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Groom-to-Be Shot Dead by New York City Police; Waves of Attacks Leave Hundreds Dead and Prompt Another Curfew in Baghdad; Ex-Tennis Pro Trades Tennis Whites for Dominican Habit
Aired November 25, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Next in the NEWSROOM, a New York shooting sparks racial tension after police kill a groom and wound two others after a bachelor party.
Plus, outrage over what could be an Internet hoax, a baby giveaway on Craig's List.
And remember her? Andrea Jaeger used to be the bad girl of tennis. Today she has a new calling. Wait until you see this story.
Hello and welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Carol Costello, in for Fredricka Whitfield.
All that and more after a check of the headlines.
A groom-to-be shot dead in New York by the city's police. Two of his friends were wounded. The trio was leaving a bachelor party when authorities opened fire for reasons they have not yet explained.
We'll have a live report from New York in just a minute.
Violence waned in Baghdad today under a citywide ban on vehicle traffic after two straight days of mayhem. U.S. and Iraqi officials say their forces killed dozens of insurgents in fighting north of the capital.
British health officials are assessing possible risks to the public stemming from the poisoning of a former Russian spy. Traces of radiation have turned up in a London hotel in a sushi bar; both visited by the man before he died on Thursday after accusing Russian president Vladimir Putin of ordering his death.
The vice president touches down in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah. The two met for several hours, and then Cheney boarded his plane and headed back home. The talks apparently dealt with rumblings throughout the Middle East, including, of course, Iraq.
And now a night of celebration ends in a hail of gunfire on the streets of New York. Witnesses say police officers shot three men who had just left a bachelor party. One was the groom who was killed on what would have been his wedding day.
Details surrounding the shooting are unclear, but let's go live to New York, where Mary Snow has been digging for information on this story.
What have you got, Mary?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as you said, not a lot of information. An investigation is under way.
Police so far have declined to release any information about the shooting that took place in Queens after 4:00 a.m. this morning. Now, witnesses and relatives say police officers shot three men. One of them was a 23-year-old man who was supposed to get married today. He was killed. A hospital spokesman says one man is listed in critical condition and another in stable condition.
Now, video taken at the scene shows at least one man in handcuffs while being taken to an ambulance. Witnesses say the three men went to a strip club in Queens for a bachelor party, left in a car, and hit an unmarked police van.
Now, witnesses say that is when police got out and opened fire. Again, that is according to witnesses. Some say at least 20 shots were fired. Now, at the scene there were dozens of evidence markers, although it wasn't clear whether they were all shell casings.
What provoked the incident, that is unclear. The NYPD says it is expecting to release information soon and that it was gathering all the facts, they say, before saying anything publicly. The Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference earlier today calling for, in his words, real answers about the shooting -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. The shooting happened at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Why are police taking such a long time to say anything about it?
SNOW: That is a very good question. How many hours now have passed?
The police are saying that they are waiting to gather all the facts. Obviously, a lot to consider. You saw the investigators out at the scene. They are saying they are waiting to get everything together everything before they come out in public.
COSTELLO: Mary Snow reporting live from New York.
Thanks very much.
SNOW: Sure.
COSTELLO: The violence in Baghdad slowed some today, but that's compared with Thursday and Friday, when waves of attacks left hundreds of people dead and prompted another curfew.
We get the latest now from CNN's Arwa Damon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In this U.S. military video shot on Friday, you see what the military says are the last two of six rockets fired from Baghdad's Shia Sadr City into Sunni Adamiyah (ph). The helicopter locks on to its target and fires, destroying the rocket system. The U.S. stepping in with its military superiority to try to stop violence Iraqis say their government is either unable or unwilling to prevent.
In the wake of Thursday's devastating bombing in Sadr City that left at least 200 Shia dead, stories of retaliatory attacks taking place despite a government lockdown spread through the capital like wildfire.
(on camera): Traffic would normally be backed up at this intersection. The government-imposed curfew meant to curb retaliatory violence is keeping most people at home, but it's not stopping the killing.
