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Missing Teen Found Alive; Arrest Made After Body of Missing Teen is Found; Bush-Putin Talks
Aired June 07, 2007 - 08:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins. Hi, everybody.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on this Thursday morning. It is June the 7th, and here's what's on the rundown.
Two missing girls. One story ends happily, the second does not. Suspects facing charges.
HARRIS: Tornado touchdown. Perfectly shaped and caught on tape in South Dakota. Take a look.
We're watching for more severe weather today.
COLLINS: And dark clouds at the G8 summit. Presidents Bush and Putin look for common ground when they meet moments from now.
In the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And at the top this hour, a young girl missing for almost a year, safe and sound this morning. Police say she was found locked in a hidden room in this Connecticut home. Three suspects are due in court next hour. There are still a lot of questions in this case.
Here's CNN's Jason Carroll.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Initially, police believed she had run away, again. Danielle Cramer went missing about a year ago. She was troubled and had done it before.
Then investigators began to suspect foul play, so they questioned Adam Gault several times. Gault was a business associate of Cramer's family, and police say he had a history of having inappropriate relationships with young girls. Police thought the worst had happened to Cramer.
Finally, this morning, while serving a search warrant at Gault's home, everything they had thought suddenly changed. CAPTAIN JEFFREY BLATTER, BLOOMFIELD, CONNECTICUT, POLICE DEPARTMENT: One of the investigators moved a large bookcase and found a concealed room that had been secured and locked, and found the juvenile inside.
CARROLL: The hidden room was beneath a staircase. Detectives say it did not appear Cramer had been living in the room.
Police arrested Gault, his common law wife, Ann Murphy, and another woman, Kimberly Cray. Investigators said little about how the teenager seemed after being missing for a year.
BLATTER: I don't want to get into the specifics of her demeanor. To judge how she is right now, under these circumstances, would be unfair. She's 14 years old, under the influence of a 40-year-old.
CARROLL: A neighbor who lives across the street from Gault says he never saw a girl at the home, but was suspicious of the man who lived there.
VLADIMIR ROZVADOVSKY, NEIGHBOR OF ADAM GAULT: The guy, he was really weird. Whenever he walked, he -- he would keep to himself. And he would be like slouched over.
CARROLL: Cramer lived about 10 miles away. No one answered the door at her family home. Authorities say they're just relieved that they found Cramer and found her alive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: And Jason Carroll joins us live now.
Jason, I'm wondering what we expect to hear in this first court appearance next hour. Usually in these first appearances we don't hear much.
CARROLL: Probably not very much, but what we will hear a little bit more about is the charges that some of these three suspects are facing. We do know that they face a number of charges, including unlawful restraint and reckless endangerment. But Tony, it is very likely that we will also hear more charges that these three suspects could be facing in the next coming days, as this investigation continues to unfold.
HARRIS: CNN's Jason Carroll for us.
Jason, thank you.
COLLINS: Kidnapping, murder, arrest -- the grim conclusion to the case of a missing Kansas teen. For the past few days, we have shown you this surveillance tape, a teen abducted from a store parking lot. Charges are to be filed against this morning against a 26-year- old suspect.
The details from reporter Robb Yagmin of CNN affiliate KNBC.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBB YAGMIN, REPORTER, KNBC: A major development in the murder case of Kelsey Smith. Less than 12 hours after the 18-year-old's body was, in fact, found, an arrest has been made.
Edwin Hall, a 26-year-old from a suburb of Kansas City, will be arraigned actually here and face charges at the Johnson County, Kansas, courthouse sometime this morning. He, in fact, is the man that police have been calling a person of interest.
Target surveillance video showed him walking out of the Target store in a suburb of Kansas City soon after Kelsey Smith did on Saturday. He was interviewed, we're being told, along with a number of other people yesterday afternoon. After that mid-afternoon interview, he was charged early yesterday evening.
He's a 26-year-old man. We do not know much about him. But we are being told that he did not know Kelsey Smith personally. It must be a random situation.
The investigation is still continuing as far as the investigation goes, still continuing. And we're not too sure exactly if he did, in fact, act alone.
They were led to her body yesterday afternoon about 1:30 Central by pings on her telephone, on her cell phone. Not too sure. At least the investigators are not telling us whether or not those pings were from her making calls from the cell phone, but four pings around the Longview Lake area, which is in Missouri, and that is also why the FBI's involved, because the kidnapping crossed state lines.
