Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Bill Clinton's Pointed Jabs; Power Problems in the Plains; Navy Rescue: Ill Teen Brought Aboard Carrier; Suspects Won't be Charged in Natalee Holloway Case

Aired December 18, 2007 - 09:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Want to go ahead and give you the very latest as we know it here happening in Trumbull County, Ohio. Want to show you some of the pictures of this accident that we've been following all morning long.
What you see there is a type of truck that carries containers. It has a boom arm. We are not sure -- this is all according to Lieutenant Joe Dragovich. We talked with him earlier from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Not sure if that arm was up when it went underneath the overpass there, but somehow crashed into the bridge. Unfortunately, the driver of that vehicle has been killed.

We also know there are four other vehicles involved in all of this, as well as a gas line that runs parallel to that bridge. It also ruptured.

Originally we thought there had been many more evacuations of homes in that area. But again, according to the lieutenant, about five homes have been evacuated. That mandatory evacuation has been lifted.

So, once again, there had been several vehicles involved in all of this and one fatality to report here. The question still remains, though, as investigators are on the scene of the stability of the bridge. Again, that vehicle did slam into the bridge, and according to the sheriff in Trumbull County, he believes the bridge will have to "come down."

So, again, no confirmation of that. Investigators are on the scene. And we will continue to follow the story for you out of Ohio this morning.

Unannounced in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arriving there today, first in the north in Kirkuk, then on the Baghdad. Rice met with U.S. troops, also met with government leaders in both cities to discuss reconciliation and political progress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are continuing our discussions about how to build on the security and economic progress that is being made here and the significant developments, political developments at the local and provincial level to make certain that national reconciliation takes place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Rice also talked about today's Turkish troop incursion into Iraq. She says Turkey, Iraq and the U.S. have a common interest in stopping Kurdish rebel fighters. Turkey sent about 300 troops into northern Iraq to battle militants there.

A changing of the guard in Cuba? A letter reported written by Fidel Castro quotes the dictator as saying he will not "cling to office."

That letter was read on Cuban state television. It's not clear exactly though what Castro means. It's been 16 months since Castro was last seen in public just before undergoing surgery. He temporarily handed over the presidential powers to his brother.

A short time ago, White House spokesperson Dana Perino called the Castro letter interesting. She said the White House continues to work toward democracy on the island and hopes it will come soon.

On the campaign trail in Iowa. Now the jabs getting more and more pointed. Some of the tougher comments coming from former president Bill Clinton.

This morning, CNN Suzanne Malveaux spoke with him one-on-one. She is traveling with the CNN Election Express in Des Moines, Iowa.

So, what did the former president have to say, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We did catch up with the former president, Bill Clinton, at a hotel nearby. And obviously there's a big battle that's taking place, a fight over experience here, who has the experience to be president between Senator Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, but it is Bill Clinton who has really been the one at the forefront of this feud. His attacks being made even sharper.

It was over the weekend on PBS he said he had a lot of Democratic governors encouraging him to run back in 1988. He said, "I knew in my bones I should run, that I was a good enough politician to win, but I didn't think I was ready to be president."

So that is the question we put to the president today, is what is he saying about Barack Obama?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Some of the comments you made about Barack Obama, you had said that in 1988 you weren't ready to be president. You didn't run. Are you trying to say that Barack Obama isn't ready either?

WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, I'm trying to say that I agree with what "The Des Moines Register" said. Hillary has the best record of positive change-making in other people's lives. And I think it's important. I think that's why they endorsed her. That's what I was trying to say.

I think I bragged on all of them -- Senator Obama, Senator Edwards, all of them. I like them. I think she has the best record of making change in other people's lives in the most different circumstances. And I think that's very important to the next president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: So, Heidi, really there is a balancing act in this strategy. I talked to political analysts who say that they cannot go too negative and Bill Clinton cannot go too far in this. It may backfire when it comes to Senator Hillary Clinton.

You might have heard in the tape Senator Hillary in the background saying, "Come on, Bill. Let's go. Let's go. The kids are waiting." So, really, they do not want to overplay this, but they do want to make that point about experience.

