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Pakistan In Crisis; Abuse At Oprah's School?; Kidnap Or Rescue?; Gerris' Top Tips; Reruns On The Menu
Aired November 05, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Oprah Winfrey speaking out a short time ago on an abuse scandal at her school for girls. Under investigation this Monday, November 5th. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
A U.S. ally in crisis this morning. Arrests and violence on the streets of Pakistan. The fallout felt right here at home. Elaine Quijano is following that angle from the White House for us now this morning. But first, what's happening now and what may happen next. Want to get to CNN's Phil Black who is following this story for us this morning from London, where protesters are out on the street.
Good morning to you, Phil.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Heidi.
I'm standing a long way from Pakistan, but you can see there is a crowd here and they are very angry about the actions of that nation's president, Musharraf. They say -- these people -- there's around 100 or so of them. The crowd is growing outside Pakistan's high commission here in London. They say that they are very angry and this is an act of solidarity, if you'd like, with the many people -- the thousands of people we have seen protesting, taking to the streets across Pakistan's cities today.
They are angry. I've been moving among this crowd, speaking to them. Let's hear a little about what their feelings are.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we have, obviously, one major demand, which is Musharraf back out now and release all civil society people, human rights activists, lawyers, immediately. We also demand that the judiciary should remain independent and all judges who have been forced and compelled not to function today must be allowed to go back to their posts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: Pakistan's local independent news media has essentially been shut down as part of this state of emergency that's been declared there. The people here say that some of the international broadcasters, particularly the satellite ones, are still getting through and they hope that the images of these sorts of protests around the world will give the people in Pakistan a sense that there is global outrage for the situation there.
Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. CNN's Phil Black for us from the streets of London on the Pakistan situation.
Phil, thank you for that.
Want to get straight to the White House now as well. CNN's Elaine Quijano is standing by to give us a little bit more from there.
Elaine, I think we understand the president's going to be talking about this a little bit later on today?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. He has a meeting scheduled with the prime minister of Turkey, and that's this afternoon. We are told it is very likely that President Bush will be commenting at that time when he talks to reporters, in the Oval Office, on the situation that is developing in Pakistan.
Now earlier, just a short time ago in fact, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said that the United States is very disappointed by the action taken by General Musharraf. She said that the U.S. is "deeply disturbed" by the proclamation of an emergency and cannot support emergency rule or the extreme measures, in her words, being taken. She says that they are not in the best interests of Pakistan and she said the U.S. continues to urge the government to return to civilian rule and restore freedoms, including freedom of the press.
Now asked about U.S. aid, of course, to Pakistan, that is a big question right now, whether or not the United States will be looking to cut aid. She said a review of that U.S. aid to Pakistan is currently underway. She did not give any kind of time frame as to when that review of aid might be completed, nor did she specify what specific criteria might be involved in determining whether or not the U.S. will cut off aid.
She did say that it has only been 48 hours since this has been announced. Asked also whether or not there are any plans for U.S. officials at this time, in addition to the U.S. ambassador going to Pakistan to talk in person with General Musharraf, she said she did not believe so. But again, we do expect, Heidi, that President Bush will very likely be commenting on the situation this afternoon after he meets with the prime minister of Turkey here at the White House.
Heidi.
COLLINS: Very quickly, Elaine, so that aid, which works out to be about $150 million a month in assistance from the United States to Pakistan, could now possibly be used as a bargaining chip?
QUIJANO: Absolutely. And when you look at the leverage that's available, of course, that's the first thing people look at when they talk about the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan. The difficulty here for the Bush administration is, of course, what we've heard all along, that Pakistan continues to be an ally, a necessary ally in the war on terror. But, of course, that runs head first into the president's broader freedom and democracy agenda. An agenda item that he has certainly pushed throughout his presidency. Now, of course, the intersection of those two interests coming to a head here. The United States not at all happy with what it has seen so far.
COLLINS: All right. CNN's White House correspondent Elaine Quijano this morning. We'll be watching for that.
Thank you, Elaine.
"Shake to my core." Oprah Winfrey this morning talking about abuse allegations at her school in South Africa. We want to get live now to Robyn Curnow in Johannesburg where a former dorm worker has been freed on bail.
Robyn, good morning to you.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Heidi.