Now, at a news conference about 11:30 last night, district attorney in Kansas Phil Kline spoke about what she meant to the community.
PHIL KLINE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: This community has lost a vibrant and promising life. And the family has suffered an unimaginable tragedy. And I'm certain your prayers, as ours and our thoughts, remain with them.
YAGMIN: District Attorney Phil Kline also said a number of things at that press conference last night. That murder charge goes from 25 to life, the kidnapping charge, more than 12 years. Of course, Mr. Hall is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He will once again be facing charges here at the Johnson County, Kansas, courthouse. We're being told once again that he and Kelsey Smith did not know each other. And they're asking for a $5 million bond.
Stay tuned to CNN for the very latest on this story.
Robb Yagmin reporting for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Boy, an ominous sight in the sky. Fear on the ground.
This funnel cloud was caught on tape in South Dakota. Take a look at it.
The National Weather Service said several people reported seeing a tornado touch down near the town of Kyle. One report said a house and trailer were hit but no one was inside at the time.
Scary.
COLLINS: Wow.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: North Korean missile tests. Several short-range missiles fired off North Korea's west coast today. That's according to South Korea's Defense Ministry. This comes almost two weeks after Pyongyang test fired a short-range missile off its east coast.
The U.S. says the tests are "not constructive". Pyongyang's arsenal includes a variety of missiles, some of which are believed able to reach as far as the United States.
COLLINS: Can President Bush diffuse missile tensions with Russia? A crucial meeting this morning between the president and his Russian counterpart.
Live to the G8 summit in Germany ahead in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Diana controversy. A documentary detailing the death of the princess airs despite royal protests. What Londoners are saying now.
That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: A TB patient's oddessy raises new concerns about infectious diseases. FEMA administration David Paulison talks about handling diseases and disasters.
He'll join us in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And remember this story? Diploma dispute, the school district versus students and their cheering supporters. Well today, how it turned out.
That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
Very quickly, I want to show you this video just in to CNN of Adam Gault, one of the suspects, one of the three suspects in the disappearance of that 15-year-old teenage girl found in the Gault home yesterday. The first court appearance for the three suspects in about an hour, but there you see him in the back of that police cruiser right there.
Adam Gault showing up, arriving for his first court appearance. A better look at the suspect right there. Gault one of three suspects now in police custody and scheduled for a court appearance next hour in the disappearance of that 15-year-old teenage girl, found alive in the Gault home yesterday.
More on this story coming up for you in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Missile defense dispute, Cold War-style rhetoric. The backdrop in talks this hour between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They're meeting on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.
Let's go there now live to CNN White House Correspondent Ed Henry.
Good morning, Ed. What are we going to hear when presidents Bush and Putin get together this morning?
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Heidi.
We are likely to hear at least in an attempt for some smiling faces, maybe put a happy face on what has been a really tense situation, as you noted. At least that may be what we see for the cameras. But they are, as you noted, behind closed doors now, and you never know what's going to actually happen there.
It seems that the tension has been building. The stakes could not be any higher, because as you know, Russian President Putin is very upset about this U.S. plan to set up a missile defense system in Europe. The U.S. insists that's only to block potential attacks from Iran and other rogue nations. But Mr. Putin upset that system would be on Russia's doorstep.
He's concerned that those defensive missiles could actually be turned into offensive weapons, and he really turned the heat on the eve out summit up on President Bush by charging that in retaliation, Mr. Putin would point nuclear weapons at Europe if the U.S. did not back down. What Mr. Bush has been trying to do at this summit, as he did again this morning during an appearance with outgoing British prime minister Tony Blair, is calm everything down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I repeat, Russia's not a threat. They're not a military threat. They're not something that we ought to be, you know, hyperventilating about. What we ought to be doing is figuring out ways to work together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: And that follows a rather extraordinary statement yesterday from Mr. Bush, where he had to come out and deny to reporters that the U.S. was on the verge of war with Russia when he was asked whether or not we would respond militarily if, in fact, Mr. Putin aimed those nuclear weapons at Europe. It gives you an idea how far this relationship has changed.
There's been more than a decade of detente between the U.S. and Russia, but now any talk of war certainly a much different situation right now. That's why Mr. Bush is trying to calm this down -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, it's kind of a strange set of circumstances, too, going into the G8. I mean, as tensions between U.S. and Russia really overshadowing other issues at times, like aid to Africa. Something that is certainly on the agenda.
