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Shooting in Wal-Mart in California; James Brown Hospitalized for Pneumonia; Peyton Manning Breaks Record; Pope Benedict Delivers Message in Rome
Aired December 24, 2006 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Christians celebrating the birth of Christ all around the world. Also, if you wait until the final hour to catch a Christmas sale, you may be in luck in New York. But not in New Jersey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm very happy about that on Sunday our stores are closed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Plus, say it ain't so. Saint Nick, sick? Hundreds of children who sat on his lap now may be, too.
You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
This is the place. This is where we connect you to the world, the Web, and what's happening right now. Hello, again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. The news starts now.
First in the headlines, a silent night in Gaza. The head of that region's Roman Catholic community scaled down the midnight mass. It's simply too dangerous, they say for the usual lavish celebrations. He blames the recent fighting between Palestinian factions for it.
In Boynton Beach, Florida, a crowded mall becomes a shooting gallery. This dramatic footage from a cell phone camera shows the aftermath. One person is dead, a suspect is in custody. And police are questioning two other people. Police believe the victim of the intended target but have yet to release a motive. All in all, a scary day for shoppers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just feel anxiety and scary and feel bad for the man that was shot at this particular time of the season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Let's take you to California now. Two men apparently got into an argument inside a Riverside County Wal-Mart. Once they reached the parking lot, one of the men shot the other three times. The victim has been treated and released. Police are looking for the gunman. Wal-Mart, after all it is Christmas Eve, remained open. That's the godfather of soul. He is under the weather. Legendary singer James Brown is being treated for severe pneumonia at an Atlanta hospital. He is 73-years old. Brown had to cancel a couple of shows, but his agent says he vows to be back on stage by next weekend.
President Bush is sending holiday wishes to American troops deployed in Iraq and elsewhere. Mr. Bush is telling them how much he appreciates their service and sacrifice. The First Family is spending Christmas at Camp David.
And there's this. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to undergo surgery after a Christmas holiday - well, mishap. His office said the 59-year-old former body builder fractured his leg while skiing. Those are obviously pre accident pics. No one else was injured.
Tonight, a notable record to tell you about. Indianapolis Colt quarterback Peyton Manning broke the record today for the most, 4,000 yard passing seasons in a row. How many? Seven straight. Not bad. Any records being broken out there weather-wise, Bonnie?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, Rick, I can tell you that radar satellite Santa cam, jet fighter aircraft, they're all tools Norad is using tonight to track Santa. There he is. I'll tell you more about that, plus your weather forecast for Christmas Day. That's coming up.
SANCHEZ: For families everywhere, this is one of the most important evenings of the year. So what we want to do now is literally take you around the world. So here we go, around the screen.
On the upper side of your screen, it's Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus, where again, tensions are high, tourism low. Upper right now, pay attention, it's the Vatican. It's where already Christmas has begun and the pope is making a special appeal. We're going to tell you exactly what he said.
And then, L.A. That's on the lower right there. Shoppers, make that last minute mad dash for the gift that keeps on giving. Yes, that's the commercial side.
Let's focus now on one of those boxes that we were just showing you. This is the West Bank town, where Christians believe the real story of Christmas was actually written. But the star of Bethlehem, a little cloudy in that tension, hate, fear. Everything the season is not about.
Here's CNN's Elise Labott. She's in Bethlehem.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're here in Major Square, in the city of Bethlehem, the city that Christ was born. The town celebrated with a midnight mass. The mood -- very upbeat for this most important day for Christians.
This capped a day-long celebration. Latin patriarch Michelle Sabat made his Christmas procession through the city to Manger Square. He was joined by mayor and President Mahmoud Abbas.
About 5,000 pilgrims flocked to the square. About 2,000 packed the Church of Nativity for the midnight mass. Not as many as several years ago before the start of the Palestinian intifdah.
There have been some groups that joined the citizens of Bethlehem here to support them from Spain and Italy, because this town has really fallen on tough times.
There's a separation barrier snaking through the city, cutting off Bethlehem from many of the residents' land and livelihood. And the international boycott of the Hamas-led government has really hurt residents here. Many residents are government employees that haven't been paid in months.