Now, right now, they are on their way to Davenport, Iowa. It's about two and a half hours from where we are, and they're of course using everything they have, including star power. Magic Johnson this morning is campaigning with both of them. I caught up with him as well to ask him why is he choosing Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama, as well as others?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAGIC JOHNSON, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: You think about her experience of bringing us out of debt -- healthcare, education. She is the one person who can bring all those things back to us as a country, and I think make us powerful again and make us a better country because of her leadership ability and because of her experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: He also talked about some of the issues that really are very important to him. Healthcare being one of them. As you know, an AIDS survivor. That being a very important issue to Magic Johnson. And he believes that it's all about domestic issues, but also the reputation of the country on a global scale -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reporting for us from the CNN Election Express in Des Moines, Iowa, where it's all happening politically these days.

Thanks so much, Suzanne.

Want the most up-to-the-minute political news anywhere available? Well, cnnpolitics.com is your one-stop shop. It's the Internet's premiere destination for political news. Today's stop story, a judge rules White House visitor logs are public -- cnnpolitics.com.

Still cold and powerless. More than 80,000 homes and businesses in Oklahoma without electricity, more than a week after the big ice storm we have been reporting here. But utility crews are making progress, and on the phone right now, Oklahoma emergency management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten.

Michelann, if you can tell us, maybe just sort of update us, the number that we are reporting, as you heard, at least 80,000 people still without power?

MICHELANN OOTEN, OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: That is true. We do have about 80,000 homes and businesses without power. That's a significant decrease though when you look at last week at this time. We had 640,000 homes without power.

COLLINS: Sure, it is. But unfortunately, as I'm sure you well know, to those 80,000 people or so, it doesn't feel like much progress. Tell me what you're hearing. How are people doing?

OOTEN: Well, a lot of normalcy has returned to the state. You're right, if you're one of the 80,000 homes out there that doesn't have power, your frustration level is going high and you are concerned, and we're concerned for them. For that reason, we're continuing to operate shelters, there's still 32 shelters around the state. And we're continuing to support their needs with resources that are continuing to come into our state.

COLLINS: All right. Well, let's talk about those resources for a minute, because everybody, at least in that area, just wants to know when the power will be restored.

OOTEN: Right. Most of the electric companies are telling us in the next couple of days most people will have their powerback on. Of course, that has also been helped by the literally thousands of electric crews that have come into the state to assist Oklahoma. We can't thank them enough.

COLLINS: Yes, I'm sure everyone is very appreciative. We're looking at some video now of the work that they are doing. And it is no easy task. I'm certain of that.

But once the power is restored, we are understanding that people might still have problems because of those damaged structures or the electric meters. What is going on with that?

OOTEN: That is true. In some case people will have to make repairs to their homes or repairs to their business, primarily to the meter box before that structure can receive power. And we are working with local officials to try to get more electricians into different areas and also just assist them with any kind of supplies that they may need.

COLLINS: How cold is it there, Michelann?

OOTEN: You know, we're actually seeing the sun here today, and it's very welcome, the sunshine is. It's in the 40s, but we expect it to get into the upper 50s today.

COLLINS: OK, because we're wondering about the shelters. I imagine there are still quite a few people in shelters?

OOTEN: Last night we had around 2,000 throughout the state in shelters. So we are seeing that number decrease. And I think as long as the weather holds and it isn't quite as cold as it was this last weekend, hopefully those numbers will continue to go down. At the same time, we know electric crews will continue to get more homes back on line.

COLLINS: Yes. Just wondering, too, when the schools are going to reopen. Those kids going back?

OOTEN: And most of the schools have reopened.

COLLINS: OK.

OOTEN: Most of them opened yesterday. Still, there are some pockets in some areas where, of course, the school is in the neighborhood, the neighborhood doesn't have power, so the school doesn't.

COLLINS: Yes, understood.

All right. Well, well we appreciate your information here today.

Michelann Ooten with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

And good luck too all the folks of Oklahoma trying to get that power back on.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: A high seas rescue by the U.S. Navy helping a sick teenager in the nick of time.

