Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Red Cross in the Red; Jane Fonda's Speaks Out on Teen Pregnancy; Shark Hunting: Sport or Animal Abuse?; Olympian Strives for a Comeback; How to Lower Oil Prices

Aired June 22, 2008 - 18:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right. How about this? A green light to produce more oil? What will today's promise from the Saudis mean for America's crunch right now.
A hung to the death. The search for sharks in a heart-pounding, chest beating contest. Is this competition in dangerous waters and her dad says this Grammy award-winning pipes are diminished by emphysema. What's up with Amy Winehouse?

Well, Saudi Arabia makes a move that could possibly keep money in your pocket. Hello, everyone, I'm Don Leon, in tonight for Rick Sanchez. And right now, on the average, we're paying around $4.07 a gallon for gas. Help, though, may be on the way. Starting next month, the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, will increase production by about 2 percent boosting output to 9.7 million barrels of oil a day. The kingdom hasn't been at that production rate since 1981. And that's not all. Something else decided at today's energy summit in Jeddah. The kingdom said it has plans to bump production capacity an extra 25 percent by the end of the year. It's way too early to tell if Saudi Arabia's move will actually help bring down gas prices here in the U.S., still, today's news is promising and we want to sort it out for you. We've got CNN's Wilf Dinnick in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Kathleen Koch monitoring reaction in D.C. but first we want to get to international correspondent Wilf Dinnick, and he spoke with a short time ago from Jeddah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILF DINNICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All the parties, all the major players in the oil industry gathered here today to figure out mid to long-term solutions to try to figure out what they can do together to try to bring down the price of oil. And they vary widely in divergent deals on just how to do it. Some saying more investment in alternative energies like solar power and wind, others saying that existing oil fields and refineries that haven't really had investments in a long time. They need more money. So the real belief here though, is the immediate effect though that good news from Saudi Arabia that all that new oil will get on to the marketplace and eventually ease demand. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so might it mean that we may see a reduction in some of the gas prices as a result but maybe not in the short term but long-term?

DINNICK: That's exactly right. That is what they're saying here. There's going to be a follow-up meeting in London in October to see what sort of progress has been made. They have come to a working document, what they're calling a joint paper here. All the players agreeing on all the list of things they can do. But just whether they can agree on the list of priorities, how soon they can get those things done and whether they can come together to actually make that - to put those into action really unclear at this point. But the Saudi officials here, saying that the fact that everyone is speaking, everyone is trying to get to the bottom of this and everyone is trying to move forward doesn't send a message to the marketplace that they are interested in bringing the price of oil down. So, well it may not happen right away, they really believe mid to long term that they're going to get this under control.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Our Wilf Dinnick speaking with Fredricka Whitfield here in the NEWSROOM just moments ago. And obviously any help is welcome, but let's take this one step further. How is today's news being received around Washington? Our Kathleen Koch is keeping tabs on that this Sunday. Kathleen, election year, key issue, what are you hearing?

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very key issue. So, Don, not surprisingly, most here in Washington do see the prospect of more oil on the global market as a good thing. But when it comes to what steps to take right here at home, well that's something that democrats and republicans do not see eye to eye on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH (voice-over): The White House expressed cautious optimism at the news, a spokesman saying "any increase in production in today's oil market is welcome." The Saudis promised to pump more crude also drew praise from surrogates for the two presidential contenders who partisan.

GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, OBAMA SUPPORTER: It's going to help a little bit, maybe reduce prices just a little. The point is that we have got to have a bipartisan comprehensive strategy and this administration and it seems Senator McCain, they want to do is drill, drill, drill.

DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN, MCCAIN SUPPORTER: It's important to have greater global supply, but it would be better if the United States controlled its energy destiny. That's what John McCain wants to do.

KOCH: with gas prices soaring, both parties agree something must be done, just not what. On Capitol Hill, the House this week plans to begin debating four new democratic energy proposals. Grants to cut fares for mass transit, a crackdown on fuel price gouging, another rings to curb speculation in the energy futures market which many including the Saudis believe is driving up the price of oil.

REP. ED. MARKEY (D), MASSCHUSETTS: There is absolutely no way that this market doubled in value over 12 months unless manipulation and speculation was a part of it. And so we need to get at the heart of it and to shut that down before it shuts down the American economy. KOCH: Finally one measure would force oil companies to explore oil on federal land they're leasing or lose those rights. But oil companies insist there's a reason they're not drilling.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no map quest chart that says drill right here for 50 million barrels. Most of that land doesn't have oil and gas.

