Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Myanmar Cyclone; Tragedy at Kentucky Derby; Austria Incest Case; Examining Arkansas Tornado Damage
Aired May 04, 2008 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Up next, in the CNN NEWSROOM, a powerful cyclone slamming into Myanmar, leaving hundreds dead and widespread destruction in its way.
Plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to say one thing, he was such a tyrant. When he said it was black, it was black. When it was 10 times white it was black for him. He tolerated no dissent.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: New information about the father accused of locking his daughter in a basement and subjecting her to sexual abuse for more than two decades.
Also, a near triumph ends in tragedy for a horse full of heart and determination at the Kentucky Derby.
Hello I'm Rob Marciano, we begin with a killer cyclone unleashed in Myanmar. State meter reports at least 350 people have been killed. That figure is expected to rise as rescuers reach villages wiped out in the storm. The cyclone slammed Myanmar yesterday. Our Dan Rivers has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Furious winds lashed the capital of Myanmar, formerly Burma, as cyclones crippled the city, tearing off roofs from hundreds of flimsily built houses. Flooding is widespread with cars stopped in swirling brown waters. Much of the city has been paralyzed by fallen trees. People are doing their best to clear apart from the debris. The brave are venturing out into the city that is now cut off from the outside world.
The Democratic Voice of Burma, a broadcast opposition group, says it fears hundreds of people have died, guessing a true idea of the scale of destruction is difficult with so many roads blocked, electricity and phone lines down in many areas. The state run media announced that the military government has declared a state of emergency in five regions in the south of the country. Their official death toll has already surpassed 200.
The capital's main airport has been closed since the cyclone hit hampering efforts to get emergency supplies in. There are already reports of rising fuel prices and food shortages. The disaster comes just a week before the country is due to vote on a controversial referendum on a new constitution which has been organized by the military junta. It's not clear if that vote will still take place or if the scale of the destruction will force it to be postponed.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Bangkok.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Also in Asia, a deadly wave crashed over a break water near a beach on South Korea's west coast today. Seven tourists are confirmed dead, another 15 are missing. They are swept away by a sudden wave said to have been about 16 feet high. South Korea's news agency reports fishing boats rescued 29 other tourists and anglers. Several of them are in critical condition.
Reports just coming in now from Brazil. Officials say a boat with 110 people onboard sank today in the Brazilian Amazon. At least 12 people are dead and dozens are missing. The boat was carrying passengers from a party near the jungle city of Manaus.
No rest today for survivors of the twisters that hit Arkansas this past week. At least 25 tornados are blamed for the destruction that hit late Thursday and early Friday. Seven people died. Hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed. CNN's Sean Callebs is in the hard hit town of Damascus.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You are looking at what was going to be the new sanctuary for the Southside Baptist Church, part of Damascus, Arkansas, since 1911. But look what the tornadoes did. The inside of the destruction steel simply twisted. This was actually a building that was under construction. The tornado came rolling through first thing in the morning. There were actually seven workers in here at the time doing some sheetrock work. Doing some finishing touches on the structure here. Joining us now Pastor Steve Stephens. You've been here now going on six years. You were actually right next door in the parsonage. Tell me what happened, where you were and how frightening those moments must have been.
REV. STEVE STEPHENS, SOUTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH: Well, about 8:30 or so my pager went off and basically said there was a tornado south of Damascus. I knew that we had workers over here so I came over to warn them to take cover. To make a long story short we hadn't much more got into the cover in the side room when the tornado hit.
CALLEBS: Tell me about those frightening seconds, because it didn't last long.
STEPHENS: It didn't last long. It was about 10 seconds and the noise was just unbelievable. The roof ripping off, the beams coming down. It literally shook the foundation of the church. We thought, or I thought it was going to come in on top of us but it didn't.
CALLEBS: Now tell me about this area here, because basically you were right even with some of the worst damage.
STEPHENS: Yes.
CALLEBS: What it sounded like was the roof came off, there was the structure of steel twisted and came down. You must have thought that could have been the end.
STEPHENS: I thought it was the end. It sounded like bombs were going off in here as it was the (INAUDIBLE) and the bolts breaking and bending. Yes, I did.