And this town always gets a Christmas boom from tourism, but tourism is down. The hotels are barely at capacity. And the (INAUDIBLE) shops are shuttered closed.
Really, the residents here say it's a somber Christmas. But even so, they need to celebrate the day that Christ was born in the city that he was born, and to hope for a better day here in Bethlehem and between Israelis and Palestinians.
Elise Labott, CNN, Bethlehem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Now a prayer to overcome prejudice and the Christmas message heard around the world tonight from the Vatican. Pope Benedict is urging people everywhere to work for a world built on justice and peace. He says the image of the baby Jesus should remind all of us about the poor, the abused, the neglected children all over the world.
More than 10,000 people watched and listened at St. Peters Basilica in Rome.
Christmas on patrol, as well. No reason to celebrate.
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RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reminders of combat here everywhere. Just the last 24 hours, this battalion lost one soldier.
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SANCHEZ: That's our Ryan Chilcote. More from the war zone. We'll have it in just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not counting this year, about $1.3 million.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This Secret Santa doesn't spend, he just gives. And now, he's encouraging and inspiring others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's safe to say anybody who's working on Wall Street can at least buy the 12 days of Christmas this year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: How well? Well, at the half hour, the biggest Christmas bonuses ever given out. We're going to tell you who's getting them. This one is eye opening and it may bug you.
By the way, that's our question tonight. We call it our last call. These fat cats, really rich guys as some would say, making $50 million, even $100 million bonuses for Christmas. Can they be guilty of make too much money? We want to know what you think about this. Give us a call. That's 1-800-807-2620. That's 800-807-2620. We're going to air many of your responses, have a conversation later this hour.
Here's another one for us. Another way of being able to reach out to each other. Is there a particular story that you want to hear more about? E-mail us right here at weekends@cnn.com, or send your video or your webcam suggestions at cnn.com/exchange. And we'll get the answer within the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Among the most popular stories that you are checking out on cnn.com tonight. It's a British newspaper. It reports Islamic militants want to attack the channel tunnel between England and France during the holiday season. The Observer says the French intelligence warned the French government of this threat about a week ago. That's after a tip from the CIA.
Spanish newspaper saying that Cuban leader Fidel Castro is getting a new doctor. It says a Spanish surgeon has traveled to Havana to consider ways to keep Castro's health from failing even further.
And Ben Stiller's "Night at the Museum." It drew the most holiday movie goers this weekend. It earned more than $30 million. Stiller stars as a museum guard whose exhibits come to life. A lot of stars in this one. For those stories and more, log on to cnn.com/mostpopular. We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Yes, it's been a somber Christmas weekend in Iraq. Six U.S. soldiers were killed in four separate incidents. Meantime, it's already Christmas morning for the more than 150,000 Americans serving in Iraq. For them, in many ways, this day will be just like any other. And the goal for them, again, to survive.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote brings this story while on patrol with U.S. forces.
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CHILCOTE: We're with the U.S. Army's 431 infantry, in Yusufiya, Iraq, where the troops say Christmas will be just like any other day. This is a very active war zone. This area is known as the triangle of death, although the troops say, ever since they came here, they like to refer to it as the circle of life. Reminders of combat here everywhere. Just in the last 24 hours this battalion lost one soldier. Just in the last few hours the commander says they've detained two Iraqis who had bomb making materials.
As for Christmas, the troops are going to get Christmas stockings, and they're also planning a turkey dinner.
Ryan Chilcote, with the 431 infantry, in Yusufiya, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: That's right. And another part of Iraq, there is some good cheer. We've got these pictures to share with you. Santa has already made an appearance, courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers. About a dozen members of the Corp's Gulf region division handed out toys and candy to Iraqi children.
Back here in the U.S., the big question for the Bush administration is, what now? The president is spending Christmas away from the White House, but he takes with him the burden of what to do about Iraq. Who to listen to? More troops or fewer troops? Exit plan or restart? Here's White House correspondent Elaine Quijano.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, President Bush wished 10 American service members a merry Christmas. Among those he called, personnel serving in Iraq. What to do next there was the focus of an hour-long briefing for the president this weekend by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, just back from a three-day trip to Baghdad.
