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Arson Probe Underway in Southern California; Georgia Man Free from Court; Superbug Alert For Families
Aired October 27, 2007 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It is Saturday, October 27th and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hello everybody, I am Betty Nguyen. Straight ahead, arsonist alert. Be on the lookout for a white pickup truck like this one. We're going to have the latest on the California wildfires and why people are centering in on that truck.
Also, a Georgia man is free from what the court has called cruel and unusual punishment. Find out what Genarlow Wilson is doing with his newfound freedom.
And an important health alert for you. That superbug claims yet another young life. We have some potentially life saving information for families.
First up, I want to tell you that my partner T.J. Holmes is off today. He's being honored at his alma mater, the University of Arkansas. But Reynolds Wolf is with me. He joins me now live from Rancho Bernardo, California, covering those wildfires for us this morning. And those fires continue to burn as we speak, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN ANCHOR: That's right, Betty. Well the sun is coming up here in Rancho Bernardo and it's a new day and for many people, it's a new beginning because many people are coming home to a scene like the one you see right behind me, where it's utter devastation. Everything that they had is completely gone due to the fire.
And the fire, as you mentioned, is still raging through many parts of southern California. Now it's going to be an interesting day because you're going to have so many people that are going to be coming home to the homes the first time, some of them will find their homes still standing. Some of them will find, again, the scene similar to what we have behind me.
It's going to be a very trying and frustrating day, a day that's not about politics, a day about people. Those are the stories that we're going to be sharing with you, the moms, the dads, the kids, the pets and how they're coming to terms with what has been left behind at their homes here in parts of southern California.
Immense fires that are still burning here and although the firefighters are working so hard, working around the clock to do what they can do to chip away at this tremendous fire, it is still a tremendous endeavor.
NGUYEN: Yes, they are not out of the danger zone just yet. Thank you, Reynolds. We'll be checking in very shortly.
In the meantime, though a white Ford pickup truck and that is the latest focal point in the southern California arson investigation. CNN's John Zarrella is live from Orange, California. I want to ask you, when they talk about this while pickup truck, can they connect that to where that fire started, the Santiago fire?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Betty. The fire officials late yesterday afternoon in a news briefing here said that they had a development in the case, perhaps it will be a break in the case.
They received about 700 calls coming into their tip line, and one of the calls that came in was from some people who apparently saw a white Ford F-150 pickup, much like this particular one that we are showing people, and it is between the years of 1998 and 2004.
Supposedly, it was seen on the Santiago Canyon Road sometime between 5:45 and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. That is about the time that the fire started. And it was in the vicinity of where that fire started, which is between the Santiago and Silverado Canyons, where they meet.
So they are asking anyone who may have seen that vehicle or even the owner of the vehicle to come forward. They are not suspects, but they are persons of interest. That's the way it was described yesterday.
It may be nothing, but right now it is all they have to go on. Investigators with alcohol, tobacco and firearms yesterday back out there at that scene where they believe the fire was started, trying to gather more information, looking for more clues. They expanded the grid search area, hoping they would find something.
Meanwhile, this stubborn Santiago Canyon fire continues to be a real problem for firefighters. It had burned over 27,000 acres already, it actually began to come back down the canyon yesterday and threatening more homes. And fire officials here late yesterday afternoon saying that they were really having even more difficulty getting a handle on it.
NGUYEN: John, let me ask you this question -- getting back to that Ford pickup truck that people are supposed to be looking out for, that's a pretty common vehicle. There are thousands made. Are people, investigators, concerned they're going to have a flood of tips that really may not lead to anything?
ZARRELLA: Well, that's why they're saying only if you saw this Ford F-150 pickup on the Santiago Canyon Road on Sunday afternoon. That's the one they're looking for. They're not looking for every one you see in a parking lot. They're only asking people who may have seen it on that road sometime on Sunday afternoon late in the afternoon, about the time that the fire began to call in.
And if you happened to be the one driving it but had nothing to do with the fire, call in as well because they say they want to clear those people of any suspicion. So that's what they're looking for. They don't want everyone to call with every white F-150 they see, just the one that might have been on that road that afternoon.
NGUYEN: That's really important to clarify there. John, we do appreciate your time this morning. Of course we'll be talking with you a little bit later as well.
And CNN has obtained some really stunning pictures of the California wildfires taken from the sky by air force planes. Check it out. The bright white line that you see in this photo shows the progress of one blaze moving along a tree line.
Now this next photo shows you how widespread the fires were. It shows you the smoke as well in this one and the effects of the wind. Look at that smoke.
And this picture right here showing multiple small fires. It gives you an idea of what the firefighters have really been up against. One more here, it really drives home the intensity of the smoke that has plagued firefighters and citizens alike.