CALLEBS: You are very lucky.
STEPHENS: Very fortunate.
CALLEBS: Something else at work on that day?
STEPHENS: I think so. I think today was still in store for that day. I needed to be around a little bit longer.
CALLEBS: Pastor thank you very much. The minister tells me that from here the leadership of the church is going to meet later on today and try and figure out exactly what to do. But the real sad news, all the work that has gone in to work on this, is going to have to come down. They are going to have to bring down this structure and the old church from the '70s, and basically start over. But as the minister says, this is a community that is battered but not beaten. Sean Callebs, CNN, in Damascus, Arkansas.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: From one tornado ravished town to another, President Bush will be handing out diplomas and dishing out praise in Greensburg, Kansas this afternoon. The town is undergoing a remarkable rebirth after being flattened by a tornado one year ago. CNN's Ed Henry joins us live from Greensburg this afternoon as the president made his way there last year after the storm. Obviously a bad time then, today a slightly more celebratory tone, I assume.
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT; Absolutely Rob, a time of hope for this community, today is actually the one year anniversary of that devastating tornado, a category five. It almost literally wiped this small town off the map. Some estimates about 95 percent of the town devastated. City hall wiped out, the fire department wiped out, the high school here wiped out. This is the first time ever that this president has delivered a commencement address at a high school. Normally only would do colleges and universities but this is obviously a very special community. Only 18 students in the graduating class and Mr. Bush, his aides say really feels a closeness to this community because he did visit as you mentioned, just a few days after this devastating storm last year. He wants to show and highlight that there has been progress. But there is still a long way to go. I can tell you just driving in here. There are still whole areas wiped out. Local people pointing out where the movie theater was, where the flower shop was. Still not built. Some homes are coming back. These students have been through a lot. Basically they have been having classes in makeshift trailers. The sports teams only having road games, not able to have home games here. And then of course trying to rebuild their own homes, their friends' homes, when they come home from school. The president's message is going to be about hope, about coming back and saying that they've learned a very valuable lesson of life. Rob?
MARCIANO: Last year right after the tornado the officials in that town said we have got to get this school open. If the school opens the kids stay and the parents stay and that's the first step to rebuilding this town. So this graduation certainly a big deal, but I'm hearing, Ed, that they actually changed the date of the graduation. Was that to coincide with the anniversary or something else?
HENRY: No, it was actually supposed to be next weekend, you're absolutely right. And there's another big thing going on next weekend. Of course the president's daughter, Jenna, is being married at the Texas ranch. Mr. Bush wanted to come deliver this commencement. And obviously it will be a lot more difficult to rearrange a wedding. So this community very graciously said look, we'll move it up to the anniversary of the storm so that the president can be here for the commencement, so everyone in the end will be happy Rob.
MARCIANO: And the kids get one week less of school as they graduate.
HENRY: That's not a bad deal.
MARCIANO: All right, Ed Henry, thank you very much, up in Greensburg, Kansas live today.
I was in Greensburg last week. Later this hour I'm going to show you how the people there have turned disaster into a green opportunity and inspired a documentary for Discovery's planet green channel. We'll talk with one of the producers in the next half-hour.
A small pipe bomb explosion damaged the federal courthouse in San Diego early this morning. We get the latest from reporter Georgette Copes of affiliate KUSI.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGETTE COPES, KUSI REPORTER: At this hour the FBI is investigating an explosion at the federal courthouse in downtown San Diego. It happened just after 1:30 this morning. You can see the police tape around the courthouse, secure at this hour. The metro arson strike team responded to the call this morning and immediately figured out this was definitely an explosion. That's when the FBI stepped in. The explosive device caused damage to the front entrance and lobby of the courthouse. After securing the area, the FBI's evidence response team took over. Special agent Keith Slotter now with the FBI. Sir, take us back to just after 1:30 this morning when you first got the call.