(voice-over): Few dared venture out, but one man who did says Iraq's political forces are behind the violence.
"These militias belong to the government, not to us," Mohammed Talav (ph) explains. "I am a poor person, struggling to support my children. Do you think I would carry my weapon and ask who was Sunni or Shia and kill people?" He adds, "These days it's each man for himself," as he walks away clutching his 8-year-old son's hand.
Confined indoors, 11-year-old Badir (ph) plays a video game called "The Gulf War," of an earlier era of Iraq's war-torn history. His father, Riyad Al Ani, one of Baghdad's dwindling educated class, repeats what we just heard outside, that what's described as sectarian violence is fundamentally a political problem.
RIYAD AL ANI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT: There is a disagreement among all the political entities. These political entities have -- have their own militias. Each -- each political entity has its own militia. So during the daytime they talk and they disagree and agree, and this and that, but later on they -- they really, you know, use their -- their militias to serve their purposes.
DAMON: He insists the violence is breeding a hatred Iraq never knew before.
AL ANI: Well, I tell my son that this is -- this is a temporary situation, that people who have disagreements among themselves, and we normally don't have this in our -- in our culture, in our society.
DAMON: But it is the normal that his son is growing up with.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: What about solutions? A long plane flight and a quick turnaround for Vice President Cheney. Cheney landed today in Saudi Arabia, spent several hours in talks with Saudi King Abdullah before he flew back to Washington.
The talks are said to have focused on Iraq over Iran's growing power, also Syria, Lebanon and the Israeli-Palestinian question. An unnamed Saudi adviser tells CNN the two sides see eye to eye and that Saudi Arabia will play a stronger role in the region and become what he called a lynchpin of U.S. policy.
A serious accusation is being leveled against outgoing defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld. A former U.S. commander at Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison says Rumsfeld personally authorized some of the prisoner abuses there.
Former U.S. Army Brigadier General Janis Karpinski tells a Spanish newspaper she saw a letter signed by Rumsfeld okaying civilian contractors' use of controversial interrogation techniques. Karpinski says, and I quote, "Those methods consisted of making prisoners stand for long periods, sleep deprivation, playing music at full volume. Rumsfeld authorized these specific techniques."
After the Abu Ghraib scandal broke, Karpinski was withdrawn from Iraq, subsequently removed from active duty, and then demoted in rank on unrelated charges. Karpinski says she is ready to testify against Rumsfeld if a civil suit filed by former prisoners triggers a full investigation.
If there ever was a person who understands the meaning of Thanksgiving, you are about to meet her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever they had to share with me, there was almost nothing to eat there. But they shared it with me and I appreciate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: They were last together during the infamous reign of Adolph Hitler. An emotional reunion that took 70 years to happen, that's coming up.
Also, scholarships for whites only, a publicity stunt or a new trend in education? A CNN "Reality Check" is next.
Plus, a free baby offered on the Internet? It's got to be a hoax. Right?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Other news "Across America."
The mother of two missing boys in northern Minnesota pleading for help in finding them. Four-year-old Tristan White and his 2-year-old brother Avery Stately vanished Wednesday from a yard in Red Lake, Minnesota. The FBI offering a $20,000 reward.
A first court appearance today in Miami for a man carrying a toy gun that share looked real and forced the evacuation of "The Miami Herald" building. Fifty-year-old Jose Varela is a freelance cartoonist who apparently had issues with "The Herald's" Spanish-language newspaper. He surrendered to police peacefully.
Volvo recalling thousands of cars from the 1999, 2002 model years. The cars have electronic speed control modules that can get stuck and limit the car's speed to between 10 and 30 miles per hour. Volvo dealers will install software upgrades to correct the problem.
A CNN "Reality Check" now.
A scholarship program at Boston University coming under fire for what critics call its racial overtones. The scholarship is for whites only.
Joshua Levs is in the newsroom. He has more details for us
Hey, Joshua.
JOSHUA LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hi, Carol.
You know, when I heard this during this week about this whites- only scholarship, I thought it sounded familiar. And that's because it is familiar.
