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One Dead in Shoot-Out at Atlanta Bank; Police Search for Wounded Home Intruder in Florida; Dalai Lama's Award Leads to Friction with China; Deadly "Super Bug" More Dangerous Than AIDS?; Alleged Child Molester Makes Court Appearance in Vegas
Aired October 17, 2007 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: George Washington got one. So did the Wright brothers, Howard Hughes and Walt Disney. Any minute now, the Dalai Lama will get his Congressional Gold Medal. It's a far cry from a free Tibet, but Beijing is furious anyway. See the ceremonies live.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: And we'll look deeply at the menace known as MRSA, the so-called super bug isn't just in hospitals anymore. In America, it may be more deadly than AIDS.
Hello, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We start this hour of the NEWSROOM with some breaking news. This just in: you're looking at pictures from our affiliate, WGCL. It is a shootout between police and four men at a Bank of America. It's in the Fairburn area of the Atlanta area.
It left one person dead. That's according to police here.
Fulton County police said the four men attempted to rob the Bank of America. It's located, for those of you in the area, 2225 Jonesboro Road. It happened earlier this morning.
Police say when they arrived here on this scene, a gunfight ensued, leaving one person dead and as many as four people injured in all of this. The witnesses have said the body could be seen lying in front of the entrance to the bank.
Dozens of police officers could be seen surrounding that bank shortly before noon. But again, a shootout between police and four men at a bank in Fairburn. That's near Atlanta. It left one person dead. We'll continue to follow it, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
WHITFIELD: Don, we're also watching this development out of Florida. Look at these live pictures right now. Aerial view of this residence. It's unclear whether this is the house where the crime I'm about to explain took place.
Apparently, a man drives up to his home, sees a red pickup truck in his driveway and realizes there's an intruder in his house. So he arms himself -- and there's the home -- confronts this intruder, actually opens up fire with his .22 caliber pistol with bird shot. Apparently, this alleged intruder gets away. And now we're seeing an aerial search that is underway there in Hernando County. It's unclear whether this is the home where the crime originally took place, meaning the intruder getting into the home, or if this is a location in which this alleged intruder may have fled to.
So we're continuing to watch the developments there. And again, this intruder does have injuries. And so police feel like the public can help by spotting any kind of unusual activity or injuries from this person, that perhaps they might be the intruder. We'll continue to watch the developments there.
LEMON: Meantime, Fred, severe storms are taking aim at the southern plains. We have reports already of a tornado touching down in Texas. Very latest from Chad Myers in the CNN severe weather center.
Rough stuff, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Don, you recognize this little radio here?
LEMON: It's a NOAA. NOAA radio.
MYERS: You bet it is. And you probably have one.
LEMON: Yes.
MYERS: Because a lot of people bought them. And they turn them on in the spring, and they turn them off in the summer. Well, now it would be a good time to turn it back on, because today is a spring- like day. Make sure your tally (ph) is working.
Because if you are anywhere from Kansas to Texas today, you are in the teeth of a significant storm. You're in the teeth of a storm that is rotating like a spring storm. It has a lot of moisture like a spring storm. And a cold front that's coming down like the first or last cold front of the season.
I know there's a lot of boxes on here and there's a lot of lightning. We're still in the development stage of this storm today. You still have time to get your pets inside, maybe your plants or whatever that are still outside.
But if you are anywhere in a red zone from literally Iowa through Nebraska, all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico in this zone, if you see a storm coming your way today, it very well may be severe.
You need to be taking cover as soon as you see it, even if you don't hear an alarm. Get the kids inside. Stay away from the windows. You know that old saying: open the windows, because then your house will be fine if a tornado comes. Hog wash. The only thing you're doing is putting yourself in danger if you get by the window.
In case that window breaks, you're going to have glass all over you. So don't go near the windows. Stay away from it. And tomorrow, Don, I mean, this thing is all the way from Chicago to Atlanta to New Orleans. This red zone is significantly larger tomorrow. But today, we could have big-time rotating thunderstorms with tornadoes on the ground. And we know we've already had one. And I'm suspecting probably a couple dozen more. So make sure you're taking cover today.
LEMON: Goodness, Chad, that is some good advice. We'll be checking back with you a lot today and throughout the week, as well. Thanks for that information.
MYERS: You're welcome.
LEMON: We have some information just in, just crossing the wires now. It involves the embattled president of Oral Roberts University, Richard Roberts. According to the Associated Press, he is taking a leave of absence.