Back down to earth now for the latest on the conditions on the ground, we want to return to CNN's Reynolds Wolf in Rancho Bernardo, joining us live with the latest on what is happening there. I hear some commotion in the background.
WOLF: Oh, there's a lot of people that are waking up. You have a lot of neighbors that are moving through this neighborhood and seeing what this fire has wrought.
And right behind me, look at this. You know, I don't know if any of you viewers at home happen to be a student of history. If you've ever seen any of those sepia-tinted old photographs of Atlanta, Georgia or maybe even the Carolinas after Sherman's troops went through back I 1864, 1965, we have just the smoke stacks and you have the -- that's kind of like what you see her here.
It is a scene that we have seen all over the landscape here in parts of southern California, especially here in the San Diego area. What's even more bizarre about this is not only seeing the damage here, but seeing how really random it's been.
In many places you will have this kind of scene, just the wreckage everywhere, but then, say, for example, across the street you have homes that are just fine.
My friend photojournalist Emanuel is going to pivot the camera and show you what you have on the other side of the street. Look. Look at that image. It could be any other day in San Diego. And if you woke up and you happened to see that house and you looked at the trees close by, looks like a perfect day. Looks like a day you ought to be sitting at home, seeing how the Chargers are going to do, maybe grilling out on the back porch, having a great time, maybe some guests over.
But then when you look back and you see what's on the other side of the street, here you go, people who have lost everything. Granted, these folks may be insured, but there are many people in the San Diego area that don't have any insurance whatsoever.
We were actually in a trailer park that was about 30 miles to the south-southeast of San Diego where the place has been completely leveled, very similar to what you see here. In fact, worse.
At least you have a little bit of stucco up here. But still, I'm thinking that it's a total loss. And you know something else - when I'm talking about a total loss, we're not looking at just mortar and bricks and pieces of wood.
You are seeing pieces of someone's life where you had a situation where only a week ago, think about this for just a few seconds, a week ago, everything was fine. You have of course the winds were picking up, but there wasn't any huge problem with fire. You had folks having coffee there in that back room. You had maybe a child telling their mom and dad a great story about what had happened earlier in the week in school or what they wanted for Christmas. Halloween is coming up. I can't wait to wear this new costume that we have in the closet that's now gone.
Wow, it is an amazing thing to see, an amazing and very scary thing. And it's funny how fate works out. Coming up in a short while, we're going to have an interview with the great family who was very fortunate, very fortunate that they did not come home to something like this. They were able to make it through those flames and now they're able to -- at least they don't have the worries that some families do. But they are dealing with quite a bit of guilt. And we're going to talk to them, we're going to ask them how they're coping with it and how they're helping their neighbors. That story is coming up very soon. Right now, let's send it back to you, Betty.
NGUYEN: It is just devastating, it's heart wrenching looking at that. And you're right. These are people's lives just up in smoke and we want to get the latest on the ground as well as what's going to happen with the weather, because that's going to be a key overall and whether they're going to get any kind of relief that can help with the fires that are still burning at this hour.
In fact, 14 fires have been contained. There's still nine major fires that are still burning. And we're going to bring in Karen Maginnis right now to get us a look at the weather. I believe she's standing by. There you are, Karen. I know you've been watching this. Any chance they're going to get any kind of rain or relief?
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, are you moved by what you see? I'm sure you are, like many of us. Well then you can actually do something about it. You can take action. You can help the victims of this fire. All you have to do is go to CNN.com/impact and it will show you there on that Web site exactly what you can do. It's part of CNN's initiative to make a difference in the lives of those who have lost so much.
Well we are going to get to the other news in just a moment. And one of it involves this, these parents right there in jail after their infants, more than one, tested positive for cocaine. And wait until you hear about some of the other kids involved.
Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENARLOW WILSON, FREE: I want to say thank you very much. It means a lot to me and my family that so many people came to our defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: He went to prison for having oral sex. But this morning he is a free man. You're going to hear more from Genarlow Wilson, that's next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well a young Georgia man jailed for nearly three years is spending his first full day at home with his family. Genarlow Wilson was sentenced to prison for having consensual oral sex with a teenage girl when he was a teenager himself. Friday, Georgia Supreme Court ordered Wilson's release. CNN's Rusty Dornin has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-one-year- old Genarlow Wilson walked out of prison into the arms of his mother and 9-year-old sister. He was almost three years into a 10-year prison sentence that the Georgia Supreme Court decided was cruel and unusual punishment for his crime. That crime was having oral sex with a 15- year-old girl when he was 17.
