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Obama and Senate Dems Discuss Health Reform at White House; Plane Overshoots Landing; Latest Militant Attacks Kill 19 in Pakistan; Men and Breast Cancer

Aired October 23, 2009 - 10:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Talks to reach a final health care reform bill in the Senate take a new turn. Now, senators are talking about a plan that would include a public option and a provision allowing states to then opt out of it.

Our Dana Bash is joining us now from Capitol Hill with a little bit more on this.

So, Dana, could Senate Democrats really pass a health care bill with a public option in it now?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Democratic leaders are trying to answer that question even as we speak because they simply don't know.

But what we do know, as you mentioned, is that they do think that this new idea of having a public option but specifically allowing states to opt out of it could be a way to try to lure conservative Democrats who are very queasy about having something that is run by the government, perhaps allowing states, their states -- states like Nebraska, states like Arkansas, of course, all 50 states -- but those are the states that have conservative Democrats representing them that that may be a better sell.

And this is so close to being decided because, Heidi, the Senate Democrats -- they want to have that on the Senate floor week after next. In fact, it's so urgent that last night, the president called Democratic leaders in the Senate to the White House to have a meeting about this to figure out whether or not this really is the best approach. No decision was made I'm told after that meeting.

But, you know, the question that was on the table that everybody was trying to figure out is, whether or not putting this, at least putting this in the bill that they bring to the Senate floor could be the best strategy for getting that magic 60.

COLLINS: Yes. And so, then, Dana, forgive the basic question, but how does all of that work? If, in fact, this gets in there and it becomes an issue state by state -- there's an election, there's a ballot that decides, hey, yes, this is going to be available in Minnesota. It's not going to be available in Florida.

BASH: That's not worked out yet. That's a great question. This is a concept that is just beginning to gain steam that's been talked about over the past, you know, 48 hours or so. It's unclear exactly how it would work. But the gist is that states would be able to say -- the gist is it would be a national health care system...

COLLINS: Right.

BASH: ... that would be an option for people, but that any state could say, you know what, I'm not interested in that and we're not going to have that offered to our citizens in our state.

COLLINS: Yes, and...

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: But obviously the devil is in details.

And one other very interesting thing here, Heidi, is how this plays with one Republican, Olympia Snowe...

COLLINS: ... who Democrats really want to get. And we are told that the president himself made pretty clear that he does want to keep this bipartisan. One Republican, maybe that's bipartisan and maybe that's not, but certainly, that is the way that the White House is spinning the fact that they do have one Republican who signed on to this measure.

And, in fact, I'm told that the president even said, well, maybe the best way to approach this is to include Senator Snowe's idea -- of course, we're talking about Olympia Snowe of Maine here -- include her idea of a so-called trigger which is to hold off on a public option and have it only down the road if other reforms don't work in bringing health care costs down.

You know, nothing is decided, but I think one interesting dynamic is that there have been a number of polls, including CNN's poll, this week that have showed that the idea and concept of a government-run health insurance option is actually gaining steam in the public. And so, that is helping to put pressure on Democratic leaders to include something like that in the bill that they bring to the Senate and, of course, the House as well.

COLLINS: Well, obviously, the public would need to know a lot of these details before moving too much more forward.

BASH: Oh, yes. And they will demand it.

COLLINS: What becomes a key question, I guess, as far as potential state issue, you know, who decides? Who makes that call? So, obviously we'll watch very closely alongside you.

Dana Bash, thank you.

BASH: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Speaking of your health, coughing, sneezing, fevers, federal health officials say swine flu is suspected of making more people sick now than that any time since it was first detected back in April.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: We have about one out of five of schoolchildren now have flu-like symptoms. If you look at the entire population at any given year, anywhere from 5 percent to 15 percent of the population gets seasonal flu. With this flu that spreads so well, it could be 20 percent or more of the population, even up to 25 percent or more of the population could get infected as we go into the flu season.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Even though there's a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine, health officials say production will pick up and it's never too late to get vaccinated.

Health care workers in New York state no longer required to get the H1N1 vaccine. New York rescinded its order last night because of a supply shortage. The governor's office says the limited supply should be reserved for the highest risked groups. The state had ordered all health care workers to get the vaccine by the end of November or risk discipline.

With so many people coming down with symptoms of the swine flu, people are lining up for what little vaccine is available. This clinic set up yesterday in Lafayette Square Mall in Marion County, Indiana. Those in high risk categories were treated first.

