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Homeowner Rescue; Salmonella Source; Summing Up the Obama Trip; Pollution and the Olympics
Aired July 26, 2008 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Yes indeed, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. The news is unfolding and it's unfolding live right here for you on this Saturday, the 26th day of July. I'm T.J. Holmes.
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning everybody, I'm Alina Cho. Glad you're with us.
HOLMES: The Senate has some important work to do and they're working for you on a housing bill and yes they are working on the weekend. But, is it really going to help you out? We'll look into this.
CHO: We're also watching this story. Remember all of those tomatoes that were blamed for the salmonella outbreak. Well it turns out they may not have been the source. And this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMIE MCINTYRE: I'm actually inside a high security cell. This is the kind of cell detainees are kept in.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Inside the shadowy world of Guantanamo. That's our Jamie McIntyre there. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM and we are going to start with the federal government expected to throw a financial lifeline to hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure. Right now the U.S. Senate is voting on a massive housing rescue bill. We want to go live to Washington and CNN's Kate Bolduan who's been keeping an eye on this special Saturday session. Are they voting just yet?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm actually getting word, I think they're just starting to vote right as we speak T.J. This is a housing bill that's designed to give struggling homeowners a break and to boost confidence in the housing market. You can see right there senators on the floor, they're about to get ready to vote on this bill. While there remains some debate over some provisions of this bill, it is expected to pass this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Senators working overtime this week to push through a massive housing bill. A democratic proposal enjoying broad republican support aimed at offering homeowners some relief amid record numbers of foreclosures across the country. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's damaged neighborhoods and devastated local governments and state governments with tax revenues and it's made the banking industry very, very shaky.
BOLDUAN: The bill includes up to $300 billion in government guaranteed loans to allow homeowners facing foreclosure to refinance to more affordable mortgages. The bill also gives the government new authority to prop up the giant mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. There's about $15 billion in tax breaks including a tax credit of up to $7,500 for first time homebuyers and there's $4 billion in grants to help communities fix up foreclosed properties. This portion was a sticking point with the White House. The Bush administration concerned the grants were more of a bailout for lenders than help for homeowners but in the end the president reversed his veto threat.
DANA PERINO, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: So we had to make a hard choice. And the choice that we made is that the president will accept Secretary Paulson's recommendation and sign the bill.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: White House spokesman Tony Prado(ph) told me yesterday that the president will sign this bill into law as soon as he gets it. It remains a little unclear however on exactly how quickly the bill will make it to the president's desk. It could be days. But first, the vote that's happening now. T.J. and Alina?
HOLMES: All right, well let us know when the vote is in. We'll be checking back in with you. We appreciate you this morning.
CHO: Staggering numbers just out on how many homeowners are facing foreclosure across the country. In Nevada right now, one in every 43 households is in foreclosure. California, one in every 65. In Arizona, one out of every 70. In each of those houses there's a homeowner in distress. CNN's Ted Rowlands introduces us to people learning to cope with the loss of their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mike and Kristin Bertrand lost their southern California home to foreclosure.
MIKE BERTRAND, FOUNDER, "MOVING FORWARD": It was the feeling of total hopelessness and impending doom where you don't know exactly what the doom is.
KRISIN BERTRAND, FOUNDER, "MOVING FORWARD": Rock bottom for me was, wow, thoughts of suicide.
ROWLANDS: Mike and Kristin say during the foreclosure process they felt alone even though thousands of others were also going through it, some in their own neighborhood.
MIKE BERTRAND: We thought it would be a good idea to form a group where people going through the same thing can get together and support one another to help get through the human effects of foreclosure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My name is (INAUDIBLE) and we're just starting the process of going through foreclosure.
ROWLANDS: Now thanks to Mike and Kristin, twice a month people in different stages of the foreclosure process get together for emotional support, answers and advice. They call the group "Moving Forward." Each meeting there are guest speakers from financial experts --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The minute you crawl out of the bankruptcy slump you're going to have some credit offers.
ROWLANDS: To family therapists.
JACK DOMAN, FAMILY THERAPIST: I think that losing a house is almost like losing a loved one. Because of all of the stress that's involved.