What can you tell us about that, Ed?
HENRY: Well, you're absolutely right. This morning, Mr. Bush said that he thinks the two key issues that should be discussed here include climate change and aid to Africa, battling poverty, also dealing with global HIV-AIDS under that umbrella of the anti-poverty agenda. But, in fact, I spoke yesterday -- CNN had an exclusive interview with the rock star Bono, and as you know, he's here lobbying President Bush and others, and he's getting quite frustrated.
He told me that he thinks this -- all the talk about the Bush- Putin tension is actually overshadowing and becoming a distraction from the anti-poverty agenda.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONO, MUSICIAN-ACTIVIST: This is not sort of rosy-tinted glasses, believe it or not. In fact, I felt like smashing my glasses today. I just want to...
HENRY: Why? What happened?
BONO: It's just because they are not keeping their promise. They are not keeping their promises.
Your country, the United States, is actually doing very well. But it under-promised. It's over-delivering, great. But other countries are not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY: Now, Bono was referring to the fact that at the G8 two years ago, the Group of Eight industrialized nations promised to sharply increase aid to Africa. As you heard at the end there, he credits President Bush with stepping up. He also credits Tony Blair with stepping up. But he thinks in particular Canada and Russia and other nations are not stepping up, Heidi.
And, in fact, we're just being told that, in fact, the meeting between Mr. Bush, Mr. Putin has officially started. So we'll expect a readout, depending how long it goes, within the next hour or so -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Very good.
And also want to let everybody know, Ed and Bono, more of that interview coming up a little bit later in this show.
Excellent, Ed. Thanks so much for that.
All right. And more on U.S.-Russian relations, as well. In just a few moments, we will be joined by former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Missile defense tensions front and center this morning as talks get under way right now between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit in Germany.
Joining us live to discuss U.S.-Russia relations, former CNN Moscow bureau chief, Jill Dougherty. She is in Washington.
Jill, great to see you.
Hey, Jill, how did we get here?
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you, it didn't happen overnight.
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: OK. That's number one.
This has been building. And, you know, you could make the case that this started back in 2001, when the United States pulled out of the ABM Treaty.
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. So it does go back to that period, and the Russians have been very angry about that for a long time.
And then you go back to February, when President Putin was making some of the same, almost some of the same comment that is he is making now. But the Russians, if you...
HARRIS: Well, let me stop you there. Let's go back to that global security conference in March -- in Munich in February that you just mentioned.
Here's one of the statements that we're talking about. This is Vladimir Putin.
"We are witnessing an almost uncontained, hyper use of force that is plunging the world into an abyss of permanent conflicts." That's from Vladimir Putin. That's in February in Germany. DOUGHERTY: Right. Well, that obviously is very strong. And what he's been saying now is very strong. And there are a lot of different reasons.
Some of it is domestic politics. Don't forget that, you know, Russia is going to have a presidential election in 2008. The United States is having a presidential election in 2008. That's part of it.
But the Russians -- actually the mood in Moscow is that the United States has been dictating to Russia on a lot of things. And not going to them and really talking. And there's a lot of built-up anger about that.
Now, there's some over-the-top comments, and President Putin does have that side to him, Tony, where he sometimes makes pretty cutting, you might say snide, comments. But this is pretty serious in terms of where it's coming from.
HARRIS: Yes. Russia feeling emboldened. It has a growing economy. It sees the United States, in some respects, as being bogged down in some conflicts -- obviously in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's feeling strong about its oil revenues, and that economic growth.
And it's just sort of tired of being -- hey, we're back. We're -- we are back on the world stage in a big way. We're back and we can challenge you.
DOUGHERTY: Absolutely. And that goes over well with Russians.
It is not that they -- you know, it is not the Soviet Union, I think it's important to say. It's not the Soviet Union. It is not the Cold War.
We've got something new here. And it is more a competion for Russia to be on the world stage, especially economically. But it is very easy, as you can see. In two seconds the rhetoric is back to the old Cold War, which is easier for people, unfortunately, to understand in the U.S. and in Russia.
HARRIS: So, Jill, I understand what we will see in front of the cameras when they come out. They'll make nice. But what do you -- if you were the fly on the wall, what do you think is actually going on? How direct is the conversation in that room likely to be today?