The exact same thing happened at another school two years ago. But what I found is that since then, the context has changed, because more and more colleges all over the country are now beginning to drop minority scholarships.
We wanted to tell you about this story, so here you go. The CNN "Reality Check."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice over): It's the talk of Boston University, a scholarship for white students only created by the College Republicans. Just $250, it's about making a point.
JOSEPH MROSCZYK, PRESIDENT, BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS: And some people are, you know, pretty upset us -- upset about it and upset at us for it, but we're trying to explain to them that you should be equally upset about this regarding any race at all.
LEVS: Some argue minority scholarships are needed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see no other way in order to redress problems that were caused by racial discrimination, decades and decades of racial discrimination that followed upon centuries of slavery.
LEVS: Deja vu? Flash back to 2004, when the same debate took place at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.
JASON MATTERA, THEN-PRESIDENT, COLLEGE REPUBLICANS: And obviously making a political statement that scholarships should be more based on -- based on people who have financial need and who really strive for academic excellence. And it shouldn't just be based on skin color.
LEVS: Then and now, the state Republican parties condemned the idea. Rhode Island's party said it had racist overtones. The Massachusetts GOP calls it offensive.
But efforts to end minority scholarships were fueled by a different debate, the one over race as a factor in admissions at the University of Michigan. Even the president weighed in.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As we work to address the wrong of racial prejudice, we must not use means that create another wrong and thus perpetuate our divisions.
LEVS: The Supreme Court ultimately said it was OK for the school to consider race, but that awarding admission points for minorities was going too far. And the court said schools must not reject students from programs based on skin color. That led to changes in many scholarships.
"The Chronicle of Higher Education" says schools like Yale, MIT, Carnegie Mellon and others across the country have taken millions of dollars previously reserved for minorities and opened them up to all students.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: So what you have now is this momentum moving away from minority scholarships. In fact, the civil rights division of the U.S. Education Department has now called minority scholarships difficult to defend. But, on the flip side, you have representatives of minority groups, like the professor you just heard there, saying, you know what? These are needed in America to give minorities more of a fair shot.
So, what's going on at Boston University may be about one group of students, but what it's doing, Carol, is it's taking this debate and it's bringing renewed attention to it.
COSTELLO: Well, and you know what just happened in Michigan during the last election. The voters overwhelmingly voted to ban affirmative action. And the University of Michigan is now fighting it in the courts again.
LEVS: Yes. And, I mean, that's why this story is so interesting I think to some people, because even though it's about one school, it gets at that key question that's so huge in the race debate in America: Are we right now in America a society that needs race-based affirmative action to create a level playing field, or on the flip side, do we create a more level playing field by not having race-based affirmative action?
That's the story that everybody seems to have a reason to weigh in on.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Joshua. Thanks for that "Reality Check."
LEVS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We'll have much more on this controversy in the next hour. Our guest will be the President of Boston University's College Republicans. His group started that program. And the vice president of the college's Democrats, he calls the scholarship a publicity stunt.
High drama, and it's coming your way in the next hour.
Coming up, apartments, furniture, jobs. You can find all sorts of things on Craig's List, but you won't believe what one person is offering. Now investigators want to know if it's for real.
And talk about a downright evil bedside manner. It might make you sick to hear what identity thieves are doing now.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, check it out. This is a spectacular display down under, an iceberg off the coast of New Zealand.
The frigid Antarctic ice is a hot commodity for tour operators. Their helicopters are making up to six trips a day because people want to see this iceberg. It appeared about two weeks ago and scientists believe it broke off the frozen continent and then began drifting north. And drift it continues.
So lots more money, Jacqui, for the tourist industry.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Since 1927, "TIME" magazine has placed a "Person of the Year" on the cover of a special issue. One of the contenders this year is North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il.
The title is given to the person who, for better or worse, the magazine's editors believe had the biggest impact on the year's events. So, does Kim Jong-Il fit the bill? You decide.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The atom blast heard around the world. North Korea stuns the international community by testing its first nuclear device. North Korea's Kim Jong-Il is a candidate for "TIME" magazine's "Person of the Year."