Well I'm coming to you live from the hotel where Oprah Winfrey had a press conference speaking for the first time publicly about this abuse scandal that has shaken the school she founded here in South Africa. She came via satellite speaking from Chicago. And it was a very emotional statement. As you said, she said she was shaken to the core, that it was probably the most devastating experience of her life. And she's taken the whole thing very personally because, as she sees the girls at this school as if they are her daughters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY: This has been one of the most devastating, if not the most devastating experience of my life. Like all such experiences, there's always much to be gained, and I think there's a lot to be learned. And as Mr. Samuels (ph) said, we are moving forward to create a safe and open and a receptive environment for the girls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: OK. I was in court this morning. We saw the appearance of the accused. She called herself Tiny Makobo (ph). She's 27-years- old. She says she's not guilty of 13 charges against her, ranging from assault, to indecent assault, to verbal abuse.
Now, indecent assault under South African law basically refers to somebody touching somebody inappropriately. So these allegations are of a sexual nature. And, of course, Oprah Winfrey finds this all very upsetting because she herself has publicly acknowledged that she was abused as a child. And what she also has said, Heidi, was that, you know, she had tried to create a place of safety from these girls, all of them coming from very disadvantaged backgrounds. She said they had built walls, put up security systems, trying to protect the girls from people coming from the outside. All the while it was somebody inside who was hurting her daughters.
COLLINS: All right. Quite a story, certainly. We'll be continuing to follow that one. Robyn Curnow live from Johannesburg this morning. Thank you, Robyn.
A sixth grade teacher in federal custody now, nabbed south of the border with a boy. Twenty-five-year-old Kelsey Peterson faces a judge in California today. She was found in Mexico with a 13-year-old former student. She's facing a federal charge of taking the teen across the border for sex. Back home in Nebraska, she faces kidnapping and child abuse charges. The pair disappeared last week when investigators started looking into their alleged affair. But the boy won't be coming home just yet. It turns out he was an illegal immigrant.
Investigators sorting through hundreds of tips this morning. A toddler found dead in a plastic box. Washed up near Galveston, Texas. Police call her Baby Grace. But who is she? Forensics show this much. She was between two and three years old and she'd been dead for at least two weeks. Her skull was fractured. A lot of people in Texas are involved in this investigation and it's hitting them hard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOIS GIBSON, "BABY GRACE" SKETCH ARTIST: And I want to get her identified because I want to get justice for her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: There was a vigil for Baby Grace yesterday. A cross laid near the spot where she was found. Some people have been asking police if the child might be Madeleine McCann. That's the little girl who went missing in Portugal six months ago. Investigators do not believe it's her, but they are still working with the FBI before ruling it out. We're going to go further into this investigation coming up in just a few minutes when we hear from the Galveston sheriff's office.
A dire situation in Mexico's Tabasco state. Deadly -- Tobacco that is, pardon me. Deadly flooding. Thousands of people stranded without food and drinking water. Right now authorities are working to get help to those people. Rivers burst their banks after torrential rains last week. At least eight people have been confirmed dead.
Those who made is out safely before the floods hit don't know what they'll find when they go back. The homes of about a half million people have been damaged. Mexico's president calls this one of the worst natural catastrophes in the country's history.
When weather becomes the news, CNN brings it to you first. If you see severe weather happening in your area, send us an i-Report. Just go to cnn.com and click on i-Report or type ireport@cnn.com right into your cell phone. But, of course, remember to stay safe if you choose to do so.
So how's this for reality TV? Hollywood writers walk out over, what else, money. A live picture for you there holding those picket signs. Will the strike drama mean cliff hangers for your favorite shows? We'll tell you more coming up in the NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: OK. We want to know what you think. Is this Big Foot? Captured on camera in the Pennsylvania woods. We're going to hear from him -- no, actually we're going to hear from the guy who took the picture coming up in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Quick reminder here now. Same Lou but new time. "Lou Dobbs Tonight" moves to 7:00 p.m. weeknights. It will all begin tonight. So don't miss that.
Members of a French charity under arrest this morning, accused of trying to kidnap more than 100 children in Chad. CNN's Jim Bittermann has the story now from Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): On the streets of Paris, members and friends of Zoe's Ark went on the offensive. A charity that says it meant to save children in trouble and found itself accused of attempted kidnapping, gathered to try and convince anyone who would listen that the group had the best of intentions and was not trying to commit a crime.
