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Storms Devastate Pacific Northwest; Internet Hoax Leads to Young Girl's Suicide

Aired December 04, 2007 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Rain is a fact of life in Washington State and Oregon, but not like this. Back-to-back storms cause back- to-back states of emergency. And you will see it all this hour.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And are credit card payments a monthly emergency in your house? It may not be all your fault. Your rates may be rising for reasons you would never expect. Some in Congress think there ought to be a law.

Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon live in the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: Back-to-back storms devastate the Pacific Northwest. Roads, homes and businesses are under water. Two states are under states of emergency.

Let's go straight to CNN's Chad Myers for the full picture on all of this -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The good news is, Don, a lot of this rain is over. We're now down to basically sprinkles. We're down to showers. We're not down to the deluge, the sheets of rain that the captain was talking about there in Centralia, Washington, which -- most of the video that we have been showing you for today, just to kind of give you an idea.

There is Seattle. You go, Tacoma and then Olympia. And a little bit farther south than Olympia, there is the Chehalis River. That river actually flows to the north, then turns left, and then goes out into the ocean here. That bubble of water, well, it was very high.

It actually went from 50 feet -- that's where the normal gauge is, 50 feet above sea level -- and then all of a sudden in less than 48 hours went to 75 feet above sea level. So that river went up 25 feet and some people couldn't get out of the way quick enough.

And the pictures you're seeing basically right here, this is what either Centralia or Chehalis, the towns there, look like at this hour. Now, we're beginning to see the crests right now, beginning to see a little bit of a drop on some of these river gauges, which is good news, but, then, if you take a look and you see where that water is going, there are still some areas where that bubble of water, that high bubble, is still going to get to, so the water is going up downriver, although now coming down a little bit downriver.

The best thing we can do for you I guess right now is to tell you what is open and what is closed. Amtrak Service still down because of the mudslides, the mudslides here under the track. It's not so much that there was mud debris on the tracks, but they're concerned and even -- and a lot of the other railways are as well, that sometimes when you're driving down the -- or running down the train tacks, the train tracks look like they're fine, but if the dirt is gone blow below it, the track still looks straight, but there's nothing to support the track when you get there, and I-5 still closed there, right around Chehalis, had about 10 feet of water on the roadway at this point -- Don.

LEMON: You said, Chad, that Chehalis was cresting, right? I'm seeing here -- this is just wire copy -- and it's not quite as new as your information -- 75 feet, is that it?

MYERS: Seventy-five feet above sea level.

And the normal place is 50 feet above sea level. This is where it should be, at 50. And then here you go. This is the -- December 1 and December 2, when the rainfall began, and it's a 25-foot rise in the river in about 24 hours, and so people were just -- were caught so off guard because it floods there. It does.

This is a river valley. This is a plain. You can see the Chehalis River. It kind of looks like the Mississippi or Missouri River, back and forth and back and forth and you have got horseshoe lakes. You think of Oregon and Washington being mountainous, but not what we're talking about here.

See how it goes back and forth? That is indicative of a not very steep terrain. That's why the river does that in the first place. Well, the not very steep terrain has washed all this water in. The water has come up, and now that they are building and even the captain, the police captain, talked about this, about Chehalis and about Centralia.

Because they are starting to build now more into what was pasture and farmland and even this Wal-Mart up here, this airport is completely now under water right here -- because they pushed more and more things closer to the river, that is why so many things now are under water, rather than build this way where there's a mountain there, you could actually get a little bit higher. well, everybody wanted to be down here in this very fertile land down here. As well, it's closer to the I-5 corridor.

LEMON: And, Chad, I'm just getting some information in here. We have someone on the phone.

Can you find for me Grays Harbor County in Washington? Because we're going to talk for -- if you can find it on Google there -- for Sheriff Michael Whelan.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: OK.

Yes, Michael Whelan, he joins us now on the phone.

And I understand from -- just from reading here, you said this is the worst you have seen there in 30 years in law enforcement?

MICHAEL WHELAN, GRAYS HARBOR COUNTY SHERIFF: Yes.

You know, Don, it's kind of the double whammy that we're getting right here. First, we had a huge windstorm that went on for more than 12 hours. We have literally across the county thousands of trees down, many hundreds of trees that are down across power lines and across major arterials, blocking people in.

