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Valerie Plame Civil Lawsuit Dismissed; Hurricane Wars
Aired July 19, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: If you work at a nuclear plant or research lab, you shouldn't take your work home with you, at least not the classified work or other people's classified work.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: And you really shouldn't try to sell it to foreign spies. But all that allegedly happened over the past six months in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Today, it spilled over into federal court.
PHILLIPS: And an ill wind from Miami blew into Washington today. It's a blowup over management at the National Hurricane Center, right in the middle of hurricane season. We will go inside the eye of the storm.
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano, in today for Don Lemon. And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Classified documents and a nuclear complex. Right now we're following the story coming out of this facility you're about to see right now of the Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge. A contract worker and an FBI sting, it sounds a bit like an action movie, but it's not. It's happening right now at this facility.
Roy Oakley is the contractor. He's being arraigned.
Our Kelli Arena working the story right now. We will bring you details as we get it.
MARCIANO: Want to get back to the CNN NEWSROOM, Fredricka Whitfield reporting on the Valerie Plame incident. What's going on?
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little bit more on another setback to Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson. You will recall that the former CIA operative, her identity was revealed in what she and her husband have alleged in this civil lawsuit was a conspiracy for the White House to punish, if you will, the former ambassador for speaking out against the White House's plan on Iraq.
Well, now the federal court, who was entertaining this civil lawsuit, has now dismissed this civil lawsuit. We don't know the exact opinion of the court. We haven't seen those documents yet as to why the court has dismissed this lawsuit, but a real personal defeat for Plame and Wilson as they were trying to pursue another avenue to get those who revealed her identity to pay, if you will. Already they had expressed their disappointment from the fact that the only person who was convicted in related charges of obstruction of justice as it pertains to the investigation of this outing, Lewis Scooter Libby, well, his sentence was commuted by the White House, we all know that, within recent months. And now this, this couple is facing this personal defeat of their civil lawsuit that they were trying to bring against the vice president, as well as Scooter Libby, as well as the White House adviser Karl Rove. Now that effort defeated by the federal court -- Rob.
MARCIANO: Thank you very much, Fredricka. We will follow that story.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Congress laid out benchmarks, a bunch of military political goals for Iraq to meet by September. But the U.S. ambassador to Iraq doesn't have the highest hopes for meeting them. We're told that he said as much to about 90 senators and House members gathered today at the Pentagon.
Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre is there with more now.
Hey, Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, this just in.
While we were -- while you were reading that intro, my producer, Mike Mount, just nailing down some facts. And it turns on out that one unit of Marines that's in Anbar Province is going to be extended another 30 days from October to November before they come home.
And what that tells you is that U.S. commanders are planning to maintain the surge past September. That's pretty much the message we got today from General Raymond Odierno, who is the second in command in Iraq, in a Pentagon briefing, citing what he said was significant progress over the last 30 days.
Odierno, without mentioning any numbers, claimed that the numbers of attacks, the numbers of casualties and the numbers of IEDs were all down since the surge began in earnest on June 15.
He also said that he hopes that that message is getting back to the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GENERAL RAYMOND ODIERNO, 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION COMMANDER: And my hope is that the policymakers and everyone else, the public and within the United States, listen and hear what we're saying. Because there is some progress being made.
Now, I will say that it's really been 30 days since we have begun this operation and the surge. And it is the beginning of progress. I would still like to see it. I'm hoping that this will continue over the next two to three months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: And, again, General Odierno said he really wants to take a look at those trends in September. And he says he expects to be doing additional assessments after that, one more indication that U.S. military commanders are of the mind-set that this surge needs to continue for a while to hold on to the gains.
And you could really hear in the briefing that his fear is that the things that they have accomplished over the last 30 days, including routing al Qaeda from many areas of Iraq, the capture of more than 175 or captured or killed more than 175 high-value targets and securing over 50 percent of Baghdad were things that could evaporate if U.S. troops leave too soon -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, it seems the U.S. ambassador, Ryan Crocker, he is on the same page as well.
MCINTYRE: Well, yes, although you can see there's a huge disconnect between Washington and Baghdad. And, interestingly, it was almost symbolized in one moment where Ryan Crocker's video link from Baghdad dropped out. And you could hear Senator Joseph Biden saying, you know, Washington -- Baghdad, can you hear Washington? And there's clearly a gap there in information, growing disillusionment in Congress for how things are going.
