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Information on the Shooting Deaths of Two College Students; Blizzard in Ohio; Wyoming Holds Democratic Caucus Today; America For Sale
Aired March 08, 2008 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: So, we're going to have to make sacrifices. All young kids should work on their parents and their families.
LEE: Niceness 8, greenness 9.
(on camera): It's been a wonderful experience for me. I hope you pick the right presidential candidate that has been the most eco- friendly and kindest to children.
(voice-over): These points are just my opinion.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: I approve this message.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Exactly. Check out more from Jonathan on his Web site. All you have to do is go to www.gogreenman.com.
And, make sure you catch "BALLOT BOWL" today. Don't forget that. That starts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern and the 3:00 hour, though, Jonathan will be joining us live to talk about his time on the campaign trail.
HOLMES: But the next hour in the NEWSROOM begins right now and it's time for us to say hello to our good friend Stephanie Elam, who we have -- the pleasure of having in town here in Atlanta with us.
You take it away, Stephanie.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much, T.J. and Betty.
All right, breaking news in the case of a murdered college student. Police in Auburn, Alabama have arrested a suspect in the murder of an 18-year-old Auburn University student. Lauren Burke was found clinging to life, Tuesday, by the side of the road, she later died of a bullet wound to the head. This past hour, Auburn police announced an arrest of suspect, Courtney Lockhart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASST. CHIEF THOMAS DAWSON, AUBURN, AL POLICE: Today, though, we are pleased to announce that warrants for capital murder, capitol murder during a kidnapping, capitol murder during a robbery and capitol murder during an attempted rape.
All three warrants were signed this morning on an individual by the name of Courtney Larell Lockhart from Smith, Alabama. His age is 23-years-old. He was taken into custody yesterday by the Phenix City police department; I believe their motor division was responsible for the actual apprehension.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: In North Carolina, Chapel Hill police look at newly released ATM surveillance tapes. You can see them here, that picture there showing this young man, here. Hoping to find clues in the murder of University of North Carolina student, Eve Carson. These pictures, just over an hour ago, came in to us. Carson was found Wednesday morning on a street not far from campus. She had been shot several times, including once in the temple.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF BRIAN CURRAN, CHAPEL HILL, NC POLICE: On the 911 tape, one of the callers heard a woman scream. That was concurrent with the gunshots, it was my understanding. And anything else I would say about it would be speculating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: All right, at this point, police have not yet identified a suspect.
Switching gears here a little bit, they are in some pretty nasty weather out there that we need to tell you about. These tower cam pictures show how hard a winter storm is pounding the Midwest. The storm stretches all the way into the Deep South taking out power and creating icy roads as this moves south and east. Our Susan Roesgen is in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it could get a lot worse before it gets better.
I can barely see you anymore, Susan. How are you holding up?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know, it's hard to believe it could get worse before it gets better, Stephanie. It's cold out here. It's still coming down. You know, I have a friend of mine who says, you can't come to Cincinnati without trying Skyline Chili. And I think a lot of people today will be trying Skyline Chile because they can't go anywhere. Stranded people, thousands of stranded people, at the airports and in hotels, Stephanie.
At the airports, the three biggies: Columbus, Cleveland and here in Cincinnati, only limited flights and the flights that are getting out are basically sold out.
So, many people who had hoped to be able to get on a plane today, after they were stranded yesterday, won't be able to. Looking around, there are some cars on the road, but in some counties, the Ohio state patrol is asking people to stay off the roads, in fact, they are threatening to arrest people who aren't on official emergency business and are out on the roads, because the roads are so dangerous.
The main interstate here, Interstate 70, the main east/west interstate was closed this morning because of a big pileup. So, they're asking people to stay off the roads, stay inside and who knows, Stephanie, try some of that Skyline Chili.
You know, when you think about, there isn't much else to do. They have canceled some early Saint Patrick's Day parades. They've canceled a big high school girls basketball championship. They've canceled horseracing. So, it may look like March, but it might as well be December because it is snowing, still, and hard -- Stephanie.
ELAM: Oh Susan, someone is going to need to break out the board games, clear out their DVRs, there's going to be a lot going on today inside, there. Hopefully you'll be able to get inside, soon. But, you look very nice in your nice little read hoodie, there. You're looking OK.
ROESGEN: OK.
ELAM: Considering that's all we can see of you.
ROESGEN: Thanks, Stephanie.
ELAM: Thanks, Susan.
All right, and in Florida, more news there about weather. Two people were killed when a tornado ripped through Lake City. The twister uprooted trees and damaged several homes. In Georgia, high winds tore through suburban Atlanta ripping the roof off a grocery store and sending trees crashing on to homes. One man suffered a broken arm when the store's walls and ceiling collapsed. Some scary weather going on out there.