ROMESH RATNESAR, WORLD EDITOR, "TIME": The testing of a nuclear weapon by North Korea in some ways was the biggest single news event. I mean, if you could just point to one event, because not only is that a major disruption of the balance of power in Asia, but it also, I think, has kind of crystallized this larger danger that the world faces from nuclear proliferation. The real concern with Kim Jong-Il is not so much that he would ever use a nuclear weapon, but that as the head of a really desperate, poor, starving country, he would be attempted to sell some of the technology needed to develop a weapon to other states that are interested, or even to terrorist groups.
ADI IGNATIUS, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "TIME": He has continually tied pretty much every other nation in the world in knots, as countries from U.S., to China, to Japan, to South Korea, to try to figure out how to contain the North Korean threat.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The "TIME" "Person of the Year" will be announced on December 16th.
It became a hot-button item during the political season. Who can live off of minimum wage? A key point from the Democrats platform next in the NEWSROOM.
Plus, is it an Internet hoax? A free baby offered on the very popular Craig's List. Now police want to know who is behind that listing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Here are the latest developments "Now in the News."
Vice President Dick Cheney is in Saudi Arabia talking with King Abdullah on a reported broad new initiative for bringing stability to the Middle East. Cheney is do back in Washington tomorrow. From what we understand, he's already left Saudi Arabia.
Authorities in Iraq hope extending a strict traffic curfew in Baghdad will bring some stability and security. The vehicle ban went into effect Thursday following more sectarian violence in Baghdad's Sadr City area. Baghdad's airport remains closed as well. The curfew set to expire on Monday.
More mystery and intrigue in the poisoning of a former Russian spy who died earlier this week in London. British health officials suspect 43-year-old Alexander Litvinenko died from radiation poisoning. Areas where he frequented have been cordoned off after traces of radioactive materials were found.
Russia denies any involvement in Litvinenko's death.
In New York, a bachelor party celebration turns deadly. Witnesses say a 23-year-old groom was killed and two of his friends were allegedly shot by police as they left a Queens strip club early this morning. New York police have yet to make a statement. Community activist Reverend Al Sharpton will hold a prayer vigil and a rally tomorrow.
New video out of Miami, where the suspect in yesterday's police standoff at "The Miami Herald" has made his first court appearance. Freelance cartoonist Jose Varela faces three counts of aggravated assault for yesterday's two-hour-long siege of the newsroom. Varela was reportedly angry with the paper's coverage of Cuban exiles.
Is it a shocking crime or a Internet hoax? A baby boy offered up on the popular web posting craigslist. Now police are investigating the online ad.
Phil Blauer of our affiliate KFMB in San Diego has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got a couple of phone calls from people in the community who saw the posting on craigslist and gave us a call because they were concerned.
PHIL BLAUER, KFMB CORRESPONDENT: San Diego police are investigating whether an ad for a free baby boy is real or a joke. The online classified service craigslist has already removed the posting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wouldn't discount it thinking or assuming that it was a hoax, because there is an off chance that can it could be legitimate. So the detectives are looking into it.
BLAUER: A copy of the ad given to police says, "Free baby boy to good home. My ex-girlfriend had him a few weeks ago but now he just sits in my closet and cries."
The writer continues, "I'm not too sure how to deal with it, and I'm in a pretty low financial spot. I lost all the baby accessories."
The ad concludes with this message: "Batteries not included. Transaction final. No returns. Guaranteed not DOA."
The posting says the baby is in San Diego and that the man could deliver it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Until we get more information, we don't really know if there is any crime that this individual actually faces, if it is a joke. But, you know, so we're still gathering information at this point.
BLAUER: Munez (ph) says detectives with the Child Abuse Unit and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will try to place the person who placed the posting to see if a real infant, not a toy, was being offered.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was Phil Blauer with our affiliate KFMB in San Diego. And, by the way, the ad was posted Thursday on the free stuff spot of craigslist. That's the same place where posters were giving away free turkey dinners, a set of crutches and an electric stove.