And our local emergency services people are doing their best to try to clear the roadways so people can get access again. And just as we're starting the recovery from this huge windstorm, one of the worst that I have ever seen, we are now looking at this downstream flooding on the Chehalis River.

LEMON: Yes. And you said that is going to be a double whammy for you.

As I understand, I think Chad has found Grays Harbor County there on Google Earth for us.

But is this correct; 80 percent of your county still has no power?

WHELAN: Yes. More than 80 percent are without power right now. And it's very slow-going because of all the trees that are across the power lines.

We can't get our -- our road crews in to cut the trees until the public utility district can get in and deal with the power. So, it's been kind of slow going so far. They have called for mutual aid and we're going to have some line crews from out of the area in and hopefully things will go a little quicker.

LEMON: If -- 80 percent of folks there without power and it's -- how are you getting information to them, if at all? Are you able to go door-to-door with boats? Or how are you getting information out if -- people can't listen to the radio, obviously, if they have a battery radio. They can't watch television. Maybe it is through a radio.

WHELAN: Yes, it is through a radio.

We have a local EAS AM radio station, KXRO, and we put a lot of information out through that. And then we have (INAUDIBLE) broadcasting, one our local affiliates here. And we get information out through them as well.

We have a telephonic warning system that we use to notify people when we have flooding or other issues and we have made use of that as well. And we tell people to, you know, be a good neighbor and to help their neighbors out because in times like this, you know, without power, you know, your neighbor may not be warm and if they are elderly, they may need some assistance.

LEMON: Yes.

WHELAN: So, we're just encouraging people to be good neighbors, check on your neighbors, and to pass whatever information you have along to your neighbors.

LEMON: Yes. And that is good advice. And I was afraid of like slamming your phone system there, but it won't happen because I think only the people in your area would call.

Do you have an 800-number or a phone number, a Web site for people to call in the area if they need help or if they're concerned about loved ones there in Grays Harbor County?

WHELAN: They can -- we don't have an 800 number. They can try to call the emergency operation center. It's area code 360-249-3911. We are of course very busy and from time to time, that line is jammed and we can't get in.

You know, we're dealing with that as well as with cell phones as well. So, I would encourage them, if they have some concerns, just to keep trying.

LEMON: Just to keep trying. OK.

Sheriff Michael Whelan, you got plenty of work today. We are going to let you go. Thank you so much.

WHELAN: Thank you very much.

LEMON: Chad, he said in 30 years in law enforcement, he has not seen this.

Did you find Grays Harbor County for us on Google.?

MYERS: Actually, it's really just downriver from where -- the pictures that we are seeing here now.

The Chehalis River comes out of basically Chehalis itself, goes to the north, and then turns to the left or to the west and then heads out into the Pacific. And so where the pictures are, we're back here near Chehalis itself, but then back right here is where he is talking about. That is still that bubble of water, that downstream high water mark still getting to Grays Harbor now, where, downstream, the water is actually beginning to recede.

And you know what time of year it is, Don? It's becoming to holiday season.

LEMON: NOAA?

WHELAN: And here is what I recommend for someone you love. This is probably the best thing you could actually buy anybody, whether you're talking about flooding or tornadoes or hurricane or whatever it is. They are now down in the $30, $35, $40 range. And they are not like the old weather radios. You program your county into this thing, and it only goes off when you're affected. The old ones went off all night long for counties that were 100 miles away. They don't do that anymore. It's called S-A-M-E, SAME technology.

It stands for the fact that you don't have to listen to every other county get warned before you do. Go out to RadioShack or get on the Internet. There'S all kinds of them out there. And they are priceless to keep people safe in anything. You can program what you want to hear. You don't want to hear flood warnings because you don't live near the river, you program that out. You want to hear flood warnings because you are near the river, you program that in.

They're the best thing since sliced bread, buddy.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: It's the perfect time. And all these storms, Katrina and Rita and all these storms that wiped out power -- you heard the sheriff there, 80 percent without power -- it's the perfect thing to have.

(CROSSTALK)

MYERS: Well, these will have a battery backup.

