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Wildfire Creeps Closer to Big Sur; Former Hostage Receives French Hero's Welcome
Aired July 04, 2008 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: We're waiting for a news conference in Bogota, Colombia, where we expect to learn important new details about this week's dramatic hostage rescue. We're going to get there live as soon as it begins. But first --
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Actually Veronica, this holiday is off to a terrifying start for thousands of people in California. About 1,700 families were forced out of their homes early this morning as flames raced through the mountains. Evacuations were ordered for several communities near Goleta in Santa Barbara County.
Also closed off, 31 miles of the Pacific Coast Highway normally packed with tourists. The only out of towners there today are the firefighters, they're trying to save the ocean side town of Big Sur.
CNN's Dan Simon is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This fire still barely contained. Right now it's at 5 percent. You can see why, still some hot spots here. We're keeping an eye on this canyon where you can see some smoke and we've seen some flames.
And what crews are trying to do they're trying to keep that fire from crossing highway 1 here, the major thoroughfare that runs through Big Sur behind this highway. There are about 200 homes and one firefighter who just arrived on the scene, Captain Herb Griffin. Basically your job is to make sure that these flames don't advance.
CAPT. HERB GRIFFIN, ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPT.: Yes, our job right now, our assignment is to maintain the fire on the other side of the highway. We want to make sure that no embers or sparks go over the highway and start burning on the other side or we'll lose the little bit of containment that we have here.
SIMON: When you have a wildfire that's been raging this long, you're going to have times when it's really dangerous and then times when it's a bit quiet. Right now we're in sort of a quiet stage.
GRIFFIN: Right, right now we're in kind of a preparation stage. We have our crews all lined out. Our plan of action right now with the fire moving now slowly towards us, we're going to let the fire do what it wants to do. Move down slowly towards us and then we want to just keep it in check. And as it gets to the road we'll start extinguishing it so that we don't get the burn over on the other side. SIMON: It's clear you guys are in for a very long summer. You just came from another wildfire. How are the guys holding up? I know the shifts are really incredible. 24-hour shifts where you just came from. Now you're on a 12-hour shift. A little bit of a break maybe. What's it like working these kind of hours?
GRIFFIN: It's just long. We really try to take full advantage of the rest periods. They take good care of us and give us good places to, good food and make sure we take care of our medical needs. We're getting a 14-day rotation. Our crews are about ready to rotate out and get to go home and go back to our regular assignments and the fresh crews will be up here to continue to work up here. But it is going to be a long summer.
SIMON: I bet. Captain, thanks so much and thanks for everything you do. Happy Fourth of July.
GRIFFIN: Same to you.
SIMON: Thanks. As we said, this fire just barely contained, 5 percent. And they're saying that this fire won't be fully contained at least until the very end of July.
Dan Simon, CNN in Big Sur, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Of course, our thanks to Dan. On this shaping up to be a very long and very weary fire season.
(WEATHER REPORT)
DE LA CRUZ: Conservatives are mourning the death of an icon. Former Senator Jesse Helms has died at age 86. He's been sick for several years. The cause of death was not released. Helms was a North Carolina Republican. He retired five years ago after a 30-year career on Capitol Hill.
A White House spokesman said, quote, "America lost a great public servant and true patriot today. Earlier in the NEWSROOM we got reaction from two men who knew Helms well. Former Republican senator Bob Dole and Author William Link.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB DOLE, (R) FMR. SENATOR, PRES. CANDIDATE: He was a good, decent human being. I didn't agree with him on some of the civil rights positions, but the little things that Jesse did, if you were to ask the pages who they liked best of all the Republican senators and who was the nicest to them, it would be Jesse Helms every year. He would sit there and he'd visit with them, talk about their parents and where they're from, take them down and have ice cream.
WILLIAM LINK, PROFESSOR, UNIV. OF FLORIDA: He was elected five times to the senate from North Carolina. One of the remarkable things was how close all of those elections were. He didn't ever win by more than 54 percent of the vote.
LEMON: Still won though.
LINK: Still won. And getting to your question I think what it speaks to the continuing importance of race in politics all through the period even after the civil rights revolution. Race is still a central part of politics in North Carolina and really politics in the rest of the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: The Republican firebrand was a polarizing figure during his five terms in the senate. While conservatives defended Helms some critics called him a narrow-minded bigot. Among other things Senator Helms fought against the extension of the voting rights act. He opposed the national holiday honoring the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and he was a staunch opponent and gay and abortion rights.
