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Illinois Church Shootings; Troops to Begin Redeploying from Iraq in the Autumn; Job Opening Brings Hundreds of Applicants

Aired March 08, 2009 - 14:00   ET

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

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They ran out, 911, the pastor is down, gun shot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Inside an Illinois church a gunman opens fire.

U.S. troops leaving Iraq before the fall. Are they homeward bound?

One job opening, 700 applicants. I'm Fredricka Whitfield and you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

An Illinois Sunday sanctuary becomes the scene of horrifying violence. And now confirmation a church pastor is dead. It happened at the First Baptist Church of Maryville. Rebecca Wu with CNN affiliate KSDK joins us on the phone from there. So exactly what happened, Rebecca?

REBECCA WU, KSDK CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, I can tell you that people -- church members are still inside the church right now being interviewed by authorities. They were the ones inside the church when the shooting happened. A total of four people were injured. One of those is the gunman. One of the victims, the senior pastor of the church, did die from his injuries. That's Senior Pastor Fred Winters. Two other church members were taken to the hospital for treatment as well as the gunman.

So here's what happened. Early this morning when church service was already going on, the gunman walked into the church, headed straight towards the pulpit. That's when Senior Pastor Fred Winters stepped down from the pulpit and spoke to the gunman, asked him if he could help him. Words were exchanged. But the police say they weren't threatening words. That's when the gunman shot the senior pastor once. And then the gun jammed. And that's when the gunman then pulled out a knife and started injuring himself.

Two other church members, though, immediately tackled the gunman. The gunman also stabbed the two church members. Now, again, people are still inside being interviewed by authorities. They are slowly being released one at a time. I did speak with one church member who was actually in the church foyer at the time when the shooting happened. And here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLAUDIA BOHLEY, EYEWITNESS: I ran in to see if I could help. And I seen all this paper stuff up on the pulpit. Later I found out they said the bullets hit the pastor's Bible and it just was like confetti, it just went everywhere. People were -- they were down underneath on the floor screaming and praying. It was a terrible thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WU: Again, Senior Pastor Fred Winters died from his injuries. Right now, nobody knows who the gunman is. Police have not identified or released the identity of the gunman. Right now nobody knows the relationship between the gunman and the church and the gunman and the pastor.

WHITFIELD: So he was not a familiar face in that church whatsoever?

WU: Correct. One of the pastors came out and talked to us and he said he saw the gunman but did not recognize the gunman. They don't know if the gunman -- police right now don't know if the gunman acted alone or there were other people involved.

WHITFIELD: This looks like a very large church with maybe hundred of parishioners?

WU: Correct. Hundreds -- about 150 people were inside at the time. This was the first church service that was going on. There was a second service that was about to happen. That's when people started coming. That's when the shooting happened.

WHITFIELD: Very sad. All right. Rebecca Wu with KSDK. Thanks so much. Our hearts go out to the people there at First Baptist Church of Maryville there in Illinois. Thanks so much.

In the meantime, we're following two other big stories. Overseas out of Iraq, the U.S. military announcing today the reduction of U.S. troops on the same day a suicide bomber attacked the police academy. Our Nic Robertson is in Baghdad. So, Nic, let's begin with the U.S. soldiers. They're leaving Iraq, but then what?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, 14 combat brigade teams here right now, Fredricka. We're told that two of those combat brigade teams are drawing down and will be leaving by the end of September this year. And the plan is not to replace them. So that is about 12,000 troops. Those two combat brigade teams plus all their support units to be drawn down. About 140,000 troops right now. So less than 130,000 by the early fall this year. Also an F-16, a fighter detachment, also leaving the country, not to be replaced. We're also told in the same briefing some 4,000 British troops, almost all the troops remaining in Iraq will be pulled out by early summer. But at the same time today, a very big and deadly blast in Baghdad at a police recruitment center in the east of the city. A suicide bomber wearing a suicide vest with a motorbike packed full of explosives detonated the bike and himself outside this police recruitment center. All the young recruits waiting to join the police, 30 killed, 61 wounded, we're told. Twelve of the police killed in that attack as well, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So you put those things together, wonder if the Iraqi people feel like that more U.S. troops might be leaving if they're going to feel any safer. Already people do not feel very safe given the climate of violence that takes place now?