And I'm just reading it here. It said embattled Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts has asked the school's board of regents for a temporary leave of absence, just three weeks after that lawsuit accused him and his family of lavish spending at donors' expense and legal involvement in a local political campaign.
Well, word comes now, according to the Associated Press, that Richard Roberts has asked to take a leave of absence. We'll continue to follow this breaking story and bring you any developments that we have -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: And some of America's most powerful lawmakers, including President Bush, are in the Capitol rotunda at this hour. You're looking at the live pictures right now, where President Bush has arrived there, about to honor the Dalai Lama with America's highest civilian award. And we'll be bringing that ceremony to you right now.
You're seeing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is bringing the opening remarks. And then soon after, we understand there will be the presentation of colors, the national anthem, et cetera. And then there will be other remarks being made by various people when, soon after that, the prestigious Gold Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award, will be presented to the Dalai Lama.
We'll continue to monitor developments there on Capitol Hill and bring them to you.
For Mr. Bush, it is a diplomatic balancing act. This will be the first time a sitting president has appeared with the Dalai Lama in public, and the Chinese, who view the holy man as a threat to their sovereignty, have let it be known that they're not so happy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm going, because I want to honor this man. I have consistently told the Chinese that religious freedom is in their nation's interest. I've also told them that I think it's in their interest to meet with the Dalai Lama and will say so at the ceremony today in Congress. If they were to sit down with the Dalai Lama, they would find him to be a man of peace and reconciliation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, CNN's Jennifer Eccleston takes a closer look now at the friction over the Dalai Lama's visit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Dalai Lama fled his Tibetan homeland after a failed uprising against its Chinese occupiers in 1959. Since then, he's traveled the globe, advocating greater autonomy and respect for his culture and religion.
A Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1989, he cemented his role as a global symbol of peaceful dissent and tolerance, even a pop culture icon with a host of Hollywood fans.
RICHARD GERE, ACTOR: His motivation is very pure. And in every situation, he really sees himself as the smallest in the room, and he's really this to serve.
ECCLESTON: Beijing, however, considers the Dalai Lama a threat to its rule over Tibet, routinely chastising governments for even hosting the Buddhist monk. No surprise that today's honor is being sharply rebuked by Beijing, calling it interference in their country's internal affairs.
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We, in no way, want to stir the pot and make China feel that we are, you know, poking a stick in their eye.
ECCLESTON (on camera): Earlier this week, Chinese diplomats pulled out of crucial talks about Iran's nuclear program. Beijing cited technical reasons, but China watchers said the message was clear: Beijing may reduce its support for international efforts to blunt Tehran's nuclear ambitions if foreign powers interfere with China's internal affairs.
Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And again, we're going to continue to monitor the events on Capitol Hill where the Dalai Lama will be bestowed upon with this Congressional Medal of Honor (sic).
You see him there in some pictures just moments ago where, for the first time, President Bush is being seen in public with the Dalai Lama after they had their private meeting last night, where apparently the topics of conversation were Tibet, where he has been exiled from since 1959, as well as talking about the recent Myanmar protests.
And of course, to his right is the house speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who just spoke moments ago. We're going to continue to monitor the developments there.
LEMON: And Fred, it is strong; it is spreading; and it might be killing more Americans each year than AIDS.
It is a dangerous kind of staph infection known as MRSA, "Mirsa". And after the broadcast -- or the broadest, I should say, look yet at its impact, the government says the so-called super bug has moved from hospitals, where it first became known, to schools, locker rooms and prisons.
The latest reported victim, a 17-year-old high school senior in Virginia, who died after more than a week in the hospital. His grief- stricken classmates protested, prompting the closing and cleaning of 21 Bedford county schools.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just trying to find answers. We want to know what's going to be done about cleaning up the school.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't feel safe at all, going back in there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not only to remember Ashton, but to get it through to the administration and all that we don't want another one of our friends or another one of our classmates gone because of them not doing anything. We want something done about this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: How worried should you, your kids or your doctor be about this super bug? CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has been looking into the new health alert. And here's what he found.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA. CNN CORRESPONDENT: And we are learning quite a bit more about this high school senior who died of a staphylococcus infection that was resistant to antibiotics. It's called MRSA, as a lot of people have heard of this before, or "Mirsa" or the flesh- eating bacteria.
Basically, it's -- this is a bacteria that exists on all of our skins. But it can become problematic when it no longer is able to be killed by antibiotics. That's called the MRSA.