(CROSSTALK)

MYERS: So, even if you're without power, this will still go.

LEMON: That's what I mean, yes, absolutely. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Well, those who dare plow through the floodwaters. But in some areas of Washington and Oregon, you're going to need a boat.

Reporter Eric Shadyski (ph) with affiliate KOMO -- KOMO-TV, actually -- brings us the view from a soggy Centralia, Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Eight feet of floodwater now flows over parts of I-5 that run from Seattle to Portland. Damage from fast- moving currents may keep the interstate closed for up to four days. Thousands were unexpectedly rerouted.

JOANNA WEYNUELLER, TRAVELER: I don't know the area, so we thought we would follow everyone, and they just turned around. So we just found the first hotel.

ERIC WEINKE, CENTRALIA FIRE DEPARTMENT: People are pretty happy to see us. So, we're just out there doing what we can do. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Rescue crews already pulled more than a hundred people from homes cornered by the flood. Three to four times that number still need rescue. The National Guard now moves through streets to help, but Jeremy Leatherman didn't wait.

JEREMY LEATHERMAN, TRAVELER: I rescued a 2-year-old, 19-month- old baby and a woman right over here. Got her car out.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But floodwaters still rise, keeping travelers guessing when they will get back home.

WEYNUELLER: That is the question of the day is, when are we getting out of here? I don't know. I think -- everyone is saying that we're going to have to be here until tomorrow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: These storms are blamed for at least five deaths. Thousands of people are still without power.

Megan Meier seduced and dumped online, but it wasn't a teenage boy who did it. It was a bogus MySpace page set up by a grown-up neighbor. Now Megan is dead, and her parents want justice. Her mom speaks to CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The story itself was an outrage: an Internet hoax leading to a young girl's suicide. Now, for many, the outrage is doubled with a prosecutor's decision not to charge anybody with a crime.

Our Anderson Cooper goes in-depth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" (voice-over): Megan Meier was like many girls her age. But the smile you see masked a difficult childhood.

RON MEIER, MEGAN'S FATHER: She had big self-esteem issues. She had struggled with depression since she was in the third great.

COOPER: When Megan was 13, with the supervision of her parents, she created a page for herself on MySpace. com, the popular networking site that says it's a place for friends. For Megan, it became something more.

She met a boy on MySpace. His name was Josh Evans.

TINA MEIER, MEGAN'S MOTHER: He thought she was really pretty, posted on her comments on her pictures, you know, This is beautiful. Your eyes are beautiful.

COOPER: Their online relationship seemed to quickly blossom. In one instant message, Josh told Megan, Lucky me and lucky you, because you are my No. 1. But suddenly everything changed and, for reasons Megan's parents couldn't explain, Josh turned on her.

T. MEIER: It was a whirlwind. It was Josh saying horrible things to Megan, Megan saying things back to him.

COOPER: Megan's father recalls one particularly ugly message.

R. MEIER: The world would be a better off place without you, and have a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) rest of your life.

COOPER: Megan was crushed. The hurt was too much to bear.

T. MEIER: She was looking for me to help calm her down, like I normally always did and be there for her. And she just said to me, You're supposed to be my mom. You're supposed to be on my side.

COOPER: Megan then ran to her room. Her parents describe what happened next.

R. MEIER: Tina left, walked upstairs. I didn't really pay much attention to it, and then I just heard a blood-curdling scream.

T. MEIER: I just saw her hanging from her closet.

R. MEIER: It's like, please, please, Megan. Breathe.

COOPER: Megan died on October 16. Her parents wanted to tell Josh Evans what he did to their girl. But when they checked his MySpace page, it had been erased.

A few weeks later, a neighbor told the Meiers a story that stunned them. Josh Evans did not exist. He was a creation of a woman who lives just a few doors down from the Meiers, the mother of a female friend of Megan's.

According to police, the woman says she and her 18-year-old employee invented Josh Evans to find out why Megan was fighting with her daughter. The woman, who's now become the target of public outrage over the hoax, says she's not responsible for Megan's death. Megan's daughter disagrees.

R. MEIER: If my daughter would have killed herself with a gun, they loaded the gun for her.

COOPER: If you're asking whether the woman now faces criminal charges, the prosecutor says it won't happen.