DOUGHERTY: You know, judging by what President Putin has even said publicly, you would have to say that he used the phrase "Let's call a spade a spade." I think I he is going to be more moderated, certainly.
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: But he has a position to maintain, and he does feel that the United States has been dictating to Russia and the rest of the world for quite a long time. And he is not happy about that, and he will probably make that very clear. It's not that they feel that this missile shield -- it doesn't even exist yet. HARRIS: Yes, yes.
DOUGHERTY: It won't exist until 2012. However, what they're saying is, potentially what does it mean? And what do other things mean as they look at Europe, their old territory, Eastern Europe, and they say we feel that we are getting surrounded?
HARRIS: And how much should we actually be listening to Putin? He is done here soon. He can't run for reelection again, right?
DOUGHERTY: Well, he can't. But, you know, that's only a technicality.
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: No. He can -- in some way or another, that's a big, you know, flip of a coin...
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: ... what he will do. But in one way or another, he will be very influential. He and his...
HARRIS: In choosing the successor.
DOUGHERTY: No question.
HARRIS: Absolutely.
DOUGHERTY: So you have to listen to him.
HARRIS: Yes.
DOUGHERTY: And also, he does express the views of a lot of people in that -- let's say the controlling elite of Russia.
HARRIS: That clearly makes the point that this cannot be simply dismissed.
All right. Jill Dougherty for us.
Jill, great to see you. Thanks for your time.
COLLINS: All right.
Are you ready for the most unnatural transition in television news? Here we go.
From tensions between Russia and the United States to Paris Hilton. Apparently, according to TMZ, Paris Hilton's sentence has not only been cut short, but yes, she is already out of jail. Again, according to TMZ.com.
This is the information that we have. We have not independently confirmed this, but we are working very, very hard to do so.
If you remember her original sentence...
HARRIS: You are making stuff up here, Heidi. Stop doing that!
COLLINS: I am not. I'm not making it up.
HARRIS: We are the worldwide leader in news. You can't be going on the air saying a woman who was supposed to serve 45 days, maybe 23 for good behavior, is out of jail on, what, 48 hours?
COLLINS: No. Three days.
HARRIS: Oh.
COLLINS: Remember, the original sentence? Forty-five days. Then that was cut to 23.
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: And she served a total of three.
So there you have it. It's the big news just in.
HARRIS: Well, she needed a touch-up. Her hair -- and then it's back to prison.
COLLINS: It looked pretty darn good in the mug shot, if you remember, though.
HARRIS: It really was.
COLLINS: Hey, you know what? We're going to follow this for you.
HARRIS: Are we really?
COLLINS: Bring you all the latest. Yes, indeed.
HARRIS: All right.
COLLINS: Carry on.
HARRIS: Still to come in the NEWSROOM this morning, the TB traveler and the tale of the tape. The tuberculosis patient's tape recording of what health officials told him, hear it for yourself right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: In a new auto survey, Ford cars win five top quality awards. Proof, some say, that U.S. automakers closing the quality gap with foreign imports.
Carrie Lee is here "Minding Your Business" today.
Carrie, so nice to see you.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nice to see you, too. Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Boy -- you bet.
Ford must be pretty darn happy with themselves right about now.
LEE: A great day for the U.S. automaker, for sure.
This comes from J.D. Power's quality survey. They basically look at new cars for manufacturing and design problems. And as you said, Ford won in five different areas.
They include compact sport car, the Mazda MX-5 Miata; mid-size sport goes to the Ford Mustang; mid-size overall goes to the Mercury Milan; entry premium car, Lincoln MKZ; and the large premium SUV goes to the Lincoln Mark LT. So all of these from Ford.
Interesting to note that GM brands earned -- didn't earn above- average scores in any of these categories. So really a big difference overall, Heidi.
Porsche earned the top spot. So, a lot of people -- a lot of maybe guys out there who would like to buy a Porsche, they can help convince their significant others that this is a good reason to buy a Porsche.
And also, number two went to Toyota's luxury Lexus brand.
But certainly Ford a big standout in this report -- Heidi.
COLLINS: So, no longer do they have to say mid-life crisis.
(CROSSTALK)
LEE: Right. Right.
COLLINS: Hey, it's a really good car.
LEE: Right, exactly.
COLLINS: It's true.