What we are learning today, as well, from Centers for Disease Control is that this may be much more common than we think. They studied about nine communities across the country, and they estimate that there's probably about 94,000 cases of MRSA in the country.
And about 19,000 people have died from it, as well. So you can get an idea of just how likely you are to die if you get the infection. Much more common and much more deadly, I think, than we think. Look, this used to be an organism that was primarily relegated to hospitals. That's where sick people were, and that's where antibiotics were used. But it's found its way more and more into the community and into places where people are living in close quarters, or are in close quarters, such as schools.
Simple things like washing your hands, making sure the sports equipment is cleaned, they may sound like commonsensical sort of approaches to this, but they work in terms of trying to keep MRSA from actually infecting people.
It is still very rare, and it should not cause panic or alarm. It's still very rare to actually contract one of these sorts of infections, but it can be a little bit more deadly than I think people thought.
This is an aggressive bacteria. A lot of people working on ways to try and treat it and to keep people from getting affected.
Ashton Bonds is a high school senior who died from this. There were three people, in fact, in that area who contracted the infection. The other two are back to school now.
We'll keep you updated with more details as they come forward. Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
You can get even more information on how to dodge super bugs. It's on our web site. Just log onto CNN.com and follow the links. And stick around for the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll speak to an expert on infectious diseases. You don't want to miss that: some good tips there.
Meantime, we want to take you back to the scene of that development story happening in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, specifically Fairburn. It is a deadly shootout at a bank between police and four men. It is a Bank of America.
You're looking at pictures courtesy of our affiliate, WGCL, here in Atlanta. We're told that, when police arrived at the scene earlier today, a gunfight ensued, leaving one person dead and as many as four people injured. We'll continue to follow this developing story.
WHITFIELD: And in Florida, in Brooksville and Hernando County, the search is on for what could be a house burglar who may be rather bloody. Because the homeowner apparently pulled up to the home and saw a car that wasn't his, went inside the home, armed with his .22- caliber pistol, and opened fire on what he said was an intruder in his home.
That intruder got away. And now an all-out search is underway, as well, in Hernando County, Florida. We're going to continue to follow the developments there. LEMON: An alleged pedophile and child pornographer makes his first appearance in court. Police say Chester Arthur Stiles abused a toddler and videotaped himself doing it. We'll talk live with an ex- girlfriend.
WHITFIELD: And extreme measures in the southeast, trapped in what the National Weather Service calls an exceptional drought. How bad is it? We'll ask Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.
LEMON: And living dangerously in the southern plains. Coming up, an update on today's threatening weather.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Developing story involving Richard Roberts, embattled president of Oral Roberts University. According to the Associated Press, he has asked the school's board of regents for a temporary leave of absence.
And that's only three weeks after a lawsuit accused his family of lavish spending at doctors' expenses -- donor's expenses, I should say, and illegal involvement in a local political campaign.
This happened just today. And Roberts said, who's 58 years old -- said he would continue his role as chairman and CEO of Oral Roberts Ministries. But again, he has asked to take a leave of absence. More details to come -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Well, the Nevada man accused of raping a toddler on videotape was in court this morning in Las Vegas. CNN's Ted Rowlands is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Chester Stiles made his first court appearance here in Las Vegas. It was a very short court appearance, about three minutes in length.
Throughout it, Stiles looked down at the ground, not making eye contact with anybody in the room, including the judge. He did answer a few questions but didn't look anywhere throughout the room. He was shackled: his hands and his feet.
Prosecutors have added a few more charges against Stiles, amending their complaint and giving it to the judge. Today, he now faces 23 separate felony charges, stemming from that videotape that police were given a few weeks ago, which shows, allegedly, Stiles and a 2 1/2-year-old girl.
Stiles allegedly rapes and repeatedly sexually abuses this child on the videotape. He is also facing charges from an incident in 2003 with another girl. But the bulk of these charges have to do with this videotape.
This tape has shocked law enforcement here in this area and people around the world, who have followed this case. The abuse alleged here is severe and very serious.
For that reason, the public defender is concerned about Stiles's safety. He said that in a press conference outside here, saying that Stiles is potentially the subject of violence within the prison system. He's also worried about him getting a fair trial.
Stiles is being held without bail in the Clark County Detention Center in solitary confinement, away from the other prisoners for his own safety.
He is due back in court on November 19 for a preliminary hearing. The judge set that here today.