ERIC LEGRAND, FRIEND OF ZOE'S ARK: We had to do something. So now if the consequence of this is a situation from our friend, which will be very bad, of course it's revolting. It's revolting.
BITTERMANN: But skeptics who doubt the groups good intentions are among the top levels of government here. And several inquiries are underway.
French authorities, including the foreign minter and prime minister have opened up investigations into Zoe's Ark. The Paris prosecutor is looking into anyone who may have aided the group either indirectly or directly. And at least one member of Zoe's Ark who contributed money and hoped to get a child is now suing for fraud.
What many want to know is how the group got to the point of transporting 103 children out of Chad without anyone putting the brakes on its operations? As early as last April, Zoe's Ark urged readers of its website to make donations toward the evacuation of as many as 10,000 orphans from the Darfur conflict to Europe and asking for volunteer families to host children.
Christine Peligat, who already has adopted child, wanted to accept another from Zoe's Ark. Her husband, a volunteer for the organization, is one of those who's now in jail in Chad.
CHRISTINE PELIGAT, WIFE OF JAILED VOLUNTEER: The first thing was to give this child a host family. To be safe. And that was, for us -- I mean it was the only thing that was really important.
BITTERMANN: One hundred children were to be brought out initially and host families gathered at a small airport east of Paris to receive them. It was there they learned that Chadian authorities had stopped the operation. Back in Chad, other charity organizations who interviewed the children said at least 91 of the 103 were not orphans at all and that most were from Chad, not Darfur.
In a documentary shot by a journalist who traveled with and was arrested with the group, the head of the organization is clear saying that he knows he is skirting them off and might be charged with child trafficking, but he's prepared to go to jail. An attorney for the organization says the accusation against those being held are not valid.
Host families, like the Dominches (ph) of eastern France still feel the organization was trying to do the right thing, saying those held have to be allowed to come back to France to explain. That's unlikely to happen anytime soon. Even though some supporters of Zoe's Ark would like to see those jailed in Chad brought to France to face charges here, there's nothing to indicate Chadian authorities would ever agree.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Scoring the best deal on your health care. Our Gerri Willis is along with her top five tips. Make sure you watch before you sign up for next year's benefits plan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins.
A rude awakening. How would you like to have this crashing into your bedroom? Hmm. Hard landing in the house, and in the NEWSROOM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The final hour of 'The Situation Room" is moving to 6:00 p.m. And tonight you will hear from presidential candidate John Edwards. "The Situation Room" tonight for the first time from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
All right. Get ready to close one eye. Oh, OK. Maybe not as bad as we thought it was going to be this morning. The Dow Jones industrial averages are down 84 points right now, resting at 13,510. We also are hearing the Nasdaq is down about 19 points. So we're going to be talking about all those business stories and what's happening here today in just a moment with Susan Lisovicz.
Health care costs are certainly up, but don't pay more than you should. Our Gerri Willis is here now with some money-saving tips just in time for open enrollment.
I love how on it you are, Gerri.
GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi.
COLLINS: Certainly you do have our attention. Now what do we do?
WILLIS: Well, the first thing you need to know is, there is such a thing as flexible spending plans. Most companies offer them. And this lets you put pre-tax money aside so you can pay for medical bills, child care or commuting costs. So if you put in $1,000 in the account and you're in the 25th percentile tax bracket, your annual savings is $250.
Now most companies allow you to put up to $5,000 annually into these accounts. The caveat is, you have to use that money in the year you save it or you lose it unless the company lets you roll it over.
Now to calculate what your savings could be, go to the human resource website seridian.com (ph) and search for the SFSA calculator. That's FSA calculator.
COLLINS: Wow. OK. That's a lot of letters.
You know, I think a lot of times what happens is people know that health care is expensive, so they get a bill or they go to pay the co- pay and they just pay it. But really you need to know more than that. You need to make sure that you have done your research and you know all of your options.
WILLIS: And now is the time. Look, co-payments and costs for prescription drugs are going up. So it's really important to evaluate your needs. If cost is the bottom line in choosing a health care plan, think HMO. You'll pay lower premiums and out of pocket costs. But keep in mind, the choice of doctors can be restricted. If you like more choice or your primary care doctor is outside the HMO network, consider what they call a PPO, or preferred provider organization. It is more expensive, but you'll have your choice of doctors.
