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U.S. Forces Were in Area When British Forces Were Seized, Were Asked to Help; Twister Hits Holly, Colorado; Drug War in Iraq; Halle Berry Reveals Suicide Secret; Donald Trump Renews Deal with NBC

Aired March 29, 2007 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

LEMON: This just in to the CNN NEWSROOM.

We reported it just at the end of the last hour. A second letter has been sent to the British parliament. This is according to the Iranian news agency.

It is reportedly from the British sailor Faye Turney. Now, Faye is one of 15 sailors being held by Iran. And it's addressed to parliament, and it says, reportedly, "It is time to get our troops out of Iraq," talking about Britain.

We are efforting (ph) our Robin Oakley, who is in London, to get some reaction from London on all of this, and as soon as we get it, we'll bring it to you live. We'll be following this developing story throughout the day right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

WHITFIELD: And remarkable, too. The question had been asked, what about the U.S. involvement in what's taking place with the Britains who are being held in Iran, knowing that there are U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf.

Well, Barbara Starr has learned some very interesting information about how the U.S. has played a role, or, at the same time, has kept a distance from what is going on.

Explain, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, hello to you.

As we reported in the last hour, CNN has learned from a senior U.S. military official that when this incident originally unfolded in the opening minutes, U.S. forces, U.S. military forces were nearby in the Persian Gulf and were asked by the British to try and help. Here is what happened.

A U.S. Navy patrol craft, a small boat, and a U.S. Navy helicopter were nearby enough that the British asked urgently if the U.S. military could help try and re-establish communications with those British sailors and Royal Marines as they were being taken away, apparently, at that point, by the Iranians. The British had lost communications with this team, and they asked the U.S. military to try to step in and help.

This is the first knowledge we have that U.S. military forces were nearby enough to even be asked to get involved in this matter in any fashion. The U.S. military was not able to re-establish communications, but it did not stop there.

A British helicopter was flying overhead and found out that at least in one of these British small boats, these Zodiac-type boats, the Iranians, according to this information, were on board, the British team was sitting in the front. The Iranians were apparently piloting this small craft as they were taking it all away.

There was some type of what is described as broken communications with somebody. We believe, according to our sources, it was an Iranian voice in broken communications that said, essentially, "no harm" and "taken to a safe place". Some type of communications, broken as it was, trying to indicate that these people were being taken away, that they were not in imminent harm. At least that was the broken communications that the U.S. military believes was received.

I have to acknowledge to you, Fred, of course, this information is very sketchy. A lot, of course, not being said by any of either governments in London or here in Washington. They want to play it low key.

The British are setting the pace here, trying to keep it in a diplomatic arena. But what we do know now is, as it was unfolding -- and the whole incident only took about 50 minutes -- as it was unfolding, the U.S. military was very aware at that point of what was going on -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

Thank you.

LEMON: And more now on that letter reportedly sent to the British parliament.

Let's go to London now and CNN's Robin Oakley.

Robin, the British government reacting to this?

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, not yet. They haven't had time to do that, Don. I mean, it's only just been sent out, this letter, to the Reuters news agency from the Iranian embassy in London. But it is another worrying sign, I think, and British authorities will be fairly swift to react.

They've already suggested that the first letter that we saw from Faye Turney, the one woman among the 15 British sailors and marines, was the result of coercion or pressure by the Iranians holding her. I think they will be more disturbed by the contents of the second letter, which CNN, of course, has been unable to verify in any way. But this second letter not only repeats the suggestion that the British sailors were in Iranian waters and not in Iraqi waters, as the British government has insisted. But also, asks -- apparently, addressed to the members of the British parliament, asks why British forces are still in Iraq. Says, "Isn't it time to start withdrawing from Iraq and leave them" -- the Iraqis -- "to sort out the situation for themselves?"

So, I think, there will be more worry in the British Foreign Office that this letter -- that both letters from Faye Turney are the result of some coercion by the people who are holding her in Iran. And certainly, Prime Minister Tony Blair, a couple of hours ago, talking about the pictures of Faye Turney on television, said it was disgraceful. And the British Foreign Office has been taking that turn all along -- Don.

LEMON: All right. Robin Oakley, thank you.

And as Robin pointing out, this letter just coming out. The British government has not had time to react to it. But surely, they will in time. And when they do, we'll get back to Robin Oakley.