JACK BANAS, ST. CHARLES COUNTY PROSECUTOR: We can't put it in the box for harassment, either by the Internet or by just basic harassment.

COOPER: There is no disputing, however, this sad fact: Megan Meier is gone.

Anderson Cooper, CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Tina Meier told our Anderson Cooper last night that, even though others were involved, she holds the parents of her daughter's friend at fault.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

T. MEIER: I absolutely hold the mother responsible and the father. The father knew what was going on also. And, you know, in the beginning, we have always known that the mother probably was not the one who actually typed the MySpace. She had no idea how to do this. And so we have always known that it was probably the 18-year- old employee and the 13-year-old daughter who physically typed it, and she was probably the one who sat there and, you know, knew what was going on.

Bottom line is, she was the adult. She knew my daughter and had known us for years, knew that she was on medication. If you're an adult and you're allowing this to go on -- she's stated that she also stood behind her daughter when she typed messages to my daughter.

If you're going to allow that to go on, you absolutely should be charged with criminal charges.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The Meiers are working to strengthen laws to protect kids from Internet harassment.

PHILLIPS: Severe flooding and daring rescues. We're going to see how Seattle TV stations are covering the weather emergency.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: As we have been following the devastating floodwaters throughout the state of Washington, we want to listen to one of our affiliates now, KING-TV, the noon newscast with Brad Good.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gary Chittim live in Aberdeen.

Gary, is any power coming back on yet?

GARY CHITTIM, KING REPORTER: Not at all, unless they bring in generators.

And that's why you see a lot of people trying to get out of town and they won't let them get out of town, because the roads are literally littered with power lines and crews working on them; 107 is the only way in and out. They're turning all cars back.

And this is after that storm came through here, knocking out windows, ripping off roofs and of course taking down the power. Even the sturdiest of power line derricks couldn't stand up to some of those breezes that blew through here yesterday.

Beefy A-supports like this one crumpled under pressure. Typical wooden power lines were snapped like twigs. And crews are just getting started to get them cleared and replaced. The winds blew down entire groves of trees. And of course they took more power lines down with them. That left several communities with no food or gasoline services.

The Aberdeen Police Department had to call in a fuel truck to fill up their cruisers. Police say they have had to beef up patrols, but have not had any widespread looting in this area so far. People have been behaving themselves, but, as you can see, everyone is trying to get out of here.

They're running out of fuel, and that is a big problem, because, if they have power, it's because of generators. They can't get gasoline for their generators, so there is a steady line of traffic trying to get out, so they can get fuel for their vehicles and for their generators, but they're being turned around here. It is just way too dangerous on the roads up there. You saw the pictures.

There are power lines everywhere, power crews and power crews traffic bouncing back and forth. A lot of lines still need to be brought down before they can be replaced. So, there's a lot of work to be done here.

And, in the meantime, people are using generators. Even in big retail outlets, like the Top Foods that we are standing next to, they are keeping their items in there on ice and cooled with the power of generators. But, again, they got to get fuel to them.

So, reporting live from Aberdeen, Gary Chittim -- back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: We're also following the severe flooding and the daring rescues. You are going to see how Seattle TV stations are covering the weather emergency.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: 3:30 here in the East.

Here are three of the stories we're working on for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Back to back storms in the Northwest leaving behind floods, downed power lines and stranded people. The storm swamped parts of Oregon and Washington with hurricane force winds and drenching rains. Coast Guard and Air Force crews out in force in Alaska. They're searching for a helicopter ambulance that vanished last night with four people on board -- three life flight workers and one patient.

Under suicide watch -- lawyers say three of the suspects in the shooting death of NFL star Sean Taylor are now being monitored for possible suicide attempts. They're being held without bail.

We've been following all the conditions -- devastating conditions in two states -- Oregon and Washington State, keeping up with the U.S. Coast Guard, as they've been doing more than a hundred rescues in the Washington area. Captain Mark D'Andrea with the Coast Guard. He's chief of response to the Pacific Northwest region.

Good to have you, Captain. Update us now on the search and rescue efforts that are still taking place.