The ruling came on a 4-3 vote. Wilson's case made headlines around the world and after his short reunion, he walked straight to the microphones.
WILSON: I want to say thank you very much. You know, it means a lot to me and my family that so many people came to our defense and stood up and fought for us.
DORNIN: A year after Wilson was convicted, his case spurred Georgia legislators to change the law to make consensual sex between minors a misdemeanor. State officials had opposed releasing Wilson, fearing it would trigger appeals from other sex offenders in prison.
Dave McDade, the district attorney who prosecuted Wilson said in a statement that he is disappointed. "While I respectfully may disagree with the court's decision, I also must respect their authority as the final arbiter in this case." Wilson says he has been studying for college exams and hopes to study sociology. He also hopes people will learn from his experience.
WILSON: I don't want nobody to go through and suffer the pain I suffered. You know, et cetera, but you should be, you know, more cautious about what you should do because a few minutes of fun can be a lifetime, you know, and a very hard time getting out of.
DORNIN: His mother said she always believed that justice would be done.
JUANESSA BENNETT, WILSON'S MOTHER: I never gave up hope, you know, in the judicial system and I never gave up hope in all the prayers that went out for us.
DORNIN: Not bitter, Wilson says he's matured since he walked through the prison gates 2.5 years ago. A young man who says he's ready for a whole new life.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Forsyth, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We're going to take a closer look at the legal twists and turns in the Genarlow Wilson case in just a few hours right here on CNN. Legal experts Avery Friedman and Richard Herman join us during the 2 p.m. Eastern hour for an analysis of the Wilson case.
In the meantime though, listen to this -- cocaine-tainted toddlers. That's right, that's why the parents of eight children are now in jail in Houston this morning. 25-year-old Tammy Lynn Melton and 43-year-old Emanuel Jones, you see them here, were arrested after four of the children tested positive for having cocaine in their systems. All four kids are under the age of 3. The doctors became suspicious when an 11-month-old boy showed reaction to pain, very little reaction to pain, even though he had a fractured arm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ESTELLO OLGUIN, CHILDRENS PROTECTIVE SERVICES: We think that the children just somehow must have gotten a hold of the parents' cocaine because the children who tested positive were two 11-month-old twins, a 1.5 year old and a 2.5 year old.
RANDY BURTON, FOUNDER, JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN: If they haven't intervened when they did, I'm confident within months we would have seen a dead child.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: The parents are charged with felony counts of injury to children. Those children are still - actually are now in a foster home.
Well the rapper T.I. is out of jail today. A federal judge in Atlanta released T.I. on $3 million bond, while his lawyers prepare to trial. The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris Jr. was arrested just a couple of weeks ago on federal weapons charges. By last, Harris can't own a gun because he's a convicted felon. Today, Harris is under house arrest and has to wear an electronic ankle bracelet.
The U.S. government is outraged this morning after one of the leaders of the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen was released. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed when a ship was bombed seven years ago. Jamal al-Badawi had been serving time for that attack. He escaped from prison and then turned himself in. Well, Yemen released him on the condition that he renounce terrorism.
It's a grand opening to tell you about this morning at the International Space Station. Just a few hours ago, two astronauts opened a new docking port. The new room is the size of a school bus and is called Harmony. The addition was installed yesterday during a spacewalk.
And if missiles are ever fired at the U.S., check this out - this is what the Pentagon hopes will happen. You see it right there? You're going to see a big burst in just a second. The Defense Department -- there it is - video right here shows a ballistic missile being shot down in a test just hours ago over the Pacific. Thirty- nine such tests have been conducted since 2001. This was the 31st time it was successful.
WOLF: And Betty, it's a new day in San Diego as many people are heading home and it's a new beginning for many of them. Many of them coming home to homes that just don't exist. And there are many that also dealing with a dose of survivor's guilt. We'll bring you that story coming up. But first, here's Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hey there. You know what? Meanwhile, while Californians are battling those fires, over in Washington you've got a political battle brewing with a top Democrat and the White House going at each other over wildfires. Is there any truth to it, or are they just blowing hot hair? Betty coming up, we're going to take a look at that.
NGUYEN: All right, and this is sobering, too, Josh, because there is another warning to tell you about. Another boy has died from that killer superbug.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to know why the Department of Health, even if they suspected this was something they should have disinfected the school immediately because I'd rather proceed with caution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: So why weren't parents warned earlier? Important information to protect your family, that is next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: You know, the folks who have lost of everything aren't alone because Washington is also feeling the heat from those California wildfires. Joshua Levs joins us with now with a look at how the politics of wildfires are coming into play.
LEVS: Yes, they're all jumping into this. And I guess to some extent it can be predicted, because everything can turn political. But basically what's happening is that the top Democrat in Congress is going after the White House and the White House in return is going after the Democrats.