ROBERTS: You know, Fredricka, that's absolutely the feeling you get from people here. I was in a cafe in Baghdad just a few days ago. I was just meeting with a family here I've known for many years. Very sort of diverse groups of people, if you will. But both telling me they're very worried about when U.S. troops pull out of Iraq because they're very afraid there's a potential for the violence that's been tamped down significantly, for it to escalate. Very concerned about sort of a sectarian war between the Shia and the Sunnis, the Sunni militia here, still not trusting the government, a strong feeling that Iran will play a role in Iraq. And that's unsettling a lot of people. A lot of concern about that pull-out that's now looming and becoming, with the announcement today, a much realer prospect for Iraqis, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Nic Robertson, thanks so much from Baghdad. Appreciate that update. Appreciate it.

Let's talk about some weather right here in this country. Severe bands of weather in many places. Jackie Jeras is there checking all of it for us. Jacqui?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks, Jacqui. Appreciate it.

A few things on the mind of the president of the United States. President Obama says the U.S. is not winning the war in Afghanistan. That's according to the president in an interview published in today's "New York Times." Mr. Obama said Taliban rebels have become bolder in recent years, adding, quote, "In the southern regions of the country, you're seeing them attack in ways that we have not seen previously," end quote.

The president suggested one possible solution may involve reaching out to moderate factions of the Taliban. President Obama also talked about the recession and warned that it may take some time to complete an economic turn around. He said in the same article, quote, "Our belief and expectation is that we will get all the pillars in place for recovery this year. How long it will take before recovery translates into stronger job markets and so forth is going to depend on a whole range of factors."

That was a quote from the president in the "New York Times" in the today.

Also, downplaying economic expectations today, White House budget director Peter Orszag, he talked with CNN's John King on this morning's STATE OF THE UNION.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Six hundred fifty one thousand people out of work just this last month. Eight point one percent unemployment. I want to ask you the question Americans are asking, including this one right here on the front page of the "Times Daily" in northwest Alabama. When do we bottom out?

PETER ORSZAG, WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DIRECTOR: Look, it's very clear the economy is facing some tough times. We are inheriting the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. Job loss began in January 2008. It's going to take some time for us to work our way out of this. But we acted quickly. Within the first month after the president took office, enacted a recovery act to start back on the path to economic growth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: STATE OF THE UNION airs every Sunday morning on CNN. You can also join John King for STATE OF THE UNION prime time. That's tonight, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.

Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain hammered President Obama on the budget today. McCain says Mr. Obama has broken a promise to end pork barrel spending.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) AZ: I think on many of these promises he is trying to deliver and is delivering. I think on the issue of pork barrel spending, he clearly said in debates with me that he -- line by line that he would go through these bills and he would eliminate the wasteful and pork barrel spending. Obviously, he's not doing that. They are saying that this is last year's business. This is money we're going to spend this year. And he should veto the bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The White House says it had to work with budget decisions made before President Obama took office. It says next year's budget will be leaner.

All right. A clumsy move by a circus performer. Not usually dangerous unless the performer happens to be an elephant.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: President Obama is paying close attention to Mexico's crackdown on drug related violence near the border. Yesterday he was briefed on the situation by Joint Chief's Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen who just returned from Mexico. A military official says the president was interested in how the U.S. military could help Mexico. Possibly with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology. Word of that meeting came just hours after we learned that an American citizen was found decapitated in Tijuana, Mexico. The body of Jorge Norman Harrison was found with two other decapitated bodies. Mexican officials say they searched a pizzeria Norman Harrison owned and found firearms and more than 100 Valium pills.

Across America now, some Dartmouth College students are apologizing for widely circulated e-mail about the school's next president. It referred to Dr. Jim Yong Kim in a derogatory way in that he would send half his wages back to his village. Many students called the e-mail offensive.

About a dozen children and one adult were hurt at an Indianapolis circus. They were on a portable staircase waiting for an elephant ride. The elephant accidentally knocked it over. The adult injured an arm while the children suffered bumps and scrapes.