During his visit, generals in Iraq presented Gates with a range of options, outlining each option's risks and benefits. One general involved cautions, no decisions have been reached, but one possibility, a temporary short-term surge of tens of thousands of U.S. troops, in part, to stabilize Baghdad.
A senior Defense Department official says, while generals may say they can use more troops, it must be in concert with economic and political progress on the part of the Iraqis. Yet, after his own visit to Iraq last week, Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd now believes a surge would be a mistake. He argues more U.S. forces would take the pressure off the Iraqis to come up with a political solution and would ultimately cost more American lives.
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: So I don't see any mission associated with this. It sounds to me like a tactic in search of a strategy here. The strategy is not clear yet, what needs to be done.
QUIJANO: Still, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham argues an infusion of U.S. forces now is crucial.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), NORTH CAROLINA: The security environment in Baghdad is very much deteriorated. You're not going to have a political solution with this much violence, so the surge of troops is, I think, very necessary.
QUIJANO (on camera): President Bush and the first lady are spending Christmas at Camp David with family, but the Iraq deliberations continue. After the holiday, the president heads to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, where Thursday he will consult with the National Security Council.
Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: The First Family is taking the traditional route for Christmas dinner. On the menu at Camp David, here you go. It's, we understand, turkey with gravy and corn bread dressing. Side dishes include mashed potatoes and green beans, sweet potato casserole, rolls around - rolls out the rest of the meal. By the way, on the sweet side, as if the sweet potato casserole wasn't sweet enough, trust me, it is, there's ambrosia and both pumpkin and pecan pies. There you go.
And there's this story. One member of the axis of evil is not backing down tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rising as a dominant regional force, Iran thinks it has pretty good leverage right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Our Aneesh Raman brings us a perspective that very few reporters can actually share, when we come back.
And then later, keeping a promise makes plenty of dreams come true. You're going to hear why this man has given away millions of his own dollars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're not shy about saying, hey, I work so hard all year, I just got this big bonus, and I want to live really well.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: Really? Hard working people living the American dream, but it's their huge Christmas bonuses. We mean huge, as in more than $50 million, that has a lot of Americans wondering. Are they guilty of making too much money? It's our last call question tonight. You can give us a call, sound off. 1-800-807-2620.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And once again, we must bring you provocative words and provocative actions by Iran. A foreign ministry spokesperson is saying that Iran now plans to speed up production immediately at one of its nuclear facilities, though they say it's not for weapons, just for electricity.
He also announced that Iran will decide within 48 hours whether to drop out of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency. In fact, this weekend, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously, as we told you yesterday, to impose sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt its nuclear program. Iran's leader is quoted as saying, "The sanctions will backfire on the West."
"I am sorry for you who lost the opportunity for friendship with the nation of Iran," is the words of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He goes on to say, "You yourself know that you cannot damage the nation of Iran."
Well, it certainly seems everybody is trying to get Tehran to the tables, but what is the reason, the real reason perhaps that Iran is being so defiant?
This is a high stakes game and CNN's Aneesh Raman has a unique perspective. He's one of a handful of U.S. journalists in Iran. And we talked tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN (voice-over): Iran thinks it has pretty good leverage right now, that things couldn't be much better for it to defy on the nuclear front. It has influence in Iraq, influence in Lebanon, influence in the Palestinian areas really throughout the Middle East. Iran is rising as a dominant player. So it feels less pressure really to come to the table. It said it's willing to do so, but not without any preconditions. The U.S. won't talk unless Iran suspends its nuclear program. So that's caught in the stalemate.
SANCHEZ: It does seem that the issue of the uranium enrichment is one that Ahmadinejad is extremely head strong about. We also know that he's not supported, certainly not 100 percent in his country. There are a lot of things that they don't like about him. Is this one of the things they waiver about? Or does he have the support of the -- even the Iranian middle when it comes to this issue?
RAMAN: It's a great question. The recent elections that took place in Iran showed a stinging defeat for the hard line conservative allies of Ahmadinejad. The country is, at least according to these elections, moving towards a more moderate relative middle ground. On the nuclear front, though, there is near uniform support still from Iranians of all political breeds. (INAUDIBLE) conservatives, because they feel it's a sense of respect, that Iran has the right to peaceful civilian nuclear energy.