Thank you so much for your report -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And in this country, it was a night of terrifying and deadly tornadoes, a dozen of them, 65 at last count, tearing through one town after another. Some striking with little or no warning at all, killing at least four people.

The line of storms overnight stretched from South Dakota to Texas. One twister, as wide as two football fields, carved up one Colorado community.

And hit hard, the town of Holly, Colorado, where two women have died from a string of tornadoes there and one 3-year-old baby remains in critical condition after losing the baby's mother, who was one of those two who died.

Well, earlier, family members of one of those victims were at a hospital in Colorado Springs and had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSCAR PUGA, BROTHER OF TORNADO VICTIM: My mom said all she heard was a loud noise. And they live next to some railroad tracks, and she thought it was a train. And she looked out, it wasn't that.

Heard a bigger noise and heard some windows breaking. So she grabbed my nephew and went into a walk-in closet and stayed right there until it had passed through. And it broke all of her windows.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she talk about anything after it had passed (INAUDIBLE)?

PUGA: She ran out. Some guy had stopped by and asked her if she was OK, and she told him to go check on my brother. She took off. And when she got to where his house was supposed to be, it wasn't there. And she just screamed and screamed, and then finally found him and had found that, you know, he was holding on to my niece. And they were still looking for Rosemary (ph).

VICTORIA ROSALES, NIECE KILLED IN TORNADO: He did say there was no warning at all towards anything coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what were you told about where they found Rosemary (ph)?

ROSALES: In a tree. And that she -- it took like, maybe -- from what they said, it was, like, a couple of hours before they were even able to get to her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The home got flipped, I guess, or sort of tossed around by the storm?

PUGA: It's totally gone.

ROSALES: It's gone. And the semi -- the semi was just flipped over, too. And it had, like, 2,600 pounds. And that was flipped over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is your husband a truck driver?

ROSALES: Yes, he is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was Rosemary (ph) conscious?

ROSALES: She only responded once. And then after that, they couldn't get any response from her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell us about her, if you would.

ROSALES: About Rosemary (ph)?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. What was she like?

ROSALES: Rosemary (ph) was family. All about her family.

She always took care of her kids. She always took care of her husband. That was always her main priority.

And even when I heard about this, it was -- I didn't think it was nothing like this, that's for sure. You know, I thought it was just a big scare.

But I was just joking about it, like, "She's probably in the kitchen cooking, you know?" That's exactly what I said, was there in the kitchen. And Nolia (ph) was sleeping in the front room.

All they heard was this big, ugly noise. And they had no time to run. He just went and grabbed them both, and that's when it came. And it just threw him. And Rosemary (ph) got separated from him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Your heart just can't help but go out to those people.

Holly is a town of a little more than 1,000 people. And today, those people are coming face to face with the horror and the heartache of what happened there last night.

And Rhonda Scholting is there for us.

Rhonda, you've been there all day. How bad is it now? What is the situation on the ground?

RHONDA SCHOLTING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is bad. People are picking up from last night's tornado.

This is Highland Drive, or at least it used to be Highland Drive in Holly. We're on the north side of town. And look behind me. Back there, there used to be at least a half dozen houses. Now, as you can see, there only piles of debris.

But as any tornado is, this one was just a little bit strange, because right here on this corner, this house, you know, from the outside looks pretty much untouched. You can see that there's glass broken here on the front window.

And look, the homeowners managed to drag the living room couch out. It looks to be in pretty good shape. But over here is the garage door from the neighbor's house, we think. We can't figure out where else it came from.

Over here, we have the uprooted bush in the front. But still, you know, you get a closer, it still looks somewhat damaged. But, you know, it doesn't look as bad as it could.

Let's step inside here.

This used to be the living room. And I don't think these people will be living here anytime soon. Take a look at the roof up there. Pretty much gone.

There's really nothing that is there but the sky and the clouds. And that's pretty much it in this home.

Now, these people that have been picking up today are -- they're homeowners. They're also the relatives and friends. And actually, some of these folks are even strangers that have showed up here in this small town to try to help the folks pick up the pieces.

And one of those folks that came here today is Bob Randle.

Bob, come on over. Bob's been working hard all morning. And pretty much most of the afternoon.

Now, why are you here? You have a house across the street?