And it's all about wildfires. But we want to take a look now at whether any of that is true or if they're just blowing hot air.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice-over): The fires were raging. The fears flying. People were looking for answers, all the combustible ingredients for a fresh political battle.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: We shouldn't have to fight with the president every time we have an appropriation bill to get money we know we're going to need. We've had these wildfires in the west now for a number of years and we need more money.
LEVS: Senator Harry Reid said Democrats had to fight to put hundreds of millions of dollars into wildfire suppression, which includes efforts to clear out brush that fuels fires.
The White House shot back. Spokeswoman Dana Perino told reports on Air Force One that "efforts have been well funded." She cited the Healthy Forests Initiative, that passed in 2003 after what she called years of Democratic opposition.
That initiative was designed to help increase blocking, which the White House said could clear out fuel for fires. The main opposition was from environmental groups that wanted controlled burning instead.
The Sierra Club says the "initiative is based on the false assumption that landscape-wide logging will decrease forest fires." While that battle rages on, the White House says hundreds of millions of dollars are available for fire prevention and that it takes time to carry out prevention work. Those overseeing efforts to combat the California fires are not pointing fingers at Democrats or the federal government, quite the opposite.
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: The president jumped into action right away, so we want to say thank you to the president for everything that he has done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: So, unlike with Hurricane Katrina, you're really not seeing government agencies here generally blamed for being unprepared. You're hearing more about the weather and the fact that people are moving into these fire-prone areas.
But while there is a good side to the government being praised, there's also a downside to it. And that is that the government is not saying that if there's any kind of fix they could put in place over the next year or two that would change the scenario, prevent it from happening again.
NGUYEN: Well but at the same time, we can't let them off the hook because there are some complaints about the government.
LEVS: Yes and I'm glad you said that, because there's some complaints we should touch on just to make sure that we're not scoffing them off, or pretending they're not there.
For example, there are question about whether certain aircraft were used on time, whether certain plans were followed -- also whether in general the federal government has on a broad level enough of a plan to deal with this kind of thing nationally.
But what we're not hearing is that people tackling these fires in California saying that there's some kind of big government failure here, which is a good side. But it makes me think, would this exact same scenario, everything about it, happen again next week, next month, next year?
And for that, we turn to our Reynolds Wolf. I'm going to bring him in now. Reynolds, talk to me. Would we see this exact same thing happen again?
WOLF: Josh, there's so many things I've just heard. You know where I stand personally on this. My head is about to just erupt. Sorry, but I've got to talk a little bit about the whole politics thing. It's funny. We spoke to some of the firefighters out here. This is an issue where politics should not even be in this spectrum. This is a terrible thing that happened out here, but I'll tell you with some of the firefighters that I've spoken to, this is a natural occurrence.
You know, playing this blame game is such a terrible thing to do. You have to look at it in this way -- this is what I heard a firefighter tell me just the other day -- in places like Buffalo you deal with the heavy snow. You get the strong lake-effect snow. If you live in Buffalo, you're going to deal with the snow.
If you live in the Central Plains, chances are you're going to be dealing with some tornadoes. On parts of the Gulf Coast or parts of the Eastern Seaboard, you're going to have the issue with hurricanes.
And if you live in southern California, unfortunately, wildfires are part of life. It is something that they deal with here, and it's a terrible thing, especially in cases of arson, which may be one of the big culprits of this incident.
But it is a natural occurrence. Now you were asking, could this happen again? Absolutely. It could definitely happen again. If we have a time where we have really warm conditions where the vegetation has a chance to really dry up, the winds kick up again -- last week in excess of 100 miles per hour at times. If we have that, if we have that spark, the fire and everything else comes into play, it could definitely happen again. No question.
LEVS: Yes and you're talking about the inevitability in different regions. Part of that in inevitability is that in Washington, everything is going to turn political. As you and I talked earlier, it just happens. And I'm glad that we're pointing that out.
Let me just get this from you quickly. Talk to me about the long term. Look ahead five years, ten years. Are they working on - you know, we're America. We innovate. This is what we do.
Are they working on an amazing new aircraft that will be able to tackle these gale-force winds and still get to the fires? Or amazing new chemicals that will quash them sooner? Are we seeing advancement in that area so 10, 20 years down we see something better?
WOLF: We were talking about earlier today, that necessity is the mother of invention? Yeah. I would think definitely think that that people are going to be working on that.
But the problem is when you're dealing with strong forces of nature, those winds that are above hurricane force winds, it doesn't matter what kind of aircraft you have that's flying above that. When you drop that fire retardant, when it goes to the lower levels of the atmosphere, what happens is it causes that retardant to disperse, kind of spray out.