ROWLANDS: Randall and Wendy Richman say they know all about the stress.
WENDY RICHMAN, "MOVING FORWARD" PARTICIPANT: Let's see, how many nights have I cried myself to sleep or on the way home from work? It's just so unnerving when -- this is our home.
ROWLANDS: They're still in their home but because their adjustable rate mortgage has almost doubled, they can't afford it. They recently stopped making payments and are awaiting to get kicked out. They say the "Moving Forward" meetings are helping.
RANDALL RICHMAN, "MOVING FORWARD" PARTICIPANT: Everyone else that we've talked to is trying to sell us something or get us to sign something or do something to benefit them and this group really is -- no one is selling you anything.
WENDY RICHMAN: Seeing other people in the same boat that we're in is comforting because you go, ok I'm not alone. I'm not a loser.
ROWLANDS: Mike and Kristin are now renting a house but plan to continue with "Moving Forward." As more and more people because of foreclosure are being forced to move out. Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Federal regulators have shut down two more banks. The FDIC closed First National Bank of Nevada and First Heritage Bank yesterday. Both banks will reopen Monday as Mutual of Omaha branches. The FDIC calls the takeover the least costly resolution to this situation. They say bank customers will have access to their money and will be able to use checks and ATM cards over the weekend.
CHO: Senator Barack Obama is expected to head back to the U.S. in just about 30 minutes. Right now the democratic presidential candidate wrapping up a week long trip overseas with a stop in Britain. The itinerary there, absolutely packed. He met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, touching on foreign policy issues of course and the quote, special relationship between the U.S. and Britain. Obama also held talks with former Prime Minister Tony Blair. Remember him. And some other British politicians. But politics back home capturing the headlines there. CNN's senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is in London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Hi from 10 Downing Street in London, the last stop on Barack Obama's week long tour through the Middle East and Europe. This has been quite a trip for him. He was greeted warmly both on the streets and in the halls of power and all along he was given a warm reception. But the question is how indeed was this taken back home and it's a question that Obama addressed as he prepared to head back to Chicago.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I wouldn't even be surprised if in some polls that you saw a little bit of a dip as a consequence. We've been out of the country for a week. People are worried about gas prices. They're worried about home foreclosures. So the reason that I thought this trip was important was I'm convinced that many of the issues that we face at home are not going to be solved as effectively unless we have strong partners abroad.
CROWLEY: John McCain and the Republicans took full advantage of Obama's absence from the U.S. campaign trail. McCain was out talking home and heart issues, gas prices, mortgage foreclosures, that sort of thing, today as he prepared to leave, Barack Obama fired back.
OBAMA: In terms of a victory lap, it's hard for me to understand Senator McCain's argument. He was telling me I was supposed to take this trip. He suggested it. Thought it was a good idea. Although I got to admit we had it planned before he made the suggestion. John McCain has visited every one of these countries post-primary that I have. He has given speeches in Canada, in Colombia, Mexico. He made visits. And so it doesn't strike me that we've done anything different than the McCain campaign has done which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief, is to forge effective relationships with our allies.
CROWLEY: In the end these sorts of trips are remembered not so much for what was said but the impressions that are left. So whether it was playing hoops with troops, standing overlooking Amman, Jordan , whether he was before the wall in Jerusalem in the heart of Berlin addressing 200,000 people standing at the side of the French president or here coming out of 10 Downing Street. The impressions that Barack Obama hopes that he leaves on U.S. voters is that he is a man that can play not just president of the U.S. but as leader in the western world. Candy Crowley, CNN, London.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Meanwhile, Senator John McCain is focusing on domestic matters and fund-raising this weekend. Today the republican presidential candidate speaks to a forum on disability issues. And then tonight he hosts a barbecue at his ranch in Sedona, Arizona. Barack Obama is not on that list of invitations. Republican Party movers and shakers however are, also republican fundraisers. Earlier today McCain took aim at democratic rival Barack Obama during his weekly radio address. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Good morning. I'm John McCain. This week the presidential contest was a long distance affair with my opponent touring various continents and arriving yesterday in Paris. With all the breathless coverage from abroad and Senator Obama now addressing his speeches to "the people of the world" I'm starting to feel a little left out. Maybe you are, too.