CNN's Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon for us this morning.

Boy, this is a pretty incredible story, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Heidi.

Fourteen-year-old Laura Montarro (ph) of Albion, Illinois, now resting comfortably on board the Navy aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan after a rescue at sea. You see her there with the crew and her mother.

She was on board a cruise ship off the coast of Baja, Mexico, when she started suffering the symptoms of a ruptured appendix. Very serious. The closest medical care was the U.S. Navy. So they launched a helicopter, and you see here they are back on board the Ronald Reagan, they brought her on to the ship and performed emergency surgery on her for that ruptured appendix.

She is resting comfortably. The Ronald Reagan will be back in port in San Diego later today. She will be taken to a local hospital, obviously, for additional medical care, but a very happy American teenager and her very happy family. The Navy really scrambling to help her through this medical crisis -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Boy, that's for sure. I'm glad she got to go on a helicopter, too, instead of some sort of tail hook landing, because that is a little bumpy, to say the least.

STARR: Well, you know, what was really so interesting here, this was off a -- you know, a regular cruise ship that so many people have been on. And those decks don't have room for a large military...

COLLINS: Yes.

STARR: ... helicopter. So what they had to do was send the helicopter overhead, lower a basket with some emergency Navy personnel, strap her into that basket, and lift her up into the helicopter. A pretty harrowing thing for a young girl who is already in a good deal of discomfort because of her medical situation.

COLLINS: Oh, yes. Yes, no doubt about that.

All right. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning.

Barbara, thank you.

STARR: Sure.

COLLINS: Ref stops play, he collapses. A young fan's move on the court helps save a life. Joel Frye (ph) of affiliate KARE reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice over): It's a common complaint among high school students that stuff they learn in the classroom doesn't have much real world value.

LINDSEY PARADISE, HELPED SAVE REFEREE: It's like, the number you multiply to this to get that. Also to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last Thursday night, 16-year-old Lindsey Paradise poked a serious hole in that argument.

PARADISE: I was sitting up -- I think it was like section five right here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lindsey and her mom were among those packed in the Fridley (ph) gym watching the boy's basketball team take on Simly (ph). With five minutes left, one of the officials, 49-year-old Dale Wakasugi, fell to the floor.

JIM MACDONALD, COACH: We've had officials blow out a knee or twist an ankle which, you know, you see them taking off on a cart. But never, never this. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ref had suffered a serious heart attack. Lindsey ran on to the floor, and with help from three adults and CPR training she just finished up in health class, she went to work.

ALYSSA PARADISE, LINDSEY'S SISTER: This is crazy. Like, at first when I saw her run down there, I was like, you know, get out of there. But then she knows what she is doing. She can do it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When three rounds of CPR failed to revive him, someone grabbed one of the school's automated exterior defibrillators. Lindsey ran through the steps and pushed the button.

L. PARADISE: I could see his stomach going up and down after that. And so I knew he was coming around again.

DALE WAKASUGI, REFEREE: God sent her to be in that place at that time for a reason.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dale Wakasugi left the hospital this morning knowing he owes his life to a simple yet amazing machine and a teenager who was not afraid to use it.

WAKASUGI: So many things had to happen for me to be alive, and they just all fell into place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Good for her. Lindsey says she hopes to become a police officer one day. A good field for her.

Meanwhile, manhunt. Inmates bust concrete to see daylight. A taunting note to their jailers keeps them in the spotlight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: An elderly woman found dead at a police impound lot one day after a car crash. Now police in California are looking into what went wrong. The 72-year-old was riding with her son when he crashed into a building. Paramedics pulled him from the car, and police say he told rescuers he was alone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY WILLIAMS, OWNS BUSINESS IN BUILDING: The doors were open on the car and nobody saw this lady in the back of the car, or in the front of the car, wherever she was. But the doors were all open. But I think everybody was so fixated on the building, they didn't really pay much attention to the car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: When relatives reported her missing, police went to the impounded car. They found the woman behind the passenger side airbag. An initial autopsy reports say she died minutes after the crash.