More companies are also offering what they call high deductible health care plans. Now generally premiums are rock bottom low, but your deductibles can be over $10,000. Whatever plan you decide to go with, get its report card at the National Committee for Quality Assurance. They have a website, ncqa.org.
COLLINS: OK. Very good.
What about if you have a change in your life, though. I mean sometimes I think people forget to go back and sort of review everything if they have had a major life change.
WILLIS: Good point. You need to review those insurance benefits each year. If you have children, you're getting married, you may want to up or increase your life insurance. Check into your disability coverage, too. This insurance kicks in if you're disabled or unable to work for a certain amount of time. You should have coverage that amounts to at least 60 percent of your income. And it can be a real life saver. COLLINS: All right. What about coordinating your coverage? What do you mean by that? With your husband or wife?
WILLIS: Well, get this. Companies are increasingly imposing a surcharge on workers who opt to include their spouse on their health care plan if he or she has coverage elsewhere. You got to figure out whether it makes financial sense to cover the entire family under one plan or two. It may be cheaper to cover one spouse under one plan and then cover the kids and the other spouse on the other health care plan. But you've got to check it out. The devil's in the details.
And, of course, if you have any questions, send them to us at toptips@cnn.com. We answer them right here every Friday and we love hearing from you.
COLLINS: Hey, Gerri, anybody still give the money back if you don't use the health care plan? Do they give you some . . .
WILLIS: You know, you don't get the money back. Sorry about that.
COLLINS: Yes, I was just trying.
All right, Gerri Willis . . .
WILLIS: Well, it's a good idea. Maybe we should lobby for that.
COLLINS: Maybe somebody heard us talking.
Gerri Willis with your top tips today.
Thanks so much, Gerri.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
COLLINS: Film and TV writers put down their pens. In fact, they are on the picket lines this morning. Our Brooke Anderson is live now in Los Angeles with more on this story.
It certainly is a story we've been talking about it all morning long, Brooke. And we saw the picket lines. What are people saying there?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, here the picket lines will begin forming, oh, in about an hour and a half, 9:00 a.m. local time at the TV and film studios around Los Angeles. But, yes, the writers strike has officially begun. The picketing is already under way in New York. In fact, actress and writer Tina Faye, from the show "30 Rock," has joined the demonstrations there.
This after three months of contentious contract negotiations. The writers are taking a stand. They're striking. They're walking off the job because they want to send a clear, loud message to the studios and the production companies they work for and, as they put it, they want to inflict as much economic damage as quickly as possible. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRIC VERRONE, WRITERS GUILD PRESIDENT: Studios made it clear that they would rather shut down this town than reach a fair and reasonable deal.
ANDERSON, (voice over): Reality is hitting hard in Hollywood. Nearly 12,000 writers employed by TV and film studios are striking today.
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR: It's never good timing. It's horrible. To cripple the business because it raises a kind of panic.
ANDERSON: The issue, new media. The writers want more money as studios distribute shows and movies on computers, cell phones, and MP3 players.
RYAN MURPHY, "NIP TUCK" CREATOR: Our shows are being downloaded on the Internet. We receive nothing. Not even a penny.
ANDERSON: Viewers will see immediate changes in late night TV, where shows are written fresh daily and can't stockpile scripts. So expect more repeats and a lot of reality-based shows. Network heads say they're ready.
KEVIN REILLY, FOX PRESIDENT: We're advantaged over the other guys because we have "American Idol."
NINA TASSLER, CBS PRESIDENT: We're prepared. You know we've got plenty of reality. We've got plenty of news.
ANDERSON: But a long-lasting strike could have a devastating impact on southern California's economy. The film and TV industry is responsible for 1.3 million U.S. jobs and many other unions are paying close attention.
MAUREEN RYAN, CHICAGO TRIBUNE: This is extremely a defining moment for Hollywood as a whole because the Screen Actors Guild, the Directors Guild, they're all looking at these same issues and the writers are kind of the canary in the coal mine for this process.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Now the last major writers strike was back in 1988. It lasted five and a half months. Cost the industry $500 million. And the economic impact of this strike could be much greater at a potential cost of $1 billion or more. So, Heidi, depending on how long it lasts, it could paralyze the industry.
