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Bardstown, Kentucky, Says Final Goodbyes to Fallen Officer; Police Chief Says Hunt is On; Anthony Weiner Gaining Ground; Storm Damage near Flint, Michigan; Stars Sing for Tornado Relief Tonight
Aired May 29, 2013 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thank you so much for being with us. I'm Carol Costello. Stories we're watching in the NEWSROOM, it's 33 minute past the hour.
After big g big gains yesterday, the markets opening lower this morning. So, let's head to the New York Stock Exchange and Alison Kosik. Good morning.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Count them up, 23 record closes this year for the Dow, but number 24, yes, that may have to wait. As you see, stocks are beginning in the red, the Dow down 95 points. You know, there's not much new information to trade on today. You may see this profit taking happen throughout the session today.
Plus, yesterday's good news, yes, it could turn into today's bad news. Here's why. An improving U.S. economy makes some investors worried that the Federal Reserve is going to pull back its financial support of the economy too early. And that support, it's been a really huge factor in this year's big rally.
As we headed into today, though, the Dow is up more than 17 percent for the year and every time it feels like stocks may be headed for a pullback, they end up at yet another record high. Not sure that's going to happen again. We've said this before. Still, if this loss tat we see holds, it will be the third loss in five sessions. Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Alison Kosik reporting live in the New York Stock Exchange.
You're about to look at a tornado ripping across Central Kansas lass night. And more than half the country facing the threat of severe weather today. Forecasters warn of tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds and flooding, every state east of the Rockies on alert this morning.
A Kentucky community begins to say their final goodbyes to a fallen police officer. Visitation for Jason Ellis takes place this afternoon in Bardstown, Kentucky, just miles from the scene where the officer was gunned down early Saturday morning. He'll be buried tomorrow.
Investigators say Ellis was ambushed, shot multiple times, while removing debris from the road. His wife remembers him as a dedicated man.
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AMY ELLIS, WIFE OF OFFICER JASON ELLIS: He was an amazing man and I want everybody to know what an amazing man that he was. He was a dedicated family man, he loved our family. He loved our boys, he loved me. He was dedicated to his job. He loved his job. He loved the people that he worked with. And I just want -- you know, I want everybody to know what an amazing man he was.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Chief Rick McCubbin from the Bardstown Police Department joins us now on the phone. Welcome, Chief.
CHIEF RICK MCCUBBIN, BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY, POLICE DEPT. (via telephone): Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning. Anything new in the investigation at all?
MCCUBBIN: Unfortunately not. We've of course been nonstop following up tips and leads. Even as we speak, we're out following more leads, more tips, trying to develop a suspect or suspects in this case.
COSTELLO: So the only thing we know so far is that someone, even as the officer got out of his cruiser to remove that debris from the road for the protection of other drivers, someone from on top of a hill nearby fired off a shotgun blast. Is that all we know?
MCCUBBIN: Unfortunately, yes, ma'am. That is. And that's, of course, the very -- extremely frustrating part of the case is that we don't have a suspect, we don't have a motive. You know, we're kind of starting at ground zero.
COSTELLO: And there must be some fear that this kind of thing could happen again?
MCCUBBIN: It is. Obviously, the officers in this area are on edge. Our community is on edge. Because we know -- we certainly have a person who is still at large with the capabilities and obviously the ability to commit murder in this style. And so our community is -- is very much obviously supporting us to catch this person as badly as we want to catch this person.
COSTELLO: In a previous interview, you promised an eye for an eye. You said you will not rest until you have the suspect in cuffs or on the front side of a weapon. You don't often hear police officers put it quite that way. Why did you?
MUCCUBBIN: Well, I meant what I said. I've never been a politically correct person. I've been known to tell people what they need to hear, not necessarily what they want to hear. Obviously, we want these people arrested and we want them convicted.
By my statement, I'm letting these people know that obviously the way they did this, they were cowards to hide and ambush. And I want this person to know that if that's the way they want to continue this, we are more than prepared, more than prepared to do whatever -- use whatever force is necessary, whatever resources I have available to me to take people into custody.
We absolutely don't want more violence, absolutely don't want any more violence. But we as police will certainly do what we have to do to close this case.
COSTELLO: Chief Rick McCubbin of the Bardstown, Kentucky, Police Department, thank you so much for being with us this morning.
MCCUBBIN: Thank you, ma'am.
COSTELLO: Still ahead on NEWSROOM, being back from scandal, Anthony Weiner is making a run for New York City mayor and the latest polls show he has a chance. We'll be right back.