There were no family members in court today that had a stake in this, from either of these two victims. However, the mother of the alleged victim in that videotape, through a spokesperson yesterday, said that she wishes that Chester Stiles would have killed himself so that they wouldn't have to go through this legal process.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And now, people from Chester Stiles's past, people who know him intimately, are speaking out. One of Chester Stiles's ex-girlfriends talks to CNN live, coming up in the next hour of the NEWSROOM.
LEMON: The Internet, for all the ways it's good, positive and education, it is also a hunting ground for criminals and sexual predators. For proof, check the headlines any day of the week.
Congress today is hearing from people who want more money spent fighting online sex crime.
CNN's Brianna Keilar joins us now from Washington with the very latest on this.
Hi, Brianna.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Don.
We'll be hearing from some supporters of the Protect Act. It's a bipartisan effort that was introduced yesterday, and it would put more money towards fighting online predators, putting more money towards those efforts in the states.
And here in Washington today, to give a face to victims and to tell Congress why this legislation is needed, is Alicia Kozakiewicz. She is 19 now.
But back when she was 13 in these photos, she was lured from her home in Pennsylvania by Scott Tyree, a man that she met on the Internet. He took her to his home in Virginia, sexually assaulting her, holding her captive for four days before police found Alicia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA KOZAKIEWICZ, ABDUCTED IN 2002: They had the training, the knowledge and the expertise. They found that needle in the haystack. They found me. I'm here to tell you that most kids don't get that miracle. They die or remain enslaved or are horribly, horribly, horribly exploited.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Experts estimate there are about half a million people who are involved in the distribution of child pornography, and they believe many of those are active sexual predators.
One law enforcement official that I spoke with said, because there are such limited resources, it's really difficult to investigate all of these cases and, really, only a small fraction of those criminals are pursued or even prosecuted.
So this hearing is going to begin shortly here. We'll be monitoring it as it starts at 2 p.m. Eastern -- Don.
LEMON: CNN's Brianna Keilar. Brianna, thank you for your report.
WHITFIELD: And we continue to watch the developments outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
An attempted bank robbery at a Bank of America there in Fairburn, Georgia, where, apparently, when people called police to come, when they saw that these four people were trying to rob the bank. Police did arrive. There was an exchange of gunfire, and somehow one person was shot and killed. It's unclear the identity of that person.
But the lookout is still under way for these four attempted robbery -- bank robbery suspects. And last seen, they were in a smoky gray Jeep Cherokee. So the manhunt is on outside of Atlanta.
LEMON: Also, Fred, more developing news now. CNN confirms that Richard Roberts, the president of Oral Roberts University, will be taking a leave of absence. He has asked the board of regents to do that.
Of course, he's been involved in a scandal there, including lavish spending, also at their home and what have you. And the illegal involvement -- these are all allegations -- in a local political campaign.
We'll continue to follow this developing story coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.
We're also going to talk to the mayor of Atlanta about the water shortage here, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: More than 50 million Americans will see their Social Security checks increase. Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with a look at how much you can expect to get, come next year. That's some good news.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. We're still part of the working stiffs that put into the Social Security, Fred. But for those folks who are retiring, it's not a whole lot to get excited about: $24. That's how much extra the average retiree will get every month, starting next year.
The 2.3 percent Social Security increase, the smallest rise in four years. By the way, it's the same rate as the cost of living adjustment on the Consumer Price Index over the past year. That's how they got to that.
For many Americans, that extra money will be eaten up by higher Medicare premiums, which will also increase next year. So that extra $24 a month may not stretch far enough to cover the higher costs for gasoline, heating your home and food -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Yes, you're right. I was about to get excited. But just $24, good grief. That's not going to get you very far.
So does this mean that smaller increases might be on the rise, so to speak? Something that others can expect from here on out?
LISOVICZ: The norm, in other words? Well, you know, it's tough to predict these, because they are based on consumer prices, Fred. And, as we've reported many times, they can be volatile. So it's hard to predict.
But one thing we know for sure, the number of people who will collect Social Security is about to soar. As we showed you earlier this week, the first Baby Boomer signed up for Social Security. She's the first of a generation of nearly 80 million people. No changes are made. The Social Security trust fund could run out of money in just over 30 years.
(STOCK REPORT)
LISOVICZ: Coming up, a big box retailer says bye-bye to the big box TV.
WHITFIELD: Uh-oh. You don't want to see my house. It's so embarrassing. We're so old-school.
LEMON: You have a giant one?