SANCHEZ: There's one quote that I've been reading that really stands out. It comes from Iran's nuclear negotiator. He says this resolution will make our country more decisive in realizing our nuclear aims. I'm wondering what he's saying there, because a lot of people wonder whether this might push them in the direction of actually enriching uranium for weapons as opposed to just as they say they're using it now for energy.
RAMAN: Well, in the short-term, we're going to see the Iranians perhaps speed up their uranium enrichment possibilities, speed up their nuclear program, because they feel this mounting international pressure.
As I mentioned, the sanctions don't affect too much, but the Iranians are aware, the U.N. could meet again in a couple of months, ratchet up the sanctions, ratchet up the pressure.
So preemptively, they will move quicker, not slower on the nuclear front. Really, next year is make or break for Iran's nuclear program. Does the world figure out, through diplomatic channels or some other way to stop the nuclear program, or at least to suspend it? Or does the world have to face the fact that Iran will be a nuclear nation?
SANCHEZ: One final question. Are you free to say and report as you wish, while you're there in Tehran?
RAMAN: We are. The difficulty here isn't in freedom of movement. It's really getting the Iranians to open up as a Western crew on camera.
I remember a couple of trips back, I asked one man off camera what he thought of President Bush. He said I like him a lot. He got rid of Saddam Hussein. Saddam, of course, a perennial enemy of Iran.
We said, OK, let's get this on tape. We turned the camera on. What do you think of George Bush? And he called him the devil.
SANCHEZ: Aneesh Raman, there he is in Tehran uniquely positioned to be able to bring this story for us. We certainly appreciate it. Yeoman's work. Thank you.
RAMAN: Thanks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Here now is where you choose the news. 30 minutes ago, we asked you to send us your questions regarding stories that you haven't seen covered by the media.
Jared Crawford, he's from Pasadena, California, he wants to know more about what's being done to help the refugees in Darfur, Sudan.
So here it is. First of all, there's a key meeting coming up Tuesday. And that's when Sudanese officials are going to talk about how to launch a combined U.N. and African union peacekeeping force. The mission to try and stop the fighting that's killed more than 200,000 people, and left more than 2 million homeless. The U.N. was pushing for a much stronger force that it would lead, but the Sudanese president wants the African union to stay the main player.
Meantime, (INAUDIBLE) clashes between rebels and government forces are continuing there.
The war on drugs, as well. Tonight, a former cop is speaking out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are ruining lives more than the drugs themselves.
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SANCHEZ: He is helping drug dealers to never get busted.
Santa definitely delivered on Wall Street. Holiday bonuses worth thousands, even millions, even tens of millions. We'll add it all up for you.
And by the way, that brings us to tonight's last call. That's our question. Are they guilty of making too much money? These top business leaders. Give us a call. It's 1-800-807-2620.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Those are the sights and the sounds. The headlines now. Christmas Day in Bethlehem. Not really the same. Fewer tourists, scaled back decorations, and for the first time, no Christmas carols being piped into Manger Square. What's to blame? Violence, check points and an Israeli wall separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem.
Police in Italy have arrested an associate of an ex-Russian spy who died from radiation poisoning a month ago. Police are holding Mario Scaramella on unrelated charges, I should say, of weapons trafficking. Scaramella was the last personal to meet with Alexander Litvinenko before he got sick.
James Brown sang "I Feel Good," but that's not his song tonight. The godfather of soul is recovering from severe pneumonia at an Atlanta hospital. His concerts in Connecticut and New Jersey have been cancelled, but his agent says Brown vows to be back on the stage by next weekend.
A milestone for Michael Vick. The flashy Falcons quarterback has become the first NFL quarterback ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. A bittersweet record, though, for Vick. Atlanta lost the game today - scored only three points - and they're all but eliminated from the playoffs.
Millions of people opted to spend a "Night at the Museum," making Ben Stiller's new flick the movie to see this holiday weekend. "The Pursuit of Happiness" slips to number two. And after all these years, Rocky Balboa still packs a punch, ringing the bell at number three.
Well, if you think your $1,000 Christmas bonus is really a great get, wait till you hear what some of the folks on Wall Street are raking in.
Alina Cho takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK: Their stockings are stuffed with holiday green. Investment banks are handing out a whopping $23.9 billion in holiday bonuses.