Also this, we just received this into the NEWSROOM. We wanted to share this with you. This is a statement from the Reverend Al Sharpton on the passing of Jesse Helms. He says, quote, "The death of Jesse Helms certainly requires of me to express my condolences and sympathy to his family. Certainly Senator Helms' career represented a regressive and archaic politics to many of us. But I hope he found his peace with God before he made his transition. Despite our difference of views and vision, my prayers are with his family at this hour of sorrow."
I also wanted to mention that there is more of Ed Henry's interview with Bob Dole at the top of the hour on "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer.
LEMON: Fitting for an Independence Day, 72 new American citizens, immigrants all in a day they will never forget. Sworn in on America's birth date at the home of Thomas Jefferson in the presence of President Bush. Mr. Bush told them he is honored to call them fellow Americans.
A piece of patriotic history found behind a flea market picture frame. Check this out, is a rare song manuscript of America. You may know it as my country tis of thee. An art collector says he found it tucked behind a framed picture he bought at a New York flea market for 10 bucks. It could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. America was first played in public 177 years ago today. There is plenty more ahead this Independence Day, including the sorry state of some of our national monuments in Washington. What's the Fourth of July without a hot dog or two or maybe 60?
DE LA CRUZ: Leading our political ticker now, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama celebrates the nation's birthday in Montana. That state, reliably Republican in recent presidential elections. But a recent poll shows Obama with a five-point lead there. While in Butte today, Obama attended a parade and a family picnic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So on this day, when we celebrate this great nation of ours, it's worth reminding ourselves that what makes this country great is not the size of our military or the size of our economy, or the big buildings that we have. What makes us great is its people. And all of you are part of what I celebrate when I think about America.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Republican candidate John McCain spending this Independence Day with his family at their Arizona ranch. McCain is back home from his three-day visit to Colombia and Mexico. Next week he hits the road for a week-long swing through some key battleground states where he will focus on the economy.
Americans are celebrating the nation's 232nd birthday. What would our founding fathers think about the state of affairs right now? CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins us now from Washington with some poll numbers.
Bill, what would the nation's founders think?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: If you ask Americans, they'd say, not much. We did ask that. How would the signers of the declaration of independence feel about the United States today. Only 29 percent said they would be pleased, 69 percent said they would not be pleased.
What's interesting about those numbers they almost exactly match President Bush's approval ratings. His job rating in our latest poll, 30 percent approve of the job he's doing, 68 percent disapprove. When Americans think things are bad in the country, they're not going well, they criticize the president and they also add -- you know what -- the founding fathers wouldn't be happy either.
DE LA CRUZ: Very interesting. I understand that you also got some pretty interesting feedback on candidates and lapel pins.
SCHNEIDER: Right. There was some controversy over Barack Obama's failure to wear a flag pin early on in the campaign. He now wears it quite regularly. We asked Americans, how often should a presidential candidate wear flag lapel pins? 41 percent said always and another 13 percent said frequently. That's 54 percent who think they should wear them almost all the time, 44 percent of Democrats agree.
So there appears to be pretty much of a consensus about that. By the way, I should add that we did not ask about a flag necktie. I think that might be appropriate as well. In fact I would be very happy to lend it to Senator McCain or Senator Obama. And I'd even check an extra added benefit right here in very tiny letters on the back of the tie it says, made in USA.
DE LA CRUZ: Very nice. Bill Schneider, happy Fourth of July.
SCHNEIDER: Same to you.
DE LA CRUZ: Good to see you.
LEMON: Another happy Independence Day story.
Three men, all Americans, finally free after five years as hostages in Colombia. This is the last time we saw them, setting foot on U.S. soil for the first time since 2003. They have been undergoing medical and other screenings at a military hospital in San Antonio. Doctors tell us they are in good physical health.
We're looking forward to hearing what the men have to say for themselves when they speak up. We're waiting for a news conference in Bogota, Colombia where we can expect to learn important new details about this week's dramatic hostage rescue. We'll go there live just as soon as that begins.
Meantime in France, an all-star welcome. The president and his super model first lady greeting Ingrid Betancourt just off the plane near Paris this morning. Betancourt a dual French citizen has enjoyed a whirlwind last couple of days that took her from being a six year hostage in Colombia to a free woman.
There is a fascinating HBO documentary, "The Kidnapping of Ingrid Betancourt." We're going to show it tomorrow evening right here on CNN at 8:00 p.m. eastern. It covers her abduction and her family's long, desperate struggle to get her back -- Veronica?