WHITFIELD: Kind of.
LISOVICZ: You may have no choice.
LEMON: The ones that take up the whole room?
LISOVICZ: You have the iPod, right?
WHITFIELD: Yes, yes, I know. And time to get some flat screens. LISOVICZ: Upgrade, exactly.
WHITFIELD: Susan, I can always count on you to, like, embarrass me, you know.
LEMON: My mom has this huge TV...
WHITFIELD: Let me know how far behind I am.
LISOVICZ: ... that take up the whole room. Do you have that, too?
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, we don't have that. But my mom does. Sorry, Mom.
LEMON: I know.
WHITFIELD: She has one of those, too.
LEMON: Don't bust me out on TV. Yes, maybe that's good. We'll get them one for Christmas.
WHITFIELD: Yes. That's the plan. Shh.
LEMON: Let's talk about something that's very serious that we're facing here in the southeast.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
LEMON: Water, a precious commodity and getting more scarce by the day in our drought-stricken area. And what if the water runs out? It's a possibility for Atlanta and its 4 million people. Can you imagine that?
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin is in the NEWSROOM next to talk about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
WHITFIELD: I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Kyra Phillips.
It gets worse by the day. Drought punishes the Southeast, and now battle lines are being drawn over water rights.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MASSEY, WAVY REPORTER: Watch this, folks. That's a farmer in his tract, out trying to take care of his land. It's just so dry he literally disappears inside that cloud of dust.
This is Nottoway River, folks, just west of Franklin. Take a look at that. Normally you would not be able to cross that water without having to wade waist deep through it to get to the other side. There are sections now that you can literally take one giant step from one side of the river bank to the other. The flow is almost non- existent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Wow! So incredible. Mid-Atlantic states are also very bone dry, as you heard about these Virginia properties here. These are scenes shot from a helicopter over Hampton Roads, Virginia. That was WAVY reporter John Massey, describing what he saw. Because of the drought, Virginia's governor has asked for federal disaster declaration for the entire state.
The water war in the southeast is getting even nastier. Today, the deadline is in place for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the water it releases from Georgia's Lake Lanier, or face a lawsuit from the state. Lake Lanier is the Atlanta area's main source of drinking water. And authorities say unless it is replenished, it could dry up in three months.
Downstream, well Alabama and Florida say Georgia is keeping too much of the water that flows out of the lake through the Chattahoochee River. So, their battle over water rights has dragged on almost two decades now. But this year's drought has made the situation quite critical.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: We want to talk about the problem, because it's affecting one of the most major cities here in the South, and let's just get right to it. Because this is the engine that drives us South, Atlanta is. And this is a major problem for us, mayor, involving our economy. I can't water. I take two-minute showers. Would you consider this an emergency situation here?
MYR. SHIRLEY FRANKLIN, ATLANTA: This is an emergency situation for Atlanta. And we may experience drought conditions for six months or 36 months, so we have to take this very, very seriously. And we urge everyone to conserve water. And I hear from your description that you're taking two-minute showers, so that's good.
LEMON: Yes, I'm taking two-minute showers. You know, I still smell good. But, really, I do sort of mind my time in the shower, because we know here in the South, when you look at all these terrible pictures, some of them that we have on the screen here, of the rivers that are dry, and Lake Lanier has lost so much water. There's been some criticism that the Army Corps of Engineers acted slowly and released too much water. What do you say to that?
FRANKLIN: What we say, from the city of Atlanta, from the whole region, and we're working with the state and the governor, we say that we all need to sit down and find a solution. We would like to see the Army Corps of Engineers adopt a policy of natural flow in the river, which would, we think, protect the sturgeon and the mussels, but also provide for water throughout the Chattahoochee basin and throughout the other rivers.
We hope that they will sit down with us and find an approach that is a collaboration that makes sense, in that it is a win for Atlanta, a win for Georgia and still follows the principles of the federal law.
LEMON: What about other states, the surrounding states, because they're facing the problem as well, but they don't really have the restrictions we have. I mean, Alabama, for instance, I don't think they're conserving water at all, and they are part of this drought as well. And they get some of their water from us.
FRANKLIN: Well, it's easy to point fingers.
LEMON: Right.
FRANKLIN: The bottom line is pointing fingers is not going to get us where we need to go. So, I mean, clearly, we would like to cooperate with Alabama and Florida. We hear about what's going on in North Carolina. But it's very important for us to see a solution that will get us natural flows in a shorter period of time than the court cases will.