KOCH: White House and republican energy plans to push for clean coal technology, ending a moratorium on oil shale, as well as more oil refineries and offshore drilling.

SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: Drilling offshore on a state by state option is something that I think we could do very environmentally safely and yet anything that says production is killed by the democrats.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOCH: As democrats and republicans joust over whose energy plan is best, the one thing that they can agree on is cold comfort to American drivers that there is no single silver bullet solution that will quickly cut prices at the pump. Don.

LEMON: So no single silver bullet, but how confident, Kathleen, is the U.S. that this will actually - that this might actually bring prices down at the pump?

KOCH: Well, Don as much as the U.S. and other countries globally have been pushing big oil producers just like Saudi Arabia to talk more, there is a worry that it may not cut prices. As a matter of fact, last month, the Saudis boosted production by some 3 percent, pumped an additional 300,000 barrels a day. Have you seen prices at the pump drop? I haven't. So now they're talking about doubling, more than doubling that from you know, an additional 300,000 a day to 700,000. Will it work? We'll see.

LEMON: Yes, we'll see and if you see them go down, will you let me know so that I can let all of our viewers know?

KOCH: OK. I'll be first in line at that gas station.

LEMON: Thank you, Kathleen.

KOCH: You bet.

LEMON: And we have a programming reminder for our viewers. CNN's Special Investigation Unit explores the vulnerability of the world's oil supply, "We were warned, out of gas." It airs tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.

So we call them hurricanes here and in the pacific, they are called typhoons. And a major one, a powerful one pounded the Philippines overnight. There's widespread flash flooding and landslides, but this is by far the worst incident from the storm on far, a car and passenger ferry boat sailing through the typhoon capsized at about noon local time today. Best estimate is there were about 750 people on board at the time, fewer then ten of them are accounted for. Families can do little but wait and hope for the best. Well, this is an island, city, south of manila. Torrential rain and hurricane strength wind ripped roofs from homes and cut off several area, villages from rescuers. One local official said 59 people drowned here when the water suddenly rose, 40 other people are still missing.

We have mixed news today from Mississippi riverside residents. The water may not get any higher, but look at this. Small comfort to people dealing with homes under water, entire towns under water, as well, and weeks and months of hard painful work that began when the flood recedes. Now residents are calling for flood inspectors to change their tune.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER ORR, ST. CHARLES, MO., RESIDDENT: When you had inspectors come out, they're to help the residents. So they can, you know, come back home. To keep them safe. Instead, they want to say, no, you can't do this. We're god, you're not coming back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, how about a big dollar figure for the damage in Iowa? The state's agriculture secretary says $3 billion. And that reflects loss in farm crops alone. Iowa was hit hardest early in this disaster. Lots of corn and soy bean fields are either flooded out or not planted. Further down river, places like Winfield, Missouri, and Grafton, Illinois, the Mississippi is still rising and likely won't crest for days. So, you've seen the pictures of devastating floods throughout the midwest. Now comes a call for help. The Red Cross is swamped and running out you of supplies and money and it's happening fast. How bad is it? More on that coming up in 20 minutes, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And check out cnn.com. We have a special page on the mid western flooding, plus links to ad agencies. It's a chance for you to impact your world. Just go to our website right now.

Jacqui Jeras joins us now from the CNN Weather Center to tell us about some severe weather. I've been hearing about tornado watches and warnings going on.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: A severe thunderstorm watches actually we have across parts of the northeast and thankfully they're not in the midwest, so much drier weather there. We're continuing to monitor things along the Mississippi river, and we still have some cresting yet in the next couple of days. Go ahead and take a look at what we're anticipating. The river is cresting now in Canton, Quincy and Hannibal. They're going to stay at extremely high levels over the next couple of days. Clarksville will be cresting early on Monday and St. Louis is cresting and continuing to stay at this level between now and through Friday. You know, something to think about, in addition to this, even though we've already crested up here towards the quad city, we talked a lot about what's been going on in Iowa City and also into the Des Moines area. Well, you know it's been a week and two days since some of these cities have seen the rivers crest and they are still looking at some extreme level. This is the river gauge on the Iowa River in Iowa City. Here's where we are today, 26.41 feet. And look at that major stage is at 25 feet. We're going to stay at or above major stage for at least a week yet. And what about Des Moines? Yes, that was the week and two days ago when you hit the record level above 1993 flood. Well, you're looking at still the river slightly out of its banks going back below flood stage finally in the upcoming days. So let's go ahead and show you a little bit about what's going on with those storms we were talking about, Don. There you can see everything from the Great Lakes and kind of extending into the northeast quarter. We got watches in effect through the evening hours and it's really making travel a huge nightmare. That severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of New York City, this includes in you Brooklyn, some large hail and damaging winds will be likely with this storm as it heads out on Long Island.