DE LA CRUZ: To people at home and abroad, they are symbols of America. Why are some of the nation's most treasured monuments in such bad shape? We're going to go to Washington to find out.
LEMON: Major league baseball honors American veterans this weekend with special events at ballparks all over the country.
DE LA CRUZ: Just hours after he shot and killed two burglary suspects, police interviewed a Texas vigilante. You'll hear what he told them and see what he showed them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: This Fourth of July, hundreds of thousands of guests are expected in Washington. Many are there to visit some of the symbols of national heritage.
But as Jeanne Meserve shows us, Washington's famous monuments need help.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How about this for a souvenir snapshot of the National Mall or this or this?
JUDY SCOTT FELDMAN, NATL. COALITION TO SAVE OUR MALL: We're looking at an old, run-down, worn out mall that looks like it was abandoned 30 years ago.
MESERVE: Part of the problem, people. The National Mall has more visitors each year than Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon combined.
BILL LINE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE: If you had 25 million people coming through your front yard, it might not look so nice either.
MESERVE: The mall has an annual budget of about $31 million but its back-logged maintenance needs are estimated at eight times that, $258 million. Among the most expensive projects? Reinforcing the sinking seawall around the Jefferson Memorial. And rehabilitating the now shabby World War I memorial. But there are other more pressing issues.
JOHN "CHIP" AKRIDGE, TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL: You're here and Johnny has to go to the potty, you're in trouble. There is no place to go.
MESERVE: Restrooms, parking, transportation, all desperately needed along with places to eat. Chip Akridge jokingly calls this snack tent Washington's tavern on the green.
AKRIDGE: This is America's front yard. You wouldn't have that in your front yard. We don't want it in this front yard. No American wants that in its front yard.
MESERVE: Akridge heads up the trust for the national mall, which is raising private money to fix up the mall. Some argue its problems won't all be solved with big sums of money.
FELDMAN: But picking the trash, mowing the grass, watering the grass, putting in some flowers, those are daily maintenance issues. They shouldn't require $250 million extra.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: Jeanne Meserve joins us now from the national mall. Jeanne, this is obviously a problem. Are they going to do anything about it?
MESERVE: Yes. The national park service is starting a planning process, they want public input into this. In addition, they're talking to others who know about Washington and the demands here, they're trying to get a sense of how they should go forward with this and how the mall should be used.
There is a bit of a conflict here. It is some place where first amendment rights are exercised. Nobody has any argument with it being used that way. That's why it was created. But there are a lot of other sorts of events that go on here, various sorts of charities have events here. There are even trade shows down here on the mall. There is a question about whether the mall should be used for those things or not. So they're looking at questions of usage as well as that great big price tag of $258 million.
DE LA CRUZ: It's going to be very busy tonight. Hundreds of thousands of people expected there for this big fourth celebration.
MESERVE: That's right. They're talking about a half million people or so.
DE LA CRUZ: All right, Jeanne Meserve at the national mall. Happy fourth, Jeanne.
MESERVE: Thank you.
LEMON: All right, issue number one. A new record price for gas but it's not so obvious this time around. According to AAA, the national average price for gas went up a fraction of a cent overnight. Leaving the price you pay at the pump at $4.10 a gallon.
How are you and your family surviving the financial storm of record high gas prices? Food, the mortgage meltdown and everything else hitting your wallet? Of course we want to know. Logon to iReport, our home page, and tell us. We'll share the best of the best responses Monday right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
DE LA CRUZ: The celebration like no other in a city like no other. We go back to the Essence music festival in New Orleans and see how those in charge think it's going.
LEMON: Cell phone use and rude behavior just seem to go hand in hand or hand-held I should say, don't they? Now someone is finally doing something about it. They're pushing for a whole month devoted to cell phone etiquette awareness in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Celebrating the rebirth of the big easy.
DE LA CRUZ: The big easy. How do you say it? No doubt about it, the essence music festival is back.
LEMON: Fredricka Whitfield joins us. She is lucky enough to be there. Fred, let the good times roll. We hope you guys are having a good time there.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We're having a great time here. How could you not? Look at this crowd back here. You can hear the music behind me too, right? A mixture of recorded music and even live music behind me. That's just part of what we're talking about here. It's reclaiming the dream, self empowerment. Yes, for the 14th year here in New Orleans, the 14th annual essence music festival. At the cornerstone is music.
This is also a place, a platform of important dialogue. Hard- hitting issues of the family, of your wealth, the economy overall, the job prospects for you. The brainchild of this project here for many years tradition now, and of course at the magazine you're very familiar with it -- this magazine traditionally is about self empowerment.