And even Ryan Crocker had to admit that it's going to be very difficult for the Iraqi government to meet the benchmark of political reconciliation by September.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN CROCKER, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: If there is one word that I would use to sum up the -- the atmosphere in Iraq, on the street, in the countryside, in the neighborhoods, and at the national level, that word would be fear.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCINTYRE: Yes, there seems to be a mood in Congress to at least allow the U.S. to get to that September report. But they're really looking for those benchmarks to be met then. And what we're hearing both from military commanders and Ambassador Crocker is it's not likely that all the benchmarks will be met by September.
But, once again, they will be presenting a report that they say shows some progress -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, chief Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- thanks, Jamie.
Well, the charges are serious, premeditated murder. The defendants are U.S. soldiers in the Iraq war. It's the case of an Iraqi man killed last month near Kirkuk. That's just north of Baghdad. The U.S. military confirmed today that two troops, Sergeant Trey Corrales, and Sergeant -- or Specialist, rather, Christopher Shore face murder charges now.
The Army's not saying much more about the case, only that the investigation is ongoing.
MARCIANO: In the middle of hurricane season now, and the nation's top forecasters are in a whirlwind, mostly of their own making. The man who was named to head the National Hurricane Center just a half-a-year ago has been removed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL PROENZA, FORMER NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR I called attention to the fact there was well over $4 million in NOAA resources for celebration of an alleged 200- year anniversary of NOAA, when it was a bit of a stretch, since NOAA was formed in 1970.
Most important, I didn't feel, in my opinion, that self-promotion was an acceptable way to use funds, especially when funds are tight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Testifying before a House subcommittee, Bill Proenza stuck to his guns, as you saw. He said he was suspended as punishment for questioning NOAA's priorities.
Some bad video of FEMA trailers, also associated somewhat with hurricane season no doubt.
Proenza spoke today, as we mentioned, to a Subcommittee on the Hill. He is the interim director -- or -- he's not the interim director. He was removed. There's an interim director. Even so, Proenza says he's still the center's permanent director, and he's eager to get back to work.
PHILLIPS: Now we will go back to those FEMA trailers. Thousands of Katrina survivors, they were pretty grateful to get them. But there could be a major hitch to the free FEMA trailers. Are they emitting toxic fumes? Congress is finally on the case. We will talk about it next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
MARCIANO: It pays to know the score, but Americans are getting bled for billions of dollars because they don't know their own important numbers. Gerri Willis explains next, in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Before the break, we showed you video and sound of Bill Proenza, the National Hurricane Center director, testifying on the Hill today. He has been removed, at least temporarily, from his post. We want to give you a little bit of background of what has transpired at the National Hurricane Center in the past six months.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): It's a storm no one would have predicted last January, when Max Mayfield Retired and Bill Proenza replaced him as director of the National Hurricane Center. Proenza was the longtime director of the National Weather Service's Southern Region. But his tenure as Hurricane Center director turned out to be a short one.
He was forced out earlier this month, after complaining about the Hurricane Center's parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He said NOAA is spending too much on public relations, including a lavish anniversary party, and not enough on forecasting.
PROENZA: They wanted me to be quiet about it.
MARCIANO (on camera): Muzzle you?
PROENZA: Essentially.
MARCIANO (voice-over): Proenza said a key forecasting tool, the QuikSCAT satellite, has reached the end of its operational lifespan. He warned it could fail at any time, reducing forecast accuracy by up to 16 percent. That complaint did not go over well with Proenza's bosses at NOAA. And it apparently didn't go over well at the National Hurricane Center either.
JAMES FRANKLIN, NHC HURRICANE SPECIALIST: Bill has poisoned the atmosphere here at the Hurricane Center.
MARCIANO: About half of Proenza's staff signed a letter of accusing him of damaging the Hurricane Center's credibility. Proenza was quickly out of a job. He was replaced on an interim basis by Hurricane Center veteran Ed Rappaport. But that hasn't ended the controversy.
Now Congress is asking the question, was Bill Proenza a whistle- blower who paid the price for his candor or an unpopular manager whose reckless claims damaged the center's reputation? Hurricane seasons come and go, but it may be some time before this storm blows over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: And, as you saw earlier, Bill was sticking to his guns on Capitol Hill today. And, well, we will see if he gets back to his post. He says he is the permanent director at the National Hurricane Center. Even though he's been removed temporarily, he wants to get back to work.