Now, wait a minute. There's something going on with passports. Apparently, people who have applied for them forever ago still don't have them.
LEE: Right. Well, you know you need now a U.S. passport to travel to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda. Well, that's causing a big backlog at the State Department. They're having to issue -- or are expected to issue 17 million passports this year, and that's up 40 percent from last year.
So now the department is recommending people apply for a passport 12 weeks in advance of your trip. And there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that even that's not enough time for people.
So, some advice here, apply as early as you can. You can pay $60 for an expedited process if you send a mailed application. Make sure you write "expedited" on the envelope.
Also, there are some third party companies that will charge up to $180 to help you move things along. And then you can always go to the State Department Web site to check on your passport status four weeks after you apply.
So just be careful. The upshot, just for travelers to be careful when they are giving themselves enough time to get the passport. As much time as possible is the idea.
COLLINS: Yes. Boy, it is nerve-wrecking. I have used that emergency service before.
LEE: Yes.
COLLINS: All right.
Carrie Lee "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Carrie, thank you.
LEE: Sure.
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. I'm Tony Harris.
COLLINS: What are you going to say?
HARRIS: No, you're going to say some things here.
OK. Good morning, everyone.
Our top story this morning, in Connecticut, next hour, three suspects are due in court in the case of a 15-year-old girl found alive. Man, almost a year after she disappeared. Police were searching this house about 10 miles from where the girl lived. Authorities say they found her locked in a hidden room.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAPT. JEFFREY L. BLATTER, BLOOMFIELD, CONNECTICUT, POLICE: We have no evidence that she's been out in public. Some of the investigators made reference to the coloring of her skin, the paleness, and brought that in as a question of whether or not she's actually seen sunlight for sometime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Adam Gault and two other people who lived at the house were arrested.
Stay tuned to CNN NEWSROOM for details on their court appearance. That is expected in about 45 minutes.
COLLINS: Heartbreak in the heartland. Murder charges expected today against a 26-year-old man suspected of kidnapping and killing a Kansas teen. Authorities say 18-year-old Kelsey Smith was abducted from a store parking lot on Saturday.
Yesterday, police found her body near a Missouri lake and made an arrest. Investigators say the security tape led to a tip and to the arrest.
HARRIS: U.S.-Russian tensions at the G8 overshadowing over big issues?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BONO: People love a cockfight. You know? It's like this is just complete distraction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Our Ed Henry sits down with Bono on the summit sidelines.
A CNN exclusive in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: A TB patient's oddessy raises new concerns about infectious diseases. FEMA administrator David Paulison talks about handling diseases and disasters.
He'll be joining us right here live in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And let's take you to the New York Stock Exchange right now, get the sounding of the bell so that we can get the business day started.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COMMERCIAL
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The tuberculosis patient who set off a global health scare says he will not become a scapegoat.
On CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360," Andrew Speaker says he made mistakes but says health officials did, too.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "ANDERSON COOPER 360")
ANDREW SPEAKER, T.B. PATIENT: I'm willing to admit I'm sorry. I'm sorry people were scared. I'm sorry if I made a bad decision. And I hope people can understand what my decision was based on. But it's about time that the CDC and Fulton County steps up and said we should have told him, you know, why does the public health authority not know that T.B. is contagious or slightly contagious?
Well, you know, hopefully there will be some changes in procedures...
SARAH SPEAKER, WIFE OF T.B. PATIENT: Yes. SPEAKER: ... and changes at CDC. But before they're going to make a change, they're going to need to get their stories straight and start stating the facts and admit that they made mistakes, too. Because I'm sorry for my part in it, but I'm not going to be the one that they're going to drag through the mud with my family and my family's name.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Lots of stories to still get straight here. The tuberculosis scare, the threat of infectious diseases -- concerns for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with disasters like hurricanes.
FEMA Administrator David Paulison is here now to talk with us the military a little bit about this...
DAVID PAULISON, FEMA ADMINISTRATOR: Hello.
COLLINS: ... and FEMA's role in all of it. First of all, David, people may not understand. They see FEMA. They think of hurricane season.
Talk a little bit about the role, if you would, with infectious diseases.
PAULISON: Well, our part would be, really, to support the states and what they need. If there was some type of a pandemic outbreak of any kind, our job is like it is in a natural disaster, that we're -- we're not to go in and take over and that type of thing. It would be -- Health and Human Services would be the lead. And we would be, again, assisting them, assisting the states, making sure they have the supplies they need to do their job.