Angela Burt-Murray here editor in chief, Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications, both with me now. This has to be so impressive to you as well because it's a beautiful gathering of people of all walks. People have come from all over the country. I've talked to so many who made the trip far and wide to be here. And it's not just for the entertainment factor, just for the music, but really it is to learn and to have dialogue with one either. Michelle?
MICHELLE EBANKS, PRES., ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS: It's a phenomenal weekend for us. We're very excited. This is our family reunion. This is when we come together once a year to celebrate all that Essence represents and all that the community unites itself around.
WHITFIELD: Family reunion is the perfect way of putting it. Because I have seen so many people who look like they haven't seen each other in a long time and they are hugging, they're screaming and all of that. They're having a great time. You all have made a real conscientious effort to have this very powerful dialogue about the family, about issue number one as well call it at CNN, the economy. Angela, how did you pare it all down, how did you get from this huge concept to narrowing it down to, ok, this is what this program is going to be all about?
ANGELA BURT-MURRAY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ESSENCE MAGAZINE Well it's all about listening to the audience. African-Americans are in constant contact with Essence Magazine to let them know what are the issues at the core of the community. We knew when we were putting together this year's festival that we had to focus on the issues that the audience cares about.
The state of the black family, the economy, like you said. Also HIV/AIDS in our community, which is devastating black women in particular and also taking a look at the election obviously. It's important that this audience that is incredibly engaged in this election, talk about the issues.
WHITFIELD: In addition to these issues, you really are making a statement to America and to New Orleans. Your commitment to New Orleans is strong. 13 out of the 14 years of the Essence music festival have taken place right here. The only year it wasn't was immediately after Katrina. Why have you made this kind of conscientious effort to say, we're committed too, to helping economically and culturally this city?
EBANKS: The city of New Orleans, this is where our first ever Essence music festival was held. It's an important part of the festivities, of the celebration. After hurricane Katrina, when the superdome wasn't repaired we went to Houston but knew we had to come back home. It's such a rich cultural heritage of African culture. So for us it's only natural that we continue to celebrate Essence and all that it means right here in New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: Was there ever a moment Angela where you were worried that perhaps this city really couldn't accommodate, couldn't handle your 200,000 people given that it's still a crippled city, it's not there yet? BURT-MURRAY: Yes. The city is certainly still challenged but Michelle has always been committed from day one that we had to return. The politicians from the mayor, Ray Nagin, to Lieutenant governor have worked closely with Michelle to make sure that we were able to return. And to be able to return and be successful. We're so excited to see the people come, over 200,000 people over the course of a three-day weekend to help New Orleans.
WHITFIELD: It's incredible and we talked to Mayor Ray Nagin earlier who said, indeed, he's so grateful that Essence will continue to make the commitment here and bring music lovers here to this city to take advantage of all that New Orleans has to offer.
You mentioned the lieutenant governor. We're actually going to be talking to him tomorrow as well about the continued efforts the state has for this city, the commitment for New Orleans as well. Michelle Ebanks and Angela Burt-Murray, thanks so much both of Essence Magazine.
Of course the brainchild of this music festival for the 14th year now, Don. Should I rub it in some more for you that you're not here and I am?
LEMON: You know we have to say this, we're sitting here looking at it and honestly, just three beautiful accomplished African-American women, it's good to see that on our screen here, I have to say that.
WHITFIELD: You're so nice. Veronica, he's such a charmer, isn't he?
DE LA CRUZ: But it's true.
LEMON: It is true.
WHITFIELD: I mean, he's so sweet he's giving me a cavity.
LEMON: It's the truth. All right, thank you very much, Fred. We look forward to you with your special report tomorrow.
WHITFIELD: All right. You all have a great holiday weekend.
DE LA CRUZ: Happy Fourth, Fred.
You know there is even more tomorrow when Fred brings you a special report on the New Orleans resurrection, plus the Essence festival, all becomes a backdrop for politics, the black vote and the presidential election. So join us for Fredricka's special report live from the New Orleans Essence Festival. It happens tomorrow afternoon, that's 4:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
So sweet that I've got a cavity. You are so sweet, Don.
LEMON: Not just a sweet weekend but a very special weekend at America's ballparks. Look at that live pictures right there. Ryan Church of the New York Mets will tell us about baseball's plan to hit a home run for veterans. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUCY LIU, ACTRESS/AMBASSADOR TO UNICEF: Children really don't need a lot. If you give them a little bit they can go so far with that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DE LA CRUZ: Something as simple as clean drinking water. We preview CNN's special worldwide broadcast Sunday night of "The Survival Project, Saving One Child at a Time."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: Hey there, I'm Veronica De La Cruz at the CNN Center here in Atlanta.