PHILLIPS: Well, it pays to know the score, but Americans are getting bled for billions of dollars, because they don't know their own important numbers. Gerri Willis explains next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, it's one of the most important numbers in your life, and chances are, you don't know what it is or what it means. It's your credit score. Today, the Consumer Federation of America announced that consumers still don't understand what it is or how it works. I'm one of them.
And Gerri Willis is here to explain what this is all about.
Hi, Gerri.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Rob. Good to see you.
Credit scores are your financial DNA. If you want to buy a house, a car, get a credit card, your credit score is essential. The higher the score, the better deal you will get on your loan. And it's not just for loans. Insurers use it to determine premiums. And even employers look at your credit score when evaluating job candidates. It's everywhere.
Now, the survey that we're talking about today by the Consumer Federation says a lot of people don't have a clue about credit scores. Check out what the survey found; 29 percent say, hey, we don't know the meaning of a credit score, which is of course the risk you won't repay your loan. And 47 percent don't know the three national credit bureaus.
And I'm sure you know this, Rob, TransUnion, Equifax, Experian. Now, 74 percent think income influences credit score. And that's not true. It's not about that. It's all about whether you pay your bills on time and use credit wisely.
Now, it's a shame people don't know about this, because, if they did, they could raise their credit scores, start saving money. Now, I want to show you one other number here. One of the credit services who partnered on this survey estimated that if every American rates his or her credit score by 30 points, we could all save more than $20 billion. Can you imagine that? This is money you don't have to pay if you simply raise that score.
MARCIANO: Well, I mean, still, in a nutshell, what do people need to know about their credit score? You point out, raise it 30 points. How do you raise it 30 points?
WILLIS: Well, first, you have got to get it, right? You can do that online. The most popular credit score is at myFICO.com. You will have to pay about 15 bucks for it, but it will tell you where you stand.
Now, credit scores range from 300 to 900. You want to aim for a credit score above 760. Now, this gets you the best loan rates. A score below 600 puts you in the subprime category. You don't want to go there -- Rob.
MARCIANO: So, what do you do if it's not good? Obviously starting to pay your bills helps. But is there anything else you can do?
WILLIS: Well, get the credit report. You can get these free once a year from each credit bureau. Look for mistakes. Look at your credit score. If you find any mistakes, contact the credit bureau, get them removed.
There are some obvious things you can do to boost your score, of course, pay your bills on time, pay off your credit cards. And, in fact, paying off the balance on your credit cards can improve your score by 70 to 80 points. One less obvious thing, hang on to those old credit cards. Having a long credit history, instead of a short one, will help your score -- Rob.
MARCIANO: Really?
WILLIS: Yes.
MARCIANO: I thought it wasn't safe to have that many lying around the house. But, as long as you don't use all of them at the same time, I guess it's a good deal.
WILLIS: That's right, absolutely right.
MARCIANO: Good tips, Gerri.
"OPEN HOUSE," you always have good tips there. What's going on this weekend?
WILLIS: Well, we're talking about first-time homebuyers, the troubles they are finding, best places to live, and an affordable new vacation trend. You will want to see that. We will also talk about negotiating the best way to do that. That's this Saturday, 9:30 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN. Be sure to join us.
MARCIANO: All right, Gerri Willis, thanks very much.
Gerri's expertise available, as you mentioned, 9:30 a.m. Eastern time Saturdays.
Thanks, Gerri.
WILLIS: Thank you, Rob.
(BUSINESS REPORT)
MARCIANO: Well, it's a recipe for high prices, but chances are you never banked on ethanol interfering with your pasta primavera.
CNN Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci tells us exactly who's to blame.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Global warming is being blamed for everything, from drought to excessive rain, even a lack of snow. But does it have anything to do with the pasta Italians eat every day?
The answer is a bit complicated, so pay attention. This is the reason Italian pasta is simply the best in the world. It is made with durum wheat. Italy grows a lot of it, but Italians eat a lot of pasta, so the country must import half of its durum wheat needs to satisfy demand.