Travel delays, Don, we're talking hours. It was over three hours last we checked. There it is, still there at JFK. Things are not looking good.

LEMON: I flew out of La Guardia this morning.

JERAS: You did.

LEMON: Yes. So I just made it out on time.

JERAS: Tell everybody. But you know, the earlier in the day you go, I'm telling you, 99.99 percent of the time, it will be better.

LEMON: That's your travel secret. More travel secrets of Jacqui Jeras coming up in the NEWSROOM. Jacqui, thank you very much for that.

And it is fire season in California, but really when is it not? This big one is raging in Napa County, though weather is not helping. Hot and dry and windy. We'll have details for you just ahead.

And is it really about political issues or a matter of race? What voters are saying about the presidential election and race relations and more political drama in Zimbabwe, a dramatic announcement by opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The presidential candidates are having a relaxing Sunday, no public events for John McCain or Barack Obama. They're taking a breather from the campaign trail. McCain attended services today at his Arizona Church, north Phoenix Baptist. Obama, well he gets back on the money trail in just a few days. He plans to meet with Hillary Clinton and her top fund-raisers in Washington on Thursday. He's hoping to get their support. The two former rivals will campaign together on Friday.

We have a new poll to tell you about that finds Americans are very concerned about racial prejudice in the country. The "Washington Post" and ABC News found among white, 53 percent say race relations are good. But 47 percent described them as poor. And six in 10 of African-Americans rate race relations as not so good. CNN contributor Amy Walters says it's hard to tell if these attitudes will affect the presidential election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMY WALTER, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: When those of us who analyze elections are trying to predict what is going to happen, we like to use historical markers, right. A lot of us are looking at some of the markers like the approval ratings of the president or how voters feel about the direction of the country or the economy. And those have helped us to determine which party has an advantage. But we've never had a situation like this before. And so what folks like the "Washington Post" and ABC and some other polling operations are trying to do, is to try to put, to understand that this - there are layers of this, right. You can't just simply ask a question. Well, do you think that your views on race are going to affect the way you vote. Most people aren't going to say that out loud and so it is trying to figure out just a way in which people perceive race whether or not that's going to have an impact. It will certainly is. We just don't know how to find it yet. And I don't know if we will ever be able to figure that out, maybe until this contest is over.

WHITFIELD: As recently as leading into this weekend, Barack Obama said look, let me be frank with you. I realize that there will be people who are afraid of me because either a, they say they don't know me or because of my funny name or for the very fact that I'm black. Just listen to what he had to say.

VOICE OF SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We know what kind of campaign they are going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. They are going to say, you know what, 'he's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?'

WHITFIELD: All right. Amy, why was this necessary?

WALTER: Well, I think he needs to sort of get out front on this. And the reality is he is young and he is inexperienced and those are two things that really are holding him back or holding at least a lot of voters back in terms of putting their support behind him even though people who had voted in the democratic primary, maybe those who supported Hillary Clinton. So, he does need to get out front there.

The question is going to be going to be is he going to be able to effectively say to voters, OK, are you using inexperience? Is that an issue here? Or are what republican groups or those who oppose me trying to use something else and using inexperience as something that it really isn't, right? Are you using that to mask questions about race? And so, I think what Obama is trying to do is to say, 'OK, let's get out front of this. Let's not let this define me or define this contest.' He needs to still though, talk about the experience issue and he needs to be able to get out in front of that before that starts to define.

WHITFIELD: How does republican John McCain seize upon this or perhaps does he say, you know what, I don't want any part of this?

WALTER: Right. It is a very dangerous game for both to plan. Neither one wants to look as if they are using or playing some sort of race card. But I do think that you're going to see outside groups who neither campaign has any control of, trying to find a way to talk about this as well. The two candidates are going to have to be very careful about how they address those groups and how they address their own supporters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Amy Walter and Fredricka Whitfield in the NEWSROOM just a little bit earlier.