(END OF AUDIO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, John McCain not being left out by CNN's Wolf Blitzer and the best political team on television. Going one-on-one with both presidential candidates. The next president a "Late Edition" special airs tomorrow night, 7:00 eastern.
CHO: Cleaning up an oil spill in the Mississippi in a place that's already struggling to clean up after Katrina. The pressure is on to save both the environment and the economy. We'll have that story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: It's slow going but ships are finally moving again along the lower Mississippi river. It could take a couple days for all of the 200 ships stranded by an oil spill to move through though. Take a look at those pictures. They're just incredible aren't they? Part of the waterway was closed Wednesday when a tanker hit a barge loaded with fuel oil. The collision spilled 419,000 gallons of oil into the river near downtown New Orleans. City officials say despite the spill, tests show that the city's water is safe to drink. That's good news.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOLMES: You all remember not too long ago the widespread salmonella outbreak, telling you not to eat tomatoes? You go to the restaurant, you couldn't get tomatoes. Well the problem wasn't tomatoes. We have some answers. The Food and Drug Administration now saying it has linked Mexican grown raw jalapenos and raw Serrano peppers. The Mexican government disputes the FDA's findings, calling the findings premature. More than 1,200 people in the U.S. and Canada have gotten sick from Salmonella since April. The FDA says peppers grown in the U.S. are not connected to this outbreak.
CHO: Well there is not much time left. This is the last weekend to nominate someone you know as a CNN hero. We're looking for ordinary people who are impacting our country and the world. A CNN hero is someone like Dave Schweidenback. He's changing lives half a world away with just a bicycle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For 20 years I walked with a little wheelbarrow selling house cleaning products for six or seven hours a day. With the money I earned I'd buy food for my family and medicine for my wife who has cancer. The situation is tough. A bicycle could really help me.
DAVE SCHWEIDENBACK, COMMUNITY CRUSADER: My name is Dave Schweidenback. I'm the founder of Pedals in Progress. I collect bikes for people in the developing world. When I was a Peace Corps volunteer down in the Amazon basin, everybody walks everywhere they go all the time. I knew that a bicycle could change someone's life for the better. I decided to run bike collections and send them to people to help give them a better life. We break them down. Load them into containers and when the containers arrive overseas the bicycles are sold at low cost to the local people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now things are better. I sell more because I do my runs quicker. Because of a bicycle, my life has changed.
SCHWEIDENBACK: My goal is to continue to collect as many bikes as I can and ship them to as many places as there are poor people who need them.
(END OF VIDEO CLP)
ANDERSON COOPER: July is the last month to nominate someone you know as a CNN Hero for 2008. Go to cnn.com/heroes.
CHO: Incredible story. Keep in mind that next Friday is the last day for nominations and here's how you do it. Go to cnn.com/heroes right now to get your application in. We may share your hero story with the world and they could be further honored at an all-star tribute thanksgiving night on CNN.
HOLMES: Some scary moments during a long distance flight. Yeah, that' pretty scary. We'll take you on board where one of our CNN i- Reporters was with a camera.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: An initial investigation shows terrorism was not the cause of a mid air scare aboard a Qantas airlines flight. The plane was carrying about 350 folks and it made an emergency landing yesterday after a huge hole opened up in the fuselage. Look at that. An i-Reporter Robert Reyes sent us these pictures you're looking at. They show how badly the fuselage was ripped apart. What may have caused it? Carol Costello asked a former NTSB investigator.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is no small hole, it's roughly nine feet wide. But the 346 passengers onboard and even the pilots didn't realize the enormity of what had happened until they got off the plane. The only clue at around 30,000 feet was an all-mighty blast. VOICE OF ROB HENSHAW, PASSENGER: It was very scary because we were just about to have lunch and suddenly the plane lurched to the left of (INAUDIBLE) like an explosion going off and then the cabin depressurized.