NATO defense ministers are considering options for Afghanistan this morning. U.S. and NATO commanding general for Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, made an unexpected appearance at the conference to deliver his assessment in person. Defense Secretary Robert gates said the assessment was well received and talked about the early response from other NATO members.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There were a number of allies who indicated they were thinking about or were moving toward increasing either their military or their civilian contributions or both -- and I found that very heartening. I think we lose sight of the fact that just as we have doubled the number of Americans in Afghanistan over the last 15 months or so, the reality is, the number of our partner nations, the number of their troops, has doubled as well to almost 38,000 at this point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Secretary Gates also said the U.S. is looking for input from member nations as the U.S. moves forward with setting a new strategy for Afghanistan, but two of those NATO ministers say they are waiting for another milestone before committing more troops, a successful election.

Incumbent President Hamid Karzai talked about exclusively to CNN's Fareed Zakaria about the need for a clear outcome this time around. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: Whatever happens, this election must present a clear result and that result must be respected. But, of course, the international community and us, the Afghans, must do everything that we can to make it better, to make it much more legitimate, and to make it worthwhile of the effort of the Afghan people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: And you can hear the entire exclusive interview with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on this weekend's "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS." That comes your way Sunday 1:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Rob Marciano is joining us now from the severe weather center to talk a little bit more about the weather situation.

Apparently, not the greatest day to be traveling anywhere.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know, that's true.

COLLINS: Anywhere?

MARCIANO: We've got well -- you know, there are some spots, but this is a pretty big storm that's encompassing a great deal of real estate from the Canadian border all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

And now, just coming into the CNN weather center, we've got a tornado warning that just was popped here for the Florida Panhandle and includes Okaloosa County. The specifics on this indicate that it's in effect until 9:30 local time, so 10:30 Eastern. And they indicate -- they found this on the radar scope at 8:48.

Some of the areas that are going to be involved, again, this is extreme southern Alabama, northern Florida. It should be in Auburn by 9:05, Campton by 9:15. And this is radar-indicated, so that means it's not been reported on the ground. But we had a number of radar- indicated storms yesterday that, sure enough, in central Louisiana were reported on the ground and did some bit of damage.

Here's the storm itself -- again, from the Great Lakes all of the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. The southern part of it is where you're going to have your greatest amount of severe weather threat. The northern part of it, you're going to have some wind and you'll have a little bit of snow. There was some snow yesterday across western parts of Nebraska and you can just see the sliver of white here for western parts of Minnesota. Most of you, I think, from Minneapolis and Chicago, and because of that, you may very well see some travel delays in those -- at those airports.

Check out the cool air coming in behind this system: 49 degrees currently in Dallas, meanwhile, 69 degrees in Birmingham. So, definitely, a little bit cooler behind this thing, and also Hurricane Neki with winds of 90 miles an hour bypassing Hawaii, but nonetheless, cool storm we're going to be watching on the satellite imagery. COLLINS: OK. Very good. Rob, we'll check back later. Thanks.

MARCIANO: All right. You got it.

COLLINS: Federal aviation investigators want to know what happened to Northwest Airlines Flight 188. It was bound for Minneapolis from San Diego Wednesday night.

So, how did it end up over Eau Claire, Wisconsin? CNN's John Roberts tracks the flight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Five-forty-one p.m. Eastern Time, Northwest Airlines Flight 188 departs San Diego bound for Minneapolis. The takeoff is routine. As the Airbus A320 flies at an altitude of 37,000 feet over the Rockies, the crew makes radio contact with Denver Center air traffic controllers. A short time later, when Denver center tries to re-establish contact, there's no response from the cockpit.

Controllers try texting the crew. Nothing. Seven-fifty-six p.m. Eastern, the FAA designates the flight NORDO status, short for "no radio communication." Denver Center hands off tracking responsibilities to Minneapolis Center. Controllers in Minneapolis can't make radio contact either.

So, fighter jets are mobilized in Madison, Wisconsin, fears mounting that Flight 188 might have been hijacked. CNN's Chad Myers, one of the first reporters on the story, tracking the flight minute by minute.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: This plane was supposed to start to descend. It never did. It never took the power off. It kept flying. Flew over Minneapolis and kept right going.

ROBERTS: Flight 188 overshoots Minneapolis airport by 150 miles. There has been no radio contact for more than an hour.