BOB RANDLE, LIVES IN HOLLY, COLORADO: No, my wife's mother lives across the street. She's lived here for thirty-five to six years. And she was in the house when everything hit.

SCHOLTING: And what happened to her?

RANDLE: Well, the electricity went off, so she went to the kitchen to get a match and a candle. And there was a door, a sliding glass door, a French door outside. And she was standing there by the sink, and that door just blew the glass out.

And at that point in time, she -- she ended up on the ground. And when my brother-in-law picked her up, what was odd about it is the stove was on her. The cooking stove.

SCHOLTING: So the stove was on her?

RANDLE: Yes.

SCHOLTING: And she suffered some injuries. Broken bones?

RANDLE: Oh, yes. She has -- she has a lot of broken ribs. The collarbones are broken.

When they left, her lung -- one lung was collapsed. But after they got to Pueblo, Park View (ph), I guess that took care of itself in some ways. But she's in a lot of pain.

SCHOLTING: She's in a lot of pain?

RANDLE: Yes.

SCHOLTING: But she's still with us.

RANDLE: Yes. Well, she was coherent the whole time. I mean, she was talking -- in fact, when she got to the hospital, they were messing around with her pillow. And she told them to quit that. And she was still...

SCHOLTING: A little feisty.

RANDLE: A little feisty. And she's always been feisty.

SCHOLTING: That's good to here.

But her house is pretty much -- it's gone. We can't really see it from here, but there's not much left.

RANDLE: I don't think we're going to have any Christmases or Thanksgivings there anymore.

SCHOLTING: Which is too bad.

RANDLE: It's sad, yes. And it was a -- you know, she was a widow. And the lady down here was a widow.

And, you know, it was a nice neighborhood. And it was just perfect. But it's a wrong -- wrong time to be there.

SCHOLTING: Yes, that's true. But everyone is pulling together today, it seems like.

RANDLE: Yes. This area always does that. I mean, it doesn't matter what part of the county.

If something goes on -- in fact, the other counties are pulling in. They brought in all of their med techs and ambulances. And, I don't know, they had -- somebody said 10 ambulances here last night.

SCHOLTING: Oh, yes. Yes.

RANDLE: And the hospital is ready to go. And so the community just kicks in, any time, for any community.

SCHOLTING: A lot of friends and family, and everyone kind of pulls together.

RANDLE: Yes. You know, and at a time like that, you forget a lot of things, too. You know, you just pull together and get the job done. And everybody has done it.

And they'll continue to do it. Like I say, I don't know if -- there's a lot of work to be done here.

SCHOLTING: There is. There is, Bob. And you're helping. Thank you very much.

RANDLE: Thanks, Rhonda. I appreciate it.

SCHOLTING: And we understand, too, the Colorado governor, Bill Ritter, is going to be here in approximately about 15 minutes or so. He'll be meeting at one of the schools here in town with some folks and then coming here to Highland Drive to kind of check out the damage for himself.

Don't know yet if any sort of state aid is coming here, but you just have to take a look at the damage and have to believe there's going to be some kind of help.

LEMON: And sadly, Rhonda, you can -- you know, it's hard to lose possessions, but you can replace those. You can't replace lives.

So please thank Bob for us. And tell him that we're thinking about him and people there, as well.

And careful walking around in that debris as well, OK?

Thank you so much.

SCHOLTING: Thank you. I sure will.

LEMON: Thank you so much for your report.

Let's move on now and talk about a fire in a Houston office building. Now the search for clues in a blaze that took three lives.

Stay in the CNN NEWSROOM. WHITFIELD: And bloodshed in Baghdad and beyond. The latest from the front lines in Iraq.

And our Kyra Phillips is in Baghdad with this story...

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Also, ahead from Baghdad, once unheard of in Iraq, drug busts are now the norm. I'll take you on a patrol coming up from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Coming up on 20 past the hour. And here's some of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

At least four deaths in a series of storms that attacked mid- America overnight. Dozens of tornadoes are reported.

Damaging new testimony about the decision to fire eight U.S. prosecutors. The former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says Gonzales signed on.

And the latest development in the Anna Nicole Smith saga. A jury is ready to investigate the death of Smith's son.