KEITH SLOTTER, FBI: It was about 1:40. We were notified within five minutes or so of the explosive device going off. At about 1:40 a.m. a device we believe to be a pipe bomb or a series of pipe bombs exploded right at the base of the front entrance to the courthouse and it caused some damage to the front. There was some collateral damage as the debris and some of the shrapnel spread throughout this area. The first thing we did after we arrived along with a lot of other agencies, was secure the area, make sure there wasn't a secondary device, make sure everything was safe. And once the area was declared safe then our evidence response team went in, those are the folks who you see here now, they're going through the evidence and trying to compile as much physical evidence as they can in the first stage of the investigation.
COPES: At this point investigators tell us there is no indication of terrorist activity and if anyone out there has information on what happened here overnight please contact your local authorities as soon as possible. Reporting for CNN, Georgette Copes, back to you.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: In the tight democratic race for president Barack Obama ekes out another win by a mere seven votes. That's the margin of victory for Obama in caucuses held yesterday in the U.S. territory of Guam out in the pacific. Here's a breakdown, Obama 2,264 votes to Hillary Clinton's 2,257. Obama and Clinton each get two of Guam's four pledged delegates.
The two candidates now making their final push for votes with just two days to go before the crucial primaries in North Carolina and Indiana. Both Clinton and Obama are in Indiana today and so is our Suzanne Malveaux, joining us from an Obama event in Fort Wayne. Suzanne, hi there, what's going on in the Hoosier state, some big doing?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely Rob. I mean obviously we saw a very tight race in Guam. It's expected to be a tight race here in Indiana, perhaps not as close, but it is indicative of just how important this state is. Both of the candidates today, Indianapolis, here in Ft. Wayne, back to Indianapolis, trying to get as many votes as possible. Obama will be here a little bit later today. They are kind of having this informal picnic setting. You can see the tables behind me, they're serving hot dogs, potato chips, that type of thing. Both of these candidates are talking about something that really matters to voters, that is gas prices. Obviously very expensive to fill your tank. So both of them have these dueling proposals, ways they believe they're going to fix it. Now Senator Clinton is putting forward a plan to suspend the federal gas tax, that's the 18 cents per gallon that you spend when you pay for gas. She says she's going to make up for that revenue, about $10 billion or so by charging the oil companies profits. She believes that this is going to give temporary relief to those working class families, middle class families who desperately need it. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So we need short-term relief and we need long-term planning and I offer both in this campaign. And you've seen my opponent is running ads and holding press conferences and attacking me because I have a plan to try to get the oil companies to pay the gas tax this summer instead of you paying it and to give you a little bit of relief from what's going on in these gas prices.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now Rob, it is a back-and-forth that we haven't seen before. We've heard about health care plans, education, things like this. But this is really resonating with voters here so they are paying very close attention to this issue. Barack Obama has attacked her essentially saying it is a gimmick, it's a short-term quick fix if you will. He says first of all it's not going to save people all that much money, perhaps when it's all said and done by the end of the summer some 30 bucks or so. He also says the oil companies could raise the price of gasoline anyway and he says they're going to lose that revenue that is really necessary to fix the roads, the bridges and those type of things. So he says this is really all about politics to try to get those working class voters. Here's how he's responding.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She can't even get some of her own supporters to speak out so there is no economist or expert out there who's saying it's a good idea. So the other day she had as a surrogate, one of her supporters who is, guess what, a lobbyist for Shell Oil saying what a good idea this was. Well that's just a Shell game.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Rob, really what underscores the importance of this issue is the fact that all three candidates are trying to use this to frame the other person, to define the other candidate. For instance you have Senator Clinton who is using this to portray Barack Obama as being out of touch with the working class people, the people that he really needs the support and voters of here in Indiana and North Carolina. Barack Obama is throwing it back saying that this is a comparison with Senator Clinton and McCain. That these two are somehow similar type of candidates. They are using a kind of business as Washington model. And then Senator McCain also using this as kind of painting Obama as a flip-flopper. So clearly all of them believe that there is some advantage here to defining their other candidates on this hot topic issue. Also feeling like they have got to make inroads to those working class, middle class families who are paying very close attention to this issue. Rob?
MARCIANO: Suzanne, big state you know, the corn belt there is a lot of space to cover. You want to get from "a" to "b." People drive a lot there. So unofficially from the people that you're talking to on the ground, which way are they leaning? Do they just want that free tank of gas for the summer or do they think it's a political ploy?
