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Wildfire Scorches Eastern Arizona; Weiner Facing Calls to Resign; Explosions Rock Libya; No Bed of Roses; Dog Handler Testifies in Anthony Trial; Slow Economic Burn; Yemeni Rebels Capture Taiz; OSU's Pryor Ends College Career

Aired June 08, 2011 - 06:00   ET

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


KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: A wildfire spreading across eastern Arizona threatening homes near New Mexico now. Mile after mile of earth just scorched while thousands have been forced to leave their homes and this enormous fire could get a lot bigger before firefighters get a handle on it.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans.

Deafening silence from Democrats in defense of Anthony Weiner. The congressman fighting for survival on his own on this AMERICAN MORNING.

And good morning to you. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. Wednesday, June 8th.

It's hard to sort of explain just on television the scope of this fire that's burning right now in Arizona but they say you can actually see it from space.

ROMANS: That's right. The second biggest fire in Arizona's history. Up first, it's so large, nearly 500 square miles of eastern Arizona scorched this morning. Blackened by an enormous wildfire that's now threatening two mountain towns near New Mexico.

This is, as I said, the second largest fire ever to hit Arizona. Take a look at this. It's so large, so intense, it's visible here from a NASA satellite. The flames already forcing thousands of people to leave their homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE HILL, EVACUEE: It's scary. The smoke over there is thick and dark, and you can see -- at night you can see the light.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are prepared. We have the facilities all set up for two more shelters if we need them.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Jim Spellman is live in Springerville, Arizona, this morning.

Jim, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning because of the possibility of rapid and erratic fire growth. Tell us what that means. JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's a red flag warning. Low humidity, high winds, and that's what's been feeding this storm. Yesterday a firefighter described it to me as a monster.

There's been a good side to this monster fire. So far it's hit mostly unpopulated areas and a huge national forest here. That could change very soon here in Springerville and Eagar community of about 7,000 people. That's where the fire is coming next. It's less than 10 miles away.

Already residents here have been told leave if you can, be ready to go, if not, the last thing they want to do is evacuate people in the middle of the night or something, so they're working down that already.

Here's what the incident commander told us about that yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE REINARZ, INCIDENT COMMANDER: The further evacuations will come from -- if this does not hold tonight and we get something started down in -- down lower or we have a run that starts up in here and hits our original trigger point. And it hits it -- it hits it hard or it's running real hard when it gets there.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

SPELLMAN: So this is fast becoming a battle for Springerville and Eagar. They're trying to create a buffer zone, intentionally burning areas along some of the highways here, to try to starve this fire fuel when it gets here.

But as you said that red flag warning, low humidity, high winds, creating very difficult conditions for the firefighters here. Still zero percent contained despite having about 2500 firefighters from all over the country here fighting this blaze -- Kiran.

ROMANS: All right. Jim Spellman, thanks.

CHETRY: This morning there is growing pressure on Anthony Weiner, the congressman, to step down. More women are now coming out and they're talking about some of the racy pictures and online chats that they engaged in with the congressman. Some claim that they were sent on the people's time.

Republican House majority leader Eric Cantor is now saying it is time for Weiner to quit and Weiner is not finding a lot of support from fellow Democrats either.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R), MAJORITY LEADER: I think it is up to Congressman Weiner and his constituents to make that decision. I don't condone his activity. I think he should resign.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Whether you thought Congressman Weiner should resign?

SEN. HARRY REID (D), MAJORITY LEADER: I'm not here to defend Weiner.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What do you think he should do?

REID: That's all I'm going to say.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What advice would you give him if he asked you?

REID: Call somebody else.

(LAUGHTER)

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Still, Anthony Weiner says that he's here to stay. We caught up with him yesterday at the front door of his apartment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: He's entitled to his viewpoint. Careful.

ADAM REESE, CNN PRODUCER: Would you consider it?

WEINER: I'm not resigning, no.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Congressman --

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: The leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi, sent a letter to ranking members of the House Ethics Committee asking for an official investigation. They released a statement saying, "If and when an investigation is appropriate in any matter, the committee will carry out its responsibilities pursuant to our rules and with utmost integrity and fairness. Pursuant to our rules of confidentiality, we'll not have any further comment at this time."

Coming up at 7:10 Eastern, we're going to speak to Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman and CNN political contributor James Carville.

Can Congressman Weiner come back from this scandal and revive his political career?