Finally, at 9:14 p.m., air traffic controllers are able to connect with the crew. By that time, the plane was already well past Minneapolis and over Wisconsin. Controllers asked the pilot to make a 180-degree turn and then order him to perform a series of maneuvers to make sure he's in control of the aircraft, not hijackers.

The pilot's explanation for overshooting Minneapolis? The NTSB says, quote, "The crew stated they were in a heated discussion over airline policy and they lost situational awareness."

10:02 p.m., the plane finally lands safely in Minneapolis one hour and 14 minutes late.

MYERS: This was a crazy little flight, and I think the NTSB will have a lot to say about this. They have the voice recorder and they also have the flight data recorder. They had taken those out of the plane. They've taken them back to D.C. They will download all the data and they'll know by tomorrow what actually happened in this cockpit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: And still waiting to find out exactly what happened there. Of course, the investigation continues. For now, the two pilots have been grounded.

Siege in Pakistan, insurgents continue their deadly assault across the country. What happened and why?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC)

COLLINS: Less than two weeks ago, the White House said that the rising insurgency in Pakistan is also a threat to the United States. Today, militants in that nuclear-armed country are giving more reason, separate attacks. Dozens are now dead and wounded.

CNN's Reza Sayah is in Islamabad with the very latest.

Reza, tell us what happened.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Heidi, this is the third consecutive Friday this month where we've seen militant attacks in Pakistan and the third day this week. Two attacks and a third incident killing a total of 19 people, injuring two dozens.

Let's give you details. First off, this morning, right outside the federal capital of Islamabad, police say a suicide bomber on a bicycle rode up to a check post outside an air force base. When security personnel tried to check him, he blew himself up, killing seven people.

Hours later, in a neighborhood in Peshawar, police say a car bomb exploded right in front of a banquet hall. That banquet hall leased and operated by the brother of the head of a secular political party in the northwest frontier province.

This is a secular party that has repeatedly spoke out against the Taliban in support of the recent military offensive targeting the Taliban in the Swat Valley, and later in the day, in the Mohman agency, in the rest of tribal region along the Afghan border, police say a bus full of people drove over a landmine. At least 12 people killed in that incident.

Government officials continue to say many of these militant attacks, Heidi, orchestrated by the Taliban in South Waziristan and this was day seven of the military offensive targeting the Taliban in South Waziristan.

COLLINS: Yes, Reza, with all of this going on, I wonder about the mood on the street in Islamabad where you are. Obviously pretty far away from the offensive. But I imagine people are really feeling it at home anyway.

SAYAH: Well, it's far away for the offensive but it's not far away from these continuous militant attacks.

COLLINS: Yes.

SAYAH: Suicide attacks. And I got to tell you people here in the federal capital are rattled. They are unsure. They don't know when and where the next attack is going to come. One of the grim aspects of covering the fight against militancy here at the CNN bureau is this calendar we keep of militant attacks.

And we looked at the calendar this morning. We saw the two previous Fridays, there have been militant attacks. And I hate to say it but some of us expected another one and sure enough it happened. And because of these attacks many people are choosing to stay inside.

Those who are going outside are seeing long lines at checkpoints. Security personnel simply not taking any more chances, checking vehicles, checking IDs. There's a very large and popular supermarket here. In order to drive in to the parking lot you actually have to get out of the car and get frisked by security personnel.

So this is a frustrated public -- not only frustrated at the Taliban that's launching these attacks but frustrated at a government that seems powerless to stop them, Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. All right. Reza, we continue to follow that story. Thanks so much. Live from Islamabad, Pakistan this morning.

Breast cancer. Even macho men can suffer from the disease. Now a former KISS drummer Peter Criss opens up about his own scare.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Quick look at our top stories that we're following this morning now.

The United States is officially supporting a deal that calls for Iran to send much of its uranium to Russia. Iran's government was supposed to decide by today if they'd also support the plan. A draft agreement was reached during a special conference in Austria earlier this week. The plan could significantly reduce Iran's ability to produce nuclear weapons.

Massive explosions in San Juan, Puerto Rico are forcing evacuations around a gasoline storage facility.

Every time I see these flames, it's just unbelievable.

Police say 11 of the huge tanks at the Gulf Oil facility exploded. Fire crews are trying to protect at least 20 more of those same type of gasoline tanks. It's unknown what caused the initial explosions but FBI agents have joined in on the investigation.

The United States wants Roman Polanski back. This morning the U.S. made a formal extradition request to Switzerland. The award- winning director originally plead guilty to having sex with a 13-year- old girl in 1977 but fled the U.S. before he was sentenced. The 76 year old Polanski was arrested in Switzerland last month.