LEMON: Happy Fourth. Did we say that to each other all day?
DE LA CRUZ: Happy Fourth. You know, we haven't.
LEMON: And Happy Fourth to everybody out there.
DE LA CRUZ: Great tie, by the way. It's red, white and blue, just in case you can't see.
LEMON: She made me wear it by the way.
I'm Don Lemon. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Time now to tell you about some of the stories we're working on for you today in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The death of former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. The 86-year-old arch-conservative died of natural causes at a medical center in Raleigh. The White House released a statement praising Helms as a true patriot.
In France a hero's welcome for former hostage, Ingrid Betancourt. A big hug from French president Nicolas Sarkozy, followed by a party at the presidential palace.
A major wildfire creeps closer to Big Sur. It's one of hundreds of fires raging today across California. Thousands of homes are threatened.
DE LA CRUZ: We often hear about baseball heroes, but Major League Baseball says the real heroes are America's fighting men and women. It is launching a "Welcome Back Veterans" campaign with special events at ballparks all over the country this weekend.
Joining us now to talk about it is Ryan Church of the New York Mets. He's in Philadelphia where the Mets are playing the Phillies this weekend.
Hey, Ryan. RYAN CHURCH, NEW YORK METS: Hello.
DE LA CRUZ: Hey, thanks for being with us.
CHURCH: No problem.
DE LA CRUZ: Tell us about this program. I understand that the chairman of the Mets created it. It's called Welcome Back Vets. Tell us more.
CHURCH: It's just a special thing that they've got going on just to help out -- to show appreciation for what all the soldiers over there are doing for us.
DE LA CRUZ: And I understand that you have a very special connection to this program because your brother is actually in Iraq right now.
CHURCH: Yes, he's over there. It's his second tour. I don't know what city that he's stationed at. But I think about him everyday and all the servicemen and women that are over there fighting for our freedom.
DE LA CRUZ: Do you know when he's going to be coming home?
CHURCH: The only thing I know is he was supposed to be over there for about eight, nine months.
DE LA CRUZ: So tell us, in the meantime, what you guys are going to be doing. How does the public get involved?
CHURCH: Not too sure. They really haven't filled me in on what exactly the people outside of baseball can do.
I know that we're just going to be trying to reach out for soldiers that are over there right now, and just trying to care for them. Whether it be packages, food, anything like that.
CHURCH: Well the way I understand it is you will all be wearing a special baseball cap that you will all autograph and then auction off.
There is a picture right there.
Have you talked to any of your teammates? What are their thoughts about this program?
CHURCH: Actually, I haven't really had a chance. Everybody is just starting to funnel in right now to the clubhouse. But anything that we can do for the soldiers -- it's just beneficial and it shows that -- our appreciation for what they're doing on a daily basis. And it gives us the freedom to do what we do over here. And we just playing a simple game of baseball. They're over there fighting everyday and laying their lives on the line. It puts a lot of things into perspective. DE LA CRUZ: Well Ryan, we do appreciate you sharing your story with us. Our thoughts and prayers, of course, with you and your family and brother.
CHURCH: Thank you.
DE LA CRUZ: Ryan Church is a player for the Mets.
Good luck as you guys play the Phillies tonight. Happy Fourth.
CHURCH: Appreciate it. Same to you.
DE LA CRUZ: Don?
LEMON: They're trying to help the men and women of our armed services overseas. And we're going to tell you about a way that you can help.
We want to tell you about a one-hour special airing. It's this Sunday night here on CNN. It's called "The Survival Project: Saving One Child at a Time."
Our Fredricka Whitfield recently sat down with the UNICEF ambassador, Lucy Liu, and CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, to discuss the triumphs and the tribulations of charities for children.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think the biggest surprise, and maybe not that much of a surprise in retrospect, is that you can do so much with so little. I think in the United States we're used to having all these resources available to us -- hospitals with lots of supplies, equipment. Clean water is a birth right essentially here. You turn on the tap and you expect to be able to drink that water.
It's just not the case in so many places. But small amounts of money, small amounts of resources, can make a huge difference.
WHITFIELD: Lucy, what were you observing and how do you use your celebrity to make a difference?
LIU: I think what I observe is how -- what Sanjay said, basically -- is how children really don't need a lot. If you give them a little bit, they can go so far with that. And that is the amazing thing. They bounce back so quickly.