ROMANS: Also new this morning Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke says growth this year in the economy has been, quote, "somewhat slower than expected," and he called the job market far from normal.

Speaking yesterday Bernanke says he is still optimistic, though, the recovery will pick up in coming months.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN BERNANKE, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: Growth seems likely to pick up somewhat in the second half of the year. Overall, the economic recovery appears to be continuing at a moderate pace, albeit at a race that is both uneven across sectors and frustratingly slow from the perspective of millions of unemployed and underemployed workers.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Uneven and frustratingly slow. Now despite an onslaught of weaker than expected economic reports, President Obama says he's not concerned about the economy sinking into another recession.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not concerned about a double-dip recession. I am concerned about the fact that the recovery that we're on is not producing jobs as quickly as I want it to happen.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: President Obama says the administration doesn't know yet whether last month's disappointing jobs report, Kiran, was a one-month episode or the start of something more troubling.

CHETRY: And it brings us to this morning's question of the day. What is it going to take to turn this economy around?

ROMANS: Just send us a tweet, an e-mail, you can post on our blog. We're going to read some of your comments later in the program.

CHETRY: Rebel fighters now in control of a key city in Yemen. Over 400 tribal gunmen taking over the town of Taiz. It's a big setback for government forces loyal to President Saleh. He is in Saudi Arabia right now recovering from wounds he suffered last week during a raid on his compound.

And also new this morning, it is believed the deadly outbreak of E. coli is limited to an area around the German city of Hamburg. A top EU official says that there is no reason for European wide bands on products.

Health officials suspected that bean sprouts were to blame for the outbreak which has killed now 23 people, but so far test results have proven to be inconclusive.

And in California the state wants to send its low-level offenders to county jails as a way to reduce overcrowding in its prisons. Under the plan the inmate population would be cut by 33,000. Still needs approval, though, from the state legislature and voters.

ROMANS: So what happens in Vegas stays in the family. Carolyn Goodman, wife of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, just won an election to replace her husband. She did it pretty easily with 60 percent of the votes in the mayoral race. Her husband, the incumbent, has served three terms as mayor in Sin City but couldn't run for a fourth because of term limits.

(LAUGHTER)

CHETRY: I guess he can stay on as an informal adviser.

Well, NBA Finals, (INAUDIBLE) at two wins apiece and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat 86-83 last night to tie the best of seven series.

For basketball fans this has been pretty exciting. And it was another comeback victory for the Mavs. They trailed as many as nine points in the fourth quarter. And Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points and played the game with a 101 fever. It also said that he had a sleepless night and the night before the game, game five, is tomorrow night in Dallas. So hopefully he'll feel better.

ROMANS: Yes. Hopefully sleeping well today.

CHETRY: Although maybe having the fever helps. They won.

ROMANS: Yes. That's right.

Tiger Woods will not win the U.S. Open this week. He can't win because he won't be playing. Tiger pulled out of the tournament because of injuries to his knee and his Achilles.

He says the doctors told him he risked further injury if he tried to play and he simply needs more time to heal. So he's going to sit this one out. But he's promising to return for the final two majors of the season, that's the British Open and the PGA Championship.

CHETRY: No party crashers, no controversies, just a show of unity between the U.S. and Germany at the White House dinner last night. President Obama hosted a state dinner honoring German chancellor Angela Merkel awarding her America's top civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The two leaders agreeing that Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi has to go. He also pledged cooperation on issues like the economy and the war in Afghanistan.

ROMANS: All right. Up next on AMERICAN MORNING, Libya's leader is defiant, despite massive new airstrikes. We're going to be live in Tripoli with the latest.

CHETRY: Also why your next trip to Amsterdam may be a little less fun.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Twelve minutes past the hour.

NATO stepping up airstrikes against Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's regime this morning. Powerful explosions rocking the area right around Gadhafi's residence in Tripoli.

ROMANS: Yes. Despite more than 60 missiles that targets in Tripoli, Gadhafi vows he will not surrender. We've heard this before.

Dan Rivers live in Tripoli. A defiant Moammar Gadhafi even as yesterday a barrage of daytime strikes really among the strongest we've seen against Gadhafi positions.

DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yesterday was without doubt the most intensive day of airstrikes as the NATO campaign began.

NATO telling us that they flew 66 strike sorties yesterday on the 7th of June in Tripoli. They say they hit command and control centers, vehicle storage facilities, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and radar, and we were certainly hearing that all around.