And former NBA star Charles Barkley is serving a three-day sentence for drunken driving. He's being held in Arizona at the controversial Tent City Jail run by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Barkley told reporters that he screwed up and doesn't blame anyone but himself. He also offered comments on other topics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA STAR: Bernie Madoff is a crook. You guys aren't crooks. Martha Stewart went to jail, came back out and was Martha Stewart. President Obama is a good friend of mine. I like to think about him. I know Rush Limbaugh and a lot of jack (EXPLETIVE DELETED) are giving him a hard time right now. You can never hit a woman. I wish both of them the best.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: He's talking about everything. Barkley is a basketball commentator for TNT, a sister network to CNN.

All right. If you are facing foreclosure, there are steps you can take right now to help you stay in your home. I talked to financial analyst John Hope Bryan of Operation Hope. He had this advice for struggling homeowners when we spoke yesterday at about this time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HOPE BRYANT, FOUNDER AND CEO OF OPERATION HOPE: Open your mail. Fifty percent of all those in foreclosure never open their mail or call their lender. Open your mail.

WHITFIELD: Meaning they're missing out on opportunities that perhaps their lender or this mail may be telling them what to do next?

BRYANT: Absolutely. The lender has no benefit these days in particular in keeping your house. They want to find a way to sort it out so they can get you paying again on some reasonable basis. But they don't want that house. But most people are just frightened because of financial illiteracy ...

WHITFIELD: They're afraid of a warning. They're afraid there's going to be an eviction notice.

BRYANT: Right. I guarantee you if you don't call there will be an eviction notice. We can't guarantee what happens if you call. We can guarantee if you don't call what's bad now will only get worse.

WHITFIELD: OK. You talk about hope. People need to have hope. The mortgage modification plan that was unveiled this week by the White House, Treasury Department, saying, OK. Here are some measures to help you out if your home is under $729,000 and some change. From what you've learned of this modification plan, do you like it? Do people need to be hopeful? Are you hopeful that it will, indeed, help avert 4 million foreclosures?

BRYANT: I think that it sends a very powerful message to the market that hope is on the way. I do believe it's better than the last administration's plan. That said it's about a day late and $12,000 short in the sense that most people who are in pain right now are a day late or 90 days late or six months late and $12,000 short of being able to cure their mortgage. So this really helps people who have been paying their mortgages. A lot of this information in this, this is a give-away program. It's actually almost just the opposite. It really helps people who've been paying their mortgage but can't refinance. It helps people who are on the bubble whose interest rate will change to stay in their house. The only challenge is, I don't think it goes far enough -- what we need is a systemic comprehensive solution. Because what we really have now ...

WHITFIELD: In what way? Meaning you want more people, perhaps people who are behind on their payments, to get more help?

BRYANT: Well, I think that we're having academic conversations while Rome is burning. What we need to go back and connect the bank crisis with the mortgage crisis and have a systemic -- you created a bad bank as an example. Took all the assets from the bank that are bad assets. Put them into the bad bank. Then you've got transparency in the banks. Regulators can see the bottom. They can certify the bank is in good shape now. All the bad assets are out.

Now you've got control of the bad assets in a bad bank that the government can then wrap their hands around and do things like loan modifications, restructuring the principal, lowering interest rates.

WHITFIELD: OK. Well, if I am worried about my home and I'm worried about the job right now, that still sounds so foreign and far off for me.

BRYANT: Call me.

WHITFIELD: Right now, help me out. Yeah, well help me out if I'm the person who is -- I'm in my home but I'm worried about what's next. I have a job but I'm worried about what's next. Where does my emphasis need to be, if there's anything I can do right now to secure either one if not both at the same time?

BRYANT: You can do a lot right now. At Operation Hope we've restructured $200 million in mortgages, restructured and/or modified. They can call our toll free number at 888-388-HOPE. They could also call other HUD approved -- HUD approved credit counselors. Here's what you shouldn't do. Do not pay $400 or $1,500 to some so-called nonprofit credit counseling agency to supposedly modify ...

WHITFIELD: Save that and maybe put it towards your mortgage or something to save your home?

BRYANT: It's worse. It's a fraud. You're being pimped. Again, because these folks will put a lawyer on your case and the lawyer is the only person to talk to your lender. As soon as you call your lender the lender will stop foreclosure proceedings. That's very important for your listeners to understand. As soon as you call your lender, the foreclosure will stop temporarily.