Also want to get to some news we are just learning here in the CNN NEWSROOM regarding Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. Obviously, her case has been in the news for quite some time now.

We have Susan Candiotti on the line for us. She has been following the story for quite some time and joins us now with the very latest.

Boy, this is very interesting. It looks like this case is going to be dismissed, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It does appear to be the case. That decision being announced just moments ago by the chief prosecutor's office in Aruba.

Just to recap here, just before Thanksgiving, the three suspects in the case named as suspects were re-arrested based on what the prosecutor himself had called new incriminating evidence that he described as solid. That, he also indicated, would lead to either charges of manslaughter in the violent death, as he put it, of Natalee Holloway, or lesser charges of assault or something else.

In any case, he said that he would decide by the end of the year whether this would be brought to trial. And he has just announced that they were dismissing the case now for lack of evidence.

Now, that does not mean that they could not revisit the case. In Aruba, there is a statute of limitations six years for manslaughter, 12 years for murder. But at this time, because all three suspects after the re-arrest were let go, it pretty much spells the end of the case at this time.

Remember, after they re-arrested the three young men, the matter was brought before a judge who decided to -- after reviewing preliminary evidence, decided to hold them for a brief period of time. But when they came back at a second round to try to hold them even longer, the judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to keep these men in custody while the prosecutor decided what to do. And ultimately, we now have the end result.

Clearly, this would be disappointing news to the family of Natalee Holloway, who had hoped for this case to be brought to fruition. That hasn't taken place.

I spoke with the stepmother of Natalee Holloway within the hour. At that time she indicated that they had not been informed by the prosecutors about this decision, but the office does say they have informed the family through their lawyers about what has taken place.

Now, Heidi, one more thing. On Thursday of this week, the chief prosecutor will be announcing in detail what this new so-called "incriminating evidence" was and detail why he decided to do what he did, ultimately. But at this time they are saying there is insufficient evidence to proceed to a trial. If they did, the prosecutor said he thinks it would lead to an acquittal.

COLLINS: Yes, boy, it does seem strange when they were brought back in and now this today, saying the case will be dismissed. The suspects will not be charged due to the lack... CANDIOTTI: To say the least, it's very strange. Right.

COLLINS: ... lack of sufficient evidence.

All right. CNN's Susan...

CANDIOTTI: Well, remember, Heidi...

COLLINS: Yes?

CANDIOTTI: ... they went to the great extent of extraditing one of the three young men from Amsterdam, from The Netherlands.

COLLINS: That's right.

CANDIOTTI: Wanted him back to Aruba. And then to have this happen, it's very odd.

COLLINS: Yes, very odd. Well, we know that you'll be following it.

CNN's Susan Candiotti updating us on the Natalee Holloway case. We'll get back to that should we learn more what's happened there.

Meanwhile, though, look who is visiting Iraq. The top American diplomat arrived in the country just as Turkish soldiers crossed the border.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICE: The United States is very interested...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Good morning once again, everybody.

Quickly want to get you the breaking news that we just announced here a little while ago coming into us from the Aruban public prosecutor's office. We have learned that apparently the three suspects in the Natalee Holloway case will not be charged. The case being dismissed now because of "lack of sufficient evidence."

Once again, no charges will be filed against them. It's very interesting simply because those three suspects you see there on the screen were rearrested at the end of November saying that new evidence had been gathered during the investigation. And now this decision after apparently reviewing that new evidence, that unfortunately none of it could bring the final break through in the investigation. So again three suspects in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway from Alabama, will not be charged in this case.

Want to take a moment now to get over to T.J. Holmes once again in the news room, with some news coming out of, I believe, Seattle. Is that right, T.J.? T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Actually, this judge -- actually we're going to D.C. here. AP reporting that a federal judge has now ordered a hearing into whether or not the Bush administration violated a court order in destroying those CIA interrogation tapes. Those tapes that we have been hearing about for the past few weeks now. People will remember these were tapes of two interrogations that took place with two terrorism suspects.