And when that happens, it loses a great deal of its effectiveness. There's very little they could have really done to really fight the fire any better than they did. I mean, I don't know what kind of technology they could bring in that could eliminate some of these problems.
LEVS: Now, that is a reality check. Reynolds, thank you so much for what you're doing out there. And Betty, thanks to you. That's what I'm saying. You know, major difference in that respect.
NGUYEN: Well, he makes a good point because it's not like there was one or two fires. I mean, 23 fires, nine still burning at this hour. Thank you, Josh.
LEVS: Thanks.
NGUYEN: Well, the search for a fire starter continues in California as residents return to what used to be their homes. Reynolds Wolf is back live with us just a moment.
Also want to tell you about this. Another death from that killer superbug. We're going to tell you what you need to know to protect your kids. Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every single illegal alien who crosses in Laredo will be arrested, prosecuted, and thrown in jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Did you hear that? Zero tolerance means just that on this Texas border town. Crackdown on illegal immigration, that's next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Let's get an update now on what's been the top news story all week long and that is this. You're looking at it right there, the southern California wildfires. Fourteen of the fires are 100 percent contained, but nine others remain active.
This puts it in perspective -- 788 square mile of land have burned, seven deaths are directly related to the fires and seven people died during or after evacuations. Five arson arrests have been made, none in connection with the biggest fires. Authorities are looking for the driver of a white Ford pickup truck similar to this one seen around that we're going to put up there for you, seen around the time that the 27,000-acre Santiago fire broke out.
Well many wildfire evacuees are being allowed to return home. But even for those who escaped the damage, there still are some major problems.
Look at this heavy smoke, especially dangerous to people with heart or breathing problems. Reynolds Wolf has been bringing us the human side of the story. We want to go back to him in Rancho Bernardo, California. And you know, here's the thing that strikes me, Reynolds. You're there, you're standing in the middle of just what's left, rubble, nothing but just charred remains there of what used to be a home. It's been emotional for you, emotional for me to watch you. But that's not even your home. Just imagine if that is where you lived.
WOLF: Oh, yeah. I'm just a goofy married guy with a baby and another one on the way. Yeah, I put myself in this situation of what these people were dealing with, coming home and finding nothing. I can't imagine how devastating that would be.
It's amazing that the human stories, the stories we've had of people, the strength that they've found during this crisis. There's a lot of loss, but there's a lot of people who feel very lucky in what they've been able to do, survive this.
And a lot of people have been dealing with guilt. This morning we are lucky enough to have Patti McCord, Jana and Wesley with us. And I understand you have quite a story. Now can you tell us about it, take us through it step by step.
PATTI MCCORD, RANCHO BERNARDO RESIDENT: Well, that morning we woke up, my husband and I, about 4:00. And we could see the flames coming from the east and he said, we better get ready.
So we actually were lucky. We had two hours, and that was plenty of time to pack everything that was to me into the back of the car. We sent the kids ahead and then my husband and I stayed behind a little longer. He actually stayed the whole time, but I left another maybe half hour later, just as the flames were coming up over the hill and the houses were beginning to burn.
WOLF: Goodness. Jana, how did the rest of your neighbors make it? How are they doing? JANA MCCORD, RANCHO BERNARDO RESIDENT: Well, our whole street made it through, but everything was kind of in a panic. Everybody was packing up. Everything was kind of dark and gloomy. You can could see the smoke, feel it in your lungs. We all were just kind of really scared. We just got out of there and were praying and praying and praying. But we really had no idea what was going to happen.
WOLF: I see. And although you made it out -- your home is still intact -- you're feeling quite a bit of guilt, are you not?
P. MCCORD: It's hard. You look around at the devastation. Even when you were talking earlier about, oh, it could be any day, you could go have a barbecue. You don't feel like having a barbecue. You look around and it's hard to enjoy what you have because you feel so sad for the people who have lost so much. So we really feel like it's our responsibility, since our home was saved, to help the people that weren't so lucky.
WOLF: Perfect attitude to have. You actually had firefighters that actually slept, camped out in your backyard.
P. MCCORD: We did. We were very blessed. Well our house was on the end so they took a stand in our back yard actually with the hoses and definitely saved our house. And then they came back for a couple nights and slept in the backyard to keep ours safe.
WOLF: I see. Speaking of firefighters, I understand Wesley, you're a friend of the firefighters, right?
WESLEY MCCORD, SANCHO BERNARDO RESIDENT: Yes.
WOLF: OK, America, you have to see this great shirt he has. Can you turn around for everybody? Look at that. What is -- it's San Diego fire department.