The hotel where we are, (INAUDIBLE) around Colonel Gadhafi's compound was hit. They're claiming there were civilian casualties. That's something we haven't been able to confirm independently, but it does seem and feel like the pressure has been ratcheted up significantly from yesterday, which was Colonel Gadhafi's 69th birthday.

ROMANS: All right, Dan Rivers thank you so much.

And clearly the pictures show that this pressure has been ratcheted up and it has been many weeks now of pretty intense pressure on him to step down. He's still defiant.

Thanks, Dan.

CHETRY: Well, signed letter by Adolf Hitler believed to be his first written comments on exterminating Jews is unveiled in New York. Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon Wiesenthal Center calls it one of the most important documents concerning the Third Reich.

The center paid $150,000 for the letter which is written in 1919. It will go on permanent display next month at the center's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

ROMANS: Severe flooding in China is blamed for at least 14 deaths this morning. Heavy rains have triggered floods and mudslides in southwest China. Tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes.

CHETRY: Mexican drug cartels now have tanks. Mexican soldiers found two of them in a warehouse. They say they have an inch thick armor that can stop a 50-caliber machine gun bullet. Only anti-tank weapons can actually penetrate them and they can also hold 20 gunmen who can fire through sniper holes.

ROMANS: And until now we've only seen machine gun mounted trucks, and the like, and SUVs --

CHETRY: And what else, the advancements in tunnels, advances in submarines.

ROMANS: That's right. But certainly tanks really ratchet up the --

CHETRY: Yes.

ROMANS: Armaments of the drug cartels.

All right, the party is over. Tourists may soon be banned from buying pot in Amsterdam's famous weed cafes. The Dutch government said the move is necessary because drug tourists are causing too much of a nuisance.

Critics of the ban say it is tourism suicide. Even the mayor of Amsterdam is fighting -- is vowing to fight the measure.

CHETRY: Well, week three in the Casey Anthony murder trial. A dog could be key to the prosecution's case. We'll explain.

ROMANS: And - and with gas prices, Kiran, just below $4 a gallon, find out if Americans are still in love with their muscle cars.

Fifteen minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: It's 19 minutes past the hour. "Minding Your Business" this morning.

Stocks finishing lower for a fifth day in a row. The Dow was down 19 points. The NASDAQ and S&P 500 were both down just about a point.

The declines following comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, speaking yesterday, Bernanke said the recovery has lost some momentum. He also predicts the economy should improve, though, later this year.

The 12 OPEC nations are meeting today in Vienna. Top of the agenda whether to raise the oil production ceiling to ease prices lower worldwide. The announcement is expected at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. Oil futures were down Tuesday ahead of today's meeting.

Despite pain at the pump, Americans bought more muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, while more muscle cars than hybrid last month, that's according to Edmunds.com. One reason because production of popular hybrids like the Toyota Prius has been down significantly since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.

And it's another chapter closed in the Bernie Madoff scandal. The U.S. Marshall Service auctioned off more than $3 million in Madoff assets in Miami Beach, Florida. Items on the block included his shoes, paintings and dishware.

Nintendo unveiling its new HD video game system. It's called the WiiU. It comes with a touch screen controller and it should be available in stores sometime between April and December 2012.

AMERICAN MORNING will be right back after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Right now, tens of thousands of small businesses in America are facing a financial crisis in part because of high gas prices. On this morning's Listening Tour, we're headed to New Jersey where it's no bed of roses for the bottom line of one local flower shop.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA BRANDIMARTE, FLOWER SHOP OWNER: Thank you. Nice to meet you.

ROMANS (voice-over): It's busy season for family-run Clover Garden Florist. The New Jersey store has been in business four years. Paula Brandimarte is making every effort to keep prices in check, but it's not easy. High gas prices have led her flower suppliers to increase costs.

BRANDIMARTE: They have put their freight up as far as like it used to be $8, $10, now it's up to $13, $15.

ROMANS: On top of that, Paula pays $80 every time she fills up the gas tank, money that adds up for a business dependent on deliveries.

ROMANS (on camera): When you're running a small business like this -

BRANDIMARTE: Yes.

ROMANS: I mean, gas prices they hit you coming in and they hit you when you're trying to go out, too.

BRANDIMARTE: Yes, yes. And it's - it's a little difficult because people don't understand that it's affecting all of us.