WHITFIELD: All right. One more time, give me your phone number. People are going to want to call you for some more help. What was that number one more time to call you?

BRYANT: 888-388-HOPE. 888-388-H-O-P-E.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: John Hope Bryant with hope there. You can also check out the group's Web site at operationhope.org. Great, sound advice.

All right. Willing to clean floors and take out the trash, perhaps? Seven hundred apply. But there's only one job.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Today is International Women's Day. It's a day set aside each year to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements made by women. Well, this year's theme is women and men united to end violence against women and girls. You can find out more at internationalwomensday.com. And as we take note of International Women's Day, a documentary honors the power of each individual woman. It's called "A Powerful Noise." Here's a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (voice-over): Three women fighting for their communities. A widowed HIV positive AIDS activist in Vietnam. A Bosnian mother who started an agricultural coop. A woman in Mali who running schools for girls. Documented in the film "A Powerful Noise.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are three ordinary women who have been able to take the problems within their communities and solve them.

WHITFIELD: In celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. This movie was released to highlight the struggles and triumphs of women globally.

CAROL STEPHENS, MOVIEGOER: I thought it was outstanding to see how women could care so much and their caring and their passion could spill over to others. It wasn't so much to change the world. It was to change their own small community. But in the process of changing that own small community, they were really changing the world.

WHITFIELD: Following the film, a live town hall discussion with leaders including former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Actress Natalie Portman, model and activist Christy Turlington, all fighting for justice and equality of women around the world.

DR. HELENA GAYLE, PRESIDENT, CARE: Which percentage of women in the legislature are the countries which had greatest social advancement. There's study after study that shows when women had village councils, there's less corruption, there's greater economic development.

PAUL TOIVONEN, MOVIEGOER: Women are effective because they focus more on others. They're more altruistic. They can be focused on peacemaking and problem solving. That's why they're very highly effective. I hope that the world can change. I was hopeful watching the film.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: You can find out more about this film at the Web site apowerfulnoise.org.

Raising rates and possibly cutting service. How can the Postal Service afford to shell out millions for mansions?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Thirty minutes past the hour. Here's what's happening right now. An Illinois minister is dead, shot to death during morning services today. Police say a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois, which is outside St. Louis, Missouri. Police say members of the congregation tackled the suspect who was taken to the hospital with very serious injuries after apparent self- inflicted knife wounds.

The U.S. military says it will reduce the number of American troops in Iraq by 12,000 over the next six months. The move will reduce the number of U.S. combat teams in Iraq from 14 to 12.

And today's announcement comes on the same day as a deadly bomb attack in Baghdad. Suicide boomer detonated explosives outside a police academy, killing at least 30 people.

Jacqui Jeras is the severe weather -- center. Because it seems to be the tongue tying season. Seems to be the season really of just some really nasty weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Jacqui. Appreciate it.

All right. More evidence of how tough it is to find a job these days. Almost 700 people have actually applied for one janitor's job at a northeastern Ohio school. John Cossick (ph) with CNN affiliate WEWS has a story from Massilon, Ohio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the Perry Local School District placed this add in the paper the other day for an afternoon janitor here at their Edison Junior High School, they figured they'd get a few applicants. In fact, so intense is the interest in this job that the district is keeping applications in a safe. Not surprisingly, many of the applicants are highly qualified workers with extensive skill trade experience. BARRY MASON, BUSINESS MANAGER, PERRY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Plumbing, tile work, electrical, carpentry. People certainly in the residential building industry who are looking for good, stable jobs and good pay.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That pay starts at around $15 an hour. It's more the stable part that Mason sees as a draw.

MASON: The stability in the school system, good benefits package. Just knowing where you're going to work each day and what that shift's going to be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of this has been eye-opening for Mason who now has the difficult task of figuring out who to bring in for an interview.

MASON: It's sobering for those of us that are employed now and happy to be in a job that we really enjoy. It really makes you appreciate it even that much more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And a reminder, each piece of paper there represents a person. All those lining up for one job availability. So the school will continue to accept applications, actually, until tomorrow. So that stack of papers will get even higher.