ELIZABETH MACDONALD, SENIOR EDITOR, "FORBES": M&A activity is up. The Dow has taken off. The S&P 500 has taken off.
Wall Street is continuing to churn out record profits.
CHO: Profits soared 93 percent at Goldman Sachs this year, which means more than $16 billion in holiday paychecks.
Outside Goldman headquarters, no one wanted to brag.
Except one guy, who wouldn't give his name, but couldn't contain himself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joyous.
CHO: He and fellow bankers celebrated in style, with 1,000 White Castle hamburgers.
Goldman chief Lloyd Blankfein will take home $53 million, while Morgan Stanley CEO, John Mack, will pocket an estimated $40 million.
A few of their hot-shot traders and bankers can expect to take home $10 million, $25 million, and in some cases, $50 million.
A select few are getting $100 million. And they're looking to spend.
Real estate executive Pamela Liebman says, her phones are ringing off the hook.
PAMELA LIEBMAN, PRESIDENT, CORCORAN REAL ESTATE: We know it's in their pocket, and we know that they want to spend it. And they're not shy about saying, hey, I work so hard all year. I just got this big bonus, and I want to live really well.
CHO: Liebman says, this year the buyers aren't just setting their sites on Park and Fifth Avenue penthouses. They're thinking ocean front. Fancy restaurants will also benefit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty-four million five hundred.
CHO: So will auction houses and luxury car dealers - Rolls- Royce's, Bentley's and Lamborghini's. Some lucky bankers are paying $200,000 and more on the spot with no sticker shock.
WALTER D'URSO, MANHATTAN MOTORCARS: They just want to show everyone that they can afford the beautiful car.
CHO: Experts say, what's good for Wall Street is good for Main Street, and an economy that for now is roaring.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: There are people who watch that report and find it, well, frankly, disgusting is the word heard bantered about. These people are making way too much money, they will say, in a country where the average worker's wages are essentially flat for a couple of years.
So, we invited the editor of the "Wall Street Journal's" money and investing section to talk about just that.
Here is Susanne Craig.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSANNE CRAIG, MONEY & INVESTING SECTION EDITOR, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL": It's really hard to get your head around. I mean, it's unbelievable.
And what's even sort of harder to believe, for me, when you look at these numbers is, if they don't pay these numbers a hedge fund down the street, another financial company down the road, is going to take these guys and the people that are making the money - the traders, the investment bankers, the senior executives - and pay them even more money.
I mean, it's really hard to get your head around this sort of almost - I don't want to say - some people would say it's a false economy at these financial firms. Some people would just say it's another economy. But just this completely different world that exists, you know, at Wall and Broad in New York.
SANCHEZ: But it's certainly a different economy, isn't it. I mean ...
CRAIG: It is a different economy.
SANCHEZ: ... there's the economy that affects the average American, and then there's the economy that is affecting the investors. CRAIG: Yes, I mean, I ...
SANCHEZ: They're having a great year.
CRAIG: I have to tell you. I just came back from a week away, from a week on holiday. And I was out in California and you walk, you know, you walk down the street, you drive down the street and you see payday loan shops.
I mean, these are - you know, most people, and a lot of people have to go there. I wouldn't say most people, but a lot of people have to, you know, go to these places just to make ends meet.
And then on the other hand, there's guys making $50, $60, $70 million a year.
SANCHEZ: Is that money going to be spent in such a way so that they hoard it? Or is it going to be spent in such a way so that perhaps others will benefit, as in Ronald Reagan once said, the trickle-down effect?
CRAIG: Well, I think definitely the tax man is going to be watching them this year. I think that's going to be one thing.
I think there's two things going on here. One is, when these firms do well, it's usually a sign the economy and the stock market is doing well. And that is good news for everybody.
I mean, if these firms aren't doing well, it's a broader market indicator that the economy is not doing well.
But within that, I mean, are these going to be out buying tons of stuff? I'm sure they're going to have a great Christmas tomorrow.
But I think most of the money that you're seeing will be reinvested. I mean, we've taken a look at what some of these people do with their money. They reinvest it, and in investments the firm makes. They'll put it in their own investments.