The sacrifices of men and women in the military. That was the focus of President Bush's weekly radio address today. The president said the country is appreciative this Thanksgiving of the risks U.S. troops undertake every day to secure freedom around the world.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Americans believe that every person has the right to live, work and worship in freedom. And we're thankful to the men and women of our nation's armed forces who risk their lives to protect those rights.
This Thanksgiving we are mindful that many of our finest citizens are spending the holiday far from their homes and loved ones, and we know that their service makes it possible for us to live in freedom.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President Bush also called on Americans to reach out and help someone in need this holiday season.
As for the Democrats, the minimum wage debate is top of mind. $5.15 an hour -- that's what millions of unskilled Americans live, struggling to make ends meet. An increase in the minimum wage could make a dramatic difference in their lives. And with Democrats in control of Congress, bigger paychecks could be on the way.
More now from our Zain Verjee.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been sizzling for almost 50 years. It's the place to go for a good old chili dog and for a slice of Washington, D.C. tradition: Ben's Chili Bowl.
Anthony's been working here for 20 years. He's got a wife and two kids and lives from paycheck to paycheck. He insists the federal minimum wage has just got to go up.
ANTHONY ADIGWE, BEN'S CHILI BOWL: $5.15 minimum wage, that's torture, I think.
VERJEE: The last time it was raised was almost ten years ago and many unskilled workers are dealing with rising costs of housing, food, gas. Some states already require more than the federal minimum wage and six states recently voted to increase it.
(on camera): The D.C. minimum wage is $7 an hour. Ben's Chili Bowl pays slightly more than that. If there's an increase in the federal minimum wage, millions of Americans will make a lot more money.
(voice-over): It seems likely. Democrats are pushing for a minimum of $7.25.
REP. STENY HOYER, (D) MARYLAND: We will raise the federal minimum wage because in America, if you work hard and play by the rules, you should not live in poverty.
VERJEE: Critics say raising the minimum wage will mean fewer jobs. Still, Republican Senator John McCain says he's supportive.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: As long as we take into consideration small business people who may be driven out of business because of it.
VERJEE: Nizam Ali, one of the owners of Ben's Chili Bowl, says he's OK with a rise in the minimum wage.
NIZAM ALI, CO-OWNER, BEN'S CHILI BOWL: I mean, it is definitely a cost. But it's a cost that is necessary. Some things you just have to do the right thing.
VERJEE: Wayne Johnson works here and holds other jobs make ends meet. His fantasy?
WAYNE JOHNSON, BEN'S CHILI BOWL: $8, at least.
VERJEE: But, if the minimum wage goes too high, Ben's Chili Bowl may switch to a less expensive waiter system, a lower wage with employees relying on tips to make up the difference. Nizam says he prefers having customers at the counter.
ALI: The people love the atmosphere, the craziness, the way it is. And we want to keep it that way.
VERJEE: Zain Verjee, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: She was known as the tennis game's teenage bad girl. But that was a long time ago. Coming up, you will never guess the new calling for Andrea Jaeger.
Plus, a reunion 60 years in the making. The last time they met, one of them was hiding from Adolf Hitler.
Also, patients want to feel safe and secure inside of a hospital. In the meantime, thieves find a way to steal your life savings right from your bedside. Dr. Lloyd is next with ways to protect your finances whenever you find yourself flat on your back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: This is such a cool story. Mention the name Andrea Jaeger and many of us remember the flaxen-haired teenager and her meteoric rise in women's tennis back in the '80s. She turned pro at just 14 years old, and by 16, she beat Billie Jean King to reach the finals at Wimbledon.
Fast forward to now, and it's Sister Andrea. Jaeger was ordained a few weeks ago as an Anglican Dominican nun. Her habit of late? Helping kids through a foundation she joined years ago.
She joins us now by phone.
I'm just stunned. What a great story!
ANDREA JAEGER, LITTLE STAR FOUNDATION: Thank you. Thank you, Carol. Thank you for having me on.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
COSTELLO: Gosh, happy Thanksgiving to you.
So when did you realize that this was your calling?