The government in Zimbabwe says he, "chickened out the presidential race." A dramatic development as the country's opposition leader pulls out of the upcoming runoff, outraged over a bloody tournament, why critics I should say are demanding an end to a shark hunt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We probably know today who will win the presidential contest in Zimbabwe. It's been an ugly, messy election. And it's not this man. Morgan Tsvangirai ran for president in 2002 and he lost and he forced long serving President Robert Mugabe into a runoff this year. Well, today he says Tsvangirai says he is done and will not participate in Friday's vote. That means another term for the incumbent. CNN's David McKenzie is following it all from Johannesburg, South Africa.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Stunning development in Zimbabwe today. First, an opposition rally planned by the Movement for Democratic Change was taken on by youth militia supporting President Robert Mugabe. They attack members of the opposition and stopped them from having that rally. Later, that Movement for Democratic Change made an extraordinary announcement. Their leader Morgan Tsvangirai saying he will not participate in Friday's run off election with President Mugabe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, OPPOSITION CANDIDATE: We at the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimately sham of an election process. The courageous people of Zimbabwe, of this country, and the people of the MDC have done everything humanly and democratically possible to deliver a new Zimbabwe and a new government.

MCKENZIE: Zimbabwe has been racked by weeks of political violence. Opposition saying that members have been killed and driven from their homes. In this video obtained by CNN, you see youth militia aligned with President Robert Mugabe chasing women and children to try and get them to support Mugabe at his political rally. There have been strident criticisms from overseas especially from the U.K. saying that President Mugabe has had his time and that he should go.

DAVID MILLIBAND, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: I think it is vital that above all the African countries with the support of every country in the world recognizes that the only people with the only legitimacy are those who won the parliamentary and presidential elections on the 29th of March and that is the opposition. And resolves that state- sponsored violence is no basis in which to claim victory which Mugabe is going to try and do.

MCKENZIE: But so far, strong criticism from international community has not stopped Mugabe from campaigning and saying that he will be the next president of the country. South Africa's president, President Thabo Mbeki has been roundly criticized for his mediation efforts between the two sides. He told reporters late tonight that he says that he hopes that they still can negotiate, but given the violence in the country, this is looking increasingly unlikely. David McKenzie, CNN, Johannesburg.

LEMON: All right, David. Is Syria hiding anything at a suspected nuclear site? They said no. But the U.N. inspection team is going to see for themselves. The team from the International Atomic Energy Agency left Vienna today, destination, Damascus. From there, it is on to a site that Israel bombed last year, citing evidence that it was a near finish reactor capable of developing plutonium. Just how much the inspectors will learn is a question mark. Syria has placed lots of restrictions on where they can go and what they can see.

In Brazil, a dispute over almost four million acres in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Indians want to preserve the land, but powerful groups want more land for logging and farmers want more land to grow crops and cattle. As Harris Whitbeck reports from the Brazilian capital, the disputes between farmers and Indians have grown more violent.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A gunshot, then something is lobbed into the sky. An explosion is heard and smoke fills the air. Shortly after, bloodied Monkichi (ph) Indians are taken away. An angry woman stays behind yelling who will take care of us if my husband dies. And then screaming, our blood runs to protect our land.

The video was released by Survival International, an activist organization that deals with native rights and tribal land issues around the world. It says land conflicts in Brazil are exploding in to violence. Indian groups say these lands have been demarcated by the government and handed over to them, but big farming and logging interests want access. They say too much of Brazil's fertile land has been surrendered and there are too few Indians to claim them. The Brazilian government sides with the Indians.

MARCIO MEIRA, PRESIDENT OF FUNAI (through translator): The government demarcated these area, he says, the president himself signed the decree. So the government considers the farmers are there illegally. And wants the law to be respected. WHITBECK: But farmers want to grow much needed grain and soy bean and raise more cattle, especially in these times of rapidly increasing food and oil prices. The Brazilian environment minister estimates there are now 73 million cattle grazing in the Amazon region. Indians and conservationists say the lands must remain in the hands of the tribes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITBECK (on-camera): Their argument is that Indians know how to live off of the land without destroying its forest. The ranchers and loggers say they economic development is just as important and that too much land has been set aside.

On both sides of the issue, passions are running high. And as boundary disputes intensify, the violence spills over. Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Brazilia.