MALVEAUX: You know it really depends on who you talk to. Obviously there are folks who are looking at this plan. They look at it carefully and they say you know what, I could use that $30 bucks for the summer. That makes a difference here. And that they've got those kind of long commutes. That they need that money and they're looking for temporary relief. There are others who are looking at this and they're saying, well wait a minute, that doesn't really seem to make sense in terms of a long-term fix. So there are a lot of people who are kind of mulling over the details here. They are divided on this. Obviously, we're going to see how that translates in the polls.
MARCIANO: Suzanne Malveaux, live for us from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thanks Suzanne.
And you can catch much more from the candidates unfiltered later today on CNN'S "BALLOT BOWL" beginning at 4:00 eastern. Then again tonight at 8:00 eastern.
And of course CNN will bring you all the results from the Indiana and North Carolina primaries as they happen. A live election center special with the best political team on television kicks off Tuesday night at 7:00 eastern.
The supreme court's recent ruling upholding lethal injections induces several states to prepare for executions.
Plus, new disturbing information about the father accused of locking his daughter in a basement for more than two decades.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: One suspect charged with murder. Another suspect is being sought after a cop killing in Philadelphia. Sergeant Steven Lizvinsky(ph) was gunned down while responding to a report of a robbery at a grocery store. Police confronted three suspects a short distance away and killed one of them. Police have recovered this high-powered assault rifle. The hunt goes on for the third suspect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL BLACKBURN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER: Throughout the night members of the homicide unit along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were able to establish sufficient probable cause to link the third individual, Eric DeShawn Floyd, 33 years old, black male, last known address 626 West (INAUDIBLE) Street. There is an active arrest warrant for this individual.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: There is his picture. Police say Eric Floyd should be considered armed and dangerous.
A pregnant bank teller shot in the abdomen during a holdup is speaking out for the first time since she was wounded almost two weeks ago. Katherin Shuffield says the masked gunman jumped over her teller station and shot her once just after the Huntington Bank branch opened for the day. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHERIN SHUFFIELD, BANK TELLER: That's when he jumped through my teller window and as soon as he jumped he shot me and it was like in a slow motion going to the floor. I didn't realize that he shot me until I touched my leg and I saw there was a little blood. And then I said well, please help me. He shot me. He shot me and my baby. And he wouldn't let anybody do anything because he was more worried about taking the money.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Two days after the shooting Shuffield lost her twin girls. She remains hospitalized with an infection left by the bullet. The gunman has not been captured.
Well it didn't take long, less than a month after the supreme court upheld lethal injections several states have scheduled executions. The first ones could take place this week. CNN's justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If the state of Mississippi gets its way Earl Berry will be put to death by lethal injection this week. Barry is on death row for the murder of Mary Bounds in 1987 as she was leaving church.
JAMES HOOD, MISSISSIPPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL: He confessed to having done this. His intent was to rape her and he stomped her to death.
ARENA: William Lind in Georgia is also scheduled to die this week. He was convicted of killing his girlfriend as she lay incapacitated in the trunk of his car.
TOMMY FLOYD, PROSECUTION ATTORNEYS COUNCIL OF GEORGIA: There comes a time when enough is enough. If we are going to have a death penalty in this country and in this state it ought to be carried out in an expeditious manner.
ARENA: Last month the supreme court ruled that lethal injection is constitutional. At least eight states immediately scheduled executions, believing they got a green light to proceed. But the justices examined the way that executions are carried out only in Kentucky and death penalty opponents say not every state operates the same way. James Craig is the attorney for Earl Berry.
JAMES CRAIG, ATTORNEY FOR EARL BERRY: If they get it wrong then he will not be (INAUDIBLE), he will not be unconscious and he will be suffocated to death which is not the kind of execution that the American public will stand for.
ARENA: Craig says Mississippi uses a lower dosage of drugs than Kentucky and is appealing. But the state has no intention of changing anything. HOOD: There have been no signs, no proof, nothing whatsoever that would support the conclusion that three grams would put somebody under even deeper than would two.