WHITFIELD: A breaking story out of Baghdad. Just a short time ago, we got word of a suicide bombing in a Shiite marketplace. Preliminary reports say at least 60 people were killed and 41 wounded. Also, at least 20 people were killed today in a wave of car bombings in a town north of the capital.

At least three deadly explosions rocked mostly Shiite Khalis in Iraq's Diyala Province. Twenty-one people were hurt.

The violence marred the first official day on the job for the new United States ambassador, Ryan Crocker.

And as if Iraq didn't have enough problems, now it has a new one, illegal drugs.

With that story, live from Baghdad, our Kyra Phillips.

PHILLIPS: That's right, Fred. Here in Iraq, if you're the head of a drug ring and you get caught, without question you're going to die for your crime.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS (voice over): We're on patrol with the Iraqi border police. They're looking for drug smugglers.

(on camera): Does the drug money support terrorism?

(voice over): "Yes," the investigator tells me, "it's very clear."

Clear, because once unheard of in Iraq, high-profile drug busts are now the norm, and this is where many of them end up.

(on camera): Tell me what type of criminals you deal with in this jail.

(voice over): "Drug smugglers, terrorists, kidnappers," he tells me, "and murderers, the worst."

Welcome to Baghdad's major crimes unit, where we have to protect every investigator's identity.

(on camera): I'm told your investigators are murdered for what they do.

(voice over): "Our country should be secure," he says. "We need to make a sacrifice for that. This is the principle."

If you're convicted and sent to this prison, you are executed or locked up for life.

Shaban Ali (ph) was arrested for smuggling hashish. He says he's innocent. But he had no problem describing how hashish, heroin, and marijuana are the popular drugs here. Most of it, investigators say, smuggled from Iran and Afghanistan, funneling millions of dollars and plenty of drugs to the terrorists.

(on camera): Why would -- why would you want to kidnap and kill anybody? Why?

(voice over): Mohammed Kadam (ph) says he is not a terrorist, but he admits he did kidnap and murder a man. He says he did it for the money.

Back at the border, back to yet another post-war reality, drugs. Just one more enemy in this war in Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Kyra Phillips joining us again now live.

So, Kyra, it seems pretty harsh, execution or life in prison?

PHILLIPS: Well, I thought the same thing about the execution part. You know, dying for being a drug smuggler.

I mean, obviously, you know, it's a horrendous crime. But that was very interesting to find out how seriously they took this. Two reasons.

Number one, because here in Iraq, they feel that drugs contributes to the drug addict problem which is increasing here in Iraq. And it destroys the society. It destroys families. And they think that that is worth execution.

Also, culturally, according to the Koran, anything that alters the mind is considered works of Satan. So, as you know, people -- the Iraqis here are extremely faithful and they abide by the Koran in many different ways. And one is, they are strongly against drugs and alcohol.

WHITFIELD: So, that one inmate that you talked to in your piece, he said money is a motivation. So, how much money are we talking about?

PHILLIPS: Oh, in that one raid that we showed you, Fred, for 1,500 pounds of hashish, that's $10 million in street value.

And also something else that was interesting. The investigator said to me that they're using the drugs also like they use cocaine in Sudan with the child soldiers. They're bringing in these young kids to become suicide bombers and commit other acts of terrorism, and they're getting them high. They're starting to use the drugs.

So, as the investigator says, they're unaware of what they're doing, in many cases.

WHITFIELD: All right. Sad stuff.

Kyra Phillips, thanks so much, in Baghdad.

LEMON: The death of one, the paternity of the other. Continuing drama over the children of Anna Nicole Smith. We'll get the very latest live from the Bahamas ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Happening right now, a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for the famed Tuskegee Airmen. The president speaking now.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... fighting two wars. One was in Europe, and the other took place in the hearts and minds of our citizens. That's why we're here.

The white commander of the Tuskegee Air Field was once asked, with all seriousness, "How do African-Americans fly?" And reflecting the ignorance of the times, he said, "How do African-Americans fly?" He said, "They fly just like everybody else flies, stick and rudder."

Soon Americans in their kitchens and living rooms were reading the headlines.

You probably didn't realize it at the time, but you were making headlines at home. Headlines that spoke about daring pilots winning a common battle. And little by little, every victory at war was translated to a victory here in the United States.

And we're in the presence of men who are earning those victories. Important victories. Leaders who pierce the unquestioned prejudices of a different society.