We have a developing story to tell you about now. CNN has confirmed the mother of Senator John McCain has been hospitalized in Portugal after fainting. Ninety-seven-year-old Roberta McCain often accompanied her son on the campaign trail during his presidential bid last year. A short time ago we received a statement from a spokeswoman for the Arizona Republican.

Brooke Buchanan says this, quote, "Mrs. Roberta McCain, while visiting as a tourist in Lisbon, Portugal, had a fainting episode and injured her head. Mrs. McCain is currently being treated at a hospital in Lisbon. Senator McCain has spoken to her and the doctors treating her, and report that she is recovering well."

We are nearing the end of breast cancer month and we have an empowerment message for men. That's right. Men get breast cancer, too. And this week Elizabeth Cohen sat down with legendary rock star who is now talking about his disease.

Good morning to you once again, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

COLLINS: This is an interesting interview.

COHEN: Definitely an interesting. KISS drummer, Peter Criss, was so open about the stigma that he was afraid of as a man when he was diagnosed with breast cancer and how he's coming out to help other men in the same situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (on camera): You were the baddest, meanest rocker dude. What did you think when you heard those words, breast cancer?

PETER CRISS, FORMER KISS DRUMMER: I was petrified. I was like, this can't -- you know, this is not happening to me. This can't be happening to me. I went into total shock. I thought it just don't happen to men.

COHEN: Were you ever embarrassed? Did you try to keep it from people?

CRISS: Yes.

COHEN: That you had breast cancer?

CRISS: Yes. My wife and I discussed it a lot. We were, like, we can't let anyone know this because tabloids are vicious. I've never have seen -- don't know about you guys -- but I've never seen a man ever on television say I had breast cancer and I beat it. I've never seen any man ever say that.

COHEN: So what made you decide to be the first?

CRISS: I think you should open your big mouth and say something. Even if one or two or three or four guys get this or their wives say to them I think, you know, there's something wrong, babes. You really should go check that out. Then I achieved something a hell of a lot more than a People's Choice or a gold record or being in a band.

COHEN: If you were to ever write a song about your breast cancer what would you call it?

CRISS: Hard rock knockers.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Obviously he has a sense of humor about it now.

COHEN: Yes.

COLLINS: But how did Peter Criss originally find the breast cancer?

COHEN: You know, it's interesting. He was saying that it's -- it was this little tiny nodule and that he noticed it because when he said, look, when you're performing, you know, year after year in spandex and half naked, you know, you're really in touch with your body. So it was kind of funny that it was sort of his professional life that kind of led him to find that little tiny lump.

COLLINS: Yes. Yes. But originally doctors told him that he was fine?

COHEN: That's right. He said he went to an oncologist who did all these tests and biopsies and mammograms and all that, and they said you're fine. Don't worry about it. It's not cancer. But he has this nagging feeling that somehow that wasn't right.

COLLINS: Yes. And we've heard so many times before. Are you really going to trust your gut oftentimes on this?

COHEN: Absolutely. You do. You really do have to trust your gut. And that's actually what we talk about in this week's "Empowered Patient" is about breast cancer and trusting your gut and learning all the options that are out there in front of you.

And so let's take a look at some of the tips that we have for folks this week. For breast cancer empowerment, get a second opinion if you have an inkling that either a diagnosis is wrong or a treatment recommendation just doesn't sound right.

Also weigh your options carefully. I'm told that people with breast cancer and sometimes doctors treating them are too much in a rush.

COLLINS: Yes.

COHEN: They think we've got to decide what to do. Well, you don't. You have weeks sometimes, often, to really weigh all the different options and there are lots of different options and also in that vein, make no decisions about treatment in that first visit to the doctor.

You can sit and talk and sit and think. You don't have to make a decision the first time. In fact, doctors tell me you shouldn't make a decision.

COLLINS: Yes.

COHEN: Think first then make a decision.

COLLINS: Well, yes, because obviously no matter who you are when you get news like that, your first feeling is fright.

COHEN: Right. And get it out of me.

COLLINS: Don't make decisions when you're frightened.

COHEN: Exactly. Take a little bit of time. And that's at CNN.com/empoweredpatient.

COLLINS: Terrific.

COHEN: That where you can read that whole column.

COLLINS: All right, very good.

COHEN: OK.

COLLINS: Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen. Thanks, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks. Thanks.