ARENA: A separate challenge to Georgia's lethal injection procedures has also been filed.
LAURA MOYE, GEORGIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO DEATH PENALTY: I do think our public officials are rushing. I do think that they are trying to send a message that they are somehow tough on crime. But I think they are acting irresponsibly.
ARENA: It's unclear whether the supreme court would accept another lethal injection challenge but opponents won't stop there.
(On camera): Just last week one more death row inmate was exonerated, this time in North Carolina. Proof opponents say of a system that is fundamentally flawed. Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Nobody knew Josef Fritzl was holding his daughter captive, apparently not even Fritzl's wife Rosemarie. Austria has been shocked by revelations of what happened in the basement of Fritzl's home. Fritzl has confessed to holding his daughter Elisabeth captive in a basement dungeon for 24 years and raping her repeatedly. A woman who identifies herself as Rosemarie, Fritzl's sister says, Fritzl told his wife the girl was in a cult and she was afraid to ask any questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE R., ROSEMARIE FRITZL'S SISTER: I'm going to say one thing, he was such a tyrant. When he said it was black, it was black. When it was 10 times white it was black for him. He tolerated no dissent. Listen, if I was scared myself, I was scared of him at a family party and I didn't feel confident to say anything in any form that could possibly offend him. Then you can imagine how it was for a woman who spent so many years with him. We don't know what he would have done to her.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: A family acquaintance agrees Fritzl's wife knew nothing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA S., ACQUAINTANCE OF FRITZL FAMILY: If she knew anything about it she definitely would have tried to free her daughter. That's my opinion. Because she loved her children. One can see that in the way she educates her grandchildren. She does everything for her children. So I'm absolutely convinced that she didn't know a thing about all that.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP) MARCIANO: So far Fritzl has not been formally charged.
That powerful storm system that ripped through Arkansas has run its course but another system is brewing. Weather forecast is next. Plus, take a look at this poignant image of a racehorse injured on the track at the Kentucky Derby. We'll tell you what happened to this gallant Philly named (INAUDIBLE). Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: A big show for the Olympic flame as it arrives in the Chinese seaside resort of (INAUDIBLE). The goal now that the torch is in China. Snuff out the memories of protests that greeted the flame elsewhere around the world. On the celebrity front Chinese kung fu artist Jackie Chan helped deliver the torch. The torch will now wind it's way all over China before arriving in Beijing August 8th.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: All right, you've got to enjoy the good stuff I guess when you get it this time of year. All right, Jacqui Jeras, thanks very much.
Well his horse finished second in the Kentucky Derby and then tragedy struck.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have put everything into him that we have and they have given us everything they have. They put their life on the damn line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Filly falls and many questions arise. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: The run for the roses at the Kentucky Derby is usually an event where extraordinary racehorses cause many of us to shake our heads in amazement of their grace and their speed. Well yesterday was all that, but also a day that left many of us heartbroken. If you caught the finish of the race yesterday, you saw Big Brown living up to its trainer's claim and winning the derby. But the cheers from the wind were cut short when off camera, the second place horse collapsed. In this "A.P" photo, you can see both legs of the runner-up Eight Belles' collapse, both ankles broken. Within minutes, she was euthanized by injection on the track. Her trainer describes what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY JONES, EIGHT BELLES' TRAINER: She hit the wire running. This mare was not in any kind of distress at all. As she got off the turn, I saw her ears were up, she was watching Big Brown and following him around and so we left. We got ready to come down. Should be done quick, down saddle and we were kind of high fiving. I thought we had deja vu of last year and it was real remarkable.
And we left the barn, we said no matter where we finish because we know we are taking on a big task this afternoon, but everybody remember, if we come back, if we run fourth, fifth, sixth or whatever, we have had a great weekend after Proud Spell yesterday.
As long as we come back to the barn good and then when she ran second we were ecstatic. I thought, here is another second. We were thinking to win the oaks and run second in the derby with two fillies that we just had a remarkable weekend. And we was having trouble getting through the crowd to get to the track. A lot of the horses were already unsaddled and going back when we finally got on to the track.