W. MCCORD: Yes.
WOLF: And I understand you had your birthday party at the fire station.
W. MCCORD: Yes, I did, actually.
WOLF: Well, maybe that might be in the cards for you. Maybe one day you'll go and fight some fires yourself.
W. MCCORD: Maybe.
WOLF: OK, maybe sounds pretty good. So what's next for you? Are you planning on just going back to the neighborhood and helping out any way you can?
J. MCCORD: Yeah. It's, like, part of having your house saved also comes with the responsibility of helping others around you because you look around and I wondered every day since we came back home, why was it us? Why did our house get saved? It's, like, these people -- it's just so sad. I mean, their lives were here, and they just lost it. So the past couple of days we've been going around sifting, helping them. We packed some lunches, packed, like, 60 lunches for the firefighters, sandwiches, cookies, fruit, candy, and just you really feel like obliged to help these people that have lost everything. It's a really good feeling to help the others around you.
WOLF: Well thank you all so much for your time. We'll let you get back to doing the great things you've been doing. Folks, this is about as American as you could possibly get.
I mean, if this does not warm your heart in light of all the bad things that have happened. There are so many positive stories, so many wonderful things that are happening here in southern California. That's certainly something that can give us a lot of heart. Betty, let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: I had goosebumps just listening to that, and just the warm spirit that that family has. Just like she said, with blessings comes responsibility. That's what they're doing. We want to thank you for bringing us that story, Reynolds.
And also want to tell our viewers, if you are moved by what you see, then take action, would you? You can actually help victims of the California wildfires through our impact your world initiative. Go to CNN.com/impact to see how you can help.
With all the about the wildfires, you may not have heard about new fears and another death being blamed on that killer superbug. A middle school student in New York died apparently from that drug- resistant staph infection called MRSA. And now parents are giving school officials an earful.
CNN's Jim Acosta explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Weeks before Omar Rivera died of a drug-resistant staph infection, his friends at school said they saw something wrong with the seventh grader.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One day I was at lunch and he had told me something about something on his leg. He had a whole bunch of stuff on his back. I didn't know what to do so I just sent him to the nurse. From then, I never saw him again.
ACOSTA: Health officials now believe the bacteria MRSA, AKA the superbug, had struck again. The 12-year-old student from Brooklyn died on October 14th.
But parents and teachers didn't know about the potentially infectious bacteria that killed Omar until the 25th, 11 days later. That's when city officials sent this letter home to parents, informing them the school had undergone on extra cleaning and encouraging students to practice good hand-washing. Instantly, many parents were alarmed. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Told him to wash his hands constantly, I even bought him a sanitizer.
ACOSTA: Some city leaders are slamming the response as tardy.
CHARLES BARRON, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MEMBER: I want to know why the Department of Health, even if they suspected this was something, they should have disinfected the school immediately because I'd rather proceed with caution. And even if it isn't, then, you know, you have at least a safe school.
ACOSTA: City health officials claim they were never required to inform parents, insisting the odds the infection would spread to other students are low.
THOMAS FRIEDEN, NYC HEALTH COMMISSIONER: In this situation where people are grieving because a child has died, it's natural to inform people. But there's no need to necessarily inform the school, and certainly no urgency about informing the school.
ACOSTA: Health officials are concerned the bug is spreading from outside its traditional breeding grounds in hospitals. A Virginia high school student died from a MRSA infection earlier this month. Back at Omar Rivera's school, the principal is both defending her handling of the infection and trying to comfort students.
BUFFIE SIMMONS-PEART, PRINCIPAL: We have taken every precautionary measures internally and externally to ensure the safety and welfare of our students.
ACOSTA: A parents meeting is scheduled at the school Saturday morning where the question of the day will undoubtedly be, why didn't this community know something sooner?
Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Let's take a closer look at staph infections and the drug-resistant form known as M-R-S-A or MRSA. Staph is short for Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people. MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that does not respond to penicillin or related antibiotics. It can be treated with some other drugs. The infection can spread through skin to skin contact or through sharing an item with an infected person, and that could include items like towels or sports equipment found in gyms and locker rooms.
All right, do you want a feel-good story today? Have you ever wanted to swim with a dolphin? Wait until you see this, an inspirational story about what can happen with kids who have lost a limb meet a dolphin who lost a tail.
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NGUYEN: There is zero tolerance along the Rio Grande, yes, a section of the Texas border with Mexico is about to get a lot more attention. Beginning Tuesday, law enforcement will be out in force targeting illegal immigrants. And CNN's Lisa Sylvester reports, zero tolerance is based on an old law that has a pretty good track record.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT(voice-over): These two illegal aliens make a run for it, entering Laredo, Texas. Illegal Mexican border crossers who are caught are simply sent right back to Mexico, free to try again and again. In Texas, illegal aliens are generally given a free pass, the first seven entry attempts without being detained, along most of the Arizona border, the first 15 times, according to Representative John Culberson.