ROMANS (voice-over): One solution, team up with the competition. Paula is part of a flower pool. Every day she links up with 12 other florists in a central location. They swap orders, taking on deliveries closest to their neighborhoods, helping their profit margins by saving on gas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, we're seeing a lot more flower shops actually going out of business. They just - they just can't compete. Just can't - you know, afford to, you know, pay the gas prices and put up with what they have to put up with to get their product delivered.

ROMANS (on camera): Without this pool, pooling together resources with other nurseries and - and floral delivery places, would you have to raise your prices do you think?

BRANDIMARTE: If I did not - was not on the pool system, then I would say yes, I probably would have to raise our prices.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. We got everything done. Let's get out of here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Let's go.

BRANDIMARTE: OK. Hey, bud (ph).

ROMANS: (voice-over): By collaborating these small business competitors deliver the goods. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: And here's the concern for everyone. No one wants to raise their prices because the consumer is pretty skittish. I mean, you cannot - their prices are getting raised but they don't want to pass those price increases on. The florist pool covers a 25-square mile area. One florist told us his business now has to think twice about delivering to areas that aren't covered by that pool.

What's awesome about the story, these are small business owners who can't wait for Congress, can't wait for the economy, can't wait for OPEC to change oil prices -

CHETRY: Right.

ROMANS: -- they have to figure it out for themselves and they're coming up with creative ways to try to keep their costs in check so they don't have to raise costs for you -

CHETRY: And the other -

ROMANS: -- and they stay in business and make a profit.

CHETRY: The other interesting thing is, I mean, maybe this is - they've found a solution in tough times that can also work in good times.

ROMANS: Exactly.

CHETRY: I mean, even when things get better and gas prices go down, which they - they very well may in the next couple months, they will be making more money if they can take the pool.

ROMANS: Yes. So - but things are going - they haven't had to raise their prices and that's - that's been the most important thing for them. So best of luck to them.

CHETRY: Absolutely. Good.

Well, it's 27 minutes past the hour. A look at our top stories and we're following this wildfire that is still raging out of control right now. It's torching nearly 500 square miles in Eastern Arizona. It's been burning out of control for 10 days. Thousands of people have been forced from their homes as the flames close in on two mountain towns near New Mexico this morning.

Also, embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is vowing he will not surrender. Even as powerful explosions earlier today rocked the area surrounding his compound in Tripoli. The blast coming just hours after NATO launched one of its fiercest strikes yet. War planes carrying out some 60 attacks.

Top stories also, Congressman Anthony Weiner under growing pressure to step down. House Majority Leader Republican Eric Cantor now says Weiner should resign. No Democrats have come to his defense and now more women are coming out saying that they exchanged sexual pictures and instant chat messages with the congressman.

ROMANS: In the Casey Anthony murder trial, a dog could turn - could turn out to be a critical for the prosecution's case, specifically a German Shepherd named Gerus. A trained cadaver dog who smelled human remains in the young mother's car and her backyard.

Gary Tuchman has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Casey Anthony looked emotionally detached during this day of court testimony except when her eyes focused laser-like on the prosecutor as she approached the defense table to hand over a document. The prosecutor who believes Casey Anthony deserves the death penalty, the prosecutor who called this man to the stand.

LINDA DRANE-BURDICK, PROSECUTOR: Were you called to assist in an investigation regarding the disappearance of Caylee Marie Anthony?

JASON FORGEY, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Yes, I was.

TUCHMAN: Orange County Florida Sheriff Deputy Jason Forgey is a canine handler. His dog was trained to sniff for cadavers and has become a player in this high-profile trial.

FORGEY: Gerus is a German Shepherd.

TUCHMAN: After Caylee Anthony disappeared but before her body was found Gerus was brought to Casey Anthony's Pontiac Sunfire which had been impounded.

FORGEY: Gerus comes out of the - the trunk with his front paws - comes out of the trunk to the right rear passenger taillight bumper area and gives me a final trend alert. He goes into a down position.

TUCHMAN: And that's the signal the dog gives when it's detected the scent of a dead body. Gerus was also brought to the Anthonys' backyard where the same thing happened.

DRANE-BURDICK: Is this the area that you were describing where you got the alert?

FORGEY: Yes, ma'am.

DRANE-BURDICK: Trained final alert?

FORGEY: Yes, ma'am.

TUCHMAN: Casey Anthony's attorney wanted the jury to doubt the dog's accuracy.

JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY'S ATTORNEY: There are such things as false alerts, right?

FORGEY: Yes. BAEZ: OK. Dogs are not infallible.

FORGEY: They are not perfect, no.