JAEGER: Well, I've been helping children with cancer for 16 years. Heidi Buckout (ph) and I started a children's cancer foundation. It's now called Little Star Foundation.
And I feel like -- on the professional tennis circuit I started cultivating this service-oriented heart. And it just really took a hold and things progressed. And I was very fortunate on the circuit, too, because I happened to come across a humanitarian that was on the professional circuit. Her name was Rita May Brown. So that helped.
COSTELLO: Before we talk about Rita, let's go back to when you beat Chris Everett (ph) at the age of 15. Now, if I did that, I'd be saying yes! But you said what?
JAEGER: I -- actually in the locker room, Chris Everett, after I beat her the first time ever, she said, well, now that you've beat me, will your dad let us be friends. And I had never shared that story publicly. And I looked at her and I said, this has nothing to do with my father. I don't want to be your friend.
And, of course, now -- my dad has since passed away with a brain tumor -- but he would have been mortified to hear that I did not take this opportunity because perhaps I would have still been playing professional tennis and breaking records and succeeding and having Chris Everett as my best friend. And...
COSTELLO: But why didn't you?
JAEGER: I felt like if I took that opportunity I would become an incredible tennis player forever, and that would be my adult life, is being a professional tennis player.
COSTELLO: OK. So people aren't getting that, Andrea. So you don't want to be a great tennis player. Does that mean at that point in your life, at the age of 15, you were already thinking of something bigger?
JAEGER: I really was. I went on the professional tennis circuit and tennis has been so good to me, but I really felt God was calling me out there to learn things and to cultivate a service-oriented heart. And I never shared that with anyone. I never did.
In fact, I hadn't spoken to Rita May Brown in 24 years. And I called her up after my ordination, and I called her up to say thank you. And she's like, for what? And I said, because of your humanitarian efforts I went out and started helping kids on the circuit. That was my peer group. I went to children's hospitals. I really made it a mission to help others. And that, I believe, was God's calling.
This is why -- the pictures you see here, that was at Cincinnati Children's Hospital recently. But that's why this step came along. It was processed through already back in -- being on the professional tennis circuit.
COSTELLO: Well, let me ask you this. Because, really, you could have had both. You could have been, like, number one tennis player in the world. You could have been incredibly wealthy, and could you have given back.
JAEGER: I don't think I could have done that well. Andre Agassi has done it phenomenal. He's an example of someone who can do both. But I was one of the youngest players or athletes ever on the circuit. When you think about that, when you're on circuit from the age of 14 to 19, that's an adult world, it's an adult atmosphere. I am -- you know, I'm not accepted in my high school so well because I'm so different. I'm a professional athlete. At home, you know, my family was trying to figure out, you know, where to place me as well, because, all of a sudden, I was a celebrity. And so on the circuit, I wasn't necessarily accepted either.
And so my place was -- of fitting in was to say, OK, I want to be a humanitarian. I see this person doing it, how can I do this?
I prayed to God to give me the light of figuring it out, and the truth, and I -- you know, in many ways when I was injured I was thankful. And that's -- you know, I guess that's what a lot of people don't understand.
These are kids that, you know, have been part of our Little Star programs. I mean, for 16 years we've been helping children all religions. And I think that's -- we just helped this one girl Selma (ph). She's from New York. Her family's Muslim. And she had cancer from the age of 9 to 21. And for six years we were helping her. She relapsed almost a dozen times. And those entire six years I loved Selma as if she was my own child. And that's what we do for all these kids.
COSTELLO: That's so awesome to hear. And congratulations to you. And I would have never guessed that in a million years.
So Sister Andrea Jaeger, thank you for joining us.
JAEGER: Thank you for having me.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
JAEGER: You, too.
She's like a bowl of fire, isn't she?
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's humbling.
COSTELLO: It really is.
LIN: All right. Well, I'm just going to go off to the convent and change the world.
COSTELLO: Good for her. What a great role model.
LIN: Yes.
COSTELLO: Carol Lin is here because she's in the next hour.
What do you have for us?