COSTELLO: Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling and the pilots began an immediate descent to 10,000 feet, an altitude that would allow passengers to breathe without masks. Passenger Rob Henshaw shot these pictures as the plane dropped.
HENSHAW: There was a lot of pain in the ears. Roaring sound of the wind and stuff was flying around. The stewardesses were kind of running to their seats. We kind of knew it was serious.
COSTELLO: Passengers were told a door had popped and to stay calm. They were about to make an emergency landing.
OWEN TUDOR, BRITISH PASSENGER: No one knew really what was going on. The staff weren't panicking and they were looking after us.
COSTELLO: Passengers were calm until they got off the plane and took a look at that gaping hole near the plane's baggage hold. They wondered how it happened. We did too. We showed the damage to Peter Goelz, a former NTSB investigator. What can you tell me from looking at this shot?
PETER GOELZ, FMR. NTSB MANAGING DIRECTOR: You look at this, you see that the panel that came off is cut along the rivet lines, the passenger lines, right along here. And it separated cleanly along those lines.
COSTELLO: Goelz says it's hard to tell whether the plane had been damaged before the flight or in mid air. If something did hit that to cause that hole, what would that something be?
GOELZ: At that altitude it's certainly not going to be a bird. What will happen is they will listen very carefully to the voice recorder, the cockpit voice recorder, and in a plane like this there are probably five or six mikes in the cockpit. They will listen to see if the fraction before the event happens whether there was any preceding sound.
COSTELLO: Investigators are already looking into that.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Again, the airline said there were no reports of injuries among the 346 passengers and 19 crew members.
CHO: We have this just into CNN. Congress holding a rare Saturday session to debate a key housing bill. President Bush has indicated he will sign it. The vote is in. Our CNN's Kate Bolduan is in Washington with more on that. Kate, what was the final tally?
BOLDUAN: The final tally Alina, it was overwhelmingly approved. 72 senators in favor of passing this bill, 13 opposed. The housing bill we have talked so much about over the past month has now passed and it will soon as quickly as possible be headed to the president's desk. It's a little unclear exactly how long that will take but it has been passed. I have already received some reaction from the White House on this bill. I'll read in part. It says -- this is from White House spokesman Tony Frado(ph) saying President Bush will sign this bill when he receives it despite our concerns with some provisions including nearly $4 billion to help lenders, not homeowners this legislation is intended to serve. This is one of the provisions in the bill, it's $4 billion in community grants to help communities fix up foreclosed property that they have been opposed to but did say as we see here that the president will sign this bill as soon as he gets it. Alina?
CHO: Kate, break down the bill for us a little bit more. Because I know in part it will help homeowners. In part it will help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which by the way backs or hold nearly half of all of the mortgages in the United States. Talk a little bit more about the specifics of the bill.
BOLDUAN: Right, of course. This is a very big bill. It's a massive housing assistance package. One of the provisions is -- basically it's a program that allows up to $300 billion in government guaranteed loans for homeowners allowing homeowners who are facing foreclosure the opportunity to refinance to more affordable mortgages and another significant portion of this bill is $15 billion in tax breaks. That includes a tax credit for first time homebuyers of up to $7,500. As you mentioned the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, this bill also gives the government new authority over these two entities and if needed extend the credit line for them in order to prop them up and help them be stabilized. Alina?
CHO: It also creates a government watchdog person to keep an eye on everything, too. CNN's Kate Bolduan with the very latest on the housing bill which just passed the senate in Washington. Kate, thank you. T.J.?
HOLMES: We turn now to the Middle East where Hamas security forces say they have arrested more than 100 rival Fattah members in Gaza. That's after a bombing killed five militants and a six year old girl at a beach in Gaza City. The blast happened last night. Among those killed a Hamas military commander who had been the target of numerous assassination attempts by the Israeli military. Fattah is denying responsibility for the bombing.
CHO: Coming up, you've heard a lot about the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay. Next, you're going to get an exclusive look inside.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALINA CHO, CNN ANCHOR: Half past the hour happening across the world right now the senate in special session this hour just passed a multibillion dollar housing bill. It's aimed at keeping homeowners out of foreclosure. The vote overwhelming, 72 to 13. President Bush has said he will sign it. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama talking foreign policy with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown this morning. Obama on the last leg of his overseas tour. A week long. He heads home later this hour.
Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain saying in his radio address earlier today he's feeling a little left out by al the quote, breathless coverage of Obama. Part of the reason Obama is overseas is he's trying to court votes from Americans living abroad. We're talking about ex-patriots and they could be a critical voting block this presidential election. The ex-pats we spoke to say they have never felt more excited about politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): The Gronckis are Americans living in Paris. Living abroad they are known as ex-pats and they are as comfortable here as they are uncomfortable about what's happening at home.
LESLIE GRONCKI, EX-PAT LIVING IN PARIS: It makes me sad quite frankly. We've only been gone from the United States for 2 1/2 years and it feels like the United States is unraveling in many respects.
CHO: The war in Iraq. The faltering economy. Her children's future. All reasons why this self-described nonpolitical mom is getting involved in this year's presidential election.
L. GRONCKI: You don't get to complain about something unless you're doing something to fix it. As a parent now I really appreciate that sentiment.
CHO: Enter "Mamas for Obama", the new Paris chapter, an organized show of support for the democratic candidate.
KIM PETYT, MAMAS FOR OBAMA: It's interesting living from afar because you can see how America is perceived and I don't think it's how Americans who are living in the states think they're perceived.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can be an American even if you don't live in America.
CHO: Ex-pats are a critical voting block. Six million people including military personnel and they're voting with their pocketbooks, too. So far overseas fund-raising has raked in more than a million dollars for Obama and more than $200,000 for John McCain. Ex-pats even send delegates to the national convention. Experts say they typically voted republican but an unpopular war and sitting president have turned the tide. This year there are indications overseas Americans may be voting democratic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have active chapters in over 70 countries around the world. We have doubled our membership since January.
CHO: Those "Mamas for Obama" are trying to teach their kids a little about the political process. Some get it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you want someone to be president, then you have to vote.
CHO: Others, not yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not voting for Obama because he's against the war.
CHO: And the youngest still don't care.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Leslie has this super fast jet.
CHO: Leslie Groncki cares deeply even from 3,500 miles away.
LESLIE GRONCKI: We will return to the United States some time and I'll have a greater stake in the system there. I have two small children. It strikes me that this is a very important election.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Kids are so cute aren't they? Both campaigns say they're fully aware of the power of the ex-pat vote. For its part the group republicans abroad has more than 50 chapters around the world and they are planning to hold events in Mexico and Canada this summer just as Obama wraps up his trip overseas. T.J.?
HOLMES: NATO expressing regrets about a deadly checkpoint incident in Afghanistan. Troops opened fire on a vehicle killing four civilians and wounding three others. NATO says the driver of their vehicle refused to stop at the checkpoint and did not respond to warning shots. Meanwhile, Guantanamo, Camp Delta, we hear a lot about the prison camp where terror suspects are held and now we can take you inside. CNN's senior pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre goes where few have been except the people who don't want to be there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice-over): Down a cool, dim hallway, behind a remote-controlled steel door is a prison cell that holds what the pentagon likes to label the worst of the worst.
(On camera): I'm actually inside a high security cell in camp five. This is the kind of cell detainees are kept in. This one set up for display purposes. It's 12 feet by 8 feet. You see it has a sink and a toilet. And behind me you can see a window that you can see light through, but it's not the kind of window you can actually see outside. It's been made opaque. And behind me, these are the items you get if you're in compliance. Prayer rug, a couple of sets of shoes, a light brown uniform, extra blanket. These are the items you get if you're not in compliance. Prayer rug, some religious items, pair of flip-flops. And the famous orange jumpsuit.
