being inspected and cataloged. this is just one stack of fake $20 bills. everything you see around me was from a single home, and 54 in all were raided. they found, logging evidence, and once there's been a conviction, everything will be burned. "operation sunset" was two years in the making. the secret service worked with 1,500 peruvian national police officers, six counterfeit rings were targeted, and more than 40 people arrested. in addition to the counterfeit cash, agents found printing presses, u.s. dollars, euros, and japanese yen. >> it's made a huge impact.

on "operation sunset," who we are identifying only as jose, says peruvian counterfeiters are among the best in the world. how meticulous are peruvian with with their counterfeit methods?m >> the texture on the actual note, which makes it feel look a genuine bill, they're very, very meticulous when it comes to the finishing of the bill, which w actually makes it passable in the states. >> reporter: the counterfeiters here are so good, estimates are 60% of the world's fake u.s. dollar bills come from peru. counterfeit methods uncovered, john, was the hand stitching of security ribbons through each and every bill. >> dickerson: thanks, errol. coming up next, a city invaded by foam. ens as you get older increasing the risk for me, the shingles virus. i've been lurking inside you since you had chickenpox.

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two people were killed. two feet of snow could fall near the canadian border. blizzard hit the san francisco from afar, it looked like a blizzard hit the san francisco bay area today. a massive blob of foam invaded the streets of santa clara.et it oozed from a hangar at the san jose airport. foam is used to put out jet fuel fires. it flooded when a fire alarm malfunctioned. a bubbly icon's dress sold for a record price at auction lasto night. the flesh-colored number worn by marilyn monroe when she sang john f. kennedy was so snug, sh was sewn into it. the museum chain, "ripley's believe it or not," bought it b for $4.8 million. up next, the grumpy old man meets his angel, as told by steve hartman. [ cough ] shh. i have a cold with this annoying runny nose.

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>> dickerson: finally tonight, how can you mend a broken heart? tough question. at least we know where it can happen. here's steve hartman "on the road." >> reporter: not long ago, in a cemetery outside augusta, georgia, a loving couple was buried. the wife, buried below this white bouquet. the husband, buried above in a >> took me totally by surprise. >> reporter: 82-year-old dan peterson says after mary died, he fell into a deep depression, spent days just staring out at the squirrels. what were you living for? >> i was trying to figure that out. frankly. >> reporter: you had no purpose? >> no. >> reporter: were you just waiting to die? >> yeah. >> reporter: for six months, it

and then one day you go to a y grocery store. it all changed inside thisit publix. dan was nearing the end of the canned vegetable aisle. he hates grocery shopping, and by all accounts the expression on his face confirmed his aggravation. but that's when this unapproachable man was approached by a four-year-old girl named norah wood. in the security footage, you can see norah randomly reaching out to him. her mom, ta, >> she said, "hi, old person. it's my birthday today." >> reporter: "old person?" >> old person. >> hi, old person.hi >> reporter: she says this to this cranky old man? >> yeah. >> reporter: and then she has the audacity to demand a hug. >> i said a hug? i said absolutely! >> reporter: norah got her hug and then asked her mom to take a picture of her with her new friend. >> she zeroed in on him like a missile. and she didn't want anything from him.

his little lip quivered and he was teared up. and it was just sweet. >> i said, "you don't know. this is the first time for quite a while that i've been this happy." >> reporter: that all happened a couple of months ago, and his grin has only gotten wider since. >> hi, sweetheart! come in! come in! at least once a week. >> so how is my sweetie?so >> reporter: and every time, it's the grocery store all over again. >> i knew i was going to get a hug. oh, it's unbelievable. totally unbelievable. >> it's a bridge. >> it's a bridge, oh, okay. o >> reporter: dan does have grandkids of his own, but they're all grown and gone. and norah does have grandparents, but her mom says h this is a completely different kind of bond that almost defies explanation.

i-- what? >> reporter: to dan, it's equally miraculous, but far less mysterious. he believes norah is, quite literally, an angel. >> she opened me to a love that i didn't know existed. >> reporter: when your wife died, you felt like you didn't have any purpose anymore. do you feel like you have a purpose now? >> of course. norah. watching hw i know i made room in my heart for a lot more. >> reporter: steve hartman, "onh the road" in augusta, georgia. >> dickerson: that's a beautiful story. that's it for the "cbs evening news." for scott pelley and all of us at cbs, i'm john dickerson. i'll see you sunday on "face the nation." captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh

>> a study confirms jefferson county residents say they have known for years. radiation from the rocky flats nuclear plant made a lot of people very sick. the researchers surveyed more than 1700 people who live near the flats between 1952 and 1992. >> they found almost half of them have cancer. cbs4's andrea flores is live in superior where a meg results of that study. >> reporter: well, guys, the meeting is about to begin. as you can see behind me. but earlier today, we learned not only did half of the participants have cancer, we were surprised to find out the types of cancer are not that common. residents who lived downwind of the former rocky flats nuclear weapons were invited to participate in the survey. preliminary research shows

that have cancer suffered from a rare cancer. they also found a prevalence of thyroid cancer only second to breast cancer. one man whose stepfather worked at the plant and died of lung cancer shares his reaction to the results. >> the results so far have not surprised me. i think it is not going to surprise a lot of our residents. we have suspected it. we have wondered and hopefully, now we will find out. >> this whole project is about trying to help the community be as regardless of what we find. >> reporter: and, researchers tell me plans to sample soil and tissues from cancer patients are in the work. of course, this is an ongoing survey. so if you live downwind from the plant, but haven't completed one, they ask that you do. reporting live in superior, andrea flores, cbs4 news. >> thank you. now, to an update on three men accused in a violent crime spree. today, a jury found these three