Let's turn to our resident, chief meteorologist, who just knows everything about everything we need to know, Reynolds Wolf standing by.
Got to tell you, when I flew in from New York, yesterday, it was a bumpy ride, a delayed one at that. I was kind feeling lucky to get here, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, this is what you were flying over. You were flying over this, this tremendous system. You know, what's so funny about thus storm system, Stephanie, is what it means to millions of people. I mean, for many people, it is just a rain event where you have some scattered showers up and down much of the coast, as indicated by the blues and the greens, the yellows that you see on the screen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ELAM: All right, thanks.
Talking politics now, Wyoming Democrats in the spotlight. Voters there have been caucusing for about an hour, there's 12 delegates up there. A big deal in this year's tug-of-war for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Our Brianna Keilar has more on wide open Wyoming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Wyoming is big on the U.S. map, the ninth largest state, but tiny in population. It ranks last. The last census reported just over 515,000 people who made it their home on the range. The biggest city, Cheyenne, the stat's capitol is home to nearly 55,000 people.
Wyoming is the state of firsts. The first state in the nation where women could vote, serve on juries and hold public office. The state motto," equal rights." Wyoming is also home to the world's first national park, Yellow Stone.
And now, for the first time since 1960, Wyoming is playing a big political role. That's when the state's delegates officially made John Kennedy the party's nomination for president at the national convention.
Brianna Keilar, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: And we have a front row seat to today's voting in Wyoming. Our Jessica Yellin, part of the best political team on television. She is at the caucus in Cheyenne.
Hi, Jessica. How's it going out there?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'll tell you the turnout here is so large that the organizers seem to feel like every registered Democrat has turned out to vote. It's so big, in fact, that they have used their convention center as their caucus site and they are bringing people in three different waves. Folks were lined up at 6:30 in the morning to get in line for this caucus that started at 9:00 a.m., here.
Now, what they have, if you can see the room behind me at all, what they have done is they had somebody sitting up at the two tables up front, a Democrat for Hillary Clinton, a Democrat for Barack Obama. They both made their case. And then, this whole room was filled with people and they all lined up afterwards to put in their ballot. They went up on stage in different places, stuck a ballot in a ballot box, it's a caucus, but they still call it a ballot, here. And now, these folks are going to be shuffled out to bring in a new wave of people.
I'll tell you, every single person I stopped and asked a question of said it was their first caucus they'd ever attended. One person said it's because, in their words, this is the first time politics has mattered since the 1960s. This is from a fellow in his 30s. And I spoke to folks who were seniors who saying they've never caucused in a primary before, but they're coming out this time because it is so exciting. And this state is just basking in the glow of all this attention they are getting. As Brianna said, there are just 12 pledged delegates at stake, right now, in this caucus, but they know, these folks no their votes really could help swing this decision and so, they're more excited, they say, than they have ever been. And a lot of folks, in fact, brought their kids with them, just to show them this experience.
But I'll tell you, we're still waiting here for another two waves, possibly, of more voters to fill up this very large convention center -- Stephanie.
ELAM: So Jessica, tell us, how late does this actually go today?
YELLIN: They say as late as it has to go. So, the rule was anybody who's in line at 9:00 a.m., here, gets to vote -- or caucus. But, so, they just have to get through that line of folks. And I'll tell you, it's going down the block outside this building and about a block away, too, so maybe two blocks of people lined up. So, maybe it could go into the early evening hours. We'll see how efficiently they count.
ELAM: Yeah, that's excellent. I love to see how people are really galvanized by this election. You can defiantly see there is a different energy every time you guys end up in a new state. So, thanks for brining that to us, Jessica.
Jessica Yellin there for us in Cheyenne, Wyoming. All right, stay with CNN throughout the day for the best political coverage on television. Coming up at 2:00 Eastern, "BALLOT BOWL" is back. We're bringing you the candidates unfiltered and in their own words all day long. And then, "BALLOT BOWL" primetime gets started at 8:00 tonight only on CNN.
And who's moving in next door? America's foreclosure crisis is taking on a new accent. "America for Sale," that's next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ELAM: As the banking industry tries to bail itself out from under billions of bad mortgage loans, three high profile CEO's have been defending their multimillion dollar salaries before a House committee. Countrywide founder, Angelo Mozilo, former Merrill Lynch CEO, Stanley O'Neal, and ex-Citygroup chief, Charles Prince. They argue that they lost millions, as well. This is what they're hearing.