COLLINS: Gang violence out of control. London police now taking a drastic step sending armed patrols out on the streets.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins.

COLLINS: Millions of first-time homebuyers are clamoring to get the tax credit that the government is offering. So much so that some of them may be committing fraud to get.

Let's get more on this story now from Susan Lisovicz on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Hi there, Susan.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Everybody wants that first time homebuyer tax credit. The problem is, it's not for everyone.

COLLINS: Yes. LISOVICZ: And now a preliminary report from an IRS watchdogs says hundreds of millions dollars may have been paid out to folks who are gaming the system.

How are they gaming the system? Well, for instance, claiming the credit before they actually purchased the home. No. The home has to close first. You have to actually purchase the home. Not being a first-time home buyer. No. Also wrong. Being under 18 or being four years old -- there was one instance of that.

COLLINS: What?

LISOVICZ: Yes. It's pretty outrageous. And ultimately, all of that gaming results to a cost of about $650 million, which is why the IRS has opened civil and criminal cases. Expect more on this story, Heidi, no doubt about it.

COLLINS: Oh, absolutely. Congress is debating whether or not it should actually extend or maybe even expand this home buyer tax credit. How are revelations like these going to affect it?

LISOVICZ: Well, it's so popular. I mean, it's popular among constituents. It's got bipartisan support. There's been a lot of talk about not only extending it but modifying it so that it's not only open to first-time home buyers. You could legitimately get into it and open it up to more people.

I think the biggest resistance is the price tag. Congress has shelled out about $10 billion so far on that, and we have a big deficit, as you remember. $1.4 trillion budget deficit. Biggest number ever.

But it's working, Heidi. And we can point to that because at the top of the hour we've got a startling stat -- I don't know if you have seen it. Existing home sales surged nearly 9.5 percent last month. That's about double what we were expecting, and the National Association of Realtors says a big part of that: first-time home buyers trying to get in on that tax credit before it expires at the end of November.

So, pretty good news on the housing market. Not translating to what we've seen on the Dow right now. Underwater after triple-digit gains yesterday, down about 44 points. NASDAQ up eight points. Microsoft helping out there. Shares up about 9 percent. Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. All right. Susan Lisovicz, thank you so much. We'll continue to watch those numbers today.

President Obama's pay czar issued new rules that will mean massive pay cuts for top executives. Some of the bailed out companies, but there are some exceptions. CNNmoney.com's Poppy Harlow joining us now from New York with more on this. We've kind of been talking about it all morning long here, Poppy. We did know this was coming. But how big the cuts are and how they're structured -- very interesting. POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Yes. They are substantial, Heidi, when you look at salary cuts and the overall compensation. This is, of course, getting a lot of talk really around the world. A lot of criticism, especially from some folks on Wall Street. The pay czar, as you mentioned, Ken Feinberg coming out yesterday afternoon with these hard rules for executive comp at seven firms. The seven companies in this country that got the most bailout money from U.S. taxpayers.

Let's take a look at them, and let's look at how this is structured. It applies to the top 25 employees at each company. It begs the question, though, should the government really regulate pay at American businesses? There you see the pay cuts when you look at AIG, pay down 58 percent. General Motors, down 25 percent. Bank of America, pay down 65.5 percent. And at Citi total comp, we're talking about the total package here, both salary and bonuses, down almost 70 percent there at Citigroup.

So, the question, as I said, should the government step in here, Heidi? It's a big question that pay czar Ken Feinberg answered yesterday. Take a quick listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH FEINBERG, TREASURY DEPT. SPECIAL MASTER FOR COMPENSATION: It's not a good idea for the United States government to start micromanaging compensation practices at American businesses. But that's not this case. These are, under the statute, seven specific companies that are in effect owned by the taxpayers of the United States, and that's a much different situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: And he's exactly right. It's a very different situation. Essentially, Heidi, these businesses would not be standing if it weren't for the taxpayers propping them up, Heidi.

COLLINS: I have so many questions. But I know that there are some exceptions to these new rules, right?

HARLOW: Yes. Yes, that's what I was shocked about. This document came out yesterday about 3:00 in the afternoon. On the front page, it said exceptions will be made where, quote, "necessary to retain top talent and protect taxpayer interest." Some questioned talent, Heidi. How talented were some of these employees...

COLLINS: Exactly.