WHITFIELD: Well it's one thing to witness it, and it is a stark reality. It's another to actually get the need there.
How is it that we're able to supplement what many of these villages and small towns already have?
LIU: I don't think they have a lot. Water is something that is very, very important. It is the source of life for them. If you have water, they're able to have agriculture, which will help with nutrition. And it also gives children the ability to go to school.
If they don't have water that's close by, they have to go miles and miles away to get this water, which then, in turn, gives them the inability to go to school.
WHITFIELD: Well Sanjay, are you surprised that we're not further along globally to help stamp out many of these preventable illnesses?
GUPTA: Yes, I am surprised. I think that one thing I have learned is that I think people are inherently compassionate. I really do believe that. And I think that's -- Lucy and I have traveled to some of the worse places, I think, in the world. Lucy -- I saw right when she got back from Congo last year, it dramatically affects you.
But you see a lot of hope over there as well, and you see a lot of people wanting to do the right thing. So I think that that energy and that positive thinking, a lot more can be done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: "The Survival Project: One Child at a Time" airs Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. The one-hour special will be simulcast on CNN International. Make sure to check out the special section on our Web site dedicated to this initiative. You'll find what you can do to impact your world for the better.
DE LA CRUZ: America's new vigilante. He walks you and the law through the scene and explains what was going through his mind when he shot and killed two men outside his house.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: Well, it is mission accomplished for Operation Playground in suburban New Orleans.
Here's CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (on camera): What a day it has been in Metairie, Louisiana. Take a look behind me. That area, where that playground is, was just mud and sticks just a few hours ago. And they have put up this playground -- over 200 volunteers. It is a remarkable thing.
We partnered with all these volunteers and the nonprofit Kaboom, as well. Take a look at how we got here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning!
AUDIENCE: Good morning!
GUPTA: Good morning. Welcome to a very special edition of "House Call."
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Three, two, one, kaboom! GUPTA: We want to give a special thanks to everyone who came out and helped build this playground, more than 200 people. And let this be an example to you at home, as well. Get outside today and be active.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Metairie, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Things were going well in Chicago until last night's fireworks were over. That's when shooting started. Hundreds of thousands of people were leaving the city's lake front when shots rang out. One young man died and three were wounded. Police are calling the incident gang related.
In Milwaukee, an overnight shooting at a street party left four people dead. Reports say more than 100 people were at the party when at least one person fired into the crowd.
The shooter is still at large. And police say potential witnesses are not cooperating.
DE LA CRUZ: America's latest vigilante explains his actions that sparked a nationwide controversy. This is the police interview of Joe Horn.
He is the Texas man who shot and killed two burglary suspects he says were robbing his neighbor's home. Monday, a Texas grand jury decided not to indict him. But the case still fires debate over the use of deadly force.
The story now from Kevin Quinn of CNN affiliate, KTRK.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE HORN, SHOT & KILLED BURGLARY SUSPECTS: It sounded like it was like breaking glass.
KEVIN QUINN, KTRK REPORTER: On the day of the shootings last November...
I looked back out this window, that's when I saw them like, leaving, but I don't know what direction they were going.
QUINN: ... Joe Horn walked police through the moments leading up to his decision to pull the trigger on the two men who he suspected of burglarizing his neighbor's home.
HORN: I wasn't expecting it see nobody, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
HORN: So I immediately -- I went up like this and I had my shotgun on them, OK. And I said, stop, don't move. I think I said, I've called the police. QUINN: Horn had called 9-1-1. He says he went outside only to get the dispatcher a better description of the suspects or an idea where they were headed. He says he had no idea he would exit his front door to find the men just feet away. He says they were right here, near this tree in his front yard, that one of the men made a move toward him.
HORN: And then one of the men jumped and I shot him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
HORN: I -- there was two of them, officer. There was only one of me. I am not physically -- ain't no way I could have handled them, OK.
I shot them. I'm not denying that.
QUINN: Diego Ortiz and Hernando Torres were killed.
During a sit-down interview at the police station that same day, and in a subsequent interview a month later, Horn said he opened fire only because he feared for his life. A terror he says he's never felt before.
HORN: You've heard the term, maybe petrified with fear -- where you can't do anything. I would describe it something like that. But then also in my mind, it's like if they attack me, I'm not going to make it. I know I'm not going to make it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DE LA CRUZ: And that was Kevin Quinn from KTRK-TV in Houston reporting.