(Voice-over): This is the recreation yard where even the hard core cases get up to three hours of outside activity. With an exercise mat, a soccer ball, and Gitmo's version of a treadmill. There's even an arrow pointing to Mecca. But you won't see any prisoners in this video. The military restrictions on photography are draconian, all images must be digital so military censures can delete the ones they don't approve of. That includes any faces of detainees and any security measures including locks and towers. Any glimpse into the shadowy world of Gitmo is just that, only a glimpse. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, inside Camp Delta.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Incredible. Coming up, on a boat in the middle of the hurricane. An i-Report you don't want to miss.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: Welcome back. 39 minutes after the hour. Slow going along the Mississippi River this morning. Some of the ships are finally slipping through a two-day jam that was caused by a massive oil spill. CNN's Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One of the most expensive traffic jams you will ever see. More than 200 commercial vessels are stuck in place or have to be diverted from the Mississippi River all because one small capsized barge is spilling 400,000 plus gallons of fuel. The head of the port of New Orleans is fuming.
GARY LAGRANGE, PRES. & CEO, PORT OF NEW ORLEANS: And the huge consequence of that is that the detrimental effect to the U.S. economy is $275 million a day. As long as the lower Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans is not open somebody has to move a little quicker.
TODD: The Coast Guard captain heading the recovery says he's got to put safety and security first. But admits --
CAPT. LINCOLN STROH, U.S. COAST GUARD: There is a lot of pressure. This is a major artery for the whole United States on goods and commodities.
TODD (On camera): That's Overseas New York, a big oil tanker, it is the only ship so far allowed to move up the Mississippi River but it didn't get far. It's being decontaminated right now. We're told it takes about three or four hours to decontaminate each vessel before it can move again. But in the meantime you have more than 200 other vessels like this one, the Seaboard Pride, a small container ship. It got stuck here when the oil spill happened. She's not going anywhere.
(Voice-over): Idle crew members take home video. Frustrated captain can't let us on the ship. He's using time to fix the chain on his anchor. This is what they're waiting on. Crews all along the river waiting for booms to sweep the oil to the banks to they can mop it up by hand. Slow, grinding, low tech work. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Steve Carlton takes us through the cleanup zone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They actually will take them, put them onto the surface of the water and work them across the surface because the oil is floating up on the top. And when they get dirty they'll bag them up and cart them off and dispose of them. You can see it's very labor intensive.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: We will turn now to a couple apparent shark attacks this morning. One we had in Hawaii. Officials say a woman was snorkeling off Macauca (ph) when she was apparently bitten by a 16-foot shark. The woman made it to shore on her own. Then she got help from bystanders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY CHAPMAN, AIDED SHARK VICTIM: When I was putting on the tourniquet she said, you have to release this every five minutes. I kind of gave her a look like, how you know that? She informed me she was a doctor.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The lifeguards posted warning signs as you see there and they closed a two-mile stretch of that beach. We turn to Florida now where a teenager's foot was bitten by a shark. It was a 17 year old who's now recovering. That bite took about 30 stitches to close. Police say he was surfing with friends when that shark took a little nibble.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUCE FULTON, INJURED TEEN'S FATHER: He had just finished riding a wave in and had jumped off the board to turn around to go back out. So I'm assuming his feet were on the ground and was bit from the bottom of his heel.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That incident happened yesterday off New Smyrna Beach about 50 miles south of Daytona Beach. That's the 15th shark bite in Volusia County this year.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CHO: Hurricanes can affect lives for days or weeks, even years after coming ashore. But it's often the moment of impact that burns into the memory.
HOLMES: Josh Levs spoke with an i-Reporter who had a front row seat as hurricane Dolly roared ashore. This is one time when front row seats might not be a good thing.
JOSH LEVS: You guys saw this one earlier right? It's pretty amazing stuff. I can't believe what you said. It was not an exaggeration when she talked. It was a terrifying experience. I'm sure now that Lisa Graves if she had to do it again, would not do this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my God.
LEVS (voice-over): This video was taken by Lisa Graves on a ship at South Padre Island during hurricane Dolly. She says at one point a sailboat crashed into the ship.
LISA GRAVES: I really did kind of fear for my life at that time just because of everything that was going on and you have no control over it.
LEVS: Why was she here? Her boyfriend, Stephen Murphy and his brother Patrick own two fishing vessels for tourists. The ships were docked but the brothers feared debris could sink them. So they stayed on with four crew members and Lisa who sent us i-Report photos and spoke to us during the storm.