But, the reports about their salaries, well, they were grossly exaggerated. But, the remarks found little sympathy among committee members. In the words of one, Democrat Elijah Cummings of Maryland, "If you don't bear personal responsibility, I don't know who does," end quote.
The weak housing market and sagging dollar add up to a bonanza for bargain hunters. Right now, overseas investors are scooping up prime property in south Florida. Our Susan Candiotti looks at "America for Sale."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How about a backyard like this? Close to sand and surf, year-round warm weather and exciting night life.
(on camera): You have no trouble picturing yourself waking up to this view in the morning?
SILVIA FERRY (ph), HOMEBUYER: Yes, I love this area.
OMAR OREV (ph), HOMEBUYER: I can picture, also, a boat.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Right here on their own dock.
FERRY: I like it. Here you can cook a lot.
CANDIOTTI: Silvia Ferry (ph) and Omar Orev (ph) are on the prowl for a home in Miami Beach. She's Italian, he's Israeli, an overseas power couple, investors with big money to spend.
KATHLEEN COSTANZO, COLDWELL BANKER REALTOR: This two-bedroom home was listed last year, the listing price last year was $3.4.
CANDIOTTI: That's 3.4 million.
COSTANZO: Today, we're listed at $2.495.
CANDIOTTI: A million dollar savings. Silvia and Omar don't bat an eye.
OREV: The super euro is buying more than ever.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): International investors are diving into the America real estate market, thanks in part to a weak U.S. dollar and in Florida, anyway, a 30 percent drop in prices.
GREG MCBRIDE, BANKRATE.COM: The U.S. Dollar is at an all-time low against the euro, so those buyers have unprecedented buying power on a currency basis and with falling U.S. home prices, it's making it that much more attractive to them.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): That buying power has American developers openly soliciting European and South American customers using slick Internet layouts, onsite tours for brokers, and print ads in overseas magazines.
FERRY: This is absolutely the best moment. The best moment for everybody.
COSTANZO: People who don't make offers today are going to look back and regret that they didn't buy.
CANDIOTTI: Florida isn't the only hot market for outside investors. Texas is reeling them in and so is California. Real estate agents say the main attraction, warm weather and vacation destinations. Is America for sale? Better than foreclosures, market watchers argue.
COSTANZO: Not only do they buy houses, it's just the whole domino effect. They're going to buy houses, they're going to remodel, they're going to buy carpeting...
CANDIOTTI: Keeping the economy going and more often than not, plunking down cash for a piece of America.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: Hillary Clinton says she has the experience to handle foreign policy. Barack Obama says he is the man to bring about change. Can the records support their claims?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ELAM: He hasn't completed a U.S. Senate term yet. So, to get a more detail look at Barack Obama's record, check out his eight years in the Illinois State Senate.
For that, we have CNN's Dan Lothian, he did just that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New and untested, Barack Obama started early trying to carve out a reputation as an eager, hardworking, Illinois State Senator when he was elected in 1996.
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm sympathetic to that.
LOTHIAN: Telling powerful Democrat, Emil Jones, the man Obama considers his political godfather, to throw him into the fire.
EMIL JONES, PRES. ILLINOIS SENATE DEMOCRATS: He said, feel free to give me any type of sadness, you know I like to work hard.
LOTHIAN: That work, say his critics, resulted from one of the most liberal voting records during his eight years, from pushing for abortion rights to raising taxes. But, what troubles former Republican colleague, Dan Cronin...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was he right next to you?
LOTHIAN: Who says he respects Obama and his political skills, is that considering the presidential hopeful's campaign of bold change, his past, he says, doesn't quite add up.
DAN CRONIN (R), ILLINOIS SENATE: There were no bold solutions, there were no creative approaches, there were no efforts to stand up to the establishment.
LOTHIAN (on camera): But, Barack Obama supporters say that happened in part because for the majority of the time he was a state senator, Republicans were in control, making it difficult, they say, for him to pass any bold legislation.
(voice-over): And what about criticism that as a state senator, he voted "present" instead of "yes" or "no" nearly 130 times, essentially, a vote without taking a side. It's an oddity of Illinois politics that his now Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, says illustrates a refusal to take responsibility, like hitting the easy button on controversial issues.
But, Obama's mentor, who says the senator casts thousands of votes, disagrees.
JONES: She's totally wrong on that.
LOTHIAN: Chicago political analyst, Paul Green, says other lawmakers, Republican and Democrats, routinely vote "present," a way, he says, to force the majority party to negotiate or to protest a part of the bill.
(on camera): So, it's strategy.
PAUL GREEN, POLITICAL ANALYST: Of course it's strategy.