LEMON: Raging wildfires in California, several lightning strikes blamed for the blazes and the largest fire right in the heart of wine country.

And bad news for bad girl singer Amy Winehouse. We're getting word that her health has taken a turn for the worst.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Happening right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is promising to increase daily oil production to help bring oil prices down. It would go from nine million barrels a day to 9.7 million by next month. He made the announcement at the end of today's energy summit.

It's a race against time to rescue more than 700 missing passengers and crew from an overturned ferry. The ferry capsized in a typhoon off the Philippines and so far only four survivors have been found.

And the Mississippi River is expected to crest today or tomorrow in Missouri and Illinois. Thousands have been forced from their homes across six states since the floods began. Now the good news is the water should start to recede later this week.

Firefighters are battling more than 500 fires around northern California today, one in Napa County has forced dozens of residents to flee their homes. The fires were sparked by about 5,000 lightning strikes since Friday night, part of the fallout from extremely dry conditions and triple digit temperatures.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIO MORALES, LOST HOME TO FIRE: And the house is just gone. We lost everything. My kids are OK. I'm just looking for my dog.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You always feel bad for fire victims that when it happens right next door, somehow it's even different. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Wow. Well, so far, no injuries have been reported there.

Let's check in now with meteorologist Jacqui Jeras. Jacqui, I wonder if the wind, is it helping there, hurting? Can they expect some relief soon?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The winds have changed a little bit. Across much of California, we're seeing a little bit more of an onshore flow and a little disturbance that moved on through that helped to sparkle those dry thunderstorms is doing that now across parts of Nevada into Utah and western parts of Colorado.

In fact, you were talking about thousands of lightning strikes. I just did a query on our computer for every state, this whole area that you see here on the map, and it was estimating we've had over 7,000 lightning strikes just in this area in the last hour. So there you can see just popping up from Montana all the way down into Colorado into New Mexico. So this will continue to be a problem in parts of the west.

Now, the one good thing I can tell you, the heat is starting to let up just a little bit. We had a lot of record highs yesterday including Phoenix at 115 degrees. But the heat is starting to wane. The peaks have already taken place, and we'll watch those temperatures begin to go down a little bit over the next couple of days albeit though, they're still going to be warm. We're still going to see some 90s, and we're going to still see some low triple digits.

Now, do you love the I-reporters? I love our I-reporters, and I want to say a big thanks to them. What a great job they've done in the last week from floods to fires.

These new pictures we just got in early this morning. Yes, dark and early. Ross Ducat (ph) was up and sends us these photos. He says the location of this fire here is about three miles east of Morgan Hill, one of the many lightning sparked fires. He says smoke is becoming a familiar smell in his neck of the woods.

Don, do you love the I-reports?

LEMON: I do.

JERAS: I love the I-reports.

LEMON: I was going to say that they've been doing a great job as you pointed out, and they're the best not in the business.

JERAS: Absolutely. Go watch out for them.

LEMON: Yes. OK, Jacqui. Appreciate that. Thank you very much.

The Mississippi River is still rising in some areas, and several towns in Missouri and Illinois remain on flood watch. Officials expect the levees to hold, though, as the waters finally start receding in the days ahead. Now that's good news for many flooded out towns along the Mississippi, and CNN's Reynolds Wolf is in one of those towns today.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm coming in from Grafton, Illinois, where any other Sunday, you might have people walking up and down the street, eating ice cream, maybe going shopping, perhaps in a place at Mosby, a place known for fine cabinets. But today it's closed for business but wide open for those floodwaters of the Mississippi River.

Now, as we step in with the water and some debris and a few minnows, the place for the most part is empty of a lot of its inventory. Yes, there's a few things here and there, but the owner, Mr. Mosby, was smart enough to move some of his most prized possessions out, and the reason why is because, well, he knows this has happened before.

1993, 1995, they had two floods in particular which brought all kinds of debris, all kinds of dirt into the place where we now stand. They had to have a big tractor come and clean up the mess. So today, they're certainly waiting and watching because they know more may be on the way.

The river hasn't crested yet. In fact, there's going to be that possibility over the next 24 to 48 hours as these waters continue to rise we're going to have more problems. Our CNN photo journalist Emmanuel Tambakakis (ph) is with us. And Emmanuel, I'm going to step out, kind of leave you here so we won't trip over ourselves. There you go.