TUCHMAN: But the deputy says he had his own alert when examining Casey Anthony's car.

FORGEY: I smelled it clear as day.

TUCHMAN (on camera): What's notable about this testimony is that ultimately it may not contradict the defense's case. During opening statements, Casey Anthony's attorney said that Caylee Anthony accidentally drowned in the backyard pool. And even though he's not supposed to deliver his closing arguments until the end of the trial, we may have heard a bit of that argument today.

JOSE BAEZ, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I don't believe a dead body in the backyard is a disputed issue in this case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just a second.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sustained.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): Nevertheless, defense attorney, Jose Baez, continued to attack the credibility of Deputy Forge and his dog.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Orlando, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHETRY: Also new this morning, Joran Van Der Sloot scheduled to appear in a courtroom in Peru this morning. He's charged with first- degree murder in the death of a 21-year-old woman. Her body found in his hotel room in Lima last year.

Today, his lawyers will try to convince a jury to consider a lesser sentence, claiming it was a crime of passion and not premeditated. Van Der Sloot is also the prime suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Holloway in Aruba.

ROMANS: Here's how a Baltimore teenager's driving lesson ended yesterday with the family minivan in the lake. Don't worry, the girl, her aunt, her aunt's mother were rescued. No serious injuries. Police say the aunt was giving the 14-year-old a lesson when she unintentionally accelerated, breaking through a barrier and going into the water. And you know, when young drivers have accidents -- that's almost always what happens, they think they're putting their foot on the brake and they just gas it, with disastrous results.

CHETRY: We have 10 years before we have to worry about that.

ROMANS: That's right. That's right. Still smarting from learning how to drive, let alone teaching someone to learn how to drive.

CHETRY: Exactly. Volunteers are scrambling to build up levees along the swollen Missouri River in South Dakota, in Pierre. The floodwaters have already swamped dozens of homes and businesses. Folks in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska are also bracing for flooding.

ROMANS: All right. This is going to clog the filter a little bit. A family in Seminole County, Florida, found a bear who decided to take a dip in their hot tub. It's a bear that fish and wildlife officials have apparently been trying to trap for weeks. She brought her cubs into the area for a visit. Now, neighbors are complaining that they're messing with the dogs and they're also hogging the Jacuzzi.

The woman who took the still said there's four in the area, and this one just came right in to take a dip in the hot tub.

CHETRY: That's hilarious.

(LAUGHTER)

CHETRY: Well, coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, how snoring could be a sign, perhaps, that your kid may be prone to bullying, the connection between sleep deprivation and behavioral problems.

ROMANS: Interesting.

Plus, a Facebook knows what you look like. The social network is rolling out new facial recognition technology. We'll tell you all about it and the privacy concerns associated with it.

It's 32 minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The government pulling rat poison from the shelves, saying too many children and pets are accidentally getting sick. The ban affects pellet rat and mouse poisons sold by D-Con, Victor and Hot Shot. At least two of those companies are planning an appeal. The EPA said that as many as 15,000 children under 6 years old are exposed to rat and mouse poisons each year.

CHETRY: You know, it's interesting. We have a new study out, it was published in the journal "Sleep Medicine," showing that when they took a look at elementary school kids, those who bully or have behavioral problems are twice as likely to suffer from sleep problems than more well-behaved peers. They say that some bullies are not getting enough sleep and they link that lack of sleep to bad behavior in elementary school kids. They say that a lot of it could be sleep apnea, snoring or simply just -- simply not getting to bed soon enough.

The study's lead author was quick to say that it is not the sole cause of bullying.

ROMANS: All this week, we're taking the pulse of the people crisscrossing the country on the CNN listening tour.

CHETRY: Yes. This morning, we're in Florida. We're getting an earful about politics, about the economy, about how what goes on in Washington impacts people's daily lives.

CNN's David Mattingly joins us from the villages. It's a retirement community in Florida.

Hi, David.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

When you look at all the economic indicators that we're familiar with like unemployment, bankruptcies, foreclosures, they've all hit the Sunshine State very hard, bringing a lot of economic gloom here. And just about everyone I've talked to over the past couple of days says that they believe that Washington is (AUDIO BREAK).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY (voice-over): People from four different walks of life, all feeling the pain of a down economy. In Kissimmee, the mortgage crisis Areliz Martinez-Rodriguez hit her.

ARELIZ MARTINEZ-RODRIGUEZ, KISSIMMEE HOMEOWNER: I purchased the house for $255,000. And right now, the house is worth $85,000.