CAPT. MARK D'ANDREA, U.S. COAST GUARD: Hi there.

The -- what's going on in -- with the Coast Guard is we're in direct support to the states of Oregon and Washington. The Coast Guard's primary efforts are in the Washington area, and particularly in the Chehalis and the Nehalem areas. In the Chehalis area, we've assisted in lifting approximately 160 people. The Coast Guard didn't life all of those. There have been Navy and King County sheriff last night and I believe some National Guard aircraft in that area, as well.

PHILLIPS: So it's a great interagency effort that's taking place?

D'ANDREA: That's correct. The State of Washington is doing a great job calling us in and directing us wherever they need our help.

PHILLIPS: Now, there are some areas, though, that are isolated, right?

What areas are those?

And how are you are you concerned about people, property in these isolated areas you can't do to?

Or are you able to get to all of these places always by air? Or kind of describe it to me, because I know there's parts that people are saying that they can't even receive any type of help.

D'ANDREA: Well, that's likely true and I think that the state of Washington and Oregon would be better to talk about that.

But what I do know is that in the Chehalis area, there are numerous roads cut off and the aircraft are able to get into those areas. I do know that, for instance, Grays Harbor County in the Hoquiam area is cut off because of roads and aircraft are getting in and out of there.

And down in the Astoria, Oregon area, where we have a unit, there is a lot of electricity out and many of the roads are blocked leading into that area. And we are able to get aircraft in and out of the Astoria area.

PHILLIPS: A lot of the rescue -- rescuers have been telling us there's been issues with communications -- a lot of disruption.

How are the coms now?

Are they getting better?

Is everyone able to talk to each other and coordinate?

D'ANDREA: Well, we -- the Coast Guard requested help from FEMA. And the FEMA is helping us with communications with several of their communications vans. And that has been a great help. And as far as the overall communications, I'm not sure exactly just how broad the problems are, although in any large rescue effort, communications -- they're always a challenge.

PHILLIPS: We've got a report of two people being killed in all of this.

Are you concerned that through all these rescue efforts and getting through the areas that there may be more?

D'ANDREA: Well, that -- that's always a possibility whenever there is flooding. I don't know exactly what the state emergency managers are seeing in those areas, but the Coast Guard -- and I'm confident that anybody else, the rescuers, are on the lookout for that. And with any flooding, this is a concern.

PHILLIPS: All right.

Captain Mark D'Andrea with the Coast Guard.

Mark, appreciate it.

D'ANDREA: Oh, you're welcome.

LEMON: It was dangerous, is dangerous and will be dangerous if it knows how to build a nuclear weapon -- President Bush's views on Iran in the wake of a U.S. intelligence report that says Tehran halted its nuclear weapons programs years ago. At a White House news conference today, Mr. Bush called the report a warning signal and indicated the U.S. won't change its hard line policy, though some analysts say that could be a mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: I'm of the school of thought that says you're always better to engage with your adversaries. You're always better off talking to them, just as we did with the Soviet Union during the period when the situation represented an existential threat to us. So I very much would favor and encourage and recommend that we enter into dialogue with the Iranians.

Now, that said, this estimate also points out that they continue to enrich uranium -- they claim for a civil program. But the IAEA has said that they don't have complete transparency to that program, not to the degree that they would like.

PHILLIPS: Well, Iran welcomes the intelligence report, but it denies ever trying to build a nuclear bomb in the first place.

Here's CNN's Aneesh Raman, the only U.S. television reporter in Iran right now.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was, not surprisingly, with open arms that Iran welcome the National Intelligence Estimate out of Washington, D.C. , saying it confirmed what Iran has been saying all along -- that it is pursuing peaceful civilian nuclear energy. The highest official we heard from in Iran on the issue was the country's foreign minister.

MANOUCHEHR MOTTAKI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Now that the questions and ambiguities have been clarified, if any countries have found answers to those questions -- no matter what their intentions were -- and now want to correct their views toward Iran, we will obviously welcome that. The irregular nuclear issue is a normal issue -- like that of all countries. And Iran will continue its activities under the supervision of the IAEA.