COLLINS: Yes. I guess what I'm learning here though, Brooke, is Leno and Letterman and Conan, they don't write their own stuff?
ANDERSON: Apparently not. Who knew? Apparently it takes a team effort for them as well.
COLLINS: Yes, I thought they were ad-libbing that. All right, Brooke Anderson, we know you're on top of the story for us today. Thank you, Brooke.
To this story now and a serious one it is. Who is she? A toddler's body found in a box washed up on shore. We'll get an update from the sheriff's office coming up in just a moment.
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COLLINS: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins. Tony Harris is off today.
A state of emergency for a U.S. ally. Just this morning we learned President Bush will address the issue today. In a moment we'll tell you why this is so important in Washington. But first, what's happening right now?
Police today stepping up their enforcement of President Pervez Musharraf's emergency declaration. The nation's jails now overflowing with thousands of lawyers, journalists and opposition figures. They took to the streets after Pakistan's president suspended the constitution on Saturday. He cited the growing threat of terrorism. Critics say the Pakistani president is actually looking to hold onto power. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Pakistan to return to constitutional rule.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECY. OF STATE: So much has happened over the last several years to try and pull Pakistan away from extremism, to try to launch Pakistan on a Democratic path, to launch Pakistan on a path toward the return to civilian rule. And our disappointment is that this is a setback for that path.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Pakistan may seem like a world away from where you live, but it is closer to home than you may think. What happens there could have a direct impact on the U.S.
CNN NEWSROOM's Tony Harris with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Do we care what happens in Pakistan? Why should we? It's a relatively small Muslim country half a world away. Their chief export? Textiles. And their one main adversary is India. But there are plenty of reasons why chaos in Pakistan would spell trouble here in the United States. In no order, they are -- the troops. Nearly 30,000 American soldiers and marines are deployed immediately next door in Afghanistan.
Remember, most analysts believe Osama Bin Laden is somewhere in a rocky range of mountains between the two countries. Al Qaeda would certainly flourish in a country distracted by a worsening a state of emergency. Then there is the issue of the nukes. Pakistan has them. India has them. They've already fought three full-on wars, mostly about territory and autonomy, and they still threaten each other all the time.
It's safe to say that the world is safer with steady fingers on nuclear buttons. Next reason? Democracy. Pakistan's current President Pervez Musharraf took power in 1999. Literally took power. He was not elected. He hand picks judges, generals and lawmakers. His last re- election, he got 98 percent of the vote. That raises eyebrows in Washington where the White House would prefer to do business with a government of the people.
Still, Washington regards Pakistan as an indispensable ally in the war against global terrorism. But it's a relationship that will only weaken if order and stability is not soon restored in Pakistan.
Tony Harris, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A mystery in Galveston, Texas. A toddler, her small body found locked in a plastic box that washed ashore. Authorities are calling her "Baby Grace." But who is she? Let's get an update on this investigation now. On the phone with us this morning, Major Ray Tuttoilmondo with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office. We appreciate you being with us once again.
Once again I know last time we talked about you, Major Tuttoilmondo, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office has now released this sketches. They did not have them before. I just wonder how difficult it was to actually get these drawn.
We're looking at them now on the screen.
MJR. RAY TUTTOILMONDO, GALVESTON CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We're very fortunate to have available to us in our backyard in Houston Lois Gibson, who is about a 25-year veteran of the Houston police department that does forensic art. She has done cases for us in the past, has done literally thousands of these, but I can say that this is probably the toughest one she's ever done.
COLLINS: Yes, I imagine so. Have these sketches led to more tips, more things to follow up on?
TUTTOILMONDO: Indeed, they have. We have gotten literally hundreds of phone calls after those sketches came out of people with suggestions, ideas, folks actually doing their own detective work on the Internet, taking a look at missing children that might resemble Baby Grace, and we're also taking a look at those as well. And while it hasn't quite hit the home run yet, we're certainly optimistic and hope that people will keep calling simply because even the tiniest little insignificant detail to them may be the major case breaker for us.
COLLINS: And we have seen that happen before, many times in fact. I know you can't comment specifically on what leads you are following, or if in fact there is one that stands out more than another. But I think you can comment on certainly some of the video that we saw from this vigil that was held in your community. People very, very upset about this. They don't know who this little girl is, and yet we see people wiping tears from their eyes, people very emotional about this. Why do you think they're connecting so much with Baby Grace?