But durum wheat is also increasingly sold as a biofuel to produce ethanol, thought by many to be better for the environment than gasoline, generating stronger-than-usual demand on the world market at a time when production is down worldwide because of the weather and, you guessed it, global warming.
MARIO RUMMO, ITALIAN PASTA MANUFACTURERS: And the crisis is very important, because for probably the first time, we have very, very low stocks in durum wheat, and we have a lot of problems to find the products. This is the reason why price of durum wheat in worldwide move up from 50 percent to 60 percent.
VINCI: Which brings us back to pasta. The price Italians pay is expected to go up 20 percent. A quick informal poll at this supermarket, though, found there is little panic.
"I will not stock up on pasta," says this pensioner. "Considering the amount I eat every day, I would need the entire Olympic stadium to store it."
"Everything is getting more expensive," says this mother of two, but we still have to eat, and pasta is still what my family prefers.
At this popular Roman restaurant, talk of sacrificing pasta for the environment draws laughter.
"They should be looking for other sources of clean energy," says Dusepe (ph) during his lunch break.
Giovanni (ph) says pasta, pizza and bread are all essentials of the Italian diet.
"Do not turn this into a world-markets question," he says. "It is an Italian question, and we will deal with it even if we have to pay a bit more." (on camera): Take it from an Italian. Linking the price of pasta to global warming will certainly not make Italians care more about the environment.
Alessio Vinci, CNN, in Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: That story will certainly make you hungry.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Straight ahead: Thousands of Katrina survivors were grateful to get them, but there could be a major hitch to those free FEMA trailers. Are they emitting toxic fumes? Congress finally on the case -- next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in for Don Lemon.
Case dismissed -- a federal judge said an outed CIA spy is out of luck in his court.
PHILLIPS: Valerie Plame's lawsuit against the vice president and other administration officials will not go forward.
Jeffrey Toobin, weighing in with us right now.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by outed spy Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband against Vice President Dick Cheney and other top Bush administration officials.
Jeffrey Toobin joins us on the phone with more as we just get word. And, Jeffrey, as you were telling me, it's pretty much impossible to sue a public official, especially the vice president of the United States.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: That's right, Kyra.
That's why this decision is not a surprise. The courts have very strict conditions for any lawsuit against sitting public officials for actions taken in their official capacity. So it is not surprising that Judge Bates threw this case out, really, very much at the beginning of the lawsuit, before there were depositions or any kind of discovery.
PHILLIPS: Now, the Wilsons had to know it was pretty much a miracle if they were going to get any money from Dick Cheney.
So why go forward with it?
TOOBIN: Well, I think the Wilsons are not just about the money and the lawsuit. They have become dedicated political adversaries of President Bush, Vice President Cheney and the whole war effort in Iraq. And this lawsuit was a way of pursuing their political advocacy. Plus, they do feel that Valerie Plame Wilson was denied her opportunity to pursue her career as a CIA officer. So they are bitter about that and they wanted redress.
You know And we should make it clear that this civil case that has just been dismissed completely different from the criminal case.
TOOBIN: That's right. Although both are losses for the interests of Mr. And Mrs. Wilson. The criminal case is a totally different legal proceeding in which "Scooter" Libby was convicted of lying about his involvement in outing Valerie Plame Wilson. He was convicted, sentenced to prison. And, as we all know, that sentence was commuted by President Bush about 10 days ago.
This civil suit is separate. But, like the commutation, it's a victory for Dick Cheney and the cause that he supports.
PHILLIPS: Now, is there any possible victory in any way, in any sense of that word, for the Wilsons at this point?
TOOBIN: I think none. You know, she's got a -- she's got a big fancy book deal where she's going to make a lot of money. And they have a public platform to express their views. But in terms of any sort of legal proceedings, the criminal case is now over, essentially, even though the appeal technically carries on. The civil case, they can appeal this finding by Judge Bates in the federal district court, but that's unlikely to succeed.
So I think their legal options are pretty much over at this point.
PHILLIPS: Jeffrey Toobin.
Thanks for the insight.
MARCIANO: Now to a case that hasn't even begun yet, the Michael Vick story. And there are new developments.
We want to get to the news room.
Fredricka Whitfield with the latest -- hi, Fred.
Fredricka WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Some more troubles for the star quarterback, Michael Vick, of the Atlanta Falcons.