COLLINS: This was a scare. I mean this was a big one, the way that we saw it come together. And I think there are a lot of people talking about what ifs.
So I don't want to what if it to death, but it certainly did bring up a lot of issues for the CDC, for FEMA and for the average American, I believe.
You just met with the CDC.
What have you, as the FEMA administrator, I mean what have you learned from Andrew Speaker's case?
PAULISON: I think -- well, normally we would not get involved in this these type of things. What I was doing at the CDC was developing it as a relationship that we're going to have if things do go bad, if something happens to this country.
I don't want to be exchanging business cards in the middle of a disaster. I want to learn -- to meet the people there. They can meet me. We start to trust each other, have those open communications that we did not see in a Katrina-type of event, but develop those now. So our, you know, our role in this would not be as significant as it would be in a natural disaster. Our role, again, primarily would be a backup.
We have a lot of supplies. We have a lot of communications equipment that we can bring into play, if something does happen to this country, with an outbreak like that.
COLLINS: Did this scare you?
PAULISON: I think what scares me more than anything is that the -- we had good systems in place, but there was a point of failure that allowed this to happen. It could have been someone bringing something into this country intentionally. And hopefully we've -- we've learned our lesson from that and put things in place.
I know that we have very good people working in homeland security. And they are looking at this very carefully to make sure there is not a breakdown in the future.
COLLINS: Yes, because there already have been some changes that have been made with those processes...
PAULISON: Yes, that's correct.
Yes.
COLLINS: ... that we continue to report on here.
Let's switch gears for a moment, if you would. I know that you have just met with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and you are going around the country meeting with the different governors in hurricane states, a new FEMA program.
Tell us a little bit about that.
PAULISON: Well, what we really want to do is to -- to make sure that we have those lines of communications open. I want to be on a first name basis with the governors. I want to make sure that I understand what their issues are.
We are actually doing a GAP analysis from Texas all the way to Maine of every hurricane prone state just to find out what the issues are, get a no kidding assessment, because one size does not fit all with these types of disasters.
We want to make sure that we know what each state's vulnerabilities are, where do -- what do we need to send to each particular state if a hurricane does come this country this year.
COLLINS: What is your feeling about the readiness -- you know, I always ask you that question -- for hurricane season and for the readiness of each individual state?
PAULISON: You know, like I told you last year, that the Katrina was a wake-up call for all the emergency managers, particularly in hurricane states -- asking myself what if that was my state, what if that was my community?
Would I have been ready?
And I see a lot of preparedness going on at that level, a lot of exercises, making sure that they've got your -- their shelters in place, got their evacuation routes in place. How are we going to transport people from A to B.
But what I I'm not seeing so far is a tremendous concern on the actual citizens themselves and they...
COLLINS: Really?
PAULISON: ... they have to play a piece, also. I see a complacency out there that really scares me. It keeps you awake at night.
What we saw in Wilma, which was not a huge hurricane, but we had tens of thousands of people lined up for food, water and ice right after the storm. That...
COLLINS: They should have gotten out.
PAULISON: Well, not so much gotten out. They didn't have to evacuate. But should have been prepared. They should have had their three day supply of food and water...
COLLINS: Gosh, yes.
PAULISON: ... flashlights, batteries, medicines, things for my children, things for my pets so they can ride out a storm for two or three days. And we didn't see that in Florida. Of all states, they should have been ready.
So, as much as the federal government prepares and the state and the local community, the citizens have to prepare themselves also.
COLLINS: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting about five major hurricanes for this year.
Given the fact that New Orleans is different than -- than any other place, geophysically and geographically, obviously -- could we have another Katrina by way of response?
PAULISON: We would not have another Katrina by the way of response. We may have another Katrina-sized storm. But you are going to see a different agency. You're going to see an agency that's proactive, that's leaning forward, making sure that we respond very carefully and very quickly and not waiting for the state, necessarily, to ask for supplies before we start moving them.
I want to make sure when the state needs something, it's there waiting for them, not have to ship it halfway across the country to get there.
COLLINS: So the state is the authority, not the feds? PAULISON: We are not going in to take over. We are not in charge. It -- all response is local. All response belongs to the state and that local community. Our job is to make sure that if they need things that they don't have that we're going to provide them for them.