TUTTOILMONDO: The mere fact that this is a 3-year-old child that was put in a box and left on an uninhabited Shell Island in West Galveston Bay. That's no place for a little girl to end her life. And I think that's the emotional tie that everyone is feeling.
COLLINS: How important is that community's support to the actual investigation?
TUTTOILMONDO: We feel that that is going to be the -- probably one of the most tremendous bits of help that we can have. People are looking, people are watching, people are reporting things to us that they might normally not report simply because of the heightened awareness that this case has brought about.
COLLINS: Yes, you know, there's actually been some talk, I'm sure you're well aware, of this possibly being Madeleine McCann, who disappeared about six months ago. Can you tell us the latest on that? Any idea whatsoever if this could possibly be the little girl that we're looking at?
TUTTOILMONDO: Actually about 30 minutes ago I got a phone call from a detective in England that was touching base with us to offer their help in confirming what we have been working with the Madeleine McCann case. We feel very confident at this point, though, that this is not going to be Madeleine.
COLLINS: OK. Well, as you continue to try to figure out who this little girl is, Baby Grace, we continue to show the sketches here in the CNN NEWSROOM and see if you could possibly get this phone call or that e-mail that might lead you directly to her family. I know that's the point, trying to reunite her with her family and loved ones.
As always, we appreciate you updating the story for us.
Major Ray Tuttoilmondo, Galveston County Sheriff's Office this morning. Thank you, major.
Quote: "I was stunned." Oprah Winfrey just this morning talking about how she felt when she learned of abuse allegations at her school in South Africa. Her comments coming shortly after a former dorm worker was charged with 13 counts of abuse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPRAH WINFREY: Shaken me to my core, but at the core of me is a spiritual foundation and a belief that all things happen for a reason, and that no matter the devastation, this, too, shall pass, and so it is my spiritual beliefs and support. I've had friends who held me in their heart and had my back, and understanding that the most important priority for me here was to figure out how I could best help the girls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: This is a picture of the 27-year-old suspect, her head covered as she left court today. Can't quite see here down there. She's charged with 13 counts of abusing and assaulting at least six students. The suspect pleaded not guilty. She is now free on $460 bail.
Will he apologize? New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg set to sit down with the family of a deceased police officer today. The family claims working at ground zero is what killed him.
CNN's Jim Acosta has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nearly two years ago, New York Police Detective Jimmy Zadroga died of lung failure at the age of 34. And ever since his parents have fought to have him recognized as a victim of September 11th, with the goal of one day seeing his name on a city memorial. Detective Zadroga had worked more than 400 hours at Ground Zero, inhaling the dust that some medical experts believe is sickening countless first responders.
But late last month Zadroga's father received this letter from the city's medical examiner, who stated "The foreign material in your son's lungs did not get there as the result of inhaling dust at the World Trade Center."
JOSEPH ZADROGA, FATHER: It was like getting hit over the head with a baseball bat.
ACOSTA: The medical examiner claims Zadroga's death came from an abuse of prescription painkillers, a claim the detective's father denies.
ZADROGA: That was so low. That was such a low blow.
ACOSTA (on camera): Because, the family says, they already have this letter from a different medical examiner in New Jersey, who first looked at the case. That medical examiner stated the cause of death was directly related to 9/11.
(voice-over): When Mayor Michael Bloomberg defended the city's findings, he questioned Zadroga's heroism.
MYR. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: Nobody wanted to hear that. We wanted to have a hero. And there are plenty of heroes. It's just in this case science says this was not a hero.
ZADROGA: Now you're talking about getting stabbed in the heart. I want a public apology.
ACOSTA: Joseph Zadroga insists the city medical examiner refused to look at all of the evidence. ZADROGA: I said, here's a picture of his lungs. How can you say he wasn't -- he didn't die from lung problems? And he just pushed the picture back and said, that's normal lungs look like that. That's just a normal lung.
ACOSTA: Both medical examiners who ruled on Zadroga's death declined to talk on camera. The Zadroga family vows to keep fighting, saying other experts have stepped forward to support their belief that this young detective was one of the heroes at Ground Zero.
Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: On patrol in Iraq. A soldier takes a knife in the head but keeps on fighting. You will not believe this incredible story. You just have to see it. Coming up in the NEWSROOM.
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(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Hey, before you cook your next burger, you might want to check your freezer, because you could have some dangerous meat in there. Cargill Foods is now voluntarily recalling more than a million pounds of ground beef. It's sold at beef supermarkets listed on your screen there throughout the Northeast under the store's brand name. Federal investigators say the meat may be contaminated with the dangerous E. coli bacteria.
(BUSINESS HEADLINES)
COLLINS: Is this Bigfoot? I don't know. I don't want to be a party pooper, but it kind of looks like a bear, skinny bear. It was captured on camera in the Pennsylvania woods. We're going to hear from the guy who snapped the picture, after this.
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COLLINS: All right, back to this story now. I want to know what you think. Bigfoot, real, or just a figment of overactive imaginations? Look at that shot. Recent pictures from the Pennsylvania woods may make you think twice.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield had a chance to talk with the guy who took the photos.
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RICK JACOBS, TOOK PHOTOS OF MYSTERY ANIMAL: We had a trail camera set up trying to get some pictures in a deer in an area where we go hunting. And we set it up on September the 16th, and we retrieved the card out of the camera September 21st, and these two pictures were on it. And we spent about a week trying to figure out what they were.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: But your gut reaction when you saw the picture, you said, what is this?
JACOBS: What is it? yes, we just didn't know what it was. We spent a week trying to figure out what it was, comparing it to pictures of a lot of other different bears and monkeys and stuff. Didn't have any luck. So my niece, she said that, it's cool, they showed pictures of Bigfoot, and she said it kind of looks like them. So my brother contacted the BFRO, and they say it's an unidentified primate. That's where the story is right now pretty much I guess.
WHITFIELD: Were you ever a believer of Sasquatch, Bigfoot, et cetera, before even getting this kind of image?
JACOBS: No. I really didn't have any opinion on that at all. I never really gave it any thought.
WHITFIELD: Uh-huh. And so now?
JACOBS: I got to think that there might be something out there that we haven't seen yet, you know. I mean, it's possible. A lot of people sure believe in it.
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COLLINS: A lot of people sure believe in it. Anyway, Pennsylvania game officials say not so fast. They are quite convinced the animal in the photos is a bear with a nasty case of mange. Who knows about that footprint?
Moving on now, some are quite sickened by this phony excuse service.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is unbelievable to me that a bald-faced lie could be considered acceptable.
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COLLINS: Company helps you play hooky.
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COLLINS: Need help playing hooky. CNN's Ed Lavandera has the perfect Monday morning story.
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ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Dear CNN management, Dr. Al A. Bye reports to inform you that your normally intrepid reporter, Ed Lavandera, won't be able to fulfill his correspondent duties this week."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. Nice to meet you. Sorry, our reporter couldn't make it today.
LAVANDERA: "Ed has recently suffered a severe back injury."
JOHN LIDELL, EXCUSED ABSENCE NETWORK: My name is John Lidell, and our company is myexcusedabsence.com. We have three similar doctors note templates, and one jury duty template and one funeral note template. It's $19.95 one time, that's it.
LAVANDERA: "Ed has been evaluated today, and Dr. Bye has instructed this employee to stay off his feet and remain indoors for at least a week."
LIDELL: Ed can call in sick if he desires if he thinks he can get one over on his boss, and he can just easily go through and just type in whatever customizes his excuse.
LAVANDERA: "Please allow Ed time to heal. He needs several stress-free day to help alleviate the wicked back pain that has left him unable to move or do heavy lifting. In a week he can return to light duty. Sitting work only, no walking or prolonged standing. No lifting whatsoever."
LIDELL: Well, I would consider it acceptable. I think it's a great service.
LAVANDERA: Oh, man. What a great lie.
BRUCE WEINSTEIN, THEETHICSGUY.COM: Every time I think our culture has sunk to a new low, something comes along to suggest that we have sunk even lower, and this is that story. It is unbelievable to me that a bald-faced lie could be considered acceptable.
LAVANDERA: "The patient will be reevaluated in a few days and will return to full-time work duty in the very near future.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas. I mean Dr. Al A. Bye, CNN, Dallas."
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