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COSTELLO: What's a political scandal worth? Maybe a win. A second act for Anthony Weiner. Two years after resigning from Congress over a sexting scandal, Weiner is now running for New York City mayor, and guess what? He is gaining ground in the polls.
Here's more from CNN's Jim Acosta.
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JIM ACOSTA, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To the political pundits writing off Anthony Weiner in the race for New York City mayor, don't say, "Forget about it" just yet.
ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE: You can have a safe classroom where teachers can teach and students can learn.
ACOSTA: The former congressman who resigned in disgrace after posting lewd photos online received a warm welcome at his first candidate's debate. And he's getting a serious look from the voters. The latest Marist poll shows he's gaining fast, just five points behind the front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. What's more, 53 percent of voters say Weiner deserves a second chance, while 39 percent say he lacks the character to be mayor.
ACOSTA (on-camera): Are you getting a second chance? Is that what this means?
WEINER: Look, I have said from the moment I got in this race, that I, you know, honor the idea that people are going to have questions of me. But for the most part, the people the questions people have been asking have been about the things that affect their families.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Citing a scheduling conflict, Quinn dropped out of the debate at the last minute, even though the event's organizers insist she helped set the date.
ZAKIYAH ANSARI, NEW YORKERS FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Of course we're disappointed in that, but it's her loss, unfortunately
ACOSTA: But Weiner didn't seize on Quinn's absence in his typical bombastic style.
WEINER: I can't speak for any other candidate but look --
ACOSTA: At least publicly, Weiner has changed. Now the subject of tabloid punch lines, he often talks about the lessons he's learned the hard way. It's almost the same approach used by Congressman Mark Sanford in his successful bid for redemption in South Carolina.
But in New York, the zingers fly fast. Many now aimed at the bull's- eye on Weiner's back. Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told a newspaper, quote, "Shame on us if Weiner is elected." Cuomo told reporters he was only kidding.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: That was my comment on the mayoral race, and we'll now let them run their race, and we'll see what happens.
ACOSTA: At the debate, Weiner joked he can handle the governor.
WEINER: Honestly, he started it.
ACOSTA: While Anthony Weiner has reasons to be encouraged by the latest poll numbers, he shouldn't get too excited just yet. If no candidate in the Democratic field receives 40 percent of the vote in the primary this fall, there would be a runoff. And in a head-to-head matchup, according to this latest poll, Christine Quinn crushes Weiner by 15 points.
Jim Acosta, CNN, New York.
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COSTELLO: We'll keep following that race. Tonight, some of the biggest stars in the music industry will come together for Oklahoma. We'll have a preview of the all-star lineup for tornado relief, next.
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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This week on "The Next List" beauty innovator Francesco Clark.
FRANCESCO CLARK, FOUNDER, CLARK'S BOTANICALS: Clark's Botanicals didn't start as -- it wasn't a business idea.
GUPTA: How he overcame a devastating accident.
CLARK: I was told you will never get better. You will never move your arms. Don't even think about your legs.
GUPTA: To create one of fashions favorite skin care lines. ALEXANDRA PARNASS, BEAUTY EDITOR, HARPER'S BAZAAR: All of his new products that have come out over the years have -- they also have a bit of cult following and a lot of people in the fashion industry, models and fashion designers really can't get enough of his stuff.
GUPTA: That's Saturday 2:30 on "The Next List".
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COSTELLO: All right we've been telling you about this wild, dangerous weather taking place overnight and into this morning. We have evidence of it now sadly. This is southeast Michigan in an area north of Detroit this is what -- Morris Township? Yes Morris Township, that's north of Flint and as you can see, lots of widespread damage.
There was a tornado warning issued right before this thing hit. We don't know if a tornado actually touched down because as you know it could be straight line winds, very strong winds and you can see uprooted trees. Some buildings are absolutely destroyed -- or destroyed rather, and officials have now set up a command center in a church.
When we know more about how this damage was caused and if there are any injuries or if these people need more help of course we'll take you back to southeast Michigan. But wow, be careful today.
Tonight, country singer Blake Shelton will lead an all-star line-up at a concert to raise funds for victims of last week's deadly tornado. Shelton as you know is a native Oklahoman. He will appear with his wife, and fellow country singer Miranda Lambert, as well as Vince Gill, Usher, Riva McIntyre all tonight in Oklahoma City.