COLLINS: FEMA Director David Paulison.
Nice to have...
PAULISON: Thank you.
COLLINS: ... right here this time.
PAULISON: Good to be back.
COLLINS: All right.
Thanks, David.
HARRIS: A powerful car bomb rocks Baghdad's Sadr City. Five people reported dead, 14 wounded. The blast went off outside a popular restaurant. Earlier in northern Iraq, a suicide car bomber exploded near a police station in the town of Habiyah. The attack killed nine people, wounded 22.
A sad milestone in Iraq. U.S. troop deaths now top 3,500. the military announcing four more soldiers killed in action.
Getting underway right now on Capitol Hill -- let's take you there now. A confirmation hearing for Lieutenant General Douglas Lute. President Bush wants him to manage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of that job, he would give the president daily briefings on the conflicts and offer his advice.
The discussion today likely to focus on Lute's criticism of what the administration has called a troop surge in Iraq. He voiced doubts that the strategy would be effective long-term against the insurgency.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We always hear about tornados in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. But this time of year, that focus moves to the north. Today, big-time tornados in the Upper Mississippi Valley.
We'll show you where, coming up next.
COMMERCIAL
COLLINS: All right. Are you ready for this?
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: In case you haven't heard, here we go.
Paris Hilton out of jail. According to TMZ.com, she not only had her sentence cut short...
HARRIS: Yes? COLLINS: She's now out of jail.
We are continuing to follow this story. Apparently there will be a news conference from the L.A. Sheriff's Department coming up at about 10:00, so in about 15 minutes. We're going to monitor it. Tony is screaming to actually run the whole thing.
HARRIS: We should.
Yes.
COLLINS: Yes. We might.
HARRIS: Yes.
COLLINS: We might. We're still deciding.
But if you remember, it's interesting, because her original sentence was 45 days. Then it was reduced to 23. But really, now, she's really only served three days.
We're not sure why. But...
HARRIS: Oh, I know why.
COLLINS: We're -- why?
HARRIS: I'll tell you in the break.
COLLINS: You can't say.
HARRIS: I'll tell you in the break.
COLLINS: You can't say it.
All right, so, again, TMZ confirming that. We are working ourselves to independently confirm it and bring you more information just as soon as we learn it.
HARRIS: I don't have TMZ's unimpeachable source on this.
COLLINS: Yes, that's true.
HARRIS: And so I can't...
COLLINS: That's what they're referring to, aren't they?
HARRIS: I can't go on record.
COLLINS: Fascinating.
HARRIS: Well, something to cheer about. Five Galesburg, Illinois high school graduates get their diplomas. The documents were withheld, you may remember, after the students were cheered during the commencement ceremony. That violated the district's decorum policy. The school is standing by that policy, but says the dispute is taking up too much time and energy.
One of the students is demanding an apology.
COLLINS: Oh, because what?
The parents couldn't hear that person's name? Is that why -- when they went across?
Sorry -- Hi, Chad.
MYERS: Hi.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: A set back for the immigration reform bill. The fragile compromise could be on the verge of collapse. Details on this coming up right here in THE NEWSROOM.
COMMERCIAL
HARRIS: Face to face for the first time since a clash over missile defense. Right now President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in Germany. President Bush wants to ease Russian concerns over a U.S. missile shield plan for Eastern Europe. He insists it is not an issue either side should, in his words, "be hyperventilating about"
But the Russia leader has threatened to retarget missiles on Europe.
Relations between the U.S. and Russia are at their lowest point in decades.
HARRIS: He is calling on G-8 leaders to live up to their promises on ending poverty.
Bono talks with our Ed Henry in a CNN exclusive.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BONO, MUSICIAN: Very good.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rock star Bono is at the G-8 summit with pal Bob Geldof, appearing to have a blast as they lobby President Bush and other world leaders to sign off on war aid to Africa.
But in an exclusive interview with CNN, Bono was so furious with the lack of progress at the summit, he did something he never does -- he ripped off his famed rose-colored sunglasses.
BONO: I've just come back from Africa. I've just seen what this money can do. This is a school with no roof on it now. This is a hospital and doctors and nurses saying why can't we get electricity, these people are dying on us?
And for here, it's, you know, -- politics is the art of the possible. And that just, you know, this is possible. This is really possible. We're not...
BOB GELDOF, MUSICIAN: Pollyannas we're not.