You gave African-Americans a sense of pride and possibility. You saw that pride. And I'm sure you remember in the faces of young children who came up to you right after the war and tugged on your uniforms and said, "Mister, can you really fly an airplane?" Some of you have been in Germany and Iraq, and you still see that sense of pride.

I appreciate your going. I appreciate the fact that one of our young soldiers today took pictures of you for a scrapbook for his children. I appreciate the fact that one of our soldiers today said it's not often that you get a chance to meet the guys who have paved the path for you.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: The Tuskegee Airmen helped win a war. And you helped change our nation for the better.

Yours is the story of the human spirit, and it ends like all great stories do, with wisdom and lessons and hope for tomorrow. And the medal that we confer today means that we're doing a small part to ensure that your story will be told and honored for generations to come.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: And I would like to offer a gesture to help atone for all of the unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities, and so on, on behalf of the office I hold in a country that honors you. I salute you for the service to the United States of the America.

(APPLAUSE)

LEMON: The president of the United States there honoring the famed Tuskegee airmen. Just to give you a little bit of background. The Tuskegee airmen were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military airmen at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked the intelligence, the skill and the courage and patriotism to fly. So, of course, none of that was true. That's a ceremony happening right now in Washington, D.C. Six of these Tuskegee airmen are being honor there today.

And one of them -- some very interesting information just real quick about one of them. We're going to stay with this. But I want to tell you, one of them is Major General Shade. When he was in his early 20s. He was flying planes over Italy, he said, shooting down enemies, protecting bombers, that sort of thing. He was part of a group of the Tuskegee airmen who made 450 flights. Flew more than 450 times with his squadron over Italy for nearly a year, he says. Obviously, he's an older man now. He did all of this in his 20s. But some pretty interesting folks comes out of Tuskegee airmen.

Lots of people, African-Americans, many of whom we know, Fredricka as well, a lot of folks had family members, grandfathers and dads who were Tuskegee airmen. A lot of those coming from major cities who had large, black populations like New York City and Chicago, even some from down in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit. So it's a very interesting story there.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

LEMON: We also have a picture that we want to show you and tell you about this photo. This photo was taken in 1941. And it was a visit from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to the all-black Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. And this sort of changed things for the airmen for a few reasons. She was concerned that black pilots were facing discrimination and being barred from flying and so she joined the Tuskegee instructor, Charles Anderson, who was on that flight. And the flight, according to the documents from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library encouraged the president to use the Tuskegee 99th squadron in combat mission. So this was a turning point there are for the Tuskegee airmen.

WHITFIELD: So remarkable, too, that these men are being honored now, I mean, for their service, 1942, '44.

LEMON: Years and years, yes.

WHITFIELD: I mean it's nice that they are being honored here and now, particularly while they are living, as opposed to this kind of honor being bestowed on them posthumously and their families getting a chance to enjoy this. They get a chance to enjoy this moment. It's nice.

LEMON: Yes, congratulations to them and they certainly deserve it. The CNN NEWSROOM continues right after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's just amazing to look at video like this any time there is a tornado. Homes and trees ripped to shreds. Debris scattered for miles. It's like this in much of Holly, Colorado, today. It's a small town torn apart by a monster tornado. It hit with little warning around dinner time, sucking one young woman and her child out of their home. Their neighbor describes finding them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I stepped out there on the back porch and I could hear somebody over here. It was the husband hollering "help me, help me." And he was in bad shape too. When I got over here. But all I -- I had a flashlight and I was shining it up there and I could see the little girl. And her nose was bleeding and all that stuff. I thought maybe I could shimmy up there and get her, but I just didn't have the strength to do it.

And he said his wife was up there. So I kept looking. And I finally found her. And she wasn't moving too much. But, you know, I hoped for the best.

So I had to leave them then and I went on down the street and got a younger guy to come back and he got up in there and got the little girl out of there. And at that point, I went on back inside. I couldn't stay out here any longer.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: That is incredible stuff. Well, more twisters took aim at Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Take a look at this. Is this not remarkable? I think this seems like probably one of the closest views of a pretty sizable tornado I think I've seen in a while.