GRAVES: It's actually outrageous here. The winds are just -- I can't describe it. In all my life I've never seen anything like this.
LEVS: Looking back now Lisa says it was terrifying especially when the others kept running outside to push away debris.
GRAVES: They were out there risking their lives. I was petrified and I was inside the cabin. You're at Mother Nature's will. I will never forget this for the rest of my life.
LEVS: Lisa, I'm assuming you would never ever counsel anyone else to stay on a boat in the middle of a hurricane, am I right?
GRAVES: No, no, no, no, I would never do that. In fact my mother thought that I was staying in our condo, our house. She found out the next day I was on a boat and now she's mad at me.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: Yeah, she's not the only one. Some people in Lisa's life learned about what happened there. Lisa's group did make it through fine. Everyone is ok. But South Padre Island was really devastated. Lisa's boyfriend and his brother will now not be able to run their tourist business, Captain Murphy's, for quite a while. So they're going to be looking for work now in a really rough economy. So T.J. and Alina we're going to keep tabs on them to see if they're able to rebuild this business and get going again, just like so many other people in that area which really were stricken by Dolly.
CHO: Good, keep us posted Josh. Thank you.
Love baseball but peanuts give you an allergic reaction? One ballpark has a solution.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, a baseball game without peanuts? Some say that is just madness.
CHO: Well, instead of getting a hot dog you may want to consider this, the Washington mariners say some of their games will have peanut-free zones, so all of their fans can experience a safe day at the ballpark. Here's Chris Daniels from our affiliate KING in Seattle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS DANIELS, KING REPORTER (voice-over): They are a ballpark staple and you couldn't avoid them at today's M's game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the only time I ever eat them is at the ball game.
DANIELS: But for two nights this season, peanuts will be out at the stadium.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's not April 1st I have to say.
You're serious?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that's hilarious.
DANIELS: But it's no laughing matter for Mike San Soucie.
MIKE SAN SOUCIE, MARINERS FAN: As I said, I have grown up around baseball. I love baseball. I want to experience it with my kids.
DANIELS: His 4-year-old son, Nathan, a Mariners fan himself has a severe peanut allergy.
SAN SOUCIE: If he consumes a peanut, it -- possibly through intake of the dust it can cut off his airway, create hives, vomiting and it can be immediate.
DANIELS: San Soucie wrote a letter to the Ms asking them to at least make one game peanut-free. Today the team announced it'll give them two. By cleaning and blocking off two sections in Safeco's third deck and ban peanut products in nearby concession stands.
REBECCA HALE, MARINERS SPOKESWOMAN: We'll have signage and we'll be able to encourage other fans who come into the area to help us keep that a peanut-free zone.
SAN SOUCIE: It'll be their first major league game.
DANIELS: San Soucie is elated it will be a family affair. Nathan's big sis, Madeleine, will get her first taste of the big leagues too. All because the Ms played ball.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Super cool.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. Well, hello.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone.
HOLMES: Fredricka, how are things?
WHITFIELD: We love by cue. But we're just talking about --
CHO: NEWSROOM continues at the top of the hour with Fred. WHITFIELD: And we're all pretending to sleep, but any way, hi, good to see you guys.
CHO: Somehow we missed you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: I know.
CHO: I don't know how.
WHITFIELD: I don't either. It's a big bummer but at least I'm seeing you here.
CHO: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Starting noon time we're going to talk about presidential politics. And 1980, 2008 what are the comparisons? Many are making some comparisons. We're talking about in 1980, Ronald Reagan, he was criticized as being inexperienced and the U.S. was being criticized as having a foreign relation's policy that was in shambles. So it's kind of Deja Vu according to some of the analysts. Our political analyst Bill Schneider is going to be talking with us to talk about some of the similarities and of course the differences. And our series, "Black in America" here at CNN. It launched in a very big way this week and already we've received a lot of responses from all over and we're going to be revealing some of the reaction from the series "Black in America," the documentary launched this week and you can see a number of other conversations that have taken place over the past few months.
Meantime, T.J. did a very interesting and engaging blog. You've elicited a huge response.