I mean, very little of it will have a huge trickle-down effect. I mean, certainly some of it. There's going to be new houses and new cars. And some of them will be out buying apartments in New York.
I think that that's sort of really - I mean, it's great, but it's a limit. And most of it will go back into investments.
SANCHEZ: Have you put - have you put your head around how much this money could actually buy? I mean, can you somehow quantify it for us?
CRAIG: I think it's safe to say, anybody who's working on Wall Street and has done well can at least buy the 12 days of Christmas this year.
But, yes, I mean, it's fun to kind of think about it. I mean, you think sort of what we're getting is average sort of people working, you know, nine to five making 14, 18 bucks an hour.
And you're sort of, what would you get your kid? Tickle Me Elmo is sort of a popular gift this year. You could buy over a million of those with one of these bonuses of 50 ...
SANCHEZ: A million.
CRAIG: Yes. I think - I did the math today - 1.3 million of them. I mean, if you make - if you get a bonus of $50, $55 million, yes.
SANCHEZ: It's hard to put your head around it when you think about people out there waiting in lines to get one, right?
CRAIG: I know. And that's if, yes, if you're paying the retail price for one.
You know, a video iPod you could buy, you know, 150,000 of those - the expensive ones, not the lesser ones. You can get even more.
I mean, when you actually think about what you could do if you walked away without having to pay tax and, you know ...
SANCHEZ: Wow.
CRAIG: Even if you had to pay tax on it, there are huge, huge items that you could get, a lot of them.
SANCHEZ: One hundred million dollars as a bonus. Boy, that would certainly be nice. I think I'll take my slice of pumpkin pie and be happy.
Hey, Susanne Craig, thanks so much, "Wall Street Journal." Appreciate your wisdom on this.
CRAIG: Thanks for having me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Here's a story we mentioned to you earlier. A sick St. Nick with potentially dire consequences. This is in Toledo, Ohio.
A man who played Santa at an area mall has tested positive for a bacteria that causes meningitis. But doctors say the parents of any child who came in contact with him should not be too worried. Here's why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MICHAEL OMORI, ST. VINCENT MERCY MEDICAL CENTER, TOLEDO, OHIO: It's not likely that sitting on Santa's lap - when he doesn't even have the disease, he just has it living in his house - but sitting in his lap and talking for three or four minutes and getting your picture taken with him, is not likely to transmit meningitis.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SANCHEZ: And there you go.
A former Texas drug agent offers the low-down dope on how not to get busted. As you'd suspect, Barry Cooper isn't a hit with his former peers. Tuesday, his video on how not to get arrested for drugs goes on sale. Why his change of heart?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY COOPER, FORMER DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENT: Our war on drugs is not working. We've got more people in jail than ever before, yet more drugs on the street than ever before. And we have dead police officers, some of my fellow brothers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Here's what's ahead. Shop till you drop? It's what a lot of people want. But some say it isn't good for you or for your soul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN HUNGERMAN, CONDUCTED BLUE LAW STUDY: We observe increases in heavy drinking and drug use, but only among religious individuals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Blue laws, closed malls and a test of faith. It's up next.
Also, one trip to the Dixie Diner changed this man's life. Now, he wants to change yours.
We're going to meet him, straight ahead on the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Topic now, Sunday sinners, or what two economists call the "malevolent mall effect."
The term comes from a study of laws that limit shopping on Sundays. They're called blue laws. And when they go away, the religious can get rowdy.
Here's CNN's Gary Nurenberg.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON: This is a shopping center on a Sunday before Christmas?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I find it annoying.
NURENBERG: Paramus, New Jersey, requires most retail establishments to close on Sundays.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very happy that on Sundays our stores are closed.
NURENBERG: The restrictions are known as blue laws and are imposed to varying degrees by some states and localities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think you should be able to get what you want when you want it.
NURENBERG: But the country's founders didn't feel that way. George Washington was reportedly charged with violating Connecticut's blue laws against unnecessary walking or riding as he was on his way to church.
DAN HUNGERMAN, CONDUCTED BLUE LAW STUDY: Most colonies had blue laws. By the end of the 1800s, almost every state in the country had some sort of law prohibiting some sort of activity on Sunday.
NURENBERG: Dan Hungerman is the co-author of a study with surprising conclusions about what happens when blue laws are repealed. He calls it the malevolent mall effect.