MATTINGLY: The biggest investment of her life, withering away in a market chilled by one of the nation's highest rates of foreclosure.

MARTINEZ-RODRIGUEZ: I'm stressed out because I need a house for my kids and for me, and I'm trying to work with the bank and the bank doesn't want to work with me.

MATTINGLY: Strawberry farmer Carl Grooms in Plant City knows what that feels like.

CARL GROOMS, FANCY FARMS: I'm like most folks. I feel it in the pocketbook.

MATTINGLY: Rising costs of everything from labor to fuel has him thinking there's a disconnect in D.C.

GROOMS: I don't think they got a clue. They've never walked in the shoe of the common person. They've never been down here at the level. They never had to wonder what they're going to eat tomorrow, or where they're going to live, or how they're going to get their fuel tank filled up.

MATTINGLY: Donna Thomas of The Villages worries about that all the time.

DONNA THOMAS, RETIREE: We basically had to give up our regular insurance and go to an HMO and we've had to cut back on everything.

MATTINGLY: When her real estate company of 40 years went under during the mortgage crisis, she lost everything she was saving for retirement.

Harold Williams (ph) can't think that far ahead. HAROLD WILLIAMS, UNEMPLOYED: You don't want your family to be without. They look upon you to be the strong leader. I don't want to let them down.

MATTINGLY: In two months this former Orlando math teacher has had just two interviews. Williams says the job market will affect his next vote for president.

WILLIAMS: I don't want him to have sympathy for me, but empathy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: And he's a teacher. And that's the thing we've been saying, education and health care, the places where there's jobs. But we've seen so many layoffs from school districts that even teachers now are concerned about the economy for themselves, and that's something that will clearly be reflected in --

CHETRY: I know. One of my really good friends has just a stellar resume and she's looking for a teaching job. And she said that she applied for this one opening in the third grade class in her town and there was about 400 other applicants vying for one job, and it was not the highest-paying job.

ROMANS: Right.

Well, that was David Mattingly reporting on our listening tour -- CNN listening tour from Florida.

If you can Google it, cut it. That's part of Republican hopeful Tim Pawlenty's economic fix. Speaking yesterday, Pawlenty said that if you can find a service on the Internet, if you can Google it, it's offered by private sector firms. The government doesn't need to be doing it. Among the services he'd cut, Amtrak, the U.S. Postal Service, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the Government Printing Office.

CHETRY: That's right. He also talked about eliminating every tax bracket except for two. There'd be a 10 percent, a 25 percent and he'd slash business corporate tax rates to 15 percent.

Very interesting what his proposal is, and how it will be received once, as you said, the number crunchers get to it.

ROMANS: Right. I mean, you can Google disaster relief, that's something the government does now. You can Google --

CHETRY: Nuclear waste disposal.

ROMANS: Nuclear waste disposal, that's something the government does. So, you know, we'll see how that flies. But, seriously, he would like to cut a lot of government regulations out.

It might be time to check your Facebook privacy settings. The site is about to roll out its facial recognition technology. The feature scans all images posted to Facebook and suggests the names of the people who appear in the images.

If you prefer the software not identify you, you can opt out by going to your privacy settings page. Something I still quite don't understand.

CHETRY: Wow. Well, she is the daughter of the billionaire founder of Paul Mitchell hair products, but Alexis DeJoria is not your typical girly girl. She's making a living on the racetrack. And Alina Cho will be introducing us to her.

ROMANS: And the question of the day, peg off of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's comments that the economy has lost some of its momentum recently. Also, the president says he doesn't think we're going to have another recession.

What's it going to take to turn this economy around? Send us a tweet, e-mail, post on our blog. We're going to read more of your comments later in the program.

Forty-two minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Forty-five minutes past the hour. Here's a look at your top stories this morning.

We start in Arizona where nearly 500 square miles of the eastern part of the state is on fire. The state's second largest wildfire ever is still burning. Thousands of people have been evacuated as these flames come closer to two mountain towns near New Mexico.

Rebel fighters have taken control of a key city in Yemen. More than 400 tribal gunmen taking over the town of Taiz. This is in southwest Yemen. A big setback for government forces loyal to President Saleh.

Congressman Anthony Weiner facing calls to resign over the sexting scandal. Some Democrats are now giving campaign contributions to charity that they got from Congressman Weiner.

Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, acknowledging that the economy has lost some esteem recently. Speaking yesterday, he said he remains optimistic that the recovery will pick up again in the second half of the year.

Ohio state quarterback, Terrelle Pryor, will not be playing for the Buckeyes this year. He is leaving the school and says he will likely enter the NFL's draft -- supplemental draft this summer. Pryor was one of five Ohio State football players suspended for violating NCAA rules for selling team memorabilia to the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor.

President Obama awarding German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House dinner last night. The two leaders vowed to cooperate on economic issues and agreed that Libyan leader, Moammar Gadhafi, must go.

You're caught up on the day's headlines. AMERICAN MORNING will be back after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Forty-eight minutes past the hour. Rebel fighters are taking control of a key city in Yemen.

ROMANS: It's a big setback for government forces loyal to President Saleh. Joining us now from Abu Dhabi, CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom. What's the latest on this?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We heard yesterday last night that government forces -- the government forces had been clashing with the anti-government gunmen in the city of Taiz. That's in the southwest part of the country. Anti-government gunmen had gone into that city the last several days in order to try to protect the anti-government demonstrators that are out and about in that city.

They have been for the last several months. So, what happened yesterday, we heard from eyewitnesses and residents that anti- government gunmen had actually started clashing with the government forces there. That over 400 of them had taken over the city, driven the security forces outside the city, and then, there was a lot of worry in the overnight hours, and it's still tense right now as to what's going to happen next.

Many people there that I'm speaking with convinced that government forces will try to retake that city. They'll try to re-enter the city and that there will be heavier clashes later in the day. So, a lot of concern as to what's going to happen there. Now, the government is denying that this happened. The government is denying that their troops were driven out.

But more and more people, more and more anti-government demonstrators, eyewitnesses and residents in the city of Taiz, which has been an epicenter for the anti-government movement, there are people coming out for the past four months, more and more of them are telling us that, in fact, those anti-government gunmen did take over that city. That they are securing that city and that the forces have been driven out.

CHETRY: All right. We'll continue to follow that with you this morning. Mohammed Jamjoom for us, thanks so much.

ROMANS: OK. Her father made a fortune selling spirits and shampoo, but all her daddy's billions couldn't fulfill the one need that has always driven Alexis DeJoria, the need for speed.

CHETRY: Alina Cho has her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 2,300 pounds, these cars are built for speed. So is Alexis DeJoria

ALEXIS DEJORIA, TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR DRIVER: Speed demon. You know, looking for the ultimate thrill. CHO: Zero to 260 miles per hour in less than six seconds, that's how long it takes to get from start to finish.

You don't ever get scared?

ALEXIS DEJORIA: You can't be scared in these cars, you know? Then, you're taking a back seat and that's the most dangerous spot to be in.

CHO: If her name doesn't sound familiar, her father's company certainly will. She's the daughter of John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the Paul Mitchell hair care line and Patron tequila. A man who Forbes says is worth $4 billion.

But there wasn't ever a moment where he said to you, Alexis.

(LAUGHTER)

ALEXIS DEJORIA: Yes. Yes. He did. He definitely did. When he saw where you sit in these cars, he said --

JOHN PAUL DEJORIA, CO-FOUNDER OF PAUL MITCHELL: Oh, no, no. That's over 250 miles an hour and, you know, less than six seconds. No way.

CHO: Dad eventually came around. Alexis, a 33-year-old mother, has been drag racing professionally for six years and in a sport dominated by men, in her class, Dejoria's car is the second fastest in the nation.

ALEXIS DEJORIA: There's nothing compared to this. You have to be perfect. You don't get another lap to make it up. You've got to do it right here, right now.

CHO: What about the sound? It's so loud.

ALEXIS DEJORIA: It's like it's an earthquake in your soul.

CHO: But does the hair care heiress ever worry about her hair?

ALEXIS DEJORIA: Yes. Expect me just whip the helmet off and just have those perfectly coifed hair, but --

CHO: Paul Mitchell hair.

ALEXIS DEJORIA: Yes. Gosh, I wish it was like that, but no.

JOHN PAUL DEJORIA: I don't have to give my daughter advice on how to keep hair in great shape. She uses Paul Mitchell.

CHO: A famous naming paving her own way on the racetrack.

ALEXIS DEJORIA: I love it. It's like this huge mountain that you like climbed to the top and, you know, you handled it. It's great feeling.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHO (on-camera): In fact, later this summer, DeJoria will move up to the next level of driving. It's actually called nitro, and that means that her car will be running with rocket fuel, and the top speed is 320 miles per hour in less than four seconds.