LOTHIAN (voice-over): Obama did sponsor more than 800 bills. One resulted in the highly touted ethics reform that bans fundraisers at the state capitol in Springfield and nearly all gifts from lobbyists. Another bill now requires police in Illinois to videotape interrogations of criminal suspects. One thing everyone seems to agree on, that Senator Obama appeared comfortable to reach across party lines to get what he wanted.
Dan Lothian, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: All right, listen to this one: dancing in the streets. That's how Iowa Republican congressman, Steve King, says parents might respond if Barack Obama is elected president. The Obama campaign is expressing outrage over the comment. King made the comments to the "Daily Reporter" newspaper in Spencer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. STEVE KING (R), IOWA: When you think about the optics of a Barack Obama potentially getting elected president of the United States, I mean, what does this look like to the rest of the world? What does it look like to the world of Islam?
I will tell you, if he is elected president, the radical Islamists, the al Qaeda and radial Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11, because they will declare victory on this war on terror. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: A spokesman for Obama issued this response: "These comments have no place in politics and we hope senator McCain will repudiate them like he has previous offensive comments from his supporters."
A spokesman for King says he stands by his remarks.
Now, in her battle for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton has been playing up her foreign policy experience, but how extensive is it?
CNN's Brian Todd investigates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Her campaign revived, Hillary Clinton hammers why she is best equipped to take on John McCain, what she says is real experience in real-world crisis that sets her apart from Barack Obama. He counters, the media is not held her feet to the fire on foreign policy.
OBAMA: But, was she negotiating treaties or agreements or was she handling crises during this period of time? My sense is the answer is no.
TODD: Here's what we found on Senator Clinton's specific claims.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, I helped to, you know, bring peace to Northern Ireland.
TODD: A Washington post blogger accused Senator Clinton in January of exaggerating her involvement in Northern Ireland. But, former Democratic Senate majority leader, George Mitchell, who was U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland, told us off camera, while Mrs. Clinton was not directly involved in negotiations, she did play a helpful role bringing in women's groups who made a difference.
Mitchell is a Democratic super delegate and has not publicly endorsed Clinton or Obama. Congressman Peter King, a Republican, who was also involved in the Northern Ireland peace process. He recalls one late night meeting with Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams.
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: There was discussion of how the IRA would decommission its weapons and I know that Senator Clinton was part of that meeting.
TODD: Another claim from Hillary Clinton.
CLINTON: I negotiated open borders to let fleeing refugees in from Kosovo.
TODD: In May, 1999, she was in Macedonia visiting refugee camps near the Kosovo border and meeting with Macedonia's president and prime minister. Sources with knowledge of her visit say she discussed the refugees' plight with those leaders. Not clear how much she helped since CNN reported at the time that Macedonia reopened its borders to Kosovo refugees before Mrs. Clinton's visit. Then, there is this statement about China.
CLINTON: I've been standing up against, you know, the Chinese government over women's rights and standing up for human rights in many different places.
TODD: During a 1995 visit to Beijing, Hillary Clinton made this speech at a time when her husband's administration was trying to press China on human rights.
CLINTON: No one should be forced to remain silent for fear of religious or political persecution, arrest, abuse, or torture.
TODD: One other thing to remember, a former National Security Council official in the Clinton administration tells us she did not attend NFC meetings, so while her experience is extensive, she rarely carried an official portfolio.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: All right, we got some live shots for you coming out of Biloxi, Mississippi down the gulf coast there where Bill Clinton is out getting ready to stump for his wife, who obviously is presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton. You see, they are getting ready, waiting for a Bill to show up, listening to some music, there. We'll keep our eyes out for that to see when former president Clinton shows up.
All right, should parents who home school be required to have professional teaching credentials? One court says, yes. What does our legal team have to say about that? Stay tuned.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice-over): A fast- food assistant on this week's "Modern Living."
Tired of waiting in long lines at the drive-through? Now, there is a new technology that's making fast food faster. Meet Hyperactive Bob, a computer system that uses rooftop cameras to monitor cars entering a restaurant's parking lot.
The system then take that information along with how much food is already prepared and issues cooking orders to the kitchen. It even sizes up the vehicle. An SUVs could mean more orders, while a standard car could mean less.
With this week's "Modern Living," I'm Gerri Willis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ELAM: All right, lots more happening this hour in the NEWSROOM. Let's go back to Biloxi, Mississippi where you can see former NFL player Keyshawn Johnson is introducing former president Bill Clinton there at this rally for obviously, Hillary Clinton, who's running for president down there. See the energy there.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, FMR. NFL PLAYER: ...make the call. And she has the experience ...
ELAM: All right, moving on to Texas and North Carolina, we want to talk to this man, his picture taken at an ATM machine in Chapel Hill. He's a suspect in the shooting death of Eve Carson, the student body president at the University of North Carolina.