BONO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) like this. This is not sort of rosy tinted glasses, believe it or not. In fact, I felt like smashing my glasses today. I just want to...
HENRY (on camera): Why?
What happened?
BONO: It's just because we -- they are not keeping their promise.
HENRY (voice-over): Bono said it's foul that as a group, the G-8 leaders are not living up to a vow their nations made at the same summit two years ago, in Gleneagle, Scotland, to sharply increase money to Africa.
BONO: They signed, in their own handwriting leaders of the eight richest nations on Earth. I asked for them to do it in their handwriting. They had never done it in their handwriting before. And they're still slithering out of it.
HENRY: Bono and Geldof say there are many reasons for the backsliding, ranging from budget problems to indifference. But, they say, there is another factor -- all of the hype about Thursday's meeting between Mr. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin is overshadowing the anti-poverty agenda.
BONO: People love a cock fight, you know?
It's like this is just a complete distraction. And I don't think -- I don't think, you know, Russia presents a threat or the United -- to the United States, or the United States to Russia. It's a distraction.
That's the thing about these meetings. You know, you have got to ask what do they accomplish?
HENRY: The activists are hopeful they can change enough minds by Friday, in part because they believe Mr. Bush has delivered more than he promised and may be able to bring others along.
BONO: People say Europeans say Americans don't care. It's a continent behaving like an island. They are wrong.
HENRY: But why do these two stars, who have so much money, bother to prick at the conscious of world leaders?
GELDOF: Mahatma Ghandi, he said that...
(BONO SNORING)
HENRY: He's falling asleep.
GELDOF: I'm sorry.
HENRY: Can you kind of...
GELDOF: That's because he just needs to.
BONO: Excuse me.
GELDOF: I want to finish. Ghandi said first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
HENRY (on camera): In a serious moment, Bono said he's gotten involved for a simple reason -- in his music career, it's all about the art of the impossible. Politics, he said, is the art of the possible. And now he's trying to bridge those two worlds.
Ed Henry, CNN, Rostock, Germany.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COLLINS: A missing teen, a hidden room -- secrets from this Connecticut house ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
COMMERCIAL
HARRIS: Cranking up that iPod and suffering hearing loss -- doctors are concerned.
Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports on what you can expect and what you can do about it in your 30s, 40s and 50s.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Crank up the music and you may pay later for pressing play now. Having music piped directly into our ears has doctors worried that many of us are headed for hearing problems sooner rather than later in life.
GINA ROELL, HAS HEARING PROBLEMS: Huh?
What?
COHEN: Gina Roell began having hearing problems in her early 40s. She doesn't think it was because of music.
ROELL: I think mine comes from my mom. She had hearing loss.
COHEN: She's 50 now and been wearing her hearing aides for about two weeks.
ROELL: You think of somebody much older having hearing aides.
COHEN: Actually, more than 65 percent of people with hearing loss are under age 65, including one in six baby boomers and one in 14 Generation Xers.
In your 30s, your ears have taken nearly a third of a century of abuse. Focus on preventing more damage. Use earplugs around loud noises, such as engines and wood working tools. And audiologists say you should wear them even while using your hair dryer. And turn down that iPod.
DEBORAH WOODWARD, EMORY AUDIOLOGIST: A good rule of thumb with the iPod to know that it's too loud is if someone can hear it next to you, it definitely needs to be turned down.
COHEN: In your 40s, significant hearing loss truly begins. You may notice you're asking people to repeat things. Or leaving your turn signal on in your car because you can't hear the clicking. Or turning the volume way up on your TV. Or, like Gina, resorting to closed captioning on the screen
ROELL: Last week we watched a movie and I got to watch it without any of the words on it. And that was kind of neat.
COHEN: In your 50s, many people notice they have trouble hearing on the phone and get frustrated in crowded situations. Audiologists say everyone should have regular hearing tests starting at age 50.
WOODWARD: After the age of 50, 55, you may want to do it every two to five years.
COHEN: And if you do need a hearing aide, don't worry, it won't be this kind -- or even this kind. Today, hearing aides are tiny pieces of technology and very difficult to see.
And what did Gina Roell's think about her newest accessory?
ROELL: I haven't really shown anyone. I guess it's just that I -- I'd rather really wait for a while.
COHEN: Her friends may not know it, but Gina is finally hearing all the things she's been missing.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COMMERCIAL
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