CHETRY: That's amazing. And you mention in the piece that she had, you know, been drag racing professionally for a while. What got her into this again?

CHO: You know, she said she was always a thrill seeker. She loves snowboarding. She loves sky diving, and her father sort of raced cars, you know, in a casual way if you can do it in a casual way, but she said, you know, she actually tried the family business of being in hair care, worked her way through, you know, started as an intern and so forth and did some marketing.

And then, she realized she just wasn't passionate about it, and she wanted to, you know, find her own way, if you will, and she also said, you know, I asked her, you could be sitting on a beach. You could be doing anything, and she said, there's no self-worth in that. And you know, I really wasn't raised to be like that, you know? She was raised with good, solid values, and she wants to blaze her own trail, if you will, on the racetrack.

ROMANS: Gives new meaning feeling the wind through her hair. It is not the corporate world that she's interested in. It's literally the wind in her hair.

CHO: She's doing a great job, and man, you know, I would be scared to death in that car.

ROMANS: If you're scared you're in the back seat. You can't be driving. Alina Cho, thanks, Alina.

CHO: You bet.

CHETRY: Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, says that the economy has lost some of its momentum, but that he's still optimistic the economy will pick up again in the second half of the year. It brings us to our question of the day. What is it going to take to turn the economy around? We got some interesting comments from you, guys, this morning.

ROMANS: Right.

CHETRY: Joe Martinez writes to us from Facebook, "A president, Congress, Senate all working for the people instead of party affiliation."

ROMANS: @passive consumer on Twitter says, "Cut federal funding across the board, foreign aid, Congress salaries, foreign military aid, etc., by 5-10 percent for one year." They can't even agree on like $60 billion in cuts.

CHETRY: Sarah Cooley on Facebook writes, "How about we take the huge bonuses Wall Street execs get paid with our money and put that into the economy. All that money might make things a little easier for the bottom 99 percent."

ROMANS: Theryho on Twitter says, "People need to have confidence again. We are a consumer-based economy and without people spending case, we won't see a turn around."

Keep your comments coming. Send us an e-mail, a tweet or tell us on Facebook. We're going to read more of your comments later in the program.

CHETRY: After a week of dodging, denying, and stonewalling, Congressman Anthony Weiner finally faced the press head on yesterday.

ROMANS: Jeanne Moos takes a look at the humbling ordeal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fully clothed, we know Anthony Weiner is a nerdy, lanky congressman, but when his shirt dropped, so did jaws.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The guys my age and he is totally cut.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's ripped.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His chiseled torso. Do you see that? Look at that.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would be hard not to tweet a photo like that. That is why I have made the moral choice to let myself go.

MOOS: Even headless folks were able to identify him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Weinergate man.

MOOS: But these days, there are so many half naked congressmen you'd be forgive for getting them mixed up from the Illinois representative with the six-pack abs on the cover of "Men's Health" to the craigslist congressman who resigned after putting this picture online to the Massachusetts senator who posed for "Cosmo" in his youth, and let's not forget Russia's Vladimir Putin, an aging Rambo who seems like he's always stripping, but the naked truth can be disconcerted.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This looks weird. Why is this separated so much?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would you think that that would be attractive with all these boots hanging in here and all --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm saying. He's got a little bit of --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I first saw this photo, I was like is that me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is some cleavage. Can we zoom in on that by any chance. Is there any way to -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm in the canyon!

MOOS: It used to be we'd only seen naked congressmen in movies.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a congressman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you kidding?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I'm absolutely serious. I'm Charter Wilson. I represent the Texas second Congressional --

MOOS: But now, they're staring up at us from newspapers on our laps or our laptops. Forget the politician's war chest, it's his chest hair being analyzed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's a shaved chest which tells me that, psychologically, he was putting some real effort into trying to make this thing as sexual as possible.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's also like waxing himself all over. It seems oddly hairless.

MOOS (on-camera): For some female anchors, Weiner's naked torso was too much for the naked eye.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think we all understand, you know, I don't think we need to see that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I do think that there is a --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take that off, please. I don't want to keep seeing that.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS (voice-over): Congressman Weiner got his guilt off his chest leaving us with his chest and his drawers.

Jeanne Moos, CNN --

Would you want this chest?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you can get a little tanner, maybe.

MOOS: New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Top stories right after the break.

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