President -- and moving from there, let's take a look also at President Bush explains why he vetoed legislation that would ban the CIA from using harsh interrogation methods, such as waterboarding. And Mr. Bush says the CIA's techniques have broken suspected terrorists and prevented attacks.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Democrats will continue working to "reverse the damage President Bush has caused" to the U.S. standing in the world.
And moving to Ohio, still emergencies and blizzard warnings in some areas where more than a foot of snow fell overnight. And here's the maybe bad news: there's more on the way.
Let's take a look at what Reynolds Wolf has here to tell us about the weather situation. It looks like a rough day in Ohio, unless you're plans are to stay in the house.
WOLF: You know, it does -- oh, I'm telling you. I mean, it's going to be a crazy day. You know what, the Department of Transportation in the state of Ohio is telling people, imploring people that if you don't have to go out and about today, perfect excuse to stay at home. Just take it easy, tomorrow's going to be a much better day for you. But today, what a mess.
And take a look at this system, by the way. I mean, all of this, you see from the rain to the sleet to the snow, it's all part of the same deal. And it is meaning so many things to millions of people. But in Ohio, it's a snow story and what a snow story it is.
Back in Cleveland, we're seeing the snowshowers. So many times, you have the snow in Cleveland that comes from the north to the south. All the prevailing winds going over this region, right by Cleveland, down through Parma and Maple Heights. Usually, it's a lake effect activity (ph). Not this time, this time, it's more of a southerly flow. You've got the moisture coming in. It's falling through the low levels in the atmosphere where it's freezing. And of course, that's where the snow is beginning to pile up. You got the same story in Columbus, though Columbus is getting a little bit of dry air beginning to move just to the south of the city. So, you may get some sunshine before long.
Farther to the southwest, Cincinnati. What a story for Cincinnati. You've had plenty of snow there. That is not going to let up any time soon. You'll notice some of the snow, or at least some of this appears to be a little bit brighter than other spots on the screen. Well, that own (ph) radar indicates heavier amounts of snow all but from 75 back to 74 and even south into parts of Kentucky.
Now, something else we want to share with you very quickly is another part of the story. There's the potential for some flooding in the northeast. We're taking you up towards Philadelphia and New York. Want you to keep an eye along right parts of I-95 where you have all these showers all moving from the south to the north. You'll notice many of these towns being affected over and over again, from Newing (ph) to Levington (ph) back to Edison. Could see some flash flooding, maybe even in Philadelphia before the day is out.
That's a wrap. That's a look at your forecast. Let's send it back to you, Stephanie.
ELAM: All right, thanks, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
ELAM: Turning to politics, there are two contests on the agenda today. One is the Republican caucus in Guam. The other is in Wyoming where right now, Democrats are holding their caucuses. Twelve delegates are up for grabs and you know, that may not seem like a lot. But in a race this close, every delegate counts. The Republican caucuses were held there two months ago.
And here's a quick review of nomination map for the Democrats, in case it's getting a little confusing for you. These numbers are subject to revision. Right now, a total of 4,047 delegates are expected at the Democratic convention in late August. 794 of them are superdelegates. Securing the nomination requires a simple majority of 2,024 delegates.
And the delegates already are mining Pennsylvania for 158 delegates. That primary is more than a month away. Still, our Jim Acosta, he is in Philadelphia now.
And Jim, I feel like I see you more like this than I do even though our offices are next door to each other. How are you holding up?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm holding up just fine, Stephanie.
And Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have circled April 22nd on their calendar as they know the primary here in the Keystone State could hold the keys to the nomination. And the battle will be waged from here in the city of brotherly love all the way out to the steel city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): Less than 12 hours after the ballots were counted in Ohio, Hillary Clinton's volunteers at this Pittsburgh union hall were already taking her blue-collar message from the Buckeye State to a steel city that's showing signs of rust.
COURTNEY PELLIGRINO, CLINTON CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I feel that people in Pennsylvania, like the people in Ohio, are looking for a hard worker, they're looking for a fighter, they're looking for someone who can really get results for the working people.
ACOSTA: Across town, Team Obama is also just getting warmed up.
MARK ELLERMEYER, OBAMA CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: What I don't get is the way Senator McCain and Senator Clinton criticize him. I'm glad to be inspired, I'm looking to be inspired.
ACOSTA: But there are still plenty of undecideds. Take Pittsburgh's 28-year-old Democratic mayor, Luke Ravenstahl. He wasn't old enough to vote for Clinton's husband in 1992 or 1996. But that doesn't mean he's just another young voter leaning toward Barack Obama.