HARLOW: ... that got the banks and automakers into this position? You can argue it both ways. But when you look at AIG, that's the hardest case, according to Feinberg. This insurance behemoth has gotten over $100 billion in government aid. But they're allowing three AIG executives to keep their bonuses. Here's why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) FEINBERG: What these three AIG officials are entitled to is a prior, valid contract entered into long before the law was passed or I arrived. And the fact of the matter is that I met with the AIG officials, and there's clearly an understanding that these contracts are valid. However, since those contracts are valid, I did take those dollars into account in setting compensation for 2009 and going forward into 2010.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: We'll see what happens going forward for these firms and the pay structure on Wall Street. You can see that full interview right here with Ken Feinberg, the pay czar on CNNmoney. But an interesting story. We'll keep following it, Heidi.

COLLINS: Potentially the tip of the iceberg. All right. Poppy Harlow, CNNmoney. Thank you.

Seeing armed police officers on the streets of any American city is not an unusual sight, but in London it's something that's getting a whole lot of attention. A new armed unit is being put together to patrol what's become a very dangerous part of town. CNN's Paula Newton joins us live from London with more on this. So, Paula, why is this so different -- so significant?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, the whole culture of policing is different. I know it's hard for us to relate to, but when police here in Scotland Yard walk the beat throughout the country, no guns. If they have a gun crime, if they think they need backup, they call it in. It's never far away.

That tradition of policing, they feel, has worked for many years and the community here supports it. They don't want to think that they have this menacing threat on the streets here. They look at police officers as more of a community-based thing.

But it's a caveat, isn't it? They decided now that in certain areas of London, they just can't do with that anymore. You know, there aren't many officers in a given time. You're talking about units of about 21 police officers, but still, they will be carrying heavy power on them. Submachine guns, and they feel that's what they need right now in those few neighborhoods in London.

COLLINS: Paula, can you give us more information about what type of gangs we're talking about here?

NEWTON: You know, again, this is something everyone can relate to. Crime throughout Britain isn't up -- gun crime. Gun crime in London in these areas up about 20 percent. Why? The drug war, Heidi. I know you guys are dealing with it in Atlanta. We just had those big busts there back home in the last few days.

Same thing here. There's a lot of gang warfare, and they see more gun injuries to deal with that. Police here in Scotland Yard saying we'll be on the front foot. We're looking at what's going on in American cities, and we don't want at that to happen here in these neighborhoods here in London. And that means we're going to be carrying some firepower.

COLLINS: Is this the first step, then, toward arming all police in Britain? Is that a possibility?

NEWTON: A big question. Scotland Yard saying, look, that's not exactly off . It's always on the table. But they don't see that right now. It's specific to these neighborhoods.

But they are being very pro-active about it. They don't want to see anything in these neighborhoods relating to gangs and drug wars get out of hand, and that's why they're starting it now. Again, what they're trying to do is keep a lid on it, and they feel this will help them do the job.

COLLINS: All right. Paula Newton for us live from London this morning. All right. Thank you.

Severe Weather Center. Rob Marciano standing by to talk a little bit more about the rain all over the place, kind of.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Oh, that guy. He had a few last night.

COLLINS: Oh, my lord.

MARCIANO: I stayed up late...

COLLINS: So, this was in the beginning. This is when the Angels had it by four.

MARCIANO: They looked like they had it in hand. There was reason to drink if you were an angels fan. It was a bit warm. They've got that cool -- I was surprised that Fox showed this. A lot of times they don't like to show characters like that. But I enjoyed it. It lended itself to a bit of comic relief for me because I was kind of in pain at that time.

COLLINS: Yes. Understood. We should say that they actually -- Angels did pull it out 7-6. As you say, we'll continue to watch the series. I also have to say that people gave me a hard time because we haven't been covering every single team. We've just been covering certain ones. You know, Phillies fans over here not very happy with us.

MARCIANO: Well, the Phillies will have their chance to play the Yankees next week. Congrats to the Phillies.

COLLINS: There you go! See, Doug?

MARCIANO: And, boy, if the Angels win -- lose, SoCal is going to be hurt. Dodgers and Angels losing. I would feel bad.

COLLINS: Do you like baseball as much as you like maps?

MARCIANO: They're about equal. Sadly. COLLINS: All right, Rob. We'll check back later. Thank you.

MARCIANO: See ya.

COLLINS: Listen to this. Whoever reaches four wins first. Meets the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. And one company is already busy outfitting the defending champions with new bats. The famous Louisville Slugger Bat Factory has made them for players in every World Series, and this year position players get three bats each with their name and 2009 World Series branded on the barrel. Starting pitchers will get two bats each. Everyone on the team, even the manager, will get a personalized souvenir bat. Don't worry, the American League champs will get the same bat treatment. Good to know.