The two men Horn killed were determined to be Colombian nationals in the U.S. illegally.
LEMON: Well you see it all the time, people talking on their cell phones. You can hear their conversation sometimes better than --
DE LA CRUZ: Oh wait, wait. Hang on. I've got to take this call. I'm sorry.
Hello?
LEMON: You are so special.
How would you like if we --
DE LA CRUZ: Oh, it's Josh Levs.
LEMON: -- stopped what we were doing and we started yapping on our cell phone like her. It's uncool, right?
DE LA CRUZ: Hi, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really isn't.
LEMON: It is really --
DE LA CRUZ: Josh, how dare you call us --
LEVS: We're going to get in trouble for this.
DE LA CRUZ: -- while we're on the air.
LEMON: National wireless etiquette month.
DE LA CRUZ: Manners, Josh.
LEMON: That was a disaster. Sorry, viewers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: Earlier we were talking to Ryan Church. He is a player for the New York Mets. Tonight, they are going to be playing the Phillies. We were asking how the public can get involved. Here's how. All you have to do is logon to their Web site, welcomebackveterans.org. That's going to give you some more information.
LEMON: You know we all have pet peeves. This is certainly my pet peeve.
Hang up and drive. Why are you shouting? Can you hear me now?
Of the countless ways you can irritate people with your cell phone these days, how about for just one month we all pay attention to our wireless etiquette, Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: What? I'm on the phone. I'm sorry.
LEMON: Too much to ask?
DE LA CRUZ: Yes.
LEMON: We were on the plane the other day together and she was talking on the phone.
DE LA CRUZ: Hello?
LEMON: Here's CNN's Josh Levs.
DE LA CRUZ: Hello?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice-over): You often hear safety rules about how not to use your cell phone. What about etiquette rules for restaurants, or other places?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It actually just happened. I was in the bathroom and some guy in the next urinal was taking a call. LEVS: This guy suffers on the subway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just the other day this lady was talking to her doctor about some ailment she had and how it was flaring back up.
LEVS: Sprint etiquette spokeswoman, Jacqueline Whitmore, declared a National Cell Phone Courtesy Month because it was time to drill in some basics. She says even her masseuse once took a call.
JACQUELINE WHITMORE, FOUNDER, CELL PHONE COURTESY MONTH: This went on for five minutes while she was massaging my one shoulder with one hand.
LEVS: Rules for the annual event include: keep calls private, avoid cell yell, and let some calls go to voicemail.
We showed people the rules.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's all kind of common sense, you would think.
LEVS: She was put to the test.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't answer if I know that I'm doing something.
LEVS (on camera): It's ringing right now, isn't it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is.
LEVS: It's ringing right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just ignored it because I'm doing something.
LEVS (voice-over): Courtesy Month's founder says most people do the right thing, like this guy who lowered his phone before ordering. But plenty don't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're here. They'll always -- they never look at you, and they're always right here.
LEVS: With more than 250 million wireless subscribers in the U.S., do people think Courtesy Month will catch on?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think maybe you should start with a day. Like a no-smoking day. Something like that.
LEVS (on camera): An annual, national cell phone courtesy day would be better?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There you go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: All right. So obviously -- LEMON: It drives me crazy. It drives me crazy.
(CROSSTALK)
LEVS: You really care about this issue. It matters.
LEMON: In the restaurant people come in and they put their BlackBerry on the table, or the phone.
DE LA CRUZ: Guys, I'm sorry, could you guys keep it down? I'm on the phone.
LEMON: No but seriously, Veronica, it's the rudest thing, honestly. When people are in the car, like two people on the phone in the same car. People on the elevator. People on airplanes --
LEVS: And here's the problem --
LEMON: I don't want to hear your conversation.
LEVS: People talk louder on their cell phones than they do in person, or than they do on a real phone.
LEMON: Louder on their cell phone.
LEVS: They automatically -- and they've studied this. People talk louder on their cell phones. Even though you don't technically have to in most cases, depending where you are, people just do it anyway.
Take a look at this quiz. They put together this quiz. OK, this is what -- the people have created it. So if your phone rings in a meeting, what do you think the right answer is according to this etiquette expert? Just don't worry because your phone's already on silent; you take the call; or you step out because you've already told your colleagues that you might get the call.
What's the right answer.
LEMON: If you tell your colleagues, then you step out.
DE LA CRUZ: No, no, no.
LEVS: But what -- they're saying it's A.
If you're in a meeting, it's an official time so you just don't ever answer.
But go to the next one, because the next one is what you're kind of thinking about. If we can go to screen two.