HUNGERMAN: We observe increases in heavy drinking and drug use, but only among religious individuals, that is, the individuals who should be primarily affected by these laws.
NURENBERG: Not surprisingly, Hungerman's study shows declines in church attendance, church membership and donations when religious services get competition from commerce and parishioners are forced to work.
DAN CATHY, PRESIDENT, CHICK-FIL-A: As we finished out 2006, we had $2 billion in sales. That's an awful lot of chicken.
NURENBERG: The churchgoing Christians who own the Chick-Fil-A restaurant chain have closed their stores on Sundays for 60 years.
CATHY: When we're able to have some time off to be with our family, again, to worship, if we so choose, if that's our day of worship, then we know that good things come out of that.
NURENBERG: A view supported by Hungerman's study, showing increased drug and alcohol use when blue laws are repealed.
HUNGERMAN: A main result of this research is that it looks like religious participation could be good for you.
NURENBERG: Despite their long American history, the trend is away from blue laws, giving churchgoers more opportunity to become Sunday sinners.
Gary Nurenberg, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) SANCHEZ: Well, it's a place where Jesus, theater and charity all intertwine, "King of Glory." It's a spectacular musical that started 24 years ago. Each December it transforms an Atlanta stage into a holy land. Proceeds provide gifts for poor children. It's a true labor of love, really, as volunteers call it, from the 250 volunteer actors and singers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God.
PASTOR COLLETTE GUNBY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "KING OF GLORY": The "King of Glory" is - when we first started, it was to help people to know who they were.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will create a host of angels to worship you.
GUNBY: So many people now don't read, but they can look at TV. We've got to find other vehicles to expose people to the word of God.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.
GUNBY: The audience is phenomenal, you know. This year in particular, but every year it is breathtaking. And people just can't believe that we're not paid professionals, that we are just people that come from work, put on costumes and are used in such a mighty way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Woman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How is it that you speak?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How is it that you, who was created above me are so lacking in understanding?
GUNBY: We not only want to reach those that love theater, but we want to reach the young people. We want to give them an alternative to Gang Banging.
DEITRICK HADDON, GOSPEL RECORDING ARTIST: The production, "King of Glory," is about the beginning and the life of Jesus Christ, from the beginning all the way to his crucifixion and his resurrection.
It has impacted my life just to see the story of Jesus Christ come alive on stage, I mean, with the lights and the costumes. And the whole production is marvelous.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Looks a must-see, doesn't it? Next year, "King of Glory" is going to be traveling to several cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, D.C. and Baltimore.
Well, it's that time of the year. We all wish we had a little something extra, don't we?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is that? One, two, three, four, five. There's some more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Scream. Go ahead, scream. The thanks are brief, but the gratitude is eternal.
After the break, we're going to meet the man who gave thousands and thousands of his own dollars away as a Christmas wish.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Twenty-six years and $1.3 million later, the identity of Missouri's Secret Santa has finally been uncovered.
That's right, Kansas City's Larry Stewart. He's been the paradigm for spreading Christmas spirit, handing out cash to those who needed it most, and without ever letting anybody know who he was. He did this anonymously.
Now, after all the benevolence, Larry himself needs a Santa. You see, he's undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer.
So, the first question I had when I got a chance to talk to him was about him. How's he doing?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY STEWART, SECRET SANTA, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: We had a long week, but I'll tell you what. We've had a blast this week, because this year we had $175,000 to give away. We had four Secret Santas that ...
SANCHEZ: You see, but let me interrupt you. There you again talking about other people. My question was referring to you?
How are you doing? What are the doctors saying? I mean, you've got a pretty serious situation.
STEWART: Yes, yes. I was diagnosed in April, and they gave me four weeks to live.
And what's today? December 22nd?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
STEWART: Well, guess what - or 23rd. I'm still here, and I still plan to be here.
SANCHEZ: Did they really - they really gave you four weeks to live?
STEWART: Yes, yes. Four weeks to live without any treatment at all. And I was fortunate enough to be able to qualify for a clinical trial at M.D. Anderson, which I think is the greatest treatment center in the entire world.
SANCHEZ: Right, yes.
STEWART: In Houston, Texas.