And as we do so, Emmanuel we'll show you, and I'll point to it, the top of these eaves. The reason why I top pointed that out is because those -- that's actually the maximum height of the floods in 1993. OK, so that's your maximum. Here's where we are now and that water is going to continue to rise. That's the latest we got from Grafton. Reynolds Wolf, CNN.

LEMON: Appreciate it, Reynolds.

Well, this year's tornadoes, wildfires and floods have put the Red Cross in the red. The agency says its national disaster relief funds are depleted, and it's had to take out loans to keep going. CNN's Kate Bolduan has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like so many homes in Iowa, Josh Clemann's house was underwater.

JOSH CLEMANN, FLOOD VICTIM: The downstairs is pretty much completely lost. Our kitchen ceiling has collapsed.

BOLDUAN: Now, Clemann begins the painstaking cleanup, thankful for the food and supplies the American Red Cross has offered.

CLEMAN: They've already passed here a couple times this morning already, and they've been out where they can do to help.

BOLDUAN: But that very organization needs help itself. Red Cross officials say they're out of cash and working on borrowed money.

SUZY DEFRANCIS, RED CROSS SPOKESWOMAN: We started with tornadoes throughout the central U.S. We had wildfires on the coast. And now, we're having this very significant flooding. And the important point is it's only June.

BOLDUAN: Red Cross Spokeswoman Suzy DeFrancis says this is only the second time in its 125-year history the Red Cross has needed a loan to cover operations.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you need a clean-up to --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, yes, that would be great.

BOLDUAN: Three thousand five hundred personnel on the ground in the Midwest and about 2,000 people coordinating everything from its Washington headquarters.

BOLDUAN (on camera): This is the nerve center of Red Cross' disaster operations with daily conference calls like this one to get the latest information from the hardest hit areas. Now, when all is said and done, they estimate their efforts in the Midwest alone will cost $15 million.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): Red Cross says the struggling economy is also to blame for sluggish donations.

DEFRANCIS: This is a difficult time for people with gas prices and food prices going up and so, they have less disposable income.

BOLDUAN: But critics say this may be more about credibility than tough economic times. They point to rapid turnover at the top of the Red Cross, which has had five CEOs in just six years.

PAUL C. LIGHT, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: Americans have lost confidence in the Red Cross to spend their money wisely. So they're holding off until the next disaster, until they can actually see where their money is going.

BOLDUAN: Red Cross officials know they face a long and threatening hurricane season ahead. Image problem or not, they just hope their financial forecast improves quickly. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: If you'd like to make a contribution to the Red Cross, here's how you can do it. Go to redcross.org and click on the donate tab. Again, redcross.org, or you can callError! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.Error! Not a valid filename.1-800-HELPNOW.

And be sure to check out CNN.com. We have links to several other aid agencies all working to help people deal with the midwestern flooding. It's a chance for you to impact your world anyway you can. Go and check that out. It is the second weekend, but it still looks odd to see "Meet the Press" without Tim Russert at the head of the table. But we did learn today who will take over hosting duties through Election Day. He is no stranger.

NBC's stalwart Tom Brokaw beginning next Sunday will moderate the Sunday talker at least through November. Brokaw said he feels at home on the program and that he intends to continue Tim Russert's commitment to lively discussion.

Amy Winehouse is going to die if she doesn't kick the drugs. That's straight from the pop star's father. In a British newspaper published today, Mitch Winehouse says crack cocaine and cigarettes have so damaged his daughter's lungs that she now has emphysema and heart problems.

Amy Winehouse collapsed in London on Monday and remained in the hospital all week. She's only in her young 20s -- 24, 25 years old. Unbelievable.

And you may have heard about the so-called pregnancy pact that we've been reporting in all the news agencies. Well, a group of teenaged girls who allegedly got pregnant on purpose, up next, we'll hear from Jane Fonda. She's been on the front lines in the battle against teen pregnancy. Her thoughts on this disturbing story.

And a fishing tournament in trouble. Why this controversial contest is drawing unfavorable publicity.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Seventeen teenaged girls' lives will be changed forever. All from the same high school, they all became pregnant. As we've been reporting, high school officials say some of them may have had a pact with each other to get pregnant. And while that may be highly unusual, the outcome is the same -- a hard life.

Well, teenaged pregnancy is way down nationwide from 20 years ago, but it is starting to tick up again. Tens of thousands of teens find themselves in similar situations as those girls every year, and actress and activist, Jane Fonda, knows their stories all too well as founder of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. She spoke to CNN's Fredricka Whitfield about why this still happens.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jane, this story must have had you seeing magenta given all that you do.