If you're out to dinner and the phone rings, do you apologize, let it go; do you step out; or do you take the call?
There, they're saying B.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I step out if it's an important call. Otherwise, pay attention to your friend, put your darn cell phone away.
DE LA CRUZ: No.
LEMON: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: You guys, keep it down I'm on the phone.
LEMON: You're making light of this, but I'm really serious.
DE LA CRUZ: I'm still on the phone.
LEVS: He's really --
LEMON: Because it's annoying to so many people. I think it's really rude. And I think it's obnoxious when people do it.
I try to always be diligent with my cell phone. If I'm by myself, I'll use it in the car.
LEVS: And it makes everybody uncomfortable. Because -- like that guy in the piece who was just saying he was with this woman on the subway and had to hear of the specifics of her medical ailments.
LEMON: Yes.
LEVS: And she didn't mind announcing it to everyone in the subway car. But we do need to do something about this.
LEMON: Or people's business -- you're on the plane and people are like, oh, well you know, I heard this, and, oh, ha ha ha. And you're like, the whole plane doesn't want to -- I'm glad we did this.
DE LA CRUZ: I am so guilty of all of this.
(CROSSTALK)
DE LA CRUZ: See, there it goes. There it goes.
He just took my cell phone.
LEMON: This is issue No. 1. As I said, we all have pet peeves, and this happens to be one that I really take serious.
LEVS: Well now Veronica knows how to use it against you. Watch out.
LEMON: It drives me bananas.
DE LA CRUZ: Pushing his buttons -- Don Lemon. I'm sorry. I'll get off my cell phone now.
LEVS: You guys are fun. Happy Fourth of July, everybody.
LEMON: Come on, let's go.
DE LA CRUZ: Happy Fourth, Josh.
See you guys later. All right. I'll take over from here.
All right. Well it's one of the few contests where having a tapeworm could be an asset. Wolfing down the dogs for fun, profit and tradition.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PFC. ERNESTO SALVADOR, U.S. ARMY: I'm Private First Class Ernesto Salvador.
Being here in Iraq, I'm very proud to serve the rest of the soldiers that are out there, actually fighting and being able to put my skills to work, helping them out. And I want to say hello to my wife back home in Fort Worth, Texas, and the rest of my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: We haven't seen anything like this since Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb began butting heads. Avery's Beverages is Connecticut has a different kind of straw poll going. They're cranking out two new sodas, Blue Barack O'Berry and Red John McCream, and putting the two against each other in a carbonated confrontation.
They company will track sales and the soda with the most pop with the public wins. Nothing remotely scientific about it. The company's encouraging people to vote early and vote often, of course.
DE LA CRUZ: It is all over, but the indigestion at Coney Island's annual hotdog eating contest is probably just beginning. When last year's champ, Joey Chestnut, successfully did it, defending his title, he downed a gut-busting 64 Nathan's hotdogs. Sixty-four. Living up to his nickname, Jaws. But he needed a sudden death eat-off against digestive legend, Takeru Kobayashi, who certainly is no cupcake when it comes to competitive eating. The 128-pounder from Japan was the six-time winner before Chestnut.
Win, lose or draw, you know their parents are proud. Today's winner is $10,000 richer.
And during the break, I think, Don, you scarfed down, what, 10 hotdogs during the break?
LEMON: No. You certainly scarfed one down, though.
On the Fourth of July -- I don't eat hotdogs.
DE LA CRUZ: Oh yes, that's true.
LEMON: On the Fourth of July, our own I-Report kiosk is parked in the nation's capital. People are stopping by to talk about patriotism and America's global image.
Here's some of what they're saying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The image of the United States around the world is -- has been tarnished. I think it has a lot to do with what we've done in Iraq. But it's been going on longer than that. It does concern me. We've talked about going to the Middle East, to the holy land, and we're scared to. So we don't, because we think something could happen. And it's unfortunate. I just hope that we do more around the world to better our image, and hopefully change the way people think about us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, we're from Good Samaritan Community Services from the Rio Grande Valley. Patriotism to us is ...
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: ... our freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to say happy birthday to my mom. Happy birthday, mom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: There's more of what people are saying. Check it out, ireport.com.
DE LA CRUZ: And unfortunately that is all the time we have. But Happy Fourth of July to you.
LEMON: Absolutely. Lots of fireworks today in "THE SITUATION ROOM." That's because Suzanne Malveaux is hosting.
Take it away, Suzanne.
DE LA CRUZ: Hey, Suzanne.