LEMON: Yes, absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Those states I mentioned, that's all part of tornado alley. So while people are used to it, they know how serious and how damaging these kind of twisters can be. This one taking place in Briscoe County in the Texas panhandle. It was spotted by Reed Timmer, a storm chaser based in Norman, Oklahoma. He is with us now on the phone and he wants to head back out there to track more storms as they happen.

And so, Reed, I talk about this video being remarkable in that it seems like you are so close to this twister and I understand that you were disappointed that you couldn't get even closer?

REED TIMMER, STORM CHASER: Well, we were going to attempt to get closer. It was moving rather slow. So this is the perfect tornado that you could get close to.

WHITFIELD: Why? Why was this the perfect tornado that you could get close to? What do you mean?

TIMMER: Well, it was moving very slow and it was also paralleling a road too. And it was kind of smaller in diameter. It was a stove pipe shaped tornado. But I mean even though we're out there trying to get the extreme video and everything, our main objective as storm chasers is to call in the warnings to the National Weather Service and try to help warn people in the path. Seeing those damage photos from Colorado just puts everything in perspective.

WHITFIELD: It really does. And we're talking about a day and an evening where dozens of tornadoes were ripping through the area in various states. As you are documenting this, now, I must underscore the fact that you do this because not only are you interested, but you are working on your Ph.D. in meteorology. So you see something really obstructive and trying to get a closer view of these tornadoes. But as you do this, and as you try to relay information to the National Weather Center, what are you noticing about the patterns of these tornadoes, since it seems as though this was a day in which there was an excessive amount of activity.

TIMMER: Yes, one thing unusual about this year is the multitude of tornadoes early in the season. Like I've been storm chasing since 1997 and I've never seen a season where so many tornadoes occurred before April 1st. And usually, you know, late April and May are your prime months, as in 2003 where May was extremely active. All the tornadoes are occurring before April 1st. It's (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: So what do you think is going on? What's a good explanation, do you think?

TIMMER: Well, I think it's probably not really the global warming. I'd say it probably has something to do with the Pacific (INAUDIBLE) temperatures. But there's a lot that's not understood about the climatology of tornadoes. But I think, as storm chasers, we all knew that the southern Plains was due for an active season.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And as we look at this video, hopefully you're able to see through your monitor, too, this is a very thick, wide, tornado that is on the ground. At least it appears from my vantage point. But this is an area that's very rural. A fairly non-populated area. What can you tell me about this shot?

TIMMER: Yes. That area was very non-populated and, luckily, there weren't any structures in its path. Because as you can see in the rapid rotation of the base, it was an extremely strong tornado. And if there were structures in its path, it could have been very devastating. So we're lucky for that. So while it was a beautiful tornado, it also wasn't harming any property or lives.

WHITFIELD: How do you do this and be safe? What markings do you look for? How do you know, uh-oh, we're too close? Or I'm standing at the wrong vantage point, I need to move on? What are the things that you need to assess as you take video like this?

TIMMER: Oh, I definitely wouldn't recommend getting as close as we do. I think we may take a few to many unnecessary risks, us personally. Storm chasers as a whole are very safe and we feel that we're safe as well. But we just monitor the tornado's motion. And this particular one, we were just north of it and we knew it was going to move just to the left of the road. And as the tornado matured, it seems that it would curve to the left a little bit. So as we paralleled it on the road, it actually moved a little bit away from us.

WHITFIELD: All right. Well, Reed Timmer, I know I wouldn't be the first to say, come on, this is crazy and you've got to have a little bit of crazy in your DNA in order to do this. But at the same time, it's nice to hear that all of this is very instructive video too, to further analyze so that we can see and perhaps understand or study what could be next.

Reed Timmer, thanks so much and be safe.

TIMMER: Oh, thanks for having me.

LEMON: Be safe. That is the important thing. And, you know what, he brought up a whole lot of points there. A lot of this activity, Rob, happening before April 1st. We've got a lot of weather happening today, but why is that?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Well, you remember it raised a few eyebrows and it certainly got Britney Spears a lot of exposure. Well now Donald Trump puts his own marvelous mane on the line. Could it be? Straight head in the NEWSROOM. The buzz over a possible haircut. You don't believe it, do you?

LEMON: Whatever.

WHITFIELD: You don't buy it?

LEMON: If the money's going to charity, good, but whatever. I don't know.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So two months ago we learned about one of the biggest ever breaches of personal security information involving a popular clothing retailer. Well, now, we find out it's even worse than we thought. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with more on that.

Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fred.

Well, we're talking about TJX, the company that operates more than 2,000 stores under the names T.J. Max, Marshall's, Home Goods and A.J. Wright. The company now says information from at least 45 million credit and debit cards were stolen from the discount retailer. Of those 45 million, TJX says nearly 75 percent of cards were either expired or the data from the magnetic strip was encrypted. Another 450,000 customers who returned merchandise without receipts had their personal data stolen, too, including driver's license numbers. So, Fred, the idea here is to check your credit cards carefully. Check your statements carefully.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Yes, that is frightening. Forty five million. That's a lot of people there. So do we know whether any of that stolen information, the cards, whether they were used?

LISOVICZ: Yes. And it was something we were talking about just a week ago. Florida police charged six people with using credit cards that were stolen from TJX. They bought $1 million in merchandise. Because of the extent of the breach, TJX says it's still not clear just how many people were involved. So stay alert if you have been doing any business at any of those stores.

On Wall Street, shares of Qwest are gaining more than 1 percent. That company, along with AT&T and Verizon, were awarded the government's biggest telecom contract ever. It's a 10-year deal worth up to $48 billion.

Overall, however, there is not money to be made on Wall Street. The Dow Industrials riding a three-session losing streak. Started out strong. It faded completely. And unsuccessful at this stage of the session. The Nasdaq composite is under water, too.

Oil prices, by the way, are up more than $2 today. That certainly is an improving sentiment here. And that's the latest from Wall Street.

Don and Fred, back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot, Susan.

LEMON: All right. And from Wall Street uptown a couple of blocks to the CNN Center in Columbus Circle, is that right, A.J. Hammer, what's on top for entertainment?

A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Well, I know, Don, you may be ambivalent about this, but another Don, Donald Trump, may be losing his signature style in a tangle between two other men. I'll comb out all the details for you tangles when the NEWSROOM continues.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN SEACREST, HOST, "AMERICAN IDOL": Sanjaya, would you stand up, please? You sang "Bath Water." America voted and you are not going to be out in the center of the stage. You are safe. Take a seat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, my God!

LEMON: Whatever. .

WHITFIELD: You love that moment?

LEMON: Pondering "American Idol" mysteries. Need we say it. Sanjaya Malakar . . .

WHITFIELD: It's all about the hair.

LEMON: Look at that hair. Sure, he's cute and may have the tween vote locked in, but any "Idol" fan can tell you, he just can't sing that well. Radio host Howard Stern and the Web site votefortheworst.com are encouraging people to vote for the toothy teen. Now the question on many minds, what if he actually wins? Well, he's one of the final nine contestants. And critics fear he might ruin the show, which is, after all, after all, a singing competition. Keep that in mind.

WHITFIELD: Well, it's called "American Idol."

LEMON: I know.

WHITFIELD: You know, I mean, you can interpret it . . .

LEMON: I'm not (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: They only, you know, however you want to, I guess.

LEMON: I know. But, still, it is a singing competition.

WHITFIELD: It's driving you nuts, isn't it?

LEMON: Yes. Well, the hair's crazy. Are you going to do that tomorrow?

WHITFIELD: OK. There are people who love him.

LEMON: If he wins, we're going to make a bet --

WHITFIELD: What?

LEMON: If he wins or loses, you can do your hair like that.

WHITFIELD: Well, what about you?

LEMON: I don't have enough. I'd have to cut the little bit . . .

WHITFIELD: Oh, we could find a little wig or something. A little Mohawk-like type of thing.

LEMON: I don't know. Maybe A.J. Hammer will do it. What do you think?

WHITFIELD: You're not hearing a commitment from me on that just yet.

All right.

LEMON: See if A.J. will do it.

WHITFIELD: OK. I'll have to ask, because A.J.'s coming up.

Well, she, I don't know who we're talking about right now, but she has money, she has looks.

A.J., would you be willing to do that? Maybe a wig with a little Mohawk or fauxhawk as Sanjaya likes to call it?

HAMMER: No.

WHITFIELD: Will you do that?

HAMMER: Not a chance.

WHITFIELD: OK. Well, just checking because Don's really trying to get somebody to do a fauxhawk.

HAMMER: Don can wear the wig. (INAUDIBLE).