Top stories now. Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Senate Democrats held talks with White House officials over a health care reform idea. The proposal would include a public option but also a provision allowing states to opt out. Democrats hope to bring a reform bill to the floor for debate by the week after next.

NATO defense ministers are hearing a firsthand account on Afghanistan this morning. Commanding general Stanley McChrystal just saw a moment ago with Defense Secretary Robert Gates is giving his assessment on the situation there. He's also talking about the resources he needs going forward. McChrystal commands both U.S. troops and NATO's national security force in Afghanistan.

Legendary pie-throwing comedian Soupy Sales is dead. He died last night in New York. Sales is best known for the pie-in-the-face games from his kids show in the early '60s. Many may know him better, though, for his many appearances as a host of game shows like "To Tell the Truth" and "What's My Line." Soupy Sales was 83 years old.

Assaulted for being gay. Attackers could soon be prosecuted under federal law. We'll tell you about a new measure Congress just passed.

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COLLINS: In San Francisco, police believe there may be a new victim tied to the Night Stalker serial killings. Richard Ramirez is on death row for 13 murders between 1984 and '85. Now, police believe DNA may link him to a unsolved killing from a quarter century ago. A police detective has been reviewing the cold case for the last couple of years but she had powerful memories of it from 1984. She worked the original crime scene as a rookie cop.

The Night Stalker attacks involved sexual assaults and burglaries and terrified much of California because the killer would slip into homes during the early morning hours when people were still asleep.

A bill making it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is on the way to the White House. President Obama says he'll sign the extension of the hate crimes law. CNN's Dana Bash reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): When Todd Matrokin came here for late night pizza last summer, he offered a slice to some people sitting outside.

TODD METROKIN, HATE CRIME VICTIM: I thought it was a nice exchange. And as we were walking away, my friend mentioned, you know, that -- and he said, he called me a faggot under his breath.

BASH: As they walked through this Adams Morgan neighborhood in D.C. Matrokin didn't realize they were being followed until they were suddenly attacked.

METROKIN: The attack occurred right about here. They were calling us names, faggot.

BASH: (on camera): What's the last thing you remember?

METROKIN: The last thing I remember was the first hit.

BASH: (voice-over): He woke up in the hospital, looking like this -- bruises and broken bones, even a shoe mark on his face.

METROKIN: Somebody had to actually stomp on my face while I was on the ground to achieve that. And that's when it became just so crystal clear to me, the kind of hate that requires someone to do that.

BASH: Attacks like this will now be a federal offense under legislation expanding the hate crimes law, which now covers race, color and religion, to also include victims targeted because of their sexual orientation.

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Violence against members of any group because of who they are is not going to be tolerated in our country.

BASH: Many Republicans object, arguing violent crimes are already illegal and this creates what they call "thought crimes."

HENSARLING: The idea that we're going to pass a law that's going to -- to add further charges to someone based on what they may have been thinking, I think, is -- I think is wrong.

BASH: But supporters note this would punish acts, not beliefs, and point to government figures showing crimes against gays and lesbians are on the rise and say federal dollars, attention and penalties this new law would provide are needed.

OBAMA: And I will sign it into law.

BASH: Politically, the White House hopes passing this long-fought priority in the gay community...

(VIDEO CLIP) BASH: ... will ease frustration that President Obama is slow to act on their issues.

(on camera): Gay rights groups are praising Democrats for passing what they call the first piece of, quote, "civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay and transgender Americans." But privately, gay rights activists say the president has a long way to go to tamp down on simmering anger that he's dragging his feet on other big priorities like "don't ask, don't tell" and Defense of Marriage Act.

Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Teaching your kids' teachers. The nation's education chief says those college programs must be overhauled.

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COLLINS: Failing grades for teacher training. Education secretary Arne Duncan describes the college programs as cash cows and is calling for a revolutionary change. CNN's Kate Bolduan reports.

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KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The country's education chief delivering a harsh lecture to not students, but the colleges preparing the nation's teachers.

ARNE DUNCAN, U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY: By almost any standard, many if not most of the nation's 1,450 schools, colleges and department of education are doing a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the realities of the 21st century classroom.

BOLDUAN: Secretary Arne Duncan described the programs that train more than half the nation's teachers as cash cows. Most of which, he says, aren't delivering first-rate instructors.