I saw Kent coming back. And he really -- you could tell that it is not like he had just won the Kentucky Derby. He was a little bit solemn. And that's when we first heard that a horse had broke down. I figured it was one that had maybe run poorly. I looked up and somebody said that is your jock on that horse. And he was riding back with Donna Brothers. And still, I didn't know what had happened.
When I got to him, I asked him what's up. And he told me Mr. Larry, they put her down. And I thought, man, how do you put a horse down like this? I mean, we are used to trying to save them. So that's when I took off running and I caught the ambulance and rode and needless to say wherever I did see her, it was, you know, it had to be done.
She had no way of being saved. It is a quarter mile after the race. They don't happen there. It is just one of them things. It is unexplainable right now. I know somewhere, some time we are going to, you know, there's a reason things happen.
We have the faith in knowing that things happen for a reason. I see no reason for this, but it's just -- it's -- something has happened.
But she ran the race of her life. She put it out there. She -- and like I said, if she has been under stress finishing the race and was losing ground, it looked like she was in distress I would have second guessed myself severely and kicked myself in the pants all the way. But this filly hit the ground running. At the wire she was galloping out well.
It is nothing that could have been foreseen. It's just very unfortunate. But as a trainer going in, looking in, we knew she was going into the race the best she had ever gone into any race. She ran the race of her life. Showed she was the best, she was so calm in the paddock. She had so much confidence. She wasn't worried about anything. We convinced her that half the people here was to see her. We knew the women came to see her. She looked like she was eating it up. She went out in glory. She went out as a champion to us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: That's tough. A beautiful animal. Eight Belles generated a lot of excitement because she was the first filly to run the derby since 1999. But her break down sadly reminds fans of Barbaro's horrific injury two years ago in the Preakness.
Well, it's a city that was nearly wiped off the map just a year ago. Take a look at these incredible images of the damage in Greensburg, Kansas. I was there last year when these pictures were taken. I was also there last week. The remarkable transformation is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Off the menu. More than a quarter million pounds of beef and chicken recalled. It might be contaminated with listeria bacteria. The meat products are sold under the name Gourmet Boutique. The company is also recalling some pre-made chicken salads and some wraps and burritos sold by Jans and Archer Farms.
Well it was one year ago today, a monster twister killed 11 people in Greensburg, Kansas, 95 percent of the town destroyed. I was there last year when it seemed there was little hope for the future. I went back last week and saw a remarkable recovery. It was impressive, I'll tell you that. But just how the town is rebuilding may impress you even more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO (voice-over): A massive tornado, almost two miles wide tears through a tiny town. Almost nothing is left.
One year later, residents understand that how they rebuild will determine the town's future. And Greensburg is, well, going green. Windmills are popping up like the winter wheat and even conservative farmers are getting on board.
DANIEL WALLACH, DIRECTOR, GREENSBURG GREENTOWN: All you have to say to them is if you could save $200 a month on your utility bill by harnessing this wind, what do you think?
MARCIANO: Here green has no political party.
MIKE ESTES, BTI GREENSBURG: I don't think it's red or blue to be green. I think green is green, and green makes sense, and it also saves you green, you know. That's the other thing.
MARCIANO: For the Estes, the fourth generation family business is a John Deere dealership and the tornado hit them especially hard.
ESTES: Steel twisted inside the brick and the miles per hour that it had to have to pick combines up that weigh 20,000 pounds plus and that equipment that headed right into harvest, gone.
MARCIANO: Rebuilding the new John Deere site is just getting started, and you got it, it's going to be green.
ESTES: Below us is hydronic in-floor heating. We put hydronic heating in here so that the heat will be radiant from the base of the floor up.
MARCIANO: Is that more efficient than your other -
ESTES: Much, much more efficient. When we drain the oil out of our machines it's going to go into a tank. That tank will then house the oil that's going to be burned that will heat the water in this floor.
At present, that particular windmill is powering this job site, which to our --
MARCIANO: And when it's completed more than half of the dealership's electricity will come from the wind.
ESTES: My granddad would -- trust me, he liked to save energy, and he was an environmentally conscious person as was my dad. Farmers are environmentalists.