WHITFIELD: OK. All right. All right. Well, let's talk about something a little bit more serious that is involving Hollywood and one of Hollywood's hottest actresses. What's going on?

HAMMER: Well, Fred, it is a startling revelation from Oscar winner Halle Berry, as she's telling "Parade Magazine" that she tried to commit suicide after her divorce from baseball star David Justice. The 40-year-old said that she was sitting in her car.

She knew the gas was coming in. When at that very moment she had this vision of her mother finding her. Well, Berry thought how much her mom had sacrificed for her children and she thought to end her life would just be an incredibly selfish thing to do. The actress also promised herself that she would never be a coward again. And I think she's held true to that. The full story is coming in this Sunday's "Parade Magazine."

And this coming week, Berry is going to be getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And, Fred, she'll be on the big screen as well. She's staring with Bruce Willis in the drama "Perfect Stranger." That film will be in theaters on April 13th, a Friday, so we are obviously happy Berry is doing well.

WHITFIELD: Well, that's great. And revealing that very private moment really will end up being quite instructive for a lot of people, a real inspiration. And she probably knows that and that's why she's sharing that.

HAMMER: Yes, it takes a lot of courage to do that. Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: It really does.

All right. Well, let's talk about somebody else who had the big "c" word, a lot of courage in a lot of other respects, Donald Trump.

HAMMER: Yes. Don, though you may not care about this at all, but Donald Trump, the real estate king, is keeping his crown in the beauty contest business. He renewed a three-year deal with NBC to broadcast the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants. The Miss USA contest, of course, made a lot of news recently when reigning Queen Tara Conner spent time in rehab during her tenure after Trump had given her a second chance.

And in other Trump news, just last Friday night, -- well, this, she turned over her tiara to Miss Tennessee, Rachel Smith.

And now to the other Donald Trump news, because it's not the only competition he's involved with. This contest has very, very high stakes. Listen to this. Trump and WWE owner Vince McMahon are each going to have a wrestler competing for them in the battle of the billionaires. It's going to happen at Wrestle Mania 23 in Detroit. The loser will have to shave their head. Now some might call this a long, overdue cut for Donald Trump.

Now McMahon has a really nice head of hair. I don't really see either of them going through with this. The two already went head to head at a big press conference yesterday. That turned ugly. So just imagine, Fred, what's going happen when one of them takes out the razor.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. These wrestling matches kill me.

LEMON: Oh, please.

WHITFIELD: People, it's not real.

LEMON: Thank you. I'm glad you said it. WHITFIELD: But so many folks are so hooked. But, hey, it's entertainment. It is a lot of fun.

HAMMER: Yes. People know what it is. People know what it is.

WHITFIELD: Oh, OK. I hope so. Because folks in the audience, they're awfully serious and I begin to wonder sometimes.

All right. Let's talk about Jenny from the block, running to the block yesterday. How come?

HAMMER: That's right, Jennifer Lopez. Well, she was in her hometown Bronx neighborhood. She was signing her brand-new all- Spanish CD.

It was a beautiful day. Perfectly nice for a crowd of more than 500 people to show up to catch a glimpse of the star and her husband, Salsa singer Marc Anthony. J Lo's new disk is called "How A Woman Loves." It arrived in stores on Tuesday. Good to have her back home.

And coming up tonight on "Showbiz Tonight," we'll be talking about "American Idol," asking, is it becoming a joke? As one of the worst singers on "Idol" yet survives again, is the show losing its credibility? And could it possibly lead to Simon Cowell quitting the show? Just say no. We've go the story tonight on TV's most proactive entertainment news show. It's "Showbiz Tonight" and we'll see you at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on Headline Prime.

WHITFIELD: All that teasing will continue to have people watching "American Idol." They know what they're doing. Come on, people.

HAMMER: We're not just teasing hair, Fred. We're not just teasing hair.

LEMON: I think it's a legitimate question because, like I said, it is a single competition, A.J., so we shall see. People may get upset.

All right. We'll be . . .

WHITFIELD: You're among them.

LEMON: We'll be watching the entertainment show tonight with A.J. Hammer.

Thanks, A.J.

Survivors always say it sounded like a freight train. So imagine a freight train 600 feet wide. And that's just one of several tornadoes. Details on a deadly night just ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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