All right. Consumer electronics superstore Circuit City is officially closing its doors for good this weekend. The chain filed for bankruptcy back in November. Going out of business stores as you know were expected to continue throughout the month. But many stores simply ran out of merchandise. So some 34,000 employees now out of work.

Well, there is some positive economic news out there. Discount chain Target is opening 27 new stores in 15 states today. That means thousands of new jobs. The mass openings includes Target's first two stores in Hawaii. Half a dozen of the stores will actually be grocery superstores.

All right. For sale signs. They're everywhere. Millions of homeowners hope for just one offer. But some people who work for the post office are actually having no trouble getting their asking price. Special investigations unit correspondent Abbie Boudreau explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABBE BOUDREAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So where are you showing me?

BILLIE BIERER, NEIGHBOR: This is the house that the post office took over as a relocation package for an employee that transferred to Texas.

BOUDREAU: Oh, wow. It's huge.

BIERER: It is huge.

BOUDREAU: Look at this.

(voice-over): It's an 8,400 square foot home in rural South Carolina. One of the largest on this lake. Six bedrooms. Four bathrooms. Two more half baths.

BIERER: It has an indoor swimming pool.

BOUDREAU (on camera): I saw those pictures online.

BIERER: Yes.

BOUDREAU: Pretty gorgeous.

BIERER: Quite a house.

BOUDREAU: Here's the listing online. A huge living room. Gourmet kitchen. Hardwood floors. And here's that indoor swimming pool and spa. A CNN investigation found the U.S. Postal Service bought this estate for $1.2 million from an employee who was being relocated. In fact, the Post Office has purchased more than 1,000 employee homes in just two years. The average cost of those homes, $257,000. Billie Bierer owns the lot next door.

BIERER: This should not be allowed in any company in this economy. Things need to change.

BOUDREAU: Bierer wonders how the Postal Service can afford to buy a house like this considering Postmaster General John Potter recently told Congress times were so bad they'd already cut travel and frozen executive salaries.

JOHN POTTER, POSTMASTER GENERAL: If volume continues to decline beyond what our expectations are, we might be forced to reduce the number of days that we deliver.

BOUDREAU: And just last month the postal service told CNN it also made changes to its relocation policy, to cut back costs and reduce the risk of not re-selling the homes it buys. A spokesperson says it will now pay no more than $1 million to purchase an employee's home. But prior to that, the Postal Service had no limit on how much it would pay. The most expensive home it purchased cost $2.8 million.

PETE SEPP, NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION: At a time when the Postal Service is considering cutting back on delivery, raising stamp prices, perhaps even going to the federal government for a taxpayer bailout, this sends the wrong signal.

BOUDREAU: The Postal Service declined our request for an on-camera interview. But in an e-mail the spokesperson said, "When qualified employees relocate, the Postal Service can purchase their home through a company called Cartus Relocation, a government contractor." He wrote only 15 of the homes bought in the last two years remain on the market. All the houses that cost $1 million or more have sold. Except for this one. Which it just bought last month.

Real estate records show the Postal Service's relocation company purchased this five-acre property from the former postmaster in Lexington, South Carolina, and his wife. In a brief phone call, he told CNN the Postal Service was not making him move. He said he wanted to move to Carrollton, Texas, to become the customer service manager there. A lateral move. Not a promotion.

He would not discuss their former house. So in October they put their house on the market. But it didn't sell for three months. That's when the Post Office, through its relocation contractor, had the house appraised and went on to buy it. In this down market, South Carolina realtor Dave Bruckrose (ph) says no one is buying right now.

(on camera): Do you think a $1.2 million house would sell right now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That would be very tough.

BOUDREAU: The Postal Service says the goal is to sell all the houses purchased without losing money. But that doesn't always happen. On average, it costs $58,000 on each sale. Including commissions and closing costs.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY, (R) IA: When you talk about a million dollars, that sounds outrageous.

BOUDREAU: We showed Senator Chuck Grassley, a long-time critic of the relocation policy, what the $1.2 million house looks like.