SANCHEZ: So, you're coming along well, and you're hoping that you'll be able to get through, and that you can defy all the odds with the Lord's blessing. Right?
STEWART: Oh, absolutely. I start my second round in January. And so, I'm excited about it. I truly am.
SANCHEZ: That's great.
So, you've given away $1.3 million. First of all, where did you get $1.3 million?
STEWART: Well, I started my own business in 1980, after failing in 1975. I guess I was a glutton for punishment, so I started again in 1980. And then by the end of 1982, we had earned our first $1 million.
SANCHEZ: So, you're a wealthy guy. I mean, you've done pretty well for yourself, right?
STEWART: Well, I'll tell you what. God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams. You know, if you're a poor kid growing up in Mississippi, you can't even dream this big. You dream about getting out of town, and that's about it.
SANCHEZ: But a lot of people have a lot of money, but not everybody decides to go around giving it away to people, and to do it anonymously, the way you have done it for so many years.
STEWART: Well, for 20 ...
SANCHEZ: What makes you different, sir?
STEWART: Well, you know what? There's a lot of other people out there that do a lot of similar things.
This is different, because I was helped out in 1971, when I was a homeless guy. And someone in a little diner ...
SANCHEZ: You were homeless?
STEWART: ... dropped a $20 bill on me and said, son, you must have dropped this. And that changed my whole life.
SANCHEZ: You - I don't mean to interrupt you, but some of the things that you're saying are just, I imagine, so awe-inspiring to a lot of people, like they are to me.
You said, prior to being a wealthy man, as we've now established, you were homeless.
STEWART: Yes, in 1971. I was a door-to-door salesman in a little town called Houston, Mississippi. The company that I was working for up north, they went out of business. They just forgot to tell me.
SANCHEZ: And here you are, and you end up a restaurant, and somebody does something really nice for you.
STEWART: Yes, I ordered a breakfast. I had no intention of paying for it, because I didn't have any money.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
STEWART: And so, I pretended to lose my wallet. And the cook came from behind the counter and reached down on the floor as if to pick something up. I saw this hand come up and it was a $20 bill.
And I said, thank you, Lord. And then I thought, well, I'd better get out of here before the person that really dropped it comes in.
SANCHEZ: And that's where you got started, and then you've been sharing with people ever since?
STEWART: I didn't get started until 1979.
SANCHEZ: Wow.
Well, I'll tell you, you're an inspiration. We thank you so much. You've got a Web site, as well. And we should probably - go ahead, mention it. What is it, Secret Santa?
STEWART: Hey, Rick?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
STEWART: We've got over 3,000 new Secret Santas that have gone to the Web site. And anybody could become one. It doesn't take money. Any random act of kindness. Bake some cookies for the lady across the street.
It's, of course, www.SecretSantaUSA.com.
SANCHEZ: If you want to do what Larry Stewart has done.
We thank you, Mr. Stewart. God bless you, sir. Appreciate it.
STEWART: God bless you all, and Merry Christmas to everybody listening.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: What a guy. Check it out.
The hour's headlines just after the break. But first, your responses now to our "Last Call" question. People who get millions of dollars in bonuses - hundreds of millions in one case, or at least $100 million, I should say, to be fair - are they guilty of making too much?
Here's what you had to say.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SANDY, LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA: This is Sandy in Lafayette, Louisiana. And absolutely. That's not making money, that's stealing money. It's greed. It's horrible.
LARRY CARTER, FT. WORTH, TEXAS: I think you should give money back to help other people, if you're making that kind of money. Yes, I think you should feel a little guilty about it. Larry Carter, Ft. Worth, Texas.
DAVID LONG, ELSMERE, DELAWARE: David Long, Elsmere, Delaware. No, you can't. Because, if your boss is going to give you a big bonus that you're not asking for, then, hey. That's yours.
If your boss gave you that kind of money, would you give it back out of feeling guilty? Of course not. You need it.
TOM MEDLOCK (ph), GULF SHORES, ALABAMA: I'm Tom Medlock (ph). I'm at Gulf Shores, Alabama. I think it's ridiculous the amount of compensation that executives are getting. I think, in the long term, it's going to hurt everybody, the middle class and the country itself.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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