RAMAN: It is interesting that we didn't hear from Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who does tend to seize on these moments to rally against the West. It seems Iran is laying low at the moment, trying to see how Russia and China digest this report, to see if they can keep anymore sanctions from coming out of the U.N. Security Council now that Iran has been confirmed by the U.S.'s own intelligence to be pursuing, at the moment, peaceful civilian nuclear energy.

The vast majority of Iranians do not want conflict over this program. The hope is that dialogue can come about. The key, though, is President Bush has maintained a precondition for talks that Iran suspend its nuclear program. Iran hasn't been willing to do that before and, given the latest report, will now only be further entrenched in that position.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LEMON: She's out of a job, but she's also out of a Sudanese jail -- and for that she is happy. Grade school teacher Gillian Gibbons is back home with her family in Britain after an ordeal that had Islamic hard-liners demanding her execution. Gibbons' crime -- letting students at a Sudanese private school name a Teddy bear Muhammad -- the name of Islam's prophet. She served part of a 15-day sentence until Sudan's president pardoned her after appeals from British lawmakers. Gibbons says she has no regrets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GILLIAN GIBBONS, TEACHER: I was very sorry to leave Sudan. I had a fabulous time there. It's a really lovely place and I managed to see some of the beautiful countryside while I was there. The Sudanese people I found to be extremely kind and exceedingly generous. And until this happened to me, I only had a good experience. I wouldn't like it for anybody else going to Sudan. In fact, I know of a lovely school that needs a new year two teacher.

I'm just an ordinarily aged primary school teacher and I went out there to have a bit of an adventure and got a bit more than I was in for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Sudanese officials tell CNN a former secretary at Gibbons' school told authorities about the bear, apparently to retaliate for getting fired.

Coloring and comic book articles of childhood, but these have a grown up message -- a very grown up message.

Can they help protect your kids?

PHILLIPS: You watch a strange man entering a neighbor's house, so you break out the video camera -- just in time to see him making his mistake. Yes, it's all caught on tape. Wait until you hear how it all happened.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Anger and frustration on Capitol Hill today. Nothing new there. But this time it's caused by credit cards with interest rates that skyrocket for no apparent reason.

Our Brianna Keilar is following the hearing on Capitol Hill.

So many people can relate to this -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, they can, especially one Bank of America credit card holder who testified on the Hill today. Bonnie Rushing was making more than her minimum monthly payment on time each month and then her interest rate skyrocketed from 8 percent to 23 percent. Now, the only thing she can think of is that she opened one or two other credit cards at department stores -- you know those ones -- so that she could take advantage of the promotional deal that she got on her purchases when she opened them. And then she figures that must have affected her credit score.

She eventually fought her way back to a lower interest rate, but it certainly wasn't easy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BONNIE RUSHING, CONSUMER: They were not reasonable. They were very they were very -- very dictatorial. They were not -- they were very adversarial. They were not -- I did not feel that they were being reasonable. They made -- they made me feel fearful for me and for my credit.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KEILAR: So what do you do if you're in Bonnie's situation, if you've already seen the interest rate on your credit card increase?

Well, first, off, contact your credit card company, because there is a window of time when you can opt out of this change of terms and keep your previous interest rate -- that is, as long as you don't put any more new charges on your card. Now, that said, as we just heard from Bonnie Rushing, it can really be quite an ordeal.

Now, on the flip side of this whole thing, credit card companies -- they're running businesses, not charities. And they say, look, if your credit score drops, you're an increased risk and we're going to seriously consider increasing the interest rate on your credit card because you're more likely to default on the balance that you maintain on your card.

But this hearing was basically Congress trying to light a fire under credit card companies, saying at least make this whole process more transparent or we're going to make a law -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, what if this doesn't happen to you yet, but you want to take preventive measures?

KEILAR: Well, first off, pay your credit card -- pay your credit card bill on time each month. Try to pay more than the minimum payment. And I know a lot of this is common sense, but it's certainly a good reminder. And try to maintain a balance that's really close to your limit. And by close to your limit, I mean not over your limit, but also being close to your limit under your limit. That can affect you, as well. And above all, protect your credit score. You know, think twice before you sign up for more credit cards -- especially those ones in the department stores. They're so tempting, but, you know, forego the instant gratification there of saving some money and protect your credit score.