But the Texas congressman says not any more in Laredo, Texas.
REP. JOHN CULBERSON (R), TEXAS: The border in Laredo will be closed to criminals beginning October 30. Every single illegal alien who crosses in Laredo will be arrested, prosecuted and thrown in jail for up to six months.
SYLVESTER: The second offense, a felony, carries a sentence of up to two years imprisonment. The zero-tolerance policy will apply to the 171 miles along the Rio Grande in the Laredo sector. The program known as Operation Streamline, was first put in effect in Del Rio, Texas, two years ago and expanded to Yuma, Arizona.
The results have been a dramatic decline in the attempted illegal crossings. Apprehensions dropped 67 percent in Del Rio, a 70 percent drop in apprehensions in Yuma.
CARLOS CARRILLO, U.S. BORDER PATROL: A reduction in illegal alien traffic will also allow our Border Patrol and other law enforcement partners to focus on more serious threats, such as terrorism, border violence, narcotics.
SYLVESTER: The authority to detain the illegal aliens comes from a law that's been on the books since 1952, the crime of entry without inspection, Title 8, Section 1325 of the U.S. Code. The law has just been ignored. Critics say there will not be enough detention space for the alien detainees.
The American Civil Liberties Union worries illegal aliens will not receive due process, but the Border Patrol says the same concerns were raised in Del Rio and Yuma, but have not been a problem.
(on camera): The Senate approved last week an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science spending bill that sets aside up to $10 million to expand Operation Streamline, money that can be used for more bed space and to hire more judges and public defenders. Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) NGUYEN: Well out west, we are keeping a close eye on those fires burning across California. Our Reynolds Wolf is there. I understand you have a reporter's notebook coming up.
WOLF: Indeed we do, Betty. You know, we've got so many of our friends that are tuning in from all across America that feel so distant from what's been happening here in southern California. Well, in just a few moments, we're going to give you the chance to ride shotgun with me. I'll drive safely. You'll get a chance to see firsthand what's been happening here in southern California. That's only moments away. I hope you stay tuned here to CNN Saturday morning.
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NGUYEN: You know, all this hour we've been checking in with Reynolds Wolf in Rancho Bernardo, California. He's been covering these wildfires for several days now. And Reynolds, we really wanted to share some of your thoughts because this has been an emotional journey for you as well.
WOLF: Oh, it really has been. I mean, it's an emotional journey for anybody who happens to tune in. You don't have to be like me, a dad, a husband. You could be anybody. You know what's funny though Betty, we've got so many viewers from all over America. It doesn't matter if you happen to be tuning in from say Miami, New York or even Nebraska or even northern part of California.
For many people, although they can kind of get an idea of what's happening, it's hard for them to really comprehend what the men and women and children of San Diego and just the southern half of the Golden State have been dealing with when it comes to this tragedy. Hopefully, by riding along with me, you'll get an idea firsthand of what they've been dealing with.
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WOLF (voice over): You can see why people live here. It's beautiful. You've got the sun out, the trees moving a little bit in the breeze. There's some haze, but, I mean, if you just flew into San Diego, you wouldn't automatically think smoke. No sign of any kind of panic. No sign that things are wrong at all. Just seems like a normal Friday in San Diego. That's all.
Here in the median, you see pallets, concrete, you even see a bridge that's going to be built up again. We are talking about construction, not destruction. Everything is vibrant here at least from what you can see from the freeway. If you had not been watching television or listening to the radio over the past week, you would have had no idea that there are fires in this part of the world.
And now for so many in this area, a world has changed. We just got into San Bernardo just moments ago, and I will tell you, I am blown away by what we've seen so far. This -- this was somebody's house. This is where people got up in the morning and started their day and they came here to sleep, and they spent some of the best times of their life. It's now just -- it's just charred ruins. I mean, if you look down, this is part of a garage door that has just been melted, just folded together. You look at what once was strong steel and brick and it's all -- everything's been shattered.
I mean, look at this. This was a kid's toy. A baby used to play with this, this wagon. Now it has been reduced to just charred metal and it's -- it's an awful thing to see. The only thing that's really standing that shows any strength at all left is the fireplace, for heaven's sakes, where a family probably sat and warmed themselves during the cool months of the year.