LEMON: OK. There's also been some criticism that the city acted too slowly, and that our infrastructure is not up to par, especially when you consider over the next two decades some two million people are supposed to move here. What do you say to that, because we don't really have the reserves that we should have, or the infrastructure to catch the water in order to support the size city that we have.
FRANKLIN: Well, We have known that we have a short water supply, not necessarily a drought, because those of us in the city of Atlanta, in the Chattahoochee Basin, we know that the Chattahoochee is a relatively small river. So we do have to have conservation. And if it rains all weekend and all of next week and all of the week after that, we still need to have conservation.
So the city of Atlanta is investing $4 billion into improved infrastructure. And what that means -- and let me just say, that it means that we are reducing the amount of water that is unaccounted for. In other words, we are fixing the leaks, which means we have to pull less water out of the Chattahoochee.
LEMON: OK. Now what about -- there are some people who are saying, you know, we are growing fast. Atlanta is growing fast, and there should be, because of this water shortage, because of the infrastructure problems, a moratorium on building in the metro area, and on new homes.
FRANKLIN: I would say back to you and to them, that this is a complicated issue. We have enough water if we're smart about how we use it and how we conserve it.
LEMON: Even with the growth?
FRANKLIN: Even with the growth. If we are able to work with the federal government, with the state government and with the region, we have enough water, we believe, from the city of Atlanta's standpoint, until 2060, which is a long time.
LEMON: OK, is there anything, while we have you here and you've got the nation watching, do you want to say to the mayors and the cities in other states, governors of those states about, you know, the shortage and helping us out? Is there -- do you have a plea of any type for those folks?
FRANKLIN: My plea is that we will come together and find a good solution and one that does not require lengthy court battles, that the federal, state and local governments need to work together and we all need to commit to conservation. People want to skip over conservation.
LEMON: Right.
FRANKLIN: But we have to conserve water. And I think there a lot of young people out there, little children, who would love to have a little shorter bath time or a little shorter shower time.
LEMON: Right.
FRANKLIN: We will have to conserve water. But we also need to cooperate, and let's stay out of the courts if we can and find a solution that is a win, win, win.
LEMON: Yes, and it's an emergency situation, yes.
FRANKLIN: Thank you very much.
LEMON: Thank you, Mayor Shirley Franklin for joining us today in the CNN NEWSROOM.
FRANKLIN: Thank you.
LEMON: Always a pleasure.
FRANKLIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Can we also say, Mayor, congratulations being the cover of ...
LEMON: Oh yes!
WHITFIELD: ...this week's "Newsweek" ...
LEMON: That's right.
WHITFIELD: ...Women in Power.
FRANKLIN: Yes (ph).
WHITFIELD: And Women in Power: Do Women Really Lead Differently Than Men? What's the answer?
FRANKLIN: Yes, absolutely.
LEMON: And you're right there in the middle.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
LEMON: That's very nice.
FRANKLIN: Well, I appreciate that. That's the Cherokee Rose, the state rose that I have on in that. But I just want to say one thing about that.
LEMON: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
FRANKLIN: They -- it doesn't really matter if you're on the front cover of a news -- or on the news unless you can do something to help the people who need it the most.
LEMON: Right.
FRANKLIN: So, I hope that all this coverage about women in power will lead us to find solutions for healthcare and lead us to find solutions for people who are struggling to educate their children and will lead us to solutions that reduce crime and violence and in our communities. That's the only thing that counts.
LEMON: Yes, and the rose, of course, our mayor ...
WHITFIELD: Well, sounds like in part, that's exactly why you're one of the people being focused in this issue because, you know, you walk the walk and you really do follow up. So many people have given you so many accolades for really standing behind your word.
LEMON: Yes.
FRANKLIN: Well, thank you.
LEMON: Thank you. And she's known for her flowers.
FRANKLIN: Yes.
LEMON: She's wearing it on "Newsweek" and she's wearing it now.
FRANKLIN: Thank you.
LEMON: Once again, it's always good to see you.
FRANKLIN: Thank you, it was very good to see you both.
WHITFIELD: Good to see you.
FRANKLIN: Thank you, good to see you.
WHITFIELD: All right, well, let's go to Capitol Hill right now because we're also going to talk about someone else who's being honored, this time in Capitol Hill. And Harry Reid is speaking right now, but they're talking about the Dalai Lama, who is being honored on Capitol Hill right there with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. And this is the highest civilian award bestowed upon anybody.