PHILLIPS: Well, you keep it all on one card, you get all those miles.

KEILAR: Exactly.

PHILLIPS: You can fly around the world for free.

KEILAR: Yes. Yes. Let's do that.

PHILLIPS: OK.

That's how you work it.

OK. It sounds good.

Brianna, thanks.

LEMON: Nothing is for free. Let's remember that.

PHILLIPS: Yes, that's a good point. Everything has a price.

LEMON: Yes.

Can coloring in a comic book help prevent childhood sexual abuse?

Well, the Catholic Archdiocese of New York certainly hopes so. It's distributing books to elementary school kids. The coloring book depicts an angel warning an altar boy about being alone with an adult in a closed room. The comic book shares stories of children who were victims of abuse. A former federal prosecutor who was hired to direct the archdiocese Safe Environment Program says it is a sad reflection of the times.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWARD MECHMANN, DIRECTOR, SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM: It's really a common sense thing that mirrors, I think, the advice and the instructions that parents give to their children. You know, things like don't be alone with an adult; always tell your parents where you're going. If anybody does anything to you or says something to you that is upsetting or difficult, come and talk to a parent or some other trusted adult -- things like that. Internet safety -- also to issues like that -- designed for the little kids.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, some experts have warned that young people might misinterpret the message.

Home video cameras are handy gadgets, especially when you spot a would-be burglar climbing out of your neighbor's window.

Roberta Anjanette Flowers (ph) of CNN affiliate WPLG brings us the sights and sounds of an attempted burglary in Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's going to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going to jump. He's going. He's going to do it. He's going to do it. Watch him jump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh. Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's is about to -- he jumped. He jumped, yes.

ROBERTA ANJANETTE FLOWERS, WPLG CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This neighbor's camera was rolling as a suspect tried to rob a house across the street -- but, instead, jumps out of the second floor window.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look at him. He's going to jump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is about to jump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's going to jump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's about to jump out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's going to jump.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) the back room.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He can't do it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't do it. He changed his mind.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's too big to jump. His legs are going to (EXPLETIVE LANGUAGE) break.

FLOWERS: A man and woman nearly give a play by play account of what happens while they're on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. Because the house is across the street, they're not sure of the exact address, but they keep trying to steer officers in before the bad guy gets away.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That cop that just pulled in, he went the wrong way.

FLOWERS: Police say the quick thinking of the neighbor to not only call 911, but to pick up the camera, is what spooked the suspect.

DET. ALVARO ZABALETA, MIAMI-DADE POLICE: They noticed there was a big bag full of property by that same window where this individual was getting ready to take. And once he heard the police was in the area, he heard the engines in the cars, at that point he decided he needed to flee, and that's when he jumped out.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

LEMON: Reporter Anjanette Flowers from a CNN affiliate in Miami.

Investigators in Miami are asking for your help identifying the suspect. If you recognize him, please call Miami Crime Stoppers. That phone number is 305-471-TIPS.

PHILLIPS: Man versus chimp -- who do you think has the better memory?

We'll show you the results.

LEMON: I forgot. I knew, but I forgot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The CNN Heroes "All-Star Tribute" is just two days away. In a live global broadcast on Thursday, we're going to honor six people selected from among 7,000 nominations of heroes in 93 countries. As part of our countdown to the tribute, we've been profiling the 18 finalists. The woman you're about to meet was nominated for our Defending the Planet category. She found a way to save lives with five gallon buckets.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're ready. FLORENCE CASSASSUCE, CNN HERO: My name is Florence Cassassuce and I invented a water purifier for the developing world.

It all started at UC Berkeley, where I was doing my master's. We founded a group called Engineers Without Frontiers. And our first project was here in La Paz. We always were interested in knowing the water quality in the rural areas.

In 50 percent of the wells, the water had been in contact with either human or animal excrement. That means half of the family has water that can give them diarrhea in the best case -- and cholera or typhoid or hepatitis in the worst case. And that was really convincing. By the end of the year, we knew we wanted to invent something to help the families.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

During Southern Baja Peninsula dry season, 42 percent of wells have fecal contamination.

In the rainy season, the number swells to 100 percent.