JANE FONDA, ACTRESS/FOUNDER GCAPP: I wish that it didn't really surprise me. I was hoping I said this is a great learning opportunity. I hope someone asks me to say something about it.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

FONDA: You know, one of the girls in the high school, not one of the girls who were pregnant, but another student said, nobody made them a better offer. And that really speaks volumes. You have here a group of girls who were lonely, who were bored, and who were seeking community. Obviously, they didn't feel community.

It's a poor town, you know. It's a fishing industry, the fishing business has tanked. And so, the town is struggling and these girls, also there's no access to prevention. The two people who run the local reproductive health clinic, they quit because they weren't allowed to provide contraception in spite of the scandal that's happened.

WHITFIELD: Should I be surprised, though, that if I thought that given the awareness, in school or in communities, that young people know now, they get it, that you can't have a baby and expect that all you're going to get is this unconditional love, that there's a huge responsibility that comes with it. So where's the disconnect here?

FONDA: They're not being taught that. You know, we've had eight years of an administration that just says it's like the ostrich with the head in the sand. Well, they're not doing anything. You have to stay abstinent until you're married. And the fact that kids are not staying abstinent, they're not doing anything to help the kids and teach the kids.

The kids, these young people don't know that unconditional love, they're the ones that have to give it in the beginning, not the children to them.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

FONDA: And the other thing they don't know is how important fathers are. It's like these girls think that, you know, fathers are irrelevant, that children -- boys and girls can grow up OK without an involved father. It's just wrong.

They need comprehensive sexuality education in all the schools around the country. They need accessible, affordable reproductive health care that includes contraception for the kids that are sexually active. Adult mentors, ideally parents are involved and paying attention and if the parents aren't, coaches, teachers. And they need community-based programs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, CNN's conversation about teen pregnancy continues tonight at 10:00 p.m. I'll speak with a group of young people from very different backgrounds, but they share a common experience. Parenthood at an early age, their stories are unbelievable. You don't want to miss that. It's tonight at 10:00, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right. Well, it's summertime and the fish are jumping. Some very big ones you might add. Well, they're looking at a shark taken down in a fishing tournament.

Shark hunts are becoming increasingly popular, but critics say it's simply animal abuse and Jim Acosta got an up close look at one of these popular hunts off the coast of New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The hunt began at sunrise. More than 100 boats raised dozens of miles off the Long Island coastline in pursuit of the ocean's greatest predator. For years, the shark tournaments have gone on with little fanfare, but not anymore.

Mike Wasserman (ph) experienced the rush of reeling in top prize at this contest five years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like getting that perfect hole in one.

ACOSTA: This year, the event paid out $140,000 in cash prizes. The anglers brought ashore 41 blue fresher and mako sharks and weighed in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 162.

ACOSTA (on camera): In shark tournaments, size matters. If you want to see your fish hanging up there, it needs to be in the top five in terms of weight. If it doesn't make the cut, you get to watch your trophy get chopped into pieces.

ACOSTA (voice-over): It's a bloody spectacle, much of it too graphic to show, which is why the Humane Society of the United States considers this event a blood sport.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just to rip them out of the waters, you know, and to kill them for nothing is not what we have in mind on a Saturday afternoon.

BILL HEATH, SHARK TOURNAMENT PRESIDENT: We don't look at this killing for fun.

ACOSTA: Tournament President Bill Heath points out the smaller sharks are tagged and released, all part of a federally-sanctioned event.

HEATH: Men are into sport. You know, they play like that, pound themselves on the chest, whether it be golf, whether it be baseball, whether it be football.

ACOSTA: Mixed in with the chest pounding is some science. Federal marine biologist Nancy Kohler studies the sharks as they come in -- height, weight, and yes, stomach contents.

NANCY KOHLER, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE: Do we ever see the diamond rings and yes. Over the years, surprisingly not...

ACOSTA: It was on my mind, yes.

KOHLER: ... not as much, but yet we have gotten those garbage and the hamburger.

ACOSTA: Other scientists argue it's not worth the price, saying some of these sharks are on the decline worldwide. On this day, it's a boat called my Three Suds that came up big. The crew landed a 414- pound thresher shark and bragging rights until next year.