Those two suspects apparently subjected to some harsh interrogation techniques. Many people -- these tapes were made back in 2002, destroyed then in 2005. But in the meantime, much advice was given from the White House attorneys, also from attorneys at the CIA, not to destroy these tapes. That they should not be destroyed, they should be kept. Well the tapes were then destroyed.

It only came to light not too long ago that in fact this had happened. And now there are many people who are wanting to, up on Capitol Hill, look into whether or not something was violated, whether or not this should have been done. And now a federal judge has gotten involved and given this order that a hearing should be taking place on whether or not the Bush administration in fact violated a court order when those CIA interrogation tapes were in fact destroyed. This is news we're just getting from the Associated Press.

So, a lot more to come on this. We don't know when this hearing might take place. How this plays into other investigations that people on Capitol Hill, several committees, are hoping to look into this. Lawmakers certainly not letting this go and wanting to look into this.

But now, a federal judge has stepped in. So again, Heidi, we're just getting word on this. This is a story that has been developing for the past couple of weeks. Has caused really a firestorm up on Capitol Hill. But now the word from a federal judge is that he says that they need to look into it, that a hearing should take place to see if the government -- if the Bush administration violated a court order when those CIA interrogation tapes of two terrorism suspects were destroyed.

Going to work this story, get more information. We'll pass it along to you as soon as we get it, Heidi.

COLLINS: OK, very good. You sure nothing is going on in Seattle?

HOLMES: I have enough going on in Washington right now.

COLLINS: I know, this is true. All right, thanks so much, T.J. We'll check back a little later on should things change there.

Meanwhile, a dramatic jailbreak to tell you about. A massive man-hunt. New details this morning about an elaborate New Jersey escape. More from CNN's Jason Carroll in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jose Espinosa was looking at 17 years for manslaughter. Otis Blunt was facing robbery and weapons charges. Together they hatched a plan to chip their way out of doing hard time.

TED ROMANKOW, UNION COUNTY PROSECUTOR: I'm angry that two prisoners would escape a secure facility and not even know when they did it.

CARROLL: Guards noticed both inmates missing from their high security cells at the Union County Jail at 5:15 p.m. Saturday. They found this metal wire and say they believe Blunt used it as a tool to chip away a hole in to Espinosa's adjoining cell.

Then they used it to chisel an 18 inch wide hole from Espinosa's cell to the outside. The holes were concealed with pin-up posters. If their plan sounds a little familiar, that's because that's basically what a character in the critically acclaimed film, "The Shawshank Redemption" did to escape.

ROMANKOW: I really prefer not to compare it with any movie. Although I can understand why you might. Because it does, to a certain degree, it does look very similar to some of them. Except I think in "Shawshank Redemption" they had a better poster on the wall.

CARROLL: In the movie, the character crawls through a sewer pipe to freedom. Blunt and Espinosa took a different path. The hole they created opened up to a third floor landing. And once outside, authorities say they presumably took a running jump 15 feet out, clearing a razor wire fence and landing 30 feet below. The duo left a note to a guard reading, "Thank you officer... for the tools need. You're a real pal. Happy holidays." It was marked with a smiley face.

(on camera): There were footprints outside on the ground. Both sets of footprints heading in opposite directions. It turns out that Blunt had tried to escape before, in September, using the exact same method. Authorities tell us they will not elaborate as to whether or not they have any leads at this point as to where the two inmates might be.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Unannounced in Iraq. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice arriving there this morning. First in the North in Kirkuk, and then on to Baghdad. Rice meeting with Iraqi leaders in both cities discussing reconciliation and political progress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're continuing our discussions about how to build on the security and economic progress that is being made here and the significant developments, political developments at the local and provincial level to make certain that national reconciliation takes place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: This was Rice's first visit to Iraq since arriving with President Bush in September.

Battling combat stress, a special mission for a pair of sergeants heading to Iraq. CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: Meet Sergeants First Class Fudge and Beau. Members of the 85th Medical Detachment Combat Stress Unit and on their way to Iraq. Staff Sergeant Jack Greene is one of the therapists taking the dogs into the war zone.