GRASSLEY: I'm going to write a let tore the inspector general. We're going to get this policy nailed down. We need to know that the Postal Service, for the patrons of the Postal Service, the people that are buying stamps, the people that are supporting it, that they're getting their money's worth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, it's not just the Post Office helping workers relocate. The Food and Drug Administration gives employees who are moving up to $330,000 for their houses. Senator Grassley's office tells us the inspector general is now reviewing all such policies.

A pop star's plight. He's accused of beating his celebrity girlfriend, Rihanna. How will their careers survive?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Jacqui Jeras gave us a fair warning of severe weather. Now it looks like you've got more?

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right. On to a legal case that everyone seems to be following. What seems like it's heading towards a legal case. Chris Brown and Rihanna. Everyone has an opinion about his alleged beating of her, the charges and the legal drama. There are reports that Rihanna is back with Brown and it's not certain that she will actually take the stand. Our legal guy, Avery Friedman, and I talked about this yesterday. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: The question is, how is the district attorney going to get the conviction? He can't use the statements made by Rihanna because that's hearsay. There's evidence there. The question is whether Rihanna's going to testify. She indicated yesterday through a spokesperson that she will cooperate with the district attorney and testify.

Now, what that sets up, whether or not she really will do that, is Chris Brown's attorney will work with the district attorney, probably, enter into some kind of plea agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Senior writer Jeannine Amber of "Essence" magazine told me this case is sparking heated discussions everywhere which just might empower anyone who is being abused.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANNINE AMBER, "ESSENCE MAGAZINE": There's a deeper message going on here, one we can all sort of start to talk about. Which is that while everybody likes to think if I was in that type of situation my first instinct would be to leave, the fact is it's a lot more complicated. Most women don't leave when they're beaten. And they go back time and time again. And I think the discussion we need to have is what do we do and how do we support and help women who are in that situation to understand that you can't stay. It's not going to change.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. And, you know, we pulled a few of the blogs, your entries at your essence.com. Let me get the first one real quick.

OK. This one young lady saying, hello, my God. "The boy hit her. Have you guys gone crazy? There is no excuse, I don't care what happened, no excuse, none whatsoever. Domestic violence is not excusable." And then another person writes, you know, "Why do we care? They're two adults and they should have the same respect and privacy that we would want if this was happening in our own home. It's an unfortunate situation no matter how it started because at the end of the day because both their careers and dignity on the line."

So talk to me about their careers on the line. We know when allegations first surfaced radio stations everywhere saying we're not playing Chris Brown's music. Now another message is being sent if she is indeed staying with this young man who allegedly attacked her. What is at stake for her career wise? She's a cover girl model, for one, and symbolizes strength and a lot of positive things for young girls.

AMBER: Well, she's definitely not going to be the poster child for strong black woman or role model anymore. We can't have that. So this is going to be a real problem. The one thing is, no matter what magazines are going to be clamoring to talk to her, everybody's going to want to hear what she has to say in her defense, why she's doing this, what really happened, what was going on in the car. There will be a media frenzy in that respect. In terms of endorsements, I don't know, it's very difficult. We've seen a lot of people come back from situations. But not this. This I can't remember somebody saying, well, this happened. We're getting back together. And now you should still embrace me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: My conversation with Jeannine Amber of "Essence" magazine. She says the magazine will continue, of course, to report on the Rihanna/Chris Brown saga as well as delve into more domestic violence. You can find that information at essence.com.

She is 20 years old. Without health insurance. And afraid of getting hurt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm strapped. I feel like I'm almost like a prisoner in my apartment right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Young and uninsured.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. New pictures we just wanted to show you. You see the first family the getting off Marine One after spending a little time at Camp David, the Maryland presidential retreat. And followed by right there the president of the United States. Making their way back to the White House. Didn't spend a whole lot of time there but just a little time to get a little R and R on the Maryland side of the Washington, DC, area.

All right. There is no denying the bottom line, reforming health care, is going to be tough and very expensive. According to Families USA, almost 87 million people under the age of 65 were without health insurance at some point in 2007 and 2008. That averages out to one in three people uninsured.

And among them, about 14 million are young adults with without health insurance in this country. They're the fastest-growing group of uninsured. Twenty-year-old Bree Honey is one of them. Can an overhaul of the health system in this country help someone like her?