MARCIANO: And farmers here hope to turn their town's tragedy into an environmental triumph.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Inspirational, that's how the makers of "Planet Green" see it. Greensburg is showcased on the Discovery Network's channel. Let's look at a short preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now I found out it doesn't have to be trees and shrubs, it can be your roofs. It can be your windows. It can be your heating unit. It can be an angle you put your house on a lot. And the ideas that I've heard here this evening are just wonderful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Timothy Kuryak is one of the executive producers on the project. He joins us live by phone from Greensburg, Kansas. Good afternoon, Timothy, how is it going out there?
TIMOTHY KURYAK, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, GREEN PLANET (on phone): It is going pretty well. It's pretty exciting. You know, we are getting ready for the president's arrival. He is speaking at the graduation. So the town is really in a state of excitement here.
MARCIANO: Well, it has been quite a year for you, I'm sure. You and your Discovery crew have been following the progress of this town. Take us back to when you first started shooting. There must have been a part of you that thought where in the world do they even begin?
KURYAK: The town was - when we first came to town, it was absolutely devastated. And our crew has been here since July of last year. And I think what is most impressive is just the courage and determination of this town to sort of come back and come back green. It has really been inspirational to all of us.
MARCIANO: The green angle is just phenomenal. Tell me about the transformation. I know that there probably were some people that were against the added cost, the added headaches, the added paperwork to build this town green. What kind of stories do you have of people who said no way and now are tree huggers or revamped tree huggers?
KURYAK: Well I think they realized that as lot of small towns in rural America are these days, there is not a lot of opportunity for the people that are growing up in these towns. Even here, once people graduated from high school there was very little opportunity in the town. And so if they didn't rebuild and rebuild in sort of a new way with a new vision, this town could have easily died out. By taking on this initiative to go green, they are really establishing this town for the next 100 years or 200 years so it can become a place that, you know, generations can live and work.
MARCIANO: Tell us about your documentary that is going to be airing. It is "Planet Green," that's the name of the channel that is owned by Discovery Network, correct?
KURYAK: It is owned by Discovery Network and it launches June 4th.
MARCIANO: Thirteen-part documentary and it is solely on Greensburg?
KURYAK: Yes, it's about the town's initiative to go green and the individual stories of the people that live here. You know, you have everything from great triumph to tragedy to, you know, inspirational emotional stories. It really has all those elements of a fantastic documentary.
MARCIANO: So am I wrong in assuming it will be a blend of town characters and also just the physical rebuilding? The massive task that is underway?
KURYAK: Exactly. It chronicles all of that. There are obviously struggles in trying to rebuild a town green. This series will show you that, you know, these people could have easily rebuilt quickly, easily modular homes, doing what they normally had done. But they really are taking the time to educate themselves about the green movement and make sure that they rebuild this town right so it does have a place in Kansas for the next generation.
MARCIANO: Any one or two stories you came across this past year that kind of stand out in your mind?
KURYAK: There's so many. There's one woman, Marilyn Brown (ph), her family unfortunately was taken in by sort of a swindler who promised to rebuild her home and basically left her high and dry. In the midst of this tragedy with her home being destroyed, she then followed up on that with getting swindled by this unscrupulous contractor. But what is really inspiring is again, the town and volunteers from across Kansas came in to help her. So it is really inspirational. If you go down to her storm cellar she has built now, she has signatures of everyone that came to help her. So it is really almost a triumphant story here of what is happening. MARCIANO: It is a long way from being completed, isn't it Timothy? For every stroke of improvement, you see still the plain slabs of foundation, the damage and rubble that is still left in many parts of that town. I have no doubt they are going to continue to push through. But you've seen the process. What do you think? What kind of timeline are we looking at and do you think they can get it done?
KURYAK: Like any town it is sort of a living, breathing organism that is going to continue to grow and build on its own timeline. Each day there is something new going on. Each day, a new home is being started or we just broke ground on Friday for this Frito Lay business incubator which is going to basically help establish this town and rebuild Main Street. So it really is encouraging to see the amount of construction. In the winter when you have rough weather there wasn't much going on. But now that it is springtime, things are just popping up all over and it's really encouraging to see.