MAYOR LUKE RAVENSTAHL (D), PITTSBURGH: While I am a young mayor and represent, certainly the youth of our city, I also represent the entire population. And I need to make sure that before I make a decision, my decision is based on what I think is going to be best for Pittsburgh.
ACOSTA: That could mean another race that turns on the economy, while three-quarters of the population is urban and could go Obama, a quarter of the workforce is blue collar, a number that may favor Clinton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pennsylvania on paper is a good state for Clinton. It's a lot like Ohio demographicly. Like in Ohio, she has the support of the very politically active governor, Ed Rendell. So, I think Obama's got his work cut out for him there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: And when it comes to gaining some delegate ground, Pennsylvania is a good bet for Hillary Clinton. There are 158 pledged delegates up for grabs here, making it actually a bigger prize than Ohio -- Stephanie.
ELAM: All right, Jim, thanks so much. Jim Acosta there in Philadelphia.
ACOSTA: You bet.
ELAM: Home-schoolers, be warned, a court ruling in California says parents need teaching credentials to home school in that state. Without the credentials, home-schooled kids in California could be considered truant.
This sounds like something for our legal guys. Let's bring in Avery Friedman. He's a civil rights attorney and law professor. And Richard Herman, he's a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor. Thanks so much for joining us, gentlemen.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Sure.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: How are you?
ELAM: All right, Avery, let's start with you. Does this ruling have national ramifications?
FRIEDMAN: I actually think it does, Stephanie. This is a powerful opinion in which an appeals court in California ruled that there's no constitutional right to home school. That's the first of its type. So, don't be surprised that we're going to see challenges like this around the country.
And you know what, if you think about it, Stephanie, it makes sense. If you're going to home school, for whatever reason, make sure that if that's going to be done, let's have some credentials. Let's have some standards, a common sense ruling but I think it's a controversial one, look for an appeal to the state's Supreme Court.
HERMAN: Hey, Stephanie.
ELAM: Yes?
HERMAN: Stephanie, there's a staggering 166,000 children being home schooled in the state of California alone. And all the legislature, all the courts are saying there is look, if you're going to home school, you should have a minimal of an educational program and a counseling program and then home school. That's all they're saying. This absolutely makes sense, Avery's right. And it's ridiculous to oppose this.
ELAM: OK, but Richard, who's going to oversee this? Because doesn't that cost more money than to put it in to make this plan work?
HERMAN: Hey, it doesn't work that way, Stephanie. If you have to oversee it, just because it costs money to oversee it, that's not grounds not to oversee it. You know, and I don't even understand this home school to begin with, I got to be honest with you.
FRIEDMAN: Well, but no, no, you've got to be respectful of people who say for religious reasons or other reasons, Richard, that you want to control education of your children. The fact is, though, that's fine conceptually if you have standards, if you have credentials.
ELAM: OK, but Avery, let me ask you this. Before we move on here, what about all the people that are already home schooling their kids, they've been doing it for years, does this mean now they may have to enroll their kids in normal schools? FRIEDMAN: Well, the California court held that it would be truancy if home schooling is not credentialed. What we don't know right now is that in 2008, this is the first opinion of its type and it may continue on around America. It;s a first.
HERMAN: And Stephanie, a violation, a violation. This is going to be a fine and a requirement that the parents get the basic educational requirement to do it.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: That's all the courts are going to do.
ELAM: All right, all right. Let's switch gears from education to a guy that maybe has learned a lesson.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
ELAM: An Illinois man is facing felony theft charges for snagging a winning $10,000 lottery ticket away from the office pool. Now, here's my question: aren't office pools a form of an oral contract? And if so, how much legal weight do they hold? Richard, what do you think?
HERMAN: Well Stephanie, just because it's an oral contract, it's absolutely enforceable. This guy stole it. He was charged with felony theft. He did not spend the $10,000, fortunate for him. His lawyer's going to go in. They're going to make a deal. He's going to turn over the money as part of the restitution and everybody is going to go their own way on this one.
But you know, it's outrageous what he did. It's unethical, it's illegal ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: ...it's immoral and this guy, you know, money corrupts. And that's what happened here.
ELAM: I don't think anyone's going to argue whether or not it's dirty, what happened here. But Avery, here's the thing. $10,000, he hasn't spent it yet, is it possible that the other people, I think there's at least six that we know are in this office pool ...
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
ELAM: ...can they try to sue to get more out of him for his deceit?
FRIEDMAN: Yes, they sure can. He is in a lotto trouble because what's going to happen here, in addition to the criminal aspect of this, which Richard has talked about and he's correct, there are potential civil claims. Ironically, the judge set a bond of $100,000, which meant that he had to take the $10,000, Stephanie, and post it to get out of jail.