And you see in these pictures, this is the first time we've been able to see President Bush and the Dalai Lama in public after meeting last night. They met behind closed doors, had their private discussions about Myanmar and Tibet. And we'll continue to watch the developments there on Capitol Hill to hear what the president has to say and actually see the ceremony of this gold medal being bestowed upon the Dalai Lama.
Much more in the NEWSROOM when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: And we'll have more on news from medicine in a moment. But first, we want to update you on this story out of Hernando County, Florida where a man gets to his home, and finds an intruder in it. And so, the homeowner actually opened up fire, using his .22-caliber pistol with bird shot. And now, apparently the hunt is on for what may be an injured, alleged house burglar.
On the line with us now from Hernando County, Lieutenant Scott Bierwiler with the Hernando County sheriff's department. So Lieutenant, are those facts about right?
VOICE OF LT. SCOTT BIERWILER, HERNANDO CO., FLORIDA SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Yes, yes, they are.
WHITFIELD: OK, so, you are now looking for this injured intruder. How difficult would this search be?
BIERWILER: Well, we are utilizing our helicopters and canine units along with ground units, still trying to track and locate the suspect who had broken into the gentleman's home.
WHITFIELD: And it looks particularly difficult because -- now, when we see a wider shot, it's very woodsy, a very dense area, which has some sporadic housing. But it seems like, with the kind of tree cover here, that's going to present a real challenge.
BIERWILER: Yes, it is. And as well as the weather we're having right now, the dogs can only last a certain amount of time. So, we've been changing them out, but we're actively searching now.
WHITFIELD: Do you have any idea the extent of his injuries?
BIERWILER: No, and haven't even been able to confirm the exact location that he was shot or if, in fact, he was shot. The homeowner is saying that he believes he did hit him twice with the .22-caliber handgun and that's the only information we have right now as far as him being shot.
WHITFIELD: There had been earlier reports that there were schools in the area and that a lockdown was being requested. Any truth to that?
BIERWILER: No, we do have some schools, probably within several miles of here. And they were not locked down because of the distance away from the actual location of the crime scene.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
BIERWILER: But we did send additional units to the schools, just to be with the staff and just make sure everything was fine.
WHITFIELD: OK, and as far as you know, no one else has been injured in this exchange of gunfire?
BIERWILER: No, there was no one else injured.
WHITFIELD: All right, Lieutenant Scott Bierwiler, thanks so much, of Hernando County sheriff's department there in Florida. We're going to continue to keep tabs of the developments and the search there.
LEMON: It is a news a lot of people had been hoping for, injured Buffalo Bills tide-in Kevin Everett is making tremendous progress, one step at a time. Everett suffered a potentially life-threatening spinal cord injury, while trying to make a tackle in the first game of the season, that was back in September.
At first, doctors thought he'd be permanently paralyzed. Well today, comes word he's moving his legs, and able to stand up with the help of a specialized walker.
CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explained his injuries and the recovery to "AMERICAN MORNING's" Kiran Chetry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUPTA: His doctors at the time said it was unlikely he'd ever get a chance to walk. And I want to show you the type of injury that he actually had on this spine model that I have here, showing what happened to his neck.
His injury was actually between the third and fourth bones in his cervical spine over here. And it actually put some pressure on his spinal cord, which is sort of just -- all these bones sort of circumnavigate his spinal cord. When the bones were broken, they pushed on his spinal cord, and that caused the injury.
What we now know, Kiran, after having investigated this, and looked at a specific pattern of injuries, was that Kevin actually suffered from something known as a central cord syndrome, which -- think of that as sort of a bruising to the spinal cord. Most of those patients do get better. That's the good news. About more than nine out of 10 patients actually recover enough to be able to walk again.
So, as far as we can tell right now, Kevin Everett's falling in a classical pattern of someone who should have -- who had this injury, but should recover and appears to be recovering as expected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And Dr. Gupta tells us if patients who've been through the same injury are left with any weakness, it's usually in their hands.
WHITFIELD: Well, it's an unprecedented event. You're looking at live pictures right now of the Dalai Lama. And where is he? He's on Capitol Hill, and he is awaiting an award that will be bestowed upon him by Congress there, the highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal.
We understand that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is speaking right now. And then soon after, President Bush will speak, and perhaps even elaborate maybe on their private meeting or maybe he'll keep that private, their private meeting between the president and the Dalai Lama last night at the White House. And this is, indeed, quite an honor for the Dalai Lama, and for members of Congress, to see him in person.