STAFF SGT. JACK GREENE, U.S. ARMY: It's going to be a great Christmas present for our soldiers there.

STARR: These dogs won't be on security patrols or searching the for bombs. These are therapy dogs. Fudge and Beau will help the troops deal with a stress of combat.

GREEN: The dog has a natural, uncanny way of reducing stress. It's kind of a magical thing. And Americans are dog lovers and most soldiers are dog lovers.

STARR: The unit tries to help troops cope. Listening to what they say about how they feel. The dogs will be used to help the soldiers open up.

STAFF SGT. MIKE CALAWAY, U.S. ARMY: Maybe they don't want to talk to me but it might do them some good to come up and pet the dog and meet and greet the dog and at some point there they might actually think we're OK. And want to ask more about what we have to offer and how we can help them.

STARR: On this day, Budge and Boe are being officially turned over to the army by the group that helped train them. Already they are used to the sound of gunfire and even helicopters. These dogs will be well looked after.

CALAWAY: They have boots, uniforms, goggles, different things like that to protect them just like any other soldier.

STARR: The dogs are trained to know that when their vests are on, they're working, acting submissive, available to the soldiers who might need them. But like any sergeant first class in the army, they, too, get to go off duty.

GREENE: I'm sure I'm going to have people knocking on my door, hey can I see the dog. And I'm going to have to firmly correct them. This is Sergeant First Class Budge and he's sleeping right now.

STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: I love that story. The shows must go on. That showbiz credo ringing anew today. Weeks after the writer's strike threw your favorite shows into reruns. Some stars are returning to the air though. On January 2nd, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien will unveil a fresh episode of their late night talk shows on NBC. Without writers, the comics will rely on a lot of their own material.

And the awards season looms. But here are two things you may not see Oscars and Golden Globes, that's stars and film clips. The Writer's Guild has denied the use of the clips and some stars could boycott the awards in a show of support for the writers. The networks have already sold commercial time though, so the shows, indeed, must go on.

Time now to take a look at some of the most clicked on videos on cnn.com. A 20--year-old beauty queen was placed in the middle of a language divide. During a pageant, Miss Belgium was booed during the competition because she doesn't speak Dutch.

When a referee suffered a heart attack during a basketball game, 16-year-old Lindsey Paradise helped save his life by performing CPR on him.

And 10-year-old Peter Schmidt doesn't mind being the only boy on a girl's skating team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There he is there. See him? For more of your favorite video go to cnn.com/mostpopular. And you can take CNN with you anywhere with the daily podcast on the cnn.com.

A prowler makes a get away high up in a tree. This 400 pound bear is a repeat offender, in fact. Stopping by this California neighborhood from time to time. It took five and a half hours, though, to get him down and out of someone's backyard. And now, at least for now anyway, it's back to the forest.

Their Christmas display is known throughout the neighborhood and beyond.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone always used to say to me, you're that house on Meadows End Road. It kind of stuck.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Now, "that house" is throwing light on a year round crisis.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It's more than just for show. A family's 30,000 light Christmas display is brightening the lives of people in need. Sara Welch with affiliate WTNH reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA WELCH, WTNH REPORTER (voice-over): The candy canes, the Christmas trees, the reindeer in the snow, all a labor of love for the Donnells in Milford.

CHRISTOPHER DONNELLS, HOMEOWNER: Well, every year, people would ask me how many lights are you putting up this year? I'll double it.

WELCH: A holiday tradition on Meadows End Road, Chris and his wife Ann first decorated five years ago. Now 30,000 bulbs twinkle in the night.

ANN DONNELLS, HOMEOWNER: You see the kids who drive by and the -- just how happy they are. And when they beep their horns, it's just so much fun and it gets everybody in a Christmas spirit.

WELCH: Many admirers now know their home as that house in Milford.

C. DONNELL: Everyone always used to say to me, you're that house on Meadows End Road. And it kind of stuck.

WELCH: Now, they have a Web site called thathouseinmilford.com. They ask people who drive by their display to later visit their site where the couple is hosting a virtual food drive for the Connecticut Food Bank.