ELAM: Wah, wah, wah, wah (ph). Not too smart, not too smart.
All right, the last story we want to talk about right now, there was a mother who was caught on closed circuit TV, power washing her two-and-a-half-year-old at a car wash in Florida. Take a look at this video here. Well, she has been arrested and charged with child abuse, that's the latest. Richard, tell me, how likely is it that this woman will see jail time?
HERMAN: Oh, I don't think she's going to see jail. But she's going to have a major problem here. They may take her kids away from her. They're going to put her in -- they're going to press her. I mean, child endangerment in the state of Florida is broadly defined. You know, you can't do this. You can't take a hose ...
FRIEDMAN: I know.
HERMAN: ...a power hose and spray down a kid like that.
FRIEDMAN: I know.
HERMAN: I mean, I don't know, but it's ridiculous. The court's got to step in.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
HERMAN: This woman's obviously out of control, Stephanie.
FRIEDMAN: Yes.
ELAM: Yes, you know, the interesting thing to me was the fact that they actually -- that she called in supposedly, she called in and said, yes, that was me on the video.
FRIEDMAN: After she was on television, Stephanie.
ELAM: Right, right, so ...
FRIEDMAN: After she was on -- let me tell you something. I'm not sure I agree with that. I think she's looking at jail time. This is outrageous, objectively horrifying to see. And she did it because the two-and-a-half-year-old wasn't showing her enough respect. Oh my God. She might lose that child, she may be looking at jail time.
HERMAN: And Steph, they took her to the doctors and they found no bruises, they found no physical injuries at all on the child.
FRIEDMAN: Mental injuries, mental injuries.
ELAM: Yes, well, obviously, it's one of those stories that gets everyone up in arms.
FRIEDMAN: You bet.
ELAM: But I want to thank you both for joining us as our civil rights attorney and law professor, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman, a criminal defense attorney and law professor. Thanks, gentlemen. FRIEDMAN: Nice to see you.
HERMAN: Thanks, take care.
ELAM: The terror of gang violence in L.A. tears a family apart.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He told me they shot him. He was three doors down. I'm like, no, no, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELAM: The sudden death of Jamiel Shaw straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARK ORWOLL, MANAGING EDITOR, T+L MAGAZINE: The Olympics are coming and Beijing is getting busy. Thousands of people from around the world are expected to visit the city and the Chinese are trying to put their best face forward. Ritzy new hotels are rushing to finish construction in time. Major highways are getting a facelift. And Beijing residents are even being discouraged from spitting in public.
The Chinese are also putting final touches on one of the world's largest airport expansions. A feng-shui expert helped design a state- of-the-art arrivals area, featuring natural light and ventilation. More than 100 gates were added to accommodate a growth in passengers beyond the Olympics, from the current 27 million a year to nearly 60 million by 2015.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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ELAM: All right, well, you know CNN is your place for politics. And as you can see here, the caucus is going on in Wyoming. We actually -- as now, put up our banner there where you can see the results coming in. Seventeen of the reported caucuses coming in -- 17 percent of the reported caucuses in Wyoming coming in and now up to 22.
So, you can see exactly what's going on there. Obviously, a lot more to count. But we'll be keeping our eyes on it. You can always tune in. We'll follow it throughout the afternoon to see how the Wyoming caucuses are turning out.
All right, switching gears here. The recent rash of gang violence in L.A. has hit one family especially hard. That of Jamiel Shaw, Jr. He had made a pact with his dad, promising to work hard for the first 18 years of his life to achieve his dreams and go to college. Jamiel never made it to his 18th birthday.
CNN's Kara Finnstrom talked to his heart-broken parents. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANITA SHAW (ph), JAMIEL'S MOTHER: He was a Christian. And I thank God for that, because I know he's in a better place for -- but ...
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anita Shaw says her 17-year-old son Jamiel wanted to please everyone.
A. SHAW: He'd just try all the time to do the right thing. He was so good.
FINNSTROM: Jamiel is one of several innocent victims in a horrifying two-week string of gang-related shootings around Los Angeles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think what's particularly unnerving for all of us is just the random nature of these shootings.
FINNSTROM: Police say Jamiel was an innocent victim. Two Latino gang members had approached him and asked him what gang he was in. Shaw was not in a gang. When he didn't answer, they shot and killed him.
JAMIEL SHAW, FATHER: I just can't understand, you know.
FINNSTROM: Jamiel was only a few doors from home. Jamiel Sr. heard the shots, ran outside. He knew it was his son lying on the ground.