Well, first we know about the indictments involving the dog fighting on his Virginia property. Well, now Nike, who has had a longstanding deal with him is now suspending the release of a shoe that would have been in honor of Michael Vick, a Michael Vick shoe that was to hit the stands in August. Well, now, Nike is suspending those plans.
Nike is also cautioning they're not necessarily ending their deal -- their business deal, with Michael Vick. But they are observing things closely. According to a statement that was provided to the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" newspaper: "Nike is concerned by the serious and highly disturbing allegations made about Michael Vick. And we consider any cruelty to animals inhumane and abhorrent. So do believe that Michael Vick should be afforded the same due process as any citizen, therefore we have not terminated our relationship. We have, however, made the decision to suspend the release of the Zoom Vick V shoe and related marketing communications."
So that's part of the fallout from this investigation surrounding the dog fighting and Michael Vick and his Virginia property -- Rob.
MARCIANO: I suspect it has only just begun.
OK, thanks, Fred.
Well, the head of FEMA reported to Capitol Hill today for a grilling over problems with trailers sent to the Gulf Coast after Katrina. Intended for temporary housing, some are being used for almost two years or more and making people sick. Many of the trailers have flooring and cabinets that contain formaldehyde, which under hot, humid conditions can release toxic fumes. Dwellers have complained of coughing, burning eyes and nosebleeds, and one who went to FEMA says he didn't get much satisfaction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL STEWART, TRAILER RESIDENT: I called FEMA and told them what was going on. And they told me that: "I should be happy with the camper that I have and that we do not have any other campers to supply you."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Reports of the problems first surfaced last year.
Here's a report filed in May by CNN's Soledad O'Brien.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Paul and Melody Stewart's home used to sit near the Mississippi Bay. Then Hurricane Katrina turned their neighborhood into a trailer park, with 30-foot FEMA campers providing temporary shelter and long term hope.
PAUL STEWART, TRAILER RESIDENT: But once we got it, we were very excited because we were able to move home. And that -- that's a big deal. Moving home is a big deal.
O'BRIEN: For the Stewarts, home became just another headache when they were forced to abandon their trailer because they say the fumes were overwhelming.
MELODY STEWART, TRAILER RESIDENT: You would wake up. You could feel like a weight on your chest. I mean, you could feel that you couldn't breathe.
P. STEWART: We went on the Internet and I started looking up health issues, campers, so forth, and came across a lot of threads and a lot of, you know, talk about formaldehyde inside.
O'BRIEN: Paul reported his suspicions to a FEMA maintenance subcontractor -- twice. He says he got no response. So he did his own test on the air in his camper and he was shocked by what he found -- a formaldehyde concentration of .22 parts per million in the air. The EPA says anything over .1 parts per million can harm the respiratory system and may even cause cancer.
M. STEWART: I didn't know how we were going to do it, but we knew we had to get out.
O'BRIEN: FEMA believes the Stewarts' problem is an isolated case in an otherwise successful half a billion dollar trailer program that gave 100,000 families a place to live in record time. DAVID PASSEY, EPA SPOKESMAN: This is absolutely the largest disaster the United States has ever faced. With that has come the largest emergency housing mission and I think it is safe to assume that there will be a number of families who will be staying in these travel trailers longer than in previous disasters.
O'BRIEN: Displaced residents are living in trailers made for camping. They're often built with particle board, with contains formaldehyde, to support the bedding and the seats and the counters.
CNN conducted air tests on two other FEMA trailers. Four children live in this one, which tested 80 percent higher than federal recommendations.
This one tested 50 percent higher.
We tagged along with the Stewarts and some local environmentalists as they tested 31 FEMA trailers. Twenty-nine tested above the federal standard.
FEMA says it hands out fliers to warn people to ventilate their new trailers. No one we spoke to said they'd gotten a flier.
SUSAN SAUNDERS, RESIDENT: Oh, my eyes just ran a lot more and I had that hacking like everybody's got around here, just that hacking cough.
O'BRIEN: At this FEMA trailer camp, at least a dozen people told us they had complained to FEMA about the irritating fumes.
SAUNDERS: They know it already. Everybody's had that same complaint.
O'BRIEN: Darlene Bullock's trailer tested 30 percent above the federal standard.