C. DONNELL: If they were to buy one of everything on the list, it would feed 400 people and that would cost $96. We're not asking for that. We're asking for you know, just a box of green beans or something or a case of green beans.

WELCH: Generosity helping to fill these shelves and feed thousands of needy people who might otherwise go without.

NANCY CARRINGTON, EXEC. DIR., CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK: Oh, it's really heartwarming. People are so creative in supporting us. And this is one of the most exciting and original ways that I can think of that people are helping out their neighbors in need.

WELCH: And for the Donnells, their colorful display is their way of spreading a little joy this season.

C. DONNELLS: Really helping somebody else out in need is a whole reason why we have Christmas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: If you would like to check out the house and maybe send a check to the food bank, here's the Web site, thathouseinmilford -- M-I-L-F-O-R-D -- .com.

Did you have second thoughts about buying toys this holiday season after all those lead paint recalls? Well, Congress is looking to make some changes to help consumers, but did they go far enough? Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with details. Hi there, Susan. You know, we've been wondering about this because we've done a lot of that reporting on this show here and I wonder what people are thinking on this.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a lot of talk on a lot of different levels when it comes to toys, Heidi. A House committee is expected to approve a bill overhauling the Consumer Product Safety Commission. That's the commission charged with overseeing all of the products we use and making sure that they're safe. The bill would increase its funding and give it a new testing lab. The agency has roughly half the staff it had in the 1970s. If approved, these would be the first big changes at the CPSE since 1990 and a lot of folks would say long overdue, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, we've spoken with them and one of their complaints was that you know, we just really don't have enough people. But I'm wondering, too, if this bill only affects the budget of the CPSE or are there other organizations involved here?

LISOVICZ: Right, well, it's important to address the budget, obviously, to increase the staffing. But this bill would also directly address the problems we saw over the summer. The bill bans for instance anything more than trace amounts of lead in toys and other products for children. Also mandates more testing for toys. When items meant for children are recalled, this bill does more to track products so that we know whether they have been pulled from store shelves, Heidi.

COLLINS: So, you think this will solve the problem?

LISOVICZ: Well, depends on who you ask. For instance, a consumer group called Public Citizens, well known consumer group, says the bill does not go far enough and was heavily influenced by industrial -- industry lobbyists. Among its criticisms: lead levels aren't low enough, funding is still inadequate, and the bill doesn't cut off tainted products early enough in the process and this is a story that we, of course, will continue to monitor.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

COLLINS: We present, you decide. Woman says her stone shows Jesus on one side, George Washington on the other.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" comes up next. Jim Clancy is here now with a preview of what they are working on.

Hi there, Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN ANCHOR: Be sure to join Colleen McEdwards and me at the top of the hour as we survey global news. We're going to be looking at the message from Fidel Castro, who signals that change is near. What's the reaction? We're going to hear from Havana and from Washington as we look at what Castro himself is calling the end of an era. Plus racism rocks and Germany reels. Persistent posting of neo- Nazi material on Germany's YouTube triggers demands for the online video service to pull the plug.

Also, we'll take you to London, where Savoy troubles? Well, one of the most famous hotels in the world puts thousands of its furnishing up for office. Phil Black tours the historic Savoy and tells us why it's hosting the sale of the season in London. All that and more coming up at the top of the hour on "YOUR WORLD TODAY."

Heidi, back to you.

COLLINS: OK, Jim, we'll be watching. Thank you.

History on the auction block. Tonight at Sotheby's in New York you can walk away with a copy of the Magna Carta for just a cool 30 million. If you need a little refresher course. Here it is, the Magna Carta is the first document ever to grant human rights. Signed by the kind of England about 710 years ago.

Drag queen bingo night. A neighbor is ticked. He says, it's not what they put on their bodies, it's what they are having come out of their mouths.

Amanda Stanzilis of affiliate WWSB reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dots your dots for O-72.

AMANDA STANZILIS, WWSB REPORTER (voice-over): When you're talking about drag queen bingo, you're already talking about something a little different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just work it real good.

STANZILIS: Tonight's game is different. These queens are playing a little nicer than they used to.