But at the same time, you know, the White House has had to walk a real tightrope here because this entire event has been rather upsetting to China.
LEMON: To China, yes.
WHITFIELD: And even though the president has accepted an invitation by China to go to the Beijing Games next year, China is rather aghast because he's been in exile now for quite some time, living in India.
LEMON: And you have to admit, it's kind of a juxtaposition of him, in his garb and the way -- the business suits that we dress, it's just really interesting to see him in this setting, as you said, it's been ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, this is kind of -- yes.
LEMON: ...a bit controversial.
Nancy Pelosi is speaking now. The president is going to speak in a little bit, right, Fred, you ...
WHITFIELD: Yes, that's right.
LEMON: ...you are up on the details of this a little bit more than me. And there he -- there they are, shaking hands. And he's going to get that medal from the president.
WHITFIELD: Right, and we're going to continue to follow that and try to bring that live as it happens.
OK ...
LEMON: We're going to go back now.
WHITFIELD: ...well, there's the president now, in fact. He's going to speak now. And let's go ahead and listen in.
(APPLAUSE) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Madam speaker, Senator Byrd, Mr. Leader, members of the Congressional delegation, particularly Senators Feinstein and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Senator Thomas, God rest his soul, distinguished guests, particularly our friend Eli Vyself (ph) and Your Holiness.
Over the years, Congress has conferred the gold medal on many great figures of history, usually at a time when their struggles were over and won. Today, Congress has chosen to do something different. It has conferred this honor on a figure whose work continues, and whose outcome remains uncertain.
In doing so, America raises its voice in the call for religious liberty and basic human rights. These values forged our republic. They sustained us through many trials. And they draw us by conviction and conscience to the people of Tibet and the man we honor today.
Nearly two decades have passed since the Dalai Lama was welcomed to the White House for the very first time. Members of both of our political parties and world leaders have seen His Holiness as a man of faith and sincerity and peace. He's won the respect and affection of the American people, and America has earned his respect and affection as well.
As a nation, we're humbled to know that a young boy in Tibet -- as a young boy in Tibet, His Holiness kept a model of the Statue of Liberty at his bedside. Years later, on his first visit to America, he went to Battery Park in New York City, so he could see the real thing up close.
On his first trip to Washington, he walked to the Jefferson Memorial, a monument to the man whose words launched a revolution that still inspires men and women across the world. Jefferson counted as one of America's greatest blessings, the freedom of worship. It was, he said, a liberty deemed in other countries incompatible with their government. And yet, proved by our experience to be its best support.
Freedom of belief is the yearning of the human spirit, a blessing offered to the world and a cherished value of our nation. It's the very first protection offered in the American Bill of Rights. It inspired many of the leaders that this rotunda honors in portraits and in marble.
And it still defines our way of life. Consider where we gather today. This great symbol of democracy sits quietly near a Catholic parish, a Jewish synagogue, a Muslim community center, a Greek Orthodox cathedral and a Buddhist temple, each with faithful followers, who practice their deeply held beliefs and live side by side in peace. This diversity is not a source of instability, it's a source of strength.
This freedom does not belong to one nation.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: And this freedom does not belong to one nation. It belongs to the world. Why the tragic anomalies of the past century, is that in an era that has seen an unprecedented number of nations embrace individual freedom has also witnessed the stubborn endurance of religious repression.
Americans cannot look to the plight of the religiously oppressed and close our eyes or turn away. And that is why I will continue to urge the leaders of China to welcome the Dalai Lama to China. They will find this good man to be a man of peace and reconciliation.
(APPLAUSE)
BUSH: Throughout our history, we have stood proudly with those who offer a message of hope and freedom to the world's down-trodden and oppressed. This is why all of us are drawn to a noble and spiritual leader who lives a world away.
Today, we honor him as the universal symbol of peace and tolerance, the shepherd for the faithful, and a keeper of the flame for his people. I congratulate His Holiness on this recognition. It's an honor to be here with you, sir. Laura and I join all Americans in offering the people of Tibet our further prayer that they may find days of prosperity and peace.
And now, I ask the speaker and Senator Byrd to join me for the gold medal presentation.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, His Holiness, the fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.
(APPLAUSE)
DALAI LAMA, EXILED TIBETAN SPIRITUAL LEADER: Actually today, not like my usual other (ph) way, complete informal way, but today, more ceremonial or more formal way, so bit difficult.
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