LIN: Well, we've got a lot coming up. In the next hour, I am going to be talking about the story you talked about, but a little bit more. The guys who are actually involved in the Boston University whites-only scholarship. And also, what the reaction on campus is. And it's going to be an interesting debate. You know, is he doing this just for publicity? Does he really mean it? Is $250 scholarship, you know, is that really going to help anybody there. Or is that the cost of his making this point?
COSTELLO: Well, I kind of like because, you know, at least they're becoming involved in politics. I mean, whether you believe in what he's doing or not, at least he's jumped in there, and the Democrats on campus fighting back.
LIN: And, of course, if there's still questions remaining, at 10:00, can you ask a ninja. Have you heard about those guys?
www.askaninja.com.
You go on and there's actually a guy dressed up as a ninja and he answered your questions, everything from what to do about a boring summer job to, you know...
COSTELLO: How can he talk with that thing on his mouth?
LIN: But you know what, these guys are big in Hollywood. Hollywood's coming after them. And they're saying no to the big bucks. They want a -- they're doing really well. You can get a ninja baseball cap, Carol, if you're really lucky. The staff will pitch in. A long sleeve t-shirt. They're merchandising the whole thing.
But no, it's fascinating. A fascinating business story. All of this born on the web.
COSTELLO: Loving it.
All right. We look forward to it, 5:00.
Thank you, Carol Lin.
Thieves are finding new ways into your wallet. The latest, they go through your medical file. Dr. Bill Lloyd joins us live with more on medical identity theft, a new and quickly growing form of health care fraud.
Autism, we hear more about it as the number of diagnoses grow. But for many it's still widely misunderstood. Sue Rubin knows. She is the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary -- we're going to go to Dr. Lloyd now.
Dr. Lloyd, I'm so sorry I skipped you.
DR. BILL LLOYD, UNIV. OF CALIF.-DAVIS MED. CTR.: Hi, Carol. Good to talk to you.
COSTELLO: I was, like, so involved in the ninja story I couldn't get away from it.
But let's talk about medical identity theft, because I didn't realize this was such a big problem.
LLOYD: Many people don't. And in some respects, medical identity theft is almost a perfect crime because the victims don't realize that someone has come along and stolen their health care information and then have fraudulently run up medical charges on your good name.
COSTELLO: Well, how can they get ahold of your card?
LLOYD: Well, it's very, very easy. If you're a patient in a hospital and you've just had surgery and you're still a little doped up, your wallet may be there in the drawer and somebody could just go ahead and take it.
Hospitals are loaded with all kinds of information. It's a treasure trove. And just getting your Social Security number alone, and perhaps your date of birth, somebody is on their way to helping themselves to your well-deserved health benefits.
COSTELLO: OK, so what if the worst happens and someone -- I can't believe anyone -- that's really low. But let's say the worst happens and they steal your identity, what do you do?
LLOYD: Well, as it comes to medical ID theft, you've got to get right back in touch with whoever's providing you with your insurance and alert them that this has happened, because there may be issues related to co-pays or other types of charges and you don't want your good health record or your credit record damaged.
And Carol, many employers check your health records before they decide to hire you. Some jobs require that you be in good physical shape. And let's say somebody stole your good medical ID and went and had back surgery. Now the record shows that you've had back surgery. A potential employer may pass you over and you may never know it, just because you've had an operation that in fact you never had.
So in addition to notifying the police, certainly the hospital, because there's security issues there, you let your health care plan know as well.
And anybody who thinks they've had a problem with any kind of ID theft, when you call the police, be sure to remind them that I was recently in the hospital, because hospitals are a place where many strangers, many unscrupulous employees, or visitors or family members of people in the next room are coming in to see you and perhaps take things from you.
COSTELLO: Got you. OK, we'll heed your advice.
Thank you very much, Dr. Lloyd, and again, I apologize for skipping you.
Let's talk about autism now, because we hear more about it as number of diagnoses grow. But for many, it's still a widely misunderstood condition. Sue Rubin knows. She is the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary "Autism is a World".