LOU SCHULTZ, CAFE OWNER: The language went over the top. And we stopped it. We're just not going to do that in the future.

STANZILIS: Last week, ABC 7 was the first to show you how drag queen bingo was being played, complete with bullhorns and raced with racy words, but the man who lives less than 20 feet away from the outdoor cafe complained to commissioners, saying the language was too much for his young daughter. So cafe owner Lou Schultz agreed to stop it.

SCHULTZ: So any words that are -- would be bleeped out of television will not be said in our event.

STANZILIS (on camera): Now, it won't be said at all or it won't be said on the bullhorn.

SCHULTZ: Won't be said at all. STANZILIS (voice-over): In fact, bullhorns aren't being used either. So everything's good, right? This so-called too hot for TV language was silenced. Felecity Lamont, AKA Jonathon Hall, says the event is still a hit.

JONATHON HALL, AKA FELECITY LAMONT: I can find other words to use. I'll invent some, who knows.

STANZILIS: But neighbors still want to put a stop to this, making some feel there is more to this.

HALL: I hate to say this, but I think it is a gay issue.

STANZILIS (on camera): The man who lives here right next door in the house still refuses to go on camera with us about all of this. We did, though, speak to him on the phone how many people feel he is anti-gay. He says that he is not. He says, though, that he is anti- child abuse.

(voice-over): The neighbor says the language, the events, it's abusive to his family. And he feels harassed by the queens. Schultz says he's done all he can. So for now at least this show will go on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Players say they will keep coming back. Money raised by the bingo contest goes to a community AIDS fund.

Open to interpretation. An Arizona woman who likes to search for stones near her home has uncovered a gem. She says the stone shows Jesus on one side, George Washington on the flip side. Others see something entirely different.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a good rock to heave at bad neighbors.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a sign of the times to come, that we've got to change and be kinder and be more god-like.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: The woman says for now she has a special place on the mantel for the stone. But she adds, eBay is a possibility.

Wearing nothing but a smile.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We tried to make it classy. As we say in England, no naughty bits showing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Mature women show skin for a good cause.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We quickly want to get you to Rhode Island, some news coming out of there that we are getting in, East Providence, Rhode Island, to be exact. You're looking at video of a school there. This is the Bay View Academy in Rhode Island. We're learning there has been some sort of mercury spill. It's about all the information that we have right now. We initially had heard reports of evacuations, don't have any confirmation of that.

But again, according to the East Providence Fire Department, apparently there's been some type of mercury spill inside that building. We're going to continue to follow the story for you and let you know what may be going on there just as soon as we get it.

Bearing all and all for charity, 12 middle-aged women not showing their years, just their months.

Brandon Klein of affiliate KMAZ reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRANDON KLEIN, KMAZ REPORTER (voice-over): In a world of airbrushed young bodies the women on the passion of this calendar are going au naturel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We try to make it classy. No as we say in England, no naughty bits showing.

KLEIN: Some ladies featured in the "Wild Women of William's Calendar" admit they were a little uncomfortable bearing it all. But when they realized how much money they could raise for the American Cancer Society, they dropped everything.

CAROL DELANDER, MISS OCTOBER: I was going to do it, then I wasn't going to do it, then I decided I should do it. So once I made the commitment then, of course, I just did it.

KLEIN: The calendar features local women in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

CATH JAMES, MISS SEPTEMBER: It a was so much fun. We never laughed so much in all our life.

KLEIN: Miss October said it's something she always wanted to do. Some of her loved ones weren't as enthusiastic.

DELANDER: Well one loved one I haven't heard from. My son probably isn't real happy.

KLEIN: But an experience they'll treasure the rest of their lives.

JAMES: We're joking now that when we're sitting in the nursing home, when we're in our 80s, wearing our sashes. We can talk about it, you know, for a long time.

KLEIN: In Williams, Brandon Klein, 12 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: In just one month, calendar sales have raised $5,000 for cancer research. CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now. "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and right here at home.

I'm Heidi Collins. We'll see you tomorrow, everybody.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com