Here now is CNN's Kate Bolduan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maryland resident Bree Honey says all she can do for her chronic back pain is exercise at the gym where she works and take Tylenol PM instead of other medicines she needs. Why? She has to put all of her money towards expensive drugs for her depression.

BREE HONEY, UNINSURED YOUNG ADULT: I am buying my own prescription drugs by myself. I have to pay for that out of pocket every single month.

BOLDUAN: Honey doesn't have health insurance. At 20 she's too old to be cover bid her parents' policy since she's no longer in school. She makes too much to qualify for public health care but can't afford private insurance. And doesn't yet qualify for coverage at this new job.

HONEY: I'm a struggling student right out of college trying to make my way. I don't have the money right now for insurance.

BOLDUAN: Many other 20-somethings early in their careers don't have jobs that offer health benefits.

SARA COLLINS, COMMONWEALTH FUND: Only about half of young adults who are working get coverage -- are offered coverage through an employer compared to about 75 percent of -- of adults who are offered coverage through an employer over age 30.

BOLDUAN (on camera): It's a common problem. More than 13 million young adults are uninsured in the U.S. It's the fastest growing group of the estimated 46 million uninsured Americans today. And reducing those numbers is a top priority for President Obama.

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: Health care reform is no longer just a moral imperative, it's a fiscal imperative.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): But what right now can young people do? Sara Collins of a nonpartisan health care research group says, first check with your state. About 25 have increased the age of dependency.

COLLINS: New Jersey extended their age of eligibility to age 30. Most states are clustered around increasing that age to about 24, 25, 26. So this is a big help to many young adults who had coverage through their parents' employer plan and lose that coverage.

BOLDUAN: As for Bree Honey, she'll just keep working and hope for the best. But it's never far from her mind.

HONEY: What about me? What about my health? What if I get hurt? I don't have that insurance. I'm strapped. I feel like I'm almost like a prisoner in my apartment right now.

BOLDUAN: Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Hollywood in Iran. Actors, producers spreading some Tinseltown goodwill there. What they did and the drama sparked by their visit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Iran is an unlikely spot to find some of Hollywood's heavyweights. But that's where they are this weekend. As our Reza Sayah explains, the visit has created quite a bit of Tinseltown drama.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a movie site in Teheran, Iran, Mecca's Kaaba is imaginary. Faces and figures all fake. What's not movie make believe is Hollywood star Annett Benning in the middle of it all.

ANNETTE BENNING, ACTRESS: We've had a wonderful trip.

SAYAH: The Oscar nominee part of the first official Hollywood delegation to visit Iran since the Islamic Revolution 30 years ago. The trip, part of a cultural exchange with Iranian actors and film makers.

BENNING: It's fantastic. It was really inspiring. We had a chance to meet a lot of young actors.

SAYAH: Among the group, Sid Ganis, head of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

SID GANIS, ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS & SCIENCES: Iran is an amazing place with amazing people. And the greatest food ever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The good thing about their visits here is they see reality. Not propaganda.

SAYAH (on camera): The group representing Hollywood has been here for a little more than a week. They're getting a taste of Iranian cinema today. They're taking a tour of a movie set on the outskirts of Teheran.

(voice-over): True to Hollywood, the group's visit was not without drama.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is madness.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Sparta.

SAYAH: Two Iranian government officials said Hollywood should say it's sorry for the movie "300" and other films they called insulting to Iranian heritage.

GANIS: It's not our place while we're here to apologize, not apologize. We're here to talk to filmmaker.

SAYAH: The delegation's visit comes amid speculation that Washington and Teheran may renew relations. The group is hopeful their visit will help.

GANIS: If there's the slightest chance that our presence here might push the relationship between how two countries along, that would make me feel even better.

SAYAH: Benning admits she didn't learn much Farsi during the trip.

Say something in Farsi.

BENNING: You're not going to do that to me.

SAYAH: She says she looks forward to improving her language skills with a return visit.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Ahmadabad (ph), Iran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And I'm Fredricka Whitfield. I'll see you back here in the NEWSROOM at 4:00 Eastern. Why foreclosures are hitting some corners of the country harder than others. Some personal stories of survival and worry. Up next, YOUR $$$.