(END GRAPHIC)

CASSASSUCE: We wanted to invent something for $20 or $30 that one family could afford. So we made a UV system inside a bucket -- compact, affordable, very simple for the family to use.

This particular model was designed knowing that to guarantee the efficiency of the UV bucket, the fact that it's really going to purify the water, we needed those channels so that the water spends 30 seconds under the UV lamp.

(BEGIN GRAPHIC)

Ultra violet light inactivates the disease causing organisms in water.

Source: UC Berkeley

(END GRAPHIC)

CASSASSUCE: We always organize like the distribution events in the villages as a one day event. We take a few samples of the water, discuss the water quality in the village.

We decided as a strategy we're going to have to work with the kids right from the beginning, because they're very good at going back to their house and saying hey, I used the UV bucket in the school. Mama, you know, you've got to use it also at the house.

The children -- we know from the statistics of the school that half of the kids cannot go to school at some time of the year, you know, just because they have some instance of diarrheal infection.

I think I want to help all the people that have less than me all around the world. So if I can give the UV bucket to every family in the developing world, that would be like a great achievement.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Some people are all talk. Then there's others who have helped change the world for the better. They didn't ask for the recognition, but they deserve it -- and we're going all out. CNN salutes the ordinary people doing extraordinary things. "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," featuring big names like Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow and so many more. That's Thursday night, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

LEMON: The closing bell and jumbo news for juice drinkers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: In game of total recall, who do you think would win -- man or chimp?

Japanese scientists studying primates posed that question and their findings may surprise you. But maybe seeing is believing.

Here's Angelie Rowe (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ANGELIE ROWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Japanese researchers put chimpanzees and humans head to head in a memory contest, the chimps are champs. Researcher Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University set up the video game test. Three 5-year-old chimps were pitted against several humans in two different short-term memory tests.

The first test shows numbers one through nine on the screen. Each subject tries to touch the numbers in numeric order. The chimps are faster every time. The second test is harder. The numbers are hidden by white boxes as soon as they appear. Incredibly, the chimps are still faster. The humans were given a second chance, though, to redeem themselves. But even with more training, the human testers still couldn't improve their speed enough to beat the chimps.

For the full details of primate domination, complete results are published in the Tuesday's issue of the science journal "Current Biology".

Angelie Rowe, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

PHILLIPS: We should have married chimps.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: Stephanie Elam is standing by with a final look at the trading day. I can't even program my...

PHILLIPS: I noticed you've got something to say...

LEMON: My VCR -- oh, VCRs are gone.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wait!

LEMON: I can't even program my TiVo.

ELAM: You have a bigger problem, Don. You don't even know what the technology is right now.

PHILLIPS: Wow!

LEMON: Is it TiVo?

ELAM: He's like my rotary telephone?

LEMON: My DVR. DVR.

PHILLIPS: Exactly.

LEMON: Listen, I have a friend whose cellular phone is so big I just call it a cordless. It's like this -- do you remember those?

ELAM: Yes. It's like the movie "Wall Street" when he's holding a brick up to the side of his face. Exactly. Totally.

All right, let's talk a little bit, Kyra and Don, about the company that makes the Jamba Juice.

You guys know this one, right?

Do you guys know this company?

PHILLIPS: No, actually, I don't. I've had a number of the Jamba Juices but...

LEMON: Oh, yes. Yes. Jamba Juice.

It's West Coast mostly, right?

ELAM: It is. They're here in New York now, too. But that's probably the reason...

PHILLIPS: They're in Atlanta.

ELAM: You do, right?

PHILLIPS: Yes.

ELAM: I thought so.

LEMON: Yes.

ELAM: Don would like Jama Juice. (INAUDIBLE) Jamba Juice.

LEMON: I did not say Jamba Juice. Come on.

ELAM: All right. I'm just checking.

LEMON: Jamba Juice.

ELAM: Just checking.

All right, well, they make those blended fruit drinks. And now they've signed a licensing agreement with Nestle to develop a lot of ready to drink beverages. They will be sold in supermarkets under the Jamba brand. Jamba said the products will be launched in the U.S. during the second quarter of 2008. The company said it will offer both smoothies and juices in the new lineup.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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