MARCIANO: For our viewers who may want to tune in or at least TiVo this documentary, when is this going to air?
KURYAK: It premieres June 15th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
MARCIANO: June 15th, all right, sounds fantastic.
KURYAK: And I encourage people that are watching to go to our Web site planetgreen.com and they can sort of learn more about Greensburg and also see how they can help out. As much as this town is doing a great job, every little bit helps.
MARCIANO: Timothy Kuryak, executive producer of that 13-part documentary. Thank you, Timothy and safe travels once you get done shooting and get back to your home.
KURYAK: Thank you so much.
MARCIANO: All right, well forget about the needles and the medicine, there is a new prescription for what ails you. Some soothing sounds a day could keep the doctor away. That remedy is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. Time for a little potty talk. What do you think it costs these days for a toilet? A couple hundred bucks. Maybe a little more? How about $300,000? That's how much the city of Atlanta recently spent taxpayer dollars. That is getting my blood boiling, I'll tell you. In all, the city spent $1.5 million for get this, five toilets. Obviously, these aren't just any toilets. They feature automatic doors, sinks and seats. They even play music while others take care of their business.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It sounds a little pricey, but I also think the city is working on its image to promote people coming to visit the city.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to a toilet. I'm going to use a toilet, not listen to someone talk to me, not listen to some music being piped in to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Critics question spending at a time when the city of Atlanta is laying off hundreds of workers due to an expected budget deficit.
A couple of wild deers out for weekend mischief. They were seen jumping through neighborhoods in New Haven, Connecticut. There they go. Residents kept their keep indoors as the deer went from yard to yard. One even stopped into the nearby Dunkin Donuts, breaking the glass there before disappearing in the woods. That coffee is certainly tough to pass out.
Pumping up the volume. For some, healing music can help sick kids. Our Fredricka Whitfield has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not that often that a hospital lobby echoes to live music.
But children being treated at this Atlanta Hospital are getting a welcome break from their treatment. Interacting with local artists.
Josh Rifkind started "Songs for Kids," a program where musicians visit and interact with ailing children in hospitals and camps.
JOSH RIFKIND, SONGS FOR KIDS FOUNDATION: The kids sing songs. They write their own songs, their own lyrics, and these engineers and producers actually write these songs right there at bedside. Nurses coming in and out. The kids are singing on the microphone, head phones, everything. Just like doing a real recording studio.
WHITFIELD: Hospital staff and volunteers also get a kick out of the project.
CHELSEA BLEVINS, CHILDREN'S HEALTCARE OF ATLANTA: Songs for Kids is amazing, not just for that patients but also for our families and actually our staff as well. Patients that have been stuck in their rooms all day long will come down into the lobby and get to listen to these songs and just get their mind off the fact that they have been in the hospital all day, or week or month with a smile on everyone's face.
WHITFIELD: To raise awareness and funds for the foundation, Rifkind gathered 500 artists to perform 500 greatest hit songs. The songs will be performed in a 10-night music marathon at an Atlanta bar.
RIFKIND: I figure putting on this massive concert would be a great way then to bring people together and do something even bigger, which is brings all those musicians now out to all the hospitals and special needs kids camp.
WHITFIELD: The musicians involved feel they, too, are getting a benefit.
JANELLE MONAE, RECORDING ARTIST: This aligns with what it is I feel like I should be doing as an artist, which is making sure that I'm inspiring as many, you know, young people as possible.
RIFKIND: I can use the things I'm interested in. I can use my energy and my passion and do my own thing and try to give back in a way that is exciting for me.
I'm going to introduce all 500 bands.
WHITFIELD: All the money raised from ticket sales at the music marathon will go towards more events and hospitals. Call it music therapy. Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: All right the 500 Songs for Kids benefit will continue until May 10th. For more information or to donate long on to songsforkidsfoundation.org. Fredricka by the way will be back next weekend in this seat. I'm Rob Marciano, thanks for joining us. Stick around because it's too close to call in Indiana. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are campaigning hard there. See them live and unfiltered in the "BALLOT BOWL" starting at 4:00 Eastern. Next, "YOUR MONEY."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