DARLENE BULLOCK, RESIDENT: They had to take the bid and now just because of the plywood.
O'BRIEN: The Cavalier trailers are manufactured by Gulf Stream. The company says they received no complaints of illnesses and that they use "low formaldehyde emission building materials." Gulf Stream also says that "especially under closed and/or stored conditions, formaldehyde from a variety of common building products may be present," but that levels will dissipate with proper ventilation.
Dick Lemen was the nation's assistant surgeon general under two administrations.
DICK LEMEN, FORMER ASSISTANT SURGEON GENERAL: General knowledge was adequately available about the issues concerning formaldehyde, their irritant effects and should have been addressed in buying the trailers.
O'BRIEN: FEMA says they've used these very trailers to house thousands of people after disasters for years. PASSEY: I would question whether they are unsafe or whether this is -- for a few people -- a nuisance. We've not found formaldehyde to be an issue in the past, but we remain concerned.
O'BRIEN: FEMA offered Paul and Melody Stewart a new trailer after he complained. The Stewarts claim the replacement was infested with bugs. They took out a second mortgage on their non-existent home and have bought their own trailer.
M. STEWART: If you haven't gotten one of these campers yet, the ones that FEMA gave us, thank God.
Soledad O'Brien, CNN.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
PHILLIPS: Calling 911 from your cell phone --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband was just in here and abused me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, what is your address?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SCREAMING) Get away from me! Get away from me!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was your address?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, your call for help is heard, but often rescuers don't know where you're. Straight ahead, we're going to take a closer look at what cellular phone services and local police are doing to protect you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: What makes someone a hero?
Well, all this year CNN is answering that question by introducing you to some incredible people who are making a difference in their communities.
Today, we want you to meet a man who is making the daily lives of newly injured American troops who have returned home just a little bit better. He's doing it in a very special way that only a few can.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: How did this start?
BOB KUNKEL "COMMUNITY CRUSADER": The new injured had no idea how dramatic their lives have been impacted. And I have experience in that area. And I knew I had to do something. I was with the 9th Infantry Division. My knee joint was blown out, so they took the bottom part and welded it to the top. I did not cope well. You name the self-destructive behavior, I did it times ten.
Now I view all that experience as -- as training for what I'm doing now.
My name is Bob Kunkel. I have the privilege and honor of being allowed to interact with the new injured at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I function as a friend. I teach jujitsu so that an injured person can become empowered in protecting themself.
He went that way, so you step here.
There's a connection. They've been in combat, I've been in combat.
You're laughing, they know it man.
My purpose is to steer someone to make better choices in life.
If you're injured, you're still the same person.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, I feel fortunate to -- to have met somebody like Bob, you know, someone that can kind of understand the disability, but that can also teach me a skill that I can pass on to other people.
KUNKEL: Bring my hands back together (INAUDIBLE).
You see that?
I've taken soldiers out for coffee, out for a drive and dinner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you?
KUNKEL: And you can just see how people relax. It's my way of showing my true appreciation for their sacrifice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Bob travels once a month from Buffalo all the way to Washington, D.C. To help his fellow vets, and he does it all on his own dime.
If you'd like to learn more about Bob Kunkel or his program, go to cnn.com/heroes. There you can also nominate your hero for special recognition later this year.
PHILLIPS: Calling 911 from your telephone ...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband just sat here and abused me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your address? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SCREAMS).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your address?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, your cell call for help is heard, but often rescuers don't know where you are. Straight ahead, we'll take a closer look at what cell phone services and local police are trying to do to protect you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, they are doing everything they can to find her. But friends and family of a missing Wisconsin college student admit they're losing hope now. It's been six days since Mahala Xiong vanished about a night -- after a night, rather -- out with her friends. There's no hard evidence that she was kidnapped, but her sister suspects foul play.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AH MOUA, XIONG'S SISTER-IN-LAW: We definitely think that, you know, someone did take her, possibly someone she knows. Because, you know, she wouldn't just allow anybody in the car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Friends and family are hoping to spread the word by holding a candlelight vigil tomorrow night near Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
MARCIANO: When you dial 911, you expect someone to come quick, even if you can't say where you are. Well, in most of the U.S. that's not a problem, even if you're on a cell phone.
But in other places, if you're on a cell phone and you can't speak up, well, you might as well be on the moon.