CNN's Nischelle Turner is live there right now with a preview. Good morning, Nischelle.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Carol. Well, first of all, we should say you just talked about that severe weather in Michigan. We are on severe weather watch once again here in Oklahoma City. And I'll tell you, that the skies are getting a little dark. The wind is picking up here. So we're definitely will be looking out to see what will happen here today. Because the people here certainly don't want a repeat of what happened nine days ago when a tornado came through here, created that path of destruction where 24 people lost their lives. More than 300 people were injured and so many people are still trying to pick up the pieces.
So tonight's concert is appropriately dubbed "Healing in the Heartland" and because of that when this tornado happened so many people wanted to help, including country music superstar Blake Shelton. He saw the devastation and he said I have to do something. But he said, "Listen, I'm an entertainer what I know how to do is perform, that's how I make people feel better." So he decided to put on this benefit concert. You've said that Blake was born and raised here at Oklahoma. He still lives in Tishomingo which is about two hours south of here. But he does have strong ties to one of the hardest hit communities in Moore, Oklahoma.
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BLAKE SHELTON, SINGER: I spent three Christmases at my -- at my sister's house in Moore, Oklahoma and some of those helicopter views of the destruction, you could see her house a quarter a mile away from there, I'm just going with my nieces and nephews would have gone to that school, you know. When you start putting in that sort of perspective and you start, oh my God, I'm so glad that they -- that they recently moved away from that area. And you go, what about all those people that didn't. It's just -- it's hard to put into words, honestly.
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TURNER: So the proceeds for tonight's concert will benefit the United Way of Central Oklahoma's May Tornado Relief Fund Carol. And the tickets for the concert sold out in less than five minutes. But a little good news in about an hour, 10:00 a.m. Central Time, a new allotment of tickets will be released to the public. You can only get them on TicketMaster.com only $25. So there is still an opportunity for people to come tonight.
COSTELLO: Terrific, thanks Nischelle. We appreciate it.
TURNER: Yes. Sure.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about Beyonce now. Beyonce may have helped coined the term bootylicious. But in case you were not clear that is not an invitation. Check this out Queen B was wowed up in Copenhagen last month when a fan reached up and patted her derriere. She didn't take it sitting down.
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BEYONCE, SINGER: Now I will have you escorted out right now, all right?
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COSTELLO: Good for you Queen B. Because that probably wasn't the kind of attention the guy was trying to grab. But oh, nasty.
Some heroes from the Boston bombing share a night to remember at Fenway. "Bleacher Report" is coming your way next.
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COSTELLO: The San Antonio Spurs are going to have to wait a little longer to find out who they'll face in the finals. The Pacers is taking on the Heat last night to even the series at two games apiece.
Andy Scholes has more in the Bleacher Report. Good morning.
ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hi, good morning, Carol. It looks like everyone is going to need to pump the breaks on all of that Heat/Spurs NBA finals as the Pacers, once again, show last night that they aren't going to go down without a fight. Last night's game 4 was another knock down, drag out battle from the opening fifth. Indiana used their size and interior strength to control the entire game. Now LeBron led all score with 24 points but with the Heat down four with 56 seconds to go, he fouled out on this moving screen. This is the second time ever that LeBron is fouled out in a playoff game.
The Heat failed to score with LeBron -- without LeBron the rest of the way. The Pacers went on to win the game 99-92 to even the series. After the game, LeBron was clearly not happy. But he refused to blame the officials for the loss.
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LEBRON JAMES, MIAMI HEAT: It was a couple, you know, calls that I didn't feel like, you know, were fouls, personal fouls on me, but that's how the game goes, sometimes.
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SCHOLES: In action last night at Fenway, what a great moment before the game. Jeff Bowman who lost both legs in the Boston Marathon bombings was on hand to throw out the first pitch. Along with the man who came to his rescue that day, Carlos Arondondo (ph). When he woke up after hours of surgery Bowman was one of the people helped law enforcement identify the Boston bombing suspects.
Check this out. He and Arondondo both firing in strikes at the same time. Just an awesome moment for both of these heroes.
Over the years, Shaquille O'Neil has had his own shoes, his own logo and his on TV show, now Shaq has his own drink. Yesterday Shaq tweeted out a pic of his new cream soda line called Soda Shaq. And Carol you can get the new drink in four different flavors -- strawberry, orange, vanilla and blueberry. I'm not sure I'm going to try this new drink but if I do. I think I'll go blueberry.
COSTELLO: Yes, blueberry cream soda sounds good to me.
SCHOLES: Very intriguing.
COSTELLO: Yes. Delicious. We'll drink it together. Thank you, Andy.
The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break. .
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