Coming up on "CNN PRESENTS," it offers a rare look at the disorder through the words of a young woman who lives with it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUE RUBIN, SUFFERS FROM AUTISM (through narrator): My name is Sue Rubin. I'm 26 years old. I have written these thoughts about my life because I don't really talk. This is not my voice, but these are my words.
I have autism, and until the age of 13, everyone assumed I was also retarded. Now I live on my own with assistance from others.
I decided to make this film to bring people into my world of autism.
(through keypad): Autism is a world.
RITA RUBIN, MOTHER: Every year she got older, and her mental age stayed the same, which was at about two and a half. And so by the time she was 13, she still had a mental age of about two and a half. So that's what we thought, we believed that.
S. RUBIN: I certainly understand why I was assumed to be retarded. All of my very awkward movements and all my nonsense sounds made me appear retarded.
Perhaps I was. Voices floated over me. I heard sounds but not words. It wasn't until I had a communication system that I was able to make sense out of the sounds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Gives you chills, doesn't it? Don't miss "AUTISM IS A WORLD". The "CNN PRESENTS" encore special airs tonight and tomorrow at 8:00 p.m., 11 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Eastern.
It is an emotional Thanksgiving story that spans two continents and 70 years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEA INGEL, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: Whatever they had, they shared with me. There was almost nothing to eat there, but they shared it with me. And I appreciate it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And one of the things they gave her was a safe place to hide during the Holocaust. This poignant reunion, next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And finally, a Holocaust reunion and proof that a good deed is never forgotten. After more than 60 years, a woman who escaped the terror of the Nazis is able to thank a family -- member of the family who saved her.
CNN's John Zarrella has the story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lea Ingel looks through the pictures.
LEA INGEL, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: This is Giedrute.
ZARRELLA (on camera): That's Giedrute?
(voice-over): There are only a few. There are far more memories, memories of the Lithuanian Catholic family that took her in for almost a year, sheltering Lea from the Nazis.
INGEL: Whatever they had, they shared with me. There was almost nothing to eat there, but they shared it with me. And I appreciate it.
ZARRELLA: And memories of the matriarch of that family, Elena Ivanauskai, who hit Lea in the woods one night when the Germans were searching homes for Jews. Later, Elena wrote a poem for Lea about that night.
INGEL: You're like a little bird all by yourself, alone. On a dark night in a field, shakingly, you cling to the gray earth.
ZARRELLA: After the war, Lea moved to the United States with her husband, who also hid in the Ivanauskai home, and never saw the family again, until Friday afternoon at JFK Airport in New York.
For the first time in more than 60 years, Lea is reunited with Elena's daughter, Giedrute. The embrace is long. Neither wanted to let go. They had been so very long apart. Giedrute was 13, Lea 21 when she hid in Ivanauskai home. They became like sisters.
GEIDRUTE IVANAUSKAI, FAMILY HID JEWS FROM NAZIS: (speaking in Lithuanian)
ZARRELLA: "I'm so happy," Giedrute says. "I will remember this moment for the rest of my life. I love Lea."
The reunion was made possible by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, which once a year brings together a survivor and a rescuer.
STAN STEINREICH, JEWISH FDN. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS: This may in fact be our last reunion, again, because of the age and the infirmness of some of the survivors and rescuers that still exist.
ZARRELLA: Both Lea and Geidrute wished the reunion could have come sooner. But Geidrute never had the money to come here. She still lives in the same small farmhouse where Lea hid. And Lea could never go back.
INGEL: I didn't want to go to Lithuania. I lost my whole family there and friends and so many people that I know. And I couldn't go there anymore.
ZARRELLA: Now both are complete. A bond never broken is strengthened by tears and a loving embrace.
John Zarrella, CNN, Tamarack, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: There is still much more ahead in the NEWSROOM, including the latest on the death of a former Russian spy. The Russian government says it had nothing to do with his death, but the concept isn't that far-fetched. Carol Lin takes a look at the days of the KGB when Kremlin critics were pretty much guaranteed a death sentence.
From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. The day's top stories and the next hour of NEWSROOM straight ahead.
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