CNN's Greg Hunter explains this.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 911 center.
May I help you?
GREG HUNTER, CONSUMER REPORTER: One third of all calls coming into 911 centers across the country are from cell phones.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, my husband was just in here and abused me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your address?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SCREAMING). UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your address?
HUNTER: Nobody knows what happened to that Missouri woman because state 911 operators say they didn't have the technology to find her.
(on camera): Nationwide, about 60 percent of all counties can find you if you make a 911 call from your cell phone. But 911 experts say 60 million Americans still live in areas that are not able to track wireless callers.
(voice-over): Most improvements to 911 technology have been paid for by surcharges on wireless phone bills.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, what town are you in?
HUNTER: But not Missouri, where cell phone surcharges are up to the people, who have voted them down. That means operators at this Missouri 911 center near Lake of the Ozarks often see this -- no address information -- from cell phone calls.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got some 80 something miles to check of shoreline times two.
HUNTER: (on camera): Can you get to them quickly?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not if they can't give us a good landmark to find them.
HUNTER: (voice-over): Even states that do have a 911 surcharge sometimes don't use all the money for that purpose. In 2003, Henry Badillo and three other teenagers died in a sinking boat in the Long Island Sound because at that time, New York City 911 didn't have the technology to pinpoint their cell phone, even though the state had been collecting a 911 surcharge for years.
(on camera): If the state would have had enhanced 911 back in 2003, would your son be alive?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think so.
HUNTER: (voice-over): The Badillo family sued. But a court ruled the state could not be held liable for her son's death.
Since that tragic accident, New York State has spent more than $150 million upgrading its 911 system. Operators say things have gotten better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, he's conscious?
Breathing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTER: Now most New York counties have the ability to pinpoint cell phone calls, even to see a photo of the location, though a quarter of the counties still aren't covered. But of the $1.20 every New York cell phone user pays every month, the state said it still spends almost half on things that have nothing to do with the 911.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think it's almost like a little bait and switch advertising. The state's taking the money and using it for a purpose other than what the public believes.
HUNTER: The state says we need more than enhanced 911 to keep New Yorkers safe. That's why the surcharge is also authorized to fund other important initiatives.
(on camera): At this upstate 911 center, they have state-of-the- art technology, constant 360 information, the latest bells and whistles, and, yes, can pinpoint you on a map using your cell phone. But the next generation is going to include video sent from a cell phone to a 911 center, or text messaging to a 911 center. So far, that's not available anywhere in the United States. That will take a lot of time and money.
Greg Hunter, CNN, Rochester, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
MARCIANO: And while cell phone companies are improving their 911 technology, cell phone owners should make sure their cell phones are GPS equipped. Some older models may not be.
PHILLIPS: Andrew Speaker is out of ICU and could be out of the hospital very soon. Doctors at the University of Colorado Hospital have upgraded Speaker's condition to good. The tuberculosis patient underwent surgery two days ago to remove the infected part of his right lung. Depending on what x-rays show, Speaker may be discharged today. He'll be going back to a facility in Denver for more treatment.
The Atlanta lawyer caused an international health scare when he flew in from Europe right after his diagnosis.
MARCIANO: The closing bell and a wrap of the action on Wall Street is straight ahead.
Right now the Dow is just a hair over the 4,000 mark. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: A new food warning right now. Federal health officials say that certain cans of hot dog chili sauce have been linked to botulism. They've traced the contamination to a Castleberry Food plant in Augusta, Georgia. At least four cases of botulism have been reported -- two children in Texas and a couple in Indiana. The warning applies to 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger brands of hot dog chili sauce. The cans have "best buy dates" by April 30th, 2009 through May. If you have any, throw it away.
MARCIANO: And if you bought your child an Easy-Bake Oven in the past 14 months, well, the maker and the government want you to throw it away -- or at least take it away. An apparent design flaw in the Hasbro product has led to fingers being caught in the opening, with scores of burns being reported.
Today's warning supersedes a recall issued last winter in which Hasbro offered a retrofit. But most reported burns have happened since then, including one that required a partial amputation.
Hasbro is offering vouchers toward the purchase of another of the company's products.
PHILLIPS: Well, the closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.
MARCIANO: Susan Lisovicz standing by for us.
Where is it at, 14,000 yet, or still flirting?
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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