HOLMES: Didn't expect that. But --
CHO: Yeah, almost 1,000 comments.
WHITFIELD: That's right. You're going to be joining me in the noon hour to talk a little bit more about that and more about your expectations and lack thereof because it was a big surprise.
CHO: At this Unity journalism conference that we were at, it really was all the buzz and Soledad did a fantastic job on this documentary. It's going to re-air tonight.
WHITFIELD: That's right. And I'm glad you mentioned that because Don Lemon who is also attending the Unity conference in Chicago, he's going to be joining us as well in the noon eastern hour to talk about some of that reaction from that unity conference.
CHO: Everybody is talking about it.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, it really is.
HOLMES: The gang will all be with you I guess.
WHITFIELD: One big group hug. HOLMES: We will see you shortly.
WHITFIELD: Thanks Alina.
CHO: Thanks Fred.
WHITFIELD: I'm glad you're willing to participate.
HOLMES: These two.
WHTIFIELD: You, and what happened? And I got no hug, no love. All right thanks.
HOLMES: We will let the madness end let the games begin now.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
HOLMES: These are the games that we're talking about are beginning now. In Omaha, Nebraska they're drawing nearly 600 wheelchaired athletes. The games are for veterans. This is the 28th year of competition. This is a five-day event that includes basketball, track, hand cycling, bowling and even the rough and tumble game of rugby.
CHO: Good for them.
Looking ahead to the other big competition. Will the air clear in time for the Beijing Olympic Games?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHO: I like being close to you.
HOLMES: We have to make this shot work. We have to get in here tight.
CHO: Just a couple of minutes before the top of the hour. Stick around. The summer Olympics open up in Beijing in just two weeks.
HOLMES: Despite emergency efforts to get a handle on air pollution, CNN's John Vause reports, China is still struggling to clear the air.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A thick, heavy grayish haze hung over Beijing's gleaming new airport Friday morning. Visibility down to just a mile and a half. And with the opening ceremony now two weeks away, some arriving passengers were asking if maybe officials had done too little too late to improve the city's air.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks pretty -- pretty grim.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But in Europe it took 20, 30 years to improve the situation. They can't do it in one year. VAUSE: Almost a week ago an emergency pollution plan took affect. Half of Beijing's cars off the road. Many factories closed and all construction sites shut down. Beijing's environment protection agency has yet to respond to our request for comment, but official figures show there's been little improvement in air quality this week. A strong wind on Tuesday blew industrial pollution in from the south and with dead calm conditions since has now settled in.
(On camera): Never before has a city this big with this much pollution taken such drastic action to try and clear the air so quickly. And right now apart from hoping for a good wind and rain it seems there's no plan "B."
(Voice-over): But amid a festive atmosphere outside of the bird's nest stadium where the twisted gray beams matched the sky the advice from locals, relax. It's called haze weather, she says. It's a weather thing. It's not from car exhausts or air pollution. Look it's about to rain and then it'll be clear. In two weeks, we'll know if she's right. John Vause, CNN, Beijing.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Watching and waiting for that. So this has been so fun, we're going to come back tomorrow, do it again, huh.
HOLMES: We're going to do this one more time tomorrow.
CHO: 7:00 a.m. eastern time.
HOLMES: We've been doing this for five hours and we have to hand it off to Fredricka now. Fredricka, she's upset. She's had such a good time here with me.
CHO: Take the baton.
WHITFIELD: And I'll take the baton.
The young lady's response in that piece about the pollution, well, I can testify that pollution is bad. I was there last summer and I'll be at the Olympic Games in a few weeks as well. So it's going to be interesting.
CHO: Oh you're going.
WHITFIELD: Yeah I am.
CHO: You lucky duck.
WHITFIELD: I know it's going to be great. I will be telling you all about my little journey abroad because it's going to be a pretty extraordinary experience there at the Olympic Games. But the air quality is bad and we know that China has been taking huge lengths in order to clean it up but we're talking about athletes who are going to need some clean air in which to perform at their very best. So we'll all be watching.
HOLMES: Pack your mask too.
WHITFIELD: Yeah, I'll pack my mask.