Jim Acosta, CNN, Freeport, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: She says she's unfairly linked to the Olympic steroid scandals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRYSTE GAINES, OLYMPIC MEDALIST: Of course, I suspected it all along, but I had no proof.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Up next, another chance for a former Olympian.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: American sprinter, Chryste Gaines, already has two Olympic medals and she's hoping for a third. But in the fast track world of sports, there are always hurdles and in this case, it's age, heartache and scandal.

Fredricka Whitfield brings us the special report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chasing a place on her third U.S. Olympic team at the senior age of 37, Chryste Gaines says it's this pursuit that might mean the most.

Having never failed a banned substance test, in 2005, she was still banned from competing for two years after a fellow teammate, admitted doper, Kelli White, along with famed BALCO Laboratories owner, Victor Conte, alleged Gaines used a performance-enhancing drug, THG.

WHITFIELD (on camera): So then fast forward, this moment.

KELLI WHITE, CHRYSTE GAINES TEAMMATE: And so it is with a great amount of shame --

WHITFIELD: She comes out in front of the courthouse and says --

WHITE: I have betrayed your trust.

WHITFIELD: Were you angry? Did you suspect all along, not quite a surprise, what happened for you at that moment?

CHRYSTE GAINES, OLYMPIC MEDALIST: I mean, of course I suspected it all along, but I had no proof.

WHITFIELD: This fight to keep that medal from Sydney, how do you fight that if the Olympic committee says, you know what, we've got one of the members here who admits to cheating, that means all four have to give it up. Because holding on to it symbolizes what? GAINES: What it symbolizes is the hard work and struggle that I went through the year prior to it to get there.

WHITFIELD: Even if it means one of your team members cheated to help the team cross the finish line?

GAINES: That's what people don't understand. They think she helped us. She only joined us in the finals.

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Meticulous about anything she injects, Gaines is back on track training with runners half her age, competing again on the world stage. At first, anticipating whispers of disapproval.

GAINES: I was leery of that, how would people treat me, you know, would there be the whispers.

WHITFIELD (on camera): Did it do anything to your confidence?

GAINES: It boosted it. People welcomed me with open arms. Those who I wasn't friends with I still wasn't friends it, so it didn't matter.

WHITFIELD: This sounds like this is a vindication, too. And the trials, the games, vindication?

GAINES: Definitely. Definitely, because not only is this a stage for me, it's a stage for anybody in perseverance to show that you can go through it and come out on the other side. It's your goal.

WHITFIELD: Making the team, being an Olympian, that's -- that is good enough.

GAINES: That's good enough.

WHITFIELD: You don't need to medal.

GAINES: I need to.

WHITFIELD: But I know you're in it to win.

GAINES: I'm in it to win.

WHITFIELD: Right, to compete.

GAINES: Because I don't have an individual medal from the Olympic Games.

WHITFIELD: Is there anyone in particular, another competitor, that you think of for any other team or U.S. team where you say, I want to see them on the mark alongside me and I want to help prove a point, or I'm better than everybody?

GAINES: Because like you said, at 37, that's all they're going to talk about. BALCO is all they're going to talk about. So for me, just lining up, that's a vindication because when I line up and when I win, then what?

WHITFIELD: At that point it won't be BALCO anymore. It will be 2008...

GAINES: Olympian.

WHITFIELD: ... Olympian. End of story. Point blank.

GAINES: Then it will be 2008 Olympic medalist.

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Chryste Gaines, a two-time Olympian, proving she can overcome any obstacles, now tenaciously striving for Beijing and beyond.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was Fredricka Whitfield. Fredricka Whitfield, so nice job, Fred.

And we should find out soon if Gaines is headed to Beijing. She has to place in the top three next weekend at the Olympic trials in order to qualify for the 100 meter race. The trials begin on Saturday. Best of luck to her.

I'm Don Lemon. Make sure you join me in the CNN NEWSROOM at 10:00 p.m. Eastern for your dose of politics. I'll talk to CNN political editor Mark Preston about the all important money trail.

Obama says he won't use public funding. McCain says he will. Who is more bankable for the long campaign ahead? It may not be who you think, so you want to join us. We've got Preston on politics coming up at 10:00.

And my discussion with a group of young mothers who know just how hard it is to be a teenager with a baby. I'll ask about this Massachusetts pregnancy pact story, and we're going to get real about those issues. That's tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you then. Hope you're enjoying your evening.