J. SHAW: I guaranteed you, that's why it hurts so much.
FINNSTROM: They had a plan. Keep focused, stay away from drugs and gangs and we'll get into college. Now, everything's shattered.
J. SHAW: I told him. I promise you, if you sacrifice these 18 years, man, I will sacrifice with you. I guarantee you. It's not going to happen, and you know, it's so -- I can't even -- I don't understand. I just can't understand.
FINNSTROM: Part of that sacrifice from Jamiel's mother. While Jamiel Sr. served the family at home, she served her country in Iraq. She was there last Thanksgiving and sent a greeting to her sons on CNN.
A. SHAW: I would like to give a shoutout to my sons, Jamiel.
FINNSTROM: And she was there this week when her commanding officer called her in and told her Jamiel had been shot. Anita called home.
A. SHAW: He told me they shot him. He was three doors down. I'm like, no, no, no! I don't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I thought if I didn't talk about it, it wouldn't be true.
FINNSTROM: No one could believe it was true. Jamiel was a star running back and sprinter for Los Angeles High School. Colleges were showing interest, including Stanford.
J. SHAW: (INAUDIBLE), man, we're going to have to get more room for these trophies, you know, because he only in 11th grade. I mean, you're going to have a lot more, college trophies.
FINNSTROM: Now, the dream is over. The Shaws are angry.
J. SHAW: It's just, it's a gang problem. And they have no -- nothing in their heart for people.
A. SHAW: Isn't that what gangs are then? If they won't let you have your own freedom, then to me, they're terrorists.
FINNSTROM: And the Shaws are scared. They have another son to raise, nine-year-old Thomas. Thomas, an athlete too, has always wanted to be just like his big brother.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FINNSTROM: And the Shaws are preparing to lay their son to rest on Tuesday. They say this was a very difficult thing to do, to sit down and speak with us. But they wanted to do it for two reasons, one, they wanted the country to know who Jamiel was. And second, Stephanie, they are hoping to spur leads because right now, police are telling us they still have no official suspects in this case.
ELAM: It's just so tragic to see parents who are doing everything to raise their children right. And it makes you wonder here, Kara. The neighborhood they were living in, was it plagued with a lot of gang violence?
FINNSTROM: You know, this was another thing that's really frustrating for the Shaws. There was some gang activity in their neighborhood, but this was by no means one of the hot zones in Los Angeles for gang violence. So, they felt that they were safe where they were. And now, they're having to question that. They say they're thinking about moving. They just don't know what they're going to do next.
ELAM: All right, Kara Finnstrom, thanks so much for giving us this story.
And just so we can give you some background here, a public viewing for Jamiel is being held in Los Angeles today. Earlier this week, about 200 friends and family members attended a candlelight vigil where Jamiel's father again appealed for an end to gang violence.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: Hi, folks. I'm Reynolds Wolf.
This is a look at today's Cold and Flu Season Report. And on this map behind me, you see the United States, but you also notice many of these states are shaded in red. And any place where you happen to see red indicates that we've got widespread cases of the cold and the flu. Not good news.
However, we do see three states that are shaded in blue, and those states would be Massachusetts, Mississippi and New Mexico where we have only regional cases to report.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: All right, a gentle reminder to everyone out there, especially those of you who may have to get up to get to work tomorrow. Don't forget to reset your clocks one hour ahead before you got bed because starting tomorrow, it's back to Daylight Savings Time. This weekend is also a good time to remember to replace the batteries in your home smoke detectors.
All right, on your mark, get set, strut. Runners make a mad dash for high stakes in high heels. Whoo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ELAM: All right, if shopping is a sport, then this foot race in Amsterdam must be the Olympics. The catch is you have to run the 350 meter race in stiletto heels. That sounds painful. But of course, some say it only hurts for the losers. The winner walks or maybe limps or crawls away with $15,000.
A look at our top stories in just a moment. "YOUR MONEY" is next. Here's a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALI VELSHI, CNN HOST: Thanks. Coming up on "YOUR MONEY," slashing jobs, how the biggest payroll cut in nearly five years affects you whether or not you're employed.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: Also ahead, golden opportunities. The price of gold up near record highs. We'll tell you if it's too late to get in the game yourself.
VELSHI: And smart investments in tough times on Wall Street.
ROMANS: All that and a lot more after a quick check of the headlines.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: I'm Stephanie Elam at the CNN Center.
Stories now in the news, Ohio battling a blizzard today. More than a foot of snow has fallen in places. Dozens of flights into and out of Ohio's airports are running late or as you might expect, not at all. Continental canceled 50 flights at its Cleveland hub. Delta, about 60 out of Cincinnati.
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