But right now, it doesn't shelter anything. You'll have one house that has just been charred, a smoldering pile of ashes and then just a few hundred feet away, you've got trees, houses, everything perfect. How does this happen? Your house is just fine, and then farther down the block, on one side of your home you've got homes that aren't even there anymore, just completely up in ash. How did you get lucky in this situation?
TROY DEWEY, HOME SAVED FROM FIRE: Right. I don't know if I call it luck. It's as if the lord took a blanket and covered it. It was just -- my fences and everything are intact. It's just -- there's no explanation. Other than it's a blessing.
WOLF: Congratulations to you. I wish you and your family the very best. The thing that's scary about it is we're not done yet. We may see the winds kick up again as we get toward the end of the week and maybe even early next week. We still have the dry conditions. So, we might see a few more scenes like this play out again.
A scary prospect, no doubt.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: In fact, one of those scenes just took place earlier this morning. We had a fire that popped up less than a half mile from where I'm now standing. Firefighters were able to really contain that one very quickly and put that out, but still the battle continues and may for several days yet. Let's send it back to you.
NGUYEN: And just a reminder that those flames are still raging in many parts of California. Thank you for that, Reynolds, we do appreciate it.
And the NEWSROOM does continue at the top of the hour with Fredricka Whitfield, who joins us now with a preview.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, god to see you, flying solo today.
NGUYEN: I know. T.J. is getting an award. Reynolds is out covering the fires. Someone had to man the desk.
WHITFIELD: Oh, that's right. Arkansas, he's a razorback. This is like T.J. Holmes day.
NGUYEN: I'm sure in some part of the country, today is T.J. Holmes Day.
WHITFIELD: That's right, well good for him, congratulations to him. All right well, have a great day, too.
Well straight ahead in the noon hour of course we're going to pick up the baton on the raging fires. Yes, raging because many of them are still burning even though mostly are contained.
And we're going to be focusing on the search for a suspect. One believed to be the arsonist, one being identified by virtue of this vehicle, this white Ford pickup truck. Much more on the ongoing search and folks are asking, officials are asking, for the public's participation in all of this.
And who isn't stressed out these days? Just about everybody. You, me, everybody, perhaps we, Betty, may be one of the three folks who are considered to be extremely stressed out.
NGUYEN: Really?
WHITFIELD: Yes. There's a new study that reveals that. And our Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores ways to kind of manage your stress, if it sounds any way possible. He even consulted somebody who is considered kind of the leader in spirituality, of inner peace.
NGUYEN: I think I have an idea.
WHITFIELD: OK, so well be checking in with him, checking in with the doctor.
NGUYEN: I need to go meditate or something because I am stressed.
WHITFIELD: That's a good idea.
NGUYEN: Get it out. Thank you, Fred.
All right, well, kids and dolphins, how they're helping teach each other how to cope with a devastating loss. It's an inspirational story that you don't want to miss, and it's next here in the NEWSROOM.
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NGUYEN: All right, we have a story from Florida that we just have to share with you. It's about what can happen when you mix humans who have lost a limb with a dolphin who's lost a tail. It is a feel-good story from reporter John Rojas of Florida's Bay 9 News.
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JOSH ROJAS, BAY 9 NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Winter, the bottle-nosed dolphin can see these visitors have something in common with her. They all use prosthetics.
KATRINA SIMPKINS, AMPUTEE: It's the same as mine, and it was really, really happy that she saw me with hers and mine and stuff like that.
ROJAS: Amputees say because of Winter's prosthetic tail, they have an automatic bond with the dolphin.
ALEX MILLER, AMPUTEE: Well, we both have prosthetic legs.
SIMPKINS: She's really beautiful.
ANTHONY BURRUTO, AMPUTEE: It's amazing how she can still swim and I can walk.
ROJAS: The Clearwater Marine Aquarium says that response from the amputee community has prompted them to start a new program where people who share similar disabilities with Winter can get VIP treatment with the dolphin, free of charge. Melissa Stockwell, who lost her leg to a roadside bomb in Iraq, says soldiers in the wounded warrior project are going to participate.
MELISSA STOCKWELL, AMPUTEE: They just put on her prosthetic tail and just to see her be able to move around like that, it's pretty incredible. It's inspiring. I mean, you can do - with a prosthetic, you can do anything.
ROJAS: Hanger, the company that developed and donated Winter's tale, says it's doing more than just providing inspiration.
SIMPKINS: I'm really, really happy to come and see her.
ROJAS: The Hanger prosthetic experts say the technology developed for Winter's tail are helping some people with severe amputee cases walk again. In Clearwater, Josh Rojas, Bay News 9.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: That program itself is just such an important one. What a great story. Don't go anywhere because CNN NEWSROOM continues with Fredricka Whitfield. She joins me right now. Hi there, Fred.
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