DUNCAN: Teaching has never been more difficult. It has never been more important. And the desperate need for more student success has never been more urgent. Are we adequately preparing future teachers to win in this critical battle?

BOLDUAN: In Washington American university's dean of teaches says, yes, they are.

SARAH IRVINE BELSON, DEAN, AMERICAN UNIV. SCHOOL OF EDUCATION: When we throw everybody into one big bucket, this is what schools of education do, it's as much as saying here's what every engineering program is like. But if you look closely at this teacher ed programs and what they're doing, then you can actually find that there are actually great pockets of excellence.

BOLDUAN: At the same time Dean Sarah Bell John agrees with one change Duncan is going for. More firsthand training. SARAH BELL JOHN, DEAN: We try to spend as much time as we possibly can with these teachers in real classrooms and getting real education experience with.

BOLDUAN: You think that's a key hands on?

JOHN: Exactly.

BOLDUAN: And senior Jenna Ward says she knows she's about to take on a tough job.

JENNA WARD, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: It's a challenge to be able to teach to the whole class, but also be able to teach to every student within that class. But I think I'm definitely ready to do it.

BOLDUAN (on camera): Secretary Duncan also talked about the need for hard numbers. Test scores, grades, attendance to name a few, to better track student progress and train teachers how to use it to improve instruction. Why is this all critical now? For one, Duncan warns of massive exodus of Baby Boomers from the teaching profession in the next decade.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

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COLLINS: So, how do you like your steak? Wit wiz or wit out (ph)? It could define which side of the street you should be on in Philadelphia.

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COLLINS: There's only one thing people in Philadelphia are more passionate about than their sports teams, and that's their cheesesteaks. The two giants are Pat's and Gino's. They sit right across the street from each other. But many people would rather go hungry that cross that line. CNN photojournalist Rod Griola dropped in for a little of the local flavor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRANK OLIVIERI JR, PAT'S STEAKS: Onions or no onions?

JOE VENTO, GENO'S: Me and the guy across the street, we are the originals.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll take a (INAUDIBLE) wiz, wet.

VENTO: Everybody else, they're all imitators.

OLIVIERI: I don't know, how much are steaks today? Steak is $7.50 tax included. The cheese steak is $8.

VENTO: Thank you.

OLIVIERI: The meat comes in, it's cooked, it's sold. It's out the window. It takes approximately six seconds per sandwich to make. If it takes any longer than that I pull the person off the grill because they're too slow.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, have a provolone wet, now.

VENTO: Frying all day long, now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay here for your sandwich.

VENTO: Otherwise you can never move a crowd.

OLIVIERI: There's a specific way to order which my competition across the street has adopted, now.

VENTO: There's no wit here.

OLIVIERI: If you want a cheese steak with onions you say cheese wit. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With provolone.

OLIVIERI: W-I-T, drop the "H." Or a cheese without.

VENTO: Yeah, there's no wit, we in general here don't talk that way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got a provolone, a little.

VENTO: It's a back and forth, which started like, who invented the cheese steak? He says he did, I said I did.

OLIVIERI: We had an employee in the '40s got tired of eating steak sandwiches everyday and put a little cheese on the sandwich and invented the cheese steak.

VENTO: I give him credit with the whiz, but in this neighborhood, (INAUDIBLE), I can honestly say I invented the cheese steak, here.

OLIVIERI: The ownership hasn't changed since 1930. I mean, I have managers who are here over 20 and 30 years.

VENTO: I'm as hungry today as I was 43 years ago when I started the business. It's easy to get to the top, staying up here that's hard, and I just won't allow anybody or anything to beat me. As long as I'm breathing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, $15.

VENTO: Well, that's what I have my son for, I'm gearing him to keep my legacy going. This is like the Wild West. You know, you got six shooter, I got two. I'm going to outgun you any day. And that's why nobody can beat me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They broke the mold when they made Joe.

VENTO: Take care, sir. Thank you.

OLIVIERI: He's the man. I love Joe. VENTO: The man across the street, you know, he was the man. Nobody ever beat him. I got to thank him, really, because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I'm at today.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Don't mess around with those cheesesteaks in Philly, that's for sure.

Another twist in the quest for health care reform. Will states now get to make a choice for residents when it comes to the public option? That's what they're talking about on Capitol Hill. We'll continue that conversation.

Meanwhile, I'm Heidi Collins. Have a great